Chapter Summaries

Shen Ji tried to scout the three caverns while Jiang Tingxue and the others guarded the villagers, but the villagers fell under an illusion and rushed toward the cliff. Song Wensheng and Yan Qing rescued Jiang Tingxue from falling, leaving her stunned and worried about the villagers.

• Shen Ji sent spell rings to scout the three caverns, but the patterns at their entrances destroyed them.
• The villagers became entranced by the illusion and called for Xiuzhi as they walked toward the cliff.
• Jiang Tingxue, Song Wensheng, and Yan Qing tried to stop the villagers, but they knocked the three aside and continued toward the edge.
• Jiang Tingxue struck the villagers' immobilization acupoints, but they leaped off the cliff and pulled her down with them.
• Song Wensheng and Yan Qing caught Jiang Tingxue and pulled her back from the edge as she worried that the villagers had fallen.

Shen Ji rescued Jiang Tingxue from the cliff and led her, Song Wensheng, and Yan Qing into the moth demon’s lair. As the demon’s hypnotic patterns and fragrance overwhelmed the group, Senior Brother Xie arrived to help Shen Ji attack.

• Shen Ji used his sword to free Jiang Tingxue from the invisible hands dragging her down the cliff and brought her to safety.
• Shen Ji reassured Jiang Tingxue, Song Wensheng, and Yan Qing, then led them into the moth demon’s dark cave.
• Shen Ji lured the moth demon into the light and damaged her right wing, but she shrank to evade the others’ attack.
• The moth demon covered the cave in hypnotic patterns, leaving Yan Qing collapsed and the others unable to fight effectively.
• Shen Ji shielded his junior disciples until he heard Senior Brother Xie’s sword and coordinated an attack with him.

After the group defeated the moth yaoguai, the Demon-Detecting Needle pointed at Zhu Lianqing, making Xie Lingchuan and the others suspect she was a demon. Zhu Lianqing denied it and challenged them to judge her by her actions.

• Xie Lingchuan killed the moth yaoguai after Shen Ji pierced its wing, then helped the group recover.
• Zhu Lianqing joined them outside the cavern and warned them to leave the dangerous area.
• The Demon-Detecting Needle began swinging again and pointed behind the group at Zhu Lianqing.
• Zhu Lianqing discovered that the needle followed her movements, while Xie Lingchuan insisted it was working correctly.
• Zhu Lianqing denied being a demon and asked Xie Lingchuan to consider whether she had harmed anyone or acted suspiciously.

Xie Lingchuan suspected Zhu Lianqing was a demon after the Demon-Detecting Needle pointed at her, and insisted she travel with the group and return to the Luoyu Sword Sect for examination. Zhu Lianqing agreed to form a Spirit Connection Spell with him, but the spell’s golden threads snapped as soon as they formed.

• Xie Lingchuan questioned Zhu Lianqing about Young Master Wei’s corpse and her attempt to leave Wuxia Village.
• The Demon-Detecting Needle pointed at Zhu Lianqing again, so Xie Lingchuan seized her wrist and demanded she reveal her true form.
• Zhu Lianqing denied being a demon, and Xie Lingchuan said the group would stay with her and take her back to the Luoyu Sword Sect after their travels through the Four Realms.
• Xie Lingchuan asked Zhu Lianqing to form a Spirit Connection Spell, and she agreed to bind herself only to him.
• Xie Lingchuan cast the Spirit Connection Spell with Zhu Lianqing, but the golden threads around their wrists snapped.

Zhu Lianqing helped Xie Lingchuan complete the Spirit Connection Spell, and the group left the White Bone Cavern to return to Wuxia Village for A Man. On the way, Xie Lingchuan grew suspicious of Shen Ji, while Zhu Lianqing reflected on her past and accepted the chance to remain in this world under a less conspicuous identity.

• Xie Lingchuan forgot the Spirit Connection Spell, so Zhu Lianqing demonstrated it and guided him through completing it.
• Shen Ji told Xie Lingchuan that the villagers had fallen off the cliff, and Xie Lingchuan and Zhu Lianqing reassured him that he need not blame himself.
• Xie Lingchuan suspected Shen Ji had intentionally let the villagers fall under an illusion and decided to watch him carefully.
• The group left the White Bone Cavern and hurried back toward Wuxia Village because A Man might be in danger.
• As they walked beneath the moon, Zhu Lianqing reflected on the burden of her former reputation and decided that staying in this world for three more years could be pleasant.

After helping the authorities investigate Wuxia Village, Xie Lingchuan’s group invited A Man to travel with them to the Northern Territory. They reached Falling Snow City in early summer and prepared to rest before heading to Falling Snow Mountain.

