Chapter Summaries

Lin Shuangyu celebrated forming her Golden Core with the South Sea Sword Sect guests, while Liu Xiaolou prepared to mediate the dispute between West Qiao Mountain and the Lingqiu Sect. When the talks began, the Li clan sent the influential persuader Wan Anping instead of appearing themselves.

• Lin Shuangyu and Su Jing toured Qiulong Mountain, and Wu Changgeng and Song Axi later joined Liu Xiaolou at Tianxi Cliff.
• Lin Shuangyu ordered Han Gao to destroy and bury the Lingqiu Sect’s Eight Filth Items, while Liu Xiaolou told him not to reveal her offer to protect the Spirit Eye.
• Liu Xiaolou and the guests celebrated Lin Shuangyu’s Golden Core and Su Jing’s breakthrough, and Han Gao pledged annual gifts from Great Seal Mountain to Lin Shuangyu.
• Lin Shuangyu left Liu Xiaolou to handle mediation, and Ba Tianyou learned she had formed a core before leaving to fetch better wine.
• After the Lingqiu Sect received three more days to recover, Wan Anping arrived in place of Li Wuya and requested an audience with Liu Xiaolou.

Liu Xiaolou challenged Wan Anping over whether he had come to mediate or take a share of the benefits, and Wan Anping arrived with five associates to argue that his connections, experience, and cultivation made him the better mediator. The dispute turned physical when Fang Buai tore up Fang Shuheng’s scroll, and Fang Shuheng was shocked that a Qi Cultivator dared to act against him.

• Liu Xiaolou pressed Wan Anping to admit he expected benefits from mediating, and Wan Anping finally demanded a share of the proceeds.
• Wan Anping claimed he deserved to lead the mediation because of his cultivation, experience, and five well-connected associates, then had Fang Shuheng write down their qualifications.
• Liu Xiaolou and Han Gao mocked the associates’ claims and questioned Fang Shuheng’s family connections and Mi Lianxiu’s distant relation to Mi Xiaotao.
• Wan Anping insisted the group’s credentials were the minimum requirements for mediators and dismissed Fang Buai as unqualified because he was a Qi Cultivator.
• Fang Buai tore up Fang Shuheng’s scroll, and Fang Shuheng threatened him before realizing Fang Buai had dared to retaliate.

Fang Buai sparred with Fang Shuheng until Song Axi intervened, demonstrating overwhelming swordsmanship and injuring Fang Shuheng with a single strike. Sima Yuanshan recognized Song Axi’s South Sea Sword Sect and withdrew his group, while Li Wuya learned that they were abandoning the mediation assignment under the first-come, first-served rule.

• Fang Buai fought Fang Shuheng for several exchanges, and Han Gao rescued him when Fang Shuheng began striking in earnest.
• Song Axi emerged and unleashed a sword strike that left Fang Shuheng severely injured and stunned the gathered cultivators.
• Han Gao identified Song Axi as a member of the South Sea Sword Sect, and Sima Yuanshan persuaded Wan Anping’s group to leave rather than fight him.
• Sima Yuanshan explained that the South Sea Sword Sect had helped Luofu Mountain destroy the Dinghu Immortal Sect, and his group decided to abandon the mediation job.
• Sima Yuanshan informed Li Wuya that the group was withdrawing because the mediators’ rules gave the assignment to those who arrived first.

The Li family tried to discuss ownership of Tianxi Cliff's Spirit Eye with Liu Xiaolou, but Han Gao told them Liu was in seclusion and delaying talks until more mediators arrived. The family learned that prominent Sword Cultivators had joined privately, while Liu Xiaolou and Lin Shuangyu were actually figuring out how to cook a duck and a wildcat.

• The Li family climbed Tianxi Cliff to seek a meeting with Liu Xiaolou, but Han Gao said Liu was in seclusion and would not receive them.
• Han Gao explained that Liu Xiaolou had postponed mediation until more participants arrived, claiming a larger group would make the process fairer.
• Han Gao named several Sword Cultivators who had joined the mediation in their personal capacities, including Elder Bai, Su Jing, Song Divine Sword, and Lin Shuangyu.
• The Li family questioned whether the South Sea Sword Sect would intervene if anything happened to the Sword Cultivators, and Han Gao warned them against making careless analogies.
• Han Gao pointed out Liu Xiaolou and Lin Shuangyu in the grove, where they appeared to be discussing swordsmanship with a duck and a wildcat.
• Li Wuzhen visited the grove and returned to tell her family that Liu Xiaolou and the others had actually been figuring out how to cook the animals.

