Chapter Summaries

Fang Yang discovered Ling'er’s spoiled chestnuts and ate some to spare her feelings before entering Han Lingxuan’s room. Han Lingxuan, who had claimed she did not care whether he came, was waiting in full finery.

• Fang Yang heard that Han Lingxuan had been waiting for him and realized his morning Ginseng Root Porridge deliveries had improved her spirits.
• Ling'er asked whether Fang Yang liked roasted chestnuts, and he said he did not.
• Fang Yang took Ling’er's basket, ate the spoiled chestnuts, and told her to throw them away while he bought more.
• Ling'er realized Fang Yang had eaten the chestnuts to comfort her and imagined Han Lingxuan’s surrender was part of a clever plan.
• Ling'er worried that the spoiled chestnuts might make Fang Yang ill, then returned to sewing his clothes instead of interrupting him.
• Fang Yang hung his robe outside Han Lingxuan’s room and entered to find her dressed in finery and reclining on the bed.

Han Lingxuan prepared for Fang Yang’s visit while telling herself she meant to seduce and assassinate him, but her private portraits exposed her infatuation. Fang Yang accepted her excuses and began undressing her, leaving her embarrassed and exposed.

• Han Lingxuan readied herself and arranged bedding while planning to make Fang Yang wait before welcoming him.
• Fang Yang entered, saw Han Lingxuan’s flushed expression and the bedding, and assumed she had grown impatient for him.
• Han Lingxuan’s portraits of herself and Fang Yang, labeled “adulterer and wanton woman,” fell from her bosom.
• Han Lingxuan denied drawing or writing on the portraits, and Fang Yang calmly went along with her excuses as he undressed her.
• A gust of wind came through the open window, and Han Lingxuan looked down in shame and indignation.

Fang Yang left Parasol Tree Courtyard pleased after his encounter with the Princess Consort, while Huang Fuling planned to approach him disguised as a Female Emperor. The chapter ended with Fang Yang reflecting that the haughty Princess Consort had finally bowed her head to him.

• Ling'er drew a picture of the Princess Consort, herself, and Little Snow together as a family.
• Huang Fuling listened outside Parasol Tree Courtyard, grew jealous of the Princess Consort, and decided to dress as a Female Emperor to entice Fang Yang.
• Fang Yang left the room satisfied and noticed Ling'er crouching nearby with flushed cheeks before heading to the Demon Venerable Pavilion.
• Fang Yang left Parasol Tree Courtyard feeling refreshed and congratulated himself that the Princess Consort had bowed her head to him.

Fang Yang returned to the Demon Venerable Pavilion, reflecting on his weakened cultivation and why he could not yet trust Huang Fuling. He found Huang Fuling waiting on his throne in an alluring Female Emperor outfit, and her advances left him struggling to remain composed.

• Fang Yang returned to the Demon Venerable Pavilion and thought his cultivation bottleneck was loosening after devouring an old man.
• Fang Yang resolved to conceal his weakened strength until he could advance the Profound Heaven Strategy, while acknowledging his relationship with Huang Fuling brought him Fated Bond Points.
• Fang Yang reached the throne room and found Huang Fuling seated on his throne in imperial robes, a crown, and fishnet stockings.
• Huang Fuling rose, approached Fang Yang, and knelt before him in a provocative pose.
• Fang Yang felt his composure falter and admitted to himself that he was not immune to her charms.

Huang Fuling tried to seduce Fang Yang by binding herself and asking him to punish her, but he resisted his desire and ordered her to massage him instead. She believed she had finally stirred the Demon Venerable’s interest as she massaged him, while Fang Yang struggled to remain composed.

• Huang Fuling bound herself with a coarse rope, put a red leather whip between her lips, and asked Fang Yang to punish her for trespassing.
• Fang Yang fought down his desire and warned Huang Fuling that playing with fire could become dangerous.
• Fang Yang sat on his throne and told Huang Fuling, whom he called Female Emperor, to give him a massage.
• Huang Fuling loosened the rope around her hands, knelt beside Fang Yang, and began massaging him.
• Fang Yang grew increasingly agitated as Huang Fuling massaged him, but forced himself to endure it.

