Chapter Summaries

Luo Bin realized that a second Qin Tianqing might be concealed within the real Qin Tianqing, and the group walked into an ambush at the Cliff Platform. As arrows rained down, a crossbow bolt pierced Qin Tianqing’s chest, leaving him stunned.

• Luo Bin pieced together that the Unlived Person had Qin Tianqing’s identical scent and might have emerged from inside him.
• Qin Tianqing led the group toward the Cliff Platform and warned that the Unlived People would try to stop them.
• A huge crossbow bolt flew toward Qin Tianqing, and Bai Lüshu and the others destroyed it with bronze swords before a rain of arrows followed.
• The attackers tried to sow discord by declaring that Qin Tianqing had betrayed the group, but Luo Bin warned everyone not to fall for the trick.
• Bai Xiannan kept moving with Qin Tianqing as the group scattered, and an enormous bolt pierced Qin Tianqing’s chest.

Luo Bin stopped the Weilu Sect from attacking Qin Tianqing after an arrow revealed a huge hole in his chest, and Qin Tianqing warned that he could be an unwitting pawn. As the group realized the Unlived People were trying to keep them from the Spirit Embryo’s cave, Luo Bin questioned whether the deformed Heaven-Dumping Qin was the key to breaking their plan.

• Qin Tianqing survived an arrow through his chest without bleeding, and the crowd saw a cavernous hole inside him.
• Xu Ting called Qin Tianqing an Unlived Person and prepared to attack, but Luo Bin restrained him and recognized Three-Handed hiding within Qin Tianqing’s chest.
• Qin Tianqing said he could not trust his own judgments, warned Luo Bin to avoid the Mountain Embryo Spirit, and fled into the forest after a second volley of arrows.
• Xu Lu and Shangguan Xingyue reasoned that their unexpected route had disrupted the Unlived People’s plan and that the arrows were meant to stop them from entering the Spirit Embryo’s cave.
• Luo Bin considered whether Grandmaster Ci Yi had known Heaven-Dumping Qin was two people and whether the deformed Heaven-Dumping Qin was the one who could destroy the Spirit Embryo.

Luo Bin, Xu Lu, Shangguan Xingyue, and Miao Zi entered the Mountain Embryo Spirit Cave to destroy the Unlived Person and reach the mountain embryo spirit. Inside, they discovered the sleeping spirit and four hollow bodies, one of which looked exactly like Qin Tianqing, leaving them uncertain about the Qin Tianqings outside.

• Luo Bin decided to enter the cave and kill the Unlived Person, while Xu Ting ordered the Taoists to attack and sounded the dragon horn.
• The Taoists charged the cliff under a barrage of arrows and falling weapons as the group made its way toward the cave.
• Qin Tianji warned them not to enter, but Xu Lu, Shangguan Xingyue, Luo Bin, and Miao Zi continued inside.
• Miao Zi released the Blackblood Vine, which absorbed the dense life force and thinned the mist in the octagonal cavern.
• Luo Bin identified a belly-shaped rock wall as the mountain's womb, and the thinning mist revealed a sleeping, jade-scaled figure inside.
• Xu Lu spotted four hollow bodies beside the figure, including one that looked exactly like Qin Tianqing, and questioned the identities of the Qin Tianqings outside.

Luo Bin, Xu Lu, and Shangguan Xingyue uncovered inscriptions explaining how Zhang Yu’s shattered Middle Scholar soul created the Unlived People and the Mountain Embryo Spirits. The Mountain Embryo Spirit posing as Qin Tianqing escaped the cave after blocking the Blackblood Vine, leaving Luo Bin suspicious of his apparent opening.

• Blackblood Vines struck Luo Bin, Xu Lu, and Shangguan Xingyue as strange presences stirred inside their chests, then formed flower buds by absorbing the souls.
• Shangguan Xingyue found inscriptions revealing that Zhang Yu had failed to ascend, scattered his soul through Heavenly Mechanism Mountain, and left Qin Tianji trapped there as a Mountain Embryo Spirit formed within him.
• Luo Bin and the others read further inscriptions describing how Unlived People were born from Zhang Yu’s soul fragments and how the Heavenly Mechanism Taoist Grounds had suppressed them.
• Shangguan Xingyue theorized that Unlived People could transform, gather Zhang Yu’s scattered soul, and become dangerous, while Xu Lu and Fourth Master Gray reacted to her explanation.
• The Mountain Embryo Spirit posing as Qin Tianqing entered, announced that he would consume the Unlived People’s souls and embryos, and used the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip to drive back the Blackblood Vine.
• Qin Tianqing retreated through the cave entrance and told the others to retrieve a vessel for him; Xu Lu moved to take the Jade Slip, but Luo Bin stopped him and questioned the apparent opportunity.

Qin Tianqing relived memories of the Heavenly Mechanism Taoist Grounds and discovered his master’s hidden soul-suppressing talisman, which restored memories about his origins and the Spirit Embryo’s control. He awakened as Heaven-Dumping Qin, uncertain whether he could still act with his own will.

