Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In Black Mountain Town, Li Sha, a frenzied Nascent Soul Intermediate Stage elder of the Myriad Demons Sect, attacks Ye Chenyu and then targets Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen confronts Li Sha with a powerful physical strike. At the critical moment, the Godslayer Dagger disrupts Li Sha’s cultivation, causing his fist force to vanish and allowing Lu Chen to shatter both of his arms and kill him with one punch.
• Lu Chen retrieves the Godslayer Dagger, Li Sha’s powerful gauntlets, and his storage ring, though he cannot yet open the ring.
• The Myriad Demons Sect disciples flee. Liu Yan’er reveals that Mo Xian’er orchestrated the crisis: she had the people of Black Mountain Town abducted and forced into mining, slaughtered Zhao Household disciples, and attempted to frame the Zhao Household so that it would clash with the Blissful Sect.
• Jiang Yingyue and other members of the Joyful Union Sect arrive. Together with Lu Chen, they rescue the imprisoned townspeople, including many elderly people, women, and children.
• The chapter then shifts to a damaged airship that has crashed far from the Joyful Union Sect. Shen Que, the Artifact Refining Sect’s master, confronts his nephew Shen Li and admits that he caused the disaster to eliminate Shen Li and her mother.
• Shen Que’s motive is to ensure that his own son, Shen Zihao, inherits the position of sect master.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates immense apparent strength, defeating a Nascent Soul demon with one punch. Although the victory is actually due largely to the Godslayer Dagger’s disruption, others now believe he may be a peak Nascent Soul or even Spirit Transformation expert. Lu Chen deliberately adopts a dignified, mysterious persona to reinforce this misunderstanding.
• Lu Chen also shows practical ambition by collecting Li Sha’s treasures and planning to use the Yin-Yang Cauldron and the Five-Elements Alchemy Manual to improve his body-refinement cultivation.
• Liu Yan’er survives severe torture and becomes even more devoted to Lu Chen, admiring him openly while demanding revenge against Zhou Tianqi.
• Ye Chenyu becomes deeply impressed by Lu Chen and grows confident that his supposed power can protect the Joyful Union Sect from rival sects.
• Mo Xian’er is revealed as ruthless and manipulative, willing to massacre innocents and engineer conflicts for her own purposes.
• Shen Que is exposed as a treacherous uncle who will murder his own family to secure power for his son.
• Shen Li is established as the legitimate heir of the Artifact Refining Sect and as Shen Que’s main obstacle.

Significant Themes

• Perception versus reality: Lu Chen appears to possess overwhelming cultivation, but his victory depends on the hidden power of the Godslayer Dagger. Others form exaggerated conclusions about him based on appearances.
• Political intrigue and succession: Both Mo Xian’er and Shen Que manipulate events and sacrifice others to eliminate rivals and secure power.
• Cruelty and exploitation: The Demon Sect’s forced labor, massacre of civilians, and torture of Liu Yan’er highlight the brutality of the cultivation world.
• Justice and protection: Lu Chen’s rescue of the townspeople contrasts with the inhuman actions of the Demon Sect and strengthens his role as their protector.
• Family betrayal: Shen Que’s attempt to kill Shen Li and her mother reveals how ambition can destroy familial loyalty.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Li Sha engage in a decisive close-range battle, ending with Li Sha’s death and Lu Chen’s reputation soaring.
• Lu Chen comforts and questions Liu Yan’er, learning the truth behind the incident and her mistreatment.
• Lu Chen, Ye Chenyu, Jiang Yingyue, and the Joyful Union Sect members cooperate to rescue Black Mountain Town’s captives.
• Shen Li confronts Shen Que over the airship disaster, while Shen Que openly explains that her death is necessary for his son Shen Zihao to inherit the sect leadership.

Chapter Summary: “This Isn’t Tigress, Is It? Need Help?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Que, master of the Artifact Refining Sect, betrays his niece Shen Li and attempts to kill her so that his own son can inherit the sect.
• Shen Li reminds him that her father once saved Shen Que’s life, but Shen Que coldly argues that he has already repaid his family obligations and that Shen Li’s excellence threatens his son’s future.
• Shen Li’s mother, Zhao Qin, arrives and intervenes. She reveals that she has reached the Nascent Soul Initial Stage and has taken a Blood-Burning Pill, sacrificing her life force to fight Shen Que.
• Zhao Qin orders Shen Li to escape and promises to hold Shen Que back. When Shen Que sends three subordinates after Shen Li, Zhao Qin kills them instantly with the Zhao Household’s Sound-Killing Art.
• Shen Li flees while her mother remains behind to fight Shen Que, vowing to avenge both her parents.
• After helping rescue Black Mountain Town, Lu Chen travels back toward the Joyful Union Sect on foot because he has pretended to be a powerful cultivator and never learned sword flight. Despite his embarrassment, his physical strength allows him to move extremely quickly.
• Lu Chen discovers Shen Li cornered near a cliff by five of Shen Que’s men. Shen Li’s meridians and dantian have been severely damaged, leaving her nearly crippled and unable to defeat Shen Fu, their Golden Core Great Perfection leader.
• Just as Shen Fu is about to kill her, Lu Chen emerges from the forest and offers help, shocking both Shen Fu’s group and Shen Li.

Character Developments

• Shen Li: Her trust in Shen Que is destroyed. She becomes determined to survive and avenge her parents, though she is physically exhausted and badly injured.
• Shen Que: Revealed as ruthless, selfish, and power-hungry. He is willing to murder his own niece and sister-in-law to secure his son’s inheritance.
• Zhao Qin: Demonstrates hidden strength and fierce maternal devotion. She willingly burns her life essence and risks death to give Shen Li a chance to escape.
• Lu Chen: His false image as a peerless expert creates practical difficulties, such as being unable to fly on a sword, but his overwhelming physical strength compensates. He unexpectedly becomes Shen Li’s potential rescuer.
• Shen Fu: Established as Shen Que’s loyal and merciless steward, personally leading the pursuit of Shen Li.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and family corruption: Familial bonds and past sacrifices mean nothing to Shen Que once power and succession are at stake.
• Parental sacrifice: Zhao Qin’s willingness to die for Shen Li contrasts sharply with Shen Que’s selfishness.
• Justice and revenge: Shen Li struggles with the injustice of good people suffering while evil people prosper, fueling her desire for revenge.
• Appearances versus reality: Lu Chen appears to be an all-powerful master but secretly lacks basic abilities such as sword flight. Zhao Qin, meanwhile, appears reclusive but possesses formidable hidden cultivation.
• Desperation and survival: Shen Li’s escape and Zhao Qin’s last stand emphasize the lengths characters will go to survive and protect those they love.

Character Interactions

• Shen Li confronts Shen Que over his betrayal, but he dismisses her emotional appeal.
• Zhao Qin directly challenges Shen Que and forces him to recognize her concealed cultivation.
• Zhao Qin commands Shen Li to flee, prioritizing her daughter’s survival over her own.
• Shen Fu taunts Shen Li and urges her to kill herself rather than resist.
• Lu Chen’s sudden appearance interrupts Shen Fu’s execution attempt and reunites him with the furious yet relieved Shen Li.

Chapter Summary: “Supreme Fire Spirit Iron”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Li is cornered on a cliff by her uncle Shen Fu’s subordinates, members of the Artifact Refining Sect.
• Lu Chen unexpectedly appears but initially refuses to intervene without compensation.
• Desperate, Shen Li offers him her treasured Supreme Fire Spirit Iron, a rare forging material that Lu Chen immediately recognizes as ideal for creating his future bonded flying sword.
• Shen Fu and four disciples attack Shen Li, but Lu Chen moves with overwhelming speed:
  • He kicks Shen Fu off the cliff.
  • He defeats the four disciples with single punches.
  • When they flee, he kills them by flicking pebbles that pierce their bodies and even penetrate their spirit shields.
• Lu Chen demands the Supreme Fire Spirit Iron, but Shen Li hesitates because it was a keepsake from her deceased father, who had intended to forge her a bonded sword with it.
• Shen Fu unexpectedly survives by using spiritual armor and leaps back onto the cliff. Enraged, he prepares to fight Lu Chen with the Mid-Grade Spirit Artifacts known as the Red Serpent Sabers.
• Shen Li warns Lu Chen about the sabers, but Lu Chen remains confident and equips the gauntlets he acquired from Li Sha, intending to test them in battle.
• The chapter ends as Shen Fu launches an attack against Lu Chen.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates extreme combat power, precision, and ruthlessness. Though initially motivated by the Fire Spirit Iron, he also shows hostility toward the Artifact Refining Sect because of its attack on the Joyful Union Sect. His confidence grows as he prepares to test his new gauntlets.
• Shen Li: Reveals both resourcefulness and vulnerability. She is willing to sacrifice her father’s treasured heirloom to survive, but once saved, she tries to delay handing it over because of its deep emotional significance. She also begins relying on Lu Chen for protection.
• Shen Fu: Shows greed and ambition by prioritizing the Supreme Fire Spirit Iron and hoping to gain recognition from his master. Despite being defeated and thrown from the cliff, he survives through his artifact-based abilities and returns seeking revenge.

