Chapter Summaries

After emerging from seclusion, Xu Xuan strengthened his sect by assigning artifact work and cultivation resources to his disciples. He also investigated the threat posed by the unifying barbarian tribes and learned that Qiong He, a witch with the rare fuxi form, was seeking a meeting.

• Xu Xuan gave Wen Guang spiritual materials and two streams of foundation establishment bing fire so he could refine three suits of ancient artifact-level armor within three years.
• Xu Xuan instructed Liu Xingfang to enter seclusion and break through to the sixth level of qi refining, giving him thunder, pills, and spells as a reward for managing the Qi-Watching Hall.
• Xu Xuan traveled to Eastern Secret and learned from Xu Fayan that the barbarian tribes revered Shuchun as their witch god, practiced human sacrifice, and had been subdued after repeated clashes with the sect.
• Xu Fayan told Xu Xuan that Qiong He had come to meet him; Xu Xuan recognized the witch’s fuxi form and resolved to learn more about its origins.
• Xu Xuan sent Xu Fayan to Heavenly Tribulation Mountain with cultivation resources, then surveyed the arranged barbarian corpses along the Far Spirit Wilds.

Wu Heyong tightened his hunt for Qiong He while pursuing the Heavenly Star Jade Tablet and fuyi blood, and Liu Xingfang received powerful thunder treasures and new techniques. Meanwhile, the Lotus Temple prepared to seize Northern Red Cloud and send its people into the Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land.

• Wu Heyong killed Wu Hecun with venomous creatures, questioned Du Yu about Qiong He, and ordered him to watch Green Peaks.
• Wu Heyong rejected Yuan Zheng's warning against entangling himself in the matter and said he had to die once in this place for his purpose to be complete.
• Liu Xingfang received heavenly abundance cauldron thunder, three fourth-grade techniques, two pills, and the Hidden Spring sword from his master.
• Xu Fayan arrived at the Great Scarlet Hall, exchanged an awkward greeting with Liu Xingfang, and withdrew into a side chamber.
• Hua Xihe told Cihai that the Longevity Monastery would retreat overseas and leave Northern Red Cloud to the Lotus Temple.
• Cihai ordered Chifa to bring the local people into the Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land and said they would reclaim Green Peaks and avenge Cishan.

Xu Xuan’s forces captured Du Yu and obtained the Deepblood Pill formula, but Du Yu died before revealing who sent him. Xu Xuan then investigated Lotus Temple’s growing influence across the Li River and found Heavenly Demons possessing its followers, prompting him to prepare to intervene and reforge Cinnabar Thunder.

• Du Yu watched Eastern Secret until an unseen attacker drove him into its defenses, where Liang Yong captured him with the Heavenly Ring Divine Thunder Formation.
• Xu Xuan questioned Du Yu with altar thunder, and Du Yu surrendered the Deepblood Pill formula before a five-colored poison killed him when Liang Yong demanded to know who had sent him.
• Wen Si'an told Xu Xuan that Lotus Temple was converting commoners and that Cihai had killed Foundation Establishment cultivators across the North of the River.
• Xu Xuan crossed the Li River and saw Heavenly Demons possessing Lotus Temple’s followers beneath its Buddhist radiance.
• Xu Xuan decided to stop Lotus Temple’s expansion and flew to Heavenly Tribulation Mountain to have Wen Guang help reforge Cinnabar Thunder with the shangyin sacrificial stone.

Xu Xuan reforged [Cinnabar Thunder] into an ancient artifact while considering the sect’s need for pills and armor. Qiong He revealed that his surname was Feng and asked Xu Xuan to help him find his clansmen and save the people of the Wilderness of Witches.

