Chapter Summaries

Fang Zelin taught the disciples of Ancient Cloud Temple the Sword Riding Technique and read historical records about the overseas Aquatic Race and the demons beyond the outer seas. Daoist Qianji explained that those demons had repeatedly devastated the immortal isles, leaving Fang Zelin alarmed by the scale of their threat.

• Ming Ji tried to seize a spiritually aware flying sword, but it evaded him and lost its power when he finally caught it.
• Fang Zelin demonstrated how the sword responded to his sword gesture and taught Ancient Cloud Temple's disciples the essentials of the Sword Riding Technique.
• Fang Zelin read about the overseas Aquatic Race and told Daoist Qianji that he had encountered one member plotting to flood human cities.
• Daoist Qianji confirmed that the outer seas held countless powerful demon kingdoms and described how demons and devils had plundered immortal isles and destroyed their sects.
• Daoist Qianji recounted that demons and devils used a Law Treasure called the Human Seed Bag to capture humans for evil cultivation, leaving Fang Zelin alarmed.

Fang Zelin learned from Daoist Qianji that demons were abducting humans to advance their cultivation and that the overseas Aquatic Race might join them after the immortal sects lost their islands. Fang Zelin vowed to reclaim the islands, while a disciple of the Ancient Cloud Temple demonstrated the flying sword techniques he had taught.

• Fang Zelin read that the Human Seed Bag had been used three times to seize hundreds of thousands of people for sacrifice or food.
• Daoist Qianji explained that demons cultivated rapidly by plundering humans and warned that the overseas Aquatic Race might follow their example.
• Fang Zelin concluded that the fallen immortal islands had once protected the mortal world and restrained the Aquatic Race, and he promised to reclaim them.
• A disciple of the Ancient Cloud Temple used Fang Zelin's instruction to direct his treasured sword with his thoughts and perform a full set of sword moves.
• The flying sword surrounded the disciple with attacks and defenses, astonishing the other disciples.

Fang Zelin returned to Yingping Peak after visiting the Ancient Cloud Temple, reading about immortal sects, overseas races, and rare beasts along the way. Meanwhile, Northern Liang envoys reached Youjing City, and a Daoist from Northern Liang entered Guyuan Commandery, hoping to meet Immortal Lü.

• Fang Zelin borrowed Daoist Qianji’s historical records, advised him to teach the Sword Riding Technique to future recipients of flying swords, and departed on Bearing the Heavens.
• Fang Zelin read about the immortal sects’ history, overseas demons and races, and rare birds and wondrous beasts before arriving at Yingping Peak that evening.
• The medicine boy told Fang Zelin that no fellow Daoists had visited while he was away, though a mortal had briefly approached the mist formation.
• Northern Liang envoys arrived at Youjing City and discussed Great Qian’s reforms, while cautioning one another that proposing the use of visitors from another world could bring suspicion of treason.
• A Daoist from Northern Liang observed Great Qian’s powerful human race karmic fortune near Guyuan Commandery and went into the city, hoping to meet Immortal Lü and discuss the Dao.

Meng Jiuchuan reflected on the immortals he had met and wondered where Fang Zelin had gone, while Fang Zelin struggled to make a gourd withstand Universe in the Sleeve. After learning that two Northern Liang cultivators had been killed outside Zhen'an Pass, Fang Zelin prepared to investigate.

• Meng Jiuchuan learned that Northern Liang's envoys had come to study Great Qian's methods of governing and wondered whether Northern Liang had encountered immortals.
• Meng Jiuchuan told his child to believe immortals existed, even if others denied it, and thought of Fang Zelin.
• Fang Zelin tried to refine gourds into Law Treasures, but most burst under Universe in the Sleeve; one small-space gourd survived.
• Fang Zelin learned that two Northern Liang cultivators had been killed outside Zhen'an Pass thirty years earlier.
• Fang Zelin packed to investigate the deaths and asked the medicine boy to look after things while he was away.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke investigated the brutal deaths of two cultivators near Zhen'an Pass and found evidence pointing toward a demon that flew toward Northern Liang. As Fang Zelin examined the corpses, they suddenly moved and dropped their half-severed tongues.

