Chapter Summaries

Li Chen and his companions replenished their supplies at the Market Fair, where Li Chen bought materials for crafting puppet skins. Back at the inn, Zuo Hao confronted Li Chen over the Puppet Dolls of Xiao Die and her sister, then recognized Li Chen as an inheritor of Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting.

• Old Hou, You An, and Li Chen bought mechanical supplies, Spirit Stones, and crafting materials at the Market Fair.
• Li Chen bought makeup and ordinary clothes, anticipating that they might be useful for his future work.
• Zuo Hao confronted Li Chen at the inn and demanded to see the Puppet Dolls of Xiao Die and her sister.
• After Zuo Hao's guard tossed a pouch of Talisman Coins onto the table, Li Chen brought out the two Puppet Dolls.
• Zuo Hao was astonished by the dolls and declared that Li Chen was an inheritor of Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting.

Li Chen met Zuo Hao, a fellow practitioner of Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting, who demanded a contest and had Xiao Die and Xiao Ying killed after declaring them useless. Li Chen refused Zuo Hao’s increasingly extravagant wagers and left with Old Hou and You An, while Zuo Hao remained baffled by his refusal.

• Zuo Hao introduced himself as a true disciple of the Creation Sect and challenged Li Chen to a contest between their Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting skills.
• Zuo Shan killed Xiao Die and Xiao Ying in front of Li Chen and the others after Zuo Hao said the sisters were no longer useful.
• Li Chen condemned Zuo Hao’s disregard for human life, but Old Hou warned him not to act rashly against someone with powerful backing.
• Zuo Hao offered ten thousand Talisman Coins for a contest, but Li Chen refused and left with Old Hou and You An.
• Zuo Hao ordered Zuo Shan to offer as much as one hundred thousand Talisman Coins, yet he still failed to understand why Li Chen was displeased.

After learning that Xiao Die and Xiao Ying had been killed, Li Chen, Old Hou, and You An decided to leave Maple Grove Market to avoid Zuo Hao. Zuo Hao discovered they were heading out of the city and set off to force Li Chen into a confrontation.

• You An reported that the innkeeper had the sisters taken outside the city to be burned and buried, and Li Chen condemned their killer.
• Li Chen reflected on the sisters’ deaths and the suffering of the world, while You An shared that his father had been beaten to death before his eyes.
• Old Hou, You An, and Li Chen discussed Zuo Hao’s powerful background and agreed they could not risk opposing him.
• The three abandoned their inn deposit and left Maple Grove Market, unaware that a puppet was watching them.
• Zuo Shan told Zuo Hao that they had gone out of the city, and Zuo Hao ordered his Sword Slave to accompany him as he pursued them.

Li Chen and You An made camp near Maple Grove Market while Old Hou went hunting, and Li Chen practiced Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting on Xiao Die’s puppet. The evening was interrupted when Old Hou contacted them to say he was injured and needed help on the hill to the south.

• Li Chen and You An set up camp and prepared a meal while Old Hou searched nearby for game.
• Li Chen removed Xiao Die’s puppet head and carefully applied makeup to study and memorize her features.
• You An waited for Old Hou to return, then contacted him through their Message-Transmitting Rings.
• Old Hou reported that something had gone wrong, said he was injured, and asked them to come to the hill to the south before the signal cut out.

Li Chen and You An discovered that the injured Old Hou was an impostor and that Zuo Hao had taken the real Old Hou hostage. Zuo Hao forced Li Chen into a Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting contest, and Li Chen agreed to compete to save his friend.

• Li Chen sensed that the apparent Old Hou looked unnatural and pulled You An away as he struck with his torch.
• The impostor revealed himself as Zuo Shan, who said the real Old Hou was still alive, while Zuo Hao arrived with Old Hou held under guard.
• Zuo Hao demanded a contest in which each man would make Puppet Dolls and try to identify the real person, with Old Hou's life at stake.
• Li Chen accepted Zuo Hao's challenge after Old Hou urged him to agree.

Li Chen and You An faced Zuo Hao’s challenge to a contest of facial likeness, while Zuo Hao prepared the rules and displayed his formidable resources. Back at camp, Li Chen rejected the idea of competing fairly and decided they should kill Zuo Hao instead.

