Chapter Summaries

As the flood dragons erupted across the land, Yi Shuyuan used a Flood Dragon-Subduing Sword and his revived power to mount and steer one away from the soldiers waiting downstream. The other camps faced devastating battles as the dragons’ floods swept through their defenses.

• Yi Shuyuan oversaw the placement of Flood Dragon-Subduing Swords as the water rose and autumn’s metal qi appeared.
• A flood dragon’s approach triggered alarms, and soldiers prepared crossbows, traps, spears, chains, and grappling hooks.
• The flood dragon swept through the gorge, destroying the camp and carrying away many soldiers, while the Flood Dragon-Subduing Sword slowed the flood.
• Yi Shuyuan leaped onto the dragon’s head and fought to control it as his primordial essence and the spiritual energy around him revived.
• Yi Shuyuan guided the dragon away from soldiers assembled at the next position, while flood dragon battles elsewhere caused heavy casualties.

Yi Shuyuan’s pill tribulation unfolded as flood dragons devastated the land and countless people fought to stop them, before the Heaven-Turning Furnace’s bell ended the demon realm. He awoke with two surviving Immortal Elixirs as the battered cultivators and gods gathered around him, and asked how they had experienced the tribulation.

• Flood Dragon-Slaying Camp soldiers sacrificed themselves against the flood dragons as barriers failed and floodwater destroyed cities and villages.
• Jin Fu clung to a flood dragon with his fish spears, while Feng Yan and refugees dropped boulders to block another wounded dragon.
• Yi Shuyuan rode a flood dragon toward the sea, reflected on the pill tribulation’s danger to his fellow Daoists, and heard the Heaven-Turning Furnace open.
• The furnace’s bell ended the demon realm, awakening cultivators on Cang Mountain as demons, heavenly soldiers, gods, and dragon lords fell or staggered.
• Seven of the nine golden pills shattered, while Yi Shuyuan caught the two that remained and asked the other cultivators how they had fared in the pill tribulation.

Yi Shuyuan explained that the deadly pill tribulation had been born from the cultivators’ desire for the Dragon-Transformation Pills, then reclaimed the pills and dismissed the Celestial Court’s guardians. He invited the surviving Four Seas dragons into the Mountain and River State Map to talk, while the Heavenly Emperor and the gods learned of the immense casualties.

• Feng Yan recovered enough to ask after Ji Zi and Ji Ming, while the surviving dragons surveyed their injuries and mourned their dead.
• Yi Shuyuan explained the desire-driven demon realm and revealed that the elixirs were Dragon-Transformation Pills for aquatic folk and cultivators of the Outer Dao.
• Yi Shuyuan placed both pills and the remaining pill qi in his Gourd, stored the Heaven-Turning Furnace, and told the visiting gods he would summon guardians himself if needed.
• A patrolling divine being reported to the Heavenly Emperor that the tribulation had killed countless cultivators, taken forty percent of the Heavenly River Marines, and killed Thunder General Qi Boshang.
• Yi Shuyuan unfurled the Mountain and River State Map, invited the Four Seas dragons into its realm, and told the other cultivators to disperse.

Yi Shuyuan brought the Four Seas True Dragons into the Mountain-River Realm, where Wu Yin sought hope about his dead son and Ao Po addressed the dragons’ plans to draw him closer to their affairs. After touring the realm, the Four Seas Dragonkind left understanding that Ao Po would not seek their benefits or become entangled in their troubles, though the outside world would still regard him as one of them.

• Yao E and Jiang Zhuer left Cang Mountain, while Yao E wondered what to do with the lotus seed she had received.
• Yi Shuyuan brought the Four Seas True Dragons into the Mountain-River Realm, where Wu Yin asked whether his son's soul and true spirit had vanished.
• Ao Po told the assembled dragons he wanted peace and would not interfere with the Four Seas or Dragonkind's disputes.
• Feng Yan and Ya Ci tried to persuade Ao Po that he belonged with Dragonkind, but Ao Po rejected any obligation to join them.
• Ao Po led the dragons on a tour of the Mountain-River Realm, whose vastness convinced the Four Seas Dragon Lords that he had no need for their benefits.
• The Four Seas Dragonkind concluded that respecting Ao Po would keep him from becoming their enemy, even though outsiders would continue to see him as one of them.

