Chapter Summaries

Shen Jingchuan tested the Lin Household children for Spirit Roots, and only Lin Guangren showed a Hidden Spirit Root. Before opening his nephew’s meridians, Shen Jingchuan consulted Xian'er and received a cultivation method suitable for any Spirit Root.

• Shen Jingchuan tested Lin Wei and the other children, but the Spirit Testing Stone showed no Spirit Roots for them.
• Lin Guangren pressed his hand to the stone, and Shen Jingchuan detected his faint four-element Hidden Spirit Root.
• Shen Jingchuan told Lin Guangren he could cultivate and asked him to bear the pain of having his meridians opened.
• Shen Jingchuan sent Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, Lin Yue, and the others outside while he prepared to help Lin Guangren.
• Shen Jingchuan consulted Xian'er, who sent him the heaven-grade Return to Origin Instruction, a cultivation method usable by anyone regardless of Spirit Root.

Shen Jingchuan helped Lin Guangren open his meridians and begin cultivating, then agreed to Hu Tieniu’s plan to attack the government troops the following night. He revealed an aircraft cannon and promised to bring up the vehicle needed to use it, raising the prospect of taking Yuxi Prefecture.

• Shen Jingchuan taught Lin Guangren the Myriad Spirits Return to Origin Instruction, guided him through taking a Vein Opening Pill, and gave him Spirit Stones to cultivate with.
• Lin Guangren told Madam Wang that he could cultivate, and she thanked Shen Jingchuan for helping her son.
• Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue explained their plan to take out three government outposts and attack the troops at the foot of the mountain.
• Shen Jingchuan agreed to the attack planned for the following night because the government troops were devastating Yuxi Prefecture’s tenant farmers.
• Shen Jingchuan produced an aircraft cannon and said he would bring up its custom-built vehicle and teach the group to use it.

Shen Jingchuan supplied the Azure Cloud Stronghold with a carriage and horses, then helped Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua begin cultivating. When the sisters said they wanted to stay with him forever, Xian'er urged him to bring them into the space to help manage it.

• Shen Jingchuan told Hu Tieniu and the others that he could provide weapons but could not interfere in the mortal war.
• Shen Jingchuan stored horses and a reinforced carriage in his Heaven and Earth Ring, brought them to the Azure Cloud Stronghold, and left them in Liu Hu's care.
• Shen Jingchuan guided Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua in cultivation until both refined Qi and stabilized their progress, then gave each fifty Spirit Stones.
• Su Qinghua and Su Qingshu confessed that they wanted to marry Shen Jingchuan, and he told them to focus on cultivation and promised they could stay with him.
• Xian'er asked Shen Jingchuan to bring the sisters into the space to cultivate and help tend its spirit fields, herbs, and horses.

Shen Jingchuan brought Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua into the Heaven and Earth Ring to help care for its space and horses, after explaining the isolation and secrecy involved. After they swore Heart Demon Oaths, a beautiful woman appeared, and the sisters greeted her as a senior and “Fairy Sister.”

• Shen Jingchuan explained the secret space to Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua, and both agreed to go with him despite worrying about leaving their friends behind.
• Shen Jingchuan gave the sisters Storage Rings and brought them into the Heaven and Earth Ring.
• Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua met Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow, whom Shen Jingchuan instructed them to care for.
• Shen Jingchuan asked the sisters to swear Heart Demon Oaths to keep the space secret, and both swore they would not reveal it.
• A woman appeared in the space, and Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua bowed to her and greeted her as a senior and “Fairy Sister.”

Shen Jingchuan left Qingshu and Qinghua to serve Xian'er, then returned to the modern world and cultivated through the night. He tested Meng Ke’s Spirit Root and discovered that the Spirit Testing Stone produced five-colored light in her hand.

• Shen Jingchuan gave Qingshu and Qinghua High-Grade Grain Avoidance Pills and left them to care for Xian'er and the horses.
• Xian'er assigned Qingshu and Qinghua the daily work of feeding and watering the horses and cleaning up their dung.
• Shen Jingchuan visited Lin Qingyao, spent time with her, then traveled back to the modern world to cultivate.
• Shen Jingchuan used High-Grade Qi Condensing Pills overnight and advanced to the Qi Refinement Fifth Layer Middle Stage.
• Meng Ke arrived at the West Mountain Separate Garden, and Shen Jingchuan tested her with the Spirit Testing Stone, which glowed with five colors.

