Chapter Summaries

Liu Yu killed the captured market ward guards and continued overseeing the operation against the White Household. Cui Liang reported that the Wei Household planned a Foundation Establishment Ceremony for Wei Tiancong, giving Liu Yu a possible chance to strike at the White Household’s guests.

• Liu Yu used the Azure Yang Demonic Flame to kill the captured guards and absorb their vitality and souls.
• Liu Yu left Leng Yuexin to oversee the operation and trusted Jiang Qiushui to supervise the other cultivators.
• Two days later, Liu Yu asked Cui Liang for news about the White Household.
• Cui Liang reported that Wei Tiancong had reached Foundation Establishment and that the Wei Household had invited nearby forces, including the White Household, to his ceremony.
• Cui Liang suggested intercepting the White Household’s cultivators on their way to the ceremony, and Liu Yu considered the proposal.

Liu Yu planned a two-pronged strike to weaken the White Household before news of the attack on Mang Mountain Market Ward spread. He assigned Leng Yuexin to lead an assault on a spirit mountain while he prepared to ambush White Household cultivators heading to the Wei Household’s celebration.

• Liu Yu identified the White Household’s scattered holdings as a weakness and summoned his allies to discuss an attack.
• Liu Yu proposed ambushing the White Household cultivators attending the Wei Household’s celebration while another team attacked a second-tier spirit mountain.
• Jiang Qiushui questioned the risk of dividing their strength, but Liu Yu insisted they seize the opportunity and chose Leng Yuexin to lead the assault.
• Leng Yuexin accepted the assignment and considered the resources and opportunities the spirit mountain could offer.
• Liu Yu assigned Yan Kai and two subordinate cultivators to his ambush team, sent Jiang Qiushui and two others to remain at Mang Mountain Market Ward, and ordered everyone to prepare to leave immediately.

Liu Yu sent Leng Yuexin and the others to attack another White Household spirit mountain, then traveled toward Red Maple Mountain to investigate the Wei Household’s celebration. Disguised as a rogue cultivator under his old alias, Hong Hao, he entered the Wei Household and heard a guest praise its rising strength.

• Liu Yu ordered Leng Yuexin to lead a group of Qi Refining disciples against the White Household’s other tier-two low-grade spirit mountain, with Meng Wenxing and Cui Liang assisting.
• Liu Yu warned Jiang Qiushui to remain at Mang Mountain Market Ward and wait for his orders, then departed with Yan Kai, Wu, and Fang.
• Near Red Maple Mountain, Liu Yu told his companions to lie in ambush while he infiltrated the Wei Household and investigated its plans and the White Household’s movements.
• Liu Yu concealed his appearance and cultivation, adopted the name Hong Hao, and entered the Wei Household’s celebration as a rogue cultivator.
• A rogue cultivator praised the Wei Household’s recent growth and said its young patriarch’s Foundation Establishment breakthrough had strengthened its next generation.

Liu Yu attended the Wei Household’s Foundation Establishment celebration and suspected it concealed a larger purpose. When Bai Lianhua and Bai Caihuang arrived with the White Household, Liu Yu resolved to deal with the household, while the disappearance of its patriarchs and several Foundation Establishment guests left the gathering’s true business unclear.

• Liu Yu listened to cultivators discuss Wei Tiancong’s breakthrough and noticed the Wei Household was treating guests according to their status.
• Liu Yu concluded that the celebration had a hidden purpose and decided to watch for the White Household’s arrival.
• The White Household arrived with Bai Lianhua and Bai Caihuang, and Liu Yu recognized them and quietly formed murderous intent.
• Wei Guangzheng welcomed Bai Lianhua, and Wei Tiancong greeted her respectfully despite his new Foundation Establishment status.
• The celebration began, but Liu Yu noticed Wei Tiancong’s strained manner and saw Wei Guangzheng, Bai Lianhua, Bai Caihuang, and several Foundation Establishment guests leave for the summit.

Liu Yu infiltrated the Wei Household’s celebration as an ordinary rogue cultivator while secretly monitoring its guests. As he left Red Maple Mountain, Bai Caihuang sensed danger from him but dismissed the premonition.