Significant Themes

• Value of treasures versus emotional attachments: The Supreme Fire Spirit Iron is both a priceless cultivation resource and a symbol of Shen Li’s bond with her deceased father.
• Power and leverage: Lu Chen refuses to act without a reward, while Shen Li uses her most valuable possession to gain his protection.
• Overwhelming strength and confidence: Lu Chen’s effortless defeat of the disciples establishes the vast gap between him and ordinary cultivators.
• Artifact refinement and cultivation: The chapter emphasizes the importance of spirit materials, weapons, armor, and specialized equipment in the martial world.
• Revenge and sect conflict: The confrontation is connected to the Artifact Refining Sect’s broader assault on the Joyful Union Sect, setting up escalating conflict.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Shen Li engage in a tense bargain: she promises the Fire Spirit Iron in exchange for his intervention, while he repeatedly presses her to fulfill the deal.
• Shen Li initially resents Lu Chen for standing by, but quickly hides behind him once Shen Fu returns.
• Lu Chen humiliates and kills Shen Fu’s subordinates, demonstrating his dominance and provoking Shen Fu into a direct confrontation.
• Shen Li warns Lu Chen about Shen Fu’s Red Serpent Sabers, but Lu Chen dismisses the danger and prepares to fight with his new gauntlets.

Chapter Summary: “The Tigress Actually Knelt?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen agrees to help Shen Li only after she offers him five pieces of Supreme Fire Spirit Iron, a rare artifact-refining material.
• He quickly kills the four Artifact Refining Sect disciples chasing Shen Li.
• Shen Fu survives being kicked into the river and attacks Lu Chen using his Red Serpent Twin Blades, fire-based blade qi, battle armor, and Great Perfection Golden Core cultivation.
• Lu Chen effortlessly destroys Shen Fu’s blade qi, shatters both spirit artifacts with his fists, damages his armor, and sends him crashing into the cliff.
• Shen Fu threatens Lu Chen by invoking the power of the Artifact Refining Sect, but Lu Chen dismisses him. Shen Li condemns the sect as corrupt and murderous.
• Lu Chen delivers another devastating punch, fatally injuring Shen Fu, then forcibly extracts Shen Fu’s fire-element Golden Core before he dies.
• Lu Chen plans to give the Golden Core to Huo’er, one of his Half-Demon maidservants, and casually asks Shen Li whether the sect has cultivators with Water Spiritual Roots.
• After searching Shen Fu’s body and taking his storage ring, Lu Chen regrets destroying his valuable Mid-Grade Spirit Artifacts.
• Shen Li finally brings out the Supreme Fire Spirit Iron—but instead of simply handing it over, she kneels before Lu Chen.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen is shown to possess overwhelming physical strength, easily defeating a Great Perfection Golden Core cultivator with a few punches. He remains pragmatic and profit-oriented, helping Shen Li because the reward benefits him. His ruthless methods are balanced by his concern for strengthening his companions.
• Shen Li becomes increasingly impressed and relieved by Lu Chen’s strength. She realizes he may be powerful enough to protect her from her uncle and possibly be a hidden Nascent Soul expert. Her hatred toward her family and the Artifact Refining Sect becomes more openly expressed.
• Shen Fu shifts from arrogant pursuer to terrified and helpless victim. Despite relying on powerful artifacts and the sect’s reputation, he is completely outmatched and dies after Lu Chen extracts his Golden Core.
• Shen Li’s family history is clarified: her grandfather stole her father’s opportunity, her uncle Shen Que helped murder her father, and her mother remained behind to protect her escape.

Significant Themes

• Might over status: Lu Chen’s strength renders Shen Fu’s cultivation, artifacts, and sect affiliation meaningless.
• Corruption and betrayal: The Artifact Refining Sect is portrayed as a place where relatives betray and murder one another for power and position.
• Pragmatism and transactional alliances: Lu Chen helps Shen Li not out of compassion but because the Supreme Fire Spirit Iron makes the exchange worthwhile.
• Family loyalty and vengeance: Shen Li’s love for her parents contrasts with her disgust toward the rest of her family, motivating her desire to punish Shen Que and the entire sect.
• Power used for one’s own circle: Lu Chen’s seizure of the Golden Core shows his willingness to exploit enemies’ resources for the benefit of his Half-Demon companions.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Shen Fu clash directly, with Lu Chen dominating the battle and rejecting Shen Fu’s attempt to intimidate him through the Artifact Refining Sect.
• Shen Li openly reveals the sect’s crimes to Lu Chen, demonstrating both her bitterness and her growing trust in him.
• Lu Chen’s casual question about Water Spiritual Roots highlights the difference between his detached attitude and Shen Li’s horror at his brutality.
• The chapter ends with Shen Li kneeling before Lu Chen, signaling her desperation, submission, gratitude, or willingness to enter a deeper alliance with him.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Li kneels before Lu Chen and begs him to rescue her mother, Zhao Qin, who is being attacked by Shen Que, the Artifact Refining Sect’s sect master.
• In exchange, Shen Li offers Lu Chen the Supreme Fire Spirit Iron and promises to serve him completely.
• Lu Chen hesitates because Shen Que is a Nascent Soul Intermediate Stage cultivator, far beyond Lu Chen’s current ability. He realizes that intervening could expose him to the dangerous internal conflict within the Artifact Refining Sect.
• A sound-transmission talisman on the corpse of Shen Fu activates. Shen Que contacts his subordinate, unaware that Shen Fu has already been killed by Lu Chen.
• Shen Li confronts Shen Que, accusing him of betraying and attacking her mother. Shen Que pretends innocence, claiming that Zhao Qin suffered a qi deviation and that her cultivation was accidentally crippled.
• Zhao Qin briefly breaks free and warns Shen Li not to return, confirming that Shen Que is holding her captive. Shen Que then attempts to lure Shen Li back to the sect, offering her mother’s safety in exchange for Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen openly insults Shen Que and exposes his hypocrisy, angering him. Shen Que orders Shen Li to capture Lu Chen and bring him back as an exchange for Zhao Qin.
• After the transmission ends, Shen Li unexpectedly drugs or otherwise incapacitates Lu Chen, causing him to collapse. Lu Chen is shocked that she has betrayed him.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Shows caution and strategic thinking. He recognizes the danger of confronting a Nascent Soul expert and prioritizes concealing his true strength and cultivating through his two identities. Despite his reluctance, he openly provokes Shen Que when defending Shen Li and her mother. His confidence is shaken when Shen Li suddenly turns against him.
• Shen Li: Reveals her desperation and fierce devotion to her mother. She is enraged by Shen Que’s treachery but is also willing to use deception against Lu Chen when forced into a desperate situation. Her actions show both emotional impulsiveness and determination to save Zhao Qin.
• Shen Que: Is exposed as a manipulative and ruthless villain. He has imprisoned Zhao Qin, crippled her cultivation, murdered or plotted against members of the Shen Family, and intends to eliminate both mother and daughter to seize control of the Artifact Refining Sect and Shen Family.
• Zhao Qin: Despite being weakened and restrained, she attempts to protect Shen Li by warning her not to return to the sect.
• Shen Zihao: Acts as Shen Que’s accomplice, restraining Zhao Qin and helping maintain control over her.

3. Significant Themes

• Betrayal and political intrigue: The chapter highlights the dangerous power struggle within the Artifact Refining Sect, where family relationships conceal schemes for control.
• Power versus caution: Lu Chen’s lack of sufficient strength forces him to balance heroism with self-preservation.
• Deception and hidden identities: Lu Chen relies on multiple identities, while Shen Que disguises his crimes behind false concern and Shen Li conceals her true gender.
• Family loyalty and desperation: Shen Li risks everything to save her mother, while Zhao Qin sacrifices her own safety to protect her daughter.
• Appearance and judgment: The closing line humorously reflects Lu Chen’s stunned reaction to Shen Li’s sudden betrayal, though the chapter demonstrates that her actions stem from desperation rather than simple foolishness.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Shen Li: Their relationship shifts from cooperation to distrust. Shen Li offers Lu Chen treasure and loyalty, but ultimately incapacitates him in an attempt to save her mother.
• Lu Chen and Shen Que: They exchange insults through the sound-transmission talisman. Lu Chen condemns Shen Que’s hypocrisy, while Shen Que attempts to manipulate him through Shen Li’s situation.
• Shen Li and Shen Que: Their confrontation exposes the longstanding conflict between them. Shen Li openly accuses him of harming her mother, while Shen Que pretends to be a caring uncle and tries to control her.
• Shen Li and Zhao Qin: Their brief communication emphasizes their strong mother-daughter bond and Zhao Qin’s desire to keep Shen Li from falling into Shen Que’s trap.
• Shen Que and Shen Zihao: Their interaction reveals a coordinated effort to restrain Zhao Qin and eliminate opposition within the family.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Li drugs Lu Chen with an improved version of Blissful Breeze, rendering him unable to use his strength, and plans to exchange him for her imprisoned mother at the Artifact Refining Sect.
• Lu Chen realizes Shen Li’s uncle, Shen Que, is not genuinely offering an exchange. Instead, he is likely setting a trap to kill Shen Li, Lu Chen, and possibly their companion.
• Lu Chen explains that Shen Que will keep Shen Li’s mother alive only while Shen Li remains useful. If Shen Li returns and is captured, both mother and daughter will likely be killed.
• Shen Li finally understands the danger and abandons her reckless plan to return immediately.
• Lu Chen advises her to cultivate until she is powerful enough to confront the Artifact Refining Sect and rescue her mother.
• Lu Chen effortlessly neutralizes the poison using the Yin-Yang Cauldron, a supreme artifact capable of refining poisons.
• Shen Li reveals that she was severely injured by Liu Yan’er, the Holy Maiden of the Joyful Union Sect. Her meridians and dantian were damaged, leaving her nearly crippled.
• Her friend, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Doctor Sect, told her that a Ten-Thousand-Year Dragonblood Herb could completely heal her.
• Lu Chen discovers that he possesses exactly such a herb in his Yin-Yang Space and produces it.
• Shen Li is overjoyed at the possibility of recovering and taking revenge, but Lu Chen teasingly asks what she is willing to trade for it.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen remains sharp, sarcastic, and skeptical, but he also shows patience and concern for Shen Li’s safety. He forgives her betrayal because she acted out of desperation to save her mother.
• Shen Li is revealed to be impulsive and inexperienced in strategy, allowing her concern for her mother to cloud her judgment. After Lu Chen exposes the trap, she begins to think more rationally.
• Shen Li’s secret identity as a woman disguised as a man remains important. Her close friend, the Heavenly Doctor Sect’s Holy Maiden, is one of the few people who knows the truth.
• Shen Que is characterized as ruthless and treacherous, willing to manipulate his own family and use Shen Li’s mother as bait.
• Lu Chen’s Yin-Yang Cauldron is further established as an exceptionally powerful artifact, protecting him from even highly potent poisons.

