Chapter Summaries

Xu Qingtong received the Flying Heaven Wings from Lu Gui'nian, returned to Yalai Town, and spent months cultivating until he reached late-stage Demon General. When magic beasts began threatening the ripening demonized garden balsam, he went to the plantation to oversee its defenses.

• Xu Qingtong bound the supreme-grade Flying Heaven Wings Lu Gui'nian gave him and flew back to the Garrison Manor.
• Zhou Zhiren offered Xu Qingtong two female cultivators and a Storage Ring containing three hundred thousand demon crystals and their names and addresses; Xu Qingtong accepted the ring and sent the women away.
• Xu Qingtong cultivated for three months and broke through to late-stage Demon General, then practiced Lian Shaocheng's demonic spells after absorbing his remaining ink lotuses.
• Yin Sheng reported that magic beasts had appeared near Yalai Town, apparently drawn by the demonized garden balsam nearing ripeness, so Xu Qingtong redirected guards to protect the plantation.
• Xu Qingtong went to the plantation, learned that magic beasts had been stealing fruit at night but that no fifth-tier beasts had appeared, and settled into a tent to meditate.

Xu Qingtong guarded the ripe Demonized Garden Balsam plantation and drove off a fifth-tier Red-Browed Demon Fox before confronting a Spirit Controlling Clan member who came to steal the fruit. After Lu Gui'nian told him to handle the intruder as he pleased, Xu Qingtong fought back, and the battle continued as Purple Lightning struck the man.

• Xu Qingtong ordered Magistrate Zhou to arrange a harvest after the Demonized Garden Balsam fruit ripened, while guards fought off beasts drawn to the plantation.
• Xu Qingtong resisted the Red-Browed Demon Fox's illusion, froze it with an Ice Flame Palm, and made it flee by drawing the Fengyi Sword.
• Xu Qingtong confronted a Spirit Controlling Clan member who intended to take the best fruit, and the man severed his hand while reaching for the Fengyi Sword.
• Xu Qingtong contacted Lu Gui'nian, who told him to do as he pleased, then used the Fengyi Sword and Turtle-Speed Technique to kill the man's Blood-Winged Bat.
• Xu Qingtong summoned two Dark Spirits as the wounded man attacked, and a bolt of Purple Lightning struck the man's fist.

Xu Qingtong killed a Spirit Controlling Clan Demon Marshal who tried to seize the ripe demonized garden balsam fruit, then faced Old Devil Tu over the man’s death. After Lu Gui'nian secured compensation and the return of the Storage Ring, Xu Qingtong supervised the harvest and returned to the Garrison Manor to grade the fruit.

• Xu Qingtong killed the intruding Demon Marshal, sent word to Lu Gui'nian, and replenished his demonic power.
• Lu Gui'nian and Old Devil Tu arrived, and Lu Gui'nian stopped Old Devil Tu from pressuring Xu Qingtong.
• Xu Qingtong bargained with Old Devil Tu for two hundred thousand demon crystals before returning the Storage Ring.
• Lu Gui'nian warned Xu Qingtong to guard the ripe demonized garden balsam, and Xu Qingtong arranged for workers to harvest it.
• Xu Qingtong, Yin Sheng, and Guan Ke brought the harvested fruit to the Garrison Manor, where Xu Qingtong began grading it.

Xu Qingtong selected twelve Demonized Garden Balsam fruits, resigned as Yalai Town’s garrison commander, and refined seven World-Breaking Fruits in seclusion. Though the fruits seemed sufficient to return to the Human Realm, he chose to remain in the Demon Realm and cultivate until he could become a Demon Marshal.

• Xu Qingtong chose twelve suitable fruits, left Guan Ke and Yin Sheng in charge of Yalai Town, and delivered the remaining harvest to Lu Gui'nian in Hanshui City.
• Xu Qingtong resigned as garrison commander, bid farewell to Lu Gui'nian and Ouye Tong, and bought materials before traveling to Lian Shaocheng's secluded retreat.
• Xu Qingtong practiced the refining method, overcame several failures, and turned the twelve fruits into seven World-Breaking Fruits.
• Xu Qingtong considered returning to the Human Realm but decided to cultivate his incarnation further and attempt to reach the Demon Marshal realm first.
• Xu Qingtong spent another year absorbing high-grade demon crystals until his demonic power was nearly saturated, but he chose not to attempt the breakthrough yet.

