Recaps

Sheng Nian tried to kill Zhou Mengdie, but her dreamlike power knocked him and nearby soldiers unconscious, prompting Old Devil Xie to suspect that Zhou Zixiu was his ancient sworn enemy. Song Yan defeated and killed Yang Wenxuan, then left Daming Pass’s capture to the Qin Army while wondering where Zhou Mengdie was.

• Sheng Nian found Zhou Mengdie and drew his saber, but her power put him and nearby soldiers to sleep; Old Devil Xie recognized Zhou Zixiu’s presence and was shaken by the possibility that his old enemy had returned.
• Sheng Nian tested Zhou Mengdie’s power with A Yuan, then left to join Song Yan and the others after learning A Yuan could also be made to fall asleep.
• Song Yan asked Sheng Nian to search Yang Wenxuan’s soul, but Sheng Nian explained that he could not do so; Song Yan then crushed Yang Wenxuan with his Dharma Body.
• Song Yan took Yang Wenxuan’s Heaven and Earth Bag and let Wu Caidie and the others live, while the Qin Army seized Daming Pass after the Wind-and-Thunder Grand Formation became masterless.
• Song Yan wondered whether the victory would earn him merit and asked where Zhou Mengdie was.

Song Yan helped secure Daming Pass, returned to the Qin camp, and waited as the Qin and Sui armies overwhelmed Yan. The ancient battlefield’s generals vanished after the Yan Great General conceded defeat, leaving Song Yan and Sheng Nian to explore his ruined residence and uncover an ancient saber art.

• Song Yan rescued Zhou Mengdie from the battlefield, brought her back to the Qin camp, and reported Daming Pass’s capture to Luo Zheng, who told him his reward would be delayed until the war ended.
• Over the following months, Zhou Mengdie began cultivating while Song Yan trained and fought under orders; Qin and Sui forces then advanced against the Yan Army.
• Sheng Nian joined Song Yan at the Yan camp and pointed out that the Yan Great General had already lost as the Yan troops fled.
• The Yan soldiers dissolved into blood-colored light, and the Yan Great General admitted defeat; Qin and Sui troops then faded away after saluting, including Luo Zheng.
• Song Yan, Sheng Nian, and the others explored the Yan Great General’s ruined residence and found a jade Tooth Zhang and a tiger-shaped relic.
• Sheng Nian identified the Tooth Zhang as containing a saber Battle Art and handed it to Song Yan, who read its name: Grand General's Seal.

Song Yan received General Bai’s sword, Battle Art, Ancient Jade, and the completed tiger tally before leaving the ruins. After Sheng Nian and A Yuan dealt with Wu Caidie and the others, Sheng Nian questioned A Yuan about his past and accused him of lying.

• Song Yan and Sheng Nian divided the treasures from General Le’s remains, then Song Yan returned to Duyou Pavilion while Sheng Nian waited by the teleportation array.
• General Bai explained that he, General Le, and another companion had wagered on breaking the ruins’ array, then gave Song Yan a sword Battle Art, an Ancient Jade, and the other half of the tiger tally.
• General Bai told Song Yan to take the Ring-Pommel Sword and leave, and Song Yan departed through the teleportation array.
• A Yuan arrived and found Sheng Nian beside the array with Wu Caidie and the others dead, then burned their bodies as Sheng Nian studied the Battle Art.
• Sheng Nian asked A Yuan about his strength and memories of his family, Song Yan, and several named people, then told A Yuan that he had lied.

Song Yan returned to Red Maple Plain, reunited with Xiao He, and learned that the Demon Ruins forces seemed to be withdrawing. After discussing an ancient Tiger Tally with Qin Xijun, he took Zhou Mengdie back to the Dongyuan Sect, where he learned Lin Qing had returned months earlier.

• Song Yan arrived at Red Maple Plain with Zhou Mengdie and reunited with Xiao He in his former cave abode.
• Song Yan visited Qin Xijun, who explained that his Tiger Tally might serve as a medium for summoning the souls of ancient cultivators.
• Song Yan left Red Maple Plain with Xiao He and Zhou Mengdie and returned to the Dongyuan Sect after an uneventful journey.
• Song Yan and Zhou Mengdie reported their return at the Mission Hall, where Song Yan learned Lin Qing had come back to the sect about half a year earlier.
• Song Yan parted ways with Zhou Mengdie and flew back to his cave abode on Sword-Wiping Peak.