• Zuo Hao explained that the contest would compare painted heads from a distance, with both contestants sealed into suspended death to prevent them from giving clues.
• Zuo Shan and Zuo Hao’s Sword Slave prepared ten wooden boxes, demonstrating their skills and strength.
• Zuo Hao drove Soul-Stabilizing Nails into Old Hou and Zuo Shan, gave them pills, and placed them in separate boxes before assigning five boxes to Li Chen and You An.
• Zuo Hao threatened Old Hou’s life if Li Chen and You An ran, then left with the other boxes and ordered them to return in two hours.
• At camp, Li Chen and You An discussed Zuo Hao’s advantages and agreed that they should target his life rather than take part in the contest.

Li Chen used disguise and makeup to transform wooden puppets of Zuo Shan, confounding Zuo Hao during their contest. Zuo Hao nevertheless identified and shot the poorest puppet, leaving Li Chen worried about the remaining challenge.

• Li Chen told You An to wait for his signal and carved puppets while planning an unconventional approach.
• Zuo Hao and the Sword Slave set out five crates containing identical heads of Old Hou, then turned away as Li Chen and You An arranged their own crates.
• Li Chen revealed five disguised figures modeled on Zuo Shan, startling Zuo Hao and the Sword Slave with their altered appearances.
• Zuo Hao realized Li Chen had transformed the figures using mortal skills rather than divine abilities or spells.
• Zuo Hao judged the least lifelike figure to be fake and shot it with a hand crossbow, then invited Li Chen to take his turn.

Li Chen outmaneuvered Zuo Hao in the decoy contest by disguising the real Zuo Shan with a visual deception, then launched a surprise attack when Zuo Hao killed him. Li Chen killed Zuo Hao after overcoming his body-protection artifact.

• Li Chen and Zuo Hao each eliminated two decoys, leaving one real person and one dummy on each side.
• Li Chen warned Zuo Hao to look again, but Zuo Hao relied on facial proportions and shot the real Zuo Shan dead.
• Li Chen revealed that his Skin-Painting Art had deceived Zuo Hao, then called for You An as bolts fired from the crates.
• You An struck the Sword Slave with Demon Dragon Tyrant Fist, while the Sword Slave's Sword Qi and Zuo Hao's body-protection artifact blocked most of the bolts.
• Li Chen slashed Zuo Hao with a Hunting Knife, took his crossbow, and killed him with three shots.

Li Chen rescued Old Hou from a crate but discovered that Zuo Hao had already killed him while turning him into a human puppet. Li Chen and You An defeated the Sword Slave, but they returned to camp with Old Hou dead and You An badly wounded.

• Li Chen freed Old Hou and realized he was already dead because Zuo Hao had begun refining him into a human puppet without preserving his life.
• Li Chen sent his Armored Warrior to help You An, who fought the Sword Slave in his Heavenly Soldier War Armor.
• Li Chen controlled the Armored Warrior from concealment while You An dislocated the Sword Slave's shoulder and the puppet pierced her chest.
• Li Chen used the Swarm of Bees Mechanism Performance to shoot the Sword Slave with poisoned needles, killing her.
• You An returned to camp wounded and learned from Li Chen that Old Hou was dead.

After killing Zuo Hao and his companions, Li Chen and the wounded You An mourned Brother Hou and disposed of the battlefield. They searched the spoils and discovered Zuo Hao had carried several valuable Storage Rings, including a supreme-grade ring for four-star puppets, while worrying that his powerful family might seek revenge.

• Li Chen tended to You An beside the campfire, and they grieved over Brother Hou's unjust death.
• Li Chen burned the puppets and wooden boxes while You An searched the corpses and checked for signs that might reveal their killers.
• You An explained that Zuo Hao was likely a favored son of a Grand Artisan and warned that his death could bring trouble from his family and allies.
• You An identified six Storage Rings, including Superior Storage Rings and a supreme-grade ring designed for four-star puppets.
• Li Chen and You An reflected that Zuo Hao had never summoned his powerful puppets, then prepared to inspect the spoils.

