Recaps

Zhang Xuezhou navigated the dangers of Hongku’s curse while pursuing cultivation, food, and help for his illness in the waking world. Ren Yisheng studied the Heart Incantation, but when it failed to change Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation, Wu Chao proposed finding Zou Bugui to resolve the problem and strengthen their chances against Hongku.

• Zhang Xuezhou developed his Demon Power and learned that Hongku had obtained the Technique Within the Clouds, while Wu Chao discovered that Hongku was using his students to redirect curses.
• Wu Chao realized Hongku had cursed him and bound Zhang Xuezhou to him, so the two planned to grow stronger and eventually confront their teacher.
• Zhang Xuezhou bought pearl chickens to strengthen his body, while Zhang Manqian practiced combat techniques and became frightened by hallucinations she believed were signs of their family illness.
• Ren Yisheng met Zhang Xuezhou at Canglan Academy, read his Heart Incantation pages, and concluded that they offered a reliable method for cultivating mental power.
• Zhang Xuezhou questioned whether his dream world or waking life was real, and Ren Yisheng helped him recover from a bout of chaotic emotions.
• Zhang Manqian experienced a disorienting hallucination, while Zhang Xuezhou returned to the dream world and reconsidered his reckless plans.
• Wu Chao concluded that Zhang Xuezhou’s original cultivation method was incompatible with the Heart Incantation and might be even more powerful.
• Zhang Xuezhou decided he needed Zou Bugui’s help, and Wu Chao considered using his position and soldiers to capture him.

Zhang Xuezhou was taken from the Western Border to Chang'an, where the crown prince and his ministers used him as a medium to search for Zou Bugui. Their attempts advanced Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation and finally revealed Zou Bugui being beaten by Jin Chang, while the crown prince prepared to act on what they had learned.

• Wu Chao and Zhang Xuezhou traveled toward Yanmen Pass, where soldiers recognized Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation and connected his teacher, the Nine-Chi Daoist Priest, to Zou Bugui.
• Zhang Xuezhou parted from Wu Chao and traveled to Chang'an with Zhang Qian, who used the name Zhang Manqian for him and sought the crown prince’s help in finding Zou Bugui.
• The crown prince brought Zhang Xuezhou to Grand Commandant Zhou, whose search spell encountered a hostile shadow and left Zhou injured.
• Chancellor Liu kept Zhang Xuezhou and Zhang Qian under verification, while Emperor Jing gave the crown prince authority and resources to build a loyal inner circle.
• Dong Zhongshu used the Spirit-Communicating Jade to locate Zou Bugui in Lingnan, and the crown prince led an expedition there.
• Dong Zhongshu’s further search reached a strange room and triggered a ghostly attack that cracked the jade, while Zhang Xuezhou later returned to his other life and practiced the Crane Form Fist with Zhang Manqian.
• Dong Zhongshu used up the jade to advance Zhang Xuezhou to the Blood Penetration Realm, then cast another search spell that showed Zou Bugui and Jin Chang together.
• Zhang Xuezhou watched Jin Chang demand the Nine Heavens inheritance and beat Zou Bugui for refusing, while the crown prince considered how to overcome Jin Chang and Wei Qing suspected other pursuers were also searching for Zou Bugui.

Zhang Xuezhou survived the Crown Prince’s clash with Kong Ning and reunited with Wu Chao and Zou Bugui, then secured Zou Bugui’s teaching while Jin Chang ensnared Wu Chao in a dangerous bargain. The group crossed the Northern Border and recruited Zhufu Yan for their journey into the mountains.

• The Crown Prince’s guards captured Zou Bugui, but Kong Ning’s attack drew Emperor Jing into a battle with her and the Nine Yin Exalted One before Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao found Zou Bugui hiding underground.
• Zhang Xuezhou returned to his other body, helped Wu Chao and the Golden Toad Dharma King recover, and tried to persuade Zou Bugui to reveal the Yin-Yang School’s inheritance.
• Jin Chang demanded Zou Bugui’s cultivation technique, but Zou Bugui offered to cooperate only if the group killed Jin Chang, and the Golden Toad Dharma King later returned with Jin Chang’s head.
• Zou Bugui agreed to take the Golden Toad Dharma King as his godson and teach Zhang Xuezhou, who learned the Meridian Circulation Realm technique and the Blood Penetration technique.
• Wu Chao revealed that Jin Chang had planted a Puppet Technique in him and demanded that he become Jin Chang’s disciple within three years, leaving Zhang Xuezhou wary of their new predicament.
• The Golden Toad Dharma King carried the group across the Northern Border, where Zhang Xuezhou offered meat to a barefoot young swordsman and welcomed Zhufu Yan into their journey.

Zhang Xuezhou navigated a hidden sequencing arena, reunited with Zhang Manqian, and received Ren Yisheng’s reassurance and a new mental cultivation method. Meanwhile, Zhu Jiuyin sent Zhang and Wu Chao to investigate Emperor Jing, and Zhang began exploring genetic sequencing as a way to strengthen himself.

• Zhufu Yan found two short swords at the cold pool and fled, while the Golden Toad Dharma King was later captured by the black peacock Ningning and Zou Bugui treated the injured Dharma King.
• Zhang Xuezhou accompanied Zhang Manqian to the concealed Weiyang Martial Arts School, bet on her fight, and saw her defeat contestant 23675 after recovering from an early setback.
• Mistaken for participant 29749, Zhang Xuezhou entered the ring and defeated his frightened opponent, then received the Tiger Form Fist and a Gene Armory Secret Key before leaving without revealing his identity.
• Zuo Teng discovered that an impostor had used Ding Hao’s invitation code, while Zhang Xuezhou woke beside Jin Wanliang and was taken by Feiyu to Zhu Jiuyin after Kong Ning’s herb theft implicated the group.
• Zhu Jiuyin ordered Zhang Xuezhou to spy on Emperor Jing and taught him and Wu Chao separate halves of the Great Wilderness Creation Scripture to help them resist realm suppression.
• Ren Yisheng told Zhang Xuezhou that he was not mentally ill, gave him the Mental Strengthening Chapter, and confirmed that his combined techniques had awakened unusual abilities.
• Zhang Manqian reunited with Zhang Xuezhou, and the two went to a gene sequencing center where Doctor Wu found suspected sedative use and unidentified bird genes in Zhang’s report.
• Zhang Xuezhou suspected suitable foods could promote genetic development, warned Zhang Manqian about Zuo Teng’s powerful connections, and agreed to join her next sequencing session while pursuing cultivation at home.