Chapter Summaries

Sang Ying learned that Liu Yuzhi had claimed public credit for killing the Cold Crow Devil Lord, while someone secretly pressured him to produce the devil lord’s belongings. In White Foothill City, a veiled young woman learned that the girls of Listening Willow Village had been cured and demanded to know who had done it.

• Sang Ying realized that cultivators were spreading rumors against her to curry favor with Su Fuyun, and she took note of the Heaven's Chosen Ranking.
• Nan Gurong asked Sang Ying whether Liu Yuzhi had really killed the Cold Crow Devil Lord, but a crowd gathered to celebrate Liu Yuzhi before Sang Ying could answer.
• Sang Ying watched Liu Yuzhi from afar and silently vowed that there would be time to settle matters with him.
• Liu Yuzhi worried that his fellow disciples would reveal their role in killing the already-wounded Cold Crow Devil Lord, while threatening letters demanded the devil lord’s belongings and corpse.
• A veiled young woman whipped a maidservant and demanded that her father cure her face after the Cold Crow Devil Lord failed to help her.
• The steward told the young woman that the girls from Listening Willow Village had recovered and that her father was investigating who had cured them.

Sang Ying was captured after following Nan Gurong’s masked abductor to a secluded residence and was imprisoned in a Spiritual Qi-blocking cell. As she spoke with a fellow prisoner, Nan Gurong was brought before the person behind the abductions and recognized him as White Foothill City’s city lord.

• Sang Ying witnessed Nan Gurong being abducted, alerted Elder Chanyi and other Plain Robe Pavilion disciples, then followed the abductor to a residence in White Foothill City.
• A second masked cultivator captured Sang Ying, and she woke imprisoned with her belongings taken except for the concealed brocade pouch holding the Realm Pearl and Ice Spirit Crystals.
• Sang Ying searched her cell and learned from a man in the neighboring cell that two Nascent Soul Realm cultivators guarded the dungeon entrance.
• Nan Gurong was brought before the masked group’s master and recognized him as the city lord of White Foothill City.

Nan Gurong was imprisoned by the lord of White Foothill City, who demanded her Pill Formula and ordered her to treat his daughter. The steward threatened her with Sang Ying’s safety, while Sang Ying discovered that Liu Yuzhi had been jailed alongside a mysterious black-clad man.

• The lord of White Foothill City questioned Nan Gurong about curing the women of Listening Willow Village and demanded that she hand over the Pill Formula.
• The lord ordered his steward to take Nan Gurong to the Cold Crow Devil Lord’s former courtyard and make her treat his daughter.
• The steward offered Nan Gurong the courtyard’s Spirit Plants, then threatened Sang Ying to pressure her into surrendering the formula.
• Nan Gurong warned the steward that his young lady would remain sick if he harmed Sang Ying, and the guards locked Nan Gurong in the courtyard.
• Sang Ying watched Liu Yuzhi protest that he had not taken what the city lord wanted, while a black-clad man in the neighboring cell recognized Sang Ying and anticipated trouble at the residence.

Sang Ying escaped the dungeon during a fire at the City Lord's Manor and found Nan Gurong, who was still in danger. With flames closing in around them, Sang Ying agreed to risk entering a tunnel Nan Gurong had discovered.

• Sang Ying found a key left by the mysterious man in black, but a young cultivator broke open the dungeon ceiling and helped her escape.
• Sang Ying recovered her belongings and spirit sword, then went deeper into the manor to search for Nan Gurong instead of fleeing.
• Sang Ying overpowered a guard and forced him to reveal Nan Gurong's location.
• Sang Ying reached Nan Gurong's courtyard, freed her shackles, and gathered the Spirit Plants and spirit medicines as the fire spread.
• Nan Gurong told Sang Ying about a tunnel in the courtyard, and Sang Ying agreed to enter it with her to escape the flames.

