Recaps

Cui Hao encouraged Li Junzi to step beyond her books and experience the world so she could resolve the attachment keeping her from writing. After demonstrating his extraordinary Confucian talent, he suggested she visit Yuzhou City and speak with his master, though Li Junzi still sensed something was wrong.

• Cui Hao told Li Junzi he had stopped cultivating Confucianism after reaching the Book-Expanding Realm because he wanted to travel and experience the world.
• Li Junzi admitted that an attachment in her heart kept her from writing, and Cui Hao advised her to step outside her problem and gain more life experience.
• Cui Hao closed his eyes and broke through from the Book-Expanding Realm to the Understanding Principle Realm, leaving Li Junzi stunned.
• Cui Hao suggested that Li Junzi visit Yuzhou City to speak with his master and see Senior Sister's Sect.
• Li Junzi considered his advice but remained uneasy, unable to identify what seemed wrong.

After resolving the evil spirit in Lin Family Ravine, Lin Luoyu brought her teacher, Li Junzi, to the sect, where Cui Hao entertained her with exaggerated stories and introduced her to Chen Baiqing. The group learned that their Master was in a poor mood, and Cui Hao went to ask him about it, warned to choose his words carefully.

• Lin Luoyu declined the villagers' celebration, paid the Village Chief to maintain her teacher's courtyard, and left Lin Family Ravine with Li Junzi.
• Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao guided Li Junzi around the sect, while Cui Hao embellished its history and accomplishments.
• Cui Hao introduced Li Junzi to Chen Baiqing, who welcomed her and said she and Lin Luoyu helped one another.
• Cui Hao asked whether their Master was in the Main Hall, and Chen Baiqing said he seemed troubled and that it might involve the Eldest Senior Sister.
• Chen Baiqing told Cui Hao to think before speaking when he questioned their Master, and he solemnly promised not to disappoint her.

Cui Hao told Chu Xingchen that Li Junzi had arrived and shared what he knew about her state of mind. Chu Xingchen gathered the others to launch a secret plan for his eldest senior sister’s birthday, leaving them to prepare a surprise eight days later.

• Cui Hao approached Chu Xingchen in the Main Hall and tried to find out what was troubling him, then explained that Li Junzi was at the Deep Pool with Chen Baiqing and Lin Luoyu.
• Chu Xingchen went to meet Li Junzi, introduced himself, and ensured their conversation would remain secret with a barrier.
• Chu Xingchen announced the Everlasting Joy Plan to celebrate his eldest senior sister’s birthday in eight days and asked everyone present to help.
• Chu Xingchen assigned Cui Hao to notify Ning Qianqian and warned the group not to leak the plan.
• Lin Luoyu, Chen Baiqing, Cui Hao, and Li Junzi agreed to help, and Chu Xingchen declared the plan officially underway.

Li Yingling noticed that her master and junior siblings had been acting strangely while she considered traveling beyond the Sect. Cui Hao tried to keep her away from the secret plan, but she decided to go to Yuzhou City and visit Luo Yu and Li Junzi.

• Li Yingling found Chen Baiqing absent from the Deep Pool and her master missing from the Main Hall, and wondered why both had become so busy.
• Li Yingling reflected on her wish to travel outside Central Province after her master had asked her to wait in the Sect.
• Cui Hao avoided Li Yingling because he feared she would uncover his master's plan and make him bear the blame.
• Li Yingling stopped Cui Hao and asked whether Luo Yu and Li Junzi were still in Yuzhou City.
• Li Yingling insisted that Cui Hao accompany her to Yuzhou City, and her suspicious gaze unsettled him.

Chu Xingchen prepared Yuzhou City for a celebration while arranging a secret birthday surprise for Li Yingling. When Li Yingling arrived unexpectedly, he sent everyone to follow their contingency plans, and she began suspecting Cui Hao as he struggled to explain the lanterns.

• Chu Xingchen oversaw the lanterns, fireworks, performances, and security preparations, while Chen Baiqing and Lin Luoyu reported that their tasks were progressing.
• Chu Xingchen received word from Cui Hao that Li Yingling was coming, then sent Chen Baiqing to Chanwood Temple and Lin Luoyu to walk around the city with her teacher.
• Chu Xingchen instructed A Nian and Zhao Wanqing to stall Li Yingling and leave if she began asking questions that did not fit the conversation.
• At Yuzhou City's gates, Cui Hao distracted Li Yingling by chatting with a soldier until she entered the city without him.
• Cui Hao hurried after Li Yingling, who asked why the residents were hanging lanterns, and she grew suspicious of him for the second time.

