Recaps

After the secret realm collapsed, the cultivators emerged with their spoils, and Xuan Guang learned that Chu Qingjian had obtained the Armor-Piercing Spirit Thunder needed for her breakthrough. Jiang Yang was still missing, while Feng Yi sensed danger and turned his attention back toward the seal.

• The old Monk retrieved Jing Wu and Jing Chen, who blamed a Sword Cultivator for their injuries and presented him with their gains.
• Xuan Guang and Xuan Di brought out Chu Qingjian and Zhang Yunbai, then examined the treasures they had collected.
• Chu Qingjian displayed the Armor-Piercing Spirit Thunder, and Xuan Guang said it would secure her breakthrough.
• Chu Qingjian noticed Jiang Yang had not returned, and Xuan Guang said he would bring him out shortly.
• Xuan Di sorted Zhang Yunbai's treasures and said the Mystic Star Locust Blossom should be refined into Pills.
• Mo Yu brought Yun Zhen and Ying Huang out to Feng Yi, who sensed a premonition and began calculating toward the seal.

Feng Yi realized that the Tribulation Qi guarding the Grotto-Heaven had nearly vanished, while cultivators gathered at its exposed entrance. As Xuan Guang prepared to enter, a golden-robed Daoist delivered Chang Geng's Immortal Edict and warned him not to go inside.

• Feng Yi sent Yun Zhen, Ying Huang, and Mo Yu back to the Royal Court, then went to Huai Tan Palace to investigate the fading Tribulation Qi.
• A Purple Mansion cultivator spotted the exposed Grotto-Heaven entrance and alerted the gathered cultivators, who crowded into the Sandalwood Palace.
• Xuan Di divined that the site was a Grotto-Heaven and hurried there, while Xuan Guang stayed behind to arrange for Zhi Yu to escort the juniors away.
• After Zhi Yu departed with the juniors, Xuan Guang prepared to follow the others into the Grotto-Heaven.
• A golden-robed Middle Stage Purple Mansion cultivator arrived with Chang Geng's Immortal Edict and told Xuan Guang that he must not enter.

Xuan Guang delayed accepting Chang Geng's immortal edict until Zhi Yu returned, allowing him to give his disciple instructions before being barred from the Grotto-Heaven. Meanwhile, Jiang Yang and Qing He headed for the South Garden Terrace to search its treasures.

• Jiang Li delivered Chang Geng's immortal edict, and Xuan Guang endured its growing weight without accepting it.
• Zhi Yu returned, and Xuan Guang told him to enter the Grotto-Heaven, meet Xuan Di, and follow his lead.
• After secretly giving Zhi Yu one more instruction, Xuan Guang accepted the edict and thanked Jiang Li for not interrupting his arrangements.
• Jiang Yang and Qing He set out for the South Garden Terrace, where Qing He described its vaults and the immovable Primordial Three Immortal Platforms.
• Jiang Yang spotted a distant terrace and asked Qing He whether it was the South Garden Terrace.

Jiang Yang and Qing He explored the abandoned Essence-Nurturing Pavilion in the Southern Garden and discovered a Great Net Eight-Vision Platform that had nurtured a taiyin spirit resource. Qing He explained the platform’s principles and how its arrangement could be changed to produce other forms of yin.

• Jiang Yang and Qing He entered the dilapidated Essence-Nurturing Pavilion, where its empty Nurturing Pools showed that its spirit resources were gone.
• Jiang Yang found a faintly glowing mystic platform in the upper chamber and identified it as the Great Net Eight-Vision Platform after Qing He explained its origins and purpose.
• Qing He determined that four missing corners had left the platform with four illuminated yin positions, which had nurtured a taiyin spirit resource rather than a spirit treasure.
• Qing He explained that adding sovereign fire would produce hui yin, then told Jiang Yang to replace gui water with kan water to transform the platform’s output into nether yin.

Jiang Yang collected five Golden Osmanthus Moon Medicine beads from the immortal pavilion and obtained Qing He’s promise to teach him how to refine a Mystic Platform. As they reached the Tower of No Return, Qing He sensed that someone had broken into the Grotto-Heaven.

