Chapter Summaries

Xuan Wuchang collected corpses after the beast tide to recover his strength, then killed a Ten Thousand Fire Sect cultivator who had returned to search the battlefield. In his cave abode, Xu Yan inventoried two Storage Rings and began using four pills to break through to the foundation establishment middle stage.

• Xuan Wuchang collected eleven cultivator corpses and three Storage Rings from the battlefield, then left three mangled corpses behind.
• Xuan Wuchang detected a short old man spying on him, pursued him, and killed him before taking his Storage Ring and purple feather.
• Xu Yan inventoried Ye Yun's Storage Ring and found a Golden Marrow Jade Dew Pill, a Blood Jade Spirit Python corpse, an unusual jade token, and a body-refinement cultivation method.
• Xu Yan searched a Dark Moon Sect cultivator's Storage Ring and found a supreme-grade Spirit Artifact flying sword, an unfinished round shield, cave-mystery iron essence, and the Artifact Cauldron Secret Canon.
• Xu Yan brought out four pills, began circulating the Taiyi Five Elements Art, and swallowed them to attempt his breakthrough.

Xu Yan broke through to the middle stage of foundation establishment, refined the Blood Concealment Flying Sword, and set out to enslave a foundation establishment perfection cultivator. After killing Zhou Qi and confronting Xuan Wuchang, he watched Xuan flee from his newly revealed strength.

• Xu Yan broke through to the middle stage of foundation establishment and decided to target one of the four factions’ foundation establishment perfection cultivators with the Ancient Demon Slave Talisman.
• Xu Yan refined the Blood Concealment Flying Sword and headed toward the Inner Region before the scattered cultivators could gather.
• Xu Yan encountered Zhou Qi fleeing from Xuan Wuchang, then killed Zhou Qi with his flying sword and took his Storage Ring.
• Xuan Wuchang challenged Xu Yan, but Xu Yan unleashed an aura comparable to a Half-Step Golden Core cultivator, causing Xuan Wuchang to flee.

Xu Yan pursued the injured Xuan Wuchang and used a feigned negotiation to catch him off guard. After defeating him with Annihilation Demon Finger, Xu Yan implanted the Ancient Demon Slave Talisman, leaving Xuan Wuchang under his control.

• Xu Yan realized Xuan Wuchang was gravely weakened and pursued him to implant the Slave Talisman.
• Xuan Wuchang offered spirit stones and information about the Inner Region Spirit Treasure to persuade Xu Yan to let him go.
• Xu Yan pretended to consider the offer while secretly preparing Annihilation Demon Finger, then struck as Xuan Wuchang began swearing a Heart-Demon Oath.
• Xuan Wuchang blocked Xu Yan's blood-colored flying sword but was overwhelmed by Annihilation Demon Finger and severely injured.
• Xu Yan caught up with Xuan Wuchang and branded the Ancient Demon Slave Talisman between his brows.

Xu Yan enslaved Xuan Wuchang with the Ancient Demon Slave Talisman and discovered the extent of his power and the secrets behind his weakened cultivation. After learning Xuan Wuchang could recover by devouring cultivators, Xu Yan disguised himself as him and stored him in a Spirit Beast Bag, setting up a plan that was interrupted by a sudden disturbance.

• Xu Yan tested the Ancient Demon Slave Talisman's power by using Xuan Wuchang's essence blood to activate a forbidden escape art, draining his lifespan and moving a thousand zhang away.
• Xu Yan ordered Xuan Wuchang to surrender his Storage Ring and found spirit stones and a purple feather whose origin might be tied to a terrifying demonic bird.
• Xuan Wuchang explained that he had lost cultivation after entering the Great Yan Ancient Mine and commanding a beast tide, and said he could regain his peak by devouring just over twenty cultivator corpses.
• Xu Yan transformed his appearance into Xuan Wuchang's likeness, declared Xuan Wuchang his avatar, and ordered him into a Spirit Beast Bag with a corpse.
• After Xuan Wuchang entered the bag, Xu Yan's expression changed when he sensed something unexpected.

