Recaps

Ping'an and Old Daoist Huang were rescued from two Sky Demons by the Thousand Faces Puppet, which then slaughtered the demons attacking Xu Taiping. As Blade Ghost faced another wave of Sky Demons and Dong Cangzi's attack, he called on Kang Cangzi to stop watching and deal with his treacherous disciple.

• Su, a human-headed Sky Demon, broke Old Daoist Huang's qi-slaying art and bound him and Ping'an with a transformed hair rope.
• The Thousand Faces Puppet cut down Su and the tiger-headed Sky Demon with a single saber slash, rescuing Ping'an and Old Daoist Huang.
• Xu Taiping and the Thousand Faces Puppet faced dozens of Sky Demons, and the puppet used the God-Reining Style to slaughter those on the ground.
• As the puppet prepared to attack the Sky Demons circling above, Dong Cangzi struck at Xu Taiping, forcing Blade Ghost to block and lose his gathered blade force.
• Blade Ghost turned to fight the Sky Demons and shouted for Kang Cangzi to stop watching and slay his treacherous disciple, Dong Cangzi.

Kang Cangzi intervened to stop Dong Cangzi from attacking Xu Taiping and sealed Dong Cangzi’s clone. As Blade Ghost fought the Otherworldly Heavenly Demons, he corrected Xu Taiping’s technique, and Xu Taiping began striking down the demons with greater force.

• Kang Cangzi’s golden light burned half the Otherworldly Heavenly Demons to ashes, and he agreed with Blade Ghost to split the remaining enemies.
• Dong Cangzi ignored Kang Cangzi’s order and struck at Xu Taiping, but Kang Cangzi seized and sealed Dong Cangzi’s clone.
• Blade Ghost invited Kang Cangzi to watch his blade techniques, then urged Xu Taiping to join the fight.
• Xu Taiping used the God-Binding Form to cut an Otherworldly Heavenly Demon incarnation in half.
• Blade Ghost demonstrated a more domineering Binding Blade Form, cutting apart a dozen Otherworldly Heavenly Demon incarnations.
• Xu Taiping thanked Senior Blade Ghost and used the Binding Blade Form to destroy several more demon incarnations.

Xu Taiping and Blade Ghost annihilated waves of Otherworldly Heavenly Demons, then Xu Taiping joined Heavenly Lord Cangzhu and the others in using the Thunder Sound Five-Direction Earth-Splitting Formation to seal the sky breach. With the demons defeated, legendary ancestral qi descended toward the Sword Platform, poised to complete Xu Taiping’s breakthrough to Dao Integration.

• Xu Taiping and Blade Ghost unleashed the Demon-Slaying Style, crushing a hundred-odd Otherworldly Heavenly Demons with a formation of deity projections.
• Several hundred more Otherworldly Heavenly Demons descended through the hole in the sky, and Xu Taiping threw Thunder Sound Banners to Feng Tianxing and the other powerful figures.
• Xu Taiping, Heavenly Lord Cangzhu, Feng Tianxing, and the others formed the Thunder Sound Five-Direction Earth-Splitting Formation and crushed the descending demons with its phantom millstone.
• Xu Taiping and the others raised the phantom millstone to block the sky breach, destroying the demons that descended and frightening some into fleeing.
• Black astral qi with a five-colored halo descended from the breach, and Heavenly Lord Shihu identified it as ancestral qi that would complete Xu Taiping’s breakthrough to Dao Integration.

Xu Taiping absorbed Ancestral Qi to cleanse his body and soul, then began merging it with his Origin Powers as he advanced through Dao Integration. His breakthrough’s growing signs of power left Heavenly Lord Shihu wondering whether Xu Taiping might reach the Heaven-Connecting Realm.

