Chapter Summaries

Shen Luo refined the Eight-Hanging Mirror and gave Zhao Feiji several treasures, including a ghost cultivation technique that could lead to Ghost Immortality. Later, Bai Xiaotian visited him, and they agreed to watch Chang'an’s ghosts depart during the Water-and-Land Dharma Assembly.

• Shen Luo refined the Eight-Hanging Mirror and tested its powerful defenses.
• Shen Luo gave Zhao Feiji the Hundred-Ghost Body-Nurturing Art, the Whistling Sound Bell, and the Seven-Star Treasure Armor after Zhao Feiji vowed to target only evil ghosts and savage souls.
• Bai Xiaotian visited Shen Luo with wine and roast goose, and they shared stories about their years apart and Xiao Yun’s time at Huasheng Temple.
• Bai Xiaotian told Shen Luo that the Water-and-Land Dharma Assembly would begin the next evening and that Chang'an’s north gate would open at midnight to lead the ghosts out.
• Shen Luo agreed to watch the ghosts’ final journey from Chang'an.

Chapter Summary: “Water and Land Assembly”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chang’an enters a citywide mourning period for those killed in the recent disaster. White lanterns are hung everywhere, fires are prohibited for the Cold Food Festival, and the people observe sacrifices and curfew.
• Buddhist monks from several major temples perform an extensive ritual before the Imperial City, chanting sutras and the Rebirth Mantra. At dusk, they begin a procession through the city carrying Ever-Burning Lotus Lamps.
• The lamps summon the dead. Many ordinary spirits are purified and gradually restored to their former appearances, while more powerful evil ghosts—especially those emerging from places saturated with Yin Baleful Qi—must be destroyed by government cultivators.
• Near midnight, Chan’er leads hundreds of thousands of spirits out of Chang’an. His Buddhist radiance protects and guides them, and golden lotuses appear beneath his feet, causing those watching to believe they are witnessing the manifestation of a Buddha or immortal.
• At the boundary between the mortal world and the Netherworld, marked by mist and Flowers of the Other Shore, the spirits begin entering the Netherworld. However, the Buddhist Bead on Chan’er’s chest suddenly releases blood-red mist.
• The mist infects Chan’er and several hundred spirits, driving the ghosts into madness. Their eyes turn red, and many ordinary wandering souls transform into evil ghosts. They then rush back toward Chang’an, threatening to spread the corruption through the entire gathered spirit population.
• Shen Luo reacts immediately and leaps from the city wall to reach Chan’er. The monks attempt to calm the spirits with Buddhist mantras, but the blood-mist-infected ghosts are unaffected.
• Master Lude orders the Baoxiang Temple monks to form a defensive line. They separate the advancing evil ghosts from the remaining spirits and replace their calming chants with the Demon-Subduing Mantra.
• The monks’ chanting creates a powerful sound barrier that halts the ghosts’ charge, but the spirits repeatedly slam into it. The formation begins to suffer severe strain, with weaker monks injured and bleeding.

2. Character Developments

• Chan’er is presented as a compassionate spiritual guide capable of leading an immense number of dead souls. His radiant aura, golden lotus steps, and ability to protect the spirits reinforce the impression that he is connected to the legendary Golden Cicada or possesses extraordinary Buddhist power.
• Shen Luo demonstrates vigilance and decisiveness. He recognizes the danger almost immediately when the blood mist appears and risks himself by leaping into the mass of spirits to rescue Chan’er and contain the crisis.
• Bai Xiaotian remains with Shen Luo on the city wall as an observer, witnessing the ritual and the later supernatural disaster.
• Master Lude, Elder Zheshi, and the Baoxiang Temple monks show discipline and courage. They quickly shift from performing rites of salvation to organizing a defensive formation, even while enduring the attacks of the corrupted ghosts.
• The dead spirits shift from passive victims seeking release to a dangerous, unstable force once infected by the blood mist, revealing how quickly spiritual corruption can spread.

3. Significant Themes

• Mourning and collective grief: The entire city participates in remembrance, from official rituals to spontaneous paper lanterns released by ordinary citizens.
• Compassion and redemption: The monks’ mission is not merely to destroy ghosts but to guide and purify the dead, restoring their original forms and helping them pass into the Netherworld.
• The boundary between life and death: The procession and Flowers of the Other Shore symbolize the transition from the mortal realm to the Netherworld.
• Corruption of purity: The blood mist transforms a peaceful salvation ritual into a violent supernatural crisis, showing how vulnerable even benign spirits are to malignant forces.
• Faith under pressure: Buddhist light and chanting initially represent protection and salvation, but the monks must ultimately resort to force and defensive measures when compassion alone cannot stop the corrupted ghosts.
• Sacrifice and communal responsibility: The monks risk injury to protect both the living citizens and the uncorrupted dead.

4. Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and Chan’er: Shen Luo observes Chan’er’s spiritual power but becomes alarmed when the Buddhist Bead releases the blood mist. He immediately moves to protect or reach him.
• The monks and Chan’er: The monks support Chan’er’s role as guide, accompanying him with lotus lamps and allowing him to lead the spirits beyond the city.
• The monks and the ghosts: Their relationship changes from one of guidance and purification to direct confrontation. When the Rebirth and Mind-Calming Mantras fail, the monks form a united barrier and use the Demon-Subduing Mantra.
• Master Lude and the Baoxiang Temple disciples: Master Lude assumes command, ordering the monks into formation and coordinating the defense.
• Shen Luo, Bai Xiaotian, and the officials: They observe the ceremony from the northern city gate, sharing the perspective of witnesses before the crisis forces Shen Luo to act.

