Recaps

Li Yan learned from a captured cultivator that Zilin Estate traded in intelligence and worked out how he could enter. Before he could approach the gates, the two masked White Devil Race cultivators left, renewing his uncertainty about whether they had met Dao Yu.

• Li Yan captured an elderly cultivator in brocade robes and used the Soul-Seeking Technique to learn about Zilin Estate.
• Li Yan discovered that Zilin Estate mainly traded intelligence and that visitors could enter by paying ten middle-grade spirit stones.
• Li Yan watched the elderly cultivator enter the estate and concluded he could enter without arousing suspicion by paying the fee.
• Li Yan saw the two masked White Devil Race cultivators leave the estate together and wondered whether they had met Dao Yu inside.
• The purple-robed cultivator released a flying treasure, and the two masked cultivators flew away into the night.

Li Yan overheard a White Devil Race cultivator and his companion planning to meet Dao Yu and Shanggong Changge at an ambush point, and he waited to see what they would do. The chapter then revealed Shanggong Changge’s arduous rise through the realms and ended with her reaching the Void Refinement Realm.

• Li Yan followed the two White Devil Race cultivators and overheard them say that Dao Yu would bring Shanggong Changge past their chosen riverside meeting place.
• Li Yan inferred that the pair might intend to harm Shanggong Changge and decided to wait nearby for Dao Yu to arrive.
• Shanggong Changge traveled with a young cultivator while her past hardships and cultivation breakthroughs were recounted.
• Shanggong Changge refined a mysterious demon core, used its remaining power to aid her cultivation, and eventually broke through to the Void Refinement Realm.

Shanggong Changge reflected on Dao Yu’s privileged life and Zhao Min’s mysterious death, recalling that he had concealed Zhao Min’s final visit and his suspicions about the Supreme Elders. The chapter left him traveling with Dao Yu, their friendship renewed after years apart.

• Shanggong Changge considered how Dao Yu’s talent, resources, and luck had surpassed his own, while recalling Dao Yu’s grief over Zhao Min’s death.
• Shanggong Changge remembered that Zhao Min had told him she did not want to marry Dao Yu and had asked for his help, but he had claimed they never met.
• Shanggong Changge recalled that the Supreme Elders had questioned him about Zhao Min before she died, prompting suspicions he forced himself not to pursue.
• Dao Yu repeatedly sought information about Zhao Min, and Shanggong Changge shared selected details while keeping her final visit secret.
• Shanggong Changge and Dao Yu grew closer over time, but Shanggong Changge later lost contact with him after ascending to the Immortal Spirit Realm.

Shanggong Changge recounted how he and Dao Yu explored a dangerous ancient ruin and divided its treasures, with Shanggong Changge keeping a mysterious jade box that Dao Yu believed was the ruin’s greatest prize. As they traveled toward Zilin Manor, Dao Yu secretly watched Shanggong Changge and remained fixated on the box.

• Dao Yu invited Shanggong Changge to investigate a ruin after discovering information about it in a jade slip, and Shanggong Changge agreed despite recognizing Dao Yu’s hidden motives.
• The two spent years exploring the ruin and obtained several treasures before setting out for Zilin Manor to gather information.
• When four objects flew from a stone chamber, Dao Yu caught three treasures while Shanggong Changge secured a jade box.
• Dao Yu offered the treasures he had collected in exchange for the jade box, but Shanggong Changge refused both offers.
• After calculating their gains, Dao Yu concluded that the jade box was probably the ruin’s greatest treasure and secretly kept his attention on Shanggong Changge.

Dao Yu grew convinced that Shanggong Changge’s jade box contained a priceless treasure and began plotting to have her killed, but he hesitated after witnessing her caught in an illusion formation. When she accused the illusory Zhao Min of murdering her master, Dao Yu was shaken by memories tied to Zhao Min.

