Chapter Summaries

Xi Mujun persuaded Abbess Jinggang that Ren Xiaoyao had pursued Zhang Ping'er and Zixia for his own advantage, then left Yi Xiang Peak to look for Zhuo Qun. Beneath the moon, Zhang Xiaohua and Meng reunited and spoke of their love, Meng's grief over Master Jingxuan, and the strange dreams she asked whether he had experienced.

• Xi Mujun accused Ren Xiaoyao of manipulating Zhang Ping'er and Zixia, but Abbess Jinggang doubted his claims and reminded him that the Cult Master had approved Zixia's relationship with Ren Xiaoyao.
• Xi Mujun asked Abbess Jinggang for leave to leave Yi Xiang Peak, and she told him to find Zhuo Qun and urge him to return.
• Zhang Xiaohua and Meng shared a tender reunion beneath the full moon, teasing each other about Nie Qianyu and affirming their feelings.
• Zhang Xiaohua comforted Meng over Master Jingxuan's death and told her not to risk herself again to avenge her master.
• Meng asked Zhang Xiaohua whether he had ever experienced strange dreams, and he said he had not dreamed in a long time.

Zhang Xiaohua comforted Meng over her dreams and Master Jingxuan’s death, then learned why the Cult Master had let them pass through Mocu Palace so easily. Meng revealed the Cult Master’s old romance ended when her suitor failed the Three Trials of Affection, while Zhang Xiaohua wondered what became of him.

• Meng told Zhang Xiaohua that her vivid dreams had grown especially frequent after Master Jingxuan died, and Zhang Xiaohua vowed to kill the murderer.
• Zhang Xiaohua and Meng joked about his martial arts and discussed how strangely easily they had passed through Mocu Palace.
• Meng teased Zhang Xiaohua into giving her a massage, and he accidentally touched her beneath the arm before changing the subject.
• Meng explained that the Cult Master had once loved a Qingmu Hall disciple who challenged the Three Trials of Affection to reach her.
• The Qingmu Hall disciple killed ninety-nine Blood Wolves but failed to find the hundredth, then disappeared after leaving Yi Xiang Peak.
• Zhang Xiaohua suspected the Cult Master’s old regret had made her value marriage fate bestowed by Heaven and wonderously favor their passage.

Zhang Xiaohua left Mocu Palace for Huanxu after Meng saw him off and Chen Chen warned him to stay near the entrance and offered to help Hui Chun Valley. On the way, he apologized to Senior Brother Wei and encountered Zhang Ping'er, whose cold response left their misunderstanding unresolved.

• Meng saw Zhang Xiaohua off and urged him to earn merit in Huanxu to lessen Hui Chun Valley's punishment.
• Chen Chen advised Zhang Xiaohua not to venture deep into Huanxu and promised to ask Senior Sister Kong to speak to the Cult Master about Hui Chun Valley.
• Chen Chen told Zhang Xiaohua that Xia Qing was among the disciples already in Huanxu and joked that he should check for hidden marks before Little Fish caused trouble.
• Zhang Xiaohua apologized to Senior Brother Wei and returned the identity token he had taken from him.
• Zhang Xiaohua stopped after spotting Zhang Ping'er, apologized for any misunderstanding, and heard her coldly reject his apology.

Zhang Xiaohua left Yi Xiang Peak with the Guiyuan Grass Zhang Ping'er had given him and set out for the Ruined Basin, while Abbess Jingyi discussed his journey and other matters within the Incense-Passing Cult. Lost at a fork in the road, he encountered Ruijin Hall disciples who pointed out that he had been traveling the wrong way.

• Zhang Ping'er gave Zhang Xiaohua the Guiyuan Grass and told him to look after Senior Sister Zixia before leaving.
• Zhang Xiaohua descended Yi Xiang Peak, inspected the Xiubei Stele, and departed toward the Ruined Basin.
• Abbess Jingyi learned that Zhang Xiaohua had left and discussed his relationship with Zixia, missing disciples, and punishments for those involved in Hui Chun Valley.
• Zhang Xiaohua lost his way at a crossroads and encountered a group of Ruijin Hall disciples led by someone other than Yue Zhuoqun.
• A Ruijin Hall disciple gave Zhang Xiaohua directions and revealed that he had taken the wrong road to the Ruined Basin.

