Chapter Summaries

Luo Bin nearly died fighting Qin Weizi before the Myriad Evil Ghost, Wei Youming, intervened. As Qin Weizi tried to seize the Yang Spirit Projection Great Core, a mysterious possession took hold of him and swallowed the pill, leaving Qin Weizi’s soul unable to return to its body.

• Luo Bin wounded Qin Weizi with a talisman-and-sword strike, then tried to pull the Corpse Core from Qin Weizi’s abdomen.
• The Myriad Evil Ghost, Wei Youming, transported Luo Bin and Qin Weizi into his ominous prison, but Qin Weizi shattered the prison and attacked Wei Youming with Three-Corpse Worm Mist.
• Fourth Master Gray tried to burrow into Qin Weizi’s wound, but Qin Weizi seized and crushed him as Luo Bin attacked in desperation.
• Qin Weizi reached for the Yang Spirit Projection Great Core in Luo Bin’s pouch, but fragmented figures entered his body and forced his soul out.
• The possessed Qin Weizi swallowed the pill, whose yang energy prevented Qin Weizi’s soul from returning to his body.

Qin Weizi’s attempt to take the Yang Spirit Great Core failed when Golden Wheel forced his soul from his body, and he revealed the plans and sacrifices he had made for Luo Xianshen. As Qin Weizi’s soul began to disperse, Luo Bin realized he had sought to make Xianshen a living Yang Spirit, though Xianshen now regarded him as evil.

• Golden Wheel forced Qin Weizi’s soul out before he could obtain the Yang Spirit Great Core, leaving his body to undergo its cleansing.
• Qin Weizi accused Luo Bin and Wei Youming of misunderstanding his choices and explained that Mao Zhan’s intervention had given Xianshen an innate Yang Spirit fate.
• Qin Weizi said he had prepared a Lord Lao fate for Xianshen and had assigned Yang Spirit fates to Sun Zhuo and Sun Dahai, leading Sun Zhuo to become the Black Rakshasa in Xianshen’s place.
• As Qin Weizi’s soul began to disperse, he lamented that his efforts had failed and warned that Xianshen would follow a path like Mao Zhan’s.
• Qin Weizi revealed that he had hoped to make Xianshen a living Yang Spirit without corpse-shedding or bodily dissolution, and Luo Bin realized the true aim of his plan.

Luo Bin used the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip and his words to halt Qin Weizi’s soul from scattering, but eight Heavenly Longevity Taoists attacked the Side Hall. As the fight escalated, Luo Bin’s hexagrams and a black-and-gold toad kept several attackers at bay, while another sword came within moments of striking him.

• Luo Bin invoked the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip and Qin Tianqing’s authority to make Qin Weizi’s dispersing soul freeze and begin to gather.
• Eight Heavenly Longevity Taoists entered the Side Hall, summoned male Rakshasas, and attacked Wei Youming, Luo Bin, the Divine Firmament Daoist, and Golden Wheel.
• Luo Bin killed one Corpse Liberation Daoist with Hexagram Speech Manifestation as the others moved to attack him and Qin Weizi.
• A black-and-gold toad crushed a Corpse Liberation Daoist who was about to strike Qin Weizi.
• The first Daoist Luo Bin had struck began rising again as another attacker thrust his sword toward Luo Bin’s mouth.

Luo Bin and the others struggled to hold off the Corpse Liberation Taoists while waiting for Luo Xianshen, who was overwhelmed by the blood corpse’s influence and resisted its visions with a ritual artifact. At the Immortal Ascension Taoist Grounds, the Plague Ghost fought three Black Rakshasas as Qin Tianqing and Si Yan waited anxiously for Luo Xianshen to arrive.

• Luo Bin attacked the Corpse Liberation Taoists with gu worms and urged his allies to hold them off until Luo Xianshen came.
• Luo Xianshen wrestled with his pain over Qin Weizi’s betrayal as the blood corpse showed him visions of Mao Zhan, Si Yan, He Youtian, and himself urging him to kill Qin Weizi.
• Luo Xianshen used the Divine Firmament Four Sovereigns Mirror and the Purifying Heart Divine Curse to suppress the blood corpse.
• The Plague Ghost fought three Black Rakshasas inside the Immortal Ascension Taoist Grounds, while Qin Tianqing, Si Yan, and Qi Hua remained there.
• Qin Tianqing urged the group to leave, but Si Yan continued to wait for Luo Xianshen after sending the Liu family’s Summoning Order.

