Chapter Summaries

Qing Chen had Su Zixuan modify the evil formation’s flags so their users could avoid being bound by the formation. With only two and a half days left, he asked her to keep searching for a way to counter it while he considered how to turn Cao Banxian’s scheme against him.

• Qing Chen recognized that breaking the formation openly could leave him and Su Zixuan surrounded, so he told her to find a way to crack its flags or protect them from its control.
• Su Zixuan identified soul-binding patterns in the flag’s formula and added a Reversal Rune that let its user interrupt the connection to the main flag.
• Qing Chen tested Su Zixuan’s revised formula and found that it removed the flag’s binding sensation and made it easier to control.
• Su Zixuan said she might repair damaged minor flags if Qing Chen obtained the main flag and she learned the First-Rank Middle-Grade Formation’s arrangement method.
• Qing Chen urged Su Zixuan to keep investigating ways to counter the evil formation, while he considered using Cao Banxian’s scheme against him without revealing their advantage.

Su Zixuan devised a way to disrupt Cao Banxian’s evil formation by severing the formation flags’ connection, and Qing Chen brought her along in disguise to join the expedition. They arrived at the Hundred-Forging Pavilion, where Cao Banxian gathered the cultivators before their departure for the cave abode.

• Su Zixuan explained that destroying a Sub-Flag could unleash a surge of magical power and turn the Main Flag against its master.
• Qing Chen chose Su Zixuan to accompany him and ordered her to destroy the Sub-Flag when he gave the signal.
• Qing Chen disguised Su Zixuan as Zhao Ningyi, while he assumed the name Li Muyun for the operation.
• Qing Chen and Zhao Ningyi arrived at the Hundred-Forging Pavilion, where Cao Banxian questioned Qing Chen about his command of the formation flag.
• Cao Banxian led the pair to a private room, where five cultivators waited and scrutinized them.

Qing Chen and Su Zixuan met the cultivators Cao Banxian had recruited to break through a formation and explore a Cave Abode. Cao Banxian led the group out of the marketplace aboard an impressive spirit boat, leaving Qing Chen wary that one of the five cultivators might be his hidden pawn.

• Cao Banxian introduced Liu Yunfeng, Zhang Dali, Fairy Lingxiao, Xu the Monster, and Ma Sandao to Qing Chen and Su Zixuan.
• Fairy Lingxiao questioned the Cave Abode’s location and the difficulty of controlling the formation flag, while Xu the Monster challenged Cao Banxian’s motives.
• Cao Banxian explained that he had kept strength in reserve to protect himself and his promised treasure, and Zhang Dali insisted on receiving the agreed gauntlets.
• Cao Banxian led the group out of the marketplace and summoned a high-grade spirit boat at the edge of Earth Jade Island.
• Qing Chen examined the spirit boat and suspected Cao Banxian had hidden resources and a pawn among the five cultivators.

Cao Banxian led the group to Hidden Spirit Island, a concealed spirit island protected by a powerful formation, and claimed a Foundation Establishment treasure lay in an abandoned cave abode there. Following a jade slip and Cao Banxian’s token, the group reached the cave entrance, where the chapter left them poised to enter.

• Cao Banxian piloted the spirit boat through more than twenty days of detours before landing on a hidden island with abundant spiritual qi and a powerful protective formation.
• Cao Banxian explained that he had discovered the island and an abandoned cave abode whose jade slips described a treasure buried there by a Foundation Establishment High Person.
• Xu the Monster examined Cao Banxian’s jade slip, while Qing Chen warned Su Zixuan to watch for anything abnormal and urged the group to stay vigilant.
• The group followed Cao Banxian’s directions through a strangely silent valley, with Cao warning them about its layered formations and traps.
• Cao Banxian led the group to the cave entrance and raised his token after confirming they had reached the marked location.

Cao Banxian led Qing Chen and the others in using a formation to break the restrictions guarding a Foundation Establishment Cave Abode. After ten days of attacks, the restrictions counterattacked, but the cultivators weakened them and Cao Banxian’s formation began to manifest as a hideous spider.