• The Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip and a talisman suppressed the Blackblood Vine as Xu Lu, Shangguan Xingyue, and Luo Bin realized the ritual artifact was restraining it.
• Qin Tianqing recalled the Taoist Grounds’ grand divination ceremony and his master’s teaching, then watched the scene dissolve into an empty hall.
• Qin Tianqing entered a hidden chamber, found two corpses with chest and head wounds like his own, and discovered a Heavenly Mechanism Soul-Suppressing Talisman.
• His master’s apparition placed the talisman on Qin Tianqing’s forehead, triggering painful memories and a flood of hidden information.
• Qin Tianqing learned that he was an Unlived Person with a non-Unlived father and that his master had left a soul to resist the Spirit Embryo’s dominant will.
• Qin Tianqing opened his eyes as Heaven-Dumping Qin and looked down at his trembling hands.

Luo Xianshen and the others subdued the Unlived People on the Cliff Platform, but the Mountain Embryo Spirit Qin Tianqing manipulated them into entering the dangerous cave. Left behind, he revealed himself as Zhang Yu, an evil thought seeking to reclaim the Unlived People and awaken fully.

• Luo Xianshen, Xu Ting, and the others reached the Cliff Platform and found the Unlived People preparing to kill themselves.
• Xu Ting and the Weilu Sect Taoists trapped the Unlived People in nets, and Bai Xiannan and Bai Chuanyun struck them down with the Earth Thunder Formula.
• The Mountain Embryo Spirit Qin Tianqing urged the group to kill the other Qin Tianqing, but Luo Xianshen refused until an Unlived Person warned that the cave was dangerous.
• Qin Tianqing poisoned Qin Tianji, claimed the three men inside the cave were in danger, and persuaded Luo Xianshen and the others to descend.
• After they left, Qin Tianqing revealed himself as Zhang Yu, an evil thought, and began drawing the Unlived People’s souls into himself.

Qin Tianqing confronted Zhang Yu, revealed that he was a derivative of a Heaven-Veiling Object rather than Zhang Yu himself, and used a curse to turn the Unlived People against him. As Zhang Yu tried to throw Qin Tianqing off the Cliff Platform, Qin Tianqing cast a curse to disperse his own soul, and they fell together into the abyss.

• Qin Tianqing discovered Zhang Yu absorbing the Unlived People's living souls and confronted him about his identity.
• Qin Tianqing summoned the souls back toward himself, and the Unlived People rose to attack Zhang Yu.
• Zhang Yu fought through the Unlived People and reached Qin Tianqing, who struggled to hold him back.
• Zhang Yu carried Qin Tianqing toward the Cliff Platform, hoping to kill him and reclaim his soul.
• Qin Tianqing cast a curse to disperse his own soul, pushed off the ground, and plunged into the abyss with Zhang Yu.

Luo Bin and the others fought Mountain Embryo Spirits hidden in the Primordial Life Force as the Weilu Sect arrived to take over the cave. Meanwhile, Qin Tianqing and Zhang Yu battled on a cliff, where Zhang Yu drove his head toward a jutting rock.

• Luo Bin sent Miao Zi toward the cave entrance, but hidden Mountain Embryo Spirits attacked him, Xu Lu, and Shangguan Xingyue from the life force.
• Luo Bin lit the white-flower lantern, revealing the spirits, and he and Xu Lu struck two of them before they dissolved into mist.
• Fourth Master Gray retrieved the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip as Taoists led by Xu Ting entered, and Luo Bin ordered everyone to leave.
• Qin Tianqing and Zhang Yu fell past the cave, then fought while Zhang Yu clung to the cliff and tried to kick Qin Tianqing loose.
• Qin Tianqing bit Zhang Yu and tore at his shoulder, but Zhang Yu aimed his fontanel at a sharp rock on the cliff.

Qin Tianqing survived the fall after Zhang Yu died, but Zhang Yu’s mountain embryo spirit attacked him from the cliff and revealed the truth behind the Heavenly Mechanism Taoist Grounds’ destruction. As Qin Tianqing’s strength and will faltered, Zhang Yu began drawing his soul out to devour it.

• Zhang Yu died when the cliff rock sheared off most of his face, while Qin Tianqing caught himself on a tree and clung to the cliff.
• Zhang Yu’s mountain embryo spirit emerged from the rock and stabbed Qin Tianqing, revealing that the spirit embryo was the true Heaven-Veiling Object and had driven the Heavenly Mechanism Taoist Grounds to ruin.
• Zhang Yu told Qin Tianqing that he had killed Qin Tianqing’s master and Senior Sister Qin Xinlan, then sealed her soul in her corpse and thrown her from the cliff.
• Qin Tianqing struck Zhang Yu’s face in grief, but Zhang Yu explained that their suffering was meant to temper them before they returned to the body and awakened.
• Zhang Yu’s mountain embryo spirit wrapped around Qin Tianqing and began pulling white vapor from his seven orifices to devour his soul.

