Chapter Summaries

Wang Chen accepted a three-year retainer position with the Xu family in exchange for a share of its profits and monthly Essence of Five Elements. After refining the rare substance and gaining cultivation experience, he agreed to spend New Year's Eve at Xu Xinlan's home.

• Wang Chen signed Xu Xinlan's appointment letter and agreed to help the Xu family with troubles he could handle.
• Zuo Xiaomo told Wang Chen that an evil tide had devastated the Nine Dragon Underground Palace, delaying the Outer Sect assessment until next year.
• Wang Chen refined a portion of Essence of Five Elements, improving his mana and gaining one point of Innate Five Elements Technique experience.
• The new year arrived, and Xu Xinlan invited Wang Chen to spend New Year's Eve at her home.
• Wang Chen accepted Xu Xinlan's invitation.

Wang Chen arrived at the Xu residence and learned that Xu Xinlan had been poisoned and was being harassed by her late husband's wastrel brother. When Third Master Chen publicly insulted Xu Xinlan, Wang Chen struck him and used his status as an Inner Sect Disciple of the West Sea Sect to drive off the onlookers.

• Xu Xinlan welcomed Wang Chen to her residence and hosted him at a private wine feast.
• Xu Xinlan revealed that a villain in her household had poisoned her, leaving red blotches on her face, and explained why she chose not to seek a cure.
• Xu Xinlan told Wang Chen that her brother-in-law, Third Master Chen, repeatedly harassed her and squandered the Spirit Stones she gave him.
• Wang Chen stopped Xu Xinlan from sending Uncle Zhong to handle Third Master Chen and went to the front gate himself.
• Wang Chen slapped Third Master Chen, warned the crowd of his standing in the West Sea Sect, and ordered them to leave.

Xu Xinlan admitted she had deceived Wang Chen about controlling her poison and had arranged Third Master Chen’s confrontation, but Wang Chen forgave her with a warning. On New Year’s Eve, she served him potent spirit wine and seduced him while he was drunk; after they spent the night together, she told him she had been willing.

• Third Master Chen fled after Wang Chen drove him away, realizing Xu Xinlan had set him up.
• Xu Xinlan revealed her unblemished face and admitted that she could control her poison and had brought Third Master Chen to provoke Wang Chen.
• Wang Chen forgave Xu Xinlan but warned that another scheme would void their agreement.
• Xu Xinlan served Wang Chen aged Immortal Cloud Wine, and he drank until his consciousness and Mana grew sluggish.
• Xu Xinlan kissed Wang Chen, and he fell into a trance and used the Primordial Yin Harmonization Secret Method with her.
• After they spent the night together, Wang Chen asked Xu Xinlan why she had chosen him, and she said she had been willing.

Xu Xinlan told Wang Chen how her difficult past and talent for discerning people had led her to choose him as a protector. Wang Chen promised to keep her safe, and she revealed that she secretly owned a mine producing Essence of Five Elements, offering to show it to him.

• Xu Xinlan recounted her marriage to a frail Chen Family descendant, his death, and the hardships she had faced while preserving the family business.
• Xu Xinlan explained that her innate talent let her discern people's hearts and that she had chosen Wang Chen because she trusted his character and potential.
• Wang Chen promised to protect Xu Xinlan and said she no longer needed to give him a share of her business profits, asking instead for more Essence of Five Elements to aid his cultivation.
• Xu Xinlan revealed that the Essence of Five Elements came from a secret mine she owned, whose location was known only to her and Uncle Zhong.
• Xu Xinlan offered to take Wang Chen to the mine and said she wanted to entrust the secret to him because Uncle Zhong was old and could not protect her much longer.

Wang Chen accompanied Uncle Zhong to the Xu family's hidden cavern, where he discovered the source of their secret supply of Essence of Five Elements. After Uncle Zhong entrusted the cavern to him, Wang Chen offered to obtain a high-grade Acupoint Breaking Pill so the old steward could attempt to open his mansion again.

• Wang Chen and Uncle Zhong traveled to the Xu family's mine and met its manager and overseers.
• Uncle Zhong led Wang Chen back to a hidden passage and showed him the underground cavern where Essence of Five Elements gathered.
• Uncle Zhong explained how he had discovered the cavern, concealed it, and used some of its Essence of Five Elements to recruit Purple Mansion cultivators.
• Uncle Zhong entrusted the cavern to Wang Chen and asked him to treat Xu Xinlan well.
• Wang Chen learned that Uncle Zhong had failed to break through his apertures once and offered to exchange for a high-grade Acupoint Breaking Pill if he chose to try again.