• Dao Yu inferred that Shanggong Changge planned to seek information about the jade box at Zilin Manor and became increasingly convinced it was valuable.
• Dao Yu considered killing Shanggong Changge but feared he could not defeat her or escape the clan’s investigation, so he decided a clan expert would need to act for him.
• Dao Yu recalled secretly following Shanggong Changge through the ruins and finding her attacking an illusion formation without realizing she was fighting imaginary enemies.
• Dao Yu chose to wait rather than help Shanggong Changge, hoping she could handle the danger while he avoided risking himself.
• Shanggong Changge accused the illusory Zhao Min of murdering her master, and Dao Yu was jolted by memories of Zhao Min, whom Shanggong Changge had cherished as a disciple.

Dao Yu overheard Shanggong Changge reveal in an illusion that Zhao Min had killed Dongli Qing and that she had helped cover it up, though he could not tell whether the words were true. Later, resentful over the treasures Shanggong Changge kept, Dao Yu began plotting to use the possible secret to enlist the Dongli clan against her.

• Shanggong Changge attacked the illusion and accused Zhao Min of killing Dongli Qing, while Dao Yu overheard her claim that she had concealed the crime.
• Dao Yu recalled Dongli Qing’s death, suspected Zhao Min had killed him, and considered how Shanggong Changge might have hidden the evidence.
• Shanggong Changge broke free of the illusion, and Dao Yu withdrew without revealing that he had heard her words.
• During their return from the ruins, Dao Yu grew resentful when Shanggong Changge refused to trade him the jade box, and he considered killing her for her treasures.
• Dao Yu remembered Shanggong Changge’s words in the illusion and planned to inform the Dongli clan, offering his help in exchange for his demands.

Daoyu secretly negotiated with Eastern Hedge Pei to obtain the jade box from Shanggong Changge, carefully arranging a meeting while trying to protect himself. As Daoyu and Shanggong Changge reached the agreed area, an attacker shattered the defenses of their flying treasure and caught Shanggong Changge off guard.

• Daoyu planned to tell Eastern Hedge Pei about Shanggong Changge and demand his treasure, arranging to send the news through trusted merchant associations.
• Daoyu chose Eastern Hedge Dongshan as an intermediary and laid out a backup plan to deter Eastern Hedge Pei from killing him.
• Daoyu exchanged messages with Eastern Hedge Pei, and they settled the conditions for their meeting.
• Daoyu traveled with Shanggong Changge toward the rendezvous, nervously monitoring their surroundings as they followed a great river.
• A burst of white light struck Shanggong Changge's white jade ruyi, instantly shattering its defensive restrictions and jolting Shanggong Changge through his mental link to the treasure.

Dongli Pei captured Shanggong Changge and prepared to search her soul over Dongli Qing’s death while Daoyu defended himself. Watching from afar, Li Yan recognized Daoyu and realized Dongli Pei’s investigation had unexpectedly become tied to the Dongli Qing he had killed.

• Dongli Pei shattered Shanggong Changge’s defense, knocked her unconscious, and captured her while Daoyu watched in fear.
• Dongli Pei ordered Daoyu and Dongli Dongshan aside and said he would search Shanggong Changge’s soul about Dongli Qing’s death.
• Li Yan sensed the ambush from a distant mountain, recognized Daoyu, and identified Shanggong Changge as a likely Void Refinement cultivator.
• Li Yan considered following the group and killing Daoyu, hoping to do so without attracting Dongli Pei’s attention.
• Li Yan overheard Daoyu call the captor Uncle-Master Dongli and realized Dongli Pei was investigating the death of Dongli Qing, whom Li Yan had killed with Zhao Min’s help.

Li Yan secretly listened as Dongli Pei searched Shanggong Changge’s memories and learned she had concealed clues pointing to Zhao Min in Dongli Qing’s death. Dongli Pei decided to kill Shanggong Changge, who woke powerless and heard that he was Dongli Pei.

