Chapter Summaries

Chen Ying woke in the Underworld after escaping the mysterious woman, while Shen Er revealed that the Shen Family bloodline was vulnerable to control and that several allies might already be compromised. With Liuzhou short on troops, Shen Er gambled that Wei Gongcheng was not yet fully controlled, leaving them a slight chance to survive.

• The mysterious woman and the two heads on her shoulders concluded that Chen Ying had used a forbidden technique and decided not to send Wei Gongcheng into the Underworld.
• Chen Ying woke beside Shen Er in the Underworld, and he criticized her for risking her powerful trump card to save him.
• Shen Er warned Chen Ying that Ancient Insect eggs had been planted in the Shen Family bloodline and that Shen Wu must not return.
• Chen Ying explained that Shen San had given her a red thread as a warning, and Shen Er realized they had both been relying on each other.
• Shen Er said Shen San, Shen Shiyi, and possibly Wei Gongcheng had been controlled, then held onto the possibility that Wei Gongcheng was not fully under the enemy's control.

Shen San persuaded Shen Yuan to guard the Blazing Yang Grand Formation against the demons outside Liuzhou, while Shen Er revealed that Wei Gongcheng might be the key to resisting the ancient Venerable controlling events. Shen Er then suggested their lord’s absence might be an advantage, leaving Chen Ying unsettled by how much he seemed to have changed.

• Shen San told Shen Yuan that Shen Er might intend to destroy the formation and unleash the demons, then persuaded him to protect it and the people of Liuzhou.
• After leaving the formation, Shen San and the woman speaking through her concluded that Shen Yuan would keep the demons out and that Shen Er had no remaining options.
• Shen Er told Chen Ying that Wei Gongcheng might still resist the Ancient Insects’ control in the Underworld and could help them turn the situation around.
• Shen Er revealed that the woman was a fallen Venerable from antiquity and said Wei Gongcheng needed to return before they ran out of time.
• After recalling the West Sea Dragon King’s warning that power was the surest safeguard, Shen Er said their lord’s absence might not be a bad thing, leaving Chen Ying troubled by his apparent change.

Shen Er planned to send a scout to learn what had happened in Liuzhou and identified A Li as the person who could turn the crisis around. A messenger reached Wei Gongzhan’s home to summon her, revealing that Liuzhou had fallen under enemy control.

• Chen Ying offered to recover a day sooner so she could help protect Jiangnan, and Shen Er asked whether she was acting for Chen Qing or for what she had helped build.
• Shen Er explained that they needed an inconspicuous scout and said A Li was dangerous and capable enough to change the situation.
• A Li drank Wei Gongzhan’s Blood Ginseng Wine while he worried that she had nearly emptied his supply.
• A child messenger arrived at Wei Gongzhan’s home and reported that everyone in Liuzhou except Shen Er had been taken under control.
• The messenger said he had come chiefly to ask A Li to leave Great Azure Mountain and help Liuzhou.

The woman surnamed Shen learned that A Li, the Thousand-Faced Fox, could become an uncontrollable threat if she reached the Transcendent level. After the barrier around Great Azure Mountain was disabled and the Night Wandering God was killed, she resolved to trust no one, while A Li prepared to manipulate Shen San and his allies.

• Shen San warned the woman surnamed Shen that A Li’s memory-altering ability could threaten everyone if she became Transcendent.
• The woman surnamed Shen learned that A Li was only loosely confined on Great Azure Mountain and challenged Shen San’s certainty that no one could help her escape.
• A Night Wandering God reported that Great Azure Mountain’s barrier had been turned off, then half his spirit body exploded before he could explain more.
• The woman surnamed Shen covered her eyes and declared that no one could be trusted.
• A Li revealed to Wei Gongzhan that she had used the Mountain God to disable the barrier and had captured the Night Wandering God to draw Shen San toward them.
• A Li explained that she had let the Night Wandering God return because Shen San would distrust his report and send someone to investigate, then told Wei Gongzhan to watch and learn how to control people.

A Li and Wei Gongzhan entered Liuzhou City unseen by the guards, then realized that Zhou Haitao, who controlled the city’s resources and Baiyu stockpile, could be the enemy’s target. Shen San warned Shen Shiyi not to approach Zhou Haitao because the Thousand-Faced Fox might alter his identity, and began considering what to do about the threat to the Blazing Yang Grand Formation.

• A Li concealed herself, Wei Gongzhan, and the child from the people and door gods at Liuzhou’s south gate, allowing them to enter unnoticed.
• A Li refused to seek out Shen Yuan and suggested they find someone inconspicuous but important, leading Wei Gongzhan to identify Lord Zhou.
• Shen San explained that Zhou Haitao controlled Liuzhou’s resources, including Baiyu’s stockpile, making him a vulnerable target for the Thousand-Faced Fox.
• Shen Shiyi offered to find Zhou Haitao, but Shen San stopped him, warning that he might return as someone else if he encountered the enemy.
• Shen Shiyi worried that the enemy could seize the white jade needed for the Blazing Yang Grand Formation, and Shen San began thinking through their options.