Chapter Summary: “Investigation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Xiaotian, the monks of Huasheng Temple, and cultivators stationed in Chang’an work together to contain a tide of vicious ghosts affected by Demonic Blood contamination.
• Zen Master Kongdu uses a Buddhist scripture to bind and calm hundreds of ghosts, absorbing the corrupting blood mist into Sanskrit characters that burn away.
• Zen Master Luchen restrains additional ghosts with the Eight-Treasure Scripture Banner, while Elder Zheshi immobilizes others with a Buddhist treasure mirror.
• Bai Xiaotian creates barriers of golden sword light to prevent the ghosts from spreading through Chang’an. Other government cultivators reinforce the defenses.
• Shen Luo enters the blood-mist-filled area to rescue Chan’er. Rather than killing the corrupted souls, he uses the Slanting Moon Step to evade them and reach the center.
• He discovers Chan’er protected by a radiant phantom monk dressed in Buddhist robes. The phantom gathers the blood mist into nine blood-red Buddhist beads, then sacrifices its own remaining power to destroy the beads and cleanse the ghosts.
• Once the contamination fades, Chan’er resumes chanting the Rebirth Mantra and guides the weakened wandering souls into the Netherworld. Shen Luo accompanies and protects him.
• The Water-and-Land Dharma Assembly ends near dawn. Later, Shen Luo reflects on the night’s events and attempts to communicate with the Heavenly Register inside the Jade Pillow.
• After repeated failures, he forcefully attacks the Heavenly Register with his Divine Thought. The register finally opens, and the name “Shen Luo” separates from its pages. A powerful force then pulls his consciousness inside.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates restraint and compassion by refusing to kill the corrupted souls, recognizing that they are innocent citizens whose minds have been distorted by Demonic Blood.
• He also shows growing confidence and determination by entering the dangerous blood mist alone and later aggressively forcing a response from the Heavenly Register.
• Chan’er displays spiritual strength and purpose. Protected by the phantom monk, he survives the ghostly assault and continues guiding the souls through the Rebirth Mantra even after the danger has passed.
• Bai Xiaotian and the Huasheng Temple monks reveal strong coordination and mastery of Buddhist and martial techniques, working together to contain rather than destroy the ghosts.
• The mysterious phantom monk appears to be a benevolent Buddhist protector connected to Chan’er. It purifies the Demonic Blood at the cost of its own existence, though its identity and significance remain unclear.

Significant Themes

• Compassion versus destruction: The heroes treat the ghosts as victims rather than enemies, emphasizing mercy and spiritual salvation over brute force.
• Cooperation: Martial cultivators, Buddhist monks, and government forces combine their abilities to protect Chang’an.
• Redemption and release: Chan’er’s chanting restores the wandering souls’ path to the Netherworld, reinforcing themes of death, rebirth, and spiritual peace.
• Sacrifice: The phantom monk consumes both the corrupt blood mist and its own Buddhist power to save Chan’er and the citizens’ souls.
• Determination and hidden power: Shen Luo’s willingness to risk damaging his consciousness reflects his growing resolve to unlock the Heavenly Register and understand its connection to him.

Character Interactions

• Kongdu warns Bai Xiaotian not to kill the corrupted citizens, establishing the group’s shared responsibility to restrain and save them.
• The monks and Bai Xiaotian coordinate their techniques to prevent the ghost tide from breaking through the city’s defenses.
• The phantom monk silently acknowledges Shen Luo before cleansing the blood mist, suggesting a connection or mutual recognition.
• Shen Luo reunites with Chan’er and protects him as Chan’er leads the souls toward the Netherworld.
• At the chapter’s end, Shen Luo directly confronts the unresponsive Heavenly Register, triggering its first meaningful reaction and opening the way to an unknown new development.

Chapter Summary: “Mysterious Space”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo’s Divine Thought unexpectedly enters a strange Golden Space within the Heavenly Register in his Jade Pillow. His physical body is pulled in as well.
• The space resembles a small golden hall surrounded by impenetrable golden mist. Its ground looks like a rippling lake but is solid and reflects nothing.
• Shen Luo confirms that he can still summon and use his magical artifacts, including the Pure Yang Sword Embryo and an octagonal bronze mirror.
• When he launches the sword into the surrounding mist, it passes through and then mysteriously returns to attack him. He catches it just before it strikes his brow.
• He experiments with the space by flying upward and walking into the mist. Flying causes him to fall back to his original location, while touching a dense Mist Wall instantly returns him to the center of the hall.
• Realizing he cannot escape by force, Shen Luo sits down and uses his Divine Thought to communicate with the Heavenly Register.
• His Divine Soul enters an Out-of-Body state, and the golden hall transforms into an immense, breathtaking starfield filled with countless stars, nebulae, and a flowing river of light.
• Shen Luo briefly glimpses a mysterious streak of light moving among the stars. Before he can investigate, a gigantic black hole appears and begins pulling him in.
• At the same time, the mirror-like ground sinks and starts swallowing his body. The combined forces drag in both his Divine Soul and Divine Thought.
• Shen Luo suddenly awakens in his residence, drenched in cold sweat. He realizes that almost no time has passed outside, despite feeling as though he had spent half a night inside the mysterious space.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo displays caution and resourcefulness as he tests the space’s properties using his artifacts, Divine Thought, flight, and physical exploration.
• His initial curiosity turns into unease when he discovers the space’s strange rules and apparent inability to be escaped through ordinary means.
• He becomes more aware of the Heavenly Register’s immense and unknown power, recognizing that the artifact—not his own cultivation—may control the space.
• His encounter with the starfield and black hole deepens his sense of danger and mystery surrounding the Jade Pillow and Heavenly Register.

