Chapter Summaries

Chen Heng surrendered Yan Zhen’s seal and defended himself against accusations that he had taken her sword and pills, then learned where his deceased clansman’s body was kept. After the visitors left, his Cold Dipper True Qi flared painfully, and he considered how to survive with the jade cicada that had followed him into this world.

• The steward demanded Yan Zhen’s White Hut Sword and questioned Chen Heng about missing Central Trust Pills while collecting the Hall of Joyful Virtue seal.
• Chen Heng explained that Yan Zhen had reclaimed the sword at the sect and that the Jade-Piercing Boy had borrowed it, then denied taking the pills.
• The steward confirmed that Chen Heng’s deceased older clansman was in the mortuary and noticed Chen Heng’s Earth Abyss entry talisman before leaving with his daughter.
• Chen Heng sealed his cave entrance and reflected on his rebirth and hopes of attaining eternal life.
• Chen Heng suffered a severe flare of Xu Si’s Cold Dipper True Qi, then examined the jade cicada that had followed him from his previous life.

Chen Heng reviewed the tragic memories of his former life and resolved to expel the cold dipper true qi in his body and escape Yan Feichen's persecution. After leaving the water prison, he had accepted a dangerous talisman decree for the Earth Abyss, and Xu Zhi arrived to try to stop him.

• Chen Heng recalled how Yan Zhen forced him to leave home, how his mother died after taking her pills, and how he eventually died in the water prison after Yan Zhen was killed.
• Chen Heng used meditation and calligraphy to steady himself, then concluded that he needed to learn embryonic breathing and qi refinement to suppress the cold dipper true qi.
• Chen Heng decided he needed a pretext to leave the mountain and avoid Yan Feichen, who had confined him in the water prison after Yan Zhen's death.
• Chen Heng destroyed his calligraphy when Xu Zhi arrived, warning that accepting a talisman decree for the Earth Abyss was a reckless choice and urging him not to seek death.

Chen Heng learned why Xu Zhi feared his trip into the Earth Abyss, but explained that the pills and talisman coins were his only way to survive the cold dipper true qi in his body. After questioning Xu Zhi about Daoist cultivation and embryonic breathing, Chen Heng became confident that the Golden Cicada would help him break through; two days later, the sect’s bells rang and his red cord grew hot.

• Xu Zhi visited Chen Heng and tried to dissuade him from entering the Earth Abyss, warning him of its dangers and the trap set by Elder Yan and Yan Ping.
• Chen Heng told Xu Zhi that he needed the Small White Sun Pills to suppress the cold dipper true qi and accepted Xu Zhi’s swordsmanship manual and medical text.
• Chen Heng asked Xu Zhi how people attained embryonic breathing through experiences near death, then sought his guidance on Daoist teachings and cultivation.
• After Xu Zhi left, Chen Heng concluded that the Golden Cicada would let him overcome the embryonic breathing realm and wrote down his ideas.
• Two days later, bells rang across Little Sweet Mountain, and Chen Heng’s red cord grew hot as he stepped outside.

Chen Heng attended the Mysterious Truth Sect’s Earth Abyss briefing, where the sect master offered rewards for finding yin horses and human-faced ganoderma and lent the gathered disciples protection against lesser spirits. Back in his cave abode, Chen Heng drank a Small White Sun Pill as he prepared for the expedition.

• Yu Wanchou brought Chen Heng to Moon-Returning Peak, gave him her Message-Carrying Jade Tablet, and offered to help him in the Earth Abyss.
• Yan Ping glared at Chen Heng with murderous intent, but restrained himself in front of the gathered Daoists.
• The sect master descended in a celestial palace and promised generous rewards to anyone who found him yin horses or human-faced ganoderma.
• The sect master placed a strand of dragon-tiger primordial truth in each Daoist’s red cord and distributed pills and talisman coins, announcing that they would enter the Earth Abyss next summer solstice.
• Chen Heng returned to his cave abode, bid farewell to Xu Zhi, and swallowed a Small White Sun Pill.

Chen Heng used Small White Sun Pills to suppress the Cold Dipper True Qi and recovered enough strength to enter the Golden Cicada’s One True Dharma Realm. Inside, he discovered it could simulate his cultivation and let him practice safely, leaving him with a golden page summoned from another person’s mind image.

• Chen Heng took Small White Sun Pills for three days, binding the Cold Dipper True Qi and restoring his blood and qi.
• Chen Heng resolved to seek a Qi Cultivation Method and attain embryonic breathing, accepting that he might have to settle for low-ranking true qi.
• Chen Heng examined the Golden Cicada and entered the One True Dharma Realm, where a day outside lasted ten days inside and his mind image could cultivate without risking his real body.
• Chen Heng summoned a Daoist mind image and drew the golden writing hovering above its head into his arms.

