Chapter Summaries

Nangong Ye borrowed the Yin-Yang Ruler from Lu Wuzhen so he and Xie Jinhuan could seek a Five Directions' Divine Gift before their ten-day deadline. Xie Jinhuan returned to the Lin Residence, where Lin Zisu revealed a new pill designed to eradicate the Immortal-Burning Gu, though it left its user with an excess of yin.

• Nangong Ye asked Lu Wuzhen about Xie Jinhuan's ties to Qixia True Person and Ye Sheng, then requested the Yin-Yang Ruler for their search.
• Lu Wuzhen lent Nangong Ye the Yin-Yang Ruler and warned him to return within ten days because the court and cultivation world were unstable.
• Lu Wuzhen worried that the Pill King's accession could leave him, Wei Wuyi, and others struggling to govern together.
• Xie Jinhuan went to the Lin Residence, where he found Lin Zisu reading a newly published romantic tale about him and Hua Ruyue.
• Lin Zisu showed Xie Jinhuan the Like Falling into an Ice Cellar Pill, which could eradicate the Immortal-Burning Gu by turning a cultivator's Qi into pure yin, but caused a severe yin-yang imbalance.

Lin Wanyi reunited with the injured Xie Jinhuan, and they discussed how to improve her cultivation before sharing an intimate evening. Meanwhile, Bu Yuehua and Nangong Ye prepared to leave for the Phoenix Mausoleum, while Nangong Ye quietly revisited memories of a woman in a painting.

• Lin Wanyi waited for Xie Jinhuan, who returned from Three Rivers Crossing with hidden injuries and a wooden carving for her.
• Lin Wanyi found healing medicine for Xie Jinhuan, and the two teased each other before discussing her cultivation and his planned trip to the Southern Border.
• Lin Wanyi explained that Witch Cult dual cultivation could strengthen her by draining his cultivation, but Xie Jinhuan planned to seek other opportunities for her and travel with her later.
• Bu Yuehua and Nangong Ye arranged to leave for the Phoenix Mausoleum the next morning and negotiated how to divide any opportunities they found.
• Nangong Ye warned Bu Yuehua that other forces might be pursuing the Phoenix Mausoleum, then looked at a painting of himself with a black-clad swordswoman.

The Pill King took charge of Great Qian after the Late Emperor’s death and planned a mission to learn Northern Zhou’s intentions, while Commandery Princess Changning volunteered to accompany Xie Jinhuan. Xie Jinhuan and Nangong Ye’s medicine-induced night together cured Nangong Ye’s Yang Poison, and they prepared to depart for the Southern Border.

• The Pill King learned that Crown Prince Zhao Jing Huan could not be cured until his missing soul and spirit were retrieved, then discussed Great Qian’s internal and foreign threats with Commandery Princess Changning.
• The Pill King planned to send Xie Jinhuan with a delegation to Yanjing Academy to investigate Northern Zhou, and Commandery Princess Changning offered to lead the party and keep an eye on him.
• Xie Jinhuan gave Nangong Ye the Like Falling into an Ice Cellar Pill, causing Nangong Ye’s Qi to turn pure yin and prompting him to pin Xie Jinhuan down as they dispersed the medicine’s effects.
• By morning, Nangong Ye’s Yang Poison was cured and he sensed an opportunity to reach the Fourth Realm, Heavenly Pivot; he agreed to help Xie Jinhuan cultivate only on his terms.
• Nangong Ye agreed to honor their two-hour arrangement after their trip, and Xie Jinhuan left to meet the party at Vermilion Bird Gate for their departure.

Xie Jinhuan traveled south with Bu Yuehua and Big Ice Lump toward Fire Phoenix Valley, while Northern Zhou visitors and Southern Border powers became entangled in the same emerging opportunity. He Tianqi revealed that the Phoenix Mausoleum opportunity had appeared and set several evil-path figures moving to intercept Xie Jinhuan.

