Chapter Summaries

Li Yan destroyed the withered half of the ancient tree, dispelling the tribulation fire and clearing the trial for himself, Su Wenzhou, Yun Qinghua, and Ling Xingkong. The survivors praised his insight, while Su Wenzhou’s pointed mention of Li Jiuchen’s death left his intentions unclear.

• As the tribulation fire descended, Li Yan shouted “Shatter” and used spiritual power in the ancient tree’s withered roots to blast apart its dead half.
• The tribulation fire and clouds vanished, the stone gate opened, and the surviving half of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ancient Tree began to grow new buds.
• Su Wenzhou questioned Li Yan about what he had done, while Yun Qinghua thanked him and asked how he had known the solution.
• Li Yan explained that the withered should return to stillness while the newborn flourished, and the others realized the trial required following the Heavenly Dao rather than preserving everything.
• Yun Qinghua and Ling Xingkong praised Li Yan’s understanding, while Su Wenzhou lamented Li Jiuchen’s death and deliberately looked at Li Yan.

After Li Jiuchen died in the second trial, Su Wenzhou sowed suspicion about Zhang Ming, while Li Yan’s cautious choice to meditate beside the stone gate forced the others to follow. The four restored their cultivation there, but when the desert beyond the gate suddenly blurred, they vanished from their seats at once.

• Su Wenzhou implied that Zhang Ming had concealed the trial’s clue, making Yun Qinghua and Ling Xingkong wary of him.
• Yun Qinghua, Su Wenzhou, and Ling Xingkong swallowed Pills to restore their depleted magical power, while Li Yan moved to meditate beside the stone gate.
• Yun Qinghua, Ling Xingkong, and Su Wenzhou repositioned themselves near the gate after Li Yan’s move gave him an advantage if danger appeared.
• About eight hours later, the four sensed the desert beyond the stone gate grow misty and vanished from their seats without standing.

Li Yan and the others entered a desert trial where dozens of identical Light Gates concealed the true exit. After failing to distinguish them, the group gathered to discuss a solution as the gates’ light dimmed, and Su Wenzhou proposed attacking the mirrors.

• Li Yan, Su Wenzhou, Yun Qinghua, and Ling Xingkong entered a desert of eternal night, where a Light Gate appeared and the gate behind them vanished.
• Su Wenzhou rushed toward the Light Gate, and Li Yan and the others followed until they entered an illusion filled with dozens of identical gates.
• The four read a riddle that challenged them to find the true gate among its reflections, then examined the gates separately for clues.
• Ling Xingkong reported that the Light Gates were dimming and that he had found no differences among them; Yun Qinghua and Li Yan also reported no useful distinctions.
• Su Wenzhou proposed bombarding the mirrors to clear the trial.

Su Wenzhou argued that the Light Gate trial might be solved by striking the gates directly, and the group agreed to test his approach. His attack on one gate triggered a storm of swords from every Light Gate, leaving the group under attack.

• Su Wenzhou argued that the hints could be misdirection and that the gates might be illusions that could be shattered.
• Yun Qinghua proposed testing all the Light Gates at once with spirit beasts or spells, while Li Yan favored trying that approach before Su Wenzhou’s.
• Su Wenzhou argued that the trial might reward a simple, direct solution, and Yun Qinghua agreed to let him test it first.
• Su Wenzhou struck a Light Gate with his bonded hammer, and sword-shaped light burst from every gate.
• Li Yan raised the Black God Shield as the blinding storm of swords filled the chamber.

Li Yan and the others struggled to withstand the Light Gates’ swords, which rapidly drained their magical power. Li Yan discovered that attacking caused the swords to multiply, and he ended the chapter back on defense as he searched for a way through the trial.

• Li Yan, Su Wenzhou, Ling Xingkong, and Yun Qinghua found their strength rapidly draining as they defended against the swords of light.
• Ling Xingkong and Yun Qinghua switched from defense to offense, provoking the swords to multiply, then returned to defense and contracted their perimeter.
• Su Wenzhou revealed a small purple crocodile form and used his body and magical defenses to withstand the swords.
• Li Yan noticed the attacks around Ling Xingkong and Yun Qinghua weakened after they stopped attacking, and suspected that offense triggered the increase.
• Li Yan attacked with his shield and talismans, saw the swords multiply, then stopped and returned to defense as their strength subsided.

Li Yan, Ling Xingkong, and Yun Qinghua discovered that allowing the Light Gate’s swords to shred them cleared the trial without producing blood essence. Su Wenzhou realized they had found a way out, but the chapter left him hesitating over whether to follow their method.

