Chapter Summaries

Gu Sheng, controlling Blood Jade, helped Zhao Boyang and his companions kill three evil cultivators and escape, while Xiao Beixuan struggled to locate Bai Zhi and learned that Blood Jade had gone missing. Xiao Beixuan kept the Sacrifice Array on schedule and ordered elite squads to search the eastern district and kill Blood Jade if he had betrayed them.

• Gu Sheng used Blood Jade to kill Black Bat and attack the two remaining evil cultivators, giving Zhao Boyang, Jin'er, Old Xiong, and Old Zhen a chance to counterattack.
• Zhao Boyang used a Spirit Purification Talisman to weaken one evil cultivator, then joined Gu Sheng, Old Xiong, and Old Zhen in killing the last two.
• Gu Sheng revealed his identity to Zhao Boyang and told the group to clean up the battlefield and relocate before the Boundless Sect noticed.
• Xiao Beixuan learned that Bai Zhi remained missing and that the eastern district had lost contact with Blood Jade, but he insisted the Sacrifice Array would be activated in three days.
• Xiao Beixuan ordered three elite squads led by Human King Realm experts to search the eastern district and kill Blood Jade if he had betrayed them.

Xiao Beixuan ordered his shadow guard to find Bai Zhi as he prepared to advance his sacrificial scheme. In the eastern district, Jin'er revealed overwhelming soul power, severed Gu Sheng’s control of Blood Jade, and forced him to flee; Gu Sheng then sent Shen Qingtian and Gu Yuanyuan toward Great Desolation City with the Divine Craftsman's Maze Hall.

• Xiao Beixuan ordered the shadow guard to find Bai Zhi or take her place as the primary array core, while vowing to kill him if he fled.
• Gu Sheng told Zhao Boyang, Jin'er, Old Xiong, and Old Zhen that Xiao Beixuan and Nether River Venerable planned to sacrifice a thousand martial artists to create a Soulless Shell and break the ancient seal.
• Jin'er unleashed golden soul pressure in the cave, knocked Old Xiong and Old Zhen unconscious, and used a rune to destroy Black Snake’s remnant soul and sever Gu Sheng’s control of Blood Jade.
• Gu Sheng returned to his true body, warned Gu Yuanyuan that they had been exposed, and left the abandoned palace ruins after sending an urgent message.
• Gu Sheng gave Shen Qingtian the Divine Craftsman's Maze Hall to deliver personally to Miss Tantai of the Linlang Pavilion in Great Desolation City.
• Gu Sheng ordered Gu Yuanyuan to go with Shen Qingtian to Great Desolation City and seek Miss Tantai’s protection.

Gu Sheng entered the Hall of a Thousand Souls’ core region and discovered that Xiao Beixuan and the Nether River Venerable were draining more than a thousand captured martial artists for a sacrifice array. After finding Bai Zhi among the prisoners, he unleashed the Heavenly Demon Vine on the captives, and the chapter ended as Xiao Beixuan sensed that every sacrifice had been destroyed.

• Gu Yuanyuan left the ruins with Shen Qingtian, while Gu Sheng entered the core region alone.
• Gu Sheng found over a thousand soul-imprisoned martial artists serving as fuel for the Thousand Souls Sacrifice Array and discovered Zhao Boyang, Old Xiong, Old Zhen, and Chen Zhen among them.
• Gu Sheng searched the plaza for Bai Zhi and found her protected by a faint halo and a crescent-shaped jade pendant.
• Gu Sheng sent the Heavenly Demon Vine to slaughter the captives, whose life force nourished the vine as their bodies were destroyed.
• Xiao Beixuan saw every point of light representing a sacrifice vanish from his black compass.

Xiao Beixuan discovered that the sacrifices had been destroyed and ordered the secret realm searched, while Gu Sheng fled and was intercepted by three Human King Realm experts. At the hidden cave, Jin'er revealed that she had been disguised as Chen Zhen and ordered her controlled martial artists to attack Zhao Boyang and the others.