• Xie Jinhuan said goodbye to Qingmo, collected Coal Ball from Wanyi, and left with Bu Yuehua and Big Ice Lump for the Southern Border.
• The travelers passed through Ruizhou and reached Black Mountain Market, where they saw Missing Moon Manor's people investigating three desiccated corpses before continuing toward Fire Phoenix Valley.
• At Black Mountain Market, Xi Yanjun criticized the Southern Dynasty's sects and worried that the Empress Dowager might break the north-south pact, while Lü Yan urged him to focus on cultivation.
• He Tianqi visited Jiang Qizi at Spirit Dew Valley and told him that Xie Jinhuan was heading for Fire Phoenix Valley because the Phoenix Mausoleum opportunity had appeared.
• He Tianqi said Yan Lang and Xu Guanfu had already set out to intercept Xie Jinhuan, and Jiang Qizi eventually abandoned his work and left Spirit Dew Valley to pursue the opportunity.

Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, Nangong Ye, and Ye Hongshang descended into Fire Phoenix Valley’s underground fissures to find the source of the Yang fire. As they followed Ye Hongshang deeper, Lü Yan and Xi Yanjun discovered old sword marks and used them to choose a route through the maze.

• Xie Jinhuan entered a fissure with Bu Yuehua and Nangong Ye, leaving Coal Ball aboveground to watch for ambushes.
• Nangong Ye tested the Yin-Yang Ruler, and Xie Jinhuan explained that using it too early would drain their Qi without replenishment.
• Xie Jinhuan converted the surrounding fire Qi into balanced Qi with his Upside-Down Candle method, surprising Bu Yuehua.
• Ye Hongshang guided the group through the underground maze to the place where Bu Yuehua had previously found Purple-Gold Stone, then pointed out the way toward the Yang fire’s source.
• Lü Yan and Xi Yanjun searched a fissure more than thirty li away, where Lü Yan explained the risks of taking too much of the heavenly essence.
• Xi Yanjun read the old sword marks using the Eight Trigrams, and Lü Yan followed his chosen route deeper underground.

Xie Jinhuan refined a Five Elements opportunity while Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua guarded him, then pretended to be Ye Sheng to bluff away Lü Yan. The group escaped immediate danger, but Lü Yan discovered the false directions and pursued them.

• Xie Jinhuan, guided by Ye Hongshang, found a pure flame in a deep fissure and began refining its Five Elements essence.
• Ye Hongshang sensed people approaching, and Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua prepared to defend Xie Jinhuan.
• Xie Jinhuan and Nangong Ye impersonated Ye Sheng and his companion, convincing Lü Yan that they had already taken one opportunity and directing him toward another.
• Lü Yan left with Xi Yanjun, then found the supposed route was a dead end and the promised opportunity was absent.
• Lü Yan realized Xie Jinhuan had deceived him and turned back to pursue the group.

Xie Jinhuan, Nangong Ye, and Bu Yuehua fled through the underground passages after Xie Jinhuan obtained a divine gift, then pursued another opportunity while fearing Lü Yan’s arrival. Beneath them, a golden-armored woman recognized the group and decided to test Xie Jinhuan’s abilities.

• Xie Jinhuan persuaded Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua to seek another opportunity instead of returning toward the exit where Lü Yan might intercept them.
• Guided by Ye Hongshang, the three reached a second fire source, and Bu Yuehua began refining its Yang fire while Nangong Ye guarded the entrance.
• A golden-armored woman cultivating inside a colossal Purple-Gold Stone pillar noticed that two spiritual veins had vanished in quick succession.
• The golden-armored woman followed the remaining spiritual vein and recognized Xie Jinhuan, Nangong Ye, and Bu Yuehua above her.
• The golden-armored woman recalled her past help to Bu Yuehua and considered whether Xie Jinhuan’s ability could match that of the Old Devil shorter than a scallion.

Lü Yan caught up with Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, and Nangong Ye in the fissure and attacked them with Blazing True Fire. Xie Jinhuan collapsed the passage to escape, then left Lü Yan following misleading Life Gate and Death Gate marks again.

• Lü Yan heard digging underground and followed fresh sword marks into the fissure, eventually finding the three cultivators.
• Lü Yan unleashed Blazing True Fire, forcing Nangong Ye, Bu Yuehua, and Xie Jinhuan to retreat through the narrow passage.
• Xie Jinhuan invoked Empress Dowager Guo's name, and Lü Yan stopped his attack and offered Underworld River Grass for one of their shares.
• Ye Hongshang advised Xie Jinhuan to collapse the fissure, and he used the Heavenly Gang Mace to bring down the rock and escape with Bu Yuehua and Nangong Ye.
• Lü Yan and Xi Yanjun searched for another route, found the Life Gate and Death Gate marks, and Lü Yan charged through the Life Gate in anger.

