Chapter Summaries

Li Yan accompanied Zi Kun as the Purple Divine Dragon Elephant clan examined him before accepting his return. The examination found no restrictions, but Zi Kun’s bloodline display revealed Purple Dragon Fire, astonishing the clan elders and leaving them staring at him with intense interest.

• Xiang Ling insisted that the clan examine Zi Kun, and Zi Kun removed his defenses so she and the other two could inspect his body with Divine Sense.
• Li Yan waited while keeping an escape plan ready, with an incarnation and several artifacts prepared to exploit any weakness in the clan’s formation.
• Xiang Ling and the others found no restrictions in Zi Kun and asked him to reveal his bloodline power.
• Zi Kun transformed into his true form and released purple flames, which Xiang Ling, Xiang Yun, and Xiang Longfei recognized as Purple Dragon Fire.
• Zi Kun stopped circulating his bloodline power and returned to human form, while the three clan members looked at him with astonishment and fervent interest.

After seeing Zi Kun manifest innate Violet Dragon Fire, Xiang Ling, Xiang Longfei, and Xiang Yun competed to recruit him into their branches. Zi Kun heeded Li Yan’s advice and asked about the clan’s other branches, leaving the three elders wary of his attempt to learn more before choosing.

• Xiang Ling, Xiang Longfei, and Xiang Yun recognized that Zi Kun’s Violet Dragon Fire was exceptionally rare and realized his bloodline could give their branches a major advantage.
• Li Yan warned Zi Kun not to accept any offer too quickly, and Zi Kun inferred that the clan’s Violet Dragon bloodline had become scarce.
• Xiang Ling, Xiang Longfei, and Xiang Yun each urged Zi Kun to join their branch, offering access to powerful masters, resources, and other benefits.
• Li Yan advised Zi Kun that the three elders were withholding information about the clan’s other branches, so Zi Kun asked how many branches there were.
• Xiang Longfei accused Zi Kun of greed, while Xiang Ling told him that the clan chief’s branch was strongest but its leading figures had sealed themselves away.

Li Yan secretly guided Zi Kun through the Purple God Dragon-Elephant Clan’s branch leaders’ competing offers, and Zi Kun chose Xiang Longfei’s branch. Xiang Yun then proposed a practical combat assessment to determine Zi Kun’s rank, leaving the leaders to agree on how he would be evaluated.

• Li Yan listened to Xiang Ling and the others’ supposedly private explanations, then sent Zi Kun incisive questions to ask about their branches.
• Zi Kun questioned Xiang Ling, Xiang Longfei, and Xiang Yun, prompting Xiang Yun to grow resentful when he showed little interest in her branch.
• Following Li Yan’s advice, Zi Kun chose Xiang Longfei’s branch, and Xiang Longfei promised to make him a core clansman and arrange guidance from a powerful cultivator.
• Xiang Yun proposed a practical combat assessment to determine Zi Kun’s rank, and Xiang Ling agreed that it was the best way to assess his strength.

Zi Kun faced an actual-combat assessment to determine his clan rank, with Xiang Yun and Xiang Ling choosing opponents from their branch lines. After hearing the rules and learning about the three Spirit Transformation cultivators, Zi Kun chose the strongest opponent, Xiang He.

• Xiang Yun and Xiang Ling voted for an actual-combat assessment, and Xiang Longfei agreed to oversee it.
• Xiang Yun selected Xiang He, Xiang Ling selected Xiang Yehua, and Xiang Longfei selected Xiang Qing as Zi Kun’s possible opponents.
• Xiang Longfei explained the assessment rules to Zi Kun, who asked that Li Yan be informed of his choice and the details.
• Xiang Ling introduced Xiang Qing, Xiang Yehua, and Xiang He as early, middle, and late Spirit Transformation opponents.
• The branch-line elders privately instructed the three opponents about Zi Kun’s pure bloodline and Purple Dragon Fire, with Xiang He told to stop Zi Kun from advancing.
• Zi Kun assessed the three opponents and chose to fight Xiang He.