Sang Ying and Nan Gurong discovered an underground palace beneath the City Lord's Manor and overheard Luo Fengyuan conspiring with a mysterious man. They found evidence that Luo Fengyuan had handed Listening Willow Village's people to the Red Snake Tribe, and the chapter ended with them seeing countless wounded captives in cages.

• Sang Ying and Nan Gurong followed a hidden tunnel beneath the bed and overheard Luo Fengyuan arguing with a soft-voiced man about intruders, medicine people, and the search for their young master.
• Luo Fengyuan and the man returned to check the tunnel, but Sang Ying and Nan Gurong stayed hidden until they left again.
• Sang Ying opened a concealed stone door, and she and Nan Gurong entered a brightly lit underground palace filled with books and Jade Slips.
• Sang Ying opened another door and found a chamber filled with cries of pain and the stench of blood.
• Sang Ying read a Jade Slip bearing Luo Fengyuan's confession that he had given the people of Listening Willow Village to the Red Snake Tribe, then saw wounded captives locked in cages.

Sang Ying and Nan Gurong tried to escape Luo Fengyuan’s underground palace with evidence of his crimes, but Luo Fengyuan and a snake-like Demon Cultivator caught up with them. Just as Nan Gurong was about to be struck, Si Jing intervened, and the confrontation continued with Sang Ying and Nan Gurong behind him.

• Sang Ying and Nan Gurong gathered evidence from the underground chamber and fled toward the moat, hoping to expose Luo Fengyuan’s dealings with the Demon Race and his experiments on mortals.
• Luo Fengyuan and the Demon Cultivator intercepted the pair and attacked, with the Demon Cultivator targeting Sang Ying and Luo Fengyuan striking at Nan Gurong with his whip.
• Si Jing seized Luo Fengyuan’s whip before it hit Nan Gurong, then mocked the city lord for proposing that he marry his daughter.
• Sang Ying retreated behind Si Jing with Nan Gurong as Si Jing insulted the Demon Cultivator and faced both enemies.

Sang Ying and Nan Gurong fled the underground palace while Si Jing and his allies fought Luo Fengyuan and the Demon Cultivator. As the palace began collapsing and the river burst through its walls, Sang Ying used Nan Gurong’s Spiritual Qi to freeze the flood with Thousand-Mile Ice Seal.

• A hidden ally severed the Demon Cultivator’s tail, and Si Jing accused Luo Fengyuan of colluding with demons and testing medicine on mortals.
• Luo Fengyuan admitted he had betrayed humanity to obtain a Spirit Root for his daughter, while Si Jing and his companion engaged him and the Demon Cultivator.
• Following Si Jing’s instructions, Sang Ying led Nan Gurong away and explained that the fight could collapse the palace and flood White Foothill City; Si Jing had arranged for the captive mortals to be rescued.
• Sang Ying asked Nan Gurong to lend her Spiritual Qi so she could stop the river, and Nan Gurong agreed.
• When the river broke through the wall, Sang Ying unleashed Thousand-Mile Ice Seal and froze the rushing water.

After the destruction of the city lord's residence, Si Jing exposed Luo Fengyuan's alliance with the Scarlet Snake Clan and his crimes against mortals, including the people of Listening Willow Village. A Demon Cultivator tried to detonate his inner core, but Luo Fengyuan sacrificed himself to stop the blast, and torrential rain fell over White Foothill City.

• Tremors, frost, and snow spread through White Foothill City as the city lord's residence collapsed and Si Jing, Sang Ying, Nan Gurong, and two injured men emerged from the ruins.
• Si Jing accused Luo Fengyuan of working with the Demon Cultivator and keeping mortals imprisoned in an underground palace.
• Luo Fengyuan denied the charges, but Si Jing showed the crowd booklets and a contract bearing the city lord's seal that proved his crimes and his role in the abductions from Listening Willow Village.
• The Demon Cultivator threatened humanity and tried to detonate his inner core, but Luo Fengyuan held him and absorbed the blast, dying to protect the city.
• Si Jing covered Sang Ying's eyes as rain poured over White Foothill City.

