Chapter Summaries

Xu Zhi encountered the Wusheng Treasure Mirror in the Xuang Guang Dulu Domain, where Ancestor Wusheng forced him into a cocoon to break through his mental barrier and open his Heavenly Eye. As the Wusheng Child debated the Xu Household’s fate with the Formless Sword, he divined about Chen Heng, who emerged from nine days of cultivation with a new power.

• The Wusheng Child identified himself as the Wusheng Treasure Mirror and condemned Xu Zhi’s timid disposition before knocking him unconscious and sealing him in a cocoon.
• The Wusheng Child killed Jiao Jizhong and the others in the Earth Abyss, but the Formless Sword interrupted his plan to attack the Eight Sects and Six Schools.
• The Formless Sword reminded the Wusheng Child that provoking the sects could endanger the injured Immortal Lord Yuan Dai, and argued that Xu Zhi’s survival showed the agreement to preserve a descendant had been fulfilled.
• The Formless Sword said he would acknowledge whoever rebuilt the Wusheng Sword Sect as his master, then left the Wusheng Child to consider the Xu Household’s decline.
• The Wusheng Child divined that Xu Zhi had passed the Little Scarlet Dragon Sword Manual to an outsider and began investigating that person.
• Nine days later, Chen Heng awakened in the river of blood with scarlet light in his eyes and manifested eighty-one drops of yin-eroding red water.

Chen Heng mastered Yin-Eroding Red Water and used the cavern’s remaining spiritual essence and Miss Yue’s treasures to raise his Tai Su Jade Body to the eighth layer of the Mystery Realm. After leaving the cavern, he was invited to meet Ding Xian, who prepared an elaborate welcome for him and ordered Ding Yu to perform a dance.

• Chen Heng tested Yin-Eroding Red Water and found that its corrosion could destroy even his sixth-layer Tai Su Jade Body and powerful artifacts.
• Chen Heng absorbed the Yin-Eroding Spiritual Qi in the blood river, breaking through to the seventh and then eighth layer of the Mystery Realm after also spending the treasures he had plundered from Miss Yue’s residence.
• Chen Heng examined his updated cultivation in the Maha Golden Book and concluded that the ninth layer of the Mystery Realm was likely his current limit.
• After the blood river was exhausted and the cavern’s restrictions vanished, Chen Heng left and encountered Ding Wei, who invited him to meet his father, Ding Xian.
• Ding Wei told Chen Heng that Ding Xian was the Lord of the Five Clouds Wilds and that True Lord Qiao of the Zhongyi Sword Sect wanted to see him.
• Ding Xian prepared a grand reception for Chen Heng and ordered Ding Yu to dress properly and perform a dance for their guest.

Ding Xian welcomed Chen Heng to his estate and hosted a feast, hoping to befriend the powerful cultivator and draw him into his family. The feast revealed that True Lord Qiao had sent the Dings to capture Luminous Sparrows for Little Qiao, while Ding Wei’s talk of the Rouge Rankings hinted at an unnamed beauty from the Siye Wei Clan; afterward, Ding Xian asked why Yu'er had not appeared.

• Ding Xian greeted Chen Heng, judged his strength and bearing, and invited him to ride in the Flood Dragon Carriage to the estate.
• Ding Wei speculated that his father intended to recruit Chen Heng as a son-in-law, then hurried after the carriage when he realized they had left without him.
• Ding Xian welcomed Chen Heng with music, dancing, and wine, and Ding Wei joined them at the feast.
• A steward brought three captured Luminous Sparrows, which Ding Wei explained were for Little Qiao at True Lord Qiao’s request.
• Ding Wei told Chen Heng about the Rouge Rankings and an unnamed noble daughter from the Siye Wei Clan, while Chen Heng concealed his reaction.
• After the feast, Ding Wei admired the Yin-Dipper Cord Chen Heng had given him, and Ding Xian revealed that Chen Heng’s Yin-Eroding Red Water inheritance had earned True Lord Qiao’s attention before asking why Yu'er had not appeared.

Ding Xian arranged for Chen Heng to travel to Golden Drum Cave under Ding Wei’s escort, while Chen Heng wondered about the Beast-Head Token and his uncertain origins. After three days on the road, their party stopped before a sea of yellow mud as a Netherworld ghost cultivator and his vengeful ghosts watched nearby.

