Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Lü Yi summons Rock Dragon Vein to shield herself from the Heavenly Crown Purple Linden Tree’s main-root strike. The attack shatters the stone barrier, but Bei Yue Shangchen prevents the tree from using the opening to trap Lü Yi in a mental illusion.
• The tree attacks Bei Yue Shangchen, who calmly counters with a black blade of energy, splitting a massive trunk and forcing the tree to evade.
• Wounded and enraged, the tree unleashes a devastating shriek and sends its exposed roots—like blood-smeared, flesh-eating worms—after Lü Yi and Bei Yue Shangchen.
• The damaged branches reveal the tree’s true scale and a monstrous face formed from its trunks. Mo Xie realizes that the tree has long lured people to their deaths, using their bodies and blood to nourish itself and the worlds among its branches.
• Mo Xie understands the depth of Lü Yi’s grief: she was deceived into killing her own Totem Beast, Moon Moth Phoenix, and now seeks revenge for it and the many other victims.
• Watching the battle, Little Thunder, Little Snow, and Little Flame express their determination to grow strong. Mo Xie encourages them, believing they can reach—and perhaps surpass—the Supreme Monarch Level.

Character developments and interactions

• Bei Yue Shangchen demonstrates overwhelming power and composure, protecting Lü Yi from the tree’s mental attack and devastating its trunk with a single sweep. He mocks the tree’s failed ambush.
• Lü Yi’s fierce battle reflects her remorse and accumulated hatred, which Mo Xie now fully understands.
• Mo Xie shifts from knowing Lü Yi’s story secondhand to emotionally grasping the tragedy behind her revenge.
• Mo Xie and the three young companions share a hopeful moment: he challenges them to imagine reaching his level, and they respond with earnest determination.

Significant themes

• Deception and predation: The tree masquerades as a benevolent force while turning travelers into food.
• Grief, guilt, and revenge: Lü Yi’s fight is driven by both personal loss and the suffering of countless victims.
• Hidden history: The deaths on Mount Kunyu may stretch back centuries or longer, with the truth concealed by the deaths of those who discovered it.
• Strength and hope: Amid the horror of the battle, Mo Xie’s faith in the next generation points toward a future beyond the tragedy.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lü Yi fights the Heavenly Crown Purple Linden Tree with relentless Destruction Magic. Although age has weakened her, Bei Yue Shangchen protects her by attacking the tree’s mind with his overwhelming Mental Strength, leaving it unable to resist effectively.
• Jiang Feng joins the battle by transforming into the Flame Witch and merging with her mother. The fusion greatly heightens Lü Yi’s command of Fire Element, giving her the confidence to prepare a decisive attack.
• Bei Yue Shangchen ends the fight’s stalemate with Sky Gloom and Earth Darkness, plunging the world into absolute darkness and immobilizing everyone. When light returns, the tree has lost all its branches and leaves, and its aura has been cut by more than half.
• With the tree exposed and weakened, Lü Yi unleashes a devastating combination of four-element spells. The destruction consumes the Heavenly Crown Purple Linden Tree and annihilates what remains of it.

Character developments and interactions

• Lü Yi moves from determined combat to confronting her painful past. She recognizes her perceived failures as a guardian, mother, and leader, but acts decisively rather than retreating into guilt.
• Bei Yue Shangchen reveals a fraction of his true power. His casual manner gives way to cold confidence as he demonstrates that he is far beyond an ordinary Peak Ranker.
• Jiang Feng chooses to help her mother directly, and their fusion shows a renewed connection between them. Lü Yi thanks her and is astonished by the power they can wield together.
• Mo Xie remains an observer, understanding that Shangchen has been holding back and recognizing the scale of his abilities.

Significant themes

• Power and restraint: Shangchen has been fighting with little effort, then decisively shifts the battle by revealing his strength.
• Guilt and redemption: Lü Yi’s memories expose the remorse that has shaped her withdrawal from public life; the battle gives her a chance to act despite that burden.
• Family and cooperation: Jiang Feng’s support strengthens Lü Yi both magically and emotionally.
• Destruction and renewal: The tree’s total defeat marks the culmination of the battle, while Lü Yi’s willingness to fight suggests a possible return to purpose.

Key plot points and events

• Lü Yi and Jiang Feng, aided by Bei Yue Shangchen’s Mental Strength, defeat the Heavenly Crown Purple Linden Tree. Shangchen prevents the dying tree’s soul from retaliating, ensuring its destruction.
• Shangchen reveals that he collected the tree’s valuables—its treasures, leaves, branches, and bark—before the battle’s devastation destroyed them. Mo Xie is pleased, seeing the haul as a chance to expand the Evil Heaven Pavilion.
• The tree yields a high-grade Spirit Essence, which Mo Xie collects. He also investigates a possible link between the tree and an unknown Totem Beast, but Lü Yi can only say its aura resembled that of the Moon Moth Phoenix.
• The group finds the tree’s seed. Shangchen detects and destroys a hidden remnant soul inside it, releasing a dark aura and preventing the tree from surviving through the seed.
• With the tree gone, Lü Yi plans to meet the Moon Moth Phoenix, but first intends to deal with the authorities drawn by the battle and reveal a truth she has concealed for over twenty years. Shangchen returns to the Evil Heaven Pavilion to guard against a possible Sea Monster attack.

