Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou returned to the North Rehe Research Institute and discussed improving medicines with Ren Anran. Ren Anran proposed transforming the Heavenly God General Secret Medicine into an oral pill, and Zhang Xuezhou set aside his original plan to explore the idea.

• Zhang Xuezhou returned to the institute with Ren Anran, while Wang Haoran checked into the Jishi Medical Center and Zhou Rihui remained unhappy with his injured ear.
• Ren Anran joined Zhang Xuezhou in the laboratory as he planned to adjust medicines and reduce the side effects of the Heavenly God General Secret Medicine.
• Ren Anran suggested that Zhang Xuezhou investigate whether his pills could be processed with modern techniques, and Zhang Xuezhou agreed they would need to test the idea.
• Ren Anran proposed working backward from the Heavenly God General Secret Medicine to create an oral pill that might reduce its stimulating side effects.
• Zhang Xuezhou praised Ren Anran's idea and abandoned his original plan to focus on transforming the secret medicine into a pill.

Zhang Xuezhou struggled to develop the Heavenly God General Secret Medicine while Ren Anran prepared a standard batch and explained its risks. As Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran debated whether Zhang Manqian should use the medicine to improve her mental strength, Zhang Manqian said she wanted to become smarter so she could advance and help shoulder Zhang Xuezhou’s responsibilities.

• Ren Yisheng and Wang Haoran arranged the research materials and secured control over the World-Saving Healthcare Group, while the raw materials arrived within five days.
• Zhang Xuezhou repeatedly combined the secret medicine’s ingredients but produced only bitter, ineffective powders, and he worried about adding blood or serum.
• Ren Anran followed the established process to make a batch of the medicine and explained that its intense stimulation could cause pain and was most useful for early mental growth or during mental transformations.
• Zhang Xuezhou argued that Zhang Manqian should save the limited medicine for later, while Ren Anran said using it to advance her to the fourth chapter of Mental Strengthening could bring immediate benefits.
• Zhang Manqian said she wanted to become smarter, improve her cultivation, and eventually help take over some of Zhang Xuezhou’s responsibilities.

Zhang Xuezhou cut short his laboratory work to prepare for X432 treatment, while Zuo Teng delivered an invitation and gift from Zuo Quan. He declined the visit but discovered that the necklace’s crystal chip seemed to ease his brain injury by activating the effects of the medicinal vapors he had inhaled.

• Zhang Xuezhou left the laboratory with little time before his return to the other world and told Zuo Teng he needed X432 treatment for his brain injury.
• Zuo Teng invited Zhang Xuezhou to visit Zuo Quan in Western Capital City, but Zhang Xuezhou declined because of his treatment, research, and upcoming duties.
• Zhang Xuezhou encouraged Zuo Teng about his position and spoke in his favor while Zuo Quan listened through Zuo Teng’s communicator.
• Zuo Teng gave Zhang Xuezhou a small gift box from Zuo Quan, and Zhang Xuezhou opened it to find a necklace with a six-sided crystal chip.
• Zhang Xuezhou felt his brain symptoms ease when he touched the chip and suspected it was catalyzing the medicinal vapors in his brain.

Zuo Quan gave Zhang Xuezhou a lucky necklace and tried to figure out how its fortune had taken effect so quickly, while events surrounding the Pei Household affair continued to unfold. The chapter ended with Zuo Quan receiving a call from Luo En, whom he welcomed as an important ally.

• Zuo Quan gave Zhang Xuezhou a lucky necklace through Zuo Teng and soon sensed that its luck had taken effect.
• Zuo Quan questioned Zuo Teng about what had happened, but neither of them could identify Zhang Xuezhou's good fortune.
• Zuo Quan decided to teach Zuo Teng an ability to recognize other people's fortunes when he returned to Western Capital City.
• Zuo Quan read the committee's internal messages about the aftermath of Pei Jing's rebellion and the Qing'an Pei Household affair.
• Luo En called Zuo Quan, who recognized him as the important helper he had been waiting for.