• Ding Yu refused to help Ding Xian recruit Chen Heng as a son-in-law, and Ding Wei suggested befriending Chen Heng instead.
• Ding Xian told Ding Wei that Little Qiao was studying at the Jade Dawn School and ordered him to escort Chen Heng and the Luminous Sparrow to Golden Drum Cave with two Netherworld Flood Dragons.
• Chen Heng examined the Beast-Head Token, considered asking True Lord Qiao about it and his cultivation, then resumed sword training against Lou Fu’s Mind Image.
• After two days of banquets, Chen Heng departed Five Clouds Wilds in the flood dragon carriage, escorted by Ding Wei and three hundred Ghost Generals.
• Three days later, the party stopped before a reeking sea of yellow mud, where a browless Netherworld ghost cultivator halted his Omen Cultivator vengeful ghosts and complained about their escort.

Chen Heng and Ding Wei lured Gao Bi’s Omen Ghosts into a trap and destroyed them, while Gao Bi’s death alerted Mountain Pot Elder to the conflict with Ding Xian. As Mountain Pot Elder tried to summon Flying Flower Granny, Yue You attacked his estate and confronted him.

• Gao Bi gave up pursuing Chen Heng into the Yellow Mud Sea, but a Fire Crow revealed the hidden Omen Ghosts and Chen Heng’s forces trapped them with White Bone Banners.
• Chen Heng’s Fire Crows and the Netherworld Flood Dragons helped Ding Wei’s guards defeat the Omen Ghosts, and Gao Bi died in the dragons’ dark fire.
• Mountain Pot Elder learned through the soul he had planted in Gao Bi that Gao Bi’s actions had angered Ding Xian, and he ordered his servants to bring back Flying Flower Granny.
• Flying Flower Granny did not return, and Yue You stormed Mountain Pot Elder’s estate, identified himself, and left Mountain Pot Elder alarmed.

Yue You revealed himself as a wounded Ba Serpent, killed Flying Flower Granny and Mountain Pot Elder’s ghost forces, then searched Mountain Pot Elder’s memories for Chen Heng. He discovered that one of the household retainers had seen Chen Heng and learned that Qiao Yubi and the creature beneath the Yellow Mud Sea were in the Earth Abyss.

• Yue You intimidated Mountain Pot Elder by claiming to be a powerful Ba Serpent, but Mountain Pot Elder saw through the illusion and recognized Yue You’s grievous sword wounds.
• Yue You transformed into a young man, killed Flying Flower Granny, and attacked Mountain Pot Elder and his ghost generals.
• Yue You drained the ghosts’ yin energy and fought until he had killed the ghost generals and rendered Mountain Pot Elder unconscious.
• Yue You searched Mountain Pot Elder’s memories and found that a household retainer had seen Chen Heng aboard a Flood Dragon Carriage.
• Yue You learned from the memories that Qiao Yubi was hiding in the Earth Abyss and wondered whether the creature beneath the Yellow Mud Sea was Chen Yan’s former companion.

Yue You discovered that Huluo had fallen into the Earth Abyss around the time Chen Jade Pivot pursued Chen Yan, then worried that Qiao Yubi might protect Chen Heng. As Yue You tried to persuade the World-Escaping Shuttle to take him to Chen Heng, Chen Jade Pivot unexpectedly manifested and revealed that Chen Heng had found favor with the Chongyu Demon God.

• Yue You connected Huluo’s arrival in the Earth Abyss to Chen Jade Pivot’s pursuit of Chen Yan and feared Qiao Yubi might intervene to protect Chen Heng.
• Yue You decided to capture Chen Heng before he reached Golden Drum Cave and tried to use the World-Escaping Shuttle to get there quickly.
• The World-Escaping Shuttle’s spirit refused to help, explaining that it was near the end of its lifespan and lacked the magical power to assist Yue You.
• Chen Jade Pivot manifested through Yue You, startling both Yue You and the World-Escaping Shuttle’s spirit.
• Chen Jade Pivot said Chen Heng had found favor with the Chongyu Demon God and might have obtained a demonic art of prayer and veneration, though he could not divine whether Chen Heng had passed the trial of the Six Dust Demons.

Yue You learned that Chen Jade Pivot had once known the World-Escaping Shuttle and persuaded its artifact spirit to help capture Chen Heng. As Chen Jade Pivot obscured Qiao Yubi’s connection to heaven’s workings, Yue You prepared an unorthodox treasure-refining art, while Chen Heng continued across the Yellow Mud Sea with Ding Wei.

