Chapter Summaries

Ding Songyan investigated signs of a mind-influencing threat, received Yan Changqing’s instructions to bring a dagger to the Zhen Estate, and discovered that his brother Ding Daniu had transformed into a strange beastlike being. The chapter ended with Ding Songyan seeing Ding Daniu’s hooves, bristles, and black-scaled tail.

• Ding Songyan asked Xu Chang'an to gather news at Stone Pool Martial Hall, then realized that an unseen influence had suppressed his memories.
• Xiaoqing told Ding Songyan that she had repelled an ambusher and identified his copper coin as an Yin-Yang Coin that could attract unclean things.
• Ding Songyan helped Ding Daniu get leave from work, and Yan Changqing told him to bring a sharp dagger to the Zhen Estate the next day.
• Xu Chang'an reported no news from the martial hall, and Ding Daniu returned home refreshed after spending one tael and five qian on seven companions.
• Ding Songyan saw a black-scaled serpent tail at Ding Daniu’s cuff and used the seed in his eyes to reveal his brother’s beastlike body.

Ding Songyan used Qingmengmeng’s Seed to see the hidden abnormalities of his family and began piecing together their connection to the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas and Yan Changqing’s old friend. After completing the Legend of the White Snake for Xiaoqing, he learned she would meet the Zhen Estate at a banquet the next day, while Ding Shengyi and Liu Yuzao discussed their sect’s plans for him and Xiaoyan.

• Ding Songyan saw blood-scaled feelers on Ding Shengyi and reasoned that his father and Ding Daniu were martial artists whose abnormalities had been concealed.
• Ding Songyan found a Shuhu description in the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas that matched Ding Daniu, then wondered whether his mother and Ding Qingyan had concealed things from him.
• Ding Songyan finished the Legend of the White Snake, and Xiaoqing told him the Zhen Estate’s banquet would take place the next afternoon.
• Ding Songyan told Xiaoqing that someone had made him buy a dagger after the hour of the Monkey, and she concluded the purchase was connected to the invitation.
• After Ding Songyan left with Xiaoqing, Ding Shengyi told Liu Yuzao that he had noticed their secret, and Liu Yuzao said Xiaoyan was not her daughter but a special person the sect master had sought out.

Ding Songyan walked with Xiaoqing and used a self-deception technique to loosen the restrictions on his thoughts, while Xiaoqing's Second Uncle killed a figure escaping through a window. After Xiaoqing invited Ding Songyan to consider joining a sect in the Gan Kingdom, he returned to Chengyu Lane and was approached by Zheng Zhuxi of the Xiaoming Sect.

• Ding Songyan warned Xiaoqing that the Zhen Estate banquet might bring trouble and that people from the government or Xiaoming Sect were watching him.
• Xiaoqing offered to help Ding Songyan with his troubles, but he could not explain what prevented him from speaking freely.
• Ding Songyan used a passage from Yan Changqing's secret art to deceive himself into believing he was merely discussing possibilities, then told Xiaoqing there might be another explanation.
• Xiaoqing's Second Uncle killed a sword-wielding figure who escaped from a house and destroyed the moth species that emerged from the body.
• Xiaoqing offered to help Ding Songyan find a sect in the Gan Kingdom, and he asked to give her his answer the next evening.
• Ding Songyan returned toward Chengyu Lane, where Zheng Zhuxi of the Xiaoming Sect approached him and said she had questions.

Ding Songyan spoke with Zheng Zhuxi about the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas and the forces following him, while discovering that her candlelit sword intent could weaken the restrictions on what he could say. Zheng Zhuxi’s account of the vanished Kunlun Mountain and the Celestial Emperor’s Palace led Ding Songyan to suspect Yan Changqing had obtained the classic there.