Xi Mujun returned to Ruijin Hall and learned that Ren Xiaoyao had taken the road toward Huanxu, then secretly followed him. Sensing danger, Zhang Xiaohua tried to refine his small shield and discovered that an incantation from the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace made it respond.

• Xi Mujun practiced his sword beneath a peach tree and achieved Invisible Sword Qi before setting off down the mountain.
• Ruijin Hall disciples discussed Ren Xiaoyao and speculated that he might have harmed the missing Yue the Third.
• Xi Mujun learned that Zhang Xiaohua had taken the wrong fork toward Huanxu, then secretly followed his trail.
• Zhang Xiaohua sensed an impending threat, traveled into a mountain forest, and hid in a hollow to work on his small shield.
• Zhang Xiaohua found that ordinary refining incantations failed, but an incantation from the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace caused the shield to tremble and glow red.

Zhang Xiaohua completed the simplest refinement of the Crimson Spirit Guard in a secluded swamp, but Xi Mujun appeared and threatened to kill him before he could reach Huanxu. The chapter left Zhang Xiaohua trying to placate the hostile Ruijin Hall chief disciple.

• Zhang Xiaohua learned that the Crimson Spirit Guard could only be refined in stages and put it away after discovering its basic defensive function.
• Zhang Xiaohua traveled cautiously for several days, then went alone into a swamp to refine the Crimson Spirit Guard.
• Zhang Xiaohua completed the shield’s simplest refinement and sensed that he could control it.
• Zhang Xiaohua sensed danger, climbed a tree, and discovered Xi Mujun waiting nearby.
• Xi Mujun rejected Zhang Xiaohua’s attempts at friendly address and threatened that he would not leave alive or reach Huanxu.

Xi Mujun confronted Zhang Xiaohua and revealed his plan to kill him, then attacked with formidable swordsmanship. Zhang Xiaohua survived the strike using his small sword and an unusual lightness skill, leaving Xi Mujun puzzled.

• Xi Mujun mocked Zhang Xiaohua over Meng and said Zhang Xiaohua’s arrival had ruined his hopes of winning Zixia.
• Xi Mujun admitted he had followed Zhang Xiaohua to kill him and planned to blame the deed on Yue the Third’s disappearance.
• Xi Mujun explained that Abbess Jinggang’s backing would let him evade punishment, then declared Zhang Xiaohua was no match for him.
• Xi Mujun launched a fierce sword attack, and Zhang Xiaohua drew Zhuimeng and charged into the strike.
• Zhang Xiaohua used the Floating Technique to shift aside and block Xi Mujun’s sword, surprising him with his lightness skill.

Zhang Xiaohua fought Xi Mujun, who countered his flying sword and talismans with Incense-Passing Cult methods and the Purple Phoenix Hairpin. The battle left Zhang Xiaohua struggling to keep the Dragon Binding Ring powered as Xi Mujun pressed his advantage.

• Xi Mujun was startled when Zhang Xiaohua dodged his sword, then recognized him as an Immortal Path Qi Practitioner and decided to capture him for the Cult Master.
• Zhang Xiaohua attacked with Dream, but Xi Mujun repeatedly struck the flying sword’s tip with his own sword and advanced toward him.
• Zhang Xiaohua threw fire talismans at Xi Mujun’s defensive shield until the last one destroyed it, while Xi Mujun accused him of killing Yue the Third.
• With no talismans left, Zhang Xiaohua sent the Dragon Binding Ring after Xi Mujun, who used the Purple Phoenix Hairpin and a yuan stone to knock it away with lightning.
• Xi Mujun repeatedly struck the Dragon Binding Ring with lightning while Zhang Xiaohua replenished his true qi, which was running out faster than he could restore it.

