Chapter Summaries

After the old Temple Keeper apologized for striking Shao Zhen and confirmed the True Lord had guided him in a dream, he secretly watched over Shao Zhen through the night. He found the missing Zhou family child’s relatives and, two days later, invited Shao Zhen to travel with them to Dengzhou City to reunite the family and visit the True Lord’s founding temple.

• Shao Zhen woke with a lump on his forehead, thanked the Manifest Holiness True Lord, and found himself newly at ease before his paintings.
• The old Temple Keeper apologized, brought a doctor to examine Shao Zhen, and compared their accounts of the True Lord’s dream guidance.
• After leaving Shao Zhen’s courtyard, the old Temple Keeper secretly kept watch until midnight, then traveled home with his Peachwood Staff and medicinal wine.
• The old Temple Keeper went to Zhou Village the next morning and told the missing child’s family that the child might be at the True Lord Temple in Deng Province.
• On the third day, the old Temple Keeper invited Shao Zhen to travel with the Zhou family to Dengzhou City, and Shao Zhen agreed.

Shao Zhen joined the old Temple Keeper and the Zhou couple on their journey to Deng Province to find the couple’s missing child, carrying the Hundred Ghosts Picture with him. During their first night camping outdoors, the painting’s ghosts stirred and one stepped out before fleeing back inside when Yi Shuyuan appeared.

• Shao Zhen packed the Hundred Ghosts Picture with the Manifest Holiness True Lord’s portrait and met the Zhou couple at the county gate.
• The old Temple Keeper led Shao Zhen and the Zhou couple toward Deng Province, and they shared their worries about the missing child along the way.
• The travelers camped in the woods for the night, while Shao Zhen stayed awake beside the fire with the painting in his pack box.
• Yi Shuyuan emerged from the painted cloth, put Shao Zhen to sleep, and watched as a blue-robed ghost stepped out of the painting.
• The blue-robed ghost bowed to the sleeping Shao Zhen, then fled back into the painting when Yi Shuyuan revealed himself.

Yi Shuyuan brought the Hundred Ghosts Picture into contact with the world before Shao Zhen and the old Temple Keeper continued their journey to the True Lord Temple. There, the Zhou family reunited with their child, and Yi Shuyuan restored his voice while leaving him responsible for making amends for his wrongs.

• Yi Shuyuan lifted the Hundred Ghosts Picture into the air, showed it the moonlight and surrounding landscape, and returned it to Shao Zhen's chest.
• The old Temple Keeper woke Shao Zhen, and the group later reached the outskirts of Dengzhou City and headed for the True Lord Temple.
• Chen Han cared for the recovering child while Mai Lingfei and Chi Qinghu remained at the temple, and Yi Shuyuan sensed the child's parents arriving.
• Chen Han welcomed the Zhou couple and led them to their child in the rear courtyard.
• Yi Shuyuan drew the shadow from the withered waterweed back into a scrap of paper, sent white light into the child, and told him to cultivate a human voice and repay his wrongs.
• The child spoke his first word, calling out, "Mother."

The Zhou child recovered his voice and strength after the Manifest Holiness True Lord dispelled the evil haunting him. In the True Lord Temple, Chen Han helped Shao Zhen restore the missing piece of his Hundred Ghosts Picture, then arranged for him to paint portraits for her and her siblings.

• The Zhou child called his parents, regained his voice, and asked for food, while Chen Han credited the people who had helped save him.
• Chen Han, Shao Zhen, and the old Temple Keeper discussed the dangerous Hundred Ghosts Picture and Shao Zhen's wish to finish it in the temple.
• Shao Zhen showed Chen Han the painting, and the True Lord sent the missing scrap depicting the Long-Haired Ghost into her hand.
• Chen Han fitted the scrap back onto the scroll, and the ghosts briefly appeared to laugh before the painting fell still.
• Chen Han offered to buy the picture, but Shao Zhen refused payment and offered to paint portraits instead.
• After the True Lord advised Chen Han that Shao Zhen's paintings could benefit two demons, Chen Han asked him to paint her and her younger siblings.