Shen Jingchuan revealed the secret realm and immortal cultivation to Meng Ke after discovering she had a Five Spirit Root. He taught her the Five Elements Qi Refining Instruction and guided her through her first Qi Refining circuit, leaving her ready to begin cultivating.

• Shen Jingchuan confirmed Meng Ke had a Spirit Root and activated the Spirit Gathering Formation Plate before explaining the secret realm and cultivation to her.
• Shen Jingchuan demonstrated his flying sword and told Meng Ke she could cultivate and learn to fly as well.
• Shen Jingchuan passed the Five Elements Qi Refining Instruction into Meng Ke's mind, and she endured the painful process.
• Shen Jingchuan guided Meng Ke through her first Greater Celestial Circuit with two Spirit Stones in her hands.
• Meng Ke's first Qi Refining expelled grime and impurities from her body, and she rushed to the bathroom after Shen Jingchuan teased her.

Shen Jingchuan helped Meng Ke advance her cultivation and taught her several basic techniques. After Meng Ke successfully cast a small fireball at him, Shen Jingchuan demonstrated a much larger one, leaving her to see how much stronger his magic was.

• While Meng Ke bathed, Shen Jingchuan worried about how to explain his other relationships to her.
• Shen Jingchuan taught Meng Ke to use her Divine Sense, and she lifted a glass after taking part of a High-Grade Spirit Concentrating Pill.
• Shen Jingchuan transmitted several Technique Methods to Meng Ke, including techniques for combat, healing, and everyday use.
• Meng Ke practiced the Fireball Technique in the courtyard and sent a small fireball at Shen Jingchuan, whose protective shield blocked it.
• Shen Jingchuan formed a fireball larger than a bowl and shot it into the sky to demonstrate his strength.

Shen Jingchuan decided to address Professor Wen’s interest in the pills by showing the elders his power and offering help on his own terms. He flew Meng Ke to Elder Yang’s courtyard on his sword, where the elders were left stunned and treated him as an equal.

• Meng Ke told Shen Jingchuan that the pill had made her mother look much younger and that Professor Wen wanted to learn how it happened.
• Shen Jingchuan decided to demonstrate his abilities before giving Professor Wen and the elders a favor, and he called Professor Wen to arrange a meeting.
• Shen Jingchuan placed his four remaining Life-Extending Pills in porcelain bottles and took Meng Ke with him to Elder Yang’s courtyard.
• Shen Jingchuan flew to the courtyard with Meng Ke on his sword, startling Professor Wen and Elders Yang, Li, and Wang.
• Elder Yang welcomed Shen Jingchuan warmly and treated him as an equal, while Meng Ke noticed the change in his attitude.

Shen Jingchuan explained why he had come and gave four Life-Extending Pills to Elder Yang, Elder Li, Elder Wang, and Elder Wen. He revealed that each pill could add fifty years to a person’s life, leaving the four elders stunned and doubtful.

• Elder Li and Elder Wang joked with Shen Jingchuan about his dramatic arrival, while Professor Wen admitted that he had asked Meng Ke about her mother’s rejuvenation.
• Elder Yang explained that the people watching over Meng Ke and her mother worked for his son’s security company and had been told not to pry into Shen Jingchuan’s private affairs.
• Shen Jingchuan decided that giving the elders pills could build goodwill and stability for his foothold on Earth.
• Shen Jingchuan produced four jade bottles with Spiritual Power and gave one Life-Extending Pill to each of the four elders.
• Shen Jingchuan said the pills could add fifty years to a person’s life, and the elders fell silent in shock, still uncertain whether to believe him.

Shen Jingchuan gave Elder Wen the first rejuvenating pill, and its effects astonished the others as he grew decades younger. Elder Yang, Elder Li, and Elder Wang took their pills too, but the chapter ended with Elder Wen wondering how he could return home looking so different.

• Shen Jingchuan invited Elder Wen to test a pill first, and Elder Wen recognized the offer as a discreet gift of good fortune.
• Elder Wen swallowed the pill and visibly grew decades younger as his wrinkles faded, his hair darkened, and his strength returned.
• Shen Jingchuan used a Cleaning Technique to remove the grime from Elder Wen, then urged the other elders to take their pills.
• Elder Yang, Elder Li, and Elder Wang swallowed their pills and also regained youthful appearances, prompting laughter and astonished admiration.
• The elders examined their changed faces in Shen Jingchuan's mirror, and Elder Wen worried about how he could get home looking so young.

After the elders worried that their sudden return to youth would expose them to danger, Shen Jingchuan proposed auctioning five Life-Extending Pills publicly each year to give others a way to obtain them. The elders agreed to handle the auctions and pledged their support, while Shen Jingchuan planned to stay out of sight.

