Chapter Summaries

Gu Sheng fought Tie San after Tie San attacked Ling Xiao and the others, revealing his strength as a body cultivator and using the Primordial Samsara Bell and Taiji Seven Stars Sword. After Tie San’s forbidden arts raised him to the peak of the Tai Chu Realm, Gu Sheng defeated him with Seven Stars Slash, then told Ling Xiao that Young Master Qin must not be allowed to live.

• Gu Sheng caught Tie San’s punch, overpowered him in a fistfight, and forced him to use his spirit saber and Profound Yin Sky Splitting Palm.
• Gu Sheng used the Primordial Samsara Bell to shatter Tie San’s giant palm, then cut through Tie San’s saber and severed his left arm with the Taiji Seven Stars Sword.
• Tie San begged for mercy, then used forbidden arts to restore his arm and raise his strength to the peak of the Tai Chu Realm; Gu Sheng fought him while Ling Xiao protected Mu Feng and Mu Xi.
• Mu Feng shielded Mu Xi from a fragment of Spiritual Power and was wounded in the shoulder during the clash between Gu Sheng and Tie San.
• Gu Sheng used Seven Stars Slash to pierce Tie San’s chest and end his transformation, leaving Tie San weakened and fleeing.
• Exhausted and supported by Ling Xiao, Gu Sheng pointed out the injured Young Master Qin and said they could not let him live.

Gu Sheng killed Young Master Qin and escaped with Ling Xiao, while the Luoyun City Lord discovered his son's death and vowed revenge at the Immortal Descent Realm. In hiding, Gu Sheng cured Mu Xi with the Heavenly Longevity Spirit Root, helped her reach the Core Formation Realm, and parted from the siblings as they chose not to enter the dangerous realm.

• Gu Sheng killed Young Master Qin, took his Void Ring, and fled toward the forest with Ling Xiao, Mu Feng, and Mu Xi.
• Elder Wang's guards rescued the wounded Tie San and brought him to Qin Wuya, who learned of the battle and went to the site with Tie San.
• Qin Wuya found Young Master Qin dead, detected traces of Tie San's Heart Shattering Palm, killed Tie San, and swore to make Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao pay at the Immortal Descent Realm.
• Gu Sheng recovered in the forest and proposed using Thousand Faces Pills to evade Qin Wuya's ambush at the Immortal Descent Realm.
• Gu Sheng refined the Heavenly Longevity Spirit Root for Mu Xi, guiding its energy through her meridians until she broke through to the Core Formation Realm and her illness disappeared.
• Gu Sheng gave Mu Feng and Mu Xi most of Young Master Qin's belongings and offered them a concealment cloak, but the siblings chose to leave rather than risk entering the Immortal Descent Realm.

Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao met the mysterious Old Man Bai, exchanged their conspicuous weapons for new spirit artifacts, and entered the Immortal Descent Realm. They hid in a Purple Spirit Bamboo forest when a powerful divine sense searched for them, while the Luoyun City Lord confronted cultivators from Zixia Holy Land.

• Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao set out for the Immortal Descent Realm while evading the Luoyun City Lord’s informants.
• Old Man Bai warned them of a checkpoint, traded them the Azure Spirit Ring and Star Brilliance Chain for their weapons, and spoke cryptically about the Xinghong Spirit Domain.
• Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao buried the Frost Blade and Crimson Flame Sword, then entered the Immortal Descent Realm and chose a secluded Purple Spirit Bamboo forest over the crowded giant-tree forest.
• A late-stage Nascent Soul divine sense swept the bamboo forest, but Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao hid behind a talisman barrier and avoided detection.
• The Luoyun City Lord searched the realm for Gu Sheng, then confronted a group of young cultivators and recognized the Zixia Holy Land emblem on their leader.

Luo Xiutian and the Luoyun City Lord pursued Gu Sheng into Taichu Purple Bamboo Mountain, where its Dao arts favored Gu Sheng’s Yang Dao and hindered his pursuers. As Gu Sheng raced toward an inheritance to reach the Dao Palace Realm and find Qingyao, a new group of seven cultivators arrived behind Luo Xiutian.