• Xu Xuan gave Wen Guang the spiritual materials and lightning bolts to reforge [Cinnabar Thunder], then reflected on the sect’s need for pill makers and treasure armor.
• After three days, Wen Guang completed the reforging, raising [Cinnabar Thunder] to the level of an ancient artifact.
• Wen Guang asked Xu Xuan for qi refining assistants, and Xu Xuan directed him to seek approval from Xi Wei.
• Qiong He arrived at Eastern Secret, and Xu Xuan brought him to the True Abode Hall to speak privately.
• Qiong He revealed his [Fuxi Form], explained that Xu Xuan’s sword strike had left his dragon-serpent lower body impossible to retract, and said his surname was Feng.
• Qiong He asked Xu Xuan to help him find his clansmen and save the people of the Wilderness of Witches.

Xu Xuan learned from Qiong He about Fu Yi’s ancient bloodline and the decline of the Human Dao, then agreed to help rescue Qiong He’s three tribes from Shuchun’s sacrifices. Qiong He would remain at Green Peaks and guard Xu Xuan’s sect during the coming conflict with the Lotus Temple after the rescue.

• Qiong He explained that Fu Yi was an ancient sage whose descendants carried a bloodline meant to restore the Human Dao, and argued that cultivators’ treatment of mortals showed that it had failed to flourish.
• Qiong He revealed that Wen Si'an carried a sealed Fu Yi bloodline and said he could guide her to the ancestral land once she reached Foundation Establishment.
• Qiong He asked Xu Xuan to help relocate the thousand survivors of his three tribes before Shuchun could sacrifice them, and Xu Xuan agreed to take them in.
• Qiong He explained that Shuchun could not easily enter the present world, but his two divine emissaries could obstruct the rescue, and Xu Xuan’s altar thunder could restrain their Divine Dao.
• Xu Xuan asked Qiong He to guard the sect’s mountain gates during the coming conflict with the Lotus Temple, and Qiong He agreed to help in exchange for rescuing his people.
• Xu Xuan and Qiong He swore a heavenly oath to act at the Wilderness of Witches’ festival at the Beginning of Spring, while Qiong He stayed on Colorful Cloud Peak to speak with Wen Si'an.

Xu Xuan arrived at the Li River battle and confronted Cihai after Lotus Temple drove mortals and minor cultivators into the Heavenly Ring Divine Thunder Formation. He broke the temple’s formation with the Altar-Nether Thunderfire Talisman Sword, then left planning to find a chance to kill Cihai.

• Liu Xingfang activated the Heavenly Ring Divine Thunder Formation, killing the people Lotus Temple had sent across the Li River.
• A severed monk’s head tried to overwhelm Liu Xingfang with guilt, but he rejected its argument and destroyed it with his sword.
• Xu Xuan’s Cinnabar Thunder killed a yellow-robed monk and forced Cihai to face him across the river.
• Xu Xuan followed Cihai to the northern bank, where Lotus Temple formed its Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land formation.
• Xu Xuan used the Altar-Nether Thunderfire Talisman Sword to pierce the Buddhist light and destroy the formation’s monks, injuring Cihai.
• Xu Xuan discussed how to kill Cihai with Tiantuo, destroyed traces of heavenly demon light among the corpses, and departed.

Xu Xuan defeated the Divine Envoys sent by Shuchun while helping Qiong He move three tribes into Eastern Secret, then returned to Heavenly Tribulation Mountain to consider the threat from Lotus Temple. He chose to use his accumulated clear qi to revive the Supreme Clarity Dao Realm and climbed its heavenly path with Tiantuo.

• Xu Fayan guarded the migration of over a thousand Barbarians and raised the Heavenly Ring Divine Thunder Formation as fighting began near the Wilderness of Witches.
• Xu Xuan and Qiong He confronted Elder Liu and Huang Yi, who demanded that Xu Xuan stop aiding Qiong He and leave the tribes to Shuchun.
• Xu Xuan defeated Elder Liu with the Altar-Nether Thunderfire Talisman Sword, while Shuchun used black light to withdraw both Divine Envoys and promised that the tribes would no longer disturb Eastern Secret.
• Tiantuo warned Xu Xuan that a powerful cultivator of Origin Poison and the Five Poisons was watching from the south, and Qiong He agreed to keep his promise after the tribes settled.
• Xu Xuan considered the approaching conflict with Lotus Temple and chose to send his accumulated clear qi into the White Jade Dao Altar to revive the Supreme Clarity Dao Realm.
• Xu Xuan began climbing the heavenly path again, and Tiantuo followed him to see what lay above.