• Feng Tianxing, Blade Ghost, and the others withdrew to the edge of the Sword Platform as Xu Taiping prepared to absorb the Ancestral Qi from Beyond the Domain.
• Xu Taiping drew the Ancestral Qi into his body, cleansing his physique and Divine Soul of turbid qi and heightening his perception of the Heavens.
• A five-colored aura entered Xu Taiping’s Divine Soul and awakened his understanding of the Spring Heavenly Dao Edict, but an invisible seal prevented him from accessing it fully.
• Xu Taiping began merging Ancestral Qi with the Origin Powers in his Primordial Spirit, Heart Aperture, and Nascent Soul.
• As Xu Taiping’s breakthrough produced expanding halos and auspicious clouds, Heavenly Lord Shihu watched the signs rise from one layer to five and wondered if Xu Taiping could reach Heaven-Connecting upon Dao Integration.

As Xu Taiping broke through to Dao Integration Origin Opening, a divine resonance containing an edict of the Great Dao descended into him. His surging aura and thirteen Dao Integration Spirit Patterns left Heavenly Lord Shihu wondering whether he would reach Dao-Integration Heavenly Communion directly.

• Xiahou You and Heavenly Lord Shihu watched Xu Taiping's auspicious clouds expand to seven hundred zhang, and Shihu judged that he could reach Dao Integration Origin Opening but not Heavenly Communion.
• Xu Taiping's auspicious clouds and Spirit Patterns grew until he broke through to Dao Integration Origin Opening, sending a pillar of golden light into the sky.
• A silver thread shining with five-colored light descended from the sky canopy and entered Xu Taiping, whom Shihu identified as receiving a divine resonance containing an edict of the Great Dao.
• Heavenly Lord Shihu explained that the resonance could help Xu Taiping comprehend an edict, and Xiahou You realized it might allow him to reach Heavenly Communion.
• Xu Taiping's aura pillar doubled in size, his Spirit Patterns increased from eight to thirteen, and Shihu wondered if he was about to break through to Dao-Integration Heavenly Communion.

Xu Taiping comprehended the Tai Su Balance-Void Law and completed his breakthrough from Dao Integration to Heavenly Communion. Just as others congratulated him, Dong Cangzi’s phantom redirected a Ruin Star toward the world, and Xu Taiping tried to lift it with his new Great Dao edict.

• Ancestral qi poured down and enveloped Xu Taiping, prompting Heavenly Lord Shihu and Xiahou You to marvel at his breakthrough and cultivation.
• Xu Taiping tested the Tai Su Balance-Void Law, making snowflakes strike with tremendous weight and a massive boulder float like a feather.
• Xu Taiping released his origin magic power and completed his breakthrough into the Heavenly Communion Realm.
• Feng Tianxing and others congratulated Xu Taiping, but a Ruin Star began plunging toward the world.
• Dong Cangzi’s phantom broke free of Kang Cangzi’s seal and used Star Moving to send the Ruin Star toward the world.
• Xu Taiping invoked the Tai Su Balance-Void Law and commanded the Ruin Star to rise.

Xu Taiping used his newly comprehended Great Dao edict to repel Dong Cangzi’s Ruin Star, then collapsed from the strain. Dong Cangzi revealed Xu Taiping’s treasures and secrets to provoke the Cultivation World into hunting him.

• Dong Cangzi used the Star Moving edict to send a Ruin Star crashing toward Xu Taiping and the others at Xuān Pǔ Palace.
• Xu Taiping invoked the Tai Su Balance-Void Law, grew to more than a thousand zhang tall, and punched the Ruin Star away from the Yellow Springs Ruins.
• Xu Taiping collapsed after the exertion, and Heavenly Lord Shihu recognized that he had reached the Dao-Integration Heavenly Communion Realm and comprehended a Great Dao edict.
• Kang Cangzi burned Dong Cangzi’s phantom-image clone with his Natal True Fire, but Dong Cangzi warned that he had entangled Kang Cangzi in karma.
• Dong Cangzi revealed images of Xu Taiping’s treasures and secret arts, then threatened to expose his Earth Treasury Fruit and make him a target of the Cultivation World.

