Chapter Summaries

Hu Donghan, the powerful master of Void-Purging Temple, attempted to break through his cultivation bottleneck using the Five Ghosts Barrier-Breaking Great Art. The attempt failed, and the five ghosts destroyed him, leaving nothing behind.

• Hu Donghan's reputation in Heaven Gate City came from his temple's miraculous healing and his deadly punishments of the Wang Household and Black Dragon Society.
• Hu Donghan recalled finding the True Exposition of the Ghost Path as an orphan and using its techniques to command ghosts, zombies, and skeletons.
• Facing lethal backlash from his slow cultivation, Hu Donghan began the Five Ghosts Barrier-Breaking Great Art in the Land of Utmost Evil.
• The five ghosts passed through Hu Donghan's body, tore apart his flesh, and burned his skeleton to nothing.

Hu Donghan reached Qi Refining First Layer after three months of cultivation in the Yin Soul Sect and tested the basic spells he had learned. He resolved to stabilize his cultivation and obtain a Ghost Wraith, hoping the secret arts in his True Exposition of the Ghost Path could help him catch up with Hu Meier.

• Hu Donghan reflected on his poor Four-Spirit Root talent and feared Hu Meier would overpower him when they met again.
• Hu Donghan cast the Spirit Bolt Technique and found its attack weak, then used the Spirit Shield Technique and saw that his mixed spirit roots made it poorly defended.
• Hu Donghan practiced both spells until he exhausted his spirit force, then restored it and considered the Yin Soul Sect's Ghost-Summoning Technique.
• Hu Donghan decided to stabilize his Qi Refining First Layer cultivation, seek a Ghost Wraith, and test whether the secret arts in his True Exposition of the Ghost Path worked.
• Hu Donghan withdrew his spirit force and left his room.

Hu Donghan went to the Outer Affairs Hall to collect his first monthly stipend after reaching the Qi Refining First Layer. He received five Spirit Stones and two Lesser Qi-Nourishing Pills and left the hall.

• Hu Donghan ate at the outer sect disciples' dining hall after nearly a day of cultivation and destroyed several Wandering Souls and wild ghosts along the way.
• Hu Donghan arrived at the Outer Affairs Hall, where Enforcement Hall disciples guarded against sect-rule violations.
• Hu Donghan told an old steward that he had just reached the Qi Refining First Layer and gave his name as Hu Donghan.
• The old steward checked the jade slip, confirmed Hu Donghan's registration, and issued him five Spirit Stones and two Lesser Qi-Nourishing Pills.
• Hu Donghan confirmed his monthly stipend, saluted the old steward, and left.

Hu Donghan accepted the mandatory initiation trial mission to kill ten Yin Soul ghost creatures and claimed a Low-Grade Soul Ring in advance. As he left the Outer Affairs Hall, a mocking disciple called attention to his slow cultivation progress, and Hu Donghan shoved him aside and called him an idiot.

• Hu Donghan browsed the sect missions but realized his Qi Refining First Layer cultivation was too weak for the available bounties.
• He accepted the initiation trial mission to kill ten Yin Soul ghost creatures within two months and took a jade talisman and Low-Grade Soul Ring in advance.
• Hu Donghan left the mission area after deciding to stabilize his cultivation before completing the trial.
• A thin, pockmarked disciple blocked Hu Donghan and publicly mocked him for reaching the Qi Refining First Layer after three months.
• Hu Donghan shoved the disciple aside and called him an idiot.

Hu Donghan ignored Mu Zhengfeng’s insults and spent five days stabilizing his cultivation and practicing two techniques. After deciding he was ready to hunt ten Yin Soul ghosts for his introductory trial and seek a Ghost Wraith, he rested before setting out the next day.

• Mu Zhengfeng switched from flattering Hu Donghan to mocking him after learning Hu had no powerful connections, and Hu left the Outer Affairs Hall after calling him an idiot.
• Hu Donghan returned to his room, arranged for meals, and cultivated with Spirit Stones and Lesser Qi-Nourishing Pills.
• Over five days, Hu Donghan stabilized his Qi Refining First Layer and improved his Spirit Bolt Technique and Spirit Shield Technique.
• Hu Donghan concluded he could kill weak Yin Souls and planned to complete his trial by killing ten ghosts before finding a Ghost Wraith.
• Hu Donghan washed, ate, and slept soundly before his mission the next day.

Hu Donghan chose Lonely Soul Ridge as a nearby place to hunt ghosts and collect a bounty despite being only at Qi Refining First Layer. He rode a skeletal horse there and arrived as the surrounding ghostly aura grew stronger.

