Chapter Summaries

Lu Ding killed the Flying Centipede and kept its inner core, while Bureau 749 investigators discussed how to handle the spoils and warned him that Xue Ning might challenge him. At the Heavenly Principle Sect branch in Jing City, President Liu ordered his people to seize the core before the investigators returned to Bureau 749.

• Lu Ding replied to Yan Feifan that he had killed the Flying Centipede and was leaving the valley.
• Shi Yinghe, Yin Feng, and Wen Yuquan discussed how to report the Flying Centipede's inner core and whether Xue Ning and the other investigators deserved a share.
• Lu Ding joined the group, claimed the inner core, and said anyone who objected could fight him.
• Wen Yuquan warned Lu Ding that Xue Ning, a skilled and prideful spear fighter, would likely challenge him over the inner core.
• At the Heavenly Principle Sect's Dragon Soaring Building, President Liu ordered his people to seize the inner core before the investigators returned to Bureau 749.

On the highway back to Yunhai, Lu Ding discussed selling the Wind-Calming Pearl and buying cars with Wen Yuquan and Yan Feifan before the Heavenly Principle Sect ambushed their convoy. Lu Ding attacked the attackers immediately, and Wen Yuquan called for a cleanup crew as the fight began.

• Wen Yuquan told Lu Ding and Yan Feifan that he had bought his G-Wagon cheaply as a collateral car and showed them the guns stored beneath its back seat.
• Lu Ding said he planned to sell the Wind-Calming Pearl, and Wen Yuquan estimated it could be worth several million or even ten million in a trade.
• Lu Ding promised to buy Yan Feifan a new car after selling the Wind-Calming Pearl, making Yan Feifan excited.
• A convoy of black cars boxed in the Bureau 749 vehicles, and a man in a smiling pig mask taunted Lu Ding from a neighboring sedan.
• Lu Ding split the sedan with a slash, leaped onto another car, and killed an attacker who threatened him about taking the Heavenly Principle Sect's Wind-Calming Pearl.
• Wen Yuquan joined Lu Ding on the cars and called a cleanup crew while Yan Feifan took the wheel.

Lu Ding and his companions fought off a Heavenly Principle Sect convoy, where he revealed overwhelming strength against the sect’s commander, Yuan Baifeng. Lu Ding killed Yuan Baifeng and left the remaining sect members facing the aftermath of their defeat.

• The Heavenly Principle Sect convoy surrounded Wen Yuquan and Yin Feng’s car, and Lu Ding killed several attackers with a single strike.
• Yuan Baifeng caught Yin Feng’s meteor hammer and clashed palms with Lu Ding, who injured him despite Yuan Baifeng’s higher realm.
• Yuan Baifeng tore off his mask and demanded that Lu Ding hand over the goods, but Lu Ding attacked instead.
• Yuan Baifeng tried to block Lu Ding’s slash and lost half his palm, crippling his Mighty Vajra Palm.
• Lu Ding struck Yuan Baifeng through the chest with the Flying Bear Pouncing and Killing Method, then taunted him as he died.

After killing Yuan Baifeng and the other Heavenly Principle Sect fiends, Lu Ding became notorious among Yunhai’s qi cultivators and was assigned patrol duty instead of missions. He spent the night cultivating and advanced from the first to the sixth stage of the Illuminating the Jade Pivot Realm before stopping because his meridians hurt.

• Lu Ding joined Wen Yuquan and Yin Feng after slaughtering the Heavenly Principle Sect fiends, and his brutal fighting style earned him the nickname Corpse-Dissecting Taisui.
• Bureau 749 interviewed Lu Ding about the expressway incident and temporarily barred him from missions because ordinary people had witnessed it.
• The interviewers assigned Lu Ding to patrol a jurisdiction with frequent supernatural incidents, and he chose Yan Feifan as his partner.
• Lu Ding returned to his dorm, showered, asked Wen Yuquan to help sell the Wind-Calming Pearl, and slept until evening.
• Lu Ding cultivated through the night, advancing from the first to the sixth stage of the Illuminating the Jade Pivot Realm before stopping due to pain in his meridians.

After advancing to the sixth level of the Illuminating the Jade Pivot Realm, Lu Ding received his jurisdiction assignment and learned he and Yan Feifan would patrol Baofan District together. Yan described the previous patrol officers’ disastrous encounter with a White-Haired Hou and a local qi refiner faction, leaving Lu Ding to prepare for the difficult post.