Significant Themes

• Mystery and the unknown: The Golden Space follows incomprehensible rules, suggesting that the Heavenly Register contains powers far beyond Shen Luo’s understanding.
• Limits of control: Shen Luo’s abilities and magical artifacts are effective in some ways but ultimately cannot overcome the space’s barriers.
• Dreams and altered reality: The space resembles a dream, where distance, movement, and physical laws behave abnormally.
• Time distortion: The chapter establishes that time inside the Golden Space does not correspond to time in the outside world.
• Cosmic grandeur and danger: The magnificent starfield contrasts sharply with the terrifying black hole, presenting the Heavenly Register as both beautiful and threatening.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo has no direct interaction with other characters in this chapter.
• His primary “interaction” is with the Heavenly Register, the Golden Space, and his own magical artifacts.
• The Pure Yang Sword Embryo behaves unpredictably when sent into the mist, returning as though controlled by the space itself.
• Shen Luo’s interaction with the Heavenly Register allows his Divine Soul to enter the starfield but also exposes him to the black hole’s overwhelming force.

Shen Luo tried to improve his Huangting Scripture cultivation by opening another magic meridian with Zhao Feiji’s yin qi, but the process triggered a dangerous yin fiend backlash. Unable to suppress the surging power, he entered the Jade Pillow’s star field with his divine soul as the backlash threatened to erupt.

• Shen Luo failed to make significant progress cultivating the Huangting Scripture despite his improved aptitude.
• Shen Luo summoned Zhao Feiji and began opening another magic meridian using the Ghost General’s yin qi.
• Worldly spiritual qi and yin baleful qi reacted violently, triggering a yin fiend backlash that spread through Shen Luo’s magic meridians.
• Shen Luo tried to suppress the backlash with the Nameless Art and Huangting Scripture, but neither worked.
• As the yin fiend power built toward an eruption, Shen Luo used the Jade Pillow and entered its sea of stars with his divine soul.

Shen Luo used a mysterious vision of the Heavenly Register to borrow cultivation and purge the Yin Baleful Qi from his body, but the effort cost him another ten years of lifespan. Two days later, he joined a gathering at Chongxuan Hall to discuss the strange phenomenon at the Water-and-Land Dharma Assembly, with Chan'er present.

• Shen Luo called the names of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Soldiers in the starry realm, then shouted his own name and awakened with a surge of magic power.
• Shen Luo used the power to erase the Yin Baleful Qi in his heart, then collapsed unconscious as his magic power faded.
• Zhao Feiji told Shen Luo that they had both passed out during cultivation, and Shen Luo found his meridians unharmed but his lifespan shortened by ten years.
• Shen Luo realized his body could not bear any more opened magic meridians and resolved to find a way to extend his lifespan before investigating the Stellar Formation again.
• Two days later, Shen Luo went to Chongxuan Hall, where Lu Huaming explained that the meeting concerned the strange phenomenon at the Water-and-Land Dharma Assembly.
• Cheng Yaojin and Yuan Tiangang arrived with Chan'er, and Yuan Tiangang began the discussion about the phenomenon.

Chapter Summary: “Past Life”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a discussion after the Dharma assembly, Chan’er reveals that the monk phantom who helped guide the ten thousand ghosts was not a manifestation of his own power, but the remnant soul of his previous life, Master Xuanzang.
• The remnant soul awakened because the demonic blood within Chan’er’s Buddhist beads became active. It told Chan’er that something immensely important had been left in the Western Regions and urged him to retrieve it at any cost.
• Xuanzang’s remnant soul gave no details about the object, seemingly to hide the matter from Heaven. Yuan Tiangang’s divination suggests that Xuanzang traveled west along the old scripture-seeking route and eventually died near Crow-Cock Kingdom, but the exact circumstances remain unknown.
• The group decides that Chan’er, Shen Luo, and Bai Xiaotian should personally travel to the Western Regions to investigate. A small party is preferred so they can avoid attracting attention.
• Lu Huaming cannot accompany them because he must continue investigating Demon Wind. Gu Hualing has been temporarily registered as one of his subordinates and will participate in that investigation, causing Shen Luo to caution Lu to remain vigilant.
• Before departing, Shen Luo asks Lu Huaming to arrange the refinement of Milk Spirit Pills and Blood Qilin Pills. Lu agrees to seek help from his master and the royal alchemists. Shen Luo gives him the Millennium Spiritual Milk and Qilin Blood needed for the pills.