Li Chen and You An divided the spoils from Zuo Hao and his men, discovering evidence of human-puppet experiments and seven female corpse concubines hidden in the Flying Chair. Li Chen kept the bodies for study, promising to use them properly, while the survivors prepared to dispose of the enemies’ remains and move on.

• You An searched the Storage Bags and found that Zuo Hao’s servants carried more Talisman Coins than Zuo Hao, whose bag held valuable Spirit Materials and tools for making human puppets.
• Li Chen explained that the Body-Nourishing Pills and Soul-Stabilizing Nails had been used to make living corpse specimens, and You An cursed Zuo Hao for his cruelty.
• You An proposed dividing the money and Spirit Materials, setting aside fifty thousand Talisman Coins for Brother Hou’s family, and Li Chen gave You An additional mechanical equipment.
• Li Chen dismantled the Flying Chair, removed its tracking components, and discovered a hidden spatial compartment containing seven female corpses preserved as living corpse specimens.
• You An recognized the women as corpse concubines, and Li Chen decided to keep them for study and promised to make proper use of them.

After escaping the Zuo Household’s enemies, Li Chen and You An buried Old Hou and settled in a secluded valley to recover. Li Chen used modified Flying Claws to help build their hut, while You An prepared to scout the area for game.

• Li Chen refused You An’s suggestion to turn their enemies into Human Puppets, and the two burned the unwanted remains before taking the rest of their spoils.
• Five days later, Li Chen and You An buried Old Hou in the mountains east of Maple Grove Market and found a secluded valley where they planned to stay.
• You An used his Heavenly Soldier War Armor to cut bamboo and timber for a hut, while Li Chen brought out ten modified Flying Claws to help build it.
• Li Chen explained that he had replaced the Flying Claws’ cores and believed Puppet Masters could apply their craft to ordinary daily needs.
• You An praised Li Chen’s ability to control ten Flying Claws, then set off to scout the area and look for game.

You An returned with Rice Fruits, and Li Chen finished modifying Zuo Hao’s Floating Chair into a hovering combat puppet. He explained its concealed needle launchers, articulated steel legs, and programmed swordsmanship routines, including the legendary Sword-Controlling Art.

• You An returned with ripe Rice Fruits, and he and Li Chen roasted and ate them.
• You An asked about Li Chen’s modifications, and Li Chen said he had finished turning the Flying Chair into a Combat Puppet.
• Li Chen summoned the modified puppet, which hovered on magnetic force despite its eight blacksteel legs.
• Li Chen showed You An the puppet’s concealed repeating needle weapons and described its defenses and close-combat attacks.
• Li Chen revealed that he had programmed the puppet with the Twenty Forms of Mortal Swordsmanship and introduced the transcendent Sword-Controlling Art.

Li Chen explained the Flying Chair’s steel-leg weapons to You An and planned to test them against a Demon Beast. After settling in a spiritual valley, the pair began searching for prey and encountered a group of Blue-Faced Mountain Fiends.

• Li Chen demonstrated how the Flying Chair’s steel legs could retract and described their Gang Essence defenses and Whirlwind Slash attack.
• Li Chen and You An built a cabin in the valley and found it rich in life but strangely lacking in predators and ordinary large beasts.
• You An suspected a powerful Demon Beast ruled the area and lamented that Old Hou was gone.
• Li Chen proposed using Flying Discs to search a small area for Demon Beasts, and You An agreed to try the method.
• While setting observation points near the valley entrance, Li Chen and You An came across ape-like Blue-Faced Mountain Fiends gathering fruit.

Li Chen and You An encountered a pack of Mountain Ogres near their huts, and Li Chen tested the Water Spider’s combat capabilities against them. The Water Spider killed two Mountain Ogres, while the rest of the pack remained a threat.

• You An spotted a pack of Mountain Ogres and realized they had been living near the creatures’ territory.
• Li Chen mounted the Water Spider, summoned ten Flying Claws, and told You An to cover him as he attacked the charging pack.
• Li Chen fired a storm of steel needles at the Mountain Ogres, then used the Flying Claws and the Water Spider’s steel legs to lift and kill one of them.
• A stronger Mountain Ogre punched Li Chen’s Gang Essence Shield, but Li Chen countered with the Water Spider’s spinning blades and killed it.