• Yue You realized that Chen Jade Pivot and the World-Escaping Shuttle had a history in Void Sovereign Heaven, and the artifact spirit angrily challenged Chen Jade Pivot’s motives.
• Chen Jade Pivot warned that Chen Heng was nearing Golden Drum Cave and must be captured, then persuaded the World-Escaping Shuttle to cooperate by revealing an unknown matter.
• Yue You agreed to seize Chen Heng, and Chen Jade Pivot performed an art that obscured Qiao Yubi’s resonance with heaven’s workings despite the backlash.
• Yue You asked the World-Escaping Shuttle to transport him to Chen Heng, then tore off a piece of his skull and began refining a treasure from the Omen Ghosts.
• Chen Heng left the Flood Dragon Carriage at the Yellow Mud Sea, where Ding Wei said they would soon reach its end.

Chen Heng’s convoy crossed the Yellow Mud Sea, where the divine monster Huluo suddenly devoured the aquatic monsters and fled. As the convoy hurried toward the Golden Drum Cave, Yue You trapped and scattered its companions, leaving Chen Heng alone to face him.

• Ding Wei explained that the Tiger-Stripe Flower kept Huluo’s aquatic descendants away, and the convoy crossed the Yellow Mud Sea without incident.
• Huluo appeared with a palm-shaped injury, devoured the sea’s monsters, and fled, while Chen Heng sensed that Huluo had some connection to his body.
• Chen Heng urged the convoy to travel faster because the Tai Su Jade Body warned him of an approaching calamity, and the Netherworld Flood Dragons agreed to reach the Golden Drum Cave within three days.
• Yue You used a White Bone Banner to envelop the convoy in black smoke and scatter Ding Wei, the Netherworld Flood Dragons, and the other ghosts.
• Yue You told Chen Heng that his father, Chen Jade Pivot, had sent him to bring Chen Heng to the Xiantian Demon Sect, while Chen Heng’s warning intensified and he readied his sword.

Chen Heng fought Yue You inside the sealing formation after Yue You tried to persuade him to return to the Xiantian Demon Sect. When Yue You’s injuries and Azure Ring overwhelmed Chen Heng’s attacks, Chen Heng exhausted his embryonic breath to lure Yue You close and launched a sudden physical charge with two talismans.

• Yue You explained that Chen Jade Pivot had sent him to bring Chen Heng back to the Xiantian Demon Sect, while keeping the sealing formation in place around Chen Heng’s companions.
• Chen Heng pretended to accept Yue You’s offer, then attacked him with eighty-one drops of Yin-Eroding Red Water.
• Yue You used the Azure Ring to repel Chen Heng’s red water and Innate Great Sun Divine Light, while its secret power began entering Chen Heng’s body.
• Chen Heng noticed Yue You’s concealed power and feigned exhaustion as Yue You approached to seal his energy channels.
• Chen Heng rushed Yue You with his physical strength and flicked two talismans toward him at close range.

Chen Heng killed Yue You with a sequence of talismans and a self-detonated treasure, only for Yue You to reveal that he had survived by shedding his skin. As Yue You battered Chen Heng, Chen Heng hinted that he was preparing a desperate move, while Ding Wei's attempt to summon Qiao Yubi failed.

• Chen Heng used two Martial Spring Fierce Thunder Talismans, detonated the Blood River Cart Treasure Wheel, and struck Yue You down with the Big Dipper Sword Talisman.
• Chen Heng tried to destroy Yue You's corpse with his last Martial Spring Fierce Thunder Talisman, but Yue You reappeared unharmed and explained that he had shed his skin.
• Chen Heng attacked Yue You with his fists, but Yue You blocked him and grew into a thousand-foot-tall Ba Serpent.
• Ding Wei tore the communication talisman Qiao Yubi had given him, but no help arrived, and he feared that his father had deceived him.
• Yue You battered Chen Heng into a crater, but Chen Heng rose, pointed his sword at Yue You, and hinted at a desperate plan that alarmed him.

With no other way to defeat Yue You, Chen Heng chose to establish his foundation in the middle of their battle, triggering the arrival of Little Pure Yang Thunder. Elsewhere, a figure begged Lord Tong Xuan to help save Chen Heng, accepting that doing so would bring a feud with Chen Jade Pivot.