Character Developments

• Chan’er becomes more serious and accepts a personal responsibility connected to his past life as Xuanzang. His trust in Shen Luo and Lu Huaming is evident when he invites them to accompany him.
• Shen Luo agrees to investigate the Western Regions partly because his search in Chang’an for the person marked with a Plum Blossom Mark has stalled, and because he suspects one of the Reincarnated Demon Souls may be there.
• Bai Xiaotian volunteers to join the expedition, strengthening the group and demonstrating his loyalty and willingness to undertake danger.
• Lu Huaming remains committed to his official duties and the investigation into Demon Wind, but continues supporting Shen Luo by helping procure powerful pills.
• Cheng Yaojin assists Shen Luo’s investigation into the Plum Blossom Mark and views the search of Chang’an’s household records as useful for preventing future supernatural disasters.
• Gu Hualing’s position remains uncertain: she is now officially under Lu Huaming’s command, but Shen Luo suspects she may still pose a danger.

Significant Themes

• Past lives and unfinished obligations: Xuanzang’s remnant soul binds Chan’er to a mission left incomplete in a former existence.
• Hidden truth and secrecy: The unknown object is concealed even from Heaven, emphasizing its enormous significance and the dangers surrounding its discovery.
• Duty versus personal goals: Lu Huaming must remain in Chang’an to fulfill his official responsibilities, while Shen Luo pursues a broader investigation in the Western Regions.
• Trust and cooperation: The expedition relies on the growing trust between Chan’er, Shen Luo, and Bai Xiaotian.
• Preparation for danger: The discussion of a small traveling party and the refinement of special pills highlights the group’s awareness that the journey will be perilous.

Character Interactions

• Chan’er explains his connection to Xuanzang to the gathered Buddhist and political authorities, shocking them and prompting questions about reincarnation and the remnant soul.
• Elder Zheshi argues that the investigation requires personal involvement, while Cheng Yaojin explains the limited information obtained through divination.
• Shen Luo consults Cheng Yaojin about the Plum Blossom Mark investigation before committing to the journey.
• Bai Xiaotian’s voluntary participation is welcomed by Master Kongdu and strengthens the expedition.
• Lu Huaming apologizes for being unable to accompany Shen Luo, explains Gu Hualing’s assignment, and reassures Shen Luo that he can handle the situation.
• Shen Luo and Lu exchange friendly banter over the pill-refining request, underscoring their camaraderie and mutual support.

Chapter Summary: “Crow-Cock Kingdom”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After half a month of preparation, Shen Luo, Bai Xiaotian, and Chan’er travel west toward the Western Regions aboard a flying vessel.
• Shen Luo has consumed pills refined from Qilin blood. The medicine extends his lifespan by roughly fifty years and significantly improves his affinity for fire-based Yuan power. Although he has not fully recovered his depleted Yuan, his condition has improved greatly.
• The group crosses the Great Tang’s border and passes over the desolate Two-Boundary Mountain, a place associated with Chan’er’s former incarnation as Golden Cicada and the beginning of the legendary Journey to the West.
• Hoping to restore Chan’er’s memories, Bai Xiaotian guides him through the mountain and along the old pilgrimage route. Despite visiting many familiar locations, Chan’er recalls almost nothing, leaving him confused and distressed.
• Their detour delays the journey for more than a month. They eventually reach Crow-Cock Kingdom, which is almost entirely desert and contains unusually dense foul qi mixed into the air.
• Because Chan’er cannot identify where they should go or remember anything about the kingdom, Shen Luo suggests gathering information in a nearby city.
• They enter Bai Prefecture City, a large settlement situated on a major trade route. Its architecture, artwork, clothing, and customs differ markedly from those of the Central Plains.
• At the city gate, corrupt soldiers first demand the normal entry fee, then attempt to extort Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian by charging them two gold coins each and accusing them of being foreign spies. The guards surround them with weapons, setting up a confrontation.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Demonstrates improved physical condition and enhanced fire manipulation after consuming Qilin-blood pills. He remains pragmatic and observant, sensing that Crow-Cock Kingdom resembles the dangerous dream realm and suggesting that the group investigate carefully.
• Bai Xiaotian: Continues to act as the group’s guide and takes responsibility for helping Chan’er recover his memories. Though usually relaxed and humorous, he becomes displeased when the city guards openly exploit and threaten him.
• Chan’er/Golden Cicada: Shows faint, uncertain impressions when seeing the Two-Boundary Mountain but cannot recover any meaningful memories of his previous pilgrimage. His continued amnesia causes visible distress and uncertainty about how to proceed.

Significant Themes

• Memory and identity: Chan’er’s inability to remember his former life contrasts with the legendary history associated with the places they visit.
• The influence of destiny and history: The travelers retrace the route of the Journey to the West, suggesting that past events may still shape their current mission.
• Danger beneath apparent desolation: Crow-Cock Kingdom appears barren and impoverished, but the dense foul qi signals hidden supernatural threats.
• Corruption and cultural difference: The customs and appearance of Bai Prefecture City emphasize the contrast between the Western Regions and the Great Tang, while the gate guards reveal the instability and lawlessness of the area.
• Fortune and cultivation: Shen Luo’s Qilin-blood medicine highlights the rarity of powerful resources and the advantages gained through chance, preparation, and perseverance.