• Liu Yu sampled the Wei Household’s spirit food and reflected that the family’s future depended on making the correct choice amid the looming conflict.
• Liu Yu pretended to refine the spirit food while using his divine sense to monitor the cultivators invited to the mountaintop.
• Liu Yu saw Dugu Wenjian and Xiao Chong leave the mountain grim-faced and depart in streaks of escape light.
• Liu Yu noticed Bai Lianhua and Bai Caihuang being escorted down the mountain, then casually followed the main road after them.
• Bai Caihuang felt a sudden danger premonition when she saw Liu Yu, but dismissed him as an unremarkable late Qi Refining rogue cultivator.
• Liu Yu descended Red Maple Mountain without obstruction.

Liu Yu tracked Bai Lianhua and the White Household after they left the Wei Household, while Wei Tiancong swore to avenge the humiliation of his celebration. As the White Household flew between two mountains, three Foundation Establishment cultivators sprang an ambush.

• Liu Yu sent his allies the White Household’s location and prepared to follow them while keeping his cultivation concealed.
• Bai Lianhua pressured Wei Guangzheng to obey the White Cloud Temple’s orders, and he agreed to send cultivators in response.
• Bai Lianhua led Bai Caihuang and seven lineage disciples toward Phoenix Mountain, while Wei Tiancong vowed to avenge the humiliation.
• Wei Guangzheng told Wei Tiancong that the White Cloud Temple was struggling and that the balance of power could change.
• Liu Yu followed the White Household at a concealed distance and messaged Yan Kai and the other two to prepare.
• As the White Household’s jade flute passed between two mountains, spells and three Top-grade Magical Artifacts appeared alongside the pressure of three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Bai Lianhua and Bai Caihuang were ambushed while fleeing from Red Maple Mountain, and their attackers destroyed their escape artifact and killed the Qi Refining disciples aboard. With pursuers behind them and a powerful cultivator blocking the way ahead, Bai Lianhua descended into the forest and sent out talismans seeking help.

• Yan Kai and two other cultivators attacked Bai Lianhua and Bai Caihuang's Pale Yellow Jade Flute with spells and magical artifacts, destroying it and killing the Qi Refining disciples aboard.
• Bai Lianhua escaped on her White Lotus Pedestal, using second-tier talismans to fend off attacks from the pursuers.
• A hidden cultivator launched the Netherworld Soul-Severing Cone at the fleeing women, and Bai Caihuang's defensive earring was knocked aside before Bai Lianhua intercepted the strike with a silver shortsword.
• Bai Lianhua steered the White Lotus Pedestal down into the forest to avoid being trapped between the attackers and sent Voice-Transmitting Talismans to request help from cultivators friendly with the White Household.

Liu Yu’s group ambushed Bai Lianhua and Bai Caihuang in the forest after the women sent out Voice-Transmitting Talismans. The fight ended in a fragile stalemate, with Bai Lianhua holding off Liu Yu and the others while Liu Yu calmly approved of Wu and Fang’s efforts.

• Bai Lianhua and Bai Caihuang fled into a forest, where Liu Yu, Yan Kai, and two other Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounded them.
• Bai Lianhua tried to negotiate and buy time for reinforcements, but Liu Yu recognized the delay and secretly ordered an attack.
• Liu Yu and the others launched their spirit artifacts and magical artifacts, and Bai Lianhua and Bai Caihuang hurriedly defended themselves.
• Bai Lianhua held off Liu Yu and two others, while Bai Caihuang clashed with Yan Kai and kept him from gaining the upper hand.
• The battle settled into a fragile stalemate, and Liu Yu secretly praised Wu and Fang instead of criticizing their performance.

Liu Yu launched a coordinated assault on Bai Lianhua, forcing her to spend powerful talismans and focus on defending herself while Wu Fang and his companion attacked Bai Caihuang. Outnumbered and awaiting reinforcements, Bai Lianhua planned an escape and ordered Bai Caihuang to flee first.