• Elder Li and Elder Wang worried that their wives and families would be alarmed by their youthful appearances, while Elder Yang joked about being alone.
• The elders realized that their rejuvenation could attract people willing to risk everything if rumors claimed they could live forever.
• Shen Jingchuan proposed publicly auctioning five Life-Extending Pills each year to reduce the danger to the elders.
• Elder Yang, Elder Li, Elder Wang, and Professor Wen thanked Shen Jingchuan and promised to help him, provided it did not harm the country's interests.
• Shen Jingchuan agreed to supply the pills and asked the elders to arrange the auctions while he stayed out of sight.

Shen Jingchuan arranged an annual auction for three Life-Extending Pills and entrusted Elder Yang with distributing two more for free. After Shen Jingchuan and Meng Ke departed, the elders planned how to keep the pills discreet and choose recipients based on their service and urgent need.

• Elder Yang agreed to oversee the pills, with Elder Wen handling the public explanation and auctions scheduled for January first each year.
• Shen Jingchuan offered Elder Yang control of two pills for internal distribution and waived payment for them, leaving three to be auctioned publicly.
• Shen Jingchuan and Meng Ke flew away on a sword, astonishing the four elders with their sudden departure.
• Elder Yang instructed the elders to keep a low profile and told Professor Wen to describe the pills as a medical breakthrough without publicizing the auction.
• Elder Yang proposed giving the free pills to indispensable contributors in science, technology, public welfare, medicine, agriculture, or epidemic prevention, prioritizing those least able to wait.

Shen Jingchuan promised Meng Ke he would marry her properly and prepare rare betrothal gifts within a month, though he withheld the truth about his other family. After returning to Azure Cloud Stronghold, he offered Lin Qingyao’s gun to her eldest brother for an impending night raid.

• Meng Ke asked Shen Jingchuan whether he intended to marry her, and he promised a proper proposal and wedding.
• Shen Jingchuan agreed to visit Meng Ke’s mother with betrothal gifts and said he would return within a month; Meng Ke urged him not to take risks.
• Meng Ke drove to tell her mother about their relationship, while Shen Jingchuan returned to Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• Shen Jingchuan found Lin Qingyao and Bai Ruoli in the rear courtyard and suggested Lin Qingyao give her gun to her eldest brother for the night raid.

Shen Jingchuan gave Lin Qingyao and Bai Ruoli Storage Rings and collected their guns before heading to prepare for the stronghold’s nighttime attack on government troops. He equipped Hu Tieniu’s carriage with a 23 mm autocannon, whose demonstration rallied the fighters as they prepared to move out after supper.

• Shen Jingchuan gave Lin Qingyao and Bai Ruoli Storage Rings, collected their guns, and reminded them not to interfere lightly in mortal conflicts now that they were cultivators.
• Shen Jingchuan learned that Lin Yue was cultivating diligently and asked Lin Qingyao and Bai Ruoli to tell her to cultivate only at night.
• Shen Jingchuan mounted a twin-barreled 23 mm autocannon on the carriage and taught Hu Tieniu how to load and fire it.
• Hu Tieniu fired at a cliff, and Lin Yue took over to fire several bursts before Shen Jingchuan stopped him to conserve ammunition.
• Hu Tieniu ordered the stronghold’s fighters to prepare for supper and their nighttime attack on the government troops, while the men cheered at the autocannon’s power.

Shen Jingchuan prepared Hu Tieniu and the Lin brothers for their attack on the imperial troops, equipping them with weapons while refusing to fight directly. Back in the rear courtyard, he taught Lin Qingyao, Yue'er, and Bai Ruoli spells suited to their abilities.

• Lin Weiyuan inspected Shen Jingchuan's autocannon and praised its power.
• Shen Jingchuan unloaded more than fifteen thousand rounds and warned Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue to use the autocannon against cultivators if necessary.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Lin Shan a submachine gun and gave Lin Shan and Lin Yue pistols, then insisted that they make their own decisions and fight without his direct involvement.
• Yue'er tearfully promised Lin Qingyao she would remain her maidservant, and Shen Jingchuan urged her to cultivate at a healthier pace.
• Shen Jingchuan taught Lin Qingyao and Yue'er the Five Elements Immortal-Slaying Linked Formation and basic spells, then gave Bai Ruoli several general-purpose minor spells.

