Chapter Summaries

Luo Bin fought the skeletal deities bound to Bai Xian, drove them away long enough for her to flee for help, and discovered he could repeatedly destroy them with the One Goodness incantation. At Black City Monastery, Kong An’s connection to the deities broke, and he learned that someone had severed their link to Bai Xian.

• Luo Bin and Miao Zi attacked the skeletal deities possessing Bai Xian, while Fourth Master Gray helped her escape toward the Female-One Patriarch.
• Luo Bin used the One Goodness incantation and the Thunderstruck Blood Peach Sword to repeatedly scatter the deities as Miao Zi’s gu worms held them back.
• Kong An empowered two skeletal deity statues at Black City Monastery, relying on Bai Xian’s unborn child as his last fallback.
• The deity statues cracked, their links to the skeletal figures broke, and the figures vanished beneath the red cloth.
• Kong An realized someone had severed the deities’ connection to Bai Xian, then knelt to listen to a voice coming from behind the red cloth.

Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen captured the two deities influencing Bai Xian through her pregnancy and severed their connection, then discussed arranging souls for her unborn children and Xu. The group reached the mountain pool, where Bai Xian waited in anguish beside the Female-One Patriarch.

• Luo Xianshen arrived and used the Ghost-Seizing Spell to capture the male and female skeletal deities after Luo Bin weakened them.
• Luo Bin concluded that the deities had entered through Bai Xian's pregnancy, and he and Luo Xianshen agreed that the connection had been severed before Kong An could learn their plan.
• Luo Xianshen proposed placing two reincarnating souls into Bai Xian's unborn children, and Luo Bin asked him to arrange a gifted spirit medium's soul for Xu as well.
• Luo Bin sealed the captured deities inside the White Flower Lantern, increasing its power, and accepted Luo Xianshen's invitation to visit Juqu Mountain.
• Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen reached the mountain pool, where Bai Xian sat near the Female-One Patriarch as Heaven-Dumping Qin comforted her.

After Bai Xian was rescued from the deity’s influence, Qin Tianqing devised a plan to pressure Kong An while keeping Luo Muye uninformed. Luo Bin joined a large Taoist expedition into the Tibetan Lands, where he prepared for a covert strike but sensed a specific danger connected to the scars on his arms.

• Luo Bin confirmed that the deity possessing Bai Xian had become lamp oil and that her unborn child was unharmed, while the group learned Kong An could read minds.
• Qin Tianqing ordered Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen to approach Luo Muye and pressure Kong An without revealing their plan, while Luo Xianshen arranged protection for Bai Xian and mobilized the Taoists.
• Luo Bin studied Iron Temple Mountain’s Spirit Medium Arts inheritance, learned to understand Rat Speech and the other immortal creatures, then traveled with the Taoists into the Tibetan Lands.
• Qin Tianqing chose a concealed camp among the hills, planned to position the Taoists around Black City Monastery, and gave Luo Bin the Liu Family’s summons token as a backup signal.
• Luo Bin set out with Luo Xianshen and Xiang Ke to carry out his part of the plan, but felt a distinct unease and saw the old scars on his arms.

Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen visited the Luo Family to obtain a map and discuss finding allies against Kong An, while Luo Bin learned that the Buddhist Courts were still hunting him. Old Gong suggested using Luo Bin as bait to draw the pursuers out, and the chapter left the plan unresolved.

• Luo Bin told Luo Xianshen about the Seventeenth Rinpoche and suggested seeking help from the Five Lama Court, but Luo Xianshen said Lama Agong was dead.
• Luo Xianshen brought Luo Bin and Xiang Ke to the Luo Family compound, where the family welcomed him as their young family head and gave him a map.
• Luo Da and Luo Zhizhong recognized Luo Bin as the Chief Seat of New Temple, warned him that several Buddhist Courts were hunting him, and agreed to keep his visit secret.
• Luo Xianshen and Luo Bin left the compound on foot while Xiang Ke took the map, and Old Gong confirmed no one was following Xiang Ke.
• Old Gong proposed that Luo Bin reveal himself to draw out those hunting him.

Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen reached Black City Monastery, where they discovered that Sinpo Baqin was presiding in Luo Muye’s place while the Lotus Tower was unstable. After leaving the Main Hall, they continued through the monastery and found Luo Muye in a separate tower.