• Liu Yu used the Mother-and-Son Soul-Chasing Blades and Golden Wind Dispersal Talismans to attack Bai Lianhua, who countered with a Dark-Destroying Firefall talisman and a silver floral ornament.
• Bai Lianhua's defenses stopped Liu Yu's attacks, but his assault kept her from helping Bai Caihuang.
• Wu Fang and his companion joined Liu Yu's attack on Bai Caihuang, forcing her to rely on single-use measures to hold them off.
• Bai Caihuang asked Bai Lianhua whether she should reveal her hidden strength, but Bai Lianhua judged that escape was their best option.
• Bai Lianhua planned to create an opening with a Heavenly Water Curtain Talisman so Bai Caihuang could escape with a Wood-Escape Talisman, and Bai Caihuang urgently asked what would happen to Bai Lianhua.

Liu Yu and the other cultivators pressed Bai Lianhua while Bai Caihuang prepared to escape behind a powerful water shield. As the Wood-Escape Talisman neared activation, Bai Lianhua ordered Bai Caihuang to abandon Phoenix Mountain and preserve the White Household if she did not return.

• Bai Lianhua told Bai Caihuang to escape and meet her at Phoenix Mountain, while Bai Caihuang trusted that her Clan Chief would survive.
• Liu Yu considered using his hidden trump cards, but Bai Lianhua drove back his attacks with several high-grade talismans and raised a Heavenly Water Curtain around Bai Caihuang.
• Bai Caihuang began activating the Wood-Escape Talisman, and Liu Yu ordered Yan Kai and the other two to leave her alone and attack Bai Lianhua instead.
• Yan Kai and the other two joined Liu Yu in surrounding Bai Lianhua, forcing her to defend herself with her remaining talismans and artifacts.
• As the Wood-Escape Talisman neared activation, Bai Lianhua told Bai Caihuang to lead the White Household's core members into hiding and rebuild the Lineage if she failed to return.

Bai Caihuang escaped while Bai Lianhua stayed behind to fight Liu Yu and his allies. As Bai Lianhua prepared to flee with an Earth Escape Talisman, Liu Yu unleashed a Vajra Halberd Talisman Treasure to break through her defenses.

• Bai Lianhua sent Bai Caihuang away with plans for the White Household’s future, and Bai Caihuang used a Wood-Escape Talisman to flee toward Phoenix Mountain.
• Bai Lianhua unleashed seven or eight Second-Tier Talismans at Liu Yu and the other attackers, then raised a Heavenly Water Curtain shield and prepared her Earth Escape Talisman.
• Liu Yu brought out his Vajra Halberd Talisman Treasure and ordered Yan Kai and the others to attack before Bai Lianhua could escape.
• Liu Yu’s golden attacks collided with Bai Lianhua’s spells, and the Vajra Halberd and the other cultivators’ Magical Artifacts advanced toward her azure shield.

Liu Yu defeated and killed Bai Lianhua after her Earth Escape Talisman failed to activate, then burned her body and took her Storage Bag. The battle ended with the forest around them devastated.

• Liu Yu used the Vajra Halberd Talisman Treasure to batter Bai Lianhua's Water Curtain Heavenly Splendor, but the barrier held as the talisman treasure's power faded.
• Liu Yu struck Bai Lianhua with two Spirit-Shocking Thorns, disrupting her magical power and stopping her Earth Escape Talisman's activation.
• Liu Yu sent the Netherworld Soul-Severing Cone through Bai Lianhua's damaged barrier and protective shield, killing her.
• Liu Yu took Bai Lianhua's Storage Bag and burned her body with Azure Yang Demonic Flame.
• The battle ended, leaving the surrounding forest scarred and silent.

After defeating Bai Lianhua, Liu Yu took her Storage Bag and ordered his group to intercept two cultivators coming to aid the White Household. Xiao Chong and Dugu Wenjian fled toward Red Maple Mountain, and Liu Yu boarded the Wind-Evasion Boat to overtake them and cut off their escape.

