Chapter Summaries

Xiao Xianrui was accused by Jiang Fan and Jiang Jiantong of infidelity and deceit, and admitted that Jiang Liuer was not Jiang Fan’s son. She begged to keep her child, and Jiang Jiantong offered to let her stay only if she accepted three conditions, beginning with pretending to be Jiang Liuer’s wet nurse rather than his mother.

• Jiang Jiantong and Jiang Fan rejected Xiao Xianrui’s explanations and accused her of betraying Jiang Fan.
• Jiang Fan cited Xiao Xianrui’s foundation establishment, the Jade Saber, the Essence Nourishing Talisman, and Jiang Liuer’s birth as evidence against her.
• Xiao Xianrui admitted Jiang Liuer was not Jiang Fan’s child and begged Jiang Jiantong to return him to her.
• Jiang Jiantong refused to let Xiao Xianrui take Jiang Liuer away, while Jiang Liuer cried out for his mother.
• Xiao Xianrui pleaded to remain beside Jiang Liuer, and Jiang Jiantong offered to let her stay if she met three conditions, starting with serving as Jiang Liuer’s wet nurse and denying she was his mother.

Xiao Xianrui agreed to Jiang Jiantong’s demands to protect Jiang Liuer, but an attack on the Hundred Herbs Sect interrupted them. After Xiao Xianrui took Xiao Hua’s Wutuodan to heal her arm, a report revealed that an early Foundation Establishment intruder had killed Huang Yue and was close to breaking the formation.

• Xiao Xianrui agreed to leave the sect, cripple her cultivation, and ruin her face, then asked Jiang Jiantong to take Jiang Liuer away.
• A series of tremors struck Huanghua Ridge, and Jiang Jiantong sent Lie Hong and Huang Yue to investigate an attack on the formation.
• Jiang Jiantong demanded that Xiao Xianrui cripple her cultivation immediately, but Yue Cong persuaded him to let her take a medicinal pill first.
• Xiao Xianrui took a Wutuodan refined by Xiao Hua, and its medicinal power rapidly began healing her injured arm.
• Lie Hong’s communication talisman reported that an early Foundation Establishment intruder had slain Huang Yue and was attacking the formation with Samadhi True Fire and a powerful magical treasure.

Xiao Hua attacked Huanghua Ridge to confront Hundred Herbs Sect, killing Elder Huang Yue before clashing with Jiang Jiantong and Yue Cong. After learning Yue Cong was Jiang Jiantong’s son-in-law, Xiao Hua invoked Myriad Flowers Valley to gain an audience and asked about Xiao Xianrui.

• Xiao Hua arrived at Huanghua Ridge, battered its mist formation with the Town Cloud Seal, and set it ablaze with Samadhi True Fire.
• Huang Yue attacked Xiao Hua, who destroyed Huang Yue’s wooden staff and killed him with the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors.
• Lie Hong retreated into the formation as Xiao Hua continued striking it, prompting Yue Cong to intervene with his magical instruments.
• Jiang Jiantong and Yue Cong emerged with Hundred Herbs Sect’s elders and disciples, and Jiang Jiantong fought Xiao Hua’s Town Cloud Seal with the Bell Dock.
• Yue Cong identified himself as Jiang Jiantong’s son-in-law and offered to mediate, while Xiao Hua claimed an acquaintance with Myriad Flowers Valley.
• Xiao Hua withdrew his Samadhi True Fire and asked whether Jiang Jiantong’s son had a dual cultivation partner named Xiao Xianrui.

Xiao Hua falsely accused Xiao Xianrui of swindling an Essence Nourishing Talisman and demanded that the Hundred Herbs Sect hand her over. Jiang Jiantong agreed to surrender her after declaring that she no longer belonged to the sect, while Yue Cong worried that she would be killed.

• Xiao Hua claimed Xiao Xianrui had tricked him out of an Essence Nourishing Talisman and demanded to confront her.
• Jiang Jiantong refused to summon Xiao Xianrui, while Yue Cong hesitated to stop Xiao Hua from leaving because he wanted her for his own plans.
• Xiao Hua threatened to return with martial brothers and attack the Hundred Herbs Sect if it continued to protect Xiao Xianrui.
• Jiang Jiantong declared that Xiao Xianrui's ties to the Hundred Herbs Sect had been severed and said he would hand her over.
• Jiang Jiantong sent a communication talisman to summon Xiao Xianrui, and Xiao Hua promised to repay him after she arrived.

Xiao Hua rescued the crippled Xiao Xianrui from the Hundred Herbs Sect and battled Jiang Jiantong and Yue Cong when they tried to stop him. He fled after stabbing Jiang Jiantong with Meng and began revealing his identity.

