Chapter Summaries

Xiao Qi broke through to the sixth tier, and Xu Qingtong returned with Du Siwen to Gloomwind Valley, where they learned ghost cultivators had appeared. Xu Qingtong revealed that powerful reinforcements were waiting in the Demon Baleful Forest, then defended his decision to grant them the forest when Mu Shaoping and Peng Zide objected.

• Xiao Qi survived its advancement, transformed with fiery red feathers and seven-colored tail feathers, and thanked Xu Qingtong.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen returned to Gloomwind Valley and met Guo Tianyu at the mountain gate.
• Xu Qingtong joined Fang Tianqi, Peng Zide, and Mu Shaoping in the Council Hall and learned that Biluozong and the Azure Sea Gate had captured low-ranking ghost cultivators.
• Xu Qingtong told the sect leaders that he had secured one Nascent Soul cultivator, two Golden Core cultivators, and over six hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators as reinforcements.
• Xu Qingtong said the reinforcements were resting in the Demon Baleful Forest, which he had promised them, and insisted that he could give away the territory he had conquered.

Xu Qingtong warned Gloomwind Valley that Ghost Cultivators had appeared and offered the Witch Clan as reinforcements, but Fang Tianqi hesitated to seek their protection. The danger reached the Biluō Mountain Range, and Xu Qingtong suddenly sensed something in the northeast.

• Xu Qingtong told Gong Chu that a major Ghost Cultivator uprising threatened Qing and Bing Provinces, then offered him the choice of joining the Witch Clan or staying in Gloomwind Valley.
• Peng Zide and Mu Shaoping hurried back to their sects after Ghost Cultivators attacked the Biluozong, and Fang Tianqi told Xu Qingtong that a Golden Core Ghost Cultivator led the assault.
• Xu Qingtong sent his Incarnation to alert the Witch Clan's Grand Elder and returned to the Council Hall with Fang Tianqi and Du Siwen.
• Xu Qingtong said Gloomwind Valley had only seventeen Foundation Establishment cultivators and that the Witch Clan would protect them if they joined, while Fang Tianqi feared they would be used as shields.
• Xu Qingtong abruptly stopped speaking and turned toward the northeast, drawing Fang Tianqi's gaze.

Xu Qingtong, Fang Tianqi, and Shi Chengjun went to aid Biluozong after two golden core ghost cultivators began attacking its mountain-guarding array. They arrived at the sect and prepared to confront the attackers.

• Xu Qingtong left Gloomwind Valley with Du Siwen to investigate Yi Chen and Yi Tonghe's breakthroughs in the Demon Baleful Forest.
• Fang Tianqi learned that two golden core ghost cultivators were attacking Biluozong and flew to seek Xu Qingtong's help.
• Xu Qingtong asked Shi Chengjun to join the rescue, and the Grand Elder agreed.
• Xu Qingtong, Shi Chengjun, and Fang Tianqi flew to Biluozong and saw dozens of foundation establishment ghost cultivators attacking its Mountain-Guarding Grand Array under two golden core cultivators.

Xu Qingtong and the Grand Elder joined the fight to save Biluozong from Ghost Cultivators attacking its mountain gate. They killed both Golden Core Ghost Cultivators, helped defeat the remaining attackers, and left Fang Tianqi stunned as Peng Zide thanked him for coming to Biluozong’s aid.

• Xu Qingtong and the Grand Elder flew to Biluozong’s mountain gate and attacked the two Golden Core Ghost Cultivators with lightning spells.
• Xu Qingtong used Raging Thunder Fingers and summoned Xiao Qi and Xizi to kill Foundation Establishment Ghost Cultivators.
• The Grand Elder trapped one Golden Core Ghost Cultivator, removed his golden core, and captured his yin soul.
• Xu Qingtong restrained and killed the other Golden Core Ghost Cultivator, and the Grand Elder extinguished his fleeing yin soul.
• Peng Zide opened Biluozong’s grand array and led the disciples out to hunt the remaining Ghost Cultivators.
• Fang Tianqi watched the battle in shock, and Peng Zide thanked him for coming to Biluozong’s aid.

After Peng Zide coldly received his rescuers, Xu Qingtong returned to Cloudsky Peak and arranged reinforcements against further Ghost Cultivator attacks. He urged Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue to consider joining the Witch Clan, revealing his own membership and explaining that it did not require betraying the Human Race.

