Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Countermeasure”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ancestral Dragon Soul attempts to devour Shen Luo’s Divine Soul within his Consciousness Sea, assuming Shen Luo is too weak to resist.
• Shen Luo deliberately feigns exhaustion while chanting the Buzhou Suppression Divine Art.
• Mount Buzhou, visualized within the Consciousness Sea, descends from the heavens and crushes the Ancestral Dragon Soul beneath it.
• Shen Luo then summons the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, which begins refining and burning away the dragon soul’s power.
• The Ancestral Dragon Soul is rapidly weakened. Though less than one-tenth of its original essence remains, Shen Luo’s Divine Soul power increases by nearly half, and Mount Buzhou becomes even more stable.
• Shen Luo emerges from the dragon’s body and confronts the now-shrunken, helpless soul.
• The dragon pleads for mercy, revealing that it has fused its remaining bloodline power with Ao Hong’s Divine Soul and body. Killing the Ancestral Dragon Soul would therefore cause Ao Hong to wither and die.
• Shen Luo halts the Red Lotus Karmic Fire but keeps Mount Buzhou suppressing the dragon.
• Rather than release it, Shen Luo threatens to imprison the remnant soul indefinitely beneath Mount Buzhou.
• Fearing endless isolation and torment, the Ancestral Dragon Soul begins bargaining. It offers to teach Shen Luo ancient Dragon Race cultivation techniques and eventually promises knowledge of ancient secret realms and cave abodes in exchange for its life.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates increased confidence, tactical intelligence, and mastery of his Divine Soul techniques. He recognizes that the Ancestral Dragon Soul’s intimidating form conceals severe weakness.
• His previous experience suppressing Chi You helps him identify and exploit the dragon soul’s psychological bluff.
• Shen Luo also reveals a colder, more ruthless side. Although he cares about Ao Hong, he refuses to be easily manipulated and uses the threat of eternal imprisonment to force the dragon into submission.
• The Ancestral Dragon Soul is exposed as a “paper tiger”: ancient and powerful in origin, but greatly diminished after countless years. Its arrogance turns into fear and desperation once Shen Luo gains control.
• The dragon shifts from threatening Shen Luo to pleading, bargaining, and offering valuable secrets.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus intimidation: True power is shown through strategy and execution rather than appearance. The dragon’s enormous form is largely a psychological tactic.
• Using the enemy’s weakness against them: Shen Luo turns the dragon’s decision to enter his Consciousness Sea into a decisive disadvantage.
• Ancient power in decline: Even a legendary being such as the Ancestral Dragon can be weakened by the passage of time.
• Control and leverage: Shen Luo gains the upper hand by controlling both the battlefield and the dragon’s fate, while the dragon relies on Ao Hong as its final bargaining chip.
• Mercy versus ruthlessness: Shen Luo’s concern for the Dragon Race and Ao Hong conflicts with his willingness to imprison or destroy the dragon soul if necessary.

Character Interactions

• The Ancestral Dragon Soul mocks Shen Luo’s apparent weakness and demands that he surrender his Divine Soul power.
• Shen Luo responds indirectly, using chanting and the Buzhou Suppression Divine Art to reveal that he has been setting a trap.
• After being crushed and refined, the dragon begs Shen Luo to stop and warns that Ao Hong will die if it is destroyed.
• Shen Luo challenges the dragon’s assumption that Ao Hong’s life will guarantee its safety, threatening instead to imprison it forever.
• The dragon, terrified of renewed endless confinement, attempts to buy its freedom with ancient cultivation techniques and knowledge of hidden realms.

Chapter Summary: “Still Ao Hong”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo refuses to search ancient secret realms because his priority is repairing the Jade Pillow.
• The Ancestral Dragon Soul, desperate to escape suppression beneath Mount Buzhou, attempts to self-destruct. Shen Luo easily prevents this by increasing the mountain’s suppressive force.
• Rather than destroy the weakened soul, Shen Luo offers it a bargain: he will spare it if it helps Ao Hong restore the East Sea Dragon Race and stabilize the divided Dragon Palaces.
• The Ancestral Dragon Soul agrees, provided Shen Luo finds a way for it to survive after leaving the Blood-Seeking Nine-Chi Pearl. Shen Luo proposes sealing it within Ao Hong’s Consciousness Sea, where it can recover by drawing on Ao Hong’s strength.
• The soul severs its secret bloodline connection with Ao Hong, freeing Ao Hong from its control and awakening him.
• Ao Zhong reports that Ao Run and Ao Shun escaped after breaking free of the Six Ding Six Jia Grand Formation, though the Dragon Palace forces have returned.
• Shen Luo recalls the injured Heavenly Fiend Corpse King and stores it in the Free-and-Easy Mirror to recover.
• Shen Luo explains the agreement to Ao Hong. Though initially shocked, Ao Hong accepts the plan.
• Ao Zhong worries that the Ancestral Dragon Soul might possess Ao Hong, but Shen Luo reassures him that the soul is too weak and that he will teach Ao Hong the Buzhou Suppression Divine Art.
• Ao Hong quickly learns the technique. Shen Luo estimates that within three months, Ao Hong will be able to suppress the remnant soul himself.
• Shen Luo begins preparing to transfer the Ancestral Dragon Soul into Ao Hong’s Consciousness Sea. The soul immediately becomes suspicious and accuses Shen Luo of intending to imprison it permanently.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates increased strength and control, effortlessly stopping the Ancestral Dragon Soul’s self-destruction. He also shows pragmatism and strategic mercy by turning an enemy into a potential ally rather than killing it.
• The Ancestral Dragon Soul shifts from defiance and desperation to reluctant cooperation. Although it accepts the bargain, it remains distrustful of Shen Luo and fears being betrayed.
• Ao Hong proves emotionally resilient after the death of the East Sea Dragon King and the recent upheavals. He accepts the dangerous arrangement calmly and displays exceptional aptitude for cultivation.
• Ao Zhong acts as a protective elder brother, remaining suspicious of the plan and offering to take the risk himself if Ao Hong might be endangered. He ultimately trusts Shen Luo’s judgment.
• The Heavenly Fiend Corpse King survives the soul-based attack but is left weakened and placed in recovery.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism over vengeance: Shen Luo chooses to preserve the Ancestral Dragon Soul because it can help restore the Dragon Race.
• Trust and coercion: The agreement is technically voluntary, but Shen Luo’s overwhelming power and threats leave the soul with little real choice.
• Responsibility and restoration: The Ancestral Dragon Soul is compelled to confront its duty as the Dragon Race’s ancestor and contribute to rebuilding the East Sea Dragon lineage.
• Inheritance and self-mastery: Ao Hong must learn to control the ancient soul within him, symbolizing the younger generation mastering the burdens of the past.
• Loyalty and protection: Ao Zhong’s concern for Ao Hong and Shen Luo’s willingness to teach him reveal the importance of bonds amid political and supernatural turmoil.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and the Ancestral Dragon Soul engage in a tense negotiation shaped by threats, suspicion, and mutual necessity.
• Shen Luo reassures Ao Zhong that Ao Hong will not be possessed and offers him the means to defend himself.
• Ao Hong expresses gratitude toward Shen Luo, while Shen Luo responds warmly and treats him as a trusted friend rather than a subordinate.
• Ao Zhong and Ao Hong’s relationship is shown through Ao Zhong’s immediate concern for his brother’s safety.
• The chapter ends with Shen Luo and the Ancestral Dragon Soul entering another confrontation, as the soul fears that its transfer into Ao Hong’s Consciousness Sea may be a betrayal.