• Li Yan deliberately dropped his defenses above his head and was pierced apart by the Light Gate’s swords.
• Ling Xingkong told Yun Qinghua that the lack of blood essence after Zhang Ming’s apparent death suggested he had cleared the trial or been moved elsewhere.
• Ling Xingkong let the swords shred him, and Yun Qinghua followed after seeing that no blood essence appeared.
• Su Wenzhou realized the three had likely cleared the trial by letting the swords kill them, then hesitated over whether to do the same or force his way into the Light Gate.

Li Yan endured the Light Gate’s sword barrage and emerged from the Prayer-Devil Wraith Buddha Beast, realizing it had released him after he cleared its trial. Ling Xingkong and Yun Qinghua also appeared, and they considered whether to attack the mysterious Zhang Ming or leave.

• Su Wenzhou abandoned his physical defenses and let the Light Gate’s swords strike him while maintaining his other defenses.
• Li Yan endured the swords, was pulled through the Light Gate, and heard the Prayer-Devil Wraith Buddha Beast tell him to take care before it released him.
• Li Yan found himself back on the prairie and concluded that the beast had sent him out after he cleared its trials.
• Ling Xingkong emerged from the sky, followed by Yun Qinghua, who had lowered her defenses rather than waiting to see what happened to him.
• Yun Qinghua privately asked Ling Xingkong whether they should attack Zhang Ming or leave, noting that they had detected no demonic aura from him.

After escaping the Prayer-Eerie Kui Buddha Beast, Li Yan faced suspicion from the demon cultivators while Su Wenzhou questioned how he had passed the final trial. Li Yan explained the principle behind his risky method, leaving the others to understand that the trial tested whether they could remain unmoved by the attacks.

• Yun Qingmei and Ling Xingkong eyed Li Yan warily after they escaped, while Yun Qingmei worried about her missing disciples.
• Su Wenzhou emerged from the spatial passage, swallowed a Pill, and greeted the others while reflecting on Li Jiuchen's death and the treasures he had lost.
• Su Wenzhou asked Li Yan how he had passed the final trial, and Li Yan said Yun Qingmei and Ling Xingkong's defensive actions had given him the idea.
• Li Yan recited, “The Realm Is Neither Illusory nor False; the trial's gate may open. If the heart remains unmoved, the killing formation will not arise,” prompting the others to grasp the trial's principle.
• Li Yan had treated the swords of light as unreal and let them strike him without resistance, risking death to pass the trial.

Li Yan explained how to pass the trial, but Su Wenzhou turned the group against him by accusing him of hiding his identity. Ling Xingkong recognized that Li Yan had used Daoist cultivation principles in the trials, exposing him as a likely human cultivator and bringing the group to the brink of an attack.

• Li Yan explained that they could clear the trial by keeping their hearts unmoved and letting the Light Gate act without resisting.
• Su Wenzhou accused Li Yan of withholding the method, then revealed his suspicion that Zhang Ming was a human cultivator infiltrating the Heavenly Demon Grassland.
• Li Yan pointed out Su Wenzhou's plot with Li Jiuchen and refused to prove his identity, prompting Su Wenzhou and Yun Qingmei to prepare to attack.
• Ling Xingkong asked how Li Yan had passed the last two trials and concluded that he had relied on Daoist cultivation principles unfamiliar to demon cultivators.

Ling Xingkong deduced why Li Yan had passed the trials, and Li Yan fled before the three demons could expose his identity. Yun Qing’s feather restrained him, but as Ling Xingkong and Su Wenzhou attacked, Li Yan’s strange smile preceded a sudden turn of events that made Ling Xingkong’s palm strike Su Wenzhou’s hammer.

• Ling Xingkong reasoned that the Prayer-Eerie Kui Buddha Beast had designed trials to confound Demon Cultivators, while Li Yan instinctively relied on Human Race Daoist arts to pass them.
• Li Yan dismissed Ling Xingkong’s theory and suddenly fled toward the gap in the three demons’ loose encirclement.
• Yun Qing sent a three-colored feather after Li Yan, and its beam restrained him long enough for Ling Xingkong and Su Wenzhou to close in and attack his vital points.
• Li Yan’s body blurred as he began to break free, and Ling Xingkong’s palm strike slipped downward into Su Wenzhou’s hammer, producing black liquid and smoke.

Li Yan and Ling Xingkong joined forces to kill Su Wenzhou, while Yun Qing realized the two had secretly allied and used false names. The chapter ended with Li Yan and Ling Xingkong greeting each other as Sima Zimo, the Blood-Eyed Toad Li Yan had met years earlier.

• Su Wenzhou’s damaged life-bound treasure left him reeling, and Li Yan used Subduing Wave Soul-Killing to pin down his soul before stabbing his dantian and killing him.
• As Su Wenzhou died, he recognized Zhang Ming and Ling Xingkong, while Li Yan seized his corpse and concealed the abilities he did not want others to discover.
• Yun Qing recalled how Ling Xingkong had instructed her to feign an attack on Zhang Ming and help kill Su Wenzhou, and she concluded the two men had planned their alliance in advance.
• Li Yan greeted Ling Xingkong as Sima Zimo, revealing to Yun Qing that the two knew each other and had used false names.
• Li Yan recognized Sima Zimo as the Blood-Eyed Toad who had traded him the Polar Ice Heart and explained that he had pursued him to make contact.

