Chapter Summaries

Xu Xuan investigated the spirits at the Qi tomb and learned that Liu Qiuqi had survived, prompting him to visit White Azure Cavern. After Qing Ling revealed that Liu Qiuqi was in the Eastern Sea, Xu Xuan began questioning her about events in Red Cloud.

• Liu Xingfang reported that spirits had emerged from the Qi Kingdom’s tomb and that the Liu Household’s spirit treasure might still be linked to Liu Qiuqi and White Azure Cavern.
• Xu Xuan restrained the tomb spirits with heavenly thunder and decided to consult True Person Guang Su about the tomb’s vast wood aspect.
• Xu Xuan inspected the Plainlands, subdued the Blood Drinker sword, and traveled openly to White Azure Cavern.
• Qing Ling told Xu Xuan that she had saved Liu Qiuqi and rebuilt his dharma body in the Eastern Sea, where he was traveling with her incarnation.
• Xu Xuan questioned Qing Ling about what she knew of the events in Red Cloud.

Xu Xuan learned that Imperial Preceptor Qi had directed the Red Cloud blood sacrifice and traced his hatred to the ancient fall of the Zhao Court. After Qing Ling offered him the Greater Yang spirit treasure Sundial Clear Light, Xu Xuan returned to Heavenly Tribulation and began cultivating a heavenly eye with it.

• Qing Ling explained that Imperial Preceptor Qi, a True Disciple of Fortune Treasure Palace, had orchestrated the Red Cloud affair and described the Zhao Court’s destruction and its descendants’ punishment.
• Qing Ling told Xu Xuan that a figure from Dust-Sweeping, rather than Imperial Preceptor Qi, had planned the affair involving Xu Xuan’s master.
• Qing Ling offered Xu Xuan Sundial Clear Light as compensation, and he accepted it while warning her to report Liu Qiuqi’s return and avoid further trouble.
• Xu Xuan returned to Heavenly Tribulation and told Liu Xingfang that Qiuqi was alive in the Eastern Sea with Qingyun; Liu Xingfang left to reassure Bai Yuan.
• Xu Xuan spent thirty-six days opening his heavenly eye, then began refining Sundial Clear Light into it as the foundation for the next stage of his cultivation.

Li Shangmi emerged from seclusion at Many Suns Prefecture as Sword Immortal Wuyi arrived to claim the Pure Yang True Elixir. After Wuyi departed with it, Crimson Rosy Clouds True Person gave Li Shangmi Golden Crow blood and ordered him to cultivate another divine ability to slay dragons, leaving him troubled about whom he was meant to kill.

• Li Shangmi emerged from seclusion, having nearly completed the Ten Suns Circuit, and prepared to receive Sword Immortal Wuyi with Xiao Zhi.
• Lü Zhao arrived and declared that he had come in the name of the Pure Yang Sword Lineage to claim the Pure Yang True Elixir.
• Crimson Rosy Clouds True Person handed Lü Zhao the elixir and warned him against becoming entangled in Eastern Radiance's affairs.
• Lü Zhao left with the elixir, insisting that a Pure Yang cultivator could not shrink away.
• Crimson Rosy Clouds True Person gave Li Shangmi Imperial Descendant Golden Crow blood and ordered him to cultivate another divine ability to slay dragons.
• Li Shangmi returned to the Main Hall, wondering which dragon he was supposed to slay.

Xu Xuan refined the Sundial Clear Light, then helped Liu Xiaowen prepare to enter a perilous seclusion to attain a divine ability. After Qi Zhengyi broke through and Guang Su examined the Qi tomb beneath the plains, she revealed the history of Yinguang Hall and the demon powers behind the Liao Lands, leaving Xu Xuan worried about the strength of Great Li and the threats facing him.

• Xu Xuan completed the preliminary refinement of the Sundial Clear Light, advancing his Worship the Profound, Reveal the Light Heavenly Eye to minor attainment.
• Xu Xuan gave Liu Xiaowen a Crimson Brilliant Sun Bing Pill and a radiant heaven stone, then sent him to prepare for seclusion at Heavenly Fire Gathering.
• Liu Xiaowen entered the Profound Flame Radiance-Gathering Formation and began his attempt to attain a divine ability.
• Xu Xuan sensed Qi Zhengyi's successful breakthrough into the Purple Mansion realm at the Purple Gold Abbey.
• Guang Su examined the tomb beneath the Great Scenery Plains and explained that it held the last crown prince of Great Qi, a former Yinguang Hall Dao scion.
• Guang Su revealed that Panmi had betrayed Yinguang Hall and established the Profound Secret Demon Land; Xu Xuan grew concerned about the demon powers and Great Li's ability to face them.

