Recaps

Xiao Hua watched He Senior Brother attempt to deceive Fu Zhu and Fu Chu while pursuing Fu Family cultivation methods and talisman techniques. Fu Chu confronted him, but his claim that he wanted to become powerful enough to marry both sisters softened their anger, and another hidden person spoke from the shadows.

• Fu Zhu and He Senior Brother discovered that someone had used the earthfire in the forbidden alchemy chamber and stayed there together despite the risk of being caught.
• A hidden figure overheard He Senior Brother admit that he was pursuing the Essence Nourishing Talisman and stringing Fu Zhu and Fu Chu along.
• Fu Zhu showed He Senior Brother a booklet containing an Invisibility Talisman method after making him swear a blood oath to tell her the truth.
• Fu Chu emerged from hiding and accused He Senior Brother of deceiving both sisters to obtain their cultivation methods and talisman-crafting knowledge.
• He Senior Brother claimed he loved both sisters and wanted to become an elder so he could ask the Family Head to let him marry them both.
• A faint voice from another dark corner asked what should happen next.

Fu Yan confronted Fu He after discovering his affair with Fu Zhu and Fu Chu, revealing that she had stolen the Essence Nourishing Talisman method for him. The confrontation was interrupted by Fu Yu, who admitted he had used Fu Yan to obtain the method and threatened the others, leaving them trapped under his demands.

• Fu Yan told Fu He how she had loved him, stolen the Essence Nourishing Talisman method for him, and felt betrayed when she found him with Fu Zhu and Fu Chu.
• Fu Yan threw the method booklet at Fu He and urged him to study it before she had to return it at dawn.
• Fu Yu emerged from hiding and revealed that he had let Fu Yan take the method after spending a night with her, then followed her to exploit the situation.
• Fu Yu threatened Fu He and the three women, demanding that Fu Chu and Fu Zhu submit to him or he would kill Fu He and turn them over to the family head.
• Fu Chu stopped her attack after Fu Yu invoked the family head, while Fu Zhu and Fu Chu hesitated because he was stronger than them.

He Fu turned against Fu Yu and tried to kill him with a powerful talisman, but Fu Yu survived and turned on He Fu and the women. Xiao Hua intervened to save He Fu, but his spear could not break through Fu Yu’s defenses, leaving him in danger.

• He Fu pretended to submit to Fu Yu, then used Fu Yu’s distraction to attack him with a Six Geng Void-Sealing Talisman.
• Fu Yu escaped the talisman’s formation, though its snowflakes shattered his defensive talismans and injured him.
• He Fu collapsed from exhaustion, rejected Fu Yun, and watched as Fu Yu sent a flying sword toward his heart.
• Fu Yun threw herself in front of He Fu and was pierced in the back by Fu Yu’s flying sword.
• Xiao Hua emerged from beneath the ground and attacked Fu Yu with his demon spear, but Fu Yu’s talisman defenses held and he began to counterattack.

Xiao Hua killed Fu Yu with the Samadhi True Fire and freed Fu Zhu and Fu Chu, but Yun'er died from her wounds. After returning to the small building, Xiao Hua met He Lang and the two Fu sisters, who planned to leave after taking things from the Fu family.

• Xiao Hua's Profound Iron needle pierced Fu Yu's palm, but Fu Yu drove Xiao Hua back with Palm Thunder.
• Xiao Hua feigned panic, rushed into Fu Yu, and burned through his protective talismans with Samadhi True Fire.
• Fu Yu died as the flames consumed him, and Xiao Hua took his storage pouch.
• Yun'er died in He Lang's arms after they reconciled, while Xiao Hua freed Fu Zhu and Fu Chu from their restraints.
• Xiao Hua returned to the small building, gathered his talisman-making materials, and waited for He Lang and the sisters.
• He Lang thanked Xiao Hua for saving them, and Fu Zhu explained that she and Fu Chu could not stay with the Fu family after taking its cultivation technique and an Invisibility Talisman.