Song Yan refined Shufeng and relived Bai Qi’s memories, learning how the Old Martial Immortal brought him to Senior Qianya, who taught him swordsmanship and reforged the blade. The memory ended with Bai Qi’s rise as Lord Wu'an and his fall from favor, while Song Yan awakened with a seed of Bai Qi’s Slaughter Sword Intent and recognized Zhou Ziyin and the sword Suppress Evil in the past.

• Song Yan returned to his cave abode, rested, sorted his spoils, and refined the Ring-Pommel Long Sword named Shufeng.
• Shufeng carried Song Yan into Bai Qi’s memories, where the Old Martial Immortal Sima lent Bai Qi the sword and brought him to Senior Qianya.
• Qianya taught Bai Qi a sword move and reforged Shufeng, and Bai Qi later comprehended a murderous Sword Intent while choosing the Martial Immortal path.
• Bai Qi rose through Immortal Qin’s ranks, won major campaigns, became Lord Wu'an, and buried four hundred thousand surrendered Zhao soldiers at Changping.
• Bai Qi’s reliance on royal authority and incense offerings led to conflict with the King of Qin, and the Three Immortal Dynasties eventually sealed him at Yangling.
• Song Yan awoke with a seed of Bai Qi’s Slaughter Sword Intent, realized he might learn many Sword Intents, and recognized Zhou Ziyin and Suppress Evil in Bai Qi’s memories.

Song Yan studied the No Fault Sword Form and resumed his cultivation before learning that his Heart Demon had impersonated him and taken Xiao He's Glutton Tail Flute. With the Demon Ruins cultivators retreating, Song Yan visited Treasure Gathering Pavilion in search of a spirit medicine, where Zhou Baogui recognized that he had established his Dao Foundation.

• Song Yan studied the No Fault Sword Form, considered the history of Sword Cultivators, and devoted more effort to sword cultivation.
• Xiao Ju returned from Red Maple Plain, received guidance from Song Yan, and gave him a mechanical toy and an ancient Flying Sword.
• Xiao He told Song Yan that someone who looked like him had borrowed the Glutton Tail Flute, and Song Yan suspected his Heart Demon had taken it and promised to get it back.
• Reports showed the Demon Ruins cultivators retreating north as the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world relaxed.
• Song Yan went to Treasure Gathering Pavilion to look for wood spirit pulse-nourishing ginger, and Zhou Baogui recognized him as a Dao Foundation cultivator.

Song Yan bought Wood Spirit Pulse-Nourishing Ginger at the Spirit Source Marsh auction, then used Soul-Nourishing Pills and the Five-Star Pulse Seizing Art to recover his weakened divine soul while training a Phantom Aspect Heavenly Demon to track his heart demon. A year later, the Demon Ruins cultivators had retreated, Lin Qing had reached Foundation Establishment, Li Qingfeng prepared to break through, and bells summoned the sect’s disciples to Dragon Head Peak.

• Zhou Baogui recognized Song Yan, learned he needed Wood Spirit Pulse-Nourishing Ginger, and arranged a VIP Pass for the night market auction.
• Song Yan bought a lot containing the rare ginger, used Zhou Baogui’s Water-Mirror Headband to disguise himself, and left the market with a Phantom Aspect Heavenly Demon following him.
• Song Yan explained that he had split off a wisp of his divine soul to create the phantom aspect and was using it to search for his heart demon.
• Song Yan refined thirty-two Soul-Nourishing Pills and cultivated with them for a month to restore his divine soul.
• Over the following year, the Demon Ruins cultivators largely withdrew, Lin Qing formed his Dao Foundation, Li Qingfeng prepared to enter seclusion, and Xiang Zhaoling remained stuck at Great Perfection of Qi Refining.
• Bells rang from Dragon Head Peak, and the sect’s disciples left their cave abodes and headed there.