• Luo Bin agreed with Old Gong’s plan and arranged with Luo Xianshen to find the Jade Corpse within ten days before revealing his whereabouts and seeking Kong An.
• Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen arrived at Black City Monastery and were escorted past the Black Tower and its ascetic monks.
• Sinpo Baqin told Luo Xianshen that Luo Muye was repairing the Lotus Tower because Dibe Yum and the bright consort deity were unstable, and remarked on Luo Xianshen’s children.
• Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen left the Main Hall, and Luo Xianshen reassured Luo Bin that Sinpo Baqin’s presence was understandable.
• Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen found Luo Muye sitting inside a glowing tower, striking a wooden fish made from a human skull.

Luo Bin and Luo Xianshen met Luo Muye inside Black City Monastery, where Luo Muye revealed he could not leave and was trying to protect his family from the deities and Fate. Luo Bin proposed a way to free him by moving him to a safe place outside the monastery, but the chapter ended as someone appeared at the temple entrance and the covered statue moved.

• Luo Muye emerged from the Lotus Tower and warned Luo Xianshen and Luo Bin to leave Black City Monastery, but then led them through its hidden, deity-filled Heaven Veil.
• Luo Bin saw the Lotus Tower transform into a tower of bleeding bodies and resisted its influence by reciting the Three-Altars Great Precepts.
• Luo Muye told Luo Xianshen that he knew Hua Qi would not return and explained that he needed Black City Monastery to keep his family safe.
• Luo Bin told Luo Muye that he was the new Chief Seat of Black City Monastery and proposed bringing Sinpo out while relocating Luo Muye's family to a different safe place.
• Luo Muye insisted that he could not leave, then the temple door shut as someone appeared outside and the red cloth covering the statue lifted and fell.

Luo Bin pieced together the Taoist statue’s connection to Juqu Mountain and devised a plan to help Luo Muye reach An Kong while protecting his family. He intended to keep Sinpo Baqin occupied for ten days, though Fourth Master Gray doubted he could survive the gamble.

• Luo Muye revealed that the statue contained a projected Yang Spirit whose soul had re-formed after dispersing, and Luo Xianshen uncovered the statue and knelt before it.
• Luo Xianshen declared that the family would leave and that the statue would be remade on Juqu Mountain.
• Luo Muye explained that An Kong was isolated and might accept his request, but warned that Sinpo Baqin could kill him and threaten Hua Ying and the children.
• Luo Bin proposed luring Sinpo Baqin away while Luo Muye fetched An Kong, and arranged for Miao Zi to protect Hua Ying and the children.
• Luo Bin planned to exploit Sinpo Baqin’s lingering hope for An Kong, keeping him occupied for ten days while Luo Muye traveled; Fourth Master Gray warned that the plan could get Luo Bin killed.

Luo Bin sent Miao Zi with Luo Xianshen to protect his family, then met Sinpo Baqin, who deduced that Luo Bin sought the true Dibe Yum. Sinpo Baqin agreed to leave Black City Monastery with him if he promised to bring Dibe Yum and become Kong An’s Black Rakshasa Chief Seat.

• Luo Bin ordered Miao Zi to protect Luo Xianshen’s wife and children, while Old Gong gave Luo Bin his rimless glasses and said Wei Youming would protect him.
• Luo Xianshen left with Miao Zi to return to his family, and Luo Muye escorted Luo Bin back to the Main Hall, where Sinpo Baqin awaited them.
• Sinpo Baqin questioned Luo Bin about refusing Kong An’s new temple, and Luo Bin said Kong An had caused him trouble and had not earned his admiration.
• Luo Bin told Sinpo Baqin that he wanted help, and Sinpo Baqin deduced that he sought something lost in a Buddhist temple and was looking for the true Dibe Yum.
• Sinpo Baqin agreed to go with Luo Bin beyond the Tibetan Lands on the condition that Luo Bin bring Dibe Yum, enter Kong An’s new temple, and become the Black Rakshasa Chief Seat.

Luo Bin was rendered unconscious by Sinpo Baqin, while Kong An remained trapped inside New Black City Monastery after Zhan Si Sinpo sealed it off. As unusual gu silkworm gold emerged from Luo Bin and the Old Miao King discovered he had lost his link to Miao Zi, Tu Miao arrived at Three Miao Cave infested with insects.

