Recaps

Xu Qingtong took control of Wei City after Guan Shangtian’s death and began organizing the city’s administration. As he planned to stabilize Wei City before returning to Juxian Academy, an old acquaintance arrived to see him.

• Xu Qingtong let Guan Shangtian’s former steward and several others leave, then ordered the remaining manor staff to obey him as City Lord.
• Xu Qingtong appointed Cui Yan chief steward, ordered him to announce Xu Qingtong’s rule, and had Lan Xin Butterfly notify Lei Wei and the Sect Master at Juxian Academy.
• Xu Qingtong reduced rents and taxes to ease shopkeepers’ fears and appointed Feng Zihong commander of Wei City’s security.
• After Feng Zihong left to organize the guards, an unidentified visitor greeted Xu Qingtong as City Lord Xu and asked how he had been.

Xu Qingtong reunited with Nangong Zhen, who came both to visit and to help him manage Wei City on Juxian Academy’s behalf. After strangers arrived and trouble broke out in a shop, Nangong Zhen subdued one attacker, but the others summoned reinforcements, leaving a new group outside the city.

• Xu Qingtong welcomed his sworn elder brother Nangong Zhen and learned the Sect Master had sent him to help while leaving Wei City under Xu Qingtong’s personal control.
• Xu Qingtong told Nangong Zhen he planned to build a long-distance Teleportation Array and bring Siwen to Wei City.
• Lan Xin Butterfly warned Xu Qingtong that unfamiliar visitors, including Golden Core cultivators, had arrived, so he asked Feng Zihong to watch them and called Nangong Zhen for support.
• Several strangers attacked a shopkeeper over a forced transaction, and Feng Zihong fought them but was nearly overwhelmed.
• Nangong Zhen arrived and quickly subdued the group’s Golden Core cultivator, while the other attackers crushed Sound Transmission Jade Slips to summon help.
• Another group arrived outside Wei City after receiving the attackers’ message.

Xu Qingtong killed an attacking group at Wei City's north gate and punished the troublemakers Nangong Zhen had captured. He spared several survivors to spread word of his strength, and his reputation as “Old Devil Xu” soon reached across the Central Province.

• A group of twelve arrived at Wei City's north gate, and their blue-robed leader struck down a guard before Xu Qingtong confronted them.
• Xu Qingtong used the Time Law and Fengyi Sword to kill the blue-robed leader and another Golden Core Cultivator.
• Xu Qingtong used the Seven Sons Linked-Ring Saber and Turtle-Speed Technique to kill the remaining Golden Core Cultivator and all nine Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
• Nangong Zhen and Feng Zihong brought the captured troublemakers to Xu Qingtong, who killed one man for arguing and fined the others fifty thousand spirit stones each.
• Xu Qingtong let the surviving troublemakers leave so they could spread the word, and “Old Devil Xu” became known throughout the Central Province.

After stabilizing Wei City, Xu Qingtong returned to Juxian Academy, where three sect leaders challenged his right to govern the city. Shen Haotian backed Xu’s independence, and Jade Spring True Person left after threatening him.

• Xu Qingtong left Wei City in Nangong Zhen’s care and returned to Juxian Academy after receiving the Academy’s summons.
• Xu Qingtong reassured Yu Tiancheng that Du Siwen was safe, then reported to Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu before meeting Shen Haotian.
• Zheng Zongping, Jade Spring True Person, and Wei Qifeng questioned Xu Qingtong’s rule over Wei City, and Jade Spring True Person accused him of abusing its residents.
• Xu Qingtong confronted Jade Spring True Person and deterred his attack by displaying a Yuanrong Bolt.
• Shen Haotian declared that Juxian Academy would not interfere in Wei City’s affairs, and the three sect leaders departed after Zheng Zongping and Wei Qifeng withdrew their objections.
• Jade Spring True Person left with a threat for Xu Qingtong.

Xu Qingtong told Zhong Ziqing about his return from Qingzhou and asked to build a secret Teleportation Array on Tianhua Mountain so he could reach Bingzhou and bring Siwen back. After testing and linking the arrays on Tianhua Mountain and Red Moon Island, he established a route connecting Central and Bing Provinces.