Xiao Hua accepted the Essence Nourishing Talisman from He Fu and went to Chaotian Pavilion as the Fu family rang the Soul Annihilation Bell. Fu Yunbo accused He Fu of stealing the spirit talisman refining method and then demanded to inspect Xiao Hua’s storage pouch.

• He Fu offered Xiao Hua the Invisibility Talisman and a talisman-refining method, and Xiao Hua asked for the Fu family’s Essence Nourishing Talisman instead.
• After the Soul Annihilation Bell sounded, He Fu entrusted Xiao Hua with the Essence Nourishing Talisman and other items, and Xiao Hua flew to Chaotian Pavilion.
• Fu Yunbo told the assembled talisman masters that the Fu family’s spirit talisman refining method had been stolen and named He Fu as the suspect.
• He Fu denied Fu Yunbo’s accusation, claiming he was not the He Fu Fu Yunbo sought.
• Fu Yunbo called Xiao Hua forward and ordered him to hand over his storage pouch for inspection.

Fu Yunbo investigated the theft of the Fu Family’s inherited Spirit Talisman, punished Fu Min and Fu Shan for mistreating Xiao Hua, and confronted He Fu over the missing talisman. The chapter ended as Fu Yunbo revealed He Fu’s identity as Fu He, a direct descendant of the previous Family Head, and prepared to deal with him.

• Xiao Hua handed Fu Yunbo his storage pouches, and Fu Yunbo found none of the missing items in them.
• Fu Min admitted he had failed to teach Xiao Hua the Earth-Covering Talisman, while Fu Shan confessed his grudge against Xiao Hua; Fu Yunbo ordered both men to report for punishment.
• Fu Yunbo searched He Fu’s storage pouch and found a Fu Family cultivation manual, which He Fu claimed he had taken to improve his cultivation.
• Fu Yunbo questioned He Fu about Fu Yan, Fu Yu, and the missing Spirit Talisman, but He Fu denied involvement and blamed the missing pair.
• Fu Yunbo summoned Fu Zhu and Fu Chu, then revealed that He Fu’s real name was Fu He and that he was descended directly from the previous Fu Family Head.

Fu Yunbo revealed that Fu Zhu and Fu Chu were He Fu’s blood sisters, while Qiu Mingwei arrived with Liao Xuanlan to confront the Fu family over the Liao family’s decline. The dispute ended with Qiu Mingwei taking Fu Min and demanding access to the Fu Hall to verify Liao Xuanlan’s claims.

• Fu Yunbo revealed that Fu Zhu and Fu Chu were He Fu’s blood sisters, and Xiao Hua’s Hand of Cause and Effect grew clearer as he realized the connection.
• Qiu Mingwei arrived at Jinhua Mountain, and Liao Xuanlan identified herself as a descendant of the Gengshan Liao Family and accused Fu Yunbo of harming her family.
• Liao Xuanlan named Fu Min as her source and claimed the Fu Hall held records, but Fu Min denied telling her anything.
• Liao Xuanlan confronted Fu Min over his betrayal and his mistreatment of Xiao Hua, while Qiu Mingwei urged Fu Yunbo to let them inspect the Fu Hall.
• Fu Yunbo refused entry until the missing spirit-talisman inheritance was recovered and argued that the Liao family bore responsibility for opening the alchemy technique.
• Qiu Mingwei lifted Fu Min toward himself and declared that they would settle the matter by searching the Fu Hall.

Qiu Mingwei and Fu Yunbo fought in Chaotian Pavilion, which collapsed as Fu Yunbo claimed Fu Min had died beneath the ruins. Fu Yunbo used Elder Wu Hairong’s token to halt Qiu Mingwei, but four Foundation Establishment cultivators from the three great sects arrived seeking Xiao Hua, who had stayed on Jinhua Mountain to learn how the conflict ended.

