Recaps

Jiang Che questioned Master Chunji about Chunhui’s demand that he enter the White Dragon Temple and learned how Chunji’s seven-life cycle worked. Chunji offered Jiang a phrase to use if Chunhui pressured him again, though Jiang remained unwilling to become a monk.

• Jiang Che entered the instance and met Master Chunji in the Bamboo Grove fourteen years earlier.
• Jiang Che told Chunji how Puxin and the Demon Sword’s evil spirit had been dealt with, and explained Chunhui’s demand that he become a monk.
• Chunji explained that his seven lives would be judged together, with the seventh meant to reconcile the karma of the previous six.
• Chunji said he hoped to attain good fruition rather than have the White Dragon Temple raise his seventh incarnation toward neutrality.
• Jiang Che told Chunji he wanted freedom and did not wish to become a monk or pursue reincarnation.
• Chunji advised Jiang to tell Chunhui, “The precept blade saves oneself, not the hearts of others.”

After failing to find a way to stop Chunhui, Jiang Che learned that Chunji had reincarnated as a rapidly aging infant. Chunhui reached the child but was trapped by Daoist Jifang and three other Azure Mystic Foundation Establishment cultivators, who refused to let him take the child or Jiang Che.

• Chunji's story about the butcher taught Chunhui that forced goodness could bring harm, and Chunji advised Jiang Che to repeat his words if Chunhui tried to coerce him.
• Jiang Che left the dungeon without a breakthrough and spent three days shut away, asking Zhang Erguo and Hu Yan to report anything unusual.
• Zhang Erguo told Jiang Che that a newborn in East City had grown into a three-year-old in three days before a strange wind carried him away.
• Jiang Che concluded that the child was Chunji's reincarnation and wondered why Chunhui had not found him sooner.
• Daoist Jifang revealed that he had hidden the child's presence from Chunhui and summoned three fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators to surround him.
• Chunhui demanded that Azure Mystic let him take Chunji's reincarnation and Jiang Che, but Jifang refused.

The reincarnated child proposed a compromise that let him stay in Azure Mystic while Jiang Che became a lay disciple of White Dragon Temple. Chunhui confronted Jiang Che for his decision, then left after recognizing a private phrase as a message from his senior brother’s reincarnation, and four Azure Mystic cultivators appeared before Jiang Che.

• The reincarnated child proposed that Jiang Che become a lay disciple of White Dragon Temple while he himself cultivated in Azure Mystic.
• Chunhui and Daoist Jifang accepted the compromise, and Chunhui asked to speak with Jiang Che alone about whether he would leave for White Dragon Temple.
• Chunhui pressured Jiang Che to answer, and Jiang Che quoted a saying that only Chunhui and his senior brother had known.
• Chunhui recognized the saying as a message from his senior brother’s reincarnation, placed a restriction on Jiang Che, and vanished.
• Jiang Che briefly believed the ordeal was over, then saw four people in his room.

After the White Dragon Temple monk left, Azure Mystic's Foundation Establishment elders debated which peak should claim Jiang Che, and he secured a place at Jingxiao Peak by reminding them that Jingxiao disciples had recruited him. He stayed in Ailin to finish his assignment while the city celebrated its survival and honored him.

• Jiang Che told the elders that he had refused the monk because he did not want to become one, then explained that he had learned how to drive Chunhui away from the Reincarnated Spirit Child.
• The elders arranged for Chen Ji and the sealed Broken Sword to go to Evening Rainbow Peak, then argued over which peak would take Jiang Che.
• Jiang Che cited Yu Cheng and Luo Wenling's role in bringing him to Azure Mystic, and Ji Qi claimed him for Jingxiao Peak.
• Ji Qi ordered Jiang Che to finish the remaining two months of his Ailin assignment before returning to the sect.
• Du Yongchang, Steward Pang, and County Commandant Li held a banquet to celebrate Ailin's survival, where Jiang Che became the center of attention.