Wang Chen prepared a secure breakthrough attempt for Qiu Zhong and helped him challenge the Purple Mansion realm, hoping the old cultivator would protect Xu Xinlan if Wang Chen left for the upper realm. When a heart demon appeared to ruin Qiu Zhong’s breakthrough, Wang Chen used the Primordial Dao Stele’s inspiration to suppress it.

• Wang Chen secured the Essence of Five Elements cavern with a new hidden passage and reinforced walls.
• Wang Chen spent nearly a thousand Merit Points on an Acupoint Breaking Pill and Meridian Nourishing Elixir, then arranged for Qiu Zhong to attempt his breakthrough in Myriad Spirit City.
• Wang Chen guarded Qiu Zhong as he took the elixir and pill and began breaking through his bottleneck.
• Qiu Zhong’s breakthrough reached its critical moment, but a heart demon emerged and began covering him in black qi.
• The Primordial Dao Stele illuminated Wang Chen’s Divine Soul, and Wang Chen struck Qiu Zhong’s forehead, crying out a decree that dispelled the black qi.

Wang Chen used the Primordial Dao Stele to dispel Uncle Zhong’s inner demon, helping him break through to the Purple Mansion realm. He returned to Xu Xinlan with the good news and urged her to focus on her own cultivation, offering to help her advance.

• Wang Chen sensed a cursed inner demon tormenting Uncle Zhong and used the Primordial Dao Stele to destroy it as Uncle Zhong opened his Purple Mansion.
• Uncle Zhong awoke from his breakthrough, thanked Wang Chen for saving him, and vowed to repay his kindness.
• Wang Chen urged Uncle Zhong to consolidate his new realm, then left to tell Xu Xinlan that he had succeeded.
• Xu Xinlan cried with relief and thanked Wang Chen for helping Uncle Zhong attain the Purple Mansion.
• Wang Chen encouraged Xu Xinlan to cultivate harder and offered to help her advance, which she accepted without refusing.

At Qiu Zhong’s Ascension Feast, Wang Chen received a summons from West Sea Sect Inner Sect disciple Liang Xun, who demanded that he abandon the Outer Sect assessment and his promise to protect Zuo Xiaomo. Wang Chen refused, leaving Liang Xun’s attempt at coercion unresolved.

• Qiu Zhong’s breakthrough to Purple Mansion strengthened the Xu family, and Xu Xinlan hosted a grand feast to announce the family’s security.
• A maid delivered Wang Chen a letter from an honored guest, and he followed her upstairs to meet Liang Xun and four Outer Sect disciples.
• Liang Xun asked Wang Chen to give up the Outer Sect assessment and stop acting as Zuo Xiaomo’s protector.
• Wang Chen refused because he had already promised Zuo Xiaomo, while Liang Xun warned him of the danger and offered to introduce him to the Profound Origin lineage.

Wang Chen refused Liang Xun’s offer of support, then continued cultivating until he received notice of Zuo Xiaomo’s rescheduled Outer Sect assessment. Just before the assessment, the sect assigned Wang Chen a mandatory mission to hunt horse bandits far away, and he suspected Liang Xun had arranged it to keep him from serving as Zuo Xiaomo’s Dao Protector.

• Wang Chen rejected Liang Xun’s offer, citing his promise to Zuo Xiaomo, and Liang Xun vowed that he would eventually regret it.
• Wang Chen resumed cultivating, spent time with Xu Xinlan, and advanced toward the Purple Mansion third layer.
• Zuo Xiaomo informed Wang Chen that the Outer Sect assessment would take place on the first day of the fourth month at the Nine Dragon Underground Palace, which remained dangerous after an anomaly.
• Wang Chen agreed to attend as Zuo Xiaomo’s Dao Protector, then received a mandatory mission to wipe out horse bandits at the border between Central Continent and Northern Continent.
• Wang Chen suspected Liang Xun had arranged the mission to interfere with the assessment, but the Sect Affairs Deacon refused to postpone it.

Wang Chen learned why Zuo Xiaomo’s rivals were trying to sabotage his Outer Sect assessment and invited him to join a bandit-extermination mission. They left Myriad Spirit City together aboard a flying boat lent by Kong Yurong, while Wang Chen hoped to return in time to help Zuo Xiaomo take the assessment.

• Zuo Xiaomo explained that his relationship with Kong Yurong had made him a target of her family, her other suitors, and jealous members of his own family.
• Zuo Xiaomo offered to find another Dao Protector, but refused Wang Chen’s suggestion to ask Uncle Zhong for help and considered giving up the assessment.
• Wang Chen promised to accompany Zuo Xiaomo to the assessment if he returned in time and invited him to help with the bandit-extermination mission.
• Zuo Xiaomo accepted the invitation, and the two arranged to leave Myriad Spirit City together.
• Zuo Xiaomo arrived at the North City Gate with a Thousand Feather Spirit Boat lent by Kong Yurong, and Wang Chen set out with him.

Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo traveled to Northwatch City to hunt the mounted bandits led by the elusive Profound Meaning Daoist. After meeting Garrison Commander Ji Yongtai, Wang Chen joined him for a lavish banquet, and the chapter ended as they prepared to discuss the mission.

• Wang Chen teased Zuo Xiaomo about the friend who lent him the Thousand Feather Spirit Boat, then urged him not to lose confidence or stop striving.
• Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo reached Northwatch City aboard the spirit boat the following afternoon.
• Wang Chen learned that the mission targeted Profound Meaning Daoist and his mounted bandits, who had repeatedly evaded the city's encirclement campaigns.
• Wang Chen sent a talisman message to Northwatch City and met Garrison Commander Ji Yongtai outside the south gate.
• Ji Yongtai hosted Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo at a lavish banquet, then cleared away the food so they could discuss the mission.

Wang Chen asked Ji Yongtai for help exterminating Profound Meaning Daoist’s bandits, but the Garrison Commander said his forces were occupied. Suspecting Ji Yongtai was secretly connected to the bandits, Wang Chen arranged for Zuo Xiaomo to recruit Rogue Cultivators and watch the commander while he entered secluded cultivation.

• Ji Yongtai told Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo that he could not spare his forces, but offered them a residence and promised to supply equipment and post recruitment notices.
• Wang Chen secretly told Zuo Xiaomo to recruit Rogue Cultivators publicly and keep an eye on Ji Yongtai, whom he suspected of ties to Profound Meaning Daoist despite having no evidence.
• Wang Chen explained that his suspicion came from Ji Yongtai’s apparently performed manner and lack of genuine emotion when discussing the bandit leader.
• Ji Yongtai arranged for Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo to move into his private residence and posted recruitment notices across Northwatch City.
• Wang Chen announced that he would enter secluded cultivation and break through, startling Ji Yongtai, who realized Wang Chen might soon reach the Purple Mansion third layer.

Wang Chen pretended to enter seclusion in Ji Yongtai’s residence, secretly dug an escape tunnel, and left Northwatch City in disguise. After reaching the mountains, he was ambushed by armed attackers and killed one with a single staff blow.

• Ji Yongtai congratulated Wang Chen on cultivating a Golden Core seed and gave him a token to use the family cultivation chamber.
• Wang Chen inspected the chamber, dug a tunnel through the earth, and emerged in a remote forest outside the city.
• Wang Chen asked Zuo Xiaomo to keep watch on Ji Yongtai while he carried out his mission.
• Wang Chen disguised himself as a Rogue Cultivator and traveled northwest from Northwatch City.
• Ambushers attacked Wang Chen with enchanted arrows and a fireball, but he deflected their attacks and charged into the forest.
• Wang Chen smashed an ambusher’s saber and head with his sentry staff.

Wang Chen slaughtered a group of mountain bandits who ambushed him, then forced their surviving medical cultivator to guide him to the gang’s stronghold as he searched for leads on the Profound Meaning Bandit Group. They reached a hidden valley, where Wang Chen suddenly struck the guide from behind.

• Wang Chen killed the ambushers and intimidated the sole survivor into answering his questions.
• The middle-aged cultivator explained that the attackers were mountain bandits and that he served them as a medical cultivator.
• Wang Chen ordered the survivor to lead him to the stronghold, hoping to trace connections to the Profound Meaning Bandit Group.
• Wang Chen gave the bandits’ Storage Bags to the survivor, who then guided him through the mountains.
• The pair reached a concealed valley, and Wang Chen abruptly slapped the middle-aged cultivator on the back of the head.

Wang Chen stormed Black-faced Fiend’s bandit lair while searching for Profound Meaning Daoist, slaughtered most of the bandits, and captured their leader. Black-faced Fiend named Carefree Wanderer as someone who could contact Profound Meaning Daoist, but Wang Chen cut off his arm after deciding he was lying.

• Black-faced Fiend sensed danger when the Mandarin Duck Mirror went dark and the cave’s entrance formation was triggered.
• Wang Chen smashed through the stone door and immobilized Black-faced Fiend while killing the bandits with his copper staff and Flying Sword.
• Black-faced Fiend surrendered, and Wang Chen questioned him about Profound Meaning Daoist.
• Black-faced Fiend said Carefree Wanderer knew how to contact Profound Meaning Daoist and offered to lead Wang Chen to him.
• Wang Chen cut off Black-faced Fiend’s arm and demanded one last chance to tell the truth.

