Chapter Summaries

Cheng Qiyue told Xiao Sui that a woman surnamed She had asked for a Heaven-Praying Altar, but the Lunar Abyss Immortals and Gods had refused her a Dharma Body inheritance. Xiao Sui explained that She was likely a reincarnated Outer Demon who needed a Heavenly Realm edict to cultivate, then wondered if she recognized the woman.

• Cheng Qiyue recounted how Yan Shanshui connected her with a woman who could transmit her voice through a Primordial Spirit, and how the Lunar Abyss Immortals and Gods left without granting the woman an inheritance.
• Xiao Sui dismissed the Cheng Family's grand elder and told Cheng Qiyue that the woman was probably not a reincarnated Immortal or God, but a reincarnated Demonic Fiend of the Outer Path.
• Xiao Sui explained that reincarnation could cleanse an Outer Demon's power, leaving it beyond the control of the great outer-demon consciousness.
• Xiao Sui said reincarnated Outer Demons needed an edict from a high-ranking Immortal or God to receive a Dharma Body inheritance because of the Primordial Celestial Palace's destruction.
• Cheng Qiyue said she knew only that the woman's surname was She, and Xiao Sui wondered if she might be someone she knew.

Lin Zhishui mistakenly believed Xiao Sui’s silent second primordial spirit avatar was her secret daughter and offered her parenting advice. Xiao Sui instead understood his words as profound guidance about cultivating and nurturing a second primordial spirit, and she reflected on how his calligraphy had saved her from disaster.

• Lin Zhishui woke from his nap and welcomed Xiao Sui into his shop, recalling the little girl who had visited earlier and assuming she was Xiao Sui’s daughter.
• Lin Zhishui asked whether the child was still acting up, and Xiao Sui said its emotions had stabilized thanks to his previous help.
• Lin Zhishui advised Xiao Sui to treat the child with greater care, describing it as both a vessel for her hopes and a part of her life.
• Xiao Sui thanked Lin Zhishui and interpreted his advice as insight into the Mystic Sect Soul-Splitting and Infant-Forming Method.
• Xiao Sui recalled that Lin Zhishui’s calligraphy had stabilized her escaped second primordial spirit and helped her avert a catastrophe.

Lin Zhishui learned that Xiao Sui had come to discuss She Xilu’s strange dreams, while he mistook She Xilu’s recent troubles for writer’s block. He decided Xiao Sui might be able to help with her novel and asked her for advice, leaving her ready to hear his request.

• Lin Zhishui confirmed that Xiao Sui’s daughter had stayed home to guard the seal, and Xiao Sui promised not to involve him unless absolutely necessary.
• Xiao Sui explained that she had learned about She Xilu’s dreams from Han Suxin and had recently discovered that Han’s earlier assessment was wrong.
• Lin Zhishui said She Xilu seemed troubled and guessed she was stuck while writing her novel.
• Xiao Sui asked whether Lin Zhishui would help She Xilu, and he realized Xiao Sui’s experience with cultivation dramas might make her useful.
• Lin Zhishui told Xiao Sui he wanted her help because she was well suited to it, and she invited him to explain.

Lin Zhishui asked Xiao Sui for advice about whether to help She Xilu, unaware that Xiao Sui interpreted his question through the supernatural world. Xiao Sui urged him to give She Xilu a chance to atone, and Lin Zhishui decided to support her through Xiao Sui’s connections, ending by writing a calligraphy message asking others to care for her.

• Lin Zhishui told Xiao Sui he had recognized her as the actress Xia Guyu, while Xiao Sui mistook his insight for knowledge of her hidden past-life identity.
• Lin Zhishui asked whether a once-evil demon transformed into a weapon should be sealed away or allowed to continue serving after its sins were cleansed.
• Xiao Sui drew on her own experience and advised that the wielder should give the weapon a chance to redeem itself.
• Lin Zhishui decided to try helping She Xilu and asked Xiao Sui to support her through their shared circle.
• Xiao Sui agreed to handle the arrangements, and Lin Zhishui wrote, “She belongs to me. Please extend her your care.”