• Li Yan left the mountaintop and approached the barrier around Dao Yu, Dongli Dongshan, and Dongli Pei to listen in.
• Dongli Pei searched Shanggong Changge’s memories while Dao Yu and Dongli Dongshan watched anxiously.
• Dongli Pei found that Shanggong Changge had altered Dongli Qing’s disciples’ memories and redirected the investigation to conceal Zhao Min’s possible involvement.
• Dongli Pei told Dao Yu that Shanggong Changge had not killed Dongli Qing but had helped conceal the murderer’s clues, and he said Zhao Min might have been responsible.
• Dongli Pei revived Shanggong Changge and prepared to torment and kill her; she woke unable to use her power and heard him identify himself.

Shanggong Changge was exposed as having helped cover for Zhao Min in the incident surrounding Dongli Qing’s death, and Dongli Pei moved to torture her. Li Yan intervened and rescued her, then realized she might have erased clues after the killing without knowing he was the culprit.

• Shanggong Changge woke with her cultivation sealed and recognized Daoyu and Dongli Dongshan as Dongli Pei confronted her over Dongli Qing’s death.
• Daoyu accused Shanggong Changge of involvement and urged Dongli Pei to punish her, so Dongli Pei sent a deadly ball of light toward her.
• Li Yan attacked Dongli Pei and seized Shanggong Changge while Dongli Pei swept Daoyu and Dongli Dongshan out of danger.
• Dongli Pei challenged the yellow-robed stranger, and Li Yan greeted him while concealing his identity behind a black face covering.
• Li Yan recalled that his poison had killed Dongli Qing and reasoned that Shanggong Changge had likely only erased clues after connecting Zhao Min to the death.

Li Yan rescued Shanggong Changge from Dongli Pei and used a series of verbal traps to catch the cultivator off guard before killing him. He left Dongli Dongshan and Daoyu unconscious, intending to search their memories for what had happened to Zhao Min and Shanggong Changge.

• Li Yan realized Dongli Pei was connected to Zhao Min's supposed death and decided to rescue Shanggong Changge to learn the truth.
• Li Yan broke Dongli Pei's restriction, redirected the shock wave, and took Shanggong Changge away while Dongli Pei swept Dongli Dongshan and Daoyu aside.
• Li Yan unsettled Dongli Pei with remarks that implied he had watched the scene inside the restriction, then struck him by surprise.
• Dongli Dongshan and Daoyu tried to flee, but Li Yan knocked them unconscious with Heavy Water Beads.
• Li Yan pierced Dongli Pei with his Guiyi Water-Parting Spikes and confirmed that the cultivator was dead.

Li Yan killed Dongli Pei in a direct fight, collected the group’s concealment treasures, and hid the bodies and survivors inside a formation. He confronted Dao Yu, who begged for his life, and revealed that he remembered their conflict in the lower realm.

• Li Yan exploited Dongli Pei’s momentary distraction to strike his soul, body, and dantian, killing him and confirming he could defeat ordinary Integrated Body Early Stage cultivators.
• Li Yan took the black veils and other belongings, gathered the bodies and unconscious Dao Yu, and concealed them within a formation.
• Li Yan restored his original appearance and woke Dao Yu, who pretended to assess the situation before Li Yan’s power forced him upright.
• Dao Yu saw Dongli Pei’s corpse and begged Li Yan to spare him, claiming he had no real ties to the Dongli Lineage.
• Li Yan addressed Dao Yu by name and recalled their past encounter involving Zhao Min, leaving Dao Yu confused and shocked.

Li Yan learned through Soul Searches that Daoyu had lost the memories linking him to Li Yan and that Shanggong Changge had concealed Zhao Min’s involvement in Dongli Qing’s death. After weighing Shanggong Changge’s schemes against the ways she had saved him and protected Zhao Min, Li Yan decided to spare her.

