Chapter Summaries

Chen Heng arrived at Rou Xuan Prefecture with Chen Chan and met Chen Lü, who welcomed him and offered to help him in the Dragon Palace Consort Selection. After Chen Heng revealed that he wanted the Dragon Lord to lend him a Grotto-Heaven, Chen Lü privately questioned why Chen Heng had neither received a Talisman Edict nor visited Yuluo Immortal Mansion.

• Steward Zhao brought Chen Heng and Chen Chan to Rou Xuan Prefecture, where Chen Lü greeted them on his island.
• Chen Lü welcomed Chen Heng warmly, praised his reputation, and offered him a generous gift and help with the consort selection.
• Chen Heng told Chen Lü he hoped to win the selection and ask the Dragon Lord to lend him a Grotto-Heaven for the Four Courts Grand Competition.
• After the banquet, Chen Lü asked Chen Chan why Chen Heng had no Talisman Edict and had never entered Yuluo Immortal Mansion.
• Chen Chan told Chen Lü to stop suspecting Chen Heng and suggested this might be the first time such a case had occurred.

Chen Lü learned that Chen Heng had mastered Sword Escape at the Purple Mansion Realm and realized he could use the Essences of the Innate Five Elements to win Chen Heng’s favor. He ordered the essences brought out, despite Steward Zhao’s concern that giving them away would complicate matters with Little Sage Yunlang.

• Chen Lü questioned Chen Chan about Chen Heng’s lack of a Talisman Edict aura, and she explained that their two elder brothers had their own plans.
• Chen Chan warned Chen Lü to remain inside Rou Xuan Prefecture because the Laughing Monk had abducted gifted disciples and might pose a threat.
• Chen Lü discussed reports that a Purple Mansion cultivator had mastered Sword Escape and realized the sword cultivator was likely Chen Heng.
• Chen Chan urged Chen Lü to befriend Chen Heng, whose name had appeared in divination, and Chen Lü resolved to offer him the Essences of the Innate Five Elements.
• Chen Lü told Steward Zhao to bring out the essences, and Zhao warned that giving them to Chen Heng could create difficulties with Little Sage Yunlang.

Chen Lü abandoned his scheme to use the essences of the innate five elements to win over Little Sage Yunlang and obtain her Nine-Turn True Essence Pills. He sent the essences to Chen Heng instead, hoping his wife and Rou Xuan Prefecture would earn the future cultivator’s gratitude.

• Chen Lü had planned to exploit Little Sage Yunlang’s interest in him to obtain her Nine-Turn True Essence Pills and repair the Dao foundation damaged by his breakthrough method.
• Steward Zhao urged Chen Lü to continue their plan and use the essences of the innate five elements to win over Little Sage Yunlang’s favored disciple.
• Chen Lü recalled his wife’s birthday gift and her offer to help him obtain the pills, realizing that she and the prefecture lord had already seen through his schemes.
• Chen Lü condemned himself for imitating Chen Jade Pivot and decided to give Chen Heng the essences as a favor to his family.
• Three days later, Chen Heng saw the three jade caskets Steward Zhao had brought and reflected that he owed Chen Lü and his wife a great debt of gratitude.

Chen Heng examined the treasures Chen Lü had given him and discovered that the Cloudbeam Gypsum contained an Essence of the Innate Five Elements. After three days of preparation and cultivation, he advanced his mastery of Luo Dark Water and continued his search for the remaining Five Elements essences.

• Chen Heng studied the Shouchun Peach Seed and learned that it could gradually raise a Spirit Vein to Geng Grade, though it could not improve it further.
• Chen Heng used True Qi to draw the hidden essence from the Cloudbeam Gypsum and confined it before it could escape.
• Chen Heng recognized the essence as the wood-aspected Essence of the Innate Five Elements and noted that he still lacked the metal and fire aspects.
• After three days, Chen Heng practiced Luo Dark Water in the One True Dharma Realm and returned to the Present World with greater combat strength.