Significant Themes

• Trust and betrayal: Shen Li betrays Lu Chen by drugging him, yet her motives are rooted in filial devotion rather than malice.
• Family manipulation and political cruelty: Shen Que exploits Shen Li’s love for her mother and uses the proposed exchange as a deadly trap.
• Naivety versus strategic thinking: Shen Li’s emotional decisions contrast with Lu Chen’s practical analysis of the situation.
• Power and preparation: Lu Chen emphasizes that Shen Li must grow stronger before attempting to rescue her mother.
• Exchange and indebtedness: The chapter ends by introducing the question of what Shen Li must sacrifice or offer in return for Lu Chen’s priceless healing herb.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen angrily confronts Shen Li over drugging and setting him up, while Shen Li repeatedly apologizes.
• He dismantles her rescue plan through pointed questions, forcing her to recognize that her uncle intends to kill them rather than honor the exchange.
• Their dynamic shifts from suspicion and frustration toward reluctant trust and mentorship.
• Shen Li’s embarrassment over her female identity and her relationship with the Heavenly Doctor Sect’s Holy Maiden adds a teasing, personal element to their conversation.
• The chapter closes with Lu Chen playfully but meaningfully bargaining over the Dragonblood Herb, leaving Shen Li to decide what she can offer in exchange.

Chapter Summary

• Lu Chen reveals a Supreme Ten-Thousand-Year Dragonblood Herb, shocking Shen Li. Its vitality far exceeds the Heavenly Doctor Sect’s treasured herb, the only one Shen Li believed existed. Because her damaged meridians and dantian can only be restored by such medicine, she desperately needs it.
• Lu Chen regards the herb as relatively replaceable because he can cultivate similar medicines in his Yin-Yang Space, though he discovers that spiritual herbs may stop aging once they reach ten thousand years. The Yin-Yang Space and Yin-Yang Cauldron remain mysterious powers he has yet to fully understand.
• Unable to offer anything of equal value, Shen Li attempts to offer herself to Lu Chen in exchange for the herb. Lu Chen rejects the situation—not necessarily her personally, but the inappropriate circumstances—especially with Shen Fu’s corpse nearby. Instead, he orders her to search the bodies of the four Artifact Refining Sect cultivators who pursued her.
• Shen Li obediently searches the corpses and obtains four low-grade Spirit Artifact storage rings. Lu Chen notes the Artifact Refining Sect’s wealth.
• A masked woman in white arrives and sees the corpses and the Dragonblood Herb. She assumes Lu Chen and Shen Li murdered the cultivators to steal the herb. Shen Li explains that the dead men were pursuing her and that the herb already belonged to Lu Chen, but the woman remains suspicious.
• Shen Li identifies the newcomer as a Golden Sword Disciple of the Donglai Sword Sect, an Eastern Continent sword-cultivating sect allied with the Artifact Refining Sect. The woman is apparently a Golden Core cultivator.
• The woman attacks Lu Chen after seeing his masked appearance and demonic aura. Lu Chen casually deflects her flying sword with one finger, using metal gloves formerly belonging to a Nascent Soul ancestor of the Demon Sect.
• Misinterpreting the demonic qi from the gloves as proof that Lu Chen is connected to the Demon Sect, the woman launches a much stronger attack. She uses the Donglai Sword Sect’s Eastern Light-Dividing Sword Art, multiplying one sword into nine and then eighteen sword lights.
• Lu Chen evades the initial assault, but the force of the clash causes the cliff to collapse into the river. As the sword lights form a deadly net around him, Lu Chen loses patience and prepares to retaliate.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Shen Li becomes increasingly dependent and obedient toward Lu Chen, willing to sacrifice herself to obtain the medicine needed for revenge and to rescue her mother. She also demonstrates knowledge of major sects and techniques.
• Lu Chen remains powerful, composed, and somewhat amused by misunderstandings, but his patience is tested by the woman’s refusal to listen. His ability to cultivate rare medicines and easily withstand a Golden Core sword attack highlights his extraordinary resources and strength.
• The masked woman is aggressive and highly suspicious. Her loyalty to justice and her alliance with the Artifact Refining Sect lead her to act before verifying the truth.
• The central interaction is driven by misunderstanding: the woman mistakes Lu Chen and Shen Li for treasure-stealing murderers, while Lu Chen’s demonic gloves reinforce her false conclusion.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and prejudice: Appearances, corpses, and demonic artifacts cause the woman to judge Lu Chen without hearing his explanation.
• Power and value: Shen Li sees the Dragonblood Herb as priceless, while Lu Chen considers it reproducible, emphasizing the difference between their resources and perspectives.
• Desperation and sacrifice: Shen Li is prepared to surrender herself because of her urgent need for healing and her determination to save her mother and pursue revenge.
• Hidden power and mystery: Lu Chen’s Yin-Yang Space, Yin-Yang Cauldron, and Demonic Artifact gloves suggest that his abilities and possessions contain secrets still waiting to be uncovered.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen is mistakenly accused by Helan Xue, a female sword cultivator from the Donglai Sword Sect, of being a remnant of the Demon Sect who killed an Artifact Refining Sect disciple for the Ten-Thousand-Year Dragonblood Herb.
• Despite Lu Chen explaining the misunderstanding, Helan Xue attacks him with eighteen sword lights.
• Although Lu Chen is only at the fifth level of Qi Refining and cannot fly, he effortlessly disperses most of the sword net and catches one of her flying swords with his bare hand.
• He defeats Helan Xue with several punches, leaving her with two black eyes, then kicks her unconscious.
• Angered by her unreasonable behavior, Lu Chen orders Shen Li to search her and take all her valuables. They strip away her storage ring, spirit armor, robes, boots, talismans, jewelry, and other treasures.
• Lu Chen removes Helan Xue’s veil and discovers that she is remarkably beautiful, though he criticizes her lack of judgment.
• Shen Li recognizes her as Helan Xue, the Donglai Sword Sect’s Saintess and the woman once intended to become his fiancée through a marriage alliance.
• When three newcomers approach, Lu Chen and Shen Li hide in the forest. Helan Xue regains consciousness shortly afterward.
• Zhao Zilong, heir of the Zhao Household, sees Helan Xue and falsely claims that he defeated the attackers and rescued her.
• Believing him after he presents his heir token, Helan Xue thanks him and prepares to warn the Artifact Refining Sect about the supposed Demon Sect remnants.
• Zhao Zilong opportunistically offers to accompany her, hoping to exploit the situation and pursue her romantically.

Character Development

• Lu Chen: Displays overwhelming physical strength despite his low cultivation realm. His anger at being falsely accused turns into open mockery and retribution. He is direct, ruthless, and unconcerned with social status or conventional courtesy.
• Shen Li: Remains loyal and obedient to Lu Chen, though he is shocked by Lu Chen’s brutality. His connection to Helan Xue is revealed through the failed marriage alliance between their sects.
• Helan Xue: Initially appears arrogant, suspicious, and quick to resort to violence in the name of righteousness. After being defeated and robbed, she remains unaware of Lu Chen’s true identity and is easily misled by Zhao Zilong.
• Zhao Zilong: Is portrayed as shameless, deceitful, and opportunistic. He immediately takes credit for Lu Chen’s actions and attempts to use Helan Xue’s misunderstanding to gain her trust.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Helan Xue mistakes Lu Chen for an evil cultivator, while Zhao Zilong falsely presents himself as a hero.
• The hypocrisy of righteousness: Helan Xue’s affiliation with a righteous sect does not prevent her from acting rashly or violently based on unverified assumptions.
• Strength beyond cultivation level: Lu Chen’s physical power allows him to overpower a much stronger sword cultivator despite lacking the realm needed for flight.
• Greed and retribution: Lu Chen deliberately fulfills the accusation that he is a treasure-seizing bandit after Helan Xue attacks him without proof.
• Deception and social status: Zhao Zilong relies on his family identity and a fabricated story to manipulate Helan Xue.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Helan Xue clash because of her mistaken belief that he is connected to the Demon Sect.
• Lu Chen and Shen Li work together, with Shen Li carrying out the search and confiscation of Helan Xue’s belongings.
• Shen Li’s past connection to Helan Xue is revealed, adding tension and irony to the encounter.
• Zhao Zilong exploits Helan Xue’s vulnerability, claiming credit for saving her while Lu Chen watches from hiding and condemns his shameless behavior.

