Chapter Summaries

Su Bai claimed a hidden lakeside Spirit Land in the Gaosong Spirit Plain by exterminating the demonic fish sealing its Water Spiritual Energy and setting up a Magic Array. He began cultivating there, training the Thundercloud Sword Array and following a schedule intended to strengthen his Golden Core Stage cultivation and skills.

• Su Bai discovered that a school of demonic fish had sealed the Water Spiritual Energy beneath an emerald lake in the Gaosong Spirit Plain.
• Su Bai used Myriad Lightning Sword Prison to exterminate the demonic fish and release the Spirit Vein’s Water Spiritual Energy.
• Su Bai set up a Magic Array around the lake and built a wooden house, turning the area into a suitable long-term cultivation ground.
• Su Bai summoned twelve top-grade Lightning Attribute Spirit Swords and began practicing the Thundercloud Sword Array, dividing his Spiritual Sense among them.
• Su Bai planned a daily routine for cultivation, artifact refinement, Thundercloud Sword Array practice, meditation, and reading True Man He’s notes on refining Third-tier Spirit Pills.

Su Bai practiced artifact forging for several months, progressing from a first-tier low-grade Magic Sword to flawless Top-grade Magic Artifacts. After learning that the South Sea journey would begin on the fifth day of May, he prepared to leave his lakeside Spirit Land and return to Heavenly Star City.

• Su Bai forged his first low-grade Magic Sword and decided to work his way up to Top-grade Magic Swords, beginning with the Mustard Seed Sumeru Array.
• Su Bai cultivated for several months while his Golden Core grew and his divine soul continued evolving toward a Sword Soul.
• Su Bai received word from his master that the South Sea journey was set for the fifth day of May.
• Su Bai packed the Magic Swords he had forged and planned to have Zhang Ying sell them, while noting he could soon try forging Spirit Artifacts.
• Su Bai placed a barrier Magic Array at the bottom of the lake to conceal its Spiritual Energy, removed his other arrays and traces, and headed for the Teleportation Array area.

Su Bai led the Heavenly Star Alliance’s alchemists on their journey to the South Sea Alchemy Grand Gathering, with Ancestor Tian Xing protecting them. They reached the central sea region after an unimpeded one-day voyage, where the gathering would be held.

• Su Bai returned to Heavenly Star City, refined the Yingning Pill ingredients collected by Star Luo Pill Pavilion, and gave the pills to Lu Yue before leaving the remaining batches for after his trip.
• Su Bai met the other alchemists at the Star Sea Teleportation Area and spoke with Ying Luo and Lan Yan, who warned him not to underestimate Pill Island’s long alchemy tradition.
• Ancestor Tian Xing arrived, confirmed the group was ready, and led them through the Teleportation Array to the South Sea Cultivation World.
• The Fisherman Cultivator welcomed the group, and Ancestor Tian Xing rewarded him before summoning his Spirit Boat.
• Ancestor Tian Xing carried Su Bai and the alchemists across the South Sea, reaching the central sea region and the gathering’s artificial Sea Island in one day.

The Southern Sea Cultivation World welcomed the Heavenly Star Alliance to its South Sea Alchemy Grand Gathering with an elaborate display of alchemy and power. Su Bai recognized the welcome as a show of force, and the festivities ended with the South Sea alchemists preparing to hunt a newly freed Fifth-tier Pill-Devouring Demonic Flood Dragon.

• Pill Saint Qiu Yi welcomed Ancestor Tian Xing and the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists to the gathering on the artificial sea island.
• Qiu Yi began the welcome ceremony, and Southern Sea Cultivators displayed spectacular water formations, pill techniques, and alchemical treasures.
• Su Bai saw through the displays and realized the Southern Sea was trying to intimidate the Heavenly Star Alliance.
• At night, Qiu Yi revealed a powerful Pill-Devouring Demonic Flood Dragon that had broken free of its seal.
• Su Bai joked about taking the flood dragon's pill, but Qiu Yi said the Southern Sea alchemists would handle it.
• Qiu Yi's alchemists ignited their Alchemy Fire as one of them unfolded a Sea Chart bearing the words, "Hunt the Flood Dragon for its Pill, to prove the Dao Heart."