• Cao Banxian revealed the Cave Abode and organized the cultivators to break its restrictions with a formation.
• Su Zixuan warned Qing Chen that the island might conceal more than Cao Banxian had claimed, while Qing Chen kept his aura loosely connected to the formation.
• The cultivators attacked the restrictions for ten days as they repeatedly repaired themselves, and Qing Chen secretly reduced his magical power output.
• When the restrictions unleashed a powerful counterattack, Cao Banxian ordered the group to intensify their efforts, and Xu the Monster used Spirit-Splitting Rays to help break them down.
• Cao Banxian gathered the formation’s full power, transforming the black-purple whirlpool into the indistinct phantom of a hideous spider.

Cao Banxian and the group used the Spider-Mantis Shadow to destroy the cave’s ward, but its evil resentment alarmed them before Cao hurried everyone inside. Qing Chen entered with Su Zixuan after she secretly planted formation spikes, and the chapter ended with the group confronting the cave’s extraordinarily dense spiritual energy and Cao Banxian and Xu the Monster looking grim.

• Cao Banxian used a spirit stone to strengthen the Spider-Mantis Shadow, which absorbed the ward’s spiritual light and shattered the formation.
• The Spider-Mantis Shadow turned its blood-red gaze on the group, and Cao Banxian withdrew it into the Main Flag.
• Xu the Monster and Ma Sandao demanded an explanation, but Cao Banxian urged everyone to enter the cave before the ward recovered.
• Xu the Monster, Fairy Lingxiao, Liu Yunfeng, and Iron Fist Zhang followed Cao Banxian into the cave, while Su Zixuan planted four hidden formation spikes at the entrance before entering with Qing Chen.
• The group felt spiritual energy comparable to that of an upper-grade tier-two spirit vein, but Cao Banxian and Xu the Monster showed grave expressions.

Qing Chen and the others explored a battle-scarred Cave Abode and discovered it was infested with Grudge Ghosts and White Bone Demons. As the monsters attacked, the group fought back, with Zhang Dali facing three White Bone Demons.

• Qing Chen noticed signs of an old battle in the passage, and Fairy Lingxiao identified blood tainted with grudge power.
• Qing Chen discovered a silver fragment whose black thread tried to enter his body, while Zhang Dali questioned Cao Banxian about the Cave Abode’s dangers.
• Qing Chen urged the group to stay together and share discoveries, and Cao Banxian said the Foundation Establishment treasure lay in the main palace beyond the hall.
• The passage shuddered as Grudge Ghosts and White Bone Demons appeared, and Qing Chen pulled Su Zixuan behind him and used a Blazing Fire Talisman.
• Fairy Lingxiao and Ma Sandao attacked the Grudge Ghosts, while three White Bone Demons charged Zhang Dali and he met their bone daos with his hammer.

Qing Chen and the others fought waves of white-bone demons and Grudge Ghosts while Cao Banxian led them in forming a grand formation. Just as the formation began to overwhelm the creatures, Qing Chen recognized a gray-robed figure holding a skull-covered banner and heard Zhang Dali call him “Master.”

• Zhang Dali and Liu Yunfeng battled white-bone demons, and Liu Yunfeng summoned four Golden-Armored Warriors that helped Zhang Dali destroy one.
• Qing Chen used the son sword of the Mother-Son Thundershadow Swords to destroy two Grudge Ghosts attacking Su Zixuan.
• Cao Banxian trapped Grudge Ghosts with his Main Flag, while Xu the Monster sent his Ironclad Tortoise and claw-shaped artifact against the creatures.
• Cao Banxian and the others activated their Sub-Flags to form a black-purple vortex that pulled in Grudge Ghosts and white-bone demons.
• A Spider-Mantis Shadow crushed several demons but was wounded, causing backlash to the cultivators maintaining the formation.
• Qing Chen spotted a gray-robed man holding a skull-covered black banner, and Zhang Dali recognized him as his supposedly dead Master.