• Lu Ding stopped cultivating after reaching the sixth level because his meridians needed time to recover.
• Lu Ding received orders to report to the Baofan Local Public Security Administration within twelve hours to complete his jurisdiction handover.
• Lu Ding learned that Yan Feifan had also been assigned to Baofan District, and Yan brought breakfast to his room.
• Yan told Lu Ding that Baofan District was dangerous and that former patrol officers Bei Heguang and Ming Jun had been replaced after mishandling a White-Haired Hou and clashing with local qi refiners.
• Lu Ding questioned why Bureau 749 allowed civilian qi refiners to claim tomb treasures, and Yan explained how the bureau’s oversight worked alongside their need to survive.

Lu Ding and Yan Feifan traveled to Baofan District to take over as Bureau 749's new district administrators. Bei Heguang and Ming Jun plotted to delay their departure and open a mysterious tomb door, unaware that Lu Ding was one of the incoming investigators.

• Lu Ding teased Yan Feifan about wanting a management position, then let him finish eating before they set off for Baofan District.
• Bei Heguang and Ming Jun packed to leave, but Ming Jun refused to abandon the stone door and the treasures he believed were behind it.
• Bei Heguang learned that two intern investigators had been reassigned to Baofan District, and the pair speculated about who they might be.
• Ming Jun planned to intimidate unfamiliar arrivals into leaving, but to cooperate and share with anyone they recognized.
• Lu Ding and Yan Feifan arrived, and Gao Zhengliang and the Baofan District leadership came out to welcome them.

Bureau 749 trainee investigators Lu Ding and Yan Feifan arrived at the Baofan District Public Security Administration, where Lu Ding intimidated Ming Jun into backing down. After Ming Jun and Bei Heguang fled, they contacted Yan Feifan with an offer to work with Lu Ding on finding treasure, leaving Lu Ding eager to hear more.

• Lu Ding introduced himself and Yan Feifan to Director Gao Zhengliang, who was disappointed to learn they were trainee investigators.
• Ming Jun and Bei Heguang challenged the newcomers, but Lu Ding’s oppressive presence forced Ming Jun to his knees and sent both men fleeing.
• Ming Jun recognized Lu Ding as the Corpse-Dissecting Taisui and complained to Bei Heguang that Lu Ding had frightened him badly.
• Lu Ding declined Director Gao’s welcome banquet and settled into the office while Yan Feifan cleaned up.
• Ming Jun and Bei Heguang added Yan Feifan as a friend and asked him to tell Lu Ding they knew where treasure was and wanted to plan together.
• Lu Ding told Yan Feifan to ask what treasure they had found.

Lu Ding and Yan Feifan planned to search a tomb in Baofan District before deciding whether to cooperate with the people who had mentioned treasure. Lu Ding turned down invitations from local qi refiner factions, and Gao Zhengliang forwarded him an insulting message from the Five Viscera Life Society.

• Yan Feifan reasoned that the treasure was likely something found in a tomb but too difficult for others to retrieve, and suggested Lu Ding search for it first.
• Lu Ding agreed with Yan Feifan’s plan and set out with him to investigate the tomb.
• Gao Zhengliang asked Lu Ding to attend dinner with local qi refiner factions, but Lu Ding declined because he had urgent business.
• Gao Zhengliang relayed Lu Ding’s refusal, and Cao Family Alley and the Four Seas Group responded politely by offering to meet another time.
• Tang Hu of the Five Viscera Life Society insulted Lu Ding in a message, then Tang Bao asked Gao Zhengliang to disregard it; Gao Zhengliang forwarded the insult to Lu Ding and Yan Feifan.

Lu Ding arrived at the ancient tomb site and forced his way past the guards with his State Security credentials and a handgun. Inside, Ye Xuan learned that Lu Ding was approaching just as the Four Seas Group prepared to blast open a sealed burial chamber.

• On the way to the tomb, Lu Ding memorized Tang Hu’s name and told Yan Feifan he would deal with the Five Viscera Life Society after the immediate matter was settled.
• At the cordon, Lu Ding showed his credentials, then drew and chambered a handgun when a guard refused to let him enter without a pass.
• The guard let Lu Ding through and warned Ye Xuan by message that a State Security officer with a gun had entered the site.
• Ye Xuan recalled how he had defeated the White-Haired Hou, claimed the tomb site, and failed to open a burial chamber despite repeated attempts.
• Ye Xuan learned that explosives and a construction crew were on their way, and worried that Lu Ding’s arrival would disrupt the planned blast.

Lu Ding confronted Ye Xuan, who had barred the road to the ancient tomb, and crushed his hand and arm during their fight. When Ye Xuan threatened to repay him, Lu Ding launched a lethal attack, but a short old man intervened and appeared in front of Ye Xuan.