• Sinpo Baqin interrupted Luo Bin before he could agree to his terms, used the Gau Bone Beads to make him collapse, and carried him into the Main Hall.
• Kong An reflected that Zhan Si Sinpo had sealed Black City Monastery and that leaving without the Chief Seat would leave him vulnerable, then returned to the Main Hall with a chilling smile.
• While Sinpo Baqin chanted over the sleeping Luo Bin, three gu silkworm gold crawled out of his clothes and burrowed into his brow, and venomous creatures emerged to deter Sinpo Baqin from touching him.
• At Three Miao Cave, the Old Miao King realized he could no longer sense Luo Bin through Miao Zi and wondered why Luo Bin had separated from it.
• Miao people brought the ailing Tu Miao to the Old Miao King, whose gu silkworm gold landed on Tu Miao's head and caused insects to pour from his mouth and nostrils.

Luo Bin left the Black City Monastery in disguise with Sinpo Baqin and went to Dergé Thangka Temple to search for the reincarnated seventeenth Rinpoche. At the temple gates, he recognized Lama Tsangyang of Daren Lama Temple prostrating himself there.

• Luo Bin woke with heightened senses, ate, and learned from Sinpo Baqin that Buddhist temples had circulated his portrait and would attack him.
• A Black Rakshasa helped Luo Bin disguise himself in monk's robes, a leather cap, and black paste, while Fourth Master Gray explained that the Golden Silkworm Gu had strengthened.
• Luo Bin further altered his face with a dagger and centipedes, then left the Black City Monastery with Sinpo Baqin.
• Luo Bin said he would search Dergé Thangka Temple for the reincarnated seventeenth Rinpoche, and Luo Zhizhong drove them to Tangge County.
• At the temple entrance, Luo Bin recognized Lama Tsangyang prostrating himself and was stunned to see him there.

Luo Bin entered Dergé Thangka Temple to search for the Jade Corpse while suspecting Lama Tsangyang of serving Kong An. A thangka depicting the Samsara Wheel triggered a vision that nearly made him attack a child, but he recovered and was mistaken for an accomplished lama; the abbot khenpo then asked whether he had come to reside at the temple.

• Luo Bin concluded that Lama Tsangyang was compromised but refrained from confronting him inside Dergé Thangka Temple.
• Luo Bin searched the temple with his compass, while Fourth Master Gray admitted he could not pick up the Jade Corpse’s scent.
• Luo Bin studied a thangka of the Samsara Wheel and hallucinated that a child was Kong An and nearby people were Black Rakshasas.
• Luo Bin nearly attacked the child with a sword-vajra, but he regained control by reciting the three-altars great precepts.
• A lama led Luo Bin to another hall, where the abbot khenpo praised his spiritual attainment and asked if he had come to reside at the temple.

Luo Bin searched the Dergé Thangka Temple for the Seventeenth Rinpoche while concealing his plans from Sinpo Baqin. He learned the Jade Corpse was not in the temple, while Khenpo Danzeng and the Iron-Staff Lama watched him, fearing his ties to two new Living Buddhas.

• Luo Bin told Khenpo Danzeng he had come to find the Seventeenth Rinpoche, and recognized that Danzeng was lying about the Rinpoche's absence.
• Luo Bin searched the Dergé Thangka Temple with the Jade Star Qimen Compass, which never reacted, confirming the Jade Corpse was not there.
• Luo Bin decided to find the Seventeenth Rinpoche outside the temple without Sinpo Baqin noticing, then return to Baqin and continue his plan against Kong An.
• Luo Bin entered a secluded room and remained there while a gray-white shadow slipped out through the window.
• Khenpo Danzeng and the Iron-Staff Lama discussed Luo Bin's arrival and the danger posed by the two new Living Buddhas, and the Iron-Staff Lama agreed to watch him.

At New Black City Monastery, Shangguan Xingyue discovered that Kong An had killed himself and learned from Xu Lu that he had reincarnated, leaving the monastery and its fate uncertain. Meanwhile, Luo Bin escaped Dergé Thangka Temple through a tunnel dug by Fourth Master Gray and followed a group of rats and marmots south in search of the Seventeenth Rinpoche.

