Chapter Summaries

Li Xingtian negotiated with Gao Fang for information about the pillar of light, and Gao Fang revealed it was a ritual formation powered by Spirit Veins moved by the Devil Race. After Li Xingtian left to gather experts, Gao Fang killed his disciple, who had overheard their conversation.

• Li Xingtian offered Gao Fang double his payment to study the pillar of light and demanded that he feed the Eighteen Immortal Sects false information.
• Gao Fang bargained for fifteen thousand Spirit Stones, accepted an advance, and said he would accompany Li Xingtian because he knew little about the pillar.
• Gao Fang revealed that the pillar was a ritual formation and that he had seen the Devil Race move Spirit Veins to sustain the Grand Formation.
• Gao Fang returned the Spatial Ring and asked Li Xingtian to share any insights, and Li Xingtian agreed before taking Gao Fang's Communication Talisman.
• After Li Xingtian departed, Gao Fang confronted his kneeling disciple and killed him for overhearing their conversation.

Gao Fang killed his beloved disciple and reflected on how isolation and the weight of his crimes had made him an Evil Cultivator. He returned to his hidden chamber, switched back into his ruined original body, and anticipated taking full possession of a gifted young body once the Evil Spirit Cult uncovered the secrets of a pillar of light.

• Gao Fang killed his beloved disciple and wondered when he had become an Evil Cultivator.
• Gao Fang descended to a hidden chamber where the bodies of Sun Zhong and Liu Yue lay beside his decrepit original body.
• Gao Fang transferred his consciousness from the young body back into his original body and lamented that he was trapped at the late stage of Golden Core.
• Gao Fang imagined Sun Zhong and Liu Yue explaining why the Evil Spirit Cult wanted the pillar of light, and resolved to use its secrets to perfect soul transfer.
• Gao Fang sensed that the Evil Spirit Cult had made progress and returned to the gifted young body, believing his chance to be reborn had arrived.

Gao Fang led Li Yingling and her companions toward the Light Pillar Ritual after she punished him for his leering gaze. As they traveled, Li Yingling considered why the Devil Race relied on Evil Cultivators to guard dangerous rituals and hoped to uncover what made them necessary.

• Gao Fang met Li Xingtian and the cloaked cultivators, and Li Yingling identified him as a Golden Core Evil Cultivator.
• Gao Fang stared greedily at Li Yingling, who struck him and overwhelmed him with her pressure; he gouged out his own eyes to appease her.
• Li Yingling ordered Gao Fang to lead them to the ritual and asked a Heavenly Derivation Sect Tribulation Transcendence Cultivator to locate Gao Fang’s real hiding place and secure it.
• Gao Fang led Li Yingling and Li Xingtian toward the Light Pillar Ritual while Li Yingling explained that the formations could trigger Spirit Vein explosions if approached without a guide.
• Li Yingling reflected on why the Devil Race used unreliable Evil Cultivators to guard the rituals and suspected they possessed something the formations required.

Gao Fang led Li Yingling and the others through a dangerous formation, claiming its runes were connected to divine souls rather than inter-realm teleportation. His obsession with the ritual spiraled into confusion when Li Yingling reminded him that Sun Zhong was dead.

• Gao Fang warned Li Yingling and Li Xingtian to follow his steps carefully as he guided them toward the crimson pillar.
• Gao Fang explained that the pillars of light persisted despite the Eighteen Immortal Sects because of their dangers, scattered locations, political obstacles, and support from evil forces.
• Li Yingling challenged Gao Fang to explain what he knew about the formation, and he said its runes carried fluctuations related to divine souls.
• Gao Fang called out to Sun Zhong and begged his beloved disciple for help, while a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator sensed that Gao Fang's divine soul was distorted and resonating with something.
• Li Yingling told Gao Fang that Sun Zhong was dead, and Gao Fang asked who had been answering him.

Li Yingling realized Gao Fang had been speaking to himself because his Divine Soul was damaged, and she led him to believe the Crimson Pillar of Light could restore it. When Gao Fang touched the pillar, a powerful Divine Soul force poured into him, and the cultivators prepared for a possible Heavenly Demon descent.

• Li Yingling concluded that the pillars of light might be vessels for Heavenly Demons to descend through selected Evil Cultivators.
• Li Yingling told Gao Fang that Sun Zhong was dead, prompting Gao Fang to remember that he had refined his disciple and had been answering himself.
• Gao Fang realized his Divine Soul had been damaged by his Secret Arts, but Li Yingling urged him to seek the answer within the pillar of light.
• Gao Fang approached the Crimson Pillar of Light and lost the hand he used to touch it, but continued toward its core.
• A powerful crimson Divine Soul force poured into Gao Fang, and Li Yingling pulled Li Xingtian back as the Tribulation Transcendence cultivators readied their protective treasures.