Zi Kun challenged Xiang He and countered his swift attack with a purple vortex and a vajra pestle. He struck the pestle into Xiang He's defenses, leaving them cracked as the fight continued.

• Zi Kun chose Xiang He as his opponent, and they faced off in the great hall.
• Xiang He declared he would defeat Zi Kun in five breaths, while Zi Kun summoned five flames of Purple Dragon Fire.
• Xiang He attacked from above with a purple sphere and a descending knee, and Xiang Yun tried to intervene before Xiang Longfei suppressed her.
• Zi Kun's purple vortex swallowed Xiang He's sphere, and an enormous vajra pestle struck Xiang He from behind.
• Zi Kun followed up by punching the vajra pestle into Xiang He's back, cracking his defensive barrier.

Zi Kun defeated Xiang He in his clan assessment by using the Great Dragon Elephant Formation and Phantom Sect techniques, then fought Xiang Yehua before being confirmed as a core disciple. Xiang Longfei took Zi Kun to meet the clan elders while Li Yan stayed in a courtyard, waiting to see that Zi Kun was safe.

• Zi Kun used the Great Dragon Elephant Formation to ambush Xiang He and struck him down with a four-hit assault, then explained the formation and his techniques.
• Xiang Longfei stopped Xiang Yun from challenging the assessment result, and Xiang Ling confirmed that Zi Kun’s methods were allowed.
• Zi Kun accepted Xiang Yehua’s challenge and defeated him after a vigorous fight, while Xiang Qing chose not to fight.
• Xiang He acknowledged his defeat, and Xiang Yun left after Zi Kun’s status as a core disciple was confirmed.
• Xiang Longfei brought Li Yan to a courtyard and agreed to let him stay for a little over a month, then gave him voice transmission talismans.
• Xiang Longfei took Zi Kun to meet the clan elders, and Zi Kun promised Li Yan he would visit whenever he had time.

Zi Kun described how Xiang Longfei secured him a place in the branch before the clan’s other branches could claim him, and Li Yan advised him to stay loyal and let his standing take root. As Li Yan discussed cultivation with Xiang Longfei, Zi Kun attended a gathering where Xiang He and his allies challenged his bloodline and demanded to see his Purple Dragon Fire.

• Zi Kun told Li Yan that a Body Integration Realm master’s avatar had accepted him as a disciple and that the patriarch and other branch elders had then tested his bloodline and argued over how he should be nurtured.
• Li Yan warned Zi Kun not to become greedy, to respect his new master, and to build his place within the branch; Zi Kun promised to follow proper order.
• Zi Kun settled into clan life, received guidance from his future master’s avatar, and grew closer to Xiang Qing while Li Yan kept a low profile.
• Xiang Longfei visited Li Yan, and the two discussed cultivation and the Dao, while Xiang Longfei’s respect for Li Yan increased.
• Xiang He and seven clansmen provoked Zi Kun at a gathering, accused his innate ability of being a gimmick, and demanded that he demonstrate his Purple Dragon Fire.

Zi Kun defeated Xiang He and his companions with poison, while Li Yan left the Purple Divine Dragon Elephant clan after ensuring Zi Kun had found his people. Four years later, Li Yan returned to the Po Jun Sect and asked Banjiang about Buluo and the sect’s current situation.

• Xiang He tried to force Zi Kun into a fight at Xiang Tianxing’s gathering, but Zi Kun poisoned him and several companions unconscious and left the courtyard.
• Xiang Qing caught up with Zi Kun, who assured her that Xiang He and the others would recover and said he knew a little about poison.
• Li Yan left Zi Kun a jade slip with instructions, departed the Purple Divine Dragon Elephant clan, and set out for the Po Jun Sect.
• Zi Kun received Li Yan’s message and sat alone, saddened that they had parted again.
• Four years later, Li Yan arrived at the Po Jun Sect, entered the main hall, and asked Banjiang about Buluo, the absent elders, and the sect’s situation.

Li Yan learned that Chongyangzi had been badly injured thirteen years earlier and went to Pure Yang Hall to visit him. He found Tinglan keeping watch at Chongyangzi’s cave residence, where she began to tell him about the situation.