After the disaster in White Foothill City, Sang Ying and the Plain Robe Pavilion departed as the city came under the Facing Heaven Sect’s care. Meanwhile, Luo Min fled with a pill that could grant Spirit Roots and vowed to return for revenge.

• Si Jing told Sang Ying that he had come to obtain spirit medicine from Luo Fengyuan’s treasury, and that he and his friend had rescued her and the villagers before leaving White Foothill City.
• White Foothill City’s cultivators chose to hand the city over to the Facing Heaven Sect, which also promised to care for Listening Willow Village and arrange treatment for its people.
• Sang Ying saw Si Jing off, then boarded the Plain Robe Pavilion’s flying boat with Nan Gurong and the others.
• As the boat departed, Sang Ying saw Liu Yuzhi being carried out gravely injured, while Gu Shu mocked him for having stolen Sang Ying’s credit.
• Luo Min watched White Foothill City from the city gate, clutched the last pill capable of giving a person Spirit Roots, and vowed to avenge her father and reclaim the city.

Sang Ying arrived at the Plain Robe Pavilion with Nan Gurong and met Nan Gurong’s master, Sect Leader Meng, who recognized Sang Ying as the daughter of Wen Miaoshu and Sang Zheng. Sect Leader Meng revealed that she had known Sang Ying’s mother before Sang Ying’s father and that her parents left the Flowing Light Sword Sect seeking medicine for her, but never returned.

• Nan Gurong welcomed Sang Ying to the Plain Robe Pavilion and explained that its founder built the sect at the mountain’s foot so mortals could reach its healers.
• Nan Gurong introduced Sang Ying to her master, Sect Leader Meng, who affectionately scolded Nan Gurong for getting involved in Luo Fengyuan’s affairs.
• Sect Leader Meng examined Sang Ying’s injuries and Spirit Root, then recognized her name and resemblance to Wen Miaoshu.
• Sect Leader Meng confirmed that Wen Miaoshu was Sang Ying’s mother and revealed that she had known her before Sang Zheng did.
• Sect Leader Meng told Sang Ying that her parents had left the Flowing Light Sword Sect to seek medicine for her and never returned.

Sang Ying learned that her parents had entered the Vast Sea Secret Realm seeking a Thousand-Year Ice Lotus for her, despite there being no Ice Lotuses there, and suspected someone had deceived them. As she resolved to uncover the truth, Nan Gurong revealed a pill inheritance that might help repair Sang Ying’s Spirit Root.

• Sect Leader Meng told Sang Ying that her parents went to the Vast Sea Secret Realm after receiving information about a Thousand-Year Ice Lotus that could suppress Sang Ying’s cold poison.
• Sang Ying recalled that the Complete Spirit Plant Book showed no Ice Lotuses in the Vast Sea Secret Realm and suspected someone in the Flowing Light Sword Sect had deliberately misled her parents.
• Nan Gurong settled Sang Ying in a quiet courtyard, where Sang Ying decided to uncover what had happened to her parents.
• Sect Leader Meng told Nan Gurong that Sang Ying’s unusually pure Ice Spirit Root caused her cold poison and could become increasingly difficult to treat as she cultivated.
• Nan Gurong told Sect Leader Meng that she had received a pill inheritance and Pill Formulas that might contain a way to repair Sang Ying’s Spirit Root.

Su Fuyun traveled toward White Foothill City with Zhao Yunhe, who grew closer to her while neglecting his junior sister Gu Hongyi. In an inn, they heard that Sang Ying and Nan Gurong had helped expose the former city lord’s crimes, leaving Su Fuyun distressed by Sang Ying’s acclaim.

• Zhao Yunhe gave Su Fuyun pastries and reassured her as they traveled together toward White Foothill City to look for Sang Ying.
• Zhao Yunhe criticized Sang Ying, and Gu Hongyi argued with him for favoring Su Fuyun before running off after he threatened to send her back to the sect.
• Su Fuyun encouraged Zhao Yunhe to offer her the same closeness he gave Gu Hongyi, and she began calling him Brother Yunhe.
• At the inn, Su Fuyun and Zhao Yunhe overheard people say White Foothill City had come under the Facing Heaven Sect after its former lord’s crimes were exposed.
• The crowd praised Sang Ying and Nan Gurong for helping save people, and Su Fuyun felt distressed that Sang Ying was receiving acclaim again.