Ren Yisheng and the others completed their review of Pei Jing’s rebellion and cleared Zuo Quan of involvement, but Ren Yisheng noticed that Zhou Rihui, Zuo Quan, and Zhang Xuezhou had all shown signs of being struck by lightning. He suspected a hidden connection and resolved to seek out extraordinary practitioners whose abilities might help him advance his Mental Strengthening.

• Zhou Rihui described how Pei Jing’s precise attacks had made him dangerous in battle and explained that lightning had damaged his abilities after he searched Luo Yan’s burial mausoleum.
• Li Yingbo and the others finished the investigation, finding no evidence that Zuo Quan had any connection to Pei Jing’s incident or the imperial mausoleums.
• Ren Yisheng noticed that Zhou Rihui and Zuo Quan had been struck by lightning on the same day and recalled similar marks on Zhang Xuezhou.
• Ren Yisheng considered whether Huang Daoxian or another extraordinary practitioner could have summoned lightning or influenced Pei Jing.
• Ren Yisheng demonstrated his mental control over a cup of water and hoped that meeting powerful practitioners such as Luo En or Huang Daoxian would help him break through to the eighth chapter of the Mental Strengthening Chapter.

After recovering from his clash with Pei Jing, Zhang Xuezhou reflected on how facing stronger opponents had changed his mentality and could help him advance his Mental Strengthening. During the journey to Mount Tai, he learned that Rong Tianding had reached the True Spirit Realm with Jin Chang’s help, and became interested in the Essence Blood methods behind the Puppet Spirit-Forging Pill.

• Zhang Xuezhou woke in the carriage after twelve days of rapid travel and told Jin Chang that his head hurt.
• Zhang Xuezhou sensed that Rong Tianding had reached the True Spirit Realm, and Rong Tianding credited Jin Chang’s pill and help.
• Jin Chang revealed that the Spirit-Forging Pill he gave Rong Tianding was a Puppet Spirit-Forging Pill made by coating an ordinary pill with Puppet Medicine.
• Zhang Xuezhou realized Jin Chang’s Essence Blood connected him to Rong Tianding and that a True Self Realm cultivator’s Essence Blood would be needed to suppress the medicine.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Jin Chang to explain how Essence Blood was used in making medicines.

Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang discussed medicine-making and the cultivation needed to combine the Yin-Yang School’s Realm Techniques as they traveled toward its Sacred Land. Jin Chang’s confidence gave way to worry about Zhang Xuezhou’s breakthrough, and he began offering him cultivation medicines.

• Jin Chang explained that the Nine People Sect made medicines by grinding and combining ingredients, leading Zhang Xuezhou to suspect he had used the wrong method on the Heavenly God General Secret Medicine.
• Zhang Xuezhou turned the discussion to entering the Divine Ability Realm and asked about cultivating after combining the two branches’ Realm Techniques.
• Jin Chang theorized that the combined techniques would provide immense Law Power, and Zhang Xuezhou agreed that it could help Jin Chang contend with stronger cultivators.
• As the carriage neared the Yin-Yang School’s Sacred Land, Jin Chang grew anxious about Zhang Xuezhou’s physical condition and chances of breaking through.
• Zhang Xuezhou vowed to enter the Divine Ability Realm or die, so Jin Chang warned him to be careful and began handing over cultivation medicines.

Jin Chang prepared Zhang Xuezhou for a dangerous attempt to enter the Yin-Yang School's Sacred Land and break through to the Divine Ability Realm. He gave Zhang the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps and explained how their group would enter the secret place, though he could not guarantee the inherited method was safe.

• Jin Chang gave Zhang Xuezhou an Explosive Boiling Pellet and warned that using it could damage his meridians and acupoints if he failed to break through.
• Zhang Xuezhou showed Jin Chang a high-grade Fortune Pill and asked how many pills he might need for the breakthrough.
• Jin Chang explained that Mount Tai connected the Immortal Court, the Yellow Springs, and the Yin-Yang School's dangerous Sacred Land.
• Jin Chang planned to take Rong Tianding to the Heavenly Capital Lord's practice ground while he went to Jade Emperor Peak and Zhang entered the Sacred Land alone.
• Jin Chang gave Zhang the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps and instructed him to reach a cave, pass through its stone wall with the talismans, and wait for Jin Chang to stand guard.

