Chapter Summaries

Chu Xingchen brought Zhang Miaoyu, Li Yingling, and Li Xingtian to the Heavenly Derivation Sect, where they reunited with the others at Bai Xuanling’s peak. Zhang Miaoyu met Bai Xuanling and froze in awe as the group welcomed her into their circle.

• Zhang Miaoyu, Li Yingling, and Li Xingtian were stunned by the Heavenly Derivation Sect’s spiritual power and grandeur as Chu Xingchen led them to Zhujifeng Peak.
• Chu Xingchen told the newcomers that the peak belonged to Bai Xuanling and that most of their sect had gathered there.
• The group arrived at the courtyard, where Xie Lingyu, Chen Baiqing, Cui Hao, Zhou Ping, Lin Luoyu, Qinghe, and Bai Xuanling were gathered.
• Chu Xingchen congratulated Xie Lingyu on reaching the Nascent Soul Realm and introduced Zhang Miaoyu as the new Outer Sect Guest Elder.
• Zhang Miaoyu nervously looked at Bai Xuanling, who reassured her that she was not going to eat her.

Zhang Miaoyu joined the Zhujifeng gathering and found Bai Xuanling far kinder than the legends suggested. As the celebration began, Lü Xuan and Yan Yun arrived, and Bai Xuanling challenged them about their visit.

• Zhang Miaoyu calmed down while Chen Baiqing shared candied fruit with the gathering, including Zhang Miaoyu and Zhou Ping.
• Chu Xingchen announced the first Zhujifeng Peak gathering to celebrate Lingyu's breakthrough to Nascent Soul after Bai Xuanling nodded.
• Qinghe rushed to team up with Chen Baiqing for the games, while Li Yingling and Cui Hao eagerly joined in.
• Lü Xuan and Yan Yun arrived and asked to join the gathering, prompting Bai Xuanling to greet Yan Yun and tease her about her return.
• Lü Xuan claimed Yan Yun had come to pay her respects, while Yan Yun realized her master had brought her to investigate Bai Xuanling's group of gifted disciples.
• Yan Yun admitted that she had wanted to visit Bai Xuanling, and Lü Xuan silently praised her as a good disciple.

Bai Xuanling let Lü Xuan and Yan Yun join the courtyard, where Li Yingling organized a Monopoly game with penalties. Lü Xuan agreed to play after the others reassured him, while Qinghe suspected a scheme and encouraged Chen Baiqing to take part.

• Bai Xuanling allowed Lü Xuan and Yan Yun into the courtyard, and Chu Xingchen agreed to add them to the gathering.
• Yan Yun congratulated Xie Lingyu on reaching the Nascent Soul realm, while Chen Baiqing noticed Qinghe’s wariness toward Yan Yun.
• Li Yingling brought out Monopoly and explained that players would draw penalty cards, with Lü Xuan and Yan Yun allowed to redraw once if a penalty made them uncomfortable.
• After hesitating, Lü Xuan agreed to play alongside Yan Yun, Bai Xuanling, Xie Lingyu, Li Yingling, and Chen Baiqing, with Chu Xingchen refereeing.
• Cui Hao stopped Qinghe from joining and signaled that there might be a trick, so Qinghe encouraged Chen Baiqing instead.

Chu Xingchen hosted a Monopoly-style game, and Yan Yun drew a penalty card that forced her to pose and loudly declare, “In the name of the moon, I'll eliminate you evil cultivators.” The game continued with Chen Baiqing drawing a card that made her meow like a cat.

• Chu Xingchen used an Illusion Technique to create a detailed game board, and Li Yingling bought the first property after winning rock-paper-scissors for the opening turn.
• Lü Xuan landed on Li Yingling's property and paid her rent, while Yan Yun landed on a penalty space.
• Yan Yun drew a card requiring her to pose with a longsword and shout, “In the name of the moon, I'll eliminate you evil cultivators.”
• After Chu Xingchen's Illusion Technique signaled that she had to be louder, Yan Yun repeated the line at full volume and demanded that the game continue.
• Chen Baiqing landed on a penalty space, drew a card instructing her to meow like a cat, and performed it as Qinghe praised her cuteness.

During a penalty game on Zhujifeng Peak, Bai Xuanling turned his humiliating task into a triumphant declaration, and the others agreed to shout their penalties too. Lü Xuan drew a disastrous card and faced two humiliating choices as the chapter ended.