• Ding Songyan told Zheng Zhuxi that Wang Yishu had identified the item he traded with Chen Yuliang as the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas, and said he feared the Zhen Estate intended to harm him.
• Ding Songyan confirmed that the Moth God Sect was following him but could not explain how he had learned this, while Zheng Zhuxi noticed contradictions in his answers.
• Zheng Zhuxi gave Ding Songyan a strand of sword intent that would remain in his Middle Dantian for three days and could block one attempt to control him.
• Ding Songyan asked Zheng Zhuxi where a nearly complete Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas might come from, and she suggested either a powerful hidden organization or the Celestial Emperor’s Palace on vanished Kunlun Mountain.
• Ding Songyan concluded that Yan Changqing might have obtained the classic at the Celestial Emperor’s Palace, while he wondered how the Zhen Estate had acquired or released it.

As Ding Songyan prepared for a possible attack by the Zhen Estate, he tried to reassure his family and arranged for Xu Chang'an to report his disappearance. At the estate, seeing his mother arrive triggered the return of memories he had mysteriously forgotten: his father controlled the Mothmen, and Ding Daniu was a formidable martial artist with something abnormal about him.

• Zheng Zhuxi decided to report the danger to the local yamen and send a carrier pigeon to the Xiaoming Sect, despite Wu Feng's preference to keep the matter secret.
• Ding Qingyan told Ding Songyan about nightmares in which their family died or abandoned her, and Ding Songyan swore he would not leave her behind.
• Ding Songyan asked Xu Chang'an to report to the County Yamen if he was missing from home at four, then finished telling the Legend of the White Snake and received offers to perform and sell his script.
• Ding Songyan waited outside the Zhen Estate for Xiaoqing and Ren Youyang, hoping they would notice him if trouble began.
• Liu Yuzao arrived at the Zhen Estate to visit Cousin Nuansheng, and Ding Songyan suddenly remembered that Ding Shengyi controlled the Mothmen and Ding Daniu was an abnormal martial artist.
• Ding Songyan realized that his earlier questions about whether his family members were real had become a prophecy.

Ding Songyan pieced together how Ding Shengyi and Yan Changqing’s old friend had used the Ding Family to reach Yan Changqing, while remaining puzzled about Ding Qingyan’s role. At the Zhen Estate, he learned that Xiaoqing was Su Qingli of the Celestial Maiden Sect, though her apparent ability to transform left him wondering whether Ren Youyang’s explanation was complete.

• Ding Songyan concluded that the Ding Family had staged provocations and a trade to draw Old Master Zhen away, while his own survival had disrupted their plans.
• Ding Songyan watched Su Qingli enter the Zhen Estate with her Second Uncle, Su Chongxiao, and noticed she had dressed for possible trouble.
• Ren Youyang arrived, recognized Ding Songyan, and told him that the woman who had entered was Su Qingli, sister of Su Yunzhang and a member of the Celestial Maiden Sect.
• Ren Youyang explained that the sect’s Myriad Transformations All-Beguiling Demonic Art could account for Su Qingli’s transformation, but wondered how she had used it before completing her training.
• Ding Songyan recalled seeing white tails near Dangkang Temple and questioned whether an elder had helped Su Qingli, then watched Ren Youyang enter the Zhen Estate.

Ding Songyan weighed the competing plans surrounding Yan Changqing’s escape while the Zhen Estate hosted guests from the True Spirit Sect and the Celestial Maiden Sect to negotiate over a Huai Fruit. As Zheng Zhuxi and Tao Wenshu watched the estate, disguised Small Boat Gang agents slipped inside, and Yan Changqing confirmed that the gang would attack.

