Chapter Summaries

Three Dongyuan Sect disciples gathering herbs on Rosy Cloud Peak were surrounded by Demon Beasts, and Yang Yuerong nearly died before Song Yan arrived and defeated them with his Sword Qi. The chapter ended with Song Yan’s Flying Sword hovering before him as the disciples looked on.

• An honest-looking Dongyuan Sect disciple explained the Mystic Wonder Sect’s hostility toward Dongyuan Sect as he, Yang Yuerong, and another disciple traveled through the Yanran Mountains.
• The three reached Rosy Cloud Peak to gather spirit cloud grass and admired the misty sunrise without noticing a Cat Demon stalking them.
• Two Mist Shadow Wolf Demons and a Ghost Shadow Cat Demon surrounded the disciples, and Yang Yuerong restrained them with water while A-Yu sent up a distress signal.
• The disciples tried to fight and flee, but the demons overwhelmed them, and the Cat Demon attacked Yang Yuerong from behind.
• Song Yan’s Sword Qi cut off the Cat Demon’s forelimb and killed all three demons, then gathered into a Flying Sword before him.

Song Yan returned to the sect with all six Demon Beast Cores and received orders to investigate trouble in Linxi County alongside Qin Ying and two other disciples. Before leaving, he borrowed a protective Remnant Talisman from Qin Xijun, who recognized that his cultivation had recovered.

• Song Yan completed his hunt for six Ghost Shadow Cat Demon Beast Cores and returned to report his mission.
• Song Yan described practicing the Hidden Sword Concealing Spirit Technique and the Sword in the Clouds technique while recovering to the fifth layer of Qi Refining.
• Song Yan received orders to assemble for an investigation in Linxi County with Qin Ying, Li Qingfeng, and Song Yesheng.
• Song Yan visited Qin Xijun's store and persuaded her to lend him a one-use Remnant Talisman for the dangerous mission.
• Qin Xijun watched Song Yan leave and felt reassured that his cultivation had recovered, then murmured Qin Ying's name.

Song Yan accompanied Qin Ying to Linxi County to investigate the incident at Peach Blossom Hollow, traveling there by Flying Sword and entering the city under disguise. They met Constable Bai Lei, who said Senior Brother Bai Zimo was occupied at the government office.

• Song Yan met Qin Ying and Li Qingfeng at the sect gates, and Qin Ying took him toward Linxi County on her Flying Sword while Li Qingfeng followed on his iron-wok Law Artifact.
• Qin Ying and Song Yan landed outside Linxi County and entered on foot to avoid disturbing the residents.
• The city guards recognized them as Dongyuan Sect cultivators after hearing that news of the Peach Blossom Hollow incident had spread nearby.
• Constable Bai Lei welcomed Qin Ying and Song Yan on behalf of Bai Zimo, explaining that Bai Zimo was handling important business at the government office.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng learned that Gu Qingqing had disappeared after being sent to investigate Peach Blossom Hollow, and Qin Ying went to search nearby while they headed for the village. At the village entrance, they found a filthy beggar lying behind the stone marker.

• Constable Bai told Song Yan and Qin Ying that Master Bai helped the county magistrate and knew little about Peach Blossom Hollow beyond its reputation as a dead village.
• Song Yan noticed a paper figure in Master Bai’s reception room that resembled figures left by Devil Cultivators, but dismissed his suspicion because Qin Ying was present.
• Qin Ying said Gu Qingqing had not returned after more than a month, and her Life Talisman could no longer locate her because she had activated a spirit-sealing treasure.
• Qin Ying flew off to search nearby for traces of Gu Qingqing and told Song Yan and Li Qingfeng to proceed to Peach Blossom Hollow.
• Song Yan and Li Qingfeng reached the village marker and found a beggar lying behind it.

Song Yan, Li Qingfeng, and Qin Ying entered Peach Blossom Hollow to search for a missing female cultivator and found a seemingly ordinary village whose residents all had unusually vigorous Qi and Blood. At the Jiang Household, a youth revealed the villagers were following True Person Jiang’s method to shed their mortal shells and ascend to immortality.