After the victory banquet, Jiang Che credited Hu Yan and Zhang Erguo for their contributions, and Hu Yan told them she planned to attempt Qi Refining. Her explanation of the cultivation process left Jiang Che wondering how his [primordial origin first spirit] fit into its requirements.

• Jiang Che led Du Yongchang, Pang, and Li to praise Hu Yan and Zhang Erguo for their roles in the operation, and Du Yongchang promised their contributions would be reported to the sect.
• Hu Yan said she would enter seclusion and attempt Qi Refining as soon as they returned, since she was nearing the fifteen-year limit.
• Hu Yan explained how cultivators opened all thirty-six apertures, formed gang force, gathered compatible spirit essence, and used a matching Qi Refining method.
• Hu Yan said she had prepared the resources and spirit essence for one breakthrough attempt and resolved that she had to succeed.
• After Hu Yan and Zhang Erguo left, Jiang Che considered Hu Yan’s warning that an unopened body could not contain spirit essence and wondered about his [primordial origin first spirit].

Jiang Che reviewed the gains from his dangerous Ailin mission, then used the Willow Source Old Dream instance to kill its participants and earn nine wisps of primordial origin first spirit. As he left Ailin after two months, he asked Du Yongchang for advice on choosing a Qi Refining method.

• Jiang Che concluded that the primordial origin first spirit remained hidden within him and reviewed his gains in merit, reputation, and transmigration energy.
• During two quiet months in Ailin, Jiang Che entered the Willow Source Old Dream instance, manipulated Liu Bingyuan into lifting his restriction, and killed all six participants.
• Jiang Che reached the instance boundary before dawn, ending it with a grade Jia rating and a reward of nine wisps of primordial origin first spirit.
• Jiang Che and the other Registered Disciples prepared to leave Ailin, and Du Yongchang came out to see them off.
• Jiang Che thanked Du Yongchang, learned that he would serve three years in Ailin, and asked which Qi Refining methods he could choose from after practicing the Upper Azure Smoke Cloud Embryonic Breath Method.

After the victory feast, Jiang Che publicly credited Hu Yan and Zhang Erguo for their contributions, and Hu Yan explained the steps and costs involved in reaching Qi Refining. The chapter leaves Jiang Che wondering how the rule that an unopened body cannot contain spirit essence applies to his [primordial origin first spirit].

• Jiang Che praised Hu Yan and Zhang Erguo before Du Yongchang and the others, prompting Du to promise to report their contributions to the sect.
• After the feast, Hu Yan announced that she would enter seclusion and attempt to break through to Qi Refining when they returned to the sect.
• Jiang Che asked Hu Yan how cultivators achieved Qi Refining, and she explained the stages of full aperture, gang force, and drawing spirit essence into the body with a compatible method.
• Hu Yan revealed that she had gathered [wildwood prairie-fire qi] and the resources for one breakthrough attempt, which she considered her only chance.
• After Hu Yan and Zhang Erguo left, Jiang Che questioned how his [primordial origin first spirit] fit with the rule that the body could not contain spirit essence before reaching full aperture.

After two months of peace in Ailin, Jiang Che reflected on his gains, tested the Willow Source Old Dream instance, and prepared to return to the sect with the recognition of powerful cultivators. Before leaving, he asked Du Yongchang for advice about choosing a Qi Refining method.

• Jiang Che realized the five wisps of [primordial origin first spirit] remained inside him without being detected, unlike spiritual energy he had converted before.
• Jiang Che reviewed his gains in Ailin, including the Little Hidden Temple instance, transmigration energy, merit, and the attention of four Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Jiang Che entered the Willow Source Old Dream instance, killed its participants, reached the boundary, and earned a grade Jia rating with nine wisps of [primordial origin first spirit].
• After two months without further disturbances, Jiang Che and the Registered Disciples prepared to leave Ailin, and Du Yongchang came to see them off.
• Jiang Che thanked Du Yongchang and asked him what options he would have for a Qi Refining method after practicing the Upper Azure Smoke Cloud Embryonic Breath Method.

