Chapter Summaries

Mingyu decided to leave the dangerous cave and travel with Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er to the village, though they would decide later whether to stay. The Chief and his companions began preparing to move, and Mingyu set their departure for the next day.

• The Chief, Deputy Chief Tie Xiong, and the Scholar arrived and knelt before Mingyu.
• Mingyu used spiritual power to help the three men stand, then announced that they would go to the village together.
• Mingyu told the Chief that whether they stayed would depend on the circumstances, and the Chief eagerly accepted.
• Mingyu sent the Chief, Deputy Chief Tie Xiong, and the Scholar to make arrangements and pack.
• Mingyu told Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er to rest because they would leave the next day.

Mingyu reflected on humanity, its former comrades, and the uncertain future before returning to the cave for the night. The next morning, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er joined the Jade Grove Clan’s orderly procession as it left the village and entered the Dark Forest.

• Mingyu watched the village lights and wondered what would happen when the Jade Grove Clan reunited with the people of Glory City.
• Mingyu thought about its former spirit god comrades and whether any of them remained alive, then returned to the cave as a mass of black mist.
• The Chief led the Jade Grove Clan’s villagers in preparing their carts and supplies for the journey.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er joined the procession, which protected the elderly, women, and children in its middle.
• Mingyu hovered near the procession’s midpoint as the villagers left their homes without looking back.
• The procession followed the road from the village into the Dark Forest.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er escorted the villagers through the Dark Forest, avoiding and fighting demon beasts along the way. As they neared the forest's outer reaches, Mingyu detected a fast-approaching peak black gold rank 5-star beast, and the two left camp to intercept it.

• Mingyu detected a pack of Gray-Furred Wolves, and Shen Fei guided the procession around them.
• Tie Xiong and the guards dealt with stray demon beasts as the group continued through the forest.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er helped the guards kill six Red-Mane Beasts that charged into the procession.
• The villagers grew more accustomed to the journey, and by the tenth day the procession had reached the Dark Forest's outer reaches.
• Mingyu warned Shen Fei that a peak black gold rank 5-star beast was approaching too quickly for the group to evade.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left camp and merged with their demon spirits to confront the approaching beast, while Mingyu stayed behind.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er fought a Peak Black Gold Rank 5-Star Demon Beast in the Dark Forest. Xiao Ning'er struck it with a lightning ball from inside its mouth, leaving it staggering but still alive.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er found the flaming Demon Beast and prepared to fight despite its superior rank.
• Xiao Ning'er blocked its claw with a Thunder Spear while Shen Fei cut the joint of its right foreleg.
• Xiao Ning'er threw a Thunder Spear at its eye, then dodged the fireball it blasted at her.
• As the Demon Beast charged, Xiao Ning'er compressed lightning into a ball and hurled it into its open mouth.
• The lightning tore through the Demon Beast's throat and digestive tract, making it stagger as Xiao Ning'er retreated to safety.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er killed the powerful Demon Beast and returned to camp, where Mingyu gave Xiao Ning'er a Spear Manual. As they recovered, Mingyu concluded that they would surpass it and help the Human Race rise again.

• Shen Fei severed the Demon Beast's injured foreleg, and Xiao Ning'er pierced its organs with a Thunder Spear.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er combined their law powers to shatter the Demon Beast's spine and kill it.
• Shen Fei took the Demon Crystal and several scales from the corpse while Xiao Ning'er treated her wounds.
• Shen Fei told the Chief, Deputy Chief Tie Xiong, and Mingyu that the Demon Beast had been dealt with.
• Mingyu praised their teamwork, gave Xiao Ning'er an intermediate Spear Manual, and advised her to improve her spear technique.
• As Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er recovered, Mingyu said they would surpass it and help the Human Race fight its way back from the bottom.

Mingyu gave Shen Fei its clan’s supreme treasure, an ink-black sword, hoping he might awaken its power. When Shen Fei accepted it, the sword drew him into his soul sea, where it moved just as he reached for its hilt.