Su Bai accepted South Sea Pill Saint Qiu Yi’s challenge to demonstrate Pill Island’s Demonic Core Alchemy Technique, turning the gathering into a contest between alchemists from the South Sea and the Heavenly Star Alliance. He and Zhou Yilin took two portions of the demonic flood dragon’s core, and Su Bai prepared to refine a Third-tier Spirit Pill beside Qiu Yi’s disciple Lin Huasheng.

• The demonic flood dragon’s inscribed body shattered, leaving its Demonic Core, which Lin Huasheng divided into three portions.
• Su Bai and the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists tasted the South Sea dishes as Qiu Yi explained Pill Island’s Demonic Core Alchemy Technique.
• Qiu Yi invited the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists to refine pills from the core, and Su Bai agreed to participate.
• Su Bai encouraged Zhou Yilin to take another portion, and Zhou Yilin stepped forward to refine a pill.
• Su Bai claimed the final spot and announced that he would refine a Third-tier Spirit Pill, taking his place beside Lin Huasheng and Zhou Yilin.

At the South Sea Alchemy Grand Gathering, Su Bai chose to refine the difficult Demonic Flood Dragon Breakthrough Pill, then delayed starting so he could watch Lin Huasheng’s methods. As Lin Huasheng made his techniques more elaborate to obscure them, Ying Luo realized he was trying to mislead Su Bai.

• Su Bai chose the Demonic Flood Dragon Breakthrough Pill, matching Lin Huasheng’s recipe, while Zhou Yilin selected the Demonic Flood Dragon Water Essence Pill.
• Qiu Yi began the Demonic Flood Dragon Alchemy as the feast continued around the venue.
• Lin Huasheng and Zhou Yilin began refining, while Su Bai stood aside and watched.
• Su Bai told Qiu Yi he wanted to observe Lin Huasheng’s first refinement before beginning his own.
• Lin Huasheng made his pill-refining techniques more intricate, and Ying Luo realized he was trying to mislead Su Bai.

Su Bai waited for Lin Huasheng to finish refining the Demonic Flood Dragon Breakthrough Pill, then absorbed pill qi to gain the experience needed to refine it himself. As Su Bai’s refinement progressed with striking improvements, Lin Huasheng realized that Su Bai had surpassed his concealed techniques, leaving the competition’s outcome uncertain.

• Zhou Yilin successfully refined ten low-grade Demonic Flood Dragon Water Essence Pills, and Qiu Yi approved the Heavenly Star Alliance’s result.
• Lin Huasheng completed a Grade A Demonic Flood Dragon Breakthrough Pill, earning Qiu Yi’s praise and applause from the surrounding platforms.
• Su Bai absorbed pill qi from Lin Huasheng’s pill and gained extensive experience refining the Demonic Flood Dragon Breakthrough Pill.
• Su Bai began refining the pill using one-third of a Demonic Flood Dragon Demonic Core and adjusted the supplementary ingredients to reduce energy loss.
• Lin Huasheng watched Su Bai refine smoothly and improve upon his methods, then realized Su Bai had understood even the techniques he had tried to conceal.
• Ying Luo praised Su Bai’s refinement, and the Heavenly Star Alliance’s alchemists regained confidence as the other platforms fell silent.

Su Bai refined a Demonic Flood Dragon Breakthrough Pill that Pill Saint Qiu Yi rated Class A Superior, surpassing Lin Huasheng’s pill and raising the Heavenly Star Alliance’s standing. After the ceremony’s first round ended, Su Bai returned to his allies as Lin Huasheng looked ahead to their formal contest on Pill Island the next day.