Cao Banxian revealed that the Sub-Flags were trapping and draining the group as part of his Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation. As the Spider-Mantis Shadow grew stronger and merged with the Main Flag, Qing Chen and the others faced a powerful enemy with their magical power being siphoned away.

• A dead-looking figure emerged from the shadows, and Cao Banxian first panicked before laughing at the figure and insulting him.
• When Liu Yunfeng and Ma Sandao demanded an explanation, Cao Banxian declared that the group would serve as sacrificial offerings on his path to the Great Dao.
• Xu the Monster, Qing Chen, Liu Yunfeng, and Ma Sandao discovered that their Sub-Flags were draining their magical power and that they could not sever their connections.
• Cao Banxian explained that the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation would drain their magical power, blood, vital essence, souls, and lifespan.
• Cao Banxian used the Main Flag to heal and strengthen the Spider-Mantis Shadow, then merged the flag into it as the creature threatened the group.

Cao Banxian's Netherworld Demon Spider overwhelmed the Grudge Ghosts and White Bone Demons, but a withered corpse wielding a White Bone Demon Mara Banner emerged from the hall and resisted its attacks. As the banner's power intensified, Qing Chen and the others faced a battle between the two forces, and the chapter ended with the banner swallowing the corpse in a blinding flash.

• Cao Banxian completed the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation, turning the Spider-Mantis Shadow into a Netherworld Demon Spider that devoured Grudge Ghosts and killed a White Bone Demon.
• Liu Yunfeng spotted another figure leaving the hall, and Cao Banxian recognized its banner as a White Bone Demon Mara Banner.
• The withered corpse blocked the Netherworld Demon Spider's demonic flame and sent purple ghost claws at Cao Banxian, which the spider struck aside but could not fully withstand.
• Qing Chen swallowed a medicinal pill and poured more spiritual power into his magic as Cao Banxian increased the Sub-Flag's suction on the cultivators.
• Cao Banxian ordered the Netherworld Demon Spider to unleash its back spikes, but the corpse's banner shield deflected them and swallowed those that reached it.
• The White Bone Demon Mara Banner blazed with light and sucked the withered corpse inside, its purple patterns twisting into a terrifying design.

Demon General Pojun emerged from the White Bone Demon Mara Banner and fought the Netherworld Demon Spider, proving powerful enough to block its demonic flame and wound it. The demon general began a devastating giant-saber attack against the spider, while Qing Chen remained ready to escape if the battle turned against them.

• The White Bone Demon Mara Banner released Demon General Pojun, whose four arms and bone sabers alarmed Cao Banxian.
• Demon General Pojun blocked the Netherworld Demon Spider's demonic flame with a web of saber light.
• Cao Banxian identified the demon general's lower body and bone leg joints as weaknesses, and the Netherworld Demon Spider charged at them.
• The spider bit the demon general's calf and broke off a piece of bone, but the demon general struck its back and cracked its carapace.
• Demon General Pojun threw the Netherworld Demon Spider into the cave wall, joined its four sabers into a giant blade, and slashed at it with black-blue saber qi.

Cao Banxian used the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation to sustain the Netherworld Demon Spider against White Bone Demon General Pojun, whose saber strikes badly wounded the spider and drained the cultivators. The battle remained unresolved as Qing Chen realized Xu the Monster was concealing a cultivation level beyond the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

• White Bone Demon General Pojun unleashed a powerful saber strike while the formation drained the cultivators’ magical power, blood, and vitality.
• Cao Banxian ordered the Netherworld Demon Spider to defend itself; it lost two legs but charged Pojun and disrupted his attack.
• Pojun’s next slash struck the spider, cutting a deep gash into its body and shattering two more legs as the cultivators inside the formation spat blood.
• Liu Yunfeng collapsed, Zhang Dali and Ma Sandao were gravely weakened, and Qing Chen lost much of his magical power despite the Reversal Rune.
• Qing Chen noticed Fairy Lingxiao had fared better than the others and suspected Xu the Monster’s apparent weakness concealed a higher cultivation level.