Xu Xuan and Tiantuo entered the Celestial Palace, where Xu Xuan discovered that the Shadow-Moon Pool could draw his physical body into the sanctuary. After exploring its uses and discussing the pill furnace and golden cup, Xu Xuan planned to kill Cihai and expand into North of the River, while seeking ways to protect his disciples’ minds.

• Xu Xuan and Tiantuo entered the Celestial Palace and found the Dao-Contemplation hall closed, then discovered the Shadow-Moon Pool and Moon-Gazing Terrace.
• Xu Xuan saw his reflection from the terrace and realized his physical body had entered the sanctuary; Tiantuo nearly followed before stopping himself.
• Xu Xuan took out the Ginseng Sheep Nurturing Earth Furnace and the Calamity-Misfortune Golden Cup, and Tiantuo explained their uses and the sanctuary’s potential.
• Xu Xuan decided that Fa Yan could benefit from the furnace’s nurturing-earth method and learned that disciples bearing his bestowed seal script could enter the sanctuary.
• Xu Xuan resolved to kill Cihai, gradually take control of North of the River, and slay Heavenly Demons to accumulate clear qi.
• Xu Xuan and Tiantuo returned to the great hall and began discussing methods to protect the sect’s disciples from attacks on their minds.

Wu An Qing rejected the Lotus Temple’s attempt to claim kinship with his demonic tradition, while the Wu Household stayed out of its plans to advance south. At Dapan, the Lotus Temple brought the Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land across the Li River, and Xu Xuan prepared to strike Cihai as the battle for the Green Peaks began.

• Wu An Qing emerged from Golden Robe Valley and wounded Chifa after he compared the Lotus Temple’s new Heavenly Demon practice to the Wu Household’s tradition.
• Wu An Qing told a concealed woman that the Lotus Temple’s Pure Land was becoming a ferry crossing for Heavenly Demons and said the Wu Household would leave the monks’ southern campaign alone.
• Liu Xingfang and the sect’s forces used the Heavenly Ring Divine Thunder Formation to defend Dapan as the Lotus Temple’s Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land crossed the Li River.
• Liu Xingfang fought the invading monks while Liang Yong and Fan Qingzhu engaged three Dharma Masters under the formation’s protection.
• Cihai emerged from the little temple, and Xu Xuan concealed himself in the formation and drew Cinnabar Thunder for a sudden attack.

Cihai used the Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land and Heavenly Demon power to attack Green Peaks, while Xu Xuan waited for the right moment to strike. Xu Xuan killed Cihai, but Cihai returned as a fully transformed Heavenly Demon subordinate and charged him as the battle continued.

• Cihai moved the Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land to the northern bank and sent his monks against the formation, while Liang Yong and Fan Qingzhu fought Chifa and two Dharma Masters.
• Liang Yong transformed with [Rage-Not-View] and attacked the three Dharma Masters, while Fan Qingzhu used his precious vase to suppress the vow power and protect him from their mind-affecting chants.
• Cihai strengthened the monks until they broke the final divine thunder celestial ring, but Xu Xuan severed Cihai's connection to the temple and attacked him with sword and thunder techniques.
• Xu Xuan killed Cihai and obliterated his body, gaining a great increase in merit, but Cihai reappeared in Heavenly Demon light and declared the Lotus Temple the Primordial Demon Cult.
• Cihai abandoned the Buddhist Way and charged Xu Xuan, who summoned [Cinnabar Thunder] and rose to meet him as his sword intent began to change.

