Chapter Summaries

Luo Bin risked his life to gather the Purple Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal’s scattered soul, aided by the Purple Miao people and their gu. After Luo Xianshen used Heavenly Thunder and a Taoist chant to try to awaken the immortal, Luo Bin joined in, drawing on the Three Altars’ Great Precepts.

• Luo Xianshen warned that the Purple Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal’s soul had scattered among the gu and prepared to finish him, but Luo Bin kept playing his ocarina to gather the soul.
• As the gray silkworms shriveled and blackish-purple smoke entered the immortal, Luo Bin grew weaker, while Mao Yousan’s bell failed to help and he stopped Bai Wei from approaching.
• The Purple Miao people gathered behind Luo Bin and sent their life-bound gu to him, helping sustain his ocarina as the immortal’s soul returned to his body.
• The Purple Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal rose and reached for the Divine Firmament Five-Thunder Pestle, so Luo Xianshen struck him with Heavenly Thunder and chanted to clear his mind.
• Luo Bin joined Luo Xianshen’s chant, reciting the Three Altars’ Great Precepts and recalling its inscription on the Three Altars Yin-Slaying Sword.

Luo Bin witnessed the Purple Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal transform into thousands of gray butterflies, and the Purple Miao people recognized him as the Three-Gu Miao King. After the others prepared to rest, Luo Bin recovered the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Pestle and heard faint murmurs as he looked toward the Three Miao Stronghold.

• The Purple Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal's charred body shed its remains and transformed into thousands of gray butterflies, which the Purple Miao people hailed as the Butterfly Lady's manifestation.
• Luo Xianshen spat out and destroyed a corpse core after the Patriarch's intervention, while the Purple Miao people knelt before Luo Bin and named him their Miao King.
• Miao Cang declared Luo Bin the Three-Gu Miao King because he had received Gu Seeds from both the Purple Miao King and Bangmei Meiliu, and the crowd echoed the title.
• Luo Bin ordered Miao Cang to gather information about the stronghold and prepare accommodations for Mao Yousan, Bai Wei, and Luo Xianshen.
• Luo Xianshen reminded Luo Bin to retrieve the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Pestle, which Luo Bin found transformed among the charred debris.
• Luo Bin heard faint murmurs like those of the Purple Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal and went to the stronghold entrance to listen toward the Three Miao Stronghold.

Luo Bin investigated Three Miao Village after suspecting the Black Miao were about to awaken their Corpse-Liberation Immortal. He discovered the village empty, then found himself surrounded by gu worms from the Nuo Deity’s temple, which appeared to have escaped Heavenly First’s sealed area.

• Luo Bin returned the Chief Seat deity to his body and decided to investigate Three Miao Village alone.
• Luo Bin reasoned that the Cave God, Corpse King, and Medicine Person would exploit the heavenly thunder’s disturbance to hasten the Black Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal’s awakening.
• Luo Bin reached Three Miao Village and found it deserted, with the residence’s Gu Refinement vats empty of gu worms.
• Luo Bin realized the Black Miao might already have acted and hurried back, but two dead yin-yang masters from Heavenly First’s divination lineage appeared in his path.
• The two figures and three more people disintegrated into swarms of gu worms that surrounded Luo Bin, leaving Fourth Master Gray unable to summon help.

Luo Bin outmaneuvered the Tomb Guardian’s trap and passed his test, only to learn that the guardian intended to return his soul to him. Luo Bin rejected the idea that they were one person, and the Tomb Guardian offered him the complete Innate Yin-Yang Divination Art instead.

• A mysterious voice guided Luo Bin through gaps in the Gu swarm, and he escaped with help from Fourth Master Gray.
• Fourth Master Gray tracked the Tomb Guardian to bushes, but Luo Bin recognized the hexagram trap and struck the guardian with the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Pestle.
• The Tomb Guardian recovered and declared that Luo Bin had passed the test, explaining that he intended to return his soul to Luo Bin.
• Luo Bin told the Tomb Guardian that they were separate people and questioned whether the guardian was truly incomplete.
• The Tomb Guardian offered Luo Bin the complete Innate Yin-Yang Divination Art, while Fourth Master Gray agreed with the guardian that Luo Bin had eaten plenty.

