Recaps

Lin Chuan and his companions entered the ruined Pure Land Chan Temple after a demon’s escape and found Qin Tiexin fighting Xiao Wan. Lin Chuan intervened to protect Qin Tiexin, and the chapter ended with his group preparing to fight Xiao Wan.

• Lin Chuan learned that a demon had escaped the temple’s third level and that a body cultivator with a massive black saber was fighting it.
• After hearing a violent clash inside the temple, Lin Chuan led his companions through a collapsed wall and found Qin Tiexin battling Xiao Wan.
• Lin Chuan recognized Xiao Wan, while Ling Shuyao noticed that Qin Tiexin was nearly exhausted.
• Lin Chuan ordered his companions to support Qin Tiexin, then stepped between him and Xiao Wan.
• Xiao Wan demanded that Lin Chuan hand Qin Tiexin over, but Lin Chuan refused and his group prepared to fight her.

After Lin Chuan and his companions drove Xiao Wan away, Qin Tiexin concealed himself to recover and deal with the beads and severed arm. He transformed back into Mingjue, leaving Lin Chuan’s group still searching for him.

• Xiao Wan grabbed the unconscious Xiao Rou and fled the temple ruins after Lin Chuan and Qin Tiexin turned the fight against her.
• Qin Tiexin introduced himself as Liu Qing, gave Lin Chuan’s group Blood Demon Fruits, and said Mingjue was nearby before leaving.
• Qin Tiexin hid in a side hall and discovered that the severed arm wanted one of the ordinary grayish-white beads, not the golden-white bead.
• The severed arm thanked Qin Tiexin and said it would assimilate the bead, while Qin Tiexin covered the other ten beads with the great bell to purify their demonic will.
• Qin Tiexin put away Edgeless, changed back into his warrior monk’s robes, cut his hair, and reshaped his appearance into Mingjue.

Qin Tiexin disguised himself as Mingjue and rejoined Lin Chuan’s group after surviving a dangerous encounter. They searched the ruins’ second floor, uncovered a trove of Pure Land Chan Sect cultivation Jade Slips, and agreed to divide them and sell the remainder to the Imperial Dao Arts Workshop.

• Qin Tiexin checked his Mingjue disguise, recovered some strength with pills, and concealed the evidence of his battle before rejoining the group.
• Liu Suifeng, Lin Chuan, Xu Ying, Du Heng, and Ling Shuyao welcomed Qin Tiexin back and did not press him about what had happened.
• The group searched the ruined first floor, found its Spirit Stones drained and Law Artifacts broken, then moved to the second floor.
• They discovered many Jade Slips containing cultivation methods and techniques, including a complete copy of the lost Wrathful Gaze Dust-Subduing Palm.
• Lin Chuan proposed dividing the Jade Slips among the group and selling the rest, and Ling Shuyao offered to have the Imperial Dao Arts Workshop buy them.

Lin Chuan and his companions gathered the Pure Land Chan Temple’s jade-slip inheritance and surviving treasures, then fled before other cultivators could discover their haul. They escaped through the north gate and continued toward the Vast Waves Sea, leaving the temple and its returning searchers behind.

• Ling Shuyao, Xu Ying, and the others sorted more than three hundred jade slips, including rare Nascent Soul Realm arts, and stored them with Xu Ying.
• Lin Chuan directed the team to collect the third floor’s surviving Spirit Stones, Law Artifacts, and pills before other cultivators returned.
• The group estimated their haul at more than four or five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, while Lin Chuan noticed voices and footsteps approaching the temple.
• Lin Chuan left the unconscious cultivators behind and led the team out through the north gate toward the Vast Waves Sea.
• The six traveled silently through the forest, passed retreating cultivators without incident, and left the Pure Land Chan Temple far behind.

Lin Chuan and the others collected seawater from the Vast Waves Sea and found water-attribute crystal stone along the shore. Before leaving for their next stop, they saw a distant barrier across the sea and discussed what might lie beyond it.

