Recaps

Chen Yu visited Zhang Jiuge at the Scripture Repository to say farewell before advancing to the Inner Sect, and Zhang recommended several elders for him to study under. Chen Yu then asked whether Zhang was the legendary borrower Zhang Jiuge, leaving the answer unresolved.

• Chen Yu told Zhang Jiuge he had reached the qi refining seventh layer and was about to advance to the Inner Sect.
• Chen Yu explained that Zhang's advice two years earlier had led him to focus on the True Essence Profound Canon instead of martial skills.
• Zhang Jiuge wrote down five Inner Sect elders and described their temperaments, warning Chen Yu that Yun Xiaofeng was unlikely to accept a disciple.
• Chen Yu asked Zhang Jiuge whether he was the legendary borrower Zhang Jiuge.

Chen Yu learned that Zhang Jiuge’s cultivation and health had been ruined after the Dao Sect elders extracted his spirit embryo essence, and resolved to conceal his abilities after entering the Inner Sect. The next morning, he and Lü Yanyan went to Elder Li’s residence as they prepared to advance into the Inner Sect.

• Zhang Jiuge confirmed his identity to Chen Yu, warned him to stay hidden in the Inner Sect, and refused to explain what had happened to him.
• After leaving, Chen Yu suspected the elders had extracted Zhang Jiuge’s spirit embryo essence, leaving his cultivation frozen and accelerating his aging.
• Chen Yu considered which elders to seek as a mentor and chose Elder Yun as his first preference because of his interest in the poison path.
• Chen Yu spent his final night in the Outer Sect resting instead of entering the Immortal Ruins.
• Lü Yanyan told Chen Yu she had broken through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining, and he confirmed that he was ready to advance as well.
• Lü Yanyan and Chen Yu headed to Elder Li’s residence, and she drove off patrolling disciples by revealing her cultivation.

Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan registered for promotion to the Inner Sect, where Senior Brother Li warned them about its dangers and the importance of choosing an elder. They left Emerald Cloud Peak for Heavenly Chasm Peak, while Chen Yu wondered whether his knowledge of the poison path would attract Elder Yun.

• Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan told Senior Brother Li they had reached the Qi Refining seventh layer and wished to register for promotion to the Inner Sect.
• Senior Brother Li crossed their names out of the Emerald Cloud Peak Disciple Register, gave them blank tokens and a map to Heavenly Chasm Peak, and warned them to stay inconspicuous and choose their first elder carefully.
• Senior Brother Li admitted he had been kind because he hoped Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan might help him someday, since he expected to remain an Outer Sect elder for life.
• Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan left for Heavenly Chasm Peak, relieved to be free of the Outer Sect rules, while Chen Yu wondered whether his insights into the poison path could attract Elder Yun.

Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan crossed the heavenly chasm to reach Heavenly Chasm Peak and begin their Inner Sect promotion procedures. As eager Inner Sect elders crowded around Lü Yanyan to recruit her, Chen Yu submitted his preferences and called her over.

• Lü Yanyan showed the white-robed disciple their Tokens, and he brought them across the heavenly chasm on an Azure Cloud Crane.
• Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan followed signs to the Inner Sect Affairs Office and registered their names, ages, and cultivation levels.
• The elderly woman gave Lü Yanyan documents about the Inner Sect elders and murmured that it was about time.
• A crowd of Inner Sect elders rushed in and tried to recruit Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan, overwhelming Lü Yanyan with their attention.
• Chen Yu wrote Elder Yun, Elder Xu, and Elder Wu on his preference form, then called Lü Yanyan over.

Chen Yu reconsidered his preference form after learning that his chosen elders did not actively recruit disciples, then began questioning other elders who approached him. He favored an elder with many disciples, hoping to keep a low profile and develop quietly, while Lü Yanyan struggled to reach him through a crowd of elders.

• The Inner Sect elders abandoned Chen Yu after he listed three elders who were not recruiting and crowded around Lü Yanyan instead.
• The old woman warned Chen Yu that choosing non-recruiting elders could leave him without a mentor, so he reconsidered his form and crossed out Elder Wu.
• Several elders approached Chen Yu to recruit him, and he asked how many disciples each had.
• Chen Yu rejected an elder with only nine disciples, saying he preferred a lively atmosphere.
• An elder with nearly thirty disciples appealed to Chen Yu, who liked the prospect of receiving fewer resources and attracting less attention, as other elders also touted their large groups of disciples.