Qin Tianqing and the others escaped the Immortal Ascension Taoist Grounds as Miao Zi rushed toward the Mountain Summit, where danger threatened Luo Bin and the Divine Firmament Daoist. Old Gong discovered that his master had been possessed by a demon, while Lü Kan and the Plague Ghost began consuming each other inside the grounds.

• The Black Rakshasas transformed and, along with ghosts released from Cloth Pouches, attacked the Plague Ghost, prompting Qin Tianqing and the others to flee.
• Miao Zi shed the Golden Silkworm Gu, leaped from the Immortal Ascension Taoist Grounds, and raced toward the Mountain Summit.
• Qin Tianqing decided to seek the Divine Firmament Mountain Elders, and Old Gong scattered to search before returning to report that his master had been possessed by a demon.
• Lü Kan and the Plague Ghost began struggling to devour each other, while earth qi swallowed the Immortal Ascension Taoist Grounds and the Monk Ghosts.
• At Thunder-Peace Taoist Abbey, Luo Bin stalled three Corpse-Liberation Daoists while the Divine Firmament Daoist was overwhelmed by two others and refused to betray Thunder-Peace.

Miao Zi arrived at the Side Hall and used his gu worms to kill all seven Corpse-Liberation Daoists, while the Rakshasas fled. Luo Bin recovered enough to assess the situation and realized Lü Kan had escaped and that the Immortal Ascension Taoist Grounds faced an even greater danger.

• Miao Zi appeared and stomped one Corpse-Liberation Daoist to death before unleashing his gu worms on the others.
• Miao Zi's Gu Devouring consumed the seven Corpse-Liberation Daoists, and the Rakshasas fled from him.
• Qin Weizi's soul dispersed into Luo Bin, adding color to the Heaven's Secrets Jade Slip, and Yu Xiu helped Luo Bin and the Divine Firmament Daoist drink Blood-Human Medicine.
• Luo Bin realized Miao Zi had left the Immortal Ascension Taoist Grounds to protect him, suggesting Lü Kan had escaped.
• Luo Bin warned the Ghost Dean not to pursue Lü Kan, explaining that the escaped Plague Ghost and the Bright Gods could make the Immortal Mountain Cave even more dangerous.

Luo Bin learned that Qin Tianqing had escaped, then dealt with the surviving Corpse-Liberation Daoist while Golden Wheel remained mid-transformation. He left with Wei Youming to find Mr. Qin, and Wei Youming offered to treat him.

• Miao Zi relayed that Qin Tianqing had escaped, easing Luo Bin's fears.
• Miao Zi's Gu Worms burrowed into Luo Bin's broken arm and wrist to treat his injuries.
• Luo Bin let Fourth Master Gray punish the Corpse-Liberation Daoist, then collected the Daoist's soul in the Primordial White Flower Lantern.
• Luo Bin told the Divine Firmament Daoist that Golden Wheel might manifest a Divine Yang Spirit but could also turn to dust and ashes.
• Luo Bin set out with Wei Youming to find Mr. Qin and regroup.
• Wei Youming introduced himself as the director of Suihua District Psychiatric Hospital and offered to treat Luo Bin, who replied that everyone was sick.

Luo Bin and Wei Youming set out to regroup with Qin Weizi, while Si Yan and the others found Luo Xianshen trapped by the Blood Corpse and guarded him. Their group was ambushed by Black Rakshasas, who attacked Luo Xianshen as he remained motionless.

• Luo Bin left the side hall with Wei Youming to find Qin Weizi and the others, refusing Wei Youming's request to take the strange, sick man.
• Si Yan's group found Luo Xianshen sitting motionless with Blood Corpse worms crawling over his face, and Qin Tianqing decided they should guard him rather than split up.
• Si Yan explained that Luo Xianshen would not slay his worms, while He Lin'an questioned whether attaining the Dao required dissolving the mortal body.
• A Bone Bead artifact pinned Old Gong to the ground, and Qin Tianqing stopped Xiang Ke from approaching as an Axe-Vajra struck nearby.
• Three figures rushed toward the group, and one sent a ritual artifact at Luo Xianshen; Si Yan blocked a bone arrow but was wounded and pinned down by a Bright God as another attack flew toward him.

Lü Kan stopped the Black Rakshasas from striking Luo Xianshen and revealed his overwhelming power, trapping the attackers on Immortal Cave Mountain. After the group regrouped, Luo Xianshen awakened and urged them to reach Black City Temple quickly.