• Fang Zelin prepared to investigate the two cultivators' deaths, summoned Bearing the Heavens, and told the tiger and deer demons to wait at home.
• Fang Zelin flew to Zhen'an Pass and met Zhenke, who said her master had trusted her to handle matters on her own.
• Zhenke led Fang Zelin to two mutilated corpses hanging from fishing rods beside a lake outside the pass.
• Zhenke told Fang Zelin that no one had heard a magical battle, but a herder had seen a strange black cloud fly toward Northern Liang around the time of the deaths.
• Fang Zelin considered whether demons from Northern Liang had targeted the cultivators, then straightened the corpses' clothes as they moved and dropped their half-severed tongues.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke investigated the tortured bodies of two Jade Void Mountain cultivators but found no clues, so they set out for Northern Liang to pursue the mysterious killer. Before going, Fang Zelin visited his old friend, Emperor Meng Jiuchuan, and arrived just as the aged emperor saw him.

• Fang Zelin and Zhenke found no traces at the scene, and Zhenke explained that the two dead cultivators had sent a flying letter for help.
• Fang Zelin decided to take the remains to Northern Liang and investigate, and Zhenke chose to accompany him.
• Fang Zelin told Zhenke that the current emperor of Great Qian, Meng Jiuchuan, was his old friend and that he wanted to visit him before leaving.
• Fang Zelin and Zhenke flew to Youjing City and saw that Meng Jiuchuan had grown old and frail.
• Fang Zelin and Zhenke descended into the palace under a concealing illusion, and Meng Jiuchuan recognized Fang Zelin when he appeared before the dragon palanquin.

Fang Zelin visited his old friend Meng Jiuchuan to say farewell before traveling to Northern Liang, and promised to protect Meng Jiuchuan’s descendants if Great Qian fell. Fang Zelin and Zhenke departed, while Meng Jiuchuan returned to the palace with a jar of immortal wine.

• Meng Jiuchuan stopped his sedan and greeted Fang Zelin, who explained that thirty years had passed while he cultivated in the mountains.
• Fang Zelin told Meng Jiuchuan that he was leaving for Northern Liang with Zhenke to investigate something that had happened there.
• Meng Jiuchuan asked Fang Zelin to protect his descendants if Great Qian fell, and Fang Zelin agreed so long as they were not wicked villains.
• Fang Zelin declined Meng Jiuchuan’s offer to drink with him, gave him a jar of All Things in Spring, and said farewell.
• Fang Zelin and Zhenke flew away, and Meng Jiuchuan returned to the palace, tasting the wine and thinking about spending more time with his family.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke traveled into Northern Liang to investigate the deaths of two Dinggui Mountain cultivators, following the black cloud seen fleeing the border. At the frontier town’s City God temple, the Night Wandering God revealed that he had seen the cloud three days earlier.

• Fang Zelin and Zhenke decided to search for the killer before visiting Dinggui Mountain, since they could not be certain a demon had killed the two cultivators.
• Fang Zelin and Zhenke reached a busy frontier town and split up to ask whether anyone had seen the black cloud.
• Fang Zelin visited the City God temple, struck the yin drum, and told the City God about the slain cultivators and the cloud’s flight into Northern Liang.
• The City God summoned the Day and Night Wandering Gods to ask whether they had seen the cloud.
• The Night Wandering God reported that three days earlier a black cloud had briefly blocked the moonlight before flying away.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke tracked a black cloud that had flown west, then struggled to afford an inn as they prepared to continue the search. After Fang Zelin described the poverty he had witnessed while traveling, he explained why cultivators could not simply use Turning Stone into Gold to help everyone.

• Fang Zelin learned from the Night Wandering God that the black cloud had flown west without landing, and Zhenke independently found witnesses who had seen it obscure the moon three days earlier.
• Fang Zelin decided they would follow the cloud west the next day and led Zhenke to an inn, where they discovered that a room cost eight mace of silver.
• Fang Zelin left the inn because he had only one tael of silver and Zhenke had none.
• Zhenke asked whether Turning Stone into Gold could help the poor, and Fang Zelin explained that the spell could cause future losses and that distributing gold would disrupt society.
• Zhenke realized that she had not considered the consequences of using magic to make the common people prosperous.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke spent the night in a rain shelter before following the strange black cloud west into Northern Liang. After confirming its trail at a relay station, they reached a village at sunset.

