Chapter Summaries

Fang Zelin returned to Dinggui Mountain with Yunzi and her disciples, where Wu Ling revealed that she had entered Seeking Dao Mountain three times since his guidance. Yunzi struggled to think of a way to repay Fang Zelin, then blushed when her disciples teased her into saying she could offer herself in marriage.

• Fang Zelin and the others arrived at Dinggui Mountain and were greeted by Wu Ling.
• Yunzi asked Wu Ling about her cultivation, and Wu Ling said she had entered Seeking Dao Mountain three times since returning.
• Wu Ling credited Fang Zelin's guidance for her progress, and Yunzi reminded her to thank him.
• Yunzi sighed that she did not know how to repay Fang Zelin for guiding her disciples.
• Wu Qing prompted Yunzi to complete a familiar saying, and Yunzi answered that she could offer herself in marriage before realizing her disciples were teasing her.

Yunzi’s disciples urged her to become Fang Zelin’s dao companion, hoping he would help Rising Tide Valley prosper, and Yunzi found herself unexpectedly moved by the idea. When Fang Zelin asked for a guest room and Yunzi offered to wash his clothes, their awkward exchange ended with her hurrying outside while he changed.

• Yunzi’s disciples suggested that she become Fang Zelin’s dao companion and bring him to Rising Tide Valley, while Yunzi secretly felt her heart flutter at the thought.
• Fang Zelin approached the group, mistook their strange looks for a reaction to his wine-scented clothes, and asked Yunzi where he could change.
• Yunzi led Fang Zelin to a guest room and offered to wash his clothes as thanks for guiding her disciples.
• Fang Zelin reluctantly accepted Yunzi’s offer, and she hurried out of the room after realizing she should not stay while he changed.

Fang Zelin explored Dinggui Mountain and learned its disciples had gone out to hunt demons, though they were now returning after he defeated the overseas demons. He visited the mountain’s old tea tree with Zhenke and decided he still wanted to taste its tea.

• Fang Zelin changed into pale white clothes, and Yunzi hurriedly took his discarded clothes away.
• Fang Zelin asked a Dinggui Mountain disciple why so few of its cultivators were present and learned they had gone demon hunting and were now inspecting Northern Liang as they returned.
• The disciple told Fang Zelin about an old tea tree in the front mountain’s tea garden, so Fang Zelin went to see it.
• Zhenke told Fang Zelin the tea tasted bland compared with his fine wine, and Fang Zelin reflected that cultivation could be plain and uneventful.
• Fang Zelin remained curious about the tea and decided he wanted to taste it himself.

Fang Zelin suspected that Dinggui Mountain’s centuries-old tea tree had a cultivation problem because it produced so few leaves despite absorbing Spiritual Qi. The tree revealed that it had long possessed intelligence, and the gathered Rising Tide Valley disciples watched as it took offense at Fang Zelin’s claims.

• Zhenke told Fang Zelin that the tea tree yielded only a few taels of leaves each year, and Fang Zelin suspected something was wrong with it.
• Zhenke wondered whether the tea tree had become a spirit, but a Dinggui Mountain disciple said it had not.
• Fang Zelin suggested that the tree’s slow development was unusual, and Zhenke agreed that his judgment meant there was a problem.
• The tea tree spoke up angrily, revealed that it had gained intelligence long ago, and explained that it had stayed silent to cultivate in peace.
• Rising Tide Valley disciples gathered after hearing about the yao spirit and became convinced that Fang Zelin had detected a real problem with the tree.

Fang Zelin tried to advise a newly sentient tea tree demon on Dinggui Mountain, but it cut him off because it feared his advice would make it grow more leaves and waste its Spiritual Qi. Fang Zelin left without anger, while the demon was left unsettled and unable to resume cultivating.

• A Dinggui Mountain cultivator assured the arriving Rising Tide Valley cultivators that the tea tree demon had never harmed anyone.
• Fang Zelin accused the tea tree of refining Spiritual Qi for its cultivation instead of growing tea leaves, and the demon defended its choice.
• The tea tree cut Fang Zelin off before he could offer guidance, so he calmly apologized and left.
• The tea tree felt an inexplicable sense of loss after Fang Zelin disappeared and could not settle down to cultivate.
• Wu Qing, Wu Ling, and the other cultivators left, remarking that the tea tree had misunderstood the people of Dinggui Mountain and rebuffed Senior Fang.

Yunzi secretly washed Fang Zelin’s clothes and gave him a poorly sewn replacement before accompanying him to meet Daoist Master Fuqing. As Fuqing brewed tea in the great hall, the gathered cultivators noticed something strange about the teapot.