After Dong Cangzi exposed Xu Taiping’s opportunities and vowed to hunt him, Xu Taiping learned that his rise to the Dao-Integration Heavenly Communion Realm had made the Upper Realm dangerous for him. Kang Cangzi gave him the complete Taiqing Clone Art and a way to escape to the Muhe Spirit Field, while Xu Taiping learned that Ding Mou planned to challenge Dong Cangzi in three years.

• Dong Cangzi taunted Xu Taiping from the Sword Platform before his phantom shattered, and Xu Taiping was relieved that the secret of the Spirit Bone Pills remained hidden.
• Kang Cangzi asked Xu Taiping’s Dharma Protectors to leave; Feng Tianxing, Heavenly Lord Cangzhu, Xuanbei, Fengdu Great Emperor, and Fengzhu departed with warnings.
• Heavenly Lord Hanjian told Xu Taiping that Ding Mou would challenge Dong Cangzi for a Half-Immortal Seat in three years and gave him a Moonlight Stone to watch the contest.
• Blade Ghost reproached Kang Cangzi for failing to protect Xu Taiping from Dong Cangzi’s move, and Kang Cangzi apologized and gave Xu Taiping the complete Taiqing Clone Art.
• Kang Cangzi gave Xu Taiping a bead that could transport the group to the Muhe Spirit Field in the Kunlun Ruins, and Blade Ghost and Old Daoist Huang reacted with shock at the costly gift.

Xu Taiping and his companions took refuge in the sealed Xuān Pǔ Palace secret realm while he recovered, and Blade Ghost explained the danger of seeking a Half-Immortal Seat. The chapter ended with Xu Taiping asking Blade Ghost whether he now knew who he was.

• Kang Cangzi warned Xu Taiping that the Muhe Spirit Field would only protect them for three to five years and invited him to join the Chaotic Stars Demon-Slaying Assembly.
• The Six-Nostril Mirror used the Jade Mother's Edict to seal Xuān Pǔ Palace for ten to twelve hours, giving Xu Taiping and his companions time to recover.
• At Jade Balance Mountain, Heavenly Lord Shihu learned that the Ancestor had ordered an investigation into Xu Taiping's whereabouts, while Xiahou You prepared to enter seclusion for the Chaotic Stars Assembly.
• Blade Ghost confirmed that Xu Taiping's origin magic power had not been damaged and explained that all Half-Immortal Seats were occupied, so a new Half-Immortal would have to challenge someone holding a seat.
• Blade Ghost refused to reveal the Cultivation World's deeper secrets because Xu Taiping was not ready, and Xu Taiping asked whether Blade Ghost now knew his own identity.

Blade Ghost warned Xu Taiping about the danger of his Heavenly Dao Edict and promised to reveal three routes from the Upper Realm to the Lower Realm at the Muhe Spirit Field. After Xu Taiping and his companions escaped Xuān Pǔ, they arrived at the Muhe Spirit Field and faced a giant demonic creature.

• Blade Ghost told Xu Taiping he needed to recover his cultivation and find his true body, but offered to share knowledge of three passages to the Lower Realm once they reached the Muhe Spirit Field.
• Blade Ghost warned Xu Taiping that Half-Immortal experts might kill him to extract his Heavenly Dao Edict, which would remain sealed until he reached the Half-Immortal Realm unless he forcibly empowered it.
• Xu Taiping told Blade Ghost that his Nascent Soul had produced both Punishment Baleful Intent and Baleful Transformation, and Blade Ghost said the combination would make him unmatched among cultivators of the same realm once he stabilized his cultivation.
• Old Daoist Huang warned Xu Taiping that hundreds of new auras of misfortune had appeared, so Xu Taiping left the promised Netherworld Artifacts and Jade Slip for Fengdu Prefecture and crushed Kang Cangzi's Spirit Pearl.
• Xu Taiping, Old Daoist Huang, Ping'an, and their companions arrived at the Muhe Spirit Field, where a demonic creature over a hundred zhang tall charged at them.

