Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Lady’s Guard”

Key plot points and events

• Under Xie Xiuji’s oppressive aura, several evil cultivators are forced to attack Song Zhizhi instead of him.
• Song Zhizhi battles three Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators at once. Xie Xiuji deliberately allows the fight to continue so she can gain real combat experience, while Sword Venerable Mingxiao guides her with precise instructions.
• The fight moves from the room onto the deck. Although Song Zhizhi becomes increasingly exhausted, she successfully withstands the attackers’ coordinated assaults.
• When the cultivators attempt to exploit a weakness and ambush her, Song Zhizhi’s top-grade protective armor blocks a fatal dagger strike. Realizing they cannot defeat her, the enemies lose hope, allowing her to kill all three.
• Afterward, Song Zhizhi admits she is nearly drained but proudly tells Xie Xiuji that she succeeded. He comforts her by wiping the blood from her face and kissing her forehead.
• Back in their room, the couple shares an intimate exchange before cultivating the Spiritual Heart Art together, allowing their spiritual powers to intertwine and strengthen their bond.

Character developments

• Song Zhizhi grows from someone accustomed to controlled sparring into a fighter capable of surviving a genuine life-or-death battle. Despite facing three stronger opponents, she remains composed, follows Mingxiao’s guidance, and ultimately kills them herself.
• Her first experience killing leaves her tense and emotionally strained, but Xie Xiuji’s tenderness helps her relax. She also becomes more openly affectionate and playful with him.
• Xie Xiuji acts as both protector and instructor. Rather than defeating the evil cultivators himself, he uses the situation to train Song Zhizhi while ensuring she remains safe through her protective armor and his presence.
• His usually restrained demeanor gives way to visible affection, possessiveness, and playful intimacy with Song Zhizhi.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao continues guiding Song Zhizhi in combat and cultivation, demonstrating his skill as both a teacher and her devoted husband.

Significant themes

• Growth through adversity: Song Zhizhi’s combat ability and confidence develop through direct exposure to danger.
• Protection and independence: Xie Xiuji protects Song Zhizhi without taking away her chance to prove herself, balancing care with trust in her abilities.
• Love as emotional support: His praise, physical affection, and reassurance help Song Zhizhi process the shock of killing for the first time.
• Intimacy and partnership: Their romantic and spiritual connection reinforces that they are companions in both combat and cultivation.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter contrasts intense violence with teasing commentary about Xie Xiuji’s “training method,” Song Zhizhi calling him “Senior Brother,” and his impatience regarding her unusually long cultivator pregnancy.

Character interactions

• Xie Xiuji silently oversees Song Zhizhi’s battle, while Mingxiao gives her tactical instructions.
• After the fight, Xie Xiuji praises, cleans, and kisses Song Zhizhi, and she responds with affection and gratitude.
• He carries her back to their room after she playfully calls him “Senior Brother,” leading to a flirtatious and intimate exchange.
• They discuss her four-month pregnancy, with Xie Xiuji humorously frustrated that it may last as long as two years.
• The chapter ends with the couple cultivating the Spiritual Heart Art together, deepening both their physical and spiritual connection.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• After fighting two groups of treasure-seeking Demonic Cultivators, Song Zhizhi feels that her mental barrier toward the Late Foundation Establishment Stage has loosened. She realizes that further dangerous experiences could help her break through.
• Xie Xiuji proposes a dangerous scheme: they deliberately present themselves as wealthy, vulnerable targets to lure out more Demonic Cultivators. Song Zhizhi disguises herself in extravagant clothes and jewelry, while Xie suppresses his aura to appear to be only at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.
• As they approach Extreme Sea City, they are attacked by five groups of Demonic Cultivators. Song Zhizhi kills the two Foundation Establishment groups, while Xie casually eliminates the Qi Refining and Golden Core attackers.
• Song Zhizhi notices that the Demonic Cultivators become stronger the closer they get to the city. Xie investigates the surrounding mountains with Divine Sense but finds no obvious Demonic Cultivator stronghold, only several rogue cultivator groups searching for something.
• They discover a jade token on a Late Golden Core Demonic Cultivator. Xie identifies it as a pass granting entry to Extreme Sea City’s City Lord’s Residence. This raises suspicions that the city lord may be connected to the Demonic Cultivators.
• To investigate, Song Zhizhi and Xie stage themselves as survivors of a brutal attack. Song disguises herself as an arrogant, wealthy young woman, while Xie poses as her badly injured guard.
• At the city gates, Song claims to be Sword Venerable Mingxiao’s wife’s younger sister and demands to see the city lord, using the invented identity and her apparent status to gain access.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi becomes increasingly bold and strategic. She willingly uses herself as bait and embraces a theatrical disguise to investigate the city’s suspicious circumstances.
• Her combat experience is helping her overcome the psychological barrier preventing her cultivation breakthrough.
• Xie Xiuji demonstrates overwhelming power, killing Demonic Cultivators with minimal effort and extending his Divine Sense across the entire mountain range. He also participates in Song’s scheme despite its deceitful nature.
• The romantic relationship between Song Zhizhi and Xie becomes more playful and affectionate. Song teases him for being “wicked,” kisses him, and enjoys his briefly embarrassed reaction.
• Song Zhizhi’s resourcefulness and Xie’s strength complement each other: she handles the visible deception and combat challenges, while he provides hidden protection and investigation.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation through experience: Song’s mental state, rather than her accumulated spiritual power, is the main obstacle to advancement. Hardship and combat help her progress.
• Deception as strategy: The pair manipulate appearances, pretending to be wealthy victims and later injured survivors to uncover the truth.
• Corruption and hidden alliances: The token suggests that authority within Extreme Sea City may be compromised by cooperation with Demonic Cultivators.
• Power beneath appearances: Song appears spoiled and vulnerable, while her “injured guard” is actually extraordinarily powerful. The chapter repeatedly contrasts public impressions with reality.
• Romance and partnership: Their teasing, trust, and coordinated schemes show a close relationship in which affection and danger coexist.

Character Interactions

• Song and Xie discuss her cultivation and devise the baiting plan together, with Song playfully criticizing his ruthless idea before affectionately accepting it.
• They work as a coordinated team while dealing with the attackers: Song takes responsibility for the Foundation Establishment enemies, while Xie effortlessly handles the stronger or weaker groups.
• Their discovery of the city token leads to mutual suspicion and silent agreement that something unusual is happening in Extreme Sea City.
• At the city gates, Song performs the role of an imperious noblewoman while Xie silently acts as her wounded subordinate, demonstrating their ability to communicate and cooperate through deception.

Chapter Summary: “Secretly Crossing at Chencang”

Key Plot Points and Events

• City Lord Feng of Extreme Sea City is informed that the younger sister of Sword Venerable Mingxiao’s wife has arrived, carrying an authentic visiting card from the Sword Sect’s Red Cloud Peak.
• Feng claims to be away from the city and orders his subordinates to receive her at the City Lord’s Residence, promising to meet her the following day.
• The supposed visitor is actually Song Zhizhi herself, posing as her own younger sister. Xie Xiuji accompanies her disguised as an injured black-clad guard.
• Once inside the carriage, Song Zhizhi drops her arrogant disguise. She and Xie Xiuji share a playful, intimate exchange before discussing their investigation.
• Xie Xiuji reveals that City Lord Feng is secretly inside the residence despite claiming to be absent. Numerous defensive formations also prevent Divine Sense from investigating the estate.
• These suspicious circumstances strengthen the possibility that Feng is connected to the evil cultivators operating outside Extreme Sea City.
• After arriving at the residence, Song Zhizhi resumes her role as a spoiled, domineering young noblewoman. She deliberately orders the injured “guard” to help her descend from the carriage.
• The residents misinterpret the couple’s private teasing as genuine mistreatment, believing Song Zhizhi to be tyrannical and Xie Xiuji to be an abused subordinate.
• The steward leads Song Zhizhi to a secluded courtyard and repeats that the City Lord is away. When he offers to have Xie Xiuji treated, Song Zhizhi angrily refuses, maintaining their cover.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates considerable acting ability and strategic awareness. She convincingly shifts between her true affectionate personality and the arrogant persona required by her disguise.
• She is also shown to be physically capable and formidable, having recently killed several Foundation Establishment evil cultivators, despite appearing weak and delicate because of her pregnancy.
• Xie Xiuji remains calm and disciplined while disguised as Song Zhizhi’s badly treated guard. Although inwardly embarrassed by her flirtation, especially in public, he maintains his composure and supports the deception.
• Xie’s investigation skills uncover evidence that City Lord Feng is hiding something, particularly through his detection of the concealed formations and Feng’s false claim of being absent.
• City Lord Feng becomes increasingly suspicious by refusing to meet the visitors directly and hiding his presence within the residence.
• The residents of Extreme Sea City develop a mistaken impression of Song Zhizhi and her family, believing her to be a terrifyingly arrogant young woman related to an equally domineering Sword Venerable’s wife.

