Thirteen years after his death, Wei Wuxian finds himself returned to life when the supposed "lunatic" Mo Xuanyu summons his soul into his own body using a forbidden summoning ritual.
Wei Wuxian flees to Dafan Mountain in an attempt to avoid detection but ends up encountering his former martial brother, Jiang Cheng, and his old acquaintance, Lan Wangji.
In his youth, Wei Wuxian was a disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. He accompanied Jiang Cheng to study in the Cloud Recesses, and wound up clashing with Lan Wangji over his continued flaunting of the Gusu Lan Clan's many rules.
Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng, Lan Xichen, and Jin Zixuan head to Caiyi Town to investigate a case involving Water Ghosts, and wind up encountering a Waterborne Abyss.
Wei Wuxian encounters Lan Wangji in the cold spring to recover from a disciplinary beating. When the Fierce Corpses escape, the resulting fight again tempts Wei Wuxian to try Demonic Cultivation.
After Jin Zixuan insults Jiang Yanli, Wei Wuxian engages him in a brawl. As a result, the engagement between Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli is called off, and Wei Wuxian is taken home early from the Cloud Recesses.
Wei Wuxian meets many familiar faces at the Qishan Wen Clan's grand discussion conference. However, Wen Ruohan is less than pleased by the four other clans' victory in the archery competition.
Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian find themselves trapped in a cave with the Xuanwu of Slaughter. After days of waiting, they plan to kill the creature together in order to escape.
The rescued Wei Wuxian awakens in Lotus Pier, only to find that tension in the Jiang family is ready to boil over. When the Wens arrive to punish Wei Wuxian, the situation erupts.
Yu Ziyuan forcibly sends Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng away as the battle at Lotus Pier commences. They return in the aftermath to find most of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, including Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian, massacred.
Now on the run, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng attempt to find their way to their sister in Meishan. However, when Jiang Cheng is captured, Wei Wuxian returns to Lotus Pier to rescue him, and finds help from an unlikely ally.
While Jiang Cheng seeks out Baoshan Sanren to restore his golden core, Wei Wuxian is captured by Wen Chao and thrown into the Burial Mounds, a place of extreme resentful energy. The four great clans decide to overthrow the Qishan Wen Clan.
After three months no news of Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng finally reunites with Jiang Yanli. Meanwhile, the Wens are haunted by a strangely demonic flute player.
Wei Wuxian reveals himself as the flute player and the inventor of Demonic Cultivation. Lan Wangji clashes with him, angered by his heretical methods. Back in the present day, Wei Wuxian awakens at the Cloud Recesses once more.