• Xiao Beixuan learned that all the sacrifices were dead, struck his backup array core, and summoned the Boundless Sect to search for the culprit.
• Gu Sheng suppressed the ravenous Heavenly Demon Vine and fled the sacrificial plaza, but three Human King Realm squad leaders blocked his path.
• Gu Sheng avoided the core region and changed course toward the cave where Zhao Boyang's group had hidden.
• Jin'er killed Blood Jade with a golden finger strike, prompting Zhao Boyang to order Old Xiong to protect her and confront the suspicious Chen Zhen.
• Chen Zhen revealed himself as Jin'er, who admitted she had wanted to keep playing and then took control of her martial artists.
• Jin'er ordered the controlled martial artists to attack Zhao Boyang, Old Xiong, and the others in the cave.

Jin'er revealed that she was Nether River's daughter and proposed an alliance with Gu Sheng to kill Xiao Beixuan. With the secret realm sealed and escape impossible, they planned to draw Xiao Beixuan and his allies out, though Gu Sheng would need to face the powerful Xiao Beixuan himself.

• Jin'er abandoned Zhao Boyang and Old Xiong in the cave, sealing its entrance with poisonous black mist as controlled martial artists attacked them.
• Gu Sheng found Jin'er near the cave and learned she was Nether River's daughter, opposed his plan, and sought to eliminate him.
• Jin'er revealed that Xiao Beixuan's formation would consume his soul and played a communication from him reporting that Gu Sheng had destroyed over a thousand corpse puppets and the backup formation core had escaped.
• Jin'er killed the attackers in the cave and offered to ally with Gu Sheng against Nether River; Gu Sheng agreed provisionally if she killed Xiao Beixuan.
• Xiao Beixuan's forces sealed the secret realm's exit, trapping everyone inside, and Jin'er proposed letting Xiao Beixuan find them.
• Jin'er said she could hold off Xiao Beixuan's three Human King Realm guards, but Gu Sheng would need to keep Xiao Beixuan occupied.

Gu Sheng allied with Jin'er to confront Xiao Beixuan while he led Zhao Boyang and the others toward a sealed side exit. As Jin'er fought Xiao Beixuan and two Human King Realm experts, Gu Sheng reached the guarded barrier and prepared to lead the escape.

• Gu Sheng told Jin'er that he had killed Blood Jade and asked her to deal with Xiao Beixuan's remaining Human King Realm experts while he confronted Xiao Beixuan.
• Jin'er agreed, then went to the Hall of a Thousand Souls' main hall to engage Xiao Beixuan and his forces.
• Gu Sheng reached Zhao Boyang and Old Xiong, explained Jin'er's identity and the situation, and urged them to escape while she held the enemy back.
• Gu Sheng guided the wounded group through the secret realm, defeating patrols and avoiding stronger search parties as they headed for a remote exit.
• Gu Sheng found the side exit sealed and guarded by dozens of Boundless Sect disciples, and told the group to prepare to fight their way out as he handled the barrier.
• Jin'er fought Xiao Beixuan, a ghost-masked expert, and an axe-wielding expert in the main hall without losing ground.

Jin'er overwhelmed Xiao Beixuan and his retainers, then moved to stop him from escaping with a Great Teleportation Ancient Talisman. Meanwhile, Gu Sheng reached the secret realm exit and launched a powerful attack on the Boundless Sect and evil cultivators guarding it.

• Jin'er taunted Xiao Beixuan with the truth about his and her mother's exploitation, then fought him and defeated his King Realm subordinates while many onlookers were caught in the battle's devastation.
• Xiao Beixuan activated a Great Teleportation Ancient Talisman and ordered his surviving experts to gather, but Jin'er attacked him as the white light spread.
• Gu Sheng, Zhao Boyang, and their companions reached the secret realm exit, where Boundless Sect disciples and evil cultivators blocked their way.
• Gu Sheng charged the blockade with the Southern Emperor Sword, severed the blood thread an evil cultivator used to weaken Old Xiong, and sent him back to Zhao Boyang for protection.
• Gu Sheng summoned the Nine Dragon Bronze Cauldron's phantom and unleashed hundreds of crimson-gold Divine Flame Sword Qi at the enemy formation.

