Chapter Summaries

Ji Yuan teamed up with Qi Xiu in the Hundred-Ghost Mistwood, where they encountered Xun Tianji and learned how to reach the Second Pass. After discovering Yan Jin was Qingchengzi, Ji Yuan parted from the others, severed his soul link to the Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother, and left to hunt, while she sensed that Hu Beizhi had died.

• Ji Yuan and Qi Xiu met in the Hundred-Ghost Mistwood, hid their motives, and traveled together while Qi Xiu killed Rogue Cultivators and helped Ji Yuan bind a ghost.
• Ji Yuan’s teammates died in quick succession, and Yan Jin fled to Ji Yuan and Qi Xiu after Xun Tianji attacked their group.
• Xun Tianji appeared, revealed that the Ultimate Dao Devil Lord was his mother, and spared Ji Yuan and Yan Jin before heading toward the Core Area.
• Yan Jin explained the two ways to reach the Second Pass, then revealed that he was Qingchengzi and departed after warning Ji Yuan that Qi Xiu’s Communication Talisman could track him.
• Ji Yuan sent the talisman away on a Corpse Puppet, severed his soul connection to the Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother, and left to hunt; the Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother then sensed that Hu Beizhi was dead.

Ji Yuan cleared the first pass, exchanged Merit Points for Yin-Yang Soil, and arrived at the Ghost-Soul Ancient Road, where he served as a guard against Rogue Cultivators. As a huge wave of challengers appeared, Ji Yuan’s Golden Core began transforming into a Blood Core.

• Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother learned that her disciple had died, and Bone Demon Old Devil threatened Xuanhuangzi while True Lord Profound Purity warned Bone Demon to stop making threats.
• Ji Yuan reached 101 Merit Points, avoided High Person Yin Bone’s group, and fought his way through Hundred-Ghost Mistwood to the Second Pass entrance guarded by Xun Tianji.
• Ji Yuan disguised himself as a Rogue Cultivator, passed Xun Tianji, and exchanged 200 Contribution Points for Yin-Yang Soil before the Ghost Envoy sent him to the Ghost-Soul Ancient Road.
• The Ghost Envoy assigned Ji Yuan to guard the road; Ji Yuan used a Baleful-Yin Stele and a Gargoyle to repel a Rogue Cultivator, while Magui killed a Silver-Robed Steward elsewhere on the road.
• After several quiet days, hundreds of Rogue Cultivators arrived at the Second Pass, and Ji Yuan felt his Golden Core begin shedding its golden surface and turning into a Blood Core.

Ji Yuan battled Rogue Cultivators on the second pass, fought True Person Luojia, and escaped Xun Tianji through the Bronze Gate. After restoring his strength and spending his Contribution Points on materials, he entered the third pass, where Qi Xiu approached him through a poisonous swamp.

• Ji Yuan completed his Blood Core transformation and summoned Gargoyles to defend his Ghost-Soul Ancient Road, killing Rogue Cultivators and earning Contribution Points.
• Xun Tianji attacked High Person Yin Bone, while Ji Yuan fought True Person Luojia and she recognized him as Old Devil Ji.
• Ji Yuan refused to kill the defenseless True Person Luojia, fled the road, and escaped through the Bronze Gate as Xun Tianji pursued him.
• Ji Yuan checked his Contribution Points, exchanged them for Yin-Yang Soil and Earth Sand, and entered the third pass after recovering.
• Ji Yuan found himself in a poisonous swamp, received no instructions from the Ghost Envoy, and sensed Qi Xiu rapidly approaching.

Ji Yuan and Qi Xiu hunted rotting corpses for Contribution Points in the Third Pass, then turned on each other after Ji Yuan killed Xu Qing and Qi Xiu saw an opening. Qi Xiu’s Divine Soul attack struck Ji Yuan’s Soul-Calming Bell, and Ji Yuan faced him with six Azure Waves Swords poised to attack.