• Shen Ji, Xie Lingchuan, and the others questioned Wuxia Village’s households and organized evidence and names before the authorities arrived to make arrests.
• A grieving woman lit an oil lamp at night, breaking the village’s rule that had once cost her her child.
• A Man decided to travel to the Northern Territory to see the flowers, and Zhu Lianqing and the others invited her to join their group.
• The group traveled north for months, stopping along the way to deal with demons, ghosts, and spirits they encountered.
• After reaching Falling Snow City, the group agreed to rest at an inn, while Jiang Tingxue, Song Wensheng, and Yan Qing hurried into the city to shop.

Zhu Lianqing explained to A Man why Xie Lingchuan had endured years of abuse from his former master, revealing the last hope for kindness he had held before sacrificing himself. Xie Lingchuan joined their conversation and called his former self stupid, while Zhu Lianqing realized his changed fate meant he had found kindness in this life.

• A Man asked Zhu Lianqing whether cultivation sects had close family-like bonds and whether masters gave disciples pocket money, and Zhu Lianqing explained that kind sects and generous masters were rare.
• Zhu Lianqing described how Xie Lingchuan’s former master had deceived and tormented him, and how Xie Lingchuan had clung to a brief show of kindness.
• Zhu Lianqing recalled that sixteen-year-old Xie Lingchuan had asked whether he would die in the sword-tempering pool before jumping in, still hoping his master might be kind.
• A Man said Xie Lingchuan had been a little foolish for continuing to hope, and Xie Lingchuan bluntly called his former self stupid.
• Zhu Lianqing angrily defended the suffering disciple, then realized Xie Lingchuan had been insulting himself and that his current life had brought him kindness.

The group stayed at a busy inn, while Zhu Lianqing went out to drink and Xie Lingchuan followed her through the streets. She promised not to run that night, and Xie Lingchuan returned to the inn after she disappeared into the crowd.

• Shen Ji chose the inn and arranged rooms and dinner for the group, including A Man, who could not afford to stay there.
• Zhu Lianqing declined dinner and set out for a wine house, so Xie Lingchuan insisted on accompanying her.
• Zhu Lingchuan browsed roadside stalls and let Xie Lingchuan buy her a fox-shaped jade pendant.
• Xie Lingchuan asked Zhu Lianqing for her wine money and promised to come get her when she called through the Spirit Connection Spell.
• When Xie Lingchuan asked why she had spent so much betting on him, Zhu Lianqing brushed off the question, then sent him back to the inn.

Xie Lingchuan tracked Zhu Lianqing to a brothel after she went there to drink, while she spent the night carefree and assumed he would pay the bill. He pushed through the crowd of people soliciting customers and declared that he had come to catch a cheater.

• Xie Lingchuan took room tokens for himself and Zhu Lianqing, then watched her location through the Spirit Connection Spell from his room.
• Zhu Lianqing found a brothel while following the scent of wine and asked for a private room without company.
• Zhu Lianqing ordered expensive wine and dishes, reasoning that Xie Lingchuan would pay for them.
• After receiving no message from Zhu Lianqing, Xie Lingchuan took his sword and followed her location to the brothel.
• Xie Lingchuan fended off the women soliciting customers and said he had come to catch a cheater.

Xie Lingchuan found Zhu Lianqing drunk at a pleasure house and brought her back to the inn. After she mistook his room for hers and entered while he was bathing, he confronted her with his sword.

• Xie Lingchuan followed the Spirit Connection Spell to a private room and found Zhu Lianqing drinking alone at a pleasure house.
• Zhu Lianqing mistook Xie Lingchuan for a young newcomer until he sobered her with a pressure-point strike and revealed himself.
• Xie Lingchuan paid the bill and supported the drunken Zhu Lianqing back to the inn.
• Zhu Lianqing lingered on the terrace before confusing the room plaques and entering Xie Lingchuan's room.
• Xie Lingchuan rushed from the bathtub, grabbed his sword, and held it across Zhu Lianqing's neck as she entered.

After Zhu Lianqing mistakenly entered Xie Lingchuan’s room, she dreamed of her original body in an eerie palace beside an unseen man. The next morning, Xie Lingchuan’s ambiguous explanation about changing clothes left their companions suspecting something had happened between them.

• Zhu Lianqing entered Xie Lingchuan’s room by mistake, and he apologized after realizing he had given her the wrong wooden token.
• Zhu Lianqing returned to her room and fell asleep, then dreamed of a lavish palace and two people embracing behind curtains.
• Zhu Lianqing lifted the curtains and saw her own original body, but the dream shattered before she could see the man beside it.
• Zhu Lianqing woke in a cold sweat, blamed a male demon for the dream, and got up early to bathe.
• Xie Lingchuan changed out of his disciple uniform, saying it had picked up Zhu Lianqing’s scent, and their companions mistook his words for a romantic confession.