• At night, Mingyu approached Shen Fei in the camp and summoned an ink-black sword.
• Mingyu told Shen Fei that the sword was its clan’s supreme treasure, though even Mingyu could not bring out its power.
• Shen Fei accepted the sword, and black mist enveloped him, cutting him off from the camp.
• The mist pulled Shen Fei’s consciousness into his soul sea, where the sword descended and stood at its center.
• Shen Fei approached the sword and reached toward its hilt, but the sword moved.

Shen Fei survived Ink Cloud's attempt to drain his Soul Sea by replenishing his power with the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art, and the sword acknowledged him as its master. He returned to camp determined to grow strong enough to protect the Jade Grove Clan and help humanity reunite.

• Ink Cloud drained Shen Fei's Soul Force for two hours while he used the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art to replenish his Soul Sea and keep it from collapsing.
• Ink Cloud stopped absorbing power, and Shen Fei summoned it from his Soul Sea into his hand.
• Mingyu named the sword Ink Cloud and told Shen Fei that it belonged to him because it had acknowledged him as its master.
• Mingyu sent Shen Fei back to camp and urged him to practice often.
• In his tent, Shen Fei reflected on Mingyu's hopes and resolved to grow stronger to protect the Jade Grove Clan and humanity.

Shen Fei brought the Jade Grove Clan villagers to the city, where Ye Zong arranged temporary shelter and supplies for them. Nie Li spoke with the Chief in the clan’s language, while Ye Mo noticed Shen Fei’s dark-law aura and briefly studied Mingyu.

• Over five days of travel, Xiao Ning'er fought off Silver Rank beast stragglers while Shen Fei finished any that got past her.
• Shen Fei identified himself at the city gate, and the guards opened it for him and the Jade Grove Clan villagers.
• Nie Li greeted the Chief in the clan’s language, spoke with him for nearly half a quarter-hour, and eased the villagers’ tension.
• Ye Zong promised the villagers barracks in the Inner City along with food and medicinal supplies.
• Ye Mo told Shen Fei that he carried the aura of dark law, then looked toward Mingyu without commenting.

Shen Fei returned to the City Lord's Mansion after the Jade Grove Clan was settled in the Inner City, and introduced Nie Li to Mingyu, the living Spirit God. Nie Li discussed the clan's arrangements and the dangers ahead, then assessed Shen Fei's growing strength.

• The stewards and City Guard escorted the Jade Grove Clan villagers to their new home on the eastern side of the Inner City, while Tie Xiong followed behind them.
• As Shen Fei, Xiao Ning'er, and Nie Li returned to the City Lord's Mansion, Shen Fei told Nie Li that Mingyu was a wounded Spirit God who had slept for three hundred years.
• Shen Fei summoned Mingyu in Nie Li's room, where Mingyu asked whether Nie Li was also a descendant of the Empire.
• Nie Li reported that the Jade Grove Clan had been settled and that food and medicinal supplies would arrive the next morning, then urged Shen Fei to keep Mingyu's identity secret.
• Shen Fei said he would let the clan settle and keep watch on the Dark Guild and the Demon Lord, and Nie Li assessed his dark law cultivation and combat strength.

Nie Li introduced Yu Yan to Mingyu, and the two surviving Spirit Gods reunited after believing each other lost when the Empire fell. Yu Yan explained that she had survived by sealing herself in a Fire Crystal, and Mingyu learned that Nie Li had concealed her aura; they ended the chapter facing one another in silence.

• Nie Li called Yu Yan out from behind the screen and introduced her to Mingyu.
• Mingyu recognized Yu Yan and reacted with shock, repeating her name.
• Yu Yan told Mingyu that she had nearly dispersed when the Empire fell, but survived by sealing herself inside a Fire Crystal until Nie Li found her.
• Mingyu realized Nie Li had hidden Yu Yan from its perception, and Nie Li explained that his inscriptions suppressed her fire-law aura.
• Mingyu asked whether Yu Yan was safe, and Yu Yan assured it that she was.

