Chapter Summaries

Zhou Wuji equipped Yang Tie Ying with the Seven Star Sword and sent him and Shangxing to train on the first level of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto. He then cleared the second level with the White Rainbow Sword and entered the third level, where he began hunting Ghost Soldiers for Origin Profound Qi.

• Zhou Wuji had the Seven Star Sword restored and gave it to Yang Tie Ying, who gratefully accepted it as a treasured inheritance from his master.
• Zhou Wuji sent Yang Tie Ying and Shangxing to temper themselves on the first level, then entered the second level alone.
• Zhou Wuji used the White Rainbow Sword to destroy groups of Sha Ghosts on the second level and converted some into Origin Profound Qi to increase his True Qi.
• After sweeping the second level without finding a sixth-rank Ghost Soldier, Zhou Wuji entered the third level, where dense Qi of Earth Sha limited his vision.
• Zhou Wuji killed a charging Ghost Soldier with one sword strike and saw that its value of over four taels could help raise his True Qi.

Zhou Wuji cleared the third level of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto and lured a fourth-rank Ghost Marshal from the fourth level with incense. After defeating one Ghost Marshal, he was ambushed by another and fled outward after destroying it.

• Zhou Wuji slew a fifth-rank Ghost General on the third level and earned five taels in the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment.
• Zhou Wuji swept the third level over the following days, then stopped before the unstable caves leading deeper into the grotto.
• Zhou Wuji stole incense from the North Pole Heavenly Emperor Hall and lit it at the fourth-level entrance, drawing out a fourth-rank Ghost Marshal.
• Zhou Wuji used Yin Thunder and the White Rainbow Sword to cut down the first Ghost Marshal, then discovered a second one attacking him from behind.
• Zhou Wuji blocked the second Ghost Marshal's claws with the Heavenly Puppet, destroyed it with Yin Thunder through his sword, and fled outward.

After killing a Fourth Rank Ghost Marshal, Zhou Wuji reviewed the dangerous battle, absorbed its rewards, and improved the Five Yin Pouch using the yellow jade gourd. The chapter ended as Daoists from Bixing Hall entered after Yang Tie Ying struck one of their people over firewood.

• Zhou Wuji warned Yang Tie Ying to stay near the first level of the caverns, then converted ghosts into Origin Profound Qi and increased his True Qi.
• Zhou Wuji considered killing Zhang Yunfeng and Zhang Banshan but decided he needed a suitable opportunity and a plan for the aftermath.
• Daoist Yiping identified Zhou Wuji’s yellow jade gourd as an antique called Moon Soul that could absorb moonlight and produce Greater Yin Qi.
• Zhou Wuji fed the Five Yin Pouch’s spirits Greater Yin Qi and converted five Ghost Soldiers to raise the pouch to perfection.
• Yang Tie Ying slapped a Bixing Hall Daoist after an argument about firewood, and Zhou Wuji reassured him and Shangxing that it was a small matter.
• Several Daoists wearing Primordial Unity crowns entered the stone house.

Zhou Wuji subdued the Discipline Hall Daoists after they pursued Yang Tie Ying, then went to Yunyang City to seek help with the monastery’s supply problems. At Hengfeng Bank, Jin Ying told him about the new Pacification Office chief, killings by evil entities in Yunming County, and an expected commendation from the Heavenly Master's Manor.

• Wuhe and the Discipline Hall Daoists entered the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto to confront Zhou Wuji, but his Divine Sense overwhelmed them and he made them kowtow to the Pojun Star Lord for violating the rules.
• Zhou Wuji defended Yang Tie Ying’s actions and told Wuhe to investigate the person who had insulted his disciple; Wuhe left with his men in humiliation.
• After Daoist Yiping warned that the new chief steward might make life difficult by withholding supplies, Zhou Wuji told Yang Tie Ying and Shangxing to retreat into the grotto if trouble returned, then headed to Yunyang City.
• At Hengfeng Bank, Zhou Wuji met Jin Ying, who told him that Zhai Jun had taken charge of the Pacification Office and that evil entities had recently killed people in Yunming County.
• Jin Ying was surprised that Zhou Wuji had been sidelined by the lower monastery and congratulated him in advance on a commendation from the Heavenly Master's Manor.

