Chapter Summaries

Xu Qingtong helped Li Yiping kill a Worryfree Valley cultivator, then chased Zhang Fusheng and had Xiao Qi capture him. The chapter ended with Xu Qingtong ordering Xiao Qi to peck Zhang Fusheng after he tried to bargain for his life.

• Xu Qingtong ambushed the Worryfree Valley middle stage cultivator with Soul-Piercing Nails, a Divine Sense Thorn, and an Illusionary Shadow Clasp, allowing Li Yiping to kill him.
• Xu Qingtong collected the cultivator's soul while Zhang Fusheng fled, then told Li Yiping to help Zhuang Shengren and pursued Zhang Fusheng.
• Xu Qingtong sent Xiao Qi after Zhang Fusheng, and the bird kept him occupied until Xu Qingtong caught up and struck him with a Divine Sense Thorn.
• Xiao Qi seized Zhang Fusheng by the head, and Xu Qingtong asked how he had achieved such speed.
• When Zhang Fusheng offered to reveal his secrets in exchange for his life, Xu Qingtong ordered Xiao Qi to peck him without damaging his soul.

Xu Qingtong killed Zhang Fusheng, acquired his Shadowless Evasion Technique and Wind-Treading Boots, and reunited with Zhuang Shengren and Li Yiping after helping them defeat Worryfree Valley cultivators. He learned the technique and patrolled the area, leaving Zhuang Shengren impressed by his speed and strength.

• Xu Qingtong used the Illusionary Shadow Clasp to make Zhang Fusheng hand over the Shadowless Evasion Technique and Wind-Treading Boots, then ordered Xiao Qi to kill him.
• Xu Qingtong reunited with Zhuang Shengren and Li Yiping, accepted Zhuang Shengren's apology, and discussed waiting until dawn to advance on Worryfree Valley.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Du Siwen, told her what had happened, and split up with her to patrol in opposite directions.
• Xu Qingtong learned the Shadowless Evasion Technique and refined the Wind-Treading Boots, greatly increasing his speed.
• Xu Qingtong quickly reached Zhuang Shengren while patrolling, and Zhuang Shengren resolved to cultivate closer ties with him.

Xu Qingtong led his group northeast to search for Worryfree Valley cultivators hiding near Zhangdian Town, splitting up with Du Siwen. He and Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian defeated several cultivators and reached Wasteland Village, where Xu Qingtong sensed signs of life in a seemingly abandoned courtyard.

• Xu Qingtong released the innocent souls from Zhang Fusheng's Soul Refining Pot and gave the cultivator souls in his own pot to Xiao Qi.
• After resting, Xu Qingtong split the seven travelers into two teams, sending Du Siwen with Fourth Senior Brother, Lei Wei, and Huang Yiqing while he continued with Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian.
• Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian defeated two Worryfree Valley cultivators in the woods, and Xu Qingtong gave Ding Jiayue instructions for refining her Soul Refining Pot.
• Xu Qingtong kept a ninth-layer cultivator occupied while Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian killed him and his two seventh-layer companions.
• The three reached Wasteland Village, where Xu Qingtong detected signs of life inside a dilapidated courtyard at the village's eastern edge.

Xu Qingtong, Ding Jiayue, and Chen Qian ambushed a group of Worryfree Valley cultivators near a village and killed them without fighting among the villagers. After they divided the spoils, they set out for Zhangdian Town to meet Senior Sister Du and the others.

• Xu Qingtong identified five evil cultivators in an abandoned courtyard and arranged with Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian to lure them toward an ambush.
• Xu Qingtong killed the foundation establishment middle stage cultivator with hidden weapons, ice magic, and the Rushou Seal, then collected his soul and buried his body.
• Xu Qingtong used his divine sense to drive the four remaining cultivators out of the village toward the grove, where Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian ambushed them.
• Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian killed the four fleeing cultivators and collected their Storage Bags, which Xu Qingtong told them to keep.
• After cleaning up the scene, Xu Qingtong and the two women headed for Zhangdian Town to meet Senior Sister Du and the others.