Huang Fuling demanded flowers from Fang Yang after massaging him, insisting she would accept anything he gave her. Fang Yang punished her by spanking her and calling the result “flowers blooming on your bottom,” but she left delighted to have received such a special gift.

• Huang Fuling complained that Fang Yang had given the Princess Consort flowers while giving her nothing for her efforts.
• Fang Yang suspected Huang Fuling wanted a reward and asked if she was sure she wanted flowers.
• Huang Fuling affirmed her request and prepared to endure Fang Yang’s anger.
• Fang Yang told Huang Fuling to lie face down and spanked her, calling the punishment “flowers blooming on your bottom.”
• Huang Fuling remained pleased despite the pain, and Fang Yang told her she could leave.

After Huang Fuling left Fang Yang a pair of fishnet stockings, he struggled to control his desire and went to the Parasol Tree Courtyard. There, Han Lingxuan worried that she could not keep him from other women, while her maid planned a gift to make him visit more often.

• Huang Fuling struck her chest twice to punish herself for trespassing, then left Fang Yang with the fishnet stockings she had deliberately made and given him.
• Fang Yang recognized Huang Fuling’s attempts to draw him in, but his desire overcame his caution and he went to the Parasol Tree Courtyard.
• Han Lingxuan lay exhausted and lamented how easily Fang Yang had overcome her.
• The little maid placed Fang Yang’s flowers in a vase and saved her money to buy him a better gift than the roasted chestnuts he had disliked.
• Han Lingxuan considered letting Fang Yang divide his time between her and Huang Fuling, but could not bear the thought of him being with another woman.

Han Lingxuan resolved to cultivate so she could keep Fang Yang coming to her and pursue revenge, but she dreaded his return to Parasol Tree Courtyard. Meanwhile, Huang Fuling grew jealous and plotted to disguise herself as Han Lingxuan, then left the mountain after hearing a signal.

• Han Lingxuan decided she must cultivate to keep the fiend under control and prevent him from focusing on Huang Fuling.
• When Fang Yang returned, Han Lingxuan asked Ling'er to bar the door, but Fang Yang entered anyway and joined her on the bed.
• Huang Fuling watched Parasol Tree Courtyard with jealousy and decided to wear Han Lingxuan's clothes and lie on her bed to massage Fang Yang the next night.
• After bathing at the Back Mountain Hot Spring, Huang Fuling heard birdcalls and flew down the mountain, followed by Yuan Heng.

Protector Wang warned Huang Fuling to stop approaching the Demon Venerable, but Huang Fuling said he had already defiled her and broken her Shadow Moon Sacred Body. Yuan Heng defended her, and Protector Wang recounted the Blood Rain Cult’s destruction of the Heavenly Yin Sect.

• Protector Wang arrived at the cave and told Huang Fuling that the convent mistress had ordered her to cancel the plan and protect herself.
• Huang Fuling said it was too late because the Demon Venerable had defiled her and broken her Shadow Moon Sacred Body.
• Protector Wang questioned why Huang Fuling had not crushed the jade pendant, and Huang Fuling said the Demon Venerable’s aura had left her unable to do so.
• Yuan Heng claimed Huang Fuling had made sacrifices for him and had been forced by the demon.
• Protector Wang described how the Demon Venerable had ordered the Blood Rain Cult to destroy the Heavenly Yin Sect.

Protector Wang asked Huang Fuling to uncover the Demon Venerable’s secret, but Huang Fuling had found nothing and instead requested supplies for her attempts to win his trust. After Huang Fuling left, Protector Wang wondered whether one of the Demon Venerable’s disciples had concealed the future from the Divination Pavilion.

• Protector Wang urged Huang Fuling to investigate the Demon Venerable’s secret, which she believed could help the Shadow Moon Convent rise to power.
• Huang Fuling admitted she had learned nothing and said the Demon Venerable had spent the past few days playing with her.
• Protector Wang told Huang Fuling that the escaped young master of the Heavenly Yin Sect had a secret treasure tied to the Death Forbidden Zone and asked her to keep investigating.
• Huang Fuling gave Protector Wang a detailed list of items she wanted the Shadow Moon Convent to make so she could please the Demon Venerable and earn his trust.
• After Huang Fuling left, Protector Wang questioned why the Divination Pavilion’s prediction had failed and wondered whether the Demon Venerable’s second disciple had hidden the truth.

