Chapter Summaries

Wang Changsheng attended an underground auction in Taiyuan Market, where he bought two bottles of Terra True Fiend but failed to win a damaged Third Order Demon Core. The auction ended with the White-Robed Scholar winning the core, and Wang Changsheng noticed several Foundation Establishment Cultivators following him afterward.

• Wang Changsheng sold the Tier 3 Flood Dragon’s meat, Essence Blood, and hide for 80,000 Spirit Stones, then went to Seclusion Wind Teahouse with a Jade Talisman.
• Wang Changsheng entered the underground auction, where Foundation Establishment Pills sold for 56,000 and 62,000 Spirit Stones.
• Wang Changsheng bid on the Terra True Fiend and won two bottles for 20,000 Spirit Stones.
• The White-Robed Scholar won an Azure Origin Ruler Talisman Treasure for 67,000 Spirit Stones.
• Wang Changsheng bid up to 80,000 Spirit Stones for the damaged Third Order Demon Core, but the White-Robed Scholar won it for 95,000.
• Wang Changsheng left the teahouse and noticed several Foundation Establishment Cultivators following the White-Robed Scholar.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng agreed to join Zhao Wuji and his companions on a Demon Beast hunt after waiting nearly a year for their uncle to emerge from seclusion. They met Jun Qianshang, a celebrated Chongyang Academy disciple, and then set off for the Taiyi Mountains to hunt a Four-Winged Sky Scorpion.

• Wang Changfeng urged Wang Changsheng to stop waiting for their uncle and join Zhao Wuji's hunting party, and Wang Changsheng agreed.
• At Ruyi Pavilion, Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng met Jun Qianshang, one of Chongyang Academy's Seven Sons, who soon left to handle urgent business.
• Zhao Wuji explained Jun Qianshang's status and proposed hunting a high-grade Tier 2 Four-Winged Sky Scorpion two days later, and the Wang brothers accepted.
• Zhao Wuji and his companions shared hunting advice and warned the brothers about dangerous beasts, birds, and insects in the Taiyi Mountains.
• Two days later, Wang Changsheng, Wang Changfeng, and the three Taiyi Immortal Sect disciples left the Market aboard Zhao Wuji's Azure Giant Crane.

Wang Changsheng, Wang Changfeng, Zhao Wuji, Xiao Tianzheng, and Chen Yuhan crossed a dangerous Black Forest and reached the Four-Winged Sky Scorpion's cave. They found the high-grade Tier 2 Demon Insect inside and began attacking it.

• Zhao Wuji gave the group Black Jade Balm to mask their scents before they entered the Black Forest.
• The group fought Black Toads, and the Black Flame Ants devoured two of them after their wounds attracted the swarm.
• The five traveled through the forest using spells and Talismans to avoid bringing their Dharma Artifacts into contact with demon beasts, then emerged a day later.
• Zhao Wuji led the group to the Four-Winged Sky Scorpion's cave, where Wang Changfeng sent an Ape Puppet ahead.
• The Four-Winged Sky Scorpion attacked the Ape Puppet with fireballs, and Xiao Tianzheng and Chen Yuhan launched attacks against it.

Wang Changsheng and the other cultivators fought two Four-Winged Sky Scorpions, only to discover that the larger one was a mutant with powerful lightning and tail-spine attacks. The battle continued as Zhao Wuji and Xiao Tianzheng joined Wang Changsheng’s Silver Giant Ape in attacking it.

• Wang Changsheng, Wang Changfeng, Zhao Wuji, Xiao Tianzheng, and Chen Yuhan attacked one Four-Winged Sky Scorpion, and Xiao Tianzheng’s Golden Bell let Zhao Wuji cut off its wings.
• The first scorpion broke free of Chen Yuhan’s White Net and resisted the group’s attacks as they tried to subdue it.
• A second, larger Four-Winged Sky Scorpion appeared, so Wang Changsheng released three more Puppet Beasts and Chen Yuhan shielded the group with a Blue Light Screen.
• The larger scorpion revealed its mutation by firing silver lightning and smashing two Puppet Beasts with its tail spines.
• Wang Changsheng sent out a Silver Giant Ape, while Zhao Wuji and Xiao Tianzheng joined the attack on the mutant scorpion.
• The mutant scorpion’s fireballs and lightning orbs collided with Zhao Wuji’s Red Flying Daggers, engulfing most of them in flame and electric arcs.