Chen Heng explored the One True Dharma Realm’s ability to simulate other cultivators and expose their arts, then prepared to attain embryonic breathing by cutting his throat. Elsewhere, the master of the Mysterious Truth Sect received a flirtatious visit from his aunt from Shangyu.

• Chen Heng examined Xu Zhi’s simulated cultivation record and learned the Dharma Realm could reveal another cultivator’s arts and let him practice against an undying manifestation.
• Chen Heng recalled how Xu Zhi’s bloodshed while teaching him the Blood-Slaughter Talisman had enabled him to simulate Xu Zhi’s manifestation.
• Chen Heng dismissed Xu Zhi’s manifestation and reflected that the Dharma Realm gave him time to cultivate and a way to acquire others’ arts.
• Chen Heng recited the formula for life-and-death embryonic breathing and slashed his throat with an iron sword.
• The master of the Mysterious Truth Sect welcomed his aunt from Shangyu, who teased him about their childhood and nearly practicing dual cultivation.

Ai Jian’s aunt persuaded him to help their gifted niece by finding the Yin Celestial, offering hope that he could return to the Jade Dawn School. Meanwhile, Chen Heng continued struggling to master the final part of a technique in the One True Dharma Realm.

• Ai Jian and his aunt exchanged accusations before she revealed she had borrowed a Kui Gang Mirror to protect herself from his Refining-Degree Eye Sword.
• Ai Jian’s aunt told him their niece had gained the Vermilion Luminescence Sect’s favor and advanced to Cavern Mystery at age twenty-four.
• Ai Jian hesitated, then agreed to help after his aunt suggested the favor could help him return to the Jade Dawn School.
• Ai Jian asked whom he needed to find, and his aunt named the Yin Celestial.
• Chen Heng revived in the One True Dharma Realm and wondered where he had gone wrong in the final part of his technique.

Chen Heng discovered the natural principle behind Embryonic Breathing after repeatedly testing himself in the One True Dharma Realm, then returned to his cave abode and began to attain it. Meanwhile, Ai Jian’s aunt sought a Yin Celestial for a Vermilion Luminescence Sect Divine Ability, and the group arrived to find Chen Heng entering Embryonic Breathing.

• Chen Heng endured repeated deaths while testing the steps of Embryonic Breathing, then realized that the method required letting the spirit find itself rather than forcing each step.
• The One True Dharma Realm expelled Chen Heng after ten days, and he returned to his unchanged cave abode.
• Ai Jian’s aunt explained that she wanted a Yin Celestial as a catalyst for a Vermilion Luminescence Sect Divine Ability and asked Ai Jian to help find one.
• High Person Yuanji recommended Chen Heng, and Ai Jian confirmed that Chen Heng was exceptionally beautiful.
• Ai Jian’s aunt saw Chen Heng’s likeness and demanded that Ai Jian take her to him immediately.
• Ai Jian brought his aunt’s heavenly palace to Chen Heng’s mountain, where the group sensed him attaining Embryonic Breathing.

After attaining Embryonic Breathing, Chen Heng considered the need to find a qi cultivation art and planned to leave the mountain. Two visitors arrived to summon him to meet a noblewoman, and the youth who intervened introduced himself as Chen Ying.

• Chen Heng tested his new strength and learned that wounds healed quickly, though using embryonic breath diminished his limited reserves.
• Chen Heng planned to return his former self’s older clan cousin’s body to the Rong Kingdom, seek a qi cultivation art, and prepare for the Earth Abyss.
• Yuan Xing and another youth arrived by flying on true qi and demanded that Chen Heng come meet their mistress from the Shangyu Ai clan.
• Yuan Xing tried to bind Chen Heng with true qi, but his companion stopped him and apologized.
• The companion introduced himself to Chen Heng as Chen Ying, stirring an unexplained sense of closeness in Chen Heng.

Chen Heng was summoned before a beautiful Refining Master, who tested him and declared that he was not the Yin Celestial, then tried to bind him with a Virtue and Prosperity Ring. With Chen Ying’s covert help, Chen Heng avoided accepting and asked Ai Jian for permission to leave the mountain and bury his murdered clan brother.

• Chen Ying brought Chen Heng to the Jade-Green Heavenly Palace, where the sect’s cultivators and the Refining Master had gathered.
• The Refining Master examined Chen Heng and declared that he did not possess the destiny of the Yin Celestial, upsetting Ai Jian.
• The Refining Master offered Chen Heng a Virtue and Prosperity Ring and promised cultivation resources if he became her intimate companion.
• Chen Ying secretly warned Chen Heng about the ring and coached him to refuse without provoking the Refining Master.
• Chen Heng requested permission from Ai Jian to descend the mountain and bury his elder clan brother, who had been murdered by Rogue Person Xu Sai.