• Xu Qingtong told Zhong Ziqing that the Teleportation Array to Qingzhou had been destroyed and said Yuqi was a possible suspect.
• Xu Qingtong asked Zhong Ziqing to let him build a private Teleportation Array on Tianhua Mountain to reach Bingzhou, and Zhong Ziqing agreed to guard it.
• Xu Qingtong dug a cave on Tianhua Mountain, refined an Anchor Point and a Teleportation Token, and built a long-distance Teleportation Array.
• Xu Qingtong used the new array to travel to Red Moon Island, then reconfigured its Teleportation Array to link both locations.
• Xu Qingtong used the linked array to return to Tianhua Mountain, completing a route connecting Central and Bing Provinces.

Xu Qingtong returned to Cloudsky Peak after completing the Teleportation Arrays between Tianhua Mountain and Red Moon Island, and invited his companions to travel to Central Province. He left to speak with the Witch Clan Chief after gathering their answers and arranging preparations, while Sect Leader Fang Tianqi remained undecided.

• Xu Qingtong reunited with Du Siwen on Cloudsky Peak and told her that the Teleportation Arrays would let them return to Central Province.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen invited Gong Chu, Zhuang Shengren, and Ding Jiayue to join them; Gong Chu chose to remain with the Witch Clan, while Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue agreed to go.
• Xu Qingtong asked Sect Leader Fang Tianqi to travel to Central Province, and Fang Tianqi requested time to consider the choice.
• Xu Qingtong invited Guo Tianyu, who agreed to go, and told him to prepare while Gloomwind Valley's affairs were arranged.
• Xu Qingtong traveled to the Witch Clan Territory to discuss matters with Clan Chief Shi Chengjun.

Xu Qingtong said farewell to the Witch Clan and Gloomwind Valley before taking his companions through a teleportation array back to Central Province. The group arrived at Tianhua Mountain, where Du Siwen recognized the place, and Xu Qingtong prepared to visit his Master and Uncle-Master Lü.

• Xu Qingtong told Shi Chengjun he was leaving for Central Province, promised to protect the Witch Clan's cultivation techniques, and asked him to care for Gong Chu and Gloomwind Valley.
• Fang Tianqi decided to remain in Bingzhou to rebuild Gloomwind Valley, while Gong Chu chose to stay with the Witch Clan; Xu Qingtong gave Gong Chu a command talisman to reach the flesh lingzhi on Cloudsky Peak.
• Xu Qingtong departed with Du Siwen, Guo Tianyu, Zhuang Shengren, and Ding Jiayue aboard the Dust-Exterminating Boat.
• Xu Qingtong activated the Teleportation Array on Red Moon Island, and the group arrived in a mountain cave on Tianhua Mountain.
• Du Siwen recognized Tianhua Mountain, and Xu Qingtong said he would take her to pay their respects to his Master and Uncle-Master Lü.

Xu Qingtong reunited with his master, senior sister, and old companions after returning to Central Province, and arranged for his friends to settle in Wei City. As they caught up, he revealed that the Ghost Cultivators had devastated Qingzhou and destroyed two of its three great sects.

• Xu Qingtong brought Du Siwen to Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu, who praised their cultivation and agreed that his three companions should settle in Wei City.
• Xu Qingtong left with Du Siwen to fetch Zhuang Shengren, Guo Tianyu, and Ding Jiayue, then introduced them to Yu Tiancheng, who welcomed Guo Tianyu and Zhuang Shengren.
• Xu Qingtong visited his cousin Chen Ruoling, learned she was preparing to form her Golden Core, and reunited with her, Duoduo, Lei Wei, and Fu Xingzhi.
• Xu Qingtong learned that Chen Ruoling had reached peak late-stage Foundation Establishment, Lei Wei had reached mid-stage Golden Core, and both of his disciples had advanced in cultivation.
• Xu Qingtong told his companions that the Ghost Cultivators in Qing and Bing Provinces had caused severe losses, destroying Biluozong and the Azure Sea Gate and leaving only Gloomwind Valley among the three great sects.

Xu Qingtong brought Duoduo, Guo Tianyu, Zhuang Shengren, and Ding Jiayue to Wei City to help manage it, while Chen Ruoling stayed at Juxian Academy to prepare for core formation. After settling his friends into the City Lord's Manor and introducing them to Nangong Zhen, Xu Qingtong saw Nangong Zhen off as he returned to the Academy.