Zhou Wuji learned about his coming commendation and the ghost domain in Yunming County, then visited Daoist Yiping and the two youngsters before sneaking into Yunyang City to find Zhang Yunfeng. Using his Mind Mirror through the Big Dipper Star Domain, he located Zhang Yunfeng and detected a concealed sixth-rank Heavenly Ghost Sect expert near the Pacification Office.

• Jin Ying told Zhou Wuji that the Heavenly Master's Manor had arrived in Chu Province and described rumors about a monster and ghost domain at Wu Household Village in Yunming County.
• Zhou Wuji gave Jin Ying a yellow jade gourd to have appraised, bought firewood with his Five Yin Pouch, and brought food and drink to Daoist Yiping, Yang Tie Ying, and Shangxing.
• Zhou Wuji reassured Daoist Yiping about his assignment at the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto, then left the Lower Court in disguise and entered Yunyang City after nightfall.
• Zhou Wuji surveyed the Pacification Office and nearby residences, then used his Mind Mirror and the Big Dipper Star Domain to observe Zhang Yunfeng in his residence.
• Zhou Wuji detected a concealed, ugly man in black hemp clothing near the Pacification Office and suspected he was a sixth-rank expert from the Heavenly Ghost Sect.

Zhou Wuji used his new star-domain perception to track down and ambush a Heavenly Ghost Sect cultivator near the Pacification Office. After capturing Xue Gui and interrogating him, he learned that Ghost Sword Xue Ying had ordered him to watch the office and cause trouble if needed.

• Zhou Wuji ended his resonance with the Big Dipper Star Domain, then decided to capture the Heavenly Ghost Sect cultivator before returning to Old Dragon Island.
• Zhou Wuji concealed himself with the Five Yin Pouch and used Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder to defeat and capture the black-robed old man without alerting the Pacification Office.
• Zhou Wuji took the old man's unusual book and other belongings, destroyed the four Fierce Ghosts, removed the formation flags, and cleared Yin Qi from the elderly couple he had controlled.
• Zhou Wuji brought the unconscious man into a wood, woke him with the Golden Light Incantation, and pinned him down with his iron staff.
• The captive identified himself as Xue Gui and admitted that Ghost Sword Xue Ying had ordered him to spy on the Pacification Office and stir up trouble in the prefectural city if necessary.

Zhou Wuji killed Xue Gui, gained the Heavenly Ghost Sect’s Profound Yin Reincarnation Scripture, and studied its cipher before the Heavenly Master’s Manor envoys arrived. The chapter ended with Zhichong reading Heavenly Master Qingxu’s decree, which granted Zhou Wuji a seventh-rank ordination certificate and ritual rewards.

• Zhou Wuji killed Xue Gui, destroyed his remains with Yin Thunder, and invested his fate into the Tianji Sword, bringing it to major accomplishment.
• Zhou Wuji returned to the stone house with Xue Gui’s Profound Yin Reincarnation Scripture and soul-summoning banner, and learned that Ghost Sword Xue Ying was a formidable fifth-rank cultivator connected to the Wu Household Village disturbances.
• Daoist Yiping taught Zhou Wuji to read Great Yin Snake and Insect Seal Script, and Zhou Wuji studied it for two days until he could understand most of the scripture.
• An acolyte summoned Zhou Wuji to meet the Heavenly Master’s Manor envoys, and he joined Yang Tie Ying at Heavenly Pivot Hall.
• Zhichong praised Zhou Wuji before the assembled Daoists, then read Heavenly Master Qingxu’s decree granting him a seventh-rank ordination certificate, a star-gold cloud-brocade ritual robe, and a white jade fly whisk.

Zhou Wuji received a personal commendation from Heavenly Master Qingxu and several rare Law Artifacts from the Heavenly Master's Manor. Zhichong learned of a dangerous underground entity in Wu Household Village and planned to investigate it the next day.

• Zhichong presented Zhou Wuji with a seventh-rank Heavenly Pivot Token personally blessed by Heavenly Master Qingxu, and encouraged him to defend the righteous Dao.
• Daoist Yigong reconsidered his stance toward Zhou Wuji and decided to bring his subordinates to apologize for their conduct at Bixing Hall.
• Zhou Wuji told Zhichong about the Five Dragons Gang and Zhang Shiheng's refusal to act, which had left nearly ten thousand people on Old Dragon Island dead.
• Zhihe described the crimson-flamed evil entity that had emerged beneath Wu Household Village, and Zhichong decided to inspect the site the next day.
• Daoist Yiping examined Zhou Wuji's gifts, including the Heavenly Pivot Token, a Northern Dipper Heavenly Gang ritual robe, and a white jade fly whisk, and praised their quality and prestige.