Li Yan recounted how he and Sima Zimo had concealed their acquaintance while trapped in the Prayer-Eerie Kui Buddha Beast, then secretly agreed to work together after escaping. As Su Wenzhou moved to expose and kill Li Yan, the two prepared to use the confrontation to strike him by surprise.

• Li Yan explained that he had spared Lin Feng and concealed his relationship with Sima Zimo, whom he had learned was known as Ling Xingkong among the Brightmoon Spirit Goose Clan.
• Inside the Prayer-Eerie Kui Buddha Beast, Li Yan secretly revealed himself to Sima Zimo, and they agreed to pretend to be strangers until a crisis gave them an advantage.
• Li Yan attempted his dangerous method for clearing the third trial, and Sima Zimo recognized its workings; clearing it sent them back outside onto the Heavenly Demon Grassland.
• After Li Yan asked to kill Su Wenzhou, Sima Zimo agreed to join forces, and they decided to act opportunistically without exposing their alliance.
• Su Wenzhou suspected Li Yan and proposed that he reveal demonic aura, while Sima Zimo appeared to support the accusation and confirmed Li Yan was human.
• Li Yan secretly told Sima Zimo he would break away and flee, and Sima Zimo urged him to choose their side so they could attack Su Wenzhou from both sides.

Li Yan, Sima Zimo, and Yun Qing killed Su Wenzhou through a coordinated ambush, then Li Yan took the demon's body and spatial treasures as thanks for rescuing Sima Zimo and Yun Qing. Yun Qing left to search for her missing disciples, but Sima Zimo revealed that Li Yan had found one of them, prompting Yun Qing to confront him.

• Sima Zimo and Li Yan secretly coordinated with Yun Qing to lure Su Wenzhou into a trap, and their poisons damaged his lifebound Green Gourd Hammer and killed him.
• Li Yan collected Su Wenzhou's spatial treasures and blood essence, while Sima Zimo declined the demon's blood essence and offered the spoils to Li Yan in gratitude.
• Yun Qing suppressed her displeasure at Li Yan taking Su Wenzhou's body and said she would search for Wen Lin and the other four disciples.
• Sima Zimo told Li Yan to release Lin Feng, and Yun Qing realized Li Yan had encountered one of her clan's disciples.
• Li Yan denied capturing Yun Qing's disciples and said he had seen them breaking through a restriction, while concealing that four of them had died from its backlash.

Li Yan returned the unconscious Lin Feng to Yun Qing, while he and Sima Zimo discussed their reunion and Sima Zimo explained how he had met Yun Qing. The chapter left Sima Zimo describing the poisoned place where he found her near three dead bodies.

• Li Yan brought the unconscious Lin Feng out of his Spirit Storage Ring, and Yun Qing recognized him, examined him, and took him aside for treatment.
• Yun Qing suspected Li Yan had used Soul Search on Lin Feng, while Li Yan reflected that he had deleted memories of himself and parts of the passages from Lin Feng’s mind.
• Li Yan and Sima Zimo joked about Sima Zimo’s relationship with Yun Qing before Sima Zimo recounted his search for his enemy and his journey to the Heavenly Demon Grassland.
• Sima Zimo explained that he found Yun Qing in a poisonous area beneath a cliff, where she was barely conscious beside three recently dead cultivators.

Sima Zimo saved Yun Qingmei after finding her poisoned, and she learned he was pursuing revenge of his own. After years of searching together and following a clue through the Moonlit Spirit Goose clan, they found no further leads, leaving Sima Zimo’s hunt unresolved.

• Sima Zimo rescued Yun Qingmei from the poison-filled land, purged the poison, and guarded her while she recovered.
• Yun Qingmei told Sima Zimo how she had avenged her daughter by luring the old demon and his disciples into the deadly land and killing him.
• Sima Zimo revealed that he was also seeking revenge, so Yun Qingmei began traveling with him to help find his enemy.
• Sima Zimo and Yun Qingmei searched the Heavenly Demon Grassland for about a sexagenary cycle, gathering only vague clues about the demon beast he sought.
• Yun Qingmei took Sima Zimo to the Moonlit Spirit Goose clan, where they found relevant records, then searched for another dozen years without making further progress.

Sima Zimo explained his search for his enemies and his bond with Yun Qing to Li Yan, who revealed he was seeking an opportunity for his former spirit pet. Before they parted, Sima Zimo shared clues about his enemies and Li Yan promised to send word; Yun Qing then questioned Sima Zimo about Li Yan's strength and trustworthiness.

