Chapter Summaries

Ye Han and Gu Changdao fought the demonized Six-Clawed Lightning Dragon Beast controlled by a figure wreathed in black vapor, but both were injured and Ye Han’s swords were damaged. Sun Houde revealed that their survival was necessary to activate the Five-Element Formation and open the restriction, drawing the enemy’s attention.

• The black-vapor figure ordered the Six-Clawed Lightning Dragon Beast to block an attack, and the beast’s purple-black lightning clashed with the spell beam.
• Ye Han’s giant sword formed from the six Wood Spirit Flying Swords was shattered by the black-vapor figure, injuring Ye Han through the backlash.
• Gu Changdao attacked the beast, was pierced by its spear, and escaped a follow-up lightning strike, but suffered injuries and lost his Substitute Talisman.
• Ye Han realized that the black-vapor figure controlled the demonized beast and that the beast was likely a peak third-tier Six-Clawed Lightning Dragon Beast.
• Sun Houde warned that they needed everyone alive to activate the Five-Element Formation and open the restriction, and the black-vapor figure showed interest in this revelation.

Ye Han fled the battle at the city wall after Qin Minghui held off the Six-Clawed Lightning Dragon Magic Beast, while the others used Blood Escape Talismans to escape by separate routes. The demonic figure revealed that he planned to keep the cultivators alive because they had found a way to break the restriction.

• Qin Minghui attacked the Six-Clawed Lightning Dragon Magic Beast and urged the others to flee while she held it back.
• Ye Han used a Blood Escape Talisman to slip past the beast, and Sun Houde followed, surviving a lightning strike with his Substitute Talisman.
• Gu Changdao and Lin Hongyan fled around opposite sides of the city wall as Qin Minghui continued fighting the beast.
• Ye Han raced through the valley, worried that his Purple Cauldron had limited restorative power and that the demonic qi inside the wall could corrupt him.
• The demonic figure watched the beasts pursue the fleeing cultivators and said he would spare them to learn how they had broken the restriction.

Qin Minghui tried to escape the Darkness Forbidden Ground with her teleportation token, but a gray lightning bolt destroyed the spatial rift and left her trapped. As the pursuers attacked her and the other disciples, Ye Han sensed the Purple Cauldron reacting to something nearby.

• The demonic figure sent groups of magic beasts, demonized cultivators, and zombie puppets after Ye Han, Sun Houde, Gu Changdao, Lin Hongyan, and Qin Minghui.
• Qin Minghui used her token to open a spatial rift, but gray lightning struck it and blasted her away.
• Qin Minghui realized that teleportation out of the Darkness Forbidden Ground had been sealed, explaining why earlier intruders had never returned.
• The Six-Clawed Lightning Dragon Magic Beast and the demonic figure attacked Qin Minghui with lightning and flying weapons as she fled in her borrowed Qi Refining Realm body.
• Ye Han raced from his pursuers and sensed the Purple Cauldron in his Divine Sense Sea react to something nearby.

Ye Han fled through the ruins of the Darkness Forbidden Ground and drew pursuing magic beasts, Demonized Cultivators, and zombie puppets into a battle with a swarm of One-Eyed Spiders. As the enemies clashed, a third-tier magic beast and two Demonized Cultivators charged at him, and Ye Han prepared to fight back.

• Ye Han encountered a giant One-Eyed Spider in the ruins, then fled as many more spiders appeared and pursued him.
• Ye Han realized the One-Eyed Spiders were not controlled by the shadowy figure and turned back toward them to draw his pursuers into their territory.
• The One-Eyed Spiders trapped pursuing magic beasts, Demonized Cultivators, and zombie puppets in their webs, and the two groups erupted into battle.
• A third-tier magic beast and two Demonized Cultivators broke away from the melee and charged at Ye Han.
• Ye Han watched them approach and declared that they were courting death.

Ye Han used the Thorn Bracelet and Wood Dragon Staff to trap and crush a tiger-headed third-tier magic beast while the Purple Cauldron replenished his spell power. He then restrained two Demonized Cultivators’ weapons with the Ghost Skull Mirror and killed them with his Wood Spirit Flying Swords.

• Ye Han cast Thorn Cage and bound the charging tiger-headed third-tier magic beast with thorny vines.
• Ye Han unleashed the Wood Dragon Art, and the wooden dragon pinned and savagely attacked the beast as the vines tightened.
• Ye Han used the Ghost Skull Mirror to catch the gray sword beam and black saber beam launched by the two Demonized Cultivators.
• While the Demonized Cultivators tried to reclaim their weapons, Ye Han cut off their heads with his Wood Spirit Flying Swords.