Gu Sheng destroyed the evil cultivators guarding the exit, and the Heavenly Demon Vine advanced after devouring them, gaining golden and crimson branches. He led the survivors through the gate, where an Aerial Restriction Array sent them plunging toward the ruins, while Shen Qingtian and Gu Yuanyuan arrived at Linlang Pavilion.

• Gu Sheng trapped the evil cultivators in Divine Flame Sword Qi, then his Heavenly Demon Vine pierced and drained the Rakshasa-transformed elder and killed the remaining attackers.
• The Heavenly Demon Vine advanced under Gu Sheng's guidance, transforming its main vine with Divine Phoenix Essence Blood and producing a golden branch and a blood-red offshoot.
• Gu Sheng tested the vines' speed and power, confirmed he still controlled them, and led Zhao Boyang, Old Xiong, and the other survivors through the black gate.
• An Aerial Restriction Array activated beyond the gate and pulled Gu Sheng's group down toward the ruined city below.
• Shen Qingtian brought Gu Yuanyuan to Linlang Pavilion in Great Desolation City's underground city and showed the guards Gu Sheng's jade token.

Shen Qingtian brought Gu Sheng’s token and Gu Yuanyuan to Linlang Pavilion, where Miss Tantai accepted Gu Sheng’s gift and agreed to care for his disciple. Gu Yuanyuan received a new outfit and a jade bracelet, and the chapter ended with her wondering about the relationship between Gu Sheng and Miss Tantai.

• Shen Qingtian presented Gu Sheng’s Divine Craftsman's Maze Hall to Miss Tantai and introduced Gu Yuanyuan as Gu Sheng’s newly accepted disciple.
• Miss Tantai examined Gu Yuanyuan, praised her foundation, accepted her as a junior, and gave her a jade bracelet.
• Miss Tantai rewarded Shen Qingtian with access to the Spirit Nurturing Quiet Room before Shen Qingtian left the chamber.
• Miss Tantai sent Gu Yuanyuan to bathe in the Jade Marrow Spiritual Spring and had Skilled Granny Zhang dress and groom her.
• Miss Tantai returned to see Gu Yuanyuan in her new clothes and encouraged her to call her Mistress.
• Gu Yuanyuan felt more at ease with Miss Tantai but wondered whether her relationship with Gu Sheng was more complicated than an ordinary master-disciple bond.

Gu Sheng waited for Jin'er to emerge from the Hall of a Thousand Souls' secret realm, then agreed to join forces with her against Nether River after she presented the heads of two King Realm cultivators. He returned to Great Desolation City to settle old matters, but several powerful auras ambushed him as he stepped out of the teleportation array.

• Gu Yuanyuan asked Miss Tantai about her master, and Miss Tantai warned her that following him would mean facing a dangerous path.
• Gu Sheng and Zhao Boyang watched the black gate until Jin'er emerged with more than a dozen heads, though Xiao Beixuan had escaped.
• Jin'er explained that Nether River's hidden power had helped Xiao Beixuan flee, and she proposed that she and Gu Sheng join forces against Nether River.
• Gu Sheng agreed to meet Jin'er in the Central Continent within half a year, then placed a soul imprint on her as a safeguard for their cooperation.
• Gu Sheng led Zhao Boyang and the others back to Great Desolation City, then teleported to the main district to visit Linlang Pavilion.
• Several mid-stage Grandmaster Realm auras locked onto Gu Sheng as he exited the teleportation array.

Gu Sheng returned to Linlang Pavilion, where Shadow rejoined him after recovering from his injuries and reaching the King Realm. After checking on Gu Yuanyuan, Gu Sheng went underground to discuss the Divine Craftsman's Maze Hall with Miss Tantai and learned that Tantai Bing Tang had tried to claim it; he then activated the hall, leaving its fate unresolved.