Chapter Summary: “Zhao Heir, Did You Enjoy What I Treated You To?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen and Shen Li hide in the woods after discovering that Zhao Zilong falsely claimed he had saved Helan Xue from the remnants of the demonic sect.
• Zhao intends to exploit the situation to gain Helan Xue’s affection, unaware that Lu Chen suspects Helan is far more capable and well-prepared than she appears. She possesses an invisible storage bracelet and an additional flying sword.
• Helan questions Zhao about traveling to the Artifact Refining Sect. Zhao explains that his household plans to demand justice after the Artifact Refining Sect forced them to surrender territory and provide a hostage.
• Zhao reveals that his household ancestor has recently broken through to the Nascent Soul Peak. Since the Artifact Refining Sect’s own Nascent Soul Peak ancestor died at Joyful Union Mountain, the Zhao Household intends to take advantage of its weakened state.
• Helan reluctantly allows Zhao to accompany her, despite distrusting him, because he claims to have saved her.
• Zhao prepares to pursue Helan in an Upper-Grade Thunderbolt Flying Boat and boasts that she will not be able to escape him.
• Before he can leave, Lu Chen throws a lump of feces into Zhao’s face, humiliating him. Lu Chen then emerges from the woods and mockingly asks whether Zhao enjoyed his “treat.”
• Enraged, Zhao orders his two subordinates to kill Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen effortlessly catches and crushes a Lower-Grade Spirit Artifact shaped like a flying wheel, then catches and destroys a Mid-Grade Spirit Artifact saber with his bare hand.
• Zhao responds by trapping Lu Chen beneath a massive rune-covered bell and igniting flames inside it, believing he can refine Lu Chen into ashes.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Displays overwhelming physical strength and confidence. He deliberately humiliates Zhao rather than immediately killing him, revealing his playful but confrontational attitude toward arrogant enemies. He has also put away his demonic metal gloves to avoid attracting suspicion.
• Shen Li: Continues to trust Lu Chen completely and finds Zhao’s humiliation amusing, openly laughing at his disgrace.
• Zhao Zilong: Is revealed as arrogant, deceitful, lustful, and accustomed to using his status to obtain women. His confidence in his family’s power turns into furious humiliation when Lu Chen throws feces at him. Despite seeing Lu Chen destroy Spirit Artifacts, he remains blinded by rage and underestimates him.
• Helan Xue: Remains cold and distant, concealing her true abilities and resources. Though she recognizes Zhao’s questionable motives, she feels obligated to travel with him because of his alleged rescue. She is also informed that the balance of power between the Zhao Household and the Artifact Refining Sect has shifted.

Significant Themes

• Arrogance and humiliation: Zhao’s boastful behavior is punished through comic and degrading humiliation, exposing the weakness beneath his pride.
• Hidden strength and deception: Zhao lies about saving Helan, while Helan conceals her treasures and Lu Chen conceals the full extent of his power.
• Changing political power: The recent deaths and losses suffered by the Artifact Refining Sect, alongside the Zhao ancestor’s breakthrough, demonstrate how quickly power can shift in the cultivation world.
• Abuse of status: Zhao’s belief that his position gives him control over women and weaker cultivators highlights the corruption and entitlement associated with aristocratic power.
• Underestimation: Zhao and his followers mistake Lu Chen for an ordinary masked cultivator, despite his ability to destroy Spirit Artifacts barehanded.

Character Interactions

• Helan and Zhao discuss the conflict between their allied factions, with Zhao presenting himself as a righteous heir seeking justice.
• Zhao privately reveals his predatory intentions toward Helan, while Helan remains emotionally detached and suspicious.
• Lu Chen and Shen Li observe Zhao’s deception from hiding before intervening.
• Lu Chen taunts Zhao after throwing feces at him, while Shen Li mocks Zhao’s transformation into “Zhao Shitlong.”
• Zhao’s subordinates attack Lu Chen on his orders, but their weapons are effortlessly destroyed.
• The chapter ends with Zhao trapping Lu Chen beneath a flaming bell, setting up the next confrontation.

Chapter Summary: A Single Stomp Kills the Zhao Household Heir

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Zilong traps Lu Chen inside the Blazing Flame Bell, an Upper-Grade Spirit Artifact, intending to burn him alive.
• Lu Chen remains unharmed because of the Fire-Repelling Pearl he previously took from Helan Xue.
• He repeatedly punches the bell from within, eventually shattering it with a final blow.
• The bell’s fragments kill Zhao Zilong’s two subordinates and badly damage Zhao’s Black Tortoise Shield.
• Lu Chen destroys the shield with one punch and sends Zhao crashing into a boulder, revealing an overwhelming difference in strength.
• Zhao attempts to flee using the Thunderbolt Flying Boat, but Lu Chen suppresses and takes control of it.
• After Lu Chen exposes Zhao’s earlier lie about defeating the “Demon Sect remnants,” Zhao realizes that Lu Chen and his companions are the people he falsely claimed to have driven away.
• Zhao begs for mercy, but Shen Li argues that he is a predatory criminal who will continue harming women.
• Lu Chen kills Zhao by stomping his head into the ground.
• Lu Chen then alters his facial features to perfectly resemble Zhao Zilong, takes Zhao’s possessions and clothing, and assumes his identity.
• He and Shen Li plan to catch up with Helan Xue, rob her again, and have Shen Li disguise herself as Helan so she can infiltrate the Artifact Refining Sect and attempt to rescue her mother.
• Using the Thunderbolt Flying Boat, Lu Chen and Shen Li depart at lightning speed.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates immense physical strength and confidence. He casually withstands a powerful artifact, destroys it barehanded, defeats Zhao’s defenses, and kills him without hesitation.
• Lu Chen also shows increasing cunning: rather than simply escaping, he adopts Zhao’s identity to execute a larger rescue and infiltration plan.
• Zhao Zilong shifts from arrogant, boastful, and aggressive to terrified and submissive once his weapons fail. His willingness to beg and promise reform highlights his cowardice and hypocrisy.
• Shen Li remains morally firm, condemning Zhao for his abuse of women. She becomes an active partner in Lu Chen’s strategy to rescue her mother.
• Helan Xue, though absent for most of the chapter, remains central to the plot because Lu Chen plans to impersonate Zhao in order to approach and deceive her.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus arrogance: Zhao’s confidence in his artifacts and status collapses against Lu Chen’s superior physical power.
• Justice and retribution: Zhao’s predatory behavior and lies lead directly to his death.
• Deception and identity: Lu Chen’s ability to alter his appearance allows him to turn Zhao’s identity into a tool for infiltration.
• Appearance versus reality: Zhao pretends to be a heroic savior, while Lu Chen exposes him as a shameless liar and abuser.
• Rescue through strategy: The group’s next move depends not only on strength but also disguise, deception, and careful planning.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen repeatedly humiliates Zhao by surviving his strongest attack, destroying his artifacts, and exposing his lies.
• Shen Li challenges Zhao’s pleas for mercy and insists that his crimes make him undeserving of release.
• Lu Chen and Shen Li cooperate closely, with Lu Chen devising the disguise plan and Shen Li taking responsibility for operating the flying boat and infiltrating the Artifact Refining Sect.
• Their final partnership transforms Zhao’s defeat into an opportunity to rescue Shen Li’s mother.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen disguises himself as the deceased Zhao Household heir, Zhao Zilong, and travels toward the Artifact Refining Sect aboard the extremely fast Upper-Grade Spirit Artifact Thunderbolt Flying Boat. Shen Li disguises herself as his subordinate.
• He catches up with Helan Xue, the Donglai Sword Sect’s Holy Maiden, and invites her aboard. She accepts to conserve her vital essence and take advantage of the flying boat’s speed.
• Helan questions Lu Chen’s reasons for going to the weakened Artifact Refining Sect. He evasively claims she will not need to go there, then secretly incapacitates her.
• Lu Chen jokingly proposes a marriage alliance between the Zhao Household and Donglai Sword Sect, suggesting that he and Helan become Dao companions. Helan, misunderstanding his intentions, believes he plans to violate her and angrily threatens him.
• Lu Chen continues teasing Helan and pretends he intends to “consummate” the marriage, though Shen Li interrupts before anything happens. He then orders Shen Li to search Helan for valuables.
• Meanwhile, two members of a demonic faction observe the flying boat. Their plan is to kill Lu Chen, drug and send Helan to the Demon Son, and frame Lu Chen for assaulting her so that the Zhao Household and Donglai Sword Sect will become enemies.
• The female demoness secretly reveals that she despises the Demon Son and intends to kill him, allowing the Holy Maiden to inherit leadership of the Sacred Church.
• As Lu Chen and the others travel, the demoness spreads a gigantic blood-red net across their path. The Thunderbolt Flying Boat crashes into it, trapping them.
• Lu Chen recognizes that their attacker is a Nascent Soul Realm demoness, leaving him greatly alarmed.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates his resourcefulness and confidence through disguise, deception, and use of the Thunderbolt Flying Boat. He also displays a mischievous, provocative side while tormenting Helan, though his behavior appears to be partly an act under his Zhao Zilong identity.
• Helan Xue: Remains proud and vigilant, but her reliance on Lu Chen’s boat leaves her vulnerable. After being secretly immobilized, she becomes furious and frightened, believing her chastity and reputation are in danger.
• Shen Li: Supports Lu Chen’s disguise and follows his instructions, acting as his subordinate. Her intervention prevents Lu Chen’s teasing of Helan from escalating.
• The female demoness: Is introduced as powerful, seductive, calculating, and politically ambitious. Although she follows orders from the black-clad man, she secretly plans to eliminate the Demon Son and seize influence for the Holy Maiden.
• The black-clad man: Appears to be an agent of the demonic faction, focused on manipulating the Zhao Household and Donglai Sword Sect into conflict.