Zhang Xiaohua struggled to escape Xi Mujun while his true qi was depleted, using the Crimson Spirit Guard to hold off the Purple Phoenix Hairpin’s lightning until he could attempt Earth Escape. When Xi Mujun forced him back aboveground, Zhang Xiaohua’s small mirror reflected the lightning and killed Xi Mujun, leaving Zhang Xiaohua to recover in seclusion.

• Zhang Xiaohua fled Xi Mujun with the Misty Steps, dodging the Purple Phoenix Hairpin’s lightning while Old Hu’s robe softened its blows.
• Zhang Xiaohua used the Crimson Spirit Guard as a shield and drew primordial qi from yuan stones while Xi Mujun repeatedly attacked it.
• Zhang Xiaohua gathered enough true qi to use Earth Escape, but Xi Mujun’s lightning followed the lingering trace of his qi and forced him back aboveground.
• Zhang Xiaohua briefly revealed a second Purple Phoenix Hairpin, prompting Xi Mujun to realize Zhang Xiaohua had killed Yue Zhuoqun.
• Zhang Xiaohua raised his small mirror against Xi Mujun’s lightning, and the mirror reflected the strike back, killing Xi Mujun.
• Zhang Xiaohua found a secluded spot behind rocks and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Zhang Xiaohua reflected on his perilous victory over Xi Mujun, collected Xi Mujun’s belongings, and hurried to find Huanhuan. While hiding by a stream, he overheard two Incense-Passing Cult disciples mention the Heavenly King and realized they belonged to the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

• Zhang Xiaohua recognized how close Xi Mujun had come to killing him and burned Xi Mujun’s corpse with a jade talisman.
• Zhang Xiaohua collected Xi Mujun’s triangular plaque, beast-head paperweight, Purple Phoenix Hairpin, and remaining Qi Stone.
• Zhang Xiaohua remembered Huanhuan might be in danger and rode off to search for her.
• Zhang Xiaohua sensed a warning, hid underground, and watched a green-clad man wait beside a stream.
• Junior Brother Cheng met Senior Brother Guan, complained about mining in Shu Yu Hall, and discussed serving the Heavenly King.
• Zhang Xiaohua overheard them and realized they were from the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

Zhang Xiaohua overheard two Heavenly Dragon Sect agents discuss Wuming Hall’s inner sect test and Junior Brother Cheng’s discovery of a hidden passage in a jade mine. He realized the passage might connect to the cult’s formation and offer a route outside, then reached Dragon Head Peak and set out to search for the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace.

• Senior Brother Guan told Junior Brother Cheng that Wuming Hall had sent more than a thousand eliminated and selected disciples to Dragon Stream Valley, and that Ming Qing might become their Deputy Hall Master.
• Junior Brother Cheng described finding and then losing the entrance to a deep passage in an abandoned Mount Jiuhua jade mine, and speculated that jade veins powered the Incense-Passing Cult’s protective formation.
• Zhang Xiaohua emerged from hiding and considered using his divine sense and Earth Escape to locate the passage and contact his family outside the cult.
• Zhang Xiaohua followed Senior Brother Guan’s route, found Huanhuan, and continued toward Dragon Head Peak.
• Zhang Xiaohua decided to search Dragon Head Peak for the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace and urged Huanhuan onward.

Zhang Xiaohua reached Dragon Head Peak, learned that Ming Qing was staying in Dragon Stream Valley, and secretly went there to observe the Wuming Hall disciples gathered in the valley. He overheard them speculate about a coming mission before recognizing Ming Qing and several inner sect disciples he had encountered at Yi Xiang Peak.

• Zhang Xiaohua met Wuming Hall disciples Yang Li and Chang Hong at the foot of Dragon Head Peak, and they told him Ming Qing was in Dragon Stream Valley.
• Zhang Xiaohua declined their offer to escort him, then used Earth Escape to reach Dragon Stream Valley without being noticed.
• Zhang Xiaohua listened as gathered Wuming Hall disciples guessed that their assembly was preparation for a secret mission against another sect.
• Several Ruijin Hall inner sect disciples emerged from a tent, and Zhang Xiaohua recognized Ming Qing and others from his earlier fight at Yi Xiang Peak.