Zhang Xuezhou entered the Yin-Yang Secret Land and used its abundant Spiritual Qi and pills to suppress his injuries and pursue the Divine Ability Realm. His Grain Avoidance Instruction began transforming into a Divine Ability as the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps activated above him and poured Spiritual Qi into his body.

• Zhang Xuezhou passed through a hidden stone wall and descended into the Yin-Yang Secret Land.
• Zhang Xuezhou found the secret land's rich Spiritual Qi easing his soul injuries and strengthening his cultivation.
• Zhang Xuezhou swallowed Spirit-Forging Pills and Fortune Pills while adjusting the Yin-Yang School's two Realm Techniques.
• Zhang Xuezhou advanced the Grain Avoidance Instruction into a Divine Ability and began guiding himself into the Divine Ability Realm.
• The Six Talismans of the Tai Steps lit up, rose above Zhang Xuezhou, and poured pure Spiritual Qi into him.

Zhang Xuezhou cultivated in the Yin-Yang Sacred Land and tried to enter the Divine Ability Realm as Jin Chang watched over him. When pills failed to clear Zhang Xuezhou’s blocked Heaven and Earth Bridges and his body began to swell, Jin Chang urged him to activate the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps for help.

• The Six Talismans of the Tai Steps gathered Spiritual Qi as Zhang Xuezhou cultivated, suppressing his Yang Corporeal Soul’s resistance and raising his chances of entering the Divine Ability Realm.
• Jin Chang arrived half an hour later, saw Zhang Xuezhou’s breakthrough underway, and guarded him while regretting that he had missed the fusion of the Realm Techniques.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Jin Chang for Fortune Pills because his Heaven and Earth Bridges seemed blocked, then swallowed multiple pills and an Explosive Boiling Pellet as he continued his attempt.
• Jin Chang realized Zhang Xuezhou’s Law Power was spilling out and his body was swelling, so he erased his mark from the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps.
• Jin Chang urged Zhang Xuezhou to activate the second talisman and draw on the Sacred Land’s power to clear his Heaven and Earth Bridges.

Zhang Xuezhou used the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps to harmonize the yin and yang Spiritual Qi in the hidden land, reconnect his Heaven and Earth Bridges, and break through to the Divine Ability Realm. When he tried to activate the treasure’s third talisman, a green ox at Tushita Palace accused him of stealing its fire Spiritual Qi and called for the Jade Emperor and Heavenly King Li.

• Unable to reconnect his Heaven and Earth Bridges, Zhang Xuezhou used an Explosive Boiling Pellet but found that the surging Law Power could not overcome the blockage.
• At Jin Chang’s urging, Zhang Xuezhou refined the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps with his blood and used his Fortune Technique to activate its second talisman.
• The treasure drew cold Spiritual Qi from below and warm Spiritual Qi from Tushita Palace, bringing Zhang Xuezhou’s Realm Techniques into order and joining his Heaven and Earth Bridges.
• Zhang Xuezhou completed the lesser cycle and entered the Divine Ability Realm, then tried to activate the treasure’s third talisman.
• A green ox appeared at Tushita Palace, shouted that Zhang Xuezhou was stealing the fire Spiritual Qi, and called for the Jade Emperor and Heavenly King Li, leaving Jin Chang pale with alarm.

Zhang Xuezhou used the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps to break through to the Divine Ability Realm, but their pull on the Immortal Court’s spiritual source risked exposing him and Jin Chang. Jin Chang disguised them with demon heads to divert suspicion, but Immortal Court investigators began tracing the disturbance and suspected Jin Chang.

• Zhang Xuezhou hesitated to put away the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps because he had not stabilized his new Divine Ability Realm cultivation.
• Jin Chang used a substitute-puppet spell to disguise himself and Zhang Xuezhou with demon heads, giving Zhang Xuezhou the appearance of Demon King Jiu Feng.
• Jin Chang urged Zhang Xuezhou to stabilize his cultivation and hide the Six Talismans, while Zhang Xuezhou questioned why Jin Chang had not taken the wolf head himself.
• A golden-armored general appeared below Tushita Palace and searched for the source of the spiritual drain.
• Four blue-faced great cultivators arrived, and one pointed toward Jin Chang, suspecting a great demon in the lower realm was responsible.

Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang stalled the Immortal Court by pretending to be demons and warning that their forces could destroy its secret realm. The officials grew alarmed and began consulting their leaders, buying the pair time to stabilize Zhang Xuezhou’s cultivation and escape Mount Tai.

• Jin Chang complained inwardly that a cultivator had mistaken him for the mastermind and placed a mark on his head.
• Zhang Xuezhou, impersonating Demon King Jiu Feng, told Jin Chang they would return to the Sacred Land tomorrow or the day after.
• Zhang Xuezhou claimed the Nine Spirits Primal Sage could harness the secret place’s Spiritual Qi and that the demons could make it a new home.
• Zhang Xuezhou warned that the demons could use the secret place’s formation to destroy the Immortal Court’s realm, frightening the officials at Tushita Palace.
• The golden-armored commander ordered the matter reported to the Jade Emperor and the three Heavenly Venerables, delaying the Immortal Court’s investigation.

Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang escaped the Yin-Yang Sacred Land after Zhang discovered his Dharma Form could stabilize his damaged cultivation. Outside, they argued over who should keep the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps, both wary of the tracking marks placed on it.

• Immortals watched Jin Chang and Zhang Xuezhou at Tushita Palace until an arrogant laugh announced that the king's injuries had healed, and the watchers vanished.
• Zhang removed the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps and found his cultivation leaking because his Heaven and Earth Bridges remained damaged.
• Zhang discovered that the Yang Corporeal Soul Dharma Form could replace his damaged bridges and stabilize his cultivation, so he urged Jin Chang to leave.
• Zhang and Jin Chang passed through the stone wall and removed their puppet heads, which Jin Chang said bore seven tracking marks.
• Zhang promised to obtain the Sole Self Realm cultivation teachings from his foster father for Jin Chang, who offered to share the Nine People Sect's teachings in return.
• Zhang and Jin Chang each tried to make the other keep the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps, fearing the marks that could expose the treasure's origins.

Jin Chang forced Zhang Xuezhou to take responsibility for the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps, while he set out to learn whether Zhu Jiuyin had left seclusion. Zhang Xuezhou decided to give the treasure to the new emperor in Chang'an City, and Jin Chang headed for Huainan to pursue another way to reach Zhu Jiuyin.

• Jin Chang gave Zhang Xuezhou the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps and ordered him to keep the Yin-Yang School's token safe.
• Jin Chang left to find out whether Zhu Jiuyin had emerged from seclusion, while Zhang Xuezhou considered whom he could trust with the treasure.
• Zhang Xuezhou decided the new emperor could use the Six Talismans of the Tai Steps and would be a suitable temporary keeper.
• Jin Chang secretly watched Zhang Xuezhou leave, then reasoned that the Immortal Court could not seize the Law Treasure from afar.
• Jin Chang concluded Zhu Jiuyin would not emerge without a crisis and set off for Huainan to seek another way forward.

Zhang Xuezhou returned to the Heavenly Capital Lord's dao ground and found Rong Tianding struggling to subdue two powerful Yin creatures. The Reincarnation Stone unexpectedly produced two newly born Yin Souls, which Rong Tianding captured before they could leave.

• Zhang Xuezhou entered the secret realm, learned that Rong Tianding was at the Reincarnation Stone, and flew there.
• Rong Tianding told Zhang Xuezhou that his cultivation was too weak to subdue the House Ghost and One-Horned Ghost Jin Chang had chosen for him.
• Zhang Xuezhou ordered the ghosts to gather at the daoist temple so Rong Tianding could exchange them for weaker servants.
• The Reincarnation Stone released two clumps of spiritual mist, revealing a Fox Ghost and a Wronged Ghost that had been Jin Chang's puppet heads.
• Zhang Xuezhou advised Rong Tianding to subdue the newly born Yin Souls while they were weak, and Rong Tianding sealed both in his Ghost-Nurturing Bag.

Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding left Mount Tai and flew toward Chang'an, while Jin Chang took the carriage and soon wrecked it. At the wreckage, Heavenly King Li’s pursuers found no useful leads, and he worried that growing threats could plunge the Immortal Court into crisis.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding warned the Fox Ghost and Wronged Ghost not to bully the yin creatures they were raising, then left the Yin-Yang Sacred Land at dawn.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Rong Tianding they would head to Chang'an City and later travel west to seek a fortuitous opportunity; they flew off together across the Great Han.
• Jin Chang worried that Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding might fall, then took the carriage after the horses resisted his control and crashed into a mountain gully.
• Jin Chang killed the zombie horses, set a fire, and left as pursuers later arrived at the wreckage.
• Heavenly King Li’s subordinates argued over the wreckage, while Heavenly King Li worried about the Immortal Court’s secret realm, Shen Gongbao, and the storms ahead.

Rong Tianding completed his first thousand-li flight with Zhang Xuezhou, then discussed cultivation, aging, and marriage with him while they rested by a river. Their conversation was interrupted when Daoist Randeng and Senior Brother Rulai arrived and asked Zhang Xuezhou to explain the Poison Avoidance Instruction.

• Rong Tianding flew a thousand li alongside Zhang Xuezhou after taking five Spirit-Forging Pills, and Zhang Xuezhou said they could travel farther as his cultivation improved.
• Zhang Xuezhou caught fish for the exhausted Rong Tianding, who complained about being unmarried and reflected on how cultivation made finding a lasting partner difficult.
• Zhang Xuezhou suggested Rong Tianding spend time with Yi Shuo, but Rong Tianding rejected the idea and said cultivators could only leave marriage to fate.
• Daoist Randeng and Senior Brother Rulai approached and invited Zhang Xuezhou to join the Buddhist order, then Daoist Randeng recognized him as the man who had taught the Poison Avoidance Instruction.
• Daoist Randeng asked Zhang Xuezhou to explain the Poison Avoidance Instruction again because he had not memorized it correctly and the Western Sect leaders had little time left.

Zhang Xuezhou met Daoist Randeng and Senior Brother Rulai by a river, where a spiritual red crucian carp nourished his body and acupoints. He asked Daoist Randeng to teach him the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints technique, and Rong Tianding joined the lesson after realizing Zhang had slowed down so he could learn too.

• Zhang Xuezhou noticed a tiny monkey inside Senior Brother Rulai's alms bowl and suspected it was Great Sage Water Ape.
• Daoist Randeng caught a spiritual red crucian carp and roasted it with the Netherworld Ghost Fire from his Coffin Lamp.
• Zhang Xuezhou ate the fish and felt it strengthen his body and smooth his acupoints.
• Daoist Randeng and Senior Brother Rulai offered to teach Zhang Xuezhou the physical technique and asked him to help check Rulai's Poison Avoidance Instruction.
• Rong Tianding asked to learn alongside Zhang Xuezhou and quickly joined the deliberately slow cultivation lesson.

Zhang Xuezhou used Daoist Randeng’s guidance to begin cultivating the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique for the body, then repeated his discourse on the technique to help Rulai advance the Poison Avoidance Instruction. Daoist Randeng planned to return with Rulai to the Western Aparagodaniya Continent and test Rulai against Brahma’s poison.

• Zhang Xuezhou cultivated through the night and finally tempered enough acupoints to begin the body technique, while Rong Tianding estimated how long their progress might take.
• Daoist Randeng asked Zhang Xuezhou to explain the method again so Rulai could approach twenty-four thousand acupoints in the Poison Avoidance Instruction.
• Zhang Xuezhou repeated his discourse, and Daoist Randeng and Rulai corrected their recollections as they listened.
• Zhang Xuezhou invited Daoist Randeng and Rulai to visit Chang’an City if they needed further guidance.
• Daoist Randeng said he would return to the Western Aparagodaniya Continent with Rulai after his progress stabilized, then test him against Brahma’s poison.