Chapter Summaries

Xu Qingtong received the Wordless Heart Sutra from Ksitigarbha in the Netherworld and returned safely to the Tianhua Sect. After studying it for three months, he mastered Buddhist power and two hand seals, then tested the Non-Form Seal’s defenses.

• Ksitigarbha gave Xu Qingtong the Wordless Heart Sutra and warned him not to return to the Netherworld without business there.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Central Province with Xiao Bai, visited Lü Wenqiu at the Academy, and then teleported back to the Tianhua Sect.
• Du Siwen confronted Xu Qingtong and Xiao Bai about their trip to the Netherworld, examined the scripture, and warned them not to sneak off to dangerous places again.
• Xu Qingtong studied the Wordless Heart Sutra for three months and learned Buddhist power, the Non-Form Seal, and the Bodhi Seal.
• Xu Qingtong circulated the power of faith through his body while forming the Non-Form Seal to test its defensive strength.

Xu Qingtong mastered the Wordless Heart Sutra and Buddhist seals over a year, then entered Jade Glass City to cultivate among mortals. After finding an unconscious miner named Huang Dachuan, he offered to treat him, leaving the miners to decide whether to trust him.

• Xu Qingtong discovered that practicing the Wordless Heart Sutra restored his power of faith, and he studied the sutra while the fishermen of Siwei Island continued worshipping him.
• A year later, Xu Qingtong had mastered the Non-Form Seal and Bodhi Seals, reached a bottleneck in his power of faith, and decided to Enter the World to Cultivate in Jade Glass City.
• Xu Qingtong entered Jade Glass City's mortal district disguised as an old herb seller and examined the city with his divine sense.
• Miners brought the badly injured Huang Dachuan to a clinic, where the doctor treated his back wound but warned that his head injury and obstructed qi might prove fatal.
• As the miners carried Huang Dachuan home, Xu Qingtong stopped them and said their jolting could kill him, offering to help if they trusted him.

Xu Qingtong saved Huang Dachuan and left him elixirs, then traveled Central Province to place divine thought bodies in craftsmen and returned to seclusion. Over the next decade, the bodies returned with the craftsmen’s life experiences, deepening Xu Qingtong’s understanding of earth, wood, and fire while metal remained uncomprehended.

• Xu Qingtong treated Huang Dachuan with crushed pills, healed his divine soul, and gave him two bottles of elixirs under the name Old Man Bamboo Hat.
• Huang Dachuan returned to his village and established a shrine to Old Man Bamboo Hat, increasing Xu Qingtong’s power of faith.
• Xu Qingtong traveled Central Province for a year, placed three more divine thought bodies in suitable hosts, and then returned to the Tianhua Sect to cultivate in seclusion.
• Ten years later, Xu Qingtong absorbed the returning divine thought body’s experiences after its mason host died in a fall.
• The carpenter and potter later died, and their returning divine thought bodies brought Xu Qingtong further insights into wood and fire.
• Xu Qingtong gained understanding of four of the five elements, with only metal left to comprehend.

After decades of living among ordinary people through his Divine Thought Bodies, Xu Qingtong gained new insights and felt his cultivation nearing a breakthrough. As sects shifted in strength, the Profound Yin Church moved against Anyang Sect territory, and Xu Qingtong set out to discuss the threat with the Sect Master.

• Huang Dachuan died peacefully at seventy-one, and his final outlook on life and death stayed with Xu Qingtong.
• Xu Qingtong combined the insights from his five Divine Thought Bodies, raised his state of mind, and began cultivating in hopes of breaking through.
• Chen Ruoling and Ding Jiayue reached the Nascent Soul realm, while Guo Tianyu stepped down as Grand Elder and Chen Ruoling succeeded him.
• The Heavenly Mystery Palace split into factions, while the Profound Yin Church and Anyang Sect recovered and new sects appeared across the region.
• Lan Xin Butterfly told Xu Qingtong that eight Profound Yin Church Nascent Soul cultivators were targeting Linyue City and Wei City, and he ordered her to monitor their movements.
• Xu Qingtong considered the possibility that the Profound Yin Church planned to swallow the Heavenly Mystery Palace, then left Gloomwind Valley to speak with the Sect Master.

Xu Qingtong weighed whether to abandon his incarnation or cultivate it to the Demon King level before attempting Spirit Transformation. He went to Huijing Pavilion over its unpaid tribute, where a clash with its veiled master ended in a startling recognition.

