Chapter Summaries

Xiao Hua and his companions fled after sensing the Fire Ape and Thunder Beast nearby, then discovered the slaughtered remains of cultivators who had encountered the beasts. Shaken by the danger, Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian decided to leave the hunt behind and travel to the sea together.

• Xiao Hua sensed the Fire Ape approaching and told Xiangyang and the others to flee, since he could not locate the Thunder Beast.
• Xiao Hua led the group back toward the outskirts of Yanlin Mountain Marsh, where they found dozens of cultivators brutally killed, their brains eaten and their belongings scattered.
• Xiao Hua cremated the remains and collected the scattered items while Xiangyang identified the dead, including Zhan Yu of the Yellow Flower Sect.
• Yan Qinglian questioned why the cultivators had gathered and how they had been caught, and Xiao Hua proposed that the beasts had surprised them near the marsh's outskirts.
• Xiangyang abandoned the plan to seek the Thunder Beast's Inner Core, and Yan Qinglian revealed she had researched Thunder Beast sightings in the Qiang He Sea so they could travel there together.

Xiangyang, Yan Qinglian, Xiao Hua, and Xue Xue confronted Yu Yuemiao and Chan Xingyan, who demanded their possessions for entering Yanlin Mountain Marsh. Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian fought back, and the battle continued with Chan Xingyan’s fire wall overwhelmed by Yan Qinglian’s lightning.

• Xiangyang decided to leave Yanlin Mountain Marsh for the Qiang He Sea, but Yu Yuemiao and Chan Xingyan found the group and demanded their pills, jade slips, and other belongings.
• Xiangyang refused to surrender their possessions and told Xiao Hua and Xue Xue to stand aside as he prepared to fight.
• Xiangyang revealed his spear artifact, Thunderstrike, and attacked Yu Yuemiao, who countered with a bowl-shaped artifact that formed a radiant shield and icy spikes.
• Xiangyang dodged Yu Yuemiao’s ice spikes while Yan Qinglian fought Chan Xingyan with a lightning-bearing horsetail whisk.
• Yan Qinglian unleashed a storm of lightning bolts that destroyed Chan Xingyan’s wall of flame.

Xiao Hua helped Yan Qinglian and Xiangyang defeat Yu Yuemiao and corner Chan Xingyan. The chapter left Chan Xingyan trapped beneath Xiao Hua’s Town Cloud Seal after his Flowing Fire was subdued.

• Yan Qinglian used concealed lightning from her whisk to wound Chan Xingyan, who retaliated with Flowing Fire as she evaded him.
• Yu Yuemiao overwhelmed Xiangyang and drove him toward Xiao Hua, who lured Yu Yuemiao close with Fireball Talismans.
• Xiao Hua broke Yu Yuemiao’s water-light shield with the demonic spear shaft and killed him with Slay Dream.
• Yan Qinglian pursued Chan Xingyan as he fled, and Xiao Hua intercepted him and crushed his communication talisman.
• Xiao Hua summoned his Phoenix Dharma Body and Town Cloud Seal, whose cloud smothered Chan Xingyan’s Flowing Fire.

Xiao Hua and his companions escaped after he killed Yu Yuemiao and Chan Xingyan, then tricked Xiang Min into searching elsewhere by turning back toward the place they claimed to have come from. As they neared Xihuang Town, Xiang Min caught up with them again and ordered them to stop.

• Xiao Hua killed Chan Xingyan with Zhumen, then gathered the dead cultivators' belongings and destroyed their corpses while his companions fled.
• Xiao Hua sensed Xiang Min approaching and ordered the group to turn back, then used a Flight Talisman to disguise their direction.
• Xiangyang told Xiang Min they had come from Xihuang Town and had seen no cultivators, so she flew off in another direction.
• Xiao Hua persuaded the others to return to Xihuang Town, and they pretended to travel at their earlier pace.
• Xiang Min's divine sense caught up with the group near Xihuang Town, and she ordered them to stop.

Xiang Min confined Xiao Hua and the others while investigating his missing disciples, but left when a distant divine sense drew his attention. Martial Ancestor Zhen Ye arrived, freed them, and confronted Xiang Min before he departed to search for the killer.