• Ding Songyan concluded that the Small Boat Gang’s attack could benefit Yan Changqing, Zhen Qianfan, the Ding Family, and himself, then followed Yu Wanxiong into the Zhen Estate.
• Zheng Zhuxi returned to Linjiang City and joined Tao Wenshu at a watchtower, where she learned that Prefect Lin and County Lieutenant Yi were also monitoring the estate.
• Zhen Qianfan showed Su Chongxiao, Su Qingli, and Ren Youyang a genuine Huai Fruit and said he wanted a promise in exchange for it.
• Ding Songyan spoke with Yan Changqing through the seed, learned the Zhen Estate had used the Huai Fruit to attract the sects, and heard Yan predict that the Small Boat Gang would attack that day.
• Two disguised Small Boat Gang agents manipulated a Zhen Estate servant into abandoning his task and crept toward Riverwave Hall.

Ma Hanjiang and a Subtlety Martial Grandmaster prepared to attack the Zhen Estate while Tao Wenshu learned that three members of the Ding Family were wanted evil practitioners and urged the authorities to delay a crisis until reinforcements arrived. Inside Riverwave Hall, Zhen Qianfan sought a promise of protection, but Meng Qingze’s murderous impulses drove him to attack Qin Li.

• Ma Hanjiang and his companion hid near Riverwave Hall, where the companion’s bloodlust stirred Ma Hanjiang’s resentment toward the Four Waters Gang and the Zhen Family.
• A constable told Tao Wenshu that the Martial Prohibition Bureau had identified Ding Shengyi, Ding Daniu, and Liu Yuzao as Qiu Chen, Li Zhi, and Qi Xiaoxiang, three dangerous figures on the Nine Hells Ranking.
• Tao Wenshu ordered Prefect Lin to visit the Zhen Family and delay events, then explained to Zheng Zhuxi why officials were prioritizing the threat involving Kunlun over protecting Second Brother Ding.
• Tao Wenshu told Zheng Zhuxi that reinforcements, including the Yi Family head, the Chongwu Sect’s Gold-and-Silver Twin Swords, and Senior Tian, were on their way.
• Zhen Qianfan asked the Celestial Maiden Sect and True Spirit Sect to promise help if the Zhen Estate faced danger within three days, and Meng Qingze abruptly struck Qin Li with an eerie-green palm.

Chaos erupted in Riverwave Hall as Su Chongxiao fought Zhen Qianfan while Dai Shen and Ma Hanjiang joined the violence at the Zhen Estate. Qi Xiaoxiang’s signal fireworks triggered coordinated attacks elsewhere in Dingjiang Prefecture, and the uprising spread to the County Yamen and the Dock.

• Meng Qingze struck Qin Li with a palm, while Su Chongxiao incapacitated one of Ren Youyang’s Guards with his Autumn Lethargy Path and Celestial Maiden Formless Whip.
• Zhen Quanwang attacked Zhen Qianfan, who repelled him and then fought Su Chongxiao with powerful water-like martial arts.
• Dai Shen tried to kill Zhen Qianfan, but Zhen Qianfan’s water force drove him back as Ma Hanjiang pursued the fleeing Zhen Quanwang.
• Su Qingli escaped Riverwave Hall and helped Ren Youyang flee across the roof, while Qi Xiaoxiang instructed Qin Nuangsheng to escape and sent up three signal fireworks.
• The fireworks triggered attacks by Constables at the County Yamen, and Ding Daniu struck the Dock Foreman.

Li Zhi, Qi Xiaoxiang, and their allies set fires and launch attacks across Dingjiang Prefecture while Lin Hansheng confronts Dai Shen at the Zhen Estate. As Ding Songyan reaches Yan Changqing in the secret prison, Ding Qingyan arrives to rescue her master, and Tao Wenshu suspects the Heavenly Heart Wisdom Scripture is behind the strange behavior.

• Li Zhi killed the disguised constable, blew up the cargo depot, and narrowly dodged Yi Qincang's fire arrows.
• Lin Hansheng attacked Dai Shen with the Cloud-and-Mist Transformation, but Dai Shen countered with a wave of gathered martial techniques.
• Qi Xiaoxiang set buildings across the Zhen Estate ablaze and killed guards who tried to stop her.
• Zheng Zhuxi spotted a pale figure near Zhen Qianfan's residence while Tao Wenshu waited for the one behind the chaos to appear.
• Ding Songyan followed Yan Changqing's instructions, knocked out two Zhen Estate disciples, and discovered Yan Changqing had no arms or legs.
• Ding Qingyan entered the secret prison and declared that she had come to rescue Yan Changqing, while Tao Wenshu identified the Heavenly Heart Wisdom Scripture as the likeliest cause of the strange behavior.