• Liu Yu explained why he had saved the Vajra Halberd Talisman Treasure for the moment Bai Lianhua had nearly exhausted her talismans, then kept her Storage Bag for himself.
• Liu Yu replenished his magic power, declared that the group would strike Phoenix Mountain without delay, and ordered Yan Kai and the other two to stop the approaching reinforcements.
• Xiao Chong recognized the danger and fled, while Dugu Wenjian abandoned his attempt to rescue the White Household and followed him.
• Xiao Chong cursed Wei Guangzheng when Red Maple Mountain’s Mountain-Guarding Formation was activated and the Wei Household refused to respond.
• Liu Yu tried to persuade Xiao Chong and Dugu Wenjian to stop, but they continued fleeing, so he boarded the Wind-Evasion Boat and ordered the others to pursue at full speed.

Liu Yu forced Xiao Chong and Dugu Wenjian to choose whether to join the Alliance, killing Dugu when he refused. After Xiao Chong agreed to help destroy the White Household, Liu Yu told him he would place a Spirit-Locking Curse in his body until he proved his loyalty.

• Liu Yu overtook Xiao Chong and Dugu Wenjian and stopped them with his spirit artifacts, while Yan Kai and two others surrounded them.
• Liu Yu demanded that Xiao Chong and Dugu Wenjian abandon the White Cloud Temple and follow the Alliance; Xiao Chong agreed to switch sides.
• Liu Yu told Xiao Chong that he would prove his allegiance by helping eradicate the White Household, and Xiao Chong reluctantly accepted.
• Dugu Wenjian refused to betray his convictions, so Liu Yu and his companions attacked and killed him with demon fire.
• Liu Yu gave Dugu Wenjian's Storage Bag to Yan Kai and the others, then told Xiao Chong he would place a Spirit-Locking Curse in his body until Xiao Chong proved his loyalty.

Liu Yu forced Xiao Chong to accept the Spirit-Locking Curse and led his group to Red Maple Mountain to pressure the Wei Household into joining their campaign against the White Household. After seeing proof that Bai Lianhua had been killed and hearing Liu Yu’s offer of Perching Wood Mountain, Wei Guangzheng began consulting his clan about submitting.

• Liu Yu placed the Spirit-Locking Curse on Xiao Chong, sealing his magic power if he disobeyed.
• Liu Yu took Yan Kai, Xiao Chong, and the others to Red Maple Mountain to seek the Wei Household’s submission before attacking Phoenix Mountain.
• Xiao Chong threatened Wei Guangzheng and Wei Tiancong with the Nine Kingdoms Alliance’s coming forces, but they initially withheld their answer.
• Liu Yu gave Xiao Chong Bai Lianhua’s Silver Bead Hairpin as proof of her death, and Xiao Chong showed it to the Wei Household.
• Liu Yu offered the Wei Household Perching Wood Mountain in exchange for submitting and sending cultivators to help attack Phoenix Mountain.
• Wei Guangzheng accepted Liu Yu’s sincerity and ordered Wei Tiancong to summon the clan elders for a discussion.

Liu Yu convinced his fellow cultivators to preserve their strength and recruit local forces by promising them a share in the Yan Kingdom’s resources. The Wei Household formally offered its submission, and Liu Yu waited at Red Maple Mountain as its clan chief approached with nearly two hundred cultivators.

• Liu Yu argued that conserving their forces and recruiting local cultivators mattered more than seizing a few resources by force.
• Liu Yu promised Wu Fang and his companion that Qing Province cultivators would receive priority in the lands and resources left behind by the Yan Kingdom’s four sects.
• Wei Tiancong flew to Liu Yu and announced that the Wei Household would submit to the Primordial Yang Sect.
• Liu Yu accepted Wei Tiancong’s offer and followed him down to Red Maple Mountain.
• Wei Tiancong sent a Voice-Transmitting Talisman up the mountain, and Wei Guangzheng led nearly two hundred Wei Household cultivators down to meet Liu Yu.

Liu Yu secured the Wei Household’s allegiance by imposing Spirit-Locking Curses on its elders, then arranged a cautious advance toward Phoenix Mountain. He accepted the Wei Household’s offering and asked to inspect its Spirit Herb Garden for ingredients he needed.

