Chapter Summaries

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong grew closer while trapped, but their attempts to escape barely dented the black metal wall. After learning Ma Weiqi had imposed a blood restriction on Zhang Hong, Li Xiaoya vowed to free her and kill him; meanwhile, an unnamed cultivator advanced under his master's guidance and worried about running out of elixirs.

• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong celebrated their improved chances of forming Golden Cores, then tried to break through the black metal wall and managed only a shallow hole after several days.
• Zhang Hong explained that she had agreed to Ma Weiqi's Dual Cultivation proposal while Li Xiaoya was missing, and that Ma Weiqi had placed a blood restriction on her.
• Li Xiaoya said he would help remove Zhang Hong's blood restriction and intended to kill Ma Weiqi.
• An unnamed cultivator emerged from meditation after reaching the eighth layer of the Core Condensation Stage and told his master he would run out of elixirs in two or three years.

Ma Weiqi continued cultivating Feng Chenzi’s painful divine-sense technique while the Heavenly Dao Sect searched for him. Trapped in the Artifact Refining Room, Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong grew closer through dual cultivation, but neither had made a breakthrough, and Li Xiaoya wondered where Zhang Hong had learned her unusual formula.

• Feng Chenzi persuaded Ma Weiqi to continue cultivating a technique that strengthened his divine sense, secretly steering him toward Feng Chenzi’s plan.
• A Heavenly Dao Sect cultivator reported that he had failed to find Ma Weiqi, and the sect announced a reward for information about the traitor.
• Heavenly Venerable Daoling noticed that Li Xiaoya’s Life-Bound Lamp had grown brighter, then returned toward the Heavenly Dao Sect.
• Dong Santong accidentally damaged Zhang Cai’s favorite Five-Star Begonia and fled as Zhang Cai chased him.
• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong used dual cultivation to increase their spiritual-qi absorption and deepen their intimacy, but neither showed signs of a breakthrough.
• Li Xiaoya wondered how Zhang Hong had obtained her unusual dual cultivation formula.

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong spent three years cultivating together in a sealed chamber, failed to extract the Fire Dragon Sword, and advanced their cultivation. After discovering Zhang Hong was nearly out of elixirs, Li Xiaoya suddenly remembered an important idea and began circulating his energy.

• Zhang Hong told Li Xiaoya that her cultivation method came from her secret lineage and explained that she could temporarily seal her ability to conceive.
• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong spent three years dual cultivating and searching unsuccessfully for a way to extract the Fire Dragon Sword.
• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong awakened with their cultivation advanced by a minor stage, then decided to restore their magic power before trying to extract the sword again.
• Zhang Hong revealed that she had nearly exhausted her elixirs, while Li Xiaoya produced nearly a hundred bottles from his Storage Pouch.
• Li Xiaoya realized he had forgotten something important, slapped his cheek, and began circulating his energy.

Trapped in the sealed chamber, Li Xiaoya reassured Zhang Hong that he would not sacrifice her to conserve elixirs, then used the Sleep God Art on her while considering their uncertain fate. He began preparing to refine elixirs so they could continue cultivating and form their cores.

• Li Xiaoya demonstrated the Qi Condensation True Art, absorbing abundant fire spirit energy and explaining its limits to Zhang Hong.
• Zhang Hong admitted she feared Li Xiaoya might attack her to save elixirs, and he comforted her before they practiced Dual Cultivation.
• After Zhang Hong fell asleep, Li Xiaoya worried about his family, unfinished obligations, and whether they would escape the chamber.
• Li Xiaoya used the Sleep God Art to deepen Zhang Hong's sleep, then began sorting materials and consulting the Elixir Compendium.
• Li Xiaoya told Zhang Hong he was a third-tier alchemist and planned to refine elixirs so they could form their cores as soon as possible.

Li Xiaoya searched Liu Qingshan’s Storage Pouches for herbs, then found the golden grass from the Golden Treasure Tower and learned it might be diamond grass, a treasure that could help them escape. He resolved to avenge Liu Qingshan and ended the chapter hopeful that the grass could lead them out.

