Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping and his companions entered the Ghost Domain’s central region and learned that Yuxuzi had regained his full strength and commanded seven powerful Ghost Servants. As they neared Listening Wind Tower, Xu Taiping proposed confronting Yuxuzi directly, and Zhao Linglong strongly objected.

• Xu Taiping crossed into the central region, where countless Ghost Creatures attacked before he evaded them and flew toward a distant silhouette.
• Xu Taiping reunited with Zhao Linglong, Blade Ghost, and the others among the ruins of the former Taixuan Sect in Yunmeng Marsh.
• Zhao Linglong revealed that Yuxuzi was one of two Jade Emperor-level Ghost Creatures and had regained his full fighting strength, with seven powerful Ghost Servants under his command.
• Zhao Linglong explained how the Azure Profound Sect’s forces had dwindled under prolonged fighting, betrayal, and Ghost Domain bewitchment, leaving them at risk of being wiped out.
• As Xiaohei announced they were less than a hundred li from Listening Wind Tower, Xu Taiping asked whether they could attack Yuxuzi directly, and Zhao Linglong vehemently refused.

Xu Taiping and his companions planned how to counter Yuyangzi’s Ghost Domain by keeping his seven Ghost Servants from joining forces. As they approached Listening Wind Tower, they sensed Yuyangzi and the servants, whose auras hinted at unusual strength.

• Zhao Linglong explained that Yuyangzi’s Ghost Domain constrained anyone who encountered him and could be weakened by attacking all seven Ghost Servants at once.
• Zhao Linglong warned that the Great Luo-level Ghost Servants could sense and reinforce one another, making them dangerous when they fought in pairs or together.
• Blade Ghost proposed splitting into teams to occupy the seven servants, and Xu Taiping revealed his powerful Origin Beginning Clone and Xiaohei as additional combatants.
• Zhao Linglong joined the plan, while Blade Ghost advised her and Xiaohei to wait in reserve and support whichever team struggled.
• As the group neared Listening Wind Tower, Xu Taiping sensed Yuyangzi and the seven Ghost Servants, and Blade Ghost, Heavenly Lord Xuanbei, and Daoist Fengzhu noted the servants’ unusually distinct auras.

Xu Taiping and his companions reached the Listening Wind Tower and drew Yuxuzi’s seven Ghost Servants away from the Azure Profound Sect’s Peak Lords. After rallying Zhao Linglong and overpowering the Ghost Servants with their auras, they launched a coordinated attack and split into seven battles.

• Xu Taiping sensed the Peak Lords fighting the seven Ghost Servants and learned that Uncle White Rainbow, Elder Black Dragon, Purple Sun True Lord, Elder Qi Chan, and Senior Sister Jiang Zhi had taken over as Peak Lords after their predecessors fell.
• Blade Ghost told Xu Taiping to send Xiaohei straight to the Listening Wind Tower to draw the Ghost Servants away from the Peak Lords.
• Xiaohei rushed toward the tower, and the seven Ghost Servants surrounded the group; one mocked Zhao Linglong and threatened to break her father's Dao Heart.
• Xu Taiping reassured Zhao Linglong, then he, Bai Yu, Ping'an, Blade Ghost, Old Daoist Huang, Heavenly Lord Xuanbei, and Daoist Fengzhu released their auras and drove the Ghost Servants back.
• Xu Taiping led the group in attacking, and their strikes scattered the seven Ghost Servants into seven separate battles.

Jiang Zhi and Meng Qingqiu fought two powerful ghost servants among the ruins but were overwhelmed and left near defeat. As a dark shadow arrived with an aura resembling Xu Taiping’s, Jiang Zhi wondered if her Junior Brother had come.

• Jiang Zhi refused Meng Qingqiu’s plea to retreat, insisting they keep fighting to preserve hope for the Azure Profound Sect.
• The Lantern-Bearing Ghost Servant damaged Jiang Zhi’s sword while Belly-Drum’s sound waves battered Meng Qingqiu and shattered her defenses.
• Meng Qingqiu drove Belly-Drum back with a desperate strike, then tried to help Jiang Zhi, but her attack was stopped by the Lantern-Bearing Ghost Servant’s shadows.
• The Lantern-Bearing Ghost Servant bound Jiang Zhi with ghost hands, and Belly-Drum’s sound waves struck Meng Qingqiu, leaving both women near defeat.
• Meng Qingqiu asked what Xu Taiping would do, and Jiang Zhi said he would reach for his saber just as a dark shadow swept overhead with an aura like his.