Character developments and interactions

• Lü Yi is exhausted but relieved after the battle. She expresses deep gratitude to Mo Xie and Shangchen and vows to repay them, even at great personal cost. She then turns to the unresolved business surrounding her hidden past.
• Jiang Feng ends her Possession of Lü Yi and supports her, having enabled her mother to deliver the decisive attack. She reassures Lü Yi that Mo Xie does not expect a formal debt of gratitude.
• Bei Yue Shangchen proves crucial both in the fight and afterward: he helps neutralize the tree’s final attack, salvages its resources, and eliminates its concealed remnant soul.
• Mo Xie values the spoils and Spirit Essence, while pursuing clues about the Totem Beast and the tree’s seed. He downplays Lü Yi’s thanks, emphasizing that the victory served everyone’s goals.

Significant themes

• Cooperation and shared sacrifice: The victory depends on Lü Yi, Jiang Feng, Shangchen, and Mo Xie working together.
• Hidden survival and finality: The seed’s remnant soul shows that defeating an enemy may not be enough; Shangchen’s intervention makes the tree’s destruction complete.
• Gratitude and loyalty: Lü Yi’s promise to repay her allies contrasts with Mo Xie’s insistence that the battle was a shared undertaking.
• Unresolved mysteries: The Totem Beast’s connection to the tree and Lü Yi’s long-kept secret remain open questions.

Key plot points and events

• Lü Yi, Yu Shishi, Mo Xie, and Jiang Feng reach the Moon Moth Phoenix’s hidden sanctuary in the Brown Forest.
• Lü Yi approaches the Giant Blue Cocoon and tearfully apologizes for having once harmed the Moon Moth Phoenix. The cocoon breaks open, revealing the Phoenix.
• The Moon Moth Phoenix comforts Lü Yi rather than showing anger, confirming that it has forgiven her.
• Lü Yi gives up her role as Totem Guardian and entrusts the Moon Moth Phoenix’s Totem Vessel—the Moth-Tail Pendant Bracelet—to Yu Shishi.
• After Mo Xie tells the Phoenix that the Heavenly Crown Purple Linden Tree has been destroyed, the Phoenix’s presence fades as it begins a new life. Illusory Starfire enters Yu Shishi, protecting and bonding her to it.
• Yu Shishi agrees to take the Phoenix somewhere safe. She and Mo Xie embrace and decide to go home.

Character developments

• Lü Yi finds emotional release after more than twenty years of guilt. She accepts the Phoenix’s forgiveness, lets go of her guardianship, and entrusts its future to Yu Shishi.
• Yu Shishi takes on responsibility for protecting the Moon Moth Phoenix and helping it begin its next life.
• Mo Xie shows gentleness and reassurance, both toward the Phoenix and Yu Shishi.
• The Moon Moth Phoenix is revealed as compassionate and forgiving, embodying the protective nature of a true Totem Beast.

Character interactions

• The Phoenix wipes away Lü Yi’s tears, turning her remorse into a moment of reconciliation.
• Lü Yi places the Totem Vessel on Yu Shishi’s wrist and asks her not to repeat her past mistake; Yu Shishi solemnly promises to protect the Phoenix.
• The Phoenix circles Mo Xie affectionately, and he reassures it that the source of its past suffering is gone.
• Yu Shishi and Mo Xie share a tender reunion as they prepare to leave together.

Significant themes

• Forgiveness and atonement: The Phoenix’s compassion helps Lü Yi face and release her guilt.
• Protection versus exploitation: The Phoenix represents selfless guardianship, contrasted with humanity’s desire to control Totem Beasts for power.
• Renewal and letting go: The Phoenix’s fading presence signals a new life and the release of past pain.
• Passing on responsibility: Lü Yi’s trust in Yu Shishi marks a new generation’s duty to protect the Phoenix.

Key events

• After nearly half a month of waiting at the Evil Heaven Pavilion, the full moon arrives—the moment the Moon Moth Phoenix can be reborn and release its totem energy.
• The Moon Moth Phoenix’s cocoon sends its azure power into Mo Xie. Inside his Totem Space, he sees the Phoenix in its beautiful, restored form; it bows to him in apparent gratitude.
• Mo Xie uses the opportunity to advance. The Moon Moth Phoenix’s energy, together with Spirit Essences he had collected earlier, raises his remaining elements to Advanced Level Two. All his elements are now at that level, though he still needs time to consolidate his progress.
• A golden beam then flows from Mo Xie back into the cocoon. He explains that it will help the Moon Moth Phoenix enter its next life sooner.
• Mo Xie asks Lü Yi to retire at the Evil Heaven Pavilion and protect the Phoenix as it grows. He adds that Aunt Feng and Chen Ying will also move there. Lü Yi agrees.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie demonstrates both rapid growth and consideration: he absorbs the Phoenix’s power but also returns energy to aid its rebirth. He invites Lü Yi to join his community and protect the young Phoenix.
• Lü Yi is deeply moved by the Phoenix’s plight and agrees to stay. Her private resolve—“I failed you in our last life”—suggests a past connection and a determination to protect it now.
• Yu Shishi is impressed by Mo Xie’s cultivation speed and wonders how much stronger he will become.
• Lü Yi also recognizes Mo Xie’s potential, believing he could become a leader among human mages.

