Recaps

Wu Tianxin told Xiao Hua that his divination art had revealed a deadly calamity awaiting him at Yaotai Mountain and that Xiao Hua might be his only chance of survival. Xiao Hua listened to Wu Tianxin’s history and learned that the crisis was already unavoidable, though its cause remained unknown.

• Xiao Hua activated the quiet room’s restrictions, and Wu Tianxin begged him to save his life at the Yaotai Gathering.
• Wu Tianxin revealed that he had an innate ability to sense fortune and misfortune and had discovered a fragmentary technique that taught him divination.
• Wu Tianxin explained that he had sensed a growing calamity for decades and came to Yaotai Mountain hoping to find a way to survive.
• After using his divination art in the quiet room, Wu Tianxin discovered that his crisis was on Yaotai Mountain and that Xiao Hua represented a slim chance of life.
• Xiao Hua observed that Wu Tianxin seemed trapped in a deathtrap with no way to return, and Wu Tianxin confirmed his fears.

Wu Tianxin warned Xiao Hua that he sensed danger to himself at the Yaotai Gathering, and Xiao Hua promised to protect him. Later, Xiao Hua welcomed Xue Ping, an old acquaintance from Xiguo, and asked why he had come to Yaotai Mountain.

• Wu Tianxin told Xiao Hua he sensed danger to himself and asked for help at the Yaotai Gathering; Xiao Hua agreed to keep him by his side and protect him.
• Zhu Chengli left Xiao Hua’s palace pleased after receiving a medicinal pill and a Nascent Soul cultivation technique.
• Xiao Hua studied Confucian scrolls and Buddhist scriptures, then reflected on how demons cultivated and decided to ask Xiao Huang and Xiaohei when they returned.
• Xiao Hua sensed that True Person Yuanqing had returned to Yaotai Mountain and went to greet his old acquaintance.
• Xue Ping apologized for his former discourtesy, and Xiao Hua welcomed him, offered him spiritual fruit, and asked why he had come to Yaotai Mountain.

Xue Ping explained that he resigned from his post in Xiguo to avoid being caught in the growing conflict around Changsheng Town, then found a powerful new position in Danliang Kingdom. Xiao Hua agreed to travel with him after the Yaotai Gathering, leaving their earlier agreement still ahead.

• Xue Ping told Xiao Hua that he had left Nanpu Commandery and offered to guide him on their planned journey after the Yaotai Gathering.
• Xue Ping recounted how Dharma Master Cihang’s fame transformed Changsheng Town into a major Buddhist pilgrimage site and stirred tensions among Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist forces.
• Xue Ping explained that he resigned as Left General rather than risk being drawn into the conflict, then became a prefect’s aide in Butian Commandery of Danliang Kingdom.
• Xue Ping described how Danliang’s sovereign appointed him prefect’s aide with authority over military and governmental affairs, despite his Daoist affiliation.

Xue Ping told Xiao Hua about Danliang Kingdom’s Buddhist monarch, Xiao Jun, and invited him to meet the king, leaving Xiao Hua curious about the kingdom’s intentions. Later, Hong Songzi invited Xiao Hua to attend an evening banquet hosted by True Lord Huode, whose identity Xiao Hua asked Chang Yu to explain.

• Xue Ping explained that he had urged Xiao Jun to recruit Daoist cultivators and offered to arrange a meeting, but Xiao Hua told him not to discuss Xiao Hua’s affairs without permission.
• Xue Ping gave Xiao Hua his communication talisman and left with Chang Yu.
• Xiao Hua shared spirit fruits and wine with Chang Yu, Wu Tianxin, and Zhu Chengli, then asked what they thought of Danliang Kingdom and its monarch.
• Chang Yu suggested that Xiao Jun might genuinely want to improve his country, while Wu Tianxin argued that the kingdom was using Daoist cultivators for Buddhism.
• Qingmu delivered Hong Songzi’s invitation to attend True Lord Huode’s evening banquet, and Xiao Hua asked Chang Yu who True Lord Huode was.

Xiao Hua accepted an invitation to True Lord Huode’s banquet, bringing Chang Yu and his companions along. After revealing his mid-stage fourth-rank Yuan force cultivation to Hai Hongzi, Xiao Hua arrived at the banquet and saw True Lord Huode seated at the head of the hall.