• Su Bai quickly refined a Demonic Flood Dragon Breakthrough Pill using his alchemy talents and knowledge gained from watching Lin Huasheng.
• Qiu Yi examined Su Bai’s pill and rated it Class A Superior, acknowledging that it surpassed Lin Huasheng’s refinement.
• A hot-tempered Nascent Soul Old Ancestor from the Upper Nine Islands left the ceremony, while Qiu Yi announced that the gathering would continue on Pill Island the next day.
• Su Bai distributed two Demonic Flood Dragon Breakthrough Pills and ten Demonic Flood Dragon Water Essence Pills to the watching Cultivators.
• Lin Huasheng praised Su Bai’s methods but challenged him to perform just as well in their formal contest the next day.
• Su Bai returned to the Heavenly Star Alliance platform, where Wei Chun and the other alchemists praised him as their representative.

After the alchemy ceremony, Su Bai accepted Ye Yaoling’s invitation to meet on a reef and seek information about the next stage of the gathering. Ye Yaoling offered to tell him what she knew if he cultivated the Clear Moon Yin-Yang Art with her, leaving Su Bai weighing the risks.

• Su Bai thanked the gathering’s attendees, and Ancestor Tian Xing praised his performance through a telepathic message.
• Ye Yaoling introduced herself as a Clear Moon Sect cultivator and offered to show Su Bai the South Sea, but Ying Luo refused on his behalf.
• Su Bai accepted Ye Yaoling’s aura despite Ying Luo’s displeasure, then explained that he wanted to learn about local affairs and the gathering.
• After cultivating in his room, Su Bai sent Ye Yaoling a message and met her on a reef near the artificial island.
• Ye Yaoling offered to share information about the Alchemy Grand Gathering if Su Bai cultivated the Clear Moon Yin-Yang Art with her, warning that it could temporarily deplete his vital blood.

Su Bai escaped Ye Yaoling’s attempt to capture him and met Cang Mingjue, who delivered a gift from Cang Mingxiao and warned him that a Demon King was targeting him. Su Bai returned to the artificial island wary of an assassination planned for his journey back.

• Ye Yaoling attacked Su Bai with a Moonlight Prison, but he escaped with Instant Lightning Refraction and lightning explosions.
• Su Bai met Cang Mingjue at sea and received a Merfolk Tear Pearl sent by Cang Mingxiao to celebrate his advancement to the Golden Core Realm.
• Cang Mingjue warned Su Bai that a Demon King had been sent to assassinate him, likely during his return journey from the South Sea.
• Cang Mingjue said Cang Mingxiao had arranged for the Sea Tribe factions to stay out of the matter, but he did not know the Demon King’s origins or abilities.
• Su Bai questioned whether Ancestor Tian Xing could stop the assassin, then returned to the artificial island with a heavy heart.

Su Bai brought the Merfolk Race’s warning about a Demon King’s assassination plot to Ancestor Tian Xing, who told him to stay within his protection. The next day, Su Bai led the depleted Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists to Pill Island, where Pill Saint Qiu Yi announced a group alchemy contest against the Southern Sea Cultivation World.

• Su Bai told Ancestor Tian Xing that the Merfolk Race had warned him of the Demon Race’s plan to send a Demon King after him, and Ancestor Tian Xing ordered him to remain within his protection.
• Su Bai learned that most of the Heavenly Star Alliance’s male alchemists had been drained by Clear Moon Sect cultivators the previous night, then led them onto Ye Yaoling’s Spirit Boat.
• Ancestor Tian Xing joined the group, and Su Bai questioned him about failing to prevent the alchemists’ losses; Ancestor Tian Xing said Su Bai was responsible for handling the Southern Sea cultivators’ tricks.
• Ye Yaoling brought Su Bai and the alchemists to Pill Island’s Alchemy Peak, where they saw a vast pile of Spirit Medicine Ingredients and four Nascent Soul Old Ancestors gathered to watch.
• Pill Saint Qiu Yi explained that thirty alchemists from each side would refine the ingredients, and the side whose resulting spirit pills were worth more would win the group sparring match.

Su Bai realized Qiu Yi had arranged the alchemy event to exploit the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists’ exhaustion, making their defeat nearly certain. He turned the contest into a chance for them to practice with Medicine Mountain’s herbs, then bargained with Qiu Yi for compensation.

