Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping and his companions spent nearly a century cultivating in Buzhou Immortal Palace, strengthening their abilities while time stood still outside. After the Earth Fruit ripened, Xu Taiping prepared to leave with his power greatly increased and the four Heaven-Connecting Realm pursuers still awaiting them.

• Xu Taiping agreed that Xiaohei could cultivate with Star Marrow Power, and Ping'an invited Old Daoist Huang to join him in challenging the Divine Generals.
• Over a century in Buzhou Immortal Palace, Ping'an and Xiaohei defeated a Heavenly King-level Divine General phantom image, while Xiaohei's physical strength reached the Moon-Supporting Realm.
• Xu Taiping explained that he had refined thirteen Immortal Weapons as Life-Bound Divine Weapons, bringing his divine essence close to the Ultimate Realm, while his Golden Core's true essence had reached the Ultimate Realm.
• Xu Taiping and Old Daoist Huang considered ambushing Venerable Ziming and the other Heaven-Connecting Realm powerhouses after leaving the palace.
• Xu Taiping revealed that the Earth Fruit had ripened ten years earlier, and Old Daoist Huang said it was time to leave Buzhou Immortal Palace.

Xu Taiping harvested the Earth Fruit Willow’s treasures, restoring the Shentu Bow and its three divine arrows as Xiantian Divine Weapons. When Black Claw felled the willow, its trunk transformed into a little girl who seemed to be Jade Mother, leaving Xu Taiping and the others stunned.

• Xu Taiping explained that Jade Mother had allowed him to take one willow branch and three strands, and he expected them to restore the Shentu Bow and its arrows.
• A bow-shaped branch transformed into the Shentu Bow, which Xu Taiping confirmed was a Xiantian Divine Weapon that could form its own bowstring and fiery arrow.
• Black Claw cut down three willow strands, which became the divine arrows of Wind Granny, Thunder Master, and Fire Virtue, each carrying an ancient god’s killing intent.
• At Xu Taiping’s command, Black Claw felled the willow’s strands and branches, revealing hundreds of Immortal Swords and six enormous branches.
• Black Claw cut down the willow trunk, which transformed into golden light and revealed a little girl whom Xu Taiping suspected was Jade Mother.

Xu Taiping and Old Daoist Huang discovered that the little girl Xiaoyu had formed from Jade Mother’s divine sense and the earth fruit, and Jade Mother gave Xu Taiping instructions for raising her. Xiaoyu bonded with Xu Taiping, while her cries summoned lightning against Old Daoist Huang, leaving them to figure out how to feed her.

• Xiaoyu revealed that she was formed from Jade Mother’s divine sense and the earth fruit, and the six willow treasures submitted to her before she drew the eight hundred flying swords into a sword case.
• Jade Mother told Xu Taiping to feed Xiaoyu spirit marrow crystals or pills until her spiritual awareness awakened, explained how Xiaoyu would develop, and said Xu Taiping could borrow her power if Xiaoyu trusted him.
• Jade Mother promised to help Xu Taiping rescue his fellow disciples from the Taixuan Ghost Domain if he helped her return to Shangqing, then revealed that she had descended to end the Great Void Calamity.
• Jade Mother passed Xu Taiping a divine soul mark containing Xiaoyu’s pill recipe and information about the six treasures, which could protect Xiaoyu even before her spiritual awareness awakened.
• Xiaoyu clung to Xu Taiping, then cried when Old Daoist Huang laughed, causing lightning to strike him until Xu Taiping soothed her.
• Ping'an sensed that Xiaoyu was hungry, and when she began crying again, Old Daoist Huang urged Xu Taiping to feed her.

Xu Taiping and his companions prepared to leave the Buzhou Immortal Palace and confront the four Heaven-Connecting powerhouses waiting outside. After the attackers destroyed the Unburning Sword Palace’s defenses, Ping'an rammed them aside and Xu Taiping unleashed a blade strike.

• Xiaoyu ate a Spirit Marrow Crystal, fell asleep, and Xu Taiping settled her in the White Gourd.
• Xu Taiping, Old Daoist Huang, and Ping'an prepared to escape the Buzhou Immortal Palace and reach the Wuji Abyss, while Fairy Lingyue warned them that their time was up.
• Venerable Ziming, Zhu Li, Heavenly Lord Qingmu, and Cangwu Heavenly Lord combined their attacks to destroy the Unburning Sword Palace’s formations and sword shadows.
• The Buyao Dou Palace vanished, and Xu Taiping, Old Daoist Huang, and their companions appeared before the Unburning Sword Palace’s main hall.
• Ping'an grew to enormous size and knocked the four powerhouses back, giving Xu Taiping an opening to unleash a blade strike.