• Xiao Hua learned that True Lord Huode was the National Teacher of Lihuo Kingdom and agreed to attend his banquet with Chang Yu and the others.
• Hong Songzi, True Person Yuanqing, and Hai Hongzi came to greet Xiao Hua, and Xiao Hua revealed his mid-Nascent Soul cultivation.
• Xiao Hua told the other cultivators that he had come to seek the National Teacher’s token, while Hai Hongzi hinted at a possible rare treasure.
• Hong Songzi brought his disciples together with Chang Yu’s group, and they flew into a cave on Yaotai Mountain toward True Lord Huode’s palace.
• Xiao Hua entered the banquet hall and saw the childlike True Lord Huode surrounded by an aura of powerful fire.

Xiao Hua attended True Lord Huode’s banquet, where Huode praised his efforts to improve relations between Daoist and Confucian cultivators. The banquet ended its opening toast with Xiao Hua’s wine cup vanishing in his hand, leaving him publicly slighted and Hai Hongzi wary of associating with him.

• Xiao Hua sat with Hong Songzi and the others, then contemplated the method for dispersing the Nascent Soul while waiting for the banquet to begin.
• True Lord Huode welcomed the cultivators and presented Li Fire Fruits and Ganli Wine as the banquet’s offerings.
• Xiao Hua remembered Xue Xue and the Three Elders of Fire Fierce Mountain, and his attention drifted from Huode’s speech.
• A Nascent Soul cultivator praised True Lord Huode for helping increase the number of National Teacher’s tokens at the Yaotai Gathering a thousand years earlier, and the guests raised their cups to him.
• Xiao Hua’s jade wine cup vanished when he tried to grasp it, so he could not join the toast while the others drank.
• Hai Hongzi decided Xiao Hua’s slight against True Lord Huode made him too risky to cooperate with.

At True Lord Huode’s banquet on Yaotai Mountain, True Lord Qingxu denounced Daoist cultivators’ dependence on Confucian cultivators and left after urging them to remember the seniors who fought for the Daoist sect. The gathering resumed, and a newly introduced Nascent Soul cultivator toasted True Lord Huode while hoping to obtain a National Teacher’s token.

• Hai Hongzi drank Li Fire spirit wine and hurriedly refined the fire-aspected Primordial Qi it stirred within him.
• True Person Xuanpu praised True Lord Huode’s generosity, but True Lord Qingxu challenged the Daoist guests to reject dependence on Confucian cultivators and honor the seniors who had sacrificed themselves.
• True Lord Qingxu drank a toast to the Daoist ancestors, threw down his cup, and left the cave dwelling; True Lord Huode stopped True Person Xuanpu from pursuing him.
• True Lord Huode reassured the guests, and the banquet became lively again as cultivators offered toasts.
• Hong Songzi quietly suggested that Xiao Hua apologize to True Lord Huode, and Xiao Hua agreed to offer him a cup of wine.
• At True Lord Jinxu’s suggestion, Zhang Cheng introduced himself as Zhi Chengzi, toasted True Lord Huode, and said he hoped to obtain a National Teacher’s token.

True Lord Huode accused Xiao Hua of being a Confucian cultivator spy to restore his standing at the banquet, then attacked him when Xiao Hua mocked his motives. Xiao Hua revealed late Nascent Soul-level power and shattered Huode’s fiery Nascent Soul hand, leaving the gathered cultivators stunned.

• True Lord Huode singled out Xiao Hua for not offering a toast, but refused his wine and called him “Fellow Immortal.”
• True Lord Huode cited a secret warning from Zhenhong and True Person Yufeng’s testimony to accuse Xiao Hua of being a Confucian cultivator spy.
• Xiao Hua recognized Huode’s attempt to regain face after True Lord Qingxu’s departure and challenged Huode’s accusations.
• True Lord Huode flew into a rage and struck at Xiao Hua with a giant fiery Nascent Soul hand.
• Xiao Hua released pressure comparable to a late Nascent Soul cultivator and formed a golden hand that crushed Huode’s fiery hand, shocking the banquet guests.

Xiao Hua intimidated True Lord Huode and left the gathering, but worried that his strength and past deeds had drawn the attention of Confucian cultivators. True Lord Qingxu invited him to the Trading Meet, where Xiao Hua browsed the Golden Core stalls without buying anything.

