Chapter Summaries

After leaving Hundred Treasures Tower, Li Chen and You An learned that the Earthly Sha Sect was searching for Zuo Hao and tried to avoid drawing attention to themselves. As they left the inn, one of the Sect’s local strongmen called out to them.

• Li Chen and You An encountered Earthly Sha Sect members searching for Zuo Hao and denied having seen him.
• You An explained the Sect’s broad network, and Li Chen warned that anyone in town might pass information to it.
• Li Chen and You An returned to the inn, ate, and pretended to be ordinary travelers while watching the local cultivators.
• Two formidable men arrived and told the innkeeper to send word if Zuo Hao returned.
• As Li Chen and You An passed the men, Master Jin called, “Fellow Daoists, please stay!”

Li Chen agreed to watch for the missing Young Master Zuo while he and You An planned to leave Mistywood Town and seek opportunities farther afield. Jin Hongbo and Long Xi learned that Young Master Zuo had died and used a Qi-Seeking Compass to prepare a town-wide search for whoever carried his belongings.

• Jin Hongbo offered Li Chen a reward for information about Young Master Zuo, and Li Chen accepted the portrait and agreed to keep an eye out.
• You An visited Li Chen, who reassured him and discussed leaving town to hunt demons and eventually visiting the Coldwind Valley battlefield.
• Jin Hongbo and Long Xi lamented their failed search until an urgent dispatch from the Zuo Household revealed that divination showed Young Master Zuo had died days earlier.
• Jin Hongbo and Long Xi realized someone had been carrying Young Master Zuo's belongings and examined a Qi-Seeking Compass that could track his qi signature.
• Jin Hongbo ordered his men to search all of Mistywood Town through the night.

Li Chen and You An left the inn, but Jin Hongbo and Long Xi tracked them using the Qi-Seeking Compass and caught up with them on the road. Jin Hongbo accused them of being the people Grand Artisan Zuo was seeking and ordered his followers to shoot.

• Jin Hongbo and Long Xi returned to the inn, where the Qi-Seeking Compass led them to objects Li Chen had used in the puppet storeroom.
• Long Xi strengthened the compass with the objects' qi signatures, and its needle pointed toward Li Chen and You An.
• Li Chen and You An traveled east toward the Coldwind Valley battlefield on the Water Spider and Flower Leopard Mechanism Beast.
• Jin Hongbo, Long Xi, and four subordinates caught up with Li Chen and You An and surrounded them with weapons drawn.
• You An deployed his Heavenly Soldier War Armor, while Li Chen tried to reason with Jin Hongbo.
• Jin Hongbo accused Li Chen and You An of being the people Grand Artisan Zuo was looking for and ordered his followers to shoot.

Li Chen and You An fought Jin Hongbo’s group on the Imperial Road as Jin’s Heavy Armored Warrior unleashed a powerful firearm and the attackers tried to surround Li Chen. Li Chen faced the incoming Sickle Demon and four Battle Warriors by preparing a Whirlwind Slash.

• Jin Hongbo summoned his Heavy Armored Warrior and aimed its Divine Fire Flying Crow at Li Chen and You An.
• Li Chen raised his Gang Essence Shield and retreated while You An charged the puppet and knocked its rocket off course, causing it to explode nearby.
• Li Chen fired poisoned steel needles from the Water Spider, striking all four lackeys and blinding one of them.
• Jin Hongbo ordered the lackeys to charge, and they used Thunderclap Bombs to close in while You An kept the Heavy Armored Warrior occupied.
• Long Xi sent his Sickle Demon toward Li Chen as the four Battle Warriors surrounded him and attacked together.
• Li Chen smiled and called out Whirlwind Slash.

Li Chen and You An fought Jin Hongbo and Long Xi through the woods, using their Mechanism Puppets to turn the chase into an ambush. Jin Hongbo and Long Xi were killed, and Li Chen recovered the Qi-Seeking Compass they had used to track them.

• The Water Spider and You An fought off the attackers’ puppets and explosives, then retreated into the woods while Jin Hongbo and Long Xi pursued on Wargs.
• Li Chen summoned the Fang Tiger Mechanism Beast and warned You An that the Demon Hunters might set an ambush.
• The Fang Tiger Mechanism Beast sprang from the bushes, pinned Jin Hongbo, and tore into his neck.
• The Fang Tiger Mechanism Beast grappled with the Sickle Demon while You An doubled back and crushed Long Xi’s chest with a punch.
• Li Chen used a Flying Claw to retrieve the Qi-Seeking Compass beside Jin Hongbo’s body and realized it had led the pursuers to them.