Chen Heng descended from the mountain with Xu Zhi and a coffin to return his deceased cousin’s remains to the Chen Clan, while worrying about whether Yan Zhen would let him go. As Chen Heng approached Lanliang City, the Chen elders debated how to protect Xi'er from the Daoist of Blazing Mountain.

• Chen Heng and Xu Zhi escorted the coffin toward Lanliang City, and Chen Heng explained that he was honoring his cousin’s dying wish rather than holding on to hatred.
• Chen Heng shot a white stag with his bow, then apologized to a hunting party and rode on with Xu Zhi.
• A woman in a Fox-Fur Cloak recognized Chen Heng and led her party after him, curious about his return from the mountain.
• Chen Kuang urged the Chen Clan elders not to hand Xi'er over and proposed using the belongings left by Chen Heng’s father against the Daoist of Blazing Mountain.

The Chen Clan elders argued over whether to use Chen Heng’s father’s relics, while Chen Kuang pleaded for help against the Mount Yang Daoist’s demand for Chen Xi. Chen Heng arrived during an assault on the estate, killed the attackers with arrows, and then shot down the hidden youth who had taunted the clan.

• Chen Zhan opposed Clan Chief Chen Kuang’s plan to use Chen Heng’s father’s relics, accusing Chen Kuang of exploiting Chen Heng and provoking the Mount Yang Daoist.
• Chen Kuang begged Chen Zhan to save Chen Xi from being sent to the Mount Yang Daoist, but an arrogant youth and yellow-clad men invaded the estate.
• Chen Zhan sent Little Ding to retrieve a wooden box, while Chen Kuang and the elders fought the attackers and were weakened by poison.
• The attackers killed Little Ding, seized Chen Xi, and overwhelmed the elders as the arrogant youth mocked them.
• Chen Heng arrived at the estate gates and used arrows to kill the burly attacker and the fleeing yellow-clad men.
• Chen Heng drew the Six-Stone Bow and shot the hidden youth from atop a waterside pavilion.

Chen Heng defeated Wang Duanbao with a relentless barrage of arrows, spared him after learning his father had reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, and demanded his late father's belongings from the Chen clan. A few days later, Chen Heng examined an old book titled “The Scripture of Primordial Origin Truth Expounded by Dao Lord Shuhua of the Divine House.”

• Xu Zhi identified Wang Duanbao’s Five-Color Pendant as a defensive talisman and advised Chen Heng to keep attacking from a distance.
• Chen Heng shot until the pendant’s protection failed, then pinned Wang Duanbao to a pavilion pillar and nearly killed him with an arrow to the head.
• Chen Heng spared Wang Duanbao and learned that his father had reached the sixth level of Qi Refining.
• Xu Zhi agreed to help Chen Heng confront Wang Duanbao’s father, while Chen Heng demanded the belongings his late father had left with the clan.
• A few days later, Chen Heng studied an old book titled “The Scripture of Primordial Origin Truth Expounded by Dao Lord Shuhua of the Divine House.”

Chen Heng studied the dangerous Primordial Beginning True Origin Scripture and prepared to infiltrate Blazing Mountain to kill the Mount Yang Daoist and claim his holdings. When Chen Xi proved too frightened to serve as bait, Chen Heng decided to disguise himself as the bride, while the Mount Yang Daoist eagerly watched the wedding procession arrive.

• Chen Heng reflected on the scripture’s perilous cultivation method and wondered about his deceased father’s background.
• Wang Duanbao told Chen Heng that the Mount Yang Daoist’s wedding day had arrived, and Chen Heng gathered his clan to prepare for the trip to Blazing Mountain.
• Chen Zhan arranged for household servants to impersonate dead disciples and presented Chen Xi as the bride, but Chen Heng judged her too frightened to carry out the plan.
• Chen Heng decided to wear bridal clothes and take Chen Xi’s place so he could infiltrate the mountain and eliminate the Mount Yang Daoist.
• The Mount Yang Daoist spotted the bridal procession from his cloud and rejoiced at the sight of the supposed bride.

Disguised as a bride, Chen Heng lured Mount Yang Daoist into handing over the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead during the wedding banquet. As Xu Zhi attacked Mount Yang Daoist, the story left the banquet erupting into violence.

• Chen Heng learned that Mount Yang Daoist had seized Blazing Mountain from white foxes and carried a powerful Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead.
• Mount Yang Daoist arrived at the wedding procession, beat Wang Duanbao, and agreed that his cousin could eat Xiaoyu.
• Wang Duanbao asked Chen Heng to help kill Mount Yang Daoist in exchange for sixty percent of Blazing Mountain's treasures, and Chen Heng said they could discuss it later.
• At the banquet, Chen Heng got Mount Yang Daoist drunk until he handed over the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead.
• Chen Heng accepted the bead, and Xu Zhi, disguised as a servant, overturned the banquet table and attacked Mount Yang Daoist with his sword.