• Lin Chuan and the others filled their Water-Drawing Jade Talismans with seawater, and Ling Shuyao warned Liu Suifeng that the water contained a toxin after he tasted it.
• Qin Tiexin found crystal stone in a reef crevice, and the group searched the coast and collected several hundred pieces of ore.
• Qin Tiexin spotted a pale blue barrier on the horizon, and Ling Shuyao described an old account claiming a great war had led to the sea being sealed.
• Lin Chuan led the group back toward the forest after they completed the water-collection mission, while Qin Tiexin wondered whether another domain lay beyond the barrier.

Lin Chuan’s group returned to the Secret Realm Trial’s exit carrying their gains, only to find Qian Shouan charging cultivators to pass through. With the route guarded by a powerful formation and nearby rifts sealed, the group faced a costly choice as Du Heng began drawing his sword.

• Lin Chuan led the group safely back, avoiding the Pure Land Chan Temple and taking only a few unvisited resource sites along the way.
• Qin Tiexin gave most of the recovered materials to his teammates and kept only a few useful Law Artifact fragments.
• After five days, the group reached the exit rift and encountered Qian Shouan and four guards blocking the path.
• Qian Shouan offered seawater for three thousand Spirit Stones per jade talisman, passage with an empty talisman, or entry for one thousand Spirit Stones per person.
• Liu Suifeng detected a powerful formation around the guarded rift, and Qian Shouan revealed that he had sealed the two nearest alternative rifts.
• Du Heng drew his heavy sword slightly as the group considered how to respond.

Lin Chuan's team completed the Secret Realm Trial and returned to Ten Thousand Stars City, where they celebrated with a dinner. As they discussed the upcoming Skills Trial, several members chose which events they would enter.

• Lin Chuan and Qin Tiexin handed Qian Shouan six Water-Drawing Jade Talismans and Spirit Stones, then passed through the fissure with their team.
• The Star Selection Bureau verified the team's talismans, recorded that all members had survived and completed the mission, and awarded them full marks.
• The team returned by teleportation array to Morning Star Training Ground, and Lin Chuan arranged to divide their secret-realm gains two days later.
• Ling Shuyao left to return to the Imperial Dao Arts Workshop, while the others went to Starlight Restaurant for a celebratory meal.
• Lin Chuan explained the Skills Trial events, and Liu Suifeng chose formations, Xu Ying chose alchemy, Du Heng declined to compete, and Qin Tiexin chose artifact refining.

Qin Tiexin met Chen Xi in a hidden courtyard, where Chen Xi warned him that he was being watched and treated the damage caused by forcibly raising his cultivation. Chen Xi urged him to protect his life and ended by asking whether he had been the body cultivator Liu Qing in the secret realm.

• Lin Chuan assigned Liu Suifeng, Xu Ying, and Qin Tiexin to enter the formation, pill-refining, and artifact-refining competitions, respectively.
• After parting from Lin Chuan, Qin Tiexin followed Chen Xi's message to a secluded house in Eternal Peace Alley.
• Chen Xi revealed that Qin Tiexin had been followed since leaving the Secret Realm Trial, but said his formations had prevented anyone from tracking him into the courtyard.
• Chen Xi detected damage to Qin Tiexin's foundation from forcibly raising his cultivation and used his spiritual power to help clear it.
• Chen Xi advised Qin Tiexin to flee or call for help rather than risk his life, then asked whether he had been Liu Qing in the secret realm.

Chen Xi questioned Qin Tiexin about the Secret Realm Trial and, after hearing his full account, sharply criticized his mistakes. He left Qin Tiexin reflecting on how his disguises and impulsive choices had exposed him to suspicion and danger.

• Chen Xi asked Qin Tiexin whether he had obtained the middle-grade spirit artifact bracelet, then had him recount everything that happened in the Secret Realm Trial.
• After Qin Tiexin finished, Chen Xi challenged his belief that he had become skilled at disguise and warned that his alternating identities as Liu Qing and Mingjue had made the connection obvious.
• Chen Xi criticized Qin Tiexin for keeping Xiao Rou close despite suspecting her and for failing to disguise his height and build.
• Chen Xi warned Qin Tiexin that using Buddhist martial techniques had attracted attention and told him not to use them again in the Heavenly South Domain.
• Chen Xi rebuked Qin Tiexin for rushing into the battle with Xuanli instead of waiting for a safer opportunity or asking Chen Xi for help.