• Qiu Mingwei tried to seize Fu Min, and Fu Yunbo opposed him, triggering a clash that destroyed Chaotian Pavilion’s restrictions and sent its occupants fleeing.
• Fu He escaped with Fu Zhu and Fu Chu while Fu Feng and Liu Yun stayed behind; the pavilion collapsed during the fight, and Fu Yunbo claimed Fu Min had been crushed to death.
• Qiu Mingwei accused Fu Yunbo of arranging Fu Min’s death, but Fu Yunbo showed him Elder Wu Hairong’s Shanghua Sect token and persuaded him to back down.
• Four Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived and surrounded Jinhua Mountain; Qie Yu identified himself as a Shanghua Sect cultivator and said the group also included members of the Xunyan Sect and Seven Wonders Sect.
• Qie Yu asked whether the Fu Family employed a talisman master named Xiao Hua, and Fu Yunbo confirmed that Xiao Hua was on Jinhua Mountain.
• Xiao Hua remained on the mountain after escaping Chaotian Pavilion, curious about the fate of Fu Min and the feud between Liao Xuanlan and the Fu Family.

As four Foundation Establishment cultivators pursued Xiao Hua beneath Jinhua Mountain, he tried to merge the Fire Marrow Blazing Crystal into his body to raise his cultivation. The crystal unleashed uncontrollable flames that transformed his flesh, bones, and meridians, leaving him to seek another way to control them.

• After Qie Yu called his name, Xiao Hua realized Cai Hongfeng had revealed his secret and fled underground, but Qie Yu, Cai Hongfeng, and two other Foundation Establishment cultivators pursued him.
• Fu Yunbo searched for Fu He while Fu Shan and Liao Xuanlan realized Xiao Hua was the cultivator they had recently encountered.
• Cornered beneath the mountain, Xiao Hua remembered Xiao Mao's method for merging a magical artifact and used it to fuse the Fire Marrow Blazing Crystal into his arm.
• The crystal ignited Xiao Hua's body, and its flames burned his flesh and bones as his body's 132 million points absorbed them.
• Xiao Hua tried to direct the flames into his meridians and temper them with the Burning Heaven Art, but the Dragon Transformation Art swallowed the flames and they resisted his control.
• Unable to control the flames in his meridians, Xiao Hua decided to try the Heaven and Earth Manifestation.

Xiao Hua struggled to control the Fire Marrow Blazing Crystal as its spiritual energy strengthened his cultivation and threatened his meridians, while Qie Yu and three others pursued him underground. With Fu Yunbo and Qiu Mingwei waiting above, Xiao Hua changed course and escaped into an earthfire passage, leaving his pursuers behind for the moment.

• Xiao Hua used Heaven and Earth Manifestation and the Dragon Transformation Art to refine the Fire Marrow Blazing Crystal’s surging energy and keep his meridians from bursting.
• When a powerful force blocked his descent, Xiao Hua turned toward the surface and used the force of the earth to accelerate past Qie Yu and the others’ encirclement.
• Xiao Hua realized that Fu Yunbo and Qiu Mingwei were waiting above, so he changed direction and searched for the earthfire passage.
• Qie Yu recognized Xiao Hua’s plan and ordered Cai Hongfeng to stop him, but Cai Hongfeng could not catch up before Xiao Hua plunged into the earthfire passage.

Xiao Hua escaped into Jinhua Mountain’s earthfire, where his fire evasion and rising cultivation helped him evade the Foundation Establishment pursuers. The pursuers entered the earthfire aboard Xi Muping’s Flying Wheel Boat, while Qiu Mingwei departed with Liao Xuanlan and Fu Yunbo began searching Jinhua Mountain.

