Chapter Summaries

Cha Liangping warned Jiang Sheng that the river god he had slain was one of thirteen Purple Mansion Realm incarnations, while the true body was likely a Golden Core cultivator who would emerge from seclusion within two years. Jiang Sheng chose to remain on Qingping Mountain and prepare, beginning Tian Ming'an's cultivation before entering seclusion.

• Cha Liangping told Jiang Sheng that the river god had thirteen incarnations and that the Cha Family had promised to provide incense for fifty years in exchange for help forming a golden core.
• Jiang Sheng learned that only two years remained before the river god's seclusion ended and rejected Cha Liangping's advice to leave Dongjun.
• Jiang Sheng sent Magistrate Zhang and the other visitors away from Qingping Mountain and resolved to face the coming enemy rather than flee.
• Jiang Sheng helped Tian Ming'an draw qi into his body, making him a first-layer Qi Refining Realm cultivator, and taught him the Azure Yuan Talisman Scripture.
• Jiang Sheng told Tian Ming'an that a Golden Core True Person would come for him and ordered his disciple to leave the mountain with cultivation resources, but Tian Ming'an refused.

Jiang Sheng secluded himself at Qingxuan Temple, advancing his cultivation to the late stage of foundation establishment while Tian Ming'an began training under his guidance. After a year apart from the world, Jiang Sheng emerged in the twelfth lunar month and noted that only one year remained.

• Jiang Sheng activated the Flowing Light Jadewater Formation, sealed Qingxuan Temple, and entered seclusion while Tian Ming'an chose to stay with him.
• Tian Guofu and Zhang Qing were unable to enter the temple, and Zhang Qingyun warned the county’s people to stay away as Qingxuan Temple faded from public attention.
• After three months, Jiang Sheng emerged briefly, answered Tian Ming'an’s questions about the Azure Yuan Talisman Scripture, and cautioned him to adapt his cultivation rather than imitate others.
• Zhang Qingyun received a place for Zhang Qing at the Qing Province Dao Palace, but Zhang Qing said she aspired to learn from a Golden Core True Person and attain a golden core.
• After another year of seclusion, Jiang Sheng emerged in the twelfth lunar month with cultivation at the late stage of foundation establishment and said only one year remained.

Jiang Sheng emerged from seclusion and caught Bai Ying, a white fox, near Qingxuan Temple, but Qingman persuaded him to let her go. When Qingman revealed that a Jade-Green Lotus lay in territory held by a Black Fire Snake, Jiang Sheng became interested in obtaining it to help him open his Purple Mansion within a year.

• Jiang Sheng spotted Bai Ying outside Qingxuan Temple, restrained her, and demanded an explanation from the person speaking from the woods.
• Qingman revealed herself and explained that Bai Ying was her niece, who had come to watch fireworks after her parents fled their territory to a Black Fire Snake.
• Jiang Sheng let Qingman and Bai Ying leave, saying he did not care about their family’s dispute or wish to punish Bai Ying for watching fireworks.
• Qingman told Jiang Sheng that a Jade-Green Lotus remained in the abandoned residence within the territory seized by the Black Fire Snake.
• Jiang Sheng learned that the Azure Fox Clan lacked the strength to challenge the snake and that the abandoned residence could not be opened without the right means.

Jiang Sheng agreed to help Bai Shang and Qing Yun reclaim their hidden abode in exchange for the Jade-Green Lotus, then flew with them toward Qingping Mountain's eastern side. There, Black Huan broke through the abode's formation and prepared to claim the lotus before Jiang Sheng arrived.

• Bai Shang offered Jiang Sheng the Jade-Green Lotus in exchange for help reclaiming the abode, and Jiang Sheng proposed sharing the Azure Lotus Pills made from its seeds.
• Jiang Sheng left Bai Ying at Qingxuan Temple and flew east with Bai Shang, Qing Yun, and Qingman.
• Black Huan, a late-stage Foundation Establishment snake seeking the Jade-Green Lotus to advance its cultivation, forced captured Qi Refining cultivators to find a way into the abode.
• Black Huan killed a cultivator who suggested enlisting the Zhao Family, then accepted another cultivator's discovery that the formation had weakened.
• Black Huan attacked the weakened formation until it broke and declared that it was coming for the Jade-Green Lotus.