Chen Xi warned Qin Tiexin that his careless actions had exposed his identity and laid out steps to cover his tracks. Qin Tiexin stayed in hiding to prepare for the Skills Trial and Arena Trial, while Chen Xi left him supplies and advice.

• Chen Xi listed Qin Tiexin's mistakes, including revealing himself to Lin Chuan and the others, and frightened him with the possibility that they could identify him.
• Chen Xi told Qin Tiexin to let him copy and distribute the Jade Slips for his three martial techniques so they would no longer appear exclusive to him.
• Qin Tiexin gave Chen Xi a drop of Essence Blood, which Chen Xi planned to use to make a Substitute Puppet that would draw enemies toward Ten Thousand Stars City and self-destruct.
• Chen Xi examined Qin Tiexin's purified bracelet and suggested giving it to Ming'an, who was staying at the Lin Residence.
• Chen Xi advised Qin Tiexin to limit his Skills Trial display to Upper-Grade Law Artifacts and aim for the top three in the Arena Trial without using the three martial techniques.
• Chen Xi left Qin Tiexin a protective talisman, a sleeve arrow, and Qi Recovery Pills, then departed without being seen.

Qin Tiexin met his companions at Star Rain Pavilion to divide the Secret Realm Trial’s spoils, while applying Senior Brother Chen Xi’s advice to think ahead and keep his actions concealed. Ling Shuyao offered six hundred thousand Spirit Stones for the remaining Jade Slips on behalf of the Imperial Dao Arts Workshop.

• Qin Tiexin spent two days reflecting on Senior Brother Chen Xi’s warnings and resolved to conceal what needed concealing and endure what needed enduring.
• Qin Tiexin joined Lin Chuan, Liu Suifeng, Du Heng, Xu Ying, and Ling Shuyao at Star Rain Pavilion to divide their gains.
• Xu Ying reported that the group’s shared supplies had been converted into Spirit Stones, with twenty thousand allocated to each member except Ling Shuyao, who declined a share.
• The group inspected the Law Artifacts, chose the items they wanted, and agreed that Xu Ying would sell the rest and distribute fifteen thousand Spirit Stones to each person.
• The others selected useful Jade Slips, while Qin Tiexin found none he needed and Ling Shuyao took the remaining collection.
• Ling Shuyao offered six hundred thousand Spirit Stones on behalf of the Imperial Dao Arts Workshop for the remaining Jade Slips.

After Ling Shuyao distributed the secret realm spoils, Lin Chuan told the group to prepare for the Skills Trial and keep their wealth hidden. On their way out, they heard that the mysterious Liu Qing had become a target, then a cloaked, one-armed stranger claimed Liu Qing was already dead.

• Ling Shuyao valued the jade slips at six hundred thousand spirit stones, and Xu Ying distributed each person's share.
• Qin Tiexin asked Xu Ying, Du Heng, and Ling Shuyao to find pills, Golden Core Realm demon beast flesh and blood, and a suitable cultivation method or martial technique.
• Lin Chuan urged everyone to prepare for the Skills Trial in twelve days, keep their wealth out of sight, and postpone celebrating until after the Arena Trial.
• As the group left the teahouse, cultivators discussed rumors that the disguised rogue cultivator Liu Qing had taken Pure Land Chan Temple's treasure hoard worth over a million spirit stones.
• Qin Tiexin realized news of Liu Qing had spread across Ten Thousand Stars City before the Secret Realm Trial had ended and wondered who was stirring up trouble.
• A gray-cloaked stranger with a missing leg and arm told the teahouse crowd that Liu Qing was already dead.

