Chapter Summaries

Zang Yu and Jiang Yang tortured Zou Cheng until he revealed his name and claimed ties to the Qu River Zou clan and its Mystic Eagle Soaring Transformation True Fire Dao Lineage. After Zou Cheng recorded his cultivation method, Jiang Yang read the Jade Slip and found it contained the Crimson Radiance Perfect Union Scripture.

• Zang Yu interrogated the captured black-robed cultivator and used weak water to torture him when he refused to answer.
• Jiang Yang alternated between easing the suppression on the man and healing him, until he finally identified himself as Zou Cheng.
• Zou Cheng claimed he came from the Qu River Zou clan and cultivated the Mystic Eagle Soaring Transformation True Fire Dao Lineage.
• Jiang Yang found no proof of Zou Cheng's identity in the captured Storage Bags, so Zang Yu ordered him to record his entire Dao lineage on a Jade Slip.
• Jiang Yang arranged for the Spirit Boat to resume its journey, then returned and helped Zang Yu make Zou Cheng finish recording the lineage.
• Jiang Yang read the Jade Slip and identified the method as the Crimson Radiance Perfect Union Scripture, which described a fourth-rank Foundation Establishment reaching Crimson Radiance Melt.

Jiang Yang and Zang Yu questioned Zou Cheng about the Zou Household’s attack on the Spirit Boats, but suspected he was concealing key information and possibly waiting for a rescue. After delivering the raw ore at New Canal, they prepared to return with Zou Cheng in custody.

• Zang Yu questioned Zou Cheng about the missing parts of the Crimson Radiance Perfect Union Scripture and why the Zou had attacked the Spirit Boats.
• Zou Cheng claimed the Zou acted for profit and said clansmen in Cuiwei’s Market Ward had sent them the Spirit Boat’s route.
• Jiang Yang warned Zang Yu that Zou Cheng’s account contained truths and lies, and suggested a True Person question him after they delivered the raw ore.
• Jiang Yang and Zang Yu suspected Zou Cheng was stalling for time and considered whether someone might come to rescue him.
• The Flying Boat descended near New Canal, and Jiang Yang and Zang Yu disembarked with the unconscious Zou Cheng after completing their task.

Zou Ze reported the failed attack to the True Person, who rewarded him despite knowing he had murdered the other survivors. The True Person ordered Zou Xing'an to send the Zou Household's last five Foundation Establishment elders to rescue Zou Cheng, and Zou Xing'an accepted the command, resolved to pursue power despite the danger to his clan.

• Zou Ze claimed that a powerful Sword Cultivator had killed the attackers and that he alone had escaped to report back.
• The True Person revealed to Zou Xing'an that Zou Ze had murdered four other survivors, but praised his ruthlessness and gave him a pill.
• The True Person told Zou Xing'an that Zou Cheng was alive and ordered him to take five clansmen to rescue him at Reed Mountain Ridge.
• Zou Xing'an warned that the rescue could cost the Zou Household its remaining Foundation Establishment elders and argued that they should abandon Zou Cheng.
• The True Person insisted that his order was not open to debate, and Zou Xing'an agreed to make the arrangements, deciding to follow the path toward Purple Mansion.

True Person Apricot Robe revealed to his junior brother how he had cultivated Zou Xing'an as a pawn and arranged for clans to be sacrificed to prepare for Huai Tan Palace's descent. Meanwhile, Jiang Yang and Zang Yu reached Reed Mountain Ridge and stopped to rest on their journey back with a captive.

• True Person Apricot Robe gave Zou Xing'an more spiritual Pills and urged him to focus on breaking through, while Zou Xing'an reflected on how his dependence on the True Person had changed his priorities.
• Daoist Apricot Robe told his junior brother that he had nurtured Zou Xing'an as a dose of “wood-tip chill” and planned to keep him compliant by bringing down the pillars of his clan.
• Daoist Apricot Robe and his junior brother discussed their plan to exploit the coming descent of Huai Tan Palace, using the deaths of nearby clans and battles among cultivators and demon generals to prepare the secret realm.
• Jiang Yang and Zang Yu reached Reed Mountain Ridge after traveling at full speed, and Zang Yu suggested stopping to recover.
• Jiang Yang agreed to rest at the ridge, which Zang Yu said was relatively safe because its Reed Chicken demon general had been killed and no replacement had been appointed.

Jiang Yang detected a Zou Household ambush and attacked before the elders could complete the Six-Yang Black Eagle Array. He exploited his mystic pupils to target the array’s weak points, but the fight remained unresolved as one elder made a mistake.