Li Yingling visited Yuzhou City, where Cui Hao and Zhao Wanqing tried to conceal the real purpose of the coming celebration at Chanwood Temple. She returned to the Sect without investigating, but recognized Cui Hao was planning something and told him to attend the celebration quietly with her.

• Cui Hao and Zhao Wanqing told Li Yingling that Yuzhou City was preparing a celebration to pray for blessings and honor Yuankong.
• A Nian distracted Li Yingling with a reminder about urgent Demon-Suppression Bureau business, allowing her and Zhao Wanqing to leave.
• Li Yingling met Li Junzi and Lin Luoyu, listened patiently as Li Junzi recounted stories, and invited Li Junzi to visit the Sect again.
• Li Yingling returned to the Sect with Cui Hao and asked what he planned to do at the Chanwood Temple celebration.
• Li Yingling warned Cui Hao not to cause trouble or disgrace the Immortal Sect, and told him to attend the celebration with her.

Li Yingling learned that the Sect would attend Yuzhou City's celebration together, then joined her fellow disciples to watch the festivities. The chapter ended with her excitedly calling everyone to look at the approaching dragon and lion dances.

• Li Yingling found Chen Baiqing reading at the Deep Pool and shared a cheerful morning with her.
• Chu Xingchen told Li Yingling that Zhao Wanqing had invited the Sect to Yuzhou City's celebration and that he had secured them a viewing spot from Chanwood Temple.
• At night, Chu Xingchen, Li Yingling, Chen Baiqing, and the rest of the Sect gathered in Yuzhou City alongside Ning Qianqian and Ning Kun.
• Li Yingling watched the dragon and lion dance troupes approach, then called to everyone in her Sect to look.

Chu Xingchen and his disciples enjoyed the dragon and lion dance procession and the festive street near Chanwood Temple together. Li Yingling bought a candied-hawthorn stand, had Cui Hao carry it, and led everyone onward with skewers in hand.

• Chu Xingchen joined Li Yingling to watch the procession, joking with her like a close friend.
• Lin Luoyu and Ning Qianqian shared their delight in seeing Chu Xingchen and the others enjoy the gathering, and Cui Hao joined the group.
• Li Yingling led everyone toward the vendor street by Chanwood Temple as performers and vendors filled the area.
• Li Yingling bought an entire candied-hawthorn stand and had Cui Hao carry it.
• Li Yingling gave everyone candied hawthorn, then led the smiling group onward as they raised their skewers and echoed her call.

Li Yingling celebrated her birthday by exploring the lively street with Chu Xingchen and her fellow disciples, then met Qinghe and Xie Lingyu along the way. At Chanwood Temple, she was greeted by her second junior brother, Li Xingtian, who seemed to have been waiting for her.

• Li Yingling admired her new lantern, and Chu Xingchen praised her as they and the other disciples enjoyed the vendors and performances.
• Li Yingling spotted Qinghe and Xie Lingyu eating noodles, and the two joined the group after Qinghe finished her meal.
• Qinghe stuck close to Chen Baiqing and toured the stalls with the group, while Cui Hao lingered at the marriage fortune-telling, painting, and calligraphy stands.
• Li Yingling entered Chanwood Temple and found Li Xingtian waiting by a small doorway in dressed-up clothes.

Li Yingling and her companions gathered at Chanwood Temple for a performance, where Chu Xingchen arranged to take a group picture. He taught them how to pose, ending the chapter by telling everyone to say “cheese.”

• Li Xingtian reunited with Li Yingling and greeted Chu Xingchen, while Cui Hao handed him candied hawthorns.
• Bai Xuanling teased Xie Lingyu and Qinghe before leading everyone into the joined private rooms at Chanwood Temple.
• Yuankong prepared for the performance, and the group drank together as the show began.
• Li Yingling realized the gathering had likely been arranged for her and called Chu Xingchen a cheat.
• Chu Xingchen brought out Image-Recording Pearls, gathered everyone for a group picture, and taught them to pose with a V sign and say “cheese.”

Chu Xingchen and his companions gathered to celebrate Li Yingling’s birthday, ending the evening with a grand fireworks display at Chanwood Temple. Li Yingling thanked everyone and happily cried as they shared the moment.