A cloaked cultivator named Sun Heng told a teahouse that Liu Qing had died in a massive explosion after being surrounded by more than a hundred cultivators. Lin Chuan, Ling Shuyao, and Qin Tiexin heard the report and questioned whether Liu Qing had really been Mingjue, while Qin Tiexin realized Senior Brother Chen Xi was likely behind the event.

• Sun Heng recounted how Liu Qing detonated a formation in Fallen Star Valley, killing more than half of the cultivators pursuing him and leaving Sun Heng badly scarred.
• Sun Heng argued that Liu Qing could not have survived the blast and cited a bead matching the legendary bracelet as evidence of his death.
• The teahouse patrons lamented Liu Qing's death and the dangers facing rogue cultivators.
• Lin Chuan and Ling Shuyao doubted their belief that Liu Qing was Mingjue after hearing Sun Heng's account.
• Qin Tiexin recognized that Senior Brother Chen Xi was responsible and was surprised by how quickly and conspicuously he had acted.

Lin Chuan urged the group to hide their connection to the Pure Land Chan Temple treasure and take precautions after Liu Qing’s supposed death. Chen Xi secretly monitored them and was impressed that Lin Chuan had guessed the truth but still protected Qin Tiexin.

• Qin Tiexin pieced together how Chen Xi had made Liu Qing’s death convincing with a real explosion, a genuine Spirit Bone bead, and an injured witness.
• Lin Chuan led the group out of the teahouse without discussing Liu Qing and warned Xu Ying and Ling Shuyao not to sell their goods too quickly.
• Lin Chuan told everyone to conceal their visit to the Pure Land Chan Temple, avoid going out, and cancel their group gatherings as they prepared for the Skills Trial and Arena Trial.
• Transparent insects attached to the six cultivators’ clothes recorded Lin Chuan’s warning and transmitted it to Chen Xi.
• Chen Xi learned that Lin Chuan suspected Liu Qing was Mingjue but had kept quiet and protected Qin Tiexin, and he praised Lin Chuan’s judgment.

Qin Tiexin told the Lin family he was leaving their residence to keep them safe as the Star Selection Trial put him at greater risk of exposure. After seeing how Ming'an had waited and prayed for his return, Qin Tiexin faced the choice of whether the young monk would leave with him.

• Qin Tiexin thanked Marquis Lin and Madam Lin and announced he was moving to a rented house in the city.
• Madam Lin asked whether Ming'an would go with him, and Qin Tiexin said he would respect the child's wishes.
• Qin Tiexin said farewell to Marquis Lin, Madam Lin, Lin Chuan, and Lin Wei, then went to the back courtyard to see Ming'an.
• Qin Tiexin found Ming'an asleep and saw the Buddha carvings that resembled his Mingjue appearance.
• Qin Tiexin read dozens of sheets on which Ming'an had written, “May Senior Brother be safe,” and realized how deeply the child cared for him.

Qin Tiexin returned safely, and Ming'an chose to leave the Lin Residence with him rather than be separated from his senior brother. After the two said goodbye and gave the Lin family carved Buddha statues, they left together for Ten Thousand Stars City.

• Ming'an woke to find Qin Tiexin back, clung to him in tears, and checked him for injuries.
• Qin Tiexin told Ming'an he planned to move out, and Ming'an insisted on going wherever his senior brother went.
• Ming'an packed his belongings and hid the rice paper he had written in his bundle after Qin Tiexin asked to keep it.
• Ming'an gave carved Buddha statues to Madam Lin, Marquis Lin, Lin Chuan, Lin Wei, the steward, and the absent Lin Feng.
• Lin Wei gave Ming'an a jade pendant, and he accepted it after Qin Tiexin nodded.
• Qin Tiexin and Ming'an said goodbye to the Lin family and left the Lin Residence hand in hand.

Qin Tiexin settled Ming'an into their new courtyard, gave him Buddhist scriptures and a purified prayer-bead bracelet that made the child weep, then prepared a training plan for the twelve days before the Skills Trial. The chapter left Ming'an holding a bead that briefly brightened while Qin Tiexin focused on growing stronger.