Chapter Summary: “Compromise”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo transfers the Ancestral Dragon Soul from his Consciousness Sea to Ao Hong’s. Before doing so, he places a Divine Thought restriction on it to prevent rebellion.
• Once inside Ao Hong’s Consciousness Sea, the Ancestral Dragon Soul is immediately suppressed by an illusory Mount Buzhou. Ao Hong apologizes but explains that the extraordinary circumstances require such precautions.
• Shen Luo begins teaching Ao Hong the Buzhou Suppression Divine Art while the Dragon Palace forces gather outside the treasury.
• Ao Hong gives Shen Luo the Blood-Seeking Nine-Chi Pearl permanently rather than merely lending it, calling it partial repayment for Shen Luo’s assistance.
• Shen Luo accepts the pearl but privately plans to return it after repairing the Jade Pillow. He also wonders whether the pearl can still function without the Ancestral Dragon Soul, though he has preserved some of the soul’s power as a precaution.
• After leaving the treasury, Ao Hong and Ao Zhong order Qing Chi to seal the Dragon Palace and place the entire East Sea under martial law. Patrols and checkpoints are established to prevent outside enemies, demons, or infiltrators from entering.
• Shen Luo returns to his residence to recover. While reflecting on the battle, he realizes Princess Wansheng may have been targeting the Blood-Colored Bone Flute rather than the Blood-Seeking Nine-Chi Pearl.
• He notices that the flute’s material and aura resemble those of the Blood-Colored Bone Staff from the Black Abyss Mystery Cavern, suggesting a possible connection.
• Shen Luo also remains suspicious of Princess Wansheng’s ties to the Demon Clan, but decides to remain vigilant rather than dwell on matters he cannot currently investigate.
• After recovering from his injuries, Shen Luo focuses on the Black Seed embedded in his Dantian. Attempts to forcibly remove it using the Huangting Scripture cause severe pain because its roots have spread through his Dantian and meridians.
• He recalls the Demon Clan technique “Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees,” which can transfer injuries or harmful conditions from vital areas to less important parts of the body. He masters the technique and prepares to use it to relocate the Black Seed.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo becomes increasingly cautious and strategic. He restrains the Ancestral Dragon Soul rather than trusting it completely, accepts Ao Hong’s gift while still intending to repay him, and investigates the hidden dangers surrounding Princess Wansheng and the Black Seed.
• Ao Hong demonstrates gratitude, authority, and growing responsibility. He gives Shen Luo the Blood-Seeking Nine-Chi Pearl, takes charge of suppressing his ancestor, and helps secure the East Sea after the Dragon Palace crisis.
• The Ancestral Dragon Soul remains resentful of Shen Luo but is forced to submit after being transferred and suppressed by Mount Buzhou. Its hostility is temporarily contained by Shen Luo’s control and Ao Hong’s restraints.
• Ao Zhong acts as a practical authority figure, reinforcing Ao Hong’s orders and ensuring that the Dragon Palace’s security measures are implemented.
• Princess Wansheng becomes more suspicious in Shen Luo’s eyes. Her apparent interest in the Blood-Colored Bone Flute and her association with the Demon Clan suggest a larger, still-hidden scheme.

Significant Themes

• Compromise and restraint: The chapter’s central idea is that dangerous powers must be controlled through uneasy compromises. Shen Luo frees the Ancestral Dragon Soul from one form of imprisonment but places it under another.
• Trust and repayment: Ao Hong’s gift reflects gratitude and an attempt to balance debts, while Shen Luo’s intention to return the pearl shows his reluctance to remain indebted.
• Hidden conspiracies: The similarities between the Bone Flute and Bone Staff, along with Princess Wansheng’s unexplained motives, point toward a broader demonic plot.
• Danger within the self: The Black Seed represents an internal threat that cannot be defeated through brute force. Shen Luo must rely on ingenuity and specialized techniques instead.
• Security after upheaval: The East Sea’s lockdown reflects the Dragon Palace’s uncertainty and fear following the crisis, while also establishing the political consequences of the battle.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo directly threatens and restrains the Ancestral Dragon Soul before transferring it to Ao Hong.
• Ao Hong’s Divine Thought greets and suppresses the Ancestral Dragon Soul, treating it respectfully despite keeping it imprisoned.
• Ao Hong and Shen Luo discuss the Blood-Seeking Nine-Chi Pearl, with Ao Hong insisting that Shen Luo accept it as repayment.
• Ao Hong, Ao Zhong, and Qing Chi coordinate the East Sea’s emergency lockdown, with Ao Zhong reinforcing Ao Hong’s authority.
• Shen Luo reflects on his encounters with Princess Wansheng and the Dragon Kings, reassessing their motives after the battle.

Shen Luo successfully moved the Black Seed from his dantian into the magic meridian in his right hand. At the Dragon Palace, Ao Hong became the new Dragon King and issued decrees to restrain the East Sea while building its strength.

• Shen Luo used Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees on his ninth attempt to transfer the Black Seed into his right hand.
• Ao Zhong announced that the other three seas had ambushed and killed the old Dragon King.
• Ao Zhong publicly supported Ao Hong's succession, and the Dragon Palace leaders and princes bowed to Ao Hong as their new ruler.
• Ao Hong ordered the East Sea's aquatic races not to seek vengeance for ten years and announced strict controls on travel into and out of the East Sea.
• Ao Hong ordered the Dragon Palace to expand its army, register the region's sects, and distribute cultivation manuals to strengthen its forces.

Shen Luo prepared to leave the East Sea after helping Ao Hong, but Lu Huaming arrived with an invitation to the Harmony-Evolving Conference, so Shen Luo returned to Chang’an with him. On the way, Shen Luo learned that the conference would punish the powers behind the siege of Fangcun Mountain.

• Shen Luo declined Ao Hong’s request to stay and help take revenge, but promised to come if Ao Hong called for him.
• Ao Hong gave Shen Luo a Dragon Gate Token as Shen prepared to leave for Heavenly Mechanism City.
• Lu Huaming arrived with an invitation for the East Sea Dragon Palace to attend a conference, but Ao Hong refused to participate.
• Shen Luo learned that Little Master would attend the conference in Chang’an and agreed to return there with Lu Huaming.
• Shen Luo told Lu Huaming about the upheaval at the Dragon Palace and worried about how it might change Ao Hong.
• Lu Huaming explained that the Harmony-Evolving Conference would punish Lion Camel Ridge, the Demon King Stronghold, and the Spider Cave over the siege of Fangcun Mountain.