Significant Themes

• Deception and disguise: Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji rely on false identities and public performances to infiltrate the City Lord’s Residence.
• Appearance versus reality: Their affectionate private relationship is completely misread by outsiders, who see only an abusive mistress and an oppressed guard.
• Investigation and hidden conspiracies: The City Lord’s contradictory behavior and concealed formations suggest a connection to the evil cultivators.
• Romantic playfulness amid danger: Even while investigating a potentially dangerous conspiracy, Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji continue to flirt and tease each other.
• Social prejudice and assumptions: The city residents judge Song Zhizhi based on her appearance, supposed status, and behavior, quickly constructing exaggerated stories about her family.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji privately flirt in the carriage, with Song Zhizhi teasing him about how their disguise resembles “secretly crossing Chencang”—conducting a hidden romance under everyone’s eyes.
• In public, Song Zhizhi pretends to berate and command Xie Xiuji, while he obediently plays the role of her injured servant.
• Their subtle physical contact and exchanged expressions carry a hidden meaning that outsiders fail to recognize.
• The steward politely interacts with Song Zhizhi but is interrupted when he offers medical treatment to Xie Xiuji. Song Zhizhi’s harsh refusal reinforces their false identities and protects their investigation.
• Unseen by the characters, a powerful Mahayana cultivator briefly observes the scene through Divine Sense, implying that their actions may already be under surveillance.

Chapter 84 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After arriving at the City Lord’s Residence, Song Zhizhi is assigned a courtyard and servants, while Xie Xiuji remains her personal guard. The steward offers medicine for Xie’s injury but leaves after Song orders him to fetch bathwater.
• Song bathes while Xie guards the door. Through voice transmission, they discuss the steward, whom Xie secretly examined by attaching a thread of Divine Sense to him.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao determines that the steward is not an evil cultivator but has recently been in contact with one. This confirms that an evil cultivator is likely hidden somewhere within the City Lord’s Residence.
• The residence is protected by a powerful Formation capable of blocking Divine Sense from experts below the Spirit Transformation Realm. Song recognizes that maintaining such a Formation requires enormous resources, suggesting that the City Lord’s Residence is concealing something highly significant.
• In a hidden area beneath an artificial rockery, the steward reports to City Lord Feng. He claims Song appears arrogant and foolish, while Xie seems dissatisfied with her, and concludes that neither poses much of a threat.
• City Lord Feng reveals that Song and Xie encountered Snake Lady’s spirit boat and that Snake Lady’s group was killed using the Sword Sect’s Heavenly Profound Sword Art. He worries they may have discovered something connected to the residence’s secrets.
• The steward suggests killing them, but Feng refuses because they are backed by Red Cloud Peak and the Sword Sect. Instead, he orders the steward to satisfy their requests and send them away as quickly as possible.
• Unknown to Feng and the steward, Xie’s Divine Sense thread has followed the steward into the secret chamber, allowing Xie to overhear their entire conversation. Because Feng is only at the Nascent Soul Peak Realm, he fails to detect it.
• That night, Xie secretly enters Song’s room. When she asks whether anyone saw him, he jokingly says he came to have an affair with “Madam,” explaining that he had to wait until the residence was quiet.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Remains outwardly domineering and irritating to maintain her disguise as a spoiled young woman, but she is observant and intelligent. She notices the unusual Formation and understands that the residence is hiding a major secret. Her playful compliment about Xie looking good in black also reveals growing familiarity and flirtation.
• Xie Xiuji/Sword Venerable Mingxiao: Demonstrates exceptional caution and investigative skill by attaching Divine Sense to the steward despite the Formation’s suppression. He successfully learns the City Lord’s plans without exposing himself. His calm exterior briefly gives way to embarrassment when Song compliments him and later to playful teasing when he visits her at night.
• City Lord Feng: Shown to be cautious rather than reckless. Although he suspects Song and Xie may be dangerous, he understands the political consequences of harming them and chooses to placate them instead.
• The steward: Continues to underestimate Song and Xie, believing Song to be unintelligent and Xie to be resentful of her. His report unintentionally reinforces the enemy’s false impression of them.

Significant Themes

• Concealment and deception: Song and Xie disguise their real identities and intentions, while the City Lord’s Residence hides both an evil cultivator and a larger secret.
• Underestimation as a strategy: Song’s exaggerated arrogance and apparent foolishness cause the enemy to dismiss her, giving her and Xie an advantage.
• Political caution and consequences: Feng avoids killing them because of their connections to the Sword Sect, showing how influence and reputation constrain even powerful figures.
• Trust and flirtation: Song and Xie’s private exchanges combine investigation with increasing romantic playfulness, especially in their discussion of bathing, clothing, and the “affair” joke.
• Power and surveillance: The chapter highlights the limits of the residence’s Formation and Xie’s superior Spirit Transformation-level Divine Sense technique.

Character Interactions

• The steward attempts to assist Song and Xie but is unsettled by Song’s deliberately shrill, commanding behavior.
• Song and Xie communicate privately while maintaining their public master-and-guard roles.
• Feng and the steward discuss whether Song and Xie should be killed, revealing the residence’s fear of exposure.
• Song and Xie end the chapter with an intimate, teasing nighttime exchange, underscoring their growing closeness amid the danger.

Chapter Summary: “Blood Pool Demonic Cultivator”

Plot and Events

Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji sneak through the City Lord’s Residence at night while pretending to be involved in a secret romantic tryst. Xie Xiuji carries her through the residence, using his Divine Sense to conceal them from numerous patrols. Song Zhizhi is initially nervous, believing they are narrowly avoiding discovery, while Xie Xiuji privately enjoys having her close to him.
Their destination is a concealed area behind a rockery. Song Zhizhi discovers a powerful modified version of the Qianyuan Concealment Formation. It hides auras, blocks Divine Sense below the Nascent Soul realm, and contains self-destruct, illusion, and rebound functions designed to destroy whatever is hidden inside if outsiders try to break in.
Rather than forcefully destroying it and losing the evidence, Song Zhizhi analyzes the Formation and devises an unconventional method. She adds an unstable Formation of her own, exploiting the complicated Formation’s excessive layers and fragile balance. Her interference causes the original Formation to “lag,” beginning the process of disabling it.

Character Development

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates both her embarrassment and growing boldness in the romantic situation. Although she is flustered by Xie Xiuji’s shameless acting, she quickly shifts into her true strength as a formation expert. Her Phoenix Bloodline also allows her to detect what ordinary cultivators would miss.
• Xie Xiuji reveals a playful, flirtatious side when alone with Song Zhizhi, contrasting with his normally serious public persona. He protects and carries her through the residence, but trusts her expertise when the Formation is discovered. His enjoyment of their intimate closeness contrasts humorously with Song Zhizhi’s belief that they are genuinely in danger of being caught.
• Song Zhizhi’s confidence and intelligence are emphasized as she succeeds where Xie Xiuji’s direct swordsmanship would be dangerous or ineffective.

Character Interactions

The couple exchange teasing, flirtatious dialogue while maintaining the pretense that Song Zhizhi is betraying her “husband.” Xie Xiuji repeatedly draws her closer and carries her, while Song Zhizhi protests and worries about being discovered. Once they reach the Formation, their dynamic becomes collaborative: Xie Xiuji asks how confident she is, and she takes charge of dismantling the trap.