Lin Zhishui gave Xiao Sui two pieces of calligraphy, including advice to She Xilu, and arranged for Xiao Sui to investigate why the cultivation traditions had rejected her. She Xilu remained unsure whether the plan would help, while Youchan resolved to reveal their true form on the next Full Moon Day and appeal to the Lunar Abyss Immortals and Gods.

• Lin Zhishui finished an Edict for Xiao Sui and gave it to her, weighing it down with the Azure Sun Ruler.
• Lin Zhishui wrote Xiao Sui the lines about a caged bird longing for its woods and a pond fish longing for its depths, advising her that they might mean more in the future.
• At dinner, Lin Zhishui told She Xilu that Xiao Sui would contact her and investigate her situation.
• Youchan doubted that Xiao Sui could influence the high-ranking Immortals and Gods and decided to reveal their true form on the next Full Moon Day to secure a Dharma Body Inheritance.

She Xilu and Youchan went to an abandoned factory to take part in the Lunar Abyss’s Heaven-Praying ritual, while Youchan dismissed Xiao Sui’s offer of help. The ritual began, and visions of Immortals and Gods appeared above the altar.

• The Heavenly Dog trembled as its distant Master called to it, and Youchan explained that Lin Zhishui’s seal kept it safe.
• She Xilu and Youchan left for the abandoned factory to meet Cheng Qiyue at two thirty in the morning.
• Cheng Qiyue introduced Xiao Sui, who had come on Lin Zhishui’s behalf, and Youchan told her she did not need help.
• Cheng Qiyue activated the Heaven-Praying Altar and recited its incantation as moonlight gathered over the vat.
• A full moon appeared on the water, then projected silhouettes of Immortals and Gods into the air.

Youchan confronted the Queen Mother of the West about being barred from the Lunar Abyss lineage, but learned that Outer Demons had to reincarnate eighty-one times before receiving a decree. Xiao Sui presented Lin Zhishui’s decree, which won the Immortals’ recognition, and the Queen Mother granted She Xilu a Dharma Body inheritance for all five Heavenly Passes.

• Youchan questioned the Queen Mother of the West, who revealed that Outer Demons needed a decree from another lineage and had to reincarnate eighty-one times to receive one.
• Xiao Sui presented Lin Zhishui’s calligraphy decree to the Queen Mother and the other Immortals and Gods.
• The decree’s message told the Immortals and Gods that She Xilu was under Lin Zhishui’s charge, and they all agreed to look after her.
• The Queen Mother recognized She Xilu as the recipient of Lin Zhishui’s decree and sent her a five-colored rainbow containing the Dharma Body inheritance for all five Heavenly Passes.

She Xilu received the Queen Mother of the West’s inheritance for five heavenly passes, while Xiao Sui and Youchan considered what the unprecedented gift revealed about Lin Zhishui. Youchan connected Lin Zhishui to the fallen master of the Primordial Celestial Palace, a being she had never been able to see through.

• She Xilu received five heavenly-pass inheritances and formed a dharma body resembling the Queen Mother of the West.
• The Queen Mother of the West and the other Immortals and Gods departed after asking She Xilu to give Lin Zhishui her regards.
• Cheng Qiyue recovered with Xiao Sui’s help, and Xiao Sui concluded that Lin Zhishui was a mighty being who had touched the Heavenly Dao.
• Youchan asked Xiao Sui whether a reincarnated Outer Demon had ever received five dharma-body inheritances at once, and Xiao Sui said it had never happened.
• Youchan learned that the Primordial Celestial Palace had been destroyed around four hundred years earlier and suspected Lin Zhishui was its fallen master.