Black Huan waited to claim the Jade-Green Lotus, but Jiang Sheng and the foxes returned to the predecessor’s old abode and confronted him. Jiang Sheng revealed himself as Black Huan’s tribulation, and Black Huan attacked him.

• Black Huan devoured the Qi Refining Realm cultivators trapped in the old abode, then coiled beside the Jade-Green Lotus to wait for it to bloom.
• Jiang Sheng and Bai Shang, Qing Yun, and Qingman found their damaged cave abode and followed traces of battle into the predecessor’s old abode.
• Black Huan attacked the foxes, but their spells could not pierce his scales; he boasted that he would soon reach the Purple Mansion Realm and rule Qingping Mountain.
• Jiang Sheng revealed himself and cut Black Huan with the Qingping Sword, while the three foxes withdrew from the cave abode.
• Jiang Sheng declared that he had come for the Jade-Green Lotus and was Black Huan’s tribulation; Black Huan responded by attacking him.

Jiang Sheng killed Black Huan after its bloodline drove it into a painful, uncontrolled advance toward the Purple Mansion Realm. He secured the Jade-Green Lotus and stayed at the ruined abode to guard it until it matured in six months.

• Black Huan unleashed fireballs, flames, and tail strikes against Jiang Sheng, but Jiang Sheng wounded it with the Qingping Sword and rain needles.
• Black Huan's bloodline forced its body toward the Purple Mansion Realm, and its agony drove it mad as it flooded the abode with black-and-red demonic fire.
• Jiang Sheng cut through Black Huan's demonic flames with a sword strike, killing it and storing its corpse and demon blood in his pouch.
• Jiang Sheng, Bai Shang, Qing Yun, and Qingman found the Jade-Green Lotus unharmed in the rear courtyard.
• Qing Yun and Qingman returned to the Azure Fox clan, while Bai Shang helped Jiang Sheng clean up and kept watch outside the abode.
• Jiang Sheng began cultivating beside the lotus pond and planned to guard the Jade-Green Lotus until it matured in six months.

A vicious late-stage foundation establishment Black Fire Snake appeared in Boundary County, prompting Wu Fang and Lin Zhiyong to seek help from Chen Ping and the Zhao Family. As cultivators gathered to confront the beast and pursue a suspected treasure, rumors spread that Boundary County held riches.

• Wu Fang learned that the Black Fire Snake had driven out Boundary County’s two gentle foundation establishment beasts and wiped out the cultivators sent against it.
• Wu Fang urged Lin Zhiyong to recruit Chen Ping and ask the Sea Commandery governor to involve the Zhao Clan.
• Lin Zhiyong asked Chen Ping for help, and Chen Ping agreed to gather companions, hoping the beast’s appearance meant a heavenly treasure had emerged.
• Zhao Hong sent Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun to Boundary County to slay the snake and search for treasure.
• Chen Ping gathered helpers, and rumors of treasure in Boundary County spread through Sea Commandery’s cultivation circles.

Rumors of treasure drew numerous cultivators to Qingping Mountain, where Chen Ping, Ning Kang, and Lei Zhen attacked Bai Shang while searching for the Black Fire Snake. After Gongsun Yulong and the Zhao Clan joined the scene, Bai Shang revealed that Jiang Sheng had slain the snake, and Jiang Sheng arrived just as Ning Kang attacked again.

• Rumors of treasure brought several foundation establishment cultivators and many rogue cultivators to Boundary County, and they set out for Qingping Mountain.
• Chen Ping, Ning Kang, and Lei Zhen found Bai Shang and attacked him, believing he could lead them to the Black Fire Snake.
• Gongsun Yulong deflected Ning Kang’s Frostblade Saber and intervened, then Zhao Hong, Zhao Rui, and Zhao Jun arrived and surrounded Bai Shang.
• Bai Shang told the cultivators that Jiang Sheng had already slain the Black Fire Snake, but Ning Kang disbelieved him and attacked.
• Jiang Sheng’s Sword Qi knocked the Frostblade Saber away as it descended on Bai Shang.