Chapter Summary: “Fetching the Wine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo and Lu Huaming spend a carefree period traveling toward Chang’an, eating, drinking, and enjoying each other’s company.
• Near Chang’an, Lu Huaming receives a secret official assignment and must part ways with Shen Luo.
• Shen Luo continues alone to Peach Grove Town, located near Zhongnan Mountain, at Lu Huaming’s request.
• Although the famous peach grove is out of season and the town is nearly deserted, Shen Luo searches for Peach Blossom Cove, a tavern known for its rare Peach Fruit Wine.
• The shop has posted a “Sold Out” sign. Inside, the young shopkeeper refuses to sell the final two jars to a wealthy-looking man in a white fox-fur cloak because they are reserved for a longtime customer.
• Shen Luo realizes the reserved customer is Lu Huaming and explains that he has come on Lu’s behalf.
• When the shopkeeper demands proof, Shen Luo uses water-based magic to create an image of Lu Huaming, convincing her of their connection.
• Shen Luo purchases both jars of wine for Lu Huaming.
• As he prepares to leave, the fox-fur-cloaked man begs him to sell or spare even a single flask, clearly overcome by his desire for the wine.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Demonstrates his loyalty and willingness to help Lu Huaming, traveling a long distance for a simple personal favor. He remains polite and resourceful, using his magical ability creatively when faced with suspicion.
• Lu Huaming: Though absent for most of the chapter, his established yearly visits and longstanding relationship with the shopkeeper reveal his sentimental attachment to the wine and the town. His official responsibilities force him to separate from Shen Luo.
• The young shopkeeper: Shrewd, firm, and protective of her regular customers, she refuses to be pressured by wealth or persistence. However, she is impressed by Shen Luo’s magic and changes her attitude once he proves his identity.
• The fox-fur-cloaked man: Initially tries to use money and status to obtain the wine, but quickly becomes desperate and submissive when Shen Luo succeeds. His exaggerated longing provides comic relief and suggests an intense love of alcohol.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty: Shen Luo’s journey to obtain Lu Huaming’s wine reflects the trust and affection between them.
• Tradition and continuity: The peach grove, annual spring outings, and Lu Huaming’s repeated yearly purchases emphasize enduring customs and personal rituals.
• Scarcity and desire: Because Peach Fruit Wine is seasonal and difficult to preserve, its limited availability increases its value and drives the characters’ behavior.
• Social status versus genuine connection: The fox-fur-cloaked man’s wealth cannot persuade the shopkeeper, while Shen Luo succeeds through his authentic connection to Lu Huaming.
• Humor in ordinary affairs: Despite the broader supernatural setting, the chapter focuses on the amusingly serious struggle to obtain a few jars of wine.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and Lu Huaming’s relationship is shown indirectly through Shen Luo’s willingness to fulfill Lu’s request.
• The shopkeeper repeatedly rejects the fox-fur-cloaked man, refusing to sell the reserved wine despite his extravagant offer.
• Shen Luo initially attempts to purchase the wine independently, then gains the shopkeeper’s trust by identifying Lu Huaming and displaying his water-magic image.
• After Shen Luo obtains the wine, the fox-fur-cloaked man shifts from demanding a jar to humbly asking for only a flask, setting up the chapter’s likely continuation.

Shen Luo returned to Chang'an with the fox-clan wine lover Hu Bugui and learned that the approaching Harmony-Evolving Conference had stirred fears of conflict. After discovering that Heavenly Mechanism City’s delegation was staying in the eastern city, Shen Luo set out to visit them.

• Shen Luo shared Lu Huaming’s fruit wine with Hu Bugui, a member of the Qingqiu Lineage, and agreed to travel back to Chang'an with him.
• Shen Luo and Hu Bugui rode paper horses to Chang'an, discussed spells and talismans, then parted after exchanging addresses.
• At the city gates, Shen Luo saw workers reinforcing the walls and later learned that security at the Great Tang Government Office had tightened ahead of the Harmony-Evolving Conference.
• A guard commander told Shen Luo that demons and devils might reject the conference’s terms and warned that the negotiations carried a risk of violence.
• Shen Luo learned that Heavenly Mechanism City’s delegation was staying at its guildhall and that Little Master had come to Chang'an.
• Shen Luo found Cheng Yaojin away meeting State Preceptor Yuan Tiangang, rested in his courtyard, then headed east toward the Heavenly Mechanism Guildhall near evening.

Shen Luo visited the Heavenly Mechanism Guildhall in Chang'an and met with Little Master and Elder Fu. He explained that he had gone to Fangcun Mountain to seek the Mountains, Rivers, State and Society Diagram, setting up a discussion about the Jade Pillow repair.

• Shen Luo arrived at the Heavenly Mechanism Guildhall and was guided through its maze-like walkways and defenses.
• A disciple showed Shen Luo the Black Tortoise puppet and explained the guildhall’s Vermilion Bird defenses.
• Shen Luo met Elder Fu in the reception hall and learned that Wu Shi had recovered and was managing Heavenly Mechanism City.
• Little Master arrived and asked Shen Luo about the incident at Fangcun Mountain.
• Little Master told Shen Luo he could discuss the Jade Pillow repair with Elder Fu, and Shen Luo explained that he had gone to Fangcun Mountain for the Mountains, Rivers, State and Society Diagram.

Shen Luo told Little Master that he had obtained the Mountains, Rivers, State and Society Diagram and the Blood-Seeking Nine-Chi Pearl, but learned that the Jade Pillow could only be repaired later in Heavenly Mechanism City. He also discovered that Fangcun Mountain had named him to represent them at the Harmony-Evolving Conference, where he planned to risk drawing out the Demon Clan.

• Shen Luo told Little Master how he acquired the two treasures, and Little Master said the Jade Pillow repair had to wait until they returned to Heavenly Mechanism City and gathered the remaining materials.
• Little Master revealed that Fangcun Mountain had chosen Shen Luo to present their account and confront Spider Cave and Lion Camel Ridge at the conference in three days.
• Shen Luo agreed to attend and considered using himself as bait to expose any Demon Clan attack, while Little Master advised him to stay at the Heavenly Mechanism Guildhall if he faced danger.
• Shen Luo returned to his quarters, shared wine with Lu Huaming, and heard Lu Huaming confirm Fangcun Mountain's request, then ask whether Shen Luo had already known.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo learns from Lu Huaming that the Heavenly Mechanism Guildhall has announced his selection to represent Fangcun Mountain at the upcoming Harmony-Evolving Conference.
• Lu Huaming criticizes Fangcun Mountain for placing Shen Luo in danger again, especially after his previous near-sacrifice for the sect. Shen Luo defends the decision, explaining that Fangcun Mountain suffered severe losses and that he personally experienced the recent crisis, making him the most suitable representative.
• Lu Huaming reassures Shen Luo that the Demon Clan is internally divided and that many sects oppose the actions of Lion Camel Ridge and Spider Cave. The conference is therefore likely to be largely ceremonial, intended to announce punishments and warn other sects.
• Three days later, Shen Luo hurries to Four Seas Hall for the conference. On the way, he accidentally collides with a timid young Fox Clan girl named Misu.
• Misu explains that she overslept, became separated from her elders, and got lost in the enormous Great Tang Government Office. Shen Luo offers to guide her to the conference, and the two introduce themselves.
• The conference venue is heavily guarded by the Feather Spirit Guards, elite Great Vehicle cultivators trained by Imperial Preceptor Yuan Tiangang. Their rune-covered armor allows them to combine into powerful, flexible formations.
• Representatives from 118 sects across the Three Realms gather in the plaza, including members of the Human, Immortal, Demon, and other races. Though seated together without racial separation, the attendees remain solemn and wary.
• The principal figures arrive on the platform: Cheng Yaojin, Yuan Tiangang, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, Qinglian Fairy of Mount Putuo, Master Kongdu of Huasheng Temple, Sun Granny of Daughter Village, Daoqing of Wuzhuang Temple, and the Little Master of Heavenly Mechanism City.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates loyalty and responsibility toward Fangcun Mountain. Despite recognizing the danger, he views representing the weakened sect as both appropriate and part of his duty.
• He also displays compassion and composure by helping Misu rather than blaming her for the collision or leaving her lost.
• Lu Huaming shows concern for Shen Luo’s safety and frustration with Fangcun Mountain’s treatment of him. His attempt to reassure Shen Luo highlights their close friendship.
• Misu is introduced as shy, inexperienced, and easily flustered, but she becomes visibly more confident and relieved after Shen Luo offers assistance.