Youchan concluded that Lin Zhishui was likely the reincarnated Primordial Heavenly Emperor, whose cultivation he was recovering through calligraphy. She warned Xiao Sui about an Outer Path Demonic Fiend seeking parts of the Hidden Dragon Illusory World Formation, including a pearl kept in Lin Zhishui’s shop, and Xiao Sui left untroubled by the threat.

• Youchan recalled the Primordial Heavenly Emperor’s history and reasoned that Lin Zhishui was likely his reincarnation.
• Youchan asked Xiao Sui about Lin Zhishui’s cultivation, and Xiao Sui described his calligraphy as revealing more than a dozen perfected Great Ways.
• Youchan inferred that Lin Zhishui was recovering his cultivation and might already be nearly invincible in the mortal world.
• Youchan warned Xiao Sui that an Outer Path Demonic Fiend called “Master” was gathering components of the Hidden Dragon Illusory World Formation.
• Youchan revealed that the Hidden Dragon Pearl was in Lin Zhishui’s shop, and Xiao Sui dismissed the danger because Lin Zhishui could protect it.
• Xiao Sui put away the Heaven-Praying Altar and flew away with Cheng Qiyue.

After receiving the Queen Mother of the West’s Dharma Body inheritance, She Xilu discovered that her senses and cultivation potential had improved dramatically. She and Youchan discussed She Xilu’s missing past-life memories and planned how she would begin cultivating, with Youchan suggesting she ask Lin Zhishui for help.

• She Xilu opened her eyes after receiving the inheritance and found that her vision and hearing had become extraordinarily sharp.
• Youchan explained that Bai Yueyao had given She Xilu the complete inheritance for all five heavenly passes, while Youchan decided to wait for a suitable lineage.
• Youchan urged She Xilu to make her relationship with Lin Zhishui work and joked that she should have more children, embarrassing She Xilu.
• Youchan said she could not teach She Xilu cultivation because her own past followed the Outer Path and she now had only a Primordial Spirit with limited power.
• Youchan wondered why She Xilu’s past-life memories had not awakened, but could only speculate that She Xilu might have damaged her Primordial Spirit during reincarnation.
• She Xilu decided to ask Xiao Sui about the Queen Mother of the West Dharma Body and begin accumulating spiritual power, while Youchan suggested asking Lin Zhishui for help; She Xilu blushed at the thought of receiving it mouth-to-mouth.

Lin Zhishui found She Xilu cultivating at home and encouraged her to balance her training with rest while staying cautious about Xiao Sui’s world. When She Xilu asked him to help her progress faster, he offered to give her two calligraphy pieces, delighting her as Youchan doubted his reasons.

• Lin Zhishui came home and found She Xilu meditating on the sofa after spending the day cultivating.
• Lin Zhishui encouraged She Xilu to cultivate at a steady pace and warned her not to get too involved in Xiao Sui’s circle.
• Youchan told She Xilu that the Lunar Abyss and the Three Realms held hidden dangers, urging her to grow stronger for a future calamity.
• She Xilu asked Lin Zhishui to help her advance faster, and he offered to give her two calligraphy pieces.
• She Xilu happily accepted Lin Zhishui’s offer while Youchan questioned why he was giving her the calligraphy.

Lin Zhishui wrote She Xilu two pieces of calligraphy to aid her cultivation, while Youchan heard a faint voice that appeared only when he used his brush. As She Xilu washed the brush, Youchan concluded that its artifact spirit might be the primordial spirit of a Heavenly Dao Realm Immortal or God.

• Lin Zhishui wrote She Xilu a line about small things accumulating into something great, and Youchan determined that it would gather and refine spiritual energy to speed She Xilu's cultivation at least tenfold.
• Youchan sensed a faint voice while Lin Zhishui wrote, but it disappeared before she could identify it.
• Lin Zhishui wrote a second piece about a sword's keen edge coming from grinding, which She Xilu recognized as calligraphy that could help her comprehend the Dao of metal.
• Youchan heard the voice say "Save me" and realized it came from Lin Zhishui's brush while he was writing.
• Lin Zhishui asked She Xilu to wash the brush, and Youchan suspected its hidden artifact spirit was the primordial spirit of a Heavenly Dao Realm Immortal or God.