• Xiao Hua crushed True Lord Huode's Nascent Soul hand, declared his past deeds, and flew away while the other cultivators watched in fear.
• True Person Yufeng identified Xiao Hua and recounted rumors about his actions in Tongzhu Kingdom as True Person Chu and True Person Yifeng questioned him.
• Xiao Hua worried that True Lord Huode had exposed him to Confucian cultivators, then decided to return to Black Cloud Ridge after obtaining the National Teacher's token.
• Xiao Hua learned from Jin Hong that the Trading Meet was on its final day and encountered True Lord Qingxu outside it.
• True Lord Qingxu invited Xiao Hua to the Trading Meet and offered to give him an item, and Xiao Hua accepted.
• Xiao Hua browsed stalls selling goods for Golden Core cultivators, asking about their wares but making no purchases.

Xiao Hua searched the Gathering of Exchange for unusual materials while True Lord Qingxu tried to learn about his background and offered to help him. True Lord Qingxu urged Xiao Hua to seek the protection of Daoist seniors, but Xiao Hua grew impatient with his indirect advice.

• Xiao Hua traded a bottle of Profound Yin Pills for some discarded bone joints and a jade slip marking where they had been found.
• Xiao Hua continued buying unwanted, unremarkable materials, leaving True Lord Qingxu puzzled about their value.
• Nascent Soul cultivators from True Lord Huode's banquet arrived, and True Lord Qingxu told Xiao Hua he wanted to discuss something with him.
• Xiao Hua asked True Lord Qingxu about Heavenly Soul, Earthly Essence, Human Vitality, but True Lord Qingxu said he had never heard of it and offered to help investigate.
• True Lord Qingxu questioned Xiao Hua about his lineage and warned him to seek a Daoist senior's shelter, prompting Xiao Hua to demand that he speak plainly.

At True Lord Huode’s banquet, he accused Xiao Hua of being a Confucian cultivator’s spy and attacked him after Xiao Hua challenged his motives. Xiao Hua answered with power equal to the late Nascent Soul stage and shattered Huode’s fiery Nascent Soul hand, leaving the gathered cultivators stunned.

• True Lord Huode questioned Xiao Hua’s origins, and other cultivators pressed Xiao Hua to toast him.
• True Lord Huode called Xiao Hua “Fellow Immortal” and accused him of being a Confucian cultivator’s spy, citing True Person Yufeng’s claim that he had never heard of Xiao Hua.
• Xiao Hua challenged True Lord Huode’s suspicions and mocked him for targeting Xiao Hua to restore his authority after True Lord Qingxu’s departure.
• True Lord Huode erupted in anger and attacked Xiao Hua with a fiery Nascent Soul hand.
• Xiao Hua released late Nascent Soul-stage pressure and formed a golden hand that crushed True Lord Huode’s attack into scattered firebirds.

Xiao Hua intimidated True Lord Huode and left the gathering, furious that Huode had exposed his power to the Confucian cultivators. True Lord Qingxu invited him to the Trading Meet, where Xiao Hua browsed the Golden Core cultivators’ wares without buying anything.

• Xiao Hua crushed True Lord Huode’s Nascent Soul hand with a surge of magic power, rebuked him, and flew out of the cave dwelling.
• True Person Yufeng recognized Xiao Hua as the figure connected to the events in Tongzhu Kingdom, while True Person Chu and True Person Yifeng praised Xiao Hua’s bold words.
• Xiao Hua worried that True Lord Huode had drawn the attention of powerful Confucian cultivators and resolved to obtain the National Teacher’s token before consulting Li Xiang.
• Xiao Hua learned that the nearby Trading Meet was the final chance to prepare for entering Yaotai Mountain, but initially chose to leave without attending.
• True Lord Qingxu caught up with Xiao Hua and persuaded him to visit the Trading Meet, offering to make amends for the trouble with True Lord Huode.
• Xiao Hua examined the Golden Core cultivators’ wares for a long while without buying anything, leaving True Lord Qingxu unable to tell whether he was browsing sincerely.

Xiao Hua searched the Gathering of Exchange for obscure materials and questioned True Lord Qingxu about Heavenly Soul, Earthly Essence, Human Vitality. True Lord Qingxu then urged him to seek protection from a Daoist sect senior, but Xiao Hua grew impatient with his indirect advice.

• Xiao Hua traded Profound Yin Pills for unusual bone joints and obtained a jade slip marking where they had been found.
• Xiao Hua collected several unwanted-looking materials while True Lord Qingxu wondered what use they had.
• Nascent Soul cultivators from True Lord Huode's banquet arrived and headed into the other half of the cave dwelling.
• Xiao Hua asked True Lord Qingxu about Heavenly Soul, Earthly Essence, Human Vitality, but Qingxu said he had never heard of it.
• True Lord Qingxu offered to help Xiao Hua find information and urged him to seek a Daoist sect senior's protection.
• Xiao Hua challenged True Lord Qingxu to speak directly, growing impatient with his indirect advice.