Liu Xiaolou tried to make the peace talks more exciting by arranging a clash with the Lingqiu Sect, and Wu Changgeng wounded Bo Buping in a sword fight. The Li clan mistook the staged impartiality for proof that Liu Xiaolou was ruthless even toward his allies and resolved not to provoke him.

• The Li clan sent Li Huabin to Tianxi Cliff to speed up negotiations, while Lin Shuangyu and Su Jing grew bored and left Qiulong Mountain.
• Liu Xiaolou urged Han Gao to make the terms harsher so Wu Changgeng and Song Axi could draw their swords, but the Li clan had already accepted the demands.
• Liu Xiaolou told Han Gao to negotiate with the Lingqiu Sect as an impartial mediator and arranged a chance for the South Sea Sword Sect elders to fight.
• After Han Gao and Bo Buping quarreled, Liu Xiaolou gave the signal, and Wu Changgeng struck Bo Buping with a storm of sword shadows.
• The Li clan learned that Bo Buping had suffered serious sword wounds and concluded that Liu Xiaolou was a ruthless madman who even attacked his own allies.

Liu Xiaolou explained how Bo Buping was accidentally injured and warned Ba Tianyou that the Lingqiu Sect could not keep the Spirit Eye for itself. Ba reported the growing pressure from the Lis and the South Sea Sword Sect to his sect, then left them asking what the good news was.

• Liu Xiaolou and Han Gao blamed Bo Buping’s injury on a mistaken order, and Ba Tianyou carried the unconscious elder away.
• Ba Tianyou learned that the Spirit Eye would be divided among three sects, and Liu Xiaolou argued that the Lingqiu Sect lacked the strength to resist the Lis or risk destroying the Spirit Eye.
• Liu Xiaolou revealed that the South Sea Sword Sect’s elders, including Bai Changzhen, had arrived and warned Ba that outside forces would expect a share of the Spirit Eye.
• Ba Tianyou gathered the Lingqiu Sect’s elders, disciples, and officers and described the Lis’ pressure and the South Sea Sword Sect’s involvement as bad news.
• The gathered Lingqiu Sect members grew alarmed, and one of them asked Ba Tianyou to tell them the good news.

Liu Xiaolou mediated the division of the Spirit Eye cultivation spots beneath Tianxi Cliff between the Li clan, Lingqiu Sect, and South Sea Sword Sect. The two remaining spots went to Lingqiu Sect and the Li clan, while both sides agreed to rent the South Sea Sword Sect’s spot in alternating half-year terms.

• Liu Xiaolou inspected the Spirit Eye with Ba Tianyou and Li Wuya, but could not determine what had caused it to open.
• Liu Xiaolou set the cultivation arrangements and required the Li clan and Lingqiu Sect to provide payment and materials to Yumu Cave and Zhanglong Sect.
• Ba Tianyou and Li Wuya secretly bid for the spot by the inner wall, and Liu Xiaolou awarded it to Lingqiu Sect.
• Ba Tianyou and Li Wuya bid for the high-platform spot, and Liu Xiaolou awarded it to the Li clan.
• Liu Xiaolou offered the South Sea Sword Sect’s spot for rent, and both sides bid sixty spirit stones per year.
• Liu Xiaolou gave Ba Tianyou the first half of each year and Li Wuya the second half, and both agreed to pay annually.

Liu Xiaolou paid his companions for their work mediating the Spirit Eye dispute, earned merit with the Zhanglong Sect, and set out with Han Gao to deliver a contribution and letter to Yumu Cave. The Li Clan guided them north, where Li Wuya chose to accompany them instead of Li Wuzhen.

• Liu Xiaolou gave Ba Tianyou eight hundred spirit stones and paid his South Sea Sword Sect companions for their work on the northern journey.
• Liu Xiaolou returned to Zhanglong Mountain, where Elder Bai awarded him four merit turns and wrote a letter for Yumu Cave.
• Liu Xiaolou learned that the Zhanglong Sect would mediate with Tianmu Mountain on behalf of his wanted friends once he earned twelve merit turns.
• Liu Xiaolou and Han Gao traveled to the Li Clan to deliver two thousand spirit stones, spirit pills, and Spiritual Material to Yumu Cave.
• Li Wuya volunteered to guide Liu Xiaolou and Han Gao to Yumu Cave, telling Li Wuzhen to stay behind and watch over the household.

Liu Xiaolou visited Yumu Cave and experienced its Talisman Wood technique, where Elder Xu recognized his affinity for Wood and offered to recruit him. Liu Xiaolou declined because he was already attached to the Six Sects, and the chapter ended as Elder Xu asked Li Wuya and Han Gao about their experiences.