• Peng Zide offered lukewarm thanks to Xu Qingtong and the Grand Elder, and Fang Tianqi rebuked him after the rescuers departed.
• The Grand Elder warned that the Ghost Cultivators' attack might have been a probe, prompting Xu Qingtong to change course toward Cloudsky Peak.
• Xu Qingtong asked for Siwen to return to Cloudsky Peak and sent Xiao Bai with the Grand Elder to help his original body bring the Clan Chief out of the Lesser Heaven Realm.
• Zhuang Shengren reported that Cloudsky Peak remained quiet and that he had strengthened patrols, especially in the back mountain.
• Xu Qingtong told Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue about the Biluozong attack and presented voluntary Witch Clan membership as a way to survive and advance their cultivation.
• Xu Qingtong revealed that he and Siwen had already joined the Witch Clan and assured Zhuang Shengren that his membership did not require betraying the Human Race.

Xu Qingtong refined Nine Yin Pills and learned that Du Siwen’s cultivation had advanced after taking one. When Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue asked to join the Witch Clan, Si Yuanzhi questioned whether they could retain their Human Race identities and leave with Xu Qingtong, leaving their admission unresolved.

• Xu Qingtong refined Yin Souls and made batches of Nine Yin Pills, improving his results as he gained practice.
• Du Siwen took a Nine Yin Pill and reached the peak of the Sorcerer Apprentice Realm, close to advancing to the Sorcerer Realm.
• Xu Qingtong told Du Siwen that Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue wished to join the Witch Clan, then summoned them to welcome Si Yuanzhi.
• Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue asked to join the Witch Clan while retaining their Human Race identities and the right to leave with Xu Qingtong.
• Si Yuanzhi raised concerns about accepting members who might leave after the Ghost Cultivators were defeated and about the Witch Clan’s cultivation methods leaking.

Xu Qingtong arranged for Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue to join the Witch Clan so they could learn its cultivation technique. After Si Yuanzhi admitted them, Xu Qingtong began teaching them the Taiyi Heart Method.

• Xu Qingtong proposed that Gloomwind Valley disciples who wanted to learn Witch Clan techniques must join the clan, while others could become its dependents; Si Yuanzhi approved.
• Si Yuanzhi agreed to let Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue join while retaining their human identities, provided they swore not to reveal the clan’s cultivation techniques.
• Xu Qingtong showed Si Yuanzhi the former ghost-cultivator cave and the star-rich summit of Cloudsky Peak, which Si Yuanzhi identified as an excellent place to practice shamanic arts.
• Si Yuanzhi presided over the Welcoming New Members Ceremony, and Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue joined the Witch Clan.
• Si Yuanzhi returned to Black Water Pool, while Xu Qingtong sent Du Siwen to clear and guard the back mountain cultivation area with a piece of flesh lingzhi.
• Xu Qingtong explained the Taiyi Heart Method to Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue and asked whether they understood.

Xu Qingtong welcomed Yi Chen and thirty Witch Clan clansmen to Cloudsky Peak, then defended the mountain when ghost cultivators pursued Azure Sea Gate disciples. After the attackers were defeated, Xu Qingtong pursued a Golden Core ghost cultivator, who swallowed the escaped captain’s soul before suddenly flying toward the Azure Sea Gate.

• Xu Qingtong taught Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue the Taiyi Heart Method, and both cultivated the power of the Great Yin.
• Yi Chen arrived with thirty Witch Clan clansmen to report for duty, but Xu Qingtong spotted Azure Sea Gate disciples fleeing from ghost cultivators and ordered Cloudsky Peak to prepare for battle.
• Thirty Witch Clan disciples used lightning to defeat the black-clad ghost cultivators, while Yi Chen’s strike felled their Foundation Establishment leader, whose soul escaped.
• Xu Qingtong sensed a Golden Core ghost cultivator approaching and flew after him, leaving Yi Chen to secure the mountain gate.
• The Golden Core ghost cultivator swallowed the captain’s soul and then abruptly flew toward the Azure Sea Gate.

Xu Qingtong killed a Golden Core ghost cultivator near the Azure Sea Gate and discovered a ghost cultivator spy among the refugees at Cloudsky Peak. After learning that the Azure Sea Gate had fallen, he and the others considered which nearby sects might be targeted next.