Lü Guan attained the [Shadow-Moon Pool] divine ability, but Lü Zhao insisted he enter the grotto-heaven and preserve himself while the elders faced coming turmoil. Elsewhere, Qi Zhengyi learned that Xin Yuanchang was attempting a divine ability, and Liu Xingfang considered how he might find a path to one of his own.

• Lü Zhao told Lü Guan that his new divine ability allowed him to enter the grotto-heaven and receive the Plain Shu Yin-Void Scripture, but that the lost [Vast Cold Palace] method and missing [Night of Entering Cultivation] spiritual energy would be his own concern.
• Lü Guan urged Lü Zhao not to face the coming crisis alone, but Lü Zhao ordered him to prepare for the grotto-heaven and said the Li-Liao war would bring turmoil to Peaceful Mountain.
• Qingyue warned Lü Zhao that his growing killing intent was dangerous, and Lü Zhao left after saying he would have to depart for the struggle between Li and Liao.
• Liu Xingfang learned from Qi Zhengyi that Xin Yuanchang was in seclusion to attain a divine ability, then assigned Qi Zhengyi to assist Protector Liang at Guarding the Azure Camp.
• After Qi Zhengyi departed, Liu Xingfang pondered how to attain a divine ability and considered seeking the Thunder Radiance Spirit-Inquiry Method from Upper Successive Union Mountain.

Xu Xuan visited Sword Appraisal Mountain and commissioned Candle Sword to refine a versatile spirit artifact before Kunwei Heaven descended. In the Thunder Department, General Weihua and True Person Zhuoxie discussed Song Shiming’s stalled cultivation and considered how Xu Xuan could be used against Liao.

• Xu Xuan traveled to Sword Appraisal Mountain and spoke with Candle Sword about Altar Thunder, Song Shiming, and the conflict between Li and Liao.
• Xu Xuan gave Candle Sword a Rosy Radiance Stone and three other spirit treasures to refine into a middle-grade treasure pagoda, agreeing to wait three years and pay with twenty percent of the materials.
• Xu Xuan left Sword Appraisal Mountain and prepared to await Kunwei Heaven’s descent, which he viewed as a sign of the coming war between Li and Liao.
• General Weihua told True Person Zhuoxie that Song Shiming remained alive in seclusion but had not succeeded in his breakthrough.
• Weihua and Zhuoxie discussed the unknown great figure behind True Person Calamity-Splitting and concluded that the Thunder Department could use Xu Xuan against Liao.

An Xianhui struggled to heal the wounds from altar thunder until Wei Peibai brought him Phoenix-Qilin Glue, but he consumed the Candle Yin Legacy Pearl instead. The chapter ended with Yuan Yi condemning Lingjing for manipulating his own son into accepting Candle Yin’s destiny.

• An Xianhui used two spirit treasures to remove some of the sword intent and lightning damaging his dharma body, but the wounds remained difficult to heal.
• Wei Peibai brought An Xianhui Phoenix-Qilin Glue and urged him to recover before Kunwei Heaven opened, but he rejected her offer.
• An Xianhui consumed the Candle Yin Legacy Pearl, healed his wounds, and gained a transformed aura and divine eyes.
• An Xianhui realized Wei Peibai had been sent by his father, Lingjing, and told her to leave before turning away her warning.
• Yuan Yi accused Lingjing of provoking An Xianhui into consuming the legacy pearl, while Lingjing defended the choice as necessary for his son to become the sect’s Dao heir.

Liu Qiuqi and Qingyun reached Penglai, where True Person Huaiyin offered Liu Qiuqi a place in the Immortal Dao in exchange for severing his ties to the outside world. Liu Qiuqi accepted, received a Purple Mansion cultivation art, and learned that Penglai cultivators could keep spirit beasts, while Huaiyin prepared to consult his lord about the rising turmoil.

• Liu Qiuqi and Qingyun waited outside Penglai until Dao attendant Peach Plum opened the way and escorted them onto the island.
• Peach Plum explained that True Person Huaiyin had invited Liu Qiuqi as a descendant of the Liu Clan, whose karmic ties with Penglai remained unsettled.
• Huaiyin offered Liu Qiuqi discipleship and a path to divine ability, provided he stopped interfering in the outside world's karma.
• Liu Qiuqi chose to pursue the Dao at Penglai, and Huaiyin gave him the Secluded Wood Moon-Drawing Art for his Suspended Moon foundation.
• Huaiyin told Liu Qiuqi that Penglai cultivators could privately keep spirit beasts, then sent him to choose a peak with Peach Plum.
• Huaiyin noted the Elder Lodging Devil Palace's movements and Liu Qiuqi's return, and decided to seek instructions from his lord.