• Li Wuya explained that Yumu Cave’s wood spirits guarded Jade Bamboo Shoot Mountain as Liu Xiaolou entered with him.
• Xiao Huanhun led Liu Xiaolou, Han Gao, and Li Wuya through a giant jade-barked redwood into Yumu Cave’s Cave-Heaven to meet Elder Xu.
• While meditating in a locust tree, Liu Xiaolou entered a strange vision, trapped and absorbed two wood spirits, and was jolted awake by thunder.
• Liu Xiaolou asked Elder Xu why the wood spirit power had strengthened his meridians instead of entering his sea of qi, and Elder Xu suggested he had a Wood Spirit Body.
• Elder Xu offered to plant a Wood Spirit Seed for Liu Xiaolou if he joined Yumu Cave, but Liu Xiaolou declined because he was already attached to the Six Sects.
• After the others awoke, Xiao Huanhun apologized for his perception, and Elder Xu asked Li Wuya and Han Gao how they had fared.

Liu Xiaolou delivered Elder Bai's letter and the Lingqiu Sect's gifts to Yumu Cave, where Elder Xu welcomed him and shared a cleansing dew with the visitors. Afterward, Xiao Huanhun revealed his feelings for Lin Shuangyu, and Liu Xiaolou left with Han Gao after settling the rewards from the Spirit Eye mediation.

• Liu Xiaolou delivered Elder Bai's letter to Elder Xu and reported that he had mediated the Spirit Eye dispute between the Lingqiu Sect and Yumu Cave, presenting the Lingqiu Sect's gift list.
• Elder Xu honored her agreement with Elder Bai, invited the visitors to rest, and used dew to refresh Liu Xiaolou, Han Gao, Li Wuya, and Xiao Huanhun.
• After they left Jade Bamboo Shoot Mountain, Xiao Huanhun asked Liu Xiaolou whether Lin Shuangyu had a Dao companion and admitted that he wanted to pursue her.
• Liu Xiaolou cautioned Xiao Huanhun about Lin Shuangyu's Golden Core status, then caught up with Han Gao and gave him four hundred spirit stones.
• Liu Xiaolou calculated that, after returning portions of the auction proceeds to Ba Tianyou, Li Wuya, Lin Shuangyu, and others, he kept two thousand two hundred spirit stones including his earlier expenses.

Liu Xiaolou attended an auction at Siku Building, spending heavily on medicine and magical artifacts to strengthen Three Xuan Sect. After the auctioneer introduced a sword soul as a new lot, the chapter left the auction poised for its sale.

• Liu Xiaolou checked the auction lots, confirmed the Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid was still available, and bought a bidding plaque.
• Liu Xiaolou bought three Heart Foundation Immortal Blood Pills for eleven spirit stones, raising Three Xuan Sect's supply to five.
• Liu Xiaolou bid two hundred spirit stones for the Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid and received a free bottle of Ginseng Origin Pills.
• Liu Xiaolou spent one hundred spirit stones on two groups of low-grade magical artifacts, bringing Three Xuan Sect's reserve to fifty, but lost his bids for defensive artifacts intended for Fang Buai.
• Ox-Head announced that a sword soul had been added to the auction.

Liu Xiaolou hoped to buy a Devouring Bandit Sword Soul at auction, but the bidding quickly exceeded his means and Guest Jia Nineteen won it for fifteen thousand two hundred spirit stones. He left Siku Building and returned to his former residence, where he watched the bustling Market Affairs Department across the way.

• Oxhead introduced a Devouring Bandit Sword Soul and announced that its owner preferred to exchange it for another Sword Soul or Sword Spirit, but would accept spirit stones.
• Liu Xiaolou prepared to bid, but the opening price was three thousand spirit stones, already beyond the assets he could readily gather.
• The bidding climbed past ten thousand spirit stones as Liu Xiaolou watched, and Guest Jia Nineteen and Bing Qi continued competing.
• Guest Jia Nineteen won the Sword Soul for fifteen thousand two hundred spirit stones after Bing Qi stopped bidding.
• Liu Xiaolou left the auction, circled through the crowd, and entered his former residence through its back wall.
• Liu Xiaolou looked through the front gate toward the busy Market Affairs Department and considered how much the market’s transaction fees earned.

Liu Xiaolou visited the Affairs Department to find out where to safely deposit two hundred spirit stones, but the Siku Building accounts revealed that his masked purchases had been recorded under his name. He entrusted the money to Zhang Daming’s Quanyuan Studio and left through a hidden exit after they agreed to deny meeting.

