Chapter Summaries

Xiao Hua faced questioning in the Council Hall and used the recovered bodies of Thunder Control Sect disciples to rebuke Li Chengxu’s pressure. He and Xiao Mao avoided revealing what had happened at the spirit stone mine, leaving Li Chengxu to retreat from his inquiries.

• At Gan Mo’s urging, Xiao Hua emptied his storage bag, scattering the corpses of more than twenty Thunder Control Sect disciples across the Council Hall and shocking the Golden Core cultivators.
• Xiao Hua explained that he had recovered the bodies for burial, and Huo Ping helped collect them while Li Chengxu arranged for disciples to take them away for cleaning.
• Xiao Hua handed Gan Mo the recovered identity plaques and cultivation techniques, including Dui Miaoqing’s belongings, and Gan Mo claimed her technique for the Thunder Control Sect.
• Li Chengxu questioned Xiao Hua about rescuing Xiao Mao, but Xiao Hua and Xiao Mao gave evasive accounts and Xiao Mao offered to show the recovered Xunyan Sect corpses.
• Gao Wei praised Xiao Mao and approved his continued service under Li Zongbao, while the Council Hall cultivators suspected the three disciples were concealing something.
• Li Chengxu abandoned his probing and remarked that Xiao Hua and Xiao Mao must be blood relatives because Xiao Hua had risked himself to find him.

Xiao Hua was escorted to isolated quarters at Thunder Control Sect’s stronghold and realized he was being confined, while Cui Hongshen savored the rewards and good fortune he believed had come from his five-year dream. The chapter left Xiao Hua secretly escaping his room and appearing beside Cui Hongshen.

• Xiao Mao explained his bond with Xiao Hua, and Li Chengxu dismissed Xiao Hua and Li Zongbao after promising that their rewards would be issued.
• Qian Mo arranged an escort for Xiao Hua, then kept him apart from Thunder Control Sect First Squad and housed him alone among the Dry Thunder Palace quarters.
• Xiao Hua accepted a summoning token, sent away the guard, and slipped through the stone wall using spirit talismans.
• Cui Hongshen reflected on his improved cultivation, honors, and planned dual cultivation ceremony with Dui Qimeng, believing his dream had brought him everything he wanted.
• Xiao Hua appeared beside Cui Hongshen, who heard a familiar voice ask what was so funny.

Xiao Hua brought Cui Hongshen out of the Thunder Control Sect encampment and led him to discover the truth about Dui Qimeng. The chapter ended with Cui Hongshen learning that she was due to enter dual cultivation with Tu Hong in fifteen days.

• Xiao Hua questioned Cui Hongshen about Dui Qimeng and took him from their residence after making him wear a Mihuan.
• Xiao Hua and Cui Hongshen went to a teahouse near the Thunder Control Sect encampment to hear news about Dui Qimeng.
• Xiao Hua asked two cultivators about Tu Hong’s upcoming dual cultivation ceremony.
• The cultivators said Tu Hong’s ceremony would be held in fifteen days, with Snowy Realm True Person presiding, and that Dui Qimeng was the intended partner.
• The cultivators claimed Dui Qimeng and Tu Hong had fallen in love during the battle at Quanjin Mountain, and Cui Hongshen listened in silence.

Xiao Hua uncovered signs that Tu Hong had manipulated Dui Qimeng’s transfer and arranged her impending dual cultivation ceremony, while Cui Hongshen resolved to learn what she truly wanted. Xiao Hua set out in disguise to leave the Thunder Control Sect’s stronghold and investigate.

• After learning that Dui Qimeng was supposedly preparing for a dual cultivation ceremony with Tu Hong, Xiao Hua dragged the heartbroken Cui Hongshen back to their quiet chamber.
• Cui Hongshen claimed he would respect Dui Qimeng’s choice, but Xiao Hua argued that Tu Hong had likely deceived her and trapped their squad in danger at Quanjin Mountain.
• Cui Hongshen asked Xiao Hua to help him see Dui Qimeng and apologized for treating him as an inferior disciple.
• Xiao Hua agreed to find out what Dui Qimeng truly thought, despite Cui Hongshen’s warnings about Tu Hong’s strength and guests.
• Xiao Hua returned to his chamber, transformed himself to resemble Qin Jian, concealed his tracks, and slipped out of the Thunder Control Sect’s stronghold.