Feng Yan, Jiang Lang, Ji Zi, and Ji Ming explored the Mountain-River Realm as their month-long visit neared its end, while Wu Yin sought Yi Shuyuan’s help concerning his dead son, Wu Cheng. Yi Shuyuan sent Wu Yin into a demonic illusion to search for clues, and Wu Yin left the realm resolved to consider how to obtain the Dragon-Transformation Pill.

• Feng Yan and the other dragons flew through an unnamed mountain region and marveled at the wonders of Yi Shuyuan’s grotto-heaven world.
• Wu Yin returned alone to Yi Shuyuan, asking him to revive Wu Cheng with a Soul-Returning Elixir.
• Yi Shuyuan explained that Wu Cheng was dead in the outside world but that a thread of hope remained, then used his Heavenly Demon Illusion Realm to send Wu Yin back to the devastated region where Wu Cheng had died.
• Wu Yin searched the illusion for twenty days and heard a Ritual Ruler strike before awakening as the Dragonkind were expelled from the Mountain-River Realm.
• Wu Yin told the South Sea Dragonkind that Yi Daozi’s Dragon-Transformation Pill would be difficult to obtain, then led them toward the sea.

Yi Shuyuan revived Yan Bo after the flower bloomed and freed him from his vow, then left him to continue his journey. After secretly giving A Bao a cultivation manual, Yi Shuyuan transformed into a white crane and flew north, where he and Yan Bo were joined by a flock of cranes.

• Yi Shuyuan returned to the E River and revived Yan Bo from the Heaven and Earth Gourd as Jiang Zhuer and Yao E watched.
• Yao E freed Yan Bo from his duty guarding the flower and gave him the scripture River Blossoms Bathed in Rain before they parted.
• Yan Bo bought clothes, lotus seeds, and flower seeds, then rode the wind north.
• Yi Shuyuan secretly dropped a copy of the Five Elements Wonder Art into A Bao's study and left him to begin cultivating on his own.
• Yi Shuyuan transformed into a white crane and drew a flock of cranes toward Yan Bo as they flew north together.
• Yan Bo welcomed the cranes and tossed them fresh lotus seeds as they accompanied him on his return.

Yan Bo returned to Great Yan’s ruined capital, where he met Yuan Zhaoning, the last eunuch who had cared for the palace cranes, and persuaded him to leave with the flock. Before departing, Yuan Zhaoning unearthed the Imperial Heirloom Seal and entrusted it to Yan Bo to take back into the world.

• Yan Bo flew over Great Yan’s former capital and Imperial Palace, recalling the White Feather Way’s destruction and sensing that someone from it might still be alive.
• A flock of white cranes followed Yan Bo to Crane Lake, where Yuan Zhaoning greeted and fed the birds he had cared for as a palace eunuch.
• Yan Bo introduced himself to Yuan Zhaoning and invited him to leave the ruined capital, offering to help him regain his health and find a quiet place to live.
• The cranes agreed to carry Yuan Zhaoning, and he remembered that Yan Bo was a disciple of Liao Wenzhi and grand-disciple of Han Shiyong.
• Yuan Zhaoning retrieved the Imperial Heirloom Seal from the mud and decided it should no longer remain buried in the ruins.
• Yan Bo and Yuan Zhaoning departed with the white cranes, some of which carried people on their backs.

Yan Bo brought Yuan Zhaoning to Hele Mountain, where they paid respects at the graves of Han Shiyong, Liao Wenzhi, Lin Shuzheng, and Qian Chunjuan. The Great Toad King sensed the arriving cranes and prepared to welcome White Crane, while Yan Bo and He Yunqiao pretended not to notice him.

• Yan Bo flew with Yuan Zhaoning and the white cranes toward a place where he hoped to find the remnants of the White Feather Way.
• Yan Bo and Yuan Zhaoning landed at Hele Mountain, whose old dangers had faded since the Great Toad King’s transformation.
• Yan Bo found an abandoned stilt house and led Yuan Zhaoning to three graves honoring Han Shiyong, Liao Wenzhi, Lin Shuzheng, and Qian Chunjuan.
• Yan Bo lit incense and bowed before the graves, and Yuan Zhaoning bowed beside him.
• The Great Toad King sensed the cranes and released a trace of his qi so White Crane would notice him, then pretended to hear nothing.
• He Yunqiao detected the Great Toad King, but Yan Bo told the cranes to act as if they had not noticed and forage in the wetlands.