Xiao Hua learned from True Lord Qingxu that Ancestor Hongmeng had escaped his seals and was seeking to unite the Daoist sect, but Xiao Hua refused to pledge loyalty and proposed trading artifact-refinement services for protection and materials. At a market stall, he met a disguised demon from the Sacred Realm of a Thousand Demons who explained the uses of a Snake Eye Fruit.

• True Lord Qingxu told Xiao Hua that Ancestor Hongmeng had escaped the seals of the Buddhists, Confucians, and demons and intended to direct the Daoist sect's revival.
• Xiao Hua recalled releasing Ancestor Hongmeng from the Sea Eye of the West Sea and agreed to consider cooperation, but refused to pledge loyalty in person.
• True Lord Qingxu gave Xiao Hua a message-transmitting jade image and promised to ask Ancestor Hongmeng about supplying its refining method and materials in exchange for Xiao Hua's work, protection, and twenty percent of the materials.
• After True Lord Qingxu left, Xiao Hua examined market wares and picked up a black Snake Eye Fruit.
• A disguised demon from the Sacred Realm of a Thousand Demons told Xiao Hua the fruit healed injuries and confirmed that he was a demon.

Xiao Hua bought demon goods from Ying Bo and arranged an ongoing trade for supplies from the Sacred Realm of a Thousand Demons. After hearing rumors about his deeds at True Lord Huode’s banquet, he found a broken mirror at the Trading Meet and stopped another cultivator from snatching it.

• Xiao Hua bought Ying Bo’s goods and asked him to bring spirit-fruit and spirit-tree seeds, artifact materials, maps, and other items from the Sacred Realm of a Thousand Demons.
• Xiao Hua and Ying Bo sealed their agreement with a high-five oath, and Xiao Hua gave him a deposit and a communication talisman before Ying Bo left to gather goods.
• Xiao Hua disguised himself and entered the Nascent Soul cultivators’ trading area, where he heard that True Lord Huode had left the banquet and that rumors about Xiao Hua’s deeds had spread.
• Xiao Hua found little of interest at the Trading Meet until an old man arrived with several items, including a broken mirror.
• When another Nascent Soul cultivator tried to seize the mirror with a blast of wind, Xiao Hua scattered the attack with his sleeve and picked up the mirror.

At a trading meet, Xiao Hua gave up a damaged mirror he recognized as a fragment of the Kunlun Mirror rather than violate his principles under pressure from True Person Chu Feng. After leaving, he was approached by Zhang Chunyang and then received an invitation from Star Lord Palace.

• True Person Chu Feng pressured True Person Xifan to withhold the little mirror, and Xiao Hua returned it despite recognizing its value and having the strength to keep it.
• True Person Xifan agreed to lend the mirror to True Person Chu Feng in exchange for help finding a lifespan-extending fruit at the Yaotai Gathering.
• Xiao Hua told the trading-meet cultivators that he would not abandon his own principles because of their disorder, then left the cave abode.
• Zhang Chunyang followed Xiao Hua and asked to visit him, but Xiao Hua rebuked him and continued on his way.
• A martial cultivator concealed in Boundless Night presented Xiao Hua with an invitation from Star Lord Palace to meet its Palace Lord.

Xiao Hua refused the Star Lord Palace’s invitation, and Kong Hongwu and Scholar Linghu discussed recruiting him as a Star General for the Yaotai Gathering. After the Immortal Envoy arrived, Kong Hongwu greeted her and she addressed him as Hall Master Kong.

• Xiao Hua returned the Star Lord Palace’s invitation twice more, warned its warrior not to press him again, and flew away.
• The warrior destroyed the invitation, while Kong Hongwu and Linghu Piran watched Xiao Hua’s flight through a scene on the palace wall.
• Kong Hongwu ordered Linghu Piran to watch Xiao Hua and test him at the Yaotai Gathering, but Xiao Hua noticed the surveillance and flashed the wall white before disappearing from the scene.
• Linghu Piran reported that True Lord Huode had been injured by Xiao Hua after True Lord Qingxu had undermined him, and Kong Hongwu suspected the two had acted in concert.
• The Immortal Envoy stopped Kong Hongwu from sending men after Xiao Hua and True Lord Qingxu, then appeared before him in the palace and insisted he be called Hall Master Kong.