• Ji Yuan and Qi Xiu reunited in the swamp, agreed to travel together, and began killing rotting corpses for their Contribution Points.
• A tide of corpses pursued Lin Hong and Xu Qing, and Ji Yuan and Qi Xiu fought through it using Corpse Yin Demonfire and Qi Xiu’s hidden technique.
• After Qi Xiu demanded repayment from Lin Hong and Xu Qing, they fled; Ji Yuan caught Xu Qing, killed his body, and the Ghost Envoy claimed his Divine Soul for fifty Contribution Points.
• Ji Yuan and Qi Xiu killed the remaining powerful corpses, then pretended to recover while preparing to attack each other.
• Qi Xiu struck Ji Yuan with a Divine Soul spear, but Ji Yuan’s Soul-Calming Bell blocked it, and Ji Yuan readied six Azure Waves Swords against him.

Ji Yuan defeated Qi Xiu after a fierce battle, then learned that the Ghost Envoy had deliberately arranged their meeting to provoke a fight and collect their Divine Souls. He recovered the human-skin page of the Nine-Gate Soul-Calming Scripture and escaped the swamp, while the Ghost Envoy’s purpose remained unclear.

• Qi Xiu recognized that Ji Yuan cultivated the other half of the Nine-Gate Soul-Calming Scripture, and the two exchanged attacks until Ji Yuan’s Zixiao Divine Thunder damaged Qi Xiu’s flying knives.
• Qi Xiu summoned a Blazing Flame Monkey and used a strand of Sword Qi from Senior Xuanhuang, but Ji Yuan evaded the attack and continued fighting with his Azure Waves Swords and Ice Flood Dragons.
• Qi Xiu transformed with a demonic technique, but Ji Yuan struck him down at close range with the Fire God Spear and trapped his Divine Soul in a cage of Purple Lightning.
• Qi Xiu revealed that the Ghost Envoy had deliberately brought them together, but the Ghost Envoy took Qi Xiu’s Divine Soul before Ji Yuan could question him.
• Ji Yuan recovered Qi Xiu’s human-skin page and belongings, then fought through returning rotting corpses and entered Lingtai Square-Inch Mountain.

Ji Yuan raced to claim the Poisonous Fiend Corpse King’s reward, ambushing it amid a battle between powerful cultivators and escaping into the Inner Domain with the Ghost Envoy’s help. Xiao Xuan identified Ji Yuan’s Spirit-Devouring Bees, leaving the other cultivators to wonder who the new Insect Demon was.

• Ji Yuan learned the Soul-Devouring Needle and God-Slaying Spear, negotiated with the Ghost Envoy, and continued through the swamp to earn Contribution Points.
• The Ghost Envoy announced that the first Poisonous Fiend Corpse King would grant 1,000 Contribution Points and early entry to the Inner Domain, so Ji Yuan traveled there to watch from concealment.
• Ji Yuan saw Fang Zhong, Yan Zhirou, Magui, High Person Yin Bone, and Xiao Xuan battle the wounded Corpse King while Mo Tusheng lay in wait to strike.
• When Mo Tusheng attacked, Xiao Xuan and the others unleashed their killing moves, but Ji Yuan suddenly pierced the Corpse King with his Fire God Spear and shattered it.
• The Ghost Envoy’s white light carried Ji Yuan away, though Mo Tusheng wounded his shoulder with a black ray, and Xiao Xuan recognized the remains of Ji Yuan’s armor as Spirit-Devouring Bees.

Ji Yuan entered Rakshasa City, learned that its houses held dangerous hidden treasures, and began hunting through the shops. After fighting through a tavern’s defenses, he reunited with Mu Xueyao, who told him that Old Demon Ji had also arrived.

• Nightmare True Lord took control of Qiu Qianhai’s body, reached Golden Core Peak Stage, and claimed the Poisonous Fiend Corpse King for Old Devil Ji.
• Ji Yuan entered Rakshasa City and learned from the Ghost Envoy that its treasures were hidden in houses alongside dangerous Yin Ghosts.
• Ji Yuan searched shops, found a Forged Golden Pill, a Voidspace Stone, and a cultivation-raising Ge Xian Vine, then inferred that larger shops held more valuable treasures and stronger guards.
• Ji Yuan trapped the vines surrounding a three-story tavern in his Inverted Big Dipper Formation and opened the second-floor door, where a concealed attacker launched a Thousand-Blade Pagoda at him.
• Ji Yuan recognized the attacker as Mu Xueyao, revealed his true appearance, and reunited with her.
• Mu Xueyao told Ji Yuan that Old Demon Ji had arrived in Rakshasa City.

