Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping entered the Blade Ghost’s Blade Domain and made him swear not to use its power during their contest. After two failed strikes, Xu Taiping cut his own neck, provoking the Blade Ghost’s furious reaction.

• The Blade Ghost threatened Xu Taiping’s friends, and Xu Taiping agreed to a trial of blades under conditions that included three strikes without the Blade Ghost drawing his saber.
• The Blade Ghost brought Xu Taiping into his Blade Domain and explained that he had only remembered his original name and domain that year.
• Xu Taiping demanded that the Blade Ghost swear to suffer tenfold backlash if he used Blade Domain Power, and the Blade Ghost took the oath.
• Xu Taiping’s first attack was stopped by the Blade Ghost, who numbed his arms, and his second attack missed.
• Xu Taiping placed Spring Tiger against his own neck and cut himself, prompting the Blade Ghost to shout that he could not die without permission.

Xu Taiping followed Fairy Lingyue’s plan to seal the Blade Ghost, but the talisman began draining his Qi and blood, leaving his life in danger. He realized he had to return to Moon Perching Pavilion and open her second letter to find a remedy.

• Xu Taiping used clones, the Red Crow Golden Flame, and a flurry of punches to keep the Blade Ghost off balance.
• A concealed clone struck the back of the Blade Ghost’s neck, provoking him to reveal his true body.
• Xu Taiping used the Three-Talents Ghost-Sealing Talisman to bind the Blade Ghost and draw him into his palm, collapsing the Blade Domain and freeing Fourth Senior Brother.
• Xu Taiping found the sealing rune on his palm and realized Fairy Lingyue’s deductions had guided him through the fight.
• The talisman cracked Xu Taiping’s skin and began draining his Qi and blood, so he reread Fairy Lingyue’s letter and learned he needed to return to Moon Perching Pavilion for her remedy.

Xu Taiping returned to Moon Perching Pavilion suffering the severe qi and blood drain caused by the Three-Talents Ghost-Sealing Talisman he used to seal the Blade Ghost. He began reading Fairy Lingyue’s second letter to learn why she had kept the Blade Ghost’s presence from him and what the seal would cost.

• Xu Taiping drank nearly half a gourd of diluted Dragon Gall Wine to recover slightly from the talisman’s draining effect.
• Xu Taiping told Bai Yu and Ping'an that Fairy Lingyue had disappeared while fighting the Blade Ghost in his blade domain and had left him a letter and talisman to seal it.
• Bai Yu realized the rune seal on Xu Taiping’s palm was devouring his qi and blood and urged him to read Fairy Lingyue’s letter.
• Xu Taiping went to Fan Tower and opened Fairy Lingyue’s second letter.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that she had sensed the Blade Ghost near Moon Perching Pavilion, but initially planned to let Xu Taiping face it later as a training opportunity.

Xu Taiping read Sister Lingyue’s second letter, learning how she discovered the Blade Ghost’s power and arranged for its sealing. She explained the talisman’s backlash and prescribed remedies, while urging him to improve his cultivation.

• Sister Lingyue revealed that the Blade Ghost wielded a blade domain and came from a cultivator who had surpassed the transformation realm.
• She explained that she studied the Blade Ghost’s weakness, drew a Three-Talents Ghost-Sealing Talisman, and used Bai Yu to deliver it to Xu Taiping.
• Sister Lingyue warned that using the incomplete talisman depleted the user’s qi and blood and true qi, though Xu Taiping’s solid foundation would help him endure.
• She prescribed Eight-Treasure Powder and Qi-Guarding Pills to suppress the talisman’s backlash, noting that their ingredients would cost many Merit Coins.
• Sister Lingyue said that improving Xu Taiping’s cultivation would reduce the depletion, and that reaching the mystic understanding realm would end his need to worry about it.

Xu Taiping learned from Sister Lingyue’s letter how to manage the Three-Talents Ghost-Sealing Talisman’s backlash, but discovered that it consumed nearly all the medicinal power of his Dragon Gall Wine. He chose a high-paying bounty in Yunmeng Great Marsh to earn merit coins for a pill furnace and medicines, while realizing that his cultivation faced a vicious cycle.