Qing Chen discovered that Xu the Monster had concealed cultivation at the late Qi Refining stage while Cao Banxian used the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation to drain the group and fight White Bone Demon General Pojun. Cao Banxian’s shield repelled Pojun’s attack, but Qing Chen and Xu the Monster continued hiding their intentions as a sudden change began.

• The Netherworld Demon Spider sacrificed itself to wound Demon General Pojun, cracking its bones and reducing its cultivation from the late to the middle Qi Refining stage.
• Cao Banxian used the Red Fire Pagoda with the formation to form a Blood-Colored Light Shield, then intensified the formation’s suction while claiming he would take the demon banner.
• Liu Yunfeng died after his life force was drained, Zhang Dali collapsed, and Ma Sandao begged Cao Banxian to spare him.
• Qing Chen pretended to beg for his life while observing the others, and Xu the Monster remained composed despite his apparent exhaustion.
• Cao Banxian attacked Pojun again, and a sudden change erupted.

Xu the Monster broke free from the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation and launched a surprise attack on Cao Banxian, turning the battle against him. As Xu the Monster, his beasts, and the White Bone Demon God besieged Cao Banxian, Cao revealed his Eighth Layer cultivation and prepared a mysterious great seal while forcing his power toward the Ninth Layer.

• Xu the Monster broke free from the formation and smashed the Red Stone Pagoda with his Ghost Funeral Staff.
• Xu the Monster sent the Black Ghost Leopard after Cao Banxian, and Fairy Lingxiao was badly injured trying to intercept it.
• Cao Banxian revealed his Eighth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation and used the Purple Spirit Umbrella to fend off the leopard.
• Xu the Monster attacked Cao Banxian with the Black Ghost Leopard, Ironclad Tortoise, and Ghost Funeral Staff while the White Bone Demon God joined the assault.
• Cao Banxian drove the weakened formation, pushed his cultivation toward the Ninth Layer, and summoned a powerful great seal.

Cao Banxian used the Sun-Moon Red-Gold Seal to devastate Xu the Monster and his summoned creatures, but Xu survived and revealed himself as Cao’s former senior brother. Xu accused Cao of betrayal and explained that their former master had planned to sacrifice his disciples to restore his cultivation.

• Cao Banxian burned his vital essence and activated the Sun-Moon Red-Gold Seal, crushing the four attacks and destroying the Pojun White Bone Demon God.
• Cao Banxian launched Sun and Moon Shine Together, breaking Xu the Monster’s ghost barrier and hurling him into a rock wall.
• Qing Chen watched the battle from a distance and was relieved that he had not joined it.
• Cao Banxian collapsed from the strain, but Xu the Monster stood up and his disguise faded, revealing Senior Brother Xu.
• Senior Brother Xu revealed that Cao and he had once served the same master, accused Cao of betraying him, and said their master had intended to sacrifice the disciples to restore his cultivation.

Cao Banxian and Xu the Monster failed to agree on how to divide the treasures, especially the White Bone Dao-Building Pill, and Cao Banxian triggered the remnants of the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation. As the formation devoured the other cultivators, Qing Chen concealed his strength and Cao Banxian unleashed the Sun-Moon Red-Gold Seal.

• Cao Banxian and Xu the Monster revealed how they had reached the cave and argued over the White Bone Demon Mara Banner, the formation legacy, and the White Bone Dao-Building Pill.
• Cao Banxian offered Xu the Monster the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation legacy and ownership of his Hundred Refinements Pavilion, but Xu refused to give up the pill.
• Cao Banxian detonated the remnants of the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation, whose black vapor drained Iron Fist Zhang Dali and Blade-Riding Traveler Ma Sandao into desiccated corpses.
• Qing Chen knocked Su Zixuan down, wounded himself, and suppressed his vitality while using the Reversal Rune to sever spiritual energy flowing between the formation flags.
• Cao Banxian gathered the formation’s power into the Sun-Moon Red-Gold Seal and activated the supreme-grade magic artifact.