• Daoyu pleaded with Li Yan, who gouged out one of his eyes and then used the Soul-Seeking Technique on him.
• Li Yan discovered that Daoyu had been told Zhao Min died from poison and had no memories of his past conflict with Li Yan.
• Li Yan searched Dongli Dongshan’s soul and learned he had only passed messages, then searched the unconscious Shanggong Changge.
• Li Yan learned that Shanggong Changge had tried to keep him and Zhao Min apart but had concealed evidence implicating Zhao Min in Dongli Qing’s death.
• Li Yan considered that Shanggong Changge had saved him twice and protected Zhao Min, and decided to spare her.

Li Yan disguised himself as a stout yellow-robed cultivator and killed Dongli Pei, Daoyu, and Dongli Dongshan, leaving Shanggong Changge alive. He revealed that he had erased the evidence for her sake, then left her to handle the remaining cleanup, while she still wondered how they knew each other.

• Li Yan decided to kill Shanggong Changge's attackers and approached Dongli Dongshan while disguised as a stout yellow-robed cultivator.
• Shanggong Changge woke and watched Li Yan burn Dongli Dongshan, Daoyu, and Dongli Pei to nothingness while leaving their storage treasures behind.
• Shanggong Changge judged that Li Yan was far stronger than Dongli Pei and stayed still, fearing what he might do to her.
• Shanggong Changge bowed to Li Yan, who greeted her as a fellow Daoist and said their meeting was a measure of immortal affinity.
• Li Yan told Shanggong Changge he had erased the evidence and left her to finish the cleanup, reassuring her that she could handle what remained.

Shanggong Changge offered the mysterious jade box to the yellow-robed cultivator who had saved her, hoping to earn his favor. Before leaving, Li Yan told her that Zhao Min was safe and that he had brought her to the Immortal Spirit Realm.

• Shanggong Changge concluded that Dao Yu had betrayed her over the jade box and planned how to conceal Dao Yu’s disappearance.
• Shanggong Changge thanked the yellow-robed cultivator for saving her and asked where they had met, but he prepared to leave without answering.
• Shanggong Changge offered the jade box to the cultivator as thanks and to forge good karma with him.
• Li Yan accepted the jade box after realizing Shanggong Changge wanted to secure his goodwill.
• As Li Yan departed, he told Shanggong Changge that Zhao Min was safe and had been brought to the Immortal Spirit Realm, leaving her stunned.

Shanggong Changge concluded that Zhao Min had survived and been taken away by her powerful master, and felt relieved that Zhao Min held no grudge against her. Li Yan left her behind, traveled far from Saint Demon City, and began examining the treasures he had taken from the golden-armored giant.

• Shanggong Changge recalled the Supreme Elders' troubled questions about Zhao Min and realized their claim that Zhao Min had died may have concealed her being taken away.
• Shanggong Changge decided the yellow-robed cultivator was likely Zhao Min's master or his sect's elder, and believed Zhao Min's good opinion of her had helped spare her life.
• Shanggong Changge silently wished Zhao Min well, then flew away with her heart at ease.
• Li Yan revealed that he had deliberately led Shanggong Changge to a false explanation for Zhao Min's past and chose to leave their shared history behind.
• Li Yan flew for two days, carved out a hidden chamber in a remote mountain, and set formations around it.
• Li Yan examined the pills from the golden-armored giant, identifying several high-grade pills but finding no signs of soul-restoring medicine.

Li Yan examined the pills, materials, and magical treasures taken from the golden-armored giant, identifying several useful items and recognizing the azure cloud treasure as the legendary flying treasure Ink Cloud. After five months spent erasing its imprint and refining it anew, Li Yan set off across the sea on Ink Cloud.

• Li Yan identified the Seven Radiance Pills and Dragon Marrow Body-Attachment Pills, then stored the unfamiliar pills and materials for later study.
• Li Yan tested the golden greatsword and several other magical treasures, discovering that the black shield and red umbrella could both defend and attack.
• Li Yan recognized the azure cloud treasure as Ink Cloud, a rare flying magical treasure, and decided to refine it before leaving.
• Li Yan found the golden-armored giant's dark-red imprint within Ink Cloud and spent five months erasing it and refining the treasure anew.
• Li Yan emerged from the sea standing on Ink Cloud and flew toward the distant horizon.