Chen Heng endured the pain and illusions of refining Cloudbeam Gypsum to cultivate Luo Dark Water, which strengthened and protected his soul. After refining all the Cloudbeam Gypsum, he completed the method and entered the One True Dharma Realm.

• Chen Heng resisted intense physical pain and terrifying illusions as he refined a strand of Cloudbeam Gypsum using Luo Dark Water’s Spell Formula.
• After successfully refining the strand, Chen Heng felt his soul grow stronger and began refining more Cloudbeam Gypsum.
• Chen Heng continued cultivating until all the Cloudbeam Gypsum was gone and eighty-one drops of black water had gathered around his Origin Spirit.
• Chen Heng merged the black water into his Origin Spirit, completing his cultivation of Luo Dark Water and gaining a new means of protecting his soul.
• Chen Heng stroked the Golden Cicada, then entered the One True Dharma Realm.

Chen Heng advanced his cultivation of Yin-Eroding Red Water until the process stalled at forty-nine drops, then learned that the Dragon Palace Consort Selection was approaching. Elsewhere, Laughing Monk and Zhou Ji escaped a fierce battle with the Blood River Sect and released Lu Man.

• Chen Heng used Luo Dark Water to refine Yin-Eroding Red Water, but the forty-ninth drop shattered and injured his body and soul.
• Chen Heng replaced his damaged Mind Image and continued cultivating for several months in the Dharma Realm.
• The Five-Qi Cosmic Ring delivered Chen Chan’s letter saying the Dragon Palace Consort Selection would take place in three days and that Chen Heng needed to register at Guangrong Immortal City.
• Chen Heng agreed to travel with Chen Chan, wrote her a grateful reply, and resumed meditation.
• Laughing Monk and Zhou Ji emerged battered from a battle with the Blood River Sect, and Zhou Ji complained about nearly being killed.
• Laughing Monk urged Zhou Ji to release Lu Man, and Zhou Ji used a dog hair to make Lu Man appear.

Laughing Monk and Zhou Ji subdued Lu Man, whose evil artifacts and bound Netherworld demons revealed his ties to Old Northern Yin Fiend. Laughing Monk made Lu Man his Good Spiritual Friend Demon, then said the remaining Bodhi Dharma-Wisdom Demon was nearby.

• Zhou Ji struck Lu Man awake, and Lu Man unleashed his Red White-Bone Banner before trying to escape with a headless god-devil.
• Laughing Monk trapped Lu Man, destroyed the god-devil, and drove the Netherworld demons from his body with Buddhist power.
• Zhou Ji recognized Lu Man’s Northern Yin Mother-Child Sect Soul Banner and questioned him about his connection to Old Northern Yin Fiend.
• Laughing Monk asked Lu Man to become his Good Spiritual Friend Demon, and Lu Man agreed after learning what the transformation entailed.
• Lu Man tried to kill himself, but Laughing Monk stopped him and took him away.
• Zhou Ji asked where the remaining Bodhi Dharma-Wisdom Demon was, and Laughing Monk pointed nearby.

Zhou Ji watched Laughing Monk head toward Rou Xuan Prefecture and reflected on the prefecture’s history and ties to the Three Sects of Eastern Maitreya. After freeing the souls trapped in the replica banner, Zhou Ji wondered whether Laughing Monk would negotiate or fight, just as an unseen speaker addressed him.

• Laughing Monk said he needed to discuss matters with someone in Rou Xuan Prefecture, then vanished after thanking Zhou Ji for his help.
• Zhou Ji shattered the replica of the Northern Yin Mother-Child Sect Soul Banner and released the ghosts and Baleful Infants, who kowtowed before he sent them on their way.
• Zhou Ji recalled how the Six Prefectures of the Eastern Sea had been established to check the Dragon Court, and how only Rou Xuan and Fetal Origin remained after their influence declined.
• Zhou Ji questioned whether Laughing Monk had a plan to deal with Rou Xuan Prefecture’s Great Fixed Subtle God-Slaying Array or would end up fighting there.
• An unseen speaker told Zhou Ji that his sworn brother was not excessively stupid.