Li Yingling and the other cultivators subdued the Great Heavenly Demon controlling Gao Fang and prepared to take it back for interrogation. Meanwhile, Chu Xingchen returned to A Loving Family Peak, where Sandong proudly told him how it had guarded the sect.

• Li Yingling warned Li Xingtian not to rush toward danger, and he agreed to follow her instructions.
• The entity controlling Gao Fang finished transforming and spoke in an obscure language before revealing that others had been just as unlucky as it was.
• The Tribulation Transcendence Cultivators sealed Gao Fang and his Divine Soul, then agreed to take him back alive for study.
• Li Yingling led the cultivators toward Central Province while they searched for Gao Fang's hiding place and prepared to check his condition.
• Chu Xingchen returned to A Loving Family Peak, where Sandong said it had reliably guarded the sect and asked him to visit more often.

Sandong watched the sect members leave to handle their affairs and tried to hide how much the little Flower Spirit missed them. Sandong chose to guard A Loving Family Peak and prepare medicinal herbs for the Sect Leader, then Qinghe arrived and agreed to accompany Sandong on a mountain inspection.

• Sandong watched Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu leave and reflected on how the sect had grown quiet now that everyone was busy again.
• Sandong resolved to guard A Loving Family Peak and turn the longing for the sect members into a warm welcome when they returned.
• Sandong studied medicinal herbs so the Sect Leader could use them if he was injured, then prepared to wander the mountain.
• Qinghe arrived looking for Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu, learned they had already left, and questioned Sandong about not asking where they went.
• Sandong told Qinghe that only Sandong needed to miss the others and refused to trouble the busy Sect Leader.
• Qinghe agreed to accompany Sandong while the little Flower Spirit inspected the mountain.

The sect leaders gathered at Heavenly Derivation Hall to examine Gao Fang, the captured cultivator suspected of being possessed by a heavenly demon. Chu Xingchen confirmed the possession, then left Li Yingling to represent him as the interrogation and discussions continued.

• Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from several sects, including Karma Buddha, assembled at Heavenly Derivation Hall to assess Gao Fang and Li Yingling's findings.
• Yunxiao asked for proof that Gao Fang was a demon, and Chu Xingchen used Myriad Forms to cut a strand from Gao Fang's divine soul, revealing a crimson fluctuation.
• Chu Xingchen sealed the severed divine-soul strand in a bottle and said his injuries had not healed, appointing Li Yingling to act for him.
• As Chu Xingchen left, Gao Fang stared at him, but Chu Xingchen refused to hear what he wanted to say.

Chu Xingchen met Bai Xuanling to discuss her discovery of a hidden heavenly demon ritual and the danger of a coming war. They agreed that the threat might still be forming, but the world had to prepare while Bai Xuanling continued investigating.

• Chu Xingchen left Heavenly Derivation Hall and visited Bai Xuanling on Pearl-Gem Peak, where they discussed his training of his eldest disciple and her investigation.
• Bai Xuanling explained that several weak spirit veins were shifting toward one location and that she had found a concealed ritual formation producing an unusual trace of Dao resonance.
• Chu Xingchen reasoned that the heavenly demons only needed to anchor their world, and said their hidden operation might be impossible to prevent directly.
• Chu Xingchen said he would consult Xu Jin, Yuyang, and the others and prepare for war, while noting that the demons might still be experimenting and the world could have time to act.
• Chu Xingchen persuaded Bai Xuanling to keep the Heaven's Way Map and continue investigating; after he left, Bai Xuanling reflected on how much uncertainty and pressure he carried.

After the sect meeting, Cui Hao reunited with Chu Xingchen before leaving to carry out his assignment, while the Heavenly Demons Boluo and Meiyu discussed their failed operation and the growing threat of war. Boluo gave Meiyu a blunt explanation, but she remained unconvinced.

• Lü Xuan bade farewell to the sect representatives after they reached a broad agreement at Heavenly Derivation Hall.
• Zheng Zhaoling teased Cui Hao about not waiting for Chu Xingchen, and Chu Xingchen appeared at the sect entrance to meet his disciple.
• Cui Hao reunited with Chu Xingchen, who asked whether he had suffered any grievances and encouraged him to return to his master if he needed help.
• Cui Hao said Cloud Dream Pavilion had cooperated and promised to complete the task Chu Xingchen had given him.
• At Yellow Lotus River, Meiyu told Boluo that Linglong was dead and wish power across the Eastern Sea was still surging.
• Boluo concluded that the Heavenly Demons’ methods had been discovered and that a great war was likely unavoidable, while Meiyu demanded an explanation.