• Jiang Yang shattered the pavilion’s Spirit Array and gathered five beads of Golden Osmanthus Moon Medicine.
• Qing He explained the medicine’s Taiyin properties and uses, including clearing the mind, nourishing qi, and dispelling demonic obstructions.
• Jiang Yang asked to take the Great Net Eight-Vision Platform home, and Qing He offered to give him its refining method while warning that building one would be difficult and slow.
• Jiang Yang left the pavilion with Qing He and headed toward the Tower of No Return, where the Grotto-Heaven’s Mystic Artifacts and Spirit Treasures were likely kept.
• As they reached the tower, Qing He sensed that someone had broken into the Grotto-Heaven.

Jiang Yang followed Qing He to the Tower of Memento’s summit and obtained the Spirit Treasure [Lush Jade Branch]. After Purple Mansion cultivators broke into the Grotto-Heaven and fighting erupted nearby, he asked Qing He to direct him to the next Hidden Abode.

• Qing He sensed Purple Mansion cultivators entering the Grotto-Heaven and warned Jiang Yang that they were plundering its Dao palaces and immortal halls.
• Qing He guided Jiang Yang to the top floor of the Tower of Memento and opened its protective Spirit Array.
• Jiang Yang found and took the [Lush Jade Branch], the Spirit Treasure anchoring the Yi Wood path.
• Jiang Yang left the Dao tower and saw smoke, flames, and signs of Purple Mansion cultivators fighting in the distance.
• Jiang Yang asked Qing He where the next Hidden Abode was.

Jiang Yang reached the Hidden Abode and gathered rare Wood Nine-Angle Wind with an Autumn Blessing Cicada Slough. Wen Hu arrived, mistook him for an unprotected Foundation Establishment cultivator, and demanded the Dao canon he had obtained.

• Qing He directed Jiang Yang to the Hidden Abode, and Jiang Yang flew south to its elegant immortal peak.
• Qing He identified the emerald mystic wind as Wood Nine-Angle Wind, and Jiang Yang collected it with his Autumn Blessing Cicada Slough.
• Wen Hu, driven into the remote southern region after other Purple Mansion cultivators claimed the best sites, spotted Jiang Yang gathering wind.
• Wen Hu sensed no nearby Purple Mansion cultivator and ordered Jiang Yang to present whatever Dao canon he had obtained.

Jiang Yang’s sword strike wounded Wen Hu, but Qing He intervened and overwhelmed the Purple Mansion True Person. As Jiang Yang emerged from the Painting Scroll, the Southern Garden Plains shook with the signs of a divine power cultivator’s death.

• Jiang Yang retreated from Wen Hu and struck him with Sword Qi, cutting his hand and revealing his sword intent.
• Wen Hu recognized Jiang Yang as an extraordinary threat and unleashed his full strength to kill him.
• Qing He emerged from Jiang Yang and froze Wen Hu and his divine powers, then reached out to kill him.
• Jiang Yang opened the Painting Scroll and found himself alone after the confrontation vanished from view.
• The earth veins of the Southern Garden Plains gathered and raised the land, signaling that a divine power cultivator had fallen.

Qing He killed the Wu Earth True Person to protect Jiang Yang, and Jiang Yang collected the dead cultivator’s scattered treasures. Qing He identified the Wu-Xu Guarded Simplicity Seal and warned Jiang Yang that its inherited lineage would eventually seek an accounting, so he should keep it hidden until he was strong enough.

• Qing He revealed that she had killed the True Person after he threatened to force Jiang Yang out of the Grotto-Heaven.
• Jiang Yang gathered the True Person’s scattered spirit treasure, spirit resources, and Small Seal from the plain.
• Qing He identified the Small Seal as the above-middle-grade Wu-Xu Guarded Simplicity Seal, a defensive wu earth Spirit Artifact with three wondrous properties.
• Jiang Yang found eight engraved characters on the seal, and Qing He explained that it belonged to an established Dao lineage.
• Qing He warned Jiang Yang that the lineage would seek him out over the stolen treasures, and he agreed to keep the seal hidden until he reached Purple Mansion.