Li Chen and You An discovered that the Zuo Household had used divination to track them, then erased the evidence and fled. In Jiangfeng City, Zuo Shitang dreamed of a mysterious “Thousand Faces” and ordered Luo Jing to search for a hidden object and arrange a million-coin bounty on him.

• Li Chen and You An found an urgent dispatch and a Qi-Seeking Compass among Jin Hongbo's and Long Xi's belongings, learning that the Zuo Household had used divination to locate them.
• You An collected Thunderclap Bombs and Long Xi's pistol, and the two stored Jin Hongbo, Long Xi, and their underlings in the Water Spider's Spatial Storage Compartment to dispose of them later.
• Zuo Shitang told Luo Jing that he had dreamed of a lost ox, a burning bird's nest, and a traveler called “Thousand Faces” whose face he could not see.
• Zuo Shitang ordered Luo Jing to search the mountain forests for a crucial object and offered a million-coin bounty through the Earthly Sha Sect and the Black List to kill Thousand Faces.

Li Chen and You An traveled east toward Coldwind Valley while Li Chen repaired and reinforced his puppets. Meanwhile, Luo Jing tracked them to Old Hou’s grave, discovered his preserved body, and took it away after using a Soul-Stabilizing Nail and a Corpse-Nourishing Pill.

• Li Chen repaired the Water Spider’s damaged steel legs and reinforced them with refined gold after reflecting on the cost of their recent battle.
• You An found an Imperial Road leading toward Coldwind Valley, and he and Li Chen planned to rest there, improve their abilities, and hunt demons.
• Luo Jing questioned the acting Hall Steward at the Earthly Sha Sect branch in Mistywood Town and ordered Ma Heng to guide him to where Li Chen and You An had first been found.
• Luo Jing led Ma Heng and the others to Old Hou’s grave and ordered them to open it.
• Luo Jing found Old Hou’s undecayed body, drove a Soul-Stabilizing Nail into his Tiantu acupoint, gave him a Corpse-Nourishing Pill, and placed him in his Space Pouch.

Li Chen and You An reached the Coldwind Valley Battlefield with the help of merchant Lin Hang, who explained the dangers and customs of Whistling Valley. At the Octagonal Fort, Li Chen learned that Puppet Masters held public teachings, and he reflected on the widespread cultivation of their craft.

• Li Chen and You An arrived at the Octagonal Fort and saw the realm gate leading into the Coldwind Valley Battlefield.
• Lin Hang explained how Whistling Valley’s passage opened and closed, allowing demons to invade and cultivators to hunt them.
• Lin Hang invited Li Chen and You An to visit him in the Inner Ring Xun Trigram District and advised them to seek lodging and assignments at the fort.
• Li Chen and You An entered the Octagonal Fort and learned that its upper floors housed an inn, cultivation lodgings, and a library where Puppet Masters sometimes taught publicly.
• Li Chen considered how Yan Shi’s teachings and the Creation Sect’s Complete Book of the Puppet Master Order had spread knowledge of the Puppet Master path.

Li Chen and You An examined the Earthly Sha Sect’s Black List at the Octagonal Fort, where they learned about the region’s wanted rogues and their bounties. A mysterious disguise expert called Thousand Faces appeared at the top with a million-Talisman-Coin bounty, but Li Chen decided the hunt was not worth pursuing.

• Li Chen and You An went downstairs to see the Earthly Sha Sect’s newly posted Black List.
• Li Chen studied the listed rogues and learned that the list covered dangerous figures within the surrounding region.
• An Earthly Sha Sect underling posted a new notice naming the unknown Thousand Faces, suspected of using disguise techniques and believed to be at Foundation Establishment levels one through three.
• Onlookers discussed the million-Talisman-Coin bounty, and a knowledgeable spectator explained that it targeted experts rather than ordinary cultivators.
• You An remarked that Thousand Faces looked valuable, but Li Chen dismissed the hunt and left with him.

Li Chen and You An learned about demon hunting and local dangers from veteran cultivator Xin Zhengye, who gave them a Demon Bestiary filled with useful field notes. They rented rooms and a workshop in an inn, where Li Chen prepared to work on his puppet while You An went out to explore.