• Jiang Li brought out Xiao Xianrui, whose cultivation had been crippled, and Jiang Jiantong said she had to be handed over because she had supposedly swindled Xiao Hua's Essence Nourishing Talisman.
• Xiao Xianrui denied deceiving Xiao Hua, while Jiang Li demanded that he reveal his identity before accepting the sect's loss.
• Xiao Hua severed Jiang Li's right hand with the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors, broke through to Thunder Control Movement, and rescued Xiao Xianrui despite Yue Cong's Fireball Talisman and Jiang Jiantong's palm seal.
• Yue Cong suspected Xiao Hua was a Thunder Control Sect disciple, and Xiao Hua damaged Jiang Jiantong's Medicine King Cauldron before attacking him with Meng.
• Meng pierced Jiang Jiantong beneath the throat as Xiao Hua flew away, removed Mihuan, and called on Jiang Jiantong to see who he was.

Xiao Hua revealed himself to Jiang Jiantong and vowed to avenge Shang Hua Ming and reclaim Huanghua Ridge. As Jiang Jiantong’s strength surged toward the Golden Core stage, the confrontation was about to begin.

• Xiao Hua removed Mihuan, shocked Jiang Jiantong, and reunited with Xiao Xianrui, promising to heal her and restore her cultivation.
• Xiao Hua accused Jiang Jiantong and the Hundred Herbs Sect of destroying Shang Hua Ming and threatened to kill them and reclaim Huanghua Ridge.
• Xiao Xianrui urged Xiao Hua to flee, but he reassured her and revealed that he had been the cultivator who used the Essence Nourishing Talisman.
• Jiang Jiantong defended his actions toward Xiao Xianrui and denied that his sect had destroyed Shang Hua Ming, while Xiao Hua rejected his explanations.
• Jiang Jiantong ordered Yue Cong to attack Xiao Xianrui and used a technique that raised his strength close to the Golden Core stage.

Xiao Hua defeated Jiang Jiantong and killed Yue Cong while sparing Jiang Li at Xiao Xianrui’s request, but Zhang Qingxiao intervened when Jiang Li threatened Jiang Liuer. Zhang Qingxiao revealed a connection to Jiang Liuer and showed Xiao Hua the familiar face of his supposedly dead Second Senior Brother, leaving Xiao Hua and Xiao Xianrui cautiously joyful.

• Xiao Xianrui urged Xiao Hua not to kill Jiang Jiantong, but to kill Yue Cong and take Jiang Liuer away from Huanghua Ridge.
• Xiao Hua’s Phoenix Dharma Body struck Jiang Jiantong with lightning, while the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors killed Yue Cong.
• Jiang Fan pleaded for Jiang Jiantong’s life and offered to withdraw the Hundred Herbs Sect, and Xiao Hua demanded that Jiang Liuer be brought to him.
• Jiang Li tried to kill Jiang Liuer, but Zhang Qingxiao appeared and burned her to ashes with black fire.
• Xiao Hua questioned Zhang Qingxiao’s claim that Jiang Liuer was his nephew, then watched Zhang Qingxiao reveal the face of his Second Senior Brother.

Zhang Qingxiao slaughtered the Hundred Herbs Sect forces at Huanghua Ridge to avenge Xiao Xianrui and Shang Hua Ming, despite Xiao Xianrui’s pleas to spare them. Xiao Hua accepted that his Second Senior Brother followed a different path, but still remained wary when Zhang Qingxiao offered to support Xiao Xianrui.

• Zhang Qingxiao refused to leave Huanghua Ridge and attacked the Hundred Herbs Sect disciples with his blood-red banner.
• Zhang Qingxiao killed Jiang Li, Jiang Jiantong, Jiang Fan, and the other Hundred Herbs Sect disciples present, while Xiao Xianrui begged him to stop.
• Zhang Qingxiao ordered his subordinates to kill every Hundred Herbs Sect disciple at Yaonong Peak, rejecting Xiao Xianrui’s plea to spare the innocent.
• Zhang Qingxiao declared that he would slaughter anyone who harmed his family, and Xiao Hua accepted that they had different ways of acting.
• Zhang Qingxiao offered to support Xiao Xianrui, but Xiao Hua was unsure whether he could trust him.

Xiao Hua, Zhang Qingxiao, and Xiao Xianrui returned to Huanghua Ridge after the Hundred Herbs Sect disciples there were killed, and Xiao Hua gave Xiao Xianrui a Sky Mending Pill to restore her cultivation. They reached Minsi Peak, where Zhang Qingxiao promised to help reestablish Shang Hua Ming under Xiao Xianrui and Jiang Liuer without taking control himself.

