Chapter Summaries

Shen Jingchuan recovered the Spirit Marrow and the Zhao family’s stores from the Tian family, expanding the Heaven and Earth Ring and planting the Spirit Marrow inside it. After returning to the outside world, he rode to the Zhao Household to collect the resources he was owed, where Zhao Jiufeng came out to meet him.

• Shen Jingchuan searched Tian Chengye’s ring and found the Spirit Marrow and large quantities of Spirit Stone ore, then fed the ore to the Heaven and Earth Ring.
• Shen Jingchuan added the Spirit Stones from Tian Zheng’s and Tian Ming’s rings, causing the space to expand to about eight li across.
• Shen Jingchuan buried the Spirit Marrow with Xian’er’s help, then sorted the seized resources, including nearly ninety thousand Spirit Stones and a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Shen Jingchuan helped Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua plant spirit herbs, gave them cultivation resources, and later left the space.
• Shen Jingchuan concealed the empty well, summoned Little Black, and flew toward the Zhao Household before switching to Big Black near the mountain gate.
• Zhao Jiufeng came out of the Zhao Household’s mountain gate to meet Shen Jingchuan.

Shen Jingchuan visited the Zhao Household to collect its assets and demand the Wang Household's legitimate daughter, while Zhao Jiufeng and his family feared for her and her children. As the Zhao patriarch begged Shen Jingchuan to spare his wife, Ru'er arrived with three young people.

• Zhao Jiufeng gave Shen Jingchuan rings containing over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, herbs, medicines, and pills, then led him into the Zhao Household.
• Zhao Jiufeng recalled how the clan had reluctantly agreed to surrender half its assets and the Wang Household's legitimate daughter after learning of Shen Jingchuan's powerful flying horses.
• Zhao Jiufeng's eldest son begged his father to protect Ru'er and worried that her children might also be targeted because of their Wang Household blood.
• Shen Jingchuan asked Zhao Jiufeng about the matter they had agreed upon, and the Zhao patriarch knelt to beg him to spare Ru'er.
• Ru'er entered the hall with two young men and a young woman, startling the Zhao patriarch.

Ru'er came to Shen Jingchuan to take responsibility for the Wang Household's actions, and Shen Jingchuan explained why he had destroyed them. When Big Black reacted to Ru'er's jade pendant, Shen Jingchuan took it and agreed to investigate its significance after they returned.

• Ru'er told Shen Jingchuan she had come to spare the Zhao Household from trouble and accepted responsibility for the debt.
• Shen Jingchuan recounted how the Wang Household had twice tried to kill him before he razed their home, silencing the Zhao Household members who had considered fighting.
• Ru'er knelt and accepted the Wang Household's sins, while her three children each offered to die in her place.
• Big Black sniffed Ru'er and her belongings, and Xian'er told Shen Jingchuan that the horse might have found a fortuitous opportunity.
• Shen Jingchuan asked Ru'er to empty her ring, and Big Black reacted strongly to her jade pendant, saying it seemed to contain something he needed.
• Shen Jingchuan put the pendant away and sent Big Black outside to wait.

Shen Jingchuan spared Ru'er and her family after they swore before the Heavenly Dao not to seek revenge, then rewarded Zhao Jiufeng's cooperation by allowing the Zhao Household to take over the Wang Household's remaining territory and properties. After Shen Jingchuan rode away, Zhao Jiufeng gathered his clan to warn them against bringing disaster upon their Lineage.

• Ru'er returned Shen Jingchuan's ring, and he let her keep her personal belongings after Big Black's affinity with her persuaded him to spare her.
• Shen Jingchuan ordered Ru'er, the patriarch, and their three children to swear they would never seek revenge or turn against him, and all five made the oath.
• Zhao Jiufeng thanked Shen Jingchuan and warned the Zhao clansmen not to risk their Lineage through greed.
• Shen Jingchuan let the Zhao Household take over the Wang Household's remaining territory, fields, and properties, then rode away on Big Black.
• Zhao Jiufeng summoned the clan and used the Wang Household's destruction as a warning to reflect on their conduct.

Zhao Jiufeng warned the Lineage against provoking others and arranged for them to take over the Wang Household's property. Shen Jingchuan discovered that the jade pendant contained a fiery essence Big Black craved, and Big Black swallowed it and formed a cocoon while Shen Jingchuan flew to Spirit Creek Market with Treading Snow.

