Chapter Summaries

Zhang Yuan learned that Cui Yuanxi would travel with him to the Inverted Sea aboard an Aohai Cui Clan Magic Ship, a journey arranged to protect him and strengthen ties with Chen Xinqiao. He chose a ship departing that night to leave Dragon Creek City before his enemies could track him.

• Xiao Shi visited Zhang Yuan, and Cui Yuanxi revealed herself after he sensed she was hiding nearby.
• Cui Yuanxi explained that Patriarch Yun'ao had given her a concealment Supreme Treasure and arranged for her to travel to the Inverted Sea.
• Zhang Yuan recognized the Aohai Cui Clan's offer as a gesture of goodwill and agreed to travel with Cui Yuanxi.
• Xiao Shi described the night's ship as a way to hide Zhang Yuan's departure while tomorrow morning's ship served as bait.
• Zhang Yuan chose the Magic Ship departing at Hai Hour, and Xiao Shi promised to fetch him with Cui Yuanxi.

Zhang Yuan visited Chen Xinqiao to say farewell before escorting Ao Xiu toward the East Sea Dragon Clan, and Chen Xinqiao gave him a bracelet of twelve protective profound mysteries. At Hai Hour, he reunited with Cui Yuanxi and Xiao Shi, who were ready to take him to the waiting Magic Ship.

• Zhang Yuan told Chen Xinqiao he would travel by Magic Ship to the Inverted Sea and then find a way to reach the East Sea Dragon Clan with Ao Xiu.
• Chen Xinqiao urged Zhang Yuan to stay but accepted his decision and gave him a bracelet containing twelve protective profound mysteries.
• Zhang Yuan said goodbye to Chen Xinqiao and promised to return after taking Ao Xiu home.
• Back at the Cui Residence, Ao Xiu charmed Xiao Yuanjun into sharing pastries, then hid inside Zhang Yuan's collar.
• At Hai Hour, Cui Yuanxi and Xiao Shi arrived in night-travel clothes and told Zhang Yuan that the Magic Ship for Ancestral Continent Island was waiting by the shore.

Zhang Yuan and his companions left Dragon Creek City aboard a concealed magic ship bound for Ancestral Continent Island, escorted by Celestial Persons of the Aohai Cui Clan. He met the clan’s powerful elders aboard and wondered about the hidden motives behind their protection.

• Zhang Yuan’s party met Cui Zhaowei at the harbor and boarded a small vessel that Xiao Shi revealed was a Pre-Heaven Supreme Treasure with a world inside it.
• Zhang Yuan and the others entered the ship’s sprawling estate and found Cui Wenshan, Cui Qingchi, Cui Surong, and Cui Suli waiting there.
• Cui Wenshan introduced the three Cui cultivators to Zhang Yuan, who greeted them respectfully.
• Cui Surong suggested they speak as equals, but Zhang Yuan doubted that she had merely lived a few extra years, given her late Celestial Person cultivation.

Zhang Yuan traveled aboard the Aohai Cui Clan’s Magic Ship toward Ancestral Continent Island, wary of the forces pursuing him and the dangers surrounding their route. After half a month of uneventful travel, the ship shook and three strands of five skandhas and six qi appeared nearby, which Zhang Yuan suspected were part of a plot against him.

• Zhang Yuan reasoned that the Aohai Cui Clan had chosen a long sea journey to avoid overstepping the Lords of Heaven and Earth, while he remained wary of the South Sea Dragon Clan and the Nine Serenities Sect.
• A black-robed True Dragon and Wenren Shangzhi failed to find Zhang Yuan aboard a departing ship, then agreed that Wenren Shangzhi would seek the Nine Serenities Lu Clan’s cooperation against the Return to True Celestial Person.
• Zhang Yuan stayed in his quarters for half a month as Cui Yuanxi, Cui Zhaowei, and Xiao Shi visited, while the Magic Ship slowly crossed the Western Sea Region.
• The Magic Ship shook violently, and Ao Xiu swallowed the pastries sliding off the courtyard table.
• Xiao Yuanjun urged Zhang Yuan to trace the karma, and he sensed three nearby strands of five skandhas and six qi: ren water, Wu Earth, and bing fire.
• Zhang Yuan suspected that the rare appearance of three strands at once was a conspiracy aimed at him.