• Jiang Yang noticed spirit vigor gathering nearby and warned Zang Yu that enemies were approaching.
• Jiang Yang left Zang Yu to guard the unconscious Zou Cheng and rushed toward the ambushers.
• The gray-browed Zou Household elder and four others worked to establish the Six-Yang Black Eagle Array.
• Jiang Yang struck the array repeatedly, using his mystic pupils to identify its weak points while the elders struggled to hold it together.
• The old woman at the northeastern corner mislinked a point under pressure and hurried to correct her mistake.

Jiang Yang broke the Black Stratagem spirit array and defeated the five Foundation Establishment cultivators who had trapped him. As their immortal foundations scattered, he let their remains pass with dignity and watched red maples bloom across the ridge.

• The old woman stabilized an array flag with her blood, but the Black Stratagem began to break after Jiang Yang found and struck a flaw in the array.
• The gray-browed old man realized the array was failing and died, thinking of Xing An and the family’s hopes for him.
• Zang Yu watched Jiang Yang shatter the spirit array and descended to the ridge once the canopy broke.
• Jiang Yang defeated the five weakened Foundation Establishment cultivators and collected their Array Disk and five flags.
• Jiang Yang let the cultivators’ Spirit Treasures scatter as their immortal foundations disintegrated, then watched red maples bloom across the ridge.

After Jiang Yang and Zang Yu buried the five Zou clan cultivators, they flew north and Zang Yu revealed that his master, Zhi Qiu, had been attempting to break through to the Purple Mansion for thirty-five years. Zang Yu feared Zhi Qiu would die in seclusion because he lacked the lifespan to continue, leaving Jiang Yang to reflect on the dangers of delaying breakthroughs and using his lifespan-damaging art.

• Jiang Yang and Zang Yu gathered and buried the five Foundation Establishment cultivators' corpses at Reed Mountain Ridge.
• Zang Yu praised Jiang Yang's swordsmanship and reflected on his own inability to help during the fight.
• As they flew north, Zang Yu told Jiang Yang that his master, Zhi Qiu, was still in seclusion attempting to reach the Purple Mansion.
• Zang Yu explained that Zhi Qiu had been secluded for thirty-five years and might run out of lifespan before succeeding.
• Jiang Yang realized that cultivators had to attempt breakthroughs early and resolved to use his lifespan-damaging art cautiously and cover his tracks.

Jiang Yang and Zang Yu returned to Cuiwei with Zou Cheng, whom Zhi Yu interrogated about the force behind his attack. After resting and advancing his cultivation, Jiang Yang spent two months escorting Spirit Boats until attacks ceased, then set out to fight demons as beast tides threatened Cuiwei’s borders.

• Zang Yu and Jiang Yang reported to Zhi Yu, bringing the unconscious Zou Cheng back as a prisoner.
• Jiang Yang asked about Third Senior Sister and learned she was capturing demons south of Heavy Mountains.
• Zhi Yu pressured Zou Cheng, who revealed the secrets he had tried to keep from the True Person.
• Jiang Yang rested, took an elixir, and felt his cultivation and swordsmanship improving.
• Jiang Yang escorted Spirit Boats for two months until no one dared attack the routes.
• Beast tides began threatening Cuiwei’s borders, so Jiang Yang set out to sweep away the demons.

Jiang Yang investigated the Beast Tide at Gloomside Gorge, where Monsters were being driven to attack Cuiwei’s spirit array. Disguised as a gray ape, he infiltrated the gorge and overheard Demon Generals discussing the taste of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

• After killing more than fifty enemy cultivators, Jiang Yang found that attacks on transport missions had stopped.
• Jiang Yang reached Gloomside Gorge and observed Monsters fighting chaotically and spilling into nearby lands.
• Jiang Yang disguised himself as a long-armed gray ape and ventured into the gorge to find those driving the Beast Tide.
• Jiang Yang approached a pavilion where Demon Generals were feasting and secretly listened with his spirit sense.
• The Demon Generals discussed their appetite for humans, and General Bear claimed that a Foundation Establishment cultivator was especially delicious.

Jiang Yang infiltrated a demon banquet disguised as a white ape and killed six Foundation Establishment-level Demon Generals, including General Bear, in a sudden sword strike. With the beast tide alerted and his meridians injured from the attack, he fled before the other demons could surround him.

• General Bear bragged to the Demon Generals about eating a Foundation Establishment cultivator, then dodged their questions about what happened afterward.
• Jiang Yang approached the banquet disguised as a low-ranking white ape and let the demons mistake him for a servant.
• When General Bear demanded wine, Jiang Yang revealed himself and unleashed a swift sword strike that killed three demons, including General Bear.
• Jiang Yang killed the three remaining demons within ten breaths, though the burst of true essence left his meridians burning and swollen.
• As nearby Demon Generals rushed toward the pavilion, Jiang Yang transformed and fled as a ray of light.