Xu Qingtong rushed to find Du Siwen and discovered her party trapped by Worryfree Valley cultivators in the Nirvana Imprisonment-Killing Formation. After defeating the attackers and learning how to find the formation’s setup method, he learned that Elder Wang and five others remained in Zhangdian Town.

• Xu Qingtong waited outside Zhangdian Town for Du Siwen’s party, then set off to look for them when they failed to arrive.
• Xu Qingtong found Du Siwen and her three companions besieged inside a formation by five Worryfree Valley cultivators.
• Xu Qingtong defeated the Foundation Establishment cultivator, captured his soul, and bound the four Qi Refining disciples.
• Xu Qingtong killed two disciples while questioning them, then found the Nirvana Imprisonment-Killing Formation’s setup method in a Jade Slip from the cultivator surnamed Yang.
• One surviving disciple told Xu Qingtong that Elder Wang and five others were still in Zhangdian Town, and Xu Qingtong killed the disciple who answered more slowly.

Xu Qingtong rescued Du Siwen and her companions from an ambush, then found the Worryfree Valley cultivators hiding in an underground chamber in Zhangdian Town. The group lured Wang Kunhai and his disciples out, but Du Siwen struggled against his treasure-befouling Black Skull.

• Xu Qingtong killed the last trapped Worryfree Valley disciple after the man offered only the secret that their sect master was having an affair with Elder Hu’s wife.
• Du Siwen admitted that her rash pursuit of credit had led her group into an ambush, and she and the others meditated to recover while Xu Qingtong kept watch.
• Xu Qingtong searched Zhangdian Town and discovered signs of a concealed underground chamber beneath a pavilion in a large mansion.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen planned to lure the hidden cultivators out, with Du Siwen, Gong Chu, and Ding Jiayue waiting in the front courtyard while Xu Qingtong hid nearby and Lei Wei and Huang Yiqing guarded the perimeter.
• Wang Kunhai arrived with five Qi Refining Disciples and surrounded Du Siwen’s group, declaring his identity as a Worryfree Valley elder and demanding their surrender.
• Du Siwen attacked Wang Kunhai with her Water-Fire Heaven-Shaking Halberd, but his Black Skull clamped onto the weapon and began weakening it, so she fired Soul-Piercing Nails at him.

Xu Qingtong killed Wang Kunhai but discovered a black butterfly mark on his forehead that might let Worryfree Valley track him. He sent Du Siwen and the others away to regroup with their allies, then stayed behind to watch for danger and prepared a Life-Risking Jade Talisman.

• Xu Qingtong ambushed and killed Wang Kunhai after defeating his disciples, but a black butterfly emerged from Wang Kunhai's corpse and marked his forehead.
• Xu Qingtong suspected the mark was a tracking technique, and Du Siwen warned that Wang Kunshan might already know Wang Kunhai had died.
• Xu Qingtong gave Du Siwen a jade slip and sent her and the other disciples to rejoin their parties while he stayed behind.
• Xu Qingtong collected and burned the corpses, watched toward Worryfree Valley, then used his essence blood to activate a Life-Risking Jade Talisman.
• Soon after the others left, Xu Qingtong's expression changed and he sprang to his feet.

Xu Qingtong fled north from Wang Kunshan, who pursued him across the desert until he used a Desperate Escape Talisman to escape at the cost of nearly sixty years of his lifespan. He awoke stranded in the Great Marsh Sea, and just as he planned to wait for dawn, a sea demon arrived.

• Xu Qingtong sensed a powerful newcomer, sent a warning, and fled north using Shadowless Escape and his Wind-Treading Boots.
• Wang Kunshan identified Xu Qingtong and chased him, while Xu Qingtong used the Ink Cloud Shuttle to try to stay ahead.
• As Wang Kunshan closed in near the sea, Xu Qingtong activated the Desperate Escape Talisman and vanished beyond the range of the Butterfly Tracking Mark.
• Wang Kunshan failed to locate Xu Qingtong and returned to Worryfree Valley, fearing the Venerable Lord's reaction if anything happened to the sect.
• Xu Qingtong emerged over the Great Marsh Sea, lost nearly sixty years of his lifespan, and regained consciousness in the water.
• Xu Qingtong brought out the Ink Cloud Shuttle and planned to wait for dawn, but a sea demon appeared and disrupted his plan.