• Shangguan Xingyue regained control of her body, found Kong An dead with a Vajra Pestle in his heart, and hurried to tell Xu Lu.
• Xu Lu realized Kong An had reincarnated and asked Shangguan Xingyue for a corpse core so they could escape the monastery.
• Zhan Si Sinpo and two other Sinpos planned to pressure Kong An, sacrifice Black Rakshasas, and claim the Sun Bei Jade Mother.
• Luo Bin secretly left Dergé Thangka Temple through a tunnel dug by Fourth Master Gray and the rats.
• Luo Bin asked Fourth Master Gray to find out where the Rinpoche was, and the rats and marmots led him south as he sensed something was wrong.

Luo Bin was discovered by the Iron-Staff Lama while trying to reach the Seventeenth Rinpoche, and the lama recognized him as the Grand Chief Seat of the New Black City Monastery. With negotiation failing, Luo Bin used Hexagram Speech Manifestation and his Gu insects to fight the lama, leaving him overwhelmed by the attack.

• Luo Bin sensed danger near the bottom of the Dergé Thangka Temple hillside and prepared for battle as the Iron-Staff Lama emerged from beside a boulder.
• Luo Bin told the Iron-Staff Lama that he needed to see Rinpoche and warned him about Lama Tsangyang and the Sinpo, but the lama recognized him as Luo Bin.
• The Iron-Staff Lama explained that Rinpoche had been killed by Kong An twenty-seven times and attacked Luo Bin with murderous intent.
• Luo Bin strengthened himself with his Golden Silkworm Gu and used Hexagram Speech Manifestation to afflict the Iron-Staff Lama with pain, an unstable footing, and renewed old wounds.
• Luo Bin unleashed swarms of Gu insects against the Iron-Staff Lama and realized he had defeated him without relying on outside help or a magical artifact.

Luo Bin spared the Iron-Staff Lama after Lama Tsangyang arrived on the Seventeenth Rinpoche’s orders and explained his turn against Kong An. Luo Bin met Rinpoche, who revealed that he was destined to be Kong An’s tribulation, as twenty-seven mutilated corpses sat around a blue lamp.

• Fourth Master Gray warned Luo Bin that Lama Tsangyang was approaching, and Luo Bin prepared to attack while gu worms devoured the Iron-Staff Lama.
• Lama Tsangyang knelt, showed the withered hand associated with Rinpoche, and begged Luo Bin to spare the Iron-Staff Lama; Luo Bin believed him and recalled the gu worms.
• Lama Tsangyang explained that Kong An had killed Rinpoche through twenty-seven reincarnations and that he had joined Rinpoche to atone for his own mistake.
• Lama Tsangyang led Luo Bin and the Iron-Staff Lama away, warning that Sinpo Baqin was moving outside the temple and recounting how he had uncovered Kong An’s poisonous nature.
• Luo Bin followed Lama Tsangyang to Rinpoche’s tent, where Rinpoche welcomed him and said he was Kong An’s tribulation and would bring about his end as a chief.
• Luo Bin saw a blue lamp surrounded by twenty-seven mutilated corpses, while Rinpoche’s Buddhist heart remained steadfast.

Rinpoche explained the history of the Living Buddhas and offered to help Luo Bin lure Deduos and Kong An into a trap, despite his own past soul seizures. Before they set out for the Sacred Mountain, Rinpoche gave Luo Bin three prophecies and revealed that the person Luo Bin sought would arrive the next day.

• Rinpoche told Luo Bin that Living Buddhas had repeatedly seized bodies to preserve their titles, and that Deduos had vowed to destroy the old Buddhas.
• Rinpoche offered his strength to Luo Bin’s plan, knowing that exposing himself would bring Deduos and Kong An to them.
• Rinpoche admitted he had taken over living people’s bodies and questioned whether good deeds could erase his past crimes.
• Rinpoche warned Luo Bin about white-eyed wolves and prophesied that each of his three revered masters faced a different trial.
• Rinpoche said the Iron Staff Lama would bring the person Luo Bin wanted to the Scripture Printing Court the next day, and that they would set out after a few days.