Jiang Yang escaped the demons as the Monster Beasts erupted into an early, disorganized Beast Tide, then followed Yun Zhen’s feather to find her. He reunited with Yun Zhen and was introduced to her friend Ying Huang.

• Jiang Yang fled the canyon after six Demon Generals died, triggering the Monster Beasts to riot and launch the Beast Tide ahead of schedule.
• Jiang Yang sent Senior Brother Zhi Yu a warning with the Jade Talisman and realized the scattered beasts would pose a smaller threat to Cuiwei.
• Yun Zhen’s feather emerged from Jiang Yang’s Storage Bag, pointed in a direction, and led him to a fiery mountain.
• Jiang Yang met Yun Zhen, who complained that he had kept her waiting for more than three months, and explained that sect affairs had delayed him.
• Yun Zhen introduced her friend Ying Huang to Jiang Yang, and Ying Huang identified herself as a Six-Heart Bewitching Clear-Eyed Fox.

Jiang Yang met Ying Huang, a noble fox descendant and Yun Zhen’s friend, and joined the two women at their temporary palace. After a honey feast, Ying Huang teased Yun Zhen about her appearance and asked Jiang Yang to judge which of them was more beautiful.

• Jiang Yang exchanged greetings with Ying Huang, who recognized his lineage in the Celestial River Tradition.
• Yun Zhen led Jiang Yang and Ying Huang to their lavish temporary palace on a remote mountain of blazing fire.
• The three shared spirit honey in the palace hall, and Jiang Yang found himself noticing Ying Huang’s figure.
• Yun Zhen complained that Ying Huang had developed faster despite being younger, and Ying Huang teased her about being jealous.
• Ying Huang asked Jiang Yang whether she or Yun Zhen was more beautiful.

Ying Huang explained that her Six-Heart Fox lineage and Jiang Yang’s Cangming shared parallel Dao Trajectories through Kunqiu and Kunxu. Jiang Yang learned that their ancestral connections made them fellow disciples on the same Dao Trajectory, though Ying Huang’s seniority was much higher than his.

• Ying Huang used her Clear-Sighted Fox gift to influence Jiang Yang, who praised Yun Zhen as more beautiful, then apologized for the prank.
• Yun Zhen explained that Ying Huang’s lineage followed the formidable heart-fire Dao Lineage, while her own followed Separation Fire.
• Jiang Yang asked why Ying Huang had questioned him about his Dao Lineage, and she said the Six-Heart Fox lineage shared a Dao Trajectory with Cangming.
• Ying Huang traced her lineage to Kunqiu and Jiang Yang’s lineage to Kunxu, while Yun Zhen connected them to the Venerable Spirit of Abyssal Depths and the Celestial River Jellyfish.
• Yun Zhen explained that she had brought Ying Huang to meet Jiang Yang because their lineages made them fellow disciples on the same Dao Trajectory.
• Jiang Yang realized Ying Huang’s seniority was far above his and said that calling him Brother Jiang might shortchange her.

Yun Zhen explained the history of the Azure Corner Sect and revealed that an opportunity lay in Huai Tan Palace, an Immortal Palace attached to Azure Corner Heaven. Jiang Yang learned that reaching it required both shaking the palace loose and forging a Secret Key.

• Ying Huang suggested that Jiang Yang and the others treat one another as fellow Daoists rather than rely on lineage-register ranks.
• Yun Zhen asked Jiang Yang about the Azure Corner Sect, and he said Yuan Jun had told him only that Azure Corner Heaven would soon descend.
• Yun Zhen recounted how True Lords Green Cliff and Qing Tang had successively led the Azure Corner Sect and established its Thunderbolt Wind Sky Windwood Lineage.
• Ying Huang explained that Huai Tan Palace hung beneath Azure Corner Heaven and could be opened by forging a key.
• Yun Zhen clarified that they would need to shake Huai Tan Palace loose and obtain a Secret Key before they could enter it.

Jiang Yang learned that Purple Mansion cultivators were deliberately causing turmoil to force Huai Tan Palace into the world and obtain its Secret Key. Yun Zhen said she would take him inside after the Beast Tide passed, while Ying Huang explained that the scheme depended on the grotto-heaven having no one in its golden position.

• Ying Huang explained that a Secret Key was a Destiny Bearer whose cultivated Dao Lineage could resonate with a grotto-heaven and open its gates.
• Jiang Yang suspected that Fang Xu had obtained the Xun Wood Dao Lineage and been taken away to serve as a Secret Key.
• Ying Huang described three ways to unsettle a grotto-heaven and said cultivators were using spirit-vigor turmoil as the easiest method.
• Jiang Yang realized that border raids, cultivator deaths, and the Beast Tide had been orchestrated to unsettle Huai Tan Palace.
• Yun Zhen told Jiang Yang that Huai Tan Palace would likely emerge after the Beast Tide passed and promised to take him inside.
• Ying Huang said they dared to act because the grotto-heaven was unowned and no one occupied its golden position.