• Chen Baiqing completed her cat-themed penalty, then Zhou Ping rolled the dice for Bai Xuanling.
• Bai Xuanling landed on a penalty square and loudly declared that without him, the immortal path would be an eternal night, drawing attention from disciples across the sect.
• Chu Xingchen proposed that everyone shout their penalties, and Yan Yun, Chen Baiqing, Li Yingling, and Xie Lingyu agreed, leaving Lü Xuan to consent as well.
• Zhou Ping rolled Lü Xuan onto a penalty square, and Lü Xuan drew a card telling him to shout a line about a bald donkey fighting him for a Buddhist nun.
• Lü Xuan used his right to draw another card, but the second penalty told him to shout, “conquered by you, just like that, with every path of retreat cut off,” while Chu Xingchen conjured two chibi versions acting out the choices.

The Heavenly Derivation Sect gathered outside Zhujifeng Peak after hearing the Sect Leader, Yan Yun, and others shout bizarre declarations, and guessed they were caught up in a wager with Bai Xuanling. On the peak, the game continued through humiliating outfits and penalties, leaving Yan Yun about to land on another penalty space.

• The Sect Leader shouted that he was giving up being human, prompting the Disciplinary Elder and other elders to gather outside Zhujifeng Peak and speculate about the wager.
• The elders heard Yan Yun declare that she belonged among the stars and decided the Sect Leader had likely joined a wager with Bai Xuanling.
• Lü Xuan, Yan Yun, Xie Lingyu, Chen Baiqing, and others continued the game, wearing costumes and markings created with spiritual power and Chu Xingchen's Illusion Technique.
• Xie Lingyu ran out of funds after landing on Li Yingling's holiday resort and was eliminated, but had to keep wearing her cute outfit.
• Chu Xingchen admitted he was still looking at Xie Lingyu, while Lü Xuan told Yan Yun to move her token; Yan Yun saw she was about to land on a penalty space and laughed in exasperation.

Li Yingling won Chu Xingchen’s game and chose Yan Yun for the ultimate punishment, which required her to buy everyone a lavish meal. At the Flavor-Knowing Residence, Lü Xuan praised Chu Xingchen’s strength and remarked on the remarkable talent among those around him.

• Yan Yun, Li Yingling, and Chen Baiqing teamed up against Lü Xuan, then knocked Yan Yun out after Lü Xuan was eliminated.
• Li Yingling won the game, with Bai Xuanling taking second place and Chen Baiqing third.
• Chu Xingchen told Li Yingling to choose a loser for the ultimate punishment, and she selected Yan Yun instead of Lü Xuan.
• Yan Yun drew a card requiring her to buy everyone a lavish meal, while Xie Lingyu made Qinghe hold a Magic Wand and a Sparkler and wear a salted-fish drawing on her cheek.
• The group went to the Flavor-Knowing Residence, where Lü Xuan praised Chu Xingchen and noted that he could not sense Chen Baiqing’s fate.

At a dinner with the Heavenly Derivation Sect, Lü Xuan praised Chu Xingchen and his companions before asking Chu to investigate an abnormal location in Central Province. Afterward, Chu gave Bai Xuanling a cracked purple bead as interest for her help, and she accepted it in exchange for calling their accounts even.

• Lü Xuan lavishly praised Chu Xingchen, Li Yingling, Li Xingtian, Zhou Ping, and Cui Hao during dinner, making Chu suspect he wanted a favor.
• Bai Xuanling told Lü Xuan to show sincerity and explained that Chu had come to Central Province to find a suitable site and establish himself.
• Lü Xuan showed Chu a map marking an abnormal area in Central Province, and Chu agreed to investigate it when he had time.
• Qinghe celebrated having eaten at Yan Yun's expense, while Xie Lingyu doubted that she had done anything beyond filling her stomach.
• Chu Xingchen thanked Bai Xuanling for her help and gave her the cracked purple bead from the Dream Immortal evil cultivator as interest.
• Bai Xuanling accepted the bead, said it was useful to her, and told Chu to consider their accounts even.

Ning Qianqian continued her cultivation and cared for the Sect while Chu Xingchen and the others were away in the Central Province. After the mysterious egg moved when she teased it, she heard a loud “Awoo” from behind her as she was leaving.

• Ning Qianqian cultivated with spirit stones, discouraged by her weak spiritual root but determined to keep trying.
• Ning Qianqian tended the spirit plants and fed the spirit fish while missing the absent Sect members.
• Ning Qianqian checked the spirit stones and water around the mysterious egg, then wiped it clean.
• Ning Qianqian teased the egg about being eaten if it did not hatch, and it rolled slightly.
• As Ning Qianqian turned to leave, the egg made a loud “Awoo” sound.

