Recaps

Shen Fei explored the Sacred Family’s vault, collecting a Legend Rank Burst Inscription and an unidentified pearl before selecting Demon Spirits. He left the vault’s treasures in his Space Ring and ended with a Scarlet Plume Eagle bottle in hand.

• Shen Fei inspected a dark longsword, then wiped it clean and stored it in his Space Ring.
• Shen Fei found a Legend Rank Burst Inscription scroll, judged it a potential lifesaving weapon, and stored it in his Space Ring.
• Shen Fei examined a mysterious pearl whose energy exceeded his ability to identify it, stored it, and planned to ask Nie Li about it later.
• Shen Fei selected two high-purity Dark Attribute Demon Spirits, one Black Gold Rank 4-Star and one Black Gold Rank 5-Star.
• Shen Fei picked up a complete Black Gold Rank 5-Star Scarlet Plume Eagle Demon Spirit and sensed its steady fire-attribute Spiritual Power.

Shen Fei gave Su Ming a five-star Black Gold Rank Scarlet Plume Eagle Demon Spirit and several Gold Rank Demon Spirits for his squad, urging them to grow stronger and help protect Glory City. Su Ming accepted the gifts and began distributing the Demon Spirits to his soldiers.

• Shen Fei stored the three Demon Spirits he had found and left the stone chamber as evening fell.
• Shen Fei visited Su Ming at the City Guard headquarters and offered him the Scarlet Plume Eagle Demon Spirit.
• Su Ming hesitated over the valuable gift but accepted it after Shen Fei said strength was needed to protect Glory City.
• Shen Fei gave Su Ming several Gold Rank Demon Spirits to distribute among his squad.
• Su Ming distributed the Demon Spirits according to his soldiers’ cultivation and techniques, urging them to cultivate hard.

Shen Fei reviewed the Sacred Family’s security and affairs with the Second Elder before preparing to leave for an uncertain period. He left the family with instructions to watch the First Elder and protect the trade routes from the weakened Dark Guild.

• Shen Fei met the Second Elder, who reported that the First Elder had made no moves and the Dark Guild had not threatened the caravans.
• Shen Fei ordered more guards for the trade routes and gave the Second Elder twenty Scarlet Blood Crystals, ten for himself and ten for the Third Elder.
• The Second Elder reported that the Third Elder had been diligently handling shipments and that Shen Xiu and Shen Yue had become more restrained.
• Shen Fei said he would leave the next day for ten days to a few months and instructed the Second Elder to watch the First Elder and the trade routes while he was away.
• Shen Fei told the Second Elder to tell the Third Elder to do his job well when delivering the crystals.

After finding a rare moment of free time, Shen Fei visited Xiao Ning'er and quietly watched her cultivate beneath an osmanthus tree. When she woke, she made his punishment for entering without knocking a shopping trip, and he agreed to go with her.

• Shen Fei realized he finally had time to himself and went to Xiao Ning'er's courtyard.
• Shen Fei sat in the pavilion and watched Xiao Ning'er cultivate beneath the osmanthus tree.
• Xiao Ning'er woke and told Shen Fei it was rude to enter her courtyard without knocking.
• Shen Fei admitted his fault and invited her to punish him.
• Xiao Ning'er chose a shopping trip as his punishment, and Shen Fei agreed to go with her.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er strolled through Glory City's morning market and reflected on preserving the peaceful lives of its people. When they reached the Red Moon Auction House, Xiao Ning'er agreed to go inside with him.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left the Winged Dragon Family's side gate and walked through the lively morning streets.
• Xiao Ning'er paused to watch children playing and asked whether things could stay this way forever.
• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er that their efforts were meant to preserve scenes like this, and she agreed.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er reached the crowded Red Moon Auction House, where Xiao Ning'er hesitated at the entrance.
• Shen Fei asked Xiao Ning'er if she wanted to look inside, and she agreed.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er visited the Red Moon Auction House, where Xiao Ning'er recalled how an old remark about her arranged marriage had made her avoid the place. Shen Fei comforted her as the auction began, and she leaned against him in silence.