Wang Changsheng and his companions killed two Four-Winged Sky Scorpions, then followed Xiao Tianzheng’s Spirit Tracking Hound in search of Demon Beasts and spiritual medicine. The hound found Azure Jade Mushrooms but was killed by an Azure Flower Python, leaving the group facing a nest of Azure Fish Cicadas and their guardian.

• Wang Changsheng, Zhao Wuji, Xiao Tianzheng, and their companions overwhelmed and killed two Four-Winged Sky Scorpions, then divided the spoils.
• Wang Changsheng kept the Essence Souls of both scorpions, while Wang Changfeng received their Demon Core.
• Xiao Tianzheng released a Spirit Tracking Hound, which led the group through the wilderness for five days to two Azure Jade Mushrooms.
• Azure Wind Blades attacked the Spirit Tracking Hound, and an Azure Flower Python killed it before Xiao Tianzheng could save it.
• More than a dozen Azure Fish Cicadas appeared, and Xiao Tianzheng explained how they and the Azure Flower Python protected the Azure Jade Mushrooms in a symbiotic relationship.

Wang Changsheng, Zhao Wuji, and their companions killed the Azure Flower Python and drove off the Azure Fish Cicadas after the Spirit Tracking Hound died. Wang Changsheng revealed that his Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat could help them search for medicines, and the group prepared to continue their hunt with it.

• Xiao Tianzheng lamented the Spirit Tracking Hound’s death as the Azure Fish Cicadas attacked, and Zhao Wuji assigned the five cultivators their roles.
• Wang Changsheng and Zhao Wuji fought the Azure Flower Python with puppet beasts and spells, while Wang Changfeng and Xiao Tianzheng battled the Azure Fish Cicadas.
• Zhao Wuji’s final strike severed the battered Azure Flower Python’s head, and Wang Changsheng and his companions killed two Azure Fish Cicadas as the others escaped.
• The group divided the Demon Beast materials and Azure Jade Mushrooms, with Wang Changsheng taking the Tier 2 Demon Beasts’ Essence Souls and Wang Changfeng receiving a Demon Core.
• After Xiao Tianzheng worried they would have to search blindly without the hound, Wang Changsheng brought out his Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat to help locate Spirit Medicines.

Wang Ruyan received the Wang Family’s year-end reports on its population, resources, craftspeople, businesses, and finances. She ordered Wang Qingyuan to invest more in improving the ranks of Talisman Masters and Puppet Makers.

• Wang Changsheng used a Green Fruit to entice the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat to lead him and four others through the bamboo forest in search of Spirit Medicine.
• Two years later, Wang Mingsen reported the family’s Spirit Fields, harvests, fish, frogs, and clam pearls to Wang Ruyan.
• Wang Mingyan and Wang Mingzhan reported the family’s livestock and population, including its seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators and one newborn with a Spirit Root.
• Wang Changhui and Li Qiwen reported the numbers of Puppet Makers and Talisman Masters and their yearly output; Wang Ruyan stopped Wang Changhui from discussing irrelevant details.
• Wang Changxing reported on the family’s 15 shops, and Wang Qingyuan reported income of 23,543 Spirit Stones, expenditures of 19,650, and a profit of 3,893.
• Wang Ruyan told Wang Qingyuan to increase investment in training Talisman Masters and Puppet Makers to produce higher-ranked goods.

The Song Family of Mount Taihua visited Wang Family Stronghold to invite Wang Ruyan to its Old Ancestor’s four-hundredth birthday celebration. Wang Ruyan decided to attend personally while arranging for the family’s holdings to be watched, and she remained anxious that Wang Changsheng and his companions had not returned after six years.

• Wang Changhong informed Wang Ruyan that two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and ten Qi Refining Cultivators from the Song Family of Mount Taihua had arrived.
• Wang Qingshan met Song Qinghuan and Liu Ru outside Wang Family Stronghold and accompanied them into the Council Hall.
• Song Qinghuan gave Wang Ruyan an invitation to the Song Family Old Ancestor’s four-hundredth birthday celebration, and she accepted.
• Wang Qingshan offered to represent the Wang Family at the celebration, but Wang Ruyan said she would go herself and arranged for others to guard Red Leaf Ridge and Azure Lotus Market.
• Wang Ruyan worried that Wang Changsheng and the other two had not returned after six years, then silently wished for her husband’s safe return.