Jiang Che defeated Wang Yibai in a brief sword match, then let Liu Mo and another disciple display their abilities during the assessment. At Yan We iwan’s courtyard, he discovered an instance connected to an ancient Stone Cauldron and wondered whether it signaled an approaching life-or-death crisis.

• Jiang Che defeated Wang Yibai with the Azure Torrent Sword Art, ending their match in barely a dozen exchanges.
• Jiang Che fought Liu Mo in a nearly even exhibition, giving him room to demonstrate his skills before winning by one move.
• Jiang Che completed his assessment and left early to consolidate his cultivation.
• Zhang Erguo invited Jiang Che to celebrate at Instructor Yan’s courtyard, where Yan We iwan showed them her father’s Alchemy Room.
• Jiang Che saw azure light flowing over the Stone Cauldron and realized an instance had appeared, prompting him to question whether he faced a hidden crisis.

Jiang Che acquired a new instance through the Stone Cauldron and entered Azure Mystic twenty-one years in the past, where he discovered that its central figure was the talented disciple Li Qiubai. Suspecting Li Qiubai’s past calamity was connected to the danger now facing him, Jiang Che encountered Li Qiubai as the instance began.

• Jiang Che touched Yan We iwan’s Stone Cauldron and secretly absorbed it into his consciousness space.
• Jiang Che left Yan We iwan’s courtyard with Zhang Erguo, while Yan Shicheng returned and quietly hid his complicated feelings.
• Jiang Che entered the Stone Cauldron instance and heard a prologue describing Li Qiubai as a gifted, humble Azure Mystic disciple destined for Jingyan Peak.
• Jiang Che recognized that the instance took place in Xianxi Year Eight, twenty-one years earlier, and suspected Li Qiubai’s fate was tied to his present danger.
• Li Qiubai stepped out of the courtyard and Jiang Che recognized him as the instance’s central figure.

Jiang Che met Li Qiubai and sought his advice on the [Azure Torrent Sword Art] while hiding that he came from the future. Li Qiubai’s insights deepened Jiang Che’s understanding of the sword art, and the chapter ended with the two sharing mutual respect over tea.

• Jiang Che recognized Li Qiubai as the instance’s protagonist and hid his uncertain identity as a future Azure Mystic disciple.
• Jiang Che asked Li Qiubai for guidance, and Li Qiubai invited him into his courtyard to discuss cultivation until sunset.
• Jiang Che described his difficulties with the [Azure Torrent Sword Art], and Li Qiubai recognized the technique and explained its nature and intent.
• Jiang Che applied Li Qiubai’s guidance, concluding that a beginner established nature through form, while mastery let nature govern form.
• Li Qiubai praised Jiang Che’s insight, and they exchanged tea with a sense of mutual appreciation.

Jiang Che spent half a day discussing cultivation with Li Qiubai, whose insight and character impressed him and made him feel they could have been kindred spirits. After Li Qiubai departed, Jiang Che reflected on their different talents and concluded that staying alive mattered more than brilliance.

• Li Qiubai recognized that Jiang Che practiced the Upper Azure Expounding Heaven Method, but Jiang Che avoided revealing where he had learned it.
• Li Qiubai advised Jiang Che to seek accord with the Dao rather than pursue grandiose cultivation, and Jiang Che understood that the same principle applied across different methods.
• Jiang Che and Li Qiubai talked at length, praised each other's insights, and parted at dusk without learning what Li Qiubai had to do that night.
• After watching Li Qiubai disappear into the bamboo grove, Jiang Che compared his goodness and talent with those of Chunji, Zhang Erguo, and Li Qiubai.
• Jiang Che judged Li Qiubai more gifted than himself but recognized that Li Qiubai was dead, so he resolved to focus on staying alive.

Jiang Che followed Li Qiubai to learn what threatened him, but Yan Shicheng ambushed him after Jiang Che hinted that Li Qiubai might seek help from Jingyan Peak. Jiang Che fought back with his sword and spirit essence, though Yan Shicheng’s strength continued to overwhelm him.

