Arc 30Chapters 726–750
No recap yet.
No recap yet.
Zhang Xiaohua treated Zhang Xiaohu’s wounds, then returned to his room to inspect what he had gained from You Lan Mu Lian. He discovered strange changes in the Black and White Fruit and learned that Xiaohei and Xiaohuang were drawn to Qi Stones before examining the mysterious crack in his palm.
Zhang Xiaohua discovered that the silver eye fused into his hand was the Eye of Delusion Breaking, then continued cultivating while treating Zhang Xiaohu with medicinal baths and Heavenly Bell Stone Milk. After Changge and Chen Chen visited, Zhang Xiaohua said he had something to discuss with them, but the chapter ended before he explained what it was.
Zhang Xiaohua told Zhang Xiaohu, Changge, and Chen Chen what he had learned about the Incense-Passing Cult’s plans, then examined Changge’s healing arm and reassured Zhang Xiaohu about his own injury. Zhang Xiaohu revealed that Zhao Jian had tried to cripple his inner strength, but his dantian was intact, and Zhang Xiaohua found something surprising while examining it.
Zhang Xiaohua discovered that residual Meridian Nourishing Pill power had repaired Zhang Xiaohu’s shattered dantian and gave him the remaining pills to consider helping Wen Wenhai. After discussing pills and Zhang Xiaohu’s plans to aid injured Misty Sect elders, Zhang Xiaohua asked about He Tianshu, and Zhang Xiaohu revealed that He Tianshu was in very bad condition.
Zhang Xiaohua learned that Zhong Pei had crippled He Tianshu after the Incense-Passing Cult investigated the herbs that had sprouted at Huanxi Mountain Villa. He offered to heal He Tianshu and other injured Misty Sect elders, then proposed that Zhang Xiaohu use their gratitude to strengthen his standing in the sect.
Zhang Xiaohua considered how the changing circumstances could help Zhang Xiaohu rise within the Incense-Passing Cult, then examined He Tianshu and discovered the severity of his old injuries. He returned to Zhang Xiaohu, intending to prepare medicine and let his brother take the lead in helping He Tianshu.
Zhang Xiaohua prepared herbs to refine Jade Return Pills and searched Shixin Peak for an alchemy room, but learned that Ou Yan was gravely ill. He followed servants bringing her food to a bamboo-filled courtyard and froze as he emerged from the grove.
Zhang Xiaohua secretly watched Qiutong and Old Yu discuss Ou Yan’s worsening illness at Shixin Peak. Their suspicions about Yi Xiang Peak remained unproven, and Qiutong hinted that Ou Yan’s value might not have diminished after all.
Qiutong and Old Yu suspected that Ou Yan’s imprisonment was tied to a mysterious map and hidden dissent within the Incense-Passing Cult, while Ou Yan’s health continued to worsen. Zhang Xiaohua revealed himself to Qiutong, who mistook him for an agent sent by Yi Xiang Peak.
Zhang Xiaohua convinced Qiutong that he was not an impostor and learned that Ou Yan remained unconscious with a grave illness. Qiutong brought him to examine her, leaving Zhang Xiaohua facing the sight of how much Ou Yan had wasted away.
Zhang Xiaohua examined Ou Yan but found no physical cause for her unconsciousness, though his divine sense revealed that her life force was fading. After learning that a Spirit-Awakening Pill had briefly roused her, he studied its formula and prepared ingredients to make one, then returned to watch Qiutong give Ou Yan another pill.
Zhang Xiaohua used a Spirit-Awakening Pill to rouse Ou Yan and questioned her about the illness that was draining her life force. He also delivered Qiutong a dead Misty Sect disciple’s letter and birthday gift, and Qiutong’s shocked reaction to the letter left its contents unknown.
Qiutong and Ou Yan discovered that the mysterious gift Zhang Xiaohua delivered contained a Longevity Pill, while Qiutong’s supposed confession letter was a fragment of a map. After Ou Yan fell asleep, she entrusted the items to Zhang Xiaohua, and Qiutong began explaining their importance.
Key Plot Points and Events
Character Developments
Significant Themes
Character Interactions
Zhang Xiaohua tried sealing Ou Yan’s head acupoints to slow her loss of vitality and gave her a Grain Abstinence Pill. Old Yu arrived, recognized Zhang Xiaohua, and rushed to examine Ou Yan after learning that Zhang had struck her head acupoints.
Zhang Xiaohua tried to convince Old Yu that sealing Ou Yan’s acupoints would temporarily control her worsening condition, while concealing the details of his treatment. After demonstrating the Dream Weaving Sword Technique and promising to bring Old Yu its manual, Zhang Xiaohua left and vanished, leaving Old Yu and Qiutong with unanswered questions.
Zhang Xiaohua searched Shixin Peak for a pill room and discovered a hidden chamber containing a furnace identical to the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace he already owned. After refining the new furnace, he wondered whether the two identical furnaces were a male-and-female pair.
Zhang Xiaohua returned to the Pill-Refining Hall courtyard, cultivated by contemplating the Heavenly Dao, and named his current stage Contemplating Heaven. His meditation was interrupted by Misty Hall disciples challenging the Pill-Refining Hall, and the chapter ended as he faced their leader, Xiao Gonghe.
Zhang Xiaohua was drawn into a challenge with the Misty Hall disciples and faced Mu Tangchun, his opponent from the Martial Arts Tournament five years earlier. As the match began, Zhang Xiaohua realized Mu Tangchun might recognize his old fist technique and changed his approach.
Zhang Xiaohua defeated Mu Tangchun in a contest of martial techniques and internal strength, then stopped Xiao Gonghe from fleeing. He confronted Xiao Gonghe and the other disciples over their wager, leaving Xiao Gonghe protesting that Zhang Xiaohua had ambushed him.
Zhang Xiaohua defeated the disciples challenging him on Shixin Peak and won their acceptance as Senior Brother Ren. After learning the disputes came from unfair herb-for-pill exchanges, he promised to give them fair prices and urged them to cultivate their fields.
Zhang Xiaohua reflected on his dealings with Misty Hall and visited Zhang Xiaohu, where he discussed Manor Lord Ou’s critical illness and the need to help the Misty Sect’s injured elders. Changge agreed with Zhang Xiaohua’s proposal but wondered why he would not join the Misty Sect, and his questions left everyone understanding that Zhang Xiaohu was better placed to benefit.
Zhang Xiaohua advised Zhang Xiaohu on hiding his cultivation while preparing to learn the Su Huan Cultivation Method. He borrowed the Azure Water Sword and used sword light to extract a hidden sword manual from its scabbard, leaving Zhang Xiaohu astonished.
Zhang Xiaohua gave Old Yu the sword manual after securing his promise to return it to the Misty Sect, then went to Shixin Peak to refine a Spirit-Awakening Pill. At Ou Yan's manor, Qiutong reported that Ou Yan's condition had improved and that physicians from Yi Xiang Peak had noticed the change.
Zhang Xiaohua checked on Ou Yan, discovered a Misty Hall disciple secretly monitoring her, and encouraged Misty Hall disciples to restore their medicinal fields by promising to trade herbs for needed pills. As he descended Shixin Peak, several young female disciples watched him, and Xiao Tiantian approached and flirted with him.