Zhou Wuji resolved his dispute with Yigong, then traveled with Zhichong and other Northern Pole Sect disciples to Yunming County for the investigation at Wu Household Village. While using the Big Dipper to survey the inn that night, he discovered that Wuleng had secretly reached the sixth rank.

• Yigong apologized to Zhou Wuji and brought supplies, and Zhou Wuji agreed to let the dispute with Bixing Hall end.
• Zhou Wuji was assigned to accompany Zhichong to Wu Household Village and met Wuleng and the other seventh-rank disciples before their departure.
• Zhou Wuji traveled with the party by boat to Yunming County, where the county magistrate welcomed them and arranged their lodging.
• Zhou Wuji used the Big Dipper to survey the inn and sensed Zhihe but could not detect Zhichong.
• Zhou Wuji spotted Wuleng's connection to Yaoguang Star and realized she had advanced to the sixth rank.

Zhou Wuji spotted an evil entity hidden deep beneath the pit at Wu Household Village, while Zhichong and Zhihe failed to find it. When Zhichong asked for his advice, Zhou Wuji proposed diverting the nearby Yunming River into the pit, winning the elders’ approval and leaving Wuleng wary of his cunning.

• The Lower Court party reached Wu Household Village and examined the blazing pit, where Zhihe explained that cultivators could not safely descend into it.
• Zhichong searched the pit with a spell but saw nothing unusual, while Zhou Wuji used Big Dipper as Eyes to detect an evil entity a hundred zhang underground.
• Zhichong asked Zhou Wuji for a solution, and Zhou Wuji explained that the pit threatened the road and villages along the Yunming River.
• Zhou Wuji proposed digging a channel to divert the river into the pit and extinguish the earth fire, arguing that the county magistrate would provide labor to protect the villages and tax revenue.
• Zhichong praised Zhou Wuji’s strategic insight, Zhihe approved his plan, and Wuleng admired his grasp of human nature while becoming wary of him.

Zhou Wuji gained Abbot Zhihe’s support and a chance to learn the Northern Dipper Seven Star Steps by competing against Golden Leaf Temple. While secretly monitoring Zhang Yunfeng, he discovered the man was connected to the Yin Yang Dao and arranged to meet its grand libationer.

• Zhou Wuji’s proposal to flood the pit in Wu Household Village won approval, and Zhihe and Zhichong arranged for workers and lower-court experts to guard the site.
• Zhihe offered to recommend Zhou Wuji for ordination and register bestowal, and promised to teach him the Northern Dipper Seven Star Steps if he defeated Yuan Yi in a scripture debate.
• Zhou Wuji returned to the lower court, studied the Snake and Insect Seal Script with Daoist Yiping, and used Origin Profound Spirit to practice the Profound Yin Reincarnation Scripture, but found its True Qi conflicted with his own.
• Zhou Wuji secretly observed Zhang Yunfeng and learned that Cui Ze belonged to the Yin Yang Dao and that its Fifth Rank grand libationer wanted to meet Zhang Yunfeng.
• Zhang Yunfeng asked Zhang Changyi to arrange for his Third Uncle to accompany him to meet the grand libationer at Old Du’s wine shop the following night.

Zhou Wuji used the Heavenly Puppet hidden in Cui Ze to spy on Grand Libationer Cui’s meeting with Zhang Banshan and Zhang Yunfeng at Old Du's Wine Shop. After learning that Cui intended to capture him and believed Yunyang’s earth vein would become a dragon vein, Zhou Wuji decided Cui could not be allowed to live.

• Zhou Wuji followed Cui Ze from the Zhang Household, knocked him unconscious, and implanted the Heavenly Puppet to learn how its control changed with distance.
• Zhou Wuji reached Old Du's Wine Shop early and waited in a nearby inn while Cui Ze, Zhang Banshan, and Zhang Yunfeng arrived.
• Zhang Yunfeng warned Grand Libationer Cui that the Zhang Household could no longer control Yunyang and urged him to leave.
• Grand Libationer Cui asked the Zhang Household for help, claimed Zhou Wuji had gained power from an earth-vein treasure, and offered to capture him if they lured him out.
• Zhang Yunfeng refused to entangle the Zhang Household in Zhou Wuji’s affairs, while Grand Libationer Cui claimed Yunyang’s earth vein would become a dragon vein and produce great treasures and geniuses.
• Zhou Wuji examined Cui through the Heavenly Puppet, judged him weaker than expected, and resolved to kill him.