• You An and Li Chen met Xin Zhengye at an eatery, and he explained that demon hunters earned money by hunting demons and selling their cores.
• Xin Zhengye warned them of the dangers and competition in Octagonal Fort, then described the demons common to the region around Coldwind Valley.
• Xin Zhengye gave Li Chen and You An an illustrated Demon Bestiary containing information on local demon races and his annotations from years of experience.
• Li Chen rented two guest rooms and a secluded storeroom for seven hundred Talisman Coins a month so he could train and repair Mechanism Puppets.
• You An left to explore the town while Li Chen stayed behind to work on Xiao Ying's wooden puppet and told You An to extract more metal essence.

Li Chen studied medicine-craft by dissecting and restoring a corpse concubine, then modified the Water Spider and refined his magic power. You An brought news that Master Artisan Bu Wenmo would teach the Blood-Exchange Art in three days.

• Li Chen discovered that six of his seven corpse concubines could draw in Heaven and Earth Vital Energy, then dissected the one who could not.
• Li Chen gained new insights into medicine-craft and used the Fire-Origin Formula to restore the corpse concubine's organs and close her incision.
• Li Chen reinforced the Water Spider's steel legs and detached one Spatial Storage Compartment, finding that it could fit inside his Storage Bag.
• Li Chen refined his magic power three times before stopping for the evening.
• You An told Li Chen that Master Artisan Bu Wenmo of the Creation Sect would give a public lecture on the Blood-Exchange Art in three days.

Li Chen and You An decided to attend Master Artisan Bu’s lecture on using spirit mercury for blood exchange, and Li Chen considered the benefits and commercial motives behind the technique. They secured seats near the front thanks to Li Chen’s status as a Puppet Master, just as someone questioned how they had gotten there.

• Li Chen recognized the Blood-Exchange Art as a method related to flesh puppetization and agreed with You An that they should attend Master Artisan Bu’s lecture.
• Li Chen pointed out that Bu’s lecture could help popularize spirit mercury and benefit Bu’s faction, but said the technique was still worth learning.
• Word of the lecture spread through the War Fortress, and Li Chen learned it would focus on replacing blood with finished spirit mercury rather than explaining how to refine it.
• On the first day of the seventh month, Li Chen and You An arrived at the crowded lecture hall and accepted seats near the front offered to Puppet Masters.
• Li Chen spoke with several other Puppet Masters, then heard someone behind him ask how they had ended up in those seats.

You An and Li Chen attended a gathering for Master Artisan Bu, where You An publicly rebuffed Yang Haoyi, an Earthly Sha Sect hall steward who tried to take their seats. A local cultivator explained that President Qian and the Merchants' Association held the most practical influence in the area, and the chapter ended with Master Artisan Bu arriving.

• Yang Haoyi tried to claim You An and the rogue cultivators' seats, but You An mocked him and an apprentice ordered the Earthly Sha Sect group to leave.
• A local cultivator warned You An that Yang Haoyi might hold a grudge and explained that President Qian and the Merchants' Association governed the territory in practice.
• Master Artisan Bu arrived with attendants, and the gathered crowd fell silent and rose to show their respect.

Master Artisan Bu lectured on the Puppet Dao and explained the principles and techniques of the Blood-Exchange Art. Afterward, Li Chen proposed that he and You An each spend ten thousand talisman coins to try it.

• Master Artisan Bu argued that Puppet Masters gained power by using external things and collective craftsmanship rather than seeking individual transcendence.
• Master Artisan Bu explained the Blood-Exchange Art, its origins, and how spirit blood could replace bodily blood through a process related to Martial Dao marrow training.
• Li Chen absorbed the lecture and gained a clearer understanding of blood circulation, while You An struggled to follow the technical material.
• After the lecture, You An complained that he had understood little, while Li Chen said he wanted to begin experimenting.
• Li Chen suggested that he and You An each put up ten thousand talisman coins to try blood exchange, and You An agreed, hoping it would make him more vigorous.

Li Chen and You An spent nearly all their remaining funds exchanging their blood for spirit blood, then discovered that the treatment improved their magic power and blood control. They decided to hunt demons in Coldwind Valley to earn money for their cultivation.