Xu Taiping used the Water-Cutting Blade and Tai Bai Eclipse Power to wound Venerable Ziming and consecrate his blade before Xiaohei rescued him and Ping'an. The group escaped to Wuji Abyss, where Xu Taiping explained how he had hidden their trail, and Ping'an suggested retreating into the Tusita Palace secret realm if their pursuers found them.

• Xu Taiping unleashed the Water-Cutting Blade against Venerable Ziming, split his palm shadow, and cut through his palm, consecrating the blade with its blood.
• Venerable Ziming attacked as Xu Taiping ran out of magic power, but Xiaohei caught Xu Taiping and carried him and Ping'an away.
• Cangwu Heavenly Lord and the others stopped Venerable Ziming from pursuing, suspecting Xu Taiping and Ping'an had gained their power through Buzhou Immortal Palace.
• At Wuji Abyss, Xu Taiping told Old Daoist Huang that the Blade of Guicang's Divine Intent would conceal them for about half a month.
• Ping'an suggested entering the Tusita Palace secret realm if their pursuers found them, and Old Daoist Huang asked whether Xu Taiping intended to go there now.

Xu Taiping learned that the Bronze Arena would not reopen for three years and that four Heaven-Connecting Realm cultivators were hunting for him, so he decided to seek refuge in the Tusita Palace secret realm. Before going, he planned to visit the Ruin Market for supplies and discovered that his sky canopy glazed jade could be valuable enough to sell through the Black Prison's Profound Appraisal Pavilion.

• The Six-Nostril Mirror told Xu Taiping that Xiao Huang would reopen the Bronze Arena in three years, and that Xu Taiping could challenge him immediately if he came.
• The Six-Nostril Mirror warned that Venerable Ziming and three other Heaven-Connecting Realm powerhouses had searched for Xu Taiping and might locate him once the Blade of Guicang's protective true intent faded.
• Xu Taiping proposed hiding in the Tusita Palace secret realm, and Old Daoist Huang agreed to accompany him despite his misgivings.
• Xu Taiping and his companions decided to visit the Ruin Market within five days to obtain spirit stones or medicinal herbs before entering Tusita Palace.
• Old Daoist Huang recognized Xu Taiping's sky canopy glazed jade as a rare treasure valuable to Qi-Reading Practitioners and advised auctioning some at the Black Prison's Profound Appraisal Pavilion.

Xu Taiping and his companions sold treasures and bought supplies at Nether Luo Ruin Market, then drew the Xiao Clan matriarch’s hostility after refusing to hand over two star marrow stones without payment. As the group headed for Xuanjian Pavilion and prepared for a possible ambush, Madam Xiao’s nephew announced that the clan elders were about to strike.

• Ping'an reported that he had bought spirit marrow stones and medicinal herbs, while Xu Taiping and Old Daoist Huang prepared to leave their stall for Xuanjian Pavilion.
• Madam Xiao’s nephew grabbed two star marrow stones, but Xu Taiping reclaimed them and Ping'an knocked aside the nephew’s sword when he attacked Old Daoist Huang.
• Madam Xiao revealed she was the Xiao Clan matriarch, then left with her nephew after Xu Taiping refused to give them the stones without payment.
• Ping'an used Mind-Heart Communication to learn that Madam Xiao had ordered clan elders, including a half-step Heaven-Connecting Realm expert, to ambush them for their presumed hidden treasures.
• Xu Taiping led the group toward Xuanjian Pavilion and planned to use the Blade of Guicang’s 'Mountain Edge, Sea End' to conceal their auras if attacked.
• At a restaurant, Xiao Huang arrived with Jiang Suxue to meet Madam Xiao, and Xiao Yu announced that the two clan elders were about to act.

Xiao Huang watched a spirit mirror reveal Nameless Nobody and the white ape killing Xiao clan elders Youmen and Qigu, then recognized the young cultivator and agreed to investigate with Madam Xiao and Jiang Suxue. Xu Taiping, Ping'an, and Old Daoist Huang reached the Profound Appraisal Pavilion to auction sky canopy glazed jade, but two stewards barred them from entering.