Qin Jian led sword cultivators toward Xuntian City, believing Snowy Realm True Person was absent and planning to ambush the city through a secret Teleportation Array. Their attack was halted when a Sword Transformation Swordsman appeared and warned them away.

• Zhu Chengye told Qin Jian that Mingjian Sect’s Zhong Haoxuan had disappeared while refining a Yin Yang Sword Spirit, and Zhu suspected Dao Sect cultivators were responsible.
• Qin Jian argued that Snowy Realm True Person was likely away from Xuntian City and persuaded the group to attack its secret Teleportation Array during Tu Hong’s dual cultivation ceremony.
• Qin Jian and the sword cultivators set out to find the array and kill its guards.
• A Sword Transformation Swordsman appeared, questioned their presence, and warned them not to come within five hundred miles of Xuntian City again.

After the Sword Transformation Swordsman drew Snowy Realm True Person away from the hidden Teleportation Array, Xiao Hua sneaked into Xuntian City and approached Tu Hong’s residence to find Dui Qimeng. Inside, Dui Qimeng appeared torn between her feelings for Cui Hongshen and her coming union with Tu Hong, while Tu Hong abruptly left to give Lan Qin instructions.

• The Sword Transformation Swordsman flew away, drawing Qin Jian and his companions after him, while Snowy Realm True Person discovered the secret Teleportation Array and ordered Lan Zhi Li to move it.
• Snowy Realm True Person realized he had been lured away and returned through the Teleportation Array to Xuntian City.
• Xiao Hua reached Tu Hong’s residence, decided against attacking Tu Hong amid the gathering of guests, and secretly tunneled past the outer restrictions to search for Dui Qimeng.
• Tu Hong, Dui Qimeng, Qian Mo, Yun Chen, and Qing Bi discussed the upcoming dual cultivation ceremony, and Dui Qimeng’s conflicting feelings about Cui Hongshen surfaced.
• Tu Hong abruptly concealed his reaction to something and left the Council Hall with Lan Qin to give him instructions.

Xiao Hua infiltrated Tu Hong's residence and discovered Lan Qin entering a concealed pagoda. Meanwhile, Tu Hong rushed out to confront Qin Jian, and Qian Mo and the others followed; Lan Qin descended into a hidden chamber beneath the pagoda.

• Tu Hong abruptly left the reception hall after Dui Qimeng began to depart, and Qian Mo recognized Qin Jian confronting him in midair.
• Qian Mo, Dui Qimeng, Qing Bi, Yun Chen, and the others flew out to investigate Tu Hong's confrontation with Qin Jian.
• Xiao Hua entered Tu Hong's residence, questioned a female disciple, and spotted Lan Qin approaching a pagoda.
• Lan Qin used a token to open the pagoda, then activated a hidden mechanism that revealed a hole beneath its floor.
• Lan Qin retrieved his pearl and dropped into the concealed hole.

Xiao Hua found Dui Qimeng’s lifeless body preserved in a crystal coffin and killed Lan Qin, learning that Tu Hong planned to use Dui Qimeng as a substitute for Yu Meng. He decided to take Yu Meng’s corpse to Tu Hong’s Reception Hall to expose the scheme, but the Ice Mirror fragment’s illusion caught his attention.

• Xiao Hua entered the frost-filled chamber disguised as Qin Jian and discovered Yu Meng’s body in a crystal coffin.
• Lan Qin attacked Xiao Hua with the bead and the Ice Mirror’s power, but Xiao Hua restrained him and killed him with Dream-Slaying.
• Xiao Hua questioned Lan Qin’s soul with the Buddha Sarira and learned that Tu Hong intended to make Dui Qimeng take Yu Meng’s place.
• Xiao Hua decided to bring Yu Meng’s corpse to Tu Hong’s Reception Hall and reveal the plot rather than destroy the body.
• Xiao Hua examined the Ice Mirror fragment, and its light blurred his vision as if he had entered an illusion of Innate True Water.

Xiao Hua collected the Ice Mirror and crystal coffin from Tu Hong’s pagoda, then confronted Tu Hong in Xuntian City. As reinforcements gathered, Xiao Hua exposed Tu Hong’s secret and accused him of murdering Dao Sect disciples, while Tu Hong called for the others to trap him.