• Xu Qingtong learned that the Profound Yin Church had sent eight Nascent Soul cultivators to Linyue City, and Shen Haotian predicted they meant to pressure the Tianhua Sect into negotiations.
• Xu Qingtong agonized over whether to discard his incarnation or cultivate it into a Demon King before Spirit Transformation, then set out to seek his senior sister's advice.
• Lan Xin Butterfly told Xu Qingtong that Huijing Pavilion had withheld tribute for two years, injured a Tianhua Sect envoy, and demanded a duel with him.
• Xu Qingtong met the veiled pavilion master, Huiqing, resisted her strange charm, and repelled her attack with the Non-Form Seal.
• Xu Qingtong struck Huiqing through her Protective Barrier, and when her cloak fell away, he recognized her; Huiqing asked whether he meant to destroy Huijing Pavilion.

Xu Qingtong learned that Huijing Pavilion's master was his former acquaintance Dongfang Hui, who told him about her painful past and ancient ruins overseas. After discussing the ruins with Du Siwen, Xu Qingtong arranged to explore them with Dongfang Hui and set out for Huijing Pavilion.

• Xu Qingtong met privately with Dongfang Hui and learned she had fled overseas after struggling with the Heart-Severing Treasure Canon and had been trapped for decades in ancient ruins.
• Dongfang Hui showed Xu Qingtong immortal jade from the ruins, and he agreed to consider investigating them with her.
• Dongfang Hui asked Xu Qingtong to apologize to Du Siwen for using her past grievance as a pretext, and Xu Qingtong returned to the Tianhua Sect.
• Xu Qingtong told Du Siwen about Dongfang Hui and the ruins, and Du Siwen approved his plan to go while warning him to be careful.
• Xu Qingtong had Fang Tianqi waive Huijing Pavilion's annual tribute, left the Tianhua Sect, and sent Dongfang Hui a voice transmission when he reached her pavilion.

Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui traveled to Purple Rosy Clouds Island to explore ancient palace ruins protected by formations. After entering the island’s outer formation, they tested a palace’s defenses, but Dongfang Hui’s attempt to probe the formation failed, leaving her asking Xu Qingtong to increase his attacks.

• Dongfang Hui took Xu Qingtong by flying boat across the sea to Purple Rosy Clouds Island, where she explained that she had once been trapped there for decades.
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui entered the island’s outer formation and headed toward the palaces at its center.
• Xu Qingtong attacked a nearby palace formation with Golden Light Slash and repeated Overlord Hammers, which the formation blocked and rebounded.
• Dongfang Hui tried using her formation disc to examine the palace’s formation, but it showed no change.
• Dongfang Hui asked Xu Qingtong whether he could make his attacks more powerful.

Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui broke into a protected palace, searched its rooms, and collected several unusual items. They then entered Tranquil Heart Hall, where Xu Qingtong suspected a mound in the courtyard was a tomb.

• Xu Qingtong used a Yuanrong Crossbow to weaken the palace formation, allowing Dongfang Hui to break it open.
• Xu Qingtong sent a Puppet inside the palace to check for danger before he and Dongfang Hui entered.
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui searched the palace; Xu Qingtong kept the golden dragon paperweight, brushes, jade bed, and an immortal artifact platform.
• Dongfang Hui opened the formation around Tranquil Heart Hall and let Xu Qingtong inside.
• Xu Qingtong noticed a large mound surrounded by white jade masonry and said it looked like a tomb.

Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui explored a hidden palace and copied several cultivation teachings from its walls, but they discovered that the formation was difficult to exit. Xu Qingtong’s attempt to break it rebounded and badly injured him, leaving him recovering under Dongfang Hui’s care.

• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui found a tomb in the courtyard and discovered teachings carved into the palace walls, including the Nine Immortals Scripture.
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui copied the teachings on cultivation, alchemy, talismans, body tempering, and formations onto jade slips.
• Dongfang Hui failed to open the formation at the palace gate, so Xu Qingtong attacked it with the Yuanrong Crossbow.
• The formation reflected the Yuanrong Bolt’s force, badly injuring Xu Qingtong despite his use of the Non-Form Seal.
• Dongfang Hui gave Xu Qingtong a Soul-Returning Pill and helped him refine it; he woke after four hours and mostly recovered over two days.
• Xu Qingtong said his meridians and divine sense still needed time to heal, and Dongfang Hui offered to help him to the West Wing.

Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui remained trapped in Tranquil Heart Hall and studied the techniques and formations that might let them escape. After nearly a year, Xu Qingtong had learned much of the Body Tempering Technique and had his incarnation study the Nine Immortals Scripture, but he could not sense the immortal essence it required.

• After recovering, Xu Qingtong discussed the hall’s reflective formation with Dongfang Hui, who concluded that they might escape by repenting before the ancestors or mastering the techniques and arts carved on the walls.
• Xu Qingtong chose to study the Body Tempering Technique in the central chamber while Dongfang Hui continued studying formations.
• Over nearly a year, Xu Qingtong worked out the Body Tempering Technique’s movements and energy circulation but had not mastered their speed or timing.
• Xu Qingtong visited Dongfang Hui and learned that she had gained only limited insight, so they agreed to keep studying while trapped.
• Xu Qingtong summoned his incarnation to study the Nine Immortals Scripture, which described cultivation toward ascension, but he could not sense immortal essence.