Kong Hongwu learned that the Yaotai Gathering was part of a plan to collect Nascent Souls for the Empress’s birthday gift, while the Immortal Envoy discussed Ancestor Hongmeng and Xiao Hua. The Immortal Envoy left Kong Hongwu to decide how many National Teacher’s tokens to offer, and Xiao Hua returned to his palace unaware he was being watched.

• Kong Hongwu reported that more than seven hundred Nascent Soul cultivators and over six thousand Golden Core cultivators had gathered, and the Immortal Envoy showed him three precious jade caskets to entice the Nascent Soul cultivators into Yaotai Mountain.
• The Immortal Envoy told Kong Hongwu that the Immortal Palace knew of Ancestor Hongmeng, had people tracking True Lord Qingxu, and suspected Xiao Hua was acting on Ancestor Hongmeng’s orders; she instructed Kong Hongwu not to interfere unless an opportunity arose to strike Xiao Hua.
• Kong Hongwu asked about the Empress’s birthday gift, and the Immortal Envoy revealed that it required ten thousand Nascent Souls, preferably from late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
• The Immortal Envoy told Kong Hongwu to conduct the Yaotai Gathering as usual and left the number of National Teacher’s tokens to the Star Lord Palace; Kong Hongwu wondered about the gift and returned to reading his ancient book.
• Xiao Hua returned to his palace after checking the area with his soul sense, unaware that he had come to the Immortal Envoy’s attention.

Xiao Hua recovered a missing bone for the skeletal frame in his space and received new soul cultivation techniques. After Chang Yu and Wu Tianxin returned, they unexpectedly became his disciples, and Xiao Hua declared his intention to establish a Daoist sect.

• Xiao Hua placed the white bone from Ying Bo into his space, where it joined the skeletal frame as its missing shinbone and began releasing Thunder Water.
• Xiao Hua sent the bone joints from the Golden Core cultivator to Soul Cultivator Xiao Hua and found several unfamiliar soul cultivation techniques within them.
• Chang Yu and Wu Tianxin returned to Xiao Hua's palace and asked to serve him after True Lord Huode's likely retaliation made their future prospects uncertain.
• Xiao Hua offered to accept Chang Yu and Wu Tianxin as registered disciples, and they gladly bowed to him as their master.
• Chang Yu explained that Daoist cultivators on Cangxian Continent were forbidden to openly accept disciples, but Xiao Hua said he intended to establish a Daoist sect anyway.
• Xiao Hua gave Wu Tianxin the name Wu Tian and promised to take a gamble on Chang Yu after the Yaotai Gathering.

Xiao Hua discovered flaws in Chang Yu and Wu Tian’s cultivation techniques, suspected the Confucian cultivators had tampered with them, and had green-robed Xiao Hua repair both techniques. As they flew toward Yaotai Mountain, Xiao Hua saw thousands of cultivators gathering for the Yaotai Gathering and realized the Star Lord Palace’s rare treasures had drawn them into the Confucian cultivators’ scheme.

• Xiao Hua examined Chang Yu’s cultivation technique, identified a concealed flaw, and offered to alter it so Chang Yu could overcome his cultivation bottleneck.
• Xiao Hua examined Wu Tian’s cultivation technique and found similar flaws, leading him to suspect the Confucian cultivators had tampered with Daoist techniques.
• Green-robed Xiao Hua altered both techniques, and Xiao Hua spent three days teaching Chang Yu and Wu Tian how to cultivate with them.
• Chang Yu and Wu Tian chose to remain behind and study their techniques rather than attend the Yaotai Gathering, but they followed Xiao Hua out of the palace hall.
• Xiao Hua learned that the Star Lord Palace’s treasures included items of extreme cold, extreme heat, and one that could extend life by a thousand years.
• Xiao Hua saw thousands of cultivators heading to Yaotai Mountain, including what appeared to be more than a thousand Nascent Soul cultivators.

Kong Hongwu opened the Yaotai Gathering with a heavenly edict and announced that Star Lord Palace had prepared three exceptional treasures for the cultivators. After sending Chilling Phantom Gall and Pure Yang Ancestor through Yaotai Mountain’s dragon gate, he paused with the third treasure as the crowd waited to hear what it was.