• Xu Qingtong agreed to take Duoduo to Wei City but told Chen Ruoling, Lei Wei, and Xingzhi to remain at Juxian Academy.
• Xu Qingtong led Du Siwen, Duoduo, Guo Tianyu, Zhuang Shengren, and Ding Jiayue from the Academy to Wei City under cover of night.
• Xu Qingtong arrived at the City Lord's Manor and ordered Cui Yan to arrange lodgings for his friends, including an Earthfire Chamber for Duoduo.
• Xu Qingtong introduced Guo Tianyu, Zhuang Shengren, and the others to Nangong Zhen so they could coordinate in Wei City.
• Nangong Zhen said he had completed his task and returned to the Academy, while Xu Qingtong thanked him and affirmed that he remained Wei City's Vice City Lord.

Xu Qingtong assigned duties in Wei City, left Duoduo to temper her divine sense in the Soul-Refining Pool, and returned to Juxian Academy with Du Siwen. After explaining the Five Elements to Chen Ruoling, he helped trigger her Minor Heavenly Tribulation and left her preparing to break through to the Golden Core.

• Xu Qingtong appointed Guo Tianyu Wei City's Vice City Lord, Zhuang its commander, and Jia Yue Deputy Chief Steward, then ordered Du Siwen to prepare for Nascent Soul formation.
• Xu Qingtong instructed Duoduo to cultivate her divine sense in the Soul-Refining Pool and gave her Spirit-Nourishing Pills after its pain improved her divine sense.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Juxian Academy with Du Siwen, who went to seek guidance from Lü about Nascent Soul formation.
• Xu Qingtong explained the Five Elements to Chen Ruoling, and her spiritual power began circulating as tribulation clouds gathered over her cave abode.
• Chen Ruoling realized her Minor Heavenly Tribulation had arrived, and Xu Qingtong urged her outside to prepare for her Golden Core breakthrough.

Xu Qingtong helped Chen Ruoling survive her Core Formation tribulation, and she formed a golden core while her Five-Element Exquisite Bracelets became her Life-Bound Treasure. He then learned from Zhong Ziqing how to pursue Nascent Soul Formation with his five golden cores, and their discussion deepened his understanding of the Five Elements.

• Xu Qingtong gave Chen Ruoling an Ice Spirit Pill and earth milk, then instructed her on using the Five Elements Treasures to withstand her tribulation.
• Chen Ruoling faced her Heart Tribulation and began enduring the heavenly lightning while Xu Qingtong and Sect Master Shen Haotian watched.
• Xu Qingtong taught Chen Ruoling the Heavenly Fire Body-Tempering Art, helping her divert lightning from the Five-Element Exquisite Bracelets and survive the tribulation.
• Chen Ruoling formed her golden core, and the Five-Element Exquisite Bracelets transformed into her Life-Bound Treasure.
• Zhong Ziqing proposed that Xu Qingtong reunite his five Dao heart seeds before shattering his five golden cores to form an all-attribute ancestral nascent soul.
• Xu Qingtong shared his Five Elements insights with Zhong Ziqing, whose explanations gave him new understanding as the Dao heart seeds within his golden cores flickered.

Xu Qingtong reunited his five Dao Heart Seeds and prepared his body for shattering his cores to form a Nascent Soul. After tempering his dantian and Niwang Palace, he hurried to join his wife as she prepared to attempt her Nascent Soul breakthrough.

• Xu Qingtong contemplated Zhong Ziqing’s teachings and united his five Dao Heart Seeds into a yin-yang twin fish while deciding he was not yet ready to shatter his cores.
• Zhong Ziqing proposed enlarging Xu Qingtong’s dantian with elixirs or strengthening it through lightning tempering.
• Xu Qingtong used his incarnation’s Raging Thunder Finger to temper his dantian for over half a year, then spent another three months tempering his Niwang Palace.
• Xu Qingtong refined elixirs for his own Nascent Soul attempt, then received Lü Wenqiu’s message that his wife was about to attempt her breakthrough.
• Xu Qingtong went to Lü Wenqiu’s cave abode, but Zhong Ziqing directed him to the valley on the Back Mountain.

Du Siwen endured nine thunder tribulations and advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm, after which Xu Qingtong sensed his own tribulation approaching. He passed his heart demon tribulation and began facing the lightning, with the second bolt descending at the chapter’s end.