Xu Taiping and his companions entered the Hemu Spirit Fields, where Kang Cangzi’s guardian Zhu Ping guided them toward his Dao Field. As they crossed the enormous wheat field, Xu Taiping’s Lotus Eye suddenly burned and showed him a vision of Zhu Ping being cut down by saber light.

• An ant-headed Evil Demon drenched itself in a deer’s blood but failed to notice Xu Taiping and his companions, protected by Kang Cangzi’s decree.
• Zhu Ping, an enlightened Little Pig Demon guarding Kang Cangzi’s Dao Field, appeared and offered to lead Xu Taiping and the others through the wheat field.
• Zhu Ping explained that the Hemu Spirit Fields’ abundant spiritual qi made its plants enormous, and the group saw the Grainwood Divine Tree’s phantom projected across the sky.
• Old Daoist Huang said the Grainwood Divine Tree’s true body was so mysterious that even Kang Cangzi had not found it.
• Xu Taiping’s Lotus Eye burned and showed him a vision of saber light cleaving Zhu Ping, so he grabbed Zhu Ping and told him to stop.

Xu Taiping and his companions watched Three Corpses Cave disciples battle a powerful evil demon avatar and learned that the sect planned to send Lin Buyu to a dangerous landing point during the Chaotic Stars Assembly. The chapter left Xu Taiping alarmed by the threat to his junior sister.

• Zhu Ping explained that he and the others could still be harmed in this world, and Blade Ghost suggested Xu Taiping use the evil demon avatars to stabilize his cultivation.
• A green-clad cultivator fought the martial artist evil demon avatar and resurrected her fallen companions with a technique of Death and Resurrection.
• Xu Taiping, Old Daoist Huang, and Blade Ghost recognized the six cultivators as Three Corpses Cave disciples.
• The green-clad cultivator, Qingxiang, planted a Formation Flag and said she would have Lin Buyu's team sent to this dangerous location during the Chaotic Stars Assembly.
• Ping'an heard Qingxiang's hostile thoughts, and another disciple confirmed that the plan could leave Lin Buyu badly hurt or dead.

Xu Taiping learned that Three Corpses Cave disciples bore malice toward Lin Buyu and that she might return to the Kunlun Ruins for the Chaotic Stars Assembly in three years. After killing a third-stage evil demon incarnation, he sensed the Yellow Springs through his Lotus Eye and feared his Second Senior Brother was in danger.

• Ping'an overheard that Three Corpses Cave disciples were scouting the Kunlun Ruins for the Chaotic Stars Assembly, and Xu Taiping decided not to disturb their formation flag.
• Zhu Ping explained the five stages of evil demons, and Xu Taiping chose to test his strength against a wounded third-stage incarnation.
• Xu Taiping defeated the martial artist evil demon incarnation with his blade techniques and Annihilating Blade Art.
• Blade Ghost warned Xu Taiping that he had not yet fully mastered his Heaven-Connecting Realm strength and led the group toward Kang Cangzi's Dao Field.
• Xu Taiping's Lotus Eye showed him the Yellow Springs, making him suspect that his Second Senior Brother was in danger.

Xu Taiping’s Lotus Eye sensed that something might have happened to his Second Senior Brother in the Yellow Springs, so he planned to verify the vision with Great Deductive Power after stabilizing his new cultivation. He and his companions reached True Immortal Kang Cang’s vast Bamboo Sea Dao Field, where Xu Taiping began by asking the Human Sovereign Sword to become his Life-Bound Divine Weapon.