• Li Qingfeng woke a distressed beggar at the village entrance, who repeated “Immortal's Hometown” before fainting.
• Qin Ying returned and led Song Yan and Li Qingfeng into Peach Blossom Hollow, where they found bustling village life and villagers with unusually vigorous Qi and Blood.
• The village head and villagers invited the cultivators to a wedding feast and spoke of True Person Jiang, a supposed immortal who lived on Incense Burner Peak.
• At the Jiang Household, the three were served Spirit Tea, which the villagers claimed True Person Jiang had devised to improve aptitude.
• Erlengzi told the three that the villagers drank the tea and followed True Person Jiang’s method to shed their mortal shells and ascend to immortality.

Song Yan investigated Peach Blossom Hollow and discovered that its children might be paper figures, while Jiang Xiao prepared to use his Blood Refining Grand Formation against Qin Ying. The chapter left Jiang Xiao and Bai Yulu together at his temple as Chen Jiping became another puppet-like helper.

• Li Qingfeng left with a village boy to investigate the surroundings, while Song Yan searched the village and Qin Ying stayed behind with Gu Qingqing's life talisman.
• Song Yan found a paper figure near the children and realized that the group of cultivators might be the final batch in the village.
• The village chief passed Chen Jiping's house, and a piercing ring sent her walking like a puppet toward Incense Burner Peak.
• Jiang Xiao explained that Chen Jiping cultivated the Blood Refining Ancient Manual unusually quickly and decided to keep her as a helper.
• Bai Yulu questioned Jiang Xiao's plan to use the Blood Refining Grand Formation on Qin Ying, but he insisted on luring her into his trap.

At Jiang Household, Song Yan, Li Qingfeng, and Qin Ying discovered Gu Qingqing trapped inside a blood cocoon as Peach Blossom Hollow’s villagers turned hostile. Jiang Xiao revealed his Foundation Establishment power and activated a blood formation around the village, declaring his plan to ascend to immortality.

• Song Yan recognized the paper figures from an earlier encounter, while a bridal procession arrived through the mist at Jiang Household.
• Qin Ying cut open the blood cocoon inside the bridal sedan and revealed Gu Qingqing bound within it.
• The villagers attacked, but Qin Ying froze them; Jiang Xiao and Bai Yulu then approached from Incense Burner Peak.
• Jiang Xiao revived the villagers, who rose and offered their blood to him, while he summoned a black-flamed Flying Sword from the ancient well.
• Jiang Xiao unleashed a Blood Qi formation that covered Peach Blossom Hollow and proclaimed his intent to ascend to immortality.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng fought their way toward Qingqing while Qin Ying battled Jiang Xiao, but Bai Yulu and a controlled Hanging Sword Mountain cultivator blocked them. With Xiao He's help resisting Bai Yulu's illusions, Song Yan unleashed his sword techniques and killed the rabbit demon, while the battle above and Qingqing's rescue remained unresolved.

• Qin Ying engaged Jiang Xiao as Song Yan and Li Qingfeng headed for the blood cocoon containing Qingqing.
• Bai Yulu used her illusion technique and a controlled Hanging Sword Mountain cultivator to stop Song Yan and Li Qingfeng.
• Snake Treasure bit Song Yan to help him recover from the illusion, and Xiao He’s glowing eyes broke Bai Yulu’s renewed attempt to control him.
• Song Yan sent Li Qingfeng to fight the controlled cultivator and attacked Bai Yulu with his flying sword.
• Song Yan shattered Bai Yulu’s whip, struck her with seven streaks of Sword Qi, and killed her with Sword in the Clouds.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng defeated their Hanging Sword Mountain opponents and rescued Gu Qingqing, but Qin Ying’s power weakened inside Jiang Xiao’s Blood Refining Grand Formation. The chapter ended with Jiang Xiao’s black-flamed Immortal Sword bearing down on Qin Ying as her protective mirror neared collapse.