Sect Leader Meng and Nan Gurong found a way to restore Sang Ying’s Spirit Root with a Frost Return Pill, but the Thousand-Year Ice Lotus they needed had already been given to Gu Huaiwei. Sang Ying revealed that she had an even rarer Ice Lotus and another to spare, leaving Sect Leader Meng ready to begin refining the pills.

• Nan Gurong told Sang Ying that a medical classic described a Frost Return Pill that could restore her Spirit Root, and Sect Leader Meng explained that it required a Thousand-Year Ice Lotus.
• Sect Leader Meng learned from the Flowing Light Sword Sect that Immortal Venerable Yanchen had given its Thousand-Year Ice Lotus to Gu Huaiwei to help her reach Foundation Establishment.
• Sang Ying reflected that the sect leader had likely known why Gu Huaiwei wanted the lotus, but she suppressed her hurt over his favoritism.
• Sang Ying revealed that she had already prepared a ten-thousand-year Ice Lotus, and Sect Leader Meng decided to refine the Frost Return Pill the next day.
• Sang Ying produced another Ice Lotus so Sect Leader Meng could refine extra pills, and Sect Leader Meng agreed to return in seven days to treat her injuries.

After recovering at the Plain Robe Pavilion, Sang Ying set out for Haizhou City to reach the secret realm on Gleaming Gold Island. At an inn along the way, she unexpectedly encountered Su Fuyun and the Gale Hound pup, which recognized her.

• Sang Ying left the Plain Robe Pavilion after Sect Leader Meng and the disciples gave her medicine, and Nan Gurong saw her off.
• Sang Ying and Gu Shu flew toward Haizhou City, where they planned to take a ferry to Gleaming Gold Island.
• After flying for a day and a night, Sang Ying stopped at a town to rest because her Spiritual Qi was nearly exhausted.
• At the inn, Sang Ying saw Su Fuyun coming downstairs after her talking Gale Hound pup.
• The Gale Hound ran into Sang Ying, then froze when it recognized her as Su Fuyun called her Junior Sister.

Sang Ying encountered Su Fuyun, Gu Hongyi, and Zhao Yunhe at an inn and challenged Su Fuyun’s version of her departure from the sect and her early release from punishment. Later that night, Amo showed up at Sang Ying’s door.

• Su Fuyun called Amo back, and Sang Ying noticed that Su Fuyun had reached Foundation Establishment despite supposedly being confined to a quiet room.
• Gu Hongyi questioned Su Fuyun about her punishment and asked Sang Ying whether she was as spoiled and willful as Su Fuyun had claimed.
• Zhao Yunhe defended Su Fuyun and criticized Sang Ying for supposedly leaving the sect in a fit of temper.
• Sang Ying said she had followed sect rules when she left to train and asked Su Fuyun how she had left the quiet room early.
• After Sang Ying settled into her inn room for the night, Amo scratched and whimpered at her door, then complained that she had taken too long to open it.

Sang Ying refused Amo’s plea to stop opposing Su Fuyun and left the inn after Zhao Yunhe accused her of framing her senior sister. When Su Fuyun invited her to travel together to Gleaming Gold Island, Sang Ying declined and flew away, while Su Fuyun resolved to claim the island’s treasures for herself.

• Amo entered Sang Ying’s room and pleaded with her to stop targeting Su Fuyun, but Sang Ying only promised not to go after her unless Su Fuyun caused trouble first.
• Amo insulted Sang Ying by repeating Zhou Heng'an’s criticism and claiming Immortal Venerable Yanchen preferred Su Fuyun, so Sang Ying shut the door on her.
• The next morning, Zhao Yunhe accused Sang Ying of lying to frame Su Fuyun, and Sang Ying dismissed his accusations before leaving the inn.
• Su Fuyun caught up with Sang Ying and invited her to travel with her group to Haizhou City and Gleaming Gold Island, but Sang Ying flew off alone on her spirit sword.
• After Sang Ying disappeared, Su Fuyun touched her jade pendant and vowed to take the treasures on Gleaming Gold Island for herself.