• Xiao Yu showed Xiao Huang and Jiang Suxue a spirit-mirror image of Clan Elders Qigu and Youmen ambushing two cultivators in Black Alley.
• The white ape demon gravely wounded Qigu, and the young blade cultivator forced Youmen back before the ape killed him and the young cultivator finished Qigu.
• Xiao Huang recognized the young cultivator as Nameless Nobody from the Lower Realm and agreed to accompany Madam Xiao and Jiang Suxue to investigate.
• Xu Taiping, Ping'an, and Old Daoist Huang discussed the spirit mirror's ability to reveal them and planned to auction the sky canopy glazed jade before leaving.
• At the Profound Appraisal Pavilion, two Ruin Market stewards stopped Xu Taiping and Ping'an and said ordinary cultivators could not enter.

Xu Taiping and Old Daoist Huang tried to sell a large piece of Sky Canopy Glazed Jade at the Profound Appraisal Pavilion, where Steward Liu first dismissed them before the Second Pavilion Master recognized the treasure. When the Pavilion Master said the sale could not be scheduled for that day, Xu Taiping offered a second equally large piece, leaving the Pavilion Master stunned.

• Old Daoist Huang showed Steward Liu Xu Taiping’s Glazed Jade, but Steward Liu dismissed it and ordered guards to drive them away.
• Old Daoist Huang demonstrated the jade’s resonant sound, then left with Xu Taiping, Xiaohei, and Ping'an.
• The Second Pavilion Master told Steward Liu to keep the jade’s owner at the Pavilion, and Steward Liu hurried after them to apologize.
• The Second Pavilion Master identified the treasure as Sky Canopy Glazed Jade and confirmed it was valuable enough to auction, but said the scheduled lots prevented a sale that day.
• Xu Taiping offered another piece of Sky Canopy Glazed Jade of the same weight, and the Second Pavilion Master stared at it in shock.

Head Pavilion Master Xuanzhu and Ninth Madam learned that the Second Pavilion Master had replaced the Ziyang Sect’s Xuanpin Pearl on the auction roster with an extraordinary batch of Sky Canopy Glazed Jade. They ordered the jade secured and planned to announce it across the cultivation world, while Xu Taiping and his companions arrived at the Profound Appraisal Pavilion to await the auction.

• Xuanzhu reviewed the auction lists with Ninth Madam, then the roster’s Xuanpin Pearl entry began to disappear.
• The Second Pavilion Master admitted he had erased the Xuanpin Pearl to make room for Sky Canopy Glazed Jade brought by unaffiliated cultivators.
• The Second Pavilion Master revealed the batch contained twenty-five jin of supreme-grade Sky Canopy Glazed Jade, astonishing Xuanzhu and Ninth Madam.
• Xuanzhu ordered the jade added to the auction and delivered to the Black Prison’s Treasury, while Ninth Madam promised to announce it once they confirmed it was genuine.
• The Second Pavilion Master escorted Xu Taiping and his companions to a side room, where Old Daoist Huang ate the Spirit Fruit and Xu Taiping was offered a place to watch the auction.

Xu Taiping received the Profound Appraisal Pavilion’s auction roster and discovered that it listed a rare Su Spirit Pill that could extend his lifespan. Meanwhile, news of nearly thirty jin of sky canopy glazed jade drove the Xiao Clan and Ziyang Sect to compete for it, and Xu Taiping was left wondering why the pill had appeared at auction.

• The Second Pavilion Master told Xu Taiping that the auction roster was being redrafted and that the Black Prison had announced the sale of two pieces of sky canopy glazed jade.
• Madam Xiao, Xiao Huang, and Jiang Suxue learned that Fifth Uncle wanted Madam Xiao to win the jade, while Xiao Yu hoped Fifth Uncle would help with a personal grievance.
• Xiao Huang received the Ziyang Sect Grand Elder’s order to bid for the jade or identify its buyer, and the Grand Elder warned that the jade could let the sect’s enemies damage its fortune.
• The Second Pavilion Master delivered the completed auction roster to Xu Taiping, who spotted the Su Spirit Pill and wondered why such a precious pill was being offered.

Xu Taiping considered bidding for the Azure Spirit Pavilion’s chance to refine a Su Spirit Pill, while Xiaoyu’s hunger and crying caused trouble for Old Daoist Huang. The group then went to the Profound Appraisal Pavilion’s auction, where pavilion master Xuanzhu welcomed them.

• Xu Taiping and his companions reviewed the Su Spirit Pill auction terms, and Ping'an offered to use his Mind-Heart Communication to help with bidding.
• Xiaoyu rejected a spirit marrow crystal, eagerly ate a Grass Return Pill, and lost control while flying around Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping caught Xiaoyu, but her crying summoned bolts of thunder that struck Old Daoist Huang.
• Old Daoist Huang said his cultivation had reached minor completion in the Dao Integration Natal Origin realm and that he needed to refine the power of fortune from Ruin Stars to advance.
• Xu Taiping, Ping'an, and Old Daoist Huang went to the Profound Appraisal Pavilion as its auction began, and head pavilion master Xuanzhu welcomed the guests.