Ding Songyan learned that Ding Qingyan was Ji Hanyi, Yan Changqing’s ruthless former disciple, and agreed to help Yan escape by attacking her. Their clash unleashed a whirlwind that shattered the building, while Tao Wenshu drew her sword from the watchtower.

• Ji Hanyi revealed herself to Yan Changqing and explained that she had been watching him and arranging events to learn what he knew.
• Yan Changqing told Ding Songyan that Ji Hanyi had planted a heavenly heart imprint in his mind, then restored his qi and urged him to help escape.
• Yan Changqing offered Ji Hanyi Dijiang’s remains and other treasures from the Celestial Emperor’s Palace in exchange for rescuing him.
• Ji Hanyi explained how she had tracked Yan Changqing through the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas, and Yan Changqing ordered Ding Songyan to attack.
• Ding Songyan struck Ji Hanyi with the power of the heavenly heart, but she met his palm, and their clash shattered the building in a massive whirlwind.
• Tao Wenshu drew her sword atop the tallest watchtower.

Ding Songyan fled the battle at the Zhen Estate with Yan Changqing and tried to protect Su Qingli and her companions from Ma Hanjiang. Ren Youyang was killed by Ma Hanjiang, but then revived through the Useless Divine Art, leaving Ding Songyan to discover how the art truly worked.

• Tao Wenshu attacked Ji Hanyi as Yan Changqing darkened the Zhen Estate, allowing Ding Songyan to carry him away while Qi Xiaoxiang disguised herself and escaped.
• Ma Hanjiang struck Ding Songyan, but Yan Changqing's Qi protected him and sent him crashing into the building where Su Qingli and Ren Youyang were hiding.
• After Su Qingli's Grand Void Illusion failed, Ding Songyan offered to draw Ma Hanjiang away, but Ren Youyang stepped outside to face the Martial Grandmaster instead.
• Ma Hanjiang killed Ren Youyang with a punch, and Su Qingli explained that the Useless Divine Art was useless in life but divine in death.
• Ren Youyang revived as ghostly green and golden light repaired his body, then warned Ma Hanjiang not to hit his face.

Ding Songyan escaped with Yan Changqing, then realized Yan was manipulating him and attacked him while trying to remove the Strange Object. As Ji Hanyi fled Tao Wenshu, Ding Songyan exploited Yan’s concern about the Hundun Remains to weaken his control of qi and push the dagger deeper toward his head.

• Su Qingli explained that Ren Youyang’s Useless Divine Art strengthened him through death, while Yan Changqing warned her that its practitioners attracted deadly tribulations.
• Ren Youyang caught Ma Hanjiang’s punch, froze him with a palm strike, and slashed at his divine soul with a golden sword.
• Yan Changqing told Ding Songyan to flee with him and remove the Strange Object; Ding cut open Yan’s abdomen and found a yellow object embedded in its dark stomach.
• Ding Songyan used Zheng Zhuxi’s sword intent to break free of Yan’s control and stabbed at his eye, but Yan resisted with qi as Ji Hanyi escaped Tao Wenshu amid lightning and rain.
• Ding Songyan taunted Yan about the Hundun Remains and his plan to regain his strength, causing Yan’s qi barrier to loosen and letting the dagger sink deeper.

Tao Wenshu searched for Ji Hanyi and the others while the city’s defenders tried to contain the fiends, and Li Zhi fought to keep the eastern gate open. In the Zhen Estate, Ding Songyan exploited Yan Changqing’s doubts about the Hundun Remains and killed him, leaving the larger conflict unresolved.