• The Luoyun City Lord told Luo Xiutian that Gu Sheng had killed his son and taken the Ancient Divine Sword, and Luo Xiutian enlisted him to help lure Gu Sheng out at Taichu Purple Bamboo Mountain.
• The Luoyun City Lord tracked Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao’s lingering auras, and Luo Xiutian led his group into the bamboo forest after them.
• Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao cultivated by cutting purple bamboo, then split up so Ling Xiao could seek the dense Death Qi while Gu Sheng pushed deeper into the forest.
• Gu Sheng vowed to reach the Dao Palace Realm within three months and find Qingyao, then used her jade slip and a blood sigil to surge toward the ancient inheritance.
• Luo Xiutian and the Luoyun City Lord struggled against the bamboo forest’s Dao pressure as they pursued Gu Sheng, until seven indigo-robed cultivators led by a white-haired old man passed them.

Gu Sheng trained on Purple Bamboo Mountain, disguised himself, and set out with Ye Jianjia to investigate matters in Great Desolation City. At Linlang Pavilion, Bai Lingtong told them the Ye Family was in trouble and Xu Hansong was positioned to become the Sun Moon Sect’s successor.

• Luo Xiutian and the Luoyun City Lord encountered Biyun Sect members, and the Luoyun City Lord warned Luo Xiutian that they might target his treasures.
• Gu Sheng cut down Purple Bamboo after thirty-seven strikes and absorbed its Yang Dao aura, drawing attention from the Biyun Sect’s Third Elder and other cultivators.
• Gu Sheng used the Thousand Faces artifact to disguise himself, and Ye Jianjia joined him on his journey after he agreed to let her accompany him.
• At Linlang Pavilion, Gu Sheng showed his Xiao token and summoned Bai Lingtong to a private room.
• Bai Lingtong told Gu Sheng that the Xuanxu Sect had detained Ye Xiongfeng and forced many Ye Family businesses to close.
• Bai Lingtong reported that Xu Hansong had recovered his cultivation, gained the backing of a Great Desolation Sacred Academy Inner Court disciple, and was favored to become the Sun Moon Sect’s successor.

Gu Sheng learned of the secret realm hidden in Yinghuan Village and traveled with Ye Jianjia to Wuyun City, while Shen Qingyun hunted Situ Qingfeng in Great Desolation City. The chapter ended with Gu Sheng reuniting with his elder brother Gu Feng at the Qin Family estate and sensing that Gu Feng possessed a spirit body.

• Bai Lingtong told Gu Sheng that a secret realm linked to a Shapeshifting Great Demon had appeared in Yinghuan Village, and Gu Sheng decided to investigate it.
• At Yinghuan Village, Shen Qingyun revealed that he was hunting Situ Qingfeng for a bounty and agreed to cooperate with the Great Desolation Alliance.
• Situ Qingfeng disguised himself to evade Shen Qingyun, but Shen Qingyun exposed him and attacked; Situ Qingfeng escaped with jade talismans after Shen Qingyun sensed activity from a teleportation array.
• Gu Sheng and Ye Jianjia teleported to Golden Crow City, where Gu Sheng soothed Ye Jianjia and continued toward Wuyun City with her.
• Gu Sheng arrived at the Qin Family estate and reunited with Gu Feng, whose body gave off an aura associated with a spirit body.

Gu Sheng returned to the Qin Family, revealed his cultivation and his connection to Venerable Cang Long, and arranged for Gu Feng to inherit the Venerable’s legacy. After learning that Nangong Qingyue had left, Gu Sheng rushed to protect Ye Jianjia from a powerful pursuer and used his Linlang Pavilion token to make the man back down.