• Song Yan recovered after using a powerful sword strike, while Li Qingfeng swallowed a spirit-rice pill that rapidly increased his spiritual power.
• Li Qingfeng used a precise, butcher-like kitchen-knife technique to cripple and kill the Hanging Sword Mountain disciple, then collapsed from exhaustion.
• Song Yan cut Gu Qingqing free from the blood cocoon and carried her away from the battle between Qin Ying and Jiang Xiao.
• Li Qingfeng warned Song Yan that Qin Ying’s presence was fading, and Song Yan saw scarlet corruption spreading across her skin inside the Blood Refining Grand Formation.
• Jiang Xiao drew power from the villagers and drove his black-flamed Immortal Sword through Qin Ying’s defenses until it threatened her face.

Jiang Xiao nearly defeated Qin Ying, but Song Yan’s Two-Pole Bead disrupted his control of the Immortal Sword and Li Qingfeng found a way to interfere with the Blood Refining Grand Formation. The chapter ended with Li Qingfeng telling Jiang Xiao that he was about to die.

• Jiang Xiao’s black devil flames overwhelmed Qin Ying’s defenses and disrupted her Frost-Defying Sword Formation, leaving her badly wounded.
• Song Yan sensed the Two-Pole Bead’s power surge, weakening Jiang Xiao’s connection to the Immortal Sword and giving Qin Ying a chance to recover.
• Jiang Xiao attacked Song Yan and Li Qingfeng, but Qin Ying trapped him in her Frost-Defying Sword Formation and struck with a blast of icy spiritual power.
• Jiang Xiao re-formed from streams of blood, and Song Yan deduced that the black flying sword was the formation’s core while Blood Qi served as its anchors.
• Li Qingfeng drew in the spiritual Qi and Blood Qi throughout the grand formation, briefly disrupting Jiang Xiao and allowing frost to spread over his body.
• Li Qingfeng stopped his technique as his meridians suffered damage, then smiled at Jiang Xiao and warned him that he was about to die.

Li Qingfeng, Gu Qingqing, Qin Ying, and Song Yan disrupted Jiang Xiao’s Blood Refining Grand Formation and killed him at Peach Blossom Hollow. After returning to the Bai residence, Song Yan realized Bai Lei had been posing as the household servant while Bai Zimo was already dead, and confronted him as the group prepared to act.

• Li Qingfeng used the Heaven-Swallowing Art to draw in the formation’s blood mist, while Gu Qingqing protected him with precious jade.
• Song Yan used the Two-Pole Bead to bind Jiang Xiao’s black flying sword and disrupt the formation as Qin Ying attacked with frost.
• Qin Ying froze Jiang Xiao’s demonic body and shattered it, then pierced the bloody paper figure that emerged.
• At the Bai residence, Bai Zimo told the group that the villagers had been buried and explained the beggar’s history with Jiang Xiao.
• As the group prepared to leave, Song Yan accused Bai Lei of hiding beneath their noses after killing Bai Zimo, and Li Qingfeng said they had deciphered the Blood Refining Ancient Manual.

Song Yan, Li Qingfeng, and Gu Qingqing met Qin Ying on Lianyou Peak to receive their share of the spoils from defeating Jiang Xiao. Song Yan chose Jiang Xiao’s black Flying Sword, and Qin Ying offered it on the condition that Song Yan become her disciple after reaching the late Qi Refining stage and entering the Inner Sect.

• Song Yan and Li Qingfeng waited with Gu Qingqing on Lianyou Peak for Qin Ying to return from reporting on the Devil Cultivator.
• Qin Ying explained that the group’s efforts against Jiang Xiao had helped her win and let each of them choose one item from the spoils.
• Song Yan inspected the items and chose the black Flying Sword, despite sensing that it might be sinister.
• Qin Ying told Song Yan that he had to take her as his master after reaching the late Qi Refining stage and entering the Inner Sect.