Cao Banxian and Xu the Monster fought to the brink of death over the White Bone Dao-Building Pill, leaving Xu crippled and his spirit beasts defeated. Xu yielded the pill and said he wanted to leave the cultivation world behind.

• Cao Banxian used the Sun-Moon Red-Gold Seal and the Spider-Mantis Essence-Devouring Formation to overpower Xu the Monster and his demonic beasts.
• Xu the Monster burned his blood essence and fought back, but the Ironclad Tortoise died and the Black Ghost Leopard was gravely wounded.
• Cao Banxian's seal broke Xu the Monster's Hundred-Ghost Shield, damaged his Ghost Funeral Staff, and snapped his left arm.
• Both men were left gravely injured, and Cao Banxian recalled how Xu had once protected and taught him as a junior disciple.
• Xu the Monster yielded the White Bone Dao-Building Pill to Cao Banxian and said he would leave the cultivation world behind.

Cao Banxian killed Xu the Monster with a Thunder Tribulation Talisman, but Qing Chen revealed that he had feigned weakness and sabotaged the formation. Qing Chen then launched a three-pronged attack on Cao Banxian, whose fate remained unresolved as the attacks struck his barrier.

• Xu the Monster ambushed Cao Banxian with a Spirit-Scourge Nail, but Cao Banxian used the Sun-Moon Red-Gold Seal to block it.
• Cao Banxian exhausted his remaining power to activate a Thunder Tribulation Talisman and killed Xu the Monster with lightning.
• As Cao Banxian approached Xu the Monster's remains, Qing Chen reversed the Sub-Flag's Magic Formula and destroyed it, causing the formation's backlash to injure Cao Banxian.
• Qing Chen burned his stored blood essence to empower the Mother-Son Thundershadow Swords, then disrupted Cao Banxian with Demon Seed Golden Lotus.
• Qing Chen sent the Soul-Seizing Hook and his flying swords at Cao Banxian, who formed a fragile spiritual barrier as the attacks struck.

Qing Chen defeated Cao Banxian, crippled his cultivation, and watched him die after he hinted at dangerous secrets surrounding Old Ghost Qilian. Though Cao Banxian ended his own life, Qing Chen changed his mind and began burning and refining the corpse, determined to prevent any remnant soul from escaping.

• Qing Chen overwhelmed Cao Banxian with the Mother-Son Thundershadow Swords, the Soul-Seizing Hook, and his Demon Seed divine sense, breaking his armor and severing both arms.
• Qing Chen destroyed Cao Banxian's cultivation foundation and mocked him, while Cao Banxian warned that Old Ghost Qilian's secrets and grudges could bring retribution.
• Cao Banxian cursed Qing Chen and lamented that he had never reached Foundation Establishment before ending his own life with a secret art.
• Qing Chen regretted losing the chance to question Cao Banxian, then decided to burn his corpse and used blood qi whips and the Demon Seed Golden Lotus to contain it.
• Qing Chen cast Explosive Flame Fireballs onto Cao Banxian's remains as his blood qi continued refining the corpse.

Qing Chen destroyed Cao Banxian’s remains and confronted the wounded Fairy Lingxiao, who begged for her life by offering to serve him. He restrained and questioned her about her cultivation and the Cave Abode, but she knew little of its secrets.

• Qing Chen incinerated Cao Banxian’s remains and felt the threat hanging over him lift.
• Fairy Lingxiao begged Qing Chen to spare her and offered to become his servant.
• Qing Chen stripped away Lingxiao’s armor and outer clothing, sealed her acupoints and magical power, and took her Storage Bag.
• Qing Chen questioned Lingxiao about her spiritual root, cultivation method, and artifact-refining skills.
• Qing Chen used the demon seed to probe Lingxiao’s memories, but she said Cao Banxian had kept the Cave Abode’s secrets from her.