• Xiao Hua fought the Ice Mirror’s freezing radiance, discovered its hidden mirror surface, and collected it with his Sleeve Universe despite its illusions and resistance.
• Xiao Hua took the crystal coffin and abandoned the pagoda when Tu Hong’s divine sense locked onto him.
• Tu Hong attacked Xiao Hua with his triangular magic treasure, while Xiao Hua dodged and publicly challenged him over his possessions and threats.
• Xiao Hua refused Tu Hong’s offer to bargain and attacked him, but Tu Hong’s magic treasure blocked Xiao Hua’s flying sword.
• Xiao Hua revealed Yu Meng’s corpse and accused Tu Hong of sacrificing an innocent Thunder Control Sect woman and slaughtering Dao Sect witnesses at Quanjin Mountain.
• Tu Hong denied the accusations and urged Qian Mo and the other cultivators to surround Xiao Hua and hold him until the City Lord arrived.

Xiao Hua exposed Tu Hong’s crimes and killed him after the Seven Star Great Formation and Dreamslayer overwhelmed his defenses. With Snowy Realm True Person searching Xuntian City, Xiao Hua escaped into the Thunder Control Sect’s stronghold.

• Xiao Hua threw Yu Meng’s corpse to Qian Mo, and Dui Qimeng recognized that Tu Hong had likely planned to use her as Qin Jian had claimed.
• Xiao Hua released seven flying swords to form the Seven Star Great Formation and trapped Tu Hong, who called forth Snowy Realm True Person for help.
• Tu Hong lost his mind under the karmic force of the wronged souls, and Xiao Hua killed him with Dreamslayer and sixty-four streams of sword light.
• Snowy Realm True Person arrived after Xiao Hua collected Tu Hong’s belongings and fled, then searched Xuntian City for him.
• Xiao Hua evaded Snowy Realm True Person’s search and escaped into the Thunder Control Sect’s stronghold.

After killing Tu Hong, Xiao Hua reflected on the Way of Cause and Effect while Snowy Realm True Person questioned the cultivators left at the residence. Dui Qimeng explained Tu Hong’s scheme and asked to be buried near Cui Lang, then raised her hand to strike herself.

• Xiao Hua returned to his quiet room, entered the wisp of Primordial Spirit in the Hand of Cause and Effect, and felt his mind drift through the Heavenly Dao Starry Sky and the mortal world.
• The Golden Core cultivators feared Xiao Hua’s sword array as Snowy Realm True Person searched Xuntian City for him and found the pagoda empty except for Lan Qin’s corpse.
• Snowy Realm True Person demanded an explanation, and Dui Qimeng recounted Tu Hong’s plan and her agreement to marry him.
• Dui Qimeng said she did not resent Tu Hong and asked for Yu Meng to be buried with him and for herself to be buried at Quanjin Mountain near Cui Lang.
• Dui Qimeng sent Yu Meng’s corpse toward Snowy Realm True Person and raised her palm to strike her own forehead, crying out to Cui Lang.

After Tu Hong’s death, Snowy Realm True Person ordered Dui Qimeng to bury Yu Meng with him and leave Xuntian City, revealing that Cui Hongshen was alive. He then investigated the mysterious swordsman who had escaped his pursuit, suspecting someone had infiltrated the city, and asked whether the Heavenly Demon Sect had moved.

• Snowy Realm True Person stopped Dui Qimeng from killing herself, told her Cui Lang was alive at Thunder Control Sect’s stronghold, and ordered her to bury Yu Meng with Tu Hong before leaving Xuntian City.
• Snowy Realm True Person told the Golden Core cultivators to blame Tu Hong’s death on Qin Jian, hunt him down, and keep rumors about Tu Hong’s actions at Quanjin Mountain from spreading.
• Dui Qimeng asked Gan Mo to send Tu Hong’s trusted attendants, then laid Yu Meng beside Tu Hong and wondered why Yu Meng looked exactly like her.
• Snowy Realm True Person questioned how Qin Jian had evaded him and summoned Jin Gang and Fang Liebie to report on their search for the swordsman.
• Snowy Realm True Person ordered Fang Liebie to inspect Xuntian City’s entry records for impostors and abnormalities, then asked Jin Gang about the Heavenly Demon Sect’s recent activity.