• Zhang Hong gave Li Xiaoya her materials, and he realized Liu Qingshan’s Storage Pouches might contain the two herbs he needed.
• Li Xiaoya explained that using the Sleep God Art had drained his Divine Sense, then grew furious over Liu Qingshan’s death and vowed to avenge him.
• Li Xiaoya searched Liu Qingshan’s Storage Pouches, finding materials, his remains, books, artifacts, and herbs that did not include the ones he needed.
• Li Xiaoya discovered a heap of golden grass in the final pouch and recalled that Liu Qingshan had obtained it from the Golden Treasure Tower.
• Zhang Hong identified the grass as possibly being diamond grass, a treasure that could strengthen the body and give them hope of escaping.

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong found instructions for refining diamond grass and prepared to use it to escape. Months later, the Blue Ice Fairy returned to the Cultivation World and began striking down Demonic Path cultivators.

• Zhang Hong explained that diamond grass might boost Li Xiaoya's strength enough to lift the door, and Li Xiaoya searched Senior Brother Liu's belongings for instructions.
• Zhang Hong found an old sheet describing diamond grass, and Li Xiaoya read that it strengthened the body more than tenfold and improved cultivation aptitude.
• Li Xiaoya explained that diamond grass had to be mixed with medicinal ingredients and refined over time, then he and Zhang Hong began gathering what they needed.
• Zhang Hong refused Li Xiaoya's suggestion to practice the Overlord Art, and the two prepared to refine the diamond grass.
• The Blue Ice Fairy left Rainbow Rosy Peak, then reappeared months later and gained renown for defeating Demonic Path cultivators.

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong completed refining the diamond grass into golden liquid after more than half a year of work. As they prepared to test it, Zhang Hong asked whether Li Xiaoya would remain devoted to her after they left, but he evaded her question.

• Li Xiaoya added the final diamond grass and medicinal ingredients to the cauldron while Zhang Hong meditated nearby.
• Li Xiaoya finished refining the ingredients, extinguished the flames, and celebrated the successful result with Zhang Hong.
• While the golden liquid cooled, Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong teased each other and then became intimate.
• Afterward, Zhang Hong asked whether Li Xiaoya would continue treating her well and whether he would seek out Liu; Li Xiaoya avoided answering and went to check the liquid.

Li Xiaoya used the Diamond Grass liquid to begin tempering his body while Zhang Hong watched over him. After nearly half a month, the gray-black coating covering him cracked, leaving the result of the process uncertain.

• Li Xiaoya confirmed the Diamond Grass liquid was ready and collected it in jade and porcelain bottles with Zhang Hong's help.
• Li Xiaoya shaved off all his hair, poured the liquid over himself, and let it solidify around his body while airborne.
• Li Xiaoya became trapped inside a heavy golden shell, then sat in meditation and circulated his energy as Zhang Hong watched over him.
• Over nearly half a month, the shell lost its golden luster and turned grayish black while Li Xiaoya continued cultivating.
• Zhang Hong saw a crack appear across Li Xiaoya's forehead.

Li Xiaoya emerged from his meditation cocoon and tested the changes to his body after cultivating with the treasure. His strength and toughness had doubled, but he still could not move the metal wall, and the chapter ended with him chasing Zhang Hong after his shorts tore during the attempt.

• Li Xiaoya broke out of the gray-black shell, and Zhang Hong greeted him and laughed at his hairless appearance.
• Li Xiaoya dressed and discovered that his skin had become smoother and fairer.
• Li Xiaoya used the Overlord Art and punched the metal wall, leaving a deep dent while numbing his arm.
• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong noticed a golden glow accompanying the Overlord Art and realized his strength and toughness had increased.
• Li Xiaoya failed to lift the metal wall, tore his shorts, and chased Zhang Hong as she laughed at him.

Sun Xing rewarded Jin Zhan with a red tree essence spiritual root and ordered his followers to keep a low profile before entering seclusion. Meanwhile, Sun Xing learned that his elder brother had also withdrawn with his followers, forcing him to suspend a plan prepared for more than a decade.

• Sun Xing escorted Jin Zhan to the Fire Spirit Heart Palace and gave him a ten-thousand-year red tree essence spiritual root to aid his attempt to form a core.
• Jin Zhan accepted the gift and pledged to serve Sun Xing after forming his golden core, while privately watching Sun Xing leave with an unreadable expression.
• Sun Xing ordered his followers to keep a low profile and entered a secluded chamber, vowing to wait for his elder brother’s moment of triumph to pass.
• Sun Xing received a voice transmission during a meeting and announced that the group must suspend its long-prepared plan because his elder brother had entered seclusion and sent away or secluded his subordinates.
• Sun Xing dismissed the other cultivators and asked Elder Mo and Fairy Zhang to remain.