• Xu Qingtong brought Du Siwen elixirs and the Mysterious Light Mirror to help her face her Nascent Soul tribulation.
• Du Siwen passed her heart demon tribulation and endured nine thunder tribulations, shattering both Lü Wenqiu’s shield and the Mysterious Light Mirror before forming her Nascent Soul.
• After witnessing Du Siwen’s breakthrough, Xu Qingtong sensed his own tribulation nearing and followed Zhong Ziqing to a separate place to prepare.
• Xu Qingtong shattered his five Golden Cores, passed a half-day heart demon tribulation, and began forming his Nascent Soul.
• Xu Qingtong withstood the first bolt of tribulation lightning, and the second bolt descended half an hour later.

Xu Qingtong struggled to form his Nascent Soul while enduring the heavenly tribulation, using the Dao Heart Seed to tame his five-element spiritual power and relying on treasures to withstand the increasingly powerful lightning. He survived the ninth bolt and completed his tribulation, but the chapter ended with him looking at the sky in alarm.

• Xu Qingtong's first attempt to form a life embryo shattered, but he recalled a classic and used the Dao Heart Seed to merge his spiritual power into chaos and form a nascent soul.
• Xu Qingtong completed Nascent Soul formation as the fourth bolt struck, then used the Heavenly Fire Body-Tempering Art to heal and nourish his nascent soul.
• Xu Qingtong used the Five Elements Divine Seals to withstand the fifth through eighth bolts and temper the treasures until they advanced to high-grade treasures.
• Xu Qingtong drank Monkey-Brewed Wine and used the Three Saints Bell to withstand the ninth bolt, which lasted nearly two hours before dissipating.
• Xu Qingtong declared that he had made it through, then looked up at the sky and turned green.

Xu Qingtong survived twelve tribulation bolts, destroyed the final bolt with his Yuanrong Crossbow, and successfully formed his nascent soul. After receiving the immortal light’s tempering, he began stabilizing his cultivation, while Zhong Ziqing told Lü Wenqiu about his astonishing tribulation.

• Xu Qingtong endured the tenth and eleventh tribulation bolts as the Three Saints Bell and Heart-Guarding Mirror shattered, then prepared to face another bolt without risking his Life-Bound Treasure.
• Xu Qingtong fired ten Yuanrong Bolts from his Yuanrong Crossbow and blasted away the tribulation clouds before the next bolt could fall.
• Xu Qingtong received the immortal light and discovered that his nascent soul rapidly recovered while he exposed it to the tempering.
• Zhong Ziqing told Xu Qingtong to stabilize his newly formed nascent soul, then met Lü Wenqiu and revealed that Xu Qingtong had survived twelve bolts and destroyed the final one before it struck.

Xu Qingtong demonstrated his formidable Yuanrong Crossbow and unusually powerful Nascent Soul to Lü Wenqiu, who called him a freak. After Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen returned to their cave abode, Zhong Ziqing arranged a ceremony to celebrate their breakthroughs, then hinted that he would soon leave Tianhua Mountain.

• Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu discussed how Xu Qingtong had tempered his Nascent Soul with immortal light.
• After stabilizing his cultivation, Xu Qingtong returned to Zhong Ziqing’s cave abode, where Lü Wenqiu asked to inspect his Yuanrong Crossbow.
• Xu Qingtong fired three Yuanrong Bolts, blasting a large cave into the mountain, then showed Lü Wenqiu his unusually large, golden Nascent Soul.
• Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu praised Xu Qingtong, and Xu Qingtong asked to return to Wei City with Du Siwen.
• Zhong Ziqing tasked Shen Haotian with organizing a Nascent Soul Ceremony for Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen on the fifteenth day of the eighth month.
• After Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen left, Lü Wenqiu asked Zhong Ziqing when he would leave, and Zhong Ziqing said that staying would be in vain now that he had reached the late stage of Spirit Transformation.

After Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen refined their Nascent Soul combat skills, Shen Haotian summoned them to prepare for a celebration and Dao discussion gathering. The Grand Elder arranged for Xu Qingtong to spar with Third Elder He Xiangming, and they met at the Martial Arts Arena under instructions to rely only on their own cultivation and avoid injury.

• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen returned to their cave abode, discussed their experiences after Nascent Soul formation, and spent a month sparring and improving their spell use.
• Xu Qingtong received a voice transmission from Shen Haotian, who told him that a Nascent Soul celebration and Dao discussion gathering would take place in five days and gave him a list of participants.
• The Grand Elder told Shen Haotian that Xu Qingtong would be difficult to defeat, then suggested that He Xiangming test him in a spar before the celebration.
• Xu Qingtong agreed to spar with He Xiangming and went with Shen Haotian and the Grand Elder to the Martial Arts Arena.
• Shen Haotian instructed Xu Qingtong and He Xiangming to use only their cultivation, spells, and divine abilities and to stop short of injuring each other.