Significant themes

• Rebirth and renewal: The Phoenix begins a new life after years of pain, while its former memories fade.
• Power and responsibility: Mo Xie’s advancement is paired with an effort to help the creature that empowered him.
• Protection and redemption: Lü Yi’s decision to guard the Phoenix reflects her wish to make amends for a failure in a previous life.
• Community and trust: Mo Xie’s invitation to Lü Yi extends the Pavilion’s role beyond cultivation, making it a place of refuge and guardianship.

Plot and events

Mo Xie travels to Dragon-Tiger Mountain in Shangqing Town, home of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, a powerful Daoist organization renowned for its Light and Lightning magic. The chapter gives the order’s history: founded by the legendary Zhang Daoling, it has endured through sixty-five Celestial Masters and remains influential, though it stays out of public affairs.
Mo Xie’s main goal is to find the Kui Ox, a Totem Beast said to live at the mansion. To earn a chance to see it, he must pass the mansion’s Trial: climb Mount Tianmen’s steps, endure eighty-one lightning strikes, and reach the summit altar. Only young Advanced Mages may participate, and even qualified candidates often fail. Passing also earns a reward, such as a Magic Tool or Artifact.
After a tiring journey, Mo Xie arrives in the scenic, historic Shangqing Town. He enters the mountain’s tourist area and begins the climb, since flying is forbidden.

Character development

Mo Xie is purposeful and determined: although curious about the mansion’s unusual magic, he is chiefly motivated by the Kui Ox. He recognizes that his Lightning Element and Qilin Pendant may improve his odds, but the encounter is not guaranteed. He accepts the inconvenience of climbing on foot without making it an obstacle.

Character interactions

Mo Xie’s plans are informed by Jiang Shaojun, who told him about the Kui Ox and the Trial, and who barely passed it despite being a fully developed Advanced Mage. The mansion’s current Celestial Master is also described as having established the Trial decades earlier to motivate talented young mages.

Significant themes

• Tradition and continuity: The mansion’s long hereditary lineage preserves an ancient magical tradition.
• Hidden power: China contains formidable organizations that remain largely withdrawn from the wider world.
• Trial and merit: Access to the mansion’s rewards—and possibly the Kui Ox—depends on enduring a dangerous test.
• The uncertain pursuit of knowledge: Passing the Trial may still not guarantee an audience with the Totem Beast.

• Plot: Mo Xie travels through Dragon-Tiger Mountain to the Celestial Master’s Mansion, noticing that many of the other visitors are mages. At the mansion, he finds the elderly Zhang Zhiwei being interviewed by reporters. Zhang confirms that the mansion will continue recruiting promising young mages who pass its tests, but says this does not mean it plans to enter public affairs: it will remain independent and focus on its own responsibilities. After the interview ends, Mo Xie approaches Zhang.
• Character developments and interactions: Mo Xie is curious about the mansion and amused by Zhang’s appearance and behavior. Zhang first presents himself as a composed, kindly religious leader, then surprises the crowd by grinning and flashing peace signs for a photo. Reporters recognize Mo Xie as a well-known figure and become excited when he approaches Zhang, anticipating a newsworthy meeting. A middle-aged Taoist helps disperse the crowd after the interview.
• Themes: The chapter contrasts the mansion’s ancient, tranquil setting with modern media attention. It also emphasizes the balance between preserving tradition and welcoming new talent, while distinguishing that openness from involvement in outside affairs.

Plot and events

• Mo Xie arrives at the Celestial Master’s Mansion and publicly asks to undertake its Trial, astonishing the gathered reporters and Daoists.
• Zhang Zhiwei accepts his request after reading a recommendation letter from Jiang Shaojun, who says the Totem Beasts seem unusually friendly toward Mo Xie and may have chosen him.
• Zhang welcomes Mo Xie, arranges lodging, and postpones the Trial until the following day. Mo Xie spends the day exploring Dragon-Tiger Mountain and dining with Zhang.
• The next day, Zhang leads him to Mount Tianmen, the mansion’s restricted Trial ground and the place where the first Celestial Master died in meditation.
• The mountain’s surroundings are saturated with Lightning Elements, reportedly because the Kui Ox once lived there and lightning has struck the area for millennia. Thunder and black lightning strike the otherwise clear sky, while the landscape shifts from lush forest to barren wasteland to the beautiful, cloud-wreathed mountain.
• Mo Xie finds scattered Lightning Element Spirit Seed fragments, then spots a naturally formed Lightning Element Spirit Seed blocking their path.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie approaches the Trial with formal respect and growing curiosity. He is surprised by the crowd’s reaction and impressed by the extraordinary environment; his sensitivity to magical resources lets him notice the Spirit Seed fragments and the larger seed.
• Zhang Zhiwei is gracious and composed, welcoming Mo Xie while showing special interest in Jiang Shaojun’s claim about his connection to the Totem Beasts. He personally guides Mo Xie to the Trial site.
• Jiang Shaojun, though absent, influences events through his letter of recommendation, which gives Zhang a reason to view Mo Xie as potentially exceptional.
• The reporters’ presence highlights the public significance of Mo Xie’s arrival, while the mansion’s Daoists help receive him.

