Chapter Summaries

Lin Xin helped Liu Chuanlong repair the Round Gold Array by miniaturizing its formation patterns while Liu Chuanlong handled the mental construction, and the two old masters won their wager against the Tiger Mask Old Man. Afterward, Liu Xian accused Lin Xin of behaving lecherously toward her.

• Liu Chuanlong questioned Lin Xin about his ability to engrave miniature formations, and Lin Xin demonstrated that the work consumed little energy.
• The Hunchback Old Man persuaded Lin Xin to secretly assist Liu Chuanlong, and Lin Xin negotiated a linked sword formation as his reward.
• Lin Xin and Liu Chuanlong worked together to repair the Round Gold Array while the Tiger Mask Old Man attempted to repair his own formation.
• The repaired Round Gold Array lit up, and the Tiger Mask Old Man conceded defeat before leaving with his grandson.
• Liu Chuanlong began praising formation masters, but Liu Xian accused Lin Xin of swiping his fingers behind her.

Lin Xin traded spirit jade with Pu Dusheng for manuals and arranged to obtain Demon Talisman Seeds, then continued refining his swordsmanship while struggling with grief over Xiao Lingling. He turned away Lin Xinyuan’s advances, discussed Nan Shunqing’s cultivation, and asked Gongsun Li why a member of the Liu family had come to visit.

• Lin Xin agreed to consider joining Pu Dusheng’s siege of the Fish Lip Dao and exchanged spirit jade for manuals, while Pu Dusheng promised to gather eight Demon Talisman Seeds and arrange an assassination.
• Lin Xin noticed a second rune mark in his carriage but left it untouched, then trained in the dark courtyard to refine his Mind’s Eye Sword Dao.
• Lin Xin woke to find Lin Xinyuan bringing breakfast and stopped her when she began removing her clothes, then left the room.
• At the training grounds, Nan Shunqing urged Lin Xin to respond to Lin Xinyuan’s devotion, and Lin Xin instead asked about Nan Shunqing’s companions and advised him on a cryptic cultivation-method passage.
• After hearing that Liu Ruoyun of the Gold Jade Sect had arrived to visit Nan Shunqing, Lin Xin summoned Gongsun Li and asked why someone from the Liu family had come looking for Qing Er.

Lin Xin and Liu Zong fought through a swarm of Small Fire Monkeys to gather Earth Fire Golden Plums, while Yin Manto devoured the monkeys and began to evolve. As they escaped, Lin Xin clashed with Shi Ran of the Red Pavilion, who fled after their fight, leaving Lin Xin to realize Shi Ran had been healing from poison and injuries.

• Lin Xin used Yin Manto to block the Small Fire Monkeys and cut a path through the swarm to reach Liu Zong.
• Lin Xin and Liu Zong entered the cavern and collected its Earth Fire Golden Plums in copper jars.
• After Yin Manto devoured many monkeys and signaled that it was growing stronger, Lin Xin recalled it and fled with Liu Zong when larger figures approached.
• A masked fighter in crimson attacked Lin Xin at the crater's edge, and they exchanged a rapid series of blows before separating.
• The fighter identified himself as Shi Ran of the Red Pavilion, accused Lin Xin of ruining his plans, and escaped down the mountain.
• Lin Xin found Shi Ran's black blood and deduced that he had been forcing out poison and healing his injuries, then ordered Liu Zong to leave.

Lin Xin returned to the Lin Family’s new manor near LeFu City with Huang Shan and Xiao Lingling, reunited with his family, and announced his engagement to Xiao Lingling. As the Lin Family settled into its new home and welcomed gifts from nearby powers, Lin Xin prepared to establish the sect’s suppression point.

• Lin Xin arrived at the Lin Family Manor with Huang Shan and Xiao Lingling and reunited with Lin Zhiwen, Lin Zhiwu, Lin Xinyuan, and the other relatives.
• Lin Zhiwen explained that the family had moved from Red Pine City to LeFu City, acquired a bamboo forest and copper mine, and enlisted Daoist Lu Suo, Zen Master San Yuan, and Gongsun Li to protect and train them.
• Lin Zhiwen told Lin Xin that Bo Yunzi had disappeared half a year earlier, leaving a letter saying he was going traveling.
• Lin Xin announced that he had returned to become engaged to Xiao Lingling, and Lin Zhiwen gave them his support while Lin Xinyuan reacted with concealed distress.
• The Lin Family sent word to Yu King Manor and received visits and gifts from nearby powers; Lin Xin accepted gifts from only a select few and returned the rest.