Zhu Lianqing and her companions traveled to Falling Snow Mountain, where she explained Seven Splendors Mountain’s reputation and true capabilities to A Man. At the summit, an old cultivator claimed the ancient tree’s falling petals could bless couples to stay together for life, prompting Jiang Tingxue and Song Wensheng to quarrel over who should leave.

• Xie Lingchuan led the group toward Falling Snow Mountain after the younger disciples were ready.
• Zhu Lianqing spotted Seven Splendors Mountain’s female disciples and told A Man they were a formidable sect skilled in spellcraft and music.
• The group climbed through the mountain snow blossoms and reached the summit’s ten-thousand-year-old tree.
• An elderly cultivator told the group that couples showered by the tree’s petals could remain together until their hair turned white.
• Jiang Tingxue and Song Wensheng both demanded that the other leave.

At Falling Mountain Snow, Zhu Lianqing encouraged A Man to pursue her wish of joining Seven Splendors Mountain despite the sect’s bad reputation. A Man set off to approach its disciples, while Xie Lingchuan accepted Zhu Lianqing’s good wishes and said he would pursue what he wanted himself.

• A Man fulfilled a wish beneath the spirit tree, while Yan Qing prayed for pork knuckles, strength, and peace between Shen Ji and Jiang Tingxue.
• Zhu Lianqing asked Xie Lingchuan why he would not pray, and he said he would strive for what he wanted rather than rely on fate.
• Falling Mountain Snow petals drifted over the group, and A Man admired them with thoughts of Wei Mingchi.
• Zhu Lianqing noticed A Man watching Seven Splendors Mountain and encouraged her to ask about joining, even if she lacked cultivation aptitude.
• When passersby insulted Seven Splendors Mountain, Zhu Lianqing mocked one man until he fell to his knees and became the target of ridicule.
• A Man dismissed the rumors as jealousy and, reassured by Zhu Lianqing, hurried to approach the Seven Splendors Mountain disciples.

A Man joined Seven Splendors Mountain after Xie Lingchuan vouched for her, while Zhu Lianqing used the commotion to escape. Xie Lingchuan discovered she had undone their Spirit Connection Spell, leading Shen Ji to suspect Zhu Lianqing might be powerful enough to contend with their master.

• A Man learned that her mixed spiritual roots would limit her cultivation, but a Seven Splendors Mountain disciple still offered to teach her a few spells if someone could vouch for her character.
• Zhu Lianqing urged Xie Lingchuan to vouch for A Man, then shattered the golden thread of their Spirit Connection Spell and slipped away as the crowd focused on him.
• Xie Lingchuan introduced himself as Perfected Lord Nanhua’s eldest direct disciple and vouched for A Man, securing her acceptance by Seven Splendors Mountain.
• After noticing Zhu Lianqing had vanished, Xie Lingchuan told Shen Ji that she had undone the Spirit Connection Spell.
• Shen Ji explained that unilaterally undoing the spell suggested overwhelming strength and feared that Zhu Lianqing might be powerful enough to contend with their master.

Zhu Lianqing left the Northern Territory and reached the sealed ruins of Pingjiang City, where she found a young man's corpse in a stream. Xie Lingchuan caught up with her and demanded she explain her damaged meridians, her escape, and the skeleton she was handling.

• Xie Lingchuan told his companions they could search for Zhu Lianqing after they dealt with A Man, then returned to the Seven Splendors Mountain disciples.
• A Man learned Zhu Lianqing had already left, and Shen Ji and his companions parted ways with the Seven Splendors Mountain group.
• Zhu Lianqing traveled west, and 191 told her that she was the world's only task-taker and the music from the main world could only have come from her.
• Two months later, Zhu Lianqing reached the Northern Territory and Western Region junction and learned that Pingjiang City was sealed to contain a powerful ghost and baleful yin energy.
• Zhu Lianqing found a young man's drained corpse in a stream and tried to recover it, but Xie Lingchuan and his junior disciples confronted her at swordpoint.
• Xie Lingchuan accused Zhu Lianqing of hiding the truth about her spiritual meridians, fleeing the group, and handling the skeleton, and demanded an explanation.

Zhu Lianqing explained that she had not harmed the corpse, while Xie Lingchuan revealed he had tracked her with a gu insect he planted when she was drunk. After discovering that the dead man had crossed a seal into monster territory, Xie Lingchuan and the others accepted an invitation to shelter at the county yamen and planned to clear the nearby mountains.