Significant themes

• Destiny and special selection: Zhang interprets Jiang’s recommendation and the Totem Beasts’ behavior as signs of a meaningful connection.
• Nature’s power and contrast: Mount Tianmen combines lush growth, stark desolation, and breathtaking beauty, all shaped by its unusual magical environment.
• Abundance amid danger: The lightning-rich Trial ground is hazardous, yet its elemental concentration produces valuable magical treasures.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Zhiwei discovers a newly formed, top-grade Lightning Element Spirit Seed on Mount Tianmen and gives it to Mo Xie as a welcome gift. Mo Xie accepts.
• Zhang explains that the mountain produces abundant Heavenly Treasures at the start of each month; the remaining lightning resources are only recent growth. The Celestial Master’s Mansion has little need to gather them, partly because the Kui Ox helps sustain it.
• They reach the Heavenly Gate, where Mo Xie must climb Mount Tianmen alone to face its trial and earn the Kui Ox’s recognition.
• Zhang explains that the climb brings 81 lightning strikes in nine levels, growing stronger as the climber ascends and adjusting to their power. Only young Advanced Mages may attempt the trial. Those who fail are safely brought down by the Kui Ox.
• Passing the climb only grants a chance to meet the Kui Ox; its mental test remains mysterious, and only the first four Celestial Masters are known to have earned its approval.
• Zhang warns Mo Xie not to fly or seek shortcuts, since the Kui Ox dislikes them. He also notes that Mo Xie’s lightning resistance will cause the trial’s power to increase accordingly.
• Mo Xie begins climbing, and a powerful black lightning bolt immediately strikes toward him.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie remains composed and curious, accepts Zhang’s gift, asks practical questions about the trial, and prepares to face it directly.
• Zhang Zhiwei acts as a generous host and patient guide, explaining the mountain’s resources and the trial’s rules while warning Mo Xie about the Kui Ox’s expectations.
• Their exchange is respectful and cordial: Mo Xie thanks Zhang for his advice, while Zhang takes a personal interest in preparing him for the challenge.

Significant themes

• Tests of worth and character: The climb tests endurance, while the Kui Ox’s later judgment appears to demand something deeper.
• Respect over shortcuts: The Kui Ox values a proper approach, making humility and respect as important as strength.
• Hidden power and self-sufficiency: The mountain’s riches and the Kui Ox’s support reveal how powerful secluded factions can thrive independently of the wider world.
• Uncertainty and ambition: Despite generations of failure, the trial continues to attract young mages hoping to earn the Kui Ox’s recognition.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie climbs Mount Tianmen, where increasingly powerful lightning strikes test his strength. He initially withstands the bolts with his exceptional physique and Tyrant Desolate Thunder’s resistance.
• By the twenty-seventh strike, he must activate Tyrant Domain, which absorbs and neutralizes the lightning.
• The trial’s attacks continue growing stronger. At two-thirds of the way up, a massive black Thunder Dragon breaks through the domain and leaves Mo Xie badly shaken.
• Worried he may not survive the final stretch, Mo Xie summons Little Thunder for help. Little Thunder evolves into his growth-stage form—a young man with a Commander Level aura—and charges the Thunder Dragon. Their collision unleashes a tremendous clash of purple and black lightning.

Character development

• Mo Xie demonstrates composure and endurance, but recognizes the limits of his strength and adapts by calling on his companion rather than pressing on alone.
• Little Thunder makes a major leap in maturity and power, transforming from a childlike creature into a formidable young-man form and actively confronting the trial’s greatest threat.
• Zhang Zhiwei is impressed by Mo Xie’s physique and domain, while remaining aware that the mountain’s trial may still overwhelm him.

Character interactions

• Zhang Zhiwei observes Mo Xie’s climb and quietly hopes he will pass, noting that Kui Ox has not acknowledged anyone in a long time.
• Mo Xie asks Little Thunder to help withstand the lightning. Little Thunder responds with determination, placing himself between Mo Xie and the descending Thunder Dragon.

Significant themes

• Endurance and adaptation: Mo Xie survives by adjusting his approach as the trial escalates.
• Trust and partnership: He relies on Little Thunder when his own defenses prove insufficient.
• Growth under pressure: The trial’s danger coincides with Little Thunder’s dramatic transformation and rise in power.

Key plot points and events

• Little Thunder joins Mo Xie’s climb up Mount Tianmen, using his Commander-level Lightning Element to break through the trial’s bolts.
• He handles the earlier strikes, but the final nine exhaust him. After blocking the eightieth bolt, only the last remains.
• Mo Xie offers to face the final challenge alone, but Little Thunder insists on continuing. Mo Xie agrees that they will face it together.
• The sky darkens as enormous thunderclouds gather above the mountain. Their power is far beyond anything Zhang Zhiwei has seen in the trial’s history.
• Mo Xie sends Little Snow and Little Flame back into their Contract Spaces, then merges with Little Thunder through Possession, preparing to confront the final bolt.