• Qin Tiexin led Ming'an to their small courtyard, where Ming'an chose the west room and set up a spirit tablet for his master, Huiming.
• Qin Tiexin gave Ming'an six Jade Slips of Buddhist scriptures, which Ming'an could not yet read without Divine Sense.
• Qin Tiexin gave Ming'an the purified prayer-bead bracelet, and Ming'an cried because he felt someone crying inside it, though Qin Tiexin sensed nothing.
• Ming'an returned to his room with the bracelet and recited scripture as one bead briefly brightened.
• Qin Tiexin reviewed his need to resume artifact refining, adjust his martial skills, and improve his cultivation before the Skills Trial, then began writing a plan.

Qin Tiexin practiced artifact refining in Senior Brother Chen Xi’s secluded courtyard and successfully forged an excellent upper-grade law artifact sword. Satisfied with his progress, he decided to attempt the barehanded artifact-forging technique Luo Ling had once demonstrated.

• Qin Tiexin avoided the crowded Star Refining Ward and used the formation-protected courtyard to keep his refining methods hidden.
• Qin Tiexin used the Red Luan Heart Flame to melt discarded law artifact fragments and practiced separating their spiritual materials.
• Qin Tiexin examined the flaws in his first sword, refined his approach, and forged a much better second sword with clean materials and precise runes.
• Qin Tiexin judged the second sword strong enough to earn a decent placing in the Skills Trial.
• Qin Tiexin recalled Luo Ling forging a short saber with her bare hands and decided to try the technique himself.

Qin Tiexin attempted to forge a Supreme-Grade Law Artifact using star trace iron, shaping a short saber with his left hand and engraving its five-rune array. He completed the saber after nearly exhausting his spiritual power and Divine Sense.

• Qin Tiexin refined star trace iron from Law Artifact fragments with his Red Luan Heart Flame.
• Qin Tiexin shaped the molten star trace iron into a short saber, repeatedly correcting its form and balance with his left hand.
• Qin Tiexin prepared to engrave a five-rune Spirit Rune Array as the saber cooled.
• Qin Tiexin crushed two Soul Pearls to replenish his depleted Divine Sense and continued engraving.
• Qin Tiexin completed the Spirit Rune Array and quenched the finished saber in a water trough.

Qin Tiexin finished forging a short blade and its sheath, then checked on Ming'an before heading out to meet friends. He left Ming'an at home tending the bracelet as Ten Thousand Stars City grew busy with cultivators returning from the Secret Realm Trial.

• Qin Tiexin recovered from forging the blade, tested its five offensive Spirit Runes, and found that it suited his fighting style.
• Qin Tiexin forged a sheath with spirit restoration, repair, and regeneration Spirit Runes to support the blade.
• Qin Tiexin ate with Ming'an, who washed the dishes and recited sutras while rolling the beads of his bracelet.
• Qin Tiexin asked Ming'an about the bracelet’s faint crying, then told him to stay home while he went to pick things up from friends.
• Qin Tiexin left the courtyard and walked through the lively streets of Ten Thousand Stars City, where returning cultivators were selling their spoils.

Qin Tiexin collected two valuable bags of demon beast meat from Du Heng and met Ling Shuyao to find cultivation methods for himself and Ming'an. Ling Shuyao presented two child-suitable methods and began explaining the Lesser Yang Meridian-Warming Canon.

• Du Heng gave Qin Tiexin two Storage Bags filled with high-quality demon beast meat, saying the Du Household had still made a profit.
• Qin Tiexin accepted Du Heng's gift and considered how he might repay the favor by making him a fist weapon.
• Qin Tiexin went to the Imperial Dao Arts Workshop, where Ling Shuyao had found a control-type martial technique and a cultivation method for Ming'an.
• Ling Shuyao showed Qin Tiexin two Jade Slips containing cultivation methods suitable for young children.
• Ling Shuyao explained that the Lesser Yang Meridian-Warming Canon nourished a young boy's meridians and could support cultivation through the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Qin Tiexin chose cultivation methods for Ming'an and discovered a martial technique suited to his own strengths. He left with two Jade Slips for Ming'an to test and accepted Blood Qi Heavy Abyss as a gift from Ling Shuyao.