After refining Ink Cloud, Li Yan tested its effects and considered the risks of keeping the sealed little girl in yellow inside Tuban. He examined the golden-armored giant’s collected treasures and jade slips, finding techniques, formulas, maps, and a remarkable sword formation.

• Li Yan finished refining Ink Cloud and discovered that it made his movement faster and increased the speed of his spiritual power circulation.
• Li Yan failed to search the little girl in yellow’s soul because golden light protected it, so he kept her sealed inside Tuban rather than risk releasing or awakening her.
• Li Yan decided not to return to the underground cave, despite wondering whether a powerful master might still be connected to the little girl.
• Li Yan examined the jade slips from the spatial treasures and found six first-rate techniques, including the vicious Blood-Melting Yin Poison Art, which he set aside.
• Li Yan sorted away useful pill formulas and maps, then found the Eight Gates Golden Light Sword Formation among the remaining records.

Li Yan inspected his spoils from the White Devil Race and found that the sealed jade box Shanggong Changge had given him could not be safely opened, so he decided to study it later. After concluding his journey had achieved its main purpose for Zhao Min, he traveled to Flower Shade City and entered under his youthful disguise.

• Li Yan examined the Eight-Gate Golden Light Sword Array and reflected that he had missed the chance to learn more about the powerful underground array.
• Li Yan tried several methods to open Shanggong Changge's jade box, but stopped the Prison Breaker technique when he sensed it would destroy the box and its contents.
• Li Yan tested the Heaven-Stealing Kerchief against the seal, considered why it had failed, and decided to preserve the box for future study.
• Li Yan inspected Dongli Pei's belongings and judged his White Devil Race journey a mixture of danger and reward, with Zhao Min's Dao Path now able to continue smoothly.
• Li Yan put away Ink Cloud, approached Flower Shade City on foot in disguise, presented a peach-blossom token, and entered past the Huafu Sect guards.

Li Yan returned to Flower Shade City and reunited with Qianji, telling him they would leave for the North Pasture Realm the next day. Elsewhere, Hong Yin searched a cavern for answers about the Red Whisk Temple and found evidence that the Northern Underworld Demon-Suppressing Tower’s beasts had mixed, transformed bloodlines.

• Li Yan entered Flower Shade City using his property token and went to the secluded courtyard where Qianji had been waiting.
• Li Yan told Qianji that his plans had gone smoothly and that they would leave for the North Pasture Realm the next day, first seeking Chen Ying and Zhao Min at the Tianli Clan.
• Li Yan decided to explain the essential details of his recent affairs to Qianji so he would not misunderstand what had happened to Luo Beixi and Ye Yuhong if they met later.
• Hong Yin continued searching a cavern for clues to the Red Whisk Temple’s disappearance after tracing the Red Whisk Red Dragon Spear’s spearhead to the Northern Underworld Demon-Suppressing Tower.
• Hong Yin captured a Demon Beast in the tower and learned through a Soul Search that it carried traits from several bloodlines, including the Wind Beast’s.

Hong Yin followed the wind through a cavern and reached a wall covered in silver vines that lashed toward her. Li Yan explained to Qianji why he spared Luo Beixi and treated Luo Youhuang, then planned their journey to North Pasture Realm with Qianji accompanying him outside.

• Hong Yin followed clues from inherited bloodline memories through a cavern whose wind reminded her of Wind God Continent.
• Hong Yin reached the cavern’s vast end, where silver vines clung to the wall and whipped toward her.
• Li Yan told Qianji that he spared Luo Beixi and Ye Yuhong and used a soul-restoring pill to save Luo Youhuang.
• Qianji understood Li Yan’s decision and welcomed the news that they would leave the next day for North Pasture Realm.
• Li Yan told Qianji he could gain experience on the journey, and Qianji praised him until Li Yan told him to shut up.

