Chapter Summaries

Lin Xuan gave Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin Heaven Dust Pills to help them form Golden Cores, deepening their loyalty. Lu Ying'er then asked him to protect Baisuan Pavilion from threats within and outside.

• Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin told Lin Xuan that repeated attempts to form Golden Cores had failed and their chances were poor.
• Lin Xuan presented the women with two Heaven Dust Pills and explained that the pills could greatly improve their chances of forming Golden Cores.
• Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin recognized the pills, thanked Lin Xuan, and grew even more devoted to him.
• Lu Ying'er asked Lin Xuan to help Baisuan Pavilion, which faced pressure from Tianyuan Boat and covetous Core Condensation Realm elders.
• Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes and asked whether Lu Ying'er wanted him to intervene personally.

Lin Xuan reassured Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin that they could handle Baisuan Pavilion’s internal troubles after advancing. Meanwhile, Baisuan Pavilion’s elders debated rebellion and Ma proposed working with Tianyuan Boat, leaving the gathered elders alarmed and opposed.

• Lin Xuan told Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin to focus on cultivation, promising to handle the threats to Baisuan Pavilion himself.
• At Baisuan Pavilion’s largest You Province branch, Ma gathered the elders to discuss rebellion against the two Pavilion Masters.
• Zhou warned that the Pavilion Masters might have a Nascent Soul Realm backer, but Sima and Ma dismissed the warning as a bluff.
• Ma claimed he had a way to deal with even a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator and revealed that Tianyuan Boat could be involved.
• Zhou and the other elders objected to cooperating with Tianyuan Boat, citing its rivalry with Baisuan Pavilion and the losses it could cause them.

Baisuan Pavilion’s elders agreed to eliminate Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin in exchange for joining Separation Medicine Palace’s You Province branch. Meanwhile, Lin Xuan returned to the Heart Refining Path to investigate its ancient restrictions, and his overwhelming power caused the entire formation to momentarily freeze.

• Ma revealed that Separation Medicine Palace had agreed to make Baisuan Pavilion and Tianyuan Boat its You Province branch if they eliminated the two girls, and the elders accepted the plan.
• Lin Xuan entered the Heart Refining Path at Floating Cloud Valley’s rear mountain, intending to explore it and resolve Baisuan Pavilion’s troubles while Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin cultivated in seclusion.
• Lin Xuan passed through the path’s fire and ice illusions without being harmed, reflecting on his past and remembering Yuanke and Xiang'er.
• Lin Xuan entered the netherworld illusion and shattered its attacking vengeful souls with his spiritual pressure, causing the entire restriction to briefly stagnate.

Lin Xuan defeated a ghost face that attacked him on the Heart Refining Path and realized the threat was real, not an illusion. He explained that the path was a powerful Composite Array combining an illusion array with a Ghost Path killing array, and continued onward with a new understanding of its danger.

• A Nascent Soul-level ghost face appeared, and Lin Xuan attacked it with the Azure Fire Sword and Azure Phantom Nether Fire.
• The Azure Phantom Nether Fire slipped past the ghost face’s defenses and burned it to gray smoke from within.
• Yue'er asked whether the ghost face had been real, and Lin Xuan confirmed that it was.
• Lin Xuan explained that the Heart Refining Path was a Composite Array in which an illusion array concealed a Ghost Path killing array.
• Lin Xuan realized his caution had kept him from falling for the array’s trap and allowed him to destroy the ghost face.

Lin Xuan survived the Heart Refining Path and found an ancient cultivator’s remains in a hidden cave, but the treasures beside them were a trap that badly injured his Corpse Demon. He searched the cave for the valuable treasure he believed the ancient array master had hidden elsewhere.

• Lin Xuan cautiously advanced through the Heart Refining Path and reached a cave containing a cultivator’s skeleton.
• Lin Xuan sent his Corpse Demon to search the area, uncovering a Storage Bag filled with a sword, jade bottles, and Jade Slips.
• Lin Xuan kept his Nine Heavens Spirit Shield active as the Corpse Demon collected the treasures, which suddenly exploded.
• Lin Xuan used Nine Heavens Micro-Steps to escape the blast and then repaired the damaged cave wall with an earth-element Petrification Technique.
• Lin Xuan recalled the wounded Corpse Demon and searched the cave with his divine sense for the ancient cultivator’s hidden treasure.

Lin Xuan obtained an ancient cultivator’s Heaven Origin Array Book and studied its difficult array techniques at Floating Cloud Valley. A month later, Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin formed their Golden Cores at the same time and appeared before him after the heavenly signs passed.