• Qie Yu, Nai He, and Xi Muping pursued Xiao Hua through the earthfire passage, and Nai He used Immortal Seeker to track him.
• Qiu Mingwei realized Xiao Hua had escaped through the earthfire, then left Jinhua Mountain with Liao Xuanlan after declining Fu Yunbo’s invitation to stay.
• Fu Yunbo ordered the Inner Courtyard disciples to search Jinhua Mountain and look for He Fu, Fu Zhu, and Fu Chu, then took Fu Feng to inspect the forbidden grounds.
• Xiao Hua traveled safely through the earthfire, broke through to the Qi Cultivation fifth layer, and planned to emerge before his Flying Talismans ran out.
• Qie Yu, Nai He, Xi Muping, and Cai Hongfeng boarded Xi Muping’s Flying Wheel Boat and entered the earthfire to continue their pursuit.

Xiao Hua escaped the earthfire and discovered he could fly using the Flying Technique, while fire-aspected spiritual qi rapidly raised his cultivation and speed. Qie Yu and the others continued their pursuit, preparing to use magical artifacts and summon reinforcements as Xiao Hua pulled ahead.

• Qie Yu took over the flying wheel boat as Xi Muping’s magic power ran low, and the pursuers followed Xiao Hua toward the surface.
• Xiao Hua’s Flying Talismans shattered because flames within his spiritual qi overwhelmed them, so he plunged toward the ground and accidentally began using the Flying Technique.
• Xiao Hua’s meridians expanded as the Heaven and Earth Manifestation tempered the fire-aspected spiritual qi, raising his cultivation and increasing his flight speed.
• Xi Muping and the others realized Xiao Hua had reached the Qi Cultivation fifth layer and that his speed was still increasing, while his flames died out and he replaced his burned robe.
• Qie Yu accelerated the flying wheel boat and prepared his net-shaped magical artifact as the pursuers discussed summoning sect disciples to block Xiao Hua ahead.

Xiao Hua’s flying speed surged after the Fire Marrow Blazing Crystals finished transforming his bones, allowing him to evade the four Foundation Establishment cultivators pursuing him. As the pursuers failed to stop him and his lead continued to grow, Naihe sent for reinforcements while the group struggled to devise another way to catch him.

• Qie Yu launched a net-shaped artifact and Cai Hongfeng used his pressure against Xiao Hua, but Xiao Hua’s speed kept increasing.
• The Fire Marrow Blazing Crystals finished fusing into Xiao Hua’s bones, removing the resistance to his flight and accelerating him beyond the Flying Wheel Boat.
• Naihe sent sound transmission talismans to summon senior cultivators and asked disciples of the three sects to intercept Xiao Hua.
• Naihe combined his power with Qie Yu and Cai Hongfeng to drive a flying sword at Xiao Hua, but Xiao Hua deflected and evaded it with the demon spear tip.
• Xi Muping warned that Xiao Hua would soon leave their divine sense range, while the four cultivators remained unable to catch him.

Xiao Hua escaped the four Foundation Establishment cultivators, but Nai He, Qie Yu, and Xi Muping secretly used their own tracking methods to pursue him. As Xiao Hua stopped to rest, the Empress and Dai Er followed the little sable toward him, and he suddenly heard it cry out for its mother.

• Xiao Hua flew beyond the four pursuers’ divine sense, and they split up to track him using hidden methods.
• Cai Hongfeng left, while Nai He sent communication talismans east and Qie Yu pursued the Crane Seeking Talisman northeast.
• Xi Muping accelerated the flying wheel boat and continued tracking Xiao Hua as all three cultivators pressed after him.
• Xiao Hua kept flying for several days, advanced into the middle stage of Qi Cultivation fifth layer, and finally descended to rest.
• The little sable stirred in Dai Er’s hands, and the Empress swept south with Dai Er after it signaled that it had found its mother.
• As Xiao Hua prepared to rest, he felt a sharp pain in his heart and heard the cries, “Mother... Mother...”

Xiao Hua followed Little Yellow’s heart-rending call and reached the Empress, who removed the tracking mark and rescued him from his pursuers. After examining Xiao Hua and failing to uncover the mystery in his Niwan Palace, the Empress gave him a jade-green object to activate once he reached mid Foundation Establishment, then left Little Yellow with him.