Xu Qingtong fled a pursuing Yan Yao and took refuge on a deserted island, where he discovered a map linking the island to Old Dong’s sea chart. Unable to return to the mainland and hindered by the island’s weak spiritual qi, he decided to explore the mapped Red Moon Island.

• Xu Qingtong evaded the Yan Yao’s attacks and eventually escaped its pursuit after nearly an hour of flight.
• Xu Qingtong landed on a deserted island, rested, and carved out a simple cave abode.
• Xu Qingtong examined the spoils from the evil cultivators and found the Yin Nether Soul Refining Art and a detailed island map.
• Xu Qingtong compared the map with Old Dong’s Sea Voyage Map and identified the crescent-shaped island as Red Moon Island.
• Xu Qingtong decided to travel to Red Moon Island to investigate its secrets.

Xu Qingtong traveled from his small island to Huangqiao Island, recording the islands he passed and reflecting on his separation from Dongfang Hui. After Xiao Qi warned him of a Feizhu ambush, Xu Qingtong was caught in the beast’s webs despite using Crimson Flame Talismans.

• Xu Qingtong used Old Dong’s sea chart to locate his position, recorded the surrounding islands, and flew toward Huangqiao Island.
• Xu Qingtong explored Huangqiao Island and was struck by loneliness as he thought of Dongfang Hui.
• Xu Qingtong called out Xiao Qi, learned it was nearing the third tier, and fed it pure soul energy from the Soul Refining Pot.
• Xiao Qi detected a Feizhu burrowing beneath Xu Qingtong and warned him just in time for him to escape its ambush.
• Xu Qingtong summoned the Houtu Seal and dodged the Feizhu’s webs, but his Crimson Flame Talismans failed to burn them and the webs trapped him.

Xu Qingtong trapped and subdued an intelligent Feizhu, promising to free it after a hundred years in exchange for its service. After naming it Xizi, he welcomed it into his group with Xiao Qi.

• Xiao Qi attacked the Feizhu, but Xu Qingtong stopped her because he wanted to subdue the intelligent demon beast rather than kill it.
• Xu Qingtong set out rabbits as bait and used Green Vines and the Xuanming Seal to capture the Feizhu when it emerged.
• Xu Qingtong offered the Feizhu a hundred years of service followed by freedom, and they sealed the agreement with a divine soul blood oath.
• Xu Qingtong introduced the Feizhu to Xiao Qi, and the two argued over what to call it.
• Xu Qingtong named the Feizhu Xizi, and it joined the Seven-Star Bracelet.

Xu Qingtong found rare materials on Huangqiao Island, then traveled to Red Moon Island and discovered that one marked location concealed a deadly formation. As he continued toward another marked place, the Butterfly Mark on his forehead vanished, making him wonder whether Wang Kunshan had died.

• Xizi discovered resonant tortoise stone in a cave, and Xu Qingtong dug it out and praised him.
• Xu Qingtong sent Xizi and Xiao Qi to search Huangqiao Island, gathered their herbs and ores, then set off for Red Moon Island.
• Xu Qingtong studied Wang Kunhai's sea chart during the journey and memorized the locations marked with red crosses.
• At the first marked location, Xu Qingtong saw a rabbit and a flying sword vanish into an invisible formation, so he changed course.
• As Xu Qingtong headed toward another marked location, the Butterfly Mark disappeared from his forehead, and he wondered whether Wang Kunshan had died.

After Wang Kunshan was killed by Yu Tiancheng, Peng Muyang, and Mu Ze, Xu Qingtong headed south from the Great Marsh Sea, hoping to return in time for the decisive battle against Worryfree Valley. He survived several demon-beast attacks and reached Azure Sea Gate territory, preparing to continue his journey.