Wang Changsheng and his companions killed three Yellow Scale Scorpions after the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat was attacked in the Taiyi Mountains. Once the group divided the spoils, the rat led them deeper into the forest to search for spirit medicines.

• A Yellow Scale Scorpion attacked the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat, and Wang Changsheng's group prepared for more enemies underground.
• Zhao Wuji, Wang Changsheng, Xiao Tianzheng, Wang Changfeng, and Chen Yuhan fought three Yellow Scale Scorpions with coordinated attacks, using Xiao Tianzheng's Demon Suppression Bell to immobilize them.
• The group killed all three scorpions, and Wang Changsheng collected their Essence Souls while Wang Changfeng, Zhao Wuji, and the others divided the corpses.
• Zhao Wuji gave the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat a blue fruit, and Wang Changsheng let it lead the group onward in search of spirit medicines.

Wang Changsheng and the others pursued Golden-Eyed Azure Moon Rhinoceroses until a wounded Tier 3 Armor-piercing Beast suddenly attacked them. At an elder’s command, Zhao Wuji and Wang Changsheng tried to hold it back, but their attacks barely slowed its advance.

• Zhao Wuji, Xiao Tianzheng, Wang Changsheng, and their companions attacked the fleeing rhinoceros herd, killing several before most escaped.
• Zhao Wuji sent Chen Yuhan to gather the fallen beasts while he and the others continued chasing the herd.
• A wounded Tier 3 Armor-piercing Beast emerged from the ground, stunned the group with its howl, and petrified a Tier 2 High Grade rhinoceros.
• Meng Tianzheng identified himself as an elder of the Taiyi Immortal Sect and ordered the disciples to hold the beast back; Zhao Wuji then attacked it.
• Wang Changsheng joined Zhao Wuji, using his puppet beasts and Black Flood Dragon Banner to slow and freeze the rolling beast, but it shattered the ice wall.
• Zhao Wuji unleashed another Red Flood Dragon at the advancing Armor-piercing Beast.

Meng Tianzheng arrived as Wang Changsheng and Zhao Wuji struggled against the Armor-piercing Beast, then subdued it and promised Wang Changsheng Mystic Ice Water. Meng Tianzheng took the group toward the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

• The sphere overwhelmed Wang Changsheng and Zhao Wuji's defenses, but Meng Tianzheng arrived and stopped it from burrowing underground.
• Meng Tianzheng attacked the sphere with his Crimson Palm Leaf Fan until the Armor-piercing Beast emerged, weakened and nearly out of magical power.
• Meng Tianzheng planted a Restriction in the Armor-piercing Beast, fed it a medicinal pill, and stored it in his Spirit Beast Pouch.
• Meng Tianzheng awarded Zhao Wuji, Xiao Tianzheng, and Chen Yuhan Contribution Points and offered Wang Changsheng one request.
• Wang Changsheng asked for Mystic Ice Water, and Meng Tianzheng promised to obtain some and have Zhao Wuji deliver it.
• Wang Changsheng and the others joined Meng Tianzheng on his Crimson Fire Cloud and set off toward the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

Wang Changsheng returned to Taiyuan Market and began repairing a damaged puppet, while Wang Qingzhi struggled to express his feelings for Qi Shanshan. Wang Qingzhi left with Wang Ruyan for Elder Song’s birthday celebration, where his family hoped he would broaden his horizons and meet suitable marriage prospects.

• Wang Changsheng bought refining materials at the Golden Jade Pavilion and began repairing the Giant Ape Puppet Beast.
• Wang Qingzhi offered to bring Qi Shanshan something from the Song Family trip, but she challenged him to admit whether he had other intentions.
• Wang Qingqing told Wang Qingzhi to confess his feelings to their grandmother and warned him that Qi Shanshan might marry another clan member.
• Wang Ruyan told Wang Qingzhi he would accompany her to Elder Song’s four-hundredth birthday celebration, while Wang Qingqing agreed to watch the Spirit Fish Garden.
• The next day, Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingshan departed Wang Family Stronghold with ten clan members.

Wang Ruyan’s group arrived at Mount Taihua to attend the Song Family elder’s birthday celebration, and Song Qingxian escorted them through the mountain’s protective formation to their lodging. Wang Qingshan explored the busy streets, bought Violet Moon Spirit Rice, and headed for the Martial Arts Arena to meet other guests.