• Xiao Hua flew toward the cries of “Mother” despite a powerful divine sense locking onto him and enemies pursuing him.
• The Empress and Dai Er appeared, and Little Yellow recognized Xiao Hua as its mother before collapsing into his arms.
• The Empress removed the divine sense mark from Xiao Hua and carried him and Little Yellow away, leaving Naihe, Qie Yu, and Xi Muping unable to track him.
• Xiao Hua told the Empress that he was a memory-lost Rogue Cultivator named Xiao Hua and explained his connection to Little Yellow.
• The Empress examined Xiao Hua’s Niwan Palace but could not determine what was wrong with him, then gave him a jade-green object to use when he reached mid Foundation Establishment.
• The Empress declined to refine the fire-nature spiritual energy in Xiao Hua’s meridians and departed after bidding farewell to Little Yellow.

The Empress revealed to Dai Er that Xiao Hua’s Niwan Palace and middle dantian had been sealed by a powerful cultivator, then left him to recover Little Huang and cultivate in hiding. As the three sects searched unsuccessfully for Xiao Hua, a skeletal figure used the Mother-Child Spirit Fruit to restore its body.

• The Empress told Dai Er that a powerful cultivator had sealed Xiao Hua’s Niwan Palace and middle dantian, and explained why she had given him the Spirit Communication Talisman.
• Xiao Hua hid underground, placed the badly injured Little Huang in his space, and saw it begin to recover under Suo Guang’s light.
• Xiao Hua concealed himself and cultivated while disciples from Shanghua Sect, Xunyan Sect, and Seven Wonders Sect searched for him without finding him.
• In a blood-filled ravine, a skeletal figure used the Mother-Child Spirit Fruit Xiao Hua had sold in Yanyuan City to restore its body and absorb spiritual qi.

Zhang Qingxiao recovered after consuming a thousand-year-old Mother-Child Spirit Fruit, which restored his soul and let him reshape his appearance. He resolved to avenge Shang Hua Ming, while reflecting on Xiao Hua, his senior sister, and the mysterious treasures connected to Li Zongbao.

• Zhang Qingxiao finished using the Mother-Child Spirit Fruit to cleanse his soul of demonic marks and transform himself into a handsome young man.
• Zhang Qingxiao recalled surviving Xunyunzi's attack, defeating Qing Fengmin in a struggle of Primordial Spirits, and obtaining Qing Fengmin's memories.
• Zhang Qingxiao vowed to take revenge on the Nascent Soul expert who destroyed Shang Hua Ming and said he would spare Hundred Herbs Sect unless his senior sister was mistreated.
• Zhang Qingxiao wondered how Xiao Hua had ended up in Tianqi and concluded that Xiao Hua likely had not caused Shang Hua Ming's destruction.
• Zhang Qingxiao resumed cultivating and recalled the mysterious cultivator who traded him the Heaven and Earth Manifestation technique and Mother-Child Spirit Fruit, as well as the plaque Li Zongbao obtained.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, Zhang Qingxiao decided to turn Tiānqì into the Heavenly Demon Sect and began preparing to recruit demonic cultivators and Rogue Cultivators. He left Zhang Zhihao to refine a blood pearl, and Zhihao emerged convinced that the demonic cultivators of Xiaoyu Continent could finally claim their place.

• Zhang Qingxiao completed Foundation Establishment after drawing in spiritual energy for several days.
• Zhang Qingxiao freed Zhang Zhihao from his control and gave him a blood pearl to refine.
• Zhang Zhihao proposed transforming Tiānqì into a cultivation sect, and Zhang Qingxiao named it the Heavenly Demon Sect.
• Zhang Qingxiao appointed himself Sect Master and offered Zhang Zhihao the position of Vice Sect Master, promising to help erase his demonic mark.
• Zhang Zhihao began refining the blood pearl with Zhang Qingxiao’s help, while Zhang Qingxiao flew toward Jingbo City to make preparations.
• After completing his refinement, Zhang Zhihao left the cave and welcomed the prospect of demonic cultivators gaining recognition on Xiaoyu Continent.