Xu Yan learned that the wooden puppet frightened Xuan Wuchang because it seemed close to developing Spirit Consciousness, and he resolved to keep it sealed and under his control. He restored Xuan Wuchang’s cultivation by killing cultivators in the Great Yan Ancient Mine, then followed the four forces toward the Spirit Treasure while hiding behind Xuan Wuchang’s identity.

• Xu Yan brought the wooden puppet out of the Spirit Beast Bag and learned from Xuan Wuchang that its presence felt like a threat from a being nearing Spirit Consciousness.
• Xu Yan sealed the wooden puppet and decided to master the Ancient Demon Slave Talisman so he could control it if it regained its spirituality.
• Xu Yan killed two Ten Thousand Fire Sect cultivators and then three Dark Moon Sect cultivators, feeding their corpses to Xuan Wuchang to restore his strength.
• Xu Yan killed more than thirty cultivators over three days, restoring Xuan Wuchang to peak cultivation, while rumors spread that Xuan Wuchang had gone mad.
• Xu Yan stopped killing as the four forces gathered and followed them from a distance toward the Spirit Treasure, waiting for an opportunity to act.

Li Changfeng led the surviving Crimson Sun Sect cultivators to Ghost Cry Valley, where the Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism was said to lie in a nest of dangerous Insect Beasts. The other factions gathered there as well, and Li Changfeng revealed that the valley held tens of thousands of the creatures.

• Li Changfeng’s group recovered from their losses and set out for Ghost Cry Valley, while Gu Xuanji and the other factions secretly followed them.
• Xu Yan emerged after the factions had left and pursued them toward the valley.
• Li Changfeng’s group reached Ghost Cry Valley and sensed its eerie sounds, numbing mist, and unseen watchers.
• Gu Xuanji, the Dark Moon Sect, and the Ten Thousand Fire Sect joined the Crimson Sun Sect at the valley entrance.
• Li Changfeng told the gathered factions that a miner’s Projection Pearl showed Spirit-Devouring Insects surrounding a nest deep in the valley, where the Spirit Treasure lay.

Xu Yan learned that a Spirit-Devouring Insect nest might contain calamity-averting yuan magnetism and decided he had to obtain it. Meanwhile, the four groups attacked the insects in Ghost Cry Valley and broke through a dense Insect Cloud with spirit talismans.

• Zhuang Wuya and Li Changfeng discussed the Spirit-Devouring Insect descendants and estimated that fewer than a hundred had reached the second tier.
• Xu Yan realized a Spirit Treasure inside the nest might be calamity-averting yuan magnetism and resolved to claim it.
• Zhuang Wuya used a flame divine ability to expose the tens of thousands of insects in Ghost Cry Valley, and the cultivators attacked.
• The enraged Insect Swarm killed more than a dozen cultivators as the four groups advanced into the valley.
• Li Changfeng and Zhuang Wuya urged everyone to break through the Insect Cloud, and the cultivators unleashed spirit talismans that destroyed it before rushing deeper into the valley.

Xu Yan entered Ghost Cry Valley disguised as Xuan Wuchang while the four factions fought their way toward a Spirit Treasure. They found Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism guarded by a powerful, intelligent Insect Mother, and Li Changfeng urged the factions to attack it together.

• Xu Yan released Xuan Wuchang and told him to pose as his clone while they entered the valley.
• The four factions battled through swarms of Insect Beasts, and Li Changfeng revealed that the treasure was Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism, persuading the cultivators to press on.
• The cultivators broke through a massive Insect Cloud and found a nest guarded by a golden insect and several powerful Insect Beasts.
• Gu Xuanji judged the golden insect to be comparable to a False Core cultivator, and the Insect Mother threatened to have its children devour the humans.
• The Insect Mother tried to turn the factions against each other over the single treasure, but Li Changfeng urged Zhuang Wuya and Gu Xuanji to join him in killing it.

Gu Xuanji, Zhuang Wuya, and Li Changfeng fought the Insect Mother while the other cultivators battled her offspring. As the Insect Mother faltered, Xu Yan and Xuan Wuchang rushed to seize the calamity-averting yuan magnetism, provoking the cultivators’ fury.