Significant Themes

• Deception and mistaken identity: Lu Chen’s disguise as Zhao Zilong enables him to act freely while shifting blame onto someone already dead.
• Political manipulation: The demonic faction seeks to provoke a feud between two major sects through murder, sexual scandal, and fabricated evidence.
• Power and vulnerability: Helan’s status as a Holy Maiden cannot protect her once she is secretly poisoned or restrained, while Lu Chen’s advanced artifact gives him an advantage in travel.
• Hidden ambitions and factional conflict: The demoness’s betrayal reveals internal struggles within the demonic organization, where power is contested even among allies.
• Humor amid danger: Lu Chen’s playful teasing and Helan’s furious reactions create comic tension immediately before the serious threat of the Nascent Soul demoness appears.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Helan Xue: Their relationship is marked by suspicion, antagonism, and verbal provocation. Lu Chen toys with her fears by pretending to pursue her romantically, while Helan responds with outrage and threats.
• Lu Chen and Shen Li: Shen Li acts as a practical subordinate and reins Lu Chen in when his teasing becomes excessive. Their interaction suggests familiarity and cooperation.
• The demonic agents: The black-clad man gives the demoness orders, but she privately despises him and the Demon Son, revealing that their apparent cooperation conceals mutual distrust.
• Lu Chen’s group and the demoness: The chapter ends with their first direct confrontation, as the demoness traps the flying boat and reveals a threat far more formidable than Lu Chen expected.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen, Shen Li, and the unconscious Helan Xue travel aboard the Thunderbolt Flying Boat after using the Blissful Breeze to subdue her. Lu Chen and Shen Li disguise themselves as Zhao Zilong and his subordinate, intending to rob Helan Xue again.
• Their escape is intercepted by a blood-red demonic net created by the Nascent Soul cultivator Yelu Hong, also known as Blood Asura, a notorious top-tier succubus of the Myriad Demons Sect.
• The net’s demonic qi begins corroding the flying boat’s defensive barrier. Lu Chen discovers that Shen Li’s Blissful Breeze has no effect on Yelu Hong because of her extensive experience with poisons.
• After receiving the antidote, Helan Xue regains her cultivation and immediately attacks Lu Chen for his earlier actions. Despite their personal conflict, the three are forced to confront Yelu Hong together.
• Helan Xue summons help by crushing a communication talisman, claiming that the Donglai Sword Sect’s Grand Elder is nearby. When Yelu Hong attempts to eliminate them quickly, Helan Xue uses a powerful sword talisman.
• The talisman unleashes a strike equivalent to the full-force attack of a Nascent Soul Intermediate Stage sword cultivator. It tears apart the demonic net and forces Yelu Hong back, damaging her shield and nearly wounding her.
• Helan Xue then escapes alone using a Teleportation Talisman. Shen Li uses another talisman to teleport herself and Lu Chen away before Yelu Hong can capture them.
• Lu Chen and Shen Li reappear on a teleportation platform surrounded by cultivators led by Shen Que, the Artifact Refining Sect’s Sect Master. Lu Chen realizes that, although they escaped Yelu Hong, they may have landed in another dangerous situation.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Remains resourceful and cautious, attempting to provoke Yelu Hong while searching for a way out. He is frustrated by Helan Xue’s lack of loyalty and alarmed when he realizes they have teleported into an unknown group’s midst.
• Shen Li: Continues supporting Lu Chen despite the danger. Her Blissful Breeze fails against Yelu Hong, but she keeps a transmission talisman ready and ultimately saves herself and Lu Chen through teleportation.
• Helan Xue: Regains her strength and immediately reasserts her pride and hostility toward Lu Chen. At the same time, she displays composure and hidden preparedness by using powerful talismans to protect herself and escape.
• Yelu Hong: Is revealed as a highly experienced and dangerous demoness rather than an ordinary enemy. Although overwhelmingly powerful, she is surprised and angered by Helan Xue’s concealed sword talisman and fails to capture her targets.
• Shen Que: Appears at the chapter’s conclusion as the leader of the group surrounding Lu Chen and Shen Li, creating a new source of tension.

Significant Themes

• Survival through deception and preparation: Lu Chen and Shen Li rely on disguises, poison, talismans, and teleportation to survive stronger enemies.
• Hidden strength and underestimated opponents: Helan Xue initially appears helpless but carries a devastating sword talisman capable of injuring a Nascent Soul cultivator.
• Temporary alliances: Personal grudges are set aside only when Yelu Hong threatens everyone, though Helan Xue ultimately prioritizes her own escape.
• Dangerous reversals of fortune: Each apparent escape leads to a new crisis, emphasizing the instability of the characters’ situation.
• Power imbalance: The protagonists are trapped between Nascent Soul-level forces and must depend on external artifacts rather than their own cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Shen Li coordinate their disguise and escape plans, though they are unable to overcome Yelu Hong directly.
• Lu Chen and Helan Xue argue even while trapped together; Helan Xue attacks him after recovering and later threatens to settle their personal grievances.
• Helan Xue and Yelu Hong exchange threats, with Helan Xue attempting to intimidate her by invoking the Sword Sect’s Grand Elder.
• Yelu Hong treats Lu Chen and the others as helpless prey, but Helan Xue’s sword talisman forces her to take them seriously.
• Shen Li ultimately rescues Lu Chen, while Helan Xue abandons them and escapes separately.

Chapter Summary

• Lu Chen and Shen Li return to the Artifact Refining Sect: After Helan Xue drives back the demonic sect witch Yelu Hong, Lu Chen and Shen Li escape using a teleportation talisman. Instead of arriving somewhere safe, they appear unexpectedly in the Artifact Refining Sect’s central plaza.
• They interrupt Shen Zhennan’s funeral: The sect is holding a grand funeral for Shen Li’s grandfather, Shen Zhennan, who died at the Joyful Union Sect after Jiang Yingyue killed him with an arrow and destroyed both his body and soul. The coffin contains only belongings because no corpse remains.
• Political tension within the sect: Shen Que, Shen Li’s uncle and the current sect master, is struggling to control the Artifact Refining Sect after Shen Zhennan’s death. Several Nascent Soul patriarchs and internal factions are challenging his authority. Shen Que wants the Ancestral Founder Token, which is in Shen Li’s possession, so he can consolidate power and suppress opposition.
• Lu Chen’s identity is exposed: Lu Chen is disguised as Zhao Zilong, heir of the Zhao Household. Shen Zihao recognizes him. Shen Zihao previously forced the Zhao Household to surrender sixty percent of its territory, creating a major grievance between them. The crowd is shocked that Shen Li has returned alongside Zhao Zilong.
• Lu Chen openly challenges the sect: Despite being surrounded by numerous Nascent Soul cultivators and realizing he is in extreme danger, Lu Chen boldly announces that he has come to “collect a debt” from Shen Zihao. Shen Zihao and the disciples mock him for arriving seemingly alone, while Shen Que considers taking him hostage to threaten the Zhao Household.
• Lu Chen exposes Shen Que’s betrayal: Shen Que attempts to portray Lu Chen as a captive brought in by Shen Li, but Lu Chen immediately denounces him, declaring that he and Shen Li are allies and that Shen Que sent people to hunt Shen Li. This accusation shocks the entire plaza and raises doubts about the sect master’s actions.
• Cliffhanger: Enraged and alarmed that Lu Chen has revealed the internal conflict, Shen Zihao orders the disciples to seize him.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lu Chen: Displays courage, recklessness, and quick thinking. Although aware that he cannot defeat the assembled Nascent Soul patriarchs, he uses his disguised identity and public accusations to destabilize the situation.
• Shen Li: Returns to the sect during his grandfather’s funeral and becomes central to the succession struggle because he possesses the Ancestral Founder Token. His alliance with Lu Chen is publicly revealed.
• Shen Que: Appears outwardly composed but is secretly desperate to secure the token and preserve his authority. Lu Chen’s accusation exposes his hostility toward Shen Li.
• Shen Zihao: The arrogant envoy who previously humiliated the Zhao Household. He ridicules Lu Chen, but becomes visibly shaken when Lu Chen reveals that Shen Que ordered the pursuit of Shen Li.
• Artifact Refining Sect disciples and patriarchs: Initially united in suspicion of Lu Chen, they become unsettled after hearing that Shen Que may have secretly attacked his own nephew.

Significant Themes

• Power struggles and succession: Shen Zhennan’s death leaves the sect vulnerable to factional conflict, with control of the Ancestral Founder Token representing political legitimacy.
• Betrayal within family and sect: Shen Que’s attempt to eliminate or control Shen Li highlights the way ambition overrides familial loyalty.
• Courage versus overwhelming power: Lu Chen is physically outmatched but relies on boldness, deception, and public confrontation rather than direct strength.
• Public accusation as a weapon: Lu Chen turns the funeral gathering from a trap into a scene of political exposure, threatening Shen Que’s authority before the entire sect.

