Chapter Summaries

The Wei family welcomed Madam Wei and Wei Zi'an home, and Old Doctor Chen began treating Wei Shanhai’s sword wound with Lu Qing’s help. The treatment forced the sword qi out of Wei Shanhai’s heart meridian, leaving its success unresolved.

• Madam Wei and Wei Zi'an thanked Lu Qing, Ma Gu, and the Silver Moon Guards for protecting them, while Wei Xinghe promised rewards for the guards and their families.
• The group entered the Wei Residence, where the Grand Steward Wei recognized Old Doctor Chen and explained his connection to Lu Qing.
• Madam Wei revealed that Old Doctor Chen had come to treat Wei Shanhai’s heart-meridian injury, and Wei Shanhai agreed to undergo treatment.
• Madam Wei took Xiao Yan to eat, and Lu Qing gave her Xiao Li to bring along while he joined Old Doctor Chen in the quiet room.
• Old Doctor Chen examined Wei Shanhai and found his injuries treatable, then directed Lu Qing to insert needles as he protected the heart meridian with true qi.
• Lu Qing’s final needle forced the Innate Sword Qi into one mass, and Old Doctor Chen’s true qi enveloped it and began drawing it out.

Old Doctor removed the sword qi from Wei Shanhai’s heart meridian and prescribed treatment for his remaining injuries. At the banquet, Wei Shanhai explained his history with Wang Cangyi and invited Old Doctor to view the treasure Wang had sought.

• Old Doctor used the Silver Needle Acupoint Sealing Technique to expose and remove the sword qi from Wei Shanhai’s heart meridian.
• Old Doctor said Wei Shanhai could recover fully with medicine and rest, and Wei Shanhai invited him to a welcoming banquet.
• Lu Qing reunited with Xiao Yan at the banquet, where she told him about the pastries she and Xiao Li had eaten.
• Wei Shanhai toasted Old Doctor, Lu Qing, and Ma Gu for helping the Wei Clan, while Wei Xinghe promised to hold an Apprenticeship Ceremony for Wei Zi'an.
• Wei Shanhai told Old Doctor that he and Wang Cangyi had once traveled together and obtained the treasure Wang later sought, then invited Old Doctor to view it.

Wei Shanhai brought Old Doctor, Lu Qing, and Ma Gu to the Wei Clan’s underground chamber to show them a treasure. He revealed that the Giant Cauldron had grown from thumb-sized to its present size after decades in the chamber, and Lu Qing examined it with his Supernatural Ability.

• Wei Shanhai invited Old Doctor to observe a treasure and, at Old Doctor’s request, agreed to let Lu Qing and Ma Gu come too.
• Wei Shanhai led the group through a Hidden Door beneath a tower, and Lu Qing used his Supernatural Ability to confirm that the passage contained hidden protective mechanisms.
• The group entered a cave chamber rich in Fire Element Primal Qi, where Lu Qing recognized the fire-related Rune Array carved into the walls.
• Wei Shanhai explained that he had obtained the red Giant Cauldron with Wang Cangyi, when it was only thumb-sized, and that it had grown over nearly a hundred years in the chamber.
• Lu Qing activated his Supernatural Ability and focused on the Giant Cauldron.

Lu Qing discovered that Wei Shanhai’s great cauldron was a damaged Middle-Grade Spirit Artifact called the Li Fire Cauldron. After everyone comprehended its essence, Lu Qing absorbed its soul-nourishing aura and downloaded and learned the cauldron’s inheritance.

• Lu Qing used his Supernatural Ability to identify the great cauldron as the damaged Li Fire Cauldron, a Middle-Grade Spirit Artifact whose spirituality was recovering.
• Wei Shanhai activated the cauldron’s essence, allowing Lu Qing, the Old Doctor, Wei Xinghe, and the others to comprehend it.
• Lu Qing absorbed the essence’s aura and more than doubled his Divine Soul Power without revealing it to the others.
• Lu Qing downloaded and simulated the Li Fire Cauldron’s inheritance, then chose to learn it and gained new understanding.

Lu Qing learned the Li Fire Cauldron's ancient origins and explored the legacy's useful techniques, though scarce spiritual energy made its immortal cultivation arts impractical. His master, Chen Songqing, unexpectedly comprehended Water and Fire Interfusion, leaving Wei Shanhai astonished and the others unable to grasp the insight.

• Lu Qing learned that the Li Fire Cauldron had been the Li Fire Sect's damaged sect-defending artifact and that the sect master's son left its legacy before dying in a hidden cave dwelling.
• Lu Qing decided not to pursue the legacy's spiritual-energy-based cultivation arts, but considered using its pill-refining, artifact-refining, and Divine Soul Power techniques.
• Chen Songqing displayed a strange water-and-fire phenomenon after comprehending Water and Fire Interfusion, startling everyone in the chamber.
• Lu Qing used his Supernatural Ability to see that Chen Songqing had gained water- and fire-attributed True Qi that blended together and strengthened his cultivation.
• Wei Shanhai questioned Chen Songqing about cultivating opposing kinds of Innate True Qi, and Chen Songqing attributed his breakthrough to understanding Five Elements Mutual Generation and Overcoming.