• Gu Xuanji, Zhuang Wuya, and Li Changfeng joined forces against the Insect Mother as the cultivators fought her Insect Beasts.
• Xu Yan and Xuan Wuchang approached the battlefield in secret and prepared to act.
• The cultivators killed the second-tier Insect Beasts, but the Insect Mother overwhelmed the three Half-Step Golden Core cultivators.
• Several cultivators died trying to reach the nest, and the remaining cultivators attacked the Insect Mother together.
• Xu Yan and Xuan Wuchang rushed to the nest when the Insect Mother was knocked back, and Xu Yan reached for the calamity-averting yuan magnetism.
• Zhuang Wuya recognized Xu Yan and Xuan Wuchang and threatened to kill anyone who tried to take the treasure.

Xu Yan stole the Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism and fled with Xuan Wuchang, drawing the pursuing cultivators into hidden Slaughter Formations. The second formation killed more than twenty cultivators and left Zhuang Wuya badly wounded, but he vowed to pursue Xu Yan to the death.

• Xu Yan broke the seal, took the Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism, and escaped the cultivators’ first combined attack with Xuan Wuchang’s help.
• Li Changfeng and the other cultivators pursued Xu Yan, believing he possessed a Clone Divine Ability and wanting to capture him.
• Xu Yan detected a hidden Slaughter Formation and led the pursuers into it, where sword light killed three cultivators.
• Xu Yan fled toward an even stronger formation and lured the pursuing cultivators into its golden light.
• The second Slaughter Formation killed more than twenty cultivators and gravely wounded Zhuang Wuya, who swore to kill Xu Yan.

Xu Yan concealed his role in Xuan Wuchang’s escape and waited in a mine tunnel until he could rejoin the cultivators searching the Great Yan Ancient Mine. He reunited with Fang Shan’s team and passed off his breakthrough as the result of taking two spirit pills.

• After escaping with the calamity-averting yuan magnetism, Xu Yan hid Xuan Wuchang in his Spirit Beast Bag and restored his original appearance.
• Xu Yan cultivated in a dilapidated mine tunnel for three days while the four factions searched the Great Yan Ancient Mine for Xuan Wuchang.
• A five-man team led by a Ten Thousand Fire Sect cultivator found Xu Yan, who claimed he had survived the beast tide by hiding and had not seen Xuan Wuchang.
• Fang Shan rebuked Xu Yan for hiding, but Xu Yan said he had used two spirit pills to break through to foundation establishment middle stage.
• Xu Yan joined the group, believing he had a strong chance of leaving the Great Yan Ancient Mine safely.

Xu Yan returned from the Great Yan Ancient Mine with the Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism hidden in his Storage Ring, while Danyangzi confidently expected the treasure to belong to the Crimson Sun Sect. Gu Xuanji emerged with heavy losses and reported that beast tides, Spirit-Devouring Insect descendants, and Slaughter Formations had devastated his group.

• After searching fruitlessly for Xuan Wuchang, the factions headed for the mine's exit, and Xu Yan rejoined the Crimson Sun Sect group while evading Shen Changyun's questions.
• Danyangzi told the other three golden core cultivators that the Spirit Treasure was Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism and revealed he had prepared a Jade Seal capable of three powerful strikes.
• Gu Xuanji and nine other Gu Household cultivators emerged from the mine, prompting Gu Tianrong to demand an explanation for the loss of over half the Eighteen Black-Scaled Riders.
• Gu Xuanji reported that a terrifying beast tide, Spirit-Devouring Insect descendants, and scattered Slaughter Formations had caused the Gu Household's heavy losses.

Gu Tianrong punished Gu Xuanji by ordering him to face the Netherworld Road, then learned that Xuan Wuchang had taken the Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism and could anticipate the Great Yan Ancient Mine’s Slaughter Formations. The Dark Moon Sect survivors reported that Xuan Wuchang had gone mad and slaughtered their fellow cultivators, while the factions waited for him to emerge.