Yan Bo and Yuan Zhaoning settled into life at Hele Mountain, where Yan Bo cultivated flowers and the cranes made their home. The Great Toad King learned that Chan Qin and Ya Ci were together and brought them to meet White Crane, whose calm greeting left him baffled.

• Yan Bo and Yuan Zhaoning cleaned the stilt house, planted flowers, and spent a month living alongside the white cranes.
• Yan Bo's cultivation caused the flowers to flourish, while the white-feathered crane leader kept the flock from eating the lotus seeds.
• The Great Toad King met Chan Qin and Ya Ci, learned they had become a couple during the Pill Tribulation, and approved their marriage.
• The Great Toad King brought Ya Ci and Chan Qin to find White Crane, but could not sense him until White Crane dragged him into the reeds.
• White Crane greeted Ya Ci and Chan Qin calmly and asked everyone to stay quiet, while the Great Toad King complained that he was not acting astonished.

Yang Binghong and Lin Xianjie fled through the marsh, then found Lin Xianjie’s family graves on Hele Mountain and discovered his connection to the White Feather Way. Fresh incense at all three graves suggested someone had visited recently, leaving the pair wary and curious.

• White Crane and the Great Toad King hid with Ya Ci and Chan Qin as human-made noises approached through the night.
• Yang Binghong confessed to Lin Xianjie that he had led their group chiefly to avenge personal grudges, and Lin Xianjie struck him before insisting he had a heart for helping others.
• Yang Binghong and Lin Xianjie crossed the marsh and mountain toward shelter, while an unseen person followed their route.
• Lin Xianjie found three family graves and paid respects to his grandparents and the White Feather Way’s Celestial Feather True Person, Han Shiyong.
• Yang Binghong realized Lin Xianjie’s family arts were tied to the White Feather Way, and the two found fresh incense on all three graves.

Yang Binghong and Lin Xianjie watched a band of pursuers approach the stilt house, where Yan Bo stopped their attack with powerful water magic. Lin Xianjie recognized the feat as an Immortal Art.

• Yang Binghong and Lin Xianjie hid in a tree near the stilt house while Yuan Zhaoning and Yan Bo ate inside.
• More than ten armed pursuers found Han Shiyong's grave, learned Lin Xianjie might be connected to the White Feather Way, and followed the tracks toward the house.
• The pursuers spotted the firelit stilt house and planned to attack its occupants, ordering their men to keep Lin Xianjie alive.
• Yan Bo opened the door, sensed the attackers, and drew water from the plants and ground to bind them before they could strike.
• Yang Binghong watched Yan Bo subdue the fighters, and Lin Xianjie trembled as he recognized the water-control technique as an Immortal Art.

Yan Bo sheltered Lin Xianjie and Yang Binghong after defeating the men who attacked them, but he refused to interfere in the mortal world’s fate. After the attackers fled, Yang Binghong secretly pursued them, and Yan Bo sensed that he was becoming a ruthless hero—or something more.

• Yan Bo subdued the dozen armed men with streams of water, then welcomed Lin Xianjie and Yang Binghong into the house.
• Yan Bo told Lin Xianjie that he would not intervene in the troubled world and sent both visitors to eat and rest.
• Outside, White Crane revealed that he had once been Great Yan’s Nation-Protecting Divine Crane, and the group moved to a mountain summit to watch over the house.
• The armed men woke and fled, while Yang Binghong discovered that his injuries had healed and his internal force had grown stronger.
• Yang Binghong followed the fleeing men with their abandoned weapons and returned about an hour later covered in blood.
• Yan Bo noticed Yang Binghong’s killing intent and sensed that he would become a ruthless hero, or perhaps something beyond that.