Character developments

• Mo Xie shows that his concern for his companions matters more than passing the trial. He also displays growing confidence and determination, meeting the overwhelming final threat without fear.
• Little Thunder proves both his strength and loyalty, pushing himself through exhaustion and choosing to stand with Mo Xie for the final strike.
• Little Snow and Little Flame show their affection and concern for Little Thunder, though they recognize they cannot help in the trial.
• Zhang Zhiwei shifts from astonishment at Mo Xie’s abilities to intense anticipation, suspecting the last strike may be a test from the Kui Ox.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and companionship: Little Thunder refuses to abandon Mo Xie, while Mo Xie prioritizes his companion’s well-being.
• Courage under pressure: The final challenge is far beyond expectations, but Mo Xie meets it with fighting spirit.
• Surpassing expectations and proving worth: Mo Xie’s extraordinary progress may earn him the Kui Ox’s recognition and mark him as a leader chosen by the Totem Beasts.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie encourages Little Thunder and checks on him after each difficult battle; Little Thunder answers with quiet resolve.
• Little Snow and Little Flame comfort their injured brother, and Little Thunder reassures them with a smile.
• At the final challenge, Mo Xie and Little Thunder act as one through Possession, facing the storm together.

Key plot points and events

• A colossal dragon made of black thunder emerges from the Thunderclouds and attacks Mo Xie.
• Mo Xie and Little Thunder combine their Tyrant Domains. Mo Xie channels his Three Elements as One into Lightning, greatly strengthening his control over thunder.
• Moving in unison, Mo Xie and the Thunder Tyrant summon and throw a Thunder Trident. It pierces the dragon, which fractures and shatters; the strike also clears the Thunderclouds.
• The dragon’s fragments flow into Mo Xie and Little Thunder, restoring Mo Xie’s strength and Magic Energy and healing Little Thunder.
• Little Thunder says he must sleep to absorb the new energy and expects to reach Great Commander Level when he wakes. Mo Xie sends him to the Contract Space to recover.
• Mo Xie completes the final step and reaches Mount Tianmen’s summit. Zhang Zhiwei appears to congratulate him.

Character developments

• Mo Xie demonstrates greatly improved thunder control and proves capable of combining his abilities with Little Thunder’s to overcome the trial. He ends the ordeal exhausted, then is fully restored by the dragon’s remnants.
• Little Thunder fights alongside Mo Xie, recovers from his wounds, and receives energy from the trial that may advance him to Great Commander Level.
• Zhang Zhiwei is impressed by Mo Xie’s achievement, judging him exceptional even among talented young cultivators.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie directs Little Thunder to activate Tyrant Domain, and the two coordinate their attack as though sharing one mind.
• Afterward, Mo Xie recognizes Little Thunder’s need to rest, gently sends him to the Contract Space, and promises they will meet again when he has recovered.
• Zhang Zhiwei watches the victory, praises Mo Xie, and welcomes him after he reaches the summit.

Significant themes

• Partnership and synchronization: Mo Xie’s victory depends on working in harmony with Little Thunder.
• Perseverance and mastery: Mo Xie’s accumulated growth enables him to overcome the trial’s overwhelming force.
• Reward through ordeal: Defeating the Thunder Dragon restores the pair and grants Little Thunder a chance to advance.
• Exceptional talent: Zhang Zhiwei’s reaction emphasizes how far Mo Xie stands above his peers.

Plot points and events

• After completing the Trial, Mo Xie finds that his injuries have been healed. He suspects Kui Ox has accepted him, though he does not know what happened to Little Thunder during the Trial.
• Zhang Zhiwei explains that the black lightning on Mount Tianmen flows through a formation of stone pillars from a source at the summit’s center.
• At the heart of the formation, Mo Xie discovers the Kui Ox Drum, Kui Ox’s Totem Vessel. Zhang invites him to approach the altar and see whether Kui Ox will accept him.
• As Mo Xie nears the drum, the Qilin Pendant reacts. A beam of dark blue-black light shoots from the drum into his forehead, drawing him into the Totem Space.
• There, Mo Xie sees Kui Ox’s true form and learns that the beast is currently traveling outside but will continue protecting the Celestial Master’s Mansion.
• Mo Xie is accepted by Kui Ox but chooses not to take the drum, saying he has another way to communicate with the beast and has already received what he came for. Zhang thanks him and offers to collect his Trial reward.

Character developments

• Mo Xie gains Kui Ox’s acceptance and appears to obtain a meaningful connection with it. His decision to leave the Totem Vessel behind shows restraint and consideration for the Mansion’s needs.
• Zhang Zhiwei moves from calm guidance to open excitement when he realizes Mo Xie is the first person to earn Kui Ox’s acceptance. He is relieved and grateful when Mo Xie does not take the drum.

Character interactions

• Zhang helps Mo Xie stand, explains the altar and offers him the chance to approach it.
• Kui Ox communicates with Mo Xie through a thunderous, drumlike message in the Totem Space.
• Afterward, Zhang eagerly asks whether Mo Xie was accepted. Mo Xie reassures him that Kui Ox will keep protecting the Mansion and that he can contact it without the drum.