• Xu Qingtong caught and killed a Golden Core ghost cultivator who had sent a distress signal, then collected his soul and body.
• Hall Master Xin arrived with two other Golden Core cultivators, examined the scene, and decided to report to the Sect Master before taking action.
• At Cloudsky Peak, the Witch Clan disciples refined the Yin Nether power from ghost cultivator corpses while the Azure Sea Gate refugees were held in the Self-Reflection Hall.
• Xu Qingtong detected and killed Senior Brother Wei, identifying him as a ghost cultivator spy, then questioned the remaining Azure Sea Gate disciples about their sect's fall.
• Xu Qingtong told Zhuang Shengren, Yi Chen, and Ding Jiayue that the Azure Sea Gate had been destroyed and discussed the danger to nearby Biluozong and Gloomwind Valley.

After the Azure Sea Gate fell, Xu Qingtong persuaded Fang Tianqi that Gloomwind Valley could not survive the ghost cultivators without Witch Clan support. Gloomwind Valley became the Witch Clan's vassal, and Xu Qingtong returned to Cloudsky Peak to prepare defenses while the Witch Clan arranged to reinforce them.

• Fang Tianqi arrived at Cloudsky Peak, and Xu Qingtong revealed that he and several others had joined the Witch Clan.
• Xu Qingtong explained that Gloomwind Valley could either join the Witch Clan or become its vassal, and Fang Tianqi chose vassalage.
• Xu Qingtong brought Fang Tianqi to Black Water Pool, where they negotiated Gloomwind Valley's vassal terms with the Grand Elder.
• The Witch Clan agreed to send the Grand Elder and Yi Tonghe to garrison Gloomwind Valley, while Yi Chen would return to Black Water Pool.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Cloudsky Peak with Fang Tianqi to deploy their people and strengthen both sects' defenses.

Xu Qingtong prepared Gloomwind Valley for a possible Ghost Cultivator attack, then confronted and killed Chai Long, who had returned as a Golden Core Ghost Cultivator. He exposed a sect disciple as Chai Long’s spy, but the threat of an assault from within and without remained.

• Xu Qingtong left an incarnation to help defend Cloudsky Peak and traveled with Fang Tianqi to Gloomwind Valley, where he ordered the disciples to prepare for battle.
• After two days, Xizi reported a black-clothed cultivator near the valley, and Xu Qingtong discovered that the man was Chai Long, now a Golden Core Ghost Cultivator.
• Xu Qingtong used his Slow technique to kill Chai Long, captured his soul, and stored his corpse.
• Xiao Qi caught a Gloomwind Valley disciple, and Xu Qingtong revealed that the man was a Ghost Cultivator mole before stopping his attempt to self-destruct.
• Xu Qingtong searched the disciple’s memories and learned that he had found the Sect-Protecting Grand Array’s formation eye and planned to help Ghost Cultivators attack from within and without.

Xu Qingtong organized defenses at Gloomwind Valley and Cloudsky Peak as the ghost cultivators destroyed the Biluozong and threatened the remaining strongholds. After deploying Witch Clan reinforcements and ordering a search for spies, he went to the forbidden grounds with Chai Long's body and a dead Golden Core ghost cultivator.

• Xu Qingtong ordered Xiao Qi to investigate everyone in Gloomwind Valley, then learned that the Biluozong's gates had fallen and refused to send help, suspecting a trap.
• The Witch Clan's Grand Elder arrived at Gloomwind Valley, discussed the threat with Xu Qingtong, and told Yi Chen to return to Black Water Pool to help defend it.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Cloudsky Peak, told the others about the Biluozong's destruction, and sent Yi Chen to Black Water Pool.
• Xu Qingtong ordered Xiao Qi to search Cloudsky Peak for ghost cultivators and divided the 130 Witch Clan disciples into patrol groups led by Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue.
• Xu Qingtong sent his incarnation to practice shamanic arts with Du Siwen and took his original body to the forbidden grounds, where he placed Chai Long's body and a dead Golden Core ghost cultivator beside a small pit containing flesh lingzhi.

Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen cultivated with the Yin Nether power of Golden Core ghost cultivators, advancing their Witch Clan realms while Xu Qingtong continued refining Nine Yin Pills. After successfully making Mid-grade Nine Yin Pills, he received an urgent message by Light Sword.