Jiang Yang and Qing He left the battlefield and explored a hidden treasury, where they found vast stores of Spirit Stones, guarded treasure chambers, and a portion of Purple Mansion-grade spirit water. The chapter ended with Jiang Yang recognizing the rare water as a valuable Ren Water treasure.

• Jiang Yang identified the Radiant Purple Light Amber as a rare resource for refining Spirit Artifacts, and Qing He urged him to leave before other Purple Mansion cultivators arrived.
• Jiang Yang and Qing He returned to the hidden abode and entered its spirit-crystal treasury.
• Jiang Yang found millions of Spirit Stones and filled a Storage Bag with as many as it could hold.
• Qing He frightened the Xiezhi guardians into dismissing the spirit array, allowing Jiang Yang to enter the inner treasury.
• Jiang Yang examined a great cauldron and recognized its contents as Purple Mansion-grade Ren Water spirit water.

Zhi Yu and Xuan Di looted an Immortal Hall on North Screen Mountain and discussed the Spirit Treasure and the Celestial River Tradition’s restrictions on their senior brother. After learning that a Wu Earth cultivator had fallen nearby, they set off to investigate.

• Zhi Yu showed Xuan Di a Purple Mansion Spirit Flower he had obtained amid the fighting, and Xuan Di told him that Great True Person Can Yang had won the Heavenly Column Silver-Binding Cord.
• Zhi Yu told Xuan Di that an immortal envoy had delivered an edict that Master accepted, keeping him from entering the grotto-heaven; Xuan Di angrily condemned the restriction.
• Xuan Di and Zhi Yu claimed an Immortal Hall, overcame its protective array, and gathered its complete inheritance and cultivation resources.
• Zhi Yu relayed Master’s instruction to find and safely escort their youngest junior brother if they found him in the grotto-heaven.
• An explosion to the south signaled that a Wu Earth Purple Mansion cultivator had died, and Xuan Di and Zhi Yu identified the Wu Pivot Black Elephant Tradition as a likely source before going to investigate.

Jiang Yang discovered and collected jade-washing valley water and the fortune qi spirit treasure Coiled Pan Auspicious Cloud in the grotto-heaven treasury. He then turned to the remaining Pill Furnaces and decided to take them intact so Qing Si could examine their contents later.

• Jiang Yang identified the water in a bronze cauldron as jade-washing valley water and sealed it in a stone box.
• Jiang Yang opened a wooden cauldron and recognized its contents as the Coiled Pan Auspicious Cloud, also called Fortune and Virtue Heart-Appeasing Auspicious Qi.
• Qing He explained the treasure’s identity and warned Jiang Yang to store it in wood, so he carefully placed it in a wooden box.
• Jiang Yang inspected the two remaining Pill Furnaces but avoided opening them because he feared damaging the elixirs inside.
• Jiang Yang decided to take the furnaces intact and ask Qing Si of Pill Cliff Azure Wall to examine them later.

Jiang Yang took the Pill Furnaces from the grotto-heaven and chose to leave with Qing He rather than risk pursuing more treasure. After returning to the Mortal World, they emerged near Demon King Guang'e’s lair, and Jiang Yang invoked a Jade Talisman as the Demon King noticed them.

• Jiang Yang disconnected the Pill Furnaces from the Magic Array and stored them in his Storage Bag.
• Jiang Yang agreed with Qing He that they should leave the grotto-heaven, and Qing He explained that she would need his help with her reincarnation in the Mortal World.
• Jiang Yang entered the Ten Thousand Ravines, Pine Winds Painting and returned to the Mortal World in the Heavy Mountains.
• Qing He sensed that a great Purple Mansion demon had its lair nearby, and Jiang Yang recognized White Baleful Mountain as Demon King Guang'e’s territory.
• Demon King Guang'e sensed the aura released when the painting opened, and Jiang Yang invoked a Jade Talisman with the Unimpeded Wind Patrol command.

Jiang Yang fled Guang'e through the Great Void, but the Demon King caught him and trapped him. Jiang Li arrived, freed Jiang Yang, and forced Guang'e to apologize, while Jiang Yang remained wary of the newcomer's claim that he was a highness.