Li Chen and You An fought through a pack of Mountain Ogres, then pursued the survivors to a secluded cave. As they cautiously approached, several bedraggled people fled from inside amid the roars of Mountain Ogres.

• Li Chen used the Water Spider and Flying Claws to kill Mountain Ogres, while explaining the limits of his devices and spirit essence supply to You An.
• The surviving Mountain Ogres fled into the woods, and You An pursued them until Li Chen warned him not to enter the forest carelessly.
• Li Chen supported the pursuit with Flying Discs, spotted ambushes, and helped kill more Mountain Ogres as the group followed the survivors to a cave.
• You An offered to enter the cave first while Li Chen scouted above him with a Flying Disc.
• Human voices and Mountain Ogre roars sounded from the cave, and several bedraggled people rushed out amid a burst of combat.

Li Chen and You An rescued a group of Ruins Seekers by killing the Mountain Ogres attacking them, then used a misunderstanding over the lair’s treasures to conceal their identities. After declining Ma Heng’s offered share, Li Chen learned the group was heading toward a nearby town and was invited to travel with them.

• Li Chen and You An encountered a group of Ruins Seekers fleeing Mountain Ogres at a cave.
• Li Chen attacked the Mountain Ogres with the Water Spider while You An helped defeat them, and the group joined in to kill the remaining creatures.
• Ma Heng explained that his group had raided the lair and killed the old and weak Mountain Ogres guarding it.
• Li Chen pretended the group had taken his treasures, then declined Ma Heng’s two Inner Cores and started to leave with You An.
• Ma Heng told Li Chen that his group was heading to Eastern Quietwood Town and invited the pair to travel with them.

After traveling with Ma Heng's party, Li Chen and You An reached Mistywood Town and separated from their companions. They disguised themselves with masks, and Li Chen began to grasp a deeper principle of the Skin-Painting Art.

• Around the campfire, Li Chen made disguise masks from merfolk fat and gave one to You An to help them hide their identities.
• Li Chen and You An traveled with Ma Heng's party for six days, sharing watch and protection against dangers in the forest.
• At Mistywood Town, Ma Heng explained that the settlement served travelers heading to Coldwind Valley and then parted ways with Li Chen and You An.
• Li Chen and You An put on their masks and entered town under unfamiliar faces.
• Li Chen reflected that changing their painted skins altered their identities and others' perceptions, calling it the karma borne by the shell of flesh.

Li Chen realized Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting could alter how the world perceived someone, then used the divine ability to disguise himself and You An while modifying the Water Spider. After they left the inn, two cultivators arrived searching for Zuo Hao, unaware that Li Chen had recently worn his face.

• Li Chen considered how convincingly a person could assume another identity and gained a deeper understanding of Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting.
• Li Chen transformed his face into an unfamiliar passerby’s, and You An confirmed that the skin was real.
• In Mistywood Town, Li Chen practiced Magnetic Levitation and refitted the Water Spider with a Patrol Spider-like shell that could transform into armor.
• You An reported that the local spirit materials market was prosperous, and Li Chen gave him a new appearance before disguising himself as a middle-aged rogue cultivator.
• After Li Chen and You An left the inn, two gray-clad cultivators showed the innkeeper a portrait of Zuo Hao and began searching the area for him.

Li Chen and You An searched the Market Fair for provisions, and You An chose a gold-eating spirit seed to cultivate a golden spirit body. After You An began refining it, Li Chen prepared to focus on advancing his Puppet Master cultivation.

• Two Earthly Sha Sect men searched Li Chen’s inn room and left a portrait with the innkeeper, ordering him to report if he saw Li Chen.
• Li Chen and You An settled Old Hou’s affairs at the money house and then searched the Market Fair for You An’s cultivation provisions.
• You An bought a gold-eating spirit seed and metal spirit materials, spending most of his savings.
• You An injected the spirit seed and refined a grain of gold, gaining a bronze-gold sheen to his skin.
• You An declared the cultivation successful, while Li Chen said he would focus on advancing to Foundation Establishment and building more Combat Puppets.