Chen Qing returned alone toward Jiangnan after discovering that the Shen Family had become disloyal, while Elder Liu revealed that the factions had all tampered with A Li. In Jiangnan, A Li found Zhou Haitao guarding Chen Qing’s hidden final trump card, though its nature remained undisclosed.

• Chen Qing decided to leave the Fighter Army in the Northern Wasteland with Xu Hu and return alone to investigate the Shen Family’s betrayal and protect Jiangnan’s resources.
• Chen Qing and Elder Liu discussed A Li, and Elder Liu revealed that every major faction had tampered with her to prevent Chen Qing from gaining her abilities through the Divine Path Style.
• After Chen Qing departed, Kagura told Elder Liu that seven Heavenly Pythons would ally with them, including one seeking White Plain in exchange for its Heaven Swallowing talent.
• Elder Liu chose to observe how Shen Ling would challenge Chen Qing rather than act against him immediately.
• A Li met Zhou Haitao, who revealed that Chen Qing had entrusted him with a hidden item as a precaution against betrayal within their ranks.

Zhou Haitao used the Spirit Mirror to discover that Wei Gongzhan and Shen family officials were possessed by demons, and A Li traced the creatures to the Ancient Insect. She identified Shen Ling as the source and set out to confront her.

• A Li explained that the Spirit Mirror could reveal people's fortune and detect demons.
• Zhou Haitao described how a wronged woman became an evil Spirit after being raped and murdered, causing more than a hundred deaths in the refugee district.
• The Spirit Mirror warned Zhou Haitao that Wei Gongzhan and Shen San and Shen Shiyi were possessed by demons that threatened their fortune.
• A Li asked the Spirit Mirror about the demons, and it said they resembled the Ancient Insect.
• A Li recognized Shen Ling as the likely culprit and headed toward the provincial government office to deal with her.

Shen San and Shen Ling discussed whether Chen Qing’s ally could be won over while trying to keep Liuzhou stable and guard against infiltration. After missing children sparked unrest, Shen San ordered the refugees moved to Great Azure Mountain, unaware that the clan member watching the entrance showed signs of being compromised.

• Shen Ling dismissed the idea of winning over Chen Qing’s ally and recalled how the woman’s powerful innate ability had been wasted, while suspecting that she and Chen Qing were genetic copies preserved by the Divine Martial Guild.
• Zhou Haitao told Shen San that city residents were protesting at the government office gates after several children went missing and that the refugees were being blamed.
• Shen San ordered Zhou Haitao to reassure residents that the refugees would leave the city that day and be relocated overseas within three days, and to send them to Great Azure Mountain in the meantime.
• Shen San questioned whether Zhou Haitao was suspicious, while Shen Ling warned him to be cautious of the clan member guarding the entrance.
• A glimmer of pink flashed in the guard’s eyes, and he smiled strangely.

A Li explained that Chen Qing could not return to Jiangnan, while Chen Qing traveled to North Sea City to find Zhang Zhengyuan and rescue Ziyue. In Jiangnan, Shen Ling waited for A Li to attack, but the dawn arrived without anyone challenging her.

• A Li told Zhou Haitao that Chen Qing was occupied elsewhere and that she was Jiangnan’s last line of defense.
• Chen Qing met Xu Hu in North Sea City, where Xu Hu had tracked down Elder Zhang’s location.
• Chen Qing said he had to rescue Ziyue because her golem power was crucial to the coming battle.
• Shen Ling waited through the night for A Li’s side to make a move as she recovered her strength.
• When dawn came without an attack, Shen Ling concluded that her opponents had lost their chance and walked outside.

Chen Qing recalled Pu Yunchuan’s plans for A Li’s upgraded abilities, while Shen Ling was lured out toward the Blazing Yang Grand Formation by a memory alteration. A Li and her allies watched her go, preparing to use the formation against her.

• Chen Qing remembered that Pu Yunchuan had designed a faction blessing that let A Li’s followers temporarily confuse others’ memories in combat.
• Shen Ling left her room at dawn with her eyes closed and headed for the Blazing Yang Grand Formation, intending to seize it and use its power against A Li.
• Zhou Haitao and Wei Gongzhan watched Shen Ling leave, and A Li explained that her blood had temporarily enabled a Shen Family messenger to alter Shen Ling’s memories.
• A Li revealed that the messenger had changed Shen Ling’s sense of time, making her believe her strength would recover today rather than tomorrow.
• A Li said the setup was complete and left the next move to Shen Er’s reflection in the Underworld.