Significant themes

• Recognition earned through trial: Mo Xie’s acceptance follows his passage through hardship.
• Power balanced with responsibility: Though entitled to claim the drum, Mo Xie considers the consequences for the Mansion.
• Nature and harmony: Kui Ox is portrayed as immensely powerful yet gentle, embodying nature’s force and the ideal of coexistence.
• Myth and the sacred: The ancient beast, its Totem Vessel, and the lightning formation give the summit an atmosphere of spiritual mystery.

Key plot points and events

• After completing the trial at Mount Tianmen, Mo Xie returns to the Evil Heaven Pavilion with the Kui Ox’s Totem energy and goodwill. Little Thunder has also gained power from the Kui Ox and is expected to reach Great Commander Level when it awakens.
• His trial rewards include a Lightning Element Magic Tool, a cultivation artifact, and a decent-quality Lightning Soul Seed. He accepts the seed but sees little immediate use for it beyond possibly feeding it to Little Thunder.
• Mo Xie studies a small portion of the Celestial Master’s Mansion’s Thunder Method. It improves his understanding and control of lightning, prompting him to hope he can eventually wield his lightning techniques without relying on Little Thunder’s Possession.
• He and Zhang Zhiwei agree to a trade partnership: the mansion will exchange its surplus Lightning Element resources for resources the Evil Heaven Pavilion can provide.
• Mo Xie suggests that his younger brother Xiao Fan might attempt the trial once he reaches Advanced Level in the Lightning Element, possibly aided by the Azure Dragon Pendant.
• He declines Zhang Zhiwei’s invitation to stay longer because Qin Yuer has returned to the pavilion. There, he finds Qin Yuer and Ling together, already treating one another like sisters. Ling hints that Mo Xie has something important to tell them.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie gains greater insight into lightning control, considers future training and opportunities for Xiao Fan, and continues building ties between the Evil Heaven Pavilion and the Celestial Master’s Mansion.
• Little Thunder is poised for a major increase in strength after receiving the Kui Ox’s power.
• Zhang Zhiwei rewards Mo Xie generously, shares limited access to the Thunder Method, and agrees to cooperate on resource exchanges.
• Qin Yuer and Ling appear comfortable and close after spending time together. Qin affectionately calls Mo Xie “Little Evil,” while Ling warmly welcomes him and asks what he needs to discuss.

Significant themes

• Growth through study and experience: Mo Xie’s lightning ability develops through both Possession and formal instruction.
• Cooperation and mutual benefit: The resource partnership reflects a practical alliance between the two organizations.
• Family bonds and shared burdens: Mo Xie wants Xiao Fan to experience the trial too, framing it as something an older brother should share with his younger brother.
• Trust and harmony in relationships: Qin Yuer and Ling’s easy rapport suggests acceptance and understanding within Mo Xie’s personal circle.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie hears of a forbidden lightning zone near Mingwu Ancient City, where a legendary purple divine bird is said to dwell. He connects the story to the imprisoned Haidongqing God on Xiayu and resolves to rescue her.
• The journey also offers a chance to obtain Xiayu’s large reserves of Earth Sacred Spring, which could greatly strengthen the Evil Heaven Pavilion. Mo Xie expects the island’s powerful elders to resist, so he anticipates using force.
• He invites Qin Yuer to join him, but she stays behind to spend time with Ling. She gives him a jade pendant that will summon her if he needs help.
• Mo Xie considers whether to keep a Heavenly Crown Purple Linden Tree seed for himself or give it to Mu Bai, but postpones the decision. He meditates through the night to consolidate his cultivation, then sets out for Carp City on the Azure-Feathered Wind Eagle, Xiao Qing.
• Near Carp City, a vast storm of purple lightning erupts. Mo Xie and Xiao Qing descend to escape it as bolts devastate the surrounding land.
• The Qilin Pendant reacts to the lightning, suggesting a connection to the Haidongqing God. Before Mo Xie can locate her, the storm abruptly ends. He suspects she stopped the Heavenly Tribulation and has since moved on, leaving him uneasy.

Character developments

• Mo Xie remains ambitious and strategic: he hopes to rescue the Haidongqing God, claim Earth Sacred Spring, and strengthen his faction. He also shows caution by meditating before the trip and postponing a decision about the seed.
• Qin Yuer refuses to accompany Mo Xie socially, but is committed to protecting him. She promises to answer his call and agrees to learn a method from Ling for breaking through to Forbidden Curse.
• Ling reveals concern that she cannot currently protect Mo Xie adequately. She trusts Qin Yuer’s strength and asks her to guard him.
• Mo Xie is unaware of the women’s conversation and of Ling’s request.

Significant themes

• Power and protection: The journey is driven by the desire to gain resources and strength, while Qin Yuer’s promise and Ling’s request emphasize personal loyalty and safeguarding loved ones.
• Ambition tempered by uncertainty: Mo Xie plans to strengthen his faction, but the lightning storm and the Haidongqing God’s disappearance show how little control he has over unfolding events.
• Mysterious signs and fate: The legendary storm and the Qilin Pendant’s reaction hint at a supernatural link between the lightning and the Haidongqing God.