Chen Yu chose Song Caiyun after asking the Inner Sect elders how many of their disciples had reached foundation establishment, then submitted preference forms listing Song Caiyun, Elder Yun, and Elder Xu. He and Lü Yanyan were told to wait at an inn until Elder Yun and Elder Xu could assess them the next day.

• Chen Yu asked the remaining elders how many foundation-establishment disciples they had, and chose Song Caiyun after learning that two elders each had five.
• Elder Qian challenged Chen Yu’s choice, but Chen Yu explained that he wanted to improve his cultivation, prompting Elder Qian to leave in embarrassment.
• Chen Yu refused to commit to Song Caiyun immediately and said he would visit Elder Yun and Elder Xu before deciding.
• Lü Yanyan arrived, and Chen Yu persuaded Song Caiyun to let both of them list her name alongside Elder Yun and Elder Xu on their preference forms.
• The old woman accepted their forms and told them to stay at a nearby inn until they could visit Elder Yun and Elder Xu the next day.
• As they left the Affairs Office, Lü Yanyan asked Chen Yu who the three elders were.

At Heavenly Chasm Peak, Chen Yu warned Lü Yanyan that the welcoming Inner Sect elders might be seeking disciples’ spirit embryo essence, and she quickly regained her composure. Chen Yu then searched for a way to persuade Elder Yun to accept both of them, ending on a new idea as he picked up the Poison Scripture.

• Chen Yu took Lü Yanyan to the free inn and explained the elders’ hidden motives and what he had learned about the Inner Sect.
• Lü Yanyan asked how Chen Yu knew Elder Song had not lied, and he explained that Inner Sect elders were forbidden from lying when recruiting disciples.
• Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan ate a free meal, explored the edge of the Inner Sect, and returned to the inn, where Lü Yanyan rested.
• Chen Yu entered the Immortal Ruins, considered the elders Zhang Jiuge had recommended, and focused on winning Elder Yun’s attention for both himself and Lü Yanyan.
• Chen Yu collected the Poison Hall’s refreshed treasures and went to the Pill Hall to retrieve the Poison Scripture, where he began to consider a different approach.

Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan set out to take Elder Yun’s and Elder Xu’s assessments, and Chen Yu assured Lü Yanyan he could get them both accepted as personal disciples. On the way to Nine-Bend Peak, they witnessed wildly different power dynamics between elders and disciples, leaving Lü Yanyan bewildered about life in the Inner Sect.

• Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan received assessment slips for Elder Yun and Elder Xu from the Inner Sect Affairs Office.
• Chen Yu told Lü Yanyan he had a way to get Elder Yun to accept them both as personal disciples.
• On their way to Nine-Bend Peak, Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan saw an elder threaten an elderly disciple with death if he failed to advance within six months.
• At Bald Stone Peak, they saw a Foundation Establishment disciple berate an elder for failing to secure enough food, and the elder hurried to fix the problem.
• Lü Yanyan asked Chen Yu if she had imagined the disciple berating the elder, and Chen Yu confirmed that it had really happened.

Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan reached Nine-Bend Peak to take Elder Yun’s disciple assessment and learned it would involve poison trials overseen by his disciples. Elder Yun’s eager disciples gathered around them, and the assessment was about to begin.

• Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan saw Inner Sect disciples living and behaving in unexpectedly varied ways as they made their way to Nine-Bend Peak.
• A middle-aged disciple named Li Wei met them on the mountain and explained that they needed to pass seven of ten poison trials to become Elder Yun’s disciples.
• Li Wei led Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan to a stone house near the summit, where a young Senior Brother was cooking and invited them to wait.
• The young Senior Brother sent Li Wei to summon the others, and Elder Yun’s disciples arrived excitedly to meet the new candidates.
• The young Senior Brother told the disciples not to frighten Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan, then prepared to begin the assessment after they finished eating.

Chen Yu used his knowledge of poison to turn the assessment leaders’ poisoned meal against them while protecting himself and Lü Yanyan. The ten Senior Brothers suffered nosebleeds as Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan remained unharmed.

• Chen Yu decided to attract Elder Yun’s attention by using a weakened poison formula from the Poison Scripture during the assessment.
• Chen Yu noticed poison ingredients in the lunch cooked by the young Senior Brother, but he and Lü Yanyan ate without showing symptoms.
• The young Senior Master Brother prepared voluntary participation forms and explained that the assessment involved poison.
• Blood began pouring from the noses of the young Senior Brother and the other nine Senior Brothers, who cried for an antidote.
• Lü Yanyan realized the Senior Brothers’ food had been poisoned and saw that she and Chen Yu had no symptoms.

Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan watched Elder Yun’s disciples poison themselves during a meal, but the Senior Brothers’ usual antidotes failed to stop their nosebleeds. As the disciples began investigating the mystery poison, Chen Yu remained quietly amused and the assessment was delayed.

• Lü Yanyan mistook the Senior Brothers’ nosebleeds for poison-tolerance training and tried to help, but Chen Yu stopped her, recognizing that they were fooling around.
• The ten Senior Brothers ate bluewood fruit to counteract the poison in their meal, but their nosebleeds worsened instead of stopping.
• Li Wei and the others took Detoxification Pills while the Senior Master Brother wondered why the two new disciples were unaffected.
• When the pills failed, the Senior Master Brother suspected the poison had reacted with an ingredient and urged his Junior Brothers to inspect the unwashed pot for a way to counteract it.

Shen Fei and nine fellow disciples tried to identify the cause of their persistent nosebleeds after eating a meal, then summoned Elder Yun for help. Elder Yun recognized the food as medicine rather than poison, but the chapter ended when Shen Fei noticed blood coming from the elder's nose too.

• Shen Fei and the disciples examined the meal's ingredients but could not explain why all ten of them had unstoppable nosebleeds.
• Shen Fei crushed a jade talisman to summon Elder Yun, while Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan waited unharmed nearby.
• Elder Yun arrived and asked Shen Fei to recount what had happened.
• Elder Yun tasted the food and explained that concentrated tonic essences had caused the disciples' symptoms.
• Elder Yun wondered why the nosebleeds were lasting so long, and Shen Fei pointed out that Elder Yun's nose was bleeding too.

Elder Yun discovered that the disciples’ nosebleeds came from a concealed poison, and Chen Yu revealed his knowledge of the formula. After Elder Yun confirmed Chen Yu had made it, he left his poisoned disciples to figure out the antidote themselves.

• Elder Yun identified the nosebleeds as the effects of a poison concealed in the tonics and studied its ingredients.
• Shen Fei suspected the new Junior Brother and Junior Sister, but could not work out who had poisoned the food.
• Chen Yu explained how the ice lotus herb and other ingredients shaped the poison, leading Lü Yanyan to realize he had turned Shen Fei’s attempt to poison them against the disciples.
• Elder Yun deduced how the dragon snake herb completed the formula, and Chen Yu admitted he had made the poison.
• Shen Fei asked Elder Yun to cure the disciples, but Elder Yun gave them jade bottles and told them to work out the antidote themselves.

Chen Yu used his poison formula to attract Elder Yun’s attention and was accepted as a disciple of Nine-Bend Peak, where he immediately became the Senior Master Brother. Elder Yun also enrolled Lü Yanyan on the condition that Chen Yu improve his poison formula within three months.

• Elder Yun questioned Chen Yu about the poison formula and Sun Shengcheng’s disappearance, but Chen Yu denied knowing anything about the elder’s poisoning.
• Chen Yu claimed he had poisoned the disciples to earn Elder Yun’s attention, and Elder Yun accepted him as his disciple.
• Elder Yun explained that rank on Nine-Bend Peak depended on poison-path ability and named Chen Yu the Senior Master Brother after he poisoned the other ten disciples.
• Elder Yun gave Chen Yu a Nine-Bend Peak waist badge and a communication jade talisman, then agreed to accept Lü Yanyan if Chen Yu improved his formula within three months.
• Elder Yun inscribed Lü Yanyan’s waist badge with her name and Nine-Bend Peak, accepting her as a disciple as well.

Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan became Elder Yun’s disciples on Nine-Bend Peak, where they had to study the Poison Path and could earn spirit essence through research or poison testing. Chen Yu was made Senior Master Brother, despite trying to yield the position to Shen Fei, and left to build his lodgings.

• Elder Yun made Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan his disciples, set Poison Path study and progress checks as their main requirements, and offered rewards for new poisons or poison testing.
• Elder Yun gave Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan books on the basics of the Poison Path, explained how to obtain poisonous materials, and told them to build their own lodgings.
• After Elder Yun left, Lü Yanyan thanked Chen Yu, who reassured her that he had a solution to the condition he had agreed to with the elder.
• Chen Yu apologized to the ten disciples for poisoning them, but they praised his skill and insisted he deserved the title of Senior Master Brother.
• Chen Yu tried to return the title to Shen Fei, but Shen Fei swore he had no resentment and declared Chen Yu the rightful Senior Master Brother.
• Chen Yu accepted the position and left to build his lodgings.