Yang Binghong and Lin Xianjie left Yan Bo’s refuge together, carrying a mysterious heirloom that proved to be the Imperial Heirloom Seal. As Yan Bo met Hele Mountain’s fellow cultivators, Yang Binghong set out with renewed ambitions to change the world.

• Yuan Zhaoning told Yang Binghong to leave once his injuries had healed, while Lin Xianjie was welcome to remain at the Lin family’s ancestral home.
• Lin Xianjie chose to leave with Yang Binghong, and the two thanked Yuan Zhaoning and departed after promising to make something of themselves.
• Yuan Zhaoning gave Lin Xianjie a bundle containing travel supplies and an old possession, which Yang Binghong unwrapped to reveal the Imperial Heirloom Seal.
• The white crane recognized Yang Binghong as the child Fairy Mili had delivered at the Great Autumn Temple, while the Great Toad King argued with He Yunqiao before going to meet Yan Bo.
• Yan Bo reached a spiritual peak in Hele Mountain as the white crane and several cultivators approached, while Yang Binghong and Lin Xianjie crossed the marsh and left the mountains.
• Holding the Imperial Heirloom Seal, Yang Binghong resolved to gather thousands of people and change the world.

The Great Toad King arranged for Ya Ci and Chan Qin to hold a small wedding on Hele Mountain and set out to invite Fairy Mili and Mr. Yi. Meanwhile, Hui Mian took human form, and Yi Shuyuan summoned Stoneborn and Qi Zhongbin before the Great Toad King’s visit to Taiyin Mountain ended with an invitation accepted but his hopes of meeting Fairy Mili disappointed.

• The Great Toad King proposed that Ya Ci and Chan Qin marry on Hele Mountain, and they agreed to leave the arrangements to him.
• The group chose Yi Shuyuan and his disciples, Fairy Mili, Yan Bo, and Yuan Zhaoning as guests, while Ya Ci and Chan Qin went to buy wedding necessities.
• Hui Mian underwent his transformation tribulation, took human form, then returned to his marten form after Yi Shuyuan pointed out its practical advantages.
• Yi Shuyuan summoned Stoneborn and Qi Zhongbin through the Spirit-Linking Method, and Qi Zhongbin told Yan Shouyun that they would visit his grandmaster.
• The Great Toad King invited Taiyin Palace to the wedding, learned that Fairy Mili was not a member, and departed after Du Xiaolin agreed that Taiyin Palace would attend.

Zhuo Qing and Du Xiaolin gathered Stoneborn and the Taiyin Palace party for a journey to the North Sea Dragon Lord’s wedding. They joined Yi Shuyuan and the others at Hui Mian’s mountain, where all the invited guests had now arrived.

• Zhuo Qing accepted the Taiyin Palace party’s invitation and left with them to explain the wedding arrangements.
• Stoneborn learned that his master had summoned him for the North Sea Dragon Lord’s wedding, but paused to soothe his ailing father, Master Mo Yiming.
• Du Xiaolin and Zhuo Qing persuaded Stoneborn to bring his father along, and Stoneborn arranged for Mo Congxian to look after him before departing.
• Yi Shuyuan welcomed Qi Zhongbin and Yan Shouyun at Hui Mian’s mountain.
• Stoneborn, the Taiyin Palace party, and Mo Yiming arrived, completing the wedding guest party.

The Great Toad King prepared for Chan Qin and Ya Ci’s wedding at Hele Mountain, and guests from Taiyin Palace and the Qiankun Lineage arrived to celebrate. After a joyful ceremony beneath the moon, Chan Qin and Ya Ci entered their new life together.

• The Great Toad King returned to Hele Mountain and found Yan Bo’s spiritual work had brought the mountain slopes near the pool into bloom.
• Chan Qin showed her father a chest full of bridal outfits, and he confirmed that he had failed to bring Fairy Mili to the wedding.
• Yi Shuyuan and the other guests arrived with a flock of white cranes, admiring the flowers that covered Hele Mountain.
• The guests teased Yi Shuyuan about Mili, while Yan Shouyun asked Qi Zhongbin who she was and was told to watch and listen.
• Chan Qin joined the Taiyin Palace women, learned that Zhuo Qing was Mili’s sister, and chose a bridal robe Zhuo Qing offered her.
• Yuan Zhaoning led Chan Qin and Ya Ci through their wedding bows, and the guests celebrated as the white cranes circled overhead.

