Chapter Summaries

Wang Chen restored the Crimson Ni Sword with the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron, then returned to cultivation and handled the spoils from the Xuan Yi bandits. After receiving generous mission rewards, he chose the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder as his new cultivation technique.

• Wang Chen restored the Crimson Ni Sword in the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron, shrank the cauldron, and began cultivating.
• Wang Chen gave Xu Xinlan the Xuan Yi bandits' spoils to sell and asked her to buy materials for Dragon Tiger Spirit Strengthening Soup.
• Wang Chen left the Xu family and submitted his mission to eliminate the Xuan Yi bandits at the Inner Sect General Affairs Department.
• Wang Chen received 2,600 Merit Points, the right to choose a Purple Mansion cultivation technique, and three days to comprehend the Ancestor Hall.
• Wang Chen selected the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder from the Library Pavilion to replace the Five Suns Dry Thunder.

Wang Chen entered West Sea Sect’s Ancestor Hall to comprehend the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Purple Mansion Chapter. There, he encountered the true soul of a former master, who began demonstrating the thunder technique for him.

• Wang Chen chose Nine Heavens Divine Thunder because it shared a pure Yang lineage with the Five Suns Dry Thunder he had already mastered.
• Using his Ancestor Token, Wang Chen ascended Taiqing Peak and entered the Ancestor Hall alongside five true inheritance disciples.
• Wang Chen settled in a corner of the hall, prayed to West Sea Sect’s forebears, and began studying the thunder technique’s true characters.
• As Wang Chen immersed himself in comprehension, he found himself on a mountain peak before a black-robed elder who appeared to be a former master’s true soul.
• The elder formed a hand seal and summoned repeated Lightning Strikes while Wang Chen held his focus and tried to comprehend the technique.

Wang Chen reached Great Accomplishment in the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method after three months of training on Lightning Island. While celebrating with a meal at the Nourishing Origin Cave, he was approached by Wu Yanqiu, who asked whether he knew about Thunder Beasts.

• Wang Chen used 10 Human Virtue points to raise the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method to Great Accomplishment and demonstrated its power by splitting a lightning-resistant stone stool with a Lightning Strike.
• Wang Chen left the Law Comprehension Cave after three months of training, having strengthened his Dao foundation and become ready to advance to the Purple Mansion third layer.
• Wang Chen went to the Nourishing Origin Cave and ordered a deluxe Spirit Food meal to celebrate his progress.
• Wu Yanqiu joined Wang Chen, set up a Mana barrier, and asked whether he knew about Thunder Beasts.
• Wang Chen explained that Thunder Beasts were spirit creatures born from thunder and lightning, and that their Thunder Cores could aid lightning cultivation and the forging of lightning-aspected items.

Wang Chen refused Wu Yanqiu’s attempt to recruit him for a dangerous Thunder Beast hunt and returned to cultivating lightning arts. At a later exchange gathering, he spotted a Thunder Core being auctioned for at least five hundred Medium Spirit Stones.

• Wu Yanqiu invited Wang Chen to join a party hunting a Thunder Beast nest, but he firmly declined.
• Wu Yanqiu told Senior Brother Zhao that Wang Chen had refused, and Zhao revealed that he had wanted Wang Chen to lure the Thunder Beasts from their nest.
• Wang Chen resumed cultivating the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method, but its progress after Great Accomplishment proved extremely slow.
• Half a month later, Wang Chen attended the Nourishing Origin Cave exchange gathering and browsed the disciples’ stalls.
• Wang Chen recognized a Thunder Core at Senior Brother Zhao’s stall, where Zhao set a starting bid of five hundred Medium Spirit Stones.

Wang Chen failed to buy an expensive thunder core at auction, then rejected Wu Yanqiu’s offer to join Zhao Hongsheng’s team. He bought a large supply of cheap thunderstones, hoping they could help with his Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method.

• Wang Chen bid on a thunder core but gave up when Zhao Hongsheng sold it for 1,150 Medium Spirit Stones.
• Wu Yanqiu introduced Wang Chen to Zhao Hongsheng and offered to recommend him for the team hunting thunder beasts, but Wang Chen declined.
• Wang Chen left Wu Yanqiu, suspecting her invitation had ulterior motives and deciding he did not need a thunder core badly enough to join the team.
• Wang Chen found a stall selling thunderstones and bargained with the owner for all 4,000 jin at 20 Medium Spirit Stones.
• The stall owner accepted Wang Chen’s offer, and Wang Chen paid for the thunderstones.

