Recaps

Shen Jingchuan helped Azure Cloud Stronghold repel Zhou Xian’s government forces, while Xiao Mingyuan and Xiao Mingxuan seized the Lin Household’s carriage workshop. After Shen killed three cultivators who attacked him and freed Lin Weiyuan and Lin Shan, he proposed moving the Lin Household and willing escort agency members to Azure Cloud Stronghold.

• Xiao Mingshu, Shen Jingchuan, and Huan'er killed Li Mo, Han Laoliu, and Zhou Kui with machine guns and an autocannon, then Shen Jingchuan returned to Yuxi Prefecture with the others.
• Shen Jingchuan upgraded pills with the Chaos Heaven and Earth Ring, transformed Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow, formed Equal Contracts with them, and taught them to cultivate.
• Zhao Kui warned Shen Jingchuan and Hu Tieniu that the Pan and Huang Households had joined government troops against Azure Cloud Stronghold, and Shen gave Hu Tieniu a submachine gun before breaking through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
• Zhou Xian’s three thousand troops attacked Azure Cloud Stronghold, but Hu Tieniu’s gunfire, the defenders’ crossbows, and Zhao Kui’s intervention repelled the assaults, forcing Zhou Xian to begin a siege.
• Xiao Mingyuan and Xiao Mingxuan pressured Lin Weiyuan into signing over the carriage workshop, and Shen Jingchuan advised the Lin Household to surrender it rather than provoke the princes.
• When Xiao Mingyuan’s guards arrested Lin Weiyuan and Lin Shan, Shen Jingchuan fought back and killed Chen Mo and Wu Feng, crippled Zheng Hai, then killed him after he admitted joining an earlier ambush.
• Shen Jingchuan spared Xiao Mingyuan and Xiao Mingxuan after Xiao Mingshu warned him that killing the princes would endanger his family, and he ordered them to leave without provoking him again.
• Shen Jingchuan proposed moving the Lin Household and willing escort agency members to Azure Cloud Stronghold, promising to protect them from government troops and any cultivators who interfered.

Shen Jingchuan evacuated his household to Azure Cloud Stronghold, where the defenders repelled two government assaults with his machine guns. He then returned to Spirit Creek Market, arranged a restaurant partnership, advanced his cultivation, and learned at the auction that someone was watching his lodging.

• Shen Jingchuan helped Lin Weiyuan evacuate the Shen and Lin households to Azure Cloud Stronghold, then returned to Yuxi Prefecture and learned from Xiao Mingshu that the kingdoms were under the Azure Origin Sect.
• Xiao Mingyuan mobilized imperial and frontier troops against Azure Cloud Stronghold, while authorities seized the Zhou Household and Zhou Tong and Zhou Qian found shelter with Xu Mo.
• Hu Tieniu and the defenders used boulders, crossbows, and a Maxim gun to repel Wei Zheng’s first assault, and Shen Jingchuan later supplied food, ammunition, and a second Maxim.
• Zhou Lie led a second assault with iron-clad carts, but the two machine guns devastated his troops and forced a retreat, and Shen Jingchuan told Lin Weiyuan, Lin Qingyao, and Bai Ruoli he was having machine-gun carriages made.
• Shen Jingchuan and Xiao Mingshu sold watches and makeup mirrors in Spirit Creek Market, then proposed a restaurant using the Shen Household’s seasonings, recipes, and training.
• Wang Cheng’an agreed to partner with the Shen Household on the restaurant, with the Shen Household receiving forty percent of the profits, and Accountant Wu began arranging the premises and renovations.
• Shen Jingchuan traded upgraded goods, learned the Wind-Controlling Instruction from Xian’er, gave rare pills to Xiao Mingshu and Huan’er, and broke through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
• Shen Jingchuan sold more upgraded goods before attending the auction with Xiao Mingshu and Huan’er, where Accountant Wu warned him that someone had targeted his lodging.

Shen Jingchuan acquired and restored powerful rings, faced down the cultivators stalking him, and returned to Azure Cloud Stronghold. There he tested his companions’ Spirit Roots and moved his three horses into the Heaven and Earth Ring, leaving to visit Lin Qingyao.

• Shen Jingchuan won the Jade Water Heart-Protecting Pendant for Xiao Mingshu and bought five ruined rings after Xian'er sensed their importance.
• Shen Jingchuan rented a cave abode with Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er, then Xian'er restored the rings and taught him to bind and use them in a Five Elements formation.
• True Person Moxuan questioned Shen Jingchuan about his unusual trading, but Shen defended his household and declined an escort when Moxuan offered protection.
• Shen Jingchuan left the market and fought off Wang Chongyue, Wang Chongming, and Zhou Li, killing them with his Purple Lightning Talisman.
• Shen Jingchuan fed the Chaos Heaven and Earth Ring Spirit Stones and pills, restored its space, and returned to Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• Shen Jingchuan tested the residents’ Spirit Roots: Bai Ruoli had a rare Ice Spirit Root, Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua had Five Spirit Roots, and Qinghe and Ju'er showed none.
• Shen Jingchuan found that Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow were growing horns and wings, then moved them into the Heaven and Earth Ring and took their feed with him.

Shen Jingchuan taught several people to cultivate, secured support from Earth’s elders, and supplied Azure Cloud Stronghold with weapons for its assault on Yuxi Prefecture. The stronghold captured the city and declared rebellion, while Shen Jingchuan told Xiao Mingshu what had happened and heard that the imperial family would retaliate.

• Shen Jingchuan helped Lin Qingyao, Yue'er, Bai Ruoli, Lin Guangren, Su Qingshu, Su Qinghua, and Meng Ke begin cultivating, and brought the sisters into his secret space to work with Xian'er.
• Shen Jingchuan gave four Life-Extending Pills to Professor Wen and Elders Yang, Li, and Wang, who agreed to manage an annual auction and distribute some pills to deserving contributors.
• Shen Jingchuan promised Meng Ke he would visit her mother with betrothal gifts, then returned to Azure Cloud Stronghold and prepared weapons for the coming attack.
• Shen Jingchuan equipped Hu Tieniu and the others with an autocannon, firearms, and ammunition, taught them how to use the weapons, and urged them to handle the mortal conflict themselves.
• Hu Tieniu led Azure Cloud Stronghold’s forces down the mountain, where Lin Yue used the autocannon to break the Black Armor Army’s advance and rout its soldiers.
• Hu Tieniu’s troops captured Yuxi Prefecture and seized the Wang, Li, Pan, and Huang households, then confiscated supplies, distributed congee, recruited soldiers, and declared rebellion.
• Shen Jingchuan traveled to Spirit Creek Market and told Xiao Mingshu about the battle and the suffering of the disaster victims, and Xiao Mingshu warned that the imperial family would respond.