Nie Li concealed Mingyu’s aura and arranged for him to recover with Yu Yan in the City Lord’s Mansion while warning Shen Fei that other factions threatened Glory City. He then pointed out Shen Fei’s physical weakness and gave him Body Tempering Pills, leaving Shen Fei to focus on strengthening his body alongside clan affairs.

• Nie Li used inscriptions to conceal Mingyu’s aura and told him and Yu Yan to stay in the City Lord’s Mansion.
• Nie Li told Shen Fei that the Dark Guild could no longer do much against Glory City, but other forces were also involved.
• Nie Li assigned Shen Fei to handle Sacred Family affairs, Lu Piao and Du Ze to gather materials, and himself to watch the Jade Grove Clan.
• Nie Li explained that Mingyu’s complete dark law made him exceptionally powerful once he recovered, and Shen Fei said keeping Mingyu and Yu Yan together would help them both.
• Nie Li warned Shen Fei that his body lagged behind his growing power and gave him Body Tempering Pills to strengthen it.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er went to the City Lord's Mansion's Martial Arts Arena to build their physical strength through sparring without Soul Force or other abilities. After trading several blows, they paused when Shen Fei admitted Xiao Ning'er's kick hurt less than it would have a month earlier.

• Shen Fei suggested that he and Xiao Ning'er improve their physical strength by fighting using only their bodies.
• Xiao Ning'er agreed to spar with Shen Fei in the City Lord's Mansion's Martial Arts Arena.
• They chose blunt practice weapons and suppressed their auras, Spiritual Power, laws, and Demon Spirits.
• Shen Fei charged first, and Xiao Ning'er deflected his sword and countered with her spear, but neither gained an advantage.
• Xiao Ning'er attacked again, and Shen Fei endured her kick before ramming his shoulder into her and forcing her back.
• Xiao Ning'er asked if the kick had hurt, and Shen Fei said it had hurt less than it would have a month earlier.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er sparred without Spiritual Power, then took Body Tempering Pills and cultivated. Shen Fei concluded that daily training could bring his physical strength close to his cultivation within a month, and he ended the night with further exercises before sleeping.

• Shen Fei won the spar after catching Xiao Ning'er's spear and placing his sword at her neck, and Xiao Ning'er conceded.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er swallowed Body Tempering Pills and circulated their cultivation arts, strengthening their muscles and meridians.
• Shen Fei estimated that daily sparring and pill use could raise his physical strength to peak Black Gold Rank in about a month.
• Xiao Ning'er agreed to spar with Shen Fei again the following night and left the arena.
• Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family estate, practiced stance training and punches without Spiritual Power, circulated the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art, and fell asleep.

Shen Fei woke at dawn, considered the need to strengthen his meridians, and went to the study after learning the Second Elder wanted to speak with him. There, he confronted memories of his father Shen Hong and the time Shen Hong dismissed his warnings about the Dark Guild.

• Shen Fei assessed his cultivation and recognized that his meridian walls remained too weak for his black gold rank 3-star spiritual power.
• The old steward told Shen Fei that the Second Elder had asked to speak with him once he awoke.
• Shen Fei crossed the residence to the study, where Shen Hong's robe and unfinished documents remained undisturbed.
• Shen Fei remembered confronting Shen Hong with secret letters about the Dark Guild and being forbidden to interfere in clan affairs.

After returning to the Sacred Family, Shen Fei met with Shen Kun to review the clan’s affairs and learn that unfamiliar, powerful observers had appeared along the trade routes. Shen Fei suspected they belonged to the other forces Nie Li had mentioned and left the investigation to Nie Li’s side while he focused on clan business and training.

• Shen Fei sat in the quiet study and considered the clan matters that had accumulated during his absence.
• Shen Kun reported that routine affairs were stable, the Third Elder had been working diligently, and the First Elder had stayed secluded without contacting outsiders.
• Shen Kun told Shen Fei that shipments had traveled safely and the Dark Guild had not recently intercepted them.
• Shen Kun reported seeing unfamiliar people with restrained auras near key freight depots, and Shen Fei suspected they belonged to forces beyond the Dark Guild.
• Shen Fei decided not to investigate the strangers himself and planned to focus on clan affairs and training while Nie Li’s side kept watch.