• Fang Zelin and Zhenke found no affordable lodging and spent the night in a rain shelter.
• Fang Zelin explained that he had asked the Dragon Race princess for Water-Leaving Pearls and used one to rinse his mouth; Zhenke tried the same.
• Fang Zelin bought a map and steamed buns, then led Zhenke west on foot to follow the black cloud's trail.
• Zhenke learned at a relay station that others had seen the black cloud traveling in that direction.
• Fang Zelin studied the map and continued toward a village, where they arrived as cooking smoke rose at sunset.

Fang Zelin confronted a water ghost that had trapped a child and the child's father beneath the river, then forced it to release them with the threat of his flying sword. The villagers rescued the pair alive, and the grateful mother bowed to Fang Zelin.

• Children told Fang Zelin that San'er had fallen into the river, and a villager dived in to rescue him.
• Zhenke saw a water ghost holding San'er, and the ghost dragged the rescuing villager down to the riverbed.
• Fang Zelin asked the water ghost to spare the child and the man, but it tried to flee with them.
• Fang Zelin's tiny flying sword blocked the water ghost, which released the pair after Fang Zelin asked it again.
• Villagers pulled San'er and the man from the river and found both alive, while San'er's mother thanked Fang Zelin.

Fang Zelin saved a woman and her child from becoming the water ghost’s replacement, then apologized to the ghost with wine that ended his drowning torment. He and Zhenke reached the village, where the grateful woman invited them into her home for a meal.

• The woman bowed to Fang Zelin and invited him to stay, while the crowd dispersed and Zhenke withdrew her flying sword.
• Fang Zelin apologized to the water ghost by pouring fine wine into the river, then left with Zhenke when the ghost refused to meet him.
• The water ghost drank the wine, which eased his torment, and realized with regret that he had let an important opportunity slip away.
• Zhenke asked why Fang Zelin had not forced the water ghost to spare the family, and Fang Zelin explained that he had wanted to give the ghost a chance to earn Yin Merit.
• Fang Zelin and Zhenke arrived in the village, where the woman led them to her home and served a lavish meal that seemed beyond her means.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke stayed in a village, where he helped the villagers by secretly watering their fields with the Lesser Cloud and Rain Technique. As they continued their journey, Fang Zelin spoke to Zhenke about virtue, and she suddenly gained an insight while trying to understand his words.

• Fang Zelin accepted the villagers’ meal and asked an elderly man whether he had seen a black cloud at the hour of the Dog, but the man had been asleep.
• After the villagers went to bed, Fang Zelin used the Lesser Cloud and Rain Technique to water their fields twice.
• Fang Zelin and Zhenke left the village the next morning, and he explained that helping people could cultivate virtue.
• Fang Zelin recited words about revering the Dao and esteeming virtue, and Zhenke spent hours trying to comprehend them.
• Zhenke gained an inexplicable understanding and smiled.

Zhenke understood Fang Zelin’s words about the Dao and virtue, then traveled with him through the forest while listening to his music and drinking wine. After they camped for the night, she began cultivating and saw Seeking Dao Mountain appear before her.

• Zhenke explained how Fang Zelin’s words about Heaven nourishing all things helped her understand the Dao and virtue.
• Fang Zelin celebrated Zhenke’s insight by sharing wine with her, then played Falling into the Mortal World on a conch.
• Zhenke was captivated by the tune and asked Fang Zelin its name as they continued through the forest.
• Fang Zelin decided they would camp in the forest after sunset, and Zhenke grew tipsy from drinking more wine.
• Fang Zelin prepared soup and provisions, then stood guard while Zhenke cultivated.
• Zhenke’s awareness blurred during cultivation, and she saw Seeking Dao Mountain before her.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke reached Dinghe City but found no one who had seen the black cloud they were tracking. They decided to search for demons the next day, then overheard something at the inn that caught their attention.

• Fang Zelin led Zhenke toward Dinghe City and told her they would split up to ask around before meeting at the Li position.
• After searching separately, Fang Zelin and Zhenke found that neither the townspeople nor the night watchmen had seen the black cloud.
• Zhenke suggested asking nearby demons for information, and Fang Zelin agreed to search for one the next day.
• Fang Zelin and Zhenke checked into an inn, ordered food, and planned to search separately for a demon the next morning.
• A nearby diner's remark caught Fang Zelin and Zhenke's attention.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke heard diners debate the Prince of Chunan’s tale of a wondrous flower on Pine Mountain, and they suspected a cultivator might live there. Fang Zelin planned to visit the mountain the next day, while Zhenke set out to ask spirits about the black cloud.