Significant Themes

• Romance and role-playing: Their playful deception allows both characters to explore a more intimate and mischievous side of their relationship.
• Strength versus ingenuity: Xie Xiuji could destroy the Formation through brute force, but doing so would eliminate the evidence. Song Zhizhi’s subtle, unconventional method proves more effective.
• Appearances and hidden secrets: The excessive patrols and elaborate Formation suggest that the City Lord’s Residence conceals something important, possibly connected to the chapter’s demonic-cultivator mystery.
• Balance and adaptability: Song Zhizhi defeats a seemingly flawless Formation not by overpowering it, but by recognizing that its many defensive layers have made it unstable.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi successfully breaks the Formation concealing a hidden passage beneath the City Lord’s Residence. Xie Xiuji praises and kisses her, highlighting their affectionate bond.
• They descend into an underground chamber, with Xie Xiuji taking the lead to protect Song Zhizhi and using his powerful Divine Sense to scout ahead.
• They discover a horrifying blood pool filled with severed body parts, including those of children. More than twenty victims appear to have been dismembered and used in demonic cultivation.
• Xie Xiuji explains that Demonic Cultivators use the blood and resentment of murdered victims to increase their cultivation. He concludes that the secret chamber was built by a Nascent Soul–realm Demonic Cultivator.
• He suspects the City Lord of Extreme Sea City has colluded with the Demonic Cultivator. The frequent Sea Demon Tides likely provide cover for disappearances and help sustain the blood pool.
• Xie Xiuji records evidence of the blood pool and sends a message to Sect Master Mingxu before continuing deeper into the chamber.
• They discover an underground prison containing more than a hundred emaciated captives, including ordinary people, children, and cultivators. The prisoners believe Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji are enemies and react with fear, hatred, and desperate pleas for help.
• One Foundation Establishment cultivator openly condemns Feng Jinlei, apparently a collaborator with the Demonic Cultivators, and threatens that his sect will seek revenge.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates confidence and skill by breaking the Formation, but the blood pool deeply shocks and sickens her. Her horror quickly transforms into righteous fury, strengthening her determination to punish those responsible.
• Xie Xiuji remains vigilant and protective, placing Song Zhizhi behind him and comforting her when she is distressed. His anger toward the perpetrators becomes clear, though he responds methodically by documenting the evidence and contacting his sect.
• Their bond is emphasized through affectionate gestures and silent communication via their shared cultivation of the Spiritual Heart Art.
• The imprisoned cultivators retain enough will to resist despite starvation and abuse, revealing their courage and hatred toward their captors.

Significant Themes

• The brutality of demonic cultivation: Human lives are treated as fuel for power, exposing the moral corruption behind the Demonic Cultivators’ advancement.
• Justice and righteous anger: Song Zhizhi’s reaction reflects the chapter’s central moral stance that the killers deserve severe punishment.
• Conspiracy and corruption: The City Lord’s suspected cooperation suggests that authority figures have enabled the murders and concealed them through the Sea Demon Tides.
• Suffering and survival: The prisoners’ emaciation, despair, and continued resistance show both the consequences of exploitation and the persistence of hope.
• Evidence versus secrecy: Xie Xiuji records the blood pool and reports it, recognizing the importance of proving the crimes rather than acting solely on emotion.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji share playful affection, tenderness, and close silent communication.
• Xie Xiuji protects and reassures Song Zhizhi when they encounter the blood pool.
• Song Zhizhi urges Xie Xiuji to punish both the Demonic Cultivator and the City Lord.
• The prisoners angrily confront the pair, mistaking them for collaborators, while pleading for their lives and naming Feng Jinlei as a traitor.

Chapter Summary — Page 87

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji discover that the people imprisoned beneath Extreme Sea City are villagers who were supposedly killed during the Sea Demon Tides. The disappearances were actually orchestrated by the City Lord, Feng Jinlei, and a hidden Demonic Cultivator.
• The victims were likely abducted over several years and used in the Demonic Cultivator’s blood-pool cultivation. The Sea Demon Tides served as a convincing cover for the crimes.
• Song proposes waiting near the dungeon to ambush the Demonic Cultivator when he returns, rather than freeing the prisoners immediately and risking alerting him.
• The prisoners initially distrust Song and Xie, believing they may be another deception designed to give them false hope before killing them. Xie silences them by releasing a small amount of his overwhelming Mahayana pressure.
• Song proves their identities as Inner Sect Disciples of the Sword Sect. Once convinced, the prisoners reveal that the Demonic Cultivator comes every three days and is due to return the following night.
• Because the dungeon is protected by warning seals, Song cannot release the captives without alerting the enemy. She gives them food, Fasting Pills, and candy for a young girl, promising to return after the city lord and Demonic Cultivator are defeated.
• After leaving, Song reflects on the suffering she witnessed and questions the purpose of cultivation. Mingxiao reminds her that Sword Cultivators must protect the weak, uphold justice, and act against injustice.
• Inspired by this realization, Song breaks through from the middle to the late Foundation Establishment Realm. Mingxiao conceals the breakthrough’s spiritual fluctuations.
• The next day, Song is summoned to meet Feng Jinlei. Although she despises him, she attends in order to delay him, gather information, and continue investigating the Phoenix Essence Blood.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates compassion, strategic thinking, and a growing commitment to the Sword Sect’s ideals. Her emotional reaction to the prisoners and the little girl reveals her deep empathy.
• Her reflection on justice leads to a spiritual breakthrough, showing that her cultivation is tied not only to power but also to moral conviction.
• Xie Xiuji remains cold and intimidating but supports Song’s plan and helps establish control over the frightened prisoners. His physical closeness with Song also highlights their increasing emotional intimacy.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao acts as Song’s mentor and emotional guide, reminding her of the Sword Sect’s first principle and helping her understand the meaning of righteous cultivation.
• The imprisoned villagers move from hostility and suspicion to trust after Song proves her identity.
• Feng Jinlei is presented as a corrupt and presumably complicit city lord, though Song must temporarily conceal her hostility while investigating him.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus evil: The chapter contrasts the Sword Sect’s duty to protect the weak with the Demonic Cultivator’s exploitation of innocent mortals.
• Hope and despair: The prisoners’ distrust stems from being repeatedly manipulated by false rescuers, illustrating how cruelty can corrupt even their hope of salvation.
• The purpose of cultivation: Song realizes that cultivation should serve justice and protection, not merely personal power.
• Trust and proof: The prisoners require concrete evidence before accepting Song’s help, emphasizing how trauma makes trust difficult.
• Moral growth and cultivation: Song’s breakthrough occurs after she internalizes the Sword Sect’s ideals, linking spiritual advancement with ethical understanding.

Important Character Interactions

• Song and Xie work together to plan the ambush and gain the prisoners’ cooperation.
• Xie uses his intimidating spiritual pressure to stop the prisoners’ accusations, while Song uses her identity token to establish trust.
• Song comforts the imprisoned girl with candy and promises to rescue everyone.
• Song embraces Xie after leaving the dungeon, seeking comfort amid her distress.
• Mingxiao counsels Song and reminds her of her duty as a Sword Cultivator, directly prompting her breakthrough.
• Song later meets Feng Jinlei while concealing her disgust and pretending to cooperate so she can gather information about the Phoenix Essence Blood.