Luo Bin revealed that Qin Tianqing was manipulating the group to eliminate the other Mountain Embryo Spirits and awaken Zhang Yu. With the Female-One Patriarch’s intervention and the Grudge Infant Moss Eaters’ newfound strength, the group turned the tables, though the Mountain Embryo Spirits remained a threat.

• Luo Bin warned that Qin Tianqing was using the Taoists to kill his other selves and potentially awaken Zhang Yu.
• Three Mountain Embryo Spirits attacked the group, and the Taoists destroyed them with their arts.
• Luo Bin explained that the Mountain Embryo Spirits and Unlived People were remnants of Zhang Yu, and Luo Xianshen sent Si Yan and two elders to protect the retreating Taoists.
• The life force nourished the Blackblood Vine and its Grudge Infant Moss Eaters, which then attacked a newly formed Mountain Embryo Spirit.
• Qin Weizi appeared at the cave entrance with the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip and prevented two Mountain Embryo Spirits from escaping.
• Xu Lu realized that the Moss Eaters had grown strong by absorbing wandering souls in the life force and could prey on the Mountain Embryo Spirits.

Xu Lu’s reasoning helped the group turn the mountain embryo spirits against the wandering souls, and the Heart-Rending Hell Ghosts and Wardens trapped one spirit for the Moss Eaters to devour. The Cave’s defenders appeared to have the situation under control, but Heaven-Dumping Qin had vanished and the Unlived People were dead.

• Xu Lu explained that the mountain embryo spirits and wandering souls both came from Zhang Yu, so either could devour the other.
• Miao Zi remained in the Cave as the Blackblood Vine released Heart-Rending Hell Ghosts and Wardens, who restrained a mountain embryo spirit.
• The Moss Eaters swarmed the restrained spirit and began devouring it.
• Shangguan Yuexingguan concluded that Yi Ci’s arrangements had anticipated the danger and that the group could hold the Cave entrance.
• Si Yan reported that Heaven-Dumping Qin had disappeared and all the Unlived People had been killed, then asked Luo Bin what to do.

Qin Tianqing fought Zhang Yu on the cliff while Zhang Yu’s Heart-Peering Grounds trapped Luo Bin and Si Yan in visions of people falling to their deaths. Zhang Yu tried to make Qin Tianqing surrender by threatening everyone on Heavenly Mechanism Mountain, while real dangers emerged around the cave.

• Zhang Yu pulled Qin Tianqing off the cliff, and Luo Bin stopped short of reaching him as Fourth Master Gray urged him onward.
• Monster sheep resembling Yuan Yinxin and three white wolves appeared around Luo Bin, while Si Yan seemed to fall with a sheep in his vision.
• Si Yan remained on the cliff path, saw the deities Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi leave the Blackblood Vine, and was attacked by Vajravarahi.
• Fourth Master Gray tried to rouse Luo Bin, who remained trapped in Zhang Yu’s Heart-Peering Grounds and unable to help Qin Tianqing.
• Zhang Yu revealed that he had used the souls of the Unlived People to form a trap and urged Qin Tianqing to stop resisting, threatening that others would die if he refused.

Luo Bin saw through the monster sheep as an illusion shaped by his fears, destroyed Zhang Yu’s mountain embryo spirit, and rescued the dying Qin Tianqing. He carried Qin Tianqing down the cliff despite his warning that saving him could disrupt the effort to contain Zhang Yu, while Si Yan shouted that the path lay above.

• Luo Bin realized the monster sheep were illusions created by his fear and used the golden silkworm gu, White Flower Lantern, and Thunderstruck Blood Peach Sword to destroy Zhang Yu’s mountain embryo spirit.
• Luo Bin found Qin Tianqing near death, and Qin Tianqing urged him to gather the unlived souls and seal Zhang Yu with primordial calculation.
• Luo Bin used Fourth Master Gray’s Spirit-Inviting Talisman to let Fourth Master Gray control Qin Tianqing’s body and secure him on his back.
• Qin Tianqing warned that saving him might disrupt Miao Zi’s efforts and the Female-One Patriarch’s arrangements, but Luo Bin insisted on carrying him down.
• Si Yan called from above, telling Luo Bin that the path was up there and that what he was seeing was an illusion.

Luo Bin used Hexagram Speech Manifestation to restore Qin Tianqing by channeling primordial life force into him, then called on Zhang Yu to possess him. Zhang Yu accepted the opening and invaded Qin Tianqing, leaving Luo Bin unsure whether he had miscalculated.

• Si Yan escaped the Heart-Peering Grounds illusion and saw Luo Bin carrying Qin Tianqing down the cliff, so she shouted to warn him.
• Qin Tianqing grew delirious and nearly died as blood loss weakened his body and soul.
• Luo Bin used the Spirit Birth hexagram to send primordial life force into Qin Tianqing, restoring his strength and vitality.
• Luo Bin urged Zhang Yu to enter Qin Tianqing, but Fourth Master Gray warned that the possession could kill him and unleash something terrifying.
• Zhang Yu’s faces appeared in the life force, and he poured into Qin Tianqing’s body, declaring that he would take him.
• Luo Bin questioned whether he had miscalculated and wondered why the Female-One Patriarch had not reacted.