After waking from a long rest, Yi Shuyuan learned that Hui Mian, Xiao Yong, and Qi Zhongbin had gone to a mortal market for New Year’s food. He revealed Hui Mian’s divine identity as Yunlai and set off with Qi Zhongbin for Lingdong at the Manifest Holiness True Lord’s invitation.

• Yi Shuyuan woke at the Broken Peak Grotto and learned from Teng Fu that Hui Mian and Qi Zhongbin had gone to the mortal world with Xiao Yong to buy New Year’s provisions.
• At the market, Hui Mian sensed Yi Shuyuan’s divine summons and hurried back with Xiao Yong and Qi Zhongbin after buying flatbreads.
• On their return to Heavenly Battle Mountain, Hui Mian told Qi Zhongbin that Yi Shuyuan was close to the Manifest Holiness True Lord, and Qi Zhongbin wondered whether the True Lord might be Yi Shuyuan’s transformation.
• Yi Shuyuan revealed that Hui Mian was Yunlai, the foremost great god beneath the Manifest Holiness True Lord, and said it was time for Yunlai to reveal its divine form.
• Yi Shuyuan took half the provisions and departed for Lingdong with Qi Zhongbin, while Xiao Yong and Old Vine stayed behind to guard the Mountain-Topping Grass.

Yi Shuyuan explained the Heaven and Earth Transformation and its risks to Qi Zhongbin as they flew toward Dengzhou City, then told Hui Mian that he was ready to resume cultivation. Hui Mian agreed to reclaim the foremost seat as Great God Yunlai.

• Yi Shuyuan used changing flight techniques to teach Qi Zhongbin about the transformations of their Immortal Dao and why a Dao-transformed immortal furnace was necessary.
• Yi Shuyuan explained the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Transformations, warning Qi Zhongbin that forced transformations could affect his heart and character.
• Hui Mian joked that Yi Shuyuan's Earthly Fiend Transformations could not be recognized unless he revealed them, and Qi Zhongbin thanked him for the correction.
• As they neared Dengzhou City on New Year's Eve, Yi Shuyuan told Hui Mian that his time to cultivate had come and asked whether Yunlai could return to the foremost seat.
• Hui Mian agreed to reclaim the foremost seat as Great God Yunlai.

Mai Lingfei defeated Chi Qinghu in a friendly martial arts bout, and the two agreed to compete again after entering the Xiantian Realm. Yi Shuyuan and Qi Zhongbin visited the True Lord Temple for New Year's Eve, where Chen Han welcomed them and the temple prepared a feast.

• Mai Lingfei defeated Chi Qinghu after several hundred exchanges, and Chi Qinghu challenged him to see who would enter the Xiantian Realm first.
• Mai Lingfei and Chi Qinghu agreed to find a tavern and spend New Year's Eve drinking together.
• Yi Shuyuan arrived at the True Lord Temple with Qi Zhongbin and examined his statue before meeting the old temple keeper.
• Chen Han learned that Qi Zhongbin's master, Yi Daozi, had arrived and hurried to greet him.
• Yi Shuyuan took charge of cooking at the temple, while Hui Mian told Chen Han she was more human now.
• The Zhou couple's child looked forward to tasting the feast, and the gray giant serpent waited outside, longing for food.

On New Year's Eve at the True Lord Temple, Yi Shuyuan helped a sick child and revealed to Shao Zhen that his mastery of transformation came from being a storyteller, not necessarily an immortal. The group shared their feast as Hui Mian met a respectful river snake, while Mai Lingfei and Chi Qinghu drank together in the city.

• Yi Shuyuan gave the weakened child medicinal wine, and the child felt warmth returning to his body.
• Yi Shuyuan told Shao Zhen that he was Yi Daozi and demonstrated how a storyteller could transform his voice, leaving the others uncertain whether he was an immortal.
• Qi Zhongbin tried to explain why he had become Yi Shuyuan's disciple, but the temple guests set aside their questions and began eating.
• Hui Mian spotted the hungry river snake, learned it had heard of Hui Mian from its elder sister, and went inside to fetch it food.
• Mai Lingfei asked Chi Qinghu whether Southern Yan was beautiful, and the two raised their flasks and drank together.