After mastering the Body Tempering Technique, Xu Qingtong sensed Immortal Essence and learned that it was the foundation for cultivating the Nine Immortals Scripture. He refined Dongfang Hui’s immortal jade and tried using an immortal art to open Tranquil Heart Hall’s formation.

• After settling his mind, Xu Qingtong mastered the Body Tempering Technique and sensed Immortal Essence.
• Xu Qingtong realized the technique enabled cultivators to sense and absorb Immortal Essence, making it the foundation of the Nine Immortals Scripture.
• Xu Qingtong advised Dongfang Hui to study the Body Tempering Technique, and she gave him a piece of immortal jade in exchange for his cultivation insights.
• Xu Qingtong refined the immortal jade with the Nine Immortals Scripture for five days, building up Immortal Essence in his meridians.
• Xu Qingtong used the Vermilion Bird Hand to grasp Tranquil Heart Hall’s formation, attempting to open an exit.

Xu Qingtong escaped Tranquil Heart Hall but returned to stay with Dongfang Hui until she could leave too. After five years, she had sensed immortal essence and begun making progress on the formation, while Xu Qingtong strengthened his divine sense to study talismans; Dongfang Hui gave him a Storage Bag.

• Xu Qingtong tore open the formation with the Vermilion Bird Hand, escaped, then returned to Tranquil Heart Hall to accompany Dongfang Hui.
• Xu Qingtong studied the talismans and found he could not complete one because his divine sense was too weak, so he trained it in the Soul-Refining Pool.
• Over the next five years, Xu Qingtong strengthened his divine sense until he could imitate the full process of crafting a talisman, though he lacked the materials to make one.
• Dongfang Hui comprehended the Body Tempering Technique, sensed immortal essence, and told Xu Qingtong her study of the formation was progressing.
• Xu Qingtong insisted they would leave together, and Dongfang Hui handed him a Storage Bag.

Xu Qingtong used talisman-crafting supplies from Dongfang Hui to learn how to make immortal talismans while his incarnation practiced the Body Tempering Technique. After three months, Dongfang Hui made progress studying the formation, and the two prepared to test Xu Qingtong’s talismans and leave.

• Dongfang Hui gave Xu Qingtong a Storage Bag of talisman-crafting supplies, and he struggled to settle his thoughts after their awkward exchange.
• Xu Qingtong practiced the Body Tempering Technique and repeatedly attempted to craft a True Qi Armor Talisman, eventually making six.
• Xu Qingtong studied the True Qi Kill talisman and crafted one after three months, while his incarnation’s body transformed and its netherworld and demon aspects began to blend.
• Dongfang Hui emerged from the Main Hall, having gained an initial understanding of formations, and Xu Qingtong asked her to help test his talismans.

Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui escaped the formation around Tranquil Heart Hall and continued exploring the mysterious complex. They reached Ink Fragrance Pavilion, where Dongfang Hui found its protective formation too difficult to unravel, so Xu Qingtong proposed attacking it while she studied its workings.

• Xu Qingtong tested his True Qi Armor Talisman against Dongfang Hui's flying sword and gave her two talismans for protection.
• Dongfang Hui spent more than half a month making a Formation Disc, then used it to open a gap in the hall's formation and escape.
• The formation reflected Xu Qingtong's Vermilion Bird Hand back at him, so he used a True Qi Kill Talisman to break through and join Dongfang Hui.
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui agreed to explore farther into the complex and headed toward its central area.
• At Ink Fragrance Pavilion, Dongfang Hui could not unravel the sturdy formation, and Xu Qingtong suggested attacking it while she observed its operation.

Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui failed to break the powerful formations protecting several places in the ruins, but found a weak formation around Qingtong Courtyard and opened it. Inside, Xu Qingtong discovered a child's skeleton and decided to bury the remains.

• Xu Qingtong attacked the Ink Fragrance Pavilion's formation with several techniques while Dongfang Hui searched for a weakness, but they failed to break through.
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui agreed to search the ruins for places with weaker formations and found Qingtong Courtyard.
• Dongfang Hui used her Formation Disc while Xu Qingtong attacked the courtyard gate, and together they broke its formation.
• Xu Qingtong discovered a child's skeleton lying on a bed inside the courtyard and noticed a storage bracelet on its wrist.
• Xu Qingtong told Dongfang Hui he would bury the child's remains, and she agreed to go with him.

Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui buried the skeleton in the retreat and explored its rooms, discovering that it belonged to a servant named Shi Xin. They identified the place as a retreat of the Cangwu Immortal Lord and learned it may have been abandoned after turmoil among the Ten Directions Immortal Lords.

• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui buried the skeleton and marked its grave with a tile carved with “Qingtong.”
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui searched the rooms and found an identity token marked “Mo” and “Shi Xin.”
• Xu Qingtong refined the skeleton’s storage bracelet, and he and Dongfang Hui divided the immortal jade, talismans, flying sword, elixirs, and other items.
• Xu Qingtong found a written statement in a bamboo tube describing its author’s arrival at the Azure Sea Palace with his young master.
• Dongfang Hui and Xu Qingtong concluded that the retreat belonged to the Cangwu Immortal Lord, and Xu Qingtong connected its abandonment to the calamity and conflict among the Ten Directions Immortal Lords.

Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui used Shi Xin’s Identity Jade Token to explore Ink Bamboo Studio, where they discovered that Cang Chen had deliberately left Shi Xin behind with cultivation resources. They divided the valuable cache Cang Chen had stored for Shi Xin and left the residence laden with treasure.

• Xu Qingtong explained the distinction between the Spirit Realm and Immortal Realm and discussed the Nine Immortals Scripture with Dongfang Hui.
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui used Shi Xin’s Identity Jade Token to enter several places and found their greatest haul in Ink Bamboo Studio, Cang Chen’s residence.
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui discovered a Jade Slip in Shi Xin’s quarters explaining that Cang Chen had left him behind and stored cultivation resources for him in the study.
• Xu Qingtong found Cang Chen’s Storage Ring in the study, containing nearly ten thousand pieces of immortal jade and many other resources.
• Xu Qingtong and Dongfang Hui divided the Storage Ring’s contents between themselves and left Ink Bamboo Studio satisfied with their gains.

Xu Qingtong stayed in Cang Chen’s Ink Bamboo Studio to seek a path to Spirit Transformation, while Dongfang Hui returned to Central Province with a message for Senior Sister Du. After a year of training, Xu Qingtong’s body underwent a new transformation.

• Xu Qingtong asked Dongfang Hui for Shi Xin’s token so he could cultivate in seclusion, but she decided to return to Central Province rather than stay with him.
• Dongfang Hui gave Xu Qingtong the token, and he asked her to deliver a jade slip to Senior Sister Du explaining that he was cultivating there.
• Xu Qingtong entered Ink Bamboo Studio and reflected on his centuries of cultivation, resolving to pursue Spirit Transformation by bringing his original body and incarnation into closer harmony.
• Xu Qingtong and his incarnation began practicing the Body Tempering Technique he named Peering into the Immortal Sect.
• After a year of practicing Peering into the Immortal Sect and meditating in Ink Bamboo Studio, Xu Qingtong underwent a new transformation.

After years of cultivation, Xu Qingtong discovered the unity of heaven and man and fell into a profound state of Dao enlightenment as his bodies and nascent souls merged. Du Siwen and Dongfang Hui arrived at his villa, but when their attempts to reach him failed, Du Siwen attacked the formation and triggered a reaction from Xu Qingtong.

• After a year of cultivating Peering into the Immortal Sect, Xu Qingtong fully merged his Netherworld Body and Demon Body and brought yin and yang into balance within his original body.
• Xu Qingtong spent seven more years bringing the Demon Transformation Great Method and Nether God Canon to their peaks, then realized that heaven and man shared the same structure and rhythms.
• Xu Qingtong merged into heaven and earth without realizing it, while his incarnation joined his original body and his demon nascent soul, star sea, and netherworld fetus merged into his ancestral nascent soul.
• Du Siwen and Dongfang Hui arrived at Purple Rosy Clouds Island and entered the villa after Du Siwen received no response from Xu Qingtong.
• Unable to enter Ink Bamboo Studio or get a reply, Du Siwen struck its formation with the Water-Fire Heaven-Shaking Halberd, was thrown back and injured, and caused Xu Qingtong to react.

Xu Qingtong awakened from Dao enlightenment after Du Siwen’s attack on the formation injured her, and he explained his state of unity with heaven and man. After Dongfang Hui departed, Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen reflected on his past with Dongfang Hui, leaving their relationship unresolved but accepting that they were not destined to be together.

• Du Siwen’s attack on the formation awakened Xu Qingtong, who emerged and found her injured with Dongfang Hui supporting her.
• Xu Qingtong gave Du Siwen a Soul-Returning Pill and helped her recover as Dongfang Hui explained why Du Siwen had struck the formation.
• Xu Qingtong told Du Siwen and Dongfang Hui that he had reached unity with heaven and man while seeking Dao enlightenment, and his strange fart comparison made them laugh.
• Dongfang Hui said farewell and left for Central Province after Du Siwen thanked her and apologized for misjudging her.
• Du Siwen said Dongfang Hui should have married Xu Qingtong, but Xu Qingtong replied that they were fated to meet, not destined to be together.