• Chu Xingchen took a group picture of his companions and gave an Image-Recording Pearl to Xie Lingyu so Qinghe could see it later.
• Chu Xingchen told Li Yingling that everyone had prepared a present for her, then led the group to a scenic platform on Chanwood Temple’s Back Mountain.
• Chu Xingchen activated a talisman that set off fireworks over Yuzhou City.
• Chu Xingchen wished Li Yingling a happy birthday and recalled how she used to envy children who could watch fireworks.
• Li Yingling thanked Chu Xingchen and everyone, then laughed and cried while the group celebrated with her.

Chu Xingchen persuaded Bai Xuanling to give him a Give Me Face Token to help protect his eldest disciple as she traveled. He told Chen Baiqing that the eldest senior sister would leave soon, and supported her choice to seek experience elsewhere.

• Chu Xingchen flatteringly asked Bai Xuanling for another Give Me Face Token, explaining that his eldest disciple would soon travel.
• Bai Xuanling gave Chu Xingchen a token and wished his eldest disciple a safe journey, then learned she planned to visit Dongsheng Shenzhou rather than Central Province.
• Bai Xuanling demanded the token back, but Chu Xingchen insisted it could still be useful before she left.
• Chen Baiqing asked whether the eldest senior sister was really leaving, and Chu Xingchen said he supported her decision to go soon.
• Chu Xingchen comforted Chen Baiqing by saying parting could lead to a better reunion, and Chen Baiqing vowed she would never leave him.

Li Yingling left the Sect to pursue her own Immortal Path, and Chu Xingchen spoke with Li Junzi about her Confucian cultivation and the book she wanted to write. Li Junzi later departed to read that book, leaving the Sect quieter once more.

• Chu Xingchen and the disciples saw Li Yingling off, and she departed in a streak of rainbow light.
• Three days later, Chu Xingchen welcomed Li Junzi and discussed her Confucian path and her hopes of writing a book of her own.
• Li Junzi said she had regained her ability to write after attending Li Yingling's birthday celebration, and Chu Xingchen encouraged her to follow her own path.
• On the fifth day after Li Yingling left, Li Xingtian set out for Central Province.
• More than two months later, Li Junzi said farewell and left to read the book within her heart.

Seven months after Li Yingling left, Chu Xingchen decided to travel to Central Province with Chen Baiqing and his other disciples, while Xie Lingyu prepared to break through to Nascent Soul at the Heavenly Derivation Sect. Bai Xuanling received word that Chu Xingchen had finally arrived, just in time.

• Cui Hao reached Foundation Establishment without using a pill, while Chen Baiqing neared Golden Core and Li Yingling sent Chu Xingchen cheerful letters from her travels.
• Chu Xingchen realized Chen Baiqing had felt overlooked when he took his other disciples on outings, so he invited her to travel with him and promised to take Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu somewhere as well.
• Chu Xingchen chose Central Province as their destination and joked that Cui Hao needed to learn a lesson through setbacks.
• At the Heavenly Derivation Sect, Qinghe tried to copy Chen Baiqing's tea-making technique, but Bai Xuanling said her tea was no good.
• Bai Xuanling watched over Xie Lingyu as she prepared for her third day of attempting to break through to Nascent Soul, then received a talisman announcing Chu Xingchen's arrival.

Chu Xingchen and his companions arrived at the Heavenly Derivation Sect, where Qinghe met them and led them through its outer array. Seeing the sect's fully powered Mountain-Guarding Grand Array left Chu Xingchen and Cui Hao awed by the scale of the Eighteen Immortal Sects.

• Qinghe complained to herself about Granny Bai's unfair treatment and unpaid work as she headed to meet the guests.
• At the Heavenly Derivation Sect's reception hall, Chu Xingchen, Chen Baiqing, Lin Luoyu, and Cui Hao waited while a disciple handled the necessary procedures.
• Qinghe arrived, recognized Chu Xingchen's group, and was pushed away when she tried to hug Chen Baiqing.
• Chu Xingchen asked whether Bai Xuanling was in the sect, and Qinghe confirmed it before offering to take the group inside.
• Qinghe led them through the outer illusion array and explained that the Heavenly Derivation Sect's Mountain-Guarding Grand Array ran at full power to retain its spirit veins.
• Cui Hao marveled at the array, and Qinghe repeated Granny Bai's explanation that the outer array made the sect look poor.