• Wei Guangzheng led the Wei Household cultivators to pledge allegiance to Liu Yu and apologize for their past actions.
• Liu Yu had Xiao Chong explain the group’s rules, then planted Spirit-Locking Curses on Wei Guangzheng, Wei Tiancong, and another elder.
• Wei Guangzheng offered cultivators for the attack on the White Household, and Liu Yu chose to visit Red Maple Mountain before proceeding.
• Liu Yu ordered Jiang Qiushui to advance toward Phoenix Mountain without hiding her forces but to wait for his orders to attack.
• Liu Yu accepted five thousand spirit stones from the Wei Household and asked Wei Guangzheng to let him inspect its Spirit Herb Garden.

Liu Yu inspected the Wei Household’s spirit herb garden, bought three herbs including bitterheart grass, and prepared to lead his allies against the White Household of Phoenix Mountain. After receiving word that Leng Yuexin had executed the White Household’s Third Elder, he departed Red Maple Mountain with the Wei Household’s forces aboard the Origin Returning Boat.

• Wei Guangzheng led Liu Yu through the Wei Household’s spirit herb garden, where Liu Yu found bitterheart grass needed for the Golden Core Condensation Pill.
• Liu Yu insisted on paying two thousand spirit stones for bitterheart grass and two other herbs, and Wei Guangzheng handed them over.
• Yan Kai urged Liu Yu to hurry the attack on Phoenix Mountain, and Liu Yu received Leng Yuexin’s report that the White Household’s Third Elder had been executed.
• Liu Yu ordered the group to depart at once, and Wei Guangzheng assembled one hundred and thirty Qi Refining cultivators and the Wei Household’s Second Elder.
• Liu Yu led the assembled force aboard the Origin Returning Boat toward Phoenix Mountain and ordered everyone to remain on deck and await instructions.

Liu Yu gathered his forces and launched an assault on Phoenix Mountain after Bai Lianhua’s death, while Bai Caihuang resolved to remain and defend her lineage. The Origin Returning Boat stopped before the Bai Household’s powerful formation, and Liu Yu hinted that his side had a secret treasure.

• Bai Caihuang recalled her clansmen, raised the mountain-protecting formation, and learned that Bai Lianhua’s soul lamp had gone out.
• Jiang Qiushui and the others reunited with Liu Yu, who ordered his forces to intercept incoming cultivators and cut off Phoenix Mountain’s communications.
• Leng Yuexin reported that she had defeated the Bai Household’s defenders on Perching Wood Mountain, and Liu Yu ordered an immediate assault on Phoenix Mountain.
• Liu Yu assembled nearly four hundred Qi Refining cultivators aboard the Origin Returning Boat and led them toward the Bai Household’s activated formation.
• Bai Caihuang rejected the Fourth Elder’s advice to flee and vowed to live or die with her lineage.
• Liu Yu stopped the Origin Returning Boat outside the formation and hinted to Yan Kai that his forces possessed a secret treasure.

Liu Yu’s force probed the White Household’s Illusory Annihilation Azure Radiance Formation with waves of Qi Refining spells while he watched for the right moment to use his Forbidden-Breaking Talismans. After half an hour, he ordered twelve Foundation Establishment cultivators to concentrate their top-grade magical artifacts on one section of the formation.

• Liu Yu ordered Yan Kai, Cui Liang, Leng Yuexin, and Wei Guangzheng to organize the Qi Refining cultivators into alternating groups and attack the formation with spells.
• The White Household’s six Foundation Establishment defenders counterattacked from inside the formation, and the shield absorbed most of the spells that reached it.
• Mu Xiuqun praised the formation’s strength, while the Fourth Elder and Second Elder urged the defenders to stay vigilant; Bai Caihuang watched Liu Yu with hatred.
• Liu Yu held back his two Forbidden-Breaking Talismans as both sides exchanged attacks, and the formation released azure spheres that the attackers destroyed with another volley of spells.
• After observing the formation for half an hour, Liu Yu ordered Jiang Qiushui, Yan Kai, Xiao Chong, Wei Guangzheng, and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators to strike one section with twenty top-grade magical artifacts.