Sang Ying arrived in Haizhou City, paid the refundable entry fee, and explored its bustling sea-beast markets. She headed west to rent a courtyard and met Xiao Liu, a young cultivator who offered to show her one.

• Sang Ying reached Haizhou City and learned that the Hai Clan controlled the city and chose its head through a contest among eligible members.
• Sang Ying paid the entry fee and entered the city with Gu Shu, who complained about the cost until Sang Ying explained that it would be refunded if she obeyed the rules.
• Sang Ying explored the seafood stalls and exchanged a polite greeting with a Demon Cultivator youth whose fins showed through his clothes.
• Sang Ying decided to rent a courtyard in the western part of the city before the Shimmering Gold Island Secret Realm opened.
• Xiao Liu approached Sang Ying and offered to take her to see a courtyard.

Sang Ying rented Xiao Liu’s family courtyard in Haizhou City and arranged to pay extra for his mother’s fish congee. After walking Xiao Liu home with the rent money, she met his older brother, who watched her leave with suspicion.

• Xiao Liu showed Sang Ying a small courtyard, and she rented it for three months at three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones a month, including daily fish congee.
• Sang Ying completed the rental formalities and paid Xiao Liu nine hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, then offered to escort him home so he would not be robbed.
• Xiao Liu explained that his older brother had received the courtyard as a reward from the young master of the Hai Household and that his family rented it out to support his cultivation.
• Xiao Liu introduced Sang Ying to his mother, who nervously refused the hundred Spirit Stones Sang Ying offered for the congee.
• Sang Ying left with Xiao Liu and encountered his older brother, who watched her retreating figure warily.

Sang Ying settled into the Meng Household courtyard, strengthened it with formations, and secured passage to Gleaming Gold Island by trading Dao Enlightenment Tea to the white-bearded boatman. As she returned home with a ticket for a ship departing in eight days, she saw Su Fuyun and her companions approaching.

• Meng Luosheng learned that Sang Ying had rented the Meng Household courtyard and explained why she had paid Xiao Liu in low-grade Spirit Stones.
• Sang Ying set up protective, Mystifying, and Spirit Gathering Formations in the courtyard, using Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones to boost its Spiritual Qi.
• Sang Ying went to Haizhou City's docks and used the code to ask the white-bearded boatman about passage to Gleaming Gold Island.
• Sang Ying traded Dao Enlightenment Tea for a place aboard the boatman's ship and received a green jade ticket for its departure at midnight eight days later.
• Sang Ying spotted Su Fuyun and her companions approaching as she headed back to her residence.

Sang Ying encountered Su Fuyun and Zhao Yunhe at the docks, where a white-bearded boatman defended her and exposed Zhao Yunhe’s arrogance. Su Fuyun realized the boatman was connected to the Golden Summit, but Zhao Yunhe led her away before she could make use of the connection.

• Sang Ying stopped beside the white-bearded old man when Su Fuyun called after her, and the old man offered to help with her unwanted companions.
• Su Fuyun tried to join Sang Ying, but Sang Ying pointed out that she had never agreed to travel with her and that Su Fuyun could have caught up on her sword.
• Zhao Yunhe defended Su Fuyun, and the old man mocked him for making a Golden Core Realm cultivator wait; Zhao Yunhe threatened him but held back from striking.
• Su Fuyun urged Zhao Yunhe to be cautious, but he dismissed the boatman as a mortal, while Sang Ying left the docks.
• Su Fuyun recognized the old man’s boat as the Golden Summit and tried to speak with him, but Zhao Yunhe dismissed the boatman and pulled her away.