Character Interactions

• Bai Xiaotian teases Shen Luo about his constant cultivation, while Shen Luo responds modestly and redirects the conversation.
• Bai Xiaotian respectfully addresses Chan’er as “Master Golden Cicada” and actively tries to trigger his memories by showing him important sites.
• Chan’er asks to visit the Two-Boundary Mountain, and Bai Xiaotian readily accommodates him.
• Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian support Chan’er’s recovery but eventually recognize that the effort has been unsuccessful.
• At Bai Prefecture City, Bai Xiaotian challenges the guards’ unfair demand, while Shen Luo observes the situation. The guards’ escalation places the group on the verge of conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Sacred Lotus Altar”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the gates of Bai Prefecture City, corrupt guards try to charge Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian an exorbitant entry fee. Chan’er intervenes, invoking Buddhist equality, and the guards immediately recognize him as a revered monk and allow all three to enter without payment.
• Inside the city, Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian discover a stark contrast: the streets and homes are filthy and impoverished, while Buddhist temples are numerous, grand, and richly supplied with incense and offerings.
• Chan’er explains that he will stay at a temple, while Bai Xiaotian accompanies him for protection. Shen Luo finds an inn and agrees to investigate the Crow-Cock Kingdom and Bai Prefecture City separately.
• The innkeeper tells Shen Luo that the kingdom was once prosperous but has declined because of repeated natural disasters, rampant banditry, and the sudden appearance of many demons. He attributes the people’s suffering to insufficient devotion to the Sacred Lotus Altar’s “Holy Lord.”
• Shen Luo secretly explores the city at night, listens to residents’ private conversations, and retrieves historical records from local temples.
• From these records, he learns that the Sacred Lotus Altar is the Crow-Cock Kingdom’s state religion and controls most of the city’s temples. It presents its monks as superior to ordinary people and demands enormous payments before dealing with demons.
• Shen Luo concludes that the Sacred Lotus Altar exploits the population’s fear and poverty, disguising extortion and wealth accumulation as religious offerings.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo remains cautious and observant. Rather than confronting the guards or openly challenging the city’s religious practices, he gathers information discreetly. His investigation reveals his growing suspicion that the Sacred Lotus Altar is corrupt and dangerous.
• Bai Xiaotian shows concern for Chan’er’s safety and voluntarily accompanies him to the temple. He also reacts with surprise to the contradiction between Bai Prefecture City’s religious prosperity and its people’s poverty.
• Chan’er demonstrates both moral courage and social influence. His simple appeal to Buddhist equality exposes the guards’ hypocrisy, while his status as a monk grants him immediate respect throughout the city. However, he appears troubled by the city’s distorted religious environment.
• The Buddhist Bead offers a cynical explanation for the city’s decline, criticizing the guards’ corruption and the danger they pose to merchants.
• The innkeeper reflects the ordinary citizens’ deep indoctrination. He accepts the Sacred Lotus Altar’s teachings and even becomes angry when Shen Luo admits he does not know of it.

Significant Themes

• Religious authority and exploitation: The Sacred Lotus Altar uses its spiritual status to dominate the population, claim superiority over common people, and demand wealth in exchange for protection.
• Appearance versus reality: Bai Prefecture City appears spiritually prosperous because of its many temples and rituals, but its people live in extreme poverty and insecurity.
• Faith as comfort and control: The citizens turn to Buddhism for emotional relief during a period of disaster, but the Sacred Lotus Altar manipulates that faith to justify oppression.
• Corruption and social inequality: The guards extort travelers, while the religious authorities profit from demon-related crises. Both institutions prey on the vulnerable.
• Investigation and discernment: Shen Luo looks beyond official explanations and religious appearances, using observation, secret exploration, and historical records to uncover the city’s deeper problems.

Character Interactions

• Chan’er’s confrontation with the guards establishes his moral principles and reveals the privileged position of monks in the city.
• Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian silently recognize that Chan’er’s presence protects them, despite not understanding the full reason for the guards’ sudden change in attitude.
• Bai Xiaotian discusses the city’s contradictions with Chan’er, while the Buddhist Bead provides a harsher interpretation of the kingdom’s poverty and corruption.
• The three travelers divide their responsibilities: Chan’er stays at a temple, Bai Xiaotian guards him, and Shen Luo investigates the city independently.
• Shen Luo’s conversation with the innkeeper exposes the widespread public acceptance of the Sacred Lotus Altar’s ideology, setting up the likelihood of future conflict with the organization.

Shen Luo, Bai Xiaotian, and Chan'er watched a snake demon attack Bai Prefecture City, where the Sacred Lotus Dharma Altar Temple's golden crystal sphere initially repelled its demonic winds. As the sphere's power weakened, Shen Luo prepared to intervene, while arrogant monks gathered inside the temple pagoda.