Chapter Summary: “Blue-Eyed Girl”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji visit Feng Jinlei, the City Lord of Extreme Sea City, under the pretense of purchasing a drop of Phoenix Essence Blood for Song Zhizhi’s “elder sister.” They claim Sword Venerable Mingxiao is willing to pay with an entire Spirit Stone mine.
• Feng Jinlei says he has already used the Phoenix Essence Blood. Song Zhizhi initially doubts him, but Xie Xiuji confirms through observation that Feng is telling the truth.
• After they leave, Feng Jinlei’s steward suggests kidnapping them for ransom. Feng refuses, recognizing that provoking Sword Venerable Mingxiao would be dangerous. He instead orders them expelled from the city.
• The conversation reveals Feng Jinlei’s connection to Water Fox and a blood pool. After three more cultivation sessions, Water Fox is expected to advance to the Spirit Transformation stage, implying an ongoing demonic scheme.
• That night, a blood-covered figure enters the City Lord’s Residence through a concealed formation. Xie Xiuji ambushes him, destroys his Dantian, and cripples him before publicly exposing Feng Jinlei’s crimes.
• Xie Xiuji announces that Feng Jinlei has colluded with Demonic Cultivators and slaughtered mortals, declaring that he deserves death.
• Feng realizes that Xie Xiuji was actually Sword Venerable Mingxiao in disguise and that Song Zhizhi’s visit was a deliberate distraction while they investigated his activities.
• Feng attempts to flee using a powerful teleportation formation and launches poisoned hidden weapons at Xie Xiuji. He also considers taking revenge by murdering Song Zhizhi.
• Xie Xiuji strikes Feng from behind, destroys his Dantian, and prevents him from escaping through the teleportation array.
• The Unadorned Sword Lord arrives with Sword Sect disciples. The disciples surround the City Lord’s Residence and engage its guards, while the Sword Lord uses his Divine Sense to suppress the city and prevent the demonic forces from exploiting the chaos.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Demonstrates confidence and quick thinking by maintaining her spoiled, hostile persona while probing Feng Jinlei for information. Her false claim about Phoenix Essence Blood serves as part of a larger investigation.
• Xie Xiuji / Sword Venerable Mingxiao: Reveals his formidable strength and strategic patience. He disguises himself as Song Zhizhi’s guard, secretly monitors Feng Jinlei, and defeats both the returning Demonic Cultivator and Feng with precise, overwhelming sword strikes.
• Feng Jinlei: His courteous City Lord façade collapses as his involvement with Demonic Cultivators is exposed. Once confident in his escape plan, he becomes desperate and vindictive, even contemplating revenge against Song Zhizhi.
• The Unadorned Sword Lord: Acts decisively once informed of the crisis, organizing reinforcements and protecting Extreme Sea City from further demonic violence.
• The Steward: Shows loyalty to Feng Jinlei but also displays opportunism by suggesting they ransom Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden identities: Song Zhizhi’s fabricated story and Xie Xiuji’s disguise conceal their true intentions, allowing them to catch Feng Jinlei off guard.
• Justice and retribution: Feng Jinlei’s crimes are publicly exposed, and his attempt to escape is punished before he can evade responsibility.
• Power and intimidation: Xie Xiuji’s swordsmanship and Divine Sense demonstrate the overwhelming authority of a powerful cultivator, while Feng’s schemes fail against superior strength and preparation.
• Trust and protection: Although Song Zhizhi appears to act independently, Xie Xiuji is secretly protecting her and controlling the investigation from behind the scenes.
• Demonic corruption: The blood pool, Water Fox’s advancement, the slaughter of mortals, and Feng’s alliance with Demonic Cultivators point to a broader threat beyond the City Lord himself.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi confronts Feng Jinlei with deliberate arrogance, while Feng attempts to maintain a polite façade.
• Xie Xiuji silently verifies Feng’s lie and supports Song Zhizhi’s investigation without revealing his identity.
• Feng and his steward discuss the danger of provoking Sword Venerable Mingxiao and the progress of their demonic plans.
• Xie Xiuji confronts and cripples the Demonic Cultivator, then openly challenges Feng Jinlei.
• Feng recognizes Xie too late and attempts to escape, but Xie intercepts him and destroys his cultivation.
• The Unadorned Sword Lord and Sword Sect disciples join Xie Xiuji, turning the confrontation into a coordinated assault on the City Lord’s Residence.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sword Sect disciples storm the City Lord’s Residence after Sword Venerable Mingxiao publicly declares that the Lord of Extreme Sea City colluded with Demonic Cultivators and endangered innocent civilians.
• The Residence Guards resist, but the outnumbered Sword Cultivators overwhelm them with superior skill and ferocity. The guards are warned that continued resistance will mark them as accomplices.
• Song Zhizhi distinguishes herself by using her protective artifact and Foundation Establishment cultivation to defeat two Early Golden Core guards at once.
• The Sword Sect disciples rescue more than a hundred captives trapped inside the residence. The Demonic Cultivator responsible has already been defeated by Xie Xiuji, had his cultivation crippled, and been handed over to the Unadorned Sword Lord.
• The rescued villagers and cultivators give testimony using Recording Stones. Their accounts reveal that disappearances around Extreme Sea City have occurred for roughly twenty years.
• The City Lord apparently used recurring Sea Demon Tides as a cover to abduct entire villages, rather than protecting people from the attacks as claimed.
• A young girl with striking water-blue eyes challenges the assumption that the Sea Demons were responsible. She insists that Merfolk and the wider Demon Race would never attack humans without orders, citing an ancient command from the Phoenix King.
• Her wording—especially her use of “we”—raises suspicion about her true identity and possible connection to the Merfolk or Demon Race.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi proves herself to be a powerful and courageous fighter despite her relatively low cultivation level. Her skill earns the admiration of the battle-hungry Sword Sect disciples.
• She also demonstrates compassion and responsibility by comforting the rescued civilians, refusing their worship, and emphasizing that protecting ordinary people is a cultivator’s duty.
• The Sword Sect disciples are shown to be aggressive and thrill-seeking in battle, but they quickly shift into disciplined rescuers and investigators once the fighting ends.
• The young blue-eyed girl becomes a mysterious new figure. Her knowledge of the Phoenix King’s decree and her instinctive defense of the Sea Demons suggest that she may be concealing her origins.
• The Lord of Extreme Sea City is increasingly exposed as a central villain who exploited natural disasters to conceal systematic abductions and deaths.

Significant Themes

• Justice and responsibility: The cultivators see it as their duty to defend civilians and expose those who abuse power.
• The danger of authority unchecked: The City Lord manipulated public fear of Sea Demons to hide his own crimes.
• Prejudice and misunderstanding: The chapter questions whether the Sea Demons are truly monstrous enemies, suggesting that humans may have misjudged or deliberately demonized them.
• Heroism beyond combat: Song Zhizhi’s character is defined not only by her swordsmanship but also by her humility, compassion, and commitment to justice.
• Hidden identity and political history: The girl’s reference to the Phoenix King hints at deeper connections between humans, Merfolk, and the Demon Race.

Character Interactions

• The Sword Sect disciples enthusiastically praise Song Zhizhi after witnessing her fight, immediately inviting her to spar and asking about her training.
• Song Zhizhi redirects their excitement toward rescuing the captives, revealing her practical and conscientious nature.
• The rescued civilians express intense gratitude and attempt to kneel to Song Zhizhi, but she stops them and insists that helping them is simply a cultivator’s obligation.
• Enforcement Hall disciples question the survivors and record their testimonies, gradually uncovering the City Lord’s long-running scheme.
• The girl’s testimony interrupts the investigators’ assumption that the Sea Demons were involved, and her slip from “they” to “we” creates suspicion about who she really is.

Chapter Summary: Merfolk Empress

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Sword Sect finishes collecting testimonies from the villagers of Lijia Village. More than 130 Recording Stones are needed to preserve the evidence.
• The testimonies prove that Feng Jinlei colluded with the demonic cultivator Yu Shuihu and was responsible for the villagers’ suffering and disappearances.
• The Unadorned Sword Lord announces that the two criminals will be reported to the Sect Master, executed by a thousand cuts at Extreme Sea City, and displayed on the city walls as a warning.
• The Sword Sect initially plans to return the rescued villagers to their homes, but the blue-eyed girl has nowhere left to go. Song Zhizhi takes responsibility for her.
• Song Zhizhi reveals that the girl may be connected to the Sea Demon Tides that have plagued Extreme Sea City.
• The girl identifies herself as Hai Po, the two-hundred-year-old royal daughter of the Merfolk and daughter of the Merfolk Empress. Although she appears to be a young child, Merfolk do not reach adulthood until around three hundred years old.
• Hai Po explains that she secretly left the Merfolk Palace three months earlier, was discovered and captured by a demonic cultivator, and imprisoned in the City Lord’s Residence.
• Because Merfolk bodies are extremely valuable for cultivation, medicine, alchemy, and artifact refinement, the demonic cultivator intended to kill Hai Po after reaching the Spirit Transformation realm. Her protective artifact prevented him from harming her immediately.
• The Merfolk launched the major Sea Demon Tide to rescue her. After Sword Venerable Mingxiao suppressed the attack, the Merfolk avoided another full-scale assault and instead sent smaller groups to search for Hai Po.
• Feng Jinlei and his allies exploited the situation by using objects carrying Hai Po’s aura to lure Sea Demons toward villages, then falsely blamed the attacks on the creatures.
• The chapter ends with Song Zhizhi noticing an inconsistency: Hai Po was captured only three months ago, but Sea Demon attacks on Extreme Sea City had already been increasing over the previous twenty years. She asks why the Merfolk had attacked in the past, leaving the larger mystery unresolved.

2. Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates authority, compassion, and perceptiveness. She intimidates Hai Po unintentionally with her powerful aura but still protects and takes responsibility for the vulnerable girl.
• Hai Po is revealed to be a noble Merfolk royal rather than an ordinary child. She initially appears timid around Song Zhizhi but becomes indignant and outspoken when challenged, showing pride in her identity and strong loyalty to her people.
• The Unadorned Sword Lord shifts from skepticism to recognition of Hai Po’s true nature. His blunt disbelief creates a humorous interaction, but he and Xie Xiuji carefully verify that her account is truthful.
• Xie Xiuji shows concern for Song Zhizhi by checking that she is unharmed before focusing on the investigation. His ability to sense Hai Po’s unusual nature supports the revelation.
• Feng Jinlei and Yu Shuihu are firmly established as malicious conspirators who manipulated the conflict for their own benefit and endangered innocent villagers.