Youchan warned She Xilu that they must avoid being captured by the Outer-Demon consciousness, while Lin Zhishui continued treating the mysterious brush as a cherished writing tool. Elsewhere, a young man learned that the Hidden Dragon Pearl was likely in Su City and sent Bifang Bird to locate the captured Heavenly Dog.

• Youchan told She Xilu that they must never let the Outer-Demon consciousness reclaim them, and She Xilu carefully returned Lin Zhishui's brush after cleaning it.
• Lin Zhishui said the brush meant a great deal to him and encouraged She Xilu to cultivate and practice calligraphy.
• A young man met with an old man, learned that every component of the Hidden Dragon Illusory World Formation except the Hidden Dragon Pearl had been found, and deduced that the pearl was in Su City.
• The young man explained that Heavenly Dog had likely been captured near the Cheng Family in Su City, possibly by Xiao Sui, whose Nine Heavens Divine Restriction had cut off his connection to it.
• The young man ordered Bifang Bird to go to Su City, find Heavenly Dog, and avoid alerting anyone until the situation was confirmed.

She Xilu sought Xiao Sui’s advice on awakening her First Heavenly Pass by matchmaking at a couples’ café. When Heavenly Dog detected Outer Demons among a newly arrived couple, Youchan and Xiao Sui prepared to identify and capture them, with Lin Zhishui as backup if necessary.

• Xiao Sui explained that She Xilu could advance her Marriage Princess Heavenly Pass by using her spells to bring couples together.
• She Xilu began looking for people with mutual feelings, while Youchan discovered that Heavenly Dog had sensed someone connected to its Master.
• Heavenly Dog identified the woman in a newly arrived couple as the Master’s subordinate and the man as a lower-ranked Outer Demon.
• Youchan warned Xiao Sui about the disguised pair, and they agreed she would approach the woman to determine her rank.
• Xiao Sui prepared to seal the woman if she was second-rank, or lure her to Lin Zhishui if she was first-rank.

She Xilu, Youchan, and Xiao Sui captured two Outer Demons sent to retrieve Little Pomeranian and learned that they belonged to the Book Pavilion. Bifang identified their Master as the Demonic Fiend of the Outer Path known as the Book Reader.

• Little Pomeranian contacted a demonic ally in the café, who warned that a powerful cultivator was nearby and promised to seek help from the Master.
• Youchan recognized the plain-looking young woman as Bifang, then helped She Xilu frighten and immobilize her while Xiao Sui sealed the young man seated with her.
• Xiao Sui led the pair to an unfinished building, where Youchan questioned them about their mission and faction.
• The male Outer Demon said he was a peripheral member of the Book Pavilion and had only been ordered to assist Bifang.
• Xiao Sui explained that Demonic Fiends of the Outer Path came in human form and held distinct occupations, then Bifang revealed that their Master was the Book Reader.

Youchan and Xiao Sui interrogated a captured Bifang Bird and learned that the Book Pavilion was gathering pieces of the Hidden Dragon Illusory World Formation for its powerful leader, the Scholar. They sent the bird to bait the Master toward Lin Zhishui, disguising her as a canary, while a horned eagle watched them leave.

• Youchan explained that the Book Pavilion's Scholar was a Demonic Fiend of the Outer Path, and Xiao Sui judged him powerful but not beyond the reach of Lin Zhishui.
• The Bifang Bird revealed that the Book Pavilion was led by the Scholar, contacted through his subordinate Taotie, and had ordered her to find the Heavenly Dog and gather components of the Hidden Dragon Illusory World Formation.
• Xiao Sui and Youchan decided to lure the Master by having the Bifang Bird report that she had found the Heavenly Dog and Hidden Dragon Pearl.
• Youchan instructed the Bifang Bird to send the coded message, and Xiao Sui sealed another captured Outer Demon until it vanished with its Primordial Spirit.
• Xiao Sui and Youchan turned the Bifang Bird into a canary to take to Lin Zhishui's shop, while a horned eagle watched from above and flew away.