Xu Qingtong left Lian Shaocheng's cave abode to form his Demonic Core and faced the Heart Tribulation and successive bolts of heavenly lightning. He passed the Heart Tribulation by imprisoning his obsession with Du Siwen, but the tribulation clouds remained and began forming another bolt.

• Xu Qingtong sensed his Heavenly Tribulation approaching, left Lian Shaocheng's cave abode, and found a hillside where he began forming his Demonic Core.
• Xu Qingtong's Heart Tribulation manifested Dongfang Hui and Du Siwen, and he resisted their appeals by imprisoning his obsession with Du Siwen in his Niwang Palace.
• Xu Qingtong passed the Heart Tribulation and endured the first two lightning bolts by tempering his body with the Heavenly Fire Body-Tempering Art.
• Xu Qingtong used a drop of Earth Milk to restore his magic power as his ink-black Demonic Core took shape.
• Xu Qingtong threw a World-Breaking Fruit at the third lightning bolt and detonated it, but the tribulation clouds began brewing another bolt.

Xu Qingtong survived the weakened tribulation and became a Demon Marshal before returning to the Qingbing Tribe. After rewarding Luosaide and returning his soul blood, Xu Qingtong prepared to leave, and Luosaide offered him a mysterious stone as a keepsake.

• Xu Qingtong used his spells and Black Tortoise Shield to withstand the remaining tribulation lightning, then completed his Demon Marshal transformation with immortal-light body tempering.
• Xu Qingtong stabilized his cultivation for half a month, merged with his original body, and returned to the Qingbing Tribe.
• Luosaide reported that the Qingbing Tribe had expanded, gained eight Demon General cultivators, and earned 1.1 million demon crystals from the mine over two years.
• Xu Qingtong kept five hundred thousand demon crystals, gave the rest to Luosaide, and returned Luosaide's soul blood before announcing that he would leave to travel.
• Luosaide worried about losing Xu Qingtong's protection and offered him a stone that absorbed demonic qi, glowed at night, and could grow on its own.

Xu Qingtong left the Demon Realm by blasting open the barrier with World-Breaking Fruits and crossed back into the Profound Yin Church's Desert Swamp. He emerged trapped beneath a collapsed mountain, then dug his way out with Xizi and the Rushou Seal.

• Xu Qingtong accepted Luosaide's self-growing stone and gave him the Overlord Hammer spell before Luosaide departed.
• After reflecting on his six years in the Demon Realm, Xu Qingtong quietly left the Qingbing Tribe and flew to the Barrier Entrance.
• Xu Qingtong asked Xiao Bai to inspect the barrier, then used two World-Breaking Fruits to open a passage wide enough to cross safely.
• Xu Qingtong returned to the mountain cave in the Profound Yin Church's Desert Swamp, but found it had collapsed and trapped him beneath the mountain.
• Xu Qingtong sent Xizi to dig and later summoned the Rushou Seal to help; after two days, he climbed out of the blackish mountain.

After returning to the Human Realm, Xu Qingtong freed Xiao Bai and Xizi from their master-servant contracts, but they chose to renew their bond with him. He then discovered that fruit grown in the Seven-Star Bracelet’s Desolate Space contained an unfamiliar energy that might aid cultivation.

• Xu Qingtong returned to the Human Realm after forming his core and summoned Xiao Bai and Xizi to return their Soul Blood.
• Xiao Bai and Xizi refused to leave Xu Qingtong, reclaimed their Soul Blood, and offered him new drops so they could keep following him.
• Xiao Qi explained that she, Xiao Bai, and Xizi wanted to share life and death with Xu Qingtong, and he accepted their Soul Blood and promised to help them cultivate.
• Xizi asked for Earth Attribute Demon Beast flesh and blood, while Xiao Bai requested items containing Spatial Power; Xu Qingtong said he would ask Cui Yan to find supplies in Wei City.
• Xiao Qi told Xu Qingtong that plants in the Seven-Star Bracelet had gained spiritual essence, and Xu Qingtong examined a fruit and detected energy unlike Spiritual Power or Demonic Power.

Xu Qingtong returned to Wei City after receiving intelligence about the Five Great Sects and learned that Azure Wind Hall had prospered during his six-year absence. He rewarded its managers and asked Lan Xin Butterfly to report the latest news.