Jiang Zhi and Meng Qingqiu watched a mysterious figure battle the seven Ghost Servants, sensing that its aura resembled Xu Taiping's and recognizing the powers of his friends Bai Yu and Ping'an. Xu Taiping appeared and struck Ghost Servant Belly Drum with a powerful punch, leaving Jiang Zhi amazed at his strength.

• The seven Ghost Servants abandoned the Peak Lords to pursue a black shadow whose aura Jiang Zhi found similar to Xu Taiping's but far stronger.
• Three cultivator auras from the shadow drove the Ghost Servants back, and Jiang Zhi recognized two as Bai Yu and Ping'an.
• Seven golden-lit figures attacked the Ghost Servants and sent them crashing toward the ground.
• Xu Taiping landed near Jiang Zhi and Meng Qingqiu, who greeted him excitedly.
• Ghost Servant Belly Drum attacked Xu Taiping with soul-shattering sound waves, but Xu Taiping broke through them and punched its head, prompting Jiang Zhi to compare his strength to the Sect Master's.

Xu Taiping battled the Ghost Servant Belly Drum, whose expanding belly unleashed devastating sound waves and miasma. After learning that the creature’s navel was its weakness, Xu Taiping revealed a gigantic transformation and began blocking its attacks with his body.

• Xu Taiping’s punch triggered Belly Drum’s belly to swell, forcing him, Meng Qingqiu, and Jiang Zhi into the air.
• Meng Qingqiu explained that Belly Drum’s drumming damaged metal, stone, and cultivators’ souls, while Jiang Zhi warned that its power grew as its belly expanded.
• Xu Taiping shielded the two women with a silver-scaled palm, but Belly Drum’s repeated drumming began to shatter the defense.
• Jiang Zhi and Meng Qingqiu attacked Belly Drum’s navel, but it blasted their flying swords with miasma and temporarily drained their spiritual power.
• Jiang Zhi and Meng Qingqiu urged Xu Taiping to retreat, but he transformed into a giant and blocked Belly Drum’s sound waves with his body.

Xu Taiping revealed that his physique had reached the heaven-hunting great sage realm and overwhelmed Ghost Servant Belly Drum. After learning that Yuxuzi’s Ghost Domain could only be broken by severely wounding all Seven Ghost Servants at once without killing any, Xu Taiping proposed having his friends attack their vital points together.

• Meng Qingqiu and Jiang Zhi questioned Xu Taiping about his cultivation, and he revealed his physique had reached the heaven-hunting great sage realm.
• Xu Taiping used the Thousand Arms Vajra dharma aspect and the Mountain-Moving Edict to subdue Belly Drum.
• Jiang Zhi and Meng Qingqiu stopped Xu Taiping from killing Belly Drum and explained that killing a Ghost Servant strengthened both the revived servant and Yuxuzi.
• Meng Qingqiu explained that all Seven Ghost Servants had to be severely wounded at the same time to dispel Yuxuzi’s Ghost Domain.
• Xu Taiping asked whether his friends could strike the Ghost Servants’ vital points together, and Jiang Zhi and Meng Qingqiu doubted they could manage it.

Xu Taiping and Jiang Zhi discussed the Seven Ghost Servants’ ability to grow stronger when attacked and draw ghost qi from nearby creatures. As Belly Drum recovered and attacked, Xu Taiping blocked its miasma with a vast wall of 𩙥 Flame.

• Xu Taiping said the elders were powerful enough to handle the Ghost Servants, but Meng Qingqiu and Jiang Zhi warned that attacking one strengthened all seven.
• Meng Qingqiu left to assist another Ghost Servant while Jiang Zhi explained that the Seven Ghost Servants could absorb nearby ghost creatures’ qi to heal.
• Xu Taiping deduced that the Heavenly Dao Edict restrained the Demon Mother and that Azure Profound Sect’s presence prevented her full awakening.
• Belly Drum recovered, drew in the surrounding ghost qi, and spat out exploding miasma at Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping raised his Silver-Scale Glove and formed a towering 𩙥 Flame Wall that blocked nearly all the miasma.

Xu Taiping used his Heaven-Supporting physique and Thousand Arms Bodhisattva Dharma Aspect to withstand Ghost Servant Belly Drum's corrosive miasma and belly-drummed sound waves while preparing an overwhelming fist strike. The chapter ended with the dharma aspect shattering, leaving Xu Taiping's charged punch poised against Belly Drum.

