Arc 11Core Experiments and Three Perfected Island

Hu Mang recovered Old Chen Sheng’s treasures, joined the Mysterious Peak Sect, and used laboratory experiments to repeatedly reforge his Golden Core. His investigation of the Turbid Dragon Vein then led him through a ghost-filled passage to Three Perfected Island.

  • Hu Mang entered the Thunder Net’s hidden world, recovered Old Chen Sheng’s corpse and treasures, and learned of his preparations for Corpse Liberation.
  • Hu Mang recruited Sun Jidao for his laboratory and helped complete the Mystic Shield Sect’s cultivation software in exchange for a stake in the project.
  • Hu Mang traveled to the Central Continent, helped seal Divine Pine Mountain’s Demon Acupoint, and took the slain thousand-year-old snake’s corpse to the Zheng Family Garden.
  • Hu Mang used his Peak-Subduing Token to join the Mysterious Peak Sect, chose Ge Wen as his master, and rebuilt his cultivation with the sect’s methods.
  • Hu Mang comprehended Vajrayana, selected three sect arts, and unexpectedly formed a Golden Core after taking fifth-grade pills.
  • Hu Mang repeatedly shattered and reforged his Golden Core with Sun Jidao’s Artificial Lightning Tribulation Tower, reached the Mid Golden Core, and arranged further experiments with outlaw volunteers.
  • Hu Mang investigated the Turbid Dragon Vein with Lin Zhiying and Ao Tianhai, followed Cui Yu into the Yin-Yang Passage, and protected his companions from the Night Parade with Vajrayana.
  • Hu Mang sent Lin Zhiying and Ao Tianhai back, continued upstream alone on a Yin river, and reached Three Perfected Island, where a skeletal Daoist asked about nature and life.
Chapters 251–275 Vol. 3 Read

Ch. 251Heavenly Tribulation Register

Hu Mang discovered that Demon-Subduing City's Thunder Net concealed a hidden realm and found Old Chen Sheng's corpse there with a letter explaining his attempt at Corpse Liberation. The letter revealed that Old Chen had written his name into the Heavenly Tribulation Register to force a thunder tribulation and create a chance to become an immortal.

  • Hu Mang used his knowledge of thunder to enter the hidden world within Demon-Subduing City's Thunder Net.
  • Hu Mang found an Ascension Platform, Old Chen Sheng's corpse, a demon-subduing sword, and a coffin from the Rebirth Shrine.
  • Hu Mang read Old Chen Sheng's letter, which explained how he had used the Thunder Net, Ghost Makeup, and borrowed sword intent to prepare for Corpse Liberation as Fairy Yundu.
  • Old Chen Sheng asked Hu Mang to look after his granddaughter Chen Xiaoguo and explained the Heavenly Tribulation Register's power to increase thunder tribulations.
  • Old Chen Sheng revealed that he had written his own name in the Heavenly Tribulation Register to force a thunder tribulation and improve his chances of attaining the Dao through Corpse Liberation.

Ch. 252Kidney Harvesting

Hu Mang studied Old Chen’s legacy, learned the Heavenly Tribulation Register’s dangers and the Mysterious Peak Token’s value, and discovered that the small Ascension Platform could transport him beyond the Thunder Commandery Domain. After spending days moving supplies out of Demon-Subduing City, he met Doctor Sun at the Java airport and brought him to the Zheng Family Garden.

  • Hu Mang read the Heavenly Tribulation Register, found Chen Sheng’s name and Primordial Lady Shuangwan’s crossed-out name, and considered ways to use the treasure.
  • Hu Mang learned from Old Chen’s letter that Zhen'ezi had given him a Peak-Subduing Token that let him enter the Innate Peak-Subduing Sect without a test.
  • Hu Mang took Old Chen’s corpse for studying Corpse Liberation and photographed the lightning patterns on the small Ascension Platform.
  • Hu Mang discovered that the platform could transport major wanted criminals beyond the Thunder Commandery Domain, while the void passage was connected to the Old Man of the Void Rift.
  • Hu Mang spent several days hauling supplies from Demon-Subduing City before meeting Doctor Sun at a Java airport.
  • Hu Mang led Doctor Sun outside, where a group of armed men bowed and called Hu Mang their brother, alarming Doctor Sun.