While recovering his Divine Soul, Song Yan discovered that the ancient jade he had obtained was a fragment of the Heirloom Seal of the Realm and trained Xiao Ju by having her spar with his disguised Phantom Aspect Heavenly Demon. He then attended Dongyuan’s demon-exorcising ceremony, where he received a middle-grade Spirit Artifact and other rewards for his battlefield achievements.

• Song Yan read an account of the Heirloom Seal of the Realm and recognized his Immortal Qin jade as an offcut awarded to Bai Qi, deciding to keep it rather than give it to Dog Sheng.
• Xiao Ju sparred with the disguised Phantom Aspect Heavenly Demon, and Song Yan advised her to improve her movement method and later study a simple sword formation.
• Song Yan took Xiao Ju to Dragonhead Peak for the ceremony honoring disciples who had earned merit against the Demon Ruins, where they met Gu Qingqing and Li Yi.
• Luo Xiaming announced the disciples’ deeds and rewards, including Wang Renming’s three months in the Minor Grotto-Heaven Realm and Song Yan’s six months in the Forbidden Ground, a middle-grade Spirit Artifact, and other prizes.
• Song Yan accepted his rewards from Sect Master Chen Linyuan, and the ceremony continued until Luo Xiaming called Qin Ying’s name.

Dongyuan Sect celebrated its victory over the Demon Ruins cultivators, and Song Yan told Lin Qing that he had killed Yang Wenxuan, easing Lin Qing’s fear that the sect would be destroyed. Months later, Song Yan sent Xiao Ju off to travel with a mysterious jade bead and then headed to the Minor Grotto-Heaven Realm.

• Qin Ying received generous rewards for her role in the war, including a Golden Core Sword Talisman, while Dongyuan Sect announced an incense altar for its fallen disciples.
• Song Yan and Lin Qing discussed the threat to the sect, and Song Yan revealed that he had killed Yang Wenxuan with the sect master’s authorization.
• Song Yan and Lin Qing paid respects at Tongchen Peak, where Song Yan saw Kong Yun mourning his brother Kong You, who had died saving him.
• Months later, Xiao Ju told Song Yan she was leaving the mountain to travel, and he suggested she head south and gave her a black-and-gold jade bead.
• After Xiao Ju departed, Song Yan left his cave abode and flew toward Dragonhead Mountain to cultivate in the Minor Grotto-Heaven Realm.

Song Yan spent six months cultivating in the Minor Grotto-Heaven Realm, where Chen Linyuan guided the remaining disciples and Song Yan advanced his cultivation and sword Dao. After returning to Sword-Wiping Peak, he heard a rumor that Chen Linyuan might take Qin Ying as a formal disciple.

• Xu Ziqing explained the Minor Grotto-Heaven Realm's cultivation opportunities and dangers, and Song Yan chose a cave abode north of the square.
• Song Yan used his Spirit-Absorbing Sword Formation to cultivate before attending Chen Linyuan's monthly lectures and asking questions about sword techniques and Sword Intent.
• Song Yan asked how a Sword Cultivator's Sword Intent formed a Divine Ability, but Chen Linyuan said he did not know of such a notion.
• After six months, Song Yan left the grotto-heaven with progress toward a breakthrough and a better understanding of integrating Sword Formations.
• Song Yan returned to his cave abode and later overheard disciples speculate that Chen Linyuan planned to take Qin Ying as a formal disciple.

Xie Chan and Sheng Yun left You Ruixuan’s estate, while he secretly dealt with Devil Cultivators seeking children and cultivators for their schemes. As the women traveled toward Dongyuan Sect, Qin Zhifeng ambushed them in a Binding Formation, and Xie Chan struck first.

• Xie Chan and Sheng Yun departed the Southern Pacifying Prince's Estate after You Ruixuan arranged no horses for them.
• Xie Chan told Sheng Yun that Song Yan had once saved her and her siblings, and Sheng Yun realized he was the same Dongyuan Sect cultivator her brother knew.
• At the former site of the Mysterious King Temple, Song Yan’s escaped heart demon met two Devil Cultivators and learned they had arranged to intercept the two women.
• You Ruixuan brought three children to the Devil Cultivators for their ritual, then learned they had sent Qin Zhifeng to kill Xie Chan and Sheng Yun.
• Qin Zhifeng trapped Xie Chan and Sheng Yun in a Binding Formation, but Xie Chan attacked before he could finish threatening them.