• Liu Xiaolou asked Zhang Daming for advice on safely investing two hundred spirit stones, and Zhang recommended Quanyuan Studio, which offered ten percent interest.
• Liu Xiaolou persuaded Zhang Daming to show him Quanyuan Studio and Siku Building’s recent accounts, hoping to learn who had bought from Siku Building.
• Liu Xiaolou discovered that Siku Building had begun recording buyers for transactions exceeding ten spirit stones, including his own purchases made while masked.
• Zhang Daming explained that Siku Building had changed its records to prevent buyers and sellers from reneging, and Liu Xiaolou warned him to keep the accounts confidential.
• Liu Xiaolou deposited his spirit stones with Zhang Daming’s Quanyuan Studio and demanded twelve percent annual interest as repayment for Zhang and his uncle opening the business without telling him.
• Zhang Daming escorted Liu Xiaolou through a hidden exit and told him to deny having visited the Affairs Department.

After uncovering a troubling clue linking Sun Juyuan of Lingdu Temple to a high-stakes deal at Wuchao Market, Liu Xiaolou fled to Junshan Island and sought Dongfang Yuying’s help with a cultivation medicine. As Liu Xiaolou began cultivating, news from Wuchao Market brought Dongfang Yuying to an urgent nighttime discussion.

• Liu Xiaolou found the name Sun Juyuan of Lingdu Temple in the accounts and fled downstream from Wuchao Market, then hurried east to Dongting Lake.
• Liu Xiaolou crossed the lake to Junshan Island and persuaded Officer Zhou to take him to the Young Sect Master.
• Dongfang Yuying welcomed Liu Xiaolou at Cangwu Pavilion, where they discussed their past and Liu Xiaolou’s recent progress.
• Liu Xiaolou showed Dongfang Yuying a gourd of Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid and asked how to use it and whether they should share it.
• Dongfang Yuying explained how Liu Xiaolou should take the medicine and arranged a quiet place for him to cultivate.
• A sect officer summoned Dongfang Yuying to Coral Pavilion Mountain for a nighttime discussion about news from Wuchao Market.

The Qingyu Sect council investigated who had bought a costly sword essence and Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid, suspecting Wangwu Sect was trying to save someone. Dongfang Yuying revealed that Liu Xiaolou had bought the liquid for himself and delivered it to his son, while the sect focused its suspicions on Chu Sankong and Sun Juyuan.

• Shopkeeper Ma reported that Sun Juyuan, a Wangwu Sect affiliate, had paid fifteen thousand two hundred spirit stones for the sword essence and traveled to Taoyuan Mountain.
• Elder Fu and the others considered whether the purchase pointed to someone needing the sword essence to save a life, and learned that Chu Sankong and Liu Xiaolou had also bought Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid.
• Dongfang Yuying revealed that Liu Xiaolou had recently reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and had brought the liquid to Cangwu Pavilion Mountain for his son.
• Dongfang Yuying said Liu Xiaolou had taken one dose and was in seclusion, prompting the council to shift its attention toward investigating Chu Sankong.
• Elder Xue suggested that Jing Zhao watch Sun Juyuan, while Shopkeeper Ma reported that the sect had not yet caught its mole.

Tu An Hongjin’s investigation into the stolen Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid led to a mistaken raid, while Shopkeeper Ma learned the Wangwu Sect was likely responsible for the theft. Liu Xiaolou consumed his third dose and gained nearly two years of cultivation, as Dongfang Yuying stayed with him instead of seeking Jing Zhao.

• Tu An Hongjin found the Gathering Immortals Hall full of corpses, and Zhou Xiongying told her the dead Chu Sankong had claimed he split the stolen item with Xiao Hui.
• Jiang Yulang’s interrogation killed the old man, so Tu An Hongjin sent a message to Shopkeeper Ma.
• Shopkeeper Ma learned the Siku Building’s last portion of Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid had been stolen using a technique likely belonging to the Wangwu Sect, proving Hongjin’s raid had been a coincidence.
• Elder Fu ordered Shopkeeper Ma to return to Wu Chao Town and Dongfang Yuying to tell Jing Zhao to wait and watch for the traitor near Sun Juyuan.
• Dongfang Yuying turned back from seeking Jing Zhao and waited outside Liu Xiaolou’s cave while Liu consumed his third dose of Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid.
• Liu Xiaolou’s qi sea grew purer and stronger, giving him nearly two years of cultivation, and he thanked Dongfang Yuying.