Ch. 253Overseas Laboratory

Hu Mang persuaded Sun Jidao to establish an overseas laboratory in Java to study the Human Immortal Lightning Puppet, then prepared a research facility while learning how difficult independent Golden Core formation was. After Eighth Master Hui assigned him to investigate the Sea Dragon Vein, Hu Mang opened the box containing Old Man Min’s weakened soul and considered using a Three Yin Life and Death Talisman.

  • Sun Jidao examined the Human Immortal Lightning Puppet’s arm and agreed to resign from the Heavenly Gate, recruit researchers, and bring equipment to Java for Hu Mang’s laboratory.
  • Hu Mang arranged construction of a research building in the Zheng Family Garden and continued scavenging materials from Demon-Subduing City.
  • Old Xie developed a core-formation method requiring Hu Mang to unite Buddha-Devil Evolution with Daoist true essence, and Eighth Master Hui explained how institutions helped cultivators form top-grade Golden Cores.
  • Eighth Master Hui asked Hu Mang to investigate the Yin Qi of the Sea Dragon Vein as a field assignment.
  • Hu Mang opened the box containing Old Man Min’s soul and spirit, then took out a Three Yin Life and Death Talisman in case the old man’s memories remained intact.

Ch. 254Demonic Nature Grass

Hu Mang recovered the Blood Shadow Divine Art, obtained Demonic Nature Grass seeds, and learned more about the Seven Absolutes Devil Meridians. He ignored Zheng Qingyuan’s invitation and went to Demon-Subduing City to plant the grass, leaving Zheng Qingyuan waiting in Java.

  • Elder Min recovered memories about the Sea Dragon Vein and revealed that his three disciples had been entrusted with parts of the cult secret, though their fate remained unknown.
  • Hu Mang gave Elder Min the Flesh and Blood Golden Core, and Elder Min explained its connection to the Blood Shadow Divine Art and blood-devil cultivation.
  • Hu Mang collected three chests of Demonic Nature Grass seeds from Sun Youcai, who explained the Seven Absolutes Devil Meridians and their risks.
  • Hu Mang told Sun Youcai that he had unsealed Cauldron Boiling and Unraveled Rope, then regretted revealing the information when Sun Youcai became more enthusiastic.
  • Hu Mang threw away Zheng Qingyuan’s invitation and left to plant the Demonic Nature Grass in Demon-Subduing City, while Zheng Qingyuan waited for him in a restaurant in Java.

Ch. 255The Foundational Buddha Realm

Master Bao revealed his boar-like yao nature while allying with Zheng Qingyuan, and Hu Mang prepared for the next stage of his cultivation. After returning to the Mystic Shield Sect, Hu Mang entered a richly detailed virtual Buddha realm to begin demonstrating his abilities.

  • Master Bao met Zheng Qingyuan and Feng Haixiao, transformed with boar-like features, and promised not to eat his eldest nephew’s share.
  • Hu Mang checked the rapidly growing demonic grass at Demon-Subduing City and considered preparing carefully before unsealing his fourth devil meridian.
  • Hu Mang returned from overseas and met Sister Yu and Huang Liang at the Mystic Shield Sect after learning Wang Zeyu was away on business.
  • Hu Mang, Sister Yu, and Huang Liang donned safety equipment and signed a Dao covenant before connecting to the cultivation software.
  • Hu Mang entered a lifelike virtual Buddha realm, where Huang Liang explained that the team had modified its foundational architecture to help him work.

Ch. 256Cultivation Method Consultant

Hu Mang activated the cultivation program by transforming the Buddhist kingdom with the Yugi Sutra, while Sister Yu destroyed an evil Buddha that emerged from the process. After a day and night, Hu Mang completed the method, and he signed a contract with the Mystic Shield Sect as a cultivation method consultant.

  • Hu Mang recited the Yugi Sutra from the Buddha's throne and began transforming the Buddhist kingdom's innate hindrances into Wisdom King Aizen.
  • Huang Liang confronted his guilt about cross-dressing, broke through to the Golden Core Late Stage, and resolved to dress his future Nascent Soul in women's clothes.
  • Sister Yu expelled the evil Buddha from Wisdom King Aizen and destroyed it with the Mystic Shield Sect's firewall data.
  • After a day and night, Hu Mang completed the cultivation method, and Huang Liang thanked him for his guidance.
  • Hu Mang signed a Dao contract with the Mystic Shield Sect for a 10% stake in the lust-abstinence software project and became its cultivation method consultant.