• Xu Taiping read Sister Lingyue’s advice to keep cultivating, prepare medicines, and endure the Blade Ghost’s blade domain until dawn on each full-moon night.
• Xu Taiping decided to earn more merit and buy herbs, and he found an Earth-Class Bounty offering one hundred and thirty thousand merit coins for a grandmaster to retrieve spirit herbs in Yunmeng Great Marsh.
• Xu Taiping saw that the Sixth Peak Lord had posted the bounty and decided it would suit him, but resolved to buy medicinal herbs first to stabilize his blood qi.
• Xu Taiping drank Dragon Gall Wine and discovered that the Three-Talents Ghost-Sealing Talisman consumed most of its medicinal potency, leaving him worried that his cultivation would stall and worsen the backlash.

Xu Taiping stabilized the effects of the Three-Talents Ghost-Sealing Talisman with medicine, though the cost left him needing the Sixth Peak's bounty. Peak Master Meng offered him a mission to guide the Sixth Peak through Yunmeng Marsh, and Zhao Linglong signaled that he could negotiate for more.

• Xu Taiping used Dragon Gall Wine to maintain his Qi and Blood, then bought herbs and prepared Eight-Treasure Powder and Qi-Guarding Pills to curb the talisman's damage.
• Xu Taiping resumed his routine of sword practice, spell practice, and cultivation while missing Sister Lingyue with Bai Yu and Ping'an.
• Xu Taiping calculated that his medicine would cost two thousand Merit Coins each day and decided to accept the Sixth Peak's bounty.
• Zhao Linglong brought Peak Master Meng and Senior Sister Ziyan to Moon Perching Pavilion to recruit Xu Taiping for a trip to Yunmeng Marsh.
• Peak Master Meng offered Xu Taiping two hundred and thirty thousand Merit Coins to help the Sixth Peak reach a medicinal garden in the marsh's dangerous central ruins.
• Xu Taiping pretended to hesitate, and Zhao Linglong signaled that the Sixth Peak might offer more.

Xu Taiping agreed to join the Sixth Peak's expedition to the Yunmeng Marsh Immortal Abode Ruins after Peak Master Meng offered generous rewards. He learned why spirit-boned martial artists were in demand and reassured Zhao Linglong about the Seventh Peak's future before meeting his fellow travelers at the Cloud-Ascending Platform.

• Peak Master Meng offered Xu Taiping pills and Merit Coins, and he signed a Contract Deed to represent the Sixth Peak in the ruins.
• Zhao Linglong explained that Yunmeng Marsh's restrictions suppressed cultivation and made martial arts essential, which had led several peaks to seek Xu Taiping's help.
• Zhao Linglong said the Seventh Peak would not enter the ruins because it lacked a Passage Token and was weakened after the Seven Peaks Grand Competition.
• Xu Taiping encouraged Zhao Linglong to help the Seventh Peak reclaim its standing in six years, and she said she would enter seclusion after lunch.
• At the Sixth Peak's Cloud-Ascending Platform the next day, Xu Ziyan introduced Xu Taiping to Lü Su, Nangong Hui, Lu Yuxun, and Lin Buyu.

Xu Taiping and the Sixth Peak disciples traveled to Yunmeng Marsh, where Xu Ziyan explained their plans for the Rain and Dew Garden and the dangers inside the secret realm. At the stockade entrance, Huang Que and a giant bear blocked passage and demanded that cultivators endure the bear’s blows, leaving Xu Taiping face-to-face with Huang Que again.

• Xu Taiping greeted Xu Ziyan, Lin Buyu, and the other Sixth Peak disciples, then met Zhou Ao, who joined their group for the trip.
• Xu Ziyan led the group by immortal crane to Dongting Blessed Land and explained that they would seek Dragon Fang Fruit in the Rain and Dew Garden before hiding until the secret realm’s barrier expelled them seven days later.
• Lü Su explained that teleportation arrays required objects held by powerful demonic beasts and corpse wraith leaders, while Xu Ziyan warned that no one enforced the Nine Prefectures Statutes inside the ruins.
• A giant cedar log swept across the water and knocked cultivators from a boat near the stockade entrance.
• A voice announced that entrants had to withstand three blows from its spirit pet and could not use spells to resist.
• Xu Taiping recognized Huang Que of the Xiaoyao Sect standing on the shoulder of the giant bear holding the log.