• Jiang Yang used the Unhindered Wind-Walking Talisman to escape through the Great Void, and Guang'e pursued him.
• When the talisman ran out, Jiang Yang landed in the Mortal World, crushed his Peach Talisman, and tried to flee again.
• Guang'e caught Jiang Yang with his Thousand-Edge Prison Divine Power and restrained him without injuring him.
• Jiang Li arrived, dispersed Guang'e's metal qi, and apologized to Jiang Yang for arriving late.
• Jiang Li identified himself as a member of the Chang Geng Dao Lineage and ordered Guang'e to apologize to Jiang Yang.
• Jiang Yang stayed silent and suspicious as Jiang Li demanded that Guang'e show his sincerity.

Jiang Li offered Jiang Yang a rare Broadwood spirit treasure in exchange for a three-hundred-year promise not to pass on a formula connected to Jiang Yang’s master, Xuan Guang. Jiang Yang refused both the bargain and the claim that he possessed the formula, ending the chapter by declaring he needed no spirit treasure to ascend to divine powers.

• At Jiang Li’s urging, Guang'e tore off his own arm to show his sincerity, while Jiang Yang watched warily and refused to take the bait.
• Jiang Li presented Jiang Yang with the Mystic Jun All-Spirit Immortal Plant, which resonated with Jiang Yang’s immortal foundation.
• Jiang Li asked whether Jiang Yang possessed the Upper Mystic Marvelous Method, also called the Heart-Aiding Formula, and Jiang Yang realized he was seeking Xuan Guang’s Cave Mystery Marvelous Unity Heart-Aiding Formula.
• Jiang Li offered the immortal plant if Jiang Yang promised not to pass on the formula for three hundred years, and proposed recording the promise in a Round Mirror.
• Jiang Yang rejected the deal, denied having the scripture, and told Jiang Li to leave.
• Jiang Li argued that the promise would cost little, but Jiang Yang met his gaze and declared that he needed no spirit treasure’s aid to ascend to divine powers.

Jiang Yang refused to let his master Xuan Guang’s Dao Path be risked for the Broadwood Spirit Treasure, and Jiang Li explained Yi Wood’s ancient origins while warning of the consequences of restoring it. Xuan Guang drove Jiang Li away and noticed that Jiang Yang had acquired Sword Intent.

• Jiang Yang rejected Jiang Li’s proposal because he would not mortgage Xuan Guang’s Dao Path for the Broadwood Spirit Treasure.
• Jiang Li sent Guang'e away, then recounted how Horned Deer became the predecessor of Yi Wood and how Tian Yi later attained the position.
• Jiang Yang suspected that the Chang Geng Dao Lineage feared that restoring Yi Wood might provoke someone’s return, but Jiang Li did not confirm his guess.
• Xuan Guang arrived, confronted Jiang Li, and struck at him as he escaped into the Great Void.
• Xuan Guang’s remaining sword stroke reached White Baleful Mountain, after which he recognized that Jiang Yang had acquired Sword Intent.

Jiang Yang revealed that he had attained sword intent, and Xuan Guang took him back toward Huai Tan Palace to meet his martial uncle and senior brother. Qing He then explained how Jiang Yang could help arrange her reincarnation through Heli Heavenly Abyss, leaving him to ask Xuan Guang for help finding a suitable cultivator.

• Jiang Yang admitted to Xuan Guang that he had attained sword intent, which Xuan Guang welcomed as a legacy for the Fushu lineage.
• Xuan Guang took Jiang Yang through the Great Void to the Mortal World near Huai Tan Palace, where Jiang Yang saw rogue cultivators searching the fallen halls for treasures.
• Qing He told Jiang Yang that she needed to consider her reincarnation and identified Heli Heavenly Abyss as a route into the Nether Bureau.
• Qing He said Jiang Yang needed a Purple Mansion cultivator skilled in either Nether Yin or Zhong Kui to cast the Spirit Sword carrying the golden nature into the Nether Bureau.
• Unable to think of anyone who met the requirements, Jiang Yang asked Xuan Guang whether he knew a True Person who cultivated Nether Yin.