• Banjiang reported that the Heaven-Breaking Sect was stable, Buluo was progressing smoothly, and Shangguan Tianque and his wife were in seclusion; Li Yan urged Banjiang not to rush his cultivation and reassured him about his chances of reaching Spirit Transformation.
• Banjiang told Li Yan that the sect had obtained a Great Wuguo for two top-grade spirit stones, and Li Yan gave him three to cover the purchase and other expenses.
• Banjiang revealed that a Pure Yang Hall cultivator had mentioned Chongyangzi was seriously injured; Li Yan learned the injury had been known about for at least thirteen years and decided to visit Pure Yang Hall.
• Li Yan traveled to Pure Yang Hall and went to Chongyangzi’s cave residence, where Tinglan greeted him and confirmed that Chongyangzi had been in seclusion for a long time.
• Li Yan stopped Tinglan from preparing tea and asked her to tell him about Chongyangzi’s condition.

Tinglan told Li Yan how Chongyangzi and her father had been injured while avenging her mother, then revealed that she and Chongyangzi’s disciples planned to strike their enemies before they could threaten the family estate. Li Yan urged her to reconsider and offered Chongyangzi pills before departing, leaving Tinglan to return to the cave dwelling.

• Tinglan explained that Chongyangzi and her father had been trapped and badly injured while pursuing the cultivators responsible for her mother’s death.
• Li Yan realized Chongyangzi’s injuries kept him from intervening and advised Tinglan to stop letting worry disrupt her cultivation.
• Li Yan deduced that Tinglan intended to join Chongyangzi’s disciples in seeking revenge, and Tinglan admitted they planned to attack their enemies before those enemies could target the estate.
• Tinglan explained that the group hoped to defeat their enemies through preparation and by taking them down one at a time.
• Li Yan asked about Chongyangzi’s injuries, offered Tinglan several pills, and departed; Tinglan returned to the cave dwelling.

Li Yan learned that Chongyangzi and Ting Xingzhi were ambushed after investigating the monks Yunchen and Yunxin, who had murdered Chongyangzi’s sister. Seeking to repay Chongyangzi without endangering the Po Jun Sect, Li Yan secretly traveled toward Sanze Temple to assess Yunchen and plan a concealed strike.

• Li Yan used Bewitching Soul Art on Tinglan and learned that Yunchen and Yunxin had raped and murdered Chongyangzi’s sister, then ambushed Chongyangzi and Ting Xingzhi when they sought revenge.
• Li Yan learned that Ting Xingzhi had begun using the Great No-Fruit to attempt a breakthrough, while Tinglan and her companions waited for Senior Brother Wang’s intelligence before deciding whether to target Yunchen.
• Li Yan left the Po Jun Sect secretly and, after more than three months of circuitous travel, reached a marketplace near Sanze Temple.
• Li Yan decided to investigate Sanze Temple and kill Yunchen only if he could do so without leaving evidence or exposing the Po Jun Sect.
• Li Yan concealed himself in a tree more than a hundred li from Sanze Temple and watched the worshippers traveling along the mountain path.

Li Yan infiltrated Three Marsh Temple, used a low-ranking monk’s memories to identify Shiji, and searched Shiji’s memories for information about Abbot Yunchen. Finding no direct lead on Chongyangzi, Li Yan changed his plan and approached Yunchen’s chamber disguised as Shiji, carrying a jade slip about repair materials.

• Li Yan secretly captured an azure-robed monk on the mountain road and searched his memories for information about Three Marsh Temple and Shiji.
• Disguised as a mortal pilgrim, Li Yan entered Three Marsh Temple and observed its guarded areas before slipping into the grounds unnoticed.
• Li Yan followed Shiji to his meditation chamber, subdued him, and searched his memories, learning that Shiji had seen Yunxin but knew nothing about Chongyangzi.
• Li Yan erased Shiji’s memory of the attack and kept him unconscious while deciding to use a brief opportunity to reach Yunchen.
• Disguised as Shiji, Li Yan stood outside Yunchen’s chamber with a jade slip about repair materials, and Yunchen opened the door.

