Chapter Summaries

After recovering from his injuries, Shen Fei woke to find Xiao Ning'er had stayed by his side all night. They parted in the morning, with Shen Fei heading to the Sacred Family to settle the remaining matters and Xiao Ning'er returning to the City Lord's Mansion.

• Shen Fei woke and saw Xiao Ning'er asleep beside his bed after tending to him through the night.
• Xiao Ning'er asked if he felt better, and Shen Fei told her his injuries had improved.
• Shen Fei held Xiao Ning'er's hand and said he would return to the Sacred Family to finish dealing with the aftermath.
• Xiao Ning'er agreed to check on the postwar reconstruction at the City Lord's Mansion while Shen Fei went alone.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left together, then parted at a fork in the road.
• Shen Fei walked toward the Sacred Family as Glory City residents watched him pass without approaching.

Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family estate and entered a meeting with its elders and stewards. He sat in the seat of honor, signaling a change in his position, and faced the gathered family members.

• Shen Fei entered the estate through the main gates, and the guards bowed and called him eldest young master.
• Shen Fei crossed the Front Courtyard as servants and guards reacted to his changed bearing.
• The old steward directed Shen Fei to the Main Hall, where the elders and stewards were waiting.
• Shen Fei entered the council chamber and drew the attention of the First Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, and Shen Xiu.
• Shen Fei sat in the seat of honor at the head of the table and addressed the gathered family members.

Shen Fei defended his succession before the Sacred Family elders and ended its ties to the Dark Guild. With no one objecting, he left the estate and headed for the City Lord's Mansion.

• The First Elder accused Shen Fei of murdering Shen Hong and challenged his decision to turn the family away from the Dark Guild.
• Shen Fei argued that Shen Hong had led the family toward ruin and pointed to his victory over his father as proof of his strength.
• The First Elder questioned whether Shen Fei had won through a trick, but fell silent when Shen Fei asked whether Shen Hong had lacked tricks of his own.
• Shen Fei declared that the Sacred Family would sever all ties with the Dark Guild and assigned the Second Elder to oversee the handover; no one objected.
• Shen Fei adjourned the meeting, left the estate, and walked toward the City Lord's Mansion as the servants and guards acknowledged him as family head.

Shen Fei visited the City Lord's Mansion, where he arranged to explore the Dark Forest with Xiao Ning'er and learned that Nie Li planned to investigate the Dark Guild's base. After leaving the mansion, Shen Fei encountered Su Ming clearing battle wreckage by the city wall.

• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er he wanted to venture into the Dark Forest, and they agreed to leave in two days.
• Shen Fei met Nie Li, who revealed that Ancestor Ye Ting had found the Dark Guild's location and that he planned to investigate it soon.
• Shen Fei warned Nie Li that the Dark Guild had at least two Legend Rank experts, and Nie Li said he had his own means.
• Shen Fei left the City Lord's Mansion and saw Su Ming clearing rubble beside the city wall; Su Ming recognized him and stepped over.

After recognizing Su Ming’s successful mission, Shen Fei entered the Sacred Family treasury for the first time as patriarch. He discovered an ancient dark longsword and examined its feel and spiritual power.

• Su Ming told Shen Fei that he had returned with his squad and cleared out several stray flame demons without casualties.
• Shen Fei praised Su Ming and told him to register for a replacement blade using Shen Fei’s name.
• Shen Fei entered the Sacred Family residence and went to inspect its treasury.
• Shen Fei opened the treasury door with his spiritual power and surveyed its stored manuals, records, resources, and artifacts.
• Shen Fei opened a large wooden box, took out a dark longsword, and examined its balance and spiritual power.

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.