Chapter Summaries

Qing Chen emerged from seclusion and confronted the Condensed Jade Sect over its failure to stop Leng Jingfei and the other remnants. He ordered preparations for a grand Golden Core Ceremony and assigned invitations to major sects, leaving the Shushan Sword Sect invitation to his master, Budong.

• Qing Chen emerged from seclusion, and Xu Jiuling and the Condensed Jade Sect members welcomed him with awe.
• Qing Chen reprimanded the sect for letting Leng Jingfei and the other remnants escape during his seclusion.
• Qing Chen ordered the sect to prepare a grand Golden Core Ceremony and threatened punishment if they mishandled it.
• Qing Chen assigned Spirit Crane True Person, Songshan True Person, Xu Jiuling, and other cultivators to deliver invitations to major Golden Core sects.
• Qing Chen told Gao Yuliang that his master, Budong, had agreed to personally invite the Shushan Sword Sect.

Chang Qing and Chang Yao were detained at Earth Pass City’s Zhen Gate after Wang Bao and his subordinates tried to exploit them, despite Chang Qing claiming they knew Chang Ping'an. Meanwhile, Chang Ping'an was in his mansion enduring an intense, mysterious ordeal when his communication array lit up.

• Chang Qing and Chang Yao arrived at Earth Pass City, where the gate formation marked Chang Yao as unregistered.
• Wang Bao demanded excessive fees and tried to make Chang Yao drink with him, while Chang Qing invoked Chang Ping'an’s name.
• Wang Bao’s men doubted Chang Qing’s claim, then ordered the siblings detained in a B-Class Thatched House pending an investigation.
• Chang Ping'an reclined in his mansion’s underground chamber as he appeared to endure a painful cultivation process.
• The communication array suddenly blazed with light beside Chang Ping'an.

Chang Ping'an broke through to Foundation Establishment and learned from the Duer Sect jade pendant about a hidden refuge containing treasures and an opportunity to reach Golden Core. He secretly had Chang Silang investigate Wuji Island, and Chang Silang reported that he had found a lead on its location.

• Chang Ping'an formed an azure talisman seal and revealed that he had reached Foundation Establishment.
• Chang Silang offered Chang Yue and another adopted daughter to Chang Ping'an, who instead asked about the information he had requested.
• Chang Ping'an recalled the jade pendant's revelations about the Duer Sect, its hidden refuge, and the treasure sealed there.
• Chang Ping'an resolved to keep the refuge's riches for himself and quietly asked Chang Silang to locate Wuji Island.
• Chang Silang told Chang Ping'an that he had found a lead on Wuji Island's location after spending two thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Chang Ping'an learned that Wuji Island was controlled by the powerful Infinite Extremity Devil Palace, then received a message that darkened his expression. Qing Chen heard that Chang Ping'an had been investigating Wuji Island and suspected he had unlocked more of the Duer Sect inheritance, but chose not to control him with the Demon Seed because he feared the consequences.

• Chang Silang warned Chang Ping'an that Wuji Island was a million li away and ruled by the formidable Infinite Extremity Devil Palace.
• Chang Ping'an received a Voice Transmission Talisman and turned grim after hearing its message.
• Lin Changsheng told Qing Chen that Chang Ping'an had asked Chang Silang to investigate Wuji Island through the black market.
• Lin Changsheng suggested Chang Ping'an had unlocked the Jade Pendant's restrictions and was growing ambitious.
• Qing Chen reflected that he had planted the Dao Heart Seed Demon Seal in only Su Zixuan, Lin Changsheng, and Xue Qingxia, and decided against using it on Chang Ping'an for now.

Qing Chen ordered Lin Changsheng to take Chang Ping'an to Wuji Island while secretly monitoring him and the Chang Household. After showering Chang Ping'an with gifts and promises, Qing Chen drew out his concern for his family, and Chang Ping'an revealed that his brother and sister were stranded outside Earth Pass City with a guard threatening them.