• The Black Rakshasas immobilized Old Gong and Si Yan, then sent a bone mallet toward Luo Xianshen while the others failed to stop it.
• Lü Kan emerged from the black fog, shattered the bone mallet, and summoned numerous ghost bodies to surround the three Black Rakshasas.
• Lü Kan drove the attackers back and said he would stay with his wife, while Qin Tianqing warned that he could not leave Immortal Cave Mountain.
• Hua Qi explained that the attackers included a Deputy Chief Seat Black Rakshasa and two Cham Black Rakshasas, one of the strongest kinds.
• Luo Xianshen lowered the Divine Firmament Fourfold Imperial Mirror, revealed that he was awake, and urged the group to reach Black City Temple as soon as possible.

Luo Bin reunited with Luo Xianshen and the others, then warned them about Qin Weizi’s plans and the danger surrounding the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip. The group returned to Thunder Plain Taoist Temple, where Wei Youming accompanied Luo Xianshen to the side hall as he struggled with guilt over Golden Wheel.

• Luo Bin and Wei Youming discussed how Immortal Cave Mountain could shelter Luo Xianshen’s family and give him a reason to endure the upheaval in his life.
• Qin Tianqing, Luo Xianshen, and the others reached Luo Bin, who warned them about Qin Weizi and initially tried to hand Qin Tianqing the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip.
• Luo Bin recognized that Qin Weizi might target Qin Tianqing’s body, then gave him the jade slip after Qin Tianqing insisted on facing his destiny with Luo Xianshen beside him.
• On the way to Thunder Plain Taoist Temple, Luo Bin recounted the events at the summit, and Old Gong described Lü Kan’s battle with the Black Rakshasas.
• At the temple, Luo Xianshen blamed himself over Golden Wheel, but Wei Youming reassured him and went with him to the side hall.

Luo Bin discovered three sealed yin spirits in a hidden chamber beneath the Thunder-Peace Taoist Abbey and uncovered their connection to Six Mountain Yin and Heavenly Longevity. When their corpse lamps went out, the Yellow Father Ghost appeared before him.

• Luo Bin went to the abbey’s Main Hall and found a hidden chamber beneath the altar table.
• Luo Bin identified the three coffins as the root of the former Thunder-Peace Taoist Abbey’s corruption and ordered them opened.
• Luo Bin and Fourth Master Gray noticed lamps beneath the three corpses, and the bodies opened their eyes when the White Flower Lantern brightened.
• Luo Bin concluded that the three yin spirits had been trapped and manipulated by Heavenly Longevity’s faction, then moved to capture them.
• The corpse lamps went out, and the Yellow Father Ghost emerged from black mist as Luo Bin faced it at close range.

Luo Bin survived the Yellow Father Ghost's attack at Immortal Cave Mountain and ordered all traces of Heavenly Longevity destroyed. As the mountain's crisis appeared to subside, auspicious signs announced Elder Golden Wheel's success, while six Real Persons emerged from the mountain stairs.

• Luo Bin extinguished the Primordial White Flower Lantern as the Yellow Father Ghost devoured the three False Yin Spirits and vanished.
• Luo Bin ordered the coffins burned in the Martial Arts Arena, where disciples also burned six paintings and the corpses of the corpse-liberated Taoists.
• Luo Bin saw that the solar eclipse had ended, though Earth Qi still covered Immortal Cave Mountain, and Fourth Master Gray warned him about Yin Yuan and the Yellow Father Ghost.
• Wu Jinluan arranged for the abbey to be searched and all objects connected to Heavenly Longevity destroyed, then offered support to the Primordial Calculation Taoist Grounds.
• A disciple reported that six Real Persons had emerged from the mountain stairs, and rosy light and purple-gold auspicious signs appeared above the Main Hall.
• Wu Jinluan declared that Elder Golden Wheel had succeeded, and the Thunder-Peace Taoist Abbey Taoists hurried away while the others guarded the burning remains.

After leaving Immortal Cave Mountain, Luo Bin and his companions returned to Four-Rules Mountain to plan their move against Black City Monastery and address Luo Muye’s perilous situation. Luo Bin gained a collection of ghost-sealing talismans, used them to replenish the White Flower Lantern, and ended the chapter rejecting Hua Qi’s offer to trade ghosts for a lantern.