• Gu Sheng introduced Ye Jianjia to Gu Feng, then told his elder brother that he had failed the Great Desolation Sacred Academy examination but joined the Imperial Sect and reached the Spirit Martial Realm.
• Gu Sheng summoned Venerable Cang Long’s remnant soul and persuaded him to accept Gu Feng as his inheritor by secretly overwhelming him with soul pressure.
• Venerable Cang Long bestowed his inheritance on Gu Feng and privately told Gu Sheng where his hidden treasures were; Gu Sheng explained that he had given up the inheritance to repay his brother’s past kindness.
• Gu Feng told Gu Sheng that Nangong Qingyue and her grandmother had left, and Gu Sheng opened Qingyue’s sealed farewell letter.
• A man in blue seized Ye Jianjia and demanded to know where Nangong Qingyue had gone; after Gu Sheng gave him the letter, the man burned it and threatened the Qin Family.
• Gu Sheng warned the man in blue and showed him his Linlang Pavilion token, prompting the attacker to withdraw his sword from Ye Jianjia’s neck.

Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Gu Sheng returns to Scarlet Flame City and meets Gu Feng, who is shocked by Gu Sheng's growth.
• Gu Sheng saves Gu Feng and Ye Jianjia from a Linlang Pavilion member who was looking for Nangong Qingyue.
• Gu Sheng learns about the Nangong family's destruction and decides to return to Great Desolation City the next day.
• Gu Lie is severely injured and poisoned on his way back from Golden Crow City. Gu Sheng discovers he has been poisoned with 'Blood Dove Powder' and 'Cold Marrow Induction.'
• Gu Sheng decides to refine the 'Profound Yang Heart Clearing Pill' to detoxify Gu Lie.

Character Developments

• Gu Sheng has grown significantly in cultivation and has become an alchemist, capable of refining fourth-grade elixirs.
• Gu Feng is shocked by Gu Sheng's growth and becomes more supportive of him.
• Gu Lie is severely injured and poisoned, highlighting the danger of the current situation.

Significant Themes

• Growth and transformation, as seen in Gu Sheng's rapid development.
• The danger and ruthlessness of the martial world, as demonstrated by the attacks on the Nangong family and Gu Lie.

Character Interactions

• Gu Sheng and Gu Feng's relationship strengthens as Gu Feng becomes more supportive of Gu Sheng.
• Gu Sheng and Ye Jianjia's relationship remains friendly, with Gu Sheng showing concern for her safety.
• Gu Sheng's alchemy skills are revealed to Gu Feng and the Qin Family, increasing their respect for him.

Gu Sheng cured Gu Lie of the Five Poisons Sect’s poison and went alone to avenge him, killing Mo Tianxie and wiping out the sect. After finding a Five-Colored Immortal Spirit Grass and burning the sect’s compound, Gu Sheng returned as news of the destruction reached the Gu family.

• Gu Sheng brewed two nine-pattern Nine Revolutions Glazed Pills, cured Gu Lie, and learned that Mo Wuya of the Five Poisons Sect had poisoned him after an auction.
• Gu Sheng entered the Five Poisons Sect’s great hall, identified himself as Gu Lie’s son, and defeated Mo Tianxie’s disciples and poisonous attack.
• Gu Sheng revealed his connection to the Extreme Poison Emperor, ignored Mo Tianxie’s threat about the sect’s ancestor, and beheaded him with one sword.
• Gu Sheng hunted down the fleeing Five Poisons Sect disciples, found a Five-Colored Immortal Spirit Grass in the storeroom, and set the compound ablaze.
• The next morning, an escort told Gu Lie that the Five Poisons Sect had been wiped out, leaving him stunned.

After destroying the Five Poisons Sect, Gu Sheng left the Gu family with Ye Jianjia and traveled to a secret realm near Great Desolation City. There, he reunited with Situ Qingfeng, who revealed that the Lu Family and Shen Qingyun were waiting to stop him from claiming an inheritance and a token linked to the Ancient Demon Sacred Land.

• Gu Sheng admitted to destroying the Five Poisons Sect, then told Gu Lie and Gu Feng he was leaving to train and pursue a clue about his mother's betrothal arrangement with Myriad Spirits Palace.
• Gu Sheng explained to Ye Jianjia that the jade token might help him learn more about his mother, then shielded her with his Soul Power during their teleportation to Great Desolation City.
• Gu Sheng and Ye Jianjia concealed their strength and headed toward a secret realm, where they encountered Sun Moon Sect disciples and were approached by the disguised Situ Qingfeng.
• Situ Qingfeng revealed that he needed his mother's natal blood essence from the secret realm to awaken his Heavenly Demon Spirit Body, while the Lu Family had enlisted Shen Qingyun to hunt him.
• Situ Qingfeng told Gu Sheng that a token at the secret realm's core could communicate with the Ancient Demon Sacred Land and command all demons, giving Gu Sheng a powerful reason to pursue it.