Wang Chen used the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron to refine a large supply of Thunderstone into a powerful Lightning Crystal. He then set up a stall at the Nourishing Origin Cave exchange gathering to buy more high-grade Thunderstone at a fixed price.

• Wang Chen asked Little Cauldron whether it could refine Thunderstone, and Little Cauldron agreed in exchange for one hundred medium spirit stones.
• Wang Chen placed the Thunderstone and spirit stones in the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron, then cultivated while Little Cauldron refined the materials.
• Wang Chen retrieved a large, sapphire-blue Lightning Crystal whose power surpassed the scattered crystals he had seen before.
• Wang Chen returned to the Nourishing Origin Cave and posted an offer to buy high-grade Thunderstone for one lower spirit stone per jin.
• Wang Chen refused to raise his offer, but cultivators still began trading their plentiful Thunderstone with him.

Wang Chen used Lightning Crystals refined by the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron to rapidly cultivate the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method, then went to the monthly exchange gathering to buy high-grade Thunderstone. After purchasing over a hundred thousand jin, he turned away an Inner Sect Disciple selling expensive Lightning Crystals, who became curious about his use for Thunderstone.

• Wang Chen saw that absorbing Lightning Crystals had raised his Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method to 315/400 and strengthened his resistance to lightning.
• Wang Chen put away a powerful Lightning Crystal and left the Law Comprehension Cave to stockpile Thunderstone at the monthly exchange gathering.
• Wang Chen bought high-grade Thunderstone from Outer Sect disciples for one Lower Spirit Stone per jin, eventually purchasing more than a hundred thousand jin.
• A short, stocky Inner Sect Disciple offered Wang Chen upper-medium-grade Lightning Crystals for ten Medium Spirit Stones per jin, but Wang Chen refused.
• The short, stocky cultivator questioned Wang Chen about using Thunderstone to cultivate, then left after Wang Chen gave a vague answer.

Wang Chen completed the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method and tested its power on Lightning Island, where he killed a Thunder Leopard and collected Thunder Cores. He returned to West Sea City, visited Xu Xinlan in Myriad Spirit City, and received a large quantity of Spirit Stones from her.

• Wang Chen refined over a hundred thousand Thunderstones into five Lightning Crystals and cultivated the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Method to Grand Completion.
• Wang Chen tested the lightning art during a storm, shrugged off a Lightning Strike, and killed a Thunder Leopard with a single cast.
• Wang Chen collected the Thunder Leopard's Thunder Core and continued practicing the lightning art on Lightning Island for three days.
• Wang Chen returned to West Sea City, traveled to Myriad Spirit City, and reunited with Xu Xinlan after months apart.
• Wang Chen gave Xu Xinlan the Thunder Cores he had collected, and she returned a Storage Bag filled with Spirit Stones.

After advancing to the Purple Mansion third layer, Wang Chen received a three-year mandatory assignment as Protector Heavenly Master in the remote border city of Great Ying. He left Xu Xinlan in Myriad Spirit City and set out for West Continent, suspecting the assignment was connected to Zuo Xiaomo.

• Wang Chen quietly advanced to the Purple Mansion third layer while cultivating in the West Sea Sect.
• The Sect Affairs Department ordered Wang Chen to serve a three-year term as Protector Heavenly Master in Great Ying, West Continent, and he accepted despite suspecting someone was targeting him.
• Wang Chen went to Myriad Spirit City and told Xu Xinlan to stay behind and wait for him while he was away.
• Three days later, Wang Chen boarded a Flying Ship for West Continent, and Zuo Xiaomo apologized for possibly causing his assignment.
• Wang Chen told Zuo Xiaomo to look after Xu Xinlan and to endure trouble until Wang Chen returned.

Wang Chen arrived in Daying City to take up a Sub-Protector Heavenly Master post in a frontier city troubled by Sand People raids and political tensions. He was received coldly by Grand Protector Luo Han, and the previous postholder hurriedly handed over his staff and fled, leaving Wang Chen with a difficult assignment and no trusted people.

• Wang Chen studied a book about Daying Prefecture and learned about its harsh frontier conditions, Sand People raids, and the deaths of several Protector Heavenly Masters.
• Wang Chen arrived in Daying City aboard a West Sea Sect Flying Ship and met Grand Protector Luo Han, who sent him to rest without offering a warm welcome.
• The next morning, a steward escorted Wang Chen to his Sub-Protector Heavenly Master Pavilion in the city's northwest corner.
• The previous Protector Heavenly Master transferred the pavilion's staff and personnel to Wang Chen, then fled with several disciples.
• Wang Chen realized he had inherited a dangerous post without any trustworthy attendants of his own.