Luo Bin rejected the Tomb Guardian’s offer after realizing it could make him take on the seal, then reunited with Qin Tianqing near Purple Miao Village. As they compared what they had learned about Sacred Way Mountain and the Three Miao, Qin Tianqing concluded that the Three Miao lineage had to be guarded as the price of its benefits.

• Luo Bin refused to merge with the Tomb Guardian, reasoning that its memories and obsession could lead him to become the seal.
• Fourth Master Gray led Luo Bin to Qin Tianqing, and Luo Bin told him that he had already reunited with the others.
• Qin Tianqing explained that he had seen a suspicious member of Primordial Calculation guiding him but keeping him at a distance.
• Luo Bin learned from Qin Tianqing that the seal had been briefly opened and closed again, and that Miss Yi was safe.
• Luo Bin explained the danger posed by the Gu-filled dead and how the Black Miao had disrupted the balance of the Three Miao mountain range.
• Qin Tianqing concluded that the Three Miao lineage had to be guarded, since its benefits came with that responsibility.

Luo Bin and Qin Tianqing discussed the sinister nature of Heaven-and-Earth Veils before returning to the courtyard in Purple Miao Village. Mao Yousan welcomed Luo Bin as his disciple and promised to back him, but Luo Xianshen's scrutiny prompted Mao Yousan to call someone out.

• Qin Tianqing explained his theory that the cores of Heaven-and-Earth Veils were dangerous, and Luo Bin considered how Primordial Calculation might have placed sects to suppress hidden threats.
• Luo Bin and Qin Tianqing arrived at the courtyard, where Mao Yousan, Luo Xianshen, and Bai Wei were waiting.
• Mao Yousan praised Luo Bin, stopped him from kneeling, and said he would prepare a proper gift and accept him as a disciple after they left the mountain.
• Mao Yousan promised Luo Bin he had his backing, then told Bai Wei to bring in the people waiting outside so Luo Bin could hear them out.
• Luo Xianshen opened his eyes and fixed Luo Bin with a scrutinizing, intimidating gaze, prompting Mao Yousan to narrow his eyes and sharply call someone out.

Luo Bin persuaded Mao Yousan and Luo Xianshen to postpone separating him from the Chief Seat Deity while the dangers in the Three Miao Mountain Range remained unresolved. After Miao Cang reported that Nuo God Temple's seal had opened and the Black Miao had awakened an Immortal-Liberation Corpse, he explained that the escaped Plague Gu and Mountain Imp Mountain were tied to the Three Miao Lineage's origins.

• Luo Bin told Mao Yousan and Luo Xianshen that the Chief Seat Deity still needed to remain in his body, and Qin Tianqing urged them not to divide their attention from the looming dangers.
• Qin Tianqing revealed that Divine Firmament Mountain was Four-Rules Mountain's Veiling Heaven Lands, prompting Mao Yousan and Luo Xianshen to reconsider acting against the Chief Seat Deity.
• Miao Cang arrived and reported that the three Miao strongholds were empty, a practitioner of Primordial Calculation had appeared at the Purple Miao stronghold, Nuo God Temple's seal had opened, and the Black Miao had awakened an Immortal-Liberation Corpse.
• Luo Bin reassured Miao Cang that the Sacred Way Mountain Seal still contained the gu, then asked what the escaped Plague Gu was and what Primordial Calculation had done.
• Miao Cang explained that Plague Gu and Mountain Imp Mountain were connected to the original Nuo Lord and Nuo Mother, and Qin Tianqing recognized Mountain Imp Mountain outside Mountain Cabinet.

Miao Cang explained how the Plague Gu corrupted the Black Miao and how Primordial Calculation sealed the Three Miao Mountain Range, while Luo Bin connected Root Vine to Blackblood Vine and Li Qingxiu. As Mao Yousan began to promise a solution, his expression suddenly changed, and Miao Cang grew uneasy.