• Ling Shuyao showed Qin Tiexin the Clear Heart Sutra, explaining its powerful benefits and the danger of backlash if its practitioner strayed from their compassionate resolve.
• Qin Tiexin bought the Lesser Yang Meridian-Warming Canon’s introductory method for Ming'an and accepted the Clear Heart Sutra as a gift so Ming'an could test both.
• Ling Shuyao inscribed the introductory method and packed both Jade Slips for Qin Tiexin to take to Ming'an.
• Ling Shuyao revealed Blood Qi Heavy Abyss, a technique that used Qi and Blood to create a gravity field that hindered enemies.
• Ling Shuyao gave Qin Tiexin the martial technique in return for the token from the Secret Realm Trial and in gratitude for his help there.

Qin Tiexin returned home with two cultivation methods for Ming'an, while Xiao Wan learned that the mysterious Liu Qing was likely Mingjue, a monk with an innate Buddha heart. Xiao Wan realized her suspicions about a hidden faction had misled her during the secret realm trial.

• Qin Tiexin brought Ming'an osmanthus cakes and showed him two Jade Slips containing cultivation methods.
• Xiao Wan told Elder Benhong about Liu Qing's Buddhist techniques and mastery of the Karma-Burning Wisdom King Flame.
• Benhong revealed that he had secretly sold Mingjue the Karma-Burning Wisdom King Flame and Dragon Elephant Golden Body Instruction to test him.
• Benhong concluded that Mingjue was likely Liu Qing in disguise, or at least possessed an innate Buddha heart.
• Xiao Wan realized her mistaken suspicions had caused her to hesitate and lose an opportunity in the Pure Land Chan Temple.

Xiao Wan and Benhong planned to test Mingjue’s Buddhist talent and bring him into Brahma Sound Valley, while Benhong secretly withheld evidence of Mingjue’s greater skill to protect his own faction’s interests. Meanwhile, Qin Tiexin began helping Ming'an choose a cultivation method.

• Xiao Wan told Benhong she would test Mingjue during the Arena Trial and pursue his conversion if he had an Innate Buddha Heart, hoping to recover the bracelet as well.
• After Xiao Wan left, Benhong examined an image-recording stone showing Qin Tiexin using a powerful Dharma aspect martial skill and revealed to himself that he had sold Mingjue a third jade slip containing it.
• Benhong concealed the evidence from Xiao Wan because he believed she would try to kill Mingjue if she learned his talent might threaten her standing in Brahma Sound Valley.
• Benhong wondered who had secretly delivered the image-recording stone, then resolved to focus on converting Mingjue and wait for the unknown person to reveal themself.
• Qin Tiexin read Ming'an the introduction to the Lesser Yang Meridian-Warming Canon, but Ming'an did not understand its references to meridians and acupoints, so Qin Tiexin prepared to try the Clear Heart Sutra.

Qin Tiexin taught Ming'an the Clear Heart Sutra, and Ming'an showed an extraordinary aptitude for memorizing and cultivating it. After Ming'an’s first practice awakened a glowing bead on his bracelet, a voice identifying itself as Chengxin spoke to him, leaving Ming'an startled and uncertain.

• Qin Tiexin recited the Clear Heart Sutra to Ming'an, who felt a warm current in his chest after hearing the opening passage.
• Ming'an memorized the cultivation method after three recitations, and Qin Tiexin wrote out its full text for him to practice.
• Ming'an returned to the west wing and began chanting while Qin Tiexin studied the Blood Qi Heavy Abyss Jade Slip.
• As Ming'an completed his first practice, the gold-and-white bead on his bracelet began to glow.
• A voice from the bracelet introduced itself as Chengxin and asked Ming'an how long he had practiced; Ming'an replied that it was his first day.