Meiyu confronted Boluo over his role in Linglong’s death, and Boluo admitted he had used her as a possible way to test Chu Xingchen while pursuing a desperate plan to gather spiritual power. At the Inverted Hanging Temple, the abbot agreed to accompany Qian Qing to the Heavenly Derivation Sect.

• Meiyu accused Boluo of deliberately leaving Linglong in danger to learn whether Chu Xingchen had recovered, and Boluo admitted he had considered that possibility.
• Boluo said he planned to build the Grand Formation using spirit vein branches and gather spiritual power by sacrificing the lives of Heavenly Demons and their enemies.
• Boluo promised to face Bai Xuanling at the front and die before Meiyu, after which Meiyu vanished without agreeing or refusing to share the plan.
• Qian Qing demanded that the Inverted Hanging Temple take her to the Heavenly Derivation Sect, but a young śrāmaṇera repeatedly refused.
• The abbot agreed to accompany Qian Qing on the journey, surprising the young śrāmaṇera.

Lin Luoyu worked with Chen Baiqing at the Dongsheng Shenzhou hub and reflected on Third Senior Sister’s uncompromising campaign against evil cultivators. Chen Baiqing decided to return to the Heavenly Derivation Sect to reconcile with Eldest Senior Sister, and she and Lin Luoyu set off with gifts under the codename “Eldest Senior Sister Is the Best!”

• Lin Luoyu visited Chen Baiqing at the hub and accepted candied fruit that Eldest Senior Sister had bought for her.
• Lin Luoyu considered Chen Baiqing’s ruthless methods against evil cultivators and questioned whether good results could justify a questionable process.
• Chen Baiqing invited Lin Luoyu to return with her to the Heavenly Derivation Sect, saying Eldest Senior Sister had returned there and might have cooled down.
• Chen Baiqing gave Lin Luoyu pouches of gifts for Eldest Senior Sister and the others, asking her to help smooth things over.
• Chen Baiqing named their reconciliation effort “Eldest Senior Sister Is the Best!” and Lin Luoyu agreed to help.

Qian Qing reached the Heavenly Derivation Sect with the abbot of Inverted Hanging Temple and tried to contact Yuankong, but the gate disciple rejected her proof and doubted her claim that she knew Chu Xingchen. Chen Baiqing arrived and offered to take Qian Qing inside, where she could see for herself why Yuankong was unavailable.

• Qian Qing and the abbot of Inverted Hanging Temple arrived at the Heavenly Derivation Sect mountain gate to seek Yuankong.
• Qian Qing presented Yuankong's wooden fish, but the gate disciple refused to accept it as proof.
• Qian Qing said Chu Xingchen could vouch for her, prompting the abbot to warn her against invoking his name.
• Qian Qing insisted that she had met Chu Xingchen and asked the disciple to pass on her message.
• Chen Baiqing and Lin arrived, and Chen Baiqing offered to take Qian Qing inside to find out about Yuankong.

Chen Baiqing brought Qian Qing into the Heavenly Derivation Sect and spoke with her about Yuankong and the unresolved feelings she held toward him. At A Loving Family, Chen Baiqing reunited with her senior siblings, and Li Yingling greeted her with a frosty “Hmph!”

• Chen Baiqing confirmed that Qian Qing knew her master, thanked the monks from the Inverted Hanging Temple, and arranged for a gift to be sent in her master's name.
• Chen Baiqing and Lin Luoyu escorted Qian Qing up the mountain while Chen Baiqing asked what she would say if she met Yuankong again.
• Chen Baiqing told Qian Qing that she had returned to reconcile with her eldest senior sister, and Qian Qing tried to reassure her.
• Qian Qing admired the Heavenly Derivation Sect's wonders and praised the name A Loving Family, which Chen Baiqing's master had chosen.
• Chen Baiqing and Lin Luoyu entered the courtyard and greeted Li Xingtian and Li Yingling, who turned away and said, “Hmph!”

Chen Baiqing helped Qian Qing meet Li Yingling and arranged for her to stay at the Heavenly Derivation Sect while they sought Yuankong. Chen Baiqing then softened Li Yingling’s anger with tea and gifts, leaving the sisters reconciled through her thoughtful gestures.

• Chen Baiqing returned and coaxed Li Yingling into speaking with her, while Li Xingtian admitted he had upset the Eldest Senior Sister.
• Chen Baiqing introduced Qian Qing, who explained that Yuankong had raised her and that she had come to find him.
• Li Yingling offered to help Qian Qing contact Yuankong and invited her to stay at the Heavenly Derivation Sect with the Flower Spirit.
• Chen Baiqing served Li Yingling tea and apologized for not being considerate of her.
• Lin Luoyu brought out figurines Chen Baiqing had made of the sect members, and Li Yingling recognized that Chen Baiqing had inherited Master’s gift for winning people over.