• Jiang Che decided to follow Li Qiubai despite believing that the instance’s events could not be changed.
• Yan Shicheng stopped Jiang Che and questioned why he was following Senior Brother Li.
• Jiang Che mentioned that Li Qiubai had asked him to summon elders from Jingyan Peak, and the [Bodhi Heart Lamp] revealed Yan Shicheng’s killing intent.
• Yan Shicheng attacked Jiang Che from behind, but Jiang Che deflected the palm strike and wounded him with four sword thrusts.
• Yan Shicheng pressed his attack, exhausting Jiang Che’s first strand of [primordial origin first spirit], while Jiang Che prepared to use his remaining eleven strands.

Jiang Che defeated Yan Shicheng and tried to learn why he had targeted Li Qiubai, but Yan Shicheng killed himself before he could explain. As the Upper Court closed in, Jiang Che was suddenly pulled out of the instance.

• Jiang Che used strands of [primordial origin first spirit] to counter Yan Shicheng’s attacks and gradually gain the upper hand.
• Jiang Che struck Yan Shicheng with [Candlelight Thousand-Jin Finger], blasted him with the [Blazing Fire Spirit Talisman], severed his right arm, and wounded him again.
• Jiang Che threatened Yan Shicheng by mentioning his daughter, Yan We iwan, and used [Bodhi Heart Lamp] to glimpse scattered memories.
• Yan Shicheng briefly admitted that the truth had been exposed, then shattered his own meridians and organs to kill himself.
• As people approached the mountain path, Jiang Che was pulled out of the instance before he could make another move.

After earning Yan Shicheng’s cultivation insights, Jiang Che pieced together a tentative theory about how Yan had been involved in Li Qiubai’s death and considered whether Instructor Yan might be plotting against him in reality. He sent letters to Du Yongchang and Luo Wenling seeking information and possible help, while withholding a direct accusation until he knew more.

• Jiang Che collected Yan Shicheng’s cultivation insights and reviewed what he could improve in future runs of the instance.
• Jiang Che theorized that a Qi Refining Cultivator had coerced Yan Shicheng into acting against Li Qiubai to save Yan’s critically ill wife, but recognized that much of the story remained uncertain.
• Jiang Che ran Willow Source Old Dream twice, earning nine wisps of [Primordial Origin First Spirit] and learning [Spirit Sight of Subtlety].
• Jiang Che wrote to Du Yongchang asking about Li Qiubai and Yan Shicheng, hoping Du Yongchang might know about their time as Upper Court disciples.
• Jiang Che wrote to Luo Wenling asking about Li Qiubai and Yan Shicheng and vaguely warning that a Qi Refining cultivator might be targeting him, but he held back from directly requesting intervention.
• Jiang Che sealed and sent the letters separately, sending Du Yongchang’s to Ailin and Luo Wenling’s to Jingxiao Peak.

Jiang Che investigated Li Qiubai’s past while seeking protection from a possible threat. He learned that a True Disciple named Autumn Feather, whose real name was Shen Suqiu, had allegedly killed Li Qiubai, and Luo Wenling offered to help if Jiang Che uncovered who was targeting him.

• Jiang Che avoided visiting Yan We iwan and asked Zhang Erguo about her mother, Wei Xiaozhao, and Li Qiubai.
• Zhang Erguo recalled that Li Qiubai had been a gifted disciple who died before advancing past Qi Refining, then took Jiang Che to Li Hongyan for more information.
• Li Hongyan said his family believed a True Disciple of Jingyan Peak named Autumn Feather had killed Li Qiubai.
• Zhang Erguo identified Autumn Feather as Shen Suqiu and promised to ask around about her.
• Jiang Che returned to find Luo Wenling’s letter, which offered help if Jiang Che discovered who was trying to harm him.

Jiang Che suspected Yan Shicheng might be targeting talented disciples to refine human pills, then returned to the Stone Cauldron instance and warned Li Qiubai that his appointment was a death trap. Li Qiubai rejected the warning and sent him away, leaving Jiang Che’s attempt to change the past unsuccessful.