• Xu Taiping told Ping'an, Old Daoist Huang, and Blade Ghost that his Lotus Eye had shown him an image of the Yellow Springs and that he suspected his Second Senior Brother was in trouble.
• Blade Ghost advised Xu Taiping to stabilize his Dao Integration Realm by refining three treasures into Natal Treasures, ideally one for attack, one for defense, and one to increase magical power.
• The little pig demon led the group into the bamboo grove, where they entered a vast Dao Field built on a black-jade terrace above the clouds.
• Zhu Ping showed Xu Taiping and his companions the Pine and Bamboo Residence, where they could stay, and Sea-Viewing Cliff, where they could cultivate.
• That night, Xu Taiping sensed the moon-shaped edict calming his mind, then summoned the Human Sovereign Sword and respectfully asked its sword souls to accept it as his Life-Bound Divine Weapon.

Xu Taiping gained the Human Sovereign Sword as his Life-Bound Divine Weapon after its spirits accepted him and he swore to protect the Human Race. The sword was refined into his body, greatly increased his battle intent, and granted him the divine intent One Sword Equals Ten Thousand Soldiers.

• Xu Taiping worried that the Human Sovereign Sword's spirits would refuse him, but they revealed that they had been teasing him and had already judged him worthy.
• The Human Sovereign spirits explained that they had watched Xu Taiping's trials and accepted him as their master.
• Xu Taiping called upon the Human Sovereigns to become his Life-Bound Divine Weapon, and the sword merged with him, transforming his Frost Slays All Plants Sword Intent.
• Xu Taiping and the Human Sovereigns swore an oath to protect the Human Race, and the sword spirits offered him their undiminished battle intent.
• The Human Sovereign Sword was quickly refined within Xu Taiping, and he gained its Life-Bound Divine Intent, One Sword Equals Ten Thousand Soldiers.

Xu Taiping refined the Human Sovereign Sword and began stabilizing his cultivation while preparing to help Second Senior Brother in the Yellow Springs. After mastering the complete clone art and refining two more Life-Bound Items, he announced that he could descend to the Yellow Springs within days.

• Xu Taiping refined the Human Sovereign Sword into a Life-Bound Divine Weapon and placed it in his Golden Mansion to nurture with his blood qi and Dao essence.
• Xu Taiping assigned clones to refine the Heavenly Sound Bell and Dragon-Blood Bamboo Hat, then began absorbing the divine sense in Kang Cangzi's jade slip.
• Xu Taiping spent ten days digesting the jade slip's divine sense and cultivating the complete Mysterious Origin Avatar Art.
• Xu Taiping created a true Origin Beginning Clone, which shared his identity and gave him nearly twice his combat strength at the cost of greater magic power.
• Xu Taiping's two ordinary Mysterious Origin clones burst apart, and he sensed new true intent and divine intent after the Heavenly Sound Bell and Dragon-Blood Bamboo Hat became Life-Bound Items.
• Xu Taiping told Blade Ghost that he would be able to descend to the Yellow Springs within days.

Xu Taiping stabilized his Heaven-Connecting Realm cultivation by carving a blade mark into the Bamboo Sea Dao Field’s barrier, but the strike weakened it from within. When a Blood Demon Ant began attacking the barrier from outside, Blade Ghost ordered Xu Taiping to deal with it.

• Xu Taiping cut through the Sea of Clouds and left a blade mark on the Bamboo Sea Dao Field’s barrier, proving his cultivation had initially stabilized.
• Blade Ghost congratulated Xu Taiping and said they might soon be able to fight for real.
• Little Pig Demon Zhu Ping warned that Xu Taiping’s strike had damaged the barrier, which might force them to activate the mountain-sealing barrier and remain trapped until Kang Cangzi returned.
• Old Daoist Huang sensed misfortune threads above the group just before an evil demon began battering the barrier from outside.
• Zhu Ping showed the group a Blood Demon Ant chopping through the bamboo, and Blade Ghost took away Zhu Ping’s grand formation jade jue.
• Blade Ghost told Xu Taiping to go outside and deal with the Blood Demon Ant.

Xu Taiping tested his blade against a third-stage Blood Demon Ant and killed it with a single decisive strike. As he prepared to return, a fourth-stage evil demon incarnation called Demonic Mountain approached the bamboo sea.