• A Red Moon Auction House attendant recognized Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er and escorted them to a private room overlooking the auction hall.
• The attendant described the auction's high-grade inscription materials, unusual demon beast bones, and cultivation manuals.
• Xiao Ning'er told Shen Fei that an old steward's remark about her marriage pact had made her feel that people saw her only as the Sacred Family's fiancée.
• Shen Fei put an arm around Xiao Ning'er and reassured her that the past was over.
• As the auction began downstairs, Xiao Ning'er relaxed against Shen Fei and rested quietly.

Shen Fei bid on a cultivation-aiding necklace for Xiao Ning'er, then confronted a Sacred Family bidder who turned out to be Shen An, a family steward. Shen Fei ordered Shen An to accept punishment from the Second Elder, leaving the auction to continue.

• Xiao Ning'er admired the necklace, and Shen Fei decided it would help her recover her cultivation.
• Shen Fei bid up to a hundred and forty thousand Demon Spirit Coins against a bidder in another private room.
• The other bidder claimed Shen Fei was trying to take the necklace from the Sacred Family and raised the bid to a hundred and fifty thousand.
• Shen Fei bid a hundred and sixty thousand, and the man from the opposite room stormed into C6 before recognizing him as Patriarch.
• Shen An knelt and apologized, and Shen Fei ordered him to receive his punishment from the Second Elder.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er watched the Red Moon Auction House auction, where Shen Fei bought a Black Gold Rank 1-Star suit of armor for six million five hundred thousand Demon Spirit Coins. He gave Xiao Ning'er the Space Ring containing their purchases, and they left the auction house together.

• Shen Fei reflected on Shen An's misuse of the Sacred Family's name, and Xiao Ning'er encouraged him to put the matter aside and watch the auction.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er watched the lots and chatted about the Winged Dragon Family's orders and Xiao Ning'er's preparations for the Dark Forest.
• The auctioneer presented a restored Black Gold Rank 1-Star suit of armor, and Shen Fei bid six million five hundred thousand Demon Spirit Coins to win it.
• A clerk delivered the purchases in a Space Ring, and Shen Fei handed the ring to Xiao Ning'er despite her offer to pay for it herself.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left the auction house and stepped into the busy afternoon street.

After the auction, Shen Fei reflected on the problems within the Sacred Family and confirmed his Shadow Mantis had stabilized. Xiao Ning'er examined her auction purchases and used the necklace to break through to gold rank 3-star, then went to sleep thinking of Shen Fei.

• Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family estate and considered the damage Shen Hong had left behind and Shen An's conduct.
• Shen Fei cultivated and tested his Shadow Mantis, confirming that his spiritual power and demon spirit were stable.
• Xiao Ning'er examined the armor and necklace she had won at the auction and found the armor flexible and concealable.
• Xiao Ning'er used the necklace's aid to break through from gold rank 2-star to gold rank 3-star and stabilized her new realm.
• Xiao Ning'er remembered Shen Fei's words and gestures at the auction, then went to bed and softly said, "See you tomorrow."

Shen Fei met Xiao Ning'er and accompanied her toward the Dark Forest, reflecting on her death in his previous life and resolving to protect her this time. They reached the forest's edge, where Shen Fei assessed the dangers ahead.

• Shen Fei met Xiao Ning'er beneath the locust tree and learned that she had reached gold rank 3-star with help from the Light Blue Pendant.
• Shen Fei remembered that Xiao Ning'er had entered the Dark Forest alone in his previous life and never returned while searching for a herb to repair her meridians.
• Shen Fei decided to protect Xiao Ning'er as they traveled together toward the forest.
• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er she had gotten prettier, and she blushed and walked faster without leaving him behind.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er reached the Dark Forest's edge, where Shen Fei considered the demon beasts and unknown dangers ahead.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er reached the edge of the Dark Forest’s deep region, where Xiao Ning'er began testing her strength against a pack led by a gold rank 3-star demon beast. After cutting down several lower-ranked beasts, she faced the pack’s leader as it finally moved.