Fang Yang grew close to first-rank expert strength and set out to teach Ye Qinghong the God-Shocking Sword technique, intending to help his disciple break through by entangling him in love. The chapter leaves Fang Yang traveling through the night while his guards gossip about his strength and rumored appeal to women.

• Fang Yang struck a stone wall with a palm attack that formed a giant dragon of astral wind, then judged himself close to the first-rank expert realm.
• Fang Yang headed out at night to teach Ye Qinghong the God-Shocking Sword technique, believing Ye Qinghong needed to experience love to master its third sword.
• Fang Yang resolved to sacrifice his own reputation and moral standing to help Ye Qinghong pursue the Sword Dao.
• The guards praised Fang Yang's strength and traded rumors that women, including Xuanming High Person's wife and Huang Protector, had fallen for him.

Ye Qinghong struggled to master the God-Shocking Sword until memories of his Demon Venerable Master helped him make progress. As his feelings and confusion deepened, his Master embraced and kissed him.

• Ye Qinghong failed to master the God-Shocking Sword despite his Swordborn Physique and Glazed Sword Heart.
• Memories of his Heart Demon and an intimate encounter with the Demon Venerable overwhelmed Ye Qinghong as he practiced.
• Ye Qinghong discovered that thinking about his Master's kiss and tenderness helped him produce shallow sword marks on falling leaves.
• Ye Qinghong realized that his sword practice depended on thoughts of his Master and wondered whether the Demon Venerable was his destined tribulation.
• The Demon Venerable drew Ye Qinghong into an embrace, kissed him, and told him to listen to his master.

Fang Yang tried to ease Ye Qinghong’s hatred by recalling how he had rescued and raised him, then asked him to call him Father again. Ye Qinghong, deeply shaken and conflicted, raised his head without yet answering.

• Fang Yang embraced Ye Qinghong and told him to kneel before him.
• Ye Qinghong struggled with shame and suspicion but decided that Fang Yang did not mean to humiliate him, then knelt.
• Fang Yang recalled rescuing Ye Qinghong from a bloodstained village and asked whether he would call him Father again.
• Fang Yang admitted that he had treated his disciples coldly, explained his past motives, and apologized for the pain he had caused.
• Ye Qinghong trembled with reddened eyes and tangled emotions, then raised his head.

Fang Yang tried to rebuild his relationship with Ye Qinghong by promising to teach him the complete God-Shocking Sword technique. After Ye Qinghong failed his first attempt and feared disappointing his master, Fang Yang comforted him and began guiding his sword hand over hand.

• Ye Qinghong called Fang Yang “Fa...” and opened up about his buried feelings, while Fang Yang recognized it as a start toward winning back his trust.
• Fang Yang promised to teach Ye Qinghong the complete God-Shocking Sword and asked him to demonstrate his technique.
• Ye Qinghong became flustered, mishandled the Azure Shadow Sword, and then failed to perform the technique correctly.
• Ye Qinghong blamed himself and feared Fang Yang would leave, but Fang Yang embraced him and offered to teach him hand over hand.
• Fang Yang took Ye Qinghong’s hand to guide his sword, while Ye Qinghong wondered whether his master had truly changed.

Fang Yang guided Ye Qinghong through an intimate sword practice, and Ye Qinghong’s troubled focus caused him to injure himself. Fang Yang began treating him, leaving Ye Qinghong confused by his master’s unexpected care.

• Fang Yang held Ye Qinghong close and guided his hand through a sword stroke beneath the night sky.
• Ye Qinghong practiced alone in turmoil, disrupting his Spiritual Qi and collapsing with blood at the corner of his mouth.
• Fang Yang carried Ye Qinghong to bed and removed his shoes and stockings while Ye Qinghong searched in vain for the Azure Shadow Sword.
• Fang Yang held Ye Qinghong’s feet and told him to stay still while he treated his injuries, leaving Ye Qinghong wondering what his master’s care would feel like.

Fang Yang used the Immortal Finger to heal Ye Qinghong, but its strange side effect overwhelmed his disciple and caused him to knock himself unconscious. Fang Yang realized the technique was dangerous to use casually and left Ye Qinghong asleep in his quiet, blue-green room.