Xu Xuan fought Cihai, who used the souls of mortals to constrain him and repeatedly rebuilt his body through the Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land. As Green Peaks came under attack and Xu Xuan’s arm burned away, he invoked the Cave-Transmuting Sword Casket and prepared to execute Cihai with the Supreme Profound Yin-Yang Calamity-Mingling Sword.

• Xu Xuan overwhelmed Cihai with the Black-and-White Sword Wheel and Thunder Pool, then used Mirror Return to cut through Cihai’s soul armor without harming the captured mortals and destroy his body.
• Cihai returned through the Little Lotus-Cause Pure Land with greater power, wielded the Black Banner and karmic-fire Monastic Saber, and forced Xu Xuan to hold back to protect the souls.
• Demonic attacks breached Green Peaks’ defenses, where Qiong He and the others fought poisonous creatures while Xu Xuan struggled to protect his disciples from demonic influence.
• Cihai burned Xu Xuan’s right shoulder and left hand and threatened to convert his disciples, while Xu Xuan confirmed through the soul jade that Green Peaks was still holding out.
• Xu Xuan sealed off the battlefield, weakened Cihai’s connection to the demonic nature, and manifested the Supreme Profound Yin-Yang Calamity-Mingling Sword intent.

Xu Xuan manifested the [Tribulation Law] Immortal Executioner, killed Cihai and the monks at the Li River, and comprehended sword intent before pursuing Green Luo. After learning that an unknown Origin Poison cultivator had attacked Wen Si'an and Qiong He, he realized his Thunder Palace inheritance had drawn the attention of powerful figures.

• Xu Xuan used the [Tribulation Law] Immortal Executioner to execute Cihai and the monks at the Li River, while Green Luo escaped with a Purple Mansion Escape Talisman.
• Liu Xingfang recognized Xu Xuan's sword intent, and Xu Xuan left him to handle the aftermath before pursuing Green Luo.
• A woman fleeing north recognized Xu Xuan's sword intent as connected to the Thunder Palace and decided her household must not oppose him.
• Wen Si'an and Qiong He told Xu Xuan that an Origin Poison cultivator carrying a Purple Mansion-level treasure had attacked them and slipped into the mountains.
• Xu Xuan entered the True Abode Hall and learned from Tiantuo that powerful True Persons were watching him because of his Thunder Palace inheritance.

Xu Xuan oversaw the spoils from the Lotus Temple’s defeat and met Wu An Qing, whose clan had taken control of the Longevity Monastery’s former territory. After returning to the Supreme Clarity Dao Realm, Xu Xuan inspected the Ancient Stele and heard Liu Xiaowen’s voice from its bing fire pattern.

• Wang Qiyun dismantled the Lotus Temple’s formations and met Wu An Qing, who came to discuss his clan’s administration of Red Cloud with Xu Xuan.
• Xu Xuan appeared behind Wu An Qing, learned about the Wu Household and its withering qi cultivation, and agreed to govern Verdant Wilds without interference from the clan.
• Wang Xiwei cataloged the sect’s spoils, and Xu Xuan collected Buddhist scriptures and found cultivation methods for the geng and xin paths.
• Xu Xuan returned to his secret chamber, gave Tiantuo Buddhist items to refine, and received the Heaven-Overawing Method, which cultivated the Purple-Gold Serpent.
• Xu Xuan entered the Supreme Clarity Dao Realm, examined the Ancient Stele’s revived Dao patterns, and heard Liu Xiaowen call him from the bing fire pattern.

Xu Xuan learned more about the Fire Crow’s departure, saw Qiong He leave for the Liao Kingdom, and received a congratulatory gift from the Chen Household before entering seclusion to refine pills. At the abbey, Zhang Gaoxia struggled with doubts about her place as Xu Fayan began helping her organize the Scripture Repository.