Significant Themes

• Duty and loyalty: Shen Luo accepts personal risk because of his obligations to Fangcun Mountain.
• Political tension and diplomacy: The conference brings together sects and races from across the Three Realms amid distrust, recent violence, and disputes involving Lion Camel Ridge and Spider Cave.
• Unity amid division: Different races sit together at the conference, suggesting an effort toward cooperation despite deep political and sectarian divisions.
• Power and authority: The elite guards and prominent representatives emphasize the strength of the Great Tang Government Office and the major sects.
• Compassion and trust: Shen Luo’s small act of helping Misu contrasts with the wider atmosphere of suspicion and formal political maneuvering.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and Lu Huaming discuss Fangcun Mountain’s decision and the risks surrounding the conference. Lu Huaming’s concern is met by Shen Luo’s calm acceptance of responsibility.
• Shen Luo meets Misu after accidentally knocking her down. Their brief exchange establishes a gentle, helpful dynamic as he guides her through the government office.
• The arrival of the major leaders creates a collective interaction between the ruling powers and the gathered sect representatives, who respond with silent respect and apprehension.

Chapter Summary: “Late”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Cheng Yaojin exchanges greetings with the distinguished guests, the assembly participants are directed to their seats.
• Several extremely powerful figures arrive late, releasing overwhelming demonic or immortal auras that intimidate the crowd:
  • The Azure-Furred Lion King of Lion Camel Ridge
  • Bingbing Fairy, the true master of Spider Cave
  • Hu Bugui, a carefree young man familiar to Shen Luo
  • The Kui Demon King of Demon King Stronghold
  • Yang Jian, lord of Lingbo City
• Unlike the earlier guests, these newcomers sit in the row beside the martial arts platform, increasing the tension and speculation among the attendees.
• The assembly is delayed because Shen Luo has not yet appeared. Lu Huaming explains that Shen Luo may have become absorbed in meditation, while Gu Hualing jokingly suggests he might have lost his nerve.
• Shen Luo finally arrives, running in with Misu, a young Fox Clan girl. Their entrance attracts the attention of everyone present, including Qinglian Fairy and the Fox Clan elders.
• Misu is stopped by the Yuling Guards but is allowed into the venue by Cheng Yaojin. She then goes to her clan elders, who react with shock and anger because she had been forbidden from leaving Qingqiu or coming to Chang’an.
• Granny Qiu harshly orders Misu to return immediately. Misu is deeply hurt, especially because Granny Qiu had previously treated her kindly. Eunuch Hua attempts to calm the situation, but Misu sits down tearfully and silently.
• Before the assembly can properly begin, an unfamiliar young man in a green robe suddenly leaps onto the martial arts platform. The crowd is stunned and begins shouting at him to leave.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Demonstrates his willingness to protect or accompany Misu despite the scrutiny of powerful figures. His lateness creates immediate attention and uncertainty, but he remains calm and gentle toward Misu.
• Misu: Shows courage by secretly following the Fox Clan elders to Chang’an, but her confidence collapses when confronted by Granny Qiu. Her emotional reaction reveals how much she values her elders’ approval.
• Granny Qiu: Reveals intense concern for Misu beneath her anger. Her unusually harsh reprimand suggests that Misu’s disobedience may place her in serious danger.
• Eunuch Hua: Acts as a calmer, more sympathetic presence, trying to prevent Granny Qiu from escalating the confrontation.
• Lu Huaming and Gu Hualing: Their conversation provides a lighter moment and emphasizes Lu Huaming’s strong faith in Shen Luo’s courage.
• The assembled leaders: Their restrained reactions to the arriving demon rulers highlight the political tension and power imbalance surrounding the gathering.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: The arrival of the demon and immortal leaders transforms the atmosphere, showing how status and aura alone can silence entire sects.
• Defiance and obedience: Misu’s decision to disobey her elders contrasts with their insistence on discipline and safety.
• Protective anger: Granny Qiu’s fury appears to come from fear and concern, suggesting that harshness can conceal affection.
• Outsiders under scrutiny: Both Shen Luo and Misu attract immediate attention because of their unexpected arrival and unusual association.
• Uncertainty before conflict: The delayed assembly, the tense gathering of rival powers, and the mysterious young man’s intrusion all signal that major events are about to begin.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Yaojin and the arriving leaders: Cheng acknowledges Yang Jian but otherwise remains deliberately distant, reflecting strained relations or formal rivalry.
• Shen Luo and Misu: Shen treats Misu gently and reassures her when she is frightened by the venue, establishing a protective and trusting relationship.
• Misu and the Fox Clan elders: Their reunion turns into a painful confrontation when Granny Qiu condemns Misu for disobedience.
• Granny Qiu and Eunuch Hua: Eunuch Hua tries to restrain Granny Qiu’s anger, revealing a shared concern for Misu.
• Lu Huaming and Gu Hualing: They speculate about Shen Luo’s absence before he appears, with Lu defending his disciple’s courage.
• The crowd and the mysterious green-robed man: The crowd reacts with confusion and hostility when he unexpectedly takes the stage, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “A Bizarre Mix-Up?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo arrives at the Harmony-Evolving Conference representing Fangcun Mountain and Patriarch Bodhi. His unchallenged authority and reserved behavior immediately convince the assembled factions that he holds an extraordinary position.
• Cheng Yaojin explains that the conference will address the recent siege of Fangcun Mountain and promises to clarify the truth behind the incident.
• His official account portrays the attack as the result of misunderstandings:
  • Lion Camel Ridge and Spider Cave bear the main responsibility.
  • Demon King Stronghold and Lingbo City bear secondary responsibility.
  • The attempt by the Demon Race and Demon Clan to breach the Well of Gods and Demons is deliberately omitted.
• Shen Luo becomes furious and nearly interrupts, but Yuan Tiangang privately tells him that Fangcun Mountain approved this version of events. The decision is intended to avoid worsening tensions between the different races, though the guilty sects will still face severe punishment.
• When questioned, Yang Jian accepts the account without objection. Bingbing Fairy expresses shame and claims ignorance of her senior sister’s actions. The Azure-Furred Lion King also gives no objection.
• Kui Demon King challenges the attempt to place all blame on the involved demon sects. He argues that the Demon Clan had long been allied with the Immortal Race and would not have acted without some form of authorization.
• When Li Jing reacts threateningly, Kui Demon King refuses to be intimidated and insists that the conference should rely on reason rather than force.
• Kui then shifts the blame toward Fangcun Mountain, claiming its policy of accepting disciples from every race violates established racial boundaries and reveals an ambition to dominate the Three Realms. His accusation provokes widespread anger and disorder among the attendees.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Demonstrates restraint despite his anger. He is deeply troubled by the sanitized version of events and by the willingness to conceal the Well of Gods and Demons incident, but Yuan Tiangang’s explanation forces him to reconsider his initial impulse to protest.
• Yuan Tiangang: Appears pragmatic and politically calculating. He supports a compromise designed to preserve peace among the races, even if it means omitting a major truth.
• Cheng Yaojin: Acts as the conference’s spokesperson, presenting the negotiated account and attempting to maintain order and impartiality.
• Yang Jian: Responds decisively and accepts the official narrative without defending himself.
• Bingbing Fairy: Publicly accepts moral responsibility for her sect’s involvement while distancing herself from her senior sister’s independent actions.
• Azure-Furred Lion King: Remains terse and visibly resentful, but does not openly challenge the judgment.
• Kui Demon King: Emerges as the main dissenter. Calm, fearless, and politically shrewd, he refuses to accept sole blame and attacks Fangcun Mountain’s broader influence.
• Li Jing: Reacts forcefully to Kui’s implication that the Heavenly Palace may have enabled the attack, revealing the fragile tension between the factions.

