Chapter Summaries

Ji Yuan, Yan Fei, and Niu Batian returned to Nandao County after defeating the female demon, and Niu Batian befriended Yan Fei over drinks. As the night ended, Niu Batian promised to protect Yan Fei from the Fierce Tiger, while Ji Yuan listened from his room and smiled.

• Niu Batian explained that the four attackers had been drained of their vital essence and would eventually become Corpse Charms, and he introduced himself to Yan Fei.
• Ji Yuan failed to divine the meaning of the gathered hair, dismissed the Golden Armored Strongman, and led Yan Fei and Niu Batian back to Nandao County.
• Ji Yuan, Yan Fei, and Niu Batian returned the unconscious woman to the Yuanqi Inn, then found another inn where Yan Fei and Niu Batian stayed to eat and talk.
• Niu Batian asked Yan Fei about his history with Ji Yuan, and Yan Fei recounted how Ji Yuan had saved him and eight other young martial heroes from a Fierce Tiger twelve years earlier.
• Niu Batian carried the drunken Yan Fei to his room, reflected on Ji Yuan's past test of Yan Fei and the tiger, and vowed to protect Yan Fei when the tiger returned.
• Ji Yuan listened to Niu Batian and Yan Fei from his room and found their conversation interesting.

Ji Yuan agreed to travel with Yan Fei toward Zhonghu Province to investigate the Wei family's Wordless Heavenly Book, while Niu Batian accompanied them. After learning that Ji Yuan could remove the evil art on his neck, Niu Batian asked for help, and Ji Yuan asked how he would repay him.

• Yan Fei asked to accompany Ji Yuan, and Ji Yuan agreed to let him follow on the journey north.
• Yan Fei told Ji Yuan about the Wei family's Wordless Heavenly Book, and Ji Yuan agreed to go to Zhonghu Province to examine it.
• The group traveled for about twenty days, during which Niu Batian privately told Ji Yuan that he had once been a plowing ox.
• At a camp by the forest, Niu Batian asked Ji Yuan to remove the evil art from his neck.
• Ji Yuan agreed to help Niu Batian but asked how he would repay him, leaving Niu Batian at a loss.

Ji Yuan removed the sinister hair and demonic energy rooted in Niu Batian’s Spiritual Essence, freeing him from the evil art. After Yan Fei spotted lights and a carriage beyond the woods, the three traveled to investigate and found a town that Niu Batian said was not inhabited by people.

• Ji Yuan used a fine thread of Samadhi True Fire to trace the hairs at Niu Batian’s nape to their roots while Niu Batian endured the spiritual agony without moving.
• Ji Yuan burned away the hairs and Demonic Spirit Energy, and Niu Batian celebrated that the evil art was gone and he could recover.
• Yan Fei went into the forest and spotted distant lights, then saw a carriage traveling toward them.
• Yan Fei returned and told Ji Yuan and Niu Batian about the lights and carriage; Ji Yuan decided they should investigate because he could not sense a town’s Human Vitality.
• Ji Yuan, Niu Batian, and Yan Fei reached an earthen slope and saw a town, which Niu Batian said was not inhabited by people.

Ji Yuan, Niu Batian, and Yan Fei discovered that a ghost city had drawn a mortal carriage and its occupants inside, so they decided to rescue them. Ji Yuan used Heaven and Earth Transformation to make the hidden city appear around them, leaving the three poised to enter.

• Ji Yuan identified the distant, lantern-lit city as a ghost city shaped by a skilled ghost cultivator, and the three waited until dawn rather than enter at night.
• Niu Batian helped Yan Fei see ghost soldiers leading Lone Souls and Wild Ghosts into the city, while Ji Yuan explained that such ghosts were common in Zuyue Land.
• At dawn, the ghost city vanished from sight, and the three found the mortal carriage Yan Fei had seen entering it the night before.
• Ji Yuan concluded that the carriage's occupants were still inside the ghost city, and Niu Batian and Yan Fei agreed to help rescue them.
• Ji Yuan unfolded Heaven and Earth Transformation, making the ghost city's streets and buildings emerge around the three.