• Three masked late-stage Grandmasters tried to abduct Gu Sheng near Linlang Pavilion, but Shadow appeared and severed their leader's arm with a single strike.
• Shadow told Gu Sheng that he had recovered in Medicine King Valley and advanced to the King Realm, then accompanied him into Linlang Pavilion.
• Gu Sheng found Gu Yuanyuan cultivating and confirmed that her foundation was solid and she was close to breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm.
• Gu Sheng told Gu Yuanyuan he would protect her breakthrough and planned to refine a Merit-Dispelling Pill so she could switch to a new technique.
• Miss Tantai told Gu Sheng that Tantai Bing Tang had tried to claim the Divine Craftsman's Maze Hall and left a warning that was also a provocation.
• Gu Sheng communicated with Yue Shen Gong and pointed toward the Divine Craftsman's Maze Hall, which erupted with dazzling light.

Gu Sheng brought the gravely injured Bai Zhi to Linlang Pavilion, where Miss Tantai removed the Evil Spirit Bind Lock and stabilized her. At the Great Desolation Sacred Academy, Gu Sheng told Bai Yu how Xiao Beixuan had used Bai Zhi in Nether River Venerable’s sacrifice plot, then exposed Xia Furong as a suspected spy; Xia Furong’s surprise turned to concealed killing intent.

• Miss Tantai removed the Evil Spirit Bind Lock from Bai Zhi and agreed to care for her while Gu Sheng traveled to the Great Desolation Sacred Academy with Shadow.
• Gu Sheng entered the Sacred Domain, where disciples warned him that someone from the Profound Gate was acting abnormally.
• Qin Yurou told Gu Sheng that Xiao Beixuan had placed a one-million-High-grade-Spirit-Stone bounty on him and that Shen Qingyun had broken through to the Sect Realm but had become cold and changed.
• Gu Sheng told Bai Yu that Bai Zhi was alive and recovering at Linlang Pavilion, and Bai Yu thanked him with two Glass Hearts.
• Gu Sheng revealed that Xiao Beixuan had abducted Bai Zhi to serve as the core of the Thousand Souls Sacrifice Array, intended to help Nether River Venerable escape his seal.
• Gu Sheng accused Xia Furong of spying for Boundless Sect and pointed to the Nether River Death Qi on her; Xia Furong’s feigned innocence gave way to shock and killing intent.

Gu Sheng agreed to work with Xia Furong against Xiao Beixuan and planned to challenge him in the Life-and-Death Arena. Xia Furong offered to rescue Situ Qingfeng in exchange for a Nine-Colored Miasma-Breaking Pill, and Gu Sheng left to find that unseen trackers were following him.

• Xia Furong revealed that she had ties to the Boundless Sect and wanted Xiao Beixuan dead, then proposed joining forces with Gu Sheng.
• Gu Sheng rejected Xia Furong's month-long scheme and chose to kill Xiao Beixuan openly in the Life-and-Death Arena.
• Gu Sheng inferred that Spirit Emperor Ye Qinglan was guarding the place where the Nether River Venerable had been suppressed, and Bai Yu's silence confirmed his suspicion.
• Xia Furong told Gu Sheng that Situ Qingfeng was trapped in a Boundless Sect secret realm and offered to lead a rescue in exchange for a Nine-Colored Miasma-Breaking Pill.
• Gu Sheng accepted the deal and agreed to meet Xia Furong at Linlang Pavilion at dawn, then sensed multiple malicious trackers following him as he headed toward the teleportation array.

Gu Sheng learned that Xiao Beixuan had placed a one-million-High-grade-Spirit-Stone bounty on him and arranged for Gu Ningshuang to hide in Medicine King Valley with Shen Qingtian. Shen Qingtian then revealed that the three Sect Realm assassins who had attacked Gu Sheng were not sent by Xiao Beixuan.