On New Year’s Eve at the True Lord Temple, Yi Shuyuan told the story of his former life while Shao Zhen painted Chen Han from memory and feeling. Shao Zhen finished the portrait the next day, and Chen Han claimed it with an offer of ten taels of gold.

• The Zhou family’s man drank too much and tearfully lamented his family’s hardships, while Yi Shuyuan recognized his plea for sympathy.
• Yi Shuyuan told the gathered diners the story of his former life, recalling his parents’ suffering during his years of madness.
• Hui Mian shared food with the giant serpent, who revealed that his name was She Chাংলai and that he had a younger sister named Yu Xinmei.
• Worshippers crowded the True Lord Temple to compete for the first Xiang as Shao Zhen began painting Chen Han beside the Datong River.
• Shao Zhen completed the portrait, and several scholars offered money or a painting in exchange for it.
• Chen Han claimed the portrait as its subject and offered ten taels of gold, which Shao Zhen accepted.

Chen Han bought Shao Zhen’s portrait, while Shao Zhen gave the gold to the Zhou couple as compensation for their child’s illness. Yi Shuyuan then guided Shao Zhen toward understanding how to paint the chief ghost in his Hundred Ghosts Picture, leaving him to ponder how artistic inspiration and spirits might shape each other.

• Chen Han paid a gold ingot for her portrait and took it to her room, where she admired its unusual likeness.
• Yi Shuyuan told Hui Mian that Shao Zhen would paint his image as Great God Yunlai and considered having him paint portraits for Little Brother She and Little Sister Yu.
• Shao Zhen gave the gold ingot to the Zhou couple as compensation, and they accepted it after the old Temple Keeper urged them to use it for their child.
• Shao Zhen told Yi Shuyuan that he felt undeserving of the Zhou couple’s gratitude because he believed his Hundred Ghosts Picture had caused their child’s illness.
• Yi Shuyuan sketched a landscape and suggested that the chief ghost in Shao Zhen’s picture might not emerge through ordinary brushwork.
• Shao Zhen reflected that the ghosts might have gained spirits as he painted them, and that artistic inspiration and the spirit of Heaven and Earth could influence each other.

Mai Lingfei reunited with Yi Shuyuan at the True Lord Temple, and during the Lantern Festival Yi helped Hui Mian manifest a divine body. Hui Mian took the divine name Yunlai and, by the Manifest Holiness True Lord’s command, carried Shao Zhen and Yi Shuyuan toward a painting to meet ghosts.

• Mai Lingfei and Chi Qinghu found Qi Zhongbin interpreting divination slips at the True Lord Temple, and Mai recognized him as Celestial Master Qi.
• Mai Lingfei reunited with Yi Shuyuan after nearly ten years, while Chi Qinghu and Shao Zhen watched their emotional greeting.
• During the Lantern Festival, Yi Shuyuan gathered the temple’s wish power as worshippers celebrated and released flower lanterns on the Datong River.
• Yi Shuyuan helped Hui Mian form a divine sense body, and Hui Mian used the golden brush to manifest as a deity.
• Hui Mian took the divine name Yunlai and announced that he would take Shao Zhen and Yi Shuyuan to see ghosts, then drew them toward a painting.

Hui Mian used the golden brush to bring Shao Zhen’s Hundred Ghosts Picture to life, and Shao Zhen met the ghosts he had painted. The group then traveled to Dengzhou City’s Lantern Festival, where Yi Shuyuan explained that he hoped the experience would advance his storytelling.

• Hui Mian expanded the Hundred Ghosts Picture into a vast world and brought Yi Shuyuan and Shao Zhen inside to meet its hundred ghosts.
• Shao Zhen searched for the Formless One, but Yi Shuyuan explained that the ghost could not manifest because Shao Zhen had not painted him.
• The ghosts bowed to Shao Zhen, and the Blue-Robed Ghost called him their father, prompting the others to call him Dad.
• Hui Mian gave each ghost a divine light mark and led them out of the painting to celebrate at Dengzhou City’s Lantern Festival.
• Shao Zhen asked why Yi Shuyuan had come, and Yi Shuyuan said he hoped witnessing the ghosts would help him advance his storytelling.