• Shen Luo heard a demon's roar and flew to the temple where Chan'er and Bai Xiaotian were staying.
• Chan'er urged Bai Xiaotian to help the city's people, and Shen Luo joined them as the snake demon's black clouds spread over Bai Prefecture City.
• The temple's golden crystal sphere intercepted the demon's attacks with beams of light, and Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian agreed to watch before acting.
• The demon unleashed more than a dozen demonic pythons, but the sphere blocked them before its light began to fade.
• Shen Luo said they would have to act, while several arrogant monks sat inside the Sacred Lotus Dharma Altar Temple's pagoda.

Shen Luo arrived in Jingxi just as the city’s protective restriction failed and used the Yin-Yang Dharma Sword to destroy the demon’s cloud and wound the Millennium Snake Enchantress. He immobilized the demon and shattered its scales, leaving it vulnerable to his next attack.

• The City Lord of Jingxi pleaded with Holy Monk Lamo for help, but Lamo said the monks needed fresh sacrifices to regain their divine power.
• After the Golden Pagoda’s crystal pearl lost its power, the Millennium Snake Enchantress attacked a house, and Shen Luo cut apart its demonic hand with the Pure Yang Sword Embryo.
• Shen Luo used the Yin-Yang Dharma Sword to split the black cloud and reveal the gigantic python demon beneath it.
• Shen Luo recognized the demon as a Millennium Snake Enchantress and used Yimu Immortal Escape to appear behind it.
• Shen Luo struck the demon with an Immobilization Talisman and an Armor-Shattering Talisman, freezing it and cracking its scales.

Shen Luo killed the Millennium Snake Enchantress, but three monks from the Sacred Lotus Altar demanded her body and attacked him and Bai Xiaotian. The monks’ strange Buddhist magic put Bai Xiaotian’s fan at risk, and Shen Luo countered by seizing the lead in their fight.

• Shen Luo used high-grade talismans to kill the Millennium Snake Enchantress, then collected her corpse with the Heavenly Register.
• Bai Xiaotian arrived as three Sacred Lotus Altar monks demanded that they release the demon for their Holy Lord.
• Bai Xiaotian refused, and the yellow-faced monk ordered the three monks to attack him and Shen Luo.
• Bai Xiaotian used the Dotting the Eyes of the Painted Dragon Fan to repel the monks’ first attacks, but the yellow-faced monk trapped the fan with his Jade Gourd.
• Shen Luo froze the Jade Gourd, helping Bai Xiaotian recover his fan, then attacked the yellow-faced monk with the Five-Fire Fan while the Cosmic Bag pulled the gourd away.

Chapter Summary: “Seeking Aid”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The yellow-faced monk attempts to reclaim the Azure Jade Gourd by using blood essence and a secret technique to melt the ice sealing it.
• Before he can retrieve it, Shen Luo uses a mysterious golden technique to make the gourd vanish, severing the monk’s connection to it. The gourd is effectively taken away.
• Enraged, the yellow-faced monk unleashes a powerful Buddhist Bead artifact, sending countless golden beams toward Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian.
• More than a hundred Sacred Lotus Altar disciples emerge from Bai Prefecture City and attack the two outsiders.
• Shen Luo summons the phantom of the Zhenhai Pearl to create a blue cloud that blocks the golden attacks and the advancing monks. Since the defense will not last, he uses an escape technique to take Bai Xiaotian away.
• The yellow-faced monk orders the city searched and its protective restrictions activated. He insists that Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian must be stopped from escaping with both the Spirit-Sealing Gourd and the Millennium Snake Enchantress.
• Realizing that ordinary forces may be insufficient, the yellow-faced monk contacts the Dragon Altar’s Protector through a secret communication formation.
• He reports that two powerful outsiders have abducted the Sacred Dragon and stolen his Jade Gourd. The Protector identifies one attacker as likely being a Huasheng Temple cultivator and authorizes the use of the God-Invoking Talisman.
• The Protector threatens the yellow-faced monk with death if the Sacred Dragon is not recovered, revealing that he plans to use the creature’s snake gall to cultivate an ocular technique.
• The yellow-faced monk receives the Protector’s magical assistance, breaking the seal on the God-Invoking Talisman and preparing a stronger counterattack.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates calmness, confidence, and superior tactical judgment. Rather than prolonging the battle, he steals the Jade Gourd, blocks the pursuing forces, and escapes with Bai Xiaotian.
• Bai Xiaotian remains Shen Luo’s ally and relies on him for protection and movement during the escape.
• The yellow-faced monk becomes increasingly furious and desperate after losing the Jade Gourd and the Sacred Dragon. His authority is challenged, forcing him to seek aid from a higher-ranking figure.
• The fat and thin monks support the yellow-faced monk by sacrificing blood essence to strengthen their defensive artifacts, though they are exhausted and doubtful that they can defeat Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian.
• The golden-crowned Protector is revealed to be powerful, demanding, and ruthless. He values the Sacred Dragon as a resource for his cultivation and holds the yellow-faced monk personally responsible for its recovery.

Significant Themes

• Power and desperation: The Sacred Lotus Altar’s forces resort to blood sacrifices, mass attacks, and forbidden or advanced techniques when ordinary defenses fail.
• Strategic superiority versus brute force: Shen Luo prevails through timing and clever use of artifacts rather than prolonged combat.
• Hierarchical control and accountability: The yellow-faced monk must report his failure to a superior, who threatens him with death and grants limited assistance.
• Exploitation of living beings: The Sacred Dragon is treated as “blood food” and as a source of spiritual materials, highlighting the cruelty of the Sacred Lotus Altar.
• Escalation of conflict: Shen Luo’s theft of the gourd and capture of the Sacred Dragon transforms a local confrontation into a larger conflict involving powerful figures within the Dragon Altar.