Yun Zhen explained that the Xun Wood Fruit Position was vacant and that True Lord Qing Tang had died, then described how sovereign fire lost its former standing and could no longer be attained. Jiang Yang learned that remnant metal could dissipate execution thunder and asked Yun Zhen what she knew about the remnant metal Dao Lineage.

• Yun Zhen told Jiang Yang that True Lord Qing Tang had died during [Thunder Wood's Division] and that remnant metal still dissipated the execution thunder linked to his fall.
• Ying Huang invited Yun Zhen to explain the ancient saying about sovereign fire burning its kindling, and Yun Zhen described how wood-virtue True Lords had diminished sovereign fire's power.
• Yun Zhen said sovereign fire could no longer be attained, though its Divine Power Kindling Break, now called Zhu Mingye, still restrained cracking wood.
• Yun Zhen explained that remnant metal dissipated execution thunder and that formations must keep the two apart, then Jiang Yang asked about the remnant metal Dao Lineage.

Yun Zhen explained that peril gold was a wounded metal Dao whose calamity damaged ancient array foundations and exposed hidden legacies. Ying Huang connected its wound to the fall of the Lord of Fortune and Virtue and other disasters, while Jiang Yang left eager to learn more about the ancient events.

• Yun Zhen explained that peril gold’s severe afflictions deterred cultivators, though ancient cultivators used it as durable spirit-array foundations.
• Yun Zhen showed Jiang Yang a broken game piece made from peril gold and explained that its damage reflected a wound to the Dao itself.
• Ying Huang recognized the peril gold and recalled that array collapses and the waning of fortune qi had begun around the same time.
• Yun Zhen described the catastrophe in which the Lord of Fortune and Virtue lost his station, peril gold was wounded, and daylight vanished for three days.
• Jiang Yang pressed Yun Zhen for more details, then regained his composure and thanked her for sharing what she knew.

Purple Mansion cultivators watched the Sandalwood Locust Palace emerge in the Great Void and prepared to send their chosen people into Lone Peak's territory to claim its treasures. Meanwhile, Jiang Yang feasted with Ying Huang and Yun Zhen, whose growing familiarity turned the gathering into a relaxed drinking session.

• Purple Mansion cultivators saw the Sandalwood Locust Palace begin to take shape in the Great Void and discussed their hopes of claiming its treasures.
• True Person Yuanmei failed to calculate when the palace would descend because the turmoil had obscured heaven's mysteries.
• The Purple Mansion cultivators agreed the palace could no longer be concealed and set off to send their prepared pieces into Lone Peak's territory.
• Yun Zhen moved her table beside Ying Huang's, then the women pulled Jiang Yang's table close to theirs.
• Jiang Yang raised cups of spirit honey with Yun Zhen and Ying Huang as they continued their feast.

While Ying Huang and Yun Zhen drank Spirit Honey and wine, Jiang Yang refined the surging spiritual energy and worried that his cultivation was advancing too quickly for him to pursue sword intent. He discovered Ying Huang was secretly teasing him beneath the table, and their playful contest continued as she stubbornly kept her foot near him.

• Ying Huang and Yun Zhen drank together while Jiang Yang refined the Spirit Honey and reflected on his cultivation and sword dao.
• Jiang Yang found a sock beneath the table and used his mystic pupils to identify Ying Huang as its owner.
• Ying Huang swept her foot near Jiang Yang's robes while carrying on a conversation with Yun Zhen.
• Jiang Yang jabbed Ying Huang's sole with magic power, making her hiss and tense up.
• Jiang Yang stopped after seeing Ying Huang's foot curl, but Ying Huang still refused to draw her leg back.

Yun Zhen received Demon King Mo Yu, who had come to report that the Sandalwood Locust Palace was about to descend. After introducing Jiang Yang to her, Mo Yu revealed that she had seen him at the Dragon Lord’s birthday banquet.

• A maid told Yun Zhen that Demon King Mo Yu had arrived, and Yun Zhen invited her into the hall.
• Yun Zhen explained that Mo Yu had been watching the Great Void near Jianqi Pool for signs of the Sandalwood Locust Palace’s descent.
• Ying Huang told Jiang Yang that Mo Yu’s Mysterious Serpent lineage had lost its former standing and now relied on the Luan-kind for protection.
• Mo Yu entered the hall and greeted Yun Zhen, Ying Huang, and Jiang Yang.
• Mo Yu told Jiang Yang that they had met before at the Dragon Lord’s birthday banquet, where she had seen him clearly.