• Lin Xuan refined the ancient cultivator’s remains and found a pearl containing the cultivator’s lifetime knowledge, including the Heaven Origin Array Book.
• Lin Xuan spent a month studying the array book in his cave dwelling, especially the Composite Array.
• Lin Xuan sensed the signs of Golden Core Formation and flew out to watch the rear mountain of Floating Cloud Valley.
• Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin formed their Golden Cores simultaneously, astonishing the valley’s cultivators and earning Lin Xuan’s elders’ respect.
• After the storm passed, Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin arrived before Lin Xuan with newly changed auras.

Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin thanked Lin Xuan for helping them reach Golden Core Formation, then reported that Ma Yuntong’s rebellion had ties to the powerful Separation Medicine Palace. Lin Xuan promised to deal with the sect’s backing and questioned the women’s choice of cultivation methods, leaving them to explain that they prioritized powerful abilities over prospects for further advancement.

• Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin visited Lin Xuan’s cave residence after reaching Golden Core Formation and proposed moving against the rebels.
• Lu Ying'er told Lin Xuan that Ma Yuntong had recruited many followers and appeared to have ties to Separation Medicine Palace.
• Liu Xin explained that Separation Medicine Palace was one of the seven great sects of the Twelve Heavenly Cloud Provinces and had several Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivators.
• Lin Xuan told the women to leave Separation Medicine Palace to him while they dealt with the traitors.
• Lin Xuan examined Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin’s chosen cultivation methods and warned that their power would make future advancement difficult.
• Lu Ying'er explained that the women had chosen powerful methods because they expected to struggle to advance beyond Core Condensation.

Lin Xuan promised Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin that he would help them advance on the immortal path, then chose the Jade Maiden Seven-Heart Technique for them despite its weak combat abilities. After explaining its rapid cultivation and bottleneck breakthroughs, he gave them powerful magical treasures to compensate for its shortcomings.

• Lin Xuan won Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin's willing loyalty by promising to support their cultivation and help them reach Late Core Condensation, with a chance of eventually forming Nascent Souls.
• Lin Xuan gave the women the Jade Maiden Seven-Heart Technique and explained that its rapid progress, easier breakthroughs, and lack of spirit-root restrictions made it suitable for them.
• Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin accepted Lin Xuan's cultivation advice, and he asked what magical treasures they wanted to cultivate.
• Lin Xuan presented Liu Xin with the Amber Vermilion Sword as her life-bound treasure, a saber as a supplementary weapon, and a white jade umbrella for defense.

Lin Xuan equipped Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin with powerful magic treasures, then prepared to deal with the rebels threatening Baisuan Pavilion. After rewarding their followers and allowing the women time to stabilize their cultivation, he traveled with them to Horned Python Mountain to assess Tianyuan Boat’s main altar before acting.

• Lin Xuan gave Liu Xin and Lu Ying'er magic treasures suited to their abilities and explained how the items could strengthen and protect them.
• Lin Xuan and Yue'er discussed the unclear reasons Separation Medicine Palace wanted to establish a branch in You Province, and Lin Xuan decided to investigate before making a move.
• During the women’s three months in seclusion, Lin Xuan rewarded Baisuan Pavilion’s loyal cultivators, raising morale throughout Floating Cloud Valley.
• After Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin stabilized their realms and refined their treasures, Lin Xuan set out with them to eliminate the rebels’ outside support.
• Lin Xuan and the women reached Horned Python Mountain, where Tianyuan Boat’s main altar stood, and Lin Xuan chose to assess the situation before attacking.

Lin Xuan spent several days indulging in mortal pleasures near Horned Python Mountain while gathering information about Separation Medicine Palace and tempering his state of mind. He finally spotted a Foundation Establishment cultivator connected to the newly arrived elder, giving him a chance to investigate the threat to Tianyuan Boat.

• Li Si saw Lin Xuan arrive at Drunken Immortal Pavilion with Liu Xin and Lu Ying'er, and mistook the two respectful women for his servants.
• Lin Xuan ordered a feast and told Liu Xin and Lu Ying'er to sit with him, then explained that remaining calm mattered more than worrying about Separation Medicine Palace.
• Lin Xuan spent seven days dining and sightseeing while secretly using his divine sense to gather information and temper his state of mind through worldly indulgence.
• Lin Xuan sensed three cultivators enter the city, including a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage man named Fang who was related to Separation Medicine Palace's new elder.
• Two Spirit Movement Stage disciples flattered Fang and urged him to visit Drunken Immortal Pavilion, knowing he was gluttonous and lustful.