• Miao Cang explained that Primordial Calculation discovered the Three Miao Lineage's Heaven Veil while investigating the Black Miao and the Plague Gu.
• Miao Cang recounted how Primordial Calculation sealed the Nuo God Temple and the mountain exits, leaving the Purple Miao to contain the Black Miao and its awakened king.
• Miao Cang said Root Vine devoured evil and that Primordial Calculation had laid talisman paths to direct anyone escaping toward it.
• Luo Bin suspected that Blackblood Vine was Root Vine, and that Li Qingxiu had once sought to control it to eliminate the Plague Gu.
• Mao Yousan began to say the situation would be easy to handle, but abruptly stopped as his pupils contracted and Miao Cang became uneasy.

Luo Bin proposed using the power hidden in his shadow to counter the Plague Gu, despite Miao Cang’s warnings and the danger posed by the Black Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal. As the group prepared to climb Nuo God Mountain, Luo Bin revealed he had another plan, prompting Qin Tianqing to fear for his life.

• Miao Cang warned Luo Bin and the others that the Plague Gu could not be expelled and that sealing the area after killing the Black Miao was their only known option.
• Luo Bin urged the group to try expelling the Plague Gu, and Mao Yousan trusted his judgment despite Miao Cang’s objections.
• Luo Bin revealed the Dark Blood Vine and Moss Eater emerging from his shadow, suggesting that he might possess Root Vine, which could consume Gu.
• Luo Bin questioned Miao Cang about the Plague Gu and its ancient seal, then rejected reliance on the missing Sacred Way Mountain branch Venue Master.
• Mao Yousan proposed climbing Nuo God Mountain, while Luo Xianshen offered to fight the Corpse-Liberation Immortal and bear the cost afterward.
• Luo Bin said he had a way to help without a Corpse Core, but Qin Tianqing recognized the danger and objected.

Luo Bin proposed that the exhausted group rest before carrying out his plan, leaving Mao Yousan and Qin Tianqing intrigued by what he had devised. In Black City New Monastery, Kong An repaired the Chief Seat Deity’s statue with Shangguan Xingyue’s devout help, then struck down Gua Kuo’s statue.

• Luo Bin suggested that everyone rest for a day, and Miao Cang led the guests into the main hall and went to arrange food.
• Kong An used fine clay and chanting to repair the cracked statue of the Chief Seat Deity.
• Shangguan Xingyue entered the hall, knelt, held the statue, and chanted as Kong An watched her devotion.
• Kong An praised the Chief Seat and brought a demon-subduing pestle down on Gua Kuo’s statue.

Yuan Yinxin's attempt to restore Gua Kuo ended with him swallowing the weakened ghost and revealing a horrifying face at the back of his head. At Black City Monastery, Bai Xian urged Xu Lu to kill the man who had infected her, but Xu Lu insisted they wait for Luo Xianshen to find them.

• Yuan Yinxin used offerings and a divine statue to restore Gua Kuo, while planning to use the ghost against Luo Xianshen.
• The statue cracked and split, and an unseen force began destroying Gua Kuo.
• Yuan Yinxin swallowed Gua Kuo's soul, then showed a six-eyed, six-eared face on the back of his head, terrifying his disciples and Yi Yi.
• At Black City Monastery, Bai Xian, infected with Middle Corpse White, demanded that Xu Lu kill the man responsible.
• Xu Lu stopped Bai Xian and said he trusted Mr. Luo to find them at Shenxiao Mountain, while Bai Xian's white eye streak turned red.

Xu Lu and Bai Xian were trapped under the Black Rakshasas’ influence, while Luo Bin awoke with a foreboding that led him to witness a vision of Gua Kuo and a younger Yuan Yinxin conspiring together. The chapter ended with Luo Bin realizing that Gua Kuo had betrayed them and that Yuan Yinxin had survived.

• Bai Xian fought the blood corpse’s control by chanting an incantation, while Xu Lu joined her and tried to stop her from harming herself.
• A bright consort deity appeared behind Bai Xian, and a Black Rakshasa figure began sinking into Xu Lu as he heard that Bai Xian’s unborn child would serve the Black Rakshasa followers.
• Luo Bin woke with a foreboding, noticed that his body felt different, and drew blood when he pricked his finger on the door.
• The chief Bright God appeared stronger than before, chanted scripture to calm Luo Bin, and pressed their foreheads together to show him a vision.
• Luo Bin saw Gua Kuo and a younger Yuan Yinxin together, then understood the chief Bright God’s words to mean that Gua Kuo had betrayed them and that Yuan Yinxin had survived.