• Zhao Jiufeng urged the Lineage to act as one family, then sent his eldest son to bury the Wang Household's dead and take over its fields and residence.
• Shen Jingchuan stopped in a grove and entered the Heaven and Earth Ring with Big Black to examine the jade pendant.
• Shen Jingchuan broke open the pendant and revealed a crimson essence containing a small flame that Big Black recognized as what he wanted.
• Big Black swallowed the fiery essence and soon became enveloped in a crimson cocoon as Little Black and Treading Snow watched.
• Shen Jingchuan left the ring with Treading Snow, flew to Spirit Creek Market, and wondered what Big Black would become.

Shen Jingchuan returned to the market after avoiding a bandit cultivator, rewarded Huan'er and Xiao Mingshu with pills, then set out for Azure Cloud Stronghold. He arrived safely on Little Black, now a winged spirit beast, and reunited with Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue.

• Shen Jingchuan told Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er that a bandit cultivator had stopped him from reaching Green Wilds Market, though he had escaped unharmed.
• Shen Jingchuan learned Huan'er had broken through and gave her High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, then gave Xiao Mingshu high-grade Qi Condensing and Spirit Concentrating Pills.
• Shen Jingchuan told Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er he was going to check on Azure Cloud Stronghold, then flew there on Little Black.
• Shen Jingchuan shouted to the stronghold guards as he approached, and Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue came out to welcome him.
• Shen Jingchuan explained that Little Black had become a winged spirit beast and demonstrated how his beast-taming pouch could store him.

Shen Jingchuan settled the dispute over the stronghold’s machine guns, supplied Hu Tieniu’s forces with weapons, and gave Hu Tieniu and the Lin brothers Life-Extending Pills. After the men took the pills, Shen Jingchuan sent Hu Tieniu to prepare for the move to Yuxi Prefecture and headed to the rear courtyard with the Lin brothers.

• Hu Tieniu told Shen Jingchuan that he had recruited fifty thousand men in Yuxi Prefecture and wanted to take both machine guns from the stronghold.
• Shen Jingchuan settled the dispute by allowing Hu Tieniu to take one machine gun and promising to provide weapons and equipment.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue Life-Extending Pills and told them their families would receive pills too.
• Hu Tieniu and the Lin brothers swallowed the pills and felt their bodies grow healthier and younger.
• Shen Jingchuan told Hu Tieniu to leave fifty thousand rounds at the stronghold, take the rest of the ammunition, and prepare for a major battle in Yuxi Prefecture.
• Shen Jingchuan went with Lin Shan and Lin Yue to the rear courtyard while Hu Tieniu prepared to leave.

Shen Jingchuan gave Lin Weiyuan and five women in the Lin Household Life-Extending Pills that restored their health and youth. Lin Yue and Lin Weiyuan declined to summon the children for pills, and Shen Jingchuan agreed to save their share for later.

• Shen Jingchuan followed Lin Yue to Lin Weiyuan's courtyard after Lin Shan left to hand over the mountain's defenses to Hu Tieniu.
• Shen Jingchuan asked Lin Yue to summon the sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces, but Lin Yue brought only five women and left the children undisturbed.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Lin Weiyuan and each of the five women a Life-Extending Pill and insisted they swallow them in his presence.
• Lin Weiyuan and the women took the pills, which restored their health and made them look younger.
• Lin Yue and Lin Weiyuan explained that the children were too young to need pills, and Shen Jingchuan agreed to keep their share for later.

Shen Jingchuan returned to his courtyard and found Yue'er and Lin Qingyao had both reached Qi Refining Second Layer. He gave Yue'er pills and invited the household to dinner at Lin Weiyuan's, while Bai Ruoli came out to greet him.

• Lin Weiyuan invited Shen Jingchuan and his family to a lively dinner and sent his wives to prepare the meal.
• Shen Jingchuan returned to his quiet courtyard and learned that Lin Qingyao and Bai Ruoli were practicing while Yue'er was cultivating in her room.
• Yue'er emerged at Qi Refining Second Layer, greeted Shen Jingchuan affectionately, and received fifty high-grade Qi Nourishing Pills from him.
• Lin Qingyao scolded Yue'er for sitting on Shen Jingchuan's lap, then confirmed that she had also advanced to Qi Refining Second Layer.
• Shen Jingchuan told Lin Qingyao that Lin Weiyuan had invited them to dinner, and Bai Ruoli came out after fixing her appearance to greet him.

Shen Jingchuan welcomed Bai Ruoli after she reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and gave cultivation pills to her and Lin Qingyao. He also offered life-extending pills to Qinghe and Ju'er, who were overwhelmed and tried to give them to his family instead.

• Shen Jingchuan praised Bai Ruoli for reaching the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and kissed her cheeks.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Lin Qingyao ten bottles of High-Grade Qi Nourishing Pills, then Bai Ruoli and Lin Qingyao chased and spanked Xiaoyue for teasing them.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Bai Ruoli ten bottles of High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills and urged her and the others to cultivate diligently.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Qinghe and Ju'er Life-Extending Pills that could add fifty years to their lives.
• Qinghe and Ju'er knelt and offered to give their pills to Lin Qingyao's family instead.