More than ten years into their journey, Qianji trapped a fourth-tier flying-fish sea demon in his ice sword formation while Li Yan watched unseen. As they continued toward Luo Gucheng by a route that avoided Dim Heaven Dark Earth, Li Yan’s harsh training had pushed Qianji to fight increasingly dangerous opponents and rely on himself.

• Qianji used eight ice swords to trap the flying-fish sea demon, whose water spells weakened as his seawater was frozen and scattered.
• The sea demon realized Qianji had anticipated his ambush and deliberately lured him away from the ocean before deploying the sword formation.
• Li Yan observed from Ink Cloud as Qianji contained the demon, pleased that Qianji’s years of training had made the formation effective.
• Li Yan and Qianji traveled west toward Luo Gucheng, taking a detour around Dim Heaven Dark Earth because Qianji was not ready to face its dangers.
• Li Yan guided Qianji’s cultivation and sent him to fight opponents of varying strength, refusing to intervene unless Qianji faced immediate death.
• Qianji endured dangerous fights without calling for rescue, determined to grow stronger and eventually catch up to Zi Kun.

Li Yan gave Qianji the Eight-Gate Golden Light Sword Formation and taught him to adapt it to the Snow Mosquitoes’ ice-and-snow swords. Qianji used the formation against a flying-fish sea demon, which nearly escaped before he froze it solid.

• Qianji’s growing resolve to cultivate reassured Li Yan, who decided the Eight-Gate Golden Light Sword Formation could strengthen him.
• Li Yan explained the sword formation to Qianji and taught him to begin with eight ice-and-snow longswords.
• Qianji trapped a flying-fish sea demon in the formation, where bone-chilling cold weakened it.
• The sea demon found an apparent opening and used its bladed proboscis to break through the formation’s membrane.
• Qianji intensified the cold, refroze the opening, and encased the sea demon in ice, freezing its body and Nascent Soul.

Qianji killed a flying-fish sea demon with the Eight Gates Golden Light Sword Formation, then continued training under Li Yan as they traveled to the North Pasture Realm. After they arrived, the story turned to the Tianli Clan’s hard-won settlement in a hostile primeval forest.

• Qianji trapped and killed the flying-fish sea demon, and his Snow Mosquitoes devoured its flesh while he claimed its nascent soul and bones.
• Qianji continued traveling and fighting under Li Yan’s guidance, advancing to the nascent soul middle stage as they reached the far western edge of the Cangxuan Realm.
• Li Yan and Qianji discussed cross-realm travel and the possibility of visiting Zi Kun before using a super teleportation formation to enter the North Pasture Realm.
• Li Yan and Qianji set out toward the Tianli Clan, which had settled in a damp, miasma-filled part of a primeval forest after generations of migration.
• The Tianli Clan fought the Demon Beasts that claimed the forest territory and eventually seized the area, paying a grievous price.

Gong Chenying and her family settled into the Tianli Clan’s Qing'a King Residence after the clan recognized their merits and gave them a home befitting their status. The chapter ended with Zhao Min alone beneath the moon, remembering the quiet nights at Small Bamboo Peak.

• The Tianli Clan assigned Gong Chenying’s family Li Yan’s Qing'a King Residence after learning that Li Yan had ascended and recognizing the family’s achievements.
• Gong Chenying initially wanted a small courtyard, but Gong Shanhe persuaded her to accept the residence so the clan would understand the family’s merits and not question Zhao Min and Little Beast receiving cultivation inheritances.
• Gong Chenying accepted the clan’s residence and servants, who cared for its grounds and handled household tasks.
• Zhao Min sat alone on the pavilion roof and recalled how she used to watch the moon at Small Bamboo Peak to quiet her thoughts and forget her loneliness and resentment.