• Zhang Qingxiao learned that his subordinates had slaughtered every Hundred Herbs Sect disciple at Huanghua Ridge and confirmed that they had left no traces.
• Xiao Hua gave Xiao Xianrui a Sky Mending Pill he had refined himself, and Zhang Qingxiao said it would restore her cultivation and strengthen her meridians and dantian.
• Xiao Hua, Zhang Qingxiao, and Xiao Xianrui entered Huanghua Ridge and slowly revisited the familiar places of their former home.
• At Minsi Peak, Zhang Qingxiao promised that Xiao Xianrui would lead Shang Hua Ming and Jiang Liuer would become its Young Sect Master.
• Zhang Qingxiao assured Xiao Hua that he would not interfere in Shang Hua Ming’s affairs and would arrange help to recruit disciples.

Xiao Hua, Xiao Xianrui, and Zhang Qingxiao reunited in the Reception Hall, where they discussed rebuilding Shang Hua Ming, their past suspicions, and the mysteries surrounding Huanghua Ridge. Zhang Qingxiao revealed his connection to a cultivation technique Xiao Hua had obtained, then tried to trade another technique for valuables as their reunion continued.

• Xiao Hua asked Zhang Qingxiao to rebuild Shang Hua Ming, and Zhang Qingxiao promised to make the sect prominent again.
• Zhang Qingxiao explained that he had suspected Xiao Hua of destroying Shang Hua Ming and told him to keep the Universe Shifting Token away from Yin Meng.
• Zhang Qingxiao said three Nascent Soul cultivators had appeared at Huanghua Ridge, but he could not explain how he survived or what they wanted.
• Zhang Qingxiao revealed that he had obtained the Mother-Child Spirit Fruit and had planted tricks in the Qi Cultivation techniques he sold at the Yanyuan City Bidding Convention.
• Zhang Qingxiao offered Xiao Hua the Heaven and Earth Manifestation technique, then demanded valuables in exchange, and Xiao Hua protested that he had already given him the Sky Mending Pill.

Xiao Hua rejected Zhang Qingxiao’s offer to become Vice Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect but agreed to supply Mother-Child Spirit Fruit in exchange for help aiding civilians and for Demon Realm artifact-refining methods. Zhang Qingxiao shared clues about Shang Hua Ming’s destruction and gave Xiao Hua techniques connected to Qiu Yin Liu, while Xiao Hua learned that the Huayuan Pill formula was a secret inheritance of the Hundred Herbs Sect.

• Xiao Hua gave Zhang Qingxiao a large supply of Mother-Child Spirit Fruit, declined the Vice Sect Master position, and asked the Heavenly Demon Sect to distribute rice seeds to endangered civilians under the name True Person Xiao.
• Xiao Hua told Zhang Qingxiao about Little White Dragon and the Nascent Soul cultivators linked to the Shanghua Sect, Xunyan Sect, and Seven Wonders Sect; Zhang Qingxiao ordered Xiao Xianrui to keep using the Hundred Herbs Sect name.
• Zhang Qingxiao offered Xiao Hua support in cultivation, and Xiao Hua asked for Demon Realm artifact-refining methods so he could finish refining Qiu Yin Liu.
• After examining Qiu Yin Liu, Zhang Qingxiao gave Xiao Hua demon jade slips containing artifact-refining methods and a high-level technique called Blood Drop Cave Heaven, and asked him to refine the weapon.
• Xiao Hua asked Zhang Qingxiao to save any large white bones he found, then exchanged spirit herbs for information and sought the Azure Spirit Pill formula.
• Xiao Hua learned that Xiao Xianrui had the Huayuan Pill formula and that it was a secret inheritance of the Hundred Herbs Sect.

Xiao Hua visited Shang Hua Ming’s Inheritance Hall with Zhang Qingxiao and Xiao Xianrui, where he copied pill formulas and collected spirit herb seeds. Zhang Qingxiao suspected Xiao Hua had found a Thunder Control Sect secret realm and asked him to supply seedlings for the Heavenly Demon Sect.

• Xiao Hua, Zhang Qingxiao, and Xiao Xianrui entered Shang Hua Ming’s Inheritance Hall, which the Hundred Herbs Sect had filled with its inheritance items.
• Xiao Hua copied the Hundred Herbs Sect’s pill formulas and collected seeds, while Zhang Qingxiao watched him thoughtfully.
• Zhang Qingxiao guessed that Xiao Hua had found a Thunder Control Sect secret realm because he possessed thousand-year-old Mother-Child Spirit Fruit.
• Zhang Qingxiao explained that changing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi made the Heavenly Demon Sect’s spirit herbs grow poorly and asked Xiao Hua for seedlings from the secret realm.
• Xiao Hua agreed to help if Zhang Qingxiao supplied an equal number of seedlings, and Zhang Qingxiao revealed he had once considered appointing True Person Xiao as Heavenly Demon Sect Vice Sect Master to grow spirit herbs.