• Luo Bin and Wu Jinluan met the injured Divine Firmament Mountain elders, who told them about their encounter with Lord Tian’s Spring and the three corpse worms.
• Luo Xianshen thanked Luo Bin for saving his soul and agreed that Black City Monastery and Luo Muye’s situation required urgent attention.
• The group left Immortal Cave Mountain, and Wu Jinluan gave Luo Bin about fifteen talismans containing ghosts, including Jingshan Yue of the Pure Mountain Taoist Grounds.
• Luo Bin and his companions returned to Four-Rules Mountain, where Luo Xianshen prepared to consult the assembled True Cultivators about dealing with Luo Muye and Kong An.
• Luo Bin transferred the ghosts from the talismans into the White Flower Lantern, using the Hanging Mirror Turtle to disperse the ghost aura released from Jingshan Yue’s seal.
• Hua Qi asked Luo Bin to trade her a lantern for ghosts from the Ghost Shrine, but he left without answering and shut himself in his room.

Kong An confronted Xu Lu about the growing threat to his New Temple, but Xu Lu refused to help and remained tied to the Bright Consort Palace. When Sinpo Zhan Si tried to install Black Rakshasa Miler as Kong An’s Chief Seat, Kong An killed Miler and threatened to die alongside Zhan Si, forcing him to leave; Kong An feared his temple’s destruction was now inevitable.

• Hua Qi apologized to Luo Bin after Xiang Ke explained that asking a Venue Master for his ritual artifact was a difficult request.
• Kong An told Xu Lu that the Seventeenth Rinpoche had disappeared and that Buddhist temples and Sinpos might soon move against his New Temple, but Xu Lu refused to help him.
• Kong An warned Xu Lu that he would not leave because he feared Xu Lu would endanger Xian'er and the child, then left the Bright Consort Palace.
• Sinpo Zhan Si arrived at Black City Monastery’s Main Hall with Black Rakshasa Miler and announced that Miler would become Kong An’s Chief Seat Black Rakshasa.
• Kong An’s deity killed Miler, and Kong An threatened to sacrifice himself to Bright God if Zhan Si tried to take his life or control the temple.
• Zhan Si left the temple, while Kong An feared that threats from within and outside would leave his New Temple with nowhere to call home.

Luo Muye sent Basang and eight Cham Black Rakshasas to recover Dibe Yum and the remains of their fallen comrades while hiding his fears about Luo Xianshen and protecting his family. At Four-Rules Mountain, Qin Tianqing briefed the gathered Real Persons on Black City Monastery, and Zhang Poxuan challenged whether attacking two monasteries was justified.

• Luo Muye ordered Basang and eight Cham Black Rakshasas to retrieve Dibe Yum and the remains of Deputy Chief Seat Di Lai and two Cham Black Rakshasas.
• Luo Muye told himself that Hua Qi had to return and that he would protect his family, then visited Gu Qing and their sleeping children without revealing his fears.
• Xiang Ke gathered Luo Bin and the Real Persons at Upper Clarity Hall to discuss the expedition against Black City Monastery.
• Qin Tianqing explained the strength and number of the Cham Rakshasas, the monasteries, and the Living Buddhas who kept them in check.
• Zhang Poxuan questioned whether attacking two Black City Monasteries over one family's affairs would upset the balance in the Tibetan lands and bring losses to the Taoist abbeys.

Qin Tianqing argued that Cloud Brocade Mountain and Celestial Master Abbey shared responsibility for Kong An's rise and Black City Monastery, turning Luo Xianshen's plan into a matter of Taoist accountability. Zhang Poxuan and Tang Wu were forced to confront the jurisdictional failures, and Tang Wu identified Zhang Xuanyi as the official responsible for Nanping City.

• Zhang Poxuan challenged Qin Tianqing's claim that Celestial Master Abbey owed a debt over Luo Muye, threatening to withdraw Cloud Brocade Mountain's people unless Qin offered a reasonable explanation.
• Qin Tianqing proposed that Zhang could leave if Celestial Master Abbey had no connection to the matter, then questioned Tang Wu about Cloud Brocade Mountain's jurisdiction over Nanping City and its failure to stop Kong An.
• Qin Tianqing traced how Kong An used Golden Peace Temple to establish Black City Monastery, while Nanping City's officials and Regulatory Taoist Grounds failed to intervene as people were harmed.
• Hu Taiqing and Fourth Master Gray described Kong An's death and warned that the danger had grown from Cloud Brocade Mountain's negligence.
• Tang Wu said Zhang Xuanyi was responsible for Southern Heaven Taoist Abbey in Nanping City, and Bai Lüshu called for someone to be held accountable.

The Taoists agreed on a plan to ambush Kong An of Black City Monastery, with Zhang Poxuan agreeing to seek the Celestial Master Abbey’s support. As preparations began, Bai Xian left the meeting in distress, and Luo Bin was left with an ominous feeling after meeting Hu Taiqing’s fox-immortal smile.