Tong Xuan reunited with Zhou Ji and discussed Laughing Monk’s plans involving Chen Heng and the Blood River Sect. Laughing Monk asked Chen Chan whether Chen Zhi would become his Bodhi Dharma-Wisdom Demon, and the chapter ended with a Flood Dragon Carriage departing for Guangrong Immortal City.

• Tong Xuan scolded Zhou Ji for helping Laughing Monk attack Blood River Sect True Lords and abduct a disciple, then told him Laughing Monk had considered choosing Chen Heng as his Bodhi Dharma-Wisdom Demon.
• Tong Xuan said Laughing Monk owed Zhou Ji a favor that could be used to help Chen Heng and support a future effort against Mu Sou.
• Tong Xuan and Zhou Ji set off for the Eastern Sea, with Zhou Ji transforming into his Taotie form to carry his master.
• Laughing Monk appeared before Chen Chan and offered to find and rescue her mother if she and Chen Zhi agreed to his request.
• Laughing Monk asked Chen Chan whether Chen Zhi would become his Bodhi Dharma-Wisdom Demon.
• Chen Lü watched a Flood Dragon Carriage fly toward Guangrong Immortal City the following day.

Chen Chan reflected on Chen Zhi’s life-threatening Ruyi Embryo Seal and the danger it posed to Laughing Monk’s offer to take her as a Bodhi Dharma-Wisdom Demon. After Laughing Monk’s sandalwood token revealed him again, he lamented the hardships of human life.

• Chen Heng meditated in the Flood Dragon Carriage while Chen Chan’s two maidservants set aside their hopes of attracting his attention.
• Chen Chan recalled how the Ruyi Embryo Seal drained Chen Zhi’s blood essence and lifespan, and how Chen Jade Pivot and Zhuang Si had endangered her sister.
• Chen Chan remembered that Laughing Monk had offered Chen Zhi a path to survival but abruptly vanished when he saw the Immortal Crane Ruyi Embryo Seal.
• Chen Chan placed Laughing Monk’s sandalwood token on a jade table and started to leave, abandoning hope of his help.
• The token released blue smoke and revealed Laughing Monk beneath the sea, where he lamented the hardships of human life.

Laughing Monk chose to help Chen Chan save Chen Zhi by making her his Bodhi Dharma-Wisdom Demon, though he planned to prepare carefully before acting. As the Flood Dragon Carriage neared a great city, Chen Heng spotted a familiar figure waiting above it.

• Chen Chan recalled that her father, Chen Jade Pivot, had once recited words about meditation to a Buddhist delegation, prompting Laughing Monk to reflect on his own difficult path to the Bodhisattva Fruit.
• Laughing Monk realized his choice of Bodhi Dharma-Wisdom Demon was likely between Chen Heng and Chen Zhi, risking conflict with the Jade Dawn School or an ancient Old Devil.
• Laughing Monk agreed to help Chen Chan save Chen Zhi, but said he needed to prepare and would notify her when it was time to act.
• The Flood Dragon Carriage reached a vast city, where Chen Heng spotted a familiar figure waiting above it, and Chen Chan asked what trouble he had caused.

Chen Heng arrived at Guangrong Immortal City, where Xiao Xiujing had set up a screening archway in hopes of catching him. As Chen Chan prepared to deal with the obstruction, a booming announcement declared Chen Heng’s arrival as a True Disciple of the Xiantian Demon Sect and master of Meicen Mountain.