Luo Bin told the others that Yuan Yinxin had survived and captured Witch Queen Yi Yi, but Mao Yousan urged them to focus on the plague gu at Nuo God Temple. As they gathered to eat, three of Luo Bin’s gu silkworm gold left his body, signaling that a higher-grade gu silkworm gold had appeared.

• Luo Bin reported that Yuan Yinxin had become stranger after merging with Gua Kuo and insisted he had to be eliminated.
• Luo Xianshen revealed that he had entrusted nine infants to Yuan Yinxin, who claimed to have sent them to mountain villages, and explained his encounter with the spirit mediums.
• Luo Bin warned that Yuan Yinxin had captured Witch Queen Yi Yi and other figures, while Mao Yousan reasoned that the Yellow Father Ghost had survived by targeting someone else.
• Qin Tianqing and Mao Yousan convinced the group to prioritize resolving the plague gu at Nuo God Temple, relying on the corpse core and Luo Xianshen’s strength.
• As the group ate, three gu silkworm gold left Luo Bin’s body, and Miao Cang concluded that a higher-grade gu silkworm gold had appeared.

Luo Bin and his companions set out for Nuo God Temple with a plan to counter the Black Miao and suppress the temple. At the blood maple tree, Luo Bin shared a ritual meal with Miao Cang and the Purple Miao, gaining a new connection to them as their strength increased.

• Mao Yousan reassured Luo Bin that heavenly thunder could destroy both the Black Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal and the golden silkworm gu, and Miao Cang conceded that he had misjudged the threat.
• Luo Bin ordered the group to climb Nuo God Mountain, capture Black Miao and try to remove their gu, fight decisively if necessary, and prioritize sealing Nuo God Temple.
• Miao Cang introduced the dozen-plus nuo purple gu masters who joined the party, and Mao Yousan joked that they should wear name plaques.
• The group reached the blood maple tree, where Mao Yousan explained its link to the mountain's vital qi and Miao Cang said the Miao could not cut it down without losing the ability to use gu arts.
• Miao Cang led a chant and ate meat from a pot with Luo Bin and the nuo purple gu masters; Luo Bin sensed a new bond with them as their auras grew stronger.

Luo Bin and the Nuo Purple Gu masters climbed Nuo God Mountain, where he revealed his powerful Gu to the group. When a Gray Butterfly emerged from Miao Xie and appeared to guide them, Luo Bin recognized it as formless Gu, but another Nuo Purple Gu master reacted before he could explain further.

• Miao Cang explained the Miao King's duty to share meat soup and described how the Black Miao's Plague Gu had been passed down through generations.
• Miao Cang and the Nuo Purple Gu masters approached the Blood Maple Temple, then continued into the dark woods beyond it.
• When high-grade Gu Worms emerged from the grass, Luo Bin stopped Miao Cang and let the Gu crawl into his clothes, stunning the group with his control over them.
• A Gray Butterfly crawled out from between Miao Xie's brows, and he declared that the Butterfly Lady was guiding the group in a direction away from the Nuo God Temple.
• Luo Bin identified the Gray Butterfly as formless Gu and realized it had become the Black Miao's faith, while Miao Xie doubted his claim.
• Another Nuo Purple Gu master suddenly reacted.

Gray butterflies caused the Nuo Purple gu masters to distrust Luo Bin and leave with Miao Cang, while Qin Tianqing and Mao Yousan urged him to let them go. Luo Bin concluded the butterflies were a smokescreen concealing an attempt by the Black Miao's Immortal-Liberation Corpse to open the Nuo God Temple.

• Gray butterflies emerged from Miao Lin and Miao Xie's foreheads, and both claimed the Butterfly Lady was guiding them away from the Nuo God Temple.
• Luo Bin tried to touch one butterfly, but Miao Lin and Miao Xie accused him of being corrupted by Plague Gu.
• Gray butterflies appeared on the other Nuo Purple gu masters, who became suspicious of Luo Bin and insisted on following their guidance.
• Qin Tianqing and Mao Yousan advised Luo Bin to let the Nuo Purple gu masters leave, and Miao Cang led them away.
• Luo Bin reasoned that the butterflies were a smokescreen to keep everyone from the Nuo God Temple and suspected the Black Miao's Immortal-Liberation Corpse intended to open it completely.