Xie Jinhuan lured Lü Yan away from Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua while they refined their opportunities, using Love-Me-Tender Powder to make Xi Yanjun cling to his martial uncle and disrupt Lü Yan. The three reunited and fled toward the surface, but as they neared the exit, they realized their escape was not yet assured.

• Bu Yuehua gave Nangong Ye a Heavenly Pivot Pill and took a Baleful-Breaking Pill, while Xie Jinhuan headed toward the last opportunity.
• Xie Jinhuan left the Yin-Yang Ruler’s protection to draw Lü Yan away, then collapsed rock to conceal Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua as they refined their opportunities.
• Xie Jinhuan used Love-Me-Tender Powder on Xi Yanjun, who hugged Lü Yan and disrupted his pursuit, but Lü Yan fought back with powerful fire arts.
• Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua finished refining their opportunities and joined Xie Jinhuan, and the three fled through the fissures while Lü Yan pursued from behind.
• The three neared the surface and saw starlight and moonlight, but realized they had celebrated their escape too soon.

After taking all three opportunities underground, Xie Jinhuan and his companions were cornered by Lü Yan and a Black Yama Gang force. Xie Jinhuan tricked the pursuers into attacking one another, then fled toward the surface as a battle erupted behind him.

• Xu Guanfu and Yan Lang detected the underground disturbance and rushed to intercept the people emerging from a fissure.
• Xie Jinhuan, Nangong Ye, and Bu Yuehua retreated underground to escape the approaching enemies, and Bu Yuehua spread poisonous fog through the passages.
• Xie Jinhuan learned that Xu Guanfu and Yan Lang were pursuing him, then used the Yellow Qilin Seal to help stage a false clash between the groups.
• Xie Jinhuan's deception led Xu Guanfu, Yan Lang, and Lü Yan to converge and fight amid the poisonous fog and collapsing rock.
• As the enemies battled, Xie Jinhuan, Nangong Ye, and Bu Yuehua slipped away toward the surface.

Jiang Qizi ambushed Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, and Nangong Ye while pursuing the Lingguang Divine Gift, but the three overwhelmed him with their Immortal Artifacts and escaped. A golden-armored woman watched them leave and flew toward Northern Zhou.

• Jiang Qizi led more than forty corpse puppets across the Gobi toward Fire Phoenix Valley, hoping to seize the Lingguang Divine Gift.
• Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, and Nangong Ye spotted Jiang Qizi, recognized him as a Corpse Witch, and chose to attack before their pursuers caught up.
• Nangong Ye took the Zhenglun Sword as Bu Yuehua unleashed poisonous mist, and Jiang Qizi countered with corpse smoke and his puppets.
• Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, and Nangong Ye battered Jiang Qizi with the Yin-Yang Ruler, the Zhenglun Sword, and their attacks, killing him despite his final counterattack.
• Xie Jinhuan caught the falling Bu Yuehua and took two objects from the scattered remains before Nangong Ye used the Ten-Thousand-Mile Divine Movement Spell to carry them away.
• A golden-armored woman watched the three escape, then flew toward Northern Zhou instead of returning underground.

Lü Yan escaped the underground battle with the unconscious Xi Yanjun, while Xu Guanfu fled and encountered Sikong Tianyuan. Sikong revealed that Xu Guanfu had been used in a plot against Xie Jinhuan and killed him, leaving the broader scheme in motion.

• Lü Yan emerged from the underground in a burst of fire with Xi Yanjun and found that Xie Jinhuan had already escaped.
• Lü Yan struck Xi Yanjun and ordered him to return to Northern Zhou alone.
• Xu Guanfu hid in a rocky fissure after fleeing the battle, but Sikong Tianyuan seized control of him.
• Sikong Tianyuan explained that he had tracked Xu Guanfu and used him as part of a plan to kill Xie Jinhuan.
• Sikong Tianyuan struck Xu Guanfu with a soul attack and killed him.

Nangong Ye, Xie Jinhuan, and the unconscious Bu Yuehua hid in a forest crevice after escaping their pursuers, while Xie Jinhuan examined the spoils taken from a slain fiend. After recovering enough to travel, they set off north again, still surrounded by danger.