• Xiang Min questioned Xiangyang about his two missing disciples, then bound Xiangyang, Yan Qinglian, Xiao Hua, and Xue Xue despite Xiangyang's denial.
• Xiao Hua prepared to fight as a distant divine sense distracted Xiang Min, who flew off while leaving the four confined.
• Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian recognized the distant lightning as likely belonging to Martial Uncle Zhen Ye, while Xiao Hua and Xue Xue exchanged jokes on the ground.
• Xiao Hua realized that his name might be Xiaohua, then changed the subject by speculating that a Golden Core cultivator had killed Xiang Min's disciples.
• Xiang Min returned and threatened the four, but Zhen Ye arrived, broke the confinement, and mocked Xiang Min while scolding his own disciples.
• Xiang Min left to search for the killer, and Zhen Ye said he would consider Xiang Min's proposal.

After rescuing Xiao Hua and the others from Xiang Min, Zhen Ye refused to spare a Thunder Beast Inner Core for Xiangyang’s damaged Dao Foundation. Xiao Hua offered to use the Sun Moon Crown to track the Fire Ape and help Zhen Ye secure more inner cores, and Zhen Ye agreed to take him along.

• Zhen Ye arrived after Xiang Min left and ordered Xiao Hua and the others to leave Yanlin Mountain Marsh.
• Xiao Hua asked Zhen Ye to give Xiangyang a small portion of the Thunder Beast Inner Core to repair his damaged Dao Foundation, but Zhen Ye refused.
• Xiangyang urged Xiao Hua to stop asking, while Xiao Hua promised to keep helping his Eldest Senior Brother.
• Xiao Hua showed Zhen Ye the Sun Moon Crown and offered to use it to track the Fire Ape, which was with the Thunder Beast.
• Zhen Ye praised Xiao Hua and told him to come along.

Xiao Hua and his companions joined Zhen Ye on the dangerous journey to Yanlin Mountain Marsh to hunt the Thunder Beast and Fire Ape. After finding slain cultivators and entering the marsh, they encountered areas where spiritual power stopped working.

• Zhen Ye explained that he had invited Xiao Hua to help hunt the Thunder Beast and that he would keep the Fire Ape's Inner Core as compensation for his share.
• Xiangyang, Yan Qinglian, and Xue Xue insisted on accompanying Xiao Hua, and Zhen Ye gave him two Evasion Talismans to distribute.
• The group found several dead cultivators whose injuries did not appear to come from the Fire Ape, and Xiao Hua could not sense the beast nearby with the Sun Moon Crown.
• Xiao Hua noticed the cultivators' storage bags were missing and burned their corpses before the group continued toward the marsh.
• After entering Yanlin Mountain Marsh, Xiao Hua briefly lost control of his spiritual power, and Zhen Ye explained that some areas there prevented cultivators from using it.

Xiao Hua and the others entered the dangerous inner regions of Yanlin Mountain Marsh, where lava lakes and fire pillars threatened their progress. After fire mice fled from the group, fire bats attacked Xiao Hua’s divine sense, and Zhen Ye shielded the disciples as they flew into the swarm.

• Zhen Ye explained that cultivators below the Golden Core stage risk losing their spiritual power in the inner marsh, while Xiao Hua pleaded for protection and kept his magic artifact.
• The group crossed lava lakes and a sudden fire pillar, then reached an area where fire mice swam in the lava before fleeing from their approach.
• Zhen Ye warned the disciples to prepare their defenses, and Xiangyang gave Xiao Hua and the others high-grade defensive yellow talismans.
• Xiao Hua released his divine sense and was struck by a powerful wave from approaching fire bats, but Zhen Ye blocked it with a flash of light.
• Zhen Ye identified the fire bats as second-grade Spirit Beasts and led the group into the swarm, where several bats charged directly at him.