Li Yan, disguised as Shi Ji, attempted to assassinate Yun Chen with poisoned incense and soul arts, but Yun Chen’s awareness nearly exposed the deception. Li Yan ultimately incapacitated Yun Chen and began to search his soul, still wondering how the abbot had recognized him.

• Shi Ji presented Yun Chen with a jade slip whose deadly poison released Soul-Scattering Incense, but Yun Chen turned the trap against him and subdued him with the wooden fish.
• Yun Chen destroyed the poisoned jade slip and contained its black smoke in a sphere of Buddhist light before questioning the seemingly subdued Shi Ji.
• When Yun Chen tried to extract Shi Ji’s memories, a hidden spike and soul attack disrupted his control of heaven and earth, while the attacker struck through his Vajra Buddha Body.
• The attacker revealed himself to be Li Yan, who had captured Shi Ji and used his appearance and memories to enter the chamber.
• Li Yan injected black water into the unconscious Yun Chen, then restrained him and began searching his soul, puzzled that Yun Chen had suspected the disguise.

Li Yan escaped Yun Chen’s Buddhist mind-force attack when the Undying Nether Phoenix bloodline in his right arm dispelled the illusion. He trapped Yun Chen in the formation, subdued him with a noose, and added layers of seals, leaving Yun Chen captured and unable to resist.

• Yun Chen broke free of Li Yan’s restraint, but Li Yan retreated into the formation’s gate of life as Yun Chen fled toward the meditation room door.
• Yun Chen’s mind-force attack drew Li Yan into an illusion of his loved ones suffering, until the Undying Nether Phoenix bloodline burned away the illusion and restored Li Yan’s senses.
• Li Yan recognized that the silver sand in his right arm had awakened the Phoenix bloodline and cleansed the invading mind force.
• Yun Chen realized an illusion formation kept him from reaching the door, then tried to find the barrier by flying blindly through the room.
• A noose caught Yun Chen and stripped him of his strength as Li Yan emerged and confronted him.
• Li Yan covered Yun Chen with sealing runes and attached three emerald talismans to his dantians.

Li Yan subdued Yunchen and searched his soul, learning how Yunchen controlled monks in the temple and had recognized Li Yan’s disguise as Shiji. Yunchen had also prepared Soul-Bereaving Incense to trap Li Yan, but Li Yan had sensed the poison as soon as he entered the abbot’s chamber.

• Li Yan restrained Yunchen with Ghost Trace, sealed him repeatedly, and rendered him unconscious before searching his soul.
• Li Yan learned that Yunchen had planted mental-power seeds in Shiji and other monks to monitor and control them, enduring karmic backlash in the process.
• Li Yan discovered that Yunchen recognized his disguise because Yunchen sensed Shiji’s condition and noticed the intruder lacked the mental-power aura tied to his puppet.
• Yunchen had lit Soul-Bereaving Incense and used the violet mallet wooden fish as a catalyst while pretending to study a jade slip.
• Li Yan realized the sandalwood fragrance was dangerous when his cultivated soul reacted to it upon entering Yunchen’s chamber.

Li Yan overcame Yun Chen’s Soul-Scattering Incense and subdued him, then learned that a śarīra and Yun Chen’s Sumeru Five Viscera fusion had let his Nascent Soul resist Li Yan’s seal. Li Yan recorded the technique and discovered that the śarīra’s lingering light still protected Yun Chen’s Nascent Soul.

• Li Yan recognized the Soul-Scattering Incense, secretly neutralized it, and let Yun Chen believe his plan was working.
• Li Yan trapped Yun Chen with an array, injured his soul with the Guiyi Water-Parting Spike, and defeated him with the Five Elements Wildcloak and a sky-piercing elbow strike.
• Li Yan learned that Yun Chen had killed a wandering monk and taken his ancient śarīra, which had strengthened his Buddhist abilities.
• Yun Chen’s attempt to refine the śarīra nearly killed him, so he later used the Sumeru Five Viscera art to reverse-fuse part of his Nascent Soul with it.
• Li Yan found that a faint layer of light from the śarīra had helped Yun Chen’s Nascent Soul resist his seal, then recorded the Sumeru Five Viscera technique into a jade slip.