• Yunzi’s disciples told her that the tea tree demon had rejected Fang Zelin’s guidance, and Yunzi concealed that she had been washing clothes by the stream.
• Daoist Master Fuqing returned to Dinggui Mountain and sent disciples to invite Yunzi and Fang Zelin to the great hall.
• Yunzi gave Fang Zelin a new set of clothes, explaining that she had ruined his while washing them.
• Fang Zelin and Yunzi entered the great hall, where Zhenke and Daoist Master Fuqing were waiting.
• As Fuqing brewed tea, the cultivators noticed the tea’s scent and turned strange looks toward the teapot.

Daoist Master Fuqing discovered that Dinggui Mountain’s tea leaves had become cloudy, foul-smelling, and poisonous, and learned that Fang Zelin had suspected the tea tree demon’s cultivation was damaged. The tea leaves were no longer fit to drink, and Fuqing began to accept that Fang Zelin had been right.

• Daoist Master Fuqing noticed that the brewed tea smelled rotten and looked cloudy, so he sent a disciple to pick fresh leaves.
• The disciple brought back fresh tea leaves, but they quickly withered and gave off the same rotten smell.
• Fang Zelin suspected the tea leaves had changed because something was wrong with the tea tree demon’s cultivation.
• A disciple told Daoist Master Fuqing that Fang Zelin had earlier warned of a problem, though the tea tree demon had denied it.
• Daoist Master Fuqing concluded that the tea tree demon’s cultivation might be damaged and that its leaves were now unsafe to drink.

Fang Zelin explained how his advice had exposed the tea tree Demon’s flawed cultivation and damaged its Dao Heart. Daoist Master Fuqing absolved him of blame and ordered the tea tree Demon sent away from Dinggui Mountain.

• Daoist Master Fuqing asked Fang Zelin how he had detected the tea tree Demon’s cultivation problem, and Fang Zelin admitted his words had disturbed the Demon’s mind.
• Fang Zelin explained that the tea tree Demon had suppressed its natural growth and selfishly sought more Spiritual Qi despite Dinggui Mountain’s grace, leaving its Dao Heart in disarray.
• Daoist Master Fuqing said Fang Zelin was not to blame and declared that the tea tree Demon’s affinity with Dinggui Mountain had ended.
• Daoist Master Fuqing sent disciples to take the tea tree Demon down the mountain and served ordinary tea instead of its leaves.
• Yunzi asked Fang Zelin about the Demon’s cultivation, and he explained how its actions violated the Dao and reflected faulty character.

Fang Zelin and the other immortal cultivators discussed the threat to their Karmic Fortune after learning that the tea tree demon could no longer progress in cultivation. An ancient book suggested that immortal cultivators’ Karmic Fortune had been stolen long ago, and the gathering ended with Fang Zelin noticing a troubling clue.

• Fang Zelin said the tea tree demon would make no further progress unless it grasped his guidance, and the others planned to send it down the mountain.
• Daoist Master Fuqing called the cultivators together to discuss the threat to their Karmic Fortune.
• A fellow Daoist presented an ancient book describing the past flourishing of immortal cultivation and its later decline.
• Yunzi asked whether their Karmic Fortune had been stolen long ago, and the cultivators examined the book in turn.
• Fang Zelin and Yunzi read the book, which described recurring calamities and the decline of cultivation, and Fang Zelin realized he had thought of a difficulty.

Fang Zelin and the other cultivators discussed whether the Demon Race’s karmic fortune had also been stolen and admitted they knew little about the hidden enemy or their own karmic fortune. Daoist Master Fuqing suspected the Devil Race was provoking them to search for it because the enemy did not know where it was.

• Fang Zelin suggested that the Demon Race’s karmic fortune might have been stolen by the same enemy that took the cultivators’ fortune.
• The cultivators noted that the demons were unknowingly helping the enemy and worried that the Demon Race would be left weakened.
• Yunzi and Fang Zelin admitted they knew little about the Devil Race, whose history was scarcely recorded.
• The cultivators discussed where their karmic fortune might be, but no one had found it in their sects, temples, or places of cultivation.
• Daoist Master Fuqing wondered whether the cultivators’ predecessors had hidden their karmic fortune, then suspected the Devil Race was trying to draw them into searching for it.

Daoist Master Fuqing and the other cultivators decided to have Guangchengzi divine the whereabouts of the Devil Race member rather than search for the hidden providence. As Guangchengzi left to prepare, the Devil Race man watched Dinggui Mountain and grew uneasy that his scheme had failed to lure the cultivators out.