Lin Luoyu trained on Hidden Sword Peak, enduring its sword intent until she could understand the stories held by the swords there. She climbed toward the silent azure sword at the summit, eager to learn its story.

• Bai Xuanling sent Lin Luoyu to Hidden Sword Peak to train in sword intent and stationed Cangjian to watch over her.
• Cangjian repeatedly rescued Lin Luoyu after sword intent wounded her, while her sword intent gradually strengthened.
• Lin Luoyu learned to remain on Hidden Sword Peak and understand the stories conveyed by the swords’ intent.
• The swords began acknowledging Lin Luoyu as someone who could draw them, but she passed them by and looked toward the azure sword at the summit.
• Lin Luoyu climbed higher on Hidden Sword Peak, determined to hear the story of the quiet azure sword.

Lin Luoyu reached Azure Darkness at the summit of Hidden Sword Peak and faced the proud sword’s overwhelming sword intent. It drew her into a memory of a younger Bai Xuanling, who explained why he liked azure.

• Cangjian watched Lin Luoyu climb Hidden Sword Peak, surprised that nearly every sword invited her and wondering whether she had the Sword-Alluring Physique.
• Lin Luoyu persisted through repeated attempts until she reached the summit and stood before Azure Darkness.
• Lin Luoyu touched Azure Darkness’s hilt after it ignored her sword intent, triggering a surge that Cangjian tried to block.
• Lin Luoyu refused to retreat and met Azure Darkness’s sword intent, which drew her into the sword’s story.
• Lin Luoyu saw a younger Bai Xuanling beside a sword furnace as he said, “I like azure. It looks freer.”

Lin Luoyu witnessed Bai Xuanling forge and claim Azure Darkness, then saw her fight a sky-filling host and finally seal the sword within Hidden Sword Peak. Hidden Sword invited Lin Luoyu to try drawing Azure Darkness.

• Bai Xuanling watched the Swordsmith finish forging Azure Darkness and plunged into the flames to subdue the sword.
• Bai Xuanling named the sword Azure Darkness, and the name appeared on its hilt.
• Bai Xuanling fought a vast, indistinct crowd with Azure Darkness, cleared the dark clouds, and fell from the sky gravely wounded.
• At Hidden Sword Peak, Bai Xuanling sank Azure Darkness into the mountain and left without looking back.
• Lin Luoyu touched Azure Darkness's hilt as its sword intent withdrew, and Hidden Sword told her to give it a try.

Lin Luoyu refused to draw Azure Darkness, believing the sword was still waiting for Senior Bai, and left Hidden Sword Peak as its sword intent flared behind her. Back at Zhujifeng Peak, Chu Xingchen gathered his disciples and ordered them to prepare to set out for an important sect matter.

• Lin Luoyu told Hidden Sword that Azure Darkness belonged with Senior Bai and would not take it by force, then left without looking back as the sword's azure light returned.
• Hidden Sword realized Lin Luoyu could touch Azure Darkness because she was not tempted by the sword for her own gain.
• At Zhujifeng Peak, Chu Xingchen played five-in-a-row with Xie Lingyu while Qinghe and Chen Baiqing kept busy, and the others continued cultivating, studying, and trading their gains.
• Lin Luoyu returned and told Chu Xingchen she had not wanted a spirit sword from Hidden Sword Peak.
• Chu Xingchen told Chen Baiqing to notify the others and prepare to set out for an important sect matter.

Li Yingling, Zhang Miaoyu, and Xie Lingyu searched the flower-covered ridges for the Heavenly Derivation Sect’s rumored discovery. Li Yingling revealed that a Flower Spirit might be hidden there, and finding it could give them the information they needed.

• Li Yingling and Zhang Miaoyu discussed their mission and split up to search the vast area with the others.
• Xie Lingyu reflected on Chu Xingchen and Yan Yun’s rapid progress, then accepted that others could possess greater talent and success than she did.
• Li Yingling asked why Xie Lingyu was not traveling with her master, and Xie Lingyu said he would distract her and cause trouble.
• Li Yingling told Xie Lingyu that a Flower Spirit seemed to live among the flower-covered ridges and that finding it could provide information.

Li Yingling set a Wood Spirit Crystal as bait on Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge, where the wary flower sprite Sandong discovered it. Remembering how humans had once hunted sprites and burned her home, Sandong tried to flee, but another glowing stone stopped her.