Xu Taiping joined the auction for the Azure Spirit Pavilion’s Su Spirit Pill refining opportunity and learned that its disciples planned to manipulate the bids. After the other bidders withdrew, he placed a final bid of fifty spirit marrow crystals, hoping to obtain the opportunity cheaply.

• Jiang Shuoxue asked Xiao Huang to prioritize winning two pieces of Glazed Jade, though she was also interested in a primordial chaos gold essence stone.
• Xu Taiping and Ping'an entered the Su Spirit Pill refining auction, where Xu Taiping bid fifty spirit marrow crystals in the first round.
• Ping'an detected that the Azure Spirit Pavilion disciples intended to drive the bids up to three thousand spirit marrow crystals, and Xu Taiping continued bidding cautiously.
• Xu Taiping learned that Jia Character Number Eleven and the other bidders had stopped bidding after the third round, while the Azure Spirit Pavilion’s planted bidder offered three thousand.
• Xu Taiping submitted a final bid of fifty spirit marrow crystals, hoping to claim the refining opportunity at a bargain price.

Xu Taiping and his companions discovered Lin Mu was behind the Azure Spirit Pavilion’s final auction bid, while Old Daoist Huang’s fortune manipulation unexpectedly advanced his cultivation. The auction revealed that room Jia Character Number Twenty-One had placed the sole bid, leaving Lin Mu anxious but still hoping for a high price.

• Lin Mu and the Ye Qingchen sisters hoped to sell the Azure Spirit Pavilion’s pill-refining opportunity for at least six thousand spirit marrow crystals and earn merit.
• Ping'an overheard Lin Mu’s thoughts and identified him to Xu Taiping, while Old Daoist Huang remembered he had kept the jade slip used to manipulate Lin Mu’s fortune.
• Old Daoist Huang’s fortune manipulation triggered a breakthrough, bringing his Dao Integration Natal Origin Realm to great completion.
• Old Daoist Huang explained how Qi-Reading Practitioners cultivated through fortune manipulation, and Xu Taiping promised to help him advance.
• Head Pavilion Master Xuanzhu announced that room Jia Character Number Twenty-One had submitted the sole final bid, surprising Lin Mu and the Ye Qingchen sisters.

Xu Taiping won the right to have Su Spirit Pills refined for just fifty spirit marrow crystals, drawing Ninth Madam’s attention and revealing that enemies were waiting to ambush him outside the Black Prison. Ninth Madam agreed to help him leave early by advancing the auction of his Glazed Jade and providing supplies, and they began planning the details.

• Ye Feiyun and Ye Qingchen discovered that the bid for the Azure Spirit Pavilion’s pill-refining rights was only fifty spirit marrow crystals, and Lin Mu accused the Profound Appraisal Pavilion of foul play.
• Ninth Madam appeared before Xu Taiping and accepted his trust in the Heaven-Hunting Great Sage, but warned him that four Heavenly Communion Realm powerhouses were waiting outside the Black Prison to intercept him.
• Ninth Madam explained that the enemies had likely found Xu Taiping through the karma tied to Lin Mu and the Su Spirit Pills, despite the Blade of Guicang’s protection against heavenly-secrets deduction.
• Xu Taiping asked Ninth Madam to auction the Glazed Jade early so he could leave before his enemies expected him to.
• Ninth Madam offered to advance Spirit Marrow Crystals, pills, and medicinal herbs so Xu Taiping could leave during the early auction, and they began calculating what he needed.

Xu Taiping secured supplies and a Black Prison Token from Ninth Madam, then learned that the ingredients needed for the Su Spirit Pill could be found in Tusita Palace. He revealed that Tusita Palace was his next destination just as the auction of the Sky Canopy Glazed Jade began.

• Xu Taiping asked Ninth Madam to advance him Spirit Marrow Crystals and pill ingredients, and she gave him dragon gall stone in return for a pot of Hidden Immortal Wine.
• Ninth Madam traded Xu Taiping a Black Prison Token for the promise of Hidden Immortal Wine and arranged delivery of his requested supplies and the Azure Spirit Pavilion token.
• Old Daoist Huang burned away the fortune threads on the jade box containing the token, and Xu Taiping learned the Su Spirit Pill required rare ingredients from Heavenly Palace ruins.
• Ninth Madam said the Heavenly Palace Alchemy Chamber might hold the needed ingredients and was located in Tusita Palace, warning that powerful beings had long sought its treasures.
• Xu Taiping told Ninth Madam that he and Old Daoist Huang were heading to Tusita Palace as First Pavilion Master Xuanzhu announced the auction of twenty-five jin of Sky Canopy Glazed Jade.