Xu Qingtong defeated the Third Elder in a spar, earning predictions that he could place among the top three at the Dao discussion. Later, he met Luo Yichen privately and revealed the fate of Luo Yichen’s missing disciple Yu Xuzi, producing his remains as proof.

• Xu Qingtong used spells and physical strength to overpower the Third Elder, who ended their spar and said Xu Qingtong could reach the top five at the Dao discussion.
• The Grand Elder said Xu Qingtong could reach the top three, while Shen Haotian said making the top five would be enough to bring prestige to Juxian Academy.
• Two days later, Zhong Ziqing summoned Xu Qingtong and Lü Wenqiu to meet Luo Yichen and Tianji Zi.
• Xu Qingtong asked Luo Yichen to speak privately, and Luo Yichen took him into his Sumeru space.
• Xu Qingtong told Luo Yichen how he had encountered Yu Xuzi in Mist Valley and showed him Yu Xuzi’s coffin and outer casket, saying he had promised to return the remains to the Anyang Sect.

Xu Qingtong returned Yu Xuzi’s remains to Luo Yichen and urged him to confront the Anyang Sect’s corruption, but refused Luo’s offer to join the sect. Afterward, Xu Qingtong told Du Siwen he had fulfilled his promise, and they prepared for the Nascent Soul Celebration.

• Xu Qingtong showed Luo Yichen Yu Xuzi’s remains and belongings, convincing him that he had been Yu Xuzi’s disciple.
• Luo Yichen asked Xu Qingtong to keep the Anyang Sect’s disgrace secret and wrestled with whether to punish Sect Leader Yuquan.
• Xu Qingtong warned Luo Yichen that Yuquan was damaging the sect and refused an offer to join the Anyang Sect as a possible successor.
• Luo Yichen took Yu Xuzi’s remains and returned with Xu Qingtong to Zhong Ziqing’s cave abode.
• After other guests arrived and Xu Qingtong returned to his cave abode with Du Siwen, he told her he had returned Yu Xuzi’s remains and fulfilled his promise.

Xu Qingtong took part in the Tianhua Dao Discussions on Tianhua Mountain and faced veteran Nascent Soul cultivator Hu Wanchun in the first round. He gained the upper hand through a series of spells, but their duel was still underway.

• Shen Haotian introduced Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen at the celebration, then sent the Nascent Soul cultivators to Tianhua Mountain for the Dao Discussions.
• Shen Haotian announced the restrained-duel rules, and Xu Qingtong drew Hu Wanchun, a rogue cultivator at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.
• Xu Qingtong and Hu Wanchun traded spells, with Hu Wanchun's Earth Dragon Technique breaking Xu Qingtong's Ice Flame Palm before Xu Qingtong destroyed the Earth Dragon with an Overlord Hammer.
• Hu Wanchun summoned a giant scorpion, and Xu Qingtong blocked its attacks with a Black Tortoise Shield before trapping and dissolving it with Snowfall Across the Sky.
• Xu Qingtong's Golden Light Slashes damaged Hu Wanchun's Earth Wall, and he continued firing them rapidly as Hu Wanchun tried to reinforce his defense.

Xu Qingtong advanced through the Dao discussions and defeated Wu Shaohan in the round-robin tournament. He then used the Time Law and a series of spells to leave Yuwen Kui dazed beneath a suspended Overlord Hammer.

• Xu Qingtong defeated Hu Wanchun, and four Juxian Academy cultivators advanced to the second round.
• Xu Qingtong advanced after the Third Elder conceded, while Du Siwen won and the Second Elder lost to Yuwen Kui.
• Wu Shaohan defeated Du Siwen, while Xu Qingtong defeated the Second Elder of the Heavenly Mystery Palace to reach the top three alongside Wu Shaohan and Yuwen Kui.
• Xu Qingtong overwhelmed Wu Shaohan with lightning spells, forcing him to concede.
• Xu Qingtong slowed Yuwen Kui with the Time Law, struck him with an Ice Flame Palm and two Raging Thunder Fingers, then suspended an Overlord Hammer above his head.