• Su Bai assembled thirty Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists, leaving two exhausted Starlight Academy disciples behind, while Lin Huasheng selected thirty alchemists for the Southern Sea side.
• When the bell rang, both sides began refining pills from Medicine Mountain’s herbs, and Su Bai completed a Third-tier High-grade Spirit Pill slightly faster than Lin Huasheng.
• Su Bai saw the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists faltering from exhaustion and told them to practice unfamiliar recipes and the Demonic Core Alchemy Technique instead of trying to win.
• Lan Yan and other Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists deliberately attempted unfamiliar Demonic Core Alchemy Techniques, causing their furnaces to explode and wasting herbs.
• Qiu Yi asked Su Bai to stop the waste and offered High-grade Spirit Stones for successful pill refinements; Su Bai countered by demanding one thousand for himself and one hundred for each alchemist.

Su Bai and the alchemists spent a month refining Pill Saint Qiu Yi’s medicinal stockpiles, and the Southern Sea team won the second stage. Qiu Yi announced that he would demonstrate refining a Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill the next day, leaving Su Bai eager to witness it and sample its pill aura.

• Su Bai agreed to have the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists keep refining pills and promised each of them one million Spirit Stones.
• Su Bai received ten million Spirit Stones from Qiu Yi and joined sixty alchemists in refining herbs for a month.
• Qiu Yi announced that the Southern Sea alchemists had won the second stage, tying the overall contest one to one with the Heavenly Star Alliance.
• Qiu Yi announced that he would demonstrate refining a Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill the next day.
• Su Bai thanked Qiu Yi and wondered whether he could sample the pill aura after the pill was refined.

Pill Saint Qiu Yi revealed that he would refine a Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill, forcing the Heavenly Star Alliance to reckon with the South Sea’s hidden advantage. Su Bai learned that Ancestor Tian Xing expected the alliance to obtain the pill’s refinement method after their alliance was formed, and was told to stay out of trouble.

• Pill Saint Qiu Yi announced that he would spend three days preparing to refine a Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill after Lu Jiu’s strong performance threatened the South Sea’s standing at the gathering.
• Pill Island Disciples led the Heavenly Star Alliance’s alchemists to a pavilion after the Medicine Mountain alchemy session ended.
• Su Bai visited Ancestor Tian Xing and admitted he could do nothing to counter the Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill.
• Ancestor Tian Xing said the pill explained the South Sea’s recent rise in Nascent Soul Cultivators and that the alliance would obtain its refinement method after forming an alliance.
• Ancestor Tian Xing warned Su Bai not to provoke Qiu Yi and said Su Bai’s master would be among the first to study the method.

Su Bai kept the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists on Pill Island while Qiu Yi prepared to refine a Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill. Lin Huasheng announced that only three Alliance representatives could observe, and Su Bai chose himself, Ancestor Tian Xing, and Ying Luo.

• Ancestor Tian Xing warned Su Bai that Demon Race assassins might be nearby and told him to stay within his perception range until Qiu Yi finished refining pills.
• Su Bai distributed High-grade Spirit Stones to the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists and allowed them to explore Pill Island and exchange pill-refining knowledge.
• Su Bai ordered Wei Chun to stay at the pavilion, and three days passed as the other alchemists returned from their visits around the island.
• Lin Huasheng told Su Bai that Qiu Yi would refine a Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill that day and offered the Alliance three viewing slots.
• Su Bai selected himself, Ancestor Tian Xing, and Ying Luo to witness the refinement, and Lin Huasheng said a Spirit Boat would arrive to take them.

Su Bai and the other Heavenly Star Alliance observers watched South Sea Pill Saint Qiu Yi begin refining the quasi-Fifth-tier Lightning Summoning Soul Cleansing Pill on Pill Island. The refinement was underway, and Su Bai could identify some ingredients and principles from their medicinal fragrance.

• Lin Huasheng brought Su Bai, Ying Luo, and Ancestor Tian Xing by Spirit Boat to Pill Island’s highest peak, where Qiu Yi had prepared a guarded alchemy site.
• Lin Huasheng gave the three observers Jade Slips describing the pill and warned them not to cross the boundary, record the process, or disturb Qiu Yi.
• Su Bai learned that the pill could weaken the lightning tribulation and help a Nascent Soul Cultivator resist Outer Realm Heavenly Demons during advancement.
• Qiu Yi began refining the pill, rapidly adding hundreds of supplementary ingredients to his furnace.
• Su Bai recognized some Spirit Medicine Ingredients and inferred parts of the refining process from their medicinal fragrance.