3. Significant Themes

• Truth versus deception: The recorded testimonies expose Feng Jinlei and Yu Shuihu’s attempt to frame the Sea Demons.
• Prejudice and misunderstanding: Humans assumed the Sea Demons were attacking without cause, while the Merfolk were responding to the kidnapping of their royal daughter.
• Exploitation of the vulnerable: Hai Po was targeted because her body could be turned into valuable cultivation, medicinal, and refining materials.
• Political and interspecies conflict: The chapter complicates the apparent human-versus-monster conflict by showing that both sides have motives and that human wrongdoing helped trigger the disaster.
• Hidden mysteries: Hai Po’s explanation accounts for the recent Sea Demon Tide but not the attacks occurring over the previous two decades, suggesting a deeper conspiracy or an incomplete history.

4. Character Interactions

• Hai Po avoids looking directly at Song Zhizhi because of the terrifying aura surrounding her, while Song Zhizhi gently comforts and protects her.
• Song Zhizhi brings Hai Po to Xie Xiuji and the Unadorned Sword Lord, presenting her as the likely source of the Sea Demon Tides.
• The Unadorned Sword Lord jokingly dismisses Hai Po’s claim of being two hundred years old, provoking her to explain Merfolk aging.
• Hai Po angrily defends the Merfolk, insisting that they do not attack humans without reason and only came ashore to rescue her.
• Xie Xiuji and the Unadorned Sword Lord use their Divine Senses to confirm that Hai Po is telling the truth.
• Song Zhizhi’s final question challenges Hai Po’s account and points toward the next stage of the investigation: the reason behind the older Sea Demon attacks.

Chapter 91 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Hai Po condemns humans for their sins but remains silent afterward. Since she was merely a victim of Feng Jinlei and the demonic cultivator’s crimes, Song Zhizhi, Sword Venerable Mingxiao, and the Unadorned Sword Lord decide to release her into the sea.
• While Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji escort Hai Po to the shore, Xie Xiuji senses a powerful presence and shields Song Zhizhi, drawing Blood Drinker.
• The Merfolk Empress emerges from the sea. Hai Po immediately recognizes her as her mother and transforms her legs into a golden-and-silver fish tail before rushing into her arms.
• Hai Po tearfully recounts her kidnapping, the demonic cultivator’s cruelty, the suffering of the villagers, and Feng Jinlei’s crimes.
• The Merfolk Empress thanks Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji for rescuing her daughter. She reveals that she spread the rumor that Feng Jinlei possessed Phoenix Essence Blood in order to lure Qingyu to Extreme Sea City and use her to save Hai Po.
• The Empress explains that she could not safely rescue Hai Po herself: although powerful in the sea, her cultivation would be greatly weakened on land, making Feng Jinlei and the demonic cultivator dangerous opponents.
• She reveals that Feng Jinlei once possessed a drop of Phoenix Essence Blood, but traded it to her ten years earlier for a Sea Spirit Pearl. The essence blood is now in her possession.
• The Empress offers the Phoenix Essence Blood to Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji. However, Xie Xiuji refuses to accept it immediately, suspecting that the gift comes with conditions.
• The Empress confirms his suspicion by making another request: twenty years earlier, the Merfolk Crown Princess was abducted. Although the Empress knows her daughter is still alive, she has been unable to locate her and asks for their help.

Character Development

• Song Zhizhi remains compassionate and protective, especially toward Hai Po, whom she comforts and holds safely during the encounter. She also shows humility by insisting that rescuing Hai Po was simply the right thing to do rather than a deed deserving reward.
• Xie Xiuji demonstrates his vigilance and protective instincts by detecting the Empress before Song Zhizhi does and placing himself between her and the possible threat. His refusal to accept the Phoenix Essence Blood without understanding the Empress’s intentions highlights his caution and worldly judgment.
• Hai Po is reunited with her mother and reveals her vulnerable, childlike side. Her traumatic experience has made her fearful of humans and demonic cultivators, though her survival and reunion provide emotional relief.
• The Merfolk Empress is shown to be powerful, strategic, and deeply devoted to her daughter. Rather than recklessly attacking Extreme Sea City, she devised a plan to manipulate events and secure Hai Po’s rescue.

Significant Themes

• Justice and moral responsibility: The heroes act against Feng Jinlei and the demonic cultivator because their crimes against mortals cannot be ignored.
• Parental love and protection: The Empress’s elaborate scheme to rescue Hai Po and her emotional reunion with her daughter emphasize the lengths a parent will go to protect a child.
• Trust and hidden motives: The Phoenix Essence Blood appears to be a reward, but Xie Xiuji correctly recognizes that valuable gifts often carry obligations.
• Cooperation across races: Humans and Merfolk are able to form an alliance when united against cruelty, despite the distrust between their peoples.
• Fate and unexpected opportunities: What begins as a mission to investigate Phoenix Essence Blood unexpectedly leads Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji directly to it.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi comforts and protects Hai Po while Xie Xiuji guards both of them from the unknown presence.
• Hai Po’s emotional reunion with the Merfolk Empress contrasts with her earlier fear and helplessness.
• The Empress respectfully thanks Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji, while Song Zhizhi downplays their contribution.
• Xie Xiuji and the Empress engage in a cautious exchange over the Phoenix Essence Blood, with his refusal prompting her to reveal the true reason for her offer.
• The chapter ends with the Empress requesting their help in finding her abducted Crown Princess, creating a new mystery and likely future quest.

Chapter Summary: “Return to Old Haunts”

Key plot points and events

• The Merfolk Empress declines Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji’s offer to help find her missing daughter, explaining that she can sense the Crown Princess is no longer in the Human Realm. She asks them to retrieve her if they encounter her in the Demon Realm.
• Song Zhizhi accepts the Phoenix Essence Blood and agrees to help. With this, she has obtained two of the three treasures needed for her goal: the Heart of the Earth Stone and the Phoenix Essence Blood. Only the Ten-Thousand-Year Parasol Tree Heart remains.
• Their actions in Extreme Sea City have unknowingly prevented the Human-Demon War from beginning as it did in the original novel. By killing Feng Jinlei, they also save Extreme Sea City from destruction by the Sea Demon Tides.
• Since the Ten-Thousand-Year Parasol Tree Heart is probably in the dangerous Demon Realm, Song Zhizhi must reach the Golden Core Stage before traveling there. She is especially pressed for time because her child will be born soon.
• Rather than return directly to the sect, Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji spend a month flying back on their swords. They cultivate at night and gain practical combat experience along the way.
• Xie Xiuji allows Song Zhizhi to handle hostile Demonic Cultivators and ill-intentioned Rogue Cultivators, as long as they are below the Nascent Soul Realm. This accelerates her growth, and she begins to sense the barrier to Golden Core.
• Song Zhizhi completes the first layer of the Spiritual Heart Art, though her progress slows because she is absorbing increasingly large amounts of Xie Xiuji’s spiritual energy.
• The chapter ends with their dual cultivation deepening their physical attraction and leading to an increasingly intimate romantic encounter.

Character developments

• Song Zhizhi becomes more determined and disciplined. Her concern for her unborn child motivates her to cultivate almost constantly and reach Golden Core as quickly as possible.
• She also grows more capable in combat and Sword Flight, becoming skilled at maneuvering, stopping abruptly, and fighting opponents during their journey.
• Xie Xiuji continues to act as both her protector and instructor, but he deliberately gives her opportunities to fight so she can become self-reliant. He recognizes that he may not always be able to protect her in the Demon Realm.
• His emotional and physical attachment to Song Zhizhi becomes harder to suppress as their cultivation and intimacy increase. Their relationship shifts further toward open romantic desire.
• The Merfolk Empress demonstrates trust in the pair by entrusting them with the possible rescue of her Crown Princess.

Significant themes

• Preparation and self-reliance: Song Zhizhi cannot depend entirely on Xie Xiuji; she must develop enough strength to survive independently in the Demon Realm.
• Changing fate: Their actions have altered the original novel’s timeline, preventing the Human-Demon War and saving Extreme Sea City.
• Urgency versus patience: Song Zhizhi’s need to reach Golden Core quickly contrasts with the unpredictable pace of cultivation and the major threshold between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core.
• Growth through experience: Sword flight, combat, and travel are shown to be as important as meditation in developing a cultivator’s strength.
• Romantic and spiritual bonds: The Spiritual Heart Art strengthens both their cultivation and their mutual attraction, making their emotional and physical connection increasingly intense.

Character interactions

• The Merfolk Empress respectfully negotiates with Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji, asking them to help her daughter rather than demanding it.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji communicate as partners, with Xie Xiuji supporting her decision to accept the request.
• During their journey, Xie Xiuji balances protection with independence by leaving manageable enemies for Song Zhizhi to defeat.
• Their nighttime cultivation sessions evolve from a practical method of increasing strength into moments of mutual intimacy, culminating in a passionate kiss and romantic tension.