Character interactions

• Qin Yuer lightly complains that Mo Xie’s “honeymoon” invitation is really a request for help, but still gives him a way to summon her.
• Ling speaks privately with Qin Yuer, expresses her trust in her, and asks her to protect Mo Xie while he recovers his strength. Qin Yuer agrees sincerely.
• On the journey, Mo Xie relies on Xiao Qing to carry him and help him escape the sudden lightning storm.

Plot points and events

• After surviving the strange thunderstorm, Mo Xie spots an isolated Sacrificial Temple and senses someone inside. He lands there with Xiao Qing to investigate.
• He meets Song Feiyao, a guarded woman who appears to care for the Haidongqing God. Mo Xie suspects her identity and is surprised by her advanced cultivation.
• Song Feiyao refuses to discuss the storm or Mingwu Ancient City, warns Mo Xie away from the dangerous place, and leaves him at the temple.
• Concluding that trouble is brewing around Mingwu, Mo Xie heads to Carp City instead. At the Hunters’ hall, he notices that many posted jobs concern Mingwu Ancient City—and recognizes two women in the crowd.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie is cautious and observant. He uses a story about being injured to get near Song Feiyao, tests her reactions with questions, and infers that she knows more than she admits. At the Hunters’ hall, his attention shifts toward the two women he recognizes.
• Song Feiyao is composed, private, and wary of strangers. Though Mo Xie’s appearance briefly softens her manner, she maintains her boundaries, declines to share information, and advises him not to travel to Mingwu.
• Mo Xie and Song Feiyao have a polite but guarded exchange: he probes for information, while she deflects his questions and leaves rather than sheltering with him.

Significant themes

• Suspicion and hidden knowledge: Song Feiyao’s evasions and the unusual storm suggest that a larger threat is unfolding.
• Caution and deception: Mo Xie conceals his real purpose behind a plausible excuse; Song Feiyao protects herself by limiting what she reveals.
• Foreshadowing: The surge in jobs connected to Mingwu Ancient City reinforces Mo Xie’s sense that an important event is approaching.

• Key events: Mo Xie overhears Ying Yuqin and Shu Xiaohua discussing their search for protection on a trip to Mingwu Ancient City. He realizes the timeline has shifted: the women are from Xiayu, whose elders once stole an Ancient Sculpture and caused a devastating lightning Heavenly Tribulation. Their current mission to find another sculpture may put Carp City at risk. Determined not to let the disaster happen, Mo Xie changes his appearance and offers to accompany them. He presents his genuine Two-Star Hunter Master badge, but Ying remains wary because he is young and male, while Shu is eager to accept him. The chapter ends with Ying weighing whether to hire him or keep searching for a female hunter.
• Character developments: Mo Xie’s suspicions become certainty, and he resolves to intervene. Though he appears friendly and approachable, he privately views the women with impatience and disdain. Ying is cautious and protective, trying to follow her teacher’s safety rules despite limited travel experience. Shu is cheerful, trusting, and easily impressed, especially by Mo’s looks and credentials.
• Interactions: Shu judges a scar-faced stranger as bad and Mo as good based largely on appearance, prompting Ying to challenge her naïveté. At their meeting, Shu enthusiastically inspects Mo’s badge and urges Ying to hire him; Ying questions both his trustworthiness and suitability. Mo calmly verifies his credentials and pressures them to decide by noting he has little time.
• Themes: The chapter explores appearance versus character, innocence and caution, and the danger of judging people too quickly. It also sets up the tension between personal safety and urgency, while Mo’s knowledge of the altered timeline raises the stakes of preventing past destruction from happening again.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie persuades Ying Yuqin to hire him as a guide and bodyguard for the women’s expedition to Mingwu Ancient City. He presents himself as a reliable Hunter Master who will honor the contract.
• His real goals are to stop the Xiayu women from taking the Ancient Sculpture—thereby preventing a Heavenly Tribulation from striking Carp City—and to secretly implant Evil Fiend Seeds in them so he can later locate Xiayu.
• After a night of meditation, Mo Xie heads to Carp City’s gates, where hunters are preparing to travel beyond the Safe Zone.
• Shu Xiaohua has bought everyone, including Mo Xie, an “Eight-Treasure Armor Garment” from a suspicious street seller, believing it was a bargain. Ying Yuqin is exasperated, but the group soon sets off.
• At the gates, Mo Xie meets the roughly thirteen or fourteen women from Xiayu. Ruan Feiyan, their tallest member, questions whether he is truly a Two-Star Hunter Master. The others are divided between skepticism and excitement at his looks, but agree to travel with him.

Character developments

• Mo Xie is calm, confident, and calculating. He uses his Hunter Master credentials to secure the commission while concealing his plans for the women. He also judges the group mainly by their usefulness and is confident he could defeat them if necessary.
• Ying Yuqin is cautious and somewhat uncertain, but accepts Mo Xie’s offer because suitable hunters are scarce. She tries to keep the team organized and is frustrated by Shu Xiaohua’s impulsiveness.
• Shu Xiaohua is cheerful, trusting, and unconcerned about money. Her enthusiasm leads her to buy the questionable armor garments.
• Ruan Feiyan is suspicious of Mo Xie’s youth and credentials, though she is also attracted to him. The other women likewise reveal curiosity, distrust, or romantic interest.