Xu Zhi and Chen Heng defeated and killed Mount Yang Daoist, whose body-tempering art could not save him from their weapons and tactics. After Xiaoyu killed Wang Duanbao in revenge, she offered to lead Chen Heng to Mount Yang Daoist’s hidden treasures.

• Xu Zhi wounded Mount Yang Daoist with his sword and used a Baleful-Falling Talisman, but Mount Yang Daoist broke free and struck him down.
• Chen Heng revealed himself as a man, explained that he had secretly sent Mount Yang Daoist’s talisman artifacts away, and took the Vermilion-Lacquered Great Bow from Wang Duanbao.
• Mount Yang Daoist tried to escape on a cloud, but Chen Heng shot him down with six arrows and killed him with an arrowhead through the neck.
• Wang Duanbao rejoiced at his father’s death and embraced Xiaoyu, but she tore out his eye and beat him to death while describing how he had failed to protect her.
• Xiaoyu approached Chen Heng and offered to show him where Mount Yang Daoist had hidden his treasures; Chen Heng warned her to stay back.

Chen Heng claimed the Mount Yang Daoist’s hidden wealth and distributed some of it to the poor Blazing Mountain disciples and the abducted women. Five days later, he refined the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead, gaining an artifact to protect himself.

• Chen Heng smashed open the vault and revealed the Mount Yang Daoist’s vast hoard to the Blazing Mountain disciples.
• When the disciples and Chen Clan servants argued over who would serve Chen Heng, he stopped them and said he needed no servants.
• Xu Zhi asked Chen Heng to give silver to the poor disciples, and Chen Heng also ordered that the abducted women receive a share of the wealth.
• Xiao Yu urged Chen Heng to burn Blazing Mountain and kill everyone, but he spared those who had committed no evil and ordered the steward not to steal from their shares.
• Five days later, Chen Heng refined the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead and tested its responsiveness.

After dividing Mount Yang Daoist’s possessions with Xu Zhi, Chen Heng stayed behind to train in the One True Dharma Realm. He mastered the Little Scarlet Dragon Sword Manual’s thirteen moves, then challenged Xu Zhi’s mind image and prepared to test his Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead.

• Chen Heng and Xu Zhi divided Mount Yang Daoist’s treasures, and Xu Zhi returned to Little Sweet Mountain with the other disciples and captives.
• Chen Heng entered the One True Dharma Realm and practiced the Little Scarlet Dragon Sword Manual for four months, mastering its thirteen moves.
• Chen Heng fought Xu Zhi’s mind image repeatedly but never lasted more than fifty exchanges.
• Chen Heng retreated from Xu Zhi’s sword and summoned the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead to attack him.

Chen Heng exhausted his embryonic breath while using the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead to defeat Xu Zhi, and the resulting sensation of emptiness let him grasp the meaning of the void in the Primordial Beginning True Origin Scripture Expounded by the Divine House Pivot Splendor Dao Lord. After repeatedly practicing and contemplating in the One True Dharma Realm, he neared Qi Refining, but a sudden warning from his true body forced him to leave.

• Chen Heng used the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead to break Xu Zhi's embryonic-breath barrier and burn him to ash, draining his own embryonic breath in the process.
• Chen Heng contemplated the emptiness he felt after exhausting his breath and realized it matched the void described in the Primordial Beginning True Origin Scripture Expounded by the Divine House Pivot Splendor Dao Lord.
• When Cold Dipper True Qi began freezing his legs, Chen Heng beheaded himself, was reborn, and resumed fighting Xu Zhi before contemplating again.
• Chen Heng repeated the cycle of magical combat, contemplation, and suicide until he mastered the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead and comprehended the scripture, leaving only a final step before Qi Refining.
• A sudden pain between his brows warned Chen Heng of trouble, so he connected to the Golden Cicada and left the One True Dharma Realm.

Chen Heng investigated the creatures harassing his cave and discovered that they were white foxes who had returned to Blazing Mountain. He followed their bewitching leader through a formation into a hidden grotto, where he confronted Tu Shan Ge with arrows and his Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead.

• Chen Heng heard a pack of beasts ramming and scratching at his cave, then prepared to face whoever was outside.
• Chen Heng guessed the creatures were white foxes and followed a woman's laughter to a waterfall.
• A white-furred male fox tried to seduce Chen Heng, but Chen Heng shot him and drove the foxes into a hidden stone passage.
• Chen Heng followed the foxes through a formation into the Vermilion Luminescence Sect's Nine Sovereigns Everbright Golden Palace Grotto-Heaven.
• Chen Heng shot Tu Shan Ge with three arrows and threatened him with the Thunderfire Thunderclap Bead, prompting Tu Shan Ge to beg for mercy.