• Xu Qingtong received a message from Lan Xin Butterfly with news about Juxian Academy and the crippled Heavenly Mystery Palace Grand Elder, then sent a reply through the Cat Falcon.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Wei City before dawn and went to Azure Wind Hall, where Cui Yan, Lan Xin Butterfly, and Feng Zihong welcomed him.
• Feng Zihong recognized that Xu Qingtong had reached the Golden Core Stage, and Cui Yan reported that Azure Wind Hall had earned nine million spirit stones.
• Xu Qingtong inspected the rare items Azure Wind Hall had acquired and let Cui Yan, Lan Xin Butterfly, and Feng Zihong divide six million spirit stones among themselves.
• Xu Qingtong asked Lan Xin Butterfly to tell him the news she had gathered over the past few years.

After returning to Wei City, Xu Qingtong reviewed years of news, welcomed City Lord Bai Feng, and agreed to spar with him at Shuangjia Mountain. Bai Feng’s unusual brush shattered Xu Qingtong’s Houtu Seal barrier, and Xu Qingtong raised the Mysterious Light Mirror as the attack pressed in.

• Lan Xin Butterfly told Xu Qingtong about the Tianhua Ranking, recent cultivator achievements, and other developments during his absence.
• Xu Qingtong welcomed City Lord Bai Feng, thanked him for protecting Azure Wind Hall, and declined the Vice City Lord position while promising to help Wei City if needed.
• Xu Qingtong told Bai Feng he planned to seek admission to Juxian Academy, and Bai Feng asked him to spar.
• At Shuangjia Mountain, Xu Qingtong dispelled Bai Feng’s Dragon-Tiger Power with Golden Light Slash, prompting Bai Feng to use his brush treasure.
• Bai Feng’s golden character shattered Xu Qingtong’s Houtu Seal barrier, and Xu Qingtong brought out the Mysterious Light Mirror to defend himself.

Xu Qingtong defeated Bai Feng in a sparring match, then refined the Evil-Slaying Sword and asked Feng Zihong about the Ou Ye Aristocratic Clan. Feng Zihong explained that its descendants had joined two major sects, and Xu Qingtong recognized a connection to someone he knew.

• Xu Qingtong used his Five Divine Seals to restrain Bai Feng, who admitted defeat and praised Xu Qingtong's strength and treasures.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Azure Wind Hall and pondered how to adapt demonic spells for use with spiritual power, deciding to seek Zhong Ziqing's advice at Juxian Academy.
• Xu Qingtong refined the Evil-Slaying Sword and showed his spirit medicines, herbs, and ores to Xiao Qi, Xizi, and Xiao Bai.
• Xu Qingtong told Feng Zihong that Jade Spring True Person had reached the Nascent Soul late stage and reassured him that Yuquan likely meant to intimidate Yu Jizi rather than kill him.
• Feng Zihong told Xu Qingtong that the Ou Ye Aristocratic Clan had split into the Ouyang Clan and Gongye Clan, whose descendants sometimes possessed illusory spirit roots; Xu Qingtong recognized a connection to someone he knew.

Xu Qingtong learned that Ouyang Hao and his granddaughter had vanished from the Anyang Sect, and he suspected Duoduo might be descended from the Ou Ye Aristocratic Clan. He reunited with Duoduo in Zhonglü City and asked her grandfather whether he knew Ouyang Hao.

• Feng Zihong told Xu Qingtong that Ouyang Cheng, his wife, and Ouyang Cheng’s daughter had gone missing, along with Ouyang Cheng’s father, Ouyang Hao.
• Xu Qingtong arranged for Cui Yan to manage things in Wei City, then traveled to Zhonglü City to visit Duoduo.
• Bao Qingping led Xu Qingtong to the Thousand Talisman Pavilion, where Duoduo recognized him and rushed into his arms, crying.
• Duoduo’s grandfather greeted Xu Qingtong, and Duoduo spent more than two hours listening to his account of his travels.
• After Duoduo left to prepare food, Xu Qingtong asked her grandfather whether he knew Ouyang Hao.