The Thunder Control Sect opened its recruitment to cultivators of every level and attribute, drawing crowds to the Lei Mo Mountain Range. As cultivators headed toward the sect, rumors suggested the unusual selection had been postponed from two years earlier, and a cold divine sense suddenly locked onto a traveling group.

• Cultivators gathered at the Thunder Control Sect’s dilapidated Reception Pavilion, where Kanmin used Lightning Light Sound Transmission to summon the delayed arrivals.
• Children who had transported several hundred cultivators explained that senior cultivators had emerged from seclusion to search for disciples, then ferried the candidates deeper into the Lei Mo Mountain Range.
• Kanmin complained that the three great cultivation sects had obstructed Martial Uncle Qinghuo and the Thunder Control Sect’s recruitment.
• A group of cultivators traveling east discussed how the Thunder Control Sect had opened recruitment to everyone, despite its usual strict requirements.
• Brother Zheng said the recruitment had originally been planned for two years earlier and that the young lady of Misty Mountain had registered, before a cold divine sense swept over the group.

Qie Yu searched for Xiao Hua among cultivators heading to the Thunder Control Sect, then encountered Xiao Hua disguised as Yun Ziqiong and failed to recognize him. Xiao Hua revealed that he had reached the tenth layer of Qi Cultivation during nearly two years in seclusion, but emerged because Gan Qinghuo’s restriction was beginning to loosen.

• Qie Yu pressured a group of cultivators bound for the Thunder Control Sect and questioned them, but found no sign of Xiao Hua.
• Qie Yu stopped Yun Ziqiong, mistook his family details for a connection to Xiao Hua, and tried to recruit him into the Shanghua Sect before sending him onward.
• After Qie Yu flew away, Yun Ziqiong revealed himself as Xiao Hua and raised his cultivation to the tenth layer of Qi Cultivation.
• Xiao Hua recalled that he had spent nearly two years cultivating in seclusion and that Gan Qinghuo’s restriction on the Minghua Pill’s medicinal power had begun to loosen.
• Xiao Hua decided to enter the Thunder Control Sect under a disguise, using altered appearance and cultivation to evade the sects guarding the mountain range.

Xiao Hua neared the Thunder Control Sect and reflected on his rapid cultivation and mysterious past before meeting Xue Xue, who was shocked by his progress and asked him to overlook Misty Mountain’s dealings. Their conversation led Xiao Hua to consider joining the Thunder Control Sect, and he warned Xue Xue to let certain matters go unmentioned.

• Xiao Hua flew toward the Lei Mo Mountain Range while Xiao Huang, slowly recovering in his space, asked whether he had found Xiaohei.
• Xiao Hua wondered whether his extraordinary cultivation speed and unusual technique reflected his lost past, and vowed to avenge himself on Jiang Jiantong and the Hundred Herbs Sect.
• Xue Xue recognized Xiao Hua and was astonished to learn he had reached the tenth layer of Qi Cultivation.
• Xue Xue asked Xiao Hua to forgive Misty Mountain for any improper conduct, referring to the magical artifacts Ling Zhengyi had given him.
• Xiao Hua considered joining the Thunder Control Sect and told Xue Xue that Senior Ling should forget certain matters and she should not mention them again.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue arrived at Thunder Control Sect on the final day of disciple recruitment, where Kanmin rebuked Xiao Hua for trying to approach him. They boarded the sect’s Thunder Boat, and Xiao Hua learned about its Thunder Pool as the boat set off for Qiong Lei Peak.