Snowy Realm True Person suppressed discussion of Tu Hong’s death, while the city’s rumors blamed Qin Jian and stirred anger against sword cultivators. Cui Hongshen worried over Xiao Hua’s role in the assassination, then was reunited with Dui Qimeng, who found him alive.

• Snowy Realm True Person told Jin Gang and Fang Liebie to investigate the Heavenly Demon Sect and let rumors about Tu Hong’s death pass as the city’s story.
• At dawn, news spread that Qin Jian had assassinated Tu Hong, and Xuntian City’s cultivators grew furious and discussed retaliating against sword cultivators.
• Jin Gang and Fang Liebie were relieved that public attention had shifted away from Tu Hong and Yu Meng’s affair.
• Cui Hongshen worried that Xiao Hua had provoked Snowy Realm True Person and feared Xuntian City disciples would come for him.
• Dui Qimeng entered the Thunder Control Sect First Squad’s hall, saw Cui Hongshen, and rushed into his arms, relieved that he was alive.

Cui Hongshen reunited with Dui Qimeng in Xuntian City and learned that she had been made Tu Hong’s partner after believing Cui was dead. He concealed what he knew about Xiao Hua’s actions, and the chapter ended with Dui Qimeng explaining her past to Cui Hongshen and receiving his trust.

• Dui Qimeng reunited with Cui Hongshen, who hid his suspicion that Xiao Hua had killed Tu Hong.
• Gan Mo warned Cui Hongshen and the others not to listen to, believe, or spread rumors about the Nascent Soul incident, and said they must remain inside the Thunder Control Sect’s stronghold.
• Dui Qimeng told the group that Qin Jian had killed Tu Hong in Xuntian City, and Cui Hongshen acted as though the news did not surprise him.
• The group discussed Xiao Hua’s transfer to Li Zongbao’s command, while Cui Hongshen expressed confidence that Xiao Hua would return safely.
• Dui Qimeng stayed behind with Cui Hongshen and explained why she had accepted Tu Hong after believing Cui was dead; Cui Hongshen reassured her that he trusted her.

Cui Hongshen reunited with Dui Qimeng and learned that Xiao Hua had returned to Xuntian City, though Xiao Hua remained in seclusion. As rumors spread, three female cultivators mocked the Thunder Control Sect First Squad for supposedly earning its merits through Dui Qimeng, and the confrontation began to escalate.

• Cui Hongshen comforted Dui Qimeng, who congratulated him on nearing the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and chose not to tell him about Yu Meng.
• Zhen Huo told Cui Hongshen and Dui Qimeng that Xiao Hua had returned to Xuntian City, and Dui Qimeng declined to visit him.
• Cui Hongshen and the others found Xiao Hua’s resting place, but guards said he had ordered seclusion; Cui Hongshen persuaded the squad to wait rather than disturb him.
• Over the following days, rumors about Xuntian City intensified as Golden Core cultivators arrived and planned attacks against Qin Jian and the sword cultivators in Huan Country.
• Three female cultivators mocked Cui Hongshen’s squad, accusing them of surviving and earning merit through Dui Qimeng’s beauty, and Zhen Minghui grew furious.

Xiao Hua intervened when a late Foundation Establishment female cultivator from Kun Thunder Palace tried to punish Cui Hongshen and the other returning disciples over rumors. Cui Hongshen then challenged her accusations by recounting the First Squad’s early battles and earned merit, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• A Kun Thunder Palace female cultivator trapped Cui Hongshen and five others and prepared to slap them for allegedly disgracing the sect.
• Xiao Hua arrived, blasted the attacker with Fireball Talismans, and blocked her Palm Thunder before patrol disciples prevented the dispute from escalating.
• Xiao Hua defended the returning disciples and criticized the female cultivator for condemning battlefield veterans despite never having faced sword cultivators herself.
• Cui Hongshen stepped forward and said the First Squad had earned the Council Hall of Yanxi Mansion’s respect through its early mission and combat achievements.

Cui Hongshen defended the Thunder Control Sect First Squad and Dui Qimeng, explaining their sacrifices at Quanjin Mountain and the circumstances behind Qimeng’s decision to cultivate with Tu Hong. Kun Shuai intervened and ordered the Kun Thunder Palace sisters to apologize, warning that their refusal would disgrace the entire Thunder Control Sect.