• Hu Donghan studied a map of Overlapping Peaks and chose Lonely Soul Ridge, where a bounty offered one Spirit Stone for hunting one hundred yin souls and ghostly creatures.
• Hu Donghan decided to travel to Lonely Soul Ridge, reasoning that it was nearby and that noon's strong yang energy would weaken ghosts near its outskirts.
• Hu Donghan borrowed a skeletal horse from the courtyard beneath Overlapping Peaks and set off despite the menial disciple's surprise at his low cultivation.
• Hu Donghan rode south for nearly an hour, passing through increasingly dense ghostly baleful aura and arriving outside Lonely Soul Ridge.

Hu Donghan entered Lonely Soul Ridge to complete his entrance trial mission and learned that the recently cleared ridge’s outskirts were suitable for a novice. After studying the terrain and riding deeper, he spotted his first newly formed Yin Soul.

• Hu Donghan introduced himself to the three Foundation Establishment guards at Lonely Soul Ridge’s outpost and explained that he had come to complete his entrance trial mission.
• A guard warned Hu Donghan to remain in the outskirts, avoid groups of Yin Souls, and leave within half a month, then gave him a distress talisman that would cost five hundred Spirit Stones to use.
• Hu Donghan thanked the guards, kept the talisman, and rode into Lonely Soul Ridge while studying its map.
• As Wandering Souls grew more numerous, Hu Donghan reached the outskirts and saw a newly formed Yin Soul within three hundred meters.

Hu Donghan hunted yin souls at Lonely Soul Ridge, completing half his trial before nightfall forced him to leave. As he tried to depart, he encountered Wang Linshu, an Overlapping Peaks disciple riding a powerful Hundred Ghost Banner.

• Hu Donghan cautiously killed a weak yin soul with a Spirit Force Bolt and collected its soul breath in a jade talisman.
• Hu Donghan meditated to recover his spirit force, then hunted until he had killed five yin souls in total.
• Hu Donghan decided to leave Lonely Soul Ridge because yin souls and ghost creatures grew stronger at night.
• A sudden attack from behind prompted Hu Donghan to cast Spirit Shield Technique and strike back with a Spirit Force Bolt.
• Wang Linshu appeared on a Hundred Ghost Banner and explained that he meant no harm, and Hu Donghan apologized for attacking him.

Hu Donghan grew suspicious of Wang Linshu and escaped his attempt to lure him into danger at Lonely Soul Ridge. He suspected Mu Zhengfeng had sent Wang Linshu after him, and the next morning he again refused Wang Linshu’s offer to travel together.

• Hu Donghan noticed Wang Linshu knew his surname and made an excuse to leave Lonely Soul Ridge.
• Wang Linshu admitted he had planned to lure Hu Donghan into the ridge so Yin souls would kill him, and vowed to find another chance to kill him for two hundred Spirit Stones.
• Hu Donghan rested at the outpost and suspected Mu Zhengfeng had sent Wang Linshu, allowing killing intent toward Mu Zhengfeng to surface.
• The next morning, Hu Donghan entered Lonely Soul Ridge’s outer region and encountered Wang Linshu again.
• Hu Donghan respectfully refused Wang Linshu’s offer to travel together and set off alone.

Hu Donghan defied Wang Linshu’s attempt to force him into traveling together and escaped by relying on the sect’s prohibition against killing fellow disciples. He continued hunting Yin Souls at Lonely Soul Ridge after completing his entrance mission, searching for a Ghost Wraith as the area grew more dangerous.

• Wang Linshu blocked Hu Donghan and threatened him, but Hu Donghan stood his ground and challenged him to either kill him or leave.
• Hu Donghan showed Wang Linshu the aid-request talisman from the Lonely Soul Ridge outpost, and Wang Linshu let him pass rather than risk punishment for killing a fellow disciple.
• Hu Donghan rode away, resolving to grow stronger and eventually kill Wang Linshu, while planning to obtain a Ghost Wraith to test the techniques in the "True Exposition of the Ghost Path."
• Hu Donghan completed his entrance trial mission on the second day and spent more than half a month hunting Yin Souls in search of a Ghost Wraith.
• Stronger Yin Souls and groups of early-stage Qi Refinement Yin Souls appeared in Lonely Soul Ridge’s outer region, making Hu Donghan’s hunts increasingly dangerous.

Hu Donghan encountered a Special Yin Soul while hunting at Lonely Soul Ridge and tried to defeat it for a chance to obtain a Ghost Wraith. He found that its ghostfire shield was strong enough that his remaining Spirit Force Bolts might not break through it.