• Daoist Master Fuqing warned the cultivators that the Devil Race member might be watching them and could use their search for the providence to find it.
• Fang Zelin proposed divining either the providence’s location or the Devil Race member’s whereabouts, and the cultivators favored hunting the enemy.
• The cultivators asked Guangchengzi to divine the Devil Race member’s whereabouts; despite doubting his chances after a previous failure, he resolved to prepare and try again.
• Daoist Master Fuqing felt uneasy as Guangchengzi departed.
• Several hundred li from Dinggui Mountain, the blood-red-wreathed Devil Race man wondered why the cultivators had not taken his bait and worried about the powerful Fang Zelin and his companions.

The tea tree demon pleaded with a Dinggui Mountain disciple not to drive it away, but the disciple explained that its disordered Dao Heart and poor character made it unfit to remain. The demon finally accepted that it could no longer stay on the mountain.

• A young man glowing red worried that the powerful cultivator at Dinggui Mountain might ruin his plan.
• Daoist Master Fuqing told the group to rest while Fellow Daoist Guangchengzi prepared to cast a spell.
• A Dinggui Mountain disciple bound the tea tree demon and began carrying it down the mountain as it begged for mercy.
• The disciple rebuked the tea tree demon for questioning the senior and told it that its Dao Heart was in disarray.
• The disciple cited the tea leaves withering after they were picked, and the tea tree demon fell silent, recognizing that it had to leave.

Fang Zelin and Yunzi discussed the tea tree demon’s tribulation and Fang’s plans to grow tea and cultivate medicinal plants. After learning he had entered Seeking Dao Mountain more than a hundred times and grown several mu of herbs, Yunzi concluded that he might one day become a True Immortal.

• A Dinggui Mountain disciple took the tea tree demon away and obscured his senses so he could not remember the mountain gate’s location.
• Yunzi judged that the tea tree demon’s tribulation would determine whether his cultivation advanced greatly or stalled for life, while Fang Zelin lamented that he had not tasted the demon’s tea leaves.
• Yunzi suggested that Fang grow his own tea tree, and he agreed to try it when he returned.
• At the cliff, Fang told Yunzi he intended to return to Yingping Peak to tend his medicinal plants and explained that eating mature, spirit-rain-watered herbs would increase his cultivation.
• Yunzi asked how often Fang had entered Seeking Dao Mountain and how many herbs he had planted; he estimated more than a hundred visits and several mu of medicinal plants.
• Yunzi realized Fang’s many visits had given him an enormous lifespan and imagined his herbs could raise his cultivation enough for him to become a True Immortal.

Fang Zelin sought books on pill refining so he could make use of the medicinal herbs he had grown. After Daoist Master Fuqing lent him several texts and warned him to keep pill-refining arts from reaching the mortal world, Yunzi joined Fang Zelin to help him study.

• Fang Zelin asked Yunzi who in Northern Liang knew pill refining, and Yunzi said no local cultivators were truly skilled at it.
• Yunzi took Fang Zelin to Daoist Master Fuqing, who agreed to lend him books on pill refining.
• Daoist Master Fuqing warned Fang Zelin that pill-refining arts must not spread into the mortal world, where they might attract imperial attention and harm the dynasty.
• A disciple brought Fang Zelin several books, including texts on pills, medicinal substances, and fire control, and Fang Zelin promised to share pills if he succeeded.
• Fang Zelin went to study the books, and Yunzi joined him, advising him to master the Fire Control Technique and memorize the properties of medicinal herbs.

Fang Zelin quickly learned the Fire Control Technique while Guangchengzi prepared to use the Seven Stars Technique to locate the Devil Race member, accepting that the divination would bring heavenly punishment upon him. As the stars began to light up, Daoist Master Fuqing and the others rushed to find Guangchengzi and stop him.

• Fang Zelin recognized that he already knew the contents of Introduction to Medicinal Herbs from his experience tending herbs and learning from a sentient ginseng spirit.
• Fang Zelin mastered the Fire Control Technique, and Yunzi explained how to control its heat for pill refining.
• Guangchengzi prepared a seven-star formation to divine the Devil Race member’s location and told his grieving disciple to preserve his cultivation insights and carry on his legacy.
• Guangchengzi’s disciple pleaded with him not to use a technique that would bring heavenly punishment, but Guangchengzi insisted the risk was his own choice.
• Guangchengzi began the Seven Stars Technique, turning the clear sky into a star-filled night as the first three stars lit up.
• Daoist Master Fuqing recognized the technique and ordered the others to find Guangchengzi and stop him before he completed it.