Lin Xin’s wedding to Xiao Lingling drew prominent guests from across the region, while Lin Xinyuan endured the crowded celebrations and thought about her brother’s marriage. As Lin Xin reached to take Xiao Lingling’s hand, An Ying appeared in the courtyard and asked what he was doing, bringing the ceremony to a halt.

• Lin Xinyuan left her courtyard with Huang Guangbi, but Zhao Ye introduced her to Huang Ze and his son before they could go riding.
• Prominent guests arrived, including disciples from several sects, and Lin Xin greeted Huang Shan, Kong Yuhui, Cheng Ruofei, and Jiang Yuer.
• Huang Shan reminded Lin Xin to return to the sect after the wedding, and Lin Xin changed into wedding robes as guests filled the courtyard.
• Lin Xin and Xiao Lingling met at the center of the hall for the ceremony, and Lin Xin reached toward her hand.
• An Ying appeared outside holding a longsword, questioned Lin Xin about the wedding decorations, and left him silent as the music stopped.

Lin Xin returned from the Porcelain King’s domain with a token and a promise of support, while the Pine Forest Sword Sect ordered Han Xiaolong to stop pursuing him. Eight years passed peacefully at the manor, and Lin Xin’s four children grew into well-known young cultivators with distinct reputations.

• Lin Xin accepted the Porcelain King Token and declined an offer to leave the Pine Forest Sword Sect, choosing to stay with his family and friends.
• A messenger delivered the order that Han Xiaolong must not harm Lin Xin, and Han Xiaolong flew into a rage, spat blood, and fainted.
• Ji Lu and You Xuan visited Dugu Lin to thank her for Han Xiaolong’s injury, but learned she had not caused it and left with a long list of requests for Lin Xin.
• Lin Xin returned to Spirit Heart Mountain Manor, where he cultivated and studied formations while the manor’s affairs increasingly passed into Lin Xinyuan’s hands.
• Over eight years, Lin Zhen became the Fan Young Master, Lin Luo the Blood Young Master, Lin Duan the Elegant Young Master, and Nan Shunqing the Rambunctious Young Master.

Lin Xin crossed the Yang Membrane into the gap, a dim region contaminated by the Outer Domain, and tested himself against its creatures. After killing several crawling monsters, he encountered a group of One-Legged People whose bodies withstood his ninth-layer Innate Realm Sword Qi.

• Lin Xin used ten pieces of spirit jade to open a brief rift at the Yang Membrane and entered the gap.
• Lin Xin killed a crawling, blue-gray creature with one sword strike and collected a bone fragment it left behind.
• Lin Xin traveled northeast across the tilted landscape, killed another crawling monster, and found scattered stone houses.
• Lin Xin lit a fire in a stone house, then saw several One-Legged People hopping toward him.
• Lin Xin struck two One-Legged People with Sword Qi, but they suffered only minor injuries and kept approaching.

Lin Xin intervened as Star Calamity Hall and the Red Pavilion cornered Zhao Yunshan and his children, then killed the Strange Spirit Scholar Song Zheng and two other core members. He left without revealing his name and headed toward another Red Pavilion stronghold, while his cultivation remained stalled because the damaged Red Flower Sword leaked spiritual energy.

• Zhao Yunshan prepared to fight Star Calamity Hall and the Red Pavilion, but Song Zheng appeared and his children Yue'er and Long'er returned to stand with him.
• Lin Xin arrived and demanded information from Song Zheng, then warned that he would kill him if he had to wait.
• Lin Xin killed Song Zheng and the two Star Calamity Hall members who fled from the Mountain God Temple.
• Zhao Yunshan offered to repay Lin Xin and asked his name, but Lin Xin asked him to keep the incident secret and left.
• Lin Xin sensed the spiritual energy gained from the kills, found that the Returning Origin Art had not progressed, and headed for another Red Pavilion stronghold.