• Yue You urged Chen Heng to join the Xiantian Demon Sect, but Chen Heng refused and declared that he would pursue freedom and the Dao on his own terms.
• Chen Heng tore open his chest and extracted the Azure God Ring's secret power from his body.
• Chen Heng established his foundation, generating a Qi Sea and reaching Foundation Establishment, First Stage.
• The wind and mist rose as Yue You recognized the arrival of Little Pure Yang Thunder.
• In the forest, a figure begged Lord Tong Xuan to save Chen Heng despite the risk of provoking Chen Jade Pivot.

Chen Heng endured eight bolts of Little Pure Yang Thunder before understanding how to overcome his inner obstruction and cleaving the ninth bolt in two with the Azure-Law Sword. He wounded Yue You but was left near death, while Lord Tong Xuan broke Chen Jade Pivot’s art and a Daoist in the Golden Drum Cave learned what had happened.

• Lord Tong Xuan told Chen Heng’s companion that he would help only if Chen Heng survived the nine bolts of Little Pure Yang Thunder, then destroyed a strange tree three miles east.
• Chen Heng resisted the first eight bolts of Little Pure Yang Thunder while Yue You watched and believed the final bolt would kill him.
• As the ninth bolt descended, Chen Heng recalled his former life, realized the mind image in the One True Dharma Realm had been only an image, and slashed the thunder apart with the Azure-Law Sword.
• Chen Heng’s sword cut Yue You’s neck, but Yue You’s wound healed; Chen Heng collapsed and told Yue You to kill him, and Yue You raised his hand to strike.
• Chen Jade Pivot coughed blood in the Waterborne Rongcheng Life-Deliverance Grotto-Heaven and realized that his art had been broken, while a Daoist in the Golden Drum Cave divined the events.

Qiao Yubi emerged from seclusion and used his swordsmanship to save the dying Chen Heng, then killed Yue You after he tried to flee. Chen Heng awoke in an unfamiliar place beside a Six-Dragon Treasure Cauldron and heard an unknown man call him brother.

• Qiao Yubi unleashed a sword light that stopped Yue You and struck Chen Heng, restoring his life with lingering Sword Qi.
• Qiao Yubi rejected Yue You’s attempts to turn him against Chen Heng, then killed Yue You with a sword strike and took the World-Escaping Shuttle.
• A drop of Yue You’s Pure Yang Essence Blood revealed Chen Jade Pivot, who spoke to Qiao Yubi before the blood burned away.
• Qiao Yubi gathered Chen Heng into his sleeve and vanished.
• Chen Heng drifted through painful visions, then awoke beside a Six-Dragon Treasure Cauldron as a man praised his Primordial Beginning True Origin.

After True Lord Qiao saved him, Chen Heng recovered in the six-dragon cauldron and broke through to Foundation Establishment, First Stage-Qi Sea Generation. He discovered his aptitude and swordsmanship had improved, then found himself bound and exposed when a young girl entered the hall.

• A stout Daoist treated Chen Heng with spiritual herbs and put him to sleep before placing him in the six-dragon cauldron to heal.
• Chen Heng woke bound by golden chains in the cauldron, waited without seeing the Daoist return, and entered the One True Dharma Realm.
• In the Dharma Realm, Chen Heng confirmed he had reached Foundation Establishment, First Stage-Qi Sea Generation, and found that his cultivation aptitude and Root Bone had improved.
• Chen Heng examined the Maha Golden Book and saw that his swordsmanship had reached Ten Steps, One Kill, though its entry flickered as if he had neared Sword Intent Manifestation.
• A young girl appeared through the bronze mirror looking for Fat Senior Brother, spotted Chen Heng in the cauldron, and asked why he was bare-chested.

After Cui Jingzhong accidentally damaged Chen Heng’s face, Chen Heng learned about the Golden Drum Cave and accepted Cui Jingzhong’s alchemical scripture while waiting for Qiao Yubi to emerge from seclusion. Several days later, Chen Heng opened the alchemical furnace to inspect his work.

• Qiao Rui introduced herself to Chen Heng through a bronze mirror, then extinguished it when Cui Jingzhong returned.
• Cui Jingzhong apologized for injuring Chen Heng with the Six Dragon Cauldron and promised his face would heal within half a month.
• Chen Heng learned that Qiao Yubi was in seclusion to cultivate the Mysterious Spirit Nether Transformation and that Qiao Ting mistreated Cui Jingzhong.
• Cui Jingzhong gave Chen Heng the twelve-volume “Precious Yang Pill Refining and Transmutation Art of Seven-Reversal Cinnabar” and offered him ingredients and guidance.
• Several days later, Chen Heng opened the alchemical furnace and pressed down on its fire with his True Qi.