A Li tricked Shen Ling into leaving the Blazing Yang Grand Formation at the wrong time, giving Shen Er and Chen Ying a chance to act. As Chen Ying entered the Underworld passage, Shen Ling realized A Li had altered her sense of time and suspected she had gained a new ability.

• Chen Ying questioned whether A Li could lure Shen Ling out, and Shen Er explained that their plan depended on A Li’s method.
• An agent reported that Shen Ling had flown out of the city, so Shen Er used the Underworld Mirror and heard A Li say she had drawn Shen Ling out.
• Shen Er opened a passage to the Underworld, and Chen Ying departed to confront Shen Ling while A Li refused to explain how she had tricked her.
• Shen Ling reached the Blazing Yang Grand Formation and realized she had mistaken the day, arriving before her Dao Fruit was due to recover.
• Shen Ling considered how A Li had changed her memory and concluded that A Li must have acquired a new ability.

Shen Er fought Shen San to rescue him, while they deduced that Chen Ying’s new ability let her lend weakened powers, including memory alteration. Shen Er risked his body and spirit to capture Shen San alive, and A Li recognized that his resolve meant he would prevail.

• Shen Ling sensed Chen Ying’s King Level attack and recalled Pu Yunchuan’s abandoned online merger mode, suspecting Chen Ying had gained a new ability.
• Shen San deduced that Chen Ying could lend abilities and had altered Shen Ling’s memories to lure her toward the Blazing Yang Grand Formation.
• Shen Er realized Shen San’s moisture-based spell made approaching him dangerous, but decided he had to capture him before the chance to save him passed.
• Shen Er manifested the Ghost King’s True Body and took the maximum dose of the Dragon King’s pill, accepting the risk that his spirit body might collapse.
• A Li approached the fight, told Zhou Haitao that Shen Er’s resolve meant the outcome was already decided, and reflected that the people here were no different from those in her world.

Chen Ying and the academy disciples trapped Shen Ling inside the Blazing Yang Grand Formation, where Shen Ling revealed her resentment toward her descendants and warned that Chen Qing was like her. Chen Ying unleashed an amplified fire attack, but Shen Ling calmly dodged the flames after reading the formation’s movements.

• Chen Ying used her King Level power to help the academy disciples trap Shen Ling inside the Blazing Yang Grand Formation.
• Chen Ying challenged Shen Ling over her treatment of her descendants, and Shen Ling described the hatred that had turned her against outsiders.
• Shen Ling claimed Chen Qing would become ruthless like her, and Chen Ying angrily rejected the accusation.
• Chen Ying combined Azure Wood with the Blazing Yang Grand Formation to send flames surging toward Shen Ling.
• Shen Ling dodged the flames with ease, and Chen Ying, Shen Yuan, and Yun Ke'er realized she had figured out how the formation moved.

Shen Ling outmaneuvered Chen Ying, who tried to contain her with the Blazing Yang Grand Formation, and revealed that someone inside had helped the West Sea break through. The chapter ended with Shen Ling escaping the formation and immobilizing Chen Ying.

• Shen Ling used wind magic to evade the Blazing Yang Grand Formation, and Chen Ying realized how far Shen Ling’s formation mastery surpassed her own.
• Chen Ying prepared to strike within her brief window, while Shen Ling challenged her trust in Second Master Shen and suggested he had betrayed them.
• A thunderous boom announced that the formation on the West Sea side had been broken, and Shen Ling said an insider must have helped the enemy.
• Shen Ling placed her hand on Chen Ying’s shoulder and immobilized her as Shen Yuan shouted a warning.
• Shen Ling stepped out of the formation and revealed that she was the supreme master of illusions.

Shen Ling defeated Chen Ying, implanted an Ancient Insect in her, and drove Shen Yuan and the academy students from the formation. The West Sea Dragon King arrived to confront Shen Ling, who realized Shen Er had allied with him, and declared that he intended to claim her.

• Shen Ling subdued Chen Ying and persuaded her that Shen Er had betrayed Chen Qing, then implanted a transparent insect in Chen Ying's neck.
• Shen Yuan withdrew with Yun Ke'er and the academy students after deciding that continuing the fight would put them in greater danger.
• Shen Ling prepared the Blazing Yang Grand Formation, confident she could hold off the West Sea Dragon King until he recovered his strength.
• The West Sea Dragon King arrived amid dark clouds and powerful water vapor, confirming Shen Ling's suspicion that Shen Er had joined forces with him.
• Shen Ling mocked the Dragon King's past and ambitions, and he told her he was determined to have her.