Lin Xin returned from the insect territory, where Dugu Lin told him Hua Yu Nu had disappeared and explained the powerful Hua family behind him. After the group returned, regional forces were reorganized, Spirit Heart Mountain Manor became a major-region leader, and Lin Xin secluded himself to study Nether Prefecture cultivation arts for a suitable Dao Foundation.

• Lin Xin collected aphid secretions, realized he had reached Qi Refining Stage Level Nine, and returned to camp after Bee Girl flew away.
• Dugu Lin told Lin Xin that Hua Yu Nu had disappeared and warned him about Hua Yu Nu’s powerful Hua family and its True Lord of the Dan Dao.
• Lin Xin concluded Hua Yu Nu was probably alive but badly injured, and Dugu Lin gave him a White Ant Mirror to erase traces of Spider Silk.
• After waiting three days without Hua Yu Nu returning, Dugu Lin and Su Wan led the group back as reports revealed other punitive forces had suffered even heavier losses.
• The sect reorganized the territories and appointed Spirit Heart Mountain Manor leader of a newly formed major region as Yuefu Territory grew more prosperous.
• Lin Xin shut himself in his underground chamber to study Nether Prefecture cultivation arts and seek a Dao Foundation suited to him.

Lin Xin discovered Nan Shunqing’s extraordinary talent and warned him against pride, then continued planning the Red Flower Sword’s reforging around the evolving Yin Manto. The chapter left Lin Xin designing a formation to strengthen the flower vine’s ability to kill and consume.

• Gongsun Li and Ou Yinghong told Lin Xin that Nan Shunqing had entered the Inner Family and could cultivate Inner Qi, swordsmanship, and movement arts at once.
• Lin Xin watched Nan Shunqing defeat Lin Zhen and Lin Luo in a spar, then ordered him to copy the Original Scripture after seeing his talent and confidence.
• Lin Xin instructed the children that cultivation required perseverance and purity, while Nan Shunqing argued that combat skill could help someone seize resources.
• Lin Xin supervised the Red Flower Sword’s reforging and considered Old Yang’s warning against engraving overly destructive formations.
• Lin Xin concluded that the sword’s formation should promote Yin Manto’s evolution and began designing one to increase its area-of-effect killing power.

Lin Xin returned to Peacock City after surviving the mountain mission and sought protection from Zhong Xuan by reporting the plague case and handing over the Human-Face Fruits and evil art manual. Huang Songzi accused him of hiding the thousand-person fruit and attacked, but Zhong Xuan stopped him, leaving Lin Xin under his protection for now.

• Lin Xin buried Shu Luoyi's belongings, kept Mu Luozi's Human-Face Fruits and evil art manual, and cut his arm to make his survival appear less suspicious.
• Lin Xin met Kong Ling and Zhong Xuan in Peacock City with Kong Yuhui, then used his connection to Ji Lu to gain Zhong Xuan's attention.
• Lin Xin recounted his discoveries about the plague and surrendered the Human-Face Fruits and evil art manual to Zhong Xuan for the sect's investigation.
• Zhong Xuan told Lin Xin to stay by his side until the investigation ended, but Huang Songzi arrived with Zhao Hongtian and accused Lin Xin of concealing the main fruit.
• Huang Songzi slashed at Lin Xin, and Zhong Xuan intercepted him with a burst of golden light, sending him through the wall while remaining seated.

At Lin Xin and Xiao Lingling’s wedding, An Ying attacked Xiao Lingling and was driven off by Lin Xin and Huang Shan before masked assailants pursued her. Lin Xin reached An Ying in a bamboo grove, where Silver Cave and Red Pavilion forces had trapped them; after An Ying refused to return with him, he prepared to take her back by force as the two women attacked.

• An Ying confronted Lin Xin at his wedding and attacked Xiao Lingling, forcing Lin Xin and Huang Shan to intervene.
• An Ying used a secret art against Lin Xin, then was injured and fled as men in black from Empty Sword Cave attacked her.
• Lin Xin chased An Ying through a bamboo grove while a green-clad woman from Red Pavilion tried to stop him.
• An Ying encountered a pale woman from Silver Cave in a black sedan chair, while Lin Xin fought off the green-clad woman and reached her.
• The Silver Cave woman’s forces activated a Shadow Attachment Array around Lin Xin and An Ying, and An Ying refused to return with him.
• Lin Xin said he would take An Ying back by force, prompting the green-clad woman and the Silver Cave woman to attack him.