After receiving a flying sword and an offer of tutelage from Qin Ying, Song Yan consulted Qin Xijun, who revealed that she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and agreed to take him as her disciple. Back at his cave abode, Song Yan examined the sword and discovered its name was Heart Demon.

• Qin Ying offered to take Song Yan as her disciple, but he said he needed to consult an elder before deciding.
• Song Yan returned his unused protective remnant talisman to Qin Xijun and told her about Qin Ying's offer and the flying sword.
• Qin Xijun advised Song Yan to follow his own heart and promised to protect him if his prospective master mistreated him.
• Song Yan guessed that Qin Xijun was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and asked her to become his master; she reluctantly agreed.
• Song Yan returned to Greenleaf Peak and found the name Heart Demon inscribed on the black flying sword.

Song Yan discovered that the Two-Pole Bead had drawn Heart Demon and the Glutton Tail Flute into its realm, where his embryonic Dao Heart slowly began dispelling the sword’s Demonic Flames. At the Sheyang Sect, Sheng Yun entered the Inner Sect while her brother Sheng Nian left, and a voice tempted him to embrace Demon Sect cultivation.

• Song Yan’s spiritual power flowed into the Two-Pole Bead, which pulled Heart Demon into the Two-Pole Realm.
• Song Yan found an Ink-Colored Heavenly Waterfall and Ink Pool near the Dao Seed’s phantom, and recoiled from the malice and screams he sensed there.
• Song Yan saw his embryonic Dao Heart slowly stripping the Demonic Flames from Heart Demon and found the Glutton Tail Flute inside the Two-Pole Realm as well.
• At the Sheyang Sect, Sheng Nian urged Sheng Yun to stay and enter the Inner Sect, while he departed after learning he had no Spiritual Root.
• As Sheng Yun wept, a voice urged Sheng Nian to become its disciple and seize the path to immortality through Demon Sect cultivation.

Song Yan visited the Outer Sect library to find accounts of ancient Sword Cultivators, then sold his miscellaneous items at Lingyuan Marsh Market. As he passed the Seamless Heavenly Garment shop, a frail girl grabbed his sleeve and offered to sew him a Daoist robe for one three-mark Spirit Stone.

• Song Yan entered the Outer Sect library looking for books about Sword Cultivators of High Antiquity and spoke with Sun Zhengfu, who directed him to the third floor.
• Song Yan found Tales of Ancient Swords, borrowed it, and went to Lingyuan Marsh Market to sell his miscellaneous items.
• Song Yan planned to find a teahouse and read the book before returning it to the library.
• Song Yan noticed the Seamless Heavenly Garment shop and was about to leave when a frail, freckled girl caught his sleeve.
• The girl offered to sew Song Yan a Daoist robe for one three-mark Spirit Stone.

Song Yan learned more about ancient Sword Cultivators and considered his priorities before hearing that the Dongyuan Sect's Sword-Wiping Assembly would offer unusually generous rewards. He decided to enter the competition and returned to the Seamless Heavenly Garment to order a robe from Xiao Ju.

• Song Yan visited the Carefree Heart Pavilion and read that some ancient Sword Cultivators fell to the Evil Dao, creating Evil Swords that could contain demonic thoughts.
• After finishing Tales of Ancient Swords, Song Yan wondered whether Heart Demon was a Flying Sword and decided to focus on improving his Sword Dao Seed, Dao heart, and Sword Intent.
• Song Yan overheard Dongyuan Sect disciples say that the Sword-Wiping Assembly was approaching and that its rewards were unusually generous ahead of a major Central Region gathering.
• Song Yan considered competing for the rewards, then found Xiao Ju sitting outside the Seamless Heavenly Garment with his damaged Daoist robe and three Spirit Stones.
• Song Yan told Xiao Ju he wanted a robe made exactly like the old one.

Song Yan learned that Shan Zifeng was withholding the compensation meant for him and resolved to kill him, but a sudden stir from the Two-Pole Bead drew him back to his cave abode. The chapter left him hurrying to discover what had changed.