Zhang Yuan and his companions discovered that the island trapping their Magic Ship was the corpse of a Bixi, divided into four sections containing three strands of five skandhas and six qi and a formation core. After splitting up to investigate the sections, Zhang Yuan entered the northern ravine to seek Ren water.

• Cui Qingchi identified the island as the corpse of a Bixi and suspected the South Sea Dragon Clan had set a trap.
• Cui Surong reported that sword qi sealed the ravines between the island’s sections and that the eastern section held the formation core immobilizing the Magic Ship.
• Cui Wenshan proposed that his group attack the eastern core while Zhang Yuan and the others sought the three strands of five skandhas and six qi.
• Zhang Yuan chose the north, Xiao Yuanjun chose the south, and Cui Zhaowei and Cui Yuanxi chose the west.
• Zhang Yuan used the [Primordial Form-Converging Sword] to cut through the northern ravine’s lingering sword qi and entered the section.

Zhang Yuan encountered Wenren Qihan on the northern island, where the True Dragon attacked under pressure from Immortal Lord Duo Ning the Usurper. Zhang Yuan countered Wenren Qihan’s attacks with his treasures and prepared to end the fight with sword qi, though he worried Wenren Qihan could escape through the Great Void.

• Zhang Yuan spotted Wenren Qihan atop the mountain and realized someone had forced the True Dragon to recover and intercept him early.
• Wenren Qihan charged Zhang Yuan with a lightning halberd and sent him crashing into the forest, exploiting his strengthened body and speed.
• Zhang Yuan retreated from close combat, guarded against Wenren Qihan’s rain, and demanded the ren water or Wenren Qihan’s surrender.
• Wenren Qihan hurled a lightning halberd empowered by a slaughter divine ability, but Zhang Yuan absorbed the lightning with the Eastern Mystic-Yang Fusang Banner and shattered the weapon.
• Wenren Qihan invoked his rain and stillness abilities, while Zhang Yuan judged that sword qi could sever his head again but might not prevent him escaping into the Great Void.

Zhang Yuan faced a Golden-Armored Deity from the Boundless Southern Heaven Realm after Wenren Qihan was killed, then protected himself from the Deity's attack with the Sun-Moon Seven-Hue Robe. The Deity recognized the robe's connection to Sun-Moon Cliff and withdrew most of his strike's power.

• Wenren Qihan's chest burst open, and he begged Zhang Yuan to behead him before a Great Immortal Lord could use him as a vessel to strike.
• Zhang Yuan backed away because he had exhausted his sword qi and could not cut through Wenren Qihan's body.
• A Golden-Armored Deity emerged from the bloody mist and destroyed Wenren Qihan with a golden Long Halberd.
• The Golden-Armored Deity threatened to kill Zhang Yuan and offered to spare the others if he committed suicide, but Zhang Yuan refused.
• The Golden-Armored Deity attacked, and Zhang Yuan activated the Sun-Moon Seven-Hue Robe's defensive radiance while gripping Chen Xinqiao's Beaded Bracelet.
• The Golden-Armored Deity recognized Zhang Yuan's connection to Sun-Moon Cliff and withdrew seventy percent of the golden beam's power.

Xiao Yuanjun confronted a Red Dragon and four Nine Serenities Sect cultivators at the Bing Fire dune. After swiftly killing the four cultivators and turning the dragon’s sea of flames into an icefield, she revealed that her third mystic wonder was [Jade Emperor's Journey].