Ji Yuan and Mu Xueyao explored Rakshasa City, hunted cultivators, and gathered treasures while Old Devil Ji’s identity became the subject of suspicion among Bone Demon Sect elders. The chapter ended with Ji Yuan sensing that Clear-Moon Tower was under attack.

• Ji Yuan learned that Old Devil Ji had appeared in the Poison-Miasma Swamp at the Golden Core Middle Stage, and Mu Xueyao agreed to accompany him when they met.
• Mu Xueyao explained how she had reached Rakshasa City, described the Hidden-God Green-Seeking Vine, and told Ji Yuan about the city’s treasure towers.
• Ji Yuan and Mu Xueyao traveled between the Inner and Outer Domains, then killed two Golden Core Late Stage cultivators in Rakshasa City and took their Contribution Points and Storage Bags.
• Magui and Yin Bone suspected that Ji Yuan resembled their grandmaster, Nightmare True Lord, and wondered whether he had returned as Old Devil Ji.
• Magui poisoned Yin Bone, but Yin Bone killed himself to deny Magui his Merit Points; the Ghost Craftsman mocked Magui for talking too much.
• After Ji Yuan killed another Black-and-White Divine Hall member, he sensed someone besieging Clear-Moon Tower and told Mu Xueyao.

Ji Yuan watched the siege of Clear-Moon Tower until Dream-Demon True Lord, controlling Qiu Qianhai’s body, arrived and joined the attack on the Hidden-God Green-Seeking Vine. Ji Yuan ambushed him, then revealed his face and demanded to know why he was impersonating Ji Yuan.

• Ji Yuan and Mu Xueyao watched Xun Tianji and other cultivators besiege the Hidden-God Green-Seeking Vine at Clear-Moon Tower.
• Dream-Demon True Lord led Qiu Qianhai through the Hundred-Refinements Corpse Grotto, met the Ghost Envoy, and asked to borrow a Golden-Armored Corpse King for revenge.
• Dream-Demon True Lord emerged from the grotto, joined the battle, and teamed up with Xun Tianji to attack the vine.
• Ji Yuan studied the disguised Old Devil Ji and planned to test his strength while waiting for the vine to weaken.
• Ji Yuan used Cloud-Chasing Step to ambush Dream-Demon True Lord with the Fire God Spear, but Spirit-Eating Blood stopped the attack.
• Dream-Demon True Lord drove Xiao Xuan away, and Ji Yuan removed his Spirit-Devouring Armor, revealed his face, and challenged the impostor to explain himself.

Ji Yuan discovered that Qiu Qianhai was alive but trapped as a Divine Soul under the control of Nightmare True Lord, who had possessed his body. After the two reunited, Ji Yuan followed Nightmare True Lord to learn more, while keeping his suspicions about the master’s intentions hidden.

• Qiu Qianhai recognized Ji Yuan, and Nightmare True Lord let them exchange voice transmissions while warning Qiu not to reveal himself.
• Ji Yuan suspected Nightmare True Lord intended to possess Qiu Qianhai permanently, but stayed cautious while the cultivators attacked the Hidden-God Green-Seeking Vine.
• The wounded vine fled underground, and Nightmare True Lord used the Great Dream Demon Scripture to put the cultivators to sleep, seize the treasure from the Clear-Moon Tower, and escape with Ji Yuan.
• Ji Yuan followed Nightmare True Lord to a house, where Nightmare True Lord released Qiu Qianhai’s weak Divine Soul so the friends could reunite.
• Ji Yuan learned that Qiu Qianhai still believed Nightmare True Lord was his master, concealed his suspicions, and asked the senior for his title.

Ji Yuan reunited with Qiu Qianhai and learned that Nightmare True Lord planned to take revenge on Bone-Nightmare Old Devil and Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother. When the Inner Domain trial began, Ji Yuan headed south and killed Mo Tusheng in a Formation, leaving him with Mo Tusheng’s belongings.