Wang Chen discovered that the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion’s officials had ignored his appointment and learned from Xi Manyun that Wu Jingwei controlled the pavilion through his family’s power and local alliances. Wang Chen was left facing a deeply entrenched rival as he began his new post.

• Wang Chen noticed that Xi Manyun was the only steward to report to him and asked where the others had gone.
• Xi Manyun explained that Wu Jingwei had summoned the other stewards, openly slighting Wang Chen.
• After hesitating, Xi Manyun accepted Wang Chen’s offer of tea and described Wu Jingwei’s control over the pavilion.
• Xi Manyun revealed that Wu Jingwei, a powerful Wu Family elder, commanded the stewards, patrol guards, and local gangs, while enjoying Grand Protector Heavenly Master Luo Han’s support.
• Wang Chen realized that the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion effectively belonged to the Wu Family.

Wang Chen summoned the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion’s stewards after Wu Jingwei rallied them against the newly appointed Protector Heavenly Master. Xiang Yingzhe arrived late to the meeting, leaving Wang Chen’s response to his defiance unresolved.

• At a banquet, Wu Jingwei told the stewards that Wang Chen was a young cultivator from a Rogue Cultivator background and urged them to follow his lead.
• Wu Jingwei warned that Xi Manyun would soon be unable to interfere and told the stewards to keep control of their businesses.
• Wang Chen sent every steward except Wu Jingwei a talisman message ordering them to report to the pavilion the next morning.
• The stewards arrived for the meeting, and Wang Chen waited nearly half a shichen for Xiang Yingzhe, who had not appeared by the hour of the Snake.
• Xiang Yingzhe swaggered into the council hall late, offered a casual greeting, and asked Wang Chen to forgive him.

Wang Chen punished Xiang Yingzhe for deliberately arriving late, then confronted Wu Jingwei, who had ordered the slight. Wu Jingwei failed to pressure Wang Chen and, after Xi Manyun stayed silent, resolved to kill him.

• Wang Chen questioned Xiang Yingzhe about arriving late, declared him guilty of defying orders, and seized him with the Great Capturing Hand.
• Wang Chen crushed Xiang Yingzhe until he was gravely crippled, ignoring a voice that called for mercy.
• Wu Jingwei arrived, greeted Wang Chen, and demanded to know why Xiang Yingzhe had been punished.
• Wu Jingwei challenged Wang Chen to produce evidence and intimidated Xi Manyun, who could not bring herself to testify.
• Wu Jingwei decided that Wang Chen had to die to preserve his control over the Heavenly Master Pavilion and Upper Xun District.

Wang Chen used an Imprint Stone to prove Xiang Yingzhe’s misconduct, then stripped him of his authority and gave his streets to Xi Manyun. After Wu Jingwei backed down and left, Wang Chen questioned Xi Manyun about whether she could manage the territory.

• Wang Chen played an Imprint Stone recording that proved Xiang Yingzhe had defied him and offended his superior.
• Wu Jingwei apologized to Wang Chen but accepted that he could not challenge the evidence.
• Wang Chen reassigned Xiang Yingzhe’s streets to Xi Manyun, and Wu Jingwei left the council hall without objecting.
• Wang Chen sent Xiang Yingzhe home, questioned the other stewards, and ordered them to remain at their posts and work properly.
• Wang Chen kept Xi Manyun behind and asked whether she could handle Xiang Yingzhe’s territory, leaving her conflicted and speechless.

Wang Chen offered Xi Manyun the chance to take over Xiang Yingzhe's lucrative territory, while Wu Jingwei sought Luo Han's help against Wang Chen. After reviewing new information about Wang Chen, Luo Han chose to let the two men clash rather than intervene.

• Wang Chen asked Xi Manyun whether she wanted Xiang Yingzhe's territory and gave her until the next day to decide.
• Xi Manyun left the Heavenly Master Pavilion, and Wu Jingwei went to request an audience with Luo Han.
• Steward Sun told Wu Jingwei that Luo Han knew of the matter, then sent him away without offering help.
• Luo Han criticized Wu Jingwei for trying to use him against Wang Chen and explained that the sect had sent news about the new Heavenly Master.
• Luo Han decided to let Wang Chen and Wu Jingwei fight each other first.