Xu Taiping and his companions fled the Nether Luo Ruin Market while Venerable Ziming and three other Heaven-Connecting Realm cultivators pursued them. Xiao Huang held off the pursuers so Xu Taiping could escape, and Xu Taiping promised to meet him at the Bronze Arena in three years.

• Venerable Ziming, Elder Zhu Li, Cangwu Heavenly Lord, and Heavenly Lord Qingmu entered the Profound Appraisal Pavilion, while the Ninth Madam prepared to help Xu Taiping escape.
• The Ninth Madam gave Xu Taiping a jade slip about Tusita Palace, and Old Daoist Huang burned away the threads of fortune linking Xu Taiping and Ping'an to Lin Mu.
• Xu Taiping, Ping'an, and Old Daoist Huang raced through North Street as Venerable Ziming and the others pursued them, and Ping'an took Cangwu Heavenly Lord's Immortal Sword in his back to carry them to the North Gate.
• Xu Taiping pulled the Immortal Sword from Ping'an and summoned Xiaohei, but Xiao Huang appeared ahead and urged Xu Taiping to meet him at the Bronze Arena in three years.
• Xiao Huang summoned a Deity Projection and struck at the pursuers while Xu Taiping, Ping'an, and Old Daoist Huang escaped on Xiaohei's back.

Xu Taiping, Ping'an, and Old Daoist Huang sealed themselves inside Danyuan Hall and used Xu Taiping’s Southern Bright Li Fire to speed up pill refinement. After their first successful batch, the Six-Nostril Mirror warned that their pursuers would arrive within an incense stick.

• Xu Taiping sealed the area around Danyuan Hall with the Heaven-Replenishing Book, and he and Old Daoist Huang estimated the seal could hold the four pursuers for about a month.
• Ping'an proposed using Xu Taiping’s Southern Bright Li Fire to refine more pills, and Xu Taiping agreed to share pill-refining knowledge with him through Numinous Connection Clarity.
• Xu Taiping ignited Ping'an’s ancient pill furnace with Southern Bright Li Fire, and Ping'an used Xu Taiping’s Fire-Control Technique to tend the flames.
• Three days later, Ping'an removed a batch of thirty Sunray Golden Mushroom Soul-Nourishing Pills from the furnace.
• The Six-Nostril Mirror warned Xu Taiping and the others that the powerful cultivators who had tracked them would arrive within one incense stick.

Xu Taiping and his companions endured thirteen days of attacks from Venerable Ziming and three other Heaven-Connecting Realm powerhouses while Ping'an finished refining the pills. With the Heaven-Replenishing Book seal close to exhaustion, the final batch was ready, and Xu Taiping prepared to lead them out.

• Xu Taiping used the Heaven-Replenishing Book to repair the seal after Venerable Ziming and the others repeatedly damaged it with their combined attacks.
• Heavenly Lord Qingmu calculated that the seal would be exhausted in at most ten days, and the attackers decided to keep striking until it broke.
• Xu Taiping continued repairing the seal while Old Daoist Huang tried to use the Blade of Guicang to inscribe Venerable Ziming's name on jade slips, which shattered.
• Thirteen days later, Xu Taiping was nearly depleted, but Ping'an finished refining forty Phoenix Beak Rosy Marrow Pills.
• Ping'an helped Xu Taiping up, and Xu Taiping recovered some magic power with a Red Flame Pill before telling everyone to go.

Cangwu Heavenly Lord and his companions found the main hall empty and used Dust-Seeking Incense to discover that Xu Taiping and his group had escaped into the Yin Ghost Cavern. They decided to wait at the entrance for a year, then enlist Danqiunzi to locate the fugitives if they had not returned.

• Cangwu Heavenly Lord and the others searched the underground area and main hall with sword qi but found no one inside.
• Zhu Li lit Dust-Seeking Incense, and its vision revealed Xu Taiping opening the hidden passage beneath the offering table with Xiaohei.
• Xu Taiping used his earthly-fire Golden Crow to drive back the Yin Ghost Evil Gods, then entered the cavern with Ping'an, Old Daoist Huang, and Xiaohei to hide for three to five years.
• Cangwu Heavenly Lord and his companions chose to wait at the cavern entrance rather than pursue Xu Taiping's group, planning to ask Danqiunzi for help after he emerged from seclusion in about a year.