After gaining a major boost to his Divine Soul Power from the Li Fire Cauldron, Lu Qing condensed the third rune of his Natal Rune framework and expanded his glabella aperture. He then broke through from the Tendons and Bones Realm into the Inner Organs Realm, alerting the Wei Residence experts.

• Wei Shanhai was shaken by the Old Doctor's mastery of opposing Innate True Qi, while Lu Qing decided to leave the Li Fire Cauldron in the cavern until he could refine it.
• Lu Qing returned to the Wei Residence, settled Xiao Yan and Xiao Li, and cultivated through the night to condense his second and third Divine Soul Runes.
• The third rune transformed Lu Qing's glabella aperture and allowed him to clearly perceive the Five Elements Heaven and Earth Primal Qi, though he could not yet draw it into his body.
• Lu Qing decided to strengthen his foundation by advancing into the Inner Organs Realm rather than rushing to the Innate Realm.
• Practicing the Body Nourishing Fist in the courtyard at dawn, Lu Qing broke through into the Inner Organs Realm, drawing several Wei Residence experts toward him.

Lu Qing made a breakthrough into the Inner Organs Realm, astonishing the Wei Clan with his rapid progress and the martial skill he displayed through Wei Zi'an. Wei Xinghe decided to hold a formal Apprentice Ceremony for Wei Zi'an and Ma Gu, and Grand Steward Wei began preparing it.

• Lu Qing explained his breakthrough to Grand Steward Wei and the Silver Moon Guard Captains, then told Old Doctor he had reached the limit of the Tendons and Bones Realm.
• Wei Xinghe and Grand Steward Wei discussed Lu Qing and Old Doctor Chen’s extraordinary abilities and learned how quickly Lu Qing had advanced.
• Wei Zi'an demonstrated the One Qi Staff Method that Lu Qing had taught him, impressing Wei Xinghe and Grand Steward Wei.
• Wei Xinghe proposed a formal Apprentice Ceremony for Wei Zi'an and Ma Gu, and Wei Zi'an eagerly ran to tell his master.
• Wei Xinghe instructed Grand Steward Wei to arrange the ceremony, while Ma Gu was stunned when Wei Zi'an told him about it.

Wei Zi'an persuaded Ma Gu to accept a grand Apprentice Ceremony, while Lu Qing set out with Xiao Yan and Xiao Li to explore the County Town. To avoid the watchers around the Wei Residence, Lu Qing climbed over a secluded wall, leaving a Silver Moon Guard to report his escape.

• Wei Zi'an asked Ma Gu not to reject the Apprentice Ceremony and explained why he wanted Ma Gu to keep teaching him.
• Ma Gu agreed to remain Wei Zi'an's master, and Wei Xinghe arranged for Grand Steward Wei to deliver a visiting card to Ma Gu's clan.
• Lu Qing declined Wei Xinghe's offer of a city guide and prepared to explore with Xiao Yan and Xiao Li.
• The Old Doctor stayed behind to read rare medical classics, while Grand Steward Wei gave Lu Qing money for his outing.
• Lu Qing climbed over a secluded wall to leave the watched Wei Residence, and a Silver Moon Guard eventually reported it to the Grand Steward.

Ma Gu left the Wei Residence with gifts and Grand Steward Wei escorting him, drawing the attention of spies who followed and reported his departure. Meanwhile, Lu Qing took Xiao Yan and Xiao Li to a bookstore, where they chose storybooks while he searched for books to learn more about the world.

• Ma Gu accepted the Wei Clan's gifts and left the Wei Residence under Grand Steward Wei's escort.
• The spies recognized Ma Gu, followed his group toward City South, and sent reports to their factions.
• Lu Qing brought Xiao Yan and Xiao Li to the commercial district and bought them tanghulu and fried small fish.
• Lu Qing promised the two little ones that they could choose storybooks at a bookstore.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Li began browsing storybooks while Lu Qing activated his Supernatural Ability and searched the shelves for useful books.

Lu Qing found a rare book about the Cultivation Era, bought it along with books for Xiao Yan and Xiao Li, then spotted a market swindler framing an old man over a broken vase. His Supernatural Ability exposed the vase as brand-new and identified the swindler, but Lu Qing was stunned when he examined the old man's money pouch.

• Lu Qing discovered the red-glowing Carefree Wanderer's Notes, which contained theories about the disappearance of the Cultivation Era, but the Bookstore Owner could not identify its origins.
• Lu Qing bought a stack of books with gold from the Wei Clan and took Xiao Yan and Xiao Li to explore the market.
• Lu Qing saw Chen Wencai accuse an old man of breaking an antique vase and demand twenty taels of silver.
• Lu Qing used his Supernatural Ability to learn that the vase was brand-new and Chen Wencai was a notorious profiteer who swindled outsiders.
• Lu Qing looked at the old man's money pouch and was shocked by what his Supernatural Ability revealed.

Lu Qing stopped an old man from taking his own life after Chen Chailang cheated him out of his savings, then knocked Chen unconscious and returned the money. He escorted the old man away and told the crowd that the County Magistrate Residence could find him at the Wei Residence.

• Lu Qing saw a purple glow coming from the Old Money Bag, but Chen Chailang snatched it and kept the old man's silver.
• After realizing his savings were gone, the old man charged toward a wall, and Lu Qing stopped him.
• Chen Chailang cursed at the old man, so Lu Qing slapped him unconscious and retrieved the Old Money Bag.
• Lu Qing returned the money to the old man and offered to escort him out of the market.
• Before leaving, Lu Qing told the crowd to direct anyone seeking accountability to him at the Wei Residence.

Lu Qing discovered that the old man’s worn money pouch was a low-grade spirit artifact called the Universe Qi Bag and bought it from him. After safely escorting the old man out of the city, Lu Qing returned and encountered a smiling, handsome middle-aged man approaching him.

• Wang Yi and the County Magistrate Residence runners learned that Lu Qing had claimed to be from the Wei Residence, then took Chen Chailang to a clinic rather than confront Lu Qing.
• Lu Qing examined the old man’s money pouch with his Supernatural Ability and identified it as the spatial spirit artifact Universe Qi Bag.
• The old man told Lu Qing he had found the pouch while reclaiming wasteland and agreed to give it to him in exchange for a gold ingot.
• Lu Qing shared a meal with the old man and escorted him out of the city, secretly making sure no one followed him.
• Lu Qing returned to the city and saw a handsome middle-aged man with striking phoenix eyes walking toward him with a smile.

Lu Qing declined Yan Canghai’s invitation after learning how he planned to punish Chen Wencai’s brother-in-law, Wang Yi. Back at the Wei Residence, Lu Qing accepted an offer to browse the family’s book collection, hoping to find useful information.

• Yan Canghai told Lu Qing that Chen Wencai would be imprisoned and have his assets confiscated, while Wang Yi would only lose three months of salary.
• Lu Qing refused Yan Canghai’s invitation, and the Plain-Clothed Youth criticized Yan Canghai for protecting Wang Yi to preserve a promising subordinate.
• The Plain-Clothed Youth warned Yan Canghai not to provoke Lu Qing, whose gentle appearance concealed deep killing intent.
• Lu Qing returned to the Wei Residence with Xiao Yan and Xiao Li, and Xiao Yan excitedly told Madam Wei about their outing and books.
• Wei Xinghe invited Lu Qing to browse the Wei Residence’s library, and Lu Qing returned to his room after learning that his master was discussing innate martial arts with Wei Shanhai.

Lu Qing learned from Carefree Wanderer's Notes how the cultivator struggled against dwindling spiritual qi and died without reaching Foundation Establishment. Realizing the predicted revival of spiritual qi might be due in his own era, Lu Qing suddenly remembered something that made his heart jolt.

• Lu Qing downloaded and learned the contents of Carefree Wanderer's Notes.
• Lu Qing discovered that Carefree Wanderer had reached Qi Refining Completion on his own but was trapped there by scarce spiritual qi.
• Carefree Wanderer found a Heavenly Dao Sect jade wall that described spiritual qi declining for thirty thousand years and reviving for thirty thousand years.
• Carefree Wanderer spent centuries seeking a breakthrough but died without reaching Foundation Establishment.
• Lu Qing calculated that the predicted spiritual qi revival might be arriving in his era, then suddenly remembered something.

Lu Qing suspected that spiritual qi was secretly reviving and saw the era’s decline as an opportunity to find diminished Spirit Artifacts. After refining the Universe Qi Bag, he discovered that most of its powers and stored spiritual supplies had faded, but its former owner had left behind precious Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron Stone.

• Lu Qing connected Xiao Li’s appearance and the Li Fire Cauldron’s recovery to a possible revival of spiritual qi and considered how it could reshape the world.
• Lu Qing decided to refine the Universe Qi Bag using the artifact-refining method he had learned from the Li Fire Cauldron’s inheritance.
• Lu Qing refined the bag’s weakened restrictions and learned that it once held powerful formations, though only its ability to store dead objects remained usable.
• Lu Qing discovered jade bottles and spiritual herbs inside the bag, but found their pills spoiled and the herbs withered.
• Lu Qing examined several chunks of ore and identified them as valuable Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron Stone, suitable for forging Artifact and Spirit Artifact embryos.