• Tang Wu urged Zhang Poxuan to commit more Celestial Master Abbey forces, while Bai Lushu and Bai Xingtai supported his appeal.
• Zhang Poxuan agreed to report Cloud Brocade Mountain’s failure to the old Celestial Master and arrange for the abbey to take the lead in preventing Kong An’s reincarnation.
• Qin Tianqing proposed that Luo Xianshen and Luo Muye lure Kong An into taking over the monastery, giving the assembled forces a chance to attack.
• Luo Bin warned that Kong An might have many Black Rakshasas with him, but Qin Tianqing trusted the Celestial Master Abbey’s strength.
• Bai Xian said she wanted to join the operation, then left the Upper Clarity Hall in distress, and Hua Qi followed her.
• Zhang Poxuan and Tang Wu prepared to brief the disciples, while Luo Bin felt uneasy and noticed Hu Taiqing wearing the fox immortal’s strange smile.

Luo Bin accepted Hu Taiqing’s offer to send him the Spirit Medium Arts but remained wary of Nine-Peak Iron Temple Mountain’s new deputy. Suspecting that Black City Monastery might wield a Heaven-Veiling Object, Luo Bin explored the pool where the Female-One Patriarch suppressed the Blackblood Vine and emerged with a new understanding of the Patriarch’s power.

• Hu Taiqing offered to send Luo Bin the Spirit Medium Arts, and Luo Bin accepted while resolving to watch for ulterior motives.
• Qin Tianqing and Luo Bin discussed the differences between Sawu Mountain’s Spirit Mediums and Nine-Peak Iron Temple Mountain’s cultivators, and agreed to keep an eye on Hu Taiqing.
• Luo Bin wondered whether Black City Monastery’s true threat was a Heaven-Veiling Object and reasoned that Four-Rules Mountain could be an ideal place to study such objects.
• Luo Bin entered the pool with Miao Zi, Fourth Master Gray, and the black golden toad, where he saw the Blackblood Vine’s tangled roots and drifting black sinking ash.
• Luo Bin spotted what appeared to be the Female-One Patriarch floating above him, then recognized it as a Divine Yang Spirit when it vanished near the surface.

Luo Bin reasoned that Heaven-Veiling Objects were wounded beings hiding within their mountains, then reconsidered whether the Old Miao King could leave Three Perils Mountain and concluded he was bound to its feng shui. Back at the deity-concentrating hall, Luo Bin discussed why he could not reliably reproduce a Taoist Art, and a spirit medium delivered a wooden box from a deputy abbey master before Luo Bin abruptly called the departing Taoist to wait.

• Luo Bin concluded that Heaven-Veiling Objects were likely wounded beings or failed breakthrough products that hid deep within their mountains.
• Luo Bin considered freeing the Old Miao King to help him, but realized the Old Miao King was fused with Three Perils Mountain and could not leave without losing his Pills and Living Yang Spirit.
• Luo Bin returned to the deity-concentrating hall, changed into clean clothes, and reviewed why he could not reproduce the Taoist Art he had performed against Qin Weizi.
• Xiang Ke explained that some advanced or specially targeted Taoist Arts required a target and that Luo Bin might lack the foundation to practice them reliably.
• Fourth Master Gray suggested that Luo Bin obtain a Pill Corpse to strengthen himself, and Luo Bin took the suggestion to heart.
• A spirit medium delivered Luo Bin a wooden box from the deputy abbey master, and Luo Bin called out to stop the green-robed Taoist as he was leaving.

Luo Bin realized he had misidentified the source of danger and pursued Bai Xian as she tried to leave Mountain Rules Four. He stopped her with Miao Zi and the Primordial White Flower Lantern, which revealed two skeletal deities bound to her abdomen, leaving Luo Bin baffled about how she could have escaped the Tibetan lands.

• Luo Bin questioned an Iron Temple Mountain Spirit Medium and concluded that Hu Taiqing and the other abbey members were not the source of danger.
• Luo Bin reconsidered his suspicions and decided to find Bai Xian, with Miao Zi and Fourth Master Gray accompanying him.
• Luo Bin and Miao Zi caught up with Bai Xian as she tried to leave the mountain, and Miao Zi sealed off the path with silkworm fluid.
• Bai Xian said she had to go because Mr. Xu would die, then threw a sword at Luo Bin's Primordial White Flower Lantern.
• Luo Bin lit all sixteen lamps, causing Bai Xian to collapse as two skeletal deities emerged from her abdomen, still linked to her by white vapor.