• Xu Xuan relayed reports that the Void Spirit Hall had fallen, the Thunder Edict Path had withdrawn, and the Fire Crow was heading toward the Boiling Sea.
• Qiong He left Eastern Secret for the Liao Kingdom to pursue a lead on the Purple Mansion portion of his cultivation art, entrusting his three tribes to Xu Xuan’s care.
• Jiang Chi visited on behalf of the Chen Household, gave Xu Xuan Mount Tai Sacrificial Soil, and invited him to visit once he reached the late Foundation Establishment stage.
• Xu Xuan watched Dao Yan depart in his Fire Crow form, then entered seclusion to refine the Longevity Qi-Transference Pill and Shangyong Purity-and-Peace Pill.
• Zhang Gaoxia reflected on her slowing cultivation and uncertainty about her place in the rapidly growing abbey as she worked in the Scripture Repository.
• Xu Fayan arrived to help organize the Dao texts, and Zhang Gaoxia felt unsettled by his uncanny yellow eyes and growing speed at the work.

After emerging from three years of seclusion, Xu Xuan inspected Wen Guang’s workshop, where he found three completed sets of Treasure Armor and discovered that one had become a costly, limited-use pearl. He assigned Wen Guang and Wang Cheng Yan to oversee the workshop together, then went to meet a young visitor whose greater-yang cultivation caught his attention.

• Xu Xuan found Wen Guang lounging while Qi Refining disciples exhausted themselves tending the furnace, and warned him not to slack off again.
• Wen Guang presented [Marshlight] and [Flowering Peak], which Xu Xuan approved, then showed him [Baleful Sun], a failed armor refinement that Tiantuo identified as the remains of the Golden Crow’s second son.
• Xu Xuan questioned Wen Guang about the failed refinement, gave him a secret new task and spiritual objects, and left him to work under threat of being sent to Eastern Secret.
• Xu Xuan advised Wang Cheng Yan on cultivation and protective spells, heard his account of the sect’s affairs, and appointed him and Wen Guang to oversee the Forging Rectification Room together.
• Xu Xuan spotted a young man cultivating greater yang at the sect gates and went to welcome him after the visitor said Brother Xiao Wen had sent him.

Xu Xuan learned that Xiao Wen and Zhang Yu were imprisoned in the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace and received Xiao Wen’s belongings, including a mysterious jade that transformed his qi sea and revealed a codex for bestowing seal scripts. He identified several potential recipients and decided to investigate the unfamiliar disciples before granting them scripts.

• Li Jinzhi brought Xu Xuan Xiao Wen’s token and belongings and explained that Xiao Wen and Zhang Yu had been imprisoned after a disaster at an ancient cave residence in the Raging Waves Sea.
• Xu Xuan learned that Xiao Wen had sent an apology and feared he could not return, then decided his dragon body would investigate the Dragon Palace’s underwater prison.
• Xu Xuan examined the contents of Xiao Wen’s Mustard Seed Object and activated the green jade, which caused his qi sea to develop like a blessed land and opened a new section of the White Jade Heavenly Palace.
• A crimson jade codex revealed that Xu Xuan could bestow the [Tribulation Law Comes of Its Own] and [Five Poisons] seal scripts, and it recorded the pure qi and destined fortune required.
• Xu Xuan found that Wen Si'an, Cheng Yan, and Tiantuo had notable destined fortune, then discovered Foundation Establishment-level candidates Qi Zhengyi and Zhang Yiwan among the inner disciples.
• Xu Xuan decided to investigate Qi Zhengyi and Zhang Yiwan’s character before bestowing seal scripts and considered choosing recipients carefully.

Xu Xuan and the elders arranged a sect-wide competition for six months later, while Xu Xuan secretly tasked Xu Fayan with guiding two promising disciples toward it. Xu Fayan found Zhang Gaoxia visiting Zhang Yiwan and overheard Zhang Yiwan insist that her decision was final, leaving the nature of her choice unclear.