Li Yingling settled her dispute with Chen Baiqing and sent her to find Qian Qing a room while she contacted Yuankong about the matter. Meanwhile, Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu arrived at Great Thunderclap Temple for an elaborate welcome, where Chu Xingchen proposed recording the spectacle to brag about it later.

• Li Yingling admired her figurine, decided to ask Yuankong how to handle Qian Qing, and told Chen Baiqing she would punish her for violating Sect regulations.
• Chen Baiqing argued that the regulations did not cover the past, and Li Yingling relented on making her take a Perfect Tonic Pill.
• Li Yingling told Chen Baiqing to take Qian Qing to find a room while she handled the matter with Yuankong.
• At Great Thunderclap Temple, Ru Nan and the assembled Buddhas, Arhats, and Bodhisattvas welcomed Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu with a grand ceremony.
• Chu Xingchen suggested that he and Xie Lingyu record the welcome so they could brag about it, stiffening Ru Nan's smile.

Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu visited the Great Thunderclap Temple, where Ru Nan welcomed them with a grand reception. Chu Xingchen discussed Wuwang's punishment and prepared to meet with the Buddhist Sect, ending by agreeing to take more images with Ru Nan.

• Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu arrived at the Great Thunderclap Temple, where Ru Nan and a crowd of Tribulation Transcendence Buddhas welcomed them.
• Chu Xingchen accepted Ru Nan's offer to record images and took several pictures with him and Xie Lingyu.
• As they headed toward the Great Hero Hall, Chu Xingchen asked Ru Nan to waive Wuwang's punishment, and Ru Nan agreed.
• Ru Nan seated Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu beside him at the same height, explaining that Chu Xingchen's Heavenly Mandate warranted it.
• When Ru Nan joked about recording another image, Chu Xingchen agreed to take several more.

Xie Lingyu watched Chu Xingchen and Ru Nan finalize their public alliance and agreements on behalf of the Buddhist Sect. At A Loving Family Peak, Sandong welcomed Qian Qing, showed her around, and mistook her lack of Spiritual Power for the concealment of a powerful expert.

• Chu Xingchen and Ru Nan exchanged formal praise and confirmed agreements on the Buddhist Sect's benefits and publicity efforts.
• Xie Lingyu wondered how Chu Xingchen's disciples were getting along at A Loving Family Peak while he prepared to record more promotional material with Ru Nan.
• Sandong introduced itself to Qian Qing as the Sect's Chief Protector and offered to show her around.
• Sandong led Qian Qing off the path, praised the Sect's residents, and gave her a Spirit Fruit that Yan Yun had brought.
• Sandong realized Qian Qing was a mortal, apologized for mistaking her for a mighty expert like Yan Yun and the Sect Leader, and promised to walk slowly.

Sandong took Qian Qing around Loving Family Peak, then summoned Qinghe to ask whether Qian Qing could cultivate without a Spiritual Root. Qinghe said there was no worthwhile method and offered to show Qian Qing around the Heavenly Derivation Sect instead, leaving them at the Hundred Flavors Pavilion as Qinghe tried to get them a meal for free.

• Sandong showed Qian Qing a Flood Dragon, a stream, and the docile little White Tiger as Qian Qing marveled at the wonders of immortal life.
• Qian Qing asked Sandong whether someone without a Spiritual Root could cultivate, and Sandong summoned Qinghe for advice.
• Qinghe explained that humans needed Spiritual Roots and that the available ways to force cultivation had severe limits and side effects.
• Qian Qing accepted that she would not cultivate and asked Sandong to keep showing her around, so Qinghe offered to tour the sect and its food stalls.
• At the Hundred Flavors Pavilion, Qinghe demanded the signature dishes without paying and insisted the staff should believe her because Sandong was there.

Yuankong visited Yuanjing’s śarīra in Yuzhou City and struggled with his feelings about Qian Qing. Chu Xingchen arrived with a message from Li Yingling, advised Yuankong to respect Qian Qing’s efforts, and recruited him to help with a Buddhist Sect collaboration.

• Yuankong visited Yuanjing’s pagoda at Chanwood Temple, reflected on his past, and prepared to leave Yuzhou City for a long while.
• Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu met Yuankong outside the city, and Chu Xingchen handed him Li Yingling’s jade token.
• Yuankong asked Chu Xingchen how to handle his private matter with Qian Qing, and Chu Xingchen told him to write her a letter and consider the trial she had endured to find him.
• Yuankong decided to visit the Inverted Hanging Temple, but Chu Xingchen stopped him and explained that the temple would not let an unknown Golden Core cultivator enter its trials.
• Chu Xingchen recruited Yuankong to represent him in a Buddhist Sect collaboration and said his contact was Venerable Buddha Ru Nan.