Pill Saint Qiu Yi completed the refinement of the Lightning Summoning Soul Cleansing Pill as a Heavenly Tribulation gathered over West Week. When the tribulation struck, Qiu Yi used a Houtian Spirit Treasure to swallow the lightning, leaving Su Bai stunned.

• Qiu Yi refined the Lightning Summoning Jade Seed and Soul Cleansing Fruit over twelve days to form the Lightning Summoning Soul Cleansing Pill.
• Su Bai sensed the pill was nearly complete as dark clouds gathered, and Ying Luo feared they might be caught in the Heavenly Tribulation.
• Ancestor Tian Xing told Su Bai and the others to stay and watch, judging the tribulation weaker than a Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation.
• Purple lightning descended from a fissure in the sky and targeted the nearly finished pill inside the alchemy furnace.
• Qiu Yi summoned an earth-yellow Treasure Cauldron that expanded to nearly a hundred zhang and swallowed the tribulation lightning.

Pill Saint Qiu Yi completed the Lightning Summoning Soul Cleansing Pill after using his Treasure Cauldron to absorb its heavenly tribulation. He left for treatment while Su Bai and the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists stayed on Pill Island to exchange alchemy knowledge.

• Qiu Yi used his earth-yellow Treasure Cauldron to swallow and withstand the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, though the effort injured him.
• Qiu Yi drew the remaining tribulation lightning into the Alchemy Furnace, completing the Lightning Summoning Soul Cleansing Pill.
• Qiu Yi placed the quasi-Fifth-tier pill in a Jade Box and said it could help the South Sea produce another Nascent Soul Cultivator.
• Su Bai congratulated Qiu Yi, who said the alchemy gathering was ending and asked Alchemist Lu Jiu to stay on Pill Island for several days.
• Su Bai agreed to stay, and Qiu Yi assigned Lin Huasheng to arrange the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists' visit before leaving to treat his injuries.

Su Bai and the Heavenly Star Alliance alchemists left Pill Island after a month away, returning to address Profound Pill Market’s stalled business. As Ancestor Tian Xing’s Spirit Boat headed toward the alliance’s Teleportation Array, Su Bai remained uneasy about the threat of a Demon King assassin.

• Su Bai told Lin Huasheng that the alchemists had to return to the Heavenly Star Alliance and said they would meet again at the Dao Discussion Convention.
• Lin Huasheng accepted Su Bai’s departure and said he would attend the convention.
• Su Bai boarded Ancestor Tian Xing’s Spirit Boat and asked whether he needed to travel separately because of the assassin threat.
• Ancestor Tian Xing assured Su Bai that he had prepared for the danger, and Su Bai chose to trust him.
• The Spirit Boat set off as the alchemists chatted, while Su Bai grew increasingly anxious about the Demon King assassin.

A Shadowless Bat Race Demon King named Fu Kong ambushed the Spirit Boat to assassinate Su Bai, but Old Ancestor Heavenly Star stopped him and drove him off. The alchemists returned safely to Heavenly Star City.

• Fu Kong used the Shadowless Bat Race's spatial concealment to approach the Spirit Boat and attack Su Bai.
• Ancestor Tian Xing sensed the danger and warned Su Bai, who prepared to activate the Secret Realm Origin.
• Old Ancestor Heavenly Star revealed himself, pulled Fu Kong from hiding with his Starry Spiritual Sense, and interrupted his spatial crossing.
• Fu Kong unleashed Eternal Night Descent, but Old Ancestor Heavenly Star used starlight to break the darkness and damage his Demonic Body.
• Fu Kong escaped, and Old Ancestor Heavenly Star identified him before vanishing from the Spirit Boat.
• Ancestor Tian Xing continued the journey, and the Heavenly Star Alliance's alchemists returned safely to Heavenly Star City.