Ji Yuan, Niu Batian, and Yan Fei explored a ghost city and learned that living people could be found there. Meanwhile, four travelers were exposed as living humans and seized by a Black-Robed Man, who planned to serve them at the City Lord’s banquet.

• Ji Yuan explained that the ghost city was real in a certain sense and led Niu Batian and Yan Fei out to search for living people.
• Ji Yuan concealed Yan Fei from ordinary ghosts and reassured him that his sword could harm them.
• Ke Yundong, Zhou Xing, Ke Yunqin, and Ke Yunxin left their inn and complained about the city’s daytime quiet and the restaurant’s bad food.
• The restaurant’s ghosts recognized the four travelers as living people and revealed their deathly forms.
• A Black-Robed Man declared that he would take the four travelers to serve as dishes at the City Lord’s banquet, then grabbed Zhou Xing and Ke Yunqin while Ke Yundong and Ke Yunxin fell helplessly to the ground.

Ji Yuan learned that a Black Emissary had seized four living humans for the ghost city lord’s banquet, then encountered Gao Tianming and Xia Qiu, who recognized him and bowed respectfully. The chapter left Ji Yuan’s companions wondering about his background as they prepared to deal with the missing humans and the city’s powerful guests.

• The Black Emissary took Zhou Xing, Ke Yunqin, and two other living humans from Tengyuan Tower after intimidating the inn’s ghosts with his Soul Hook Rope.
• Ji Yuan heard the innkeeper’s distant cry, divined that the group was in trouble, and hurried to Tengyuan Tower with Niu Batian and Yan Fei.
• The innkeeper told Ji Yuan that the Black Emissary planned to present the captives to the ghost city lord at a celebratory banquet, but Ji Yuan’s party vanished before he could offer them food.
• Ji Yuan rejected Niu Batian’s suggestion to confront the entire ghost city and noticed powerful demonic energy arriving at the city gates.
• Gao Tianming and Xia Qiu stopped their carriage, recognized Ji Yuan, and bowed to him, leaving Niu Batian and Yan Fei astonished by his connections.

Ji Yuan joined Gao Tianming and Xia Qiu on their way to confront the ghost city’s lord and ask for the living people taken by the Black Emissary. As Gao Tianming and Niu Batian traded accounts of Ji Yuan’s powers, the group continued toward the lord, with Gao warning that refusing to release the captives would bring trouble.

• Gao Tianming and Xia Qiu greeted Ji Yuan, Yan Fei, and Niu Batian, then learned that Ji Yuan had entered the ghost city to rescue living people taken by the Black Emissary.
• Gao Tianming offered to help secure the captives from the ghost city’s lord, and Ji Yuan agreed to walk with him rather than ride in the carriage.
• Gao Tianming told Niu Batian and Yan Fei that the Dragon Lord valued Ji Yuan greatly and estimated that Ji Yuan was at least a True Immortal.
• Niu Batian described Ji Yuan’s Samadhi True Fire, and Yan Fei reminded him to mention Ji Yuan’s Golden Armored Strongman; Gao Tianming said he had never heard of either art.
• Gao Tianming said the ghost city’s lord would be seeking death if he refused to hand over the captives.

Ji Yuan and Gao Tianming reached Boundless Ghost City and demanded the release of the living people captured by the Black Emissary, but Xin Wuya postponed meeting them until the banquet. As the group attended the gathering, Ji Yuan saw the city’s immense population of ghosts and the gathering of demons and deities, and judged the Zuyue Kingdom to be steeped in foulness and disorder.