Xiao Hua learned that Golden Core cultivators could use protective radiance to fend off attacks, then spent ten days meditating and gained a deeper understanding of the Prairie Fire Cultivation Method while noticing that it worked poorly with ordinary fire-attributed spiritual Qi. Zhen Ye received word that other cultivators had arrived and prepared to bargain with Xiang Min, as a late Foundation Establishment elder approached Yanlin Mountain Marsh aboard a Fire Lion.

• Xiao Hua recognized that Zhen Ye's purple protective radiance was a Golden Core divine ability that could sense and block attacks, and Xiangyang explained why killing high-realm cultivators was difficult.
• Zhen Ye struck down the fire bats with a lightning net, and Xiao Hua comforted the frightened Xue Xue before the group rested on a mountain peak in the fire lake.
• Xiao Hua spent ten days cultivating with the Prairie Fire Cultivation Method and comprehended its deeper principles, but found that ordinary fire-attributed spiritual Qi circulated slowly and unevenly.
• Zhen Ye received a communication talisman announcing the arrival of other cultivators, then sent another toward Xiang Min to begin bargaining.
• A late Foundation Establishment elder flew toward Yanlin Mountain Marsh atop a huge Fire Lion.

Miao Jun led Huanling Sect disciples to a hidden mountain peak beneath the Fire Lake, where they began work on a sect secret tied to Foundation Establishment. After Gao Qiang questioned their late arrival, he stopped Miao Jun before he could leave.

• Miao Jun searched the Fire Lake’s surroundings, then used a red talisman to reveal a formation concealing a mountain peak.
• More than a dozen Huanling Sect disciples arrived with supplies, and Miao Jun warned them to guard the sect’s Foundation Establishment secret.
• Miao Jun explained that the elders had concealed the secret to protect the sect and its disciples from outsiders.
• Miao Jun and the disciples entered the hidden mountain, where Gao Qiang arrived and checked several disciples’ identity tokens.
• After the disciples departed to contact their fellow sect members, Gao Qiang stopped Miao Jun and demanded an answer about their late arrival.

Miao Jun arrived late at the Fire Lake formation site and was reprimanded by Gao Qiang for ambushing cultivators after receiving the sect’s orders. He joined the Huanling Sect disciples repairing the ancient Spirit Awakening Five Aggregates Formation, while Elder Zhe challenged Yuan Feng over the risks of restoring it.

• Gao Qiang confronted Miao Jun about arriving a day late and taking storage bags from cultivators he had ambushed, then let him go after confiscating the bags.
• Miao Jun followed a firebird into a vast cavern and discovered Huanling Sect disciples repairing an ancient altar formation.
• Senior Brother Shou assigned Miao Jun to oversee part of the repair and warned him not to question the elders’ arrangements.
• Miao Jun noticed that the formation instructions in his jade slip were incomplete and that the formation seemed unusual, but hurried to carry out his task after Senior Brother Shou threatened to report him.
• Elder Zhe questioned Yuan Feng about the incomplete activation formulas for the Spirit Awakening Five Aggregates Formation, and Yuan Feng began explaining the Huanling Sect’s decline.

Yuan Feng revealed that the Spirit Awakening Five Aggregates Formation was tied to the disappearance of the Huanling Sect’s predecessors and the Chao Long spirit essence beneath Yanlin Mountain Marsh. He proposed using the incomplete Spirit Devouring Cultivation Method through their spirit beasts to absorb the essence, and the elders prepared to rely on the formation to weaken it first.

• Hu Yue Shi connected the Spirit Awakening Five Aggregates Formation to the vanished Huanling Sect predecessors, and Yuan Feng confirmed that his research linked their disappearance to the Chao Long spirit essence.
• Yuan Feng claimed he had a hidden path to Nascent Soul and gave the elders jade slips containing the Spirit Devouring Cultivation Method.
• Zhe Qipeng realized Yuan Feng intended the cultivators’ spirit beasts to use the incomplete method, while Hu Yue Shi worried that harm to the beasts would damage their cultivators.
• Man Yun explained that spirit beasts could erase the Nascent Soul imprint from the spirit essence, allowing their owners to benefit as the beasts grew stronger.
• Yuan Feng proposed using the disciples to activate the Spirit Awakening Five Aggregates Formation and weaken the Chao Long spirit essence before the four elders absorbed it through their spirit beasts.