• Hu Donghan decided to spend one more day hunting at Lonely Soul Ridge before leaving if he could not find a Ghost Wraith.
• Hu Donghan found a newly formed Yin Soul and attacked it with a Spirit Force Bolt, but it dodged part of the strike and survived.
• The Yin Soul formed a ghostfire shield and pursued Hu Donghan, who recognized it as a Special Yin Soul with a chance to produce a Ghost Wraith if killed.
• Hu Donghan fired another Spirit Force Bolt at the Special Yin Soul, but it raised its shield to block the attack.
• Hu Donghan saw that the ghostfire shield remained strong and doubted that his three remaining Spirit Force Bolts would break it.

Hu Donghan used the bone horse to divert the Special Yin Soul’s attack and kill it with a Spirit Bolt Technique, then captured the Ghost Wraith it left behind. After calming the frightened horse, he realized it had carried him into Lonely Soul Ridge’s dangerous inner region and headed back toward the outskirts.

• Hu Donghan decided against risking close combat and planned to flee the Special Yin Soul.
• Hu Donghan mounted the bone horse and waited for the Special Yin Soul to attack, intending to use the horse as a shield.
• Hu Donghan dodged as the Special Yin Soul lunged at him, and his Spirit Bolt Technique slipped past its weakened ghostfire shield and destroyed it.
• Hu Donghan collected the Ghost Wraith into his Soul Ring and caught up with the fleeing bone horse.
• Hu Donghan discovered that the horse had carried him into Lonely Soul Ridge’s inner region, where several Yin Souls threatened him, and he urged it toward the outskirts.

Hu Donghan escaped Lonely Soul Ridge’s inner region, examined the Mortal Ghost he had acquired, and discovered a Corpse Bone Pit that could support corpse cultivation. He decided to return to Overlapping Peaks and focus on increasing his strength before pursuing those techniques.

• Hu Donghan reached the outer region of Lonely Soul Ridge on his badly injured bone horse and released the Mortal Ghost from his Bronze Ring.
• Hu Donghan identified the Ghost Wraith’s white Ghost-Spirit Light as the mark of a Mortal Ghost and considered using it to test the True Exposition of the Ghost Path.
• Hu Donghan discovered that his bone horse had vanished and followed its tracks back into the inner region.
• Hu Donghan found the bone horse beside a Corpse Bone Pit filled with corpse qi and realized it could be used to nurture corpses.
• Hu Donghan set aside plans to cultivate corpses for now and resolved to return to Overlapping Peaks to cultivate and learn to command the Mortal Ghost.

Hu Donghan returned to Overlapping Peaks after completing his entry trial mission in Lonely Soul Ridge. When Mu Zhengfeng admitted arranging Wang Linshu’s attempt to kill him, Hu Donghan beat him unconscious and dragged him outside.

• Hu Donghan left Lonely Soul Ridge, returned the bone horse, and submitted his entry trial mission for ten spirit stones.
• Hu Donghan rested at Overlapping Peaks after spending sixteen days away.
• Mu Zhengfeng barged into Hu Donghan’s room and boasted that he had sent Wang Linshu to kill him.
• Hu Donghan punched Mu Zhengfeng and continued beating him until he passed out.
• Hu Donghan dragged Mu Zhengfeng outside as the watching cultivators scattered.

After defeating Mu Zhengfeng, Hu Donghan prepared for the danger of their feud and began cultivating a Mortal Ghost with the Ghost-Summoning Technique. He realized that its lack of an attribute could make it exceptionally versatile and considered using the Ghost-Nurturing Art from the True Exposition of the Ghost Path to develop its potential.

• Hu Donghan accepted that Mu Zhengfeng would likely seek revenge and decided he might appeal to Hu Meier for protection if necessary.
• Hu Donghan suspected a menial disciple had alerted Mu Zhengfeng and resolved to kill him when the opportunity arose.
• Hu Donghan released a Mortal Ghost from his Soul Ring and used the Ghost-Summoning Technique to bind it to himself.
• Hu Donghan examined the Mortal Ghost and recognized that its lack of an attribute might allow it to develop in many directions, potentially reaching Low-Grade Ghost Demon.
• Hu Donghan recalled the True Exposition of the Ghost Path and its teachings on nurturing and cultivating Soul Bodies.

Hu Donghan planned to raise the Attribute-less Mortal Ghost into a Medicine Spirit Ghost, which could cultivate herbs, produce spirit liquid, and refine pills. As he formed a Soul List to bind the ghost, a second one appeared in his divine soul, leaving him with the potential to control far more Soul Bodies.