Fang Zelin and the other cultivators tried to stop Guangchengzi from completing the Seven Stars Technique, but his disciple guarded him and Guangchengzi finished the sacrifice. Before transcending, Guangchengzi revealed the fleeing Demonic Dao cultivator’s location, and Fang Zelin raced after him with murderous intent.

• Fang Zelin rode Bearing the Heavens to search for Guangchengzi as the Seven Stars Technique lit the stars and drove a Demonic Dao cultivator to flee.
• Yunzi and Fang Zelin followed Daoist Master Fuqing toward Guangchengzi’s hiding place, where his disciple refused to let them interrupt the technique.
• Daoist Master Fuqing pleaded with Guangchengzi to stop, but Guangchengzi took the seventh step and completed the Seven Stars Technique.
• Guangchengzi revealed that the Demonic Dao cultivator was fleeing southwest, fifty li away, then lost his cultivation and transcended as his disciple wept.
• Fang Zelin pursued the Demonic Dao cultivator on Bearing the Heavens while the other cultivators struggled to keep pace behind him.

Fang Zelin caught up with Bai Anmin, a member of the Devil Race, and refused his offer to leave peacefully. They faced each other with a fight looming.

• Bai Anmin tried to escape Fang Zelin but stopped when he realized he could not shake him off.
• Fang Zelin caught up and confronted Bai Anmin, recognizing him as a member of the Devil Race.
• Bai Anmin recognized Fang Zelin as the cultivator who had killed four great demons and introduced himself.
• Bai Anmin asked Fang Zelin to let him go, claiming he had harmed no one and would not return.
• Fang Zelin refused, citing Guangchengzi’s sacrifice and his duty to capture Bai Anmin.

Fang Zelin broke free of Bai Anmin’s Heart Bewitching Technique and struck him down with a single sword attack, though Bai Anmin survived by using abducted children to blunt the blow. Daoist Master Fuqing and the others arrived and trapped Bai Anmin in golden nets as he tried to flee.

• Bai Anmin used his skull and Heart Bewitching Technique to make Fang Zelin see monsters, then launched a flying dagger at him.
• Bearing the Heavens rang and broke Fang Zelin free of the illusion, and Fang Zelin seized the sword to attack Bai Anmin.
• Yunzi, Daoist Master Fuqing, and the others hurried after Fang Zelin, then saw a flash of sword light and heard a heavy impact.
• Fang Zelin’s strike hurled Bai Anmin dozens of miles and nearly killed him, but Bai Anmin survived by placing abducted children in its path.
• Daoist Master Fuqing recognized Bai Anmin and called for a formation, while Bai Anmin tried to escape and found himself surrounded by golden nets.

Fang Zelin and the cultivators captured Bai Anmin and returned to Dinggui Mountain, where they learned of Guangchengzi’s death. After Bai Anmin threatened them and pleaded to be released, Daoist Master Fuqing threw him into the Pill Furnace.

• Daoist Master Fuqing and the other cultivators bound Bai Anmin, while Fang Zelin rescued the two children Bai Anmin had thrown in front of his sword.
• Daoist Master Fuqing took the children to be returned to their parents, and the group brought Bai Anmin back to Dinggui Mountain.
• Changsong said he would bury Guangchengzi at Azure Kite Ridge, and the cultivators promised to attend the funeral the next day.
• Bai Anmin blamed the cultivators for Guangchengzi’s death, threatened them with the Devil Race, and begged them to release him.
• Daoist Master Fuqing carried Bai Anmin to the Alchemy Chamber and threw him into the Pill Furnace.

Fang Zelin realized Bai Anmin had been pretending to be helpless so the cultivators would leave him under the care of inexperienced disciples. While the disciples prepared to guard the sealed Pill Furnace, Bai Anmin continued his act and planned how to trick them into helping him escape.

• Bai Anmin was thrown into the Pill Furnace, where its flames burned his wounds as he screamed.
• Fang Zelin told Yunzi about a devoted female yao who had endured decades of refinement, and Yunzi contrasted her devotion with Bai Anmin's apparent weakness.
• Fang Zelin suspected Bai Anmin was acting feeble so he could escape after the senior cultivators left the next day.
• Daoist Master Fuqing instructed two disciples to guard the Alchemy Chamber and never open the seal, while Fang Zelin warned them to ignore any tricks or pleas from Bai Anmin.
• Bai Anmin saw that only the two disciples would guard him and planned several ways to deceive them, then intensified his screams and let the pill fire burn more of his body.