Lin Xin joined the Radiance Society after the Ming brothers revealed their organization and its supernatural safeguard against betrayal. After learning more about Southern Netherworld Prefecture and receiving advice about the sect cultivators he had killed, Lin Xin left for the Society’s branch at the border of the lands of the living and the outer domains.

• The Ming brothers led Lin Xin into a secluded bamboo grove and told him about the Radiance Society, urging him to join.
• Ming Yi explained that members offered spirit-bearing incense and that betrayal could trigger a deadly backlash.
• Lin Xin lit the incense and witnessed its spirit enter the Cosmos Celestial Sovereign’s armor before the brothers welcomed him into the Society.
• After hosting the Ming brothers for more than ten days, Lin Xin received a jade slip outlining the Society’s contacts, duties, benefits, and a map of Southern Netherworld Prefecture.
• The Ming brothers advised Lin Xin to visit the local branch minister about his involvement in killing Qi Refinement experts, so Lin Xin entrusted his manor to Huang Shan and set out for the branch at the outer-domain border.

Xiao Lingling spent her final day dancing with Lin Xin before fading away, and her death drove him to break through to the second realm of the Sword Dao. Months later, An Ying learned of his death and reflected on why he had chosen Xiao Lingling.

• Xiao Lingling danced for Lin Xin on the frozen lake, then vanished into motes of light as Lin Xin played his flute.
• Lin Xinyuan and the others revealed that Xiao Lingling had died, but Lin Xin continued to see and speak to her.
• Lin Xin's grief unleashed black spiritual energy, transforming the Red Flower Sword and allowing him to comprehend Sword Intent.
• Lin Zhen and Lin Luo grieved for their mother, while Lin Zhen recalled promising Xiao Lingling that her final day would belong to her and Lin Xin alone.
• Months later, An Ying received news that Lin Xin was dead, shattered the jade slip, and said she now understood why he had chosen Xiao Lingling.

Lin Xin escaped the burning forest after leaving Shu Luoyi and Yu Chang to be killed by wolves, then hid the Human-Face Fruits and examined the items he had recovered. Injured and wary of the Pine Forest Sword Sect’s response, he decided to surrender four inferior fruits, seek Martial Uncle Ji Lu’s help, and find a powerful ally.

• Lin Xin crippled Shu Luoyi, impaled her and Yu Chang with Yu Chang's sword, and concealed himself as Wild Wolves attacked them.
• A middle-aged Daoist and Zhao Hongtian reached the wolf pack and found the remains of two Pine Forest Sword Sect disciples.
• Lin Xin hid the Human-Face Fruits in a stone-pillar forest and examined Mu Luozi's belongings, including a Sword Qi Talisman and five mysterious metal fragments.
• Lin Xin realized backlash from the Clear Talisman Sword had destabilized his Inner Qi and used Sweet Rain Talismans to ease his injuries.
• Lin Xin considered how to answer for the missing fruits and dead disciples, then decided to hand over four fruits, seek Martial Uncle Ji Lu's help, and find a powerful protector.

Lin Xin learned from Cheng Ruofei that Kong Yuhui and others were killing disciples to condense Yin Blood, and the three joined together for protection. As night approached, Cheng Ruofei planned to survive the danger and possibly ambush Kong Yuhui, while Ouyang Qing agreed to kill the three herself.

• Cheng Ruofei told Lin Xin that Kong Yuhui had lured Jiang Yuer onto the mission and that their group was harvesting Inner Family experts' essence blood to condense Yin Blood.
• Cheng Ruofei warned Lin Xin that the town's resentment fueled strange horrors and gave him a Resentment Energy Talisman to detect them.
• Ouyang Qing discussed with a man leaving before the Yin Blood Bird appeared and agreed to kill Lin Xin, Cheng Ruofei, and Jiang Yuer for their Yin Blood.
• Lin Xin, Cheng Ruofei, and Jiang Yuer moved into adjoining rooms so they could stay together through the night.
• Cheng Ruofei told Lin Xin that they might ambush Kong Yuhui and take the Yin Blood, and said they would seek Ouyang Qing's help if they survived the night.

