Chapter Summaries

Song Changsheng defeated and captured the Baleful Spirit with Yuying’s help, then took it to a secluded cave to refine it into the Hundred Fiends Qiongqi Cauldron’s Artifact Spirit. He also began using the cauldron’s Killing Intent to improve Song Qingxing’s Traceless Sword, and the chapter ended as the Spirit Refining process erupted into action.

• Yuying returned and used the Bright Void Dragon-Trapping Formation while Song Changsheng crippled the Baleful Spirit with Yin-Yang Annihilation, allowing them to capture it alive.
• Song Changsheng bound and silenced the Baleful Spirit, thanked Yuying for her help, and departed with his captive.
• Song Changsheng explained to Zhu Yiqun and Song Qingxing that he planned to refine the Baleful Spirit into an Artifact Spirit for the Hundred Fiends Qiongqi Cauldron.
• Song Changsheng entered a cave and used the cauldron to dissolve the Baleful Spirit’s body, exposing its divine soul.
• Song Changsheng summoned Song Qingxing and placed the Traceless Sword in the cauldron so its Killing Intent could strengthen the sword.
• Song Changsheng covered the cauldron with ancient symbols, sprayed it with his blood essence, and began the Spirit Refining process.

Song Changsheng completed the refinement of the Hundred Fiends Qiongqi Cauldron, then hurried to find Song Lutong’s missing team and rescued them from a mysterious cube that drained Life Origin. He learned that Song Changxi had died, and asked the survivors what had happened.

• Zhu Yiqun reflected on his uncertain future while Song Changsheng refined the Baleful Spirit, erased its consciousness, and strengthened the Traceless Sword.
• Song Changsheng named the refined cauldron Qiongqi, gave the Traceless Sword to Song Qingxing, and set out when Song Lutong’s team failed to answer his messages.
• Song Changsheng found Song Lutong, Song Qinghu, and members of two sects trapped beneath a black cube that was draining their Life Origin.
• Song Changsheng used the Violet Void Divine Fire to break the cube’s barrier, defeated its lightning, and sealed the cube away.
• Song Lutong told Song Changsheng that Song Changxi had died, and the rescued cultivators thanked Song Changsheng before he asked what had happened.

Song Changsheng rescued Song Lutong and Song Qinghu from an evil metal cube, then negotiated its value and the distribution of Blood Ruin Realm gains with the major sects. The chapter ended with him reviewing the exchange list and feeling more hopeful about how the Song Clan could spend its Merit Points.

• Jiang Shuming explained how he and Bai Xu had been trapped by the metal cube, while Song Lutong said the cube’s influence had drawn him and Song Qinghu to it.
• Song Changsheng revealed that he had secured the cube, warned the survivors that it extracted their origins, and parted ways with Jiang Shuming and Bai Xu before taking the Song Clan members to the exit.
• Song Changsheng handed over his group’s Storage Bags for appraisal and secured 2,500 Merit Points for the metal cube after Zhao Di challenged Cheng Muqiu’s lower offer.
• Cheng Muqiu announced a total of 37,000 Merit Points in gains and allocated 3,700 points to each side that held a formation Control Token, leaving the Song Clan with 8,200 points.
• Niu Dazhuang secretly passed Song Changsheng a Jade Slip listing the available exchanges, and Song Changsheng felt reassured after reviewing it.

Song Changsheng spent his Merit Points on rare treasures and supplies for the Song Clan, then bid farewell to Zhu Yiqun as he left to return to the Ancient Sword Gate. The next day, Cheng Muqiu assigned Song Changsheng and Yuying to arrange a temporary Guardian Formation at the Blood Ruin Realm entrance in exchange for three additional annual exploration slots for the Song Clan.

• Song Changsheng exchanged Merit Points for a Ji Earth Heavenly Crystal, a Demon Core, White Jade Cold Bamboo seeds, pills, cultivation resources, and other Spirit Plant seeds.
• Song Changsheng learned that Sunset City had explored a Golden Core True Person's ruin, then returned to the Song Clan's encampment with Niu Dazhuang still boasting.
• Zhu Yiqun gave Song Changsheng the secret method for finding the Ancient Sword Gate and announced that he would return to his master and cultivate until reaching the Violet Palace realm.
• Song Changsheng gave Zhu Yiqun copies of several techniques and two Blood Crystals before Zhu Yiqun departed on his pitch-black cauldron.
• Cheng Muqiu assigned Song Changsheng and Yuying to arrange a temporary Guardian Formation at the Blood Ruin Realm entrance, offering the Song Clan three additional exploration slots each year.