Significant Themes

• Political compromise versus truth: The conference deliberately presents an incomplete version of events to prevent further conflict, raising questions about whether peace can be built on concealment.
• Collective responsibility and scapegoating: The participants debate who should bear blame, with Kui Demon King resisting the concentration of responsibility on a few sects.
• Racial division and unity: Fangcun Mountain’s acceptance of disciples from all races is portrayed both as dangerous boundary-breaking and as a possible sign of broader unity.
• Power and intimidation: The confrontation between Li Jing and Kui Demon King highlights the struggle between official authority and those willing to challenge it.
• Public reputation and hidden motives: The conference claims to pursue harmony, but its statements are shaped by political interests, fear, and longstanding suspicion of Patriarch Bodhi.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo exchanges formal greetings with the major figures but deliberately ignores several opponents, signaling his distance and displeasure.
• Yuan Tiangang privately counsels Shen Luo, preventing him from openly disrupting the conference.
• Cheng Yaojin questions the implicated leaders, eliciting reluctant admissions, apologies, and denials.
• Kui Demon King directly challenges Li Jing and the official judgment, turning the conference from a formal clarification into an increasingly hostile political confrontation.
• Kui’s accusations against Fangcun Mountain provoke the crowd and intensify the conflict, suggesting that the conference’s promised harmony may be difficult to achieve.

Chapter Summary: “Reckless”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kui Demon King publicly defends the attack on Fangcun Mountain, arguing that the sect was partly responsible for its own destruction because it had allegedly violated taboos and attracted enemies.
• He singles out Zi Xiao of the Purple Sun Sect, accusing him of failing to help Fangcun Mountain despite being nearby when it was surrounded. This silences much of the criticism directed at the demon and devil races.
• Some members of the gathering begin agreeing with Kui, claiming Fangcun Mountain would have been destroyed sooner if it belonged to another race.
• Li Jing attempts to settle the matter by declaring that, although Fangcun Mountain may have acted improperly, the demon and devil races’ attack was still unacceptable and deserved punishment.
• Shen Luo, enraged by the victim-blaming, smashes his chair and confronts the assembly. He demands that they explain exactly how Fangcun Mountain was at fault.
• He reminds everyone that Fangcun Mountain had joined the alliance against the Demon Clan, protected the Mountains, Rivers, State and Society Diagram, and defended the Well of Gods and Demons at the cost of many disciples’ lives.
• Shen Luo challenges the demon and devil races to explain their true motives for attacking Fangcun Mountain and what each faction did during the assault.
• Cheng Yaojin interrupts before Shen Luo can reveal the hidden truth: the attack was intended to destroy the seal on the Well of Gods and Demons.
• Refusing to let Fangcun Mountain’s reputation be damaged, Shen Luo openly declares that its honor will not be sullied.
• Kui Demon King responds with a powerful Divine Thought attack. A trident of black lightning pierces Shen Luo’s Consciousness Sea, but a mountain-like defensive force blocks and shatters it.
• Although Shen Luo suffers temporary disorientation, he withstands the attack. Kui is shocked by his resistance, and his killing intent intensifies.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo abandons political restraint and chooses to defend Fangcun Mountain openly, even at the risk of damaging the fragile peace between the races.
• Kui Demon King is revealed as manipulative and politically calculating. He uses Fangcun Mountain’s absence to distort the truth, but becomes genuinely threatened when Shen Luo challenges his narrative.
• Li Jing prioritizes stability and controlled punishment, avoiding any revelation that could expose the alliance’s concealment of the attack’s real purpose.
• Cheng Yaojin tries to prevent Shen Luo from escalating the conflict, torn between diplomatic responsibility and sympathy for Fangcun Mountain.
• Lu Huaming shares Shen Luo’s anger but hesitates because his master has ordered him to intervene.
• Yang Jian appears conflicted, wanting to speak but holding back.
• Zi Xiao is publicly humiliated and rendered speechless by Kui’s accusation.

Significant Themes

• Victim-blaming and political hypocrisy: The gathering attempts to portray Fangcun Mountain as responsible for its own destruction.
• Truth versus false peace: The Heavenly Palace and other leaders suppress the truth about the attack to preserve stability among the Three Realms.
• Honor and righteous defiance: Shen Luo refuses to sacrifice Fangcun Mountain’s reputation for the sake of diplomatic convenience.
• Manipulation and propaganda: Kui Demon King exploits racial tensions and the absence of Fangcun Mountain’s representatives to control the narrative.
• Moral courage versus political pragmatism: Shen Luo’s impulsive honesty clashes with the leaders’ cautious efforts to maintain order.

Character Interactions

• Kui humiliates Zi Xiao, then uses the crowd’s silence and growing approval to strengthen his position.
• Li Jing and Kui engage in an indirect political exchange, with Li condemning the attack without exposing its deeper motive.
• Cheng Yaojin and Yuan Tiangang attempt to restrain Shen Luo, warning him not to fall into the Demon Clan’s trap.
• Shen Luo directly challenges Li Jing and the entire assembly, forcing them to confront Fangcun Mountain’s sacrifices.
• Cheng Yaojin interrupts Shen Luo to prevent him from revealing the truth, but Shen Luo still publicly defends Fangcun Mountain.
• Kui and Shen Luo then clash through Divine Thought, establishing that Shen Luo possesses far greater spiritual resilience than Kui expected.