Xiao Ju found the cultivator responsible for Zheng Zhong’s disappearance and joined Xie Chan and Sheng Yun in defeating him. After she recovered Zheng Zhong’s belongings, she and the others recognized their connections to Song Yan and Sheng Nian.

• Xie Chan fought Qin Zhifeng at close range while Sheng Yun used three talismans from Sheng Nian to summon phantoms that protected her.
• Xiao Ju followed Zheng Zhong’s Jade Talisman to the battle, broke the Illusion Formation, and confronted Qin Zhifeng about the missing attendant.
• When Qin Zhifeng ordered his men to kill everyone, Xiao Ju and Xie Chan attacked him while Sheng Yun and the phantoms held off his subordinates.
• Xiao Ju and Xie Chan wounded Qin Zhifeng, whose remaining men fled; Xiao Ju then killed him before he could activate a scarlet talisman.
• Xiao Ju recovered Zheng Zhong’s mirror and belongings from Qin Zhifeng’s Heaven and Earth Bag, then introduced herself as Ju Luyi of the Dongyuan Sect.
• Xie Chan recognized Xiao Ju as Song Yan’s disciple, and Xiao Ju realized Sheng Yun was Sheng Nian’s younger sister.

Xiao Ju, Sheng Yun, and Xie Chan investigated missing attendants and found signs that devil cultivators might be involved, so Sheng Yun summoned Zheng Guangzong to help them scout a suspected hideout. Ke Huai and the black-robed Tong ambushed them at the abandoned temple, leaving the group in peril as Xiao Ju’s hidden bead stirred and Song Yan sensed danger from afar.

• Xiao Ju, Sheng Yun, and Xie Chan compared their investigations into missing attendants and discovered unusual pills and a jade slip among Qin Zhifeng’s belongings.
• The three decided to investigate the location together and Sheng Yun sent word to Zheng Guangzong, a nearby foundation establishment realm cultivator.
• Zheng Guangzong scouted the abandoned temple and detected blood stench and traces of Demonic Qi, then led the women inside to search.
• Ke Huai and the black-robed Tong appeared on the temple roof, revealed their superior strength, and attacked the group.
• Zheng Guangzong shielded the women with cloud Qi, but Tong’s flute disrupted his Cloud Demon and a bone whip wounded him.
• As Ke Huai and Tong approached the cornered group, Xiao Ju’s black-and-gold bead flew out of her Heaven and Earth Bag, while Song Yan opened his eyes in his cave abode.

Ke Huai and You Ruixuan cornered Xie Chan, Xiao Ju, Sheng Yun, and Zheng Guangzong, while Heart Demon Song Yan revealed his plan to torment Xiao Ju and Sheng Yun to weaken Song Yan. Martial Uncle Void’s masked Dharma Body intervened, and the chapter ended with Song Yan arriving to stop the Heart Demon’s escape.

• Ke Huai subdued Zheng Guangzong and pressured Xie Chan, Xiao Ju, and Sheng Yun, then summoned You Ruixuan and ordered him to kill Xie Chan.
• You Ruixuan’s involvement in refining Spirit-Sacrificing Blood Pills was exposed, and the black-robed cultivator revealed himself as Heart Demon Song Yan, who planned to torment Xiao Ju and Sheng Yun to weaken Song Yan.
• Xiao Ju resisted Heart Demon Song Yan and tried to take her own life, but Martial Uncle Void’s masked Dharma Body appeared and guided her through the Blameless sword move, severing Ke Huai’s bone whips.
• Heart Demon Song Yan recognized the Dharma Body and urged Ke Huai to flee as the sky darkened, then used an Ancient Flute and Demon Beasts to evade the masked figure.
• Heart Demon Song Yan broke away from the Dharma Body, but Song Yan’s Flying Sword and a baleful fiend struck him down before Song Yan confronted him and told him to run.