Chapter Summary: It’s Just Acting, Isn’t It? I’m Going All In

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen, impersonating Zhao Zilong, confronts Shen Zihao at the Artifact Refining Sect’s funeral for Shen Zhennan.
• He reveals that the Zhao Household’s ancestor has broken through to the Nascent Soul Peak, shocking everyone present—especially the Artifact Refining Sect, which had recently forced the Zhao Household to surrender sixty percent of its territory.
• The revelation creates a dangerous political balance. Since the Artifact Refining Sect’s own Nascent Soul Peak ancestor died at the Joyful Union Sect, it can no longer overpower the Zhao Household.
• Lu Chen boldly mocks Shen Zihao for his previous arrogance in Azure Moon City and presents himself as the Zhao Household’s envoy attending the funeral.
• He offers an exaggerated condolence, claiming Shen Zhennan “passed away in the prime of his life” and that “Heaven envied his talent,” provoking both amusement and irritation.
• Shen Que allows Lu Chen and Shen Li to enter the platform area, despite secretly developing murderous intent toward the disguised Lu Chen. He refrains from acting because killing “Zhao Zilong” could trigger a devastating war with the Zhao Household.
• Meanwhile, at the Zhao Household, a disciple reports that Zhao Zilong’s soul plaque has shattered. The household assumes the heir has died and immediately begins suppressing the news.
• The Zhao Household Head orders a secret investigation while hiding the death from the newly advanced Nascent Soul Peak ancestor, fearing the shock could destabilize his cultivation.
• At the Qin Household, Qin Fan emerges from seclusion after successfully reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Li Yunsheng sends him a congratulatory gift, but Qin Fan reacts bitterly because he believes she betrayed him. The box contains Tu Qianjue’s severed head, intensifying Qin Fan’s anger and his hatred toward Li Yunsheng.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Becomes increasingly confident and audacious in his impersonation of Zhao Zilong. Though nervous internally, he fully adopts the arrogant persona, using the Zhao Household’s influence as protection and deliberately provoking the Artifact Refining Sect.
• Shen Zihao: Is humiliated and rendered speechless when Lu Chen exposes the Zhao Household’s newfound power and reminds him of his own past arrogance. His anger grows, but he cannot act freely.
• Shen Que: Displays political restraint and strategic awareness. Although he recognizes Lu Chen as dangerous and wants him dead, he understands that killing him would ignite a war the weakened Artifact Refining Sect cannot afford.
• Shen Li: Is impressed and somewhat stunned by Lu Chen’s convincing performance, following his lead onto the platform.
• Zhao Household Head: Shows deep grief and fury upon learning of the heir’s apparent death, but prioritizes protecting the household’s Nascent Soul Peak ancestor and maintaining the Zhao Household’s stability.
• Qin Fan: Reaches the Nascent Soul Realm but remains consumed by resentment toward Li Yunsheng. The discovery of Tu Qianjue’s head transforms his suspicion into renewed rage.

Significant Themes

• Deception and performance: Lu Chen’s survival depends on committing completely to his false identity, blurring the line between acting and genuinely assuming Zhao Zilong’s role.
• Political power and deterrence: The Zhao Household’s newly elevated ancestor changes the balance of power, protecting Lu Chen and forcing the Artifact Refining Sect to exercise caution.
• Reversal of fortune: Shen Zihao, once arrogant because of his family’s strength, is now forced to endure the same kind of humiliation he previously inflicted on others.
• Family, succession, and vulnerability: Zhao Zilong’s apparent death threatens the Zhao Household’s future, while the ancestor’s emotional attachment to the heir reveals how personal relationships affect major political forces.
• Restraint versus revenge: Both Shen Que and the Zhao Household Head suppress immediate emotional reactions because reckless action could endanger their entire factions.
• Misunderstanding and dramatic irony: The audience knows Lu Chen is alive and impersonating Zhao Zilong, while the Zhao Household believes its heir has been killed, creating tension around the eventual discovery of the truth.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Shen Zihao engage in a hostile verbal confrontation, with Lu Chen using the Zhao Household’s status to reverse their former power dynamic.
• Lu Chen publicly challenges the Artifact Refining Sect while Shen Que maintains a polite façade and invites him to join the funeral.
• Shen Li witnesses Lu Chen’s performance and follows him, impressed by his composure.
• The Zhao Household Head interacts with his subordinate and elders, displaying both grief over his son and strategic concern for the household’s future.
• Qin Fan’s encounter with Li Yunsheng’s gift is indirect but emotionally charged: the severed head of Tu Qianjue serves as a provocative message that deepens his hatred and suspicion.

Chapter Summary: Emptying the Artifact Refining Sect’s Treasury

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fan emerges from seclusion to discover that Li Yunsheng has sent him Tu Qianjue’s severed head, provoking his fury.
• He also receives Li Yunsheng’s letter formally breaking off their engagement. Qin Fan is enraged and refuses to accept the dissolution, largely because the marriage alliance would have secured him the Grand Void Immortal Sect’s support in his bid to become heir of the Qin Household.
• In the Grand Void Immortal Sect, Li Yunsheng reaches Nascent Soul Great Completion through the powerful Dual Cultivation Secret Art. However, she learns that the mysterious man who possesses the technique has disappeared.
• Suspecting that the Qin Household or Demon Sect remnants may be involved, Li Yunsheng decides to investigate personally.
• Lu Chen, disguised as Zhao Zilong, attends the Artifact Refining Sect’s funeral for Shen Zhennan, who died during the battle at the Joyful Union Sect.
• Inside the Artifact Refining Sect, conflict erupts between sect master Shen Que and Shen Li. Shen Que accuses Shen Li of betraying the sect by colluding with the Zhao Household, while Shen Li claims Shen Que tried to have him killed and imprisoned his mother to force him to surrender the Ancestral Founder Token.
• Shen Li’s revelation shocks the sect’s eight Nascent Soul patriarchs, since the Ancestral Founder Token grants its holder authority over the entire Artifact Refining Sect.
• While the elders argue, Lu Chen uses the token—along with a map and his knowledge of the sect’s defenses—to bypass the sect’s thirteen killing formations and enter its secret treasury.
• He discovers an enormous collection of High-Grade and Supreme Spirit Stones, rare treasures, pills, artifact-refining materials, dozens of Spirit Artifacts, and six Supreme Spirit Artifacts.
• Most importantly, the treasury contains all five types of Divine Iron required to forge the Formless Flying Sword.
• Lu Chen empties the entire treasury into his Yin-Yang Space, leaving nothing behind for Shen Que or the sect.

Character Developments

• Qin Fan becomes increasingly resentful and humiliated. His anger stems not only from Tu Qianjue’s death but also from Li Yunsheng’s decision to break their engagement, which threatens his political ambitions within the Qin Household.
• Li Yunsheng advances to Nascent Soul Great Completion, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Dual Cultivation Secret Art. Her concern for the missing technique-holder also reveals that she values his importance and recognizes the danger he faces.
• Lu Chen displays increasing boldness, preparation, and resourcefulness. Disguised as Zhao Zilong, he exploits the Ancestral Founder Token and his prior knowledge of the Artifact Refining Sect to infiltrate its most secure location.
• Shen Li openly challenges Shen Que and attempts to turn the sect’s elders against him by exposing the conflict over the Ancestral Founder Token.
• Shen Que is shown to be politically threatened and potentially ruthless, as he is accused of hunting Shen Li and capturing Shen Li’s mother.

Significant Themes

• Power and political alliances: Qin Fan’s refusal to accept the broken engagement shows how marriage alliances serve as tools for gaining sect and family influence.
• Betrayal and internal conflict: The Artifact Refining Sect is divided between factions supporting Shen Que and Shen Li, with accusations of murder, betrayal, and coercion threatening the sect’s stability.
• The value of power and resources: The Ancestral Founder Token, the Dual Cultivation Secret Art, and the treasury’s Spirit Artifacts all represent immense authority and strategic advantage.
• Preparation and opportunism: Lu Chen succeeds because he has planned ahead, obtained a map, and taken advantage of the sect’s internal turmoil.
• Ambition and revenge: Qin Fan seeks advancement before settling his personal grievances, while Shen Li and Shen Que struggle for control of the Artifact Refining Sect.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fan reacts violently to Li Yunsheng’s rejection and Tu Qianjue’s death, revealing the deep resentment between him and Li Yunsheng.
• Li Yunsheng questions Black Feather about the missing technique-holder and orders an investigation, linking the Qin Household and Demon Sect remnants to his disappearance.
• Shen Que and Shen Li confront each other publicly before the sect’s senior patriarchs, turning their private power struggle into an open political dispute.
• Shen Yuanshan supports Shen Li and challenges Shen Que’s accusations, highlighting the division among the sect’s leadership.
• While Shen Li distracts the elders by revealing the Ancestral Founder Token, Lu Chen secretly uses it to infiltrate and completely plunder the sect’s treasury.

Chapter Summary: “The Top-Tier Succubus Arrives”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Using the Artifact Refining Sect’s Ancestral Founder Token, Lu Chen secretly enters the sect’s secret realm while disguised as Zhao Zilong.
• He empties the entire treasure vault, taking all of its heavenly treasures.
• He then infiltrates the spirit fields. After releasing the Heavenly Doctor Sect’s Blissful Tendon-Softening Incense, he incapacitates the two Golden Core disciples guarding them and transplants every spirit herb into his own Yin-Yang Space.
• Before leaving, Lu Chen robs the guards, strips them, hangs them upside down at the spirit-field entrance, and knocks them unconscious.
• At the secret-realm exit, Lu Chen encounters Shen Zihao, who mistakes him for Zhao Zilong and attempts to attack him.
• Shen Zihao’s attack fails because Lu Chen’s disguised body is vastly stronger. Lu Chen breaks Shen Zihao’s fingers, slaps him down, and forcibly extracts his wood-attribute Golden Core, crippling his cultivation.
• When Shen Zihao refuses to reveal the location of Shen Li’s mother, Lu Chen threatens to castrate him. Shen Zihao immediately submits and leads him to a secluded courtyard in the back mountain.
• Lu Chen rescues Zhao Qin, who has been imprisoned there, though her cultivation remains sealed by Shen Que, a Nascent Soul cultivator.
• As Lu Chen prepares to leave with Zhao Qin, a major assault begins against the Artifact Refining Sect. Yelu Hong, a powerful succubus, enters the courtyard carrying the Donglai Sword Sect’s saintess, Helan Xue.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen grows increasingly bold and ruthless, treating the Artifact Refining Sect’s resources as his own and humiliating anyone who opposes him. His physical strength and confidence allow him to dominate Shen Zihao effortlessly.
• Shen Zihao shifts from arrogant aggressor to terrified captive. After losing his Golden Core and facing the threat of castration, he abandons his defiance and cooperates with Lu Chen.
• Zhao Qin is revealed to have been placed under house arrest and sealed by Shen Que. Though rescued, she remains unable to use her cultivation.
• Yelu Hong makes a dramatic entrance as a dangerous and seductive new force, apparently involved in the broader attack on the Artifact Refining Sect.
• Helan Xue, the Donglai Sword Sect’s saintess, appears as Yelu Hong’s captive, suggesting that she may be important to the conflict or possess information valuable to Lu Chen.