Li Yan uncovered Yunchen and Yunxin’s crimes and their plan to destroy Ting Lan’s Lineage, then took Yunchen’s place to draw Yunxin into a meeting. Yunxin arrived at Sanzhe Temple, where Yunchen warned him that Ting Xingzhi had set a trap for them.

• Li Yan searched Yunchen’s memories, confirming that Yunchen and Yunxin had committed many atrocities and planned to eliminate Ting Lan’s Lineage without leaving evidence.
• Li Yan judged Soul-Bereaving Incense to be inferior, sealed Yunchen inside Tuban, and used his appearance to send Yunxin a jade slip requesting a meeting.
• Shiji briefly gained an insight while studying a red date, but lost it during meditation and resumed examining the date.
• Yunxin arrived at Sanzhe Temple and met the disguised Yunchen in the abbot’s chamber.
• Yunxin said he had found people investigating him and wanted to use them to lure in a larger target.
• Yunchen told Yunxin that the investigators were Chongyangzi’s disciples and that Ting Xingzhi had arranged the situation as a trap.

Li Yan killed Yun Xin and Yun Chen through a carefully arranged trap, then escaped before the temples could pursue him. After ensuring their deaths would reach Ting Lan and the others, he headed toward the Dizhen Domain.

• Yun Chen warned Yun Xin that Chongyangzi’s allies were bait and explained his plan to exploit one of the hired experts.
• Yun Xin drank Li Yan’s Withering-tainted tea and withered into ashes, while Li Yan took Yun Xin’s place and left Sanzhe Temple.
• Minghua Temple discovered Yun Xin’s broken life plaque and found Yun Chen dead in the abbot’s chamber, with Yun Xin’s ashes beneath his kasaya.
• Li Yan explained how he had arranged the deaths and delayed the temples’ investigation, then crushed Yun Chen’s Nascent Soul after the chamber was opened.
• Li Yan decided to bypass the Po Jun Sect and flew toward the Heavenly Demon Grassland on his way to the Dizhen Domain.

Tinglan learned that Yunchen and Yunxin had died at Sanze Temple, and her seniors concluded the news was genuine rather than a trap. Years later, Chongyangzi accepted that the monks were dead, while Tinglan recalled that Li Yan had visited and left pills for him during his seclusion.

• Tinglan received an urgent summons and learned that Yunchen and Yunxin had both died.
• Tinglan questioned whether the deaths were a trap, but her eldest senior brother explained that Minghua Temple's investigation and the Moji Dao Sect's response supported the news.
• Tinglan left with her second senior sister to warn Manor Lord Ting and protect her lineage from suspicion.
• Minghua Temple failed to discover the killer, and Chongyangzi eventually verified that the two monks were dead.
• Chongyangzi and Ting Xingzhi remained bitter that they had not personally killed the monks, and Tinglan remembered Li Yan had left pills for Chongyangzi.

Chongyangzi investigated whether Li Yan had secretly killed Yunchen and Yunxin after learning that Li Yan had visited him before leaving the Pojun Sect. Decades later, Li Yan entered the Dizhen Domain and was teleported into the Soul Suppressing Palace, where a displeased purple-robed man awaited him.

• Chongyangzi realized Li Yan had left the Pojun Sect soon after visiting him and questioned Tinglan about the visit.
• Tinglan admitted that she and other disciples had planned to scheme against Yunchen and Yunxin, and Chongyangzi warned them against acting beyond their abilities.
• Chongyangzi suspected Li Yan might have killed Yunchen and Yunxin, but his calculations suggested Li Yan could not have reached Sanze Temple in time.
• Chongyangzi questioned Tinglan and Shangguan Tianque again, learned Li Yan had been at the middle stage of Spirit Transformation, and ultimately left the deaths unexplained.
• Li Yan entered the Dizhen Domain and was teleported into the Soul Suppressing Palace, where a burly man in purple robes glared at him.