Jiang Sheng drove off the cultivators who had gathered around Bai Shang, then warned that they would return once the Jade-Green Lotus matured. Months later, the lotus bloomed and drew hidden Foundation Establishment cultivators toward Qingping Mountain, and Jiang Sheng went to meet them.

• Jiang Sheng killed the Black Fire Snake and forced the cultivators surrounding Bai Shang to withdraw; Zhao Hong and Chen Ping's groups later stayed hidden in Boundary County, waiting for a chance to claim the mountain's treasure.
• Jiang Sheng told Bai Shang that strength determined whose claims prevailed, while Bai Shang reflected on his words.
• For several months, Boundary County remained quiet as Jiang Sheng waited for the Jade-Green Lotus to mature.
• On the summer solstice, the Jade-Green Lotus bloomed, its emerald light and fragrance stirring the mountain's beasts and revealing numerous hidden Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Jiang Sheng summoned the Qingping Sword and went to greet the uninvited guests, leaving Bai Shang to handle the mountain's beasts.

Jiang Sheng killed the cultivators who tried to seize the treasure on Qingping Mountain and drove the survivors away. He returned to the cave dwelling, where he prepared to collect the Jade-Green Lotus and take Bai Shang back to Qingxuan Temple.

• Jiang Sheng killed Poison Palm Kang Xing, Han Qianli, and Zhang Han as they attacked him on Qingping Mountain.
• Chen Ping, Ning Kang, Lei Zhen, and two other cultivators launched a coordinated attack, but Jiang Sheng killed them with his sword techniques.
• Zhao Hong pretended he had come to help Jiang Sheng and quickly left with Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun after Jiang Sheng accepted his excuse.
• Jiang Sheng collected the dead cultivators' storage bags and magical artifacts, then ordered the remaining cultivators to leave the mountain.
• Jiang Sheng returned to the cave dwelling and told Bai Shang he would collect the Jade-Green Lotus before taking him to Qingxuan Temple.

Jiang Sheng retrieved the Jade-Green Lotus, refined eighteen Azure Lotus Pills with Bai Shang, and prepared to break through to the Purple Mansion realm. After consuming six pills in seclusion, he realized he would be ready to open his Purple Mansion in seven days.

• Zhao Hong took Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun away from Boundary County and resolved to seize the resources left by the dead cultivators.
• Jiang Sheng collected the Jade-Green Lotus’s Lotus Throne and returned with Bai Shang to Qingxuan Temple.
• Jiang Sheng and Bai Shang refined eighteen Azure Lotus Pills over four days, then Bai Shang left with Qing Yun, Qingman, and Bai Ying carrying half the pills.
• Jiang Sheng decided to enter seclusion to break through to the Purple Mansion realm, while Tian Ming'an chose to remain at Qingxuan Temple.
• Jiang Sheng spent six months refining six Azure Lotus Pills, then realized his Purple Mansion breakthrough would be possible in seven days.

Jiang Sheng opened his Purple Mansion without external aids, stabilized his cultivation, and developed the embryonic Waterlike Sword divine ability. He decided to investigate the Golden Core Realm river god by visiting the Cha Family in Dongjun, and invited Tian Ming'an to accompany him.

• Jiang Sheng endured the pain of forcing open his celestial meridian and used the Jade-Green Lotus Platform's spiritual energy to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm.
• Jiang Sheng cultivated for over half a month while Tian Ming'an watched spiritual energy gather around Qingxuan Temple, and Bai Shang investigated before withdrawing.
• Jiang Sheng left seclusion, gave Tian Ming'an a bottle of Azure Lotus Pills, and flew to the Taiping River to test his new power.
• Jiang Sheng formed the Waterlike Sword and demonstrated that it could split the river and divide into four sword shadows.
• Jiang Sheng decided to investigate the Golden Core Realm river god through the Cha Family in Dongjun and invited Tian Ming'an to go with him.