After learning from Hua Fu’s memories that the Separation Medicine Palace had little interest in You Province, Lin Xuan infiltrated Tianyuan Boat’s main altar to confront its leader, Fang. Fang discovered him in his residence and recognized him, leaving their encounter unresolved.

• Lin Xuan captured and soul-searched Hua Fu and two other cultivators, then learned that Fang had been sidelined by the Separation Medicine Palace and was stationed in You Province.
• Lin Xuan sent Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin back to Fuyang City despite their objections.
• Lin Xuan disguised himself as Hua Fu and used his identity token to enter Tianyuan Boat’s main altar.
• Lin Xuan followed Hua Fu’s memories to Fang’s secluded residence and entered through its illusion restrictions.
• Fang sensed the intruder, and Lin Xuan removed his disguise; Fang recognized Lin Xuan with astonishment.

Lin Xuan learned that Tian Xiaojian had become Separation Medicine Palace’s Young Master and decided to kill Fang Xinhe before word of his return reached him. Lin Xuan ambushed Fang Xinhe in his cave dwelling, but Fang Xinhe countered with Infant Fire and tried to retreat.

• Fang Xinhe recognized Lin Xuan from a portrait and revealed that Tian Xiaojian was Separation Medicine Palace’s Young Master.
• Lin Xuan concealed his killing intent and accepted Fang Xinhe’s invitation to his cave dwelling.
• Lin Xuan suddenly attacked Fang Xinhe with the Azure Fire Sword.
• Fang Xinhe raised a wall of Infant Fire and flashed backward to escape the strike.

Lin Xuan killed Fang Xinhe in the Tianyuan Boat main altar and escaped without revealing his identity. He returned to Fuyang City, leaving Tianyuan Boat intact to avoid drawing suspicion from Separation Medicine Palace.

• Lin Xuan severed Fang Xinhe's arm, burned away his body with the Azure Phantom Nether Fire, and disrupted his Nascent Soul's attempts to teleport.
• Lin Xuan summoned the Corpse Demon, which caught Fang Xinhe's Nascent Soul and devoured it.
• Lin Xuan searched Fang Xinhe's belongings, disguised himself as the dark, thin man surnamed Fang, and left the Tianyuan Boat main altar.
• Lin Xuan explained to Yue'er that destroying Tianyuan Boat would make others suspect Baisuan Pavilion, while Fang Xinhe's death could be blamed on other enemies.
• Lin Xuan flew from Horned Python Mountain back to Fuyang City.

Ma Yuntong plotted to seize Baisuan Pavilion and believed a Nascent Soul elder from Separation Medicine Palace could help him overcome Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin. Lu Ying'er appeared at his stronghold, and Ma Yuntong recognized Xiao Qi's spiritual artifact in her hand.

• Ma Yuntong reviewed intelligence that Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin had both advanced to Core Condensation Realm, then dismissed them as threats because he believed their powerful Nascent Soul ally had weakened himself helping them.
• Ma Yuntong worried that his envoy, Xiao Qi, had been gone for five days without sending word.
• Lu Ying'er entered Ma Yuntong's heavily guarded hall without warning and confronted him about his plan to rebel.
• Ma Yuntong noticed Xiao Qi's spiritual artifact in Lu Ying'er's hand and demanded to know why she had it.

Lu Ying'er confronted Ma Yuntong while Yue'er secretly possessed her to fight him, following Lin Xuan's plan to make the two pavilion masters defeat the traitors themselves. As their magical battle drew a crowd of cultivators into the hall, Yue'er had gained the upper hand, but the fight had not yet ended.

• Lu Ying'er revealed that she had killed Ma Yuntong's disciple for colluding with outsiders, then challenged Ma Yuntong without calling on Lin Xuan.
• Ma Yuntong summoned his Purple Blood Blade and attacked Lu Ying'er, who met it with the Azure Jade Green-Light Bracelet.
• Lin Xuan's plan was explained: Yue'er possessed Lu Ying'er so she could defeat Ma Yuntong while the two pavilion masters built their own authority.
• Yue'er took control of Lu Ying'er's body and used the bracelet to suppress Ma Yuntong's Purple Blood Blade.
• Hundreds of cultivators entered the hall after sensing the battle's spiritual-power fluctuations.