• Qing Chen assigned Lin Changsheng to lead Chang Ping'an and three banners of Demon Guards to Wuji Island, with secret forces infiltrating nearby and the Chang Household placed under surveillance.
• Chang Ping'an arrived, paid his respects to Qing Chen and Lin Changsheng, and reported his progress cultivating the Supreme Yin Mystic Armor and Moon Wheel Calamity-Slaying Spell.
• Qing Chen gave Chang Ping'an three bottles of True Essence Pills, promised to make him a direct disciple and future Yama Lord if he advanced, and bestowed three Spirit Artifacts.
• Chang Ping'an secretly considered withholding the truth about unlocking the Duer Sect Jade Pendant and imagined the power it might bring him.
• Qing Chen spoke of the loneliness of the Dao and the danger of having no attachments, prompting Chang Ping'an to reveal that his brother and sister were trapped outside Earth Pass City and faced abuse from a gate guard.

Qing Chen rescued Chang Ping'an and Chang Yao from Wang Bao’s abuse at the Zhen Gate and punished the gatekeepers. At Xuanji Peak, Xuanji True Lord questioned Chi Xuntian about his decades-long journey, and Chi Xuntian began reporting what he had learned.

• Qing Chen arrived at the Zhen Gate with Chang Ping'an and found Chang Yao bound after Wang Bao had detained the siblings.
• Qing Chen accused Wang Bao of abusing rogue cultivators and strangled him while Chang Ping'an thanked Qing Chen and pretended to weep.
• Qing Chen secretly placed a Soul-Extracting Gu on Chang Yao, then drained Wang Bao and seven other cultivators with bloody light.
• At Xuanji Peak, Xuanji True Lord strengthened the chamber’s restrictions and asked Chi Xuntian what he had gained during his travels across the Three Archipelagos.
• Chi Xuntian knelt before Xuanji True Lord, who recalled discovering his jade soul body and exceptional talent for the Jade Pivot Jade Heart Spirit Concentration Art.

Chi Xuntian reported to Xuanji True Lord how Hall Lord Qing’s reforms had strengthened the Condensed Jade Sect and stabilized the Azure Wave Archipelago, while expanding the Demon Lotus Sect’s power. Xuanji True Lord tested Chi Xuntian’s judgment of Qing Chen and, pleased by his insight, helped him with his cultivation and gave him valuable protective items.

• Chi Xuntian described the corruption and disorder that had plagued the sect and its affiliated forces before Hall Lord Qing’s reforms.
• Chi Xuntian explained how the Three Halls and Nine Departments System, new laws, spirit-field policies, and sect academies had improved governance and stabilized the islands.
• Xuanji True Lord praised Hall Lord Qing’s use of punishment and instruction, then reflected on Chi Xuntian’s growing understanding of worldly affairs and the path of cultivation.
• Chi Xuntian warned that Qing Chen was consolidating power through the Demon Lotus Sect and suggested that the sect’s killings also served Qing Chen’s cultivation.
• Xuanji True Lord asked whether Qing Chen’s victims deserved to die, and Chi Xuntian said he would kill only when necessary for the sect’s resurgence.
• Xuanji True Lord addressed Chi Xuntian’s cultivation questions and gave him a Storage Ring with a hundred thousand spirit stones and three powerful spirit talismans.

Xuanji True Lord sent Chi Xuntian out to face trials while weighing possible futures for their lineage and the sect. Spirit Crane True Person entered East Mountain City on Earth Cold Island and overheard talk of the Blood River Old Devil's Golden Core Ceremony before a commotion erupted outside.

• Xuanji True Lord escorted Chi Xuntian through a hidden passage off the island and decided to let hardship test whether the boy could become a worthy leader.
• Spirit Crane True Person approached Earth Cold Island and recognized that its Potalaka Boundary Grand Array had detected his Golden Core aura.
• Spirit Crane True Person concealed his aura, entered East Mountain City among ordinary cultivators, and was identified by the city's Illuminating Spirit Mirror as a Golden Core True Person.
• Spirit Crane True Person visited a teahouse and overheard cultivators discuss the Blood River Old Devil's Golden Core Ceremony and possible invitation to Cold Mountain Temple.
• A commotion arose in the street before the cultivators could finish discussing the Blood River Old Devil.

Spirit Crane True Person delivered Qing Chen’s invitation to Cold Mountain Temple, where Dharma Master Jingxin agreed to attend the Golden Core Ceremony in the abbot’s place. Meanwhile, Songshan True Person visited Earth Corpse Island and learned that Yin Corpse True Person would receive him instead of Three Corpses Devil Lord.