• Gu Tianrong sentenced Gu Xuanji to the Netherworld Domain, where he would have to clear ten trials of the Netherworld Road to keep his status as a core disciple.
• Gu Xuanji told Gu Tianrong that Xuan Wuchang had used a clone with Half-Step Golden Core strength to seize the Calamity-Averting Yuan Magnetism, prompting Danyangzi’s disbelief and Old Woman Dark Moon’s mockery.
• Gu Xuanji revealed that Xuan Wuchang could anticipate the mine’s Slaughter Formations, and Gu Tianrong concluded that Xuan Wuchang was still inside the Great Yan Ancient Mine.
• Du Chuan emerged with a small group of Dark Moon Sect survivors and reported that Xuan Wuchang had gone mad, killed their sectmates, and taken the Spirit Treasure.
• Gu Tianrong suggested that the Clone Divine Ability might have driven Xuan Wuchang mad, while Old Woman Dark Moon and Danyangzi watched the Blood-Colored Light Curtain for the remaining cultivators.

The Crimson Sun Sect cultivators emerged from the Great Yan Ancient Mine without the calamity-averting yuan magnetism, and Danyangzi began eyeing Xu Yan with suspicious intent. After Xuan Wuchang failed to appear by the mine’s three-month limit, Gu Tianrong discovered signs of a possible Formation Spirit and led the other factions away, while Danyangzi ordered the Crimson Sun Sect to return under a strict lockdown.

• Danyangzi berated Li Changfeng for failing to obtain the yuan magnetism, then studied Xu Yan after hearing what he had done in the mine.
• Xu Yan sensed Danyangzi might target him after they returned to the sect and began looking for a chance to escape.
• The factions waited for Xuan Wuchang until the three-month limit passed, but his Soul Tablet remained intact and he did not emerge.
• Gu Tianrong used his Spirit-Eye Divine Ability, suffered bloody tears, and concluded the mine’s formation might be developing a Formation Spirit.
• Gu Tianrong and the other factions departed, leaving Danyangzi to take the Crimson Sun Sect back on the Mountain-Bearing Demon Tortoise.
• Danyangzi ordered the Crimson Sun Sect cultivators to remain inside the sect for a year and said he would activate the true Sect-Protecting Formation.

Danyangzi brought Xu Yan and the other Crimson Sun Sect cultivators to the sect’s Main Peak and activated the Ninefold Starlight Demon-Slaying Formation, spending a year of his lifespan to strengthen it. He sealed the sect for a year and left the Foundation Establishment cultivators under Li Changfeng’s direction, while Xu Yan suspected Danyangzi intended to use him and Shen Changyun as sacrifices to help Li Changfeng form a Golden Core.

• Danyangzi warned Shen Changyun and Xu Yan against acting, and Xu Yan suspected Danyangzi planned to sacrifice them to help Li Changfeng form a Golden Core.
• The Mountain-Bearing Demon Tortoise landed beside the Main Peak, disguised itself as a mountain, and reminded Danyangzi of his promise to free it after his death.
• Danyangzi activated the Ninefold Starlight Demon-Slaying Formation with his essence blood and said it could hold off even a Golden Core cultivator for a month.
• Danyangzi swallowed a Spirit Pill, ordered the Crimson Sun Sect to seal its mountains for one year, and flew into the formation.
• After Danyangzi left, Li Changfeng gathered the sect’s Foundation Establishment cultivators to confer.

Xu Yan watched Danyangzi gather Foundation Establishment cultivators for a demonic core-formation scheme, while remaining confined to Sitting Forgetfulness Peak under guard. Once Danyangzi had assembled twenty-eight potential sacrifices, nine bells rang and he began the Blood-Devouring Core Formation Method.

• Xu Yan refused Shen Changyun’s invitation, returned to Sitting Forgetfulness Peak, and prepared his cave abode while restoring Xuan Wuchang with Spirit Medicines.
• Xu Yan deduced that Danyangzi had left the sect to capture rogue cultivators and planned to use them to help Li Changfeng form a golden core.
• Over the following months, Danyangzi returned with more captured Foundation Establishment cultivators, while two late-stage cultivators watched Xu Yan and prevented him from leaving.
• Xu Yan concluded that Danyangzi intended to use the Blood-Devouring Core Formation Method, which required twenty-eight Foundation Establishment sacrifices.
• After Danyangzi’s captures brought the total to twenty-eight, nine bells rang, and Danyangzi appeared above the sect as blood-colored lights formed a drop-shaped pattern over the Main Peak.