Lin Xuan’s arrival restrained the rebellious cultivators while Lu Ying’er fought Ma Yuntong, who unleashed a Blood Ghost Pearl to create a chance to escape. Lu Ying’er revealed her Ghost Path abilities and drew the blood ghost toward her Beast Soul Banner, leaving its fate poised to turn against Ma Yuntong.

• Lu Ying’er entered Baisuan Pavilion, and Lin Xuan revealed himself beside Liu Xin, frightening the gathered cultivators into holding back.
• Ma Yuntong struggled against Lu Ying’er’s Azure Jade Green-Light Bracelet as his Demonic Blood Blade began to crack.
• Ma Yuntong tore the seal from his Blood Ghost Pearl and released its ghost, hoping to endanger Lu Ying’er and escape.
• Lu Ying’er welcomed the blood ghost, revealed her Beast Soul Banner, and opened it to release dense ghostly qi that lured the creature.

Yue'er defeated Ma Yuntong and captured his blood ghost, while Lin Xuan’s plan used the executions of the traitors to cow the remaining rebels. The surviving elders began begging for mercy, leaving their fates in the pavilion masters’ hands.

• Ma Yuntong sacrificed his vital blood to restore the blood ghost, but Yue'er summoned a stronger ghostly creature and used her Red Silk to poison and restrain him.
• Yue'er trapped the blood ghost in the Beast Soul Banner and defeated Ma Yuntong, shocking the pavilion’s elders with her strength.
• At Lin Xuan’s signal, Yue'er condemned Ma Yuntong to have his soul refined, and his screams terrified the onlookers.
• An old man and a scar-faced cultivator tried to flee, but Lin Xuan killed both with Sword Qi.
• An elder in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe knelt and begged Lin Xuan and Lu Ying'er to spare his life.

Lin Xuan helped Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin secure the branch division after its cultivators rebelled, then prepared to leave and continue wandering. Before he departed, Lu Ying'er gave him a sect token and an ancient pill formula that could help him increase his Nascent Soul magic power.

• Lu Ying'er accepted the rebels' submission and warned them against future betrayal, then she and Liu Xin reorganized the branch division.
• Lin Xuan told Yue'er that he had spared the rebels from the Spirit Restricting Technique because it would burden the women and breed resentment, and he trusted fear of Ma Yuntong's fate to deter them.
• Three days later, Lin Xuan told Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin he was leaving to wander the world, despite their reluctance.
• Lu Ying'er gave Lin Xuan Baisuan Pavilion's Command Token and a Jade Slip containing the Nine-Turn Wonderful Heart Pill formula; Lin Xuan found that he already had most of its rare beast materials.
• Lin Xuan gave Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin pills, talismans, and a Jade Slip, advising them to save his personally refined pills for cultivation bottlenecks.

Lin Xuan returned to You Province after sixty years and found Spirit Herb Mountain ruined by volcanic eruptions, its sect having relocated. He encountered a small cultivator clan nearby and was surprised when its returning father appeared familiar.

• Lin Xuan left Baisuan Pavilion after giving two women cultivation insights and talismans, then traveled toward Spirit Herb Mountain.
• Lin Xuan discovered that Spirit Herb Mountain's volcanoes had erupted, destroying its Spirit Vein and forcing the sect to move away.
• Lin Xuan sensed cultivators nearby and flew to a small settlement built beside a weak new Spirit Spring.
• Lin Xuan used a restrained burst of spiritual pressure to summon the settlement's strongest cultivator, but two young siblings came to meet him instead.
• The siblings explained that their father was away managing affairs, then the young girl spotted his returning light as Lin Xuan recognized a familiar presence.

Lin Xuan reunited with Ma Tianxiong, an old acquaintance from Floating Cloud Valley, and learned that the sect had been destroyed in the Yinhun invasion. Ma Tianxiong had no news of Qin Yan after she escaped, leaving Lin Xuan to hope she had joined another sect.

• Lin Xuan recognized Ma Tianxiong, discovered he had reached Foundation Establishment, and praised his talented children, Ma Lan and Ma You.
• Lin Xuan gave Ma Lan and Ma You the Apricot Shade Art after finding their cultivation method inadequate, then accepted Ma Tianxiong's invitation to talk.
• Ma Tianxiong told Lin Xuan that Floating Cloud Valley had been annihilated when thousands of Yinhun attacked its headquarters and killed the sect leader and most of its members.
• Ma Tianxiong said Qin Yan had slain two Ghost Kings before escaping the battle, but he had heard nothing about her since.
• Lin Xuan concluded that Qin Yan may have joined another sect and mourned Floating Cloud Valley's destruction.