Xu Qingtong won the exchange contest, returned to Wei City, and spent ten peaceful years building a family and helping the city prosper. After the birth of his son Xu Chengkang, Lan Xin Butterfly brought word that Zhong Ziqing needed to see him.

• Xu Qingtong stopped his attack on Yuwen Kui when Shen Haotian intervened, and Shen Haotian awarded him first place and Wu Shaohan second.
• Xu Qingtong agreed with Zhong Ziqing and Shen Haotian to return to the Academy every six months to teach, then left for Wei City with Du Siwen.
• Guo Tianyu and the others welcomed Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen to Wei City, where the residents celebrated Xu Qingtong's Nascent Soul breakthrough.
• Over the next ten years, Ding Jiayue, Cui Yan, and Lan Xin Butterfly formed their cores, and Cui Yan and Lan Xin Butterfly chose to stay in Wei City after Xu Qingtong returned their soul blood.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen had a son, Xu Chengkang, and Chen Ruoling proposed the nickname Cute Baby.
• Lan Xin Butterfly arrived with a message that Zhong Ziqing needed to see Xu Qingtong.

Xu Qingtong learned that Zhong Ziqing planned to leave Central Province by attempting to open a Space-Time Passage to the Spirit Realm. Before departing, Zhong Ziqing tasked Xu Qingtong with helping protect and strengthen Juxian Academy in preparation for a possible upheaval, and Xu Qingtong returned to Wei City to begin making arrangements.

• Xu Qingtong hurried to Juxian Academy after Lan Xin Butterfly reported that Zhong Ziqing wanted to speak with him.
• Zhong Ziqing told Xu Qingtong that the destroyed Ascension Passage prevented cultivators from ascending and that he planned to try opening a Space-Time Passage to leave the Mortal Realm.
• Zhong Ziqing warned that Juxian Academy might face challenges after his departure and asked Xu Qingtong and Hao Tian to help safeguard its strength.
• Zhong Ziqing predicted that a major upheaval might strike Central Province within a hundred years and urged the Academy to cultivate talent and secretly stockpile scarce resources.
• Xu Qingtong proposed establishing a Garrison Camp to retain talented people, and Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu supported the idea.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Wei City and began arranging the preparations with Guo Tianyu, Cui Yan, and the others.

Xu Qingtong returned to Juxian Academy with his family after delegating Wei City's administration and preparing for a long absence. There, he learned that Zhong Ziqing planned to open the Ascension Passage and gave him his Spirit Transformation cultivation insights, leaving Xu Qingtong to face questions about his master's departure.

• Xu Qingtong gave Guo Tianyu authority over Wei City, assigned tasks to Cui Yan, Lan Xin Butterfly, and Jia Yue, and arranged to return to the Academy.
• Xu Qingtong gathered Chen Ruoling, Du Siwen, Duoduo, and Cute Baby, collected the Soul-Refining Pool, and traveled with them to Juxian Academy.
• Xu Qingtong met Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu, who confirmed that he would command the Academy's Garrison Camp with Ximen Wanyan as his deputy.
• Xu Qingtong explained that Yuanrong Crossbows and their bolts could not be produced or supplied in bulk, but promised to seek ways to improve them.
• Zhong Ziqing said he would attempt to open the Ascension Passage and gave Xu Qingtong his Spirit Transformation cultivation insights; when Lü Wenqiu asked whether he would return, Zhong Ziqing asked if Xu Qingtong had not told him.

Xu Qingtong gave Zhong Ziqing Mandui Fruits that could help him open the Space-Time Passage, while Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu gave protective gifts to Du Siwen’s son. After returning to their cave abode, Xu Qingtong learned about the fighter Ximen Wanyan and discussed the Garrison Camp with Shen Haotian.

• Zhong Ziqing revealed that he planned to travel to the Guiyuan Continent and gave Du Siwen’s son a jade pendant, while Lü Wenqiu gave him a Seven-Orifice Pill.
• Xu Qingtong recognized the Shentu carving on the pendant and offered Zhong Ziqing five Mandui Fruits, improving his chances of opening the Space-Time Passage.
• Zhong Ziqing decided to refine the Mandui Fruits before departing and promised to help Xu Qingtong rebuild the Ascension Passage if he reached the Spirit Realm.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen returned to their cave abode, where Shen Haotian explained Ximen Wanyan’s background and martial record.
• Xu Qingtong agreed to spar with Ximen Wanyan, and Shen Haotian proposed building a small courtyard residence for Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen.