Chapter Summaries

Lin Xuan went to Spirit Herb Mountain's treasury to choose three treasures and learned from Yang Xiu that the sect concealed a far greater history than its public reputation suggested. The chapter left Lin Xuan stunned by the revelation that its founder, True Person Tianchen, had been a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.

• Lin Xuan presented his command token at the treasury, and Yang Xiu verified it and agreed to guide him inside.
• Yang Xiu revealed that several ancestral masters cultivated in seclusion within the mountain, despite the sect's public claim that its strongest members were at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• Lin Xuan questioned Yang Xiu about the sect's hidden history and promised to keep what he heard secret.
• Yang Xiu explained that True Person Tianchen had obtained the Mountain within a Mountain to establish Spirit Herb Mountain, but was far more powerful than the sects of You Province had believed.
• Yang Xiu told Lin Xuan that True Person Tianchen had been a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, though the reason for his deception had been lost to history.

After learning more about Spirit Herb Mountain’s hidden strength, Lin Xuan chose three treasures from its vault and gained new tools for battle. Three days later, he arrived at Azure Cloud Mountain to attend a grand gathering on Perfected Master Tongyu’s behalf.

• Yang Xiu revealed that Spirit Herb Mountain secretly had more than a dozen Core Condensation ancestral masters and led Lin Xuan through the Lost Immortal Array to the treasure vault.
• Lin Xuan chose the defensive Mystic Gold Shield, a Beast Talisman sealing a Flame Rhinoceros, and a bottle of Spirit Replenishing Pills.
• Three days later, Lin Xuan reached Azure Cloud Mountain and sent his invitation into the mountain.
• Mu Yan arrived to receive Lin Xuan, confirmed his identity as Spirit Herb Mountain’s next sect master, and invited him to follow.

Lin Xuan arrived at Azure Cloud Mountain for the sect gathering and was insulted by Lei Ao, the Thunder Sword Sect master, who mistook him for a Rogue Cultivator. Xu Feng and Xu Yin of the Heaven Mountain Sect recognized Lin Xuan as their benefactor, revealing his status and leaving Lei Ao nervously seeking his forgiveness.

• Mu Yan escorted Lin Xuan to the Bridge of Immortal Guidance, where invited cultivators waited to enter Azure Cloud Mountain.
• Lin Xuan joined the sect representatives, and Lei Ao told him that Rogue Cultivators belonged on the other side of the bridge.
• The Heaven Mountain Sect arrived with Xu Feng and Xu Yin, and Xu Feng greeted Lin Xuan as the pill refiner who had saved his sister.
• Xu Feng and Xu Yin praised Lin Xuan's pill-refining skill, Foundation Establishment, and standing as Spirit Herb Mountain's future sect master.
• Lei Ao realized Lin Xuan's identity and apologized, while Xu Feng asked whether Lei Ao had offended him.

Lin Xuan traveled with the visiting cultivators into Azure Cloud Mountain and declined Xu Feng and Xu Yin’s invitation to explore with them. He met Lei Ao in a secluded place to collect the promised treasure, and the chapter ended as he examined the unusual book called Heavenly Thunder Art.

• Luo Wei welcomed the visiting cultivators and led them through a massive teleportation formation into Azure Cloud Mountain’s inner sect.
• After handing out maps and explaining the forbidden areas, Luo Wei left the visitors to explore or rest before the assembly.
• Lin Xuan declined Xu Feng and Xu Yin’s invitation, while Xu Feng reminded his disciples that Lin Xuan was Xu Yin’s lifesaving benefactor and Spirit Herb Mountain’s future sect master.
• Lin Xuan consulted his map and flew to a desolate area, where Lei Ao appeared and offered him the promised treasure.
• Lei Ao presented an ancient book titled Heavenly Thunder Art, and Lin Xuan’s expression grew solemn as he examined it.

Lin Xuan accepted a book containing the Heavenly Thunder Art, whose pages were infused with Mother of Profound Iron, then disguised himself and went to scout a forbidden medicine garden. As he watched the garden’s defenses, a Daoist was caught between its protective barrier and a wood demon.

• Lin Xuan discovered that the unbreakable Heavenly Thunder Art book contained Mother of Profound Iron, and Lei Ao offered it to him because he could not extract the material.
• Lin Xuan accepted the book and left after agreeing not to pursue Lei Ao’s earlier rudeness.
• Lin Xuan consulted his Jade Slip, took a Hidden Spirit Pill, disguised himself as a middle-aged man, and flew toward the forbidden medicine garden.
• Lin Xuan stopped several li from the garden, found that its restrictions blocked his divine sense, and hid nearby to scout the area.
• Two hours later, Lin Xuan saw a Daoist flee the garden’s pale-blue barrier as its attacks struck and a wood demon wrapped around his feet.

Lin Xuan watched Azure Cloud Mountain cultivators kill a Daoist with the Seven-Colored Sword Formation and search his belongings for a strange dagger. The dagger came alive, killed their Junior Sister, and flew away, leaving the two men unable to find it.

• A spiked Thorn Demon ambushed a Daoist, who stabbed it with a black dagger that made it wither.
• Azure Cloud Mountain cultivators activated the Seven-Colored Sword Formation and killed the Daoist while Lin Xuan hid nearby.
• Three Foundation Establishment disciples searched the Daoist's Storage Bag and found the dagger.
• The dagger pierced Junior Sister's heart and flew away as the two male disciples tried to help her.
• The two men searched for the dagger with divine sense but could not find it.

At the Post House, Lin Xuan discovered that the dagger he had taken from the Herb Garden was a rare beyond-grade spiritual artifact. After erasing its former owner’s imprint and making it recognize him as its master, he copied the Heavenly Thunder Art into a new Jade Slip.

• Lin Xuan settled into a pavilion at the Post House, sealed the room, and examined the dagger he had taken from the Herb Garden.
• Lin Xuan recalled the Herb Garden’s Seven-Colored Sword Formation and decided he would have to seek an opportunity rather than act rashly.
• Lin Xuan identified the dagger as a beyond-grade spiritual artifact refined from a Venomous Demon Snake and learned that it needed to recognize a master.
• Lin Xuan erased the Daoist’s divine sense imprint, completed the master-recognition ceremony, and removed the dagger’s restrictions.
• Lin Xuan took out the Daoist book of the Heavenly Thunder Art and copied its cultivation method into a new Jade Slip.

Lin Xuan copied the Heavenly Thunder Art before attending Azure Cloud Mountain’s Nascent Soul Formation Assembly, where he focused on finding a chance to steal the immortal herb. The gathering grew tense when a black cloud of Extreme Evil Demonic Qi arrived, and Lin Xuan recognized it as the aura of a demonic cultivator who had once robbed the Treasure Hunting Fair.

• Lin Xuan copied the Heavenly Thunder Art to study later before going to bed.
• Lin Xuan received Azure Cloud Mountain’s invitation and went to the Cloud Sea plaza for the assembly.
• Lin Xuan surveyed the assembled factions, greeted Xu Feng, and asked about Azure Cloud Mountain’s Herb Garden.
• A black cloud carrying Extreme Evil Demonic Qi drifted into the plaza, and Azure Cloud Mountain’s sect master sent two Foundation Establishment disciples to stop it.
• Lin Xuan recognized the black cloud as the same demonic cultivation method used by the cultivator who had robbed the Treasure Hunting Fair.

At Azure Cloud Mountain’s Nascent Soul Formation Assembly, Lin Xuan learned that Sword Immortal Taibai was occupied and seized the chance to disguise himself as him. He flew toward the Herb Garden to steal the Seven-Star Grass, but someone recognized Taibai and called out to him.

• A Core Condensation demonic cultivator arrived at the assembly, and Sword Immortal Taibai invited him to sit after hearing his message about the Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil.
• Nascent Soul cultivator Zhao released overwhelming spiritual pressure over the gathered cultivators, then disappeared after Azure Cloud Mountain’s sect master called it a greeting.
• As the assembly opened for free exchanges, Lin Xuan watched Taibai and saw that other Core Condensation cultivators were keeping him occupied.
• Lin Xuan left Cloud Sea, disguised himself as Taibai with an alteration technique and illusion talisman, and flew toward the Herb Garden.
• Someone shouted, “Senior Brother Taibai!” as a wisp of pale blue mist approached Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan accompanied Ouyang Qinxin to the Herb Garden, where they discovered that intruders had slaughtered its guards and plundered its plants. Ouyang Qinxin engaged the former Azure Cloud Mountain cultivator Liu Hai while Lin Xuan slipped toward the garden’s central area.

• Ouyang Qinxin asked Lin Xuan to accompany her to the Herb Garden to obtain Mind-Calming Grass.
• Lin Xuan and Ouyang Qinxin found corpses outside the garden, and Ouyang Qinxin determined that an insider had broken the Seven-Colored Sword Formation.
• They entered the ravaged garden and found Ouyang Qinxin’s disciples fighting the Core Condensation cultivator Liu Hai.
• Ouyang Qinxin recognized Liu Hai and told Lin Xuan to intercept his accomplice Liu Tong.
• Lin Xuan avoided the fight and headed for the central area of the Herb Garden while Ouyang Qinxin battled Liu Hai.

Lin Xuan stole the Seven-Star Grass from Azure Cloud Mountain’s inner courtyard after the Jade Pendant pacified its guardian, a Lion-Tiger Beast. In a mountain cave, he examined the pendant and began testing it with a Sky-Soaring Bird Beast Talisman.

• Lin Xuan found a dead Core Condensation cultivator and a peak grade-three Lion-Tiger Beast guarding the Seven-Star Grass.
• Lin Xuan tried to lure the beast away with crystals, but it attacked him when he reached for the herb.
• Lin Xuan accidentally revealed the Jade Pendant, whose light calmed the Lion-Tiger Beast and allowed him to take the Seven-Star Grass and the dead cultivator’s magic treasure fragment.
• Lin Xuan left Azure Cloud Mountain by another route, restored his original appearance, and traveled to a hidden cave, where he released Lin Yue'er to keep watch.
• Lin Xuan examined the Jade Pendant and began channeling his magic power into it while holding a Sky-Soaring Bird Beast Talisman.

Lin Xuan discovered that the Jade Pendant had replenished the energy in his Sky-Soaring Bird Beast Talisman by absorbing a demon beast’s soul essence. He traveled to You Province’s great market to buy additional herbs for refining Meridian-Strengthening Pills.

• Lin Xuan found that his Sky-Soaring Bird Beast Talisman’s energy had been restored and inferred that the Jade Pendant had transferred energy from the Lion-Tiger Beast’s soul essence.
• Lin Xuan meditated through the night, then called Lin Yue'er back and flew southeast toward a nearby market city.
• Lin Xuan entered You Province’s largest market city, which was jointly operated by many small sects and clans.
• Lin Xuan explored the market’s shops, auction houses, Gathering Immortal Pavilion, and teahouses.
• Lin Xuan stopped at a medicinal herb shop to purchase more ingredients for Meridian-Strengthening Pills.

Lin Xuan gathered ingredients for the Meridian-Strengthening Pill but failed to find more Beast Talismans, then learned at a teahouse that Azure Cloud Mountain had quietly ended its search after someone stole spiritual herbs from its Herb Garden. He left relieved that the theft had not brought suspicion onto him.

• Lin Xuan bought the common ingredients for the Meridian-Strengthening Pill but found no Beast Talismans for sale in the market square.
• Lin Xuan learned that Beast Talismans usually appeared only at auctions and decided to focus on refining the pill and improving his strength.
• Lin Xuan entered the Immortal Guest House and overheard Rogue Cultivator Yuan describe Azure Cloud Mountain restricting departures from Cloud Sea Plaza after a thief stole precious spiritual herbs.
• Yuan said Azure Cloud Mountain's sect master returned, apologized to the cultivators, and allowed them to leave without inspecting them.
• Lin Xuan felt relieved that no inspections had taken place, while other cultivators speculated about who had stolen the herbs.

Lin Xuan witnessed Ouyang Qinxin cripple a Rogue Cultivator who tried to flee, then left the market and hid from Zhang Taibai and a demonic cultivator meeting in the wilderness. He learned that Zhang Taibai had arranged to obtain the Heavenly Extreme Map from Ouyang Qinxin for the Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil, while seeking Sea-Blue Algae to treat his hidden ailment.

• Ouyang Qinxin arrived at the Immortal Guest House and crippled the Confucian scholar after he tried to escape her.
• Lin Xuan left the market and flew to a remote wilderness, where he hid after sensing someone approaching.
• Zhang Taibai arrived and waited in the wilderness until Miao Ai Shangren appeared with a Storage Bag from the Supreme Demon of Extreme Evil.
• Zhang Taibai checked the item in the Storage Bag, and Miao Ai Shangren asked him to deliver the Heavenly Extreme Map to the Demon Venerable.
• Zhang Taibai said he had arranged to meet Ouyang Qinxin, who possessed the map, and rejected Miao Ai Shangren's offer to join Extreme Demon Cave.

Lin Xuan discovered Miao Ai Shangren preparing to ambush Ouyang Qinxin, warned her, and escaped the first attack. Ouyang Qinxin and Miao Ai Shangren began fighting, while Lin Xuan watched from behind his layered defenses with an uneasy premonition.

• Miao Ai Shangren set up the White Bone Yin-Baleful Array and concealed himself to ambush Ouyang Qinxin.
• Ouyang Qinxin arrived, and Lin Xuan warned her before she stepped into the array.
• Miao Ai Shangren attacked Lin Xuan, who dodged and fled toward Ouyang Qinxin for protection.
• Ouyang Qinxin and Miao Ai Shangren faced off, and Lin Xuan put up several defenses before watching from a distance.
• Ouyang Qinxin used her golden harp to send countless spiritual needles at Miao Ai Shangren, who countered with wind blades from his fog-shrouded magic treasure.

Lin Xuan helped Ouyang Qinxin defeat Miao Ai Shangren by secretly giving her a Spirit Replenishing Pill, then joined the fight to stop the demonic cultivator from escaping. After Miao Ai Shangren fell, Ouyang Qinxin thanked Lin Xuan and invited him to treat her as an equal.

• Ouyang Qinxin summoned a spiritual Bi Fang to battle Miao Ai Shangren's transformed Evil Flood Dragon, while their magic treasures clashed for a day and a night.
• Lin Xuan secretly gave Ouyang Qinxin a Spirit Replenishing Pill, restoring her strength as Miao Ai Shangren grew exhausted and tried to flee.
• Miao Ai Shangren abandoned his magic treasure to escape, but Lin Xuan blocked his path with talismans and Beast Talismans.
• Ouyang Qinxin caught up and killed Miao Ai Shangren with her golden dagger after Lin Xuan helped keep him from escaping.
• Lin Xuan took Miao Ai Shangren's Storage Bag, and Ouyang Qinxin recognized him as Spirit Herb Mountain's young sect master and asked to interact as peers.

Lin Xuan befriended Ouyang Qinxin, returned to Spirit Herb Mountain, and refined thousands of Meridian-Strengthening Pills using the Seven-Star Grass he had stolen. He used the pills to accelerate his cultivation, and five years passed as he trained and took part in the mountain’s affairs.

• Ouyang Qinxin offered Lin Xuan Miao Ai Shangren’s Storage Bag, a Jade Slip of cultivation insight, and a jade zither he could use to seek her help.
• Lin Xuan vaguely warned Ouyang Qinxin to beware of Sword Immortal Taibai, then returned to Spirit Herb Mountain after a day and night of flight.
• Perfected Master Tongyu summoned Lin Xuan and asked about his trip, while Lin Xuan concealed the Seven-Star Grass and his encounter with Ouyang Qinxin.
• Lin Xuan refined thousands of Meridian-Strengthening Pills over several months and preserved the remaining Seven-Star Grass.
• Lin Xuan used the pills to raise his daily Foundation Establishment Pill intake to fifteen, cultivated, and helped with Spirit Herb Mountain’s affairs for five years.

Lin Xuan reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and left seclusion to find a proper ghost-cultivation art for Lin Yue'er. He traveled to Heavenly Demon City and turned down a pair of Rogue Cultivators who offered to accompany him, keeping their Sound Transmission Talisman as he approached the city.

• Lin Xuan advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage after three months of seclusion.
• Lin Xuan learned that Lin Yue'er had reached the Foundation Establishment Early Stage and exhausted her crude ghost-cultivation manual, so he decided to seek a suitable art in Heavenly Demon City's market.
• Lin Xuan traveled toward Heavenly Demon City and passed through a forest where demon cultivators hunted demon beasts.
• A white-robed scholar and his red-clothed wife offered to travel with Lin Xuan, warning that lone cultivators faced danger in Heavenly Demon City.
• Lin Xuan declined their offer, accepted the scholar's Sound Transmission Talisman, and stored it in his Storage Bracelet.

Lin Xuan entered Heavenly Demon City using Spirit Herb Mountain’s Jade Token and found Xu Yin being harassed by Yuan Song. He chose to intervene, and as Yuan Song attacked, Lin Xuan dodged while carrying Xu Yin aside.

• Lin Xuan presented his Spirit Herb Mountain Jade Token at Heavenly Demon City’s gate and received permission to enter as an honored guest.
• Lin Xuan heard a commotion, recognized Xu Yin, and decided to assess her predicament because he hoped to gain favor with her elder brother Xu Feng.
• Yuan Song pressured Xu Yin to dual cultivate with him, and Xu Yin ran to Lin Xuan for help.
• Lin Xuan warned Yuan Song to leave Xu Yin alone, and Yuan Song attacked him with a dark-green thread of light.
• Lin Xuan turned into white mist and carried Xu Yin aside to evade Yuan Song’s strike.

Lin Xuan killed Yuan Song with the Thousand Illusion Transformation, a secret art that made his Hook Swords take the form of a fire dragon. As Lin Xuan and Xu Yin tried to leave, three black-clad demonic cultivators arrived and surrounded them.

• Lin Xuan overwhelmed Yuan Song’s sawtoothed flying sword with his Hook Swords and transformed them into a fire dragon.
• Yuan Song’s defensive talismans failed, and Lin Xuan burned him and his Primordial Spirit to ashes.
• Xu Yin admired Lin Xuan’s strength while two hidden Core Condensation cultivators debated whether to capture him, then decided against acting rashly.
• Lin Xuan told Xu Yin to leave with him, but three black-clad demonic cultivators flew over and surrounded them.