• Diners discussed Wu Laosan’s search for immortals and argued over whether immortals and the Prince of Chunan’s wondrous flower existed.
• A young scholar defended the Prince of Chunan’s account, but a burly diner challenged him by pointing out that nobody had found the flower or lived beyond a hundred years since.
• Fang Zelin connected the Pine Mountain rumors to the possibility of a cultivator living outside the city.
• Fang Zelin decided to visit Pine Mountain the next day and ask about the black cloud, while Zhenke chose to seek out spirits and make inquiries separately.

Fang Zelin and Zhenke split up to search for clues about the killer, and Fang Zelin went to Pine Mountain to seek the rumored immortal. A young woman joined him, hoping to find an exotic blossom to save her gravely ill father, and they stopped to rest on the way up the mountain.

• Fang Zelin told Zhenke to search elsewhere while he went to Pine Mountain, and Zhenke left to investigate.
• Fang Zelin met a young woman and her servants on the mountain path, and she asked to accompany him in seeking the immortal.
• The young woman told Fang Zelin that her father was gravely ill and that she hoped to obtain an exotic blossom to save him.
• Fang Zelin led the young woman and her party farther up Pine Mountain, where more people joined the search.
• Fang Zelin stopped at an octagonal rain shelter to rest, and the young woman's maid massaged her tired legs and questioned why she had come herself.

Wu Biling explained that she followed Fang Zelin because she believed a scholar might be more likely to encounter the immortal on Pine Mountain. As they continued toward the mountain, Fang Zelin learned why more people were searching for the Wondrous Blossom, while Wu Biling grew suspicious of his unusual stamina.

• Wu Biling told her maid that she thought Fang Zelin had a better chance of seeing the immortal, and Fang Zelin overheard their conversation.
• Fang Zelin considered whether the immortal might be a plant spirit and decided he would ask about the black cloud if he found one.
• Fang Zelin and Wu Biling resumed their journey toward Pine Mountain, where he noticed that people who had dismissed the rumors were now heading up the mountain.
• Wu Biling explained that wealthy merchants had offered a huge reward for the Wondrous Blossom, drawing people to Pine Mountain to investigate.
• Fang Zelin said he believed immortals existed, and Wu Biling quietly wondered why he showed no fatigue after their long walk.

Fang Zelin explained that immortals should set things right, while a burly man challenged him with the tragedies he had suffered. Fang Zelin and Wu Biling reached Pine Mountain’s summit, where he searched for signs of a cultivator or illusion but found nothing unusual.

• Fang Zelin said immortals should follow the Heavenly Dao and set things right, prompting a burly man to recount how disasters and plague destroyed his village.
• Fang Zelin recalled that immortal sects had repeatedly sacrificed themselves to protect the mortal world, but he chose not to explain this to the burly man.
• Fang Zelin continued up Pine Mountain with Wu Biling as they approached the summit and its growing crowds.
• Fang Zelin and Wu Biling reached a pavilion marked with the eight trigrams and a yin-yang symbol, where Wu Biling felt disappointed by the ordinary, crowded scene.
• Fang Zelin examined the summit and surrounding mountains for signs of a Law Technique or illusion but found none.

Fang Zelin and the others waited on Pine Mountain for the rumored immortal, but no one appeared as the crowd dwindled. By evening, Fang Zelin, Wu Biling, and Yan Hong'an remained, each with their own reasons for waiting.

• Fang Zelin searched the crowded platform for the immortal’s dwelling but saw nothing unusual, while Yan Hong'an dismissed the rumors and Wu Biling chose to wait.
• Wu Biling sent Qiao'er to offer Fang Zelin pastries, and he accepted them before settling down to wait calmly.
• As the day passed, many visitors left Pine Mountain, while Wu Biling stayed and sent a servant back with a message.
• At dusk, Qiao'er asked Yan Hong'an why he remained despite doubting the immortals, and he said he wanted to expose whoever was playing gods and ghosts.