Significant Themes

• Power and humiliation: Lu Chen repeatedly reverses the power dynamic, humiliating the Artifact Refining Sect and punishing those who underestimate him.
• Resource accumulation and opportunism: He seizes treasures, spirit herbs, and Shen Zihao’s Golden Core to strengthen himself and expand his advantages.
• Disguise and deception: Lu Chen’s use of Zhao Zilong’s identity allows him to infiltrate the sect and manipulate its members without immediately exposing himself.
• Coercion versus loyalty: Shen Zihao’s willingness to betray information under threat contrasts with Lu Chen’s pragmatic approach to survival and rescue.
• Escalating conflict: The attack on the Artifact Refining Sect and Yelu Hong’s arrival indicate that larger forces are moving against the sect, broadening the story beyond Lu Chen’s personal raid.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Chen intimidates and robs the two spirit-field guards, establishing his dominance over the sect’s lower-level defenders.
• His confrontation with Shen Zihao highlights the enormous gap between them and ends with Shen Zihao’s cultivation being destroyed.
• Lu Chen bargains with Shen Zihao through threats, forcing him to reveal Zhao Qin’s location.
• Lu Chen reassures Zhao Qin by identifying himself as her son’s friend and provides her with an antidote.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chen facing Yelu Hong, whose seductive challenge and captive saintess introduce a new and potentially dangerous confrontation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Artifact Refining Sect is suddenly attacked on a moonless night, and its forging hall—the sect’s primary source of wealth—is destroyed.
• Sect Master Shen Que activates the Tenfold Annihilation Heaven-Refining Array, trapping the attackers inside the sect. He refuses to unleash its divine fire fully because doing so would kill his own disciples.
• Shen Que engages one of the mysterious attackers in battle while chaos spreads throughout the sect.
• Shen Li escapes her confinement and captures Shen Que’s son, Shen Zi’ao, demanding to know where her mother is imprisoned.
• After beating and threatening him, Shen Li cuts off both of Shen Zi’ao’s arms. When he claims not to know anything, she kills him.
• Shen Lu arrives and attacks Shen Li with the Heaven-Refining Hand. Shen Li burns her Golden Core essence to restore her strength and defeats him with a superior version of the same technique.
• Shen Lu reveals that Shen Li’s mother is being held at the Azure Dragon Retreat in the back mountain. Shen Li kills him anyway, declaring that she intends to eliminate everyone responsible, then takes both men’s storage rings and leaves.
• At the Azure Dragon Retreat, the succubus Yelu Hong captures Lu Chen, who is disguised as Zhao Zilong. She recognizes that the real Zhao Zilong is already dead and seals Lu Chen’s cultivation, forcing his disguise to unravel.

Character Developments

• Shen Que becomes enraged and vengeful after the destruction of the forging hall, but he also shows concern for his sect by refusing to sacrifice its disciples to kill the invaders.
• Shen Li displays extreme ruthlessness and determination. Her desperation to find her mother overrides concern for her own injuries and leads her to execute Shen Zi’ao and Shen Lu even after obtaining the information she wanted.
• Shen Li reveals that she possesses a more advanced version of the Heaven-Refining Hand, surpassing Shen Lu’s and apparently even Shen Que’s understanding of the technique. However, using her Golden Core-burning secret art may permanently cripple her cultivation.
• Shen Zi’ao, previously arrogant after training at the Donglai Sword Sect, is reduced to fear and helplessness before being killed.
• Shen Lu remains loyal to the Shen family but is forced to reveal the location of Shen Li’s mother to save Shen Zi’ao, only to be killed immediately afterward.
• Lu Chen is exposed as vulnerable when Yelu Hong sees through his disguise. His cultivation is sealed, placing his true identity on the verge of discovery.
• Yelu Hong is shown to be perceptive, powerful, and in complete control of the situation as a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and ruthlessness: Shen Li’s actions show how grief, imprisonment, and hatred have pushed her toward merciless vengeance.
• Sacrifice and consequences: Shen Li risks destroying her own cultivation to regain her strength, while Shen Que must balance revenge against the safety of his sect.
• Identity and deception: Lu Chen’s disguise as Zhao Zilong is about to collapse, emphasizing the danger of concealing one’s true identity.
• Power and hierarchy: The battles highlight the vast differences between cultivation levels and the importance of superior techniques.
• Destruction of foundations: The attack on the forging hall threatens the Artifact Refining Sect’s entire economic and organizational survival.

Character Interactions

• Shen Que confronts the mysterious attackers while defending the sect and restraining the full power of his annihilation array.
• Shen Li brutally interrogates Shen Zi’ao and Shen Lu about her mother’s whereabouts, using violence and threats to force cooperation.
• Shen Li and Shen Lu clash over the Heaven-Refining Hand, with Shen Li decisively overpowering him.
• Yelu Hong interrogates Lu Chen and dismantles his false identity by sealing his cultivation, setting up the imminent revelation of his true form.

Chapter Summary: Demon Sect Holy Son

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Artifact Refining Sect’s rear mountain retreat, the succubus Yelu Hong seals Lu Chen’s cultivation with the Heaven-Demon Imprisoning Immortal Finger.
• With his cultivation suppressed, Lu Chen reveals his true appearance. Yelu Hong is surprised by his handsome appearance and stubborn demeanor, then threatens to torture him into revealing his identity and why he impersonated Zhao Zilong.
• A tremendous disturbance erupts elsewhere: the Tenfold Annihilation Heaven-Refining Array activates, forming the phantom of a massive ancient cauldron and alarming cultivators across the region.
• Yelu Hong orders her subordinates to capture Lu Chen, Zhao Qin, and Helan Xue and take them to Misty Rain Tower, secretly an intelligence organization founded by the Demon Sect.
• Shen Li arrives at the retreat after Yelu Hong leaves and discovers her mother’s hairpin and traces of Blissful Bone-Softening Incense. Realizing her mother may be with Lu Chen and the others, she uses one of the two secret Ancestral Founder Tokens to track them through the sect’s defensive array.
• At Misty Rain Tower, Helan Xue is placed in the Demon Sect Holy Son’s room, while Lu Chen and Zhao Qin are imprisoned. The Holy Son intends to take Helan Xue’s primal yin and absorb her cultivation to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Yelu Hong is called away before she can interrogate Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen secretly activates the Yin-Yang Cauldron, which devours the sealing power and restores his cultivation. He releases Blissful Bone-Softening Incense, incapacitating the guards and Zhao Qin.
• After giving Zhao Qin the antidote, Lu Chen uses the Yin-Yang Creation Method to remove her seal. Their cultivation exchange not only restores Zhao Qin’s power but also heals her injuries and purifies her vital essence, bringing her close to a breakthrough.
• Meanwhile, the Demon Sect Holy Son finishes bathing and returns to Helan Xue’s room, preparing to carry out his plan.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen demonstrates extraordinary resilience and hidden capabilities. Even after his cultivation is sealed by Yelu Hong, he remains calm and quickly finds a way to break free.
• His command of the Yin-Yang Cauldron and Yin-Yang Creation Method is revealed to be powerful enough to counter a technique used by a Nascent Soul-level expert.
• Zhao Qin shifts from helpless prisoner to restored ally. Her injuries are completely healed, her cultivation improves, and she gains renewed confidence in Lu Chen’s mysterious abilities.
• Yelu Hong becomes intrigued by Lu Chen’s appearance and defiance, viewing him as both a mystery and a potential source of amusement.
• Shen Li shows determination and resourcefulness by using the secret Ancestral Founder Token to pursue her mother and the abducted group.
• The Demon Sect Holy Son is portrayed as arrogant, lustful, and ambitious. He seeks Helan Xue’s primal yin solely to force a breakthrough and surpass his rival, Mo Xian’er.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identity and deception: Lu Chen’s impersonation of Zhao Zilong and his concealed powers remain central mysteries.
• Power versus restraint: The chapter contrasts Lu Chen’s apparent helplessness with the immense abilities he has hidden within the Yin-Yang Cauldron.
• Exploitation of cultivation: The Demon Sect Holy Son views Helan Xue’s body and cultivation as resources to consume, highlighting the predatory nature of demonic cultivation.
• Loyalty and rescue: Shen Li’s pursuit of her mother and Lu Chen emphasizes familial loyalty and the determination to recover loved ones.
• Transformation through cultivation: Lu Chen’s technique does more than remove seals; it heals Zhao Qin and purifies her power, suggesting that cultivation can be restorative rather than purely destructive.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen and Yelu Hong: Yelu Hong interrogates and threatens Lu Chen, while he responds with defiance and refuses to reveal anything.
• Shen Li and her mother: Though they do not meet directly, Shen Li follows her mother’s traces and uses the paired Ancestral Founder Tokens to locate her.
• Lu Chen and Zhao Qin: Lu Chen frees Zhao Qin through a cooperative cultivation technique, restoring her strength and strengthening their alliance.
• The Demon Sect Holy Son and Helan Xue: The Holy Son treats Helan Xue as a means to advance his cultivation and is about to attack her when the chapter ends.
• The Demon Sect and its captives: Yelu Hong’s forces control Lu Chen, Zhao Qin, and Helan Xue temporarily, but Lu Chen’s escape undermines their control and sets up a confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Return to the Joyful Union Sect!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In Misty Rain Tower, Ming Yuan prepares to drain the saintess of the Donglai Sword Sect’s cultivation using the demonic Heavenly Demon Devouring Origin Art, hoping to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm and claim leadership of the Myriad Demons Sect.
• His supposed victim is revealed to be Mo Xian’er, who ambushes him with a powerful palm strike. Ming Yuan is badly injured because he is unarmed and unprotected.
• Mo Xian’er reveals that she has mastered the Myriad Poisons Universe Palm. Its poison is already corroding Ming Yuan’s life force, and ordinary detoxification pills cannot cure it.
• Rather than kill him immediately, Mo Xian’er allows Ming Yuan to flee and follows him in a deliberate game of cat and mouse. Their conflict determines who will inherit the Myriad Demons Sect.
• With the Demon Sect disciples unable to interfere in the holy son–saintess struggle, Misty Rain Tower is left empty. Lu Chen and Zhao Qin use the opportunity to search Ming Yuan’s room.
• They discover Helan Xue, whose cultivation has been sealed and who has been hidden beneath the bed. Lu Chen orders Zhao Qin to carry her, and they escape before Mo Xian’er returns.
• Outside the town, they reunite with Shen Li, Zhao Qin’s daughter. Their emotional reunion confirms that Zhao Qin has survived her captivity and regained hope.
• Shen Li hints that she used the mysterious Ancestral Founder Token to track Lu Chen, though she conceals the fact that there are two tokens rather than one.
• Suddenly, the phantom of the Heaven-Refining Cauldron above the Artifact Refining Sect collapses. Its divine flames devastate the surrounding area, while an enormous demonic hand descends from the sky, revealing the presence of an extraordinarily powerful demon.
• Realizing the danger, Lu Chen decides that the group must return to the Joyful Union Sect, even though the sect has already been thrown into chaos by his disappearance before the upcoming Eastern Continent Cultivation Assembly.