Wang Chen secured Xi Wanhai’s cautious support as he began consolidating control of the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion and Xiang Yingzhe’s former territory. After the local families appeared to accept the transfer without resistance, Wang Chen grew wary of a hidden threat and prepared to investigate the Xun District himself.

• Xi Wanhai told Wang Chen that the Xi Family would support Xi Manyun’s takeover but would not openly risk conflict with the Wu Family or the General Celestial Master Prefecture.
• Wang Chen asked the Xi Family to replace the pavilion’s servants and maids and provide new guards, then finalized their cooperation with Xi Wanhai.
• Xi Wanhai assigned reliable people to support Xi Manyun and privately suggested that she consider becoming cultivation partners with Wang Chen.
• After seven days, Wang Chen finished reorganizing the pavilion as Wu Jingwei and the Xiang Family made no apparent move to oppose the transfer of one ward and five streets.
• Wang Chen suspected the outward calm concealed an undercurrent, so he had the Xi Family gather intelligence and decided to inspect the Xun District personally.

Wang Chen disguised himself as a low-level Rogue Cultivator to inspect Daying City, where he discovered a bustling, densely packed city and drew the attention of two hidden followers. After leading them into an alley, he encountered a boy who urged him to come with him.

• Wang Chen secretly left the Upper Xun Celestial Master Pavilion in disguise to explore Daying City without alerting its residents or the Xi Family.
• Wang Chen bought breakfast and gave two meat sandwiches to a hungry boy despite the stall attendant warning him that the boy's companions might latch onto him.
• Wang Chen wandered through Daying City's crowded streets, inspected shops and prices, and noted the city's rough local character and developed workshops.
• Wang Chen noticed two people following him and entered a deserted alley to confront them.
• A young boy rushed toward Wang Chen in the alley and urgently told him to come with him.

Wang Chen followed Meng Fei into Daying City's hidden underground district and met the orphaned children he cared for. After learning about Meng Fei's hardships and the White Wolf Gang, Wang Chen recognized the boy's dormant cultivation potential and took out a Jade Slip.

• Meng Fei led Wang Chen through a secret passage to the underground Cave Dwelling, escaping the White Wolf Gang.
• Meng Fei brought Wang Chen to his home, where more than ten children gathered around him for food.
• Wang Chen gave Meng Fei's group rice and meat, then learned that Meng Fei had rescued and supported many of the children.
• Meng Fei told Wang Chen about his family's misfortune, life in the Cave Dwelling, and the powerful White Wolf Gang led by Dong Huaishan.
• Wang Chen realized Meng Fei had spiritual talent but had spent five years in Mortal Transformation without advancing, then took out a Jade Slip.

Wang Chen discovered that Meng Fei had an exceptionally rare eight-pattern Spiritual Root, despite years of practicing a flawed technique he had found by chance. He offered to help Meng Fei rebuild his cultivation, leaving him wondering whether the youth was a Child of Fortune and he was the old grandpa.

• Wang Chen used the Heavenly Master Token to test Meng Fei's Spiritual Root and found eight cloud patterns.
• Wang Chen asked about Meng Fei's cultivation technique, and Meng Fei showed him the Xuan Yuan Technique he had taught himself.
• Wang Chen examined the manual and warned Meng Fei that it contained errors and omissions and should no longer be practiced.
• Wang Chen realized Meng Fei might have damaged an even greater natural talent by practicing the counterfeit technique.
• Meng Fei and the children knelt before Wang Chen, who helped Meng Fei up and promised to guide him.

Wang Chen decided to help Meng Fei recover and cultivate, then discovered that most of the orphans under Meng Fei’s care had exceptional Spiritual Roots. After seeing the children’s hardship and generosity, Wang Chen began considering how to nurture their group.

• Wang Chen offered Meng Fei cultivation techniques and told him to replenish his blood and vital essence before beginning formal study.
• Meng Fei asked Wang Chen to test his younger brothers and sisters and offered to give them his share of cultivation resources.
• Wang Chen tested the thirteen children and found that ten had Spiritual Roots, including several with five or six patterns, while the other three had physiques suited to martial arts.
• Second Sister served the children Spirit Rice and beast meat, and Wang Chen noticed her six-pattern aptitude and the children’s poverty.
• Wang Chen decided the children could form a powerful cultivation family if they received sufficient resources and opportunities.