Xiao Hua and Zhang Qingxiao discussed using spiritual herbs from Xiao Hua’s Secret Realm to support the Hundred Herbs Sect and restore Shang Hua Ming. When Xiao Hua produced Shang Hua Ming’s missing statue, the Empress of the Myriad Monster Realm’s jade ruyi absorbed it, leaving Xiao Hua wondering whether the statue and Shang Hua Ming were connected to the Myriad Monster Realm.

• Xiao Hua gave Zhang Qingxiao seedlings and aged spiritual herbs for the Hundred Herbs Sect, and Zhang Qingxiao gave Xiao Hua a communication talisman and jade slip.
• Zhang Qingxiao said he would not hold Xiao Hua responsible for killing Heavenly Demon Sect disciples, and Xiao Hua gave him the names of friends and fellow disciples he hoped Zhang would spare.
• Xiao Hua revealed that he had found Shang Hua Ming’s missing statue while escaping Huanghua Ridge.
• The jade ruyi flew from Xiao Hua’s storage pouch, transformed the statue into particles, and absorbed them before returning to Xiao Hua.
• Xiao Hua told Zhang Qingxiao that the jade ruyi belonged to the Empress of the Myriad Monster Realm, and Zhang questioned whether the statue or Shang Hua Ming had ties to that realm.
• Xiao Hua recalled Qing Fengmin asking how he possessed a Demon Race cultivation technique.

Xiao Hua gave Xiao Xianrui and Zhang Qingxiao gifts, explained the Peacock Illusion’s true nature, and kept it after Jiang Liuer refused it. Later, Xiao Hua and Zhang Qingxiao discussed the Hundred Herbs Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect, while Zhang Qingxiao questioned Xiao Hua about his Buddhist cultivation.

• Xiao Hua gave Xiao Xianrui a Youth-Preserving Pill and gave Zhang Qingxiao two, while concealing the bottles with an unexplained ability.
• Xiao Hua revealed that the Peacock Illusion was a Phoenix Jade Talisman and tried to return it to Xiao Xianrui, but she urged him to keep it after Jiang Liuer rejected it.
• Xiao Hua showed Zhang Qingxiao the Witch Puppet, and Zhang Qingxiao again insisted that Xiao Hua become the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Vice Sect Master.
• Xiao Hua and Zhang Qingxiao established an initial development plan for the Hundred Herbs Sect, then Xiao Hua inspected the expanded Medicine Garden at Xihua Peak and his vast internal space.
• Zhang Qingxiao gave Xiao Hua a demonic jade slip, then realized Xiao Hua’s Buddhist cultivation let him detect demonic cultivators and questioned how Xiao Hua had advanced in both Buddhist and Daoist cultivation.
• Zhang Qingxiao explained that the Heavenly Demon Sect’s appearance-changing technique required Nascent Soul-stage cultivation and said his own restored appearance came from the Mother-Child Spirit Fruit.

Zhang Qingxiao confronted Xiao Hua about his mysterious past and rapid cultivation, then accepted an oath that Xiao Hua would protect Shang Hua Ming. Xiao Hua left Huanghua Ridge with cultivation techniques and spirit supplies, but the truth about Shang Hua Ming’s destruction left him facing a dangerous Nascent Soul-level enemy.

• Zhang Qingxiao warned Xiao Hua to avoid the Buddhist Sect ruins and pressed him to explain his origins and rapid cultivation.
• Xiao Hua denied knowing his origins, and Zhang Qingxiao explained how his own demonic cultivation and treasures had restored him to Golden Core strength.
• Zhang Qingxiao demanded an oath that Xiao Hua would not harm Shang Hua Ming or Xiao Xianrui, and Xiao Hua swore a Daoist blood oath to protect Shang Hua Ming.
• Xiao Hua asked Zhang Qingxiao for cultivation techniques, and Zhang Qingxiao gave him several jade slips before leaving.
• After Xiao Xianrui recovered from her injuries, Xiao Hua collected supplies, said farewell to her and Zhang Qingxiao, and departed Huanghua Ridge.
• Xiao Hua reflected that Shang Hua Ming’s destruction had been avenged, but the Nascent Soul cultivator behind its earlier destruction remained a threat.