Gu Sheng agreed to cooperate with Situ Qingfeng inside the secret realm, where a restriction would suppress everyone to the Spirit Martial Realm. After breaking through to the ninth level of the Yellow Martial Realm, Gu Sheng rejected Shen Qingyun’s offer to betray Situ Qingfeng and prepared for the secret realm’s opening.

• Gu Sheng and Situ Qingfeng agreed to work together to kill Shen Qingyun inside the secret realm, and Situ Qingfeng gave Gu Sheng a Teleportation Talisman.
• Gu Sheng and Ye Jianjia settled in a stone house near the village as martial artists gathered for the secret realm’s opening.
• Gu Sheng broke through to the ninth level of the Yellow Martial Realm, nearing the Black Tortoise Realm.
• Shen Qingyun confronted Gu Sheng and offered to protect him and secure the Lu Family’s bounty if Gu Sheng brought him Situ Qingfeng’s head.
• Gu Sheng refused Shen Qingyun’s offer and warned him against attacking in the secret realm, so Shen Qingyun left without fighting.
• Gu Sheng grew more vigilant as the secret realm’s opening approached and more factions gathered in the village.

Gu Sheng explored the newly opened secret realm, where his cultivation and spiritual force were suppressed, while Shen Qingyun forced other martial artists to hunt him and Situ Qingfeng. Guided by the Innate Spirit Embryo, Gu Sheng gathered a treasure and discovered a rare spirit herb nourished by a fallen Shapeshifting Great Demon.

• Gu Sheng and Ye Jianjia entered the blood-red gate and were teleported to separate locations, where Gu Sheng found his abilities suppressed to the peak of the Spirit Martial Realm.
• Shen Qingyun killed three martial artists who challenged him, then ordered the gathered cultivators to find Gu Sheng and Situ Qingfeng and bring back their heads.
• Gu Sheng followed the Innate Spirit Embryo to a gorge, killed a poison-wielding cultivator, and collected a Three-Colored Ganoderma.
• Shen Qingyun exposed independent cultivators hiding in a marsh and had them thrown into a poisonous bog before ordering his followers to resume the search.
• Gu Sheng encountered a cloaked woman with a Treasure Seeking Mouse near a cave, but left without confronting her.
• Following the Innate Spirit Embryo's guidance, Gu Sheng found an unfamiliar spirit herb with three crystal-clear fruits, which the Spirit Embryo identified as a treasure nourished by a fallen Shapeshifting Great Demon.

Gu Sheng defeated a Giant Ape, refined a spirit herb to break through to the Fifth Layer of Body Tempering, and slaughtered Shen Qingyun’s pursuers in the secret realm. After Shen Qingyun confronted him, he struck Gu Sheng with saber qi that seemed to cross the distance between them, leaving Gu Sheng wounded and facing certain death.

• Gu Sheng killed the Giant Ape guarding a fifth-grade spirit herb, absorbed its corpse into the Nine Dragon Universe Cauldron, and refined the herb to reach the Fifth Layer of Body Tempering.
• Gu Sheng ambushed and killed the compass-holder and most of a tracking party sent by Shen Qingyun, then destroyed their compass.
• Following the Innate Spirit Embryo’s guidance, Gu Sheng reached an ancient illusion formation, where a poisoned dart and another tracking squad revealed a trap.
• Gu Sheng and his Spirit Embryo Incarnation massacred the attackers with the Nirvana Three Profound Transformations and the Gale Seven Kill Sword, but the technique’s backlash left Gu Sheng weakened.
• Shen Qingyun arrived after the battle and sensed two cycles of true energy within Gu Sheng, then wounded his shoulder with saber qi that appeared to cross the space between them.