Ming Qing worried that the Incense-Passing Cult’s coming campaign would bring heavy casualties, while Zhang Xiaohua continued searching for pill furnaces and mastered a concealment method. He reached the vast ruins of Huanxu beneath a storm of lightning and saw a chance to replenish his depleted True Qi.

• Ming Qing dismissed his disciples’ suspicion that Senior Brother Xi resented him and said he feared the Cult Master’s coming operation would cause more casualties than the last one.
• After the disciples returned to their tents, Zhang Xiaohua left Dragon Head Peak to search for his pill furnace.
• Several days later, Zhang Xiaohua perfected the Flying Technique’s concealment method and noted that he had found five Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnaces across the peaks.
• Zhang Xiaohua traveled toward Huanxu with Huanhuan and spotted distant clouds and lightning, reaching the ruins two days later.
• Zhang Xiaohua saw that lightning covered the enormous ruins and hoped to use it to restore the True Qi absorbed by the Eye of Delusion Breaking.

Zhang Xiaohua reached Huaxu, where Ruijin Hall disciples mistook him for a powerful rescuer sent to aid Xia Qing and warned him about the forbidden ground’s dangerous beasts. As he prepared to enter, he saw a Sabertooth Tiger and was horrified by what appeared between the pillars.

• Zhang Xiaohua presented his Mocu Palace token to Ren Wufeng and explained that the Cult Master had sent him to meet Xia Qing.
• Ren Wufeng said Xia Qing and four others had entered Huaxu twenty days earlier to investigate a mysterious thing after five-colored light appeared there.
• Ren Wufeng explained that Huaxu contained powerful ferocious beasts, including Sabertooth Tigers, and that even Mocu Palace disciples had only a fifty-fifty chance when forced to fight them.
• Ren Wufeng pointed out a Sabertooth Tiger strolling between the pillars, and Zhang Xiaohua was horrified by what he saw.

Zhang Xiaohua entered the Ruined Basin after a mysterious five-colored glow stirred an intense desire in him, only to discover that its formation blocked escape techniques and attacked intruders. After absorbing Primordial Qi from the formation’s attacks, he attracted several Sabertooth Tigers and prepared to face them.

• Ren Wufeng explained that the Ruined Basin was a powerful formation where Sabertooth Tigers could not cross its boundary, and Zhang Xiaohua decided to enter after seeing a five-colored glow shoot southwest.
• Huanhuan refused to approach the ruins, so Zhang Xiaohua left it behind and entered through a collapsed gateway alone.
• Zhang Xiaohua found that the formation prevented him from flying or using earth escape, then defended himself against a sword-shaped strand of Primordial Qi.
• Zhang Xiaohua fought off several more Primordial Qi attacks and absorbed the energy they released.
• Several Sabertooth Tigers arrived to absorb the Primordial Qi, spotted Zhang Xiaohua hiding nearby, and charged at him as he drew his heavy sword.

Zhang Xiaohua killed a pack of Sabertooth Tigers and discovered mysterious beads containing powerful Primordial Qi inside their bodies, then continued toward the center of the Ruins of Huan. He accidentally entered an illusion array and saw brilliant lights racing toward him, leaving him stunned and delighted.

• Zhang Xiaohua blocked the Sabertooth Tigers' attacks and killed them by striking their vulnerable bellies with Zhuimeng.
• Zhang Xiaohua found tiny golden beads inside the Sabertooth Tigers and a white bead inside the Blood Wolf King's corpse, and linked them to Huang Feng's bead.
• Zhang Xiaohua stored the beasts' corpses and set off toward the center of the Ruins of Huan.
• Zhang Xiaohua wandered into an illusion array and saw brilliant lights approaching from the horizon.