Chen Yu went to the Inner Sect Scripture Repository to find a metal-attribute cultivation technique after advancing his poison research. He reached the second floor and began searching among its profound-tier manuals.

• Chen Yu completed an advanced version of Fire-Poison Powder and paused his poison research with two months remaining before Elder Yun's inspection.
• Chen Yu visited Lü Yanyan, answered some of her questions about the poison path, and left for Morning Cloud Peak.
• The Scripture Repository elders allowed Chen Yu to use his free selection after he explained his recent promotion to the Inner Sect.
• Chen Yu suspected something had happened in the Outer Sect after the sword-bearing elder hinted at it, but entered the repository without learning the details.
• Chen Yu bypassed the first floor and began examining profound-tier manuals on the second floor for a metal-attribute technique.

Chen Yu searched the Inner Sect Scripture Repository for a metal-attribute cultivation manual and chose Flowing Light True Art for its speed and ability to seize the initiative. As he worried about how quickly he could cultivate it, Xiang Baiwei appeared and blocked his way.

• Chen Yu rejected several metal-attribute manuals and compared four mid-tier Profound Grade options: Flowing Light True Art, Heavenly Gang Art, Primordial Metal Method, and Golden Plume Art.
• Chen Yu chose Flowing Light True Art, used his waist badge to receive its cultivation method, and learned how its metal true qi would gather into flowing light.
• Chen Yu wondered whether his five-attribute mixed spirit embryo could condense metal true qi quickly enough to cultivate the manual effectively.
• Xiang Baiwei appeared on the stairs and repeatedly shifted to block Chen Yu as he tried to pass her.
• Chen Yu frowned and asked Xiang Baiwei whether she needed something.

Xiang Baiwei warned Chen Yu that the Dao Sect faced enemies both outside and within, then tried once more to recruit him into the White Lotus Sect, but he refused. Back at Nine-Bend Peak, Chen Yu inspected new Immortal Ruins treasures and began cultivating the Flowing Light True Art, only to stop when he saw how slowly he gained experience.

• Xiang Baiwei told Chen Yu that the Jade Void Sect and Evergreen Sect had attacked the Dao Sect and revealed that the White Lotus Sect and Azure Void Society were hidden threats within it.
• Xiang Baiwei invited Chen Yu to join the White Lotus Sect, but he refused because he did not believe it could replace the Dao Sect.
• Chen Yu returned to Nine-Bend Peak and wondered whether the Dao Sect was hiding its true strength behind a show of weakness.
• Chen Yu collected four refreshed treasures in the Poison Hall, including a heavy black wooden rod and a Nether Ruins token.
• Chen Yu tried cultivating the Flowing Light True Art in the Pill Hall, but stopped after gaining experience too slowly.

Chen Yu discovered a shortcut for cultivating the Flowing Light True Art by circulating true qi through a single meridian, then used stored true qi and experience points to advance his cultivation. After testing his improved sword control, he considered seeking a secret art to help him control two flying swords at once.

• Chen Yu realized he could shorten the Flowing Light True Art's meridian route to gain cultivation experience more quickly, and he stored metal-attribute true qi in gathering spirit jade.
• After three days of cultivation, Chen Yu accumulated sixteen experience points and spent them to improve his Foundation Establishment cultivation and form flowing light true qi.
• Chen Yu tested his new true qi against the coffin, but it left the coffin undamaged.
• Chen Yu controlled the Nine Springs Sword more easily and attempted to control a second sword, but struggled to maintain control of both at once.
• Chen Yu remembered a secret art in the Pill Hall that could teach him to split his attention between two tasks.

Chen Yu delivered the advanced Fire-Poison Powder formula to Elder Yun, fulfilling the agreement that would let Lü Yanyan remain at Nine-Bend Peak. Elder Yun approved her stay and told Chen Yu to attend the Inner Sect meeting in his place.

• Chen Yu practiced the Distraction Technique until he could control two flying swords at once, and he installed Hidden Weapon Devices on two swords.
• Lü Yanyan visited Chen Yu, who showed her the advanced Fire-Poison Powder formula he had prepared for Elder Yun.
• Lü Yanyan massaged Chen Yu as he reassured her that she could ask him for help with poison studies and should not neglect cultivation.
• Chen Yu brought the formula to Elder Yun, who approved it and allowed Lü Yanyan to stay at Nine-Bend Peak.
• Elder Yun told Chen Yu to attend the Inner Sect meeting in his place the next day.

Chen Yu went to Radiant Blossom Peak to attend the Dao Sect Inner Sect meeting as Elder Yun’s representative, hoping to learn about the sect’s response to its enemies. He entered the Council Hall and was unexpectedly addressed by a woman who recognized him.