• Sima Zimo agreed to Yun Qing's proposal that he become a Guest Elder of her clan, giving him access to its network as he searched for clues about his enemies.
• Sima Zimo told Li Yan about his history with Yun Qing, their shared hardships, and his long search for his enemies.
• Li Yan said he had entered the Heavenly Demon Grassland to find an opportunity for his former spirit pet, and Sima Zimo offered to help if he found relevant clues.
• Sima Zimo gave Li Yan information about the demon beast he sought and contacts through the Moonlit Spirit Goose clan and a market town.
• Li Yan declined further thanks and departed, while Yun Qing returned and asked Sima Zimo why he trusted Li Yan and whether Li Yan had concealed his cultivation.

Sima Zimo explained his history with Li Yan as he and Yun Qinghua prepared to return with Lin Feng, whose memories revealed that Wen Lin had used him as bait. Yun Qinghua resolved to protect Lin Feng, while Li Yan traveled on across the Heavenly Demon Grassland with a promising clue about the Ink-Blood Thunder Roc and the Undying Underworld Phoenix.

• Sima Zimo told Yun Qinghua that Li Yan had once fought him evenly and helped him escape the Ghost Domain, so he believed Li Yan would not have attacked their group.
• Sima Zimo and Yun Qinghua decided to leave, and Yun Qinghua recalled that Lin Feng's memories showed Wen Lin had ordered him to trigger the cavern restrictions alone.
• Yun Qinghua found that Li Yan had altered Lin Feng's memories to restore the words implying Lin Feng had a companion, and she resolved to secure cultivation resources to protect him.
• Li Yan flew away across the Heavenly Demon Grassland, found no pursuers or dangerous vortices, and reflected on the dangers he had survived.
• Li Yan realized that his encounter had brought him news of the Ink-Blood Thunder Roc, the first useful clue he had found about the Undying Underworld Phoenix on the grassland.

Li Yan learned from Sima Zimo that the powerful Ink-Blood Thunder Roc clan lived near the depths of the Heavenly Demon Grassland, and he decided he was not yet strong enough to approach them. He then examined Su Wenzhou’s corpse and possessions, finding rare spiritual plants and herbs in a high-grade storage treasure.

• Li Yan recognized the Ink-Blood Thunder Rocs as relatives of the Undying Underworld Phoenix and questioned Sima Zimo about their clan without arousing suspicion.
• Sima Zimo explained that the Ink-Blood Thunder Rocs occupied a dangerous region near the depths of the Heavenly Demon Grassland and shared what Yun Qinghua had told him about the clan.
• Li Yan considered seeking the Ink-Blood Thunder Rocs for clues but abandoned the plan because his cultivation was insufficient for the dangers there.
• Li Yan examined Su Wenzhou’s corpse inside Tuban and confirmed the seventh-tier demon had no remaining soul, leaving him unable to perform a Soul Search.
• Li Yan inspected Su Wenzhou’s spatial treasures and found a vast spirit storage space filled with rare plants and herbs, including varieties he did not recognize.

Li Yan inspected Su Wenzhou’s spirit storage artifact, treasures, and jade slips, hoping to identify unusual items and find useful records. A damaged immortal-artifact jade slip contained a fragmentary technique that suddenly caught his attention.

• Li Yan examined the spirit storage space, noting how its spirit beasts helped sustain its laws and how its foundations compared with Tuban.
• Li Yan searched Su Wenzhou’s stored materials and set aside strange objects, wondering whether one might be the treasure Su Wenzhou had found underground.
• Li Yan inspected twenty-five unusual jade slips, reviewing cultivation methods, techniques, and ancient anecdotes for useful clues.
• Li Yan read a damaged jade slip describing stars, moonlight, and the yin and yang linking vessels, then became unexpectedly intrigued by its fragmentary contents.

Li Yan discovered that Su Wenzhou had cultivated the concealment-piercing art Great Luo Star Eyes, resolving his uncertainty about how Su had detected him. Su’s many jade slips contained a nearly complete, repeatedly revised version of the technique, giving Li Yan a reliable foundation to cultivate it.

• Li Yan examined a damaged jade slip describing Great Luo Star Eyes and reconsidered whether Su Wenzhou’s concealment-piercing ability was innate or learned.
• Li Yan decided to set the incomplete technique aside for later and continued searching Su Wenzhou’s treasures.
• Li Yan found six jade slips containing repeated drafts and deductions for Great Luo Star Eyes.
• Li Yan concluded that Su Wenzhou had cultivated the technique himself after studying his revisions and comparing their descriptions with what he had seen in Su’s eyes.
• Li Yan realized Su Wenzhou’s final version supplied the missing foundational instructions and another one and a half levels of cultivation.