Zhang Xiaohua survived a flying-sword illusion and realized that true Immortal Dao sword control used coordinated sword formations rather than ordinary sword moves. After finding a buried Ruijin Hall plaque and connecting the ruins’ monsters and hazards to the Five Elements, he suspected the ruins formed a vast array and hurried back to investigate.

• Zhang Xiaohua spotted a flaw in a swarm of flying swords, smashed open a gap, and escaped the illusion array by leaping through its waves.
• Zhang Xiaohua tested the sword swarm against his Crimson Spirit Guard, then avoided further open areas as he crossed the ruins and killed Sabertooth Tigers for their Golden Beads.
• Zhang Xiaohua uncovered a plaque reading “Ruijin Hall” and wondered whether the ruins were the site of the Incense-Passing Cult’s former Mocu Palace.
• Zhang Xiaohua killed two larger Sabertooth Tigers and noticed that their golden sword attacks and beads might relate to the Five Elements.
• Zhang Xiaohua connected the ruins’ hazards and creatures to Ren Wufeng’s claim that the ruins were one enormous array, then rushed back to the front of Ruijin Hall.

Zhang Xiaohua entered Ruijin Hall, realizing it was likely the Metal-element formation eye of Huanxu’s Five Elements Array, and searched for its magical artifact. After surviving attacks and finding a golden-lit pool in a rockery, he triggered a gigantic blade formed from golden beams.

• Zhang Xiaohua recognized the Primordial Qi beyond Ruijin Hall as Wood-element vital energy and deduced that Ruijin Hall was probably the Metal-element formation eye.
• Zhang Xiaohua entered Ruijin Hall under the protection of the Crimson Spirit Guard and a defensive jade talisman, then discovered a motionless woman in court robes.
• A black-light attack pierced the woman and nearly struck Zhang Xiaohua, but his defenses stopped it; he later buried her and picked up a jade slip from her clothing.
• Zhang Xiaohua continued through the hall, withstanding more black-light attacks, until he found a garden and rockery where Primordial Qi was unusually dense.
• Zhang Xiaohua found a covered depression in a dried-up pool with golden light shining from within, but golden beams gathered into a huge blade and struck at him.

Zhang Xiaohua defeated the Metal-element saber with a little mirror, took a golden bead from Ruijin Hall, and suppressed the formation groove with an Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace. He headed into the Wood Element Region, where he discovered its falling-log attack was only an illusion, then heard shrill cries ahead.

• Zhang Xiaohua used the little mirror to repel the gold saber after it nearly overwhelmed him with its force.
• Zhang Xiaohua removed the golden bead from the groove and placed an Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace over it to stop the formation from shaking.
• Zhang Xiaohua rested, stored the bead in a jade box, and left Ruijin Hall for the center of the ruins.
• Zhang Xiaohua entered the Wood Element Region and raised the little mirror against the falling green logs, but they vanished above his head.
• Zhang Xiaohua realized the logs were an illusion caused by insufficient Wood-attribute Qi and detoured around them with the Prajna Heavy Sword.
• Zhang Xiaohua heard several shrill cries from ahead.

Zhang Xiaohua fought a group of Sky-Piercing Apes in the Wood Element region and used fire talismans to defeat them. He collected their green pearls and continued through the ruins, where he found far more human bones than before.

• Zhang Xiaohua hid from a group of Sky-Piercing Apes, but they spotted him and chased him through the ruins.
• Zhang Xiaohua tried to escape with his Flying Technique, but the formation restricted it, and the apes surrounded him.
• Zhang Xiaohua fought an ape with the Prajna Heavy Sword and discovered that its wounds healed rapidly; his Dragon Binding Ring also failed to overcome their green-wood Qi.
• Zhang Xiaohua used fire talismans to set the Sky-Piercing Apes ablaze, then killed one and collected the green pearls left in the ashes.
• Zhang Xiaohua continued through the Wood Element region and noticed that white bones had become much more numerous, suggesting many people had come there before.