Yuan Feng discussed the Huanling Sect’s incomplete cultivation method for absorbing Chao Long spirit essence while Qian Yuming accepted his role in repairing the formation. Zhen Ye welcomed Golden Core cultivators from several sects to Yanlin Mountain Marsh and revealed that their hunt for a Thunder Beast would also involve a fire ape.

• Yuan Feng told Hu Yue Shi, Zhe Qipeng, and Man Yun that the formation could help Spirit Beasts absorb Chao Long spirit essence, then began explaining the incomplete cultivation method.
• Qian Yuming realized the Huanling Sect had used him to mislead others and continued repairing the formation, thinking Xiao Hua had been wise to stay away.
• Zhen Ye welcomed Liu Mingsheng, Jiang Zhucheng, and Feng Shuqing and their disciples, while Xiao Hua, Xue Xue, Xiangyang, and Yan Qinglian greeted the visiting cultivators.
• Feng Shuqing questioned why Qi Refining disciples had joined the trip, and Zhen Ye said the four Thunder Control Sect juniors would play a role in the matter.
• Zhen Ye revealed that a fire ape was with the Thunder Beast, prompting Liu Mingsheng to complain that he had not been told sooner.

Zhen Ye and Xiang Min gathered their allies on Yanlin Mountain Marsh to plan a hunt for the Fire Ape and Thunder Beast. They agreed to divide leadership between them, relying on Zhen Ye to lure the beasts and Xiang Min’s formation to trap them.

• Jiang Zhucheng and Feng Shuqing challenged Zhen Ye over the Thunder Control Sect’s claim to a share of the pills, and Zhen Ye received a message about Xiang Min’s arrival.
• Xiang Min arrived with Zhang Chengguang, Sun Shangkong, and their disciples, and Zhen Ye introduced them to the gathered cultivators.
• Zhen Ye proposed searching for the beasts, separating them, and having each group attack one, but Xiang Min criticized the plan and asked how the inner cores would be divided.
• Zhen Ye said he had a way to lure the Thunder Beast, and Xiang Min revealed that his Five Elements Sect formation could slaughter the beasts once they entered it.
• Xiang Min proposed that Zhen Ye lead until the beasts were lured in, after which Xiang Min would take charge inside the formation.

The cultivators argued over whether Xiao Hua should receive a share of the Thunder Beast and Fire Ape Inner Cores for luring the beasts. They settled on granting him a share if he could lure the Fire Ape, and Xiang Min asked how Xiao Hua would have reacted if they had refused.

• Xiang Min proposed dividing both Inner Cores among seven people, and Zhen Ye argued that Xiao Hua should receive a share for using his artifact to lure the Fire Ape.
• Feng Shuqing and Jiang Zhucheng objected, while Liu Mingsheng said Xiao Hua deserved a share if he could lure the Fire Ape and improve their chances.
• Xiang Min revealed that his original agreement with Zhang Chengguang and Sun Shangkong had counted luring the Fire Ape as one share.
• Feng Shuqing challenged Xiao Hua's claim by offering Qing Hao's fire-aspected constitution, but Xiang Min dismissed her ability to lure the Fire Ape.
• The cultivators agreed that Xiao Hua would receive a share if he could lure the Fire Ape, and Xiao Hua told Xiang Min he would simply follow their decision if they had refused.

Xiao Hua worried that he would not be able to lure the fire ape to the planned array, while Zhen Ye insisted he could approach the beast and draw it over. Zhen Ye selected a gorge for the Five Elements Array, leaving Xiangyang uneasy as they waited for the other cultivators.

• Xiang Min and Zhen Ye discussed the Five Elements Soul Restraining Array, and the cultivators split up to search for suitable terrain.
• Xiao Hua warned Zhen Ye that he might only be able to sense the fire ape, but Zhen Ye told him to fly near it and lure it over.
• Zhen Ye found a gorge with suitable terrain and traces of several kinds of spiritual energy, then declared it the place for the array.
• Zhen Ye disappeared into a mountain range and returned after a meal, while Xiao Hua and the others waited.
• Xiangyang landed with his companions and regretted being unable to take them away from the plan.