• Chen Heng recognized Xiao Xiujing at the guarded entrance and learned from Chen Chan that the Xiao Clan had influence in Guangrong Immortal City.
• Chen Heng told Chen Chan he had killed several of the Xiao Clan’s people, and she promised to get him into the city.
• Xiao Xiujing waited beneath the archway for Chen Heng while Xiao Fu argued that Chen Heng was likely headed to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace.
• Flood dragons roared overhead, and an announcer declared that the master of Meicen Mountain, a True Disciple of the Xiantian Demon Sect, was traveling.

Chen Chan forced the Hongguang Xiao Clan to back down as she brought Chen Heng into Guangrong Immortal City, then departed for the Dragon Palace. Two days later, Chen Heng and Xiao Xiujing encountered each other at Tonghua Hall before the Dragon Palace’s Dharma Assembly.

• A Great Heavenly Demon attacked the Xiao steward after the Xiao clan asked to inspect Chen Chan’s carriage with the Qilin Lamp.
• Senior Yi Xuan stopped the ensuing clash, offered Chen Chan Dragon-Tiger Essence Pills, and heard her warning that Xiao Yan’s disastrous return from Mingmo Heaven had angered the Xiantian Demon Sect.
• The Third Granduncle yielded to Chen Chan, destroyed the white jade archway, and let the Flood Dragon Carriage enter Guangrong Immortal City.
• Chen Heng admired Chen Chan’s authority, and she advised him to reveal his identity to the Dragon Palace before leaving to handle her own business.
• Two days later, Xiao Xiujing arrived at Tonghua Hall to collect an Identity Token and recognized Chen Heng, who greeted him as Senior Brother Xiao.

At the Dragon Palace gathering, Chen Heng publicly clashed with Xiao Xiujing and drew support from Xue Wanyun and other cultivators. He then entered a Fuluo Whale with the other guests and arrived at the Dragon Palace.

• Chen Heng explained that the Dragon Palace had welcomed him and assigned protectors after he revealed his identity and intent to attend the husband-selection Dharma Assembly.
• Xiao Xiujing challenged Chen Heng, but Chen Heng broke his aura with a sword gleam and forced him to retreat, prompting onlookers to recognize him as the Sword Escape cultivator.
• Xue Wanyun defended Chen Heng from Xiao Xiujing, and Xiao Xiujing suppressed his anger and left the square.
• Dragon Palace stewards led the gathered cultivators into a hall, where a water mirror transported them in groups.
• Chen Heng met Qi Bin inside a Fuluo Whale, and the whale emerged from the void and reached its destination.

Chen Heng and the other cultivators arrived at the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace and marveled at its vast splendor. Qi Bin reflected on his hope of placing among the top eighty at the groom-selection Dharma Assembly, and the chapter ended as a ceremonial procession approached.

• Purple-gold light lifted Chen Heng and the others from the Fuluo Whale and carried them into the Dragon Palace.
• Chen Heng and several thousand Dharma Assembly attendees stood on a mountain inside the palace, surrounded by its magnificent halls and the sea beasts beyond its crystal walls.
• Qi Bin recalled that Jin Feng had promised to help him pursue the immortal path if he placed in the top eighty, though seeing the world had dampened his confidence.
• Bells and drums sounded as a robed procession came toward the cultivators on streams of colored light.
• Chen Heng recognized the approaching figure as a turtle chancellor.

Chen Heng and the other cultivators received lavish welcome gifts from the Dragon Palace, while the Fourteenth Prince learned that the Azure Bird had arrived and demanded to see him. The chapter left him confronting the gluttonous bird, who greeted him as her cousin.

• Tian Ying introduced himself as the Dragon Palace's guest envoy and distributed Three-Five Mystic Spirit Pills to the cultivators, including Chen Heng.
• Tian Ying led the cultivators to their lodgings after welcoming them to the Dragon Palace.
• The Fourteenth Prince learned that Tian Ying had spent his own money on the pills and ordered that such excessive favor-currying not happen again.
• Tian Yi reported that Azure Bird had come to visit, and Golden Gourd Strongmen said she had barged into the palace claiming to have a matter of life and death.
• The Fourteenth Prince went to meet Azure Bird and found her feasting before she called him her cousin.