Ch. 257Wangsong County

After leaving the Heavenly Gate, Hu Mang crossed the Thunder Net and arrived in the Central Continent, where he reached Wangsong County in search of a Spirit Path. He learned that the county drew powerful cultivators with a recurring Rainbow Path, an old land-god temple, and a mountain said to bear the mark of a great sword strike.

  • Huang Liang explained that the Demonic Net used dangerous first-generation soul-networking technology, and offered Hu Mang protection if he went online.
  • Hu Mang visited his hometown, then returned overseas and used the Ascension Platform to enter the Central Continent.
  • Hu Mang found himself in a wilderness rich with Spiritual Qi and sensed dangerous demonic creatures throughout the mountains.
  • Using his spiritual power detector, Hu Mang traveled to Wangsong County, where he found many cultivators gathered despite the town's low Spiritual Qi.
  • Hu Mang paid a waiter to explain Wangsong County's history and three treasures: the Rainbow Path, the land-god temple, and Divine Pine Mountain, which had been split by a great Divine Ability user.

Ch. 258Wu Hun

Hu Mang explored a county town on the way to the Liang Kingdom, learned about its cultivation customs and the Mysterious Peak Sect’s mountain-work, then met Jiang Mingshan and Wu Hun while trying to observe sword intent from the town wall. The story left Hu Mang curious about the local sects and Wu Hun’s plans to take an examination.

  • Hu Mang questioned a waiter about the Rainbow Path, declined an expensive room, and explored the town’s Spirit Stone economy, cultivators, and martial arts schools.
  • Hu Mang avoided visiting the Land God and used his status as a Two Flowers True Person to persuade the gate guards to let him onto the town wall.
  • After observing Divine Pine Mountain through Unity of Heaven and Man and the Heavenly Devil Field without detecting sword intent, Hu Mang met Jiang Mingshan, who explained that the Mysterious Peak Sect’s Dharma lineage repaired and guarded mountains and waterways.
  • Jiang Mingshan revealed his interest in joining the Divine Sword Sect, and Hu Mang sensed that his sword intent was nearly as strong as Gu Yunshu’s.
  • Wu Hun introduced himself, then left after a guard summoned him to the county magistrate; a gate guard explained that Wu Hun was the town’s chief instructor and planned to try the sect examinations.

Ch. 259Beast Tide

Hu Mang learned that the beast tide was a ploy by a thousand-year great demon to break its seal, while the Divine Sword Sect used the crisis to send disciples to retrieve a sealing treasure. As the tide reached Wangsong County, County Magistrate Hu activated the city-protecting formation.

  • Jiang Mingshan and Hu Mang learned that Head Instructor Wu hoped to join the Mysterious Peak Sect, then County Magistrate Hu summoned them and the other Rogue Cultivators.
  • County Magistrate Hu revealed that he was a fox spirit of the Divine Tail Fox lineage, recognized Hu Mang’s Crimson Moon Fox bloodline, and gave him a secret method to awaken it.
  • County Magistrate Hu told Hu Mang that the supposed Divine Sword Sect test concealed a mission to subdue the thousand-year great demon sealed in Divine Pine Mountain Range.
  • County Magistrate Hu asked Hu Mang for a favor as the beast tide approached Wangsong County.
  • County Magistrate Hu completed a formation that spread golden light across the city walls as the beast tide arrived.

Ch. 260Mountain-Sealing Talisman

Jiang Mingshan and the county defenders fought off the beast tide while Hu Mang watched from the outskirts, then entered the thousand-year-old monster’s cave after two sword cultivators killed it. Hu Mang recovered the snake’s corpse and used the Land God’s Mountain-Sealing Talisman to restore the mountain, ending the beast tide.

  • Jiang Mingshan killed more than a dozen Demon Beasts with his sword intent as Wu Hun and the county soldiers charged into the tide.
  • Hu Mang learned that he had been sent to seal the thousand-year-old monster’s Demon Acupoint and used his demon fox form to pass unnoticed among the beasts.
  • Hu Mang heard the sword hum, saw two streaks of sword light vanish, and found the thousand-year-old snake dead in its cave with its head severed.
  • Hu Mang dragged the giant snake’s corpse through the fragment to store beneath the Zheng Family Garden.
  • Hu Mang activated the Mountain-Sealing Talisman, restoring the land and plants as the beast roars ceased across the surrounding peaks.