• Xiao Yuanjun arrived above the Bing Fire dune and invited a hidden opponent to attack her.
• A Red Dragon emerged with four Mahayana cultivators from the Nine Serenities Sect, swallowed the Bing Fire, and attacked after confirming Xiao Yuanjun had no powerful backing.
• Xiao Yuanjun used [Myriad Forms Transformation] to destroy the four Mahayana cultivators, then erased their souls and nascent souls with [Miasma Wind].
• Xiao Yuanjun transformed the Red Dragon’s sea of fire into an icefield, leaving the dragon stunned and unwilling to attack.
• Xiao Yuanjun explained that the transformation was her third mystic wonder, [Jade Emperor's Journey], rather than her Dao Domain.

Xiao Yuanjun used her mystic wonders to overpower and kill Wenren Xixiang, then checked on the other battles and flew east to test her [Jade Emperor's Journey] against stronger opponents.

• Xiao Yuanjun explained that the Red Dragon’s cultivation was shallow, shrank her to the size of an ant, and crushed her body and soul.
• Xiao Yuanjun retrieved the Bing Fire and explained how [Jade Emperor's Journey] strengthened her other mystic wonders and sealed space within its domain.
• Xiao Yuanjun saw that Zhang Yuan was keeping Wenren Qihan pinned down and confirmed that Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei were safe and winning their fight.
• Xiao Yuanjun flew east with [Jade Emperor's Journey] to see whether cultivators at celestial person perfection and Immortal Lords could challenge it.

Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei drove off the South Sea True Dragon and hurried north to aid Zhang Yuan, who had survived the Golden-Armored Deity’s attack. The Golden-Armored Deity prepared to depart, but a faint flame appeared in the crater.

• The South Sea True Dragon fled after Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei nearly defeated it, leaving the Wu Earth behind.
• Cui Zhaowei collected the Wu Earth, and she and Cui Yuanxi flew north to help Zhang Yuan.
• Zhang Yuan rose from a vast crater, injured but protected by the [Sun-Moon Seven-Hue Robe].
• The Golden-Armored Deity hid his relief, threatened Zhang Yuan, and prepared to disperse his incarnation.
• A faint glow of fire appeared in the crater as the Golden-Armored Deity was about to leave.

The Golden-Armored Deity’s avatar was burned to ashes before it could report what it had learned, and Ye Xiangning stopped its Long Halberd from killing Zhang Yuan. Ye Xiangning claimed she was only passing through, while secretly intending to use Zhang Yuan to investigate the Boundless Southern Heaven Realm.

• A hidden flame suddenly engulfed the Golden-Armored Deity’s avatar, leaving him unable to warn his true body about Zhang Yuan or the forces backing him.
• Before the avatar perished, the Golden-Armored Deity hurled his Long Halberd at Zhang Yuan, whose movement was pinned by its power.
• Ye Xiangning appeared, caught the Long Halberd, inspected it for hidden tricks, and tossed it to Zhang Yuan.
• Zhang Yuan recognized Ye Xiangning as True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts, but she pretended to be a Ye Family descendant who had merely been passing through.
• Ye Xiangning asked Zhang Yuan to thank her for saving him while secretly planning to use him to gather information and draw out the Unimpeded Foot True Lord.

After Ye Xiangning left, Cui Yuanxi gave Zhang Yuan a precious spirit pill that healed his hidden injuries and improved his spiritual root. Cui Yuanxi revealed that she had an entire bag of the pills, while Zhang Yuan declined her offer to take more.

• Ye Xiangning departed after briefly speaking with Zhang Yuan, having concealed the observers watching him for a short time.
• Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei arrived at the devastated island, and Cui Yuanxi asked whether Zhang Yuan was injured.
• Cui Yuanxi slipped a spirit pill into Zhang Yuan’s mouth despite his attempt to take it himself.
• The pill restored Zhang Yuan’s condition and raised his spiritual root from low-grade black-tier to mid-grade black-tier.
• Cui Yuanxi showed Zhang Yuan a bag full of the same pills and offered him more, but he declined.