Xu Taiping and the Sixth Peak reached the Nine Prefectures' test for entering the Immortal Mansions' ruins, where Huang Que challenged cultivators to withstand Dahei Bear's club. Zhou Ao failed the test and was badly injured, leaving Xu Taiping ready to take his turn.

• Huang Que used the Nine Prefectures' Five Thunder Formation to strike Hall Master Song of the Earth Fiend Sect when he charged the stronghold.
• Zhou Ao volunteered to face Dahei Bear despite Xu Taiping's warning and Xu Ziyan's reminder to stay within his limits.
• Zhou Ao withstood Dahei Bear's first, weakened club strike and charged forward confidently.
• Dahei Bear's next blow overwhelmed Zhou Ao and sent him into the water, where Lü Su treated his injuries.
• Xu Taiping asked Xu Ziyan to bring the boat forward so he could attempt the test himself.

Xu Taiping’s group returned to the water stronghold, where he overpowered Huang Que’s bear spirit pet in a clash of strength. Huang Que recognized Xu Taiping and greeted him warmly, though he privately blamed him for being assigned to the stronghold.

• Xu Ziyan and Nangong Hui brought their boat back toward the stronghold, and Huang Que ordered Xiaohei to knock them into the water.
• Xu Taiping stopped Xiaohei’s log strike, then sent the log flying with Ox Horn Crashes the Mountain and injured the bear’s paws.
• Xiaohei tossed Huang Que aside and charged Xu Taiping, while Xu Ziyan and the other cultivators protested that the Nine Prefectures were breaking their rules.
• Huang Que recognized Xu Taiping and tried to stop Xiaohei, but Xu Taiping battered the bear with a storm of punches and knocked him into the water.
• Xu Taiping greeted Huang Que, who grumbled that Xu Taiping had gotten him assigned to the stronghold before pretending he had missed him.

At General's Hollow, Xu Taiping and Xu Ziyan prepared to enter the Yunmeng Marsh Immortal Abode Ruins and learned that Cloudview Palace's arrogant young master Jing Hao was targeting the Rain and Dew Garden. Jing Hao's men attacked Zhou Ao and then charged at the Sixth Peak women, and Xu Taiping rushed in to intercept them.

• Huang Que greeted Xu Taiping, discussed the Rain and Dew Garden, and warned him that Cloudview Palace planned to head there.
• Xu Ziyan gave Xu Taiping a Jade Slip to keep their group together during teleportation and a pendant to guide him toward her if they were separated.
• Jing Hao demanded that cultivators bound for the Rain and Dew Garden step forward and threatened them, while Xu Ziyan and Xu Taiping decided to avoid confronting him.
• Zhou Ao challenged Jing Hao, and one of Jing Hao's men struck him and sent him flying.
• Jing Hao's other men charged at Lin Buyu and the Sixth Peak women, and Xu Taiping hurled himself into their path.

Xu Taiping and the Sixth Peak disciples confronted Cloudview Palace after its men attacked them, and Huang Que tried to defuse the clash by hinting at Xu Taiping’s connection to a powerful couple. The chapter ended with Elder Lin suspecting Xu Taiping was that couple’s illegitimate son.

• Xu Taiping knocked down two Cloudview Palace men, prompting the Young Palace Master to order Elder Lin and Elder Sun to kill him.
• Xu Ziyan led the Sixth Peak disciples in the Upper Azure Cloud-Piercing Sword Formation, and Lin Buyu summoned a massive sword of thunder that checked the elders.
• Huang Que arrived and tried to calm both sides, but Xu Ziyan and Lin Buyu refused to back down when Cloudview Palace demanded Xu Taiping apologize.
• Xu Taiping drew his saber and challenged the Young Palace Master to fight, while Huang Que stepped in to settle the dispute.
• Huang Que hinted to Elder Lin that Xu Taiping had a connection to a couple in Wujiao Country, and Elder Lin wondered if Xu Taiping was their illegitimate son.