• Coal Ball scouted ahead as Nangong Ye carried Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua into the Southern Border forest to find shelter.
• Xie Jinhuan realized that the unconscious Senior Sister Hua had suffered a severe Divine Soul injury, while Nangong Ye worried that her identity might be exposed and agreed with his guesses about her training.
• Xie Jinhuan found a crevice beneath a cliff, fed Coal Ball, and examined a forbidden cultivation scripture fragment and a piece of refined fish-scale copper with Ghost Wife and Ye Hongshang.
• Nangong Ye identified the fish-scale copper as a fragment of an Immortal Artifact that could be used to make protective gear, but neither she nor Xie Jinhuan could identify its source.
• After resting for an hour and recovering more than half their Qi, Xie Jinhuan picked up Bu Yuehua and Nangong Ye carried them north again.

Nangong Ye nearly gave Bu Yuehua a Like Falling into an Ice Cellar Pill, but swallowed it herself after Xie Jinhuan caught her. She then rushed to kiss him in the bath, where Bu Yuehua woke and caught them; Nangong Ye fled afterward, leaving Xie Jinhuan behind as Bu Yuehua explained she was likely hiding nearby.

• Nangong Ye considered giving the sleeping Bu Yuehua a Like Falling into an Ice Cellar Pill, but swallowed it herself when Xie Jinhuan entered and questioned her.
• The pill took effect, and Nangong Ye rushed into Xie Jinhuan's bath and kissed him while Ye Hongshang watched.
• Bu Yuehua woke, heard the pair next door, and went to confront them after Nangong Ye insulted her.
• Bu Yuehua caught Nangong Ye and Xie Jinhuan together, then agreed to keep their relationship secret from the sect in exchange for Nangong Ye's apology.
• Nangong Ye dressed and fled through the window, saying she would return to her sect to confess, while Bu Yuehua told Xie Jinhuan she was probably hiding nearby.

Xie Jinhuan returned to Luojing after securing an opportunity in Fire Phoenix Valley, only to find that his friends and family had already left with the diplomatic delegation for Northern Zhou. Before setting out to catch up with them, he met the newly enthroned Zhao Xiao, who asked him to assess whether Empress Dowager Guo planned to lead Northern Zhou south in the coming years.

• Xie Jinhuan traveled north with Bu Yuehua while Nangong Ye secretly followed them, and Bu Yuehua promised to help find a Tiger Bone Vine.
• A diplomatic delegation led by Monk Jingkong and Jing Wuniang traveled toward Yanjing as Yang Dabiao, Fei Ji, Linghu Qingmo, Lin Wanyi, and Lin Zisu accompanied it.
• In Yanjing, Xie Wen reviewed a report on Jiang Xian'er and learned that Lü Yan had been beaten up.
• Xie Jinhuan returned to Luojing and discovered that Zhao Xiao had ascended the throne and that the delegation, including his friends and family, had already departed for Northern Zhou.
• Xie Jinhuan met Zhao Xiao and Xu Tong, then agreed to investigate Empress Dowager Guo's intentions toward a possible northern campaign.

Nangong Ye discussed the fractured Directorate of Celestial Observation with Lu Wuzhen, then promised Xie Jinhuan she would join him in Yanjing after handling official business. Wei Wuyi, Lu Wuzhen, and Monk Wuxin reunited at their old tavern and spoke warily about their past and the divided state of the Jianghu.

• Nangong Ye returned the Yin-Yang Ruler to Lu Wuzhen, who suspected an experienced hidden figure had arranged the dangers she faced in Fire Phoenix Valley.
• Lu Wuzhen invited Nangong Ye to a gathering of Cinnabar Cauldron Sect leaders, and she agreed to attend before traveling to Yanjing.
• Xie Jinhuan returned to Nangong Ye and insisted she prove she was not angry; after spending the night together, she promised to meet him in Yanjing once her business was done.
• Wei Wuyi, Lu Wuzhen, and Monk Wuxin met at their old tavern in Qingmiao Alley and reminisced about their student days with Sikong Tianyuan.
• Lu Wuzhen warned Wei Wuyi that his lack of apparent desires made his ambitions difficult to discern, then left with Monk Wuxin.
• Wei Wuyi paid the tavern keeper and reflected that his former classmates' acceptance had once kept their fellowship from ending in disaster.