• Jiang Che considered whether Yan Shicheng’s desperation to save his family might explain a plot to refine human pills from talented disciples.
• Jiang Che entered the Stone Cauldron instance and rebuilt his rapport with Li Qiubai through a discussion of cultivation.
• Jiang Che told Li Qiubai that he came from twenty-one years in the future and that Li’s appointment that night was a death trap.
• Li Qiubai dismissed Jiang Che’s story as nonsense and ordered him to leave.
• Jiang Che bowed and departed after Li Qiubai refused to hear him further.

Jiang Che used the [Bodhi Heart Lamp] to uncover Yan Shicheng’s connection to the plot against Li Qiubai and learned that Yan’s pregnant cultivation partner, Wei Xiaozhao, had been poisoned. Before the instance ended, Yan named Dong Fan as the conspirator and pleaded with Jiang Che to save We iwan.

• Jiang Che confronted Yan Shicheng again, defeated him, and used the strengthened [Bodhi Heart Lamp] to see memories of Yan bowing before a Main Gate disciple and of the poisoned Wei Xiaozhao.
• Jiang Che realized Yan Shicheng had been an accomplice in the plot against Li Qiubai, though the memories did not reveal the full scheme.
• Jiang Che told Yan Shicheng a fabricated account of the future, describing Wei Xiaozhao’s death and We iwan’s life, friends, and poor health.
• Jiang Che urged Yan to disclose the plot, arguing that he might be the only person who could protect his daughter.
• Yan Shicheng named Dong Fan before Jiang Che was pulled from the instance, then shouted for him to save We iwan.

Jiang Che reentered the instance and tried to convince Li Qiubai that Dong Fan and Shen Suqiu planned to kill him. Li Qiubai remained torn over whether to trust Jiang Che, and they had not yet decided how to handle the meeting that night.

• Jiang Che returned to Li Qiubai’s courtyard and claimed he had been sent by Jingxiao Peak to investigate a threat against gifted disciples.
• Li Qiubai explained that Shen Suqiu had helped him enter Azure Mystic and that Dong Fan was seeking a cure for her cultivation deviation.
• Jiang Che warned Li Qiubai that the meeting with Dong Fan could be a deadly trap and offered to accompany him.
• Li Qiubai questioned Jiang Che’s warning because Dong Fan and Shen Suqiu had treated him kindly.
• Jiang Che proposed confronting Dong Fan and Shen Suqiu together and urged Li Qiubai to alert Jingyan Peak, but Li Qiubai worried that news of Shen Suqiu’s condition would damage her prospects.

Jiang Che and Li Qiubai tried to get help from Jingyan Peak, but Dong Fan intercepted them and carried them to his Alchemy Room. Jiang Che was left to watch as Dong Fan refined Li Qiubai into a pill.

• Li Qiubai sent a letter to Ji Tian asking for help, but no one came from Jingyan Peak.
• Dong Fan arrived with Yan Shicheng, burned the letter, and announced that he would take Li Qiubai away.
• Jiang Che and Li Qiubai attacked Dong Fan, but he defeated them, restrained them with Yellow Talismans, and took them away.
• Dong Fan carried Jiang Che and Li Qiubai into his Alchemy Room, where the Stone Cauldron stood beside Shen Suqiu's sickbed.
• Dong Fan drugged Li Qiubai and refined his talent, cultivation, and root bone in the Stone Cauldron to complete a seven-holed pill.

Dong Fan used Li Qiubai to complete the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart Pill and restore Shen Suqiu, then revealed that Qiubai was her son and confessed why he had chosen him. Shen Suqiu awakened to the victims’ voices within the pill and beat Dong Fan to death, while Jiang Che remained present to witness the aftermath.

• Dong Fan explained that the pill required seven gifted cultivators and said Li Qiubai had been the only one suitable for its final aperture.
• Dong Fan fed the pill to Shen Suqiu, who quickly awoke with her injuries healed and learned that Li Qiubai had been used to make it.
• Shen Suqiu attacked Dong Fan, but he revealed that Li Qiubai was her son and accused her of having favored him while concealing their relationship.
• Dong Fan admitted he had used Qiubai both to save Shen Suqiu and to make her suffer, and Shen Suqiu heard the voices of the pill’s victims.
• Shen Suqiu, overcome by the victims’ voices, repeatedly struck Dong Fan until he died.