• Ji Yuan revealed that Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother had taken him as a disciple, and Nightmare True Lord recognized their shared enemies.
• Nightmare True Lord agreed to travel with Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai, then left for the Core Area when Nascent Soul Cultivators began fighting there.
• The Ghost Envoy told Ji Yuan to defend the four nodes of the Ten-Thousand Ghosts Paying Homage Formation, and Ji Yuan spotted Magui attacking the eastern node.
• Ji Yuan flew south to find Mu Xueyao, but Mo Tusheng intercepted him and demanded his Contribution Points.
• Ji Yuan trapped Mo Tusheng in the Inverted Big Dipper Formation and attacked him with Zixiao Divine Thunder and five swords.
• Ji Yuan exposed Mo Tusheng’s escape as an illusion and struck him with a giant sword and purple lightning, killing him and collecting his belongings.

Ji Yuan broke the Southern Peak Tower’s Formation heart, triggering an attack by powerful Yin Ghosts, then used Lightning-Chaser to reach the Eastern Peak Tower and confront Magui. Magui escaped through a Golden Ghost Token, but Ji Yuan’s brothers finally reunited nearby.

• Ji Yuan killed Mo Tusheng, absorbed his Corpse Yin Demonfire, and took his Formation Banner and other treasures.
• Ji Yuan chose to help the Rogue Cultivators and used the Truth-Piercing Divine Eye to locate a flaw in the Southern Peak Tower’s Formation.
• Ji Yuan broke the Formation heart with the Giant Gate Sword and Zixiao Solitary Thunder, earning a thousand Contribution Points.
• The Ghost Envoy activated the Ten-Thousand Ghosts Paying Homage Formation, releasing Yin Ghosts that attacked cultivators from every side.
• Ji Yuan and Mu Xueyao fled the Southern Peak Tower area with Lightning-Chaser and headed for the Eastern Peak Tower to find Magui.
• Magui escaped Ji Yuan through a Golden Ghost Token, and an excited voice behind Ji Yuan announced, “Old Ji, I—I'm back!”

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai joined forces to slaughter cultivators in Rakshasa City until the Ghost Envoy ended the trial early. Ji Yuan exchanged Contribution Points for Wood-Attribute Demon Cores and Yao Earth Sand, then left the treasure exchange with his cultivation plans underway.

• Qiu Qianhai returned to Ji Yuan, and the two hunted Core Formation Cultivators together while avoiding Xun Tianji and Xiao Xuan.
• Perfected Taiyi and True Person Tai'er discussed threats from Barbarian God Continent and planned a journey to Cangluo Continent and Abyssal Continent.
• Bone-Nightmare Old Devil and Fire-Spirit Holy Mother interrupted the Profound Serpent Manor Master and Old Devil Heavenly Fiend's quarrel with news that the Six-Turn Blood Pool had appeared.
• Xiao Xuan confronted Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai, but the Ghost Envoy announced that the Rakshasa City trial had ended because too many cultivators had died.
• Ji Yuan checked his 9,173 Contribution Points and learned he had the highest total, then exchanged 2,200 points for two Early Fourth Tier Wood-Attribute Demon Cores and 210 points for seven taels of Yao Earth Sand.

Ji Yuan spent his Rakshasa Sea contribution points on a Clear-Mind Fruit Tree Branch, two Taiyi Profound Yang Talismans, and a Black Baleful Pill, then learned more about Qiu Qianhai’s master and the Core Area. After entering the Core Area, Ji Yuan encountered a Nascent Soul Cultivator who revealed that he knew him.

• Ji Yuan exchanged contribution points for a Clear-Mind Fruit Tree Branch, two Taiyi Profound Yang Talismans, and a Black Baleful Pill, completing the Dao Comprehension Chamber’s upgrade requirements.
• Qiu Qianhai told Ji Yuan that his master intended to seize his body, had placed fatal restrictions on him, and was possessing a Golden-Armored Corpse King to attack the Bone Demon Old Devil.
• Qiu Qianhai explained that the Core Area was an endless Sand Sea, named Yellowwind Valley as their meeting point, and entered through his Golden Ghost Token.
• Ji Yuan visited Mu Xueyao, who chose to remain in the Outer Domain and cultivate, then entered the Core Area himself.
• A Nascent Soul Cultivator approached Ji Yuan in the Sand Sea, and after Ji Yuan introduced himself as Li Changshou, the stranger revealed his familiar hoarse voice and told him to drop the act.