Gu Sheng survived Shen Qingyun’s attack with help from Qin Yurou, then gathered spirit herbs and advanced to the peak of the Yellow Martial Realm. Qin Yurou warned him that Shen Qingyun had allied with seven factions and sent more than three hundred martial artists to hunt him through the secret realm.

• Shen Qingyun overwhelmed Gu Sheng in a duel and was about to kill him with Blood Flame Burning Heaven when Qin Yurou intervened with her Treasure Seeking Mouse.
• Qin Yurou explained her ties to Shen Qingtian and said Shen Qingyun was recruiting the Lu Family to strengthen his position in the Sacred Academy’s Inner Court competition.
• Gu Sheng and Qin Yurou searched the secret realm for spirit herbs, with Qin Yurou repeatedly reaching treasures first while leaving Gu Sheng some lesser herbs.
• Gu Sheng used the herbs to reach the peak of the Yellow Martial Realm, nearing a breakthrough to the Black Tortoise Realm.
• Qin Yurou told Gu Sheng that Shen Qingyun had joined seven factions, including the Great Desolation Alliance and the Iron Sword Sect, and gathered over three hundred martial artists to search for him.

Gu Sheng disguised himself to evade Shen Qingyun's search, then rescued the poisoned Xiao Mengdie by killing the Sun Moon Sect martial artists pursuing her. Xiao Mengdie recovered enough to leave but rejected the temptation to steal Gu Sheng's pills, and he called out to her as she turned away.

• Qin Yurou told Gu Sheng that Shen Qingyun had offered a favor to anyone who killed him, then left the secret realm early to help Shen Qingtian.
• Gu Sheng donned a disguise mask, gathered treasures along remote paths, and headed toward the northern mountains after sensing an opportunity there.
• Gu Sheng intervened when Xiao Mengdie collapsed while fleeing Sun Moon Sect martial artists, killing her pursuers with the Light Shadow Splitting Sword and the Nirvana Three Profound Transformations.
• Gu Sheng gave Xiao Mengdie pills to suppress her poison, and the deaths of thirteen Sun Moon Sect disciples set off their soul lamps at headquarters.
• Xiao Mengdie woke, considered stealing Gu Sheng's pills, then stopped herself, bowed to him, and turned to leave as Gu Sheng spoke behind her.

Gu Sheng helped the injured Xiao Mengdie and arranged for her to spread his challenge to Shen Qingyun, while she gave him the coordinates of the Bronze Great Hall. At the hall, Gu Sheng reunited with Situ Qingfeng, learned how the Lu Family had betrayed Situ’s mother, and joined him in approaching her sealed resting place despite its deadly pressure.

• Gu Sheng gave Xiao Mengdie a Fourth-grade Purple Sun Blood Generating Pill and asked her to spread his challenge to Shen Qingyun in Mist Dragon Valley; she also revealed the Bronze Great Hall’s location.
• After Xiao Mengdie left, Gu Sheng chose to confront Shen Qingyun before exploring the hall, and the challenge drew Shen Qingyun and hundreds of martial artists toward Mist Dragon Valley.
• Gu Sheng found the Bronze Great Hall and met Situ Qingfeng, who explained that the hall was his mother’s burial place and that the Lu Family had betrayed her to the Great Desolation Sacred Academy.
• Situ Qingfeng told Gu Sheng that his mother had sealed the secret realm after being ambushed, and that the Lu Family had stolen her wing and essence blood.
• Gu Sheng accompanied Situ Qingfeng to a concealed entrance and struggled against the hall’s Venerable Realm pressure as they approached the doors.

Gu Sheng and Situ Qingfeng tried to claim Situ Qingfeng’s mother’s inheritance as Great Desolation Sacred Academy forces closed in. After Gu Sheng killed Zhao Menglong, the enemy surrounded them, and Gu Sheng began preparing a secret art while Situ Qingfeng fought to buy him time.