• Fang Yang remembered that the Immortal Finger had powerful healing effects and decided to use it on Ye Qinghong's injured foot.
• Ye Qinghong felt the technique's strange sensation, mistook his reaction for his heart demon, and struck himself unconscious.
• Fang Yang found that the Immortal Finger had healed Ye Qinghong but concluded that its side effects made it risky to use.
• Fang Yang looked around Ye Qinghong's neat, blue-green room and found him curled up asleep, clutching the Azure Shadow Sword.

Fang Yang cared for his injured eldest disciple, Ye Qinghong, by bringing him porridge and comforting him, leaving Ye Qinghong confused by his master's unexpected tenderness. After Fang Yang left, Ye Qinghong messaged Fourth Junior Sister Hua Lian Yue for advice about an “old friend” entangled with a master.

• Fang Yang left Ye Qinghong alone, then returned with Ginseng Root Porridge and urged him not to force himself through pain.
• Ye Qinghong drank the porridge and, after dumping out his own side dishes, wondered whether Fang Yang had truly changed.
• Fang Yang told Ye Qinghong that it was his first time bringing anyone porridge, making Ye Qinghong quietly happy.
• Fang Yang gave Ye Qinghong a goodnight kiss before leaving, and Ye Qinghong remained bewildered and conflicted.
• Ye Qinghong contacted Fourth Junior Sister Hua Lian Yue through his Communication Jade and asked for advice about an old friend entangled with a master.

Lian Yue watched the Canglan Sect fall to a slaughter and waited for Chen Tailai and his descendants, who had all been infected by her Red Thread Gu Worm. She realized the three generations shared an unusual private life, then left her barge as they fled from the women attacking them.

• Lian Yue waited aboard the Spring Passion House barge while a battle erupted inside the Canglan Sect.
• Chen Tailai, Chen Heng, and Chen Huan emerged through the rain with Red Thread Gu Worms wriggling between their brows.
• Lian Yue wondered how all three generations had been infected when only one female disciple had infiltrated the sect.
• Lian Yue realized the three men had been holding parties together and flew from the barge with her maid following.
• More than a dozen women pursued the wounded men, whose Gu worms and the attackers' coordinated formation weakened their ability to fight.

Lian Yue confronted Chen Tailai, Chen Huan, and Chen Heng as the Red Thread Gu weakened them and the Canglan Sect fell under attack. She killed Chen Huan and Chen Heng, while Chen Tailai escaped into the rain.

• Chen Tailai told Chen Heng that the men had been infected with Red Thread Gu, which spread through women, and they fled from their pursuers.
• Lian Yue appeared by the lakeshore and revealed that she had planted the gu and was there to destroy the Canglan Sect on behalf of the Blood Rain Cult.
• Chen Huan and Chen Heng tried to flee by kicking each other, then argued over their family relationship while Chen Tailai slipped away.
• Lian Yue activated the Red Thread Gu and killed Chen Huan and Chen Heng with rain carried from her umbrella.
• Chen Tailai ran through the rain, abandoned his sons, and vowed to escape and reclaim what he had lost.

Lian Yue killed Chen Tailai with the Red Thread Gu and revealed that she had secretly reached the Dharmakaya Realm. After reading Eldest Senior Sister's message about a friend whose master had hugged and kissed her, Lian Yue reacted with shock and coughed up blood.

• Lian Yue confronted Chen Tailai and used the Red Thread Gu to weaken him before cutting apart his Dharma Body with threads concealed in the rain.
• As Chen Tailai died, Lian Yue recalled how the Blood Rain Demon Venerable had forced a Love Gu and the Red Dust Art on her, and vowed to use the Gu against him.
• A red gu crawled from Chen Tailai's corpse, and Lian Yue's Seven-Colored Gu devoured it before returning to her body.
• Lian Yue's Dharma Form appeared, revealing she had secretly entered the Dharmakaya Realm, while Canglan Island burned in the distance.
• Eldest Senior Sister messaged Lian Yue about a friend who hated her master but felt anticipation and joy after he hugged and kissed her.
• Lian Yue read the message, trembled, and coughed up blood.