Xu Xuan completed the heavenly oath thunder essence and accepted that his cultivation of altar thunder would draw him into the Li-Liao conflict. He collected the Divine Radiance Tower from Candle Sword and learned its functions, while Candle Sword explained why he had chosen not to establish a lineage.

• Xu Xuan completed a strand of heavenly oath thunder essence and concluded that mastering Fate-Extinguishing Purge required him to fight Northern Liao’s demon-subduing cultivators.
• Xu Xuan learned that Sword Appraisal Mountain had finished his spirit artifact, then traveled there to meet Candle Sword.
• Candle Sword presented Xu Xuan with the Purple Mansion middle-grade Divine Radiance Tower and explained its Color Reflection and Force Dissipation functions.
• Candle Sword revealed that the tower’s Mysterious Imprint function came from a Long-Su Mysterious Imprint Artifact Formation, and Xu Xuan found no sign of anything amiss.
• Candle Sword declined to enter Kunwei Grotto-Heaven and said he had no interest in establishing a lineage, choosing instead to pursue the mysteries of artifact refining for himself.

As Kunwei Heaven opened above Yizhou, Xu Xuan prepared for the struggle over its treasures and joined True Person Pingxiu, while Song Shiyi and Wanjin discussed the rival powers gathering. The grotto-heaven fell into the mortal world, restoring Lacquer Mountain and stirring Xu Xuan’s memories of his ancestors.

• Xu Xuan learned that Kunwei Heaven was opening, ordered Liu Xingfang to guard the sect, and left for Yizhou.
• Xu Xuan met True Person Pingxiu in the great void and agreed to help him secure the immortal ash, provided they could withdraw if their lives were in danger.
• Song Shiyi and Wanjin discussed Golden Scale, True Person Yuan Yi’s plans, and the tensions surrounding Dust-Sweeping before leaving their boat.
• Kunwei Heaven emerged as an ochre-yellow blackbird poured golden blood over Lacquer Mountain, restoring the mountain as the grotto-heaven fell into the mortal world.
• Xu Xuan watched Lacquer Mountain’s restoration, recalled the ancestral masters who had welcomed the emperor there, and felt the Records of the Ji Histories stir within his inner scenery.

Imperial Preceptor Qi Changsheng burned open the entrance to the Ancient Shu Grotto-Heaven with [Southern Bright Li Fire], then warned Great Li’s cultivators that war with Northern Liao was approaching. Xu Xuan entered the Grotto-Heaven, found [Divine Hou Treasure Soil], and sensed Venom-Folding, the Purple Mansion cultivator who had previously targeted his sect.

• Qi Changsheng used [Southern Bright Li Fire] to destroy the Grotto-Heaven’s Wu Light formation and open its entrance.
• Qi Changsheng announced that Northern Liao’s Demon-Subduing forces were approaching and urged Great Li’s cultivators to prepare for war.
• Qingyue gave Qi Changsheng a register of cultivators who had stayed away, while Nanwang worried about the two men’s alliance.
• Xu Xuan entered the Grotto-Heaven with Pingxiu, defeated the cultivators guarding a hall, and recovered [Divine Hou Treasure Soil].
• Xu Xuan spotted Venom-Folding battling near a jade mountain, and the [Five Poisons Joined as One] seal script in his Qi Sea responded to the Great Shaman.

Xu Xuan claimed the eastern origin wood spirit pillar after defeating Changsun Yi in a brief clash, then learned it belonged to the ancient Wu Balance lineage. As he investigated the grotto-heaven, Venom-Folding secretly followed him, and Xu Xuan headed toward a battle site that stirred his Scarlet Radiance Token.

• Pingxiu separated from Xu Xuan to search for immortal ash while Xu Xuan used the Ji Chronicle to locate treasures near Season-Bearing City.
• Xu Xuan seized the eastern origin wood spirit pillar, overcoming Changsun Yi’s challenge with his tribulation lightning and sword intent.
• Xu Xuan placed the pillar in his inner scenery, where Tiantuo identified it as a relic of the Wu Balance Dao Lineage and linked the lineage to the Shu imperial inheritance.
• Tiantuo detected Venom-Folding following Xu Xuan and warned that the Purple Mansion middle-stage poison shaman had dangerous methods.
• Xu Xuan traveled along the jade road and sensed fighting near a place connected to his temple when the Scarlet Radiance Token responded; he flew toward it while Venom-Folding continued to follow.