• Gu Sheng collided with Sacred Academy core disciple Xiao Mengling and sensed unusual physical strength and wariness in her.
• Xiao Mengling returned to her master, who revealed that Dream Guidance had shown her Gu Sheng and ordered her to join Xia Furong's expedition to retrieve a Mountain River Society Diagram fragment from a secret realm.
• Gu Sheng went to Shen Qingtian's residence and asked her to protect Gu Ningshuang because Xiao Beixuan had placed a bounty on his life.
• Shen Qingtian agreed to take Gu Ningshuang to Medicine King Valley, and Gu Sheng gave her the Spirit Nurturing Quiet Room jade token.
• In private, Shen Qingtian told Gu Sheng that the three Sect Realm assassins who ambushed him had not been sent by Xiao Beixuan.

Gu Sheng arranged for Gu Ningshuang, Qin Yurou, and Shen Qingtian to leave Great Desolation City for the Central Continent while he faced the dangers gathering around him. He also agreed to enter a secret realm with Xia Furong to rescue Situ Qingfeng, and ended the chapter preparing to leave.

• Gu Sheng identified Ye Changling's father as a likely force behind the assassins and decided to send Gu Ningshuang and Qin Yurou to the Central Continent with Shen Qingtian.
• Gu Sheng reassured his sister and Qin Yurou that Linlang Pavilion would protect them, and Shen Qingtian agreed to depart with them the next morning.
• Miss Tantai thanked Gu Sheng for the blood-colored vine and ordered Shadow to escort Shen Qingtian's group to the teleportation array.
• Situ Qingyue arrived at Linlang Pavilion, explaining that Xia Furong had directed her to Gu Sheng, who promised to rescue her brother, Situ Qingfeng.
• Miss Tantai arranged for Situ Qingyue to stay at Linlang Pavilion and informed her Central Continent contacts about receiving Gu Sheng's companions and the rescued siblings.
• Gu Sheng prepared to accompany Xia Furong to the secret realm the next day, while Miss Tantai warned him not to trust her completely.

Gu Sheng heard Nangong Qingyue’s plea to investigate the Great Desolation Sacred Academy member who destroyed her family and agreed to consider the matter while keeping her safe at Linlang Pavilion. He then began preparing to change Gu Yuanyuan’s cultivation method before entering the secret realm, leaving her memorizing the Primordial Unity Qi Scripture.

• Nangong Qingyue told Gu Sheng that a powerful enemy in the Great Desolation Sacred Academy had annihilated her family and offered her family’s hidden-vault treasures in exchange for his help.
• Gu Sheng accepted Nangong Qingyue’s jade vial of the enemy’s aura, sent the Cosmos Wooden Box to be inventoried, and told her to wait safely at Linlang Pavilion without acting rashly.
• Gu Sheng found Gu Yuanyuan close to the Grandmaster Realm and decided to change her cultivation method that night rather than wait until after his urgent business the next day.
• Gu Yuanyuan called Miss Tantai “Master’s wife,” embarrassing her, and Gu Sheng warned Gu Yuanyuan not to scheme against her own people.
• Gu Sheng ordered Shadow to fetch ingredients for a Merit-Dispelling Pill and gave Gu Yuanyuan a jade talisman containing the first four volumes of the Primordial Unity Qi Scripture to memorize.

Gu Sheng completed a Nine-Pattern Merit-Dispelling Pill and guided Gu Yuanyuan through dispersing her old cultivation before rebuilding it with the Primordial Unity Qi Scripture. After her Primordial Spirit Body rapidly restored her to the peak of the Spirit Martial Realm, Gu Sheng strengthened her further with the Ice Soul Pearl and Glass Heart; meanwhile, Tantai Bing Tang asked Miss Tantai to help find Nether River Venerable’s daughter in exchange for revealing the location of an item.