• Xu Taiping raised his physical combat strength to the Heaven-Supporting Great Sage Realm and told Jiang Zhi he could combine it with Tai Bai eclipse power and a Great Dao Edict to target Belly Drum's vital spot.
• Ghost Servant Belly Drum spat corrosive miasma at Xu Taiping, dissolving the 𩙥 Flame Wall, but Xu Taiping summoned a Thousand Arms Bodhisattva Dharma Aspect that repelled the attack.
• Belly Drum grew three pairs of extra arms and struck his belly, sending sound waves that shattered more than a hundred of the dharma aspect's arms.
• Xu Taiping gathered fist force in the Heaven-Touching Stance and strengthened it with Tai Bai eclipse power and the Great Balance Law of Taishu's edict mark, while reassuring Jiang Zhi.
• Ghost Servant Belly Drum's sound waves finally destroyed Xu Taiping's Thousand Arms Bodhisattva Dharma Aspect.

Xu Taiping and his allies wounded the ghost servants without killing them, temporarily opening Yuyangzi's Ghost Domain and weakening him. After hearing the sect master's sword cries from the Listening Wind Tower, Xu Taiping rushed to help, leaving his equally powerful Origin Beginning Clone with Jiang Zhi.

• Xu Taiping shattered Ghost Servant Belly Drum's sound waves with fist force and warned his allies not to kill the ghost servants.
• Xu Taiping struck Belly Drum with 109,900 punches, then restrained his final divine manifestations to keep the ghost servant alive; Blade Ghost and the others also wounded their opponents.
• Jiang Zhi and Xu Taiping saw Yuyangzi's Ghost Domain open temporarily, reducing his fighting strength.
• Jiang Zhi recognized the sect master's sword cries, and Xu Taiping set off for the Listening Wind Tower to help him.
• Xu Taiping left his Origin Beginning Clone, whose fighting strength matched his own, to help Jiang Zhi hold Belly Drum.

Zhao Qian fought Yuyangzi at Listening Wind Tower, resisting his attempts to turn him into a Ghost Servant despite being badly wounded. Yuyangzi anticipated the return of his Ghost Domain and threatened to break Zhao Qian’s Dao Heart, while Zhao Qian vowed that Yuyangzi would die first.

• Yuyangzi praised Zhao Qian and the Seven Peak Lords for breaking his Ghost Domain, then declared that he would make them his Ghost Servants and use the descending Ghost Domain to attain a Dao Fruit.
• Zhao Qian invoked Heaven-Binding Thunder, but Yuyangzi drew his sword and cleaved through the thunder sword shadow with a single strike.
• Yuyangzi’s Sword Qi shattered Zhao Qian’s nine sword shadows and tore his flesh, but Zhao Qian countered with a Fire Dragon Sword Image that Yuyangzi pinned to the earth.
• Yuyangzi said Zhao Qian’s sealed cultivation and fighting ability made him eager to claim Zhao Qian as a Ghost Servant and later kill Lü Sword Nine.
• Zhao Qian collapsed and burst apart, then regenerated from the pool of flesh and blood using the Life-Bound Divine Ability Lü Sword Nine had taught him.
• Yuyangzi said his Ghost Domain would soon recover and threatened to test Zhao Qian’s Dao Heart there, while Zhao Qian warned that Yuyangzi would be the one to die.

Yuyangzi tortured Zhao Qian and threatened to use the same methods on Zhao Linglong, while Zhao Qian repeatedly destroyed and revived himself to fight back. Zhao Qian’s swordsmanship improved enough to wound Yuyangzi, who answered with an even stronger strike.

• Yuyangzi told Zhao Qian that his Ghost Slave had found Zhao Linglong and that she was being brought to Listening Wind Tower.
• Zhao Qian attacked Yuyangzi, but Yuyangzi repeatedly read his sword strikes and severed his limbs.
• Zhao Qian smashed his head apart to revive himself, while Yuyangzi taunted him that his Dao Heart was already collapsing before Zhao Linglong arrived.
• Zhao Qian combined the Heavenly Escape Sword Art and Fire Dragon Sword Art, forcing Yuyangzi to focus fully and leaving fine wounds on his arm.
• Yuyangzi increased his combat power, knocked Zhao Qian away, then used at least eighty percent of his power in a strike against him.

Xu Taiping arrived at the frozen square and freed Zhao Qian, who confirmed that Xu had rescued Zhao Linglong, Zhou Liang, and the peak masters. Xu then fought Yuyangzi, overwhelming him and severing his sword arm.