Shen Fei handled clan business, rejected the Second Elder’s attempt to discuss his marriage pact with Miss Xiao, and rewarded him for securing the First Elder’s and Third Elder’s submission. After reviewing the clan’s affairs, Shen Fei set out to visit Su Ming.

• Shen Fei ordered the clan to inventory and discount old inscription materials, repair leaking storerooms, and sort and dry the soaked medicinal herbs.
• Shen Fei told the Second Elder not to bring up his marriage pact with Miss Xiao again and said he would decide for himself.
• The Second Elder reported that the First Elder and Third Elder had submitted, and Shen Fei gave him ten Scarlet Blood Crystals.
• Shen Fei reviewed the purchasing accounts and decided to inspect storerooms and shops later, then cultivate with Body Tempering Pills that evening.
• Shen Fei remembered he had not visited Su Ming since returning from the Dark Forest and left the residence to see him.

Shen Fei met Su Ming at the City Guard barracks and learned that Su Ming had been approved to establish an independent noble family. They discussed the city’s policy over tea, with Su Ming due to complete the formalities in a few days.

• Shen Fei watched Su Ming defeat a young soldier in a sparring match at the Third Battalion’s training ground.
• Su Ming greeted Shen Fei and revealed that he had reached gold rank 1-star and been told he could establish a noble family.
• Shen Fei invited Su Ming to a nearby teahouse to discuss the matter.
• Su Ming explained that the City Lord’s Mansion had approved his application under a policy offering qualified commoner cultivators land and benefits for forming noble families.
• Shen Fei recalled that the city introduced the policy periodically to recruit cultivators and strengthen its defenses.

Su Ming asked Shen Fei how to handle relatives who had ignored him but now sought to benefit from his rise. After deciding to recruit any capable relatives while keeping the rest at a distance, Su Ming accepted Shen Fei’s offer of support and headed back to the City Guard.

• Su Ming told Shen Fei that estranged relatives had come seeking favors now that he could establish a noble family, and asked for advice.
• Shen Fei told Su Ming to judge which relatives could be useful and keep his distance from those who could not.
• Su Ming decided to recruit capable relatives and promising descendants to help build his household and serve Glory City.
• Shen Fei gave Su Ming a Sacred Family honored guest token and offered financial help and assistance.
• Su Ming thanked Shen Fei, accepted the token, and headed for the City Guard garrison as Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family.

Shen Fei examined the white pearl and Ink Cloud Sword in his room, and the pearl reacted to the sword’s Spiritual Power. It transformed into white light and merged into the sword’s hilt, leaving new patterns in the wrapping.

• Shen Fei circulated his Spiritual Power, ate lunch, and took the Ink Cloud Sword and white pearl from his Space Ring.
• Shen Fei probed the pearl with his Soul Force but found a dense barrier that prevented him from sensing its interior.
• Shen Fei examined the Ink Cloud Sword’s Spiritual Power, and the pearl began glowing and hovering above its box.
• The pearl transformed into a mass of white light, which descended onto the sword’s hilt and spread through its cloth wrapping.
• The white light merged into the hilt, leaving matte white patterns and making the wrapping feel warm in Shen Fei’s hand.

Shen Fei discovered that a white bead had repaired and enhanced the Ink Cloud Sword, and he suspected more auxiliary components were scattered elsewhere. After securing his belongings, he left to meet Xiao Ning'er for their agreed evening sparring session.

• Shen Fei tested the Ink Cloud Sword and found its grip warmer and its Spiritual Power circulation nearly twice as fast after the white bead merged into its hilt.
• Shen Fei concluded that the bead was likely an auxiliary component and wondered whether others could help restore the Ink Cloud Sword to its original form.
• Shen Fei planned to ask Nie Li the next day about the bead and any other components matching the sword.
• Shen Fei remembered his agreement to spar with Xiao Ning'er that evening and left before he would be late.