• Shen Fei praised Xiao Ning'er's steadier attacks and faster Thunder Spear formation, while she worried about her timing.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er spotted a pack of demon beasts gathered around a gold rank 3-star beast feeding in a clearing.
• Xiao Ning'er chose to fight the gold rank beast herself, and Shen Fei climbed a tree to watch for other threats with the Shadow Mantis's perception.
• Xiao Ning'er charged the pack and swept a Thunder Spear across it, killing several bronze rank beasts and slowing the silver rank beasts.
• Xiao Ning'er evaded a Gray-Furred Wolf and killed two Ironhide Pigs with a second Thunder Spear.
• The gold rank 3-star demon beast moved toward Xiao Ning'er.

Xiao Ning'er fought through a pack of demon beasts, then spent half a month sharpening her skills and advancing to gold rank 4-star under Shen Fei's watch. The two found signs of people deeper in the Dark Forest and cautiously followed the trail.

• Xiao Ning'er killed the gold demon beast and the surrounding pack with her Thunder Spear, then recovered while Shen Fei guarded the area.
• Over the next half month, Xiao Ning'er fought demon beasts along the forest's edges and improved her spear technique while Shen Fei watched over her.
• After defeating a gold rank 4-star ironclad beast on the fifteenth night, Xiao Ning'er broke through to gold rank 4-star.
• Shen Fei noticed footprints, cut branches, a blade mark, and the remains of a fire, while Xiao Ning'er found half-burned cloth among the ashes.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er concluded that people had been in the forest and cautiously followed their tracks.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er discovered a long-established village deep in the Dark Forest and decided to approach its people peacefully. They left their hiding place to make contact, despite uncertainty about whether they shared a language.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er followed a worn path through the forest and found a village surrounded by a wooden palisade.
• Shen Fei sensed the villagers and identified two black gold rank cultivators, one at 3-star and one at 1-star.
• Xiao Ning'er suggested that they speak with the villagers and seek an alliance rather than treat them as enemies.
• Shen Fei agreed, noting that they could escape if necessary, and warned that the villagers might speak a different language.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er decided to approach the village openly instead of continuing to hide.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er approached a village whose residents spoke an unfamiliar language, then used writing to communicate with them. The Jade Grove Clan welcomed them through the gate, though Shen Fei remained cautious about what awaited inside.

• A watchtower soldier spotted Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er and alerted the village chief.
• The soldier blocked the pair at the gate, but neither side could understand the other's speech.
• The village chief gave Shen Fei paper and charcoal, and Shen Fei wrote that they had come from beyond the forest.
• A young scholar identified Shen Fei's script using an old book and wrote that the villagers were the Jade Grove Clan.
• The village chief ordered the soldier to clear the way, and Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er entered the village.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er entered the Jade Grove Clan, an isolated human village deep in the Dark Forest, and accepted the clan chief’s offer of shelter. They settled into the guesthouse, aware that learning about the clan and its origins would require further communication.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er followed the village chief through the Jade Grove Clan and observed its orderly homes, crops, and villagers.
• The young scholar translated the clan chief’s invitation to rest, and Shen Fei agreed to stay temporarily despite saying they would not remain long.
• The village chief led Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er to a guesthouse and invited them to a feast that evening.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er entered the clean guesthouse, where Shen Fei watched the village and Xiao Ning'er set her short sword on the table.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er attended dinner with the Jade Grove Clan chief and learned that the clan had survived in the forest for nearly a thousand years under a deity’s protection. The clan chief invited them to a sacrificial ceremony in two days, leaving Shen Fei wondering what the clan meant by a deity.