Zhang Cai and Dong Santong searched the Northern Ice Mountains for Ice-Ridge Yellow Flowers and were caught in a snow avalanche after battling a Snow Ice Worm. In the sealed chamber, Li Xiaoya broke free from his statue and found Zhang Hong immobilized after attempting Body Tempering; he then resumed his own cultivation.

• Zhang Cai and Dong Santong argued over their years-long search for Ice-Ridge Yellow Flowers and their punishment for wrecking Heavenly Venerable Daoling’s garden.
• A Snow Ice Worm attacked Zhang Cai, who kicked Dong Santong toward it, and Dong Santong destroyed the beast with Light Blades.
• The mountain shook and a vast avalanche swept down as Zhang Cai and Dong Santong tried to fly clear.
• Li Xiaoya emerged from his dark gray shell after absorbing Diamond Grass liquid for the ninth time and found Zhang Hong immobilized in the chamber.
• Li Xiaoya straightened Zhang Hong’s limbs, then circulated the Overlord Art as golden light blazed around him.

Li Xiaoya reached the limit of his body tempering and tried to force open the Metal Gate, but discovered that something above was pinning it in place. He smashed the gate with a powerful punch, and the chapter ended with him rushing to check on Zhang Hong after the blast threw her against the wall.

• Li Xiaoya tested his strength against the wall, but could only raise it enough to create a tiny gap before it fell back into place.
• Over the next three months, Zhang Hong completed five rounds of body tempering, improved her aptitude, and grew her hair back while Li Xiaoya continued training.
• After Li Xiaoya emerged from his statue-like casing, he praised Zhang Hong's appearance, and they practiced Dual Cultivation.
• Li Xiaoya told Zhang Hong that Diamond Grass no longer increased his strength, then tried lifting the Metal Gate again.
• Li Xiaoya raised the gate slightly but found that something above was holding it down, so he activated the Overlord Art and punched the gate.
• The punch cratered the Metal Gate before it repaired itself, while the blast threw Zhang Hong into the wall and Li Xiaoya hurried to her.

After more than a decade trapped in the sealed chamber, Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong devised a way to retrieve the Fire Dragon Sword and escape. Li Xiaoya freed the sword, and as he prepared to leave, he noticed a round object on the floor.

• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong discussed their escape plans and decided to retrieve the Fire Dragon Sword by having Zhang Hong heat the metal wall.
• Zhang Hong scorched the wall for more than three days while Li Xiaoya used energy circulation to regrow his hair and eyebrows.
• Li Xiaoya forced the heated wall upward, allowing Zhang Hong to pull the Fire Dragon Sword free with her Long Whip Spiritual Artifact.
• Li Xiaoya caught the Fire Dragon Sword and celebrated, then gathered their belongings with Zhang Hong.
• As Li Xiaoya prepared to begin energy circulation, he spotted a round object on the floor and paused.

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong cut their way out of the Metal Cave and celebrated their freedom, but they then heard a strange swishing sound and went to investigate. They suspected Dong Gu Nü and Li Xiangxiang might still be trapped and spotted something above them.

• Li Xiaoya took the cauldron lid and the heavy cauldron, then joined Zhang Hong in cutting through the Metal Cave wall while using flames to stop it from repairing itself.
• After nearly a day, Li Xiaoya cut an opening through the Metal Gate, and he and Zhang Hong escaped together.
• Li Xiaoya celebrated their escape with Zhang Hong, who worried whether they could stay together outside, and he reassured her.
• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong heard a rhythmic swishing sound and feared Dong Gu Nü and Li Xiangxiang might still be trapped in the city.
• Zhang Hong traced the sound to the swirling golden light overhead and called Li Xiaoya's attention to something she saw there.

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong discovered a black rope spinning with the golden light and decided to search the sealed chambers before leaving. They opened another chamber and found a cauldron, whose lid released two streaks of light as Li Xiaoya unscrewed it.

• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong noticed that a black rope had appeared in the sealed chamber and decided to use the Teleportation Formation to leave.
• Li Xiaoya persuaded Zhang Hong to search the other sealed chambers for treasure, and they burned through a massive door together.
• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong entered a chamber identical to the Artifact Refining Room and found another glowing cauldron.
• Zhang Hong sealed the doorway while Li Xiaoya opened the cauldron, releasing one black and one white streak of light.