Ye Han killed the Tiger-Head Third-Tier Magic Beast and replenished the Purple Cauldron, but remained stranded amid the battle without the Teleportation Token. As the fighting intensified, the figure of demonic qi pursued Qin Minghui and realized that many of its forces had died.

• Ye Han used the Wood Dragon and Giant Sword Art to block the Tiger-Head Third-Tier Magic Beast’s attack and sever its head.
• Ye Han collected the beast’s crystal and swallowed his remaining Low-Grade Qi Refining Pills to restore the Purple Cauldron, using up his supply.
• Ye Han conserved spell power while killing web-bound enemies and One-Eyed Spiders amid the escalating melee.
• The figure of demonic qi pursued Qin Minghui on the Six-Clawed Lightning Dragon Magic Beast and taunted her to surrender.
• The figure of demonic qi noticed that many of its forces had died and cursed.

The Devil Lord discovered that many of the creatures he controlled had been killed and set out to capture the cultivators responsible. As the separated cultivators struggled to escape, the Devil Lord’s forces closed in and their pursuers began acting with greater coordination.

• The Devil Lord cursed as his Divine Sense Marks vanished, then sent Qin Minghui into the Demonflame Forest and ordered a Six-Clawed Lightning Dragon Magic Beast to guard its entrance.
• The Devil Lord led his remaining Magic Beasts and Demonized Cultivators away to hunt the other cultivators.
• Gu Changdao fled a demonized Black-Armored Centipede Beast, regretted entering the Darkness Forbidden Ground, and unknowingly inhaled black flame-like qi.
• Lin Hongyan dodged attacks until her pursuers coordinated their assaults and she spotted the Devil Lord’s golden eyes.

The shadowy Devil Lord captured Lin Hongyan and learned that a Five-Element Formation might break the restriction, then set out to capture the other Cultivators. Sun Houde escaped underground but absorbed demonic qi, and a familiar voice interrupted his attempt to take pills.

• The shadowy Devil Lord trapped Lin Hongyan in an illusionary formation, knocked her unconscious, and searched her memories with golden light.
• The shadowy Devil Lord learned about the Five-Element Formation and ordered a Third Tier Magic Beast to carry Lin Hongyan along so she could help break the restriction.
• The shadowy Devil Lord flew off to capture the remaining Cultivators, followed by his Magic Beasts, Demonized Cultivators, zombies, and puppets.
• Sun Houde emerged from underground after hiding from his pursuers, but realized he had absorbed demonic qi and might be undergoing demonization.
• Sun Houde took pills to fight the demonic qi, but a familiar voice told him they would not help.

Ye Han fled deeper into the Darkness Forbidden Ground after killing many of the demonic figure’s controlled creatures, fearing the figure would pursue him and the pervasive demonic qi would corrupt him. He reasoned that the figure might know a way out, renewed his resolve to survive, and used Zhang Qingshan’s Demon-Warding Pearl as black qi arrived where he had been.

• Ye Han killed a One-Eyed Spider, collected its Beast Crystal, and left the remaining creatures fighting the Zombie Puppets.
• Ye Han realized the demonic qi was making him increasingly restless and decided to flee before the figure controlling the beasts could find him.
• Ye Han inferred that the figure had entered the Darkness Forbidden Ground for a purpose and might know a way to escape without a Teleportation Token.
• Ye Han resolved to survive, recalling how his perseverance had helped him rise from hardship in Green Ox Village.
• Ye Han took out Zhang Qingshan’s Demon-Warding Pearl to ward off demonic qi and vanished from the area.
• Black qi descended into the place Ye Han had just left.

The shadowy Devil Lord discovered that Ye Han had killed his third tier Tiger God Magic Beast and realized the seemingly weakest cultivator was the hardest to deal with. He captured Sun Houde, learned why the cultivators had entered the Darkness Forbidden Ground, and sent his forces after Ye Han, while Gu Changdao fled a third tier beast and Ye Han sensed danger closing in.

• The shadowy Devil Lord examined the battlefield, recognized Ye Han's wood-type spell traces, and concluded Ye Han had secretly possessed extraordinary strength.
• The shadowy Devil Lord captured Sun Houde, probed his memories, and learned the cultivators sought the hidden Five Elements Restriction Land and the Heaven-Turning Treasure Pagoda.
• The shadowy Devil Lord ordered his magic beasts, demonized cultivators, zombies, and puppets to pursue Ye Han.
• Gu Changdao killed a giant Rock Arms beast but, exhausted and wounded, decided to flee the third tier magic beast chasing him.
• Ye Han raced through a forest of withered trees and sensed a dangerous presence drawing closer.