• Song Yan practiced cultivation and calligraphy, then met Gu Qingqing and Shan Zifeng at the Heart-Cultivation Academy.
• After Song Yan left, Sun Zhengfu told him Xuanyuan Sect's compensation had been entrusted to Tongchen Peak, where Shan Zifeng was delaying its return and abusing his position.
• Song Yan decided he would kill Shan Zifeng once he had a foolproof opportunity, though Shan was stronger than him at the time.
• Gu Qingqing dismissed Shan Zifeng's complaints about Song Yan and left the academy, while Shan grew resentful.
• The Two-Pole Bead stirred, and Song Yan hurried back to his cave abode.

Song Yan touched the transformed flying sword Heart Demon and was overwhelmed by pain, then awoke in the body of Zhou Ziyin, a feared brute known as one of the Three Harms. After killing the tiger and flood dragon, Zhou Ziyin confronted the damage he had caused and was offered a chance to begin anew by a cultivator.

• Song Yan reached for Heart Demon in the Two-Pole Realm, and its dark flames and white light surged into him, overwhelming his consciousness.
• Song Yan awoke as Zhou Ziyin in Xianyang Township, where villagers feared him for his violent and lawless behavior.
• After learning that a white-browed tiger had killed the old man's son, Zhou Ziyin killed the tiger and brought its carcass back to the township.
• Zhou Ziyin went to Xuan Pool, fought the flood dragon for three days, killed it, and found an ancient sword inside its belly.
• Zhou Ziyin returned to find the township celebrating his supposed death, then saw his bloodied reflection and realized he looked like another of the Three Harms.
• At the Three Harms Tomb, a Daoist revealed himself as a cultivator and asked Zhou Ziyin whether he was willing to start anew.

Song Yan relived the final moments of Zhou Ziyin, whose sword had endured centuries of demonic flames, and discovered that its remaining formless spiritual intent strengthened his Seed of the Sword Dao. He refined the sword as his future life-bound flying sword, named it Unmoored Boat, and left the chapter cultivating faster while wondering what had happened to the dispersed demonic flames.

• Song Yan witnessed Zhou Ziyin fall to a devil cultivator, while Zhou Ziyin's ancient sword survived the demonic flames that destroyed him.
• Back in the Two-Pole Realm, Song Yan found that strands of formless spiritual intent emerged from the sword and merged into his Seed of the Sword Dao.
• Song Yan drew sword Qi from his Dao seed to refine the ancient sword as his future life-bound flying sword, naming it Unmoored Boat.
• Song Yan completed the refinement in two and a half days and found Unmoored Boat more nimble than his previous flying sword.
• Song Yan's cultivation and spiritual Qi absorption improved, bringing his expected attempt at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer to about three months away.
• Song Yan reflected on Zhou Ziyin's past and wondered whether the Two-Pole Bead had dissolved the demonic flames or absorbed them into the Two-Pole Realm.

Song Yan received the long-delayed Daoist robe from Ju Luyi and agreed to recommend her sewing work. He then met Wu Huaguo and Rong Xiaofeng for their cave-abode expedition, where they discussed the organizer’s odd request for only two pieces of calligraphy.

• Song Yan practiced controlling Sword Qi in his warm pool while Xiao He playfully stole it and revealed she could carry it unharmed.
• Ju Luyi delivered Song Yan’s robe nearly half a year late, explaining that she had gone to the Yanran Mountain Range to gather materials for a Water-Repelling Array Pattern and got lost.
• Song Yan accepted Ju Luyi’s apology, agreed to recommend her sewing, and learned her name.
• Song Yan tested the robe’s water-repelling effect, packed his supplies, and left to keep his appointment.
• Song Yan met Wu Huaguo and Rong Xiaofeng, gave them his real name, and agreed they could still call him Fellow Daoist Tong in front of the other expedition members.
• Wu Huaguo said the late Qi Refining stage organizer truly wanted only two pieces of calligraphy from the cave abode, leaving Song Yan puzzled about his motives.