Zhou Wuji learned that the Zhang Household might use the Yin Yang Dao against him, then ambushed Cui Wancheng by controlling Cui Ze with the Heavenly Puppet. The attack left Cui Wancheng struck by Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder, but his fate remained uncertain.

• Grand Libationer Cui claimed that Yunyang’s troubles came from a newborn dragon vein, but Zhang Banshan doubted him while suspecting the Yin Yang Dao knew something hidden beneath the city.
• Zhang Yunfeng suggested that the Zhang Household could use the Yin Yang Dao to deal with Zhou Wuji, and Zhang Banshan agreed they should wait for an opportunity.
• Zhou Wuji chose to target Cui Wancheng first, followed the pair through the Heavenly Puppet, and took position in a shantytown alley.
• Zhou Wuji seized control of Cui Ze and forced him to attack Cui Wancheng, but Cui Wancheng’s Crimson Yang Flame Barrier repelled the first strike and set Cui Ze on fire.
• Cui Wancheng attacked Cui Ze with the Crimson Yang Great Hand Seal, but Zhou Wuji used the puppet to strike back with Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder, disrupting Cui Wancheng’s mind and True Qi.

Zhou Wuji killed Cui Wancheng, used his fate weight to perfect the Tianji Sword, and learned to control the Ghost Soldier with Tianji Profound Yin Sword Qi. When Zhang Banshan and Zhang Yunfeng rushed toward the disturbance, Zhou Wuji sent the Ghost Soldier to ambush them.

• Cui Wancheng recovered with the Crimson Yang Mirror, but Zhou Wuji broke through his defenses and killed him with the White Rainbow Sword.
• Zhou Wuji burned Cui Wancheng and Cui Ze’s remains, concealed the traces of the fight, and took the Crimson Yang Mirror and other items.
• Zhou Wuji spent Cui Wancheng’s fate weight to perfect the Tianji Sword, strengthening his True Qi and Divine Sense.
• Zhou Wuji used Tianji Profound Yin Sword Qi to control the Sixth Rank Ghost Soldier inside the soul-summoning banner.
• Zhang Banshan and Zhang Yunfeng saw the light over the city and hurried south to investigate, where the Ghost Soldier ambushed Zhang Banshan in an alley.

Zhou Wuji killed Zhang Banshan and Zhang Yunfeng, then destroyed the Ghost Soldier’s summoning banner and disposed of the weapons. At the scene, Zhai Jun began investigating the deaths and ordered the bodies taken for examination before being sent to the Zhang Household.

• Zhang Banshan fought the Ghost Soldier, but it overwhelmed him with superior True Qi, possessed his body, and killed him.
• Zhang Yunfeng launched a warning rocket, but the Ghost Soldier attacked him from behind and drained his vitality.
• Zhang Yunfeng recognized Zhou Wuji as he approached and realized he had been behind several disappearances and deaths before he died.
• Zhou Wuji confirmed both men were dead, took Zhang Banshan’s saber, destroyed the soul-summoning banner, converted the Ghost Soldier into Origin Profound Qi, and threw the weapons into the river.
• Zhai Jun arrived with Pacification Office agents, detained nearby onlookers, and examined the corpses with Li Fei.
• Zhai Jun ordered an investigation into the deaths and the nearby fight, then had the bodies taken for examination and later delivery to the Zhang Household.

Zhou Wuji passed Zhihe’s questioning after Zhang Banshan and Zhang Yunfeng were found murdered, while the investigators blamed Devil Cultivators and agreed to cooperate. As Zhou Wuji considered his plans and a dangerous cave on Lingming Peak, he also uncovered notes claiming Yunyang’s earth vein could transform into a flying dragon and bring hidden treasures to light.