• Xu Xuan, Wang Xiwei, and Wen Si'an agreed to hold a grand competition with contests in combat and auxiliary disciplines, offering rewards and borrowed texts to encourage participation.
• Wang Xiwei told Wen Si'an that inner-sect disciples resented Gao Xia’s authority, and Xu Xuan and Wen Si'an discussed her difficulties.
• Xu Xuan gave Wang Xiwei and Wen Si'an plans for the competition, scheduled for six months later.
• Xu Fayan reported on Qi Zhengyi and Zhang Yiwan, and Xu Xuan ordered him to guide them into the spell duels and alchemy contest without revealing the plan.
• Xu Xuan admitted to Xu Fayan that Xiao Wen was trapped and in a bad situation, then warned him to keep it secret.
• Xu Fayan went to Zhang Yiwan’s courtyard and overheard her tell Zhang Gaoxia that she had made up her mind, despite her aunt’s objection.

Zhang Yiwan decided to leave the sect and surrender her cultivation so she could care for her grandmother, but she discovered that the life-extending pills in the Pill Room were unsuitable for mortals. Xu Fayan suggested she study alchemy and enter the coming sect competition, leaving Zhang Yiwan reconsidering her plans as Zhang Gaoxia confronted him.

• Zhang Yiwan rejected Zhang Gaoxia's pleas to continue cultivating and said she would exchange her Dao Merit for a life-extending pill before returning home.
• Zhang Yiwan went to Pillheart Hall, where Jiang Chiyu and Jiang Zhoudu tried to persuade her to advance to Qi Refining instead of leaving the sect.
• Xu Fayan arrived and explained that the stored Qi Refining-grade life-extending pills were meant for cultivators and could harm a mortal, while the mortal-grade pills had already been used.
• Xu Fayan suggested Zhang Yiwan consult alchemy books and join the upcoming sect competition to use the sect's equipment and learn to refine pills.
• Zhang Gaoxia pulled Xu Fayan outside to speak with him, while Jiang Zhoudu urged Zhang Yiwan to reconsider leaving; Zhang Yiwan left the hall uncertain about her decision.

Xu Fayan struggled with the growing signs of his inhuman nature while the sect prepared new cultivation methods and a grand tournament. In the Boiling Sea, Xu Xuan learned that his maternal clan would migrate to the Southern Nether Celestial Pool and prepared to face the political forces surrounding it.

• Xu Fayan felt his hunger and inhuman nature intensify around Zhang Gaoxia, then decided to discuss the changes with his master.
• Qi Zhengyi told Liu Xingfang he planned to cultivate the Heaven-Overawing Method and delay his breakthrough until after the sect tournament.
• Liu Xingfang reflected on his stalled sword cultivation and wondered whether he should travel farther afield.
• Xu Xuan returned the young Fire Crows to their peaks and welcomed Yang Yuanyi to his cave abode.
• Yang Yuanyi told Xu Xuan that the Dew-Bedecked Azure Viper lineage would migrate near the Southern Nether Celestial Pool under Xu Xuan's command.
• Xu Xuan read Vast Marsh's letter and decided to await his maternal clan's arrival before confronting the question of who controlled the celestial pool.

Xu Xuan received Lu Lian and the Azure Viper clan at Flamecliff, where the clan recognized him as its chief and awaited his orders. He chose to scout the outskirts of the Southern Nether Celestial Pool and advance gradually, while he and Lu Lian kept their private suspicions concealed.

• Yang Yuanxin brought her Flamefeather Guard to Flamecliff to support Xu Xuan as the Azure Vipers arrived.
• Mo Xi greeted Xu Xuan as clan chief, and Lu Lian introduced herself as his aunt and spoke warmly about his mother, Zhu Ying.
• Mo Xi reported that all ninety-six Azure Vipers had come, including seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, and said the clan would follow Xu Xuan's orders.
• Xu Xuan asked whether the clan had instructions to relocate, then learned its aim was to enter its ancestral lands in the Southern Nether Celestial Pool.
• Xu Xuan decided the weakened clan should scout the outskirts and fight its way inward gradually rather than challenge powerful factions.
• Xu Xuan asked about the Azure Vipers' origin poison arts, and Mo Xi explained their ancient connection to the Heavenly Poison True Lord.