Character Interactions

• The yellow-faced monk and his two fellow monks combine their strength to defend against Shen Luo’s five-colored fire dragon, sacrificing blood essence to reinforce their Buddhist artifacts.
• Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian cooperate closely, with Shen Luo shielding and transporting Bai Xiaotian during their escape.
• The yellow-faced monk commands the Sacred Lotus Altar disciples to search the city and seal its defenses, revealing his authority over the local forces.
• The fat monk questions whether the search party can defeat Shen Luo, prompting the yellow-faced monk to reveal his plan to summon the Holy Lord.
• The yellow-faced monk reports directly to the golden-crowned Protector, who grants permission to activate the God-Invoking Talisman but threatens him with severe punishment if the Sacred Dragon is not recovered.

After escaping Bai Prefecture City, Shen Luo examined the Jade Gourd and found that the Heavenly Register Space could erase another cultivator’s refinement imprint. He consumed the Millennium Snake Enchantress’s gallbladder to absorb its power, but the scorching energy rushed into his eyes before he could refine it.

• Shen Luo used Yimu Immortal Escape to get Bai Xiaotian and Chan'er out of Bai Prefecture City before a golden barrier sealed the city.
• Bai Xiaotian carried the group away on his flying boat while Shen Luo refined the Jade Gourd and discovered that the Heavenly Register Space had erased the yellow-faced monk’s imprint.
• Shen Luo used the Golden Short Cone to remove the Millennium Snake Enchantress’s gallbladder from her corpse inside the Heavenly Register Space.
• Shen Luo swallowed the gallbladder and used the Nameless Art to protect himself from its scorching energy.
• The energy escaped Shen Luo’s efforts, reached his head, split in two, and poured into his eyes.

After swallowing the Millennium Snake Enchantress’s gallbladder, Shen Luo endured a painful transformation that enhanced his vision and let him see magic power and meridians. Once he recovered, the group prepared to continue, but Chan'er gazed northwest in silence.

• Shen Luo's eyes erupted in pain after he swallowed the snake demon's gallbladder, and Bai Xiaotian landed the flying boat in the desert to help him.
• A Soul Condensation Stage sand worm attacked, but Bai Xiaotian killed it with his golden fan while Buddhist Bead shielded the boat from sand columns.
• Bai Xiaotian cast healing spells and Chan'er recited the Calming Spirit Sutra until Shen Luo's pain subsided and his eyes returned to normal.
• Shen Luo discovered that his transformed eyes gave him sharper close-range vision and let him see magic power, meridians, and dantians.
• Shen Luo explained that he had swallowed the Millennium Snake Enchantress's gallbladder, and Bai Xiaotian warned him that monster essence was safer to take after alchemical refinement.
• Shen Luo urged the group to resume their journey, but Chan'er stared northwest, prompting Bai Xiaotian to ask what was wrong.

Chan'er sensed a mysterious summons in Red Valley City, so he and Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian entered the city to investigate. After they learned that a Mahayana Dharma Assembly was approaching, a madman grabbed Chan'er and repeatedly asked how the virtuous were to be delivered before soldiers dragged him away.

• Chan'er sensed something calling to him from Red Valley City, and Bai Xiaotian flew there with him and Shen Luo.
• The three arrived at Red Valley City, where Shen Luo learned the city was renowned for red copper and artifact refining.
• Chan'er confirmed that the summons came from somewhere in the city, and the group entered to search for it.
• Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian noticed preparations for a Mahayana Dharma Assembly, which interested Chan'er.
• A ragged madman seized Chan'er's robe and asked how the virtuous were to be delivered, but soldiers dragged him away as he kept shouting the question.

Shen Luo, Bai Xiaotian, and Chan'er arrived in Red Valley City and learned about the coming Mahayana Dharma Assembly and its powerful organizer, Lin Da. As monks from the city came to welcome them, one of them recognized Shen Luo and hid his fury behind a smile.

• A squad captain apologized after a madman tore Chan'er's robes, and Bai Xiaotian said the man's madness would be difficult to treat.
• Shen Luo claimed the three had come to attend the Mahayana Dharma Assembly, and the captain escorted them to a guesthouse.
• Shen Luo learned from their attendant Duke that Lin Da had subdued a True Immortal demon and had entered seclusion ahead of the assembly.
• Four or five red-robed monks visited the courtyard, and Shen Luo sensed that two of them were late Out-of-Body cultivators.
• The golden-crowned monk recognized Shen Luo, briefly showed bone-deep fury, then concealed his reaction and smiled.

Shen Luo learned that Master Longtan was connected to the yellow-faced monk from Bai Prefecture City and had become hostile because Shen Luo had swallowed the Millennium Snake Enchantress's gallbladder. Longtan planned to seize Shen Luo's eyes, but Master Baoshan delivered Altar Master Lin Da's order forbidding him from targeting the visitors.