Zhang Yuan searched for the Ren Water and discovered it had been placed in his hand by True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts, who had amused herself by keeping him from noticing it. Meanwhile, Ye Xiangning explained to the Mysterious Court disciples that the Inverted Sea and Three Immortal Isles existed through a True Lord’s authority.

• Zhang Yuan reunited with Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei, learned they had received a strand of Wu Earth from the South Sea Dragon Clan, and prepared to search for Ren Water.
• Zhang Yuan searched the ruined northern island but found no Ren Water and concluded True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts had taken it.
• Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei pointed out the Ren Water in Zhang Yuan’s left hand, and Zhang Yuan realized True Lord Ceased Light Punishes Thoughts had secretly put it there to fool him.
• At the Inverted Sea Coast, Ye Zhenshu, Xu Lingyin, and the other Mysterious Court disciples marveled at the upside-down sea and floating islands.
• Ye Xiangning explained that the Inverted Sea and Three Immortal Isles were sustained by True Lord Jianmu Dinghai’s authority, not spells or formations.

Ye Xiangning warned Xu Lingyin against curiosity and revealed power that left the Daoist Heir frightened and silent. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuan arrived with Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei at the eastern side of Bixi's corpse island and concealed them while Xiao Yuanjun fought Wenren Shangzhi.

• Xu Lingyin questioned Ye Xiangning about her knowledge, and Ye Xiangning warned her that curiosity could be dangerous.
• Ye Xiangning crossed the deck in an instant, immobilized Xu Lingyin, and made the surrounding disciples unable to see them.
• Ye Xiangning released Xu Lingyin and praised her for keeping quiet, while Xu Lingyin resolved not to investigate her further.
• Zhang Yuan brought Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei east after finding no sign of Xiao Yuanjun to the south.
• Cui Zhaowei cut a wounded Red Dragon in two as it fled, while Wenren Shangzhi accused [Perfect Self] of going too far.
• Zhang Yuan recognized [Perfect Self] as Xiao Yuanjun's Dao Epithet and concealed himself and his companions to watch the fight.

Xiao Yuanjun’s altered Great Void kept Wenren Shangzhi trapped while Zhang Yuan and the Cui sisters ambushed the True Dragon attacking Cui Surong. Zhang Yuan shielded Cui Yuanxi from Wenren Chiye, who grew furious at their flirtation and prepared to attack them both.

• Xiao Yuanjun explained that her mystic wonder had sealed Wenren Shangzhi inside the Great Void, allowing Cui Wenshan and the others to suppress their opponents.
• Zhang Yuan sent a message to Cui Yuanxi and Cui Zhaowei, and the three ambushed Wenren Chiye while he fought Cui Surong.
• Wenren Chiye was wounded by Zhang Yuan’s and the Cui sisters’ divine abilities, then charged at Zhang Yuan in anger.
• Cui Yuanxi attacked Wenren Chiye, but Zhang Yuan pulled her behind him and said he would handle the True Dragon.
• Cui Yuanxi called Zhang Yuan a hero and teased him about marrying her, enraging Wenren Chiye as he prepared to attack them both.

Cui Zhaowei killed Wenren Chiye with a devastating Sword Qi strike, while a black-robed dragonman withdrew after realizing Zhang Yuan had survived the ambush. The island then began shaking as Wenren Shangzhi appeared outside it, still intent on confronting Zhang Yuan and rescuing Wenren Xixiang.

• Cui Zhaowei wounded Wenren Chiye with her sword and prepared a powerful strike as the black-robed dragonman reconsidered fighting Zhang Yuan and Ao Xiu.
• The black-robed dragonman abandoned his battle with Cui Wenshan's group and escaped into the Great Void.
• Cui Zhaowei exhausted her conceptual image and Sword Qi to annihilate Wenren Chiye and blast open the Sword Qi Gorge.
• Xiao Yuanjun steadied the weakened Cui Zhaowei, and Cui Yuanxi supported her as Zhang Yuan asked why she had attacked so fiercely.
• Zhang Yuan noticed the island shaking and saw Wenren Shangzhi outside it, still pursuing him and Ao Xiu and seeking Wenren Xixiang.