Jiang Yang learned that True Person Xuanyan followed the Zhong Kui Dao Lineage and could help him pursue his cultivation. After the Purple Mansion cultivators emerged from Azure Corner Heaven, Xuan Di and Zhi Yu reported that a cultivator from Locust Image Mountain had died inside, while Jiang Yang concealed his own involvement.

• Xuan Guang told Jiang Yang about the rare Nether Yin Dao Lineage and offered to contact the Jing clan of Jinyang on his behalf.
• Xuan Guang revealed that True Person Xuanyan was a Zhong Kui cultivator whose true form was a black jade profound cat, giving Jiang Yang a convenient potential ally.
• The Great Void released more than a dozen Purple Mansion True Persons, including Xuan Di and the injured but upbeat Zhi Yu.
• Xuan Di and Zhi Yu told Xuan Guang that a Purple Mansion cultivator from Locust Image Mountain had died in Azure Corner Heaven, though they could not determine who killed him.
• Xuan Guang sent Zhi Yu to retrieve Jiang Yang's junior sister and Martial Nephew Yunbai from Cuiwei, then told Xuan Di to return to the Sect with him.

Jiang Yang returned to Rain Xiang Mountain with Xuan Di and presented Xuan Guang with a Dao Scripture he had found in Azure Corner Heaven’s Langhuan Pavilion. Xuan Guang studied the Heart-Aiding Formula in silence, and the chapter ended as Xuan Di eagerly awaited his judgment.

• Xuan Di reported that Great True Person Can Yang and Great True Person Feng Yi had obtained spirit treasures in Azure Corner Heaven.
• Xuan Di described the Cloud-Resting Hall’s Cloud Qi inheritance and planned to establish Dao Immortal Peak within the sect.
• Jiang Yang presented Xuan Guang with a jade slip containing the Heart-Aiding Formula he had found in the Langhuan Pavilion.
• Xuan Guang studied the formula for nearly half an hour, then closed his eyes before opening them with verdant, shining eyes.
• Xuan Di hurriedly asked Xuan Guang what he thought of the Dao Scripture.

Xuan Guang explained how his harsh youth and years of responsibility shaped his life, which had appeared carefree to others but was built on endurance and compromise. The Upper Green Essential Art gave him a new path toward his final divine power, though he said his chances of attaining Gold-Seeking remained slim.

• Xuan Guang told Xuan Di that the Immortal Art revealed the mysteries of Upper Profundity and passed him the Jade Slip to study.
• Xuan Guang recounted how his family fell into ruin, how he refused his clan’s offers of reconciliation, and how his mother’s death coincided with the destruction of the Sixia Yi Clan and his forging of sword intent.
• Xuan Guang described how he rose to power at Rain Xiang Mountain but gave up his freedom to shoulder the Sect’s burdens after the Great True Person perished.
• Jiang Yang recognized that Xuan Guang’s seemingly smooth life had depended on endurance, compromise, retreat, and maneuvering.
• Xuan Guang said he still wanted to pursue Gold-Seeking, but explained that the path of Yi Wood was arduous and that he lacked even the basic Gold-Seeking method.

Jiang Yang learned why gold-seeking methods were essential for attaining a Dao Fruit position and heard that Rain Xiang Mountain possessed a method for weak water, though Xuan Guang believed his yi wood path had changed too much for such guidance to help. Jiang Yang asked Qing He for a method, and she said she had prepared one for cracking wood but warned it might not benefit Xuan Guang.

• Xuan Guang explained that gold-seeking methods guided cultivators toward Dao Fruit positions and that those without a method often died trying to attain one.
• Xuan Di described Rain Xiang Mountain's inherited Mystic Abyss Flowing-Change Gold-Seeking Wonder Art and the divine powers used to seek a weak water Surplus position.
• Xuan Guang refused to rely on the weak water method, explaining that yi wood had changed so greatly that pursuing its former path offered little hope.
• Jiang Yang reflected on Xuan Guang's weakened Dao Lineage and considered asking Qing He for guidance.
• Qing He said she had prepared a gold-seeking method for cracking wood but cautioned that giving it to Xuan Guang might not be good for him.