The cultivators settled on using the imperfect valley for the Five Elements Soul Restraining Array after no better site was found, and Xiang Min began teaching the array techniques. Xiao Hua was assigned as a fire-attribute array eye despite his low cultivation, and the chapter ended as Xiang Min began setting up the sprawling array.

• Xiang Min explained that five disciples with different elemental physiques could compensate for the valley's unbalanced spiritual energy, but his missing disciples had left the plan incomplete.
• Zhen Ye proposed searching for better terrain while Xiang Min trained replacement disciples, and Feng Shuqing pressed for Xiao Hua to take her fire-attribute disciple's place.
• Xiao Hua and four other disciples swore heart oaths and studied the Five Elements Array techniques, while Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian worried about the danger of their situation.
• After ten days without word from the searching Golden Core cultivators, Xiang Min decided the valley was the best available site and began placing the array components across it.

Xiao Hua watched Xiang Min build the Five Elements Soul Restraining Array and then joined the others in practicing its controls. When Xiao Hua tried to channel fire-attributed spiritual qi into his array treasure, the flow repeatedly stalled, and Xiang Min demanded to know why he had not mastered the method.

• Xiang Min spent nearly a month setting up the Five Elements Soul Restraining Array while Xiao Hua watched closely.
• Xiang Min told Xiao Hua that a sufficiently skilled cultivator could establish an array alone, and Xiao Hua thanked him for the explanation.
• After resting for three days, Xiang Min and Zhen Ye decided the group would practice controlling the array before Xiao Hua lured the Fire Ape over.
• Xiang Min activated the Five Elements Disk and ordered Xiao Hua to pour spiritual power into the fire array treasure.
• Xiao Hua drew in fire-attributed spiritual qi, but its flow repeatedly stalled and the connection to the Five Elements Disk flickered.
• Xiang Min shouted at Xiao Hua for failing to grasp the array-control method.

Xiao Hua failed to connect the fire array eye, and Xiang Min discovered that Bai Mu also could not control the earth array eye because he had an Earth-Wood physique. With no suitable earth-attributed cultivator available, the group argued over who should fetch a replacement, and Feng Shuqing proposed testing Xiao Hua with the Five Elements Pearl.

• Xiang Min repeatedly failed to connect Xiao Hua’s fire-attributed magic artifact to the Five Elements Disk, and Xiao Hua said he felt sluggish while controlling it.
• Xiang Min had Qing Hao take Xiao Hua’s place, and Qing Hao successfully connected the fire array eye; Li Mian also connected the metal and wood array eyes.
• Bai Mu failed to connect the earth array eye, and Xiang Min used the Five Elements Pearl to reveal Bai Mu’s Earth-Wood physique.
• Xiang Min found that no available disciple or Golden Core cultivator could operate the earth array eye, so he urged the group to send someone back for a replacement.
• Feng Shuqing challenged Zhen Ye about Xiao Hua’s physique, and Zhen Ye agreed that Xiang Min could test Xiao Hua with the Five Elements Pearl.

Xiao Hua proposed learning the Earth formation-eye method instead of undergoing an attribute test, but his attempt revealed that Earth-attributed spiritual energy flowed through him without obstruction. The Five Elements Array concealed everyone inside it, while Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian worried about what Xiao Hua’s changed physique would mean for him.

• Xiao Hua suggested trying the Earth formation-eye method, and Xiang Min gave him a jade slip after making him reaffirm his heart oath.
• Xiao Hua used the method and linked his Earth-attributed magic artifact to the Five Elements Disk, discovering that Earth spiritual energy flowed through him smoothly.
• Xiang Min activated the Five Elements Array, which concealed Xiao Hua, the other cultivators, and the valley from outside view.
• Zhen Ye and the other Golden Core cultivators entered the formation to study it.
• Xiangyang told Yan Qinglian that Xiao Hua appeared to have an Earth-attributed physique, and they worried about how their master would react and whether Xiao Hua would ever surpass Junior Brother Cui.