Xu Taiping and the Azure Profound Sect disciples avoided a clash with Cloudview Palace after Huang Que revealed that Xu Taiping had once helped Immortal Haitang and Eldest Brother Xiang. As the Yunmeng Marsh Ruins formation began to open, a black-flame Flood Dragon appeared in the storm and attacked the teleportation platform.

• Huang Que told Elder Lin that Xu Taiping was the benefactor of Immortal Haitang and Eldest Brother Xiang, prompting Cloudview Palace to end its confrontation and apologize to Zhou Ao.
• Xu Taiping learned from Huang Que that the couple had devastated powerful sects after leaving Wujiao Country, weakening the sects involved in the Dao Strife.
• Huang Que left the teleportation platform, and Xu Ziyan gathered the Azure Profound Sect disciples to prepare for the ruins' teleportation.
• As dark clouds covered General's Hollow, Xu Taiping's Ghost-Sealing Talisman emerged and drained his blood qi and true qi until he took a Qi-Guarding Pill.
• A black-flame Flood Dragon burst from the clouds, roared, and spat black fire at the teleportation platform.

A damaged Teleportation Platform sent Xu Taiping and Lin Buyu into the Yunmeng Marsh Ruins, where they lost consciousness and became separated. Xu Taiping woke in a graveyard, used a pendant to search for Lin Buyu, and prepared to find her while facing the ruins’ dangers.

• Armored phantoms and cultivators attacked the black flood dragon, but its severed head triggered a wave of black flames that engulfed the Teleportation Platform.
• Xu Taiping sensed black-robed figures on the platform as its damaged array activated, and he and Lin Buyu held hands before the teleportation separated everyone and knocked them unconscious.
• Xu Taiping woke on a graveyard-covered forest slope and found that his pendant pointed toward the forest’s depths, suggesting Lin Buyu was nearby.
• Xu Taiping took medicine to recover from the Ghost-Sealing Talisman’s drain and learned from Bai Yu that spirit beasts could not leave the gourd in the ruins.
• Bai Yu warned Xu Taiping about powerful corpse wraiths in the Yunmeng Marsh Ruins, and he set out to find Lin Buyu.

Xu Taiping fought through a forest full of Corpse Wraiths and found Lin Buyu lying in a clearing. Before he could reach her, a powerful Hairy Jiangshi attacked him, forcing him to prepare for a difficult fight.

• Xu Taiping entered the burial-mound forest, where Corpse Wraiths emerged and attacked him in overwhelming numbers.
• Xu Taiping used talismans, pills, his saber, and Wind Shadow Step to break through the corpse tide and reach the forest's depths.
• Xu Taiping spotted Lin Buyu lying facedown in a clearing and hurried toward her.
• A Hairy Jiangshi ambushed Xu Taiping, broke through his Golden Bell Talisman's protection, and struck at him with a great hammer.
• Xu Taiping dodged the Hairy Jiangshi's blows and stored his ship-ballast iron so he could fight at full strength.

Xu Taiping killed the Hairy Jiangshi and fought through the Corpse Wraiths, but a terrifying blood-clothed woman appeared and seized the unconscious Lin Buyu. Suspecting she was a Flying Jiangshi, Xu Taiping followed her through the forest while looking for a chance to rescue Lin Buyu.

• Xu Taiping severed the Hairy Jiangshi's arm and legs, then beheaded it with the Spring Tiger Saber.
• Xu Taiping broke through the Corpse Wraiths surrounding him, but the Ghost-Sealing Talisman flared with pain as a chilling sob stopped the creatures.
• Xu Taiping concealed his aura and saw a blood-clothed woman whose physical body and floating movement suggested she was a Flying Jiangshi.
• The blood-clothed woman approached Lin Buyu, whose Dharma Robe repelled her hand, but she engulfed Lin Buyu in her hair and carried her west.
• Xu Taiping took a Qi-Gathering Pill and followed the woman, planning to find an opening to save Lin Buyu.