• Xu Taiping fought the Blood Demon Ant while Ping'an, Zhu Ping, Blade Ghost, and Old Daoist Huang watched from the Bamboo Sea Dao Field.
• Blade Ghost explained that Xu Taiping was testing his blade to find an opening before using a killing move to finish the enemy efficiently.
• Xu Taiping severed the Blood Demon Ant's head with a thin blade of light and collected its corpse.
• Zhu Ping urged Xu Taiping to return, but a mountain-shaped fourth-stage evil demon incarnation called Demonic Mountain appeared outside the bamboo sea.
• Zhu Ping warned Xu Taiping to abandon the corpse and return inside the barrier at once.

Xu Taiping returned to the Dao Field after sensing Mo Mountain, a fourth-stage evil demon’s incarnation, and the group watched as Blood Demon Ants drove Mo Mountain away from the bamboo sea. With the damaged barrier needing protection, Blade Ghost agreed to discuss Xu Taiping’s descent into the Yellow Springs that night.

• Xu Taiping crushed the Jade Jue and returned to the Dao Field after sensing Mo Mountain’s dangerous aura from the bamboo sea.
• Blade Ghost asked whether Xu Taiping could escape Mo Mountain unscathed without treasures, and Xu Taiping said he was confident he could.
• Zhu Ping warned that Mo Mountain might have detected the damaged barrier and that the group could be sealed inside if he approached.
• Blood Demon Ants attacked Mo Mountain as he neared the bamboo sea, forcing him to retreat.
• Zhu Ping told Xu Taiping to drive away demonic beasts that touched the damaged barrier, and Xu Taiping agreed to help.
• Blade Ghost told Xu Taiping to bring the Yellow Springs Jade Pillow that night so they could discuss his descent into the Yellow Springs to see Second Senior Brother.

Xu Taiping, Blade Ghost, and Old Daoist Huang prepared to enter the Yellow Springs to scout and locate Dugu Qingxiao, while Xiaohei remained asleep in the Secret Realm. Before they descended, Xu Taiping used divine marrow power to unlock Fairy Lingyue’s message, which began with congratulations on his successful Dao Integration.

• Xu Taiping told Blade Ghost that Xiaohei would need about half a month to digest Yin Marshal Baowei’s power, so he would not join their first trips into the Yellow Springs.
• Blade Ghost chose Old Daoist Huang to accompany him and Xu Taiping, while Taiping stayed behind to guard them; a lightning strike from Xiaoyu singed Old Daoist Huang’s hair.
• Blade Ghost suggested that Xu Taiping’s Lotus Eye visions might come from a newly awakened power of deduction after his Dao Integration breakthrough.
• The three entered the Dragon-Trapping Tower and sat by the Jade Pillows they would use to descend into the Yellow Springs.
• Xu Taiping revealed that Fairy Lingyue’s Jade Pendant held restricted guidance for rescuing Dugu Qingxiao, then unlocked its message with divine marrow power.
• Fairy Lingyue’s voice congratulated Xu Taiping on achieving Dao Integration.

Xu Taiping learned Fairy Lingyue’s method for guiding Dugu Qingxiao out of the Yellow Springs and entrusted the Soul-Summoning Talisman technique to Old Daoist Huang. As Old Daoist Huang studied it, Blade Ghost revealed his deep respect for Undying Night Soul, prompting Xu Taiping to ask what he knew about Fairy Lingyue.

• Fairy Lingyue congratulated Xu Taiping on his breakthrough and explained that he needed Meng Po Soup to restore Dugu Qingxiao’s awareness.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping to make two Soul-Summoning Talismans, one using a Supreme-Grade Soulfire Stone and the other using Wangchuan stone from the dangerous Wangchuan River.
• Fairy Lingyue revealed that her next clue was also near Wangchuan, then left Xu Taiping the talisman-drawing method as a Divine Soul Mark.
• Xu Taiping explained the rescue method to Old Daoist Huang and Blade Ghost, then gave Old Daoist Huang the talisman method to study.
• Blade Ghost said he respected Undying Night Soul, and Xu Taiping asked whether Blade Ghost knew Fairy Lingyue.