Luo Bin received Rinpoche’s warning about White-Eyed Wolf and recovered Jade Corpse’s broken body, then fell into a deep sleep under Wei Youming’s care. Elsewhere, Mao Yousan used his wealth and Divine Firmament Mountain’s false yin spirits to pursue a new path, while Bai Xianming guarded the spirits he had trapped.

• Luo Bin considered Rinpoche’s predictions and concluded that White-Eyed Wolf was the threat most directly connected to him.
• The Iron-Staff Lama returned Jade Corpse’s body and explained that her bones had been broken and her soul dispersed; Luo Bin said he could summon her soul.
• Wei Youming appeared to Luo Bin in a hazy vision, warned him not to summon Jade Corpse’s soul in the Tibetan Lands, and put him into a deep sleep.
• Mao Yousan reflected on the bodies and souls he had bought from Divine Firmament Mountain and considered refining a pill that could separate mountain energy.
• Mao Yousan reached the summit and found Bai Xianming guarding a talisman seal that trapped several dozen false yin spirits, who shouted threats and demanded release.

Mao Yousan set a deadly contest among the False Yin Spirits while an unseen watcher escaped his notice. Kong An attacked Zhan Si Black City Monastery, but the story then revealed his death and left Xu Lu trapped in the Bright Consort Palace as Shangguan Xingyue refused to abandon him.

• Mao Yousan threw a Calling Bell into the Talisman Array, summoned a powerful soul, and urged the False Yin Spirits to attack Guo Sanhe and compete for the Yang Spirit Great Cores.
• Mao Yousan sensed an unseen spy, searched the area without finding anyone, and warned the watcher to stay away.
• Kong An reached Zhan Si Black City Monastery, killed its Black Rakshasa guards, and made Bone Beads from their bones while waiting for Zhan Si Sinpo to return.
• The Black Rakshasas remained trapped at the monastery, and Kong An later died there after refusing Zhan Si Sinpo's plan to appoint Miler Cham Black Rakshasa as Chief Seat.
• Xu Lu urged Shangguan Xingyue to escape and seek help from Mr. Luo, but she refused to leave him in the Bright Consort Palace.
• Xu Lu resolved to fight back and become a deity himself, though his attempt to dispel his yin energy had destroyed the Wood-Striking Thunder sword and the Seven Yin Talismas arts.

Sinpo Zhan Si and two allies seized control of the New Temple and planned to take Luo Muye’s ritual implements, while a force of Buddhist lamas led by Rinpoche gathered outside. Luo Bin said Luo Muye had already entered the monastery to persuade Kong An, leaving Rinpoche waiting for news.

• Sinpo Zhan Si ordered the Black Rakshasas to seal off the Bright Consort Palace and guard the monastery’s exits after Kong An reincarnated.
• When told Sinpo Muye had arrived, Zhan Si and the other two Sinpos discussed taking his Gau Bone Beads and wooden fish, while claiming they would offer him a place in the monastery.
• A Black Rakshasa reported that Rinpoche, Lama Deduo, the Iron-Staff Lama, and hundreds of lamas had reached the monastery, and Zhan Si ordered his men to threaten and detain them if they entered.
• Outside the monastery, Luo Bin told Rinpoche that Luo Muye had entered and that Fourth Master Gray had caught his scent.
• Rinpoche said he regretted not being able to watch Luo Bin strangle Kong An, and Luo Bin asked when Rinpoche would die so he could take him to see it.

As three Sinpos surrounded New Black City Monastery, Xu Lu and Shangguan Xingyue faced capture and death inside the Bright Consort Palace. The Dibe Yum Deity stopped Shangguan Xingyue from killing herself and revealed something that left Xu Lu trembling.

• Luo Bin’s plan brought Rinpoche and a large procession of monks to New Black City Monastery, unaware that three Sinpos were already inside.
• Xu Lu realized that Sinpo Zhansi’s arrival had sealed the monastery and feared that he and Shangguan Xingyue had no way to escape.
• The Dibe Yum Deity urged Shangguan Xingyue to become a sacrifice so Xu Lu could become the New Temple’s Chief Seat deity and survive as long as Black City Monastery did.
• As Sinpo Zhansi appeared at the Bright Consort Palace, Shangguan Xingyue tried to cut her own throat, but the Dibe Yum Deity possessed her and stopped her.
• The Dibe Yum Deity spoke under her control, leaving Xu Lu trembling and cursing.