Song Changsheng left the Blood Ruin Realm with the departing factions after learning that Su Ding’s lifespan was nearing its end and that Xia Qingxue might be facing a proposed marriage. Meanwhile, the mysterious woman planned a gift for the alliance’s enemies, and Su Ding rejected Cheng Muqiu’s suggestion to use the Metal Cube to prolong his life by draining others’ Life Origin, though he secretly kept the artifact.

• Song Changsheng and Yuying finished arranging a Guardian Great Array, and Yuying told him the sects would leave Purple Palace Cultivators to guard the Blood Ruin Realm as their forces returned to defend against the demonic path.
• Yuying shared rumors that Su Ding’s lifespan was nearly over and that he wanted Xia Qingxue to become Dao companions with Su Ye; Song Changsheng suspected the news might be bait.
• Song Changsheng agreed to leave with the Golden Crow Sect, while the mysterious woman refused Yu Dongyang’s offer to retake the Blood Ruin Realm and said she had prepared a gift for their enemies.
• Cheng Muqiu reported to Su Ding that he had failed to find the Great Unity Green Jade Fruit and presented the Metal Cube Song Changsheng had obtained from the Blood Ruin Realm.
• Cheng Muqiu urged Su Ding to use the Metal Cube to absorb cultivators’ Life Origin and extend his lifespan, but Su Ding denounced the idea, expelled him, and secretly sealed the cube away.

Song Changsheng reported the expedition’s gains to Song Luzhou and learned that the Council of Elders had approved his academy plan. He explained how the academy would gather support among the Song Clan’s affiliated forces, then declared that he would become its dean and teach every student.

• Song Changsheng told Song Luzhou about the expedition’s losses and valuable gains, including a Golden Core ruins site, and asked him to watch for the incoming Ji Earth Heavenly Crystal.
• Song Luzhou described the academy planned for Mingxiu Mountain, including its admission requirements, advancement rules, and yearly quotas.
• Song Changsheng explained how the Golden Crow Sect’s restraint, inclusiveness, and cultivation of a rival had helped it endure, and said the Song Clan should adapt those lessons through its academy.
• Song Luzhou reported that the affiliated forces’ leaders opposed the academy, while cultivators below them largely supported it as a chance to gain resources and training.
• Song Changsheng said the academy would target talented cultivators lacking opportunities and that he would serve as its dean, making every student his disciple.

Song Changsheng expanded the Song Clan’s Scripture Repository after bringing back texts from the Blood Ruin Realm, then discovered that Song Youxiang had identified flaws in the clan’s talisman manuals. The chapter ended with Song Qingqing asking Song Youxiang to demonstrate her corrected Rain-Summoning Talisman.

• Song Luzhou left to discuss improving the clan cultivators’ treatment with the other elders.
• Song Changsheng gave Song Chang'an copied texts from the Blood Ruin Realm and ordered the Scripture Repository expanded to four floors.
• Song Youxiang told Song Changsheng that the Rain-Summoning Talisman in the clan manual was drawn incorrectly and showed him a more effective version.
• The repository deacon confirmed that Song Youxiang’s talisman summoned rain over a larger area, and Song Changsheng summoned Song Qingqing.
• Song Youxiang said many talismans in the manual had flaws, and Song Qingqing asked her to draw the Rain-Summoning Talisman again.

Song Changsheng recognized Song Youxiang’s talent for improving talismans, rewarded her, and ordered the clan to nurture her. He also gave Blood Crystals to Song Lutong and Song Qinghu before entering seclusion, while Song Qingxing began cultivating in the Wutong Secret Realm and discovered his treasure mirror was reacting to something nearby.