• Dharma Master Chanxin and Dharma Master Jingxin arrived at the teahouse and asked Spirit Crane True Person for Qing Chen’s invitation.
• Spirit Crane True Person presented the invitation to Abbot Jingxin for Qing Chen’s Golden Core Ceremony, scheduled for six months later.
• Dharma Master Jingxin accepted the invitation and said he would attend because Abbot Hanshan was in seclusion.
• Songshan True Person visited Earth Corpse Island but could not meet Three Corpses Devil Lord, so Deputy Sect Master Yin Corpse True Person agreed to receive him.
• Songshan True Person observed that Earth Corpse Island was orderly and prosperous, though wars often erupted among its mortal kingdoms.

Songshan True Person delivered Hall Lord Qing’s invitation to Yin Corpse True Person, who agreed to attend the Golden Core Ceremony in half a year. Meanwhile, Qing Chen surveyed the World Inside the Tower, where survivors had spent nearly five years building fortresses and fighting the jiangshi.

• Yin Corpse True Person refused to accept the maids Songshan True Person was offered and agreed to attend Hall Lord Qing’s Golden Core Ceremony in half a year.
• Qing Chen watched over the World Inside the Tower, where jiangshi and demon beasts had killed many inhabitants, while he periodically replenished the population.
• The surviving inhabitants built four fortresses that housed nearly forty thousand people and held the gateways against the jiangshi for almost five years.
• Lie Feng, now a young man, led the defense of Divine Wind Fortress as walking corpses surged from the east.
• Lie Feng ordered two hundred bows to fire, then sent three hundred fighters into battle with the Six Routes Six Jia Saber.

Qing Chen surveyed the martial forces thriving in the Nine-Luminaries Glazed Vidyaraja Pagoda and considered how their growth strengthened the pagoda’s world. After failing its seventh trial, he planned to introduce Black-Haired Zombies to raise the challenge for its inhabitants.

• Lian Chengbi killed a Red-Scaled Snake while leading people to gather sunfire grass near Heaven-Burning Ravine.
• Duan Lang trained nearly a thousand followers in the Forty-Eight Routes of Demon-Seizing Claws, while Bu Jingyun’s men froze and killed a Red Tiger outside Jingyun Fort.
• Qing Chen observed that spirit plants, demon beasts, and body-refining techniques had made the pagoda’s inhabitants stronger and that their growth seemed to expand its world.
• Qing Chen recalled that Thunderclap Arhat defeated him on the pagoda’s seventh layer after Qing Chen challenged it using only one magic treasure.
• Qing Chen decided to place one or two Black-Haired Zombies in the pagoda’s world, where its inhabitants believed they could earn his favor by defeating calamities.

Qing Chen investigated the Three Great Sects’ evasive behavior and discovered signs that they were secretly gathering forces around Wuji Island. As suspicion about their intentions grew, Spirit Crane True Person and Songshan True Person argued over whether to offer Gu Zhiruo to Qing Chen as a maid to win his favor.

• Spirit Crane True Person, Songshan True Person, and Xu Jiuling reported that the leaders of Cold Mountain Temple, the Three Corpse Demon Sect, and the Azure Sun Sect had all avoided meeting them.
• Qing Chen connected the sect leaders’ prolonged seclusion and unusual troop movements to Wuji Island, then studied a sea chart and inferred that the three sects were secretly assembling a large force nearby.
• Qing Chen wondered whether the three sects knew Wuji Island’s secret and whether they opposed or cooperated with the Infinite Extremity Devil Palace.
• After Qing Chen left the hall, Songshan True Person worried that he would be blamed for failing to help surround Leng Jingfei.
• Songshan True Person suggested sending Gu Zhiruo to serve Qing Chen as a maid, but Spirit Crane True Person angrily rejected the idea because she was Diancang’s sole personal disciple.

Lin Changsheng, Xue Yubing, and Chang Ping'an arrived at Wuji Island, where the Infinite Extremity Devil Palace strictly controlled entry and Demon Beasts roamed freely. Xue Yubing explained the island’s divide between protected cities and dangerous shanty stockades, as the group began exploring its unusual customs.