• Zhihe and Xinjue examined Zhang Banshan and Zhang Yunfeng’s bodies, identified the Mystic Yin Ghost Claw, and found signs of Yin Yang Dao involvement at the western city site.
• Zhai Jun, Zhihe, and Xinjue agreed to unite against Devil Cultivator experts, while Xinjue rebuked Yuan'an for suggesting Zhou Wuji was responsible.
• Zhihe questioned Zhou Wuji with the Heart-Questioning Mirror, found no evidence linking him to the murders, and asked him to visit Wu Household Village when the canal was finished.
• Zhou Wuji gave Shangxing guidance and two Purple Qi Pills, which Shangxing shared with Yang Tie Ying.
• Zhou Wuji reflected on his plans and read Heavenly Mystery Divine Lord’s notes, which said Yunyang’s earth vein could transform into a flying dragon and reveal hidden treasures.

Zhou Wuji learned that dragon veins could be understood as natural changes in heaven and earth, then perfected his Xiaoxiang Sword and awakened sword heart. He accompanied Zhihe to Wu Household Village, where river water began filling the collapsed pit in an effort to force the hidden evil entities out.

• Zhou Wuji asked Daoist Yiping about dragon veins and learned that they depended on how people followed and used changes in the earth's veins.
• Zhou Wuji spent Zhang Banshan's fate weight to perfect his Xiaoxiang Sword and awakened sword heart, allowing him to sense a sword's condition and connect with it.
• Zhou Wuji used his new insight to improve Yang Tie Ying's swordsmanship and help him better coordinate his force and true Qi.
• On the twentieth day of the seventh month, Zhou Wuji brought Yang Tie Ying to Wu Household Village with Zhihe as the lower temple's workers opened a channel from the Yunming River into the pit.
• As river water poured into the pit, Zhou Wuji assured Zhihe that it would fill within five days at most and that the submerged tunnels would leave the evil entities nowhere to hide.

Zhou Wuji waited for the evil entity beneath the pit to emerge, then challenged Wuleng to see who could kill it first. After the entity escaped the formation and attacked the Daoists, Zhou Wuji killed it with a single sword strike, leaving Wuleng and the others stunned.

• Zhou Wuji told the Daoists to guard the pit in groups while he and Yang Tie Ying set up camp.
• Zhou Wuji approached Wuleng on watch and challenged her to see who would kill the evil entity first.
• The evil entity burst out of the pit, escaped the Seven Star Demon-Slaying Formation by splitting its body, and charged the Daoists.
• Wuleng stepped forward to fight the weakened entity, using the Yaoguang Sword and Northern Dipper Seven Star Steps.
• The evil entity drove Wuleng back and lunged at the other Daoists, but Zhou Wuji's sword pierced its head and shredded it into fragments.

Zhou Wuji killed the evil entity and discovered that a devil cultivator had been watching from afar. After returning to the lower monastery, he persuaded Zhihe to teach him the Northern Dipper Seven Star Steps and quickly advanced his mastery with the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment.

• Zhou Wuji destroyed the evil entity with two sword strikes, and it left behind a crimson bead etched with unfamiliar runes.
• Zhou Wuji told Zhihe that a sinister devil cultivator had watched the fight, and Zhihe warned him to be careful.
• Zhou Wuji returned to the lower monastery with Zhihe and persuaded him to transmit the Northern Dipper Seven Star Steps before the scripture debate.
• Zhihe gave Zhou Wuji a jade tablet containing the steps, and Zhou Wuji studied the method in the North Pole Heavenly Emperor Hall.
• Zhou Wuji used origin profound spirit and Zhang Yunfeng's fate to raise the Northern Dipper Seven Star Steps to the proficient level.

Zhou Wuji searched Old Dragon Island for several days before Xue Ying tracked him down by sensing the White Rainbow Sword. After they sized up each other’s strength, Xue Ying attacked him with ghostly shadows.

• Zhou Wuji traveled to Old Dragon Island and methodically searched its hills while enduring the dense Qi of Earth Sha.
• After several days of searching, Zhou Wuji sensed danger, withdrew from his Big Dipper observation, and prepared to hide.
• Xue Ying appeared and revealed that she had found Zhou Wuji by detecting the supreme Yang Qi of his White Rainbow Sword.
• Xue Ying questioned Zhou Wuji about the death of Xue Gui, then unleashed her magic-domain barrier and displayed her formidable power.
• Zhou Wuji formed a sword domain and taunted Xue Ying, who swept her sleeve and sent two ghostly shadows lunging at him.