Chapter Summary: “Ripples”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Kui Demon King attempts to use a Divine Thought technique against Shen Luo, but Shen Luo interrupts him with a furious shout that unleashes a powerful Divine Soul assault, staggering everyone below the platform.
• Yuan Tiangang intervenes, halting the confrontation and warning against escalating tensions among the Human Race, Immortal Race, Demon Clan, and Demon Race. Shen Luo reluctantly agrees not to act further.
• The conference proceeds to punish those responsible for the attack on Fangcun Mountain. Yang Jian brings the principal offenders to the center of the platform, including the Golden-Winged Peng King, Six-Tusked Elephant King, Hua Shiniang, Elder Chi Rong, and other accomplices.
• The Golden-Winged Peng King and Hua Shiniang, identified as the primary instigators, are sentenced to compensate Fangcun Mountain with one million Immortal Jades and endure five hundred years of imprisonment beneath the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
• Six-Tusked Elephant King, Yang Jian, Lord of Lingbo City, and Elder Chi Rong receive three-hundred-year confinements within their respective sects. Other accomplices are ordered to pay varying compensation and remain confined for one hundred years.
• Shen Luo considers the punishments inadequate given Fangcun Mountain’s casualties, but recognizes that the verdict was the result of political bargaining and had effectively been decided before the conference.
• Yuan Tiangang prepares to escort the Golden-Winged Peng King and Hua Shiniang to the Great Benevolence Grace Temple for imprisonment.
• Before they can leave, Chang’an City is violently shaken. The martial arts platform collapses, enormous cracks split the plaza, and purple-black light and demonic mist emerge from underground. Cheng Yaojin immediately suspects the Golden-Winged Peng King, but both he and Hua Shiniang deny responsibility.

2. Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates formidable Divine Soul power and refuses to be intimidated by Kui Demon King or the condemned demons. However, he also shows restraint, recognizing that further aggression could trigger a wider inter-racial conflict.
• Yuan Tiangang acts as a stabilizing authority, suppressing the dispute and maintaining control over the conference. His wariness toward Kui Demon King reveals that he views the latter as a serious threat.
• Kui Demon King remains provocative and dangerous but backs down when confronted with Yuan Tiangang’s authority and the threat of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s defenses.
• Golden-Winged Peng King and Hua Shiniang accept their punishment without open resistance, though both maintain intense and meaningful attention toward Shen Luo, suggesting unresolved hostility or future plans.
• Cheng Yaojin presents himself as the formal enforcer of the conference’s verdict, though his relief at the restoration of order shows how fragile the political situation is.
• Shen Luo’s dissatisfaction reveals his continuing concern for Fangcun Mountain and the victims of the conflict, even though he lacks the authority to challenge the official judgment.

3. Significant Themes

• Political compromise versus justice: The official punishments are presented as the product of factional bargaining rather than a true measure of the suffering inflicted on Fangcun Mountain.
• Restraint amid escalating tensions: Shen Luo and Yuan Tiangang both recognize that personal retaliation could ignite a much larger conflict among the major races and factions.
• Authority and intimidation: Yuan Tiangang’s command and the threat of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau demonstrate how power is maintained through both political legitimacy and overwhelming force.
• Unseen consequences: The chapter’s title is reflected in the sudden disaster at the end. Although the conference appears to settle the previous conflict, deeper dangers continue to spread beneath the surface.
• Suspicion and hidden schemes: The strange underground demonic energy suggests that the incident may involve forces beyond the convicted parties, raising questions about who truly caused the disturbance.

4. Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and Kui Demon King clash directly through Divine Soul techniques, but Yuan Tiangang intervenes before the confrontation escalates.
• Yuan Tiangang silently signals Shen Luo to remain calm, showing a degree of mutual understanding despite Shen Luo’s lack of submission.
• Cheng Yaojin formally confronts and sentences the accused factions, while Yuan Tiangang later takes responsibility for escorting the two primary offenders to imprisonment.
• The condemned leaders repeatedly stare at Shen Luo with hatred, resentment, or caution, emphasizing their personal connection to the conflict.
• Cheng Yaojin accuses the Golden-Winged Peng King of causing the underground disaster, but Hua Shiniang and the Peng King both deny involvement, leaving the chapter on an unresolved and ominous note.

Chapter Summary: “Demonic Beasts Attack”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Azure-Furred Lion King, Bingbing Fairy, and Kui Demon King deny responsibility for the mysterious attack at Fangcun Mountain. Suspicion briefly falls on Bottomless Cave, but no culprit is identified.
• Explosions erupt throughout Chang’an City. Dense, impure demonic energy mixed with intense baleful aura signals the presence of underground evil demons rather than ordinary members of the Demon Clan.
• Li Jing explains that these demons likely prepared their attack over a long period. They are descendants of the ancient Taotie bloodline, infamous for their cruelty and hostility even toward other demons.
• A gigantic black tentacle rises in northwest Chang’an and attacks the city with black lightning. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau responds by activating its own defensive formation, but the city’s larger protective formation fails to activate.
• The imperial palace is also attacked by a massive ox-headed, tentacled evil demon. Two enormous armored guardians emerge to fight it.
• Chang’an descends into widespread destruction, with smoke and explosions filling the city. The attack appears more severe than the previous invasion led by the Jing River Dragon King.
• Yuan Tiangang teleports back to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to investigate the failure of the city-protecting formation.
• Cheng Yaojin orders Lu Huaming and the Great Tang Government Office to prioritize rescuing and evacuating civilians. He also commands the Yuling Guards to defend the Imperial City.
• Qinglian Fairy and Master Kongdu offer assistance, but Cheng Yaojin remains cautious. Little Master warns the Kui Demon King not to worsen the chaos, increasing tension between the human-aligned forces and the demon leaders.
• The chapter ends when urgent bells ring from the Great Benevolence Grace Temple and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, causing Cheng Yaojin and Shen Luo to realize that another serious crisis has begun there.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Cheng Yaojin takes command during the emergency, emphasizing civilian safety over killing demons. His leadership is practical but wary, especially toward the demon factions.
• Yuan Tiangang remains calm and decisive, using an Eight-Trigram teleportation technique to return to the attacked Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
• Lu Huaming follows Cheng Yaojin’s orders immediately and is entrusted with coordinating the citywide evacuation.
• Kui Demon King repeatedly offers help while subtly defending Demon King Stronghold. His insistence appears suspicious, and Little Master openly challenges him.
• Little Master demonstrates caution and political awareness by preventing the Kui Demon King from intervening under questionable circumstances.
• Qinglian Fairy and Master Kongdu volunteer their forces to help defend Chang’an, showing cooperation among the city’s allied cultivators.
• Shen Luo recognizes the seriousness of the attack and reacts strongly to the ominous bells from the Great Benevolence Grace Temple.
• The demon leaders maintain a tense relationship with the human and immortal forces, as they are both potential allies and possible suspects.

Significant Themes

• Crisis and leadership: Cheng Yaojin’s orders establish that protecting civilians is more important than pursuing combat glory.
• Distrust and political tension: The demon factions’ denials and the humans’ suspicion create uncertainty about whether the attack was coordinated from within.
• Hidden preparation and conspiracy: The scale of the demonic aura suggests that the assault was planned long in advance.
• Threat beyond conventional enemies: The underground evil demons are portrayed as a uniquely savage force, hated by humans, immortals, and orthodox demons alike.
• Failure of defenses: The city’s protective formation not activating hints at sabotage or a deeper hidden problem.
• Escalating danger: Multiple simultaneous attacks on Chang’an, the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and possibly the Big Wild Goose Pagoda suggest a coordinated assault aimed at crippling the city’s defenses.