• Elder Yun ordered Chen Yu to attend the Inner Sect meeting and report back, and Chen Yu planned to use the opportunity to gather information.
• Shen Fei told Chen Yu that he represented Elder Yun and did not need to defer to other elders, while Third Brother planned to poison Chen Yu and claim the Senior Master Brother position.
• After Elder Yun approved Lü Yanyan’s poison formula, Chen Yu and Lü Yanyan shared another bout of intimacy.
• The next day, Chen Yu traveled to Radiant Blossom Peak and showed his jade token to the Elders in Charge of Miscellaneous Affairs.
• Chen Yu entered the Council Hall, where a woman said she had not expected him to become Elder Yun’s disciple.

Chen Yu attended an Inner Sect meeting on Elder Yun’s behalf, where a disciple delivered Elder Wu’s orders, including a trial at Black Mist Marsh for recent Inner Sect recruits. Although Nine-Bend Peak was initially exempt, Chen Yu was unexpectedly assigned to lead the trial alongside the female disciple, leaving him considering asking Elder Yun to send Shen Fei instead.

• Chen Yu arrived at the Council Hall and exchanged a tense greeting with Song Caiyun before taking Elder Yun’s seat.
• A cold-eyed female disciple stood in for Elder Wu and announced new spirit essence priorities, a halt to spirit embryo extraction, and a Black Mist Marsh trial for recent recruits from most peaks.
• Chen Yu realized the trial could target White Lotus Sect and Azure Void Society members who had entered the Inner Sect, while Nine-Bend Peak was not included among the peaks required to send recruits.
• After the meeting, the female disciple told Chen Yu that Elder Wu had ordered him and her to lead the new disciples to Black Mist Marsh.
• Chen Yu wondered if he had taken Shen Fei’s place and considered asking Elder Yun to send Shen Fei instead.

Chen Yu learned Elder Yun had arranged for him to lead disciples to Black Mist Marsh and collect miasma-crossing flowers, then returned home intending to test his detoxification pills. He ate the Spasm Powder Lü Yanyan had just made, while a hidden man watched in disbelief.

• Chen Yu reported the Inner Sect meeting to Elder Yun, who admitted arranging his trip to Black Mist Marsh and gave him high-grade Detoxification Pills.
• Elder Yun ordered Chen Yu to bring back at least three miasma-crossing flowers and encouraged him to keep improving his poison formula.
• A dark-skinned man secretly watched Chen Yu and vowed to make him suffer with poison he had prepared.
• Lü Yanyan proudly showed Chen Yu the Spasm Powder she had made, and Chen Yu swallowed it.
• Lü Yanyan panicked and tried to make Chen Yu spit out the poison as the hidden man watched in shock.

Chen Yu calmly ate several poisons, leaving Cao Jun shaken after his attempts to poison him failed. Cao Jun rushed to Shen Fei and asked whether anyone could eat poisonous plants and drink Half-Step Drop without harm.

• Cao Jun watched as Lü Yanyan panicked when Chen Yu swallowed her Spasm Powder, but Chen Yu said he had taken a Detoxification Pill and gave her advice on improving the poison.
• Lü Yanyan left, and Cao Jun believed the Spasm Powder had failed while waiting for his own poison to take effect.
• Cao Jun watched Chen Yu open his door and assumed the falling Half-Step Drop had knocked him unconscious.
• Cao Jun saw Chen Yu eat red scorpion wood and other poisonous plants, then drink water laced with Half-Step Drop without showing any symptoms.
• Cao Jun fled to Shen Fei and asked whether he could eat raw red scorpion wood, centipede grass, and kugu root while drinking Half-Step Drop.

Cao Jun told Shen Fei that Chen Yu could eat poison without a Detoxification Pill, prompting Shen Fei to test his own tolerance. Meanwhile, Chen Yu prepared for his Black Mist Marsh trial by gathering protective supplies and making gas masks.

• Cao Jun described Chen Yu eating highly toxic ingredients, and Shen Fei asked him for a detailed account.
• Cao Jun said he accepted Chen Yu as senior master brother, then left Shen Fei alone.
• Shen Fei tried biting red scorpion wood and eating centipede grass after hearing Cao Jun's story.
• Chen Yu identified Cao Jun as the likely culprit behind the poison scattered in his residence and decided to prepare for Black Mist Marsh.
• Chen Yu entered the Immortal Ruins, gathered equipment and supplies, and began making three gas masks with a hundred replacement filters.