Ji Yuan followed the Dream-Demon True Lord through the Rakshasa Sea’s Core Area to obtain a treasure that could help him survive the Nascent Soul Heart-Demon Tribulation. After the True Lord’s trap nearly put him in danger, Ji Yuan escaped the Formation with the lotus seed, and the True Lord revealed the strange insect he needed help with: a Dream Butterfly.

• Ji Yuan recognized the Dream-Demon True Lord, learned that he intended to possess Qiu Qianhai, and agreed to follow him in exchange for a Void Sacred Heart Lotus seed.
• The Dream-Demon True Lord explained that the seed could improve Ji Yuan’s chances of surviving the Heart-Demon Tribulation and instructed him to lure it out while wearing Spirit-Devouring Armor.
• A giant rat shaped from the lotus seed attacked Ji Yuan, and the Dream-Demon True Lord activated a Fourth-Tier Formation to trap and kill it.
• Ji Yuan escaped the Formation through a flaw using his Truth-Piercing Divine Eye and Bloodslaughter Sword, then took the lotus seed while remaining wary of the Dream-Demon True Lord.
• The Dream-Demon True Lord admitted he needed Ji Yuan’s help and showed him a Dream Butterfly, a rare insect that Ji Yuan also possessed.

Ji Yuan and Dream-Demon True Lord traveled to the Six-Turn Blood Pool, where Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered but could not overcome its powerful illusion. Dream-Demon True Lord revealed his strength and offered a Wondrous-Fragrance Soul-Fixing Vine, leaving the gathered cultivators to consider joining forces.

• Dream-Demon True Lord explained that he wanted Ji Yuan's Dream Butterfly to help retrieve a treasure from the Six-Turn Blood Pool, and Ji Yuan agreed while distrusting his promise to spare him.
• Dream-Demon True Lord told Ji Yuan about the Blood Pool and the Winter Worm, then brought him toward the Emberflame Desert; Ji Yuan disguised himself with a Form-Changing Talisman before they approached the other cultivators.
• At the blood pool, the Profound Serpent Manor Master failed to cross its illusion, while Bone Demon Old Devil returned with Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother and Magui and reported that True Lord Hundred Hammers had encountered a powerful unfamiliar cultivator.
• Dream-Demon True Lord introduced himself as Xuan Yunzi, a Rogue Cultivator from overseas, and refused Old Devil Heavenly Fiend and Bone Demon Old Devil's demand that he leave.
• The Soul Hall Master recognized Xuan Yunzi as the cultivator who had nearly killed True Lord Hundred Hammers; Dream-Demon True Lord displayed Nascent Soul Middle Stage power before revealing a Wondrous-Fragrance Soul-Fixing Vine that might help them pass through the illusion.

Ji Yuan joined Dream-Demon True Lord’s scheme to trap the Nascent Soul Cultivators in the blood pool’s illusion while he killed Magui. After destroying Magui’s True Treasure and killing him, Ji Yuan recovered his belongings and watched the cultivators advance deeper into the illusion.

• The Nascent Soul Cultivators agreed to work together and revealed treasures and pills meant to help them resist the illusion.
• Dream-Demon True Lord told Ji Yuan that the Soul-Fixing Vine was fake and planned to trap the cultivators so they could retrieve the blood pool’s treasure.
• Ji Yuan approached Magui under the name Di Renjie and pretended to consider joining the Bone Demon Sect before attacking him.
• Magui’s True Treasure repelled Ji Yuan’s swords and lightning, but Ji Yuan used a white ring from Dream-Demon True Lord to destroy it.
• Ji Yuan killed Magui with Zixiao Divine Thunder, revealed that he was Mo Tusheng, and collected Magui’s belongings and soul.
• Ji Yuan saw the Nascent Soul Cultivators continue toward the blood pool, with Dream-Demon True Lord’s counterfeit vine still unused.