On the Lantern Festival, Hui Mian borrowed Yi Shuyuan’s divine power to lead the Hundred Ghosts Picture’s spirits through Dengzhou and met Hu Yufeng, the City God of Deng Province. After the spirits returned to the painting, Hui Mian asked Shao Zhen to paint him a divine image, then returned to his marten form when Yi Shuyuan reclaimed the golden brush.

• Hui Mian guided the painted ghosts through the lantern fair with a golden road, and Hu Yufeng approached after seeing their divine marks.
• Hui Mian introduced himself as Yunlai, a god under the True Lord’s command, and Hu Yufeng accompanied the procession through the fair.
• Shao Zhen and Yi Shuyuan discussed the ghosts’ distinct personalities, but Shao Zhen later learned that only he and Yunlai had entered the painting with him.
• Hui Mian led the ghosts back to the True Lord Temple, and Hu Yufeng concluded that the True Lord and Yunlai might have been divine for a long time.
• Before falling asleep, Shao Zhen agreed to paint a divine image for Yunlai, who then returned the golden brush to Yi Shuyuan and became a marten again.

Shao Zhen painted Great God Yunlai after recalling their journey with the Hundred Ghosts, and Yi Shuyuan confirmed that the events had truly happened. Yunlai’s portrait was enshrined at the True Lord Temple, drawing worshippers, while the Golden Palace Jade Mirror revealed the name Mist-Hidden Yunlai to the Heavenly Gods.

• Shao Zhen woke after dreaming of the Hundred Ghosts and painted Great God Yunlai before his memories faded.
• Yi Shuyuan, Hui Mian, and Chen Han discussed Yunlai’s portrait, and Yi Shuyuan confirmed that the previous night’s events had not been a dream.
• Chen Han took Yunlai’s portrait to a side hall, where worshippers began spreading news of the new god and donating toward a statue.
• Yi Shuyuan added the words First Seat Yunlai to the portrait, and the new god’s worship brought more incense offerings to the temple.
• The Golden Palace Jade Mirror revealed the name Mist-Hidden Yunlai, prompting the Heavenly Gods to recognize another deity unknown to them.

After the Golden Palace Jade Mirror revealed the Divine Name Mist-Hidden Yunlai beside the Datong River, the Heavenly Emperor decided to sound out the Manifest Holiness True Lord before arranging a formal investiture. White Robe sought out Yi Daozi’s disciple Stoneborn, who agreed to help and led him toward the True Lord Temple.

• The Heavenly Emperor learned that Mist-Hidden Yunlai had appeared in Lingdong under the Manifest Holiness True Lord and considered how the Celestial Court could approach him.
• White Robe suggested asking Yi Daozi to help discover the True Lord’s intentions, and the Heavenly Emperor sent him to find the Daoist.
• White Robe reached the Mo Residence and met Stoneborn, who recognized him as a visitor from the Celestial Court.
• Stoneborn left his family and flew with White Robe toward Lingdong, using the Heavenly Immortal Edict to guide them toward Yi Daozi.
• White Robe admitted that he wanted Stoneborn’s help sounding out the True Lord, and Stoneborn agreed.

Stoneborn arrived at Dengzhou City and discovered that Hui Mian, whom he knew as Senior Gray, was worshipped as Great God Yunlai. He reunited with Yi Shuyuan, who later met White Robe to discuss the Manifest Holiness True Lord’s possible Divine Investiture, leaving Yi Shuyuan intrigued by the prospect of a separate heavenly position.

• Stoneborn entered Yunlai Hall and recognized Senior Gray in the painting worshipped there as Great God Yunlai.
• Hui Mian greeted Stoneborn, who asked after Yi Shuyuan and then found him in the Demon-Subduing Hall.
• Yi Shuyuan comforted Stoneborn and reunited with him, then learned that White Robe was waiting outside Deng Province.
• Stoneborn joined the others at the temple, where Qi Zhongbin addressed him as senior brother because Stoneborn had become Yi Shuyuan’s disciple first.
• Yi Shuyuan met White Robe and explained that the Manifest Holiness True Lord would accept a Divine Investiture but wanted to cultivate without being summoned at will.
• White Robe departed to report to the emperor and prepare the investiture, while Yi Shuyuan anticipated receiving his own buildings and a separate nominal position in the Heavenly Realm.