• Li Yingling placed an artificial Wood Spirit Crystal beneath the strongest moonlight on Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge.
• Sandong recalled how she had avoided demons and humans, and how humans had burned a flower-covered ridge while searching for her.
• Sandong spotted the Wood Spirit Crystal and suspected it was a human trap, so she turned to leave.
• Sandong sensed a fluctuation of Spiritual Power, looked back, and found a glowing blue stone that might be a Spirit Stone.

Sandong cautiously found and took a tiny piece of Essence of the Moon, only to discover Li Yingling watching it. Surrounded by Li Yingling, Xie Lingyu, and Zhang Miaoyu, Sandong agreed to answer their questions in exchange for its freedom and the offered treasures.

• Sandong resisted taking a piece of wood essence, then found a tiny piece of Essence of the Moon and carefully tested the area before picking it up.
• Li Yingling appeared behind Sandong, revealing that it had been lured into a trap.
• Sandong offered the Essence of the Moon back and pleaded to be allowed to go home alive.
• Li Yingling promised not to harm Sandong and offered wood essence and a Spirit Stone as payment for answering questions.
• Xie Lingyu and Zhang Miaoyu closed off Sandong's escape, and Sandong agreed to tell them everything it knew.

Li Yingling questioned Sandong about Flower Ridge, then gave the timid Flower Spirit a Wood Spirit Crystal and arranged to meet the next morning so it could show them the nearby scenery. As Li Yingling, Xie Lingyu, and Zhang Miaoyu left together, Sandong wondered what to make of the gifts and their one-sided agreement.

• Li Yingling asked Sandong about unusual features and hidden knowledge at Flower Ridge, but Sandong could only mention a fierce rabbit demon and its hazy memories of another Flower Spirit.
• Li Yingling gave Sandong the Wood Spirit Crystal, and Xie Lingyu left it a Spirit Stone.
• Li Yingling decided the group would explore the area and asked Sandong to meet them at the hour of the Rabbit the next morning to show them the scenery.
• Li Yingling made flower crowns for Xie Lingyu and Zhang Miaoyu as the three departed, leaving Sandong with the gifts and wondering whether they expected it to keep the appointment.

Li Yingling and her companions toured Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge with Sandong, who showed them its hidden scenic spots. Sandong revealed an ancient ritual carved into a cliff, and Li Yingling decided to contact her Master before investigating it.

• Li Yingling and her companions returned to where they had caught Sandong, found the Spirit Stones and Wood Spirit Crystals gone, and soon heard Sandong hiding nearby.
• Li Yingling asked Sandong to guide them to the ridge’s prettiest places, and Sandong happily led them to hidden flowers and scenic spots.
• Sandong brought the group to a flower-covered cliff and pointed out a rock face it thought was unusually beautiful.
• Li Yingling parted the flowers and revealed an elaborate ritual etched into the rock, which Xie Lingyu and Zhang Miaoyu examined.
• Zhang Miaoyu suggested opening the ritual, but Li Yingling refused and said she would contact her Master first; Sandong was shocked to learn the carving might be dangerous.

Chu Xingchen traveled through Longwater Valley with his disciples, while Li Yingling spent time with Sandong at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge and invited it to leave with her after the Ritual. As Sandong hesitated over the choice, Chu Xingchen arrived at the ridge.

• Chu Xingchen explored Longwater Valley with Zhou Ping, Cui Hao, and Chen Baiqing, and agreed to follow Cui Hao's suggestion to check out a waterfall.
• Chu Xingchen activated a Talisman and sent a streak of light toward Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge.
• Li Yingling fed Sandong Essence of the Moon and asked whether it wanted to leave Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge with her after the Ritual.
• Sandong hesitated, afraid of the world beyond the ridge, while Li Yingling encouraged it to listen to its heart.
• Sandong spotted a streak of light approaching, and Li Yingling told it that the newcomer was her master.

Li Yingling found Sandong, a flower spirit, and brought it to Chu Xingchen and the others. At the ancient ritual, Xie Lingyu recognized that Chu Xingchen was hiding his lack of knowledge, then activated the markings and revealed a hidden world that appeared to be a grave.

• Li Yingling proudly introduced Sandong, and Chen Baiqing identified it as a flower spirit while Sandong felt strangely close to her.
• Xie Lingyu led the group to an ancient ritual carved into a cliff, which Chu Xingchen admitted he did not recognize.
• Chu Xingchen claimed the ritual was dangerous and sent his disciples away, but Xie Lingyu stayed to help and keep watch.
• Xie Lingyu activated the ritual, revealing blue markings and another world beyond it, and Chu Xingchen realized it was a grave.