Chapter Summary: “Making Osmanthus Cakes”

Key plot points and events

• Xie Xiuji and pregnant Song Zhizhi share an intense kiss, but Xie stops himself before things go further because he fears harming her or the baby. Song playfully offers to help, but his warning convinces her to remain quiet while he regains control.
• That evening, they arrive in Aoki City, a small town near the Heavenly Feather Sect. They conceal their identities and cultivation levels so they will appear as ordinary cultivators.
• Xie reveals that Aoki City is his birthplace. He lived there until the age of ten and has not returned for three hundred years. He nostalgically recalls the city’s Spirit Rice cakes and searches for the pastry shop he remembers.
• Although the city has changed considerably, Xie eventually locates the house where he was born. He had sealed it with a powerful Formation after his parents died, making it invisible even to his own Divine Sense.
• He removes the barrier and shows Song Zhizhi the preserved residence. Inside is a thriving, centuries-old osmanthus tree planted by his mother before he left to join the Heavenly Feather Sect.
• Xie calls the house “our home,” symbolically welcoming Song Zhizhi into his past and family history.

Character developments

• Xie Xiuji demonstrates strong self-control and concern for Song Zhizhi and their unborn child. His restraint contrasts with his intense desire, emphasizing his responsibility as a husband and future father.
• Returning to Aoki City brings out his sentimental and vulnerable side. Memories of his childhood, parents, and former home resurface after centuries of emotional distance.
• Song Zhizhi responds affectionately and playfully to Xie’s desire, but respects his boundaries when he warns her. She is also curious and attentive as he shares his history, suggesting increasing emotional closeness and integration into his life.

Significant themes

• Love tempered by responsibility: Xie’s decision to stop despite his passion shows that protecting Song Zhizhi and the baby takes priority over personal desire.
• Memory and the passage of time: Aoki City has changed dramatically over three hundred years, yet Xie’s sealed home and the osmanthus tree preserve fragments of his childhood.
• Home and belonging: By calling the old residence “our home,” Xie transforms a place tied to his parents and childhood into a shared future with Song Zhizhi.
• Nature, longevity, and transformation: The ancient osmanthus tree reflects the extraordinary lifespan of living things in the Cultivation World and foreshadows the possibility of it developing spiritual intelligence and becoming a tree demon.
• Cultural tension between cultivators and demons: The discussion of plant spirits becoming demons highlights the prejudice against demons and the division between the Cultivation and Demon Realms.

Important character interactions

• Xie and Song’s flirtatious but restrained physical interaction establishes their intimacy and mutual trust.
• Xie guides Song through Aoki City, sharing personal memories and local traditions.
• At the old residence, Xie explains his mother’s hopes and the significance of the osmanthus tree, while Song reflects on the tree’s potential spiritual development.
• Xie’s declaration that the house is “our home” marks an emotional milestone in their relationship.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Xiuji returns to his former home, which has been preserved by his protective formation for three centuries.
• He enters the locked room of his deceased parents, briefly overwhelmed by memories of his childhood and the feeling that they might still be waiting for him.
• After cleaning and relocking the room, he reunites with Song Zhizhi outside beneath an old osmanthus tree.
• Song Zhizhi gathers an excessive amount of osmanthus flowers, inspiring them to prepare several dishes: osmanthus cake, osmanthus sticky-rice lotus root, osmanthus tangyuan, osmanthus tea, and honey-preserved osmanthus.
• The couple works together in the kitchen. Xie Xiuji demonstrates impressive culinary skill, while Song Zhizhi helps with preparation and watches him affectionately.
• Xie Xiuji feeds Song Zhizhi a piece of osmanthus cake, prompting her to ask where he learned to cook. His effortless claim that cooking can simply be learned from books humorously frustrates her.
• Song Zhizhi rewards him by kissing him and transferring a bite of cake into his mouth. Their playful exchange escalates into a passionate kiss over the shared piece of osmanthus cake.

Character Developments

• Xie Xiuji: His visit to his parents’ room reveals his lingering nostalgia and the loneliness he endured over the past three hundred years. However, he recognizes that he is no longer alone now that he has Song Zhizhi as his Dao companion and looks forward to building a family with her. His normally restrained personality becomes more affectionate and playful around her.
• Song Zhizhi: She brings warmth and liveliness to Xie Xiuji’s formerly empty home. Her playful teasing, affectionate gestures, and willingness to share domestic tasks show her growing comfort and intimacy with him. She also humorously accepts that, because Xie Xiuji can cook, she can indirectly claim to be able to cook as well.
• Their relationship: The couple’s bond has deepened into comfortable domestic intimacy. They tease, cook, flirt, and openly express affection, with Xie Xiuji becoming increasingly willing to show his emotions.

Significant Themes

• Overcoming loneliness: Xie Xiuji’s memories of his parents emphasize the isolation of his long life, while his relationship with Song Zhizhi gives him renewed companionship and hope.
• Home and belonging: The preserved residence initially feels empty and desolate, but Song Zhizhi’s presence, the shared cooking, and their laughter begin transforming it into a living home again.
• Memory and acceptance: Xie Xiuji acknowledges his parents’ deaths without being consumed by grief, allowing nostalgia to coexist with acceptance.
• Domestic love and intimacy: Preparing food together becomes a symbol of partnership, while the playful exchange of cake and kisses highlights their romantic closeness.
• Humor in romance: Song Zhizhi’s teasing and Xie Xiuji’s restrained yet obvious reactions create a lighthearted contrast between his dignified exterior and his affection for her.

Character Interactions

• Xie Xiuji gently removes osmanthus flowers from Song Zhizhi’s hair and agrees to make desserts with her.
• They cooperate in the kitchen, with Song Zhizhi preparing the flowers and Xie Xiuji making the rice-based dishes.
• Xie Xiuji feeds her cake and worries when she appears dissatisfied; she reassures him that it is delicious.
• Song Zhizhi mockingly reacts to his effortless cooking ability, then kisses him as a “cook’s reward.”
• Their playful argument over whether the kiss is “improper” ends in a deeper, passionate kiss, reinforcing their mutual attraction and emotional closeness.

Chapter Summary: “Fighting Trolls with Trolls”

• Domestic interlude and departure: Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji share a playful, intimate moment while preparing osmanthus sticky-rice lotus root. After eating, Song Zhizhi rests in Xie Xiuji’s former room. Although she enjoys the quiet life in the secluded courtyard, they leave the next morning to return to the sect. Before departing, she marks the courtyard’s formation so they can find it again.
• Training and impending breakthrough: During their slow journey, Xie Xiuji continues guiding Song Zhizhi’s cultivation. By the time they near the sect, she is very close to breaking through into the Golden Core Stage. She expects the breakthrough to occur within days. She is also six months pregnant, though her belly remains relatively small and can be concealed beneath loose clothing.
• Detour to Ten Thousand Swords City: The pair plans to return directly to the Sword Sect so Song Zhizhi can cultivate in its rich spiritual environment. However, they detour through Ten Thousand Swords City to buy more jerky, since Song Zhizhi has eaten all the jerky in her storage pouch.
• Rumors about Song Zhizhi: While waiting in line, Song Zhizhi overhears disciples gossiping about the Sword Venerable’s new Dao companion—herself. The rumor claims that she became pregnant with the Sword Venerable’s child and forced him to marry her. More seriously, the disciples allege that she demanded a precious treasure from the Extreme Sea City Lord through her younger sister, then framed and killed him when he refused.
• Defense of the truth: Song Zhizhi is shocked that the gossip concerns her and wonders how the disciples learned about her pregnancy. Xie Xiuji, identified here as Sword Venerable Mingxiao, becomes angry and challenges the rumor-spreaders. He points out that the investigation into Extreme Sea City was personally overseen by the Unadorned Sword Lord and proved that the city lord had collaborated with Demonic Cultivators and trafficked mortal lives for cultivation resources.
• Confrontation with the gossipers: The disciple dismisses the accusation as something “everyone” is saying and then insinuates that Mingxiao is defending Song Zhizhi because of an improper relationship with her. Mingxiao threatens punishment under the sect rules for slandering an elder. Song Zhizhi restrains him, recognizing that publicly arguing with ignorant rumor-mongers would only damage his dignity and accomplish little.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji: Their affectionate relationship continues to deepen through domestic intimacy, teasing, shared travel, and mutual trust. Song Zhizhi also demonstrates emotional maturity by calming Xie Xiuji and preventing him from overreacting.
• Song Zhizhi: She remains curious and gossip-loving, but her reaction to the rumors shows that she is also practical and socially perceptive. Her modern experience with online “trolls” helps her understand how to handle malicious, unfounded claims.
• Xie Xiuji/Mingxiao: He is protective of Song Zhizhi and deeply offended by attacks on her reputation. His instinct is to use his authority against the slanderers, but he ultimately follows her restraint.
• The outer-sect disciples: They represent people who repeat sensational rumors without evidence and become defensive when challenged.