Jiang Sheng visited the Cha Family to learn about the Taiping River River God and discovered a possible connection to the Azure Cloud Sect’s former sect master. He decided to investigate through the Moon-Embracing Sect, while remaining determined not to reconcile with the River God.

• Jiang Sheng sent Tian Ming'an to deliver a visiting card and arranged to visit the Cha Family.
• Cha Liangping welcomed Jiang Sheng through the main gates and was shocked that he had opened his Purple Mansion in less than two years.
• Jiang Sheng told Cha Liangcai that he would confront the River God despite the danger, and Cha Liangcai recounted first encountering the River God forty years earlier.
• Jiang Sheng reasoned that the River God’s fifty-year incense sacrifice might help him recover from a grave injury and change his fate.
• Cha Liangcai revealed that the River God appeared around the time Azure Nether True Person Sun Chang returned mortally wounded and the Azure Cloud Sect announced his death.
• Jiang Sheng chose to seek information from the Moon-Embracing Sect, and told Tian Ming'an that reconciliation with the River God was not an option.

Jiang Sheng visited the Moon-Embracing Sect to investigate the Azure Cloud Sect’s succession and clarify his choices regarding the Taiping River God. After learning what Elder Konglan knew, he resolved to return to Dongjun and settle the matter with the river god.

• Jiang Sheng told Tian Ming'an that cultivation required advancing rather than retreating, then flew toward the Moon-Embracing Sect.
• Jiang Sheng met Xu Xiao, who took him to see her master, Konglan.
• Konglan told Jiang Sheng that Sun Yu had inherited the Azure Cloud Sect after Sun Chang’s death, and that the Heavenly Sword Sect and Moon-Embracing Sect had supported the succession.
• Jiang Sheng asked how the Moon-Embracing Sect would respond if he killed the Taiping River God or joined forces with him against the Azure Cloud Sect, and Konglan said her sect prioritized Qing Province’s stability.
• Jiang Sheng clarified his resolve, collected Tian Ming'an, and declared that he would return to Dongjun to settle matters with the Taiping River God.

Jiang Sheng began destroying Sun Chang’s River God avatars, freeing Dongjun’s counties from human sacrifices and undermining the incense offerings Sun Chang needed to complete his golden core. After Jiang Sheng destroyed five avatars, he challenged Sun Chang to finally reveal himself.

• Jiang Sheng told Cha Liangcai that he intended to settle things with the River God, and Cha Liangping later sent him a letter of goodwill.
• A year later, Jiang Sheng killed the River God at Li County’s Grand Sacrifice and rescued the children bound to the rafts.
• Jiang Sheng slew the River Gods in Ping County and Leliang County over the next two days, shocking Dongjun and weakening the remaining River Gods’ hold over the people.
• Sun Chang raged as Jiang Sheng’s attacks destroyed his avatars and damaged his chances of completing his incense-powered golden core.
• After Jiang Sheng destroyed a fifth avatar and its formation, he called out to Sun Chang and demanded that he show himself.

Jiang Sheng confronted Sun Chang, whose damaged false core still gave him the power of a Golden Core cultivator, above Dongjun Commandery City. Their battle left Sun Chang’s core weakening, and he realized he could not afford to prolong the fight.

• Sun Chang emerged from the Taiping River and attacked Jiang Sheng with a towering tide, but Jiang Sheng split the waves with the Azure Duckweed Sword.
• Jiang Sheng taunted Sun Chang about the Profound Wave Azure Cloud Scripture, driving Sun Chang into his obsession and prompting him to unleash Overlapping Waves of the Vast Sea.
• Jiang Sheng countered Sun Chang’s waves with a river of sword qi, then summoned two Bright Li-Fire Talisman dragons to attack him.
• Sun Chang formed countless weapons from water vapor to overwhelm the fire dragons, while Jiang Sheng’s sword and explosions continued to break through his defenses.
• Jiang Sheng and Sun Chang traded attacks above Dongjun as the people below fled, and Sun Chang’s false core developed new cracks as its power dwindled.