Ch. 261Before the Mountain Gate

Hu Mang returned to Wangsong County after the beast tide and prepared a research site at the Zheng Family Garden, where he pursued his plans for ghostly cultivation and a Private Dragon. After traveling through the newly activated spirit path, he reached the Mysterious Peak Sect and met Wu Hun and Jiang Mingshan among the waiting Rogue Cultivators.

  • Hu Mang returned to Wangsong County and learned that Ling Yan and Chu Yue had taken the other Rogue Cultivators to the Divine Sword Sect, while he had to wait for the spirit path to activate.
  • Zhao Tiezhu brought Golden Core civil engineers to build a research building at the Zheng Family Garden, and Hu Mang powered its formation with Spirit Stones.
  • Hu Mang obtained Liu Manqing's inherited Private Dragon method and Soul-Binding Willow seeds, then buried the thousand-year-old snake yao's corpse in the garden to nurture a Snake Vein.
  • When the spirit path opened, Hu Mang crossed its rainbow passage from Wangsong County to the Heavenly Gate.
  • Seven days later, Hu Mang waited outside the Mysterious Peak Sect with other Rogue Cultivators and reunited with Wu Hun, who had failed the Divine Sword Sect's first assessment round.
  • Jiang Mingshan arrived exhausted after flying across the Liang Kingdom for three days and nights.

Ch. 262Joining the Sect

Hu Mang used his Peak-Subduing Token to join the Mysterious Peak Sect directly, while Jiang Mingshan and Wu Hun had to take the entrance assessment. Zhou Yimu brought Hu Mang and two other recruits to Entering River Peak and explained the sect’s Three Mountains and Five Peaks lineages.

  • The Mysterious Peak Sect’s mountain gate appeared, and two Daoists began checking the Rogue Cultivators’ qualifications and special abilities.
  • Jiang Mingshan’s One-Line Sword Physique was rejected because the sect lacked a sword inheritance, while Wu Hun’s self-created body-training method drew interest but his Spirit Roots disappointed the Daoist.
  • Hu Mang presented his Peak-Subduing Token, which the disciples verified, allowing him to join without an assessment and enter the Three Mountains and Five Peaks Dharma Lineage.
  • Zhou Yimu led Hu Mang, a little girl with earth or wood aptitude, and a farmwoman blessed by the Child-Giving Goddess toward Entering River Peak as Jiang Mingshan and Wu Hun watched Hu Mang leave ahead of them.
  • Zhou Yimu explained the sect’s lineages, their overlapping areas of study, and how disciples could transfer between the Five Peaks and the Three Mountains.

Ch. 263The Golden Age of Earth and Wood

Hu Mang and the others reached the Mysterious Peak Sect, where the Hundred Mountains Steps revealed their talents and tested their abilities. The elders arranged Xu Nuoning and Sui Gu’s discipleships, while Hu Mang was offered a choice among the sect’s lineages.

  • Zhou Yimu led Hu Mang, Xu Nuoning, and Sui Gu across shifting mountain paths to Entering Rivers Mountain and the Hundred Mountains Steps.
  • Xu Nuoning’s green light carried her over the steps, and the elders assigned her to a female True Person at Pure Water Cliff.
  • Sui Gu’s divine gift proved unsuited to the test, so the elders also placed her at Pure Water Cliff to learn pill refinement and cultivate plants.
  • Hu Mang climbed the steps as his earth and wood Qi evolved toward innate Qi, prompting elders from Li Flame Mountain, Great White Peak, and Yellow Court Mountain to argue over recruiting him.
  • The white-haired elder invoked Hu Mang’s Mysterious Peak Token, which allowed him to choose a lineage, and later explained that his aptitude could earn him a place among the Five Peaks or even the Three Mountains.

Ch. 264True Explanation of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks

Hu Mang joined Ge Wen’s Spring Thunder Ridge lineage and rebuilt his cultivation using the Mysterious Peak Sect’s method, removing the demonic Qi that could expose him. After completing the transition in a month, he prepared to visit the scripture repository and was stopped by someone on the ridge.

  • Hu Mang chose Ge Wen as his master, and Ge Wen took him to Spring Thunder Ridge while the other elders questioned the choice.
  • Ge Wen noticed Hu Mang’s Buddhist cultivation, but accepted three jars of wine and dropped his questions about Hu Mang’s past.
  • Hu Mang dispersed his demonic cultivation and rebuilt his Essence and Qi Flowers with the Lesser Explanation of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, while Wisdom King Aizen devoured his demonic power.
  • Hu Mang completed the transition in a month, gaining Gen Peak Sinking Earth True Qi and Mysterious Rock Peak-Subduing True Qi.
  • Hu Mang admired Spring Thunder Ridge’s spiritual rain and prepared to visit the scripture repository before someone called him to wait.