• Yuyangzi froze Zhao Qian and taunted him with the threat of turning him into a ghost servant.
• A distant voice revealed that Zhao Linglong was safe, and Xu Taiping appeared to confront Yuyangzi.
• Xu Taiping freed Zhao Qian and confirmed that Zhao Linglong, Zhou Liang, and the peak masters were safe.
• Xu Taiping punched Zhao Qian into a cloud of blood mist at Zhao Qian's request, then countered Yuyangzi's attacks.
• Xu Taiping struck Yuyangzi with Heaven-Touching and followed with a saber blow that broke Yuyangzi's sword and severed his arm.

Xu Taiping pressed his attack on Yuyangzi, revealing the full power of his Annihilating Blade Art as Yuyangzi countered with powerful treasures and ghost arts. The chapter ended with Xu Taiping’s Emberless Stance engulfing Yuyangzi in blade flames and beginning to shatter his defenses.

• Xu Taiping continued attacking Yuyangzi, who summoned a blood skeleton and then an evil ghost body to block his strike with a projection of black iron.
• Xu Taiping said he had used only thirty percent of his strength and sent the Dragon-Trapping Tower projection at Yuyangzi, who repelled it with the Heavenly Lang Spear.
• Xu Taiping unleashed the No-Blade Form, shattering Yuyangzi’s shield and black iron projection before Yuyangzi cleaved through the blade force with an axe and blade.
• Yuyangzi claimed he could kill Xu Taiping with fifty percent of his fighting strength and attacked with his saber and axe, while Zhao Qian warned Xu Taiping of the danger.
• Xu Taiping unleashed the Emberless Stance, engulfing Yuyangzi in searing blade flames that began cracking his projected defenses.

Xu Taiping used the Ten Emperors Scripture to break through Yuyangzi’s ghost weapons and discovered that Yuyangzi’s power was limited while his ghost servants remained intact. Yuyangzi reclaimed their power and transformed into an eight-headed, sixteen-armed giant, setting the stage for a battle with sixteen Immortal Realm divine weapons.

• Yuyangzi’s projected axe and saber cut through Xu Taiping’s Emberless Stance, so Xu Taiping used the Ten Emperors Scripture to strengthen his Water-Cutting Blade.
• Xu Taiping shattered Yuyangzi’s sword intent and arrows, severed two of his arms, and learned that the Ten Emperors Scripture could resist Yuyangzi’s origin power from beyond the domain.
• Xu Taiping judged that Yuyangzi’s strength was limited and that he could not grow stronger from his own wounds while his ghost servants remained alive.
• Yuyangzi shattered the rings holding his seven ghost servants and reclaimed their power, while Xu Taiping revealed that he had been waiting for this moment to strike.
• Yuyangzi grew into a giant with eight heads and sixteen arms, and Xu Taiping matched his aura as Yuyangzi summoned projected divine weapons in all sixteen hands.

Xu Taiping unleashed his Heaven-Hunting Great Sage Realm physique and faced Yuyangzi’s Ghost Domain origin power and sixteen ghost divine weapons. His Demon-Slaying Style shattered the weapons and pressed on toward Yuyangzi, who saw his Great Dao’s end in the attack.

• Zhao Qian flew up to help Xu Taiping, but stopped when Xu Taiping revealed his Heaven-Hunting Great Sage Realm physique.
• Yuyangzi abandoned his attempt to reopen the Ghost Domain, enlarged his rakshasa body, and prepared to use the Taixuan Ghost Domain’s origin power.
• Zhao Qian warned Xu Taiping that the origin power could nullify Shangqing Realm spells and divine abilities, while martial techniques and Great Dao Edicts could still work.
• Yuyangzi sent sixteen ghost divine weapon phantoms toward Xu Taiping, and Xu Taiping’s first golden fist strike failed to stop them.
• Xu Taiping used the Annihilating Blade Art’s Demon-Slaying Style, combining his physique with the Ten Emperors Scripture and his fused powers to shatter all sixteen weapons.
• Xu Taiping’s blade force continued toward Yuyangzi, whose eyes showed panic as he glimpsed the end of his Great Dao.

Xu Taiping and Zhao Qian fought Yuyangzi as he used his Blood Bell and summoned ghost creatures to stall them. Xu Taiping broke the bell with his Origin Beginning Clone and Southern Bright Li Fire Sword, but Yuyangzi abandoned his body and rushed toward Zhao Qian.