After Shen Jingchuan taught Lin Qingyao, Bai Ruoli, and Yue'er about cultivation, he helped Bai Ruoli refine High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills. Bai Ruoli broke through to the Qi Refining Second Layer, and Shen Jingchuan prepared to support her rapid cultivation.

• Shen Jingchuan recovered from passing on cultivation techniques and gave Lin Qingyao, Bai Ruoli, and Yue'er Spirit Concentrating Pills, explaining how to strengthen Divine Sense.
• Shen Jingchuan spoke about basic cultivation at dinner while Ju'er and Qinghe listened.
• Shen Jingchuan noticed Bai Ruoli was nearing a breakthrough and called her to his room to discuss her cultivation.
• Bai Ruoli misunderstood Shen Jingchuan's invitation, and they became intimate before he gave her a quarter of a High-Grade Qi Gathering Pill to refine.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Bai Ruoli the rest of the pill and then another whole pill, guiding her as she pushed through the breakthrough to the Qi Refining Second Layer.

Shen Jingchuan left Bai Ruoli with cultivation pills and went to observe the fighting at the foot of the mountain. Hu Tieniu’s night attack on the government camp was discovered early, prompting him to send two thousand fighters out from the stronghold, and the battle began in earnest.

• Shen Jingchuan gave Bai Ruoli pills and reminded her to cultivate cautiously before leaving to watch the fighting.
• Hu Tieniu deployed a hundred black-clad crossbowmen to approach the government camp under cover of night.
• Three scouts shot the camp’s sentries, but one cried out and alerted the troops inside.
• Hu Tieniu ordered the stronghold gate opened and led two thousand armed men, wagons, and heavy weapons down the mountain.
• The government troops rushed from their camp, but crossbowmen fired on them and blocked the entrance as the alarm gong sounded.

Hu Tieniu and Azure Cloud Stronghold used explosives, machine guns, and Lin Yue’s autocannon to break the Black Armor Army’s assault at the mountain pass. As the enemy routed and the fighting continued at the shield wall, Hu Tieniu and Lin Shan charged into the melee.

• Hu Tieniu’s men blew apart three forts and fought their way down the mountain toward the Black Armor Army.
• Hu Tieniu ordered two Maxims to fire on the Black Armor Army, but its soldiers kept advancing despite heavy losses.
• Azure Cloud Stronghold’s shield wall halted the enemy’s charge while its machine guns continued firing over the defenders.
• Lin Yue opened fire with the autocannon, killing large numbers of Black Armor Army soldiers and triggering a rout.
• Hu Tieniu and Lin Shan took up submachine guns and charged toward the shield wall to join the close-quarters fight.

Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, Lin Yue, and Azure Cloud Stronghold’s troops destroyed the Black Armor Army and captured Yuxi Prefecture. They then stormed the Four Great Lineages’ residences, taking all four households.

• Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue helped break the Black Armor Army’s attack, and the routed soldiers fled as Azure Cloud Stronghold’s troops chased them into the imperial camp.
• Hu Tieniu led the remaining troops toward Yuxi Prefecture, where Lin Yue fired the autocannon and blasted open the south gate.
• Azure Cloud Stronghold’s troops captured Yuxi Prefecture and divided into groups to seize the Wang, Li, Pan, and Huang households.
• Lin Yue used the autocannon to destroy the Wang Household’s gate, and Azure Cloud Stronghold’s soldiers overcame its two hundred guards.
• Azure Cloud Stronghold’s troops captured the Li Household and then took the Pan and Huang households, completing the seizure of all four lineages.

Hu Tieniu’s forces seized Yuxi Prefecture, fed disaster victims, and openly declared rebellion after discovering they had killed Prince Jing’s Heir. Shen Jingchuan traveled to Spirit Creek Market and told Xiao Mingshu what had happened, but she challenged his decision to involve himself in mortal affairs.

• Hu Tieniu’s men occupied Yuxi Prefecture, confiscated grain and valuables, posted notices condemning the authorities, and distributed congee while recruiting soldiers.
• The soldiers found Prince Jing’s Heir and an imperial prince among the dead, and Hu Tieniu ordered a broader recruitment drive and declared that the Azure Cloud Stronghold had raised the banner of rebellion.
• Shen Jingchuan judged that Yuxi Prefecture was safe for the moment and traveled to Spirit Creek Market on Big Black.
• Shen Jingchuan reunited with Xiao Mingshu and described the battle, the capture of Yuxi Prefecture, and the suffering of the disaster victims.
• Xiao Mingshu warned Shen Jingchuan that the imperial family would not let the rebellion go unanswered and questioned why he was meddling in mortal affairs.