Qingzhi visited the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace and borrowed dozens of hu of True Yang Sand from Ao Qing, who assumed it was for Wei, her master. She kept Wei’s cultivation secret and left with the treasure, hoping her help would soften Wei’s reaction to her past misdeeds.

• Qingzhi feasted in Ao Qing’s hall and asked to borrow True Yang Sand.
• Ao Qing inferred that Wei had formed a golden core and offered to provide the sand, hoping to learn its rank.
• Qingzhi denied that Wei had formed a core and evaded Ao Qing’s attempts to question her.
• Ao Qing ordered Tian Yi to give Qingzhi all the True Yang Sand in his private treasury and reflected on using her visit to forge a connection.
• Tian Yi delivered dozens of hu of True Yang Sand to Qingzhi in the Crystal Palace, where she gladly accepted it and hoped Wei would punish her less for helping.

Qingzhi returned to the Dragon Palace after finding Little Sweet Mountain in ruins and feared Chen Heng had died, while avoiding asking Wei Lingjiang about her Golden Core. Five days later, the Dharma Assembly contests began, and Chen Heng set out determined to win first place.

• Qingzhi searched the Southern Territory for Chen Heng, found Little Sweet Mountain devastated, and assumed he had perished.
• Qingzhi ate with Ao Jin at the Dragon Palace and admitted she was afraid to ask Wei Lingjiang what grade of Golden Core she had formed.
• Ao Jin teased Qingzhi about Wei Lingjiang’s core, and Qingzhi confidently predicted her mistress would become the Vermilion Luminescence Sect’s Dao Scion.
• Five days later, the Dragon Palace bell announced the start of the Dharma Assembly contests.
• Chen Heng resolved to win first place so he could borrow a dragon Grotto-Heaven and prepare for the Four Courts Grand Competition, then flew toward the contests with the Avici Sword.

Chen Heng arrived at Carved Light Lake for the Purple Mansion cultivators’ Dragon Palace Consort Selection assembly and calmly faced the gathered cultivators’ scrutiny. The renowned Yan Xi appeared and announced that he would adjudicate their competition.

• Chen Heng admired Carved Light Lake, the Dragon Palace’s magical artifact, and descended into the pavilion where thousands of Purple Mansion cultivators had gathered.
• The cultivators scrutinized Chen Heng, but he remained composed and took a seat; Qi Bin worried that he could not place among the top eighty.
• A grand procession arrived, carrying Yan Xi on a black tiger, and several cultivators recognized him as a famous True Lord.
• Yan Xi greeted the assembly and announced that the Dragon Lord had appointed him adjudicator for the Purple Mansion competition.

Yan Xi announced the Dharma Assembly’s new two-round rules, and Chen Heng entered the Vast Wilds Minor Realm to compete for a disc. As a silver disc appeared, Tong Xuan discussed his interest in Chen Heng with an old man in the Dragon Palace.

• Yan Xi read the rules: thousands of cultivators would compete in the Vast Wilds Minor Realm for twenty-four Central Rectification Golden Discs and forty-eight Jade Zenith Silver Discs, with only the seventy-two disc holders advancing.
• Yan Xi explained that golden discs could duplicate Talisman Edicts, silver discs could not, and his sensing ability would remove cultivators who could no longer fight; he then opened the passage to the minor realm.
• Chen Heng entered the Vast Wilds Minor Realm, surveyed its mountains and rivers, and descended onto a mountaintop as nearby cultivators fled from him.
• After about an hour, a Jade Zenith Silver Disc fell from the sky, and Chen Heng watched it descend.
• In the Dragon Palace, an old man in golden robes questioned Tong Xuan for wanting to change the tournament rules for Chen Heng, and Tong Xuan said he wanted to assess the young cultivator before raising an important matter.