After emerging from half a year of seclusion, Lin Xin met Cheng Ruofei, traded Yin Blood for an array-weapon maintenance formula, and learned that his increased strength required new sword techniques. He decided to visit the Law Transmission Forest, where a group of Listening Sword Valley disciples had gathered.

• Lin Xin met Cheng Ruofei in the pine forest, and she gave him a lacquer formula to hide his array weapon’s runes.
• Lin Xin chose the Array Weapon Maintenance Oil formula in exchange for his final vial of Yin Blood, and declined Cheng Ruofei’s invitation to join her and Yue'er on a mission.
• Cheng Ruofei told Lin Xin that Kong Yuhui had reached the Innate Realm and left on a mission to Peacock Gate.
• Lin Xin practiced with his increased strength, judged that his Flame Yang Talisman Sword needed improvement, and decided to seek Flame-less Swordplay and new arrays at the Law Transmission Forest.
• At the foot of Sword Hall Peak, several dozen Listening Sword Valley disciples gathered near the Law Transmission Forest pavilion.

Lin Xin returned Shu Ruoyun’s family Sword Qi Talisman, and Shu Ruoyun rewarded him with another talisman and a Dust Transformation Pill. After taking the pill and studying the Minor Returning Origin Art, Lin Xin tried to gather Innate Qi at noon but failed, leaving his breakthrough unfinished.

• Lin Xin returned Shu Ruoyun’s Sword Qi Talisman, convincing Shu Ruoyun of his sincerity.
• Shu Ruoyun gave Lin Xin an unused Sword Qi Talisman and a Dust Transformation Pill before hurrying back to inform his family.
• Lin Xin returned to his stone house, took the pill, and found that it stabilized his unstable Inner Qi.
• Lin Xin studied the Minor Returning Origin Art and learned how Innate Qi was gathered and used in cultivation.
• At noon, Lin Xin’s Inner Qi burst under pressure, but he failed to catch the brief, elusive thread of Innate Qi.

Lin Xin defeated the ghostly white garment on the carriage road, then hid to recover his depleted Inner Qi. When Shu Luoyi and Yu Chang were attacked by another white shadow, Lin Xin drove it off with a flashstone, but Shu Luoyi accused him of causing the group’s misfortunes and broke off their cooperation.

• Lin Xin reasoned through how his attributes affected his body and concluded that he needed to choose his future development carefully.
• A ghostly white garment attacked Lin Xin, but he destroyed it with Flame-less Swordplay and Primal Yang One Qi, then concealed himself to restore his Inner Qi.
• Shu Luoyi and Yu Chang arrived wounded and were repeatedly attacked by a fast white shadow while Lin Xin watched from hiding.
• Lin Xin used a rune-covered black stone to blind and drive off the white shadow, then checked on Shu Luoyi and Yu Chang.
• Shu Luoyi accused Lin Xin of being responsible for the group’s misfortunes and said they would pursue the Human-Face Fruit separately.

Lin Xin met Shu Ruoyun, who confronted him about Shu Luoyi’s death and attacked when he distrusted Lin Xin’s account. Lin Xin redirected Shu Ruoyun’s suspicions toward Huang Songzi and gave him Shu Luoyi’s Sword Qi Talisman, leaving Shu Ruoyun convinced he had found a clue.

• Shu Ruoyun blocked Lin Xin in a bamboo grove and demanded an explanation for Shu Luoyi’s death.
• Shu Ruoyun attacked Lin Xin, but stopped his sword short when Lin Xin offered to explain what happened.
• Lin Xin implied that Huang Songzi had killed Shu Luoyi and claimed he had found her among the wolf pack afterward.
• Shu Ruoyun grew convinced that Huang Songzi was responsible and softened toward Lin Xin.
• Lin Xin led Shu Ruoyun to a secluded spot and handed him Shu Luoyi’s Sword Qi Talisman as a possible clue.