Xiao Hua learned Zhang Qingxiao’s Shadow Concealment Art, found Burial Flower Villa missing, and then spent the next half year away. As the Thunder Control Sect prepared to depart, Wu Nai faced punishment for Xiao Hua’s absence while Qian Diheng and Cui Hongshen doubted that Xiao Hua would return.

• Xiao Hua used Shadow Concealment Art to reach the place where Burial Flower Villa had stood, but found the villa and its formation gone.
• Xiao Hua suspected that Burial Flower Villa could move, then left to handle his other business.
• Half a year later, Senior Brother Gan warned Wu Nai that he would lose his life if Xiao Hua did not return before the Thunder Boats departed.
• Qian Diheng came to see Xiao Hua off, defended him against Qian Jing’s accusation that he had fled, and went to wait for him at the mountain gate.
• Cui Hongshen angrily told Wu Nai that Xiao Hua had run away and would not return before the Thunder Boats departed.

Xiao Hua returned to Qiong Lei Peak, gave Xiang Zhili secret cultivation guidance, and joined the Thunder Control Sect’s departing expedition. Aboard the thunder boat, he settled into a quiet chamber while Cui Hongshen approached a senior cultivator to ask his name.

• Xiao Hua arrived with Qian Diheng, gave Xiang Zhili instructions from the Dragon Transformation Art, and asked him to keep them secret.
• Xiao Hua accepted his campaign reward, gave its magic artifact to Xiang Zhili, and agreed to follow Cui Hongshen during the expedition.
• The disciples boarded the thunder boats and departed Qiong Lei Peak as Helpless lamented that many might not return.
• Xiao Hua reflected on his months trapped in the Mo Ran Black Forest Secret Realm and the vast lake of pool water he had stored in his space.
• Xiao Hua entered a quiet chamber aboard the thunder boat and began refining an Azure Spirit Pill while Cui Hongshen held back from confronting him.
• Cui Hongshen went to the late Foundation Establishment cultivator and introduced himself as a disciple of Myriad Thunder Valley.

Cui Hongshen asked Zhen to arrange for him, his junior brother, and his dual cultivation partner Dui Qimeng to be grouped together when the Thunder Control Sect’s disciples reached Huan Country. Zhen agreed to try without accepting Cui’s gift, leaving Cui unsure whether he could trust the promise as the thunder boat sped up.

• Cui Hongshen asked Zhen how the Zhen Thunder Palace disciples would be assigned in Huan Country.
• Cui explained that he wanted to protect his newly foundation-established junior brother and be grouped with his dual cultivation partner, Dui Qimeng of Dui Lei Palace.
• Zhen said he would ask the leader of Dui Lei Palace about arranging the groups, but could not guarantee the request would succeed.
• Cui offered Zhen a storage pouch of Bloodred Stones, but Zhen refused it and said he should help because Cui and the others were risking their lives in battle.
• Zhen sent Cui to the quiet room to cultivate and ordered the thunder boat’s disciples to increase their speed, while Cui wondered whether Zhen would truly help him.

Cui Hongshen reached Xiao Hua and angrily blamed him for cultivating alone, while Xuntian City became crowded as cultivators gathered to oppose Huan Kingdom’s invasion. The chapter ended with a battle report arriving from the western front as cultivators entered the city to learn what had happened.

• Cui Hongshen found Xiao Hua with four disciples and angrily accused him of hiding away to cultivate before resting in a quiet room.
• The chapter described Xuntian City, its defenses and leadership, and the influx of cultivators gathering there because of Huan Kingdom’s invasion.
• A city guard carrying a battle report from the western front rushed into Xuntian City, refusing to explain the news before delivering it to Yanxi Mansion.
• Two Foundation Establishment cultivators discussed the war and speculated about the report as they approached Xuntian City’s gate.
• City guards checked the late Foundation Establishment cultivator’s identity token and allowed him to enter.

A disguised beast cultivator from Huan Kingdom tried to enter Xuntian City but was exposed by the city’s defenses and escaped. The guards prepared to report the incident to Yanxi Mansion while the cultivators at the gate discussed the threat.

• A Yanjiang Sect elder and a disguised beast cultivator presented their tokens to the guards at Xuntian City’s gate.
• The city’s detection ripple exposed the disguised cultivator, who transformed and cut through the descending halo with two enormous flying swords.
• The beast cultivator summoned wings, swept the nearby elder with a hurricane, and fled northwest before the guards could catch him.
• The onlookers identified him as a beast cultivator from Huan Kingdom, and a city guard said he would report the incident to Yanxi Mansion.
• The chapter described Xuntian City’s rugged stone-and-ice buildings and the ice-rock used to construct them.