• Xiao Hua watched twenty-eight Immortal Generals assemble as Kong Hongwu descended and formally petitioned Heaven to open the Yaotai Gathering.
• A heavenly edict descended, and its sovereign voice shook the Dao Foundations of many Daoist cultivators, though Xiao Hua resisted it.
• Kong Hongwu sent the edict into the sky, where it formed a dragon gate and turned passing nine-colored carp into dragons.
• Kong Hongwu introduced Chilling Phantom Gall, a treasure that could help certain Nascent Soul cultivators break through to the Out-of-Body stage, and sent it through the gate.
• Kong Hongwu introduced Pure Yang Ancestor, which could refine spirit treasures, and sent it through the gate as a fiery dragon.
• Kong Hongwu took out a third jade casket and silently examined it while the cultivators waited for him to speak.

At the Yaotai Gathering ceremony, Kong Hongwu defended the sealed treasures against Daoist cultivators’ suspicions and sent them into Yaotai Mountain. He revealed that only ten National Teacher’s tokens were available, opened the entire mountain to attendees as compensation, and completed the ceremony.

• Kong Hongwu began sending the Qing Ming Dragon Saliva into the Dragon Gate, but True Lord Huode arrived and challenged him to let the cultivators inspect the sealed treasures.
• True Lord Qingxu disputed Huode’s support of the Star Lord Palace, prompting Kong Hongwu to swear a Confucian oath that all three jade boxes contained the promised treasures.
• After Huode accepted the oath, Kong Hongwu sent the Qing Ming Dragon Saliva into Yaotai Mountain and announced that the entire mountain would be open to the gathering’s participants.
• Kong Hongwu revealed that only ten National Teacher’s tokens were available and presented them as compensation for opening sealed spirit lands and all of Yaotai Mountain.
• True Lord Qingxu demanded more tokens, but Kong Hongwu refused, sent the ten tokens through the Dragon Gate, and completed the ceremony.

Kong Hongwu opened the Dragon Gate to the Yaotai Gathering, drawing cultivators seeking rare treasures and Qing Ming Dragon Saliva. Xiao Hua entered after declining an awkward invitation to join Hong Songzi’s group, while Hong Songzi and Hai Hongzi argued over whether Xiao Hua’s strength would endanger their plans.

• Kong Hongwu announced that the Dragon Gate would close after three hours and remain sealed for a year unless the required treasures and National Teacher’s tokens were found, prompting some cultivators to leave and others to enter.
• True Lord Huode entered the Dragon Gate to seek Qing Ming Dragon Saliva, and several other late Nascent Soul cultivators followed.
• Chang Yu and Wu Tian declined the Yaotai Gathering, while Zhu Chengli entered after Xiao Hua refused to promise him protection.
• Xiao Hua decided that obtaining a National Teacher’s token was not urgent and that he would not risk a fight for Qing Ming Dragon Saliva.
• Hong Songzi invited Xiao Hua to travel with him, but Hai Hongzi objected because Xiao Hua’s strength could disrupt their plans and the distribution of any treasure.
• Xiao Hua entered the Dragon Gate alone, and Hong Songzi confronted Hai Hongzi over his objection.

Xiao Hua entered the Dragon Gate and traveled through a teleportation passage into a sealed mountain hollow at the Yaotai Gathering. After discovering a pool of weak water, he watched a vast artifact formation awaken around it, revealing the danger of his confinement.

• Hai Hongzi persuaded True Person Yuanqing and Hong Songzi not to cooperate with Xiao Hua, and the three entered the Dragon Gate separately.
• Kong Hongwu wondered why Xiao Hua had dared to enter and planned to learn the whereabouts of Ancestor Hongmeng from him.
• The remaining cultivators entered the Dragon Gate before it shattered and dissolved into golden liquid.
• Xiao Hua passed through a cloud passage and arrived in a mountain hollow sealed by a broken restriction.
• Xiao Hua discovered that the deep pool was weak water, then saw the fallen leaves rise and reveal magical artifacts absorbing Vast Righteous Qi as an artifact formation activated.

Xiao Hua broke the restrictions in a mountain hollow, drained its Weak Water, and found a Weak Water Bead among the remains of fallen cultivators. He then set out across Yaotai Mountain to search for a National Teacher's token, but rushed toward a muffled scream from the forest.

• Xiao Hua used his Nascent Soul hand and Pure Water Vase to overcome the hollow's formations, collect the Weak Water, and destroy the inscriptions.
• Xiao Hua discovered bones in the drained pool and found a Weak Water Bead beneath its rubble.
• Xiao Hua left the hollow, reflected on the danger facing Daoist cultivators, and considered joining forces with others.
• Xiao Hua flew blindly through Yaotai Mountain, then used his soul sense to begin searching a vast forest for a National Teacher's token.
• Xiao Hua heard a muffled scream from the forest and flew toward it using the Wind Escape Technique.