Ye Han fled from the Devil Lord’s shadowy figure and entered Demonheart Cliff, hoping its ancient restrictions and dense Demonic Qi would help him survive. The Devil Lord’s shadowy figure stopped outside and waited for him to emerge, while Demonic Qi began invading Ye Han as soon as he entered.

• Ye Han used his Invisibility Cloak and concealed his aura to escape, then searched for an ancient restriction where he could hide.
• Ye Han realized his pursuer was still closing in and found himself facing cliffs shrouded in unusually dense Demonic Qi.
• Ye Han took out the High-Tier Mind-Steadying Talisman given to him by Zhang Lingjun and charged into Demonheart Cliff.
• The Devil Lord’s shadowy figure arrived with two third-tier Magic Beasts, dozens of Demonized Cultivators, and hundreds of zombie puppets, then ordered them to surround the cliff entrance.
• The Devil Lord’s shadowy figure said Ye Han would come out on his own, as violent Demonic Qi surged into Ye Han’s body inside Demonheart Cliff.

Ye Han entered Demonheart Cliff to escape the Devil Lord and his forces, relying on his talismans and treasures to withstand the demonic qi. The Demon-Warding Pearl activated and shielded him as he explored the cave, while the puzzled Devil Lord eventually sent his forces in after him.

• Ye Han resisted the Purple Cauldron's influence with his treasures and cultivation art, then saw that Lin Hongyan and Sun Houde had been captured by the enemy.
• Ye Han decided that pressing ahead into Demonheart Cliff was his only chance and entered a cave filled with demonic qi.
• The Demon-Warding Pearl began emitting Golden Light Runes that redirected the demonic qi and protected Ye Han.
• Ye Han explored the cave and chose the right branch at a fork in the passage.
• After Ye Han had been inside for nearly two hours, the Devil Lord ordered his magic beasts, Demonized Cultivators, zombies, and puppets to enter and find him.

Ye Han fled deeper into Demonheart Cliff while the Devil Lord sent controlled beasts and demonized cultivators after him. Protected by the Demon-Warding Pearl, Ye Han avoided using spells and sensed a rich medicinal fragrance ahead, while the Devil Lord realized his trap had failed.

• The Devil Lord suspected Ye Han possessed the Demon-Warding Pearl and ordered his controlled creatures to pursue him into Demonheart Cliff.
• Ye Han raced through the cavern as the pearl's golden runes diverted the demonic qi and protected his mind.
• Ye Han chose a narrow passage to hinder the larger beasts, but the Devil Lord used blood-red runes to split the pursuers across different routes.
• Ye Han refused to waste spells and treasures fighting the creatures, recognizing that the Devil Lord was trying to wear him down.
• Ye Han sensed a rich medicinal fragrance ahead, and the Devil Lord complained that Ye Han had not taken the bait.

Ye Han avoided wasting his spell power and magic artifacts against the creatures pursuing him through Demonheart Cliff, using Fireburst Talismans to collapse a passage and slow them down. He reached a vast chamber filled with dark-purple spirit medicine, while more magic beasts approached by another route.

• The Devil Lord's shadow realized Ye Han had seen through his plan and ordered his controlled creatures to split up and surround him.
• Ye Han followed a medicinal fragrance through a passage but decided not to waste spell power or treasures fighting the demonized cultivators and magic beasts.
• Ye Han placed two Fireburst Talismans on the ground, blasting two pursuing demonized cultivators and collapsing the passage behind him.
• Ye Han considered his limited supply of talismans and heard magic beasts approaching through a cave wall.
• Ye Han reached an enormous chamber where dark-purple spirit medicine grew across the ground.

Ye Han collected a large patch of golden thread grass in the Darkness Forbidden Ground, then fought off a demonic Mantis Beast while suspecting a demonic figure was tracking him. He uncovered a mysterious jade-like object beneath the grass, whose identity remained unknown.

• Ye Han found and gathered more than a hundred plants of golden thread grass, a main ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Ye Han noticed spiritual energy escaping from a neatly outlined patch of earth and suspected a treasure was buried there.
• A third-tier demonic Mantis Beast smashed through the cavern wall and attacked Ye Han, who evaded its strikes with Ghost Step Pace.
• Ye Han reasoned that the demonic figure wanted him alive to help unravel the Five Elements Restriction, and confirmed the Mantis Beast was holding back by moving into its attack.
• Ye Han used a hand of vines to dig up a large, snowy-white object resembling mutton-fat jade, which released astonishing spiritual energy.