Lu Qing discovered Heavenly Meteorite Iron and decided to forge a new war blade, then asked Wei Xinghe to gather materials for a medicinal solution. The next morning, Grand Steward Wei brought him to Casting Heart Workshop, where Craftsman Lin greeted them.

• Lu Qing found several pieces of Heavenly Meteorite Iron in the Universe Qi Bag and considered forging his own war blade.
• Lu Qing learned that Ma Gu and Wei Zi'an's apprenticeship ceremony would take place in three days.
• Lu Qing asked Wei Xinghe to gather materials for a medicinal solution and asked which local blacksmith shop was best.
• Grand Steward Wei brought Lu Qing to Casting Heart Workshop and introduced him to its owner, Craftsman Lin.
• Craftsman Lin welcomed Grand Steward Wei and asked whether Lu Qing was the young hero who wanted to visit the workshop.

Lu Qing visited Casting Heart Workshop to use its strongest furnace and practice forging with a technique from the Li Fire Sect Heritage. As Lu Qing repeatedly hammered iron with increasing precision, Old Craftsman Lin watched in growing astonishment.

• Grand Steward Wei introduced Lu Qing to Old Craftsman Lin at Casting Heart Workshop.
• Lu Qing asked to use a powerful furnace and chose No. 1 Furnace so he could practice forging a weapon.
• Old Craftsman Lin prepared the furnace and allowed Lu Qing to use the workshop's ordinary iron bars.
• Lu Qing activated his Supernatural Ability and recalled a hammer technique from the Li Fire Sect Heritage.
• After an awkward first strike, Lu Qing corrected his technique and began hammering the iron with remarkable precision.
• Old Craftsman Lin watched Lu Qing continue forging and became utterly dumbfounded.

Lu Qing forged a Hundred Refinements Sword Embryo at the Casting Heart Workshop, stunning Old Craftsman Lin and the other blacksmiths with his skill. He dismissed it as a trial piece and began forging again with a heavier hammer, ending on a thunderous blow.

• Lu Qing spent several hours forging an iron bar into a Hundred Refinements Sword Embryo.
• Old Craftsman Lin examined the sword embryo, recognized its hundred-refinements quality, and marveled at Lu Qing's speed and flawless hammer technique.
• Lu Qing explained that he had taught himself from a bit of forging inheritance and showed no pride in the others' astonishment.
• Lu Qing called the sword embryo a trial piece, then picked up a larger hammer to continue forging.
• Lu Qing brought the heavy hammer down with a thunderous clang, leaving Old Craftsman Lin wide-eyed.

Lu Qing used extraordinary hammering skill to forge ordinary iron into a Thousand-Refined Grade sword embryo, astonishing Old Craftsman Lin, his apprentices, and Grand Steward Wei. He entrusted Old Craftsman Lin with finishing the sword as a congratulatory gift for a friend and planned to return with materials for his own weapon.

• Lu Qing repeatedly folded and hammered an iron bar, refining it with precise blows while Old Craftsman Lin and the others watched in amazement.
• Lu Qing shaped the iron into a sword embryo, quenched it, and discovered that it had reached the Thousand-Refined Grade and could not be improved further with ordinary iron.
• Old Craftsman Lin examined the sword embryo, recognized its Thousand Refinements patterns, and confirmed its quality to his astonished apprentices and Grand Steward Wei.
• Lu Qing gave the sword embryo to Old Craftsman Lin and asked him to finish it as a gift for a friend's joyous occasion.
• Lu Qing explained that he had forged the embryo to temper his skills and would ask Old Craftsman Lin to help with his own weapon after he gathered materials.

Lu Qing presented the Thousand-Refined Grade sword he forged as a gift for Ma Gu and the Wei Clan’s Young Master’s apprenticeship ceremony. As County Town’s factions awaited the ceremony, the Wei Clan’s Eldest Young Master and his party returned.

• After leaving Casting Heart Workshop, Lu Qing told Grand Steward Wei that he planned to give the Thousand Refinements Treasure Sword to Ma Gu as a congratulatory gift.
• Grand Steward Wei reported Lu Qing’s forging ability to Wei Xinghe, who ordered his subordinates to hasten their search for the materials Lu Qing needed.
• Old Craftsman Lin delivered the finished treasured sword to the Wei Residence, and Lu Qing tested its sharpness with a display of swordsmanship.
• Lu Qing gave the sword to Grand Steward Wei to add to the ceremony’s gift list as County Town’s factions prepared for the apprenticeship ceremony.
• Grand Steward Wei announced that the Eldest Young Master and the others had returned to the Wei Residence.