• Xue Yubing told Lin Changsheng and Chang Ping'an that the Infinite Extremity Devil Palace inspected even Shushan Sword Sect visitors, prompting Chang Ping'an to suspect the sect was searching for the Duer Sect’s treasure.
• Lin Changsheng considered how Qing Chen’s allies had quietly gathered nearby under cover of trading firms and other groups.
• Lin Changsheng’s party passed the Infinite Extremity Devil Palace’s checkpoints using Condensed Jade Sect credentials and Qing Chen’s invitations, then landed on Wuji Island.
• Xue Yubing described Wuji Island’s vast population, roaming Demon Beasts, and unusual settlements as the party traveled inland and fought off several beast attacks.
• Lin Changsheng pointed out a shanty stockade, and Xue Yubing explained that its residents faced little protection and that only people with cultivation, ability, qualifications, or a skill could live in the cities.

Lin Changsheng and Chang Ping'an entered a densely populated city on Wuji Island, where Xue Yubing explained how the Infinite Extremity Devil Palace used formations and cultivation devices to support city life. The chapter left Lin Changsheng marveling at how the Palace harnessed spiritual resources and mortal labor to produce goods.

• Lin Changsheng questioned Xue Yubing about Wuji Island’s sparse number of cities and dense population.
• Lin Changsheng and Chang Ping'an entered a vast city, and Xue Yubing explained that millions lived in its tightly packed buildings.
• Xue Yubing said the city’s Magnetic Primal Forbidden Formation suppressed cultivators’ divine sense and made spellcasting more costly.
• Xue Yubing showed the group Spirit-Guiding Channels that supplied spirit spring water to residents.
• Xue Yubing explained how formations powered a mill that let mortal workers grind spirit wheat, and Lin Changsheng marveled at the Palace’s ingenuity.

Lin Changsheng and the Condensed Jade Sect delegation toured the Infinite Extremity Devil Palace’s ingenious city before Deputy Hall Master Tie Xiu escorted them to its Teleportation Hall. Chang Ping'an was barred from entering, and Tie Xiu reconsidered after learning he was Qing Chen’s named disciple.

• Xue Yubing showed Lin Changsheng and Chang Ping'an the city’s insect-powered lights, Rising Platforms, and Thousand-Li Voice Transmission Stele.
• Tie Xiu arrived with armored cultivators, introduced himself as the External Affairs Hall’s First Deputy Hall Master, and singled out Lin Changsheng.
• Tie Xiu led the delegation to the Teleportation Hall and explained its defenses, which greatly weakened cultivators inside.
• Chang Ping'an tried to enter the hall, but Tie Xiu stopped him and said only Lin Changsheng and Xue Yubing could enter.
• Lin Changsheng identified Chang Ping'an as Qing Chen’s named disciple, startling Tie Xiu, who reflected on Qing Chen’s formidable reputation.

Qing Chen received word that Lin Changsheng had discovered something on Wuji Island and ordered the Demon Guards to escort Xue Yubing safely back with a sealed jade slip. Two months later, Earth Pass Island was bustling with preparations for Hidden Spirit True Person’s Golden Core ceremony, where cultivators gathered to learn the rules of the Golden Core Dao-Expounding Platform.

• Duan Tianya told Qing Chen that Lin Changsheng and Chang Ping'an were staying on Wuji Island, whose protective array blocked communications, and that Xue Yubing was bringing Qing Chen a sealed jade slip.
• Qing Chen reasoned that the message was important but not urgent and ordered the Demon Guards to escort Xue Yubing safely to the Azure Wave Archipelago.
• Two months later, cultivators and common folk flocked to Earth Pass Island for Hidden Spirit True Person’s Golden Core ceremony, which Qing Chen had marked with tax breaks and lavish decorations.
• The Golden Core Dao-Expounding Platform was expanded into a vast, sloped plaza, guarded by soldiers from the Condensed Jade Sect and the Demon Lotus Sect.
• A thin-faced cultivator asked Lu Renjia about the platform’s rules, and Lu Renjia recited the four stages written on the wall.