Significant Themes

• Rumor versus truth: The chapter highlights how easily false stories can spread, even within a sect, despite official evidence proving the truth.
• Public reputation and social judgment: Song Zhizhi is condemned by people who know nothing about her, reflecting the dangers of judging others based on gossip.
• Responding to trolls: Rather than wasting energy arguing with people committed to misunderstanding, Song Zhizhi advocates a more strategic response.
• Love and domestic peace amid conflict: The tender opening contrasts with the hostile rumors, emphasizing the peaceful bond Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji have built despite external scrutiny.
• Cultivation and impending change: Song Zhizhi’s approaching Golden Core breakthrough signals an important advancement in her strength and future status.

Chapter 96 Summary

• Key events: Song Zhizhi confronts Wang Xun, a male cultivator spreading rumors about her and the Sword Venerable’s family. She sarcastically implies that his poor appearance indicates a “hidden ailment,” leading bystanders to assume she means kidney deficiency. When Wang Xun angrily attacks her with his sword, Song Zhizhi defeats him with a single blow, smashing him into the ground. The Enforcement Squad arrests him for violating the laws of Ten Thousand Swords City.
• Investigation: Song Zhizhi asks that Wang Xun be transferred to the Sword Sect’s Enforcement Hall because the rumors contain unusually specific information about the Sword Venerable’s wife’s younger sister and the request for Phoenix Essence Blood. She and Xie Xiuji suspect the rumors originated from someone closely connected to Feng Jinlei. The investigation quickly identifies Feng Yulong as the source.
• Revelation about Feng Yulong: Feng Yulong was Feng Jinlei’s nephew and emotional surrogate son. Feng Jinlei had used the Sea Spirit Pearl—obtained through Phoenix Essence Blood—to transform Feng Yulong’s Water-Earth Dual Spiritual Roots into a superior Single Water Spiritual Root. After Feng Jinlei was exposed and executed for colluding with Demonic Cultivators, Feng Yulong refused to believe his uncle was guilty. He instead concluded that Song Zhizhi had framed Feng Jinlei after failing to obtain the Phoenix Essence Blood. Feng Yulong had also learned about Song Zhizhi’s pregnancy by accidentally overhearing a voice transmission.
• Character development and interactions: Song Zhizhi demonstrates her quick wit, sharp tongue, and formidable combat ability, deliberately using Wang Xun’s own words against him. She playfully seeks Xie Xiuji’s approval after the fight, while Sword Venerable Mingxiao criticizes her for allowing Wang Xun to draw his sword before striking. Xie Xiuji reassures and praises her, affectionately calling her a schemer. Their exchange highlights their growing intimacy and comfortable teasing dynamic.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes the danger of rumors and hidden information, showing how personal resentment can distort the truth. It also explores loyalty and mistaken vengeance through Feng Yulong’s devotion to Feng Jinlei. Song Zhizhi’s humorous manipulation contrasts with the serious consequences of slander, political intrigue, and the suspected connection between the rumors and the demonic-cultivator case.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Yulong continues to deny responsibility for spreading rumors about Song Zhizhi and insists that his uncle, Feng Jinlei, was framed. He accuses Song Zhizhi and the Sword Sect of supporting tyranny.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao arrives at the Enforcement Hall and condemns Feng Yulong’s refusal to distinguish right from wrong. He declares that Feng Jinlei was guilty of collaborating with Demonic Cultivators and murdering more than 97,000 people.
• Feng Yulong is punished severely: his cultivation is abolished, he is sentenced to seven days in the Illusion Formation, and he is expelled from the Sword Sect.
• The punishment elder destroys Feng Yulong’s Dantian and meridians, reducing him from a Foundation Establishment cultivator to an ordinary mortal. Because of a Silencing Curse, Feng Yulong cannot protest or cry out during the ordeal.
• In the Illusion Formation, Feng Yulong experiences the deaths and suffering of Feng Jinlei’s victims. After seven days, he emerges mentally shattered, repeatedly begging not to be killed.
• Song Zhizhi hears of Feng Yulong’s fate but dismisses it, focusing instead on her advancement to the Golden Core Stage and her opportunity to choose a Lifebound Spirit Sword.
• Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao, both under twenty and possessing Single Spirit Roots, have reached the Golden Core Stage. They are the two disciples entering the Sword Tomb to select their swords.
• The Sect Master is delighted by their exceptional progress. Qingyu begins advising Song Zhizhi about famous spirit swords, including the Chunjun, Purple Mist, and Jade Radiance Swords.

Character Developments

• Feng Yulong is fully disgraced and removed from the story. His persistent malice, denial, and loyalty to Feng Jinlei lead to the destruction of both his cultivation and his future. His punishment leaves him physically crippled and psychologically traumatized.
• Song Zhizhi demonstrates emotional maturity by refusing to dwell on Feng Yulong’s downfall. Her attention shifts toward her own cultivation and the important selection of her Lifebound Spirit Sword.
• Song Miaomiao continues to develop as an ambitious and highly driven cultivator. Motivated partly by her rivalry with Song Zhizhi, she pushes herself to cultivate even more intensely and reaches the Golden Core Stage slightly ahead of Song Zhizhi.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao reinforces his uncompromising commitment to justice, making clear that the Sword Sect will not tolerate evil, slander, or sympathy for Demonic Cultivators.
• Qingyu takes on a supportive advisory role, helping Song Zhizhi understand the strengths and attributes of potential spirit swords.

Significant Themes

• Justice and consequences: Feng Yulong’s punishment reflects the Sword Sect’s belief that crimes against innocents and support for evil must receive severe consequences.
• Good versus evil: Mingxiao emphasizes that cultivators must be able to distinguish right from wrong; moral corruption is treated as seriously as weakness in cultivation.
• Cultivation and innate potential: The chapter highlights how a Lifebound Spirit Sword can function like a second Spiritual Root and dramatically influence a cultivator’s future.
• Rivalry as motivation: Song Miaomiao’s competitive relationship with Song Zhizhi drives her to cultivate with extraordinary intensity.
• Power and destiny: The choice of a spirit sword may determine whether a cultivator remains limited by their natural talent or ultimately breaks through to higher realms.

Character Interactions

• Feng Yulong and Mingxiao: Feng Yulong accuses the Sword Sect of injustice, while Mingxiao directly challenges his denial and orders his punishment.
• Mingxiao and the Unadorned Sword Lord: The two senior figures agree on Feng Yulong’s sentence, demonstrating the leadership’s unified stance against corruption.
• Feng Yulong and the punishment elder: The elder openly scorns Feng Yulong’s repeated offenses and carries out the destruction of his cultivation without sympathy.
• Song Zhizhi and Liu Changfei: Liu Changfei informs Song Zhizhi of Feng Yulong’s fate, but she shows little interest in the matter.
• Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao: Their meeting in the Sword Tomb marks the continuation of their close rivalry, with both now recognized as extraordinary young Golden Core cultivators.
• Qingyu and Song Zhizhi: Qingyu advises her on possible Lifebound Spirit Swords and explains the qualities of several renowned weapons.

Chapter Summary: “Spirit Sword Scam”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Before entering the Sword Tomb, Song Zhizhi’s masters reassure her that she can have a Lifebound Spirit Sword forged if she fails to find one. Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao both promise to obtain a sword from the tomb.
• Qingyu and Unadorned Sword Lord realize they have effectively lost an argument with Sword Venerable Mingxiao, who has offered to forge a custom sword for Song Zhizhi.
• The Sword Tomb opens, and Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao enter through a teleportation array, which separates them.
• Song Zhizhi explores the tomb and observes countless abandoned spirit swords. Many belonged to deceased Sword Sect cultivators and retain traces of their former masters’ battles and sorrow.
• She passes over several powerful swords, including the Jade Radiance Sword, Chunjun Sword, and Purple Mist Sword, because none resonate with her.
• Reaching the inner layer, Song Zhizhi hears the voice of a young girl calling for her to come and take her away. Although she suspects it may be a trap, an instinctive feeling tells her the voice belongs to her destined Lifebound Spirit Sword.
• Drawn onward, she reaches the mist-shrouded deepest area, where numerous legendary, peerless swords are stored. Despite being tempted by them, she rejects them because none respond to her.
• Song Miaomiao eventually arrives from another direction, and the two briefly acknowledge each other before continuing deeper into the tomb.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi shows determination and ambition, refusing to settle for a merely powerful sword. She understands that choosing a Lifebound Spirit Sword requires mutual recognition rather than personal preference alone.
• Her greed and enthusiasm are displayed humorously when she admires the many legendary swords, but she ultimately demonstrates restraint and remains focused on finding the right match.
• Song Miaomiao remains similarly determined to obtain a Lifebound Spirit Sword and independently makes her way into the deepest part of the tomb.
• Xie Xiuji reveals his concern for Song Zhizhi by staring anxiously at the sealed entrance even after being reassured that she is safe.
• Qingyu and Unadorned Sword Lord act as supportive but slightly exasperated mentors, while Sword Venerable Mingxiao confidently promises to forge Song Zhizhi a custom sword if necessary.