• Li Chen and You An sold loot from Jin Hongbo, Long Xi, and others, then used the proceeds to buy spirit blood at a fortress trading house.
• Craftsman Lin used the Water Essence Formula to infuse spirit blood into Li Chen and You An while drawing off their original blood.
• Li Chen realized the Blood-Exchange Art could be dangerous without proper guidance, and Craftsman Lin explained that her reputation and their need for supplies would keep them relying on her shop.
• After returning, Li Chen found that his magic power circulated more smoothly and that he could form a faint Gang Essence Shield; he understood that Zuo Hao's spirit blood had helped him withstand attacks.
• You An noticed improved control over his blood, and he and Li Chen agreed to hunt demons because they had spent nearly all their money.

Li Chen and You An struggled to hunt demons independently, earning only the horns of a low-rank Horned Demon. To overcome the veteran hunters’ advantage, Li Chen devised energy-sensing message devices and planned to use them to search the Gobi wilderness.

• You An killed a Horned Demon, but it had no Inner Core, so he salvaged its horns instead.
• Li Chen considered using demon corpses to make Flesh Puppets, but realized his cultivation and resources were insufficient.
• Li Chen and You An discussed how veteran teams found demons and recalled refusing Xin Zhengye’s invitation to join his group.
• Li Chen proposed setting up devices to detect demons and communicate their locations.
• Li Chen returned to the storeroom and made a pile of Mechanism Device components that could sense energy signatures and send and receive messages.

Li Chen deployed his Swarm of Bees Technique to use thirty-six Flying Discs for wide-area Demon detection. The discs found three Servant Demons, and after the pair killed them, You An discovered that one had a heart containing Flame Baleful Intent.

• Li Chen launched thirty-six Flying Discs equipped with Heavenly Net sensors and programmed them to form a moving reconnaissance ring.
• The Flying Discs detected three Demons near a stone forest, and You An hurried there with Li Chen.
• You An killed one of the three Servant Demons while fighting the other two, and Li Chen sent his puppets to help defeat them.
• You An examined a Servant Demon's heart, found spirit material containing Flame Baleful Intent, and stored it in a container.

Li Chen and You An made a fortune hunting demons around Coldwind Valley, then joined a demon tide and earned another ten thousand Talisman Coins. As they celebrated their gains, an Earthly Sha Sect lackey recognized Li Chen as someone Master Yi had ordered him to watch and target.

• Li Chen and You An sold their demon spoils for more than three thousand five hundred Talisman Coins and continued earning several thousand coins a day hunting demons.
• The pair encountered many demon species and steadily strengthened their puppets and their own abilities.
• On July 16, a demon tide surged from Coldwind Valley, drawing demons and rogue cultivator Puppeteers to the valley entrance.
• Li Chen and You An joined the battle, collected five inner cores and other materials, and earned another ten thousand Talisman Coins from their haul.
• An Earthly Sha Sect lackey spotted Li Chen and recognized him as the man Master Yi had ordered him to watch and deal with.

Li Chen and You An prepared to explore Coldwind Valley and entered the secret realm, where they were caught in an ambush by Earthly Sha Sect lackeys. A sudden spatial opening dragged both men into darkness, leaving them trapped in an unknown passage.

• Li Chen and You An bought supplies, spirit stones, puppets, and spirit blood before setting out for Coldwind Valley.
• Li Chen and You An entered the valley and discussed the dangers of its shifting fissures and the importance of returning before nightfall.
• Two Earthly Sha Sect lackeys secretly followed Li Chen and You An as they approached the end of the valley.
• You An sensed danger and donned his War Armor, but the lackeys detonated hidden Thunderclap Fire.
• A pitch-black opening appeared and pulled Li Chen and You An inside.

After being ambushed and dropped into the Bleakwind Wasteland in the Demon Realm, Li Chen and You An fought off Servant Demons and tried to escape the surrounding horde. They ended up stranded on an isolated stone pillar with the demons massed across a gap.

• Li Chen and You An landed in the Bleakwind Wasteland after the rift closed, and You An identified the attack as a setup.
• Li Chen deployed the Water Spider and Flying Discs, which revealed demons across the wasteland.
• Li Chen and You An killed several Servant Demons, then fled when larger groups approached.
• The Flying Discs detected that the demons had surrounded them, so Li Chen led You An toward a stone pillar beside a cliff.
• Li Chen blasted the cliff’s jutting edge with a Divine Fire Flying Crow, leaving the pair on an isolated pillar as the demons roared from the other side.