Xu Xuan defended the Mysterious Terrace from Guangji and Xiang Mang, who tried to claim it with the Great Flame Horn Furnace and origin magnetism. Though their abilities restrained his sword, Xu Xuan struck Guangji's water ape dharma body with greater yang radiance and left him badly weakened.

• Xu Xuan carved Calamity-Splitting onto the Mysterious Terrace, and the firelight dissolved Jiang Ying's remains as the terrace began to rise.
• Guangji arrived with the Great Flame Horn Furnace and used it to draw the Mysterious Terrace's bing fire radiance toward himself.
• Xiang Mang appeared and used origin magnetism to suppress Xu Xuan's Cinnabar Thunder sword while Guangji attacked the terrace with his water ape dharma body.
• Xu Xuan blocked Guangji's blow with the Yin-Illuminating Essence Refinement Art's moon pool.
• Xu Xuan fired greater yang golden radiance from his heavenly eye, piercing Guangji's dharma body and forcing it to collapse.

Xu Xuan defeated Guangji and Xiang Mang’s attack, claimed the Windflame Imperial House’s Mysterious Seal, and escaped Venom-Folding’s ambush. He then reached the Azure Wood Palace, where Wei Shuang was resisting a Buddhist force, and entered through its vow power.

• Xu Xuan used Greater Yang light and Cinnabar Thunder to badly injure Guangji, while Xiang Mang helped Guangji escape with the Great Flame Horn Furnace.
• Xu Xuan claimed the Red Jade Mysterious Seal, and Tiantuo identified it as an artifact of the Windflame Imperial House tied to True Lord Constant Light.
• Venom-Folding attacked Xu Xuan with poison, but Xu Xuan countered with Cinnabar Thunder and Greater Yang light before fleeing.
• Venom-Folding suspected Xu Xuan carried something connected to Heavenly Poison and decided to hunt him through the Grotto-Heaven.
• Xu Xuan reached the Azure Wood Palace and recognized Wei Shuang fighting against Buddhist vow power.
• Xu Xuan entered the palace as the vow power parted around him.

Xu Xuan arrived in the Grotto-Heaven and rescued Wei Shuang from Great Adept Yuman, who had tried to bind him to the Six Livestock path. After Yuman fled, Xu Xuan discovered that the Offering Altar’s Wu Light resonated with the Records of the Ji Histories.

• Great Adept Yuman tried to convert Wei Shuang into the Six Livestock Wisdom King and bound him with the Livestock-Binding Treasure Rope.
• Wei Shuang gouged out his own eyes, broke the bindings, and resisted Yuman’s attempt to drag him into the Pure Land.
• Xu Xuan arrived as an Ink Qilin, then attacked Yuman with silver-white punishment thunder and deep-black exiled thunder.
• Wei Shuang broke free and gouged out Yuman’s eyes, while Xu Xuan destroyed the azure-ox Diamond and drove Yuman to flee with the surviving Diamond.
• Xu Xuan treated Wei Shuang’s injuries, then approached the Offering Altar after the Records of the Ji Histories responded to its Wu Light.

Xu Xuan entered Wu Balance Palace, where he obtained the Blackbird Bronze Mirror and its mysterious righteous order wu radiance after the altar responded to his plea. After Wei Shuang left the Grotto-Heaven with injuries suppressed, Xu Xuan suspected the Song Clan and Yuman had allowed the monk to target him, then began refining the Wu radiance while other cultivators dismantled the Grotto-Heaven’s seals.

• Xu Xuan examined the offerings at the altar and found that most Spirit Treasures had lost their essence, but the Blackbird Bronze Mirror and its Wu Light remained intact and immovable.
• After Xu Xuan appealed to the Lord of Proper Rites, Wu Balance Palace shook, and he was able to lift and take the mirror and its righteous order wu radiance.
• Wei Shuang thanked Xu Xuan for helping him against Yuman, lent him the Snow-Bathed Branch, and departed for the Great Void using a Grand Talisman.
• Xu Xuan suspected that the Song Clan and Yuman had arranged for Wei Shuang to be attacked, though he could not confirm their motives.
• Xu Xuan left Wu Balance Palace and began refining the righteous order wu radiance as Purple Mansion cultivators worked to break the Grotto-Heaven’s seals.