• Zhu Lianqing explained that her spiritual meridians were damaged and denied involvement in the corpse, while Xie Lingchuan kept his sword trained on her.
• Xie Lingchuan revealed a gu insect in Zhu Lianqing’s neck and said he had planted it when she was drunk; Zhu Lianqing realized he had been plotting then.
• Yamen runners identified the corpse as He Chongsan, a servant who had crossed a seal while gathering mushrooms and was killed by a monster.
• Xie Lingchuan and Shen Ji decided to stay in the area and clear out spirits and monsters, then accepted the yamen runners’ offer of shelter.
• County magistrate Liu Xingshan and Madam Liu welcomed the cultivators lavishly, arranged rooms and hot water, and invited them to a meal.

Zhu Lianqing tried to put distance between herself and Xie Lingchuan, but he kept watch over her, and the group agreed to stay in Yunxi City for a local girl’s wedding. After the meal, Jiang Tingxue met Mingzhu, who was surprised that her same-age companion had not found a husband.

• Xie Lingchuan asked for adjoining rooms, and Zhu Lianqing denied that they were Dao companions when the maid assumed they were.
• Zhu Lianqing told Xie Lingchuan that rumors bothered her because she still hoped to find a Dao companion, then resolved to wait for another chance to escape.
• Xie Lingchuan waited for Zhu Lianqing after her bath and reminded her that the others were waiting in the front hall.
• Madam Liu introduced her fifteen-year-old daughter Mingzhu and asked the Dao Lords to stay for her wedding in five days; Shen Ji agreed after Xie Lingchuan nodded.
• Mingzhu approached Jiang Tingxue and asked whether she had found her ideal husband, while Jiang Tingxue warned that her sect would punish her for courting instead of practicing swordsmanship.

Jiang Tingxue rejected Mingzhu’s storybook ideas about disciples falling in love with their masters or senior brothers, then joined the others to examine He Chongsan’s remains. At Master Liu’s home, Zhu Lianqing saw Xie Lingchuan reverently clean her portrait and wondered what he truly felt toward her.

• Jiang Tingxue told Mingzhu that falling for one’s master was unthinkable, while Shen Ji smiled at her from nearby.
• Xie Lingchuan called Jiang Tingxue to the front courtyard, where Shen Ji judged the demon’s lingering aura weak but warned the disciples to be careful on the mountain.
• The disciples noticed Master Liu’s hall was filled with imagined portraits of famous cultivators, and Jiang Tingxue, Song Wensheng, and Yan Qing laughed at the unflattering portrait of their master, Weisheng Yi.
• Zhu Lianqing found her own portrait among the paintings and watched Xie Lingchuan brush its dust away and gaze at it reverently.
• Zhu Lianqing wondered whether Xie Lingchuan held feelings for her as his master, since he honored her portrait but had shown no tears at her burial.

As the group purged spirits in the mountain near Pingjiang City, they encountered a giant spider and then fell victim to a hidden demon's trap. They landed in a cave filled with the dried corpses of the monsters they had slain, leaving them to discover what had happened to the creatures.

• Jiang Tingxue mistook a giant spider's leg for bamboo, and Shen Ji rescued her from its web while Xie Lingchuan and the others killed the spider.
• Zhu Lianqing spotted a barrier hiding a powerful demon but followed the group inside without warning them.
• A concealed creature entangled Song Wensheng, Jiang Tingxue, Yan Qing, and Shen Ji, then dragged them over a cliff; Xie Lingchuan tried to hold on to Zhu Lianqing but was pulled down with her.
• Xie Lingchuan protected Zhu Lianqing as they rolled down the cliff, and she teased him for refusing to let go.
• The creature flung the group into a cave, where they found the dried corpses of the monsters they had killed along the way.

Xie Lingchuan and the others fought Thousand Vines in its cave, using a formation and a blood talisman to force the yaoguai into the open. As Thousand Vines prepared to bloom its Yesheng Flower, Zhu Lianqing recognized the danger and warned Shen Ji to destroy the companion vines before they sacrificed themselves.

• Xie Lingchuan identified the yaoguai as Thousand Vines, and vines dragged Song Wensheng into the pool while attacking the others.
• Shen Ji rescued Song Wensheng as Xie Lingchuan blocked Thousand Vines’ leaf attack with a formation.
• Xie Lingchuan went underwater and used a blood talisman to drive Thousand Vines out of its hiding place.
• Shen Ji directed Jiang Tingxue, Song Wensheng, Yan Qing, and Zhu Lianqing to attack the yaoguai’s cores while Xie Lingchuan guarded the fire formation underwater.
• The group removed the cores from two companion vines, but the main vine began swelling as the Yesheng Flower neared bloom.
• Zhu Lianqing warned Shen Ji that the companion vines would sacrifice themselves and urged him to cut them off first.