Ji Yuan and Nightmare True Lord entered the Six-Turn Blood Pool’s illusion together, but Gu Yan escaped and exposed their past master-disciple relationship. As the Nascent Soul cultivators gathered for a confrontation, Nightmare True Lord attacked Ji Yuan, who invoked the Sacred Fish King’s letter to gain Profound Serpent Manor Master’s protection.

• Nightmare True Lord used Dream Butterfly to break free of the illusion, rested, and then took Ji Yuan inside, warning him to stay within one foot of him.
• Gu Yan escaped the illusion, revealed that he was Nightmare True Lord’s former disciple, and knelt before Zhou Chu before declaring their master-disciple bond severed.
• Nightmare True Lord and Gu Yan disputed who had betrayed whom, and Gu Yan revealed that he had two Nascent Souls after refining the Supreme Water Spirit Infant.
• Gu Yan disclosed that he had met Qiu Qianhai and removed the restrictions Nightmare True Lord had placed on him, then shattered the restrictions before the gathered cultivators.
• Nightmare True Lord attacked Ji Yuan, who fled with Lightning-Chaser and told Profound Serpent Manor Master that the Sacred Fish King had sent him a letter; Profound Serpent Manor Master stepped in to protect him.

Ji Yuan watched Bone Demon Old Devil defeat Dream-Demon True Lord, only for the Soul Hall Master to intervene and reveal another layer of the conflict. Bone Demon exposed how he had turned Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother into a Corpse Puppet and used her to torment his master, leaving Dream-Demon True Lord vowing to kill him.

• Profound Serpent Manor Master protected Ji Yuan from Dream-Demon True Lord, and Ji Yuan denied being Hu Beizhi when Bone Demon Old Devil recognized Su Wan's disciple.
• Bone Demon Old Devil and Dream-Demon True Lord fought above Emberflame Desert, with Bone Demon gaining the advantage before Dream Demon unleashed a hidden trump card.
• Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother told Ji Yuan that Magui had been raised as a vessel for Bone Demon's Second Nascent Soul, then revealed that she was Ji Yuan's master.
• The Soul Hall Master ambushed Bone Demon Old Devil with a poisoned strike and joined Dream-Demon True Lord, who left the Corpse King's body and returned to his own skeletal form.
• Bone Demon Old Devil revealed that Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother had loved Dream-Demon True Lord, transformed her into a Nascent Soul Corpse Puppet, and preserved her soul to make Dream Demon watch her suffer.
• Dream-Demon True Lord vowed to kill Bone Demon Old Devil, while Profound Serpent Manor Master told Ji Yuan he was a good man across ten lifetimes.

Ji Yuan used Nine-Nether Lifeburn Brew to raise Dream Butterfly to Fourth Tier, allowing it to cross the blood-pool illusion and retrieve the treasure before fleeing. Profound Serpent Manor Master pursued him alone, and Ji Yuan stopped to offer him a deal involving a counterfeit Nether Ageless Spring.

• Bone Demon Old Devil and Dream-Demon True Lord fought while Soul Hall Master and Old Devil Heavenly Fiend intervened, drawing the Nascent Soul cultivators into shifting alliances.
• Profound Serpent Manor Master joined Dream-Demon True Lord against Bone Demon Old Devil, while Joyful Madam revealed that she knew Ji Yuan was from Cangluo and then sided with Bone Demon Old Devil.
• Ji Yuan fed Dream Butterfly Nine-Nether Lifeburn Brew, temporarily raising it from Early Third Tier to Early Fourth Tier so it could guide him through the illusion to the blood pool.
• Ji Yuan seized the black treasure from the blood pool and fled on Lightning-Chaser, prompting Soul Hall Master, Profound Serpent Manor Master, Old Devil Heavenly Fiend, and Joyful Madam to pursue him.
• Profound Serpent Manor Master caught up with Ji Yuan after he escaped the other pursuers, and Ji Yuan stopped and presented a jade flask containing the counterfeit Nether Ageless Spring.