Song Yan destroyed the Heart Demon, killed Ke Huai, and reunited Sheng Yun with her brother, Sheng Nian. As the siblings caught up, Song Yan searched the enemies’ Heaven and Earth Bags and found a strange porcelain bottle holding a withered twig.

• The Dharma Body crushed the Heart Demon, took the Glutton Tail Flute, and absorbed the Heart Demon’s Demonic Flame to form a growing sword embryo.
• Song Yan killed Ke Huai with a single saber strike after Ke Huai attacked Sheng Yun, then praised Xiao Ju for comprehending Sword Intent and gave Zheng Guangzong Soul-Nourishing Pills.
• Song Yan left Sheng Yun to settle matters with You Ruixuan and spoke with her about the Sheyang Sect and her brother, Sheng Nian.
• Song Yan revealed Sheng Nian, who had been hiding nearby, and left the siblings alone to reunite.
• Song Yan searched the Heart Demon’s and Ke Huai’s Heaven and Earth Bags, finding Ke Huai’s supplies and a white porcelain bottle holding a withered twig.

Song Yan examined a jade bottle containing life-giving nectar and discovered a demonic pill that could grant cultivation at terrible cost. Sheng Nian revealed that his master, the Rogue Cultivator of Xin Mountain, had ordered the massacre of South Mountain Monastery, and Song Yan left to return to the sect with the Phantom Aspect Heavenly Demon.

• Song Yan found that the jade bottle’s nectar held immense vitality and Spiritual Power, and decided to ask Liang Feng to test its effects on Spirit Plants.
• Song Yan identified a Spirit-Sacrificing Blood Pill that could raise a cultivator’s strength but caused severe drawbacks, and wondered whether mortals could use it to pursue the Sword Cultivator path before dismissing the idea.
• Sheng Nian asked Song Yan to help kill his master, the Rogue Cultivator of Xin Mountain, when the time came, and revealed that A Yuan was Lu Yuan of South Mountain Monastery.
• Sheng Nian explained that Xin Mountain had ordered the massacre of South Mountain Monastery to protect A Yuan’s mind, and Song Yan realized their group needed to grow stronger before challenging him.
• Song Yan learned that You Ruixuan had killed himself after Xie Chan questioned him, and decided to report the affair to the sect upon his return.
• Song Yan warned Xiao Ju to be careful, left Sheng Yun with instructions, and departed with the Phantom Aspect Heavenly Demon while Xie Chan watched in silence.

Song Yan reported evidence of a Devil Cultivator and a Spirit-Sacrificing Blood Pill to the sect, then investigated how Ke Huai’s Jade Bottle produced Nectar. After discovering that it absorbed morning sun spirit, he prepared to test the Nectar in a medicinal bath.

• Song Yan reported the suspected South Chu Qin Clan connection and the Spirit-Sacrificing Blood Pill at the Deacon Hall, where Xu Wenxuan recorded the matter.
• Song Yan returned the Glutton Tail Flute to Xiao He and found her secretly trying to sculpt a clay figure.
• Song Yan experimented with the Jade Bottle, and muddy handprints led him to notice that the withered branch had changed the water inside.
• Song Yan observed the Jade Bottle absorb motes of light during Dawn Gathering Qi and concluded that the withered branch gathered morning sun spirit to make Nectar.
• On the ninth day, the Jade Bottle produced a drop of gold-green Nectar, and Song Yan poured some into a medicinal bath before entering the cauldron to test it with the Nameless Mnemonic.

Song Yan used spirit liquid to temper his body, purge demon Sha Qi, and accelerate spirit-plant growth, then pursued ingredients for a Sword-Nurturing Pill. After Lin Qing invited him to the Daoist Heir's Former Residence in Junping Prefecture, Song Yan agreed to travel there with him in a month.