• Yu Tiancheng learned that Wang Kunshan was hunting Xu Qingtong, then joined Peng Muyang and Mu Ze to kill Wang Kunshan.
• Xu Qingtong saw the tracking mark vanish and decided to return south with the sea map he had made.
• Featherless Vultures attacked Xu Qingtong's Ink Cloud Shuttle, but he used the Zhurong Seal to drive them off.
• A concealed Nine-Clawed Octopus caught the shuttle; Xu Qingtong cut free a tentacle with the Rushou Seal and gave it to Xizi.
• Xu Qingtong reached the mainland in Azure Sea Gate territory, rested, and prepared to continue traveling with the Star Plucker Sword.

Xu Qingtong hurried toward Worryfree Valley after learning that the three Sects were preparing to attack it, then reunited with Du Siwen and learned how Wang Kunshan had truly been killed. The chapter ends with Xu Qingtong asking whether the Dongfang Ancestor had recovered from his injuries.

• Xu Qingtong learned from Azure Sea Gate disciples that Wang Kunshan had been slain and the three Sects were gathering to attack Worryfree Valley.
• Xu Qingtong met Yuan Hong, who told him that Senior Yu had already reached Worryfree Valley's outskirts, so Xu Qingtong flew there.
• Du Siwen recognized Xu Qingtong despite his aged appearance, and he explained that he had spent his lifespan activating the Desperate Escape Talisman to escape Wang Kunshan into the Great Marsh Sea.
• Du Siwen told Xu Qingtong that Senior Yu and Peng Muyang had wounded Wang Kunshan before Mu Ze struck him, Peng Muyang shattered his Golden Core, and Senior Yu destroyed his soul.
• Xu Qingtong learned that Senior Yu was discussing matters with Peng Muyang and Mu Ze and that the Dongfang Ancestor had also arrived; he asked whether the Ancestor's injuries had healed.

Xu Qingtong returned to the allied sects after escaping Wang Kunshan, learned that the decisive battle against Worryfree Valley was imminent, and prepared his companions for the fight. The Golden Core cultivators agreed on an attack plan, and Xu Qingtong’s team gained two new members, including an old acquaintance.

• Xu Qingtong reunited with Du Siwen, Lei Wei, and Gong Chu before reporting to Yu Tiancheng, who warned him that the battle against Worryfree Valley was near and told him to protect his senior sister and Fourth Senior Brother.
• Xu Qingtong told Du Siwen to stay close during the battle and gave her Wang Kunhai’s copper gong and a Jade Slip containing the Shadowless Evasion Technique.
• Peng Muyang, Mu Ze, Dongfang Jin, and Yu Tiancheng discussed the strength of Worryfree Valley’s Venerable Lord and agreed to attack before he could grow stronger.
• The four Golden Core cultivators settled on a plan to break Worryfree Valley’s Sect-Protecting Grand Array while the allied disciples fought the valley’s cultivators.
• After receiving their assignments, Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen gathered Gong Chu, Lei Wei, and the others, and their team added a Heavenly Pillar Peak disciple surnamed Sun and an old acquaintance of Xu Qingtong.

Gloomwind Valley and its allies shattered Worryfree Valley’s Sect-Protecting Grand Array and launched an assault. Xu Qingtong killed a gray-robed late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, but a black shadow escaped from the corpse.

• Xu Qingtong assigned Guan Yu, Sun, Ding Jiayue, and the others to join the attack on Worryfree Valley and distributed protective tools and Soul-Piercing Nails.
• Dongfang Jin led Gloomwind Valley’s force to Worryfree Valley, where the Golden Core cultivators joined Biluozong and the Azure Sea Gate to attack the grand array.
• After the array shattered, Mu Ze and the other Golden Core cultivators charged into the valley, and Xu Qingtong led his team northeast toward several buildings.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen each engaged a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and Xu Qingtong fought the gray-robed late-stage opponent with seals, talismans, and Soul-Piercing Nails.
• Xu Qingtong struck down the gray-robed cultivator with the Rushou Seal, but a black shadow escaped from the corpse.

Xu Qingtong and the three sects’ disciples plundered Worryfree Valley’s Four-Hall before Hua Wuhui emerged and fought the four Golden Core experts. The valley’s disciples were slaughtered, and the chapter ended with the battle still raging as Hua Wuhui targeted Yu Tiancheng and Xu Qingtong feared for his master.