Chu Xingchen and his disciples entered the Heavenly Derivation Sect and traveled to Pearl-Gem Peak to meet Bai Xuanling. He negotiated with Bai Xuanling over a possible mission to find a site for his branch sect, agreeing to a forty-sixty split.

• Chu Xingchen and his group entered the Heavenly Derivation Sect and saw its lavish grounds, Teleportation Arrays, and Spirit Veins.
• Qinghe showed them around and shared gossip about the sect’s peaks and Xiao Lingyu, then hurried on after worrying Bai Xuanling had heard her call her Granny Bai.
• Chu Xingchen met Bai Xuanling at Pearl-Gem Peak, where she asked about his plan to establish a branch sect in Central Province.
• Bai Xuanling offered to show Chu Xingchen a possible site, but he grew suspicious and said he wanted to look around first.
• Bai Xuanling proposed a thirty-seventy split, and Chu Xingchen negotiated it to forty-sixty before accepting the deal.

Chu Xingchen and Chen Baiqing traveled to Northern Juluzhou to meet a Heavenly Derivation Sect contact, Jixiang. They found her at Spring Breeze Tower, where Chu Xingchen discovered she was entertaining a customer and punched him off the bed.

• Chen Baiqing smoothly reached the Golden Core realm after cultivating in the Heavenly Derivation Sect's chambers and received an Azure Heaven Ring.
• Chu Xingchen and Chen Baiqing arrived near Northern Juluzhou and headed to Wei'e City's Spring Breeze Tower to find their contact.
• The madam led them to a private room on the ninth floor after Chu Xingchen gave the recognition code.
• Chu Xingchen found Jixiang on a bed with a burly, bearded man, covered Chen Baiqing's eyes, and asked if she was Jixiang.
• The bearded man confirmed he was Jixiang, and Chu Xingchen punched him off the bed.

Chu Xingchen investigated Wuxuan Temple’s Incense-and-Fire Divine Path operation and learned that the Great Dao Sect might get involved. Though he denied being there to help, Chen Mouguang’s pale yellow seal stopped him as a side quest was triggered.

• Chu Xingchen showed Zhao Yang Bai Xuanling’s token and questioned him about Wuxuan Temple’s activities.
• Zhao Yang said Wuxuan Temple had ties to the Great Dao Sect, though the Great Dao Sect’s involvement remained unconfirmed.
• Chen Mouguang burst in to confront Zhao Yang about faulty intelligence, then explained that several Immortal Sects were investigating the Incense-and-Fire Divine Path and the Great Dao Sect might intervene.
• Chu Xingchen said he had only come for a stroll and prepared to leave with Chen Baiqing.
• Chen Mouguang took out a pale yellow seal, stopping Chu Xingchen and triggering a side quest.

Chu Xingchen learned that the Incense-and-Fire Divine Path could grant mortals cultivation through mysterious seals and agreed to inspect an experimental site. In Zhou Mountain Village, villagers prayed to their ancestor for blessings as a strange red egg grew on his head, leaving Zhou Ping terrified that the egg, not the ancestor, was becoming a god.

• Chen Mouguang showed Chu Xingchen a seal and explained that a mortal had gained cultivation equivalent to the eighth level of Qi Refining by absorbing one.
• Chen Mouguang urged Chu Xingchen to help investigate a Mist Mystery Temple experimental site, and Chu agreed to look before deciding what to do.
• Chu Xingchen arranged to meet Chen Mouguang at the Yongping Funeral Parlor at a quarter to eleven that night.
• Chu Xingchen explained to Chen Baiqing why the Heavenly Derivation Sect might consider the Incense-and-Fire Divine Path less important than its Spirit Veins.
• At night in Zhou Mountain Village, villagers prayed as the Zhou Ancestor was carried from the ancestral hall, while Zhou Ping noticed a red egg swelling on the ancestor's head and feared it was becoming a god.

Zhou Ping realized that Zhou Mountain Village was trapped under someone’s control and that the villagers’ prayers for wishes might cost them their lives. Chen Baiqing entered the village’s illusion barrier and questioned him, while Chu Xingchen waited outside with a support team.