At Qingcheng University, the young master of the Book Pavilion learned that Bifang Bird had betrayed him and planned to hunt her down while his allies searched for Heavenly Dog. Meanwhile, She Xilu brought Canary and the puppy to Lin Zhishui, warning him that the puppy’s old owner was coming; Lin Zhishui promised to keep the puppy for her.

• The Book Pavilion master sensed that Bifang Bird’s connection had been severed and concluded that she had betrayed him, likely with help from a reincarnated Outer Demon.
• The Book Pavilion master ordered the stooped old man, Kui Ox, and Qiongqi to search for Heavenly Dog, planned to send Ferryman to Qing City, and set out to find Bifang Bird himself.
• She Xilu brought Canary and the puppy to Lin Zhishui and warned him that the puppy’s old owner, Book Reader, would come looking for him.
• After learning She Xilu wanted to keep the puppy, Lin Zhishui told her to take it away before its owner arrived and promised to handle Book Reader.

Lin Zhishui reassured She Xilu about her cultivation and safety before she returned home, then resumed his painting. Lu Qingfeng arrived at the shop looking worn down and told Lin Zhishui he was in a predicament.

• Lin Zhishui had She Xilu hang Xiao Sui’s canary by the window and encouraged her to keep cultivating.
• She Xilu told Lin Zhishui that Xiao Sui had subdued two men, prompting him and Youchan to warn her to stay safe.
• Lin Zhishui offered to find She Xilu a bodyguard, but she said she wanted him to protect her.
• She Xilu went home to cultivate while Lin Zhishui continued painting.
• Lu Qingfeng visited Lin Zhishui, who noticed his worn appearance and offered to help with his predicament.

Lin Zhishui advised Lu Qingfeng to follow his heart as he struggled over whether to continue forging a sword path without guidance. Lu Qingfeng rediscovered his original love of swords, broke through his doubts, and fully understood his sword path.

• Lu Qingfeng asked Lin Zhishui for guidance because he could not see where his dangerous path would lead.
• Lin Zhishui learned that Lu Qingfeng was a soldier who feared death, had lost comrades, and had rejected chances to leave the battlefield.
• Lu Qingfeng revealed that he had spent more than five hundred years trying to create a complete sword path without an inheritance or guide.
• Lin Zhishui told Lu Qingfeng to trust his pure sword heart and follow the path it chose.
• Lu Qingfeng recalled that he had loved swords before revenge became his obsession, and his accumulated insights formed a pure sword light.
• Lu Qingfeng's doubts and shackles shattered, and he completely understood his sword path.

Lu Qingfeng took Lin Zhishui’s advice to heart, perfected his understanding of the sword, and asked him to arrange a bodyguard for She Xilu. Before leaving, Lu Qingfeng gave Lin an old blank book, which Lin discovered was merely an empty notebook.

• Lu Qingfeng realized his sword heart had been clouded by obsession and, after Lin Zhishui’s advice, brought his scattered insights together into a perfected way of the sword.
• Lin Zhishui asked Lu Qingfeng to find a discreet bodyguard for his fiancée, She Xilu, and gave him her name and address.
• Lu Qingfeng declined Lin Zhishui’s offer of an ink painting, then left an ancient, wordless book as thanks before departing.
• Outside the shop, Lu Qingfeng restrained his newly unleashed sword intent and reflected that he could now ascend, though he still had unfinished matters and a senior sister to find.
• Lin Zhishui opened the old book, expecting a martial arts manual, and found that it was just a blank notebook.