Shen Jingchuan gave Qinghe and Ju'er Life-Extending Pills, then joined Lin Weiyuan's family for a celebratory feast. Afterward, he flew to Yuxi Prefecture and delivered a large stockpile of equipment to Hu Tieniu, leaving the government office courtyard packed with supplies.

• Lin Qingyao told Qinghe and Ju'er to accept Shen Jingchuan's gift, and he explained that he had also given pills to the Lin family.
• Shen Jingchuan urged Qinghe and Ju'er to swallow their pills for safety, and they thanked him after the pills took effect.
• Shen Jingchuan joined Lin Weiyuan and the Lin family for a feast celebrating the Life-Extending Pills.
• Shen Jingchuan left for Yuxi Prefecture and met Hu Tieniu at the government office.
• Shen Jingchuan used his Storage Ring to unload steel materials, spring steel, stab-resistant clothing, and helmets into the courtyard.

Shen Jingchuan discussed Hu Tieniu’s plan to overthrow the imperial court and explained how land concentration caused repeated cycles of poverty and rebellion. He proposed abolishing private land ownership, but Hu Tieniu asked what would happen when population growth left too little farmland.

• Shen Jingchuan delivered goods and promised more grain, while Hu Tieniu arranged for his men to store the supplies.
• Hu Tieniu told Shen Jingchuan he planned to overthrow the imperial court and give the poor a way to live.
• Shen Jingchuan challenged Hu Tieniu to explain how he would govern after victory, then warned that simply replacing officials would not solve the people’s poverty.
• Shen Jingchuan explained how disasters drove commoners to lose their land and how land concentration caused rebellions and repeated imperial cycles.
• Shen Jingchuan proposed making all land belong to the imperial court and banning its sale, but Hu Tieniu asked how they would handle population growth and a shortage of farmland.

Shen Jingchuan advised Hu Tieniu on land redistribution and population policies, then returned to Azure Cloud Stronghold and accidentally entered Ju'er's bed before spending the night with Bai Ruoli. Bai Ruoli urged him to give Ju'er and Qinghe proper status, leaving Shen Jingchuan considering his responsibilities toward them.

• Shen Jingchuan told Hu Tieniu to distribute ownerless land near Yuxi Prefecture and the Four Great Lineages' land, while postponing action against other powerful clans until his foundations were secure.
• After speaking with Hu Tieniu for two hours, Shen Jingchuan flew back to Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• Shen Jingchuan mistook Ju'er for Lin Qingyao in the dark, and Ju'er said Lin Qingyao had sent her to attend to him.
• Shen Jingchuan later checked Bai Ruoli's room with his Divine Sense, joined her, and told her what had happened with Ju'er.
• Bai Ruoli urged Shen Jingchuan to give Ju'er and Qinghe proper status instead of expecting them to marry elsewhere, and Shen Jingchuan reconsidered his plans for them.

Shen Jingchuan wrestled with his growing ties to the women in his life, while Bai Ruoli urged him not to ignore Qinghe. After Ju'er appeared as his newly acknowledged partner, Yue'er was overcome with jealousy and left in tears.

• Shen Jingchuan resolved not to become involved with more women, but Bai Ruoli reminded him that he could not ignore Qinghe.
• The next morning, Ju'er appeared with a newly changed hairstyle, and Qinghe realized she might have a chance with Shen Jingchuan too.
• Yue'er reacted to Ju'er’s appearance with grief and jealousy, then hurried away while Qinghe followed her.
• Shen Jingchuan promised Ju'er he would take responsibility for her and treat her well, making her happy and relieved.
• In the kitchen, Qinghe and Xiaocui recognized why Yue'er was crying, and Madam Liu let her have some quiet time.
• Yue'er wiped her tears, took the breakfast tray from Xiaocui, and headed toward the central courtyard.

Yue'er confronted Shen Jingchuan over believing he did not want her, and he promised to make her his woman when she turned eighteen. After reconciling with him, she told Ju'er she would be like her next year.

• Shen Jingchuan followed the tearful Yue'er and asked why she was upset.
• Yue'er told Shen Jingchuan she was angry because he had called her too young while Ju'er was only a year older.
• Shen Jingchuan promised to make Yue'er his woman when she turned eighteen and kissed her.
• Yue'er declared she would stay by Shen Jingchuan for life, then returned with him to eat.
• Ju'er asked Yue'er why she had cried, and Yue'er explained that Shen Jingchuan had promised to take her as his woman next year.