• Xiao Hua and Xue Xue climbed Qiong Lei Peak and reached Thunder Control Sect’s Reception Pavilion near sunset.
• Xiao Hua joined the higher-cultivation applicants, then approached Kanmin, who publicly warned him to wait and not seek favors.
• Kanmin waited until the recruitment period ended, then ordered the remaining applicants onto the arriving Thunder Boat.
• Xue Xue explained that the Thunder Boat’s driving formation was a simple Thunder Pool and described the sect’s legendary true Thunder Pool.
• Eight young disciples activated the Thunder Pool, and the Thunder Boat rose and sped toward Qiong Lei Peak.

Fairy Yingzhuo questioned Xunyan Sect elders about the missing Thunder Pearl and reviewed Fairy Jieqiong’s dangerous experiment using Fire Marrow Blazing Crystal to strengthen disciples. The trial continued to kill participants, but Yingzhuo insisted the method could matter to the sect’s future and hinted that Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was changing.

• Fairy Yingzhuo learned that Gan Qinghuo and the Thunder Pearl remained missing, and ordered Elder Yixuan to keep watch in case Gan Qinghuo recovered and tried to take it to Qiong Lei Peak.
• Fairy Jieqiong reported that most of the ninety-nine disciples in her “pulling up seedlings” trial had died after Fire Marrow Blazing Crystal shattered their meridians and bodies.
• Fairy Jieqiong identified Pan Hao, Feng Linbo, and Xiao Mao as three unusual survivors, while Fairy Yingzhuo explained that thirty-four other disciples had been strengthened with dragon blood and dragon meat.
• Another disciple exploded in the icy cavern, and a dark-red flash gathered the blood mist and removed it.
• Fairy Yingzhuo defended the Fire Marrow Blazing Crystal method as an ancient way to temper flesh and meridians, then asked Fairy Jieqiong whether Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi seemed different.

Fairy Yingzhuo raised concerns that Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi might be changing, while Xunyan Sect continued its plan to strengthen the sect through “pulling seedlings.” At Thunder Control Sect, Ganlei Zi investigated Qinghuo’s disappearance and learned that the sect’s Thunder Pool and heavenly lightning had also changed.

• Fairy Yingzhuo discussed rumors of an anomaly in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi with the Nascent Soul cultivators and told Fairy Jieqiong to monitor the disciples involved in “pulling seedlings.”
• Ganlei Zi asked True Person Miyou and Xuanhua about Qinghuo, whose Life Spirit Tablet remained intact despite his disappearance near Xihuang Town.
• Ganlei Zi allowed Gensheng to test whether newly recruited cultivators might bring news of Qinghuo, but Kanmin reported that no one had mentioned him.
• Ganlei Zi instructed Duijie to recruit more disciples and relax the selection requirements for the coming recruitment.
• Xuanhua reported that the Thunder Pool could no longer fully absorb Heavenly Lightning and that newly generated Thunder Water damaged the old Thunder Water.
• True Person Leixiao confirmed that the heavenly lightning at Thunder Accumulation Cave had changed, while True Person Miyou recalled Qinghuo’s vague warning about a strange object connected to it.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue arrived at Thunder Peak for the Thunder Control Sect’s disciple selection, where Xue Xue explained the tests and the sect’s Eight Great Thunder Palaces. They prepared to rest before the selection the following day, with Xiao Hua now aware that only a handful of candidates would be chosen.

• The thunder boat brought Xiao Hua and Xue Xue through the mountain’s restrictive formations to Thunder Peak, where tens of thousands of cultivators had gathered for the selection.
• Xue Xue offered to share what she knew about the selection, and she and Xiao Hua sat beneath a lightning sphere to discuss it in private.
• Xue Xue explained that the first round tested physiques with a crystal rod and generally favored lightning- or fire-attribute cultivators.
• Xue Xue told Xiao Hua that the second round tested spell skill and that the sect usually admitted only the top ten candidates.
• Xue Xue revealed that her Misty Mountain connections included a Gen Lei Palace disciple who could help her, then explained the Eight Great Thunder Palaces and their roles.