• A scholar escorted Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er from their guest room to dinner with the clan chief.
• At the reception hall, Shen Fei met the silent deputy clan chief, Tie Xiong, while the clan chief welcomed the guests.
• The scholar translated the clan chief’s remarks as Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er ate and exchanged polite responses.
• The scholar explained that the Jade Grove Clan’s ancestors fled the Empire’s fall and demon beast tide, then settled in the forest under a deity’s protection.
• Shen Fei considered whether the supposed deity had been an exceptionally powerful demon spirit master, and Xiao Ning'er shared his questions.
• The scholar told Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er that the clan chief hoped they would attend a sacrificial ceremony in two days.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er agreed to attend the Jade Grove Clan’s ritual, then discussed what the clan meant by its deity’s protection. Shen Fei remained unconvinced that the deity was merely an ancestor’s rescuer and planned to investigate during the ritual.

• Shen Fei agreed to the clan chief’s invitation, and the chief toasted him and Xiao Ning'er while Tie Xiong watched Shen Fei warily.
• The scholar told Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er that someone would show them around the village the next day and invite them to a ritual at dusk the day after.
• After the scholar escorted them to the guest house, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er discussed the clan’s deity and considered whether it had once been a powerful Demon Spirit Master.
• Shen Fei doubted that a one-time rescue explained the clan’s claim of ongoing protection and decided to seek clues at the ritual.
• Xiao Ning'er noted that Tie Xiong had watched Shen Fei, and Shen Fei said the deputy chief was understandably cautious of the two outsiders.

Xiao Ning'er realized she and Shen Fei had to share a room in the village guest cabin and grew embarrassed about sleeping near him. Shen Fei slept on the bamboo cot, and Xiao Ning'er eventually fell asleep wondering about the village ritual they would investigate the next day.

• Xiao Ning'er noticed the cabin had one proper bed and a makeshift bamboo cot, and blushed at the thought of sharing the room with Shen Fei.
• Shen Fei asked Xiao Ning'er what was wrong, and she insisted that nothing was bothering her.
• Shen Fei teased Xiao Ning'er by asking whether she was scared, and she denied it before putting out the oil lamp with her soul force.
• Shen Fei moved to the bamboo cot and fell asleep while Xiao Ning'er remained on the bed, listening to his steady breathing.
• Xiao Ning'er watched Shen Fei briefly, then turned to the wall and fell asleep thinking about exploring the village and learning about the ritual.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er discussed whether the Jade Grove Clan could be persuaded to return to Glory City, but worried that their faith in the village deity would keep them from leaving. They set out with Scholar Lu to look around the village and learn more about its people and their situation.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er woke, cultivated, and ate the breakfast delivered by the young scholar in the gray robe.
• Xiao Ning'er suggested bringing the villagers to Glory City, and Shen Fei noted that their devotion to the deity might stop them from leaving.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er prepared to explore the village, but a guard gave Shen Fei a note asking them to wait for Scholar Lu because demon beasts had appeared nearby.
• Scholar Lu arrived and led Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er along the village path, where they saw its houses, gardens, craftspeople, and children.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er saw how hunger had left many villagers gaunt and learned that scarce food and the village's dependence on its god kept them from leaving. They returned to the guesthouse resolved to wait for the ceremony the day after tomorrow and discover what the god was.

• Shen Fei gave ration cakes to two undernourished children who ran into him in the village.
• Shen Fei asked the Scholar whether the villagers lacked food and could leave, and learned that Demon Beasts restricted farming and hunting while the villagers relied on their god to survive.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er observed the villagers' hunger and weakness as the Scholar showed them around the village.
• The Scholar told Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er that the ceremony would take place the evening after tomorrow and that someone would come to fetch them.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er discussed the villagers' faith and agreed to wait for the ceremony to see what the god was.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er discovered a demon beast horde approaching the Jade Grove Clan's village and went to join the clan leader's defense. The clan leader and Tie Xiong faced a black gold rank three-star demon beast and five gold rank beasts, while Shen Fei stepped up beside the clan leader.