Significant Themes

• Fate and mutual selection: A spirit sword must choose its wielder as much as the wielder chooses it.
• Legacy and mortality: The Sword Tomb is both a repository of powerful weapons and a graveyard preserving the memories, struggles, and deaths of past cultivators.
• Persistence over superficial power: Song Zhizhi ignores famous and beautiful swords because they do not resonate with her, suggesting that true suitability matters more than reputation.
• Temptation and deception: The mysterious voice may be leading Song Zhizhi toward her destined sword—or luring her into a “scam,” creating suspense around whether it can be trusted.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao make parallel promises to their masters before entering.
• Qingyu and Unadorned Sword Lord exchange a knowing look after Sword Venerable Mingxiao offers Song Zhizhi a custom-forged sword.
• Qingyu encourages Song Zhizhi, while Song Zhizhi reassures her that she will not waste the opportunity.
• The Sect Master comforts the worried Xie Xiuji, though Xie remains fixated on the entrance.
• Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao meet in the Sword Tomb’s deepest region and silently acknowledge one another before proceeding.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Miaomiao notices that Song Zhizhi is pregnant and asks to touch her belly. The baby responds with a movement and a brush of spiritual sense, delighting Miaomiao.
• As a meeting gift for the unborn child, Song Miaomiao gives Song Zhizhi a Heaven-Tier fire-element sword manual. Though incomplete, it may become Immortal-Tier if the missing portion is found.
• The two women grow closer while discussing sword techniques and eventually reach the deepest part of the Sword Tomb.
• Song Miaomiao hears a shy male voice calling her toward a blue-glowing water-element sword, while Song Zhizhi hears a loud, talkative female voice claiming to be her destined spirit sword.
• At the center of the tomb are two swords: the excellent blue Black Tortoise Sword and a rusty, broken-looking sword with barely any spiritual aura.
• Song Miaomiao successfully draws and contracts with the Black Tortoise Sword.
• Song Zhizhi initially assumes the rusty sword is the one calling to her, but rejects it because it appears too damaged and weak to be useful.
• When Song Zhizhi tries to leave, the rejected sword retaliates by shooting a sharp attack at her. She dodges, but the sword deliberately causes her fingertip to bleed, forming a spiritual connection with her.

2. Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Displays warmth toward Song Miaomiao and uses her pregnancy to build a closer relationship with her. She remains practical and somewhat opportunistic, recognizing the benefits of befriending the novel’s female protagonist. However, she also shows reluctance to accept a seemingly useless sword and attempts to avoid the fate she believes is meant for her.
• Song Miaomiao: Reveals a youthful, affectionate side when interacting with the unborn child. Her gift demonstrates generosity and her serious dedication to sword cultivation. She successfully obtains the Black Tortoise Sword, confirming her destined path.
• The unborn child: Shows signs of spiritual awareness and affection by responding to Miaomiao’s touch.
• The rusty spirit sword: Is characterized as lively, emotional, talkative, and stubborn. Despite its poor appearance, it is intelligent enough to manipulate events and forcibly establish a connection with Song Zhizhi.

3. Significant Themes

• Destiny versus personal choice: Both women encounter swords apparently destined for them, but Song Zhizhi attempts to reject hers because it does not match her expectations.
• Appearance versus true value: The Black Tortoise Sword looks powerful and majestic, while Song Zhizhi’s sword appears broken and worthless. The chapter hints that appearances may be deceptive.
• Relationships and mutual benefit: Song Zhizhi deliberately cultivates a bond with Song Miaomiao, believing association with the protagonist will benefit her and her child. Their relationship nevertheless develops genuine warmth.
• Spiritual bonds and inheritance: The unborn child’s spiritual response, the gifted sword manual, and the sword-contract ritual all emphasize the importance of cultivation legacies and supernatural connections.
• Humor and contrast: The contrast between the dignified Black Tortoise Sword and the noisy, jealous rusty sword provides comic relief.

4. Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao become more comfortable with one another through their discussion of pregnancy and sword arts.
• Song Miaomiao treats Song Zhizhi’s unborn child as family, giving it a valuable sword manual before birth.
• The Black Tortoise Sword and the rusty sword act as contrasting counterparts: one is calm, powerful, and compatible with Miaomiao; the other is loud, possessive, and determined to claim Song Zhizhi.
• The chapter ends with the rusty sword overcoming Song Zhizhi’s rejection by wounding her finger and creating a direct spiritual connection.

Chapter Summary: “Soul Fusion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi is forcibly contracted by a battered, seemingly ordinary spirit sword in the Sword Tomb.
• The sword introduces itself as the Vermilion Bird Sword, one of the Four Great Divine Swords, and insists Song Zhizhi call it “the beautiful lady.”
• Song Zhizhi attempts to reject or undo the contract, but the sword claims that the bond can only end if either the sword is destroyed or its owner dies.
• When Song Zhizhi picks it up, nearly half of her spiritual power flows into it, stripping away its rust and revealing its true crimson form. The sword is revealed to be powerful and beautiful, though its tip is chipped.
• The Vermilion Bird Sword explains that the Azure Dragon Sword—which once fought it and broke off its tip—was contracted to an “icy man,” whom Song Zhizhi realizes is likely Xie Xiuji.
• Song Zhizhi becomes suspicious because Xie Xiuji’s current lifebound sword is Blood Drinker, suggesting that the Azure Dragon Sword’s contract may have been undone.
• She decides to investigate whether her own forced contract can similarly be dissolved, refusing to accept the sword’s claim that it is permanent.
• After spending six hours inside the Sword Tomb, Song Zhizhi exits with the Vermilion Bird Sword and tells Xie Xiuji and Qingyu what happened.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Becomes the unwilling owner of the Vermilion Bird Sword. She remains skeptical, practical, and resistant to coercion, immediately questioning the legitimacy of the contract rather than being impressed by the sword’s title.
• Vermilion Bird Sword: Reveals itself to be arrogant, boastful, manipulative, and highly intelligent. Despite its damaged and rust-covered appearance, it possesses considerable power and a strong sense of pride. Its guilt when Song Zhizhi questions the contract suggests it may be hiding something.
• Xie Xiuji: Shows concern for Song Zhizhi after she spends six hours in the Sword Tomb. He comforts her when he assumes she failed to find a suitable sword and offers to help her obtain another one.
• Qingyu: Is shocked and confused when Song Zhizhi identifies her new sword as the Vermilion Bird Sword, implying that the name carries immense historical or legendary significance.
• Song Miaomiao: Accompanies Song Zhizhi and remains part of the group’s reaction to the discovery.

Significant Themes

• Consent and coercion: Song Zhizhi’s forced contract raises questions about whether a bond formed without consent should be considered valid or binding.
• Appearance versus true nature: The Vermilion Bird Sword initially looks like a rusty, damaged weapon but reveals a magnificent and powerful form once infused with Song Zhizhi’s spiritual power.
• Decline and the passage of time: The sword’s rust, missing tip, and diminished spiritual presence suggest that even legendary artifacts can weaken over centuries.
• Trust and deception: Song Zhizhi distrusts the sword’s claims, especially after noticing inconsistencies involving Xie Xiuji and the Azure Dragon Sword.
• Pride and identity: The Vermilion Bird Sword’s boastful insistence on its divine status contrasts with its current damaged condition, creating tension between its former glory and present state.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi argues with the Vermilion Bird Sword over the unwanted contract, while the sword mocks her attempts to escape it.
• The sword recounts its history with the Azure Dragon Sword and its former connection to the person who contracted it, prompting Song Zhizhi to think of Xie Xiuji.
• Upon leaving the Sword Tomb, Xie Xiuji reassures Song Zhizhi and shows concern for her wellbeing.
• Song Zhizhi explains the entire incident to Xie Xiuji and Qingyu, who react with surprise to the sword’s identity.
• Song Zhizhi openly questions whether the Vermilion Bird Sword is truly divine, while the sword proudly defends its reputation.