At Flowing Horse Market, Lone Wolf approached a white-tent master with a deal involving a Golden Core cave mansion and proved his claim with an ancient bronze cauldron. The tent master agreed to contact his master within two days, then sent a message to them.

• Lone Wolf barged into the tent master’s shop, and the tent master dismissed his attendants and sealed the tent.
• Lone Wolf said he wanted to discuss a Golden Core cave mansion and demanded to meet the tent master’s master.
• Lone Wolf revealed an ancient bronze Little Cauldron whose aura convinced the tent master that he had found a treasure in the cave mansion.
• The tent master agreed to contact his master, while Lone Wolf gave him two days to arrange the meeting.
• Lone Wolf left after warning the tent master against trying to rob him, and the tent master sent a paper falcon message to his master.

Wang Chen, disguised as Lone Wolf, lured Profound Meaning Daoist to Flowing Horse Market with the promise of a Golden Core cave mansion and the Life-Giving Creation Cauldron. When a disguised cultivator arrived for the meeting, Wang Chen exposed him, and the real Profound Meaning revealed himself as an attendant.

• Wang Chen waited in Flowing Horse Market after the tent steward sent word that Profound Meaning had agreed to meet him.
• Wang Chen insisted that Profound Meaning come to the market and let him choose the meeting place, then reserved the restaurant’s top floor.
• At sunset, a middle-aged cultivator claiming to be Profound Meaning arrived with the tent steward and another man.
• Wang Chen recognized that the middle-aged cultivator was an impostor and ordered him to leave.
• The real Profound Meaning identified himself as the attendant who remained after the others withdrew.

Wang Chen killed Profound Meaning Daoist with a surprise attack and claimed his belongings, including a Sumeru Ring. When the bandit chief’s men attacked to avenge him, Wang Chen slaughtered them with the Crimson Lion Sword as they tried to flee.

• Wang Chen distracted Profound Meaning Daoist and struck him with a full-strength Vajra Fist.
• Wang Chen pursued Profound Meaning Daoist with the Crimson Lion Sword, killed him, and collected Heavenly Merit.
• Wang Chen searched Profound Meaning Daoist’s body, found two Storage Bags and a Sumeru Ring, and stored the corpse in the ring.
• Profound Meaning Daoist’s bandits swarmed Wang Chen with Magic Tools, but he evaded their attacks with the Yaoguang Sword.
• Wang Chen sent the Crimson Lion Sword into the bandits, killed more than twenty, and pursued those who tried to retreat.

Wang Chen returned to Northwatch City after massacring Profound Meaning Daoist and the horse bandits at Flowing Horse Market, then inventoried his spoils. He opened Profound Meaning Daoist’s Sumeru Ring and discovered a haul that left him convinced he had struck it rich.

• Wang Chen collected the Storage Bags from the corpses and fled Flowing Horse Market after an elderly Purple Mansion cultivator asked him to explain the slaughter.
• Wang Chen returned secretly to Northwatch City and counted his Heavenly Merit points and forty-seven seized Storage Bags.
• Wang Chen found only modest loot in the Storage Bags, with Profound Meaning Daoist’s two bags accounting for much of their value.
• Wang Chen used the Corpse Control Technique to make Profound Meaning Daoist’s corpse handle the Sumeru Ring while he protected himself with Resplendent Shield Armor.
• Wang Chen spent about two hours removing the ring’s restriction and found valuable contents inside.

Wang Chen searched Profound Meaning Daoist’s Sumeru Ring and found a fortune in Spirit Stones, valuable cultivation supplies, and three spiritual artifacts, including one he chose to keep. Letters hidden in the ring unsettled him, and he left his cultivation chamber to continue the mission with Zuo Xiaomo, despite failing to recruit many cultivators.

• Wang Chen counted 13,507 Medium Spirit Stones and thirty-nine High Spirit Stones in Profound Meaning Daoist’s Sumeru Ring.
• Wang Chen found Purple Essence Pills, Talismans, a portable high-grade composite spirit formation, and three spiritual artifacts.
• Wang Chen erased Profound Meaning Daoist’s restrictions on the Five Dragon Flame Fire Cover, learned how to use it, and decided to keep it along with the Purple Lightning Flying Boat and Soul-Dropping Rope.
• Wang Chen discovered letters in a jade box, became grave after reading them, and hid the Sumeru Ring and Life-Giving Creation Cauldron against his chest.
• Wang Chen told Zuo Xiaomo that he had failed to break through and asked how many cultivators he had recruited for the mission.
• Zuo Xiaomo said he had recruited only a few suitable cultivators and that one had run off.