Wenren Shangzhi revealed his true body and swallowed Bixi Island to carry Zhang Yuan and the others from the East Sea to the South Sea, where he could summon stronger allies. True Lords stopped the East Sea Dragon Lord from intervening, leaving Zhang Yuan and Ao Xiu to face the danger ahead.

• Wenren Shangzhi revealed his enormous Red Dragon body and threatened Zhang Yuan and the others.
• Xiao Yuanjun dismissed Wenren Shangzhi's display of strength, and she and Zhang Yuan discussed who would refine the Bing Fire and Ren Water.
• Wenren Shangzhi used [Dragon-Shift Great Marsh Mountain] to swallow Bixi Island and carry it through the Great Void toward the South Sea.
• The East Sea Dragon Lord reached for the island, but a scarlet pillar of light struck his claw as several True Lords warned him not to break the rules.
• The East Sea Dragon Lord withdrew, hoping Zhang Yuan could escape the South Sea alive.

After the South Sea Dragon Clan sent Zhang Yuan to the South Sea, Qin Jieyu and Jiang Xinyi set out to deal with those who had plotted against him. Zhang Yuan concealed his karma while injured and was hauled aboard a fishing boat with Ao Xiu.

• Qin Jieyu told Jiang Xinyi that a South Sea True Dragon had transported Zhang Yuan to the South Sea, and she planned to go there and vent her anger on the clan.
• Jiang Xinyi joined Qin Jieyu on the journey, hoping for a chance to approach Zhang Yuan.
• Wenren Shangzhi shattered Bixi Island with an offensive divine ability and searched its scattered fragments for Zhang Yuan.
• Zhang Yuan, dazed and hurt from Wenren Shangzhi's tail strike, concealed his karma as a fishing net lifted him from the sea.
• Master Duan hauled the heavy net aboard, where the fishermen and cultivators found Zhang Yuan among the catch and marveled at Ao Xiu.

Fishermen hauled Zhang Yuan and Ao Xiu from the sea, and the cultivators Duan Zong, Song Tao, and Tan Sheng debated what to do with them. Zhang Yuan killed Song Tao for coveting his treasures, then pretended to be gravely injured while he healed, leaving the others wary of approaching him.

• Fishermen mistook Zhang Yuan for the Sea God when they found him and Ao Xiu in their net, but Duan Zong told them he was only a cultivator.
• Duan Zong suggested throwing Zhang Yuan back into the sea, while Song Tao insisted on approaching him to search for treasures.
• Zhang Yuan trapped Song Tao with Yellow Springs Drink, questioned him about powerful factions and protectors, and killed him when he learned he had none.
• Zhang Yuan erased the karma of Song Tao's death, then pretended to be badly injured and began healing as Duan Zong, Tan Sheng, and the fishermen watched.

Zhang Yuan rested aboard a ship after being displaced to the South Sea and planned to reach land before finding a way back to the East Sea. The Chu Family’s guest elders, Duan Zong and Tan Sheng, cautiously accommodated him while Duan Zong secretly sent the family a report about their encounter.

• Ao Xiu inwardly praised Zhang Yuan for fooling him, and Zhang Yuan warned him after overhearing his thoughts.
• After waiting all afternoon, Zhang Yuan spoke with Duan Zong and Tan Sheng and asked them to arrange a place for him to stay.
• Duan Zong led Zhang Yuan to the finest cabin, where Zhang Yuan considered his companions’ safety and resolved to reach land and gather information.
• Duan Zong and Tan Sheng discussed how they could not predict Zhang Yuan’s desires and avoided mentioning him while they talked in the Captain’s Cabin.
• After Tan Sheng left, Duan Zong wrote a message that ignited in its box and carried news of the encounter to the Chu Family.