Xu Taiping discovered that Listening Wind Tower, where the female ghost had gone, was the lair of two flying jiangshi who abducted women and used their heads to grow flowers. He learned their habits and weaknesses from the Nine Prefectures’ records, but still faced the task of rescuing Lin Buyu from the dangerous pair.

• Xu Taiping used the map to locate Listening Wind Tower at Pima Mountain in the immortal abode’s Central Area, far from the Rain and Dew Courtyard Garden.
• Xu Taiping searched the Nine Prefectures’ booklet and learned that a male and female flying jiangshi occupied Listening Wind Tower.
• Xu Taiping read that the female jiangshi abducted women to be planted in jars as human-head flowers, while the male jiangshi tended the flowers and made their petals into jam.
• Xu Taiping learned that the jiangshi followed fixed instincts and slept after eating flower jam, while the female could be delayed with white crystal chrysanthemums and the male with unfamiliar fine wine.
• Xu Taiping learned that the female jiangshi’s long hair could attack and defend, but that true fire was its weakness.

Xu Taiping studied the Nine Prefectures' warnings about the Flying Jiangshi and formed a plan to rescue Buyu, but five Ancient Yue Sword Sect disciples intercepted him and forced him to carry white crystal chrysanthemums into Listening Wind Tower. Once out of their sight, he sent his clone ahead with the flowers instead.

• Xu Taiping read the booklet's advice on the Flying Jiangshi and decided to use white crystal chrysanthemums and Dragon Gall Wine to rescue Buyu.
• Zhou Xiyu and four other Ancient Yue Sword Sect disciples ambushed Xu Taiping and demanded that he lure out the female Flying Jiangshi with white crystal chrysanthemums.
• Junior Sister Sun threatened Xu Taiping and sealed his mute acupoint before forcing him to enter Listening Wind Tower's courtyard with the flowers.
• Xu Taiping performed the Clone Technique in a secluded spot and sent his clone onward with the white crystal chrysanthemums.

Xu Taiping infiltrated the Listening Wind Tower grounds and discovered the male flying jiangshi was trying to behead the unconscious Lin Buyu with a Woodcutter’s Knife. As the female flying jiangshi neared the end of the white crystal chrysanthemums and the Ancient Yue Sword Sect disciples descended, Xu Taiping used his clone to make his move.

• Xu Taiping’s clone gave the female flying jiangshi white crystal chrysanthemums, which she accepted and began stripping petal by petal.
• Xu Taiping concealed himself, let the Ancient Yue Sword Sect disciples pass, then climbed around the cliff to the Listening Wind Tower’s back courtyard.
• Xu Taiping saw young girls’ heads planted with flowers and found Lin Buyu unconscious on a chopping block, guarded by her Dharma Robe.
• The male flying jiangshi struck Lin Buyu with a woodcutting knife, tearing her Dharma Robe despite its runes blocking the blow.
• After seeing the female flying jiangshi strip the sixth chrysanthemum and the Ancient Yue Sword Sect disciples start downstairs, Xu Taiping made his clone burst into laughter.

Xu Taiping distracted the Male Flying Jiangshi with diluted Dragon Gall Wine and rescued Lin Buyu from the courtyard. The Male Flying Jiangshi sat dazed after drinking, while the Flying Jiangshi Girl trapped the Ancient Yue Sword Sect disciples inside Listening Wind Tower.

• The Flying Jiangshi Girl killed Junior Sister Sun and spread her hair throughout Listening Wind Tower after Xu Taiping's clone vanished.
• Xu Taiping used a Qi-Gathering Pill and sent another clone carrying Dragon Gall Wine toward the Male Flying Jiangshi.
• The Male Flying Jiangshi destroyed Xu Taiping's clone but became distracted when the spilled wine filled the courtyard with its scent.
• The Male Flying Jiangshi drank the diluted Dragon Gall Wine until he sat dazed on the ground.
• Xu Taiping approached Lin Buyu, lifted her into his arms, and headed for the courtyard wall.