Hu Kuangming confirmed that the Zhou family's child had recovered enough to go home, and the Zhou family and old Temple Keeper prepared to leave the True Lord Temple. After Shao Zhen arrived with a sacred portrait for the Land God Temple, the travelers departed, while Qi Zhongbin and Chi Qinghu, then Yi Shuyuan and Mai Lingfei, set off to spar.

• Hu Kuangming examined the Zhou family's child and said he could recover fully at home within six months to a year.
• Yi Shuyuan and Hu Kuangming spoke about medicine, and Hu Kuangming invited Yi Shuyuan to visit Benevolence Hall.
• The Zhou family and the old Temple Keeper prepared to leave the True Lord Temple, but Shao Zhen hurried out with a sacred portrait he had painted for the Land God Temple.
• The Zhou family and the old Temple Keeper departed, while Chen Han and Stoneborn returned to the temple and Shao Zhen went back to sleep.
• Qi Zhongbin raced off with Chi Qinghu to spar, and Yi Shuyuan agreed to spar with Mai Lingfei.

Yi Shuyuan and A Fei raced along the road before turning into the woods to test their martial arts, astonishing travelers who mistook them for immortals. Their sparring escalated from A Fei's sword techniques to Yi Shuyuan's devastating strike with a fir tree, leaving A Fei barely able to evade it.

• Yi Shuyuan raced ahead using only Xiantian True Qi, and A Fei pursued him with his own lightness skill.
• Travelers and martial artists saw the pair flying past and mistook them for immortals, while an old master recognized them as Innate Experts.
• A Fei drew Clear Abyss and attacked Yi Shuyuan, who evaded him and parried the sword with a dead branch infused with True Qi.
• A Fei adapted his attacks to target Yi Shuyuan's branch and the surrounding terrain, eventually snapping the branch with a final sword strike.
• Yi Shuyuan swept snow from a fir tree and sent the broken tree at A Fei with Mist-Snow Pierces the Fir, forcing A Fei to evade at the last moment.

Yi Shuyuan sparred with A Fei, then shared a farewell meal and song with his companions before they parted ways. Back at the True Lord Temple, Stoneborn delivered food to the hungry Shao Zhen.

• Yi Shuyuan defeated A Fei in a sparring match and reminded him that life’s road mattered alongside the martial way.
• Qi Zhongbin and Chi Qinghu ended their exhausting bout, with Chi Qinghu thanking him for the instruction.
• At lunch in Dengzhou City, Yi Shuyuan sang for the group as they reflected on their journeys and impending partings.
• Chi Qinghu and A Fei said farewell and rode in opposite directions without discussing what had happened at Xiangshan Monastery.
• On the way back to the True Lord Temple, Yi Shuyuan warned Stoneborn to practice his martial skills, then sent him to bring food to Shao Zhen.
• Shao Zhen woke hungry and opened his door to Stoneborn, who had arrived with the food Yi Shuyuan sent.

Stoneborn visited Shao Zhen and showed an uncanny calm while studying the Hundred Ghosts Picture, leaving Shao Zhen to suspect that he and Yi Shuyuan were extraordinary. White Robe then arrived with a Celestial Court investiture, naming the Manifest Holiness True Lord a powerful guardian deity; the Heavenly Emperor sensed that the ceremony had earned more merit than it cost.

• Stoneborn shared food with Shao Zhen, who praised his senior brother Yi Shuyuan and asked whether Stoneborn was truly Elder Celestial Master Qi’s senior brother.
• Stoneborn studied Shao Zhen’s Hundred Ghosts Picture without fear, and Shao Zhen asked where he came from before Stoneborn left.
• A seven-colored cloud and heavenly music heralded White Robe’s arrival at the True Lord Temple, where Yi Shuyuan and the Manifest Holiness True Lord received him.
• White Robe invested the Manifest Holiness True Lord as the Jade Truth Demon-Subduing Guardian True Lord and granted him the Extreme North Demon-Subduing Palace.
• The Heavenly Emperor felt the merit from the investiture tremble through the Heavenly Realm and realized the ceremony had gained more merit than it expended.