• Gao Tianming and Xia Qiu confronted the manor’s guards and demanded that Xin Wuya release the mortals taken by the Black Emissary.
• Xin Wuya refused to meet Gao Tianming but promised to release the mortals if they were brought to the banquet, then ordered Xiang Zhong to find them.
• Ji Yuan agreed to wait until the banquet, and Gao Tianming warned the guards that harm to his friends would bring serious consequences.
• As evening fell, Ji Yuan and his companions saw the vast, crowded ghost city and discussed how it had grown over the past century.
• Ji Yuan and the others arrived at the banquet, where demons, ghosts, cultivators, and deities gathered, and Ji Yuan surveyed the attendees with his dharma eyes.

Ji Yuan and his companions attended a banquet at Underworld Ghost Manor, where Gao Tianming attacked a demon who boasted about eating children and helped secure the release of four captives. After Xin Wuya and the guests mocked them by proposing another Living People Feast, Ji Yuan's companions sensed that the demons had provoked a dangerous response.

• Gao Tianming confronted and injured a demon who offered him virgin boys and girls, while Ji Yuan told him there was no need to prove his principles.
• Xin Wuya arrived and brought out the three Ke siblings and Zhou Xing, whom Gao Tianming admitted he had claimed as friends only to save them.
• Ji Yuan introduced himself and asked Xin Wuya to release the captives, and the city lord ordered the ghost soldiers to let them go.
• Yan Fei reassured the four captives and confirmed his identity as the Flying Swordsman.
• Xin Wuya and the demons mocked Gao Tianming and discussed holding another Living People Feast, while Ji Yuan's companions felt a chill and realized the demons were courting death.

Ji Yuan subdued the tension at Xin Wuya’s banquet with a warning backed by a hidden lightning curse, and Xin Wuya called off the confrontation. After leaving Boundless City, Ji Yuan explained why destroying it could unleash the evil ghosts it contained, then encountered Xin Wuya and a city god waiting on the road.

• Ji Yuan silenced the hecklers and warned Xin Wuya to speak carefully while the Green Vine Sword gathered lightning in the clouds overhead.
• Xin Wuya restrained his Ghost General and declared the living-sacrifice business unwelcome in Boundless City, then accepted Ji Yuan’s apology and resumed the feast.
• Gao Tianming secretly warned Xin Wuya that the thunderous aura above the city could overturn Boundless City, persuading him to avoid provoking Ji Yuan.
• Ji Yuan and the others left after the banquet, and Xia Qiu explained that destroying Boundless City could free the evil ghosts it contained.
• Xin Wuya and a blue-robed city god waited on the road, where the city god introduced himself as the Moon Realm Dao Sparrow Stay City God and greeted Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan explained why he had spared Xin Wuya and Boundless Ghost City, then summoned a powerful Imperial Decree Thunder Spell to show what would happen if he chose otherwise. He left Xin Wuya in charge of the city but ordered him to eliminate the ghosts who had called for a feast on living people.

• Xin Wuya challenged Ji Yuan to explain why he had spared Boundless Ghost City, while Gao Tianming and the Sparrow Stay City God watched.
• Ji Yuan praised Xin Wuya's restraint and said Boundless Ghost City helped curb ghostly evils in Zuyue's southern territory.
• Ji Yuan summoned a golden-script Imperial Decree Thunder Spell above Boundless Ghost City and let its power gather into his palm.
• Ji Yuan told Xin Wuya that he had spared him and the city, causing Xin Wuya to bow and thank him for his life.
• Ji Yuan explained that the spell contained the essence of a flood dragon and then departed with Gao Tianming, Niu Batian, Yan Fei, and the others.
• Ji Yuan ordered Xin Wuya to eliminate the ghosts who had called for a Living People Feast, and Xin Wuya added the Black Emissary to his death list.

Xin Wuya used the thunder spell’s aftermath as cover to purge Boundless Ghost City of vicious ghosts, while Ji Yuan and the others escorted the rescued mortals away with the Water Tribe convoy. The group reached the riverbank and continued toward Deer Peace City with Gao Tianming and Xia Qiu gone into the water.