Ch. 265Vajrayana

Hu Mang tested his newly restored cultivation against Chunwuzi and then entered the purple bamboo grove, where he unexpectedly comprehended Vajrayana. Ge Wen and a Buddhist nun watched him leave for the Scripture Pavilion, astonished by his strong Buddhist nature.

  • Chunwuzi questioned whether Hu Mang had finished rebuilding his foundation and offered to test him in combat instead of cleansing his meridians.
  • Hu Mang merged Mystic Peak True Qi with Spring Thunder Ridge and struck Chunwuzi’s Ziwu Seal with a powerful heaven-and-earth transformation.
  • Chunwuzi praised Hu Mang’s display and recommended three essential sect arts, but Hu Mang hurried away to avoid his attentive senior brother.
  • In the purple bamboo grove, Hu Mang entered a tranquil state, manifested his Buddhist form, and naturally comprehended the protective Divine Ability Vajrayana.
  • A hidden woman directed Hu Mang toward the Scripture Pavilion, and Ge Wen and the Buddhist nun revealed that her hint had led him to comprehend Vajrayana.

Ch. 266Primordial Spirit Condensed into an Infant

Hu Mang explored Spring Thunder Ridge’s scripture repository, chose three cultivation methods suited to his earth and wood Spirit Roots, and learned that the Nascent Soul was a shortcut to ascension rather than a realm. The chapter ended with him questioning whether Nascent Soul cultivators ranked below Corpse Liberation Immortals.

  • Hu Mang realized that his meditation in the purple bamboo grove had led him to comprehend an Emptiness Realm Buddhist technique, possibly through Abbess Hengyue’s guidance.
  • Hu Mang found multiple annotated versions of the same cultivation methods in the scripture repository and discovered that Old Daoist Ge had written a commentary on one of them.
  • Hu Mang chose Wang Tianyang’s version of the Five Sacred Mountains Bearing Gang Method and Abbess Hengyue’s version of the Divine Light of Condensing Peaks, along with the Immortal Scripture of Locking Rivers.
  • Chunwuzi approved Hu Mang’s three choices, and Hu Mang surprised him by saying he wanted to learn alchemy.
  • Hu Mang read that cultivators condensed their Primordial Spirit into a Nascent Soul to ascend early and evade mortal tribulations temporarily, but that the choice damaged their orthodox path and carried the tribulations forward.

Ch. 267The Great Acquired Medicine

Hu Mang investigated how the Azure Mysterious Realm and Heavenly Gate cultivation systems might have diverged, then was confined to cultivate the Three Flowers before he could study pill refinement. After taking his senior brother’s potent pills in seclusion, he nearly formed a Golden Core and had to force the process to stop.

  • Hu Mang compared the Nascent Soul and Golden Core traditions of the two worlds and conjectured that Heavenly Gate’s cultivation framework descended from a modified system passed down by High Antiquity immortals.
  • Hu Mang tried to visit Pure Water Cliff to watch Golden Core refinement, but Ge Wen and Chunwuzi stopped him and required him to cultivate the Three Flowers and complete his initiation assignment first.
  • Hu Mang’s eldest senior brother gave him fifth-grade pills, while Chunwuzi confined him near Spring Thunder Ridge and forbade him from asking about pill refinement until he advanced.
  • Hu Mang entered seclusion to cultivate the Three Flowers, and Ge Wen and Chunwuzi mistook the thunderous manifestations around the chamber for signs that his Law Power was advancing.
  • Three days later, the pills’ potency nearly caused Hu Mang to form a high-grade Golden Core before he had reached the Three Flowers, so he forcibly halted the process and found a little golden sphere of Golden Nature in his palm.

Ch. 268Artificial Core Formation (5,000 words)

Hu Mang formed a high-quality Golden Core and discovered he could spit it out and form it again, then returned to Earth Star to test core formation with an Artificial Lightning Tribulation Tower. Sun Jidao watched in shock as Hu Mang shattered his core and asked to try again, this time forming it outside his body.