• Gu Sheng failed to overcome the hall’s pressure until he and Situ Qingfeng used Situ Qingfeng’s blood and his mother’s jade pendant to weaken it.
• Shen Qingyun led several hundred martial artists into the hall and accused Gu Sheng of tricking him at Lost Dragon Valley.
• Gu Sheng defeated Zhao Menglong, broke his arms, and killed him with a punch to the head.
• Shen Qingyun killed three fleeing fighters and ordered the rest to attack Gu Sheng and Situ Qingfeng.
• Situ Qingfeng activated his Heavenly Demon Transformation and fought the attackers while Gu Sheng formed hand seals and summoned golden flames shaped like swords.
• Shen Qingyun recognized Gu Sheng’s secret art and ordered his forces to stop him.

Gu Sheng survived Shen Qingyun’s attack with the Nine Dragon Universe Cauldron, wounded Shen Qingyun, and witnessed Situ Qingfeng reunite briefly with his mother’s remnant soul. After she vanished, Gu Sheng and Situ Qingfeng entered the hall to seek the Venerable One’s inheritance, where a woman’s figure began to form.

• Gu Sheng used the North Star Immortal Slaying Sword to save Situ Qingfeng, then faced Shen Qingyun while badly injured.
• Shen Qingyun summoned four Heavenly Martial Incarnations and attacked Gu Sheng, but the Nine Dragon Universe Cauldron absorbed their strike and restored Gu Sheng’s arm.
• Gu Sheng broke through the secret realm’s suppression, severed Shen Qingyun’s arm, and forced him to flee after Shen Qingyun released a Source of Annihilation.
• Situ Qingfeng’s mother’s remnant soul stopped the orb from exploding, thanked Gu Sheng, and urged them to enter the hall before she disappeared.
• The Venerable One’s Dao aura opened a passage, and Situ Qingfeng received his mother’s final tear as Gu Sheng’s cultivation advanced toward the Black Tortoise Realm.
• Gu Sheng and Situ Qingfeng entered the great hall, where a woman’s figure began to gather into form.

Gu Sheng accepted Situ Qingfeng’s mother’s inheritance and refined a drop of her Golden Winged Great Peng blood essence as the secret realm collapsed. Ye Jianjia emerged outside without finding him, while Shen Qingyun vowed revenge for his severed arm and suspected Gu Sheng had survived.

• Situ Qingfeng’s mother thanked Gu Sheng, gave him three drops of Natal Blood Essence, and shared a map to a secret realm containing a Golden Winged Great Peng corpse in exchange for his promise to protect Qingfeng.
• Situ Qingfeng’s mother merged his remnant soul with the hall to complete his inheritance, while Gu Sheng began refining the blood essence amid the surging spiritual energy.
• Gu Sheng endured the first drop’s violent effects, widened and renewed his meridians, and broke through to the peak Yellow Martial Realm before the secret realm began collapsing.
• Ye Jianjia awoke in the village outside the vanished secret realm, found her true qi restored, and searched unsuccessfully for Gu Sheng.
• Shen Qingyun emerged with his right arm missing, swore to avenge Gu Sheng, and suspected that Gu Sheng had survived and gained a great opportunity.
• Ye Jianjia took comfort in Shen Qingyun’s suspicion, then hurried toward the Imperial Sect.

After Gu Sheng failed to emerge from the secret realm, Shen Qingyun recovered his severed arm and made a deal with the Xuanxu Sect to have Gu Sheng killed. The Imperial Sect prepared for Gu Sheng’s possible return, while Miss Tantai secretly sent a protector to escort him safely from the secret realm.

• Shen Qingyun left the secret realm entrance and returned to Great Desolation Sacred Academy to have his severed arm restored.
• Ye Jianjia reported Gu Sheng’s disappearance to Long Yundao, who ordered the First Elder to watch the secret realm while Ye prepared to fight the Xuanxu Sect’s chief disciple in Gu Sheng’s place.
• Shen Qingyun recovered his right arm, broke through to the fourth level of the Heavenly Martial Realm, and learned of Gu Sheng’s wager with the Xuanxu Sect.
• Shen Qingyun offered Zhao Wuji pills and ten early Earth Martial Realm disciples in exchange for Gu Sheng’s death within three months; Zhao Wuji also threatened Ye Jianjia.
• Miss Tantai dismissed fears that Gu Sheng had died, warned Shen Qingyun not to bully others outside the secret realm, and sent Shadow to protect Gu Sheng when he emerged.