Chapter Summary: The Wine-Selling Girl

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Yaojin leaves the martial arena to investigate the crisis at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, where something important is sealed. He asks Li Jing to detain the Golden-Winged Peng and Hua Shiniang.
• Li Jing uses the Exquisite Pagoda to imprison the two powerful demons. The Azure-Furred Lion King is angered by this additional humiliation but suppresses his resentment.
• Cheng Yaojin sends voice transmissions to Master Kongdu and Qinglian Fairy, asking them to monitor the area, then departs for the pagoda.
• Outside, the sounds of battle continue throughout Chang’an. Shen Luo notes that the citizens’ cries have diminished, suggesting that the Great Tang Government Office is gradually regaining control.
• Shen Luo wonders whether the fiend attacks were deliberately arranged to disrupt the Harmony-Evolving Conference and destroy the fragile peace between the Three Realms.
• Li Jing approaches Shen Luo. Their conversation becomes tense because Shen Luo still resents Li Jing for using demons and fiends against Fangcun Mountain, nearly forcing the reopening of the Well of Gods and Demons.
• Li Jing defends his actions, arguing that the stability of the Three Realms depends not on harmony but on mutual restraint and balance. Shen Luo rejects this justification.
• Before their argument can continue, Li Jing detects danger beneath the arena and attacks the central pit with a golden palm.
• A burst of pink energy destroys his attack. Massive blue-black vines erupt from underground, causing the entire square to crack and collapse.
• From the abyss rises an enormous flowering peach tree, whose roots cover the square and whose pink petals spread across Chang’an.
• Li Jing identifies the tree’s owner as Tao Yaoyao. Qinglian Fairy questions why Tao Yaoyao, who was supposed to remain neutral in Three Realms conflicts, has appeared.
• Tao Yaoyao emerges as a seemingly innocent young girl in pink. She explains that she owes someone a great favor and therefore had no choice but to intervene.
• Shen Luo and Hu Bugui are both startled because Tao Yaoyao resembles the wine-selling girl they have encountered—or someone associated with that appearance—suggesting a significant hidden identity or connection.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Cheng Yaojin demonstrates responsibility and urgency by personally dealing with the crisis at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. He remains determined to preserve the authority of the Great Tang Government Office without relying on outside assistance.
• Li Jing shows his uncompromising belief in maintaining cosmic balance through opposing forces. His disagreement with Shen Luo reveals a deep ideological conflict rather than a simple personal grudge.
• Shen Luo becomes increasingly suspicious of the fiend attack and its connection to the Harmony-Evolving Conference. His distrust of Li Jing hardens, though he remains alert and analytical during the underground disturbance.
• The Azure-Furred Lion King experiences humiliation and restrained anger as both his brother and allies are imprisoned, but he chooses not to openly resist.
• Qinglian Fairy is surprised and confused by Tao Yaoyao’s intervention, particularly because Tao had previously avoided involvement in conflicts.
• Tao Yaoyao is introduced as a powerful yet deceptively youthful figure. Her enormous peach tree and ability to destroy Li Jing’s attack demonstrate her considerable strength. Her claim that she is repaying a favor hints at an unseen alliance or debt.
• Hu Bugui reacts strongly to Tao Yaoyao’s appearance, reinforcing the connection between her and the mysterious wine-selling girl.

Significant Themes

• Order versus balance: Li Jing argues that stability comes from mutual restraint rather than peace or moral righteousness. This challenges Shen Luo’s belief that certain actions are unjustifiable regardless of political necessity.
• Political manipulation and hidden motives: The fiend attacks may be part of a larger scheme to disrupt the conference and alter the balance among the Three Realms.
• Neutrality and intervention: Tao Yaoyao’s arrival raises questions about whether powerful beings can truly remain uninvolved when personal debts or loyalties are involved.
• Appearance versus reality: Tao Yaoyao looks like an innocent child, yet commands immense power. Her resemblance to the wine-selling girl suggests that familiar appearances may conceal major identities.
• Fragile authority: The Great Tang Government Office struggles to maintain control while internal disagreements and outside forces threaten Chang’an.

Overall Significance

The chapter shifts the crisis from an external fiend attack to a deeper supernatural and political confrontation. The emergence of Tao Yaoyao and the giant peach tree introduces a powerful new player whose personal obligation may be connected to the attacks, the wine-selling girl, and the broader struggle over the balance of the Three Realms.

Chapter Summary: “Cause and Effect”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo and Hu Bugui spot Tao Yaoyao, the seemingly innocent girl who previously ran a wine shop. Her demeanor now appears much gentler and less spoiled.
• Yuan Tiangang activates Chang’an’s city-protecting Four Symbols Celestial Timing Formation. Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise phantoms emerge over the city, while immense celestial runes descend from the sky.
• The formation targets the demonic forces attacking Chang’an. Human cultivators are largely unaffected, but Demon Race and Demon Clan members feel intense pressure and are deterred from acting.
• Tao Yaoyao reveals that she is aiding the enemy. Her enormous peach tree rises into the sky and blocks the descending formation. Though its canopy burns under the formation’s power, its petals continually regenerate, preventing the formation from advancing.
• A pink mist barrier forms around the square, trapping the cultivators inside. Shen Luo realizes that Tao Yaoyao’s tree, roots, and mist together create a powerful spatial restriction separating heaven and earth.
• Tao Yaoyao explains that she agreed to stop the formation and prevent the gathered great powers from intervening, but claims she did not agree to help slaughter Chang’an’s people. She refuses to identify the person directing her.
• Master Kongdu challenges her moral reasoning, arguing that even if she does not kill anyone herself, her actions will cause Bo Ren and others to die. Tao Yaoyao responds that such deaths are part of the complicated chain of cause and effect, suggesting the gathering itself may have indirectly led to the attack.
• When persuasion fails, Master Kongdu transforms into a massive golden Vajra Guardian and attacks her with a Demon-Subduing Vajra Pestle.
• Tao Yaoyao effortlessly counters each blow with enormous peach-petal barriers. Although the petals shatter under the pestle, the attacks rebound, leaving Kongdu frustrated while Tao Yaoyao remains calm and unharmed.

Character Developments

• Tao Yaoyao is revealed to be far more powerful and influential than her earlier appearance suggested. She is not openly bloodthirsty, but she is willing to honor her agreement despite knowing it will endanger Chang’an.
• Her reasoning shows a detached view of morality, emphasizing personal promises and the complexity of causality rather than direct responsibility.
• Shen Luo demonstrates keen perception by recognizing the spatial restriction formed by Tao Yaoyao’s tree and mist before others fully understand their situation.
• Master Kongdu shifts from attempting to reason with Tao Yaoyao to confronting her directly when he concludes that her neutrality is morally unacceptable.
• Qinglian Fairy views Tao Yaoyao’s actions as aiding evil and presses her to reveal who is controlling or directing her.