  • Hu Mang swallowed the nascent Golden Core, completed core formation, and found that his Golden Core could leave his body without harming his foundation.
  • Hu Mang tested Buddha-Devil Transformation, found its efficiency had fallen, and decided to try forming a perfect core with an Artificial Lightning Tribulation Tower.
  • Hu Mang teleported to the Zheng Family Garden, where Sun Jidao and his assistant prepared the tower for his experiment.
  • Hu Mang spat his Golden Core into the artificial thunderclouds and began forming a new core, stunning Sun Jidao as the tower rumbled.
  • Hu Mang asked Sun Jidao to run the experiment again so he could try forming the core outside his body, and Sun Jidao rushed upstairs to respond.

Ch. 269Repeated Core Formation

Hu Mang worked with Sun Jidao’s research team to study his external Golden Core and test whether repeatedly shattering and reforming it could strengthen his cultivation. After more than a dozen days of experiments, Hu Mang’s Divine Sense reached Golden Core Great Perfection, and he broke through to the Mid Golden Core.

  • Hu Mang cooperated with Sun Jidao’s team as they tested the range and abilities of his external Golden Core, discovering that it became dangerous when separated from him by more than a hundred meters.
  • Sun Jidao’s measurements showed that Hu Mang’s Law Power had risen from thirty times to thirty-three times a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator’s level after he shattered and reforged his core.
  • Hu Mang and the research team began repeated core-formation experiments, gathering materials, supplements, and electricity while recording each result.
  • Dark clouds and lightning over the Zheng Family Garden fueled rumors that a miracle or a flood dragon’s tribulation was taking place there.
  • Hu Mang’s repeated core formation advanced his Divine Sense to Golden Core Great Perfection and transformed his body as his Law Power increased.
  • Hu Mang broke through from the Golden Core Early Stage to the Mid Golden Core inside the Artificial Lightning Tribulation Tower.

Ch. 270Martial Hall Master's Invitation

Hu Mang learned that his Golden Core experiments could lead to major research and business opportunities, and he organized a plan to commercialize the findings. Under the Martial Hall Master's discreet arrangements, outlaw cultivators began arriving at the Zheng Family Garden to serve as test subjects for Golden Core modifications.

  • Sun Jidao and Wu Cai concluded that Hu Mang's breakthrough confirmed their research could transform Golden Core treatment and customization.
  • Hu Mang learned that his magic power had increased eighty-threefold from Foundation Establishment, though his earlier level had fallen short of perfect core formation.
  • After confirming the existence of an Innate Dao Opportunity, Hu Mang discussed how to profit from the research with Sun Jidao and Wu Cai.
  • Hu Mang, Sun Jidao, and Wu Cai agreed that Wu Cai would handle data and patents while Sun Jidao arranged cultivator modifications using outlaw test subjects.
  • Outlaws including Basong and Naimi entered the Zheng Family Garden basement, followed by familiar faces such as Fatty Liu, Zhou Shenzhi, and Xiao Wu.

Ch. 271Underworld Bureau Mission (7K)

Hu Mang recruited powerful fighters for Elder Min’s Core Formation experiments, then set out on his ghost ship to investigate the overseas Yin Dragon Vein at the Underworld Bureau’s request. He arrived at a militarized artificial island, where Major Lin ordered the Demon-Subduing Missile lock released so she could meet him.

  • Hu Mang revealed a giant snake’s overwhelming presence to the gathered desperadoes, then negotiated their cooperation with Elder Min’s experiments in exchange for a chance at a Golden Core.
  • After completing Core Formation and reaching Core Formation Middle Stage, Hu Mang accepted Major Lin’s request to inspect the Turbid Dragon’s Yin Vein and Eighth Master Hui’s paid task to examine the Ghost Dragon.
  • Hu Mang decided to use the Heavenly Gate military’s resources to search for Old Man Min’s disciples while also gathering provisions for his ghost ship.
  • Hu Mang inspected the improved ghost ship at a private Zheng Family Garden dock, then submerged it in dark seawater and set sail.
  • At the militarized artificial island, Major Lin received a report of a foreign Golden Core cultivator, recognized Hu Mang’s arrival, and ordered the Demon-Subduing Missile lock released.

Ch. 272Netherworld Oil (Part 2)

Hu Mang joined Lin Zhiying and Ao Tianhai to investigate the Turbid Dragon Vein, learning that the Heavenly Gate had extracted Turbid Oil beneath the seabed and developed facilities around it. The chapter ended with Ao Tianhai transforming into a half-dragon and tearing open space to create a passage.

