Chapter Summaries

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.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue exchanged what they knew about Misty Mountain, Flying Phoenix Ridge, and the Fire Ape before waiting through the night for the Thunder Control Sect’s selection. While cultivating, Xiao Hua discovered his perception could inspect divine sense without being detected, leaving him uncertain about how he would cultivate true divine sense.

• Xue Xue told Xiao Hua that Ling Zhengyi had intended to use him and explained Misty Mountain’s interest in the Fire Ape’s soul-suppressing artifact.
• Xiao Hua told Xue Xue what he had heard about Ling Chongya and the Pu family of Flying Phoenix Ridge, then declined to pursue the Fire Ape for now.
• Xiao Hua cultivated the Dragon Transformation Art and sensed that it was revealing many meridians beyond those described in the Heaven and Earth Manifestation method.
• A divine sense from Thunder Peak repeatedly passed over Xue Xue, and Xiao Hua sensed an unusual fluctuation as it appeared to mark her.
• Xiao Hua realized his perception had examined the divine sense without being noticed, and wondered how he would cultivate true divine sense.
• At dawn, Xiao Hua began absorbing the sun’s essence, and Xue Xue suddenly called out to him.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue attended the Thunder Control Sect’s disciple selection, where Gen Yeming announced that the first round would test candidates’ bodily attributes. A five-year-old boy showed a strong lightning attribute and qualified, but the testing girl rebuked his father for teaching him cultivation techniques before the sect could train him.

• Xue Xue called out to Xiao Hua, then explained that the selection’s first round tested candidates’ bodily attributes for lightning affinity.
• Gen Yeming addressed the crowd through the spheres overhead and announced the selection procedure and the defensive talismans inside numbered tokens.
• Gen Lei Palace and Dui Lei Palace disciples arrived and began testing cultivators with Spirit Seekers, rejecting an eighth-layer Qi Cultivation man whose light barely advanced.
• A five-year-old boy gripped the Spirit Seeker and sent purplish-red light halfway along it, qualifying for the Thunder Control Sect’s selection.
• The Dui Lei Palace girl learned that the boy’s father had taught him cultivation techniques and scolded the father for doing so.

Xiao Hua watched the Thunder Control Sect test cultivators for lightning attributes and admit those who passed its first round. After Xue Xue revealed a lightning physique, Xiao Hua took the Spirit Seeker, which showed no reaction and left his eligibility in doubt.

• A little girl tested cultivators, rejecting those without suitable attributes and giving a token to a fire-attribute cultivator who passed the first round.
• A Thunder Control Sect disciple took a young lightning-attribute child into a sphere while the child's father received a token for visiting him.
• Xiao Hua learned that the Sect held additional selection rounds and worried that its Spirit Seeker would identify him as having a water attribute.
• Xue Xue tested positive for a Li Lightning physique and received a numbered token for the second round.
• The little girl tested Xiao Hua last, but the Spirit Seeker showed no response in his hand, and she warned him that he would be eliminated if it remained unresponsive.

Xiao Hua’s Spirit Seeker test went awry when the artifact overloaded and exploded, prompting Dui Ling to accuse him of destroying it. Gen Yeming confirmed Xiao Hua’s unusual lack of attributes and questioned his background, leaving Xiao Hua to disclose that he was a rogue cultivator who practiced the fire-attributed Burning Heaven Art.

• Xiao Hua argued that the unresponsive Spirit Seeker might be broken and asked to test it with his own spiritual power.
• Xiao Hua snatched the Spirit Seeker and infused it with spiritual power, causing brilliant purple-red light to erupt before the artifact exploded.
• Dui Ling attacked Xiao Hua with Five Thunder yellow talismans and Palm Thunder, but Xiao Hua dodged without striking back.
• Gen Yeming arrived, heard Xue Xue’s account, and explained that cultivators with balanced Five Elements should produce white light during the test.
• Gen Yeming tested Xiao Hua with another Spirit Seeker, which showed no reaction, then asked about his cultivation and background.
• Xiao Hua told Gen Yeming that he was a rogue cultivator who practiced the Burning Heaven Art.

Xiao Hua’s lack of any Five Elements attribute drew Gen Yeming’s attention and led him to meet a Golden Core cultivator of the Thunder Control Sect. The cultivator confirmed the Spirit Seeker could not identify Xiao Hua’s attributes but allowed him to proceed to the second test, leaving Xiao Hua to wonder whether he should reveal the bead.

• Gen Yeming learned that Xiao Hua was a twenty-three-year-old Rogue Cultivator who had reached the tenth layer of Qi Cultivation and used the Burning Heaven Art.
• Gen Yeming brought Xiao Hua to meet his Master-Grandfather, a Golden Core cultivator, after reporting that Xiao Hua had no detectable Five Elements attribute.
• The Golden Core cultivator tested Xiao Hua with another Spirit Seeker, which burst apart when Xiao Hua infused it with spiritual power.
• The Golden Core cultivator said the Spirit Seeker’s result was inconclusive but allowed Xiao Hua to continue to the second test.
• Gen Yeming gave Xiao Hua a numbered token and returned him to Thunder Peak, while Xiao Hua decided to wait before revealing the bead.