• Song Qingqing confirmed that Song Youxiang’s revised Rain Summoning Talisman method worked more smoothly, and Song Changsheng rewarded her with a Second-Tier Low-Grade talisman brush and a task to revise the talismans in a book.
• Song Qingqing explained Song Youxiang’s background and timid personality, so Song Changsheng placed her on the clan’s list of key individuals to nurture.
• Song Changsheng gave Song Lutong and Song Qinghu Blood Crystals to replenish their Life Origin, and they accepted them after learning the clan had more in reserve.
• Song Changsheng returned to Cloud Reaching Hall to refine the Hundred Fiends Qiongqi Cauldron and study his new lesser divine abilities.
• Song Qingxing entered the Wutong Secret Realm to cultivate the Slaughter Sword Dao, but his Spirit-Connecting Soul-Capturing Treasure Mirror began trembling as if it had sensed needed spirit materials nearby.

Song Qingxing discovered that he had used a valuable meteorite to restore the Spirit-Connecting Soul-Capturing Treasure Mirror, then learned that Song Qingxi had supported him financially for years. Later, Song Changsheng proposed a new Clan Competition to uncover overlooked talent, and the elders began working out how it would be held.

• Song Qingxing found a dense meteorite in the Wutong Secret Realm, and the Spirit-Connecting Soul-Capturing Treasure Mirror absorbed it.
• Song Qingxing asked Song Qingxi about his Contribution Points, and she explained that she had saved 175,000 points for him while covering his expenses herself.
• Song Qingxing paid Song Yushi for the stone, lost 90,000 Contribution Points, and resolved to earn more merit for the clan.
• Song Changsheng finished refining the Hundred Fiends Qiongqi Cauldron and proposed holding a Clan Competition every five years to reveal overlooked talent.
• Song Chang'an suggested grouping competitors by their chosen fields, ages, and other factors, and Song Yushi agreed that the Inner Treasury would fund the rewards.

Song Changsheng approved a new Clan Competition and scheduled it for one month later, while Song Youlin continued his demanding cultivation at Cloud Reaching Hall. Song Xianming told the exhausted youth to register for the competition, leaving Song Youlin stunned.

• Song Luzhou presented the elders’ plan for a Clan Competition every five years, with separate contests for combat and the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, and Song Changsheng approved it for one month later.
• News of the competition spread through Vast Peak, exciting cultivators who practiced the Hundred Arts and hoped to gain recognition.
• Song Youfu urged Song Youlin to enter the competition and go down the mountain, but Song Youlin refused and revealed that he had begun mastering the Object Manipulation Technique.
• Song Youlin reflected on his responsibility to the Clan, practiced moving a wooden stake, and endured his daily Cold Pond training before Song Xianming carried him to the Medicinal Bath.
• Song Xianming told Song Youlin to register for the Clan Competition, and Song Youlin was stunned.

Song Xianming persuaded Song Youlin to join the Clan Competition alongside Song Youfu, and Song Changsheng opened the event with rules and a call to strengthen the clan’s young fighters. As the matches began, Song Youfu entered the arena and faced Song Youdie.

• Song Youlin explained that he understood why the clan had hidden his Heavenly Spiritual Root, and Song Xianming told him to suppress his cultivation and attend the competition with Song Youfu.
• A month later, nearly seven hundred cultivators gathered at Vast Peak, where Song Changsheng arrived and announced the Clan Competition and its rules.
• Song Changsheng discussed the juniors’ lack of combat experience with Song Chang'an and proposed making the Clan School compete against the academy; Song Luzhou agreed to consider the idea.
• The Qi Condensation Group A preliminary matches began, and Song Changsheng noted how inexperienced the young contestants were.
• Song Youfu entered a Group B match after suppressing his cultivation to the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer, then frowned when his opponent, Song Youdie, introduced herself.

Song Youdie fought Song Youfu in the Clan Competition and forced him to recognize her strength by risking serious injury rather than backing down. After Song Youfu won, the judges awarded her a magic sword and Contribution Points for her outstanding performance, encouraging the other cultivators to fight hard.

• Song Youdie attacked Song Youfu with her sword, and the two fought evenly until he began to suppress her with his higher-level combat experience.
• Song Youdie erupted into a reckless assault after Song Youfu mocked her, while Song Changsheng urged him to defeat her honorably at their matched cultivation level.
• Song Youdie continued fighting after Song Youfu broke her arm, and she pierced his shoulder before his mace knocked her unconscious.
• Song Youfu apologized and yielded, and Song Youdie was taken away for treatment after he confirmed she was alive.
• Song Luzhou declared Song Youfu the winner but awarded Song Youdie a First-Tier Peak Grade magic sword and five hundred lineage Contribution Points.
• Song Changsheng saw the reward inspire the cultivators to bring their best efforts to the Clan Competition.