• Lu Ding and Yan Feifan encountered Ye Xuan blocking the road to the ancient tomb and learned he claimed its development rights.
• Ye Xuan challenged Lu Ding to a fight, and Lu Ding dislocated his arm and pulverized the bones in his fingers.
• Ye Xuan complained that Lu Ding had been too vicious and threatened to repay him another day.
• Lu Ding released killing intent and charged at Ye Xuan to kill him.
• An unseen person shouted for Patrol Officer Lu to spare Ye Xuan, raised earthen walls to slow Lu Ding, and a short old man appeared before Ye Xuan.

Lu Ding killed Ye Xuan after Ye Xuan threatened him, prompting Elder Huang to attack in revenge. The fight continued as Lu Ding exposed Elder Huang’s slow casting and the old man launched a powerful marsh technique.

• Lu Ding killed Ye Xuan and dismissed Elder Huang’s accusations, insisting he had acted to eliminate a threat.
• Elder Huang transformed the ground into a marsh, hoping to limit Lu Ding’s movement, but Lu Ding rose into the air.
• Xie Shunan tried to stop Elder Huang from fighting, but he vowed to avenge Ye Xuan and turn himself in afterward.
• Lu Ding mocked Elder Huang for winding up to cast and evaded his mud dragons before attacking him with a powerful kick.
• Elder Huang used the marsh to block Lu Ding’s strike, then rose into the air and unleashed Death Marsh Burial Kill.

Lu Ding defeated Elder Huang after the old man attacked him, then demanded an explanation from Xie Shunan and turned back to the unopened tomb chamber. The chapter ended with Yan Feifan offering to phase through the sealed door.

• Lu Ding overwhelmed Elder Huang with slashes, cut off his arm, and beheaded him after Yan Feifan escaped by sinking into the ground.
• Lu Ding pulled Yan Feifan out of the ground and shook him until he vomited.
• Lu Ding told Xie Shunan to leave while he searched the tomb, and she denied that the Four Seas Group had been involved in Elder Huang's attack.
• After leaving, Xie Shunan told her father she wanted to quit as the Four Seas Group's successor, and he promised the Xie Family would apologize to Lu Ding and avoid conflict with him.
• Lu Ding reached the unopened burial chamber but could not open its door, so Yan Feifan offered to phase through it.

Yan Feifan entered the sealed burial chamber to investigate while Lu Ding waited outside, but the chamber held a suspended coffin and a seemingly living corpse. After Yan identified the creature as a vulnerable Living-Molt Living Corpse, Lu Ding used his full strength to overpower it before it could complete its transformation.

• Yan Feifan tied a special rope around his waist and passed through the wall into the burial chamber.
• Yan Feifan found a mechanism that opened the stone door, allowing Lu Ding to enter, and they decided to bring down the suspended coffin rather than approach it.
• Lu Ding cut the coffin’s chains, dropped it to the altar, and kicked its lid open to reveal an armored corpse.
• The corpse’s mask twisted to evade Lu Ding’s attack, and it fought back as Lu Ding unleashed repeated slashes.
• Yan Feifan identified the creature as a Living-Molt Living Corpse that was vulnerable during its transformation.
• Lu Ding summoned a Flying Bear phantom, tackled the corpse to the ground, and prepared to dismember it.

Lu Ding killed the Living-Molt Living Corpse, gained a recovery technique, and used Yan Feifan’s plan to secure Bureau 749 rewards without punishment. After two quiet days, he learned that wealthy treasure dowsers had offered valuable goods and thirty million for the Wind-Calming Pearl, leaving him wondering whether they were connected to the Heavenly Principle Sect.

• Lu Ding tore apart the Living-Molt Living Corpse and gained the Living-Molt Living Life technique, which let him recover by shedding his skin.
• Yan Feifan proposed a revised account of events, and Lu Ding used it during Bureau 749’s inquiry into the deaths of Ye Xuan and Huang Zuo and the corpse’s destruction.
• Lu Ding left the inquiry with fifty contribution points and five hundred thousand in cash, then rested with Yan Feifan for two days.
• Wen Yuquan told Lu Ding that treasure dowsers had offered a hundred-year-old ginseng child, a spirit lingzhi, a Wrathful Dawn Rooster, and thirty million for the Wind-Calming Pearl.
• Lu Ding suspected the offer might be tied to the Heavenly Principle Sect and went to meet the treasure dowsers.

Lu Ding bought Cao Ying’s spirit treasures, then wondered how powerful a cultivator had to become before he could be considered strong. He returned to the Public Security Administration and made a fragrant stew with the ginseng doll, reishi, and chicken.