• Xu Taiping tore apart Yuyangzi's ghost body, but Yuyangzi reassembled and shielded himself with a Blood Bell.
• Yuyangzi summoned nearby ghosts, and Zhao Qian warned Xu Taiping that Corpse Liberation Feeding Ghosts could awaken more powerful ghosts from deep within the Ghost Domain.
• Zhao Qian and Xu Taiping fought off the incoming ghosts while Zhao Qian explained that they had to kill Yuyangzi before his corpse liberation was complete.
• Xu Taiping summoned his Origin Beginning Clone, which struck Yuyangzi's Blood Bell with the Southern Bright Li Fire Sword as Xu Taiping attacked it with his blade.
• After the Blood Bell shattered, Yuyangzi revealed that he had not intended to use Corpse Liberation Feeding Ghosts and transformed into ghost qi that shot toward Zhao Qian.

Xu Taiping fought Yuyangzi after Yuyangzi possessed Zhao Qian, but he held back to avoid harming the sect master. As Yuyangzi’s control over Zhao Qian faltered, Zhao Qian reclaimed his body and revealed the strength of his Geng Metal Sword Bone.

• Yuyangzi possessed Zhao Qian and attacked Xu Taiping with Immortal Carp and the Fire Dragon, Heavenly Thunder, and Heavenly Escape Sword Arts.
• Xu Taiping and his Origin Beginning Clone blocked Yuyangzi’s sword attacks, but Xu Taiping refused to strike Zhao Qian while Yuyangzi used him as a shield.
• Yuyangzi demanded that Xu Taiping face his next attack with his true body and sent sword shadows at him while nine Great Luo Realm ghost creatures trapped him in a black coffin.
• As Yuyangzi’s sword rain descended on the coffin, Zhao Qian shouted for Immortal Carp and halted the attack, briefly taking control of his body back from Yuyangzi.
• Zhao Qian repeatedly resisted Yuyangzi and declared that his resolve to protect Qingxuan surpassed Yuyangzi’s selfish cultivation.
• Sword light burst from Zhao Qian as Blade Ghost recognized his Geng Metal Sword Bone.

Zhao Qian fought Yuyangzi for control of his body, tempering his Ten-Thousand-Forged Geng Metal Sword Bone as Yuyangzi tried to break his resolve. Encouraged by Zhao Linglong, Zhao Qian tore out Yuyangzi’s ghost qi and used the Immortal Carp to destroy his remaining wisp.

• Blade Ghost explained that repeated trials could raise the rank of Zhao Qian’s Geng Metal Sword Bone as Zhao Qian began breaking free of Yuyangzi’s control.
• Zhao Qian refused Xu Taiping’s offer of help and vowed to offer Yuyangzi’s divine sense to his sword bone, but Yuyangzi repeatedly seized his body and attacked his soul.
• Yuyangzi claimed he had orchestrated Qing’er’s death, the brothers’ falling-out, and Su Chan’s descent into demonhood, then said Qing’er could have been saved.
• Zhao Linglong urged her father not to abandon her or lose to Yuyangzi, restoring Zhao Qian’s resolve.
• Zhao Qian tore Yuyangzi’s ghost qi from his body and summoned the Immortal Carp to shatter Yuyangzi’s remaining wisp.

Bu Xueting and the Nine Prefectures prepared to enter the Taixuan Ghost Domain to aid Qingxuan, while Xiao Ming decided to join them. At the Listening Wind Tower, a ghost horde surrounded Xu Taiping and his allies, and Zhao Qian offered to draw it away so the others could escape to the Medicine Garden.

• Xiao Ming learned that Bu Xueting had slain the Great Ghost Night Fox, protected the Nine Prefectures with a barrier, and planned to help Qingxuan inside the Taixuan Ghost Domain.
• Xiao Ming decided to leave and allowed only one of Chen Hao and Xiao Ye to accompany him, prompting Chen Hao to insist that Xiao Ye stay.
• Xu Taiping and Zhao Qian destroyed the first attacking ghost creatures but struggled as hundreds more surrounded the Listening Wind Tower.
• The Blade Ghost, Xuanbei, Fengzhu, Zhao Linglong, Meng Qingqiu, and the other Peak Lords joined the battle, but the ghost horde still encircled the defenders.
• Zhao Qian explained that the ghost creatures sought Yuyangzi's edict inheritance and had to devour his killer to inherit it.
• Zhao Qian told Xu Taiping to take his friends, Linglong, and the Peak Lords to meet the remaining Azure Profound Sect disciples at the Medicine Garden while he drew the ghosts away.