• Hu Donghan considered how a Medicine Spirit Ghost’s abilities could help him rival cultivation geniuses despite his Middle-Grade Four-Spirit Root.
• Hu Donghan decided to focus on the Soul Body path and use the Soul List technique to bind the Mortal Ghost.
• Hu Donghan formed a Soul List in his sea of consciousness, but his divine soul suddenly moved beyond his control.
• A second Soul List formed, and Hu Donghan regained control of his divine soul.
• Hu Donghan concluded that his two Soul Lists might come from the two divine souls in his body and resolved to reach the summit of cultivation.

Hu Donghan bound a Mortal Ghost to his Soul List and used the Ghost-Nurturing Art to feed it Wandering Souls, confirming that the method strengthened its body and aptitude. After three days, the ghost had absorbed all the souls in his Soul Ring and reached its current limit, leaving its next stage of cultivation unfinished.

• Hu Donghan bound the Mortal Ghost’s soul essence to a Soul List, gaining control of his first Soul Body and deciding to nurture it into a Medicine Spirit Ghost.
• Hu Donghan fed the Mortal Ghost a Wandering Soul and observed its Soul Body grow stronger and its cultivation aptitude improve.
• Hu Donghan continued feeding the Mortal Ghost Wandering Souls, causing its body to grow more solid and its Ghost-Spirit Light to deepen in color.
• After three days, Hu Donghan had fed it every Wandering Soul in the Soul Ring, but the Mortal Ghost had reached its limit and could not absorb much of the final souls’ energy.

Hu Donghan discovered that studying the True Exposition of the Ghost Path had greatly improved his cultivation, then collected his monthly stipend to seek a spirit herb for transforming the Mortal Ghost. Outside the Outer Affairs Hall, Mu Zhengfeng arrived with law enforcement disciples and an inner sect cultivator, pointing Hu Donghan out as their target.

• Hu Donghan realized he could use his monthly stipend along with his ten Spirit Stones to obtain a spirit herb for the Mortal Ghost’s body-changing step.
• Hu Donghan found that the True Exposition of the Ghost Path had doubled his cultivation speed, more than tripled his spiritual power recovery, and improved his spiritual power’s purity.
• Hu Donghan saw Hu Meier’s fox-and-dagger mark beneath his message and understood that she had been watching over him.
• Hu Donghan recognized a menial watching him but ignored the figure and went to the Outer Affairs Hall to collect his stipend.
• Mu Zhengfeng arrived with Wang Linshu, three law enforcement disciples, and a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, then pointed Hu Donghan out to them.

Hu Donghan defended himself against accusations from Wang Linshu and Mu Zhengfeng before the Enforcement Hall, while their ally Mu Ming pressured the enforcement disciples to punish him. The enforcement disciples heard the accusers’ claims, and Mu Zhengfeng ended by threatening Hu Donghan.

• Mu Ming and three enforcement disciples confronted Hu Donghan about Wang Linshu’s and Mu Zhengfeng’s accusations.
• Mu Zhengfeng taunted Hu Donghan, so Mu Ming slapped him and ordered him to be quiet.
• Hu Donghan said he had mistaken Wang Linshu for a ghost at Lonely Soul Ridge and denied using spiritual power to beat Mu Zhengfeng.
• Hu Donghan challenged the enforcement disciples to question the other parties, and they turned to Wang Linshu and Mu Zhengfeng.
• Wang Linshu claimed Hu Donghan had attacked him to steal his treasures, while Mu Zhengfeng claimed Hu Donghan had beaten him with spiritual power.
• Mu Zhengfeng waved his fist at Hu Donghan and threatened that he was dead.

The Enforcement Hall sentenced Hu Donghan to a brutal whipping after accusing him of attacking Wang Linshu and beating Mu Zhengfeng. As the disciples seized him to carry out the punishment, Hu Meier appeared and asked to watch, leaving it unclear whether she would intervene.

• Mu Ming confirmed that Mu Zhengfeng had asked him for injury medicine, and the Enforcement Hall disciple treated this as further evidence against Hu Donghan.
• The Enforcement Hall disciple sentenced Hu Donghan to seventy lashes, then doubled the punishment to one hundred and forty when Hu Donghan refused the ruling.
• Three Foundation Establishment Late Stage Enforcement Hall disciples seized Hu Donghan to carry out the punishment.
• Hu Donghan called to a familiar figure in the crowd, and Hu Meier appeared, saying that only she was allowed to bully him.
• Hu Meier asked to watch the whipping, and the Enforcement Hall disciple agreed as long as she did not interfere.