Xu Qingtong arranged for Duoduo to study and cultivate at Juxian Academy while making sure her grandfather, Ouyang Hao, would be cared for. Duoduo formally became Xu Qingtong’s second disciple and learned that she had a senior brother and martial aunt at the academy.

• Xu Qingtong revealed that he knew Ouyang Hao’s Ouyang Lineage descended from the Ou Ye Aristocratic Clan and offered to take Duoduo as his student.
• Ouyang Hao agreed to entrust Duoduo to Xu Qingtong, and Duoduo accepted after Xu promised to buy Ouyang Hao a home and arrange care for him.
• Xu Qingtong bought a courtyard residence in Zhonglü City for Ouyang Hao and brought him there with Information Gatherer Bao’s help.
• Duoduo performed the apprenticeship ceremony before Yu Xuzi’s ancestral tablet and became Xu Qingtong’s second disciple.
• Xu Qingtong told Duoduo that her senior brother was Fu Xingzhi and her martial aunt was Chen Ruoling, prompting Duoduo to repeat Chen Ruoling’s name.

Xu Qingtong returned to Juxian Academy with his new disciple, Ouyang Duoduo, and arranged her gifts, registration, and residence. He then told Zhong Ziqing about his travels and the accusation that Yan Zhongzi had hunted him, ending as Zhong questioned his report of Void Refinement cultivators in the Demon Realm.

• Duoduo told Xu Qingtong that Du Siwen had twice visited looking for him, once with Chen Ruoling.
• Xu Qingtong introduced Duoduo to Shen Haotian, who gave her the Supreme Magical Artifact Ruoshui Sword as a first-meeting gift.
• Xu Qingtong brought Duoduo to Yu Tiancheng, who welcomed her and gave her several bottles of elixirs.
• Xu Qingtong registered Duoduo at the Internal Affairs Hall, and Wang Yuning arranged her a residence near Du Siwen and Chen Ruoling.
• Xu Qingtong visited Zhong Ziqing, who discovered he had formed five Golden Cores and asked him to explain his travels.
• Xu Qingtong recounted his conflict with Yan Zhongzi and his experiences in the Demon Realm, prompting Zhong Ziqing to ask whether it truly had Void Refinement cultivators.

Xu Qingtong told Zhong Ziqing about the Demon Realm, his demonic cultivation, and the spells he had found in Lian Shaocheng’s secluded grounds. Zhong Ziqing began studying the spells and ordered Xu Qingtong to stay, while Du Siwen reunited with him at the cave abode.

• Xu Qingtong explained that powerful Devil Race cultivators ruled the Demon Realm and described how humans there had built their own force; he also recounted Lian Shaocheng’s failed attempt to become a Demon Venerable.
• Xu Qingtong revealed that his incarnation, formed from tiger-patterned white jade lotus, had cultivated demonic power without being influenced by it, and he demonstrated its Raging Thunder Finger for Zhong Ziqing.
• Zhong Ziqing warned Xu Qingtong not to become like the bloodthirsty demonic cultivators in Central Province and told him to keep the Demon Realm’s affairs secret.
• Xu Qingtong asked Zhong Ziqing to help convert Lian Shaocheng’s demonic spells into spells usable with spiritual power, and Zhong Ziqing summoned Lü Wenqiu to study them.
• Du Siwen arrived with Lü Wenqiu and greeted Xu Qingtong, while Zhong Ziqing ordered Shen Haotian and Du Siwen to leave Xu Qingtong behind.

Xu Qingtong helped Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu convert five Demon Realm techniques into spells usable with spiritual power, then left with the techniques recorded on jade slips. Du Siwen confronted him afterward and asked him to tell her about his years away.

• Shen Haotian took Du Siwen away from Zhong Ziqing’s cave abode after Xu Qingtong arrived with Ouyang Duoduo.
• Xu Qingtong demonstrated Raging Thunder Finger, allowing Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu to study how to adapt Demon Realm magic.
• Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu converted Ice Flame Palm, Raging Thunder Finger, Overlord Hammer, Black Tortoise Shield, and Demon Flame Burning Heaven, but could not convert Demonwind Frenzy.
• Zhong Ziqing warned Xu Qingtong not to teach the converted spells to outsiders, and he left carrying five jade slips.
• Du Siwen ambushed Xu Qingtong, discovered that he had also reached Core Formation, and invited him to his cave abode to recount his experiences.