Danyangzi activated a demonic Blood Pool and Blood Baleful Prison Formation to help Li Changfeng form his Golden Core, then attacked Xu Yan and Shen Changyun despite his heavenly dao oath. After using a Tribulation-Evading Talisman Treasure to delay the Heavenly Tribulation, he defeated them and cast them into the Blood Pool before leaving to confront two rival sects.

• Danyangzi used a Blood Spirit Ghost Flower and captured Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators to activate the Blood Pool and Blood Baleful Prison Formation for Li Changfeng's Golden Core breakthrough.
• Danyangzi declared that Xu Yan and Shen Changyun would repay the Crimson Sun Sect for its Spirit Treasures, and Xu Yan prepared to provoke him into breaking his oath.
• Danyangzi attacked Xu Yan and Shen Changyun, then used a Tribulation-Evading Talisman Treasure to delay the Heavenly Tribulation.
• Shen Changyun unleashed the Yellow Dragon Cane and Xu Yan struck with the Annihilation Demon Finger, but Danyangzi's golden palm destroyed both attacks and crushed them into the ground.
• Danyangzi cast the wounded Xu Yan and Shen Changyun into the Blood Pool, gave three Storage Rings to Li Changfeng, and flew toward two rival sects as the Crimson Sun Sect disciples bid him farewell.

Xu Yan used the Green Pearl to absorb the vitality in Li Changfeng’s Blood Pool formation and cultivate while Li Changfeng prepared to condense a Blood Core. The pool’s energy surged around Xu Yan, and Li Changfeng mistook the disturbance for a peerless Blood Core forming.

• Li Changfeng activated the Blood Baleful Prison Formation, while Xu Yan and Shen Changyun were thrown into the Blood Pool.
• The Green Pearl freed Xu Yan from the formation’s blood baleful power, and Xu Yan killed Shen Changyun and the other surviving cultivators.
• Xu Yan began devouring the pool’s vital essence and released Xuan Wuchang, who sat nearby and absorbed blood to restore his vitality.
• Li Changfeng added Spirit Treasures to the Blood Pool as Xu Yan cultivated with the energy returned by the Green Pearl.
• The Blood Pool formed a towering pillar around Xu Yan, and Li Changfeng declared that a peerless Blood Core was condensing.

Xu Yan used the Green Pearl to absorb the Blood Pool’s energy and broke through to the late stage of foundation establishment while Li Changfeng mistook the resulting phenomenon for a peerless Blood Core. After two days, Li Changfeng broke the formation and rushed toward the pool, where Xu Yan waited to attack.

• Xu Yan told the recovered Xuan Wuchang to hide in the Spirit Beast Bag rather than attack the Crimson Sun Sect cultivators.
• Xu Yan absorbed the Blood Pool’s energy, broke through to the late stage of foundation establishment, and concealed his aura.
• Li Changfeng ordered the other disciples to leave and kept Senior Brother Qi with him to guard the supposed Blood Core.
• Xu Yan stabilized his breakthrough and prepared to strike Li Changfeng and Senior Brother Qi when they opened the formation.
• After two days, Li Changfeng broke the Blood Baleful Prison Formation and flew toward the Blood Pool, expecting to claim the Blood Core.

Xu Yan emerged from the Blood Pool after using the Crimson Sun Sect’s accumulated essence blood to break through, then faced the sect’s two strongest cultivators. He killed Li Changfeng and Elder Qi in one exchange, and a mysterious voice spoke as the remaining sect members confronted him.

• Li Changfeng’s defensive Talisman Treasure blocked Xu Yan’s Demon Finger, while Elder Qi recognized Xu Yan as Lin Dao and Li Changfeng realized the Blood Core was gone.
• Li Changfeng and Elder Qi revealed themselves as Half-Step Golden Core cultivators and attacked Xu Yan as the Crimson Sun Sect gathered around them.
• Xu Yan used the Redfire Burning Art to form nine fire lotuses and overwhelmed the pair’s sword and flame attacks.
• Xu Yan killed Elder Qi with a crimson Flying Sword and pierced Li Changfeng’s brow with a Demon Finger, then took their Storage Rings and sealed their vital essence.
• The remaining Crimson Sun Sect cultivators panicked at their sect master and grand elder’s deaths, and a childish voice announced that it could finally feast.