Ye Han used the mysterious White Jade Flower Trough to shield himself from a Blade Mantis Magic Beast and pursuing Demonized Cultivators. He escaped through a narrow passage and collapsed the entrance behind him, but the magic beasts continued hunting him through other routes.

• Ye Han blocked the Blade Mantis Magic Beast's poisonous spray with the White Jade Flower Trough, which remained unharmed.
• The White Jade Flower Trough repelled the Blade Mantis Magic Beast's claw and flung the beast into a cave wall.
• Demonized Cultivators attacked Ye Han, but the trough's white glow knocked away their magic artifacts and protected him.
• Ye Han fled under a combined assault, suffering strain as he used the Vine Soul Technique to carry and control the trough.
• Ye Han entered a narrow passage and used Fireburst Talismans and an Earthburst Talisman to collapse the opening, trapping his pursuers behind him.
• The magic beasts took other passages to continue pursuing Ye Han, leaving him aware that his danger remained unresolved.

Ye Han realized that the White Jade Flower Trough could not solve his worsening predicament: the cavern’s demonic qi and constant pursuit were rapidly draining his spell power. He suspected the Demonic Qi Shadow had marked him through the Demonized Cultivator he killed upon entering the Darkness Forbidden Ground, but he had not yet discovered how to break the connection.

• Ye Han assessed that his spell power and pills would only let him survive the pursuit for a limited time in the demonic-qi-filled cavern.
• Ye Han questioned how the distant Demonic Qi Shadow kept locating him, since neither divine sense nor scent seemed to explain it.
• As the pursuers closed in, Ye Han recalled killing a Demonized Cultivator when his group first entered the Darkness Forbidden Ground.
• Ye Han reasoned that the Demonic Qi Shadow had already known their location before setting a trap and that killing the first Demonized Cultivator was connected to being tracked.
• Ye Han suspected resentment, a curse, or a similar effect from killing that Demonized Cultivator let the Demonic Qi Shadow locate him.

Ye Han and Gu Changdao struggled to survive relentless pursuits in the Darkness Forbidden Ground while conserving their spell power and avoiding demonic qi. Devil Lord Shadow left Demonheart Cliff to hunt Gu Changdao, while both cultivators remained in danger.

• Ye Han put away the White Jade Flower Trough and conserved his spell power, knowing that recovering it by meditation could expose him to demonic qi.
• Devil Lord Shadow concluded that Ye Han was still holding out inside Demonheart Cliff and decided to pursue Gu Changdao, whose attacks had killed many of his controlled creatures.
• Gu Changdao killed two demonized cultivators but took pills as more zombie puppets and demonized cultivators pursued him with a third-tier magic beast.
• Gu Changdao failed to understand how Devil Lord Shadow was tracking him and fled again, fearing that his spell power would run out and force him to absorb demonic qi.

Qin Minghui fled demonized Wood Spirit Magic Beasts and discovered a hidden cavern, while the Devil Lord's shadow cornered Gu Changdao. Gu Changdao offered to help capture the others in exchange for his life.

• Qin Minghui evaded pursuing Wood Spirit Magic Beasts until their attacks opened a cavern, then plunged inside despite the beasts' fear of its blue light.
• The Devil Lord's shadow watched three third-tier Magic Beasts wear down Gu Changdao and revealed that he wanted to capture him alive.
• The Devil Lord's shadow realized Ye Han had dispelled the secret technique tracking him and ordered the surrounding creatures to attack Gu Changdao together.
• Gu Changdao, nearly out of spell power, begged the Devil Lord's shadow to spare him and offered to help capture the others.

Gu Changdao surrendered to the Devil Lord's shadowy figure and offered to help capture Ye Han and the others in exchange for his life. The Devil Lord accepted, while his lost curse spirit left him unable to track Ye Han and uncertain how to capture him.

• The Devil Lord's shadowy figure stopped his forces from attacking Gu Changdao, who surrendered and offered to serve him.
• Gu Changdao proposed helping capture Ye Han and the others, hoping to prove he was useful enough to be spared.
• The Devil Lord's shadowy figure accepted Gu Changdao's submission and promised to spare his life if he served faithfully.
• The Devil Lord's shadowy figure recalled how his curse secret method let him track cultivators who killed his demonized followers, and realized Ye Han had somehow removed the curse spirit tracking him.
• Gu Changdao thanked the Devil Lord's shadowy figure and called him Master, while the Devil Lord remained puzzled by Ye Han's method.