• Song Yan bathed in diluted spirit liquid, cleansing his meridians, removing demon Sha Qi, and improving his cultivation speed.
• Song Yan used leftover spirit liquid to mature a Dragon-Liver Melon and decided to grow spirit medicines himself while keeping the nectar's properties from Liang Feng and Lanxi Cave.
• Song Yan arranged for Void Aspect to learn spirit-plant cultivation from Liang Feng, then searched for Cloud Abyss Sword Bamboo and Azure Sky Fruit seeds but found only Azure Sky Fruit seeds.
• The Sheyang Sect, Dongyuan Sect, and Hanging Sword Mountain uprooted Ke Huai's Seed Demon Way faction, while Li Qingfeng established his Dao foundation and celebrated with Song Yan and friends.
• Lin Qing told Song Yan that the Daoist Heir's Former Residence would appear in Junping Prefecture and invited him to go along; Song Yan agreed to leave in a month.

Zhong Ali left the Heaven's Proxy Office with Wu Yuqian and Fengchun to travel to the Daoist Heir's Former Residence in Junping Prefecture. In Huxian County, Lin Qing revealed his connection to Lin Qinglong and led Song Yan to a teleportation array that could take them toward the Central Region.

• Instructor Yang caught Lü Luo chatting with Zhong Ali, scolded her, and kicked her back toward the office.
• Zhong Ali met Wu Yuqian and Fengchun at a wayside pavilion, and the three set off together on Wu Yuqian's Plain Refinement Treasure Scroll.
• On their journey, Zhong Ali learned that Wu Xingzhi had gone ahead to Junping Prefecture and that Wu Clan members could not participate in the painting refinement.
• Song Yan met Lin Qing in Huxian County, where Lin Qing revealed that Lin Qinglong was his ancestor and that he had once explored the ancestor's former home under the alias Che Ning.
• Lin Qing took Song Yan through a hidden passage at Cloud-Covering Peak to a teleportation array, explaining that it could send them near Junping Prefecture.

Lin Qing and Song Yan traveled from the Chu Kingdom to Fufeng Commandery in the Central Region, where Song Yan searched the market for Cloud Abyss Sword Bamboo without finding any leads. The chapter left Song Yan recognizing the Nangong Aristocratic Clan’s crest on a group searching for a missing young woman.

• Lin Qing tested the teleportation formation, then used the Relocation Token to take Song Yan and Xiao He to Wushang Prefecture in Great Tang.
• Lin Qing rented a Flowing Cloud Boat, and the group traveled for more than thirty days to Fufeng Commandery in Junping Prefecture.
• Song Yan and Lin Qing checked into Stillwater Abode in Maoling Market Ward, where Lin Qing began studying the Painting Refinement of the Daoist Heir’s Former Residence.
• Song Yan searched local shops for Cloud Abyss Sword Bamboo but found no definite information, and he bought several regional goods and a moving toy rabbit for Xiao He.
• Song Yan overheard a middle-aged man and his daughter discussing a missing younger daughter, then recognized the Nangong Aristocratic Clan’s crest on their robes.

Song Yan took Xiao He to Falling Blossoms Eatery, where they shared a meal with Xiao Yu, a young woman disguised as a male scholar who claimed her Heaven and Earth Bag had been stolen. After the meal, they listened to a storyteller begin speaking about Painting Sage Wu Daoxuan.

• Song Yan estimated that fewer than fifty cultivators would attend Wu Daoxuan's Painting Refinement, then took Xiao He to eat at Falling Blossoms Eatery.
• Xiao He ordered the eatery's signature dishes, and she and Song Yan began enjoying the spirit cuisine.
• Xiao Yu discovered she could not find her Heaven and Earth Bag and told the waiter that it had been stolen, leaving her unable to pay.
• Song Yan recognized that Xiao Yu was a woman in disguise, and Xiao He invited her to eat the leftover Osmanthus Fish in exchange for repaying them later.
• After Xiao Yu ate and thanked them, Song Yan and Xiao He listened as a storyteller downstairs introduced Wu Daoxuan as the sole Painting Sage in history.

Song Yan learned that a mysterious sect might be behind a theft in the Tang Court and worried its members could be operating near Fufeng. At the Realm Gathering, he offered Boqi a Battle Art Jade Fang Zhang in exchange for information, including how to guard against the Heaven-Stealing Sect.