Jiang Sheng defeated Sun Chang by using four Waterlike Swords to pierce him and disrupt his flawed false core. Sun Chang died in the Taiping River, and Jiang Sheng recovered his core and understood how their fortunes and Sun Chang’s damaged cultivation had led to his defeat.

• Sun Chang summoned a massive Kun Fish with his divine ability, threatening Jiang Sheng and the people of Dongjun Commandery City.
• Jiang Sheng sent four sword rainbows in different directions and used them to pierce Sun Chang’s defenses and wound his false core.
• Sun Chang tried to draw more source power from his failing false core, but Jiang Sheng’s swords severed him at the waist and he fell into the Taiping River.
• Jiang Sheng found Sun Chang’s body near the Taiping River Palace and took the cracked false core from his dantian.
• Jiang Sheng recognized that his Jade-Green Lotus Platform had sustained his spiritual power while Sun Chang’s damaged false core had led to his defeat.

Jiang Sheng returned to Yuanqiao with a strange figurine and a Golden Register recovered from Sun Chang’s underwater manor, prompting Dao Ling True Person to take him to Penglai. The chapter left Jiang Sheng before Tianshu True Person, Penglai’s sect master, with the strange objects in the elders’ custody.

• Jiang Sheng broke into Sun Chang’s underwater manor, found a strange figurine named Heavenly King Jie Moke and a Golden Register, and sealed both in jade boxes.
• Jiang Sheng destroyed the manor’s formation and returned to Qingping Mountain after collecting Sun Chang’s storage bags and the manor’s treasures.
• News spread that Jiang Sheng had slain a golden core realm river god, while Tian Ming'an repeatedly told visitors that Jiang Sheng was away.
• Jiang Sheng traveled to Yuanqiao Island and told Dao Ling True Person about the events in Qing Province, giving him the sealed objects.
• Dao Ling True Person brought Jiang Sheng through the gate to Penglai and led him to meet Tianshu True Person.

Jiang Sheng received a fourth-rank treasure stipend from Penglai and returned toward Qing Province after Tianshu True Person dealt with the hidden threat in the golden booklet. On the way, he declined an invitation from a Golden Core dragon heir and reached Qingping Mountain, intent on secluded cultivation.

• Tianshu True Person praised Jiang Sheng and awarded him a fourth-rank treasure stipend, then discussed the western threat with Daolingzi.
• Tianshu True Person destroyed a phantom spirit hidden in the golden booklet and sent Daolingzi to deliver the statue to the Qinghua Dao Sect and Tianhe Dao Sect.
• Jiang Sheng collected pills, precious materials, and a Bodhi Fruit from Tianji Peak before Daolingzi escorted him away from Yuanqiao.
• While crossing the Eastern Sea, Jiang Sheng refused a Golden Core cultivator's invitation aboard a tower ship, suspecting the man was a dragon heir.
• Jiang Sheng reached Qingping Mountain and resolved to return to the Daoist ground and cultivate in seclusion.

Jiang Sheng spent years cultivating in seclusion on Qingping Mountain while teaching Tian Ming'an about Yuanqiao and preparing him to enter Penglai. His old friend Lin Fan arrived and invited him to pursue the Water-Fire Spirit Pearl.

• Jiang Sheng returned to Qingxuan Temple, accepted gifts from the Azure Cloud Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect, and resumed secluded cultivation without meeting Qing Province's powerful clans and sects.
• Jiang Sheng trained Tian Ming'an in swordsmanship and explained Yuanqiao's three trials, Penglai's rules, and his own childhood there.
• Jiang Sheng reflected on his cultivation and plans to seek a Core Formation opportunity, then returned to seclusion as his reputation spread across several provinces.
• Lin Fan arrived at Qingxuan Temple, reunited with Jiang Sheng, gave Tian Ming'an a flood dragon horn, and shared tea with Jiang Sheng.
• Lin Fan invited Jiang Sheng to accompany him on an opportunity involving the Water-Fire Spirit Pearl.