Jiang Yang learned why Qing He's cultivation method could not simply be passed to Xuan Guang, while Xuan Guang agreed to cultivate a newly found art. The disciples then discussed their plans after the grotto-heaven journey, with Chu Qingjian preparing to enter seclusion.

• Qing He explained that different cultivation paths required distinct methods and that cracking wood was especially difficult because its ancient thunder aspect had withered.
• Jiang Yang realized Qing He's past life on the thunder wood path complemented her present life cultivating cracking wood, and Qing He praised his understanding.
• Xuan Guang agreed to cultivate the Gui Water art, and Xuan Di took the qi-gathering method and left to arrange for the required spiritual materials.
• Zhi Yu said he planned to refine a Spirit Artifact to guard the sect's mineral veins, and Xuan Guang offered him three additional portions of spirit resources.
• Chu Qingjian said she needed nothing further and would enter seclusion to pursue the Purple Mansion and divine powers.

Xuan Guang arranged resources for Chu Qingjian’s future Purple Mansion breakthrough before True Person Li Xia’s death brought Branch-Washing Rain over the sect. As the sect mourned Li Xia, Lin Daoqiu ascended to divine powers above White Elm Peak.

• Xuan Guang urged Chu Qingjian to master the four Secret Arts in her Junting Divine Pivot Codex and promised the peak would provide resources for her breakthrough.
• Xuan Guang arranged for Alchemist Ge to refine a Grand Pill and advised Chu Qingjian to nurture her pagoda flowers with the Water Pill method.
• Branch-Washing Rain appeared across the sect, and Xuan Guang recognized that True Person Li Xia had died in meditation.
• Xuan Guang sent Zhi Yu to Chong'e Peak to offer condolences and help with Li Xia’s funeral rites.
• A black river of rain and surging spirit vigor gathered above White Elm Peak, and Xuan Guang celebrated Lin Daoqiu’s ascension to divine powers.

After True Person Zhi Qiu broke through to the Purple Mansion, Xuan Guang questioned Jiang Yang about the Grotto-Heaven and examined the True Lord’s painting he had obtained. Jiang Yang left after entrusting Xuan Guang with the Lush Jade Branch, intending to prepare for Qing He’s reincarnation.

• Xuan Guang told Chu Qingjian that True Person Zhi Qiu had reached the Purple Mansion, and she left to congratulate him on Fushu Peak’s behalf.
• Xuan Guang explained that Zhi Qiu had used the imagery of Ren Water to transform into a flood dragon and gain the No-Return River divine power.
• Xuan Guang asked Jiang Yang whether someone had guided him to the Grotto-Heaven, and Jiang Yang described the dragon’s warning and the goodwill of the Luan-kind and Heart Fox.
• Jiang Yang showed Xuan Guang the Ten Thousand Ravines, Pine Winds Painting, and Xuan Guang recognized the True Lord’s signature and advised him to keep it safe.
• Jiang Yang offered Xuan Guang the Lush Jade Branch, and Xuan Guang accepted it as a loan to return once Jiang Yang attained divine powers.
• Jiang Yang bid farewell to Xuan Guang and left to prepare for Qing He’s reincarnation.

Jiang Yang returned to his courtyard and carefully inventoried the abundant treasures and resources he had brought back from his journey. As he finished sorting them, Qing He manifested to watch, while Xuan Guang’s request left Jiang Yang with an errand to complete at the Heli Heavenly Abyss.

• Xuan Guang gave Jiang Yang a sealed Wooden Box and asked him to exchange its thunder for pivot thunder for his senior sister through Yuan Jun.
• Jiang Yang returned to his courtyard and found that his monthly allotment of Elixirs had been delivered despite his absence.
• Jiang Yang sorted through his Storage Bags, cataloguing Mystic Artifacts, Purple Mansion treasures, cultivation manuals, Spirit Resources, and other gains from the Secret Realm and Grotto-Heaven.
• Qing He manifested in Jiang Yang’s Quiet Chamber and explained that she could appear in the Mortal World as long as she did not take action.
• Jiang Yang set aside items he could not safely use yet, including Immortal Brew, unopened Elixirs, and the Wu Earth Keeper’s Small Seal.