• Cao Ying told his younger brother why he hunted treasures and explained that he wanted the mushroom men and mushroom horses as gifts for his father.
• Wen Yuquan brought Lu Ding to meet Cao Ying, who offered the ginseng doll, reishi, and Wrathful Rooster for thirty million.
• Lu Ding warned Cao Ying that the treasures had been taken from the Heavenly Principle Sect, but Cao Ying said he could handle the danger.
• After the deal, Lu Ding asked Wen Yuquan how strong a cultivator had to be, and Wen Yuquan left to cultivate after feeling outclassed.
• Lu Ding returned to the Public Security Administration and stewed chicken with the ginseng doll and awakened reishi, filling his qi vortex with spiritual qi after one mouthful.

Lu Ding broke through to the Spirit Sea Realm and began refining his qi, while a terrified woman arrived at the Baofan District Public Security Administration claiming that a wardrobe had replaced her family. She recounted how a strange figure dragged her husband into the wardrobe, leaving Lu Ding to investigate her story.

• Lu Ding used medicinal soup to advance from the sixth level of Illuminating the Jade Pivot through the ninth and break into the Spirit Sea Realm.
• Lu Ding gave Yan Feifan a portion of the soup, then returned to his room to liquefy his qi and fill his Spirit Sea.
• A frightened woman crashed a white SUV into the Baofan District Public Security Administration and begged the officers for help.
• Lu Ding joined Gao Zhengliang and the officers as the woman insisted that her family members were not human and had been replaced.
• The woman explained that she had seen eyes on the wardrobe, then later watched a figure emerge from it and drag her husband inside; afterward, her husband angrily refused to replace the wardrobe.

A woman recounted how her husband and son became strange, how her parents-in-law vanished, and how she discovered what she believed were monsters in her family. Lu Ding believed her enough to investigate the wardrobe at her home and left for the Dinghao Residential Complex.

• The woman said her son grew quiet and aggressive after returning home, then bit another child and claimed the children smelled good.
• Her husband arranged for her parents-in-law to come stay, and she later found her family missing while her son's smartwatch location showed he was home.
• The woman overheard her son say Grandpa and Grandma's meat was too tough, then found her family apparently alive at home and was dismissed as mentally unwell.
• She fled after being restrained, and Lu Ding showed her his State Security credentials and promised to investigate her home and smash the wardrobe.
• Lu Ding asked Gao Zhengliang to watch over the woman and left for the Dinghao Residential Complex, telling him to get Yan Feifan if anything happened.

Lu Ding flew to investigate a suspected identity-stealing monster while Dong Wenrui discovered that an elderly man had no pulse. The man broke into her apartment, and another voice called to her from the window.

• Lu Ding left Yan Feifan behind and flew toward the caller's home in Baofan District.
• Dong Xinrui took her golden retriever downstairs and chatted with the elderly residents before offering to check their pulses.
• Dong Wenrui found no pulse in an elderly woman's husband and went home after becoming uneasy.
• After her friend suggested the man might be a zombie or ghost, Dong Wenrui heard someone at her door and saw the old man's eyes through the peephole.
• The old man smashed through the security door and entered the apartment, then a voice from the floor-to-ceiling window said, "I see you, too!!"

Lu Ding rescued Dong Wenrui from a ghost wearing an old man’s body, then hunted the other monsters in her building. At apartment 1911, he began torturing a family of monsters for information about their commander and plans for the Ghost Festival.

• Lu Ding killed the ghost that had eaten the original old man and told Dong Wenrui to stay hidden while he cleared the building.
• In the stairwell, Lu Ding questioned a ghost about its commander and the fifteenth of the seventh month, but killed it when it refused to answer.
• Lu Ding broke into apartment 1911 and attacked three monsters replacing the reporting woman’s family.
• Lu Ding tore off the young monster’s arm and threatened to kill it piece by piece until the old ghost agreed to talk.

Lu Ding uncovered an ancient ghost force hiding inside a Yin Domain in Dinghao Residential Complex and discovered that its general was the Pei Ziyi he had already killed. As monsters rushed toward him and their commander flew back to the complex, Lu Ding called Bureau 749 for backup, saying the incident had already become too large to retreat from.

• Lu Ding learned from the old ghost that Commander Fang Du was seeking his wife and that General Pei Ziyi would revive on the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month.
• Lu Ding told the old ghost he had opened Pei Ziyi's coffin and killed him, then entered the bedroom and split open the wardrobe.
• A doorway to a Yin Domain appeared inside the wardrobe, triggering an overlap that drew the monsters replacing the building's residents toward Room 1911.
• Fang Du sensed the overlap while approaching the Public Security Administration and abandoned his plan to silence his wife, flying toward Dinghao Residential Complex instead.
• Lu Ding reported the Yin domain overlap and the ancient ghosts' troop buildup to Bureau 749, then told the operator to send people to clean up as monsters charged his room.