Shen Jingchuan visited Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua in the Heaven and Earth Ring and discovered that both had reached the Qi Refining Second Layer. After rewarding them with pills, he was summoned urgently by Little Black and Treading Snow.

• Shen Jingchuan spent the day with Lin Qingyao, Bai Ruoli, and the girls, then returned to his room to cultivate.
• Shen Jingchuan checked on Big Black, who remained inside a crimson cocoon, and reassured Little Black and Treading Snow that Big Black would emerge after advancing.
• Xian'er teased Shen Jingchuan about his intimacy with Ju'er and avoided answering whether he could block the ring's view of the outside.
• Shen Jingchuan found Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua had both reached the Qi Refining Second Layer and gave each sister five bottles of high-grade Qi Nourishing Pills.
• Su Qinghua led Shen Jingchuan toward the spiritual fields, but Little Black and Treading Snow urgently called him from the stables.

Big Black emerged from his cocoon with wings and a powerful fire ability, and Shen Jingchuan took him, Little Black, Treading Snow, Qingshu, and Qinghua flying through the night. After testing Big Black’s fire and having Treading Snow extinguish the blaze, Shen Jingchuan returned to Azure Cloud Stronghold and told Yue'er he might enter seclusion for a long time.

• Big Black broke free of his fiery cocoon, grew broad wings, and told Shen Jingchuan that he felt stronger than ever.
• Shen Jingchuan took Big Black, Little Black, Treading Snow, Qingshu, and Qinghua out for a night flight after retrieving his ring from his bedroom.
• At a mountain peak, Big Black unleashed a powerful sheet of fire across the mountainside, and Treading Snow used snow to put out the flames.
• After flying for nearly half a shichen, Shen Jingchuan returned to Azure Cloud Stronghold and put the horses and girls back into the space.
• Shen Jingchuan told Yue'er not to come to his room unless something important happened because he might enter seclusion for a long time, and she promised to stand guard.

Shen Jingchuan returned to the modern world, reassured Meng Ke about his safety, and showed her how much stronger he had become. After teasing her about the gap between their cultivation levels, he invited her to breakfast and called Elder Yang to arrange a meal.

• Shen Jingchuan returned to West Mountain Separate Garden, cultivated through the night, and called Meng Ke in the morning.
• Meng Ke drove to see Shen Jingchuan and clung to him, worried he might disappear again.
• Shen Jingchuan carried Meng Ke upstairs and showed her his five Five Elements Heaven and Earth Rings.
• Shen Jingchuan told Meng Ke he had reached Qi Refining Seventh Layer while she remained at Qi Refining First Layer, and she punched him in protest.
• Shen Jingchuan invited Meng Ke to breakfast and called Elder Yang, who agreed to have food brought to the table.

Shen Jingchuan set out to strengthen his ties with Elder Yang and brought Meng Ke to visit him for breakfast on Little Black. When armed guards mistook the flying beast for a threat and opened fire, Little Black blocked the bullets, and Shen Jingchuan called out to Elder Yang to explain.

• Elder Yang welcomed Shen Jingchuan’s casual manner and ordered his guard to have extra breakfast prepared.
• Shen Jingchuan explained that he wanted to make Earth a secure base by demonstrating his strength while avoiding needless trouble.
• Shen Jingchuan introduced Meng Ke to Little Black, and she overcame her fear and chose to ride him instead of the flying sword.
• Shen Jingchuan and Meng Ke flew to Elder Yang’s house on Little Black, who reached the courtyard in moments.
• The guards formed a combat line and fired at Little Black, but his Spiritual Power shield blocked every bullet.
• Shen Jingchuan stopped Little Black from retaliating and called out to Elder Yang over the gunfire.

Shen Jingchuan and Meng Ke arrived at Elder Yang’s courtyard on Little Black, startling the guards into opening fire before Elder Yang stopped them. After the misunderstanding was settled, Shen Jingchuan offered Elder Yang spirit tea and the promised Life-Extending Pills, while Elder Yang learned more about the Lightning Radiance Beast; as breakfast was served, Elder Yang stepped away to make a phone call.

• Elder Yang recognized Shen Jingchuan’s voice and stopped the guards from firing at him and Meng Ke as they landed on Little Black.
• Shen Jingchuan apologized for the surprise arrival and gave Elder Yang a bottle of spirit tea to make up for the dust stirred up in the courtyard.
• Elder Yang admired Little Black, learned he was a Lightning Radiance Beast from a special place, and invited Shen Jingchuan to breakfast.
• Shen Jingchuan reassured the guard squad leader and agreed to notify the guards before visiting again.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Elder Yang five bottles of the promised Life-Extending Pills, and Elder Yang stepped aside to make a phone call.