Xu Qingtong returned to his cave abode after six years away and told Du Siwen about his adventures across the human and Demon Realms. The two went to the Martial Arts Arena to spar, where Du Siwen demonstrated her Golden Core strength and Xu Qingtong surprised her by bringing out his treasure.

• Xu Qingtong reunited with Du Siwen at his cave abode, learned how his friends and disciples had progressed, and promised to provide Fu Xingzhi with suitable treasures.
• Xu Qingtong recounted his journey from Moshang Plain through Wei City and Linyue City, including his escape from Yan Zhongzi into the Demon Realm and his formation of a Golden Core there.
• Du Siwen took Xu Qingtong to the Martial Arts Arena to welcome him home with a spar, and Xu Qingtong agreed so he could test her strength.
• Du Siwen attacked with Ice and Fire Twofold Heaven, but Xu Qingtong shattered the spell and invited her to bring out her treasure.
• Du Siwen revealed her Water-Fire Heaven-Shaking Halberd and objected that Xu Qingtong had the advantage of wealth and a spirit artifact, then stared in astonishment when he brought out his own treasure.

Xu Qingtong planned life-bound treasures for Du Siwen and Fu Xingzhi while studying newly adapted spells. He arranged to travel to Wei City with Chen Ruoling the next day to gather materials, then returned to practicing.

• Xu Qingtong offered Du Siwen two ways to make her Water-Fire Heaven-Shaking Halberd into a life-bound treasure, and she chose to have him design a new weapon from better materials.
• Chen Ruoling visited Xu Qingtong, learned he had reached the Golden Core Stage, and later told him she would leave to gain experience the next day.
• Xu Qingtong offered to refine Fu Xingzhi a set of Five Elements Swords and sent him to the Many Treasures Pavilion for materials.
• After Fu Xingzhi reported that two materials were unavailable, Xu Qingtong asked Chen Ruoling to accompany him to Wei City to gather supplies, and she agreed.
• Xu Qingtong registered his trip, tried unsuccessfully to meet Nangong Zhen, and returned to his cave abode to practice spells.

Xu Qingtong traveled to Wei City with Du Siwen and Chen Ruoling to find materials for Du Siwen’s Life-Bound Treasure. After arranging for Du Siwen to refine it at Azure Wind Hall, he prepared to return to Juxian Academy, while Chen Ruoling asked to borrow his Swiftwind Boat.

• Xu Qingtong met Du Siwen and Chen Ruoling outside Juxian Academy and took them to Wei City on his Swiftwind Boat.
• At Azure Wind Hall, Xu Qingtong proved his identity to Cui Yan, and Feng Zihong advised Du Siwen on combining millennium ice jade and earth-melting gold with petrified wood.
• Xu Qingtong took Chen Ruoling around Wei City while Lan Xin Butterfly found and bought the millennium ice jade Du Siwen needed.
• Du Siwen chose to refine her Life-Bound Treasure at Azure Wind Hall with Feng Zihong’s guidance, and Xu Qingtong left his Swiftwind Boat with her before preparing to return to the Academy.
• Chen Ruoling asked Xu Qingtong to lend her a transportation treasure, but he told her that he had already left the Swiftwind Boat with Du Siwen.

Xu Qingtong helped Chen Ruoling borrow a flying shuttle, trained his disciples, and continued advancing his cultivation with five golden cores. After a year, Du Siwen had lost repeatedly to him, and Zhong Ziqing and Lü Wenqiu discussed their concern over Xu Qingtong’s unusual power.

• Xu Qingtong gave Chen Ruoling the Piercing Clouds flying shuttle and advised her to flee if she faced an enemy she could not defeat.
• Xu Qingtong arranged a monthly teaching schedule, then gave Fu Xingzhi a set of five supreme-grade Five Elements Swords.
• Xu Qingtong taught Duoduo the Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art and gave her an artifact-refining art from the Ou Ye Aristocratic Clan.
• Xu Qingtong continued teaching, cultivating, and practicing spells while his original body and incarnation trained separately.
• Over the next year, Xu Qingtong’s cultivation advanced, and he repeatedly defeated Du Siwen in sparring matches.
• Zhong Ziqing told Lü Wenqiu that Siwen had been won over by Xu Qingtong, and Lü Wenqiu worried about Xu Qingtong’s five golden cores.