Chen Heng refined a high-quality batch of Yellow Treasure Pills in seven days, impressing Cui Jingzhong with his alchemical skill. Cui warned him not to let external alchemy distract him from orthodox cultivation, then took him out of the Alchemy Chamber to fetch herbs for the next elixir.

• Chen Heng controlled the furnace fire, purified the medicinal paste, and divided it into Yellow Treasure Pills.
• Cui Jingzhong sampled a pill and praised the batch’s potency, while Chen Heng tested one and felt its warming effects.
• Chen Heng reflected that his success had required months of practice inside the One True Dharma Realm, despite only seven days passing outside.
• Cui Jingzhong cautioned Chen Heng against prioritizing external alchemy over orthodox cultivation, and Chen Heng agreed to heed him.
• Cui Jingzhong led Chen Heng out of the hall to fetch herbs for refining the Red Lead Great Return Elixir and suggested they visit White Sun Waterfall.

Chen Heng visited the storehouse with Cui Jingzhong, who explained the history of the Yellow-Pus Great Ghost God and warned him about Qiao Ting. Qiao Ting confronted Chen Heng at White Sun Waterfall and revealed that they were betrothed, leaving Chen Heng and Cui Jingzhong stunned.

• Cui Jingzhong told Chen Heng that the True Lord had slain the Yellow-Pus Great Ghost God and imprisoned his Origin Spirit in the golden drum.
• Cui Jingzhong explained that Qiao Ting was the daughter of Qiao Zhijie, the True Lord’s younger brother, and warned Chen Heng not to provoke her.
• Cui Jingzhong led Chen Heng toward the storehouse, but Qiao Ting arrived at White Sun Waterfall and summoned them to her pavilion.
• Qiao Ting asked Chen Heng whether he had received her father’s legacy of Yin-Eroding Red Water and the Beast-Head Token.
• Qiao Ting told Chen Heng that they were betrothed, and Cui Jingzhong dropped his teacup in shock.

Chen Heng refused Qiao Ting’s offer to pay him to reject their proposed marriage, while Qiao Ting suspected he was manipulating her. Elsewhere, Chen Ying’s unleashed blood shadow killed Daoist Xunzhao, leaving Ai Jian to realize that he had been manipulated and that the Mysterious Truth Sect was in danger.

• Qiao Ting told Chen Heng to refuse the marriage tied to the Beast-Head Token and offered him valuables and a cultivation scripture in return.
• Chen Heng declined the gifts and said he would refuse the marriage if True Lord Qiao raised it; Qiao Ting suspected his motives and threatened him if he tried to scheme.
• Chen Heng left to rejoin Cui Jingzhong and focused on learning to refine the Red Lead Great Return Elixir.
• At the ruined Mysterious Truth Sect, Ai Jian saw that Daoist Xunzhao, Sima Lingzhen, had been killed and that the escaped blood shadow was devouring his corpse.
• Chen Ying told Ai Jian that the blood shadow had also drained Hou Wen’s vital essence, while Ai Jian accused Chen Ying of using the Illusory Demon's art to make him ask for Sima Lingzhen’s death.
• Chen Ying warned that the blood shadow had gone out of control and had not finished killing.

After Fashanji slaughtered Sima Lingzhen, Chen Ying revealed that the blood demon was an uncontrollable Heavenly Demon royal and that the Mysterious Truth Sect’s survivors might be sacrificed to calm him. As Ai Jian considered whether any disciples had the talent Chen Ying sought, Fashanji’s blood baleful intent erupted again.

• Chen Ying confronted Ai Jian about caring for the Mysterious Truth Sect disciples, and Ai Jian admitted that Yan Feichen and High Person Yuanji had conspired with Ai Qi against him.
• Chen Ying revealed that the blood demon was Fashanji, a former Blood River Sect elder who betrayed the sect, later became a Heavenly Demon, and was given to Chen Ying by Jade Pivot True Lord.
• Chen Ying explained that Sima Lingzhen had roused Fashanji’s ferocity while trying to seize control of him, and that Fashanji could only be restrained after he killed and drank his fill.
• Ai Jian protested that Fashanji might slaughter for two hours, while Chen Ying accepted that the Mysterious Truth Sect was doomed but offered to spare a few promising disciples.
• Chen Ying asked Ai Jian whether any outstanding talents remained among the survivors, but Fashanji’s blood baleful intent suddenly surged into the sky.