Character Developments

• Ming Yuan: His arrogance and confidence are shattered by Mo Xian’er’s ambush. His ambition to become a Nascent Soul ancestor and sect master is placed in jeopardy as he suffers a potentially fatal poisoning.
• Mo Xian’er: Demonstrates rapid recovery from her previous injuries, mastery of a dangerous poison technique, and a cruel, playful ruthlessness. She now holds a decisive advantage over Ming Yuan.
• Lu Chen: Acts quickly and cautiously, rescuing Helan Xue and prioritizing escape once the larger demonic threat appears. His identity as the Reclusive Pill King remains concealed.
• Zhao Qin: Escapes captivity and is reunited with Shen Li, marking an important emotional victory after she had expected to die rather than submit.
• Shen Li: Shows initiative and resourcefulness by locating Lu Chen and Zhao Qin. She continues to hide the full truth about the Ancestral Founder Tokens.
• Helan Xue: Is rescued while weakened and unable to use her cultivation, but her condition and future role remain unresolved.

Significant Themes

• Power struggles and succession: The battle between Ming Yuan and Mo Xian’er represents the ongoing contest for control of the Myriad Demons Sect.
• Deception and hidden identities: Mo Xian’er disguises herself as Ming Yuan’s intended victim, while Lu Chen continues concealing his identity as the Reclusive Pill King.
• Cruelty and demonic cultivation: Ming Yuan and Mo Xian’er both embody the ruthless methods of demonic cultivators, though Mo Xian’er gains the upper hand through superior planning.
• Family and reunion: Zhao Qin’s reunion with Shen Li provides a moment of warmth amid the chapter’s violence and impending catastrophe.
• Escalating external danger: The destruction surrounding the Artifact Refining Sect signals that events are expanding beyond personal and sect-level conflicts into a major catastrophe threatening the wider cultivation world.

Important Character Interactions

• Ming Yuan and Mo Xian’er: Their confrontation shifts from Ming Yuan’s planned exploitation to Mo Xian’er’s revenge and psychological domination.
• Lu Chen and Zhao Qin: They cooperate efficiently to rescue Helan Xue and escape Misty Rain Tower.
• Zhao Qin and Shen Li: Their reunion is emotional, emphasizing their strong mother-daughter bond and Zhao Qin’s unexpected survival.
• Lu Chen and Shen Li: Their exchange about how she tracked them highlights mutual secrecy and Shen Li’s hidden connection to the Ancestral Founder Token.
• Lu Chen and the group: Lu Chen assumes leadership when the Heaven-Refining Cauldron collapses, directing everyone toward the Joyful Union Sect.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen and his companions escape Misty Rain Tower as the Artifact Refining Sect’s Tenfold Annihilation Heaven-Refining Array is shattered by the Six Extremes Devil Lord, leader of the Myriad Demons Sect.
• A terrifying confrontation begins between the Devil Lord and Ye Qingxian of the Grand Void Immortal Sect. Their Spirit Transformation-level manifestations overwhelm the surrounding region, but they ultimately do not fight, and the Devil Lord withdraws.
• The Artifact Refining Sect suffers catastrophic damage. Sect Master Shen Que and the eight Nascent Soul ancestors are severely injured, while many disciples die. Shen Que’s sons, Shen Zihao and Shen Zi’ao, are also reported dead.
• The sect’s secret treasury, spirit fields, herbs, and artifact-forging facilities are looted. Shen Que blames the demon sect remnants and vows revenge, unaware of the deeper truth behind the attack.
• Lu Chen, disguised as the Reclusive Pill King, returns to Hehuan Town with Shen Li, Zhao Qin, and Helan Xue. He removes the seal on Helan Xue through Literary Cultivation, strengthening himself with additional Yin-Yang Essence.
• Helan Xue leaves for the Donglai Sword Sect after learning the truth about Shen Que’s cruelty and corruption. Her feelings toward Lu Chen have also changed after their earlier misunderstanding.
• With the Eastern Continent Cultivation Assembly only five days away, Lu Chen arranges matters at Joyful Union Mountain. He settles Shen Li and Zhao Qin in the House of Ten Thousand Beauties, provides cultivation resources for Bing’er, Huo’er, and Qing’er, and gives Zhao Hong Realm-Breaking Pills.
• Lu Chen visits his disciple Little Xixi, who has already reached the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining despite having cultivated for only a short time. He tells her he is entering an uncertain period of “seclusion.”
• His true goal is to join the Eastern Continent Cultivation Assembly, enter the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm, and seek materials and opportunities needed to forge Five-Element True Bones and refine the Five-Element Divine Sword.
• Lu Chen returns to the Joyful Union Sect’s Inner Sect while still concealing his identity. He prepares an explanation for his absence, but his return causes a commotion because he is the sect’s only male disciple and is viewed as a prized Furnace Tripod.
• Ye Chenyu summons him to Joyful Union Hall. Before Lu Chen can explain himself, a mysterious person reveals that he is the legendary Reclusive Pill King, shocking everyone present—including Lu Chen.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Becomes increasingly ambitious after witnessing Spirit Transformation-level power. He is determined to grow stronger, enter the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm, and compete with the Eastern Continent’s greatest Golden Core prodigies. His dual identity becomes increasingly difficult to conceal.
• Helan Xue: Her hostility toward Lu Chen disappears after learning that Shen Que was responsible for horrific crimes, including harming his own brother. She develops complicated feelings for Lu Chen after their Literary Cultivation experience and leaves with their former grievances resolved.
• Shen Que: Suffers both physical and emotional collapse. He loses his sons, his sect’s resources, and much of its strength, but remains blinded by rage and mistakenly attributes everything to the demon sect.
• Little Xixi: Demonstrates extraordinary talent, advancing rapidly to the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining. She remains attached to Lu Chen and is saddened by his uncertain departure.
• Ye Chenyu and Jiang Yingyue: Continue to respect and admire the Reclusive Pill King, unaware that he is Lu Chen until the final revelation.
• Zhao Hong: Has remarried Madam Chun, suggesting that he remains unable to escape her persistent influence.

Significant Themes

• The scale of cultivation power: Lu Chen gains a clearer understanding of the vast gap between his current strength and that of Spirit Transformation experts.
• Hidden identities and deception: Lu Chen’s life depends on maintaining separate identities as an ordinary Joyful Union Sect disciple and the prestigious Reclusive Pill King.
• Misjudgment and false blame: Shen Que wrongly condemns the demon sect for the destruction of his sect, while failing to understand the true circumstances surrounding the deaths and thefts.
• Ambition and self-improvement: Lu Chen’s exposure to powerful cultivators strengthens his desire to rise through the cultivation world and challenge stronger opponents.
• Betrayal and moral corruption: Shen Que’s crimes reveal that respectable sect leaders may be more vicious than the demonic enemies they condemn.
• Growth through relationships: Helan Xue’s changing feelings and Little Xixi’s dependence on Lu Chen show how his relationships are becoming increasingly important alongside his cultivation.

Character Interactions

• The Six Extremes Devil Lord and Ye Qingxian confront one another in a tense display of overwhelming power, establishing them as opposing supreme figures.
• Lu Chen and Helan Xue share a final significant interaction through Literary Cultivation before she returns to the Donglai Sword Sect.
• Lu Chen gives guidance and resources to his companions and disciples, reinforcing his role as protector and mentor.
• He comforts Little Xixi while preparing her for his indefinite absence.
• Ye Chenyu and the Joyful Union Sect elders question Lu Chen about his disappearance, only for a third party to expose his identity as the Reclusive Pill King, ending the chapter on a major cliffhanger.