Jiang Che learned from the instance that Li Qiubai was Shen Suqiu’s son and that the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart Pill might have left seven souls tangled within her. He identified the pill’s required date as a clue to Yan Shicheng’s plans and concluded that Yan would act in two days.

• After Shen Suqiu faced Jiang Che beside Dong Fan’s corpse, the instance ended and gave Jiang Che a Grade Yi rating and Li Qiubai’s cultivation insights.
• Jiang Che realized that Shen Suqiu was Li Qiubai’s mother and considered how Dong Fan had manipulated events to kill Li Qiubai and torment her.
• Jiang Che suspected the pill had bound the remnants of seven souls inside Shen Suqiu, potentially explaining her later seclusion.
• Jiang Che recalled Dong Fan saying the pill had to be completed on a particular day and reentered the instance to learn the date.
• Jiang Che confirmed that the pill’s date was the fifteenth day of the tenth month, two days after the current date, and inferred that Yan Shicheng would act then.

Jiang Che faced Yan Shicheng, who admitted he planned to kill him to complete the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart Pill and save Weiw an. Yan Shicheng stopped Jiang Che's attempts to contact Luo Wenling and prepared to take him away.

• Zhang Erguo found that Weiw an and Jiang Che were unavailable for the Lower Origin Festival, then followed Yan Shicheng toward Jiang Che's home.
• Yan Shicheng ordered Zhang Erguo to leave when he caught him following.
• Yan Shicheng entered Jiang Che's courtyard, and Jiang Che revealed that he had expected him.
• Yan Shicheng explained that Weiw an's worsening illness could only be cured by the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart Pill, which required Jiang Che's life to complete.
• Yan Shicheng showed Jiang Che the two letters he had intercepted for Luo Wenling and burned them.

Jiang Che's prepared message brought Luo Wenling and True Disciple Autumn Feather to stop Yan Shicheng, who surrendered and begged them to save his daughter, Weiw an. Autumn Feather took Yan Shicheng to Jingyan Peak for punishment, while Jiang Che learned Weiw an would likely be sent down the mountain and reflected on reaching Qi Refining sooner than Luo Wenling had.

• Jiang Che revealed that he had prepared another message, and Luo Wenling arrived to confront Yan Shicheng.
• Autumn Feather entered the courtyard, and Yan Shicheng surrendered rather than fight her.
• Yan Shicheng begged Autumn Feather to save his daughter, Weiw an, and she took him to Jingyan Peak for punishment.
• Autumn Feather thanked Jiang Che and promised him a gift before leaving with Yan Shicheng.
• Luo Wenling told Jiang Che that Weiw an would probably be sent down the mountain and promised him a reward from Jingxiao Peak.
• After Luo Wenling left, Jiang Che resolved that he could reach Qi Refining faster than Luo Wenling had.

After escaping Yan Shicheng’s attempt on his life, Jiang Che worried about how to save Yan Weiw an, whose congenital illness was worsening. He and Zhang Erguo visited her, but she sensed they were hiding what had happened to her father.

• Jiang Che explained that Liu Mo had carried a message to Jingyan, where the mention of the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart Pill brought Autumn Feather and Luo Wenling to his rescue.
• Jiang Che considered using a Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart Pill to treat Yan Weiw an, but he worried about its dangers and whether he could obtain a safe one.
• Jiang Che told Zhang Erguo that Yan Shicheng had been taken away by people from the peak and warned that Yan Weiw an might not have long to live.
• Jiang Che and Zhang Erguo entered Yan Shicheng’s courtyard and found Yan Weiw an too weak to get out of bed.
• Jiang Che and Zhang Erguo told Yan Weiw an that her father had been summoned to the peak, but she suspected something had happened and asked whether he had acted foolishly because of her illness.