Significant Themes

• Cause and effect: The chapter questions who bears responsibility for a tragedy—the person who directly causes it, the person who enables it, or those whose earlier actions helped create the circumstances.
• Promises versus morality: Tao Yaoyao prioritizes honoring her agreement over intervening to prevent deaths, creating a conflict between personal loyalty and moral duty.
• Appearance versus reality: The seemingly carefree wine-seller is revealed to be a formidable cultivator capable of resisting Chang’an’s strongest defenses.
• Power and restraint: Tao Yaoyao demonstrates overwhelming defensive strength but deliberately limits her role, claiming she is only preventing intervention rather than directly attacking anyone.
• Entrapment and isolation: The mist barrier and peach-tree restriction physically isolate the gathered cultivators, reflecting their helplessness as events unfold around them.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo questions Tao Yaoyao about whether her secluded peach grove was created for this confrontation; she denies planning it and insists the situation was coincidental.
• Qinglian Fairy accuses Tao Yaoyao of assisting evil and demands to know who stands behind her, but Tao Yaoyao refuses to answer.
• Master Kongdu appeals to Tao Yaoyao’s compassion, then condemns her indirect responsibility for the coming deaths.
• Tao Yaoyao calmly defends her actions and defeats Kongdu’s repeated attacks without showing aggression or strain.

Chapter Summary: “Letting Them Leave”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Master Kongdu attacks Tao Yaoyao but is unable to break through her powerful defensive techniques and concedes.
• Shen Luo recognizes Tao Yaoyao as the legendary ancestral peach tree, an ancient sacred being with deep ties to Daoist traditions and the power to repel evil.
• Qinglian Fairy tries to reason with Tao Yaoyao, but the Kui Demon King and Azure-Furred Lion King decide to attack her together.
• Shen Luo stops the battle after realizing that Tao Yaoyao’s roots have spread throughout Chang’an City. She is drawing power from the city’s earth veins, causing the ground to crack and all vegetation to wither.
• Tao Yaoyao admits that if forced, she could drain Chang’an’s earth veins completely and destroy the ancient city. Her calm demeanor gives way to a serious warning.
• Acting on advice from Little Master, Shen Luo persuades Tao Yaoyao to let weaker cultivators leave so they can rescue innocent civilians. Tao Yaoyao agrees to release all cultivators below the Taiyi Realm and opens a passage through the pink mist wall.
• Shen Luo, Hu Bugui, Bingbing Fairy, Misu, and the other lower-level cultivators escape. Tao Yaoyao then seals the passage again, leaving the powerful cultivators trapped.
• Outside, Shen Luo discovers that Chang’an has been devastated by battles, with huge fissures, scorched ground, and the remains of dead fiends scattered through the streets.
• Hu Bugui explains that the remains are corpse husks left after fiends’ demonic blood evaporates.
• Hu Bugui asks whether Shen Luo distrusts him because he is from Spider Cave. Shen Luo admits that accepting Hu Bugui’s connection to the cave is difficult but says the matter must wait.
• Hearing another battle, Hu Bugui rushes to rescue a Great Tang Government Office disciple attacked by a wolf-like demon beast. Using a strange ocular technique, he freezes the creature and kills it instantly.

Character Developments

• Tao Yaoyao is revealed to be an immensely powerful ancient peach-tree spirit. Her strength allows her to resist multiple Taiyi Realm experts, and her roots give her near-invincible control over Chang’an’s earth veins. Despite her threatening position, she retains compassion for ordinary people and agrees to let weaker cultivators escape.
• Shen Luo displays insight and initiative. He identifies the danger posed by continued fighting, understands Tao Yaoyao’s concern for civilians, and successfully negotiates an evacuation. His distrust of Hu Bugui remains, but he does not allow it to distract him from the immediate crisis.
• Master Kongdu acknowledges Tao Yaoyao’s superior power and withdraws rather than prolonging a futile battle.
• Hu Bugui begins to distance himself from Spider Cave’s suspected crimes, insisting that its cave master was unaware of Elder Hua’s actions. He also demonstrates loyalty and powerful abilities by rescuing a Tang government disciple.
• Qinglian Fairy shows concern for Tao Yaoyao and appears to have a longstanding relationship with her.
• Little Master quietly assists Shen Luo by suggesting the argument that convinces Tao Yaoyao to open an escape route.

Significant Themes

• Power restrained by compassion: Tao Yaoyao possesses enough strength to destroy Chang’an but hesitates because of the innocent civilians who would suffer.
• The cost of conflict: The battlefield’s damage to the city, vegetation, and earth veins emphasizes that powerful combat threatens more than the combatants themselves.
• Trust and divided loyalties: Shen Luo’s cautious attitude toward Hu Bugui reflects the difficulty of separating individuals from the organizations they belong to.
• Ancient power and sacred nature: Tao Yaoyao’s identity connects natural forces, Daoist symbolism, and primordial existence, presenting her as both a guardian-like figure and a potential catastrophe.
• Pragmatism over pride: Shen Luo prevents a pointless battle by focusing on the wider consequences, while Tao Yaoyao chooses negotiation over simply proving her superiority.

Important Character Interactions

• Master Kongdu openly concedes to Tao Yaoyao after failing to penetrate her defenses.
• Qinglian Fairy attempts to appeal to Tao Yaoyao’s personal feelings, revealing their past connection.
• The Kui Demon King and Azure-Furred Lion King challenge Tao Yaoyao together, angered by her dismissive confidence.
• Shen Luo intervenes and persuades Tao Yaoyao to release weaker cultivators and protect civilians.
• Shen Luo and Hu Bugui confront their mutual distrust, with Hu Bugui defending his relationship to Spider Cave.
• Hu Bugui proves his good intentions through action by saving a Tang disciple and killing the attacking demon beast.

Shen Luo reached the Royal Garden as frightened residents tried to force their way inside while a catfish demon beast attacked them. When a refugee stabbed a Yuling Guard who refused to open the gate, Shen Luo stopped him from striking again.

• Shen Luo hurried toward the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and saw the destruction along the Pheobe Canal.
• Refugees begged the Yuling Guards to let them into the Royal Garden, but the guards refused under orders from the State Preceptor.
• A catfish demon beast leaped from the canal and attacked the crowd, and Shen Luo's red flying sword cut its tongue.
• As the refugees accused the guards of abandoning them, a young man stabbed the Yuling Guard who had defended the gate.
• Shen Luo grabbed the young man's wrist before he could stab the Yuling Guard again.

Shen Luo exposed an infant demon’s scheme to bewitch the commoners into opening the Royal Garden gate, then rescued them from a giant catfish demon beast. The infant used a crushing spell to send Shen Luo into the beast’s mouth and turned its attention toward the helpless survivors.

• Shen Luo killed the catfish demon beast and crippled the young man, then healed the wounded Thorn Feather Spirit Guard.
• Shen Luo recognized that the infant shared its senses with the bewitched commoners, killed the young man, and forced the infant to reveal itself.
• The infant admitted it wanted to enter the Royal Garden, and Shen Luo deduced it was trying to release a fiend sealed inside.
• The ground collapsed, and Shen Luo used a water python to save the commoners from a huge catfish demon beast.
• The infant restrained Shen Luo with a red-light spell, and the beast swallowed him before the infant threatened the commoners.