At Ya Ci and Chan Qin’s wedding banquet, Yi Shuyuan recreated the lantern festival and fireflies of Tea Province, prompting Mo Yiming to return in spirit to his home and realize he had been reliving the past. Stoneborn reached him in time, and the guests returned from their shared vision with their bonds and gratitude reaffirmed.

• Ya Ci and Chan Qin celebrated their wedding with a banquet where Mo Yiming recalled Tea Province’s lantern festival and the fireflies that filled Mingzhou City when Stoneborn was born.
• Yi Shuyuan used the Mountain and River State Map to conjure Mingzhou City and filled its sky with fireflies at Mo Yiming’s request.
• Mo Yiming mistook the vision for his past, ran home in spirit, and realized from the empty birthing room and his aged hand that Wanrong and Stoneborn were no longer there.
• Stoneborn hurried to the Mo Residence and found Mo Yiming sitting outside the bedroom, where the two shared a calm reunion.
• Yi Shuyuan brought the guests back from their vision, and Ya Ci and Chan Qin said they felt fortunate to have each other.

Stoneborn returned to the Mo Residence and stayed with his dying father, Mo Yiming, until the family gathered and Mo Yiming passed away. Meanwhile, Yi Shuyuan revived Qingyuan Pavilion’s reputation as Mingzhou’s Sixteenth Wonder by telling stories, ending with the tale of Mo Yiming and the stone child.

• Stoneborn told the Mo family that Mo Yiming was asleep and ordered them to summon Mo Xiaorong home.
• Mo Xiaorong sensed something was wrong, gathered her husband and children, and hurried back to Tea Province.
• The Great Toad King remained at Hele Mountain after the others departed and leaped into the pool, convinced Fairy Mili still cared about him.
• Yi Shuyuan declined to visit the Mo Residence and brought Yan Shouyun and the others to Qingyuan Pavilion to demonstrate his storytelling.
• Yi Shuyuan drew a packed crowd at Qingyuan Pavilion, restoring its fame as Mingzhou’s Sixteenth Wonder.
• Mo Yiming died surrounded by family on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, and Yi Shuyuan’s final story that day told of Mo Yiming and the stone child.

Yi Shuyuan and his companions paid their respects at Mo Yiming’s funeral, where Stoneborn stayed with his family. As they left Mingzhou, Lord Xiao arrived with a noisy demon host to recruit Stoneborn, only to discover the Mo Residence was holding a funeral.

• Yi Shuyuan, Qi Zhongbin, Zhuo Qing, Du Xiaolin, and Yan Shouyun arrived at the Mo Residence and were recognized by its servants and family.
• Yi Shuyuan greeted Stoneborn, then left with his companions without offering incense or bowing before Mo Yiming’s mourning hall.
• Zhuo Qing comforted Mo Xiaorong, while Stoneborn reassured his sister that he would not abandon his family.
• Yi Shuyuan and his companions heard drums as Lord Xiao approached Mingzhou with more than a hundred demons and called for Stoneborn to join him.
• Lord Xiao learned that the Mo Residence was holding a funeral, and his boisterous arrival suddenly seemed ill-timed.

Xiao Yong arrived at Mingzhou City to challenge Stoneborn, only to learn that Stoneborn’s father had died and the family was holding a funeral. After paying his respects, Xiao Yong met Yi Shuyuan and Hui Mian and explained that he was preparing to avenge his old defeat; Yi Shuyuan questioned whether he intended to defeat Mo Ye or confront the Hong Household.

• Xiao Yong descended from the clouds and learned that Stoneborn’s father had died.
• Stoneborn welcomed Xiao Yong and allowed him to pay his respects at the mourning hall.
• Xiao Yong apologized to the deceased, offered his salute, and left the Mo Residence before the funeral procession.
• Xiao Yong met Yi Shuyuan, Hui Mian, and Qi Zhongbin, and revealed that he had obtained armor and a divine edict for his revenge.
• Hui Mian agreed to accompany Xiao Yong, and Yi Shuyuan asked whether he meant to defeat Mo Ye or seek revenge on the Hong Household.