• Wang Ruyan presented the Wang Family’s invitation to Song Qingxian, who verified it and led the group through Mount Taihua’s fog-shrouded formation.
• Song Qingxian brought Wang Ruyan and the others to the Song Family’s ancestral seat and assigned them a courtyard below the mountain’s restricted summit.
• Wang Ruyan warned the group not to cause trouble and told them to explore in pairs while representing the Azure Lotus Mountain Wang Family.
• Wang Qingshan wandered through the shops, bought ten catties of Violet Moon Spirit Rice, and asked where visiting guests gathered.
• The shopkeeper directed Wang Qingshan to the Three Origins Teahouse and Martial Arts Arena, and Wang Qingshan set off for the arena.

Wang Qingshan browsed the Martial Arts Arena while Wang Qingzhi learned to shop and bought a jade hairpin for Qi Shanshan. At Three Origins Teahouse, Wang Ruyan reconnected with Fang Zixu and his family, and Ye Yunshang suggested introducing their children.

• Wang Qingshan asked a red-dressed stall owner to trade Glazed Stone, but she accepted only Fire Attribute Refining Materials and refused his alternatives.
• Wang Qingzhi tried to buy a Jade Butterfly Hairpin, and Wang Changfei taught him to compare prices and bargain among shops.
• Wang Qingzhi admitted he still liked the first hairpin, so he and Wang Changfei returned and bought it for fifty-nine Spirit Stones.
• Wang Ruyan met Fang Zixu, Ye Yunshang, and Fang Siruo at Three Origins Teahouse and praised Fang Siruo's cultivation progress.
• Ye Yunshang asked whether Wang Ruyan's son had arrived and suggested bringing him over to meet Fang Siruo.

Wang Ruyan and her family met Fang Zixu and his daughter, Fang Siruo, and considered whether she might suit Wang Qingzhi as a match. The family attended Qin Yunxiang’s Exchange Gathering, traded for materials, and promoted the Wang Family’s Puppet Beasts before the gathering ended.

• Wang Ruyan introduced Wang Qingshan to Fang Zixu and Ye Yunshang, and Fang Zixu invited her to the next day’s Exchange Gathering.
• Wang Qingzhi and Fang Siruo chatted about farming, Spirit Fish, and their families, then invited each other to visit.
• Wang Ruyan, Wang Changfei, and Wang Qingshan discussed Fang Siruo as a possible match for Wang Qingzhi, while Wang Qingshan said he did not want to marry for now.
• Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingzhi attended Qin Yunxiang’s Exchange Gathering, where Wang Ruyan traded two Fire Evasion Talismans for an ice-attribute Demon Core and Wang Qingshan traded a beast hide for a Fire Cloud Stone.
• Wang Ruyan told the gathered cultivators that the Azure Lotus Wang Family could refine Tier 1 and Tier 2 Puppet Beasts.

Wang Ruyan negotiated with several Wei Kingdom families and chose to establish a trade partnership with the Fang Family. After the families celebrated, she confronted Wang Qingzhi about his affection for Qi Shanshan and warned him not to let it interfere with family interests.

• Wang Ruyan declined the Qin Family's proposed exchange of Puppet Beasts for Spirit Grain, Talisman Paper, and Rhino Beasts because the goods did not meet the Wang Family's needs.
• After comparing offers from five families, Wang Ruyan chose to cooperate with the Fang Family because its Spirit Beans could support the Wang Family's expanding fish and clam farms, and the families shared a close friendship.
• Wang Ruyan and Fang Zixu agreed to trade Spirit Beans and Spirit Tea for Puppet Beasts and Purple Scale Carp, then celebrated with their families.
• At the meal, Wang Qingzhi praised Qi Shanshan's skills, prompting Wang Changfei to cut him off when he spoke too freely.
• Wang Ruyan told Wang Qingzhi that Qi Shanshan could not become his principal wife and cautioned him against harming the new alliance; Wang Qingzhi insisted he would not marry Fang Siruo.

Wang Ruyan attended Song Hefeng’s Birthday Celebration, where the Song Family announced Song Hezhe’s Core Formation and negotiated a trade alliance with the Wang Family. After returning to Wang Family Stronghold, Wang Ruyan ordered Wang Mingsen to monitor Wang Qingzhi’s closeness with Qi Shanshan and learn her fish-farming techniques.