Shen Ling confronted the West Sea Dragon King, who revealed that he had allied with the Ancient Demons and secretly planned to counter her Blazing Yang Grand Formation. His attack failed, but he summoned a King Level Heavenly Python above Jiangnan.

• Shen Ling questioned why the West Sea Dragon King risked everything when his aptitude could not let him become a Venerable.
• The West Sea Dragon King revealed his scarlet eyes and used sword intent with the Heavenly One Divine Water Technique to attack the Blazing Yang Grand Formation.
• The Dragon King explained that he had guided Chen Qing toward developing the formation as part of a plan involving the King of Qin, a demonic statue, and the Heavenly Ghost Octopus.
• Shen Ling realized the Dragon King's water attack could not break the formation because Chen Qing's students had greatly improved it.
• The West Sea Dragon King gathered more water Spirit, and Shen Ling spotted a King Level Heavenly Python moving through the clouds.

The West Sea Dragon King revealed that his partner Xuanming was a hidden King Level Heavenly Python with Night Nether Dragon blood, and explained how the world’s will had aided their rebellion. Shen Ling changed the Blazing Yang Grand Formation into a Nether Flame formation, but the Dragon King and Xuanming attacked it relentlessly, forcing her to try to detonate it and take them down with her.

• The West Sea Dragon King introduced his partner Xuanming and revealed that he was a King Level Heavenly Python descended from a hidden Night Nether Dragon Breed.
• The Dragon King explained how his grandmother had concealed the rare dragon from the Heavenly Palace and how it later bred with a Heavenly Python.
• Shen Ling inferred that the world’s will was encouraging the Dragon King’s rebellion, then changed the Blazing Yang Grand Formation’s flames into Nether Flame.
• The Dragon King and Xuanming attacked the formation with Nether Divine Water, cracking it and disrupting Shen Ling’s spiritual power.
• Shen Ling expanded the formation around the Dragon King and Xuanming and prepared to detonate it, while the Dragon King tried to retreat.

Shen Ling defeated the Dragon King and the Heavenly Python but spent nearly all her strength destroying the Blazing Yang Grand Formation. Shen Er then revealed his betrayal and confronted Chen Ying, before an unknown woman’s voice emerged from him and terrified Shen Ling.

• Shen Ling detonated the Blazing Yang Grand Formation and killed the Dragon King and the Heavenly Python, while the King of Qin and the guard captain fled toward the East Sea.
• Shen Ling extracted two King Level Blood Essence Stones from the Heavenly Python but realized she remained in danger without the formation.
• Shen Er appeared and admitted he had used everyone, then questioned whether Shen Ling still had enough strength to stop him.
• Chen Ying emerged from the flames, confronted Shen Er over his betrayal, and summoned thunder powerful enough to rival the Dragon King.
• Shen Er spoke in a woman’s voice and called Shen Ling a scheming green tea bitch, causing Shen Ling to recognize the speaker and show fear.

The emperor struggled with the discovery that people close to him had awakened memories of past lives, while Zhang Zhengyuan urged him to oppose the Buddha Kingdom and secure control over reincarnation. The emperor settled on seeking the Daoist School as an ally against the Buddhist School.

• The emperor learned that the Duke of Lu, the grand astrologer, and others had gone to a Buddhist temple, and he confided his fears about trusted people changing after awakening past-life memories to Zhang Zhengyuan.
• Zhang Zhengyuan argued that the emperor should secure the reincarnation system and destroy the Buddha Kingdom rather than fear the past lives of reincarnated people.
• The emperor recovered his resolve, but his returning elder sister challenged Zhang Zhengyuan to explain how they could defeat the Buddha Kingdom.
• Zhang Zhengyuan ruled out cooperation with the heavenly power and proposed an alliance with the Daoist School, whose ideals opposed those of the Buddhist School.

Zhang Zhengyuan explained that the mysterious Daoist School’s puppet soldiers could complement the emperor’s ghost army, though no one knew where to find the faction or who led it. Meanwhile, Ziyue escaped with the guard captain’s severed head and accused him of secretly serving the Daoist School.

• Zhang Zhengyuan told the emperor and his elder sister that Daoist puppet soldiers could be operated with qi and blood, making the emperor’s ghost army a potential partner against the Buddha Kingdom.
• Zhang Zhengyuan said the Daoist School was difficult to locate and its hidden leader remained unknown, but suggested it might eventually approach the emperor as a partner.
• The emperor remembered a past event as he considered whether the Daoist School had already been assessing him.
• In the far south, Ziyue used a complex spatial technique to teleport toward Chen Qing while keeping the guard captain’s severed head under her control.
• Ziyue challenged the captain about his motives for betraying the Four Great Guilds and accused him of joining the Ancient Demon Clan as a servant of the Daoist School, freezing his smile.