• Xu Qingtong captured a late Foundation Establishment cultivator’s soul, and Du Siwen and Huang Yiqing killed and collected the soul of another attacker.
• Xu Qingtong led the group in looting Worryfree Valley’s Four-Hall before a crash sounded from deep in the valley.
• Hua Wuhui emerged, revealed that he planned to regain Nascent Soul cultivation by consuming people, and began fighting Dongfang Jin, Yu Tiancheng, Peng Muyang, and Mu Ze.
• The three sects’ disciples killed the fleeing Worryfree Valley disciples while Xu Qingtong and his companions hunted those who escaped the main fighting.
• Hua Wuhui and the four Golden Core experts suffered serious injuries, and Hua Wuhui seized Yu Tiancheng’s Heavenly Sound Soul-Seizing Flute as Xu Qingtong grew anxious for his master.

Hua Wuhui used his Soul Refining Pot to turn the battle against the Golden Core cultivators, forcing Dongfang Jin and Peng Muyang to sacrifice themselves. Xu Qingtong was captured in the pot, while Mu Ze raced Hua Wuhui’s surviving divine soul to seize it; inside, Xu Qingtong struggled against unbearable heat and corrosive energy.

• Hua Wuhui summoned a human-faced, snake-bodied monster from his Soul Refining Pot, which broke through the cultivators’ defenses and sent Yu Tiancheng falling; Xu Qingtong caught him.
• Hua Wuhui’s monster trapped Dongfang Jin, who detonated himself and destroyed the monster, leaving Hua Wuhui, Peng Muyang, and Mu Ze injured.
• Hua Wuhui aimed the Soul Refining Pot at the Qi Refining Disciples, and Xu Qingtong shielded Du Siwen’s group as she led them to safety.
• Hua Wuhui’s Soul Refining Pot captured Xu Qingtong’s primordial spirits, and Peng Muyang detonated himself to blast Hua Wuhui apart.
• Mu Ze rushed to seize the Soul Refining Pot as Hua Wuhui’s divine soul flew toward it, while Xu Qingtong weakened inside the pot amid scorching heat and corrosive gray energy.

Xu Qingtong resisted the Soul Refining Pot’s erosion and strengthened his primordial spirit by refining wandering souls while Hua Wuhui battled Mu Ze outside. Mu Ze sacrificed himself to destroy Hua Wuhui, and Xu Qingtong remained trapped inside the pot as his True Origin Scripture neared a breakthrough.

• Xu Qingtong united his two primordial spirits, absorbed a wandering soul, and began refining other souls inside the Soul Refining Pot.
• Hua Wuhui drew soul power from the pot to restore his soul body while Mu Ze’s attacks failed to stop him.
• Xu Qingtong intercepted wandering souls flowing toward the pot’s mouth, leaving Hua Wuhui with less soul power to absorb.
• Mu Ze chose to sacrifice himself and used Soul Burning to engulf Hua Wuhui in invisible flames until Hua Wuhui’s screams stopped and the Soul Refining Pot fell.
• Du Siwen and the other disciples found Xu Qingtong unconscious and Mu Ze dead, while Ding Jiayue placed the pot beside Xu Qingtong.
• Xu Qingtong sensed that the pot’s gray mist had weakened and continued refining wandering souls, approaching the third level of the True Origin Scripture.

Xu Qingtong’s primordial spirit broke through to the third level of the True Origin Scripture and returned to his body, surprising Du Siwen and the others. After reuniting with his injured master, Yu Tiancheng, Xu Qingtong gave him a healing pill and asked what had happened after he was taken into the Soul Refining Pot.

• Xu Qingtong’s primordial spirit grew stronger, broke through to the third level of the True Origin Scripture, and escaped the Soul Refining Pot.
• Xu Qingtong saw that Mu Ze had died and returned to his body as Du Siwen mourned him.
• Du Siwen realized Xu Qingtong was alive, embraced him, and asked how he had survived; Gong Chu also came over to see him.
• Xu Qingtong learned that Yu Tiancheng was injured and went with Du Siwen to see him.
• Xu Qingtong gave Yu Tiancheng a high-grade Heart-Calming Pill, which helped him recover, then asked how Peng Muyang and Mu Ze had died.