Huji sent Nangang into the grotto-heaven with the Fortune Sun Ruyi to help kill Venom-Folding, whose death was part of a scheme involving the calamity and origin poison paths. Nangang met Wen'e near Witch Mountain, where the two prepared to ambush Venom-Folding as he explored the High Shaman's former grounds.

• Huji and Qingyue discussed Hu Chu, Prince Mount Li, and Venom-Folding's origins, while Huji revealed his intent to kill Venom-Folding and reshape the relationship between calamity and fortune.
• Huji gave Nangang the Fortune Sun Ruyi and ordered him to shatter Venom-Folding's true spirit after entering the grotto-heaven, promising that palace help would join him.
• Huji asked about Sword Immortal Wuyi and the Thunder Department's Altar Thunder seed, while Qingyue considered how the coming conflict with Liao might use the latter.
• Venom-Folding felt an ominous warning at Witch Mountain but entered the High Shaman's former grounds, hoping to find an opportunity to attain the dao.
• Nangang arrived concealed by the Fortune Sun Ruyi and met Wen'e, who said he would kill Venom-Folding and showed him a bone talisman from Heavenly Poison Mountain designed to strip away Venom-Folding's human form.

Wen'e and Nangang cornered Venom-Folding at Witch Mountain and killed him, taking the [Five Poisons Altar]. The three poisonous creatures born from his Divine Abilities escaped after Witch Mountain’s incantations intervened, with Crimson Centipede fleeing deeper into the Grotto-Heaven.

• Venom-Folding realized Wen'e and Nangang had come to kill him and take the [Five Poisons Altar].
• Wen'e suppressed Venom-Folding with the Black Stone and bound him with a talisman of [Calamity Transformation] as Nangang sealed the area.
• Venom-Folding unleashed [Red-Fighting Centipede], [Filthy Edge Scorpion], and [Dark-Bright Toad], but Wen'e’s talisman dissolved his Dharma Body.
• Nangang struck Venom-Folding with the Jade-and-Gold Ruyi, killing him as his body turned to ash, and Wen'e collected the [Five Poisons Altar].
• Witch Mountain’s incantations empowered the three poisonous creatures and helped them escape; Golden Scorpion and White Toad left the Grotto-Heaven while Crimson Centipede fled deeper inside.

Xu Xuan acquired the primordial Red-Fighting Centipede and discovered a dao beacon connected to the vanished Hengyi Star, which accelerated his cultivation. When he sensed True Person Luyu fighting an unknown opponent, Xu Xuan went to help but was intercepted by the Hidden Metal cultivator Baoqiu.

• Xu Xuan subdued the mountain-sized Red-Fighting Centipede and absorbed it into his Inner Scenery, where it became a crimson-gold bracelet under his control.
• The centipede’s response revealed a strand of Time-Light that showed Xu Xuan an image of the Hengyi Star, which Tiantuo identified as a possible dao beacon left by True Lord Constant Light.
• Xu Xuan discovered that the dao beacon accelerated his Layered Radiance cultivation and continued toward the Grotto-Heaven’s center.
• Xu Xuan sensed True Person Luyu struggling against an opponent and detected the Cloud of Clear, Turbid, and Faint nearby, then hurried to assist him.
• Baoqiu, an Eastern Sea Hidden Metal inheritor, blocked Xu Xuan and proposed they wait for the battle’s outcome, but Xu Xuan drew his sword and challenged him.

Xu Xuan battled Daoist Baoqiu, a formidable cultivator from the Many-Treasure Palace who wielded numerous Spirit Artifacts and countered Xu Xuan’s techniques. The fight intensified when Jade Origin sent Xu Xuan the Universalizing Thunder Edict Seal, and Xu Xuan prepared to press his advantage.

• Xu Xuan and Daoist Baoqiu exchanged attacks, and Baoqiu used his Autumn-Cutting Ruler and calamity-averting art to survive Xu Xuan’s lightning strike.
• Baoqiu summoned the Golden Toad treasure brick and used his White Storehouse Divine Ability, while Xu Xuan countered with his plum branch, treasure bracelet, and Greater Yang World-Cleansing Light.
• Xu Xuan struck Baoqiu with the Life-and-Death Qi Flying Sword, but Baoqiu restored his vitality with a green treasure branch.
• Baoqiu revealed that he belonged to the Many-Treasure Palace and asked Xu Xuan to end the fight, but Xu Xuan chose to keep battling to honor his promise to Luyu.
• Jade Origin sent Xu Xuan the Universalizing Thunder Edict Seal, strengthening his presence as the thunderous firmament shattered above Baoqiu.