Xie Jinhuan left Luojing for Northern Zhou with Bu Yuehua, Ye Hongshang, and Coal Ball, while Mu Yunling stayed behind on official business. After his departure, Huangfu Qi reflected on how Xie had repeatedly disrupted the conspiracy behind the Pill King’s rise, and Xu Tong took Zhao De to Wei Wuyi’s banquet.

• Xie Jinhuan departed Luojing for the north, carrying the Martial Dao Divine Canon and expecting Mu Yunling to join him later.
• Huangfu Qi reviewed how Xie Jinhuan had exposed the conspirators’ schemes and survived their attempts to kill him.
• Huangfu Qi learned that Xu Tong had come to take Zhao De to Wei Wuyi’s banquet at Purple Gold Pavilion.
• Zhao De left the manor with Xu Tong, joking about wealth and asking his granduncle to help him get permission to go out.

Empress Dowager Guo awoke from a nightmare of the Golden-Armored Divine Being’s last stand and asked after the trouble in Lizhou and Xie Jinhuan’s whereabouts. In Linchuan County, Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua found a room and prepared to use a secret dream method to study the Martial Dao Divine Canon.

• In her nightmare, the Golden-Armored Divine Being fought the demon tide, discovered the Corpse Ancestor’s true body, and helped the righteous forces destroy him before awakening to a battlefield where a black-robed man with five Immortal Weapons stood over the slain allies.
• Empress Dowager Guo learned that Shen Cang and Jiang Xian were investigating Lizhou and ordered her officials to watch for Xie Jinhuan, who she believed would come.
• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua reached snowy Linchuan County, learned that a Shajie Kingdom delegation was traveling to Yanjing for the young emperor’s birthday, and found a single room at a poor inn.
• Bu Yuehua agreed to learn the Martial Dao Divine Canon from Xie Jinhuan through the Hidden Immortal Sect’s Dream Transmission of the Dao, and Xie Jinhuan secretly called on Ghost Wife for help.

Bu Yuehua and Xie Jinhuan became trapped in a vivid illusion of the Hidden Immortal Sect, where Bu Yuehua appeared in revealing clothes and the two studied a martial arts star chart. As snow and cold engulfed the illusion, they shared Xie Jinhuan’s robe for warmth, while in the inn room Coal Ball let the winter wind in and found A Huan covered in frost.

• Bu Yuehua woke on a beach beside Xie Jinhuan and learned they were in an illusion depicting the Hidden Immortal Sect.
• Bu Yuehua discovered the illusion had dressed her in revealing clothes, and Xie Jinhuan insisted he could not control or end it.
• Bu Yuehua and Xie Jinhuan studied the Martial Dao Divine Canon’s star chart while strange chain sounds drew Xie Jinhuan’s attention toward a cave beneath the cliff.
• As the illusion turned cold and began to snow, Bu Yuehua shared her robe with Xie Jinhuan so they could keep warm together.
• In the inn room, Coal Ball opened a window gap to watch the street and let in wind and snow, then noticed A Huan’s eyebrows were frosted over.

Wei Jili met a Jianghu performer outside Mountain and River Pass and urged him to kill Xie Jinhuan, providing information about Bu Qingya's murder to lure Xie out. After reaching an inn, Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua learned of a suspected Soul-Seizing Lock case and rode toward Baihua County.

• Wei Jili told the Jianghu performer that Xie Jinhuan had entered the north and warned that he could disrupt their plans.
• Wei Jili gave the performer details about Bu Qingya and his wife's murder, and the performer resolved to use someone nearby to kill Xie Jinhuan without exposing their involvement.
• Xie Jinhuan woke beside Bu Yuehua after they had fallen asleep together in the cold room, while Ghost Wife and Coal Ball explained how the night had unfolded.
• Bu Yuehua overheard laborers say that a Soul-Seizing Lock was being used in the deaths at Baihua County and hurried to investigate.
• Bu Yuehua explained that the Soul-Seizing Lock had belonged to the Corpse Witch Sect and later the Corpse Ancestor, then rode with Xie Jinhuan toward Baihua County.