• Master Longtan and Master Baoshan welcomed Shen Luo, Chan'er, and Bai Xiaotian to Red Valley City and invited them to the Mahayana Dharma Assembly.
• After Chan'er rested and Bai Xiaotian went sightseeing, Shen Luo questioned Duke and learned that Lamo, the Bai Prefecture City branch head, was Longtan's martial nephew.
• Shen Luo confirmed that Longtan knew about the events in Bai Prefecture City, then stayed to protect Chan'er and began refining the Jade Gourd.
• Longtan told a white-robed monk that Shen Luo had swallowed the Millennium Snake Enchantress's gallbladder and ordered him to watch for a chance to capture Shen Luo and take his eyes.
• Master Baoshan arrived with Altar Master Lin Da's decree forbidding Longtan from monitoring or harming the three visitors, and Longtan reluctantly agreed to obey.

Chapter Summary: “Boss Hua”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo waits at the inn while cultivating, but Bai Xiaotian does not return for most of the day.
• Chan’er comes out and suggests exploring the city to search for clues about his lost memories. Shen Luo accompanies him, partly to investigate the city’s artifact trade and see whether anyone is monitoring them.
• They visit several districts without finding clues or signs of surveillance, eventually reaching the northern district, which is famous for artifact-refining shops.
• Shen Luo examines many Magical Artifacts but is disappointed. Most are only Middle-Grade or Upper-Grade, while suitable Top-Grade artifacts are extremely rare.
• Bai Xiaotian returns with Sun Hai, an Outer Disciple of Huasheng Temple stationed in Red Valley City. He explains that the Crow-Cock Kingdom’s royal family monopolizes the finest Magical Artifacts and sells them mainly to major powers, making them unavailable in ordinary shops.
• Through Huasheng Temple’s connection to the royal family, Bai Xiaotian offers Shen Luo access to better artifact-refining channels.
• Sun Hai reveals that he knows a highly skilled but eccentric and expensive artifact refiner capable of producing Top-Grade Magical Artifacts.
• Shen Luo agrees to the high cost, provided the refiner can make something suitable, and follows Sun Hai to a shabby courtyard.
• The chapter ends as Sun Hai repeatedly pounds on the locked gate and calls for “Boss Hua,” receiving no response despite smoke rising from the courtyard chimney.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Remains cautious and observant, testing whether enemies are watching him. He shows dissatisfaction with the city’s publicly available artifacts but becomes eager once he learns of a private master capable of custom-refining a Top-Grade artifact. His willingness to pay a steep price demonstrates his priorities and confidence in acquiring a powerful tool.
• Chan’er: Shows growing independence by choosing to explore the city in search of memories. He is considerate of Shen Luo’s needs and encourages him to pursue his own objectives rather than remain focused solely on Chan’er.
• Bai Xiaotian: Demonstrates his useful connections and knowledge of Red Valley City’s political and commercial structure. He arranges for Shen Luo to meet Sun Hai and takes responsibility for accompanying Chan’er.
• Sun Hai: Introduced as a modest-looking but intelligent Huasheng Temple disciple. He serves as a guide and intermediary, possessing important knowledge about the city’s elite artifact-refining network.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power structures: The best resources are controlled by the royal family and accessible only through privileged alliances, revealing how political influence shapes commerce.
• Trust and connections: Shen Luo’s access to superior artifacts depends on Bai Xiaotian’s relationships and Huasheng Temple’s status.
• Pursuit of power and preparation: Shen Luo’s search for a Top-Grade Magical Artifact reflects his need to strengthen himself for future dangers.
• Mystery and uncertainty: Chan’er’s lost memories and the unexplained absence of surveillance continue to create an atmosphere of suspense.
• Risk versus reward: Custom artifact refinement may consume precious materials without success, but Shen Luo is willing to accept the danger for a superior result.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo respectfully supports Chan’er’s desire to explore while remaining protective of him.
• Chan’er reassures Shen Luo that he need not limit his own activities on Chan’er’s account.
• Bai Xiaotian explains the artifact market to Shen Luo and introduces him to Sun Hai.
• Shen Luo entrusts Chan’er to Bai Xiaotian while pursuing the artifact-refining opportunity with Sun Hai.
• Sun Hai warns Shen Luo about the refiner’s high fees and possible risks, but Shen Luo immediately accepts the terms.
• The chapter closes with Sun Hai attempting to summon the mysterious and eccentric Boss Hua.

Shen Luo visited Flower Boss to commission a staff-shaped Top-Grade Magical Artifact made from black tortoise shell, but Flower Boss demanded an exorbitant price for the rare materials needed. Shen Luo left without agreeing to the purchase or forging fee.

• Sun Hai brought Shen Luo to Flower Boss, who examined Shen Luo's shattered mirror fragments and recognized their black tortoise shell.
• Flower Boss explained that the mirror had been poorly forged and said the shell could be reused to make Shen Luo's staff.
• Shen Luo asked for a staff that was exceptionally hard, heavy, and able to withstand powerful Magic Power, and Flower Boss said it required mending-heaven stone and ink crystal.
• Flower Boss offered his pieces of mending-heaven stone and purpleheart ink crystal for five thousand Immortal Jade, far more than Shen Luo could afford.
• Shen Luo rejected Flower Boss's price and left with Sun Hai, who apologized for the demand.