• Xin Wuya ordered his subordinates to kill the ghosts who had called for a Living People Feast and planned to raise Boundless City’s yin energy with their deaths.
• Xin Wuya ordered the Black Emissary, Xiang Zhong, executed and the ghosts connected to Tengyuan Tower eliminated.
• The rescued mortals woke as daylight revealed the Water Tribe Spirit Monsters’ true forms, and Gao Tianming and Xia Qiu invited Ji Yuan to visit their Water Mansion before departing into the river.
• Niu Batian reassured the rescued mortals that they were safe, and the group set off for Deer Peace City.
• Old Ox asked Ke Yundong and Zhou Xing whether Deer Peace City had any famous brothels.

Ji Yuan and his companions reached Deer Peace City, where Yan Fei arranged a visit to the Wei family to view the Wordless Heavenly Book. The chapter ended with Yan Fei returning to the inn after Niu Batian tricked him into visiting a brothel.

• Ji Yuan parted ways with Ke Yundong, his sisters, and Zhou Xing in Deer Peace City and lodged at Tianlang Inn with Yan Fei and the others.
• Yan Fei told the Wei Family Dangzi Shop that he and his respected elder would visit the next day to request a viewing of the Wordless Heavenly Book.
• Niu Batian surprised Yan Fei on the street, then led him to a brothel despite Yan Fei's confusion.
• Yan Fei escaped the women at the brothel and returned to the inn, where Ji Yuan recognized the scent of rouge and powder on him.
• Ji Yuan teased Yan Fei about Niu Batian taking him to a brothel, and Yan Fei returned to his room feeling awkward.

Ji Yuan and Niu Batian discovered that Deer Peace City’s City God and local gods had vanished, then found a demon abducting children and women from gambling houses. They recognized the demon as the one from Boundless City who had wanted to eat children with Gao Tianming and pursued its carriage.

• Niu Batian left Soft Jade Tower and ran into Ji Yuan, who asked him to help investigate the lack of wandering gods in Deer Peace City.
• Ji Yuan and Niu Batian inspected the City God Temple and found it abandoned, with its divine hall fire extinguished and the Ghost Gate Pass hidden away.
• Ji Yuan explained that the City God might return through worship, though a reborn god would lose its former memories and power.
• Ji Yuan and Niu Batian patrolled the city and found demonic energy near several gambling houses.
• Ji Yuan heard that a demon called Sixth Master was taking children and women who had been gambled away, and recognized him as the demon from Boundless City.
• Ji Yuan and Niu Batian pursued the carriage carrying Sixth Master and his captives.

Ji Yuan and Niu Batian confronted Lang Manor and pursued the Wolf Demon after Niu Batian struck him. Niu Batian killed the Wolf Demon outside Deer Peace City, while Ji Yuan suspected that other so-called masters might be ordinary people involved in illicit business.

• Ji Yuan and Niu Batian entered Lang Manor, where servants were preparing captured women and children for Sixth Master Lang.
• Ji Yuan sent a paper bird ahead, then Niu Batian burst into the Wolf Demon's bedroom and struck him, driving him out of the city.
• Niu Batian chased the Wolf Demon through the sky and used his Thunder Hoof to knock him down.
• The Wolf Demon revealed his true form, but Niu Batian trapped him with earth spirit and killed him with a cloud-vapor axe.
• Ji Yuan told Niu Batian that the other masters connected to Sixth Master were ordinary people involved in wine, meat, and illicit profit.

Ji Yuan and Niu Batian killed the wolf demon, freed the captives at Lang Manor, and left a public account of Sixth Master Lang’s crimes. Back at the inn, Yan Fei questioned whether mortals and the martial path were truly powerless.

• Ji Yuan burned the wolf demon’s corpse after Niu Batian salvaged its purse, and he kept a handful of valuable wolf fur.
• Ji Yuan decided not to interfere further in Lang Manor’s affairs, saying he would leave a letter and let others contend over the power and wealth.
• Ji Yuan’s paper crane unlocked the captives’ room, and his voice urged the women and children to escape.
• Ji Yuan wrote an account of Lang Six’s crimes and nailed it to Lang Manor’s plaque with a dead branch before leaving with Niu Batian.
• Yan Fei lay awake at Tianlang Inn, drew his sword, and wondered whether mortals and the martial path were truly powerless.