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong searched the sealed chambers for Yin-Yang Spirit-Gathering Pills while news spread that the Lu Household had been massacred by a cultivator using a forbidden Demonic Path technique. As four golden core investigators discussed the slaughter, a dark-faced farmer and a plump monk appeared outside their building.

• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong opened another sealed chamber and found no pills, then decided to search the remaining chambers for a successful batch.
• The Lu Household was wiped out overnight, with its cultivators’ brains and its patriarch’s blood essence and golden core apparently drained.
• The massacre alarmed the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation lineages and sects, and major sects, including the Heavenly Dao Sect, sent teams to investigate and jointly oversee the Lu Household’s Market District.
• Four golden core cultivators concluded that the massacre had likely been carried out by one cultivator using a forbidden Demonic Path technique.
• A dark-faced cultivator dressed as an old farmer and a plump monk arrived outside the investigators’ building after their people were subdued.

Zhang Cai and Dong Santong joined four cultivators investigating trouble at the Lu Household after Heavenly Venerable Daoling had sent them away on a fabricated search for an ice-ridge yellow flower. Far underground, a monster endured a painful transformation as an aged voice used a curse on him, then revealed plans to make him a slave.

• Zhang Cai introduced himself and Dong Santong to Liu Zhengran, Suoluo, Fairy Green Lotus, and Granny Fudi, who welcomed the powerful reinforcements.
• Zhang Cai and Dong Santong had searched the Northern Ice Mountains for years before learning that Heavenly Venerable Daoling had invented the ice-ridge yellow flower to send them away.
• Dongfang Yi arranged for Zhang Cai and Dong Santong to investigate trouble at the Lu Household, and the pair went to its Market District.
• An enormous monster in an underground blood pool cried out in pain as an aged voice told him he was close to breaking through by refining a Lu Household elder's golden core.
• The aged voice chanted a Pain-Suppressing Curse, causing black vapor and runes to enter the monster before he sank beneath the pool.
• The aged voice laughed that the monster would soon become his slave.

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong spent months searching sealed chambers and collected six pairs of Yin-Yang Spirit-Gathering Pills and eighteen alchemy cauldrons. When they activated the teleportation formation to leave, they appeared to remain in the same hall, and Li Xiaoya hurried to try again.

• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong searched the sealed chambers for months and found six pairs of intact Yin-Yang Spirit-Gathering Pills and eighteen alchemy cauldrons.
• After celebrating their haul and sharing an intimate moment, Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong prepared to leave the hall.
• Li Xiaoya activated the teleportation formation while holding Zhang Hong's hand, and the two vanished in a blaze of white light.
• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong crashed onto the floor and realized they were still in the hall outside the sealed chambers.
• Li Xiaoya hurried toward the teleportation formation to try again as unease stirred in his heart.

After repeated failures to use the Teleportation Formation, Zhang Hong realized that the Southwestern Ancient City had vanished from the Human Realm, leaving them seemingly trapped for another two hundred years. Li Xiaoya reassured her about staying together and revealed that diamond grass could preserve her youthful appearance, and Zhang Hong ended the chapter with an idea for escaping.

• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong failed another attempt to use the Teleportation Formation, and Zhang Hong concluded that the vanished Southwestern Ancient City prevented it from locating its destination.
• Li Xiaoya lamented being trapped for another two hundred years, while Zhang Hong said she would be content to spend that time with him.
• Zhang Hong worried that she would grow old, and Li Xiaoya told her that diamond grass could keep her appearance forever youthful.
• Li Xiaoya teased Zhang Hong about whether he would still want her if she grew old, then ran off as she chased him with ropes of flame.
• Zhang Hong stopped chasing Li Xiaoya after realizing something and told him she had thought of a way they might escape.

Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong found a way to escape the sealed hall through the golden vortex, using the black rope and a bundle of cauldrons to resist its pull. They climbed into the vortex together, where its force swept them spinning through the air.

• Zhang Hong reminded Li Xiaoya of the black rope in the golden vortex, and he grabbed it while warning her to stay clear of its powerful pull.
• Li Xiaoya hauled down the rope and had Zhang Hong bind all eighteen cauldrons to it, anchoring the rope against the vortex.
• Li Xiaoya returned to the sealed chambers, collected more cauldrons in eighteen Storage Pouches, and then bound Zhang Hong to his waist before climbing.
• Li Xiaoya and Zhang Hong entered the golden vortex, where the pressure and disorienting spin intensified until they lost their footing and were swept away together.