At Digu Pass Peak, cultivators gathered for Blood River Old Devil’s Dao-expounding ceremony, where the size of each congratulatory gift determined how close its giver could get to the platform. As Xu Jiuling opened the proceedings, Hua Tieshou began sorting the crowd by gifts and sending poorer attendees to wait at the mountain’s foot.

• A thin-faced cultivator interpreted the ceremony’s status phrases as stages of cultivation, but a purple-robed cultivator explained they referred to gift amounts and access to the plaza.
• Xu Jiuling announced that the hour had come and called on the assembled cultivators to present their gifts and take their places.
• Cultivators from rogue groups, Foundation Establishment lineages, and major Golden Core sects formed ranks beneath Digu Pass Peak.
• Hua Tieshou accepted rogue cultivator Li San’s gift of Qi Gathering Pills and granted him an edge-of-plaza place under the hundred-spirit-stone tier.
• Hua Tieshou rejected Wang Er’s gift of five low-grade Blood-Stopping Grass stalks as worth less than a hundred spirit stones, and a Condensed Jade Sect disciple led him to the waiting area at the mountain’s foot.

Cultivators from the waters of Earth Pass Island presented gifts at Qing Chen’s Golden Core Dao-Expounding Platform ceremony, with the lavish offerings drawing attention and envy. The Li Household of Withered Earth Island’s gifts were announced at thirteen thousand spirit stones as Xu Jiuling’s jade command token blazed.

• Hua Tieshou announced the Iron Blade Society’s gifts, valued at four hundred and fifty spirit stones, and its second-in-command took a seat in the plaza.
• Cultivators discussed the Iron Blade Society’s gratitude to True Person Qing for shelter after the Yue Household’s destruction.
• Hua Tieshou announced the Corpse Poison Sect’s corpse puppet and Corpse Poison Grass, valued at three thousand spirit stones, and the sect’s cultivators took seats in the two-thousand-spirit-stone section.
• The Condensed Jade Sect’s disciples approached the Corpse Poison Sect without showing alarm and handed over corpse-oil lamps.
• Li Zexin led the Li Household of Withered Earth Island to present dark iron essence and three Five Thunder Talismans, valued at thirteen thousand spirit stones.
• Xu Jiuling’s green jade command token blazed with light as Hua Tieshou announced the Li Household’s gifts.

The Infinite Extremity Devil Palace arrived at Qing Chen’s Golden Core Ceremony and presented a White Devil Lynx heart and flesh worth two hundred thousand spirit stones, stunning the gathered cultivators. Tie Xiu revealed himself as the palace’s deputy hall master and said its Palace Master had chosen the gift specially for the occasion.

• Li Zexin and Li Lingzhu took seats on azure jade platforms after the Li Household of Withered Earth Island presented valuable gifts.
• The Infinite Extremity Devil Palace arrived with Bronze Demon Guards and sent a blood-stained jade casket to the gift reception platform.
• Hua Tieshou opened the casket and found a sealed piece of flesh with a beating heart inside.
• Xu Jiuling announced that the gift was flesh and a heart from a peak early third-tier White Devil Lynx, valued at two hundred thousand spirit stones.
• The gathering marveled at the gift’s value and the White Devil Lynx’s fearsome reputation.
• Tie Xiu revealed himself and said the Palace Master had specially selected the sea creature as a congratulatory gift for Hidden Spirit True Person.

Gu Zhiruo endured Qing Chen’s abuse and delivered his summons to True Persons Spirit Crane and Songshan. As the Golden Core Dao-Expounding ceremony waited for Qing Chen, the two True Persons announced his arrival, and five fire jiao and pythons appeared in the sky.

• Qing Chen mocked and assaulted Gu Zhiruo, then ordered her to summon True Persons Spirit Crane and Songshan to the Golden Core Dao-Expounding Platform.
• Gu Zhiruo forced herself to leave and deliver Qing Chen’s message.
• Golden Core True Persons and other guests waited at the ceremony while Yin Corpse True Person, Second Elder Mu Rong, True Person Budong, and Abbot Jingxin discussed the delay.
• True Persons Songshan and Spirit Crane arrived above the plaza and announced, “True Person Qing has arrived!”
• Five crimson-scaled fire jiao and pythons emerged from the sky, led by an early third tier Golden-Scaled Jiao.