• Cui Hongshen reminded the Kun Thunder Palace sisters that the First Squad had risked their lives at Quanjin Mountain and earned its military merits through battle.
• Cui Hongshen explained that Dui Qimeng had agreed to cultivate with Tu Hong while believing Cui was dead, and had acted partly for the Thunder Control Sect’s benefit.
• Cui Hongshen rebuked the sisters for attacking their fellow disciples instead of focusing on avenging Tu Hong and fighting the sword cultivators.
• Kun Shuai dispersed the crowd, condemned the sisters’ conduct, and ordered Xi Mo, Kun Yunhe, and Kun Zi to apologize to the First Squad.
• Kun Shuai warned the sisters that refusing to apologize would damage the reputation of the Thunder Control Sect.

Cui Hongshen reconciled with Xiao Hua and began calling him Senior Brother after recognizing the value of their bond. Xiao Hua took Cui Hongshen and Dui Qimeng to Xuntian City's Alchemy Cave, where a disciple refused to let them use it, leaving Xiao Hua displeased.

• Cui Hongshen declined to demand an apology from Kun Yunhe and her fellow disciples, and they apologized to him and went to comfort Dui Qimeng.
• Xiao Hua searched the Bidding Convention for rare pills, found none, and destroyed Si Xinyu's token to avoid revealing himself.
• Cui Hongshen called Xiao Hua Senior Brother, explaining that he had reconsidered their old rivalry after surviving death.
• Xiao Hua gave the Thunder Control Sect disciples Bright Sword cultivators' flying swords and gave Zhen Minghui a sword jade slip.
• Xiao Hua took Cui Hongshen and Dui Qimeng to the Alchemy Cave, where its disciple rudely refused to let them use an alchemy room.

Xiao Hua reunited with Fairy Hongxia in the Alchemy Cave, then helped Cui Hongshen and Dui Qimeng use Thunder Beast Inner Cores to cultivate. Cui Hongshen awakened a Skylark Dharma Body, and Xiao Hua left the pair alone as the process stirred their dual-cultivation urges.

• Chang Shu welcomed Xiao Hua and arranged an alchemy room, then gave him Fairy Hongxia's location and a communication talisman.
• Xiao Hua gave Cui Hongshen and Dui Qimeng jade slips and Thunder Beast Inner Cores, urging them to study a secret art before using them.
• Xiao Hua found Fairy Hongxia, reunited with her, and gave her the Chaomeng Pearl containing Innate True Water.
• Cui Hongshen and Dui Qimeng comprehended the secret art, and Xiao Hua supplied them with dual-cultivation techniques before they consumed their Inner Cores.
• Cui Hongshen's Inner Core awakened his true-blood bloodline and formed a Skylark Dharma Body as lightning gathered in his lower dantian.
• When the Inner Cores stirred Dui Qimeng's desire, Xiao Hua left Cui Hongshen and Dui Qimeng alone and returned to Fairy Hongxia.

Fairy Hongxia told Xiao Hua that she had been sent to search near Million Meng Mountain for the Qingyang Cai Family’s ancestral hall, hoping to gain access to her family’s inheritance and help her master. Xiao Hua agreed to accompany her, and Hongxia showed him a mysterious token that might help them reach Huan Country.

• Fairy Hongxia praised Xiao Hua’s Chaomeng Pearl betrothal gift but said it was not enough, then revealed she had hidden their relationship from her master because Xiao Hua’s cultivation had been too low.
• Xiao Hua revealed that he had reached the peak of late Foundation Establishment, and he and Fairy Hongxia discussed the rapid progress of cultivation-family disciples amid the altered Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
• Xiao Hua gave Fairy Hongxia Innate True Water and a Golden Core cultivation technique, which she hoped would help her master advance.
• Fairy Hongxia explained that the Qingyang Cai Family had refused to let her enter its ancestral hall because she was a Huanhua Sect disciple from a distant branch of the family.
• Fairy Hongxia told Xiao Hua that her master had sent her to search for the Cai Family’s former ancestral hall near Million Meng Mountain during the Daoist cultivator war, despite the danger in Huan Country.
• Fairy Hongxia asked Xiao Hua to accompany her and showed him an ordinary-looking bamboo-joint-like token.