After taking the Heavenly Foundation Middle-Returning Liquid, Liu Xiaolou practiced leaping techniques with Dongfang Yuying and learned to extend his jumps. Their conversation about the Yin Yang Technique embarrassed Dongfang Yuying when members of the Longhu Cai Family overheard them, so Liu Xiaolou sent Elder Cai a letter to stop rumors.

• Liu Xiaolou tested his enhanced cultivation by leaping across the lake, and Dongfang Yuying taught him to step through the air to jump farther.
• Dongfang Yuying described the Huangshan Sect's three branches and invited Liu Xiaolou to practice leaping between its peaks.
• Liu Xiaolou explained his Three Xuan Sect's dual cultivation method, and a passing boat carrying Cai Yongwu and Cai Yongying overheard the discussion.
• Dongfang Yuying worried the Cai siblings would spread embarrassing rumors, while Liu Xiaolou insisted that Elder Cai would intervene.
• Liu Xiaolou wrote Elder Cai a letter, and Dongfang Yuying sent it away with a falcon summoned by the Divine Strike Technique.

Liu Xiaolou and Dongfang Yuying followed a divine bird’s directions while searching for Jing Zhao, who had been watching a cave where Sun Juyuan and two Foundation Establishment cultivators were hiding. Jing Zhao explained his surveillance and revealed that Big Bai and Little Black were guarding nearby hills, leaving Liu Xiaolou worried that the situation might be dangerous.

• Liu Xiaolou told Dongfang Yuying that Elder Cai had punished Yongwu and Yongying after receiving his report, and Dongfang Yuying regretted that Yongying had suffered for it.
• A divine bird brought news that Jing Zhao was nearby, so Liu Xiaolou and Dongfang Yuying followed its directions to a tributary and searched the surrounding hills.
• Liu Xiaolou identified a hill with a commanding view of hidden campsites and a concealed cave, and Dongfang Yuying agreed to investigate it.
• Jing Zhao surprised the pair in the treetops and told them that Sun Juyuan of Lingdu Temple and two Foundation Establishment cultivators were inside the cave.
• Jing Zhao explained that he had been watching the group near Jiangbei after finding an empty cave dwelling at Hidden Mountain, and that Big Bai and Little Black were guarding the neighboring hills.
• After Jing Zhao said the two beasts could sense danger and escape quickly, Liu Xiaolou worried that their presence meant this mission was especially dangerous.

Liu Xiaolou took up a northern watch while Jing Zhao waited for Sun Juyuan to lead them to the person he was hiding and for a Jingxiang traitor to make a move. A conical-hatted stranger confronted Sun Juyuan, and Liu Xiaolou recognized the attacker as Lu Yuanlang after he revealed the Ming Mie Wan Sui Deng.

• Jing Zhao told Liu Xiaolou that Sun Juyuan of Lingdu Temple was hiding someone they sought and ordered Liu Xiaolou and Dongfang Yuying to watch Sun Juyuan and his companions from nearby hills.
• Liu Xiaolou took up his position and spotted two Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators hiding above Sun Juyuan's cave.
• A conical-hatted figure claimed to be Liu Xiaolou, Sect Leader of the Wulong Mountain Three Xuan Sect, and demanded that Sun Juyuan hand over an item.
• The stranger revealed the Ming Mie Wan Sui Deng, and Liu Xiaolou recognized him as Lu Yuanlang.
• Lu Yuanlang crushed Sun Juyuan's shield and umbrella with pincers of light, and Sun Juyuan offered to hand over the item.

Sun Juyuan’s group confronted Liu Xiaolou’s allies over the Thief-Swallowing Sword Soul, and the Sima Brothers struck Lu Yuanlang with their divine technique. Jing Zhao faced the brothers after refusing their Grand Elder’s invitation, and they attacked him.

• Lu Yuanlang demanded Sun Juyuan hand over the Thief-Swallowing Sword Soul, while Sun Juyuan questioned him about his motives and his ties to the Luofu Sect.
• The Sima Brothers emerged from hiding, shielded Sun Juyuan with a star-patterned cloak, and struck Lu Yuanlang, who fled after being badly wounded.
• Jing Zhao appeared and ordered Liu Xiaolou and Dongfang Yuying to pursue Lu Yuanlang, but Dongfang Yuying stayed to support Jing Zhao.
• Sun Juyuan explained the Sima Brothers’ Star Source Divine Strike and said Ancestor Meng had invited Jing Zhao to learn its secrets at Luohua Terrace.
• Jing Zhao declined the invitation and challenged the Sima Brothers, who appeared before him and pressed their palms toward his chest.