• Tao Wenshu realized that Yan Changqing’s Celestial Person power had let Ji Hanyi escape her control and worried that the unexpected events had disrupted their plans.
• Li Zhi evaded Yi Qincang’s arrows, realized the authorities were closing the gates, and used two dead horses to prevent them from shutting the eastern barbican.
• Ding Songyan deduced that Yan Changqing had been slowly digesting the Hundun Remains and had arranged to use him to remove the excess substance.
• Ding Songyan threatened to eat the Hundun Remains and questioned how Yan Changqing had found Kunlun and entered the Celestial Emperor’s Palace.
• Yan Changqing’s invisible-qi barrier collapsed, allowing Ding Songyan to stab him through the eye and kill him.

Ding Songyan killed Yan Changqing and tried to claim the Hundun Remains, but Ji Hanyi arrived and used her heavenly heart imprint to control what he could do. After revealing she knew Ding Songyan had once returned from death, Ji Hanyi left him alive for now, while a hidden piece of the Hundun Remains remained inside an Obsidian Pillar.

• Ding Songyan stabbed Yan Changqing again to ensure he was dead, then cut off a small portion of the Hundun Remains.
• Ji Hanyi arrived before Ding Songyan could eat the remains and explained how she and Zhen Qianfan had used him to expose Yan Changqing's weakness.
• Ding Songyan secretly hid his portion of the Hundun Remains inside an Obsidian Pillar while Ji Hanyi spoke to Yan Changqing's corpse.
• Ji Hanyi confronted Ding Songyan about his return from death and revealed that she had witnessed it herself.
• Ji Hanyi withdrew into the rain, telling Ding Songyan she would let him live a little longer.

After Ji Hanyi spared Ding Songyan and sought help escaping Dingjiang Prefecture, Yi Qincang killed Li Zhi as Qiu Chen and Qi Xiaoxiang escaped the Barbican. Ding Songyan abandoned his plan to retrieve the Hundun Remains when Tao Wenshu arrived, removed lingering imprints, and accepted her offer to become his disciple.

• Ding Songyan realized Ji Hanyi had spared him and suspected her oath had played a role; Ji Hanyi asked an unseen presence across the Lotus Pond to help her escape Dingjiang Prefecture.
• Yi Qincang wounded Li Zhi with arrows as Li Zhi cleared the Barbican for Qiu Chen and Qi Xiaoxiang, who escaped through the gate using Qiu Chen's swarm of insects to distract the soldiers.
• Yi Qincang fired three Sun-Piercing Arrows, killing Li Zhi and destroying the horses carrying Qiu Chen and Qi Xiaoxiang; the pair abandoned their mounts and fled toward the woods.
• Ding Songyan prepared to retrieve and eat the Hundun Remains, but Tao Wenshu arrived before he could do so and used her Candlelight Sword Intent to clear the lingering imprints from him.
• Ding Songyan told Tao Wenshu that he had killed Yan Changqing and concealed that he had taken a piece of Hundun Remains; Tao Wenshu offered to take him as her disciple, and he accepted.

After Tao Wenshu explained what Ji Hanyi’s talk of severing worldly ties might mean, Ding Songyan told her about the witch and learned that Yan Changqing had once found Kunlun. With Su Qingli present and Tao Wenshu setting terms for sharing what they learned, Ding Songyan opened his Yin Eye and saw Yan Changqing’s lingering soul.