• A storyteller recounted how Wu Daoxuan’s friend performed a sword-controlling dance that inspired the Painting Sage to create the mural “Averting Calamities and Transforming Misfortune.”
• Song Yan left the eatery, and Xiao Yu realized how close she had come to losing her Ink Jade and decided she should travel with her father and the others.
• Song Yan spent the New Year with Xiao He, who made a wish that they would stay together and reunite if they ever parted.
• Lin Qing discussed his hopes for the Painting Refinement, and Song Yan joined the Realm Gathering, where he heard that a spiritual object had been stolen from the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s Great General’s Residence.
• The attendees suspected the Heaven-Stealing Sect, whose members could bypass protections and sever cultivators’ connections to their possessions, and Song Yan feared one might be in Fufeng.
• Song Yan asked Boqi to stay and offered him a Battle Art Jade Fang Zhang in exchange for ancient-sword leads or information on protecting against the Heaven-Stealing Sect.

Song Yan traded with Boqi for information about the Heaven-Stealing Sect and a distant lead on an ancient sword before attending the opening of the Daoist Heir's Former Residence with Lin Qing. The residence was revealed, and a Heaven's Deputy Office officer escorted a protesting woman away as the cultivators prepared to enter.

• Song Yan and Boqi agreed to exchange the Jade Fang Zhang for information, then arranged to meet at the Falling Blossoms Eatery in Maoling Market Ward.
• At the eatery, Song Yan handed Boqi the Jade Fang Zhang, and Boqi added a rumor about a Ghost-Slaying Sword near Ghost Mountain in Yuzhou.
• Void Aspect left the eatery after buying grilled Wave Frogs to take away for Xiao He.
• Wu Xingzhi led a ceremony at Heavenly Pavilion and opened the concealed entrance to the Daoist Heir's Former Residence.
• Song Yan and Lin Qing saw a Heaven's Deputy Office officer escort a protesting female cultivator from the procession as the gathered cultivators focused on entering the residence.

Song Yan and the other cultivators entered Wu Daoxuan’s former residence, where his Dao Child Ink Spirit sealed everyone’s cultivation and began a seven-day Painting Refinement. Song Yan discovered he had an Ink Jade and, while choosing a painting to enter, found a figure painting that resembled the courtyard and showed an indistinct, faceless companion beside the ink spirit’s likeness.

• Wu Xingzhi led the cultivators into the secluded valley and explained that the Painting Refinement judged painting skill, knowledge, and sincerity.
• Wu Daoxuan’s Dao Child Ink Spirit appeared, sealed the cultivation of every cultivator present, and revealed that Song Yan also possessed an Ink Jade.
• The ink spirit displayed seven unfinished paintings and instructed each Ink Jade holder to enter one, complete it within seven days, and compete for access to the treasured collection.
• Cultivators began entering the painted realms, while Song Yan tucked the sleeping Xiao He into his sleeve and examined the paintings.
• Song Yan rejected several scenes and paused at a figure painting of a familiar courtyard, where a figure resembling Wu Daoxuan painted beside a faceless companion.

Song Yan discovered clues linking the figure painting to Cloud Abyss Sword Bamboo and entered it to investigate. Meanwhile, in Fufeng Commandery, Cui Mi and the Heaven's Deputy Office tried to make the captured Wu Mengliu demonstrate the Heaven-Stealing Sect's techniques.

• Zhong Ali explained that cultivators avoided the figure painting because its subject was likely a powerful friend of Wu Daoxuan, making it difficult and risky to portray him.
• Song Yan noticed clues in the figure painting that resembled the unusual phenomena around Cloud Abyss Sword Bamboo and suspected it depicted the flying-sword cultivator from a story about Wu Daoxuan's friend.
• Song Yan chose the figure painting and vanished into its realm, prompting the Dao Child Ink Spirit to glance at where he had stood.
• In Fufeng Commandery, Cui Mi questioned the captured Heaven-Stealing Sect disciple Wu Mengliu, who recalled that her attempt to steal a black-and-white Sword Case had left her disoriented and exposed her identity.
• Cui Mi and the Heaven's Deputy Office guards formed a formation and ordered Wu Mengliu to steal something from him so they could study her sect's methods.