• Gu Sheng refined a Nine-Pattern Merit-Dispelling Pill while Gu Yuanyuan began resonating with the Primordial Unity Qi Scripture as she memorized it.
• Outside Linlang Pavilion, Tantai Bing Tang revealed that Nether River Venerable had planted agents and that his daughter might be a key to an ancient treasury and his plan to break his seal.
• Tantai Bing Tang asked Miss Tantai to use Linlang Pavilion’s intelligence network to find the daughter, offering to reveal the location of an item in return.
• Gu Yuanyuan swallowed the pill and, following Gu Sheng’s instructions, dispersed all her accumulated cultivation despite intense pain.
• Gu Sheng gave Gu Yuanyuan the Ice Soul Pearl as she began cultivating the Primordial Unity Qi Scripture, and her Primordial Spirit Body rapidly rebuilt her strength to the peak of the Spirit Martial Realm.
• Gu Sheng gave Gu Yuanyuan the Glass Heart, whose energy further nourished and strengthened her newly rebuilt body.

Gu Sheng and Miss Tantai were ambushed by Ye Hanguang, who sought revenge for his son Ye Changling. As Ye Hanguang’s Earth Splitting Slash threatened them, a mysterious woman’s voice and an ice-blue sword halted his attack.

• Gu Sheng helped Gu Yuanyuan break through to the first level of the Grandmaster Realm, then told her to stabilize her cultivation and study ancient secret arts.
• Shadow reported the contents of Nangong Qingyue’s Cosmos Wooden Box, and Gu Sheng accepted her commission to investigate her enemy.
• Gu Sheng asked Miss Tantai to take Gu Yuanyuan and Qing Xuan out for experience, then teased her about being called his wife.
• Masked attackers launched poisoned needles at Gu Sheng and Miss Tantai, and Shadow killed one before discovering the ambush’s leader was Ye Hanguang, an Earth King Realm expert.
• Ye Hanguang trapped Gu Sheng with Earth Binding and attacked, while Miss Tantai shielded him with her spiritual power and jade talismans.
• As Ye Hanguang’s Earth Splitting Slash descended and Miss Tantai prepared to protect Gu Sheng with her body, a woman’s voice rang out and an ice-blue sword struck the axe.

Tantai Bing Tang arrived in the Earthly City and killed Ye Hanguang after revealing power far beyond the King Realm, saving Gu Sheng, Xue Li, and Ying. After reuniting with her sister, she prepared to leave with the injured Xue Li, while Gu Sheng asked to speak privately about the mysterious object and their earlier conversation.

• Tantai Bing Tang attacked Ye Hanguang, while the Academy Head ordered Sacred Academy elders not to interfere and declared the conflict a private grudge.
• Ye Hanguang summoned the Sea Overturning Divine Seal, but Tantai Bing Tang restrained him with an unknown force and sliced him into pieces.
• Miss Tantai embraced her sister, and Tantai Bing Tang comforted her before scolding her for her weak cultivation and recklessness.
• Gu Sheng thanked Tantai Bing Tang for saving them, and she said she had only come to save her sister.
• Tantai Bing Tang urged the group to leave because Xue Li was badly injured, and Gu Sheng asked to speak with her privately about Ye Hanguang's words and her earlier conversation with Xue Li.

Tantai Bing Tang confronted Gu Sheng about his knowledge of Nether River Venerable’s bloodline and the Glass Heart, then revealed why she had returned to save Xue Li and how Xia Wuyou had secretly protected Gu Sheng. She also disclosed that Jin’er might be descended from the ancient Blood Demon clan, leaving Gu Sheng shocked by the revelation.

• Tantai Bing Tang took Gu Sheng to her room and confirmed she had learned the incomplete Thousand Silk Soul Severing art from an ancient Divine Silkworm Sect ruin.
• Tantai Bing Tang offered to trade information about Nether River’s bloodline and the Glass Heart for Gu Sheng’s secrets, but he refused, and she warned him not to harm Xue Li.
• Tantai Bing Tang explained that the Twin Primordial Yin Beads alerted her to Xue Li’s danger and that Xia Wuyou had secretly watched over and protected Gu Sheng in Boundless Ancient City.
• Tantai Bing Tang revealed that Xia Wuyou was a peak Seventh-Turn Venerable, a Dao Protector punished by the Tantai Family and sent to the Eastern Desolation to reflect and redeem himself.
• Tantai Bing Tang said Jin’er was likely an ancient Blood Demon descendant, and Gu Sheng reacted with shock.