Blade Ghost explained the legendary reputation of Fairy Lingyue before preparing Xu Taiping and Old Daoist Huang to descend to the Yellow Springs. Xu Taiping arrived alone and, while trying to sense Blade Ghost’s blade intent, encountered a hovering red sedan chair.

• Blade Ghost told Xu Taiping that Fairy Lingyue, once known as the Undying Night Soul, had been a peerless sword cultivator in his era.
• Old Daoist Huang examined Fairy Lingyue’s Soul-Summoning Talisman and declared that he was completely confident he could draw it.
• Blade Ghost cut bloodless blade marks into Xu Taiping’s and Old Daoist Huang’s palms, explaining they would repel evil ghosts briefly and help them sense his blade intent.
• Blade Ghost, Xu Taiping, and Old Daoist Huang lay on their Jade Pillows and descended to the Yellow Springs.
• Xu Taiping found himself alone in the Yellow Springs and spotted a bright red sedan chair hovering along a dead-tree-lined path behind him.

Xu Taiping encountered a female ghost on Bozhong Mountain who tried to trick him before attacking to steal his flesh and blood. After Xu Taiping used the Blade Ghost’s Blade Intent to overpower her, he questioned her about the stranger she had met decades earlier.

• Xu Taiping’s Qi and Blood flared into flames that repelled the Blood Sedan, but sustaining them rapidly consumed his true blood.
• Xu Taiping cautiously questioned the female ghost about the route to Wangchuan while pretending to lower his guard.
• The female ghost transformed the Blood Sedan into blood mist and revealed that she wanted to eat Xu Taiping’s flesh and blood.
• The female ghost admitted she had failed to capture an Otherworlder decades earlier and attacked Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping unleashed the Blade Ghost’s Blade Intent, severed the female ghost’s hands, and demanded details about her earlier encounter.

Xu Taiping learned that Xu Ziyan had entered the Yellow Springs while searching for Dugu Qingxiao, and used the Lotus Eye to sense that she might still be there. After escaping the Blood Palanquin Female Ghost, he concealed himself in ruins west of Bozhong Mountain and contacted Blade Ghost.

• Xu Taiping forced the Blood Palanquin Female Ghost to reveal that a woman named Xu Ziyan had entered Bozhong Mountain more than thirty years earlier and escaped while being taken to Peach Mountain Old Mother.
• The female ghost said Xu Ziyan had been searching for Dugu Qingxiao, confirming Xu Taiping's suspicion that she had come to the Yellow Springs for his Second Senior Brother.
• Xu Taiping used the Lotus Eye to deduce whether Xu Ziyan was still in the Yellow Springs, then kicked away the female ghost when she pressed against him and fled.
• Xu Taiping hid in ruins west of Bozhong Mountain and sent Blade Ghost a voice transmission saying he had sensed his location and was heading toward him.

Xu Taiping examined a vision suggesting Senior Sister Ziyan needed help, then encountered an Ox Head Ghost Warden in the ruins. He recognized the bone sword at its waist as Dugu Qingxiao’s and asked Blade Ghost whether he could defeat the warden to learn how it got the sword.

• Xu Taiping opened the divine soul mark and saw a little girl carrying water for Senior Sister Ziyan through vast ruins marked by an enormous pit.
• Xu Taiping sensed the approaching Ghost Warden after Blade Ghost warned him to conceal his aura, and he hid as Ox Head passed by.
• Xu Taiping recognized the bone sword at Ox Head’s waist as the weapon Dugu Qingxiao had obtained from Fallen Longyuan.
• Xu Taiping asked Blade Ghost what chance he had of defeating Ox Head.