Bai Xian and Xu Lu realized the Bright Consort and Black Rakshasa deities had disappeared, giving them a chance to act. Xu Lu sent Bai Xian away and began a dangerous talisman scheme intended to challenge Kong An and create a Yang Spirit.

• Bai Xian told Xu Lu she had seen Shangguan Xingyue at Kong An's place and feared they would never escape Black City Monastery.
• Xu Lu noticed the deities attached to him and Bai Xian had vanished, then persuaded her to leave while he stayed behind.
• Xu Lu gave Bai Xian his belongings and a lock of her hair before she departed the Bright Consort Palace.
• Xu Lu drew talismans, disguised Bai Xian's hair as her presence, and placed the decoy beneath the bedding.
• Xu Lu activated a Calamity Slaying death-divination talisman, planning to use the returning deities to turn himself into male yang force and the Bright Consort into female yang force.

Luo Bin’s group reached the true Nuo God Temple and prepared to confront the threat inside. Masked Miao people surrounded them, and Qi Miao claimed they were White Miao before Luo Xianshen’s Thunderheart Palm inexplicably failed to fire.

• Luo Bin stopped near the temple, planned how to draw its occupants out, and accepted Third Master Hu and the White Immortal Lady from Bai Wei for support.
• Qin Tianqing spotted masked people leaving the temple, and two of them charged the group before Luo Xianshen struck them with fire and then extinguished it.
• Bai Wei noticed masked figures crawling through the trees as more approached from every direction.
• Qi Miao appeared at the temple entrance with masked Miao people, identified himself as a Miao King, and claimed only legitimate Miao could use the Nuo Deity Mask.
• Luo Xianshen attacked Qi Miao with Thunderheart Palm, but Qi Miao was unharmed and the technique did not fire.

Luo Bin and his companions discovered that Miao Qi was a vessel for the Black Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal, who defended the Plague Gu and attacked them with masked followers and corpses. As Luo Xianshen struck at the masked figures, Luo Bin sensed danger and pulled Qin Tianqing away, but a pitch-black figure appeared before Qin.

• Luo Xianshen's Palm Thunder and Heavenly Thunder incantation failed, and Mao Yousan called for the concealed figures to reveal themselves.
• Luo Bin realized that Miao Qi was not himself but a vessel for the Black Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal, and Miao Qi defended the Plague Gu.
• Luo Xianshen condemned Miao Qi's beliefs, and the masked Black Miao attacked while Mao Yousan's Dao Corpses and Bai Wei held them back.
• Qin Tianqing identified the masks as the source of the Black Miao's abilities, while a horde of corpses advanced and Mao Yousan rang his Calling Bell.
• Luo Xianshen sent swords at the masked figures beside Miao Qi, and Luo Bin pulled Qin Tianqing backward after sensing danger.
• A pitch-black figure appeared directly before Qin Tianqing.

The Black Miao forces revealed their masked allies and overwhelmed the defenders as Luo Bin deduced that Miao Qi was stalling because he feared Thunder Heaven and Luo Xianshen. Miao Qi launched a fresh attack, and a masked pair struck Luo Bin with five blows, sending him flying.

• Mao Yousan struck the Black Miao Corpse-Liberation Immortal's true yin spirit with his bronze club, while Qin Tianqing repelled it with the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip.
• Luo Bin recognized that Miao Qi's companions wore masks that invited Miao patriarchs and deities, and Miao Qi said the Black Miao had earned their recognition.
• The Corpse King, the cave god possessing Miao Shan, and the Medicine Person joined the battle, forcing the Yin Spirit Dao Corpses to leave their bodies.
• Luo Bin challenged Miao Qi's claims and reasoned that he was stalling because he feared Thunder Heaven and Luo Xianshen.
• Miao Qi sent a flood of gu worms at Luo Xianshen, who countered with the Path-Clearing Curse and burning talismans.
• A masked man struck his chisel with a hammer as his partner shrieked at Luo Xianshen, and five bursts of red light hurled Luo Bin backward.