• Ding Songyan recounted Ji Hanyi’s assumed-sister act and asked Tao Wenshu what severing worldly ties meant; she warned that the Heterodox Path might mean leaving him without any relatives.
• Su Qingli rushed in, learned that Ding Songyan had killed Yan Changqing, and explained that Ren Youyang had gone to Riverwave Hall to help the others.
• Tao Wenshu revealed that Yan Changqing had found Kunlun and entered the Celestial Emperor’s Palace, prompting Su Qingli to connect it to Ding Songyan’s search for the complete Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas.
• Ding Songyan told Tao Wenshu and Su Qingli that his Yin Eye let him speak with ghosts, and Tao Wenshu allowed Su Qingli to listen if she kept the information within her family and shared future discoveries about Kunlun.
• Ding Songyan moved Qingmengmeng’s Seed between his brows and saw Yan Changqing’s bewildered ghost wandering nearby.

Ding Songyan questioned Yan Changqing’s remnant soul about the hidden Kunlun, but Netherworld Lightning destroyed the ghost before he could reveal the location. Tao Wenshu sent Ding Songyan home with Su Qingli, and he secretly kept the Hundun Remains as they began their journey.

• Ding Songyan learned from Yan Changqing that Kunlun was hidden between Redwater and Blackwater and that entering it required a Kunlun relic, the Kunlun Secret Compendium, and a particular location.
• Yan Changqing began to mention someone named Jiang, but Netherworld Lightning struck and erased his remnant soul before he could finish.
• Su Qingli and Tao Wenshu discussed which powerful sects might have summoned the lightning and wondered who Jiang was.
• Tao Wenshu praised Ding Songyan’s contribution, gave Su Qingli a token to leave North Water Street, and went to assist at Riverwave Hall.
• Ding Songyan secretly retrieved the Hundun Remains, then traveled with Su Qingli and Yu Yao toward home while keeping it hidden.

Ding Songyan learned more about Ji Hanyi and survived the upheaval on North Water Street, where Tao Wenshu exposed Zhen Qianfan and killed Dai Shen. He returned to the empty Ding Family courtyard, but Xu Chang'an and Zheng Zhuxi soon arrived, leaving him with unexpected company.

• Ding Songyan told Su Qingli about Yan Changqing's deception and Ji Hanyi's identity, then described the day's events while hiding the Hundun Remains he had kept.
• A warm sword light broke the Heart-Bewitching Chaos-Divine Art's influence, and Lin Hansheng and Ren Youyang forced Dai Shen off balance before Tao Wenshu killed him with the Northern Dipper Killing Sword.
• Tao Wenshu confronted Zhen Qianfan about his ties to the Sage-Slaying Path and questioned him about the letter that had led him to Yan Yong and the Celestial Emperor's Palace.
• Zhen Qianfan revealed that the letter had vanished, learned that Ji Hanyi had taken the Hundun Remains, and killed himself after Tao Wenshu promised to spare his uninvolved descendants.
• Ding Songyan and Su Qingli parted ways, and he returned to the empty Ding Family courtyard carrying the Hundun Remains.
• Xu Chang'an and Zheng Zhuxi arrived to check on Ding Songyan, and Zheng Zhuxi reassured him that she was glad he was safe.

Su Qingli learned that Yan Yong had entered the Celestial Emperor’s Palace, while Su Chongxiao hurried to get her out of Dingjiang Prefecture. On a departing ship, Qi Xiaoxiang killed Qiu Chen and reunited with Ji Hanyi; meanwhile, Ding Songyan ate the Hundun Remains and began a startling transformation.

• Su Qingli told Su Chongxiao that Yan Yong had found the lost Kunlun and entered the Celestial Emperor’s Palace, and Su Chongxiao ordered her to prepare to leave for the eastern docks.
• Qi Xiaoxiang killed Qiu Chen aboard the tower ship, took the Moth Scripture from his body, and reported to Ji Hanyi, who was already aboard.
• Ji Hanyi watched an old man depart on another tower ship, then ate a large portion of the Hundun Remains.
• Ding Songyan swallowed a small lump of the Hundun Remains as Su Qingli approached his courtyard and recoiled in terror.
• Ding Songyan’s body changed as strange organs and meridians formed, six legs appeared, four seasonal wings unfurled, and a mass of chaos gathered between his brows.