Significant themes

• Deception and hidden motives: Mo Xie’s professional promise masks goals that could endanger the women and Carp City.
• Trust versus caution: The team relies on an official contract, yet remains unsure whether Mo Xie is truly as capable as claimed.
• Appearance and attraction: Mo Xie’s handsome appearance influences the women’s reactions and may weaken their judgment.
• Danger beyond safety: The lively departure from Carp City contrasts with the real threat of Demon Beasts outside the Safe Zone.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie reassures Ying Yuqin that he will follow the commission, while privately planning to manipulate the team.
• Ying Yuqin scolds Shu Xiaohua for being swindled, but both women quickly set the purchase aside to depart.
• Ruan Feiyan challenges Mo Xie’s qualifications; Ying Yuqin defends him with the Hunter Association contract and his impressive record.
• The women discuss Mo Xie among themselves, balancing suspicion of his credentials with attraction to his appearance.

Plot points and events

• Ruan Feiyan tells Mo Xie—traveling under the name Wu Xie—that he must follow the women’s rules and help the younger hunters gain experience. He agrees, and the group leaves Carp City with him as their only male companion.
• At the city gate, Mo Xie notices a striking woman in black, later identified by Shu Xiaohua as wearing a Black Phoenix Garment. Ying Yuqin warns Shu not to say more, and the woman is left behind as the group continues.
• On the road, Shu Xiaohua asks Mo Xie about his specialty. He claims to be a Summoning System mage, but refuses to summon a mount, explaining that magic energy is precious in the wild and that the journey is meant as training.
• Ruan Feiyan detects something following the group through her Sound Element. The women hurry on, but Mo Xie realizes the pursuing creatures are steering them into a prepared trap.
• The group discovers they have been lured into a field of Windcoat Centipede Grass, a valuable healing herb that attracts injured beasts—and predators that wait to ambush them.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie/Wu Xie remains guarded and observant. He gives a false account of his magic specialty, resists Shu Xiaohua’s teasing, and quickly recognizes the danger.
• Ruan Feiyan establishes her authority as leader and assigns Mo Xie a mentoring role. She later uses her Sound Element to detect the pursuit and responds decisively.
• Shu Xiaohua is playful and hopes Mo Xie will summon a comfortable mount, but his refusal leaves her sulking. Her curiosity about the black-clad woman is cut short by Ying Yuqin.
• Ying Yuqin helps manage the group, backing Mo Xie’s explanation about conserving magic energy and warning Shu to stay quiet about what she noticed.
• The black-clad woman makes a strong impression on Mo Xie, but remains an unexplained presence.

Significant themes

• Cunning and survival: The Demon Beasts exploit the group’s confusion to lure them toward favorable ground.
• Nature’s double edge: Windcoat Centipede Grass can heal and sustain life, yet its abundance also draws dangerous predators.
• Training and restraint: The journey is intended to build the younger hunters’ experience, while Mo Xie emphasizes conserving resources in the wilderness.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie guides a group of young women from Xiayu through a field of Windcoat Centipede Grass. He recognizes that it conceals Claw Demons but lets the group face the danger as training.
• About twenty Claw Demons attack, using the grass’s hypnotic effect to make their assault seem sudden. The inexperienced women panic; Du Mei is badly wounded before the Light Element mage’s Light Shine helps disrupt the attackers. The group eventually kills all the demons.
• Ruan Feiyan asks Mo Xie to give the women privacy while their wounds are treated. While patrolling, he notices that Warrior-Level demons are present unusually close to the Safe Zone, prompting suspicion.
• Afterward, Mo Xie questions Shu Xiaohua about Xiayu. She explains the island’s isolation, its traditional clothing, and that outsiders have not visited since Xiayu was sealed off.
• Mo Xie recalls Xiayu’s past crimes, including the theft of the Ancient Sculpture and the murder of a fisherman who stumbled onto the island. His friendly expression fades as he recognizes that Xiayu’s secrecy has been enforced through violence.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie is detached and pragmatic: he sees the attack as useful combat experience, though he still gives warnings and monitors the area. His curiosity about Xiayu turns to anger as its history comes back to him.
• The Xiayu women are shown to have respectable cultivation but little real combat experience. Their fear contrasts with the confidence they displayed before the attack.
• The Light Element mage responds effectively under pressure, using a simple spell rather than attempting something complicated.
• Shu Xiaohua remains cheerful and open with Mo Xie despite his earlier rebuff. She explains her culture readily, though a sly glint suggests she may be more perceptive than she appears.
• Ruan Feiyan is protective of the injured women and privately considers keeping Mo Xie on Xiayu for her own purposes.

Significant themes

• Practical experience versus sheltered training: cultivation alone does not prepare the women for combat.
• Deception and hidden danger: the grass’s hypnotic effect disguises the demons’ approach, while Xiayu’s isolation conceals a darker history.
• Cultural difference and appearance: Shu Xiaohua defends Xiayu’s traditional dress against outsiders’ judgments.
• Self-preservation and moral responsibility: Xiayu’s efforts to protect itself have come at the cost of outsiders’ lives.