• Xu Qingtong put the two corpses in a stone pit, set Xizi to guard it, and continued refining Nine Yin Pills from the flesh lingzhi.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen used Golden Core ghost cultivator cores to cultivate; he advanced to the late-stage Witch Spirit Realm, and Du Siwen broke through to the Sorcerer Realm.
• Ding Jiayue told Xu Qingtong that no ghost cultivators had appeared near their forces or Gloomwind Valley.
• Xu Qingtong found that the flesh lingzhi had grown by a third, then merged his incarnation with his main body to attempt refining Mid-grade Nine Yin Pills.
• After several failures, Xu Qingtong refined fifteen Mid-grade Nine Yin Pills across three batches, and a Light Sword flew into his cave abode.

Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen rushed to Gloomwind Valley after seven Golden Core Ghost Cultivators breached its defenses. Their arrival turned the battle, and Gloomwind Valley’s fighters began killing the attackers.

• Xu Qingtong learned that seven Golden Core Ghost Cultivators and over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators were attacking Gloomwind Valley, then hurried there with Du Siwen while ordering Cloudsky Peak to prepare for a surprise attack.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen arrived to find Gloomwind Valley’s Mountain-Guarding Grand Array breached and its defenders fighting while the Grand Elder, Fang Tianqi, Guo Tianyu, and Yi Tonghe faced Golden Core opponents.
• Du Siwen and Yi Tonghe killed Yi Tonghe’s opponent, and Du Siwen sent Biyue and the Nine Nether Earthfire to help Guo Tianyu.
• Xu Qingtong drew three Ghost Cultivators away from the Grand Elder, who then killed his injured opponent with help from his Dark Spirits.
• Biyue and the Nine Nether Earthfire overwhelmed another Ghost Cultivator, and Biyue tore out his Golden Core as the battle turned in Gloomwind Valley’s favor.

Xu Qingtong and the Witch Clan defeated the ghost cultivators at Gloomwind Valley, then rushed to defend Cloudsky Peak from another assault. His incarnation joined the battle, and the ghost cultivators began to retreat as their Golden Core fighters fell.

• Xu Qingtong and the Witch Clan slew the Golden Core ghost cultivators at Gloomwind Valley and drove the survivors to flee.
• The Grand Elder ordered the Witch Clan disciples to pursue the fleeing ghost cultivators, then discussed abandoning the ruined valley with Xu Qingtong and Fang Tianqi.
• Xu Qingtong sensed that Cloudsky Peak was under attack and vanished; Du Siwen followed him there.
• Xu Qingtong, his companions, Zhuang Shengren, and the Witch Clan fought the ghost cultivators outside Cloudsky Peak while Ding Jiayue and others guarded the grand array.
• Xu Qingtong's incarnation arrived and struck a Golden Core ghost cultivator with Purple Lightning, allowing Xu Qingtong to kill him and capture his soul.
• After Xu Qingtong and his incarnation killed the enemy leader and Xiao Qi killed her opponent, the ghost cultivators began retreating; Xu Qingtong ordered Xiao Qi to help Xizi and Xiao Bai stop the remaining fighters from escaping.

Xu Qingtong and his allies defeated the ghost cultivators at Cloudsky Peak, then decided to consolidate their forces there by abandoning Gloomwind Valley. After tending to the aftermath, Xu Qingtong resumed pill refining while regretting that he had not fulfilled Yu Xuzi’s final wish.

• Xu Qingtong killed a Golden Core ghost cultivator with the Fengyi Sword, while Xiao Qi chased down and swallowed another fugitive soul.
• Xu Qingtong’s allies and the Witch Clan disciples hunted down the remaining ghost cultivators, killing nearly all of them but suffering three deaths and more than ten injuries.
• Xu Qingtong arranged compensation for the dead and injured and rewarded the three most successful fighters with Nine Yin Pills.
• Fang Tianqi told Xu Qingtong that Gloomwind Valley’s formation had been destroyed and proposed consolidating the two locations, so Xu Qingtong ordered its disciples to withdraw to Cloudsky Peak.
• Xu Qingtong asked Zhuang Shengren and Ding Jiayue to arrange shared lodgings, offered Du Siwen Golden Core ghost cultivator cores, and fed several corpses to the growing flesh lingzhi.
• Xu Qingtong returned to the Earthfire Chamber to refine Nine Yin Pills and regretted that he had not yet carried Yu Xuzi’s remains back to the Anyang Sect.