• Zhou Ping concluded that the villagers had gone mad over Zhou Ancestor’s wish-granting prayers and that attempts to leave the village always ended in failure.
• A girl in a white rabbit mask appeared in Zhou Ping’s home, called herself his possible lifeline, and demanded that he explain what was happening to Zhou Ancestor.
• Zhou Ping told the girl, Chen Baiqing, that someone had already taken control of the area.
• Outside the illusion barrier, Chen Mouguang worried about sending Chen Baiqing inside, but Chu Xingchen explained that her protective gear and his backup measures would help keep her safe.
• Chen Baiqing persuaded Chu Xingchen to let her enter the barrier, arguing that she could deceive its spiritual-power detection and wanted to help him.

Chen Baiqing persuaded Zhou Ping to lead her to the ancestral hall and hid inside his herb basket. Their journey was interrupted when Uncle Zhou discovered them, leaving Chen Baiqing exposed.

• Chen Baiqing chose Zhou Ping as an ally and told him to lead her toward the ancestral hall.
• Zhou Ping hid Chen Baiqing in his herb basket and carried her through the village at night.
• Uncle Zhou stopped Zhou Ping and questioned why he was out so late with a basket.
• Uncle Zhou abruptly lifted the basket lid and looked inside.

Zhou Ping accompanied Chen Baiqing to the Zhou family ancestral hall, where she stopped him from touching a dangerous door and opened it herself. Inside, Chen Baiqing discovered the Zhou Ancestor suspended in a ritual and sensed two opposing souls within him.

• Chen Baiqing used fine threads to control Uncle Zhou and make Zhou Ping guide him back to the shadows.
• Zhou Ping reached the ancestral hall, but Chen Baiqing stopped him before he touched its vermilion doors.
• Chen Baiqing appeared beside Zhou Ping and pushed the doors open herself.
• Chen Baiqing saw the Zhou Ancestor floating amid red incense smoke beneath a plaque marked Incense-and-Fire Divine Path.
• Chen Baiqing sensed two opposing souls intertwined within the Zhou Ancestor and stepped into the ancestral hall.

Chen Baiqing investigated the Zhou family’s incense-and-fire ritual and tried to abduct Zhou Ancestor, but a Nascent Soul old Daoist stopped her and bound her. As the old Daoist prepared to detain her, an unknown voice spoke from behind him.

• Chen Baiqing examined the ancestral hall’s ritual and concluded that it was testing whether wish power could sustain cultivation without causing a fall in realm.
• Chen Baiqing decided to abduct Zhou Ancestor for information and began weaving spiritual power around him with the Azure Sky Treasure Ring.
• A Daoist old man appeared, blocked Chen Baiqing’s attempt to take Zhou Ancestor, and warned her to leave.
• Chen Baiqing created the illusion of a rising sun and threatened the old Daoist, but he used a Bagua formation and golden chains to restrain her.
• The old Daoist began pulling Chen Baiqing into the ground and promised to apologize later, when a voice behind him said, “Then let me apologize to you first.”

Chen Baiqing failed to rescue Patriarch Zhou from a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator, but she escaped with Zhou Ping. She reunited with Chu Xingchen outside the barrier, where he reassured her that her safety mattered most.

• The old Daoist attacked an illusory Bai Xuanling, and his lightning strike erased a mountain peak before Chen Baiqing's illusion dissolved.
• The old Daoist confirmed that the genuine Patriarch Zhou remained inside the ancestral hall and let Chen Baiqing leave with Zhou Ping.
• Chen Baiqing led Zhou Ping out of the barrier while regretting that she had failed to rescue Patriarch Zhou.
• Chu Xingchen waited outside, checked that Chen Baiqing was unharmed, and reassured her that she had handled the most important thing.

After abandoning another attack on Zhou Mountain Village, Chen Mouguang gathered evidence of Wuxuan Temple’s ritual and planned to share it with other immortal sects. Chu Xingchen left Zhou Ping in Chen Mouguang’s care and took Chen Baiqing to shop for gifts.

• Chen Mouguang stopped the attack after learning their operation had been exposed and possible reinforcements were coming.
• Chen Baiqing recreated the ritual’s layout while Chen Mouguang questioned Zhou Ping and gave him an apple from the offerings.
• Chu Xingchen inspected Zhou Ping’s traits and noticed his rare alchemy talent, though Zhou Ping lacked the aptitude to qualify as a disciple.
• Chen Mouguang planned to circulate the ritual evidence among other immortal sects to put pressure on Wuxuan Temple.
• Chu Xingchen gave Chen Mouguang a talisman for contact, then left with Chen Baiqing to buy presents for their senior and junior fellow disciples.