• Wang Ruyan presented two Second Grade Middle Rank Puppet Beasts at Song Hefeng’s Birthday Celebration and was asked to remain on Mount Taihua.
• Song Hefeng announced that his cousin Song Hezhe had entered the Core Formation Stage under Chongyang Academy’s tutelage.
• Song Qingxi negotiated an annual trade agreement with Wang Ruyan involving Spirit Fruits, Puppet Beasts, Purple Scale Carp, and shops in Azure Lotus Market.
• Wang Ruyan and her group returned to Wang Family Stronghold after more than three months of travel.
• Wang Ruyan questioned Wang Mingsen about Wang Qingzhi and Qi Shanshan, then ordered him to keep them apart and have the Wang Family learn Qi Shanshan’s fish-farming techniques.

Wang Mingjiang struggled to advance with the Kui Water True Scripture because his spiritual sense was too weak, then decided to return to the Wang Family while Wang Changsheng stayed behind to gather resources. At Qin Family Ridge, Qin Yuntai and Qin Yunhu learned of a possible Ancient Cultivator Abode and wondered if its discovery was a conspiracy.

• Wang Mingjiang ended his cultivation session and worried that the Kui Water True Scripture could cause him to die without stronger spiritual sense.
• Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng told Wang Mingjiang about their recent years, and Wang Mingjiang decided to return to the Wang Family with Wang Changfeng.
• Wang Changsheng gave Wang Mingjiang and Wang Changfeng both Tier 2 High Grade Puppet Beasts, kept their belongings for the family, and departed with refining materials and Mystic Ice Water.
• At Qin Family Ridge, Qin Yunhu discussed finding extra income with Qin Yuntai, but Qin Yuntai urged him to focus on cultivation.
• A blue-robed youth reported that he had found a Restriction underground while chasing a Groundhog Beast, and Qin Yuntai and Qin Yunhu questioned whether it concealed an Ancient Cultivator Abode or a conspiracy.

The Qin clan discovered the Wang Family’s hidden Underground Cave, killed Wang Mingli and his people, and seized the Fishy Grass and Spirit Fish. After learning of the massacre, Wang Ruyan prepared to retaliate but ordered the family to strengthen its defenses and wait for a plan to destroy the Qin Family in one stroke.

• Qin Yuntai and Qin Yunhu decided to investigate the nearby Restriction and led cultivators to attack it.
• Wang Mingli ordered his people to dig up the Fishy Grass when the Underground Cave’s Formation came under attack, but Qin Yuntai and Qin Yunhu broke through and entered.
• Wang Mingli sent two clan members to alert the Wang Family, then fought the Qin cultivators and died; the two messengers escaped while the rest of his group was killed.
• The Qin clan identified the dead cultivators as members of the Azure Lotus Wang Family, then took the Fishy Grass and Spirit Fish.
• More than two months later, Wang Qinglei told Wang Ruyan that the Qin Family had killed Wang Mingli, and Wang Qingshan volunteered to attack Qin Family Ridge.
• Wang Ruyan ordered the Wang Family to strengthen its defenses and delay retaliation until she devised a plan to wipe out the Qin Family in one stroke.

Wang Ruyan sought support from her father and maiden family to avenge Wang Family cultivators killed by the Qin Family, but both fathers urged caution and secret preparation. A year later, Wang Qingzhi reunited with Qi Shanshan at the Spirit Fish Garden and brought her food for his grandmother's birthday.

• Wang Ruyan told Wang Mingyuan about the Qin Family killing her clansmen and said she wanted to ask her maiden family for help avenging them.
• Wang Mingyuan supported Wang Ruyan's decision, and she traveled to Wang Family Fortress to seek aid from Wang Shuming.
• Wang Shuming advised Wang Ruyan to delay retaliation, secretly investigate the Qin Family, and strengthen defenses because the Qin Family was affiliated with the Yellow Saint Palace.
• Wang Ruyan returned to Wang Family Stronghold, where she and Wang Mingyuan agreed to wait until attention faded before seeking revenge.
• Qin Yunxiang learned that Qin Yuntai and Qin Yunhu had killed Wang Family cultivators, ordered tighter precautions, and sent word to their sister at the Yellow Saint Palace.
• After a year apart, Wang Qingzhi met Qi Shanshan at the Spirit Fish Garden and shared food he had brought for his grandmother's birthday.