• While cultivating, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er sensed a black gold rank demon beast approaching the village.
• The village guards began evacuating the villagers in an orderly fashion, and the gray-robed scholar told Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er that a small beast horde was prowling nearby.
• Shen Fei wrote that the scholar should take them to the clan leader, and Xiao Ning'er followed him toward the village outskirts.
• At the wasteland, Shen Fei saw the clan leader confronting the black gold rank three-star demon beast while Tie Xiong and three gold guards watched five gold rank beasts.
• Shen Fei strode up beside the clan leader as the scholar prepared to relay information.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er joined the Chief’s group as they faced a Black Gold Rank 3-Star Demon Beast and five Gold Demon Beasts. The Chief agreed to let Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er engage the stronger beast while the others fought its pack, and Xiao Ning’er’s opening lightning attack barely scratched it.

• Shen Fei sent the Chief a message proposing that he and Xiao Ning’er fight the Black Gold Rank Demon Beast while the two chiefs dealt with the Gold Demon Beasts.
• The Chief assessed Shen Fei and Xiao Ning’er, then nodded and accepted their plan.
• Shen Fei fused with the Shadow Mantis and charged while Xiao Ning’er fused with the Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow and swept toward the beast from above.
• The Chief, Deputy Chief Tie Xiong, and the three Gold Guards attacked the five Gold Demon Beasts, splitting them into separate groups.
• The Black Gold Rank Demon Beast moved to aid its pack, but Shen Fei intercepted it as Xiao Ning’er hurled a Thunder Spear at its head.
• The beast blocked the Thunder Spear with its forepaw, and the attack left only a shallow mark on its scales.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er killed the three-star Black Gold Rank Demon Beast by exploiting an old injury in its hind leg. After the clan chief and the others finished fighting the Gold Demon Beasts, they praised Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er for surviving and defeating it.

• Xiao Ning'er’s first two Thunder Spears failed to pierce the Black Gold Rank Demon Beast’s defenses, while Shen Fei noticed an old scar on its left hind leg.
• Xiao Ning'er struck the scar with a Thunder Spear, weakening the beast’s leg, and Shen Fei severed its tendons and ligaments.
• Shen Fei climbed onto the wounded beast and cut through its neck, killing it as Xiao Ning'er landed beside him.
• The clan chief and Deputy Chief Tie Xiong finished off the Gold Demon Beasts and saw that Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er had already defeated the Black Gold Rank beast.
• The clan chief praised Shen Fei, Tie Xiong nodded to him, and the Scholar wrote that he and Xiao Ning'er were incredible.

After the beast pack was defeated, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er returned to the village and recovered from the battle. As Shen Fei watched her cultivate, Xiao Ning'er began pushing against her bottleneck.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er praised each other's actions in the fight as they walked back to the village.
• Deputy Chief Tie Xiong examined the Black Gold Rank Demon Beast's wounds and watched Shen Fei leave.
• The chief welcomed the villagers back and arranged a celebratory distribution of meat while Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er rested and cultivated.
• Shen Fei recovered most of his Spiritual Power and noticed Xiao Ning'er's power rising beyond its usual level.
• Shen Fei quietly watched as Xiao Ning'er continued cultivating and pressed against her bottleneck.

Xiao Ning'er broke through to gold five-star rank after cultivating, while Shen Fei watched. They went to sleep preparing to witness the Jade Grove Clan's sacrificial ceremony and discover what its deity was.

• Xiao Ning'er reached gold five-star rank as her Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow phantom grew stronger.
• Xiao Ning'er woke from her cultivation and told Shen Fei she had advanced from gold rank 2-star during their trip and was nearing black gold rank.
• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er to sleep because they would investigate the deity the next day.
• Xiao Ning'er ate, then went to bed while Shen Fei settled on the bamboo cot.
• Xiao Ning'er fell asleep, knowing she and Shen Fei would attend the sacrificial ceremony the next day.