Ji Yuan reflected on Zuo Li’s Sword Intent Scroll and the limits of the Martial Path, then gave it to Yan Fei to help him pursue his potential. Yan Fei fell asleep while studying it and dreamed of a swordsman on a mountain peak.

• Ji Yuan heard Yan Fei’s troubled muttering and later studied the Sword Intent Scroll in the inn corridor.
• Ji Yuan invited Yan Fei to his room, showed him the scroll, and explained that Zuo Li’s swordsmanship had reached a realm approaching the Dao.
• Ji Yuan told Yan Fei that his temperament suited the Martial Path and used magic to let him glimpse Zuo Li’s bearing through the scroll.
• Yan Fei returned to his room, unfolded the scroll, and fell asleep as its characters seemed to come alive.
• Yan Fei dreamed of a swordsman standing on a mountain peak, while Ji Yuan urged him not to disappoint him.

After Yan Fei dreamed of Sword Immortal Zuo, he gained a clearer direction for pursuing the martial path and traveled with Ji Yuan and Niu Batian to the Wei family manor. Ji Yuan read the Wei family’s supposedly wordless book and identified it as a personal biography titled “Roaming in the Clouds Dream.”

• Ji Yuan reflected that Pre-Natal martial artists might preserve part of their essence, qi, and spirit when transforming true qi into spiritual qi, and incorporated this insight into the Sword Intent Scroll.
• Yan Fei woke late after dreaming of Zuo Li, whose bearing gave him a new understanding of the martial path.
• Niu Batian noticed a subtle change in Yan Fei as Yan Fei packed the Sword Intent Scroll and prepared to leave.
• Wei Ming welcomed Yan Fei, Ji Yuan, and Niu Batian to the Wei family manor, where Wei Xuan presented the Wordless Heavenly Book.
• Ji Yuan examined the book and told the Wei family that it contained words and was titled “Roaming in the Clouds Dream.”

Ji Yuan read and copied the Wei family’s Wordless Heavenly Book, “Roaming in the Clouds Dream,” and experienced its author’s profound spiritual world. The book stirred his understanding, so he left the Wei family to seek a place to contemplate.

• Ji Yuan identified the book’s author as Zhong Pingxiu, not a Wei ancestor, and agreed to copy its contents for the Wei family.
• As Ji Yuan wrote, Yan Fei, Niu Batian, and the Wei family witnessed the hall transform into a vast world of mist, seas, thunder, and shifting seasons.
• Ji Yuan praised the book as the finest Heavenly Records Script he had seen and concluded that Zhong Pingxiu had been a true immortal master or greater.
• Ji Yuan asked to borrow the book, but Wei Xuan refused because it was a treasured family heirloom.
• Ji Yuan departed on clouds to contemplate his new understanding, telling Yan Fei and Niu Batian that their journey together had ended.

After Ji Yuan left the Wei family, Yan Fei and Niu Batian warned them to guard the translated Heavenly Book and departed for Deer Peace City. Ji Yuan flew east toward the sea, seeking a place to cultivate in accord with his new insight.

• Niu Batian suppressed his anger at the Wei family, while Yan Fei reflected on the principles Ji Yuan had taught him.
• Yan Fei and Niu Batian refused the Wei family's invitation to stay and left the manor; Yan Fei warned Wei Ming not to spread news of the translation.
• Wei Xuan ordered the household to keep the day's events secret and studied Ji Yuan's handwritten copy of Roaming in the Clouds Dream with the family.
• On the road to Deer Peace City, Niu Batian said Ji Yuan's manuscript showed signs of extraordinary power and could benefit the Wei family if they studied it cautiously.
• Ji Yuan rode east over the clouds toward the East Sea, reciting a passage about roaming infinitely as he pursued his new insight.