  • Hu Mang met Lin Zhiying and learned that the Heavenly Gate's seabed defenses and integrated combat system had become even more powerful.
  • Lin Zhiying showed Hu Mang the pipelines extracting Turbid Qi and Turbid Oil, which the Heavenly Gate called Netherworld Oil and hoped to develop with spiritual enterprises.
  • Lin Zhiying and Hu Mang visited an aquaculture zone, where they met Ao Tianhai among spirit fish, sea monsters, and a dark-red Dragon Blood coral.
  • Hu Mang, Lin Zhiying, and Ao Tianhai traveled to a remote stretch of seabed to investigate the Turbid Dragon Vein.
  • Ao Tianhai transformed into a half-dragon with Nascent Soul-level power and tore open space with his claw.

Ch. 273Cui Yu?

Hu Mang, Lin Zhiying, and Ao Tianhai entered the Turbid Dragon’s corpse with Cui Yu, an ancient Underworld Bureau inspector, to investigate the Dragon Vein. Cui Yu went ahead to inspect the depths, warning that a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons would emerge, and Hu Mang prepared to hold it off as the passage began filling with ghostly manifestations.

  • Hu Mang opened the Yin-Yang Passage in the Turbid Dragon’s corpse and summoned Cui Yu, an Underworld Bureau inspector who revealed he was the elder brother of Hu Mang’s acquaintance.
  • Cui Yu led Hu Mang, Lin Zhiying, and Ao Tianhai into the passage, where extreme shifts between Yin and Yang Qi weakened Ao Tianhai and pushed Lin Zhiying toward her limit.
  • Cui Yu warned Hu Mang that he would go deeper and that a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons might emerge, then vanished ahead of them.
  • Hu Mang explained that the phenomenon was guided by powerful ghost kings and planted his ghost-suppressing spear, telling Lin Zhiying and Ao Tianhai to buy him five minutes.
  • The passage began to churn as a chorus of ghostly sounds swelled, while black liquid seeped from the walls and formed distorted faces in the air.

Ch. 274Form Is No Different from Emptiness

Ao Tianhai and Lin Zhiying fought the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons as the ghosts grew stronger and overwhelmed the passage. Hu Mang revealed the Buddhist Dharma of the Emptiness Realm, allowing them to pass through him and his golden light as the chapter ended.

  • Footprints drained Lin Zhiying's Law Power, while Ao Tianhai's Dragon Qi drove him to Nascent Soul level and he charged into the ghost tide.
  • Lin Zhiying injected herself to unleash her killing intent as increasingly powerful ghosts attacked her.
  • Ao Tianhai destroyed a thousand-year ghost king, but three more began forming, and he warned that they had to escape before the Night Parade took shape again.
  • Lin Zhiying chose to wait thirty more seconds, but Hu Mang opened his eyes and said he was ready.
  • Hu Mang's golden Buddha light let the ghost king's claw and the surrounding ghosts and ghost Qi pass through him, while similar light appeared around Lin Zhiying.
  • Hu Mang identified his technique as the Buddhist Dharma of the Emptiness Realm and claimed it came from the Saha Continent.

Ch. 275Three Perfected Island

Hu Mang used his Vajrayana and Yellow Springs Water-Parting Saber to send Lin Zhiying and Ao Tianhai out of the Turbid Dragon’s corpse, then followed the Yin river deeper inside to search for Old Cui. He reached the island he recognized as Three Perfected Island, where its former splendor gave way to ruin and a skeletal Daoist addressed him.

  • Hu Mang told Lin Zhiying and Ao Tianhai that his Vajrayana could protect them but could not move while active, and explained that his Emptiness Realm Buddhist art could continue indefinitely.
  • After Ao Tianhai described how the liquefied Turbid Qi and Yin Qi had stopped his earlier exploration, Hu Mang decided to take the two out and continue alone to look for Old Cui.
  • Hu Mang used the Yellow Springs Water-Parting Saber to summon a Yin river that carried Lin Zhiying and Ao Tianhai back to the seabed near the artificial immortal island.
  • Hu Mang reversed the Yin river’s flow and rode upstream on a small boat formed from the ghost ship’s consciousness.
  • Hu Mang arrived at an island whose vision shifted from a thriving immortal landscape to a decaying ruin, recognized it as Three Perfected Island, and saw a skeletal Daoist ask, “May I hear of nature and life?”
Arc 11 of 14
Arc 11 of 14