Xu Qingtong advanced his alchemy and exchanged insights on the five stars with the Grand Elder, helping him prepare to break through to the Witch Wisdom Realm. The Grand Elder left for seclusion and to report to the Clan Chief, while Du Siwen revealed that she had captured Ghost Cultivator scouts near Cloudsky Peak.

• Xu Qingtong studied Yu Xuzi's Alchemy Insights and spent half a month refining Nine Yin Pills, becoming a fourth-tier Alchemist with nearly two hundred pills.
• Xu Qingtong learned that the Grand Elder and Fang Tianqi had relocated Gloomwind Valley's disciples to Cloudsky Peak, where they guarded the peak after the Ghost Cultivators' failed attacks.
• Xu Qingtong shared his understanding of the five stars with the Grand Elder, who explained how Star Souls were formed and thanked Xu Qingtong for his teachings.
• After two days of discussion, the Grand Elder felt ready to attempt a breakthrough to the Witch Wisdom Realm and left Cloudsky Peak to enter seclusion and report to the Clan Chief.
• Xu Qingtong's main body arrived at Cloudsky Peak and left five bottles of Mid-grade Nine Yin Pills before returning to his cave abode, where Du Siwen said she had captured Ghost Cultivator scouts.

Xu Qingtong refined two suits of Invisibility Armor from a Darknight Flying Tuo’s hide after extensive preparation. He tested one suit, then gave the other to Du Siwen, who tried to refuse it before accepting it.

• Xu Qingtong urged Du Siwen to cultivate and gave her a bottle of Nine Yin Pills.
• Xu Qingtong studied the Darknight Flying Tuo’s hide and rehearsed the refining process in his Niwang Palace over thirty times.
• Xu Qingtong learned from his incarnation that the ghost cultivators had mostly held their forces in place during the past month.
• Xu Qingtong spent half a month refining two suits of Invisibility Armor, despite failing three times.
• Xu Qingtong attuned one suit, used it to approach Du Siwen unseen, and tested whether she could detect him.
• Xu Qingtong offered the second suit to Du Siwen, who pretended not to like it before accepting it when he threatened to give it to Zhuang Shengren.

Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen infiltrated the Azure Sea Gate to gather intelligence, then pursued a group of ghost cultivators heading toward Black Water Pool. After killing three of them, they faced the remaining cultivators as Xu Qingtong’s incarnation and Xiao Qi arrived, and the chapter ended as the ghost cultivators moved to surround them.

• Xu Qingtong teased Du Siwen with the Invisibility Armor, then agreed to take her along to investigate the ghost cultivators.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen watched the Azure Sea Gate for three days before noticing tribulation clouds gathering over Black Water Pool and a powerful Nascent Soul ghost cultivator departing with ten Golden Core cultivators.
• Xu Qingtong contacted his incarnation, and he and Du Siwen pursued the Golden Core ghost cultivators, killing three with surprise attacks.
• The seven remaining ghost cultivators discovered the bodies, decided to hurry to Black Water Pool, and spotted Xu Qingtong’s incarnation arriving with Xiao Qi.
• The ghost cultivators, reassured by the incarnation’s apparent strength, spread out to surround him.

Xu Qingtong and his allies killed eight of the ten Ghost Cultivators attacking the Witch Clan, then he went to Black Water Pool and found Clan Chief Si Yuanzhi battling Leng Yuan. Si Yuanzhi fell after casting a Cursing Technique, and Xu Qingtong arrived too late to stop the blow, but Leng Yuan suddenly became unable to move.

• Xu Qingtong, his incarnation, Du Siwen, and Xiao Qi killed eight Ghost Cultivators, while two escaped.
• Xu Qingtong sent his incarnation and Du Siwen back to Cloudsky Peak and flew toward Black Water Pool with Xiao Qi.
• Si Yuanzhi confronted Leng Yuan at the boundary between Black Witch Marsh and Demon Baleful Forest, and the two began fighting.
• Xu Qingtong secretly approached and watched Leng Yuan overpower Si Yuanzhi with a black sphere after Si Yuanzhi used the Cursing Technique.
• Xu Qingtong rushed to help Si Yuanzhi, but the black sphere struck and sent him falling; Leng Yuan then found himself unable to move.