Song Youlin defeated Song Youqing in Group B despite concealing his cultivation and facing the Eroding Yin Hand. Afterward, he revealed that he was also at the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer, and Song Youqing accepted the loss and hoped to fight him again.

• Song Youlin faced Song Youqing, whose Eroding Yin Hand made their match difficult to predict.
• Song Youlin countered Song Youqing’s cold-force palm with his strength and swordsmanship, then used the Earth Spike Technique to repel his close-range attack.
• Song Youqing used Water Dragon’s Roar to daze Song Youlin and struck him with the Eroding Yin Hand, but Song Youlin landed a sword tip at his heart and forced him to concede.
• Song Youqing gave Song Youlin an antidote for the cold force and accepted that he had been outmatched.
• Song Youlin revealed that he had concealed his cultivation and was also at the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer; Song Youqing accepted his apology and asked to fight him again at the next Clan Competition.
• Song Youfu complained that Song Youlin had hidden his cultivation.

Song Youfu learned that the Song Clan had arranged formidable opponents for him and Song Youlin, while the competition revealed several promising young cultivators. In the Group B final, Song Youlin faced Song Youping and, instead of keeping his distance, covered himself in stone armor as Song Youping charged.

• Song Youfu told Song Youlin that Song Youqing, Song Youdie, and Song Youping were the three Clan School Foundation Establishment Seeds known as Two Flood Dragons and One Tiger, and warned him about Song Youping’s hidden weapons and poison.
• Song Youlin assessed Song Youping as more dangerous than Song Youqing in a fight to the death, and Song Youfu left after encouraging him to teach their opponents a lesson.
• The competition’s preliminary rounds and semifinals ended, showcasing talents including Song Youxiang, Song Qingyu, Song Xinyuan, and Song Youbai, whom Song Changsheng selected for key cultivation.
• The finals began, and Song Youlin faced Song Youping in the Group B match.
• Song Youlin dodged Song Youping’s poisoned needles and Willow Leaf Darts, then formed the Stone Armor Technique as Song Youping rushed toward him.

Song Youlin defeated Song Youping after the two spent hours hiding in mist that blocked Divine Sense, then won first place in Group B. As the Clan Competition neared its end, Song Changsheng prepared a list of people to summon to the Hall of General Affairs.

• Song Youping filled the arena with mist that blocked Divine Sense, and Song Youlin and Song Youping concealed themselves while waiting for the other to make a move.
• Song Changsheng projected the arena battle for the spectators, while the two contestants remained hidden and motionless for hours.
• Song Youlin sensed Song Youping's breathing in the sealed arena and used the Object Manipulation Technique to pin the Green Bamboo Sword against his neck.
• Song Youping admitted his mistake, bowed to Song Youlin, and acknowledged his defeat.
• Song Luzhou announced Song Youlin as first place in Group B and Song Youping as second place.
• Song Changsheng told Song Qingqing to summon the people on his list to the Hall of General Affairs.

Song Changsheng met privately with the clan’s young talents, checking their loyalty and arranging support for Song Youxiang and Song Qingyu. The chapter ended as he asked Song Youping where he had obtained the mist that blocked Divine Sense during the Arena Competition.

• Song Changsheng had Song Qingyun examine Song Youxiang’s memories, then offered her a chance to study under Jiang Shuming as a Registered Disciple so she could become a talisman grandmaster for the Lineage.
• Song Youxiang agreed to go to Meng Province after finishing the First-Tier Talisman Compendium she was revising.
• Song Qingyun checked Song Qingyu’s memories, and Song Changsheng proposed that she strengthen her Divine Sense through Spiritual Herbs, a cultivation technique, and the Fire Seed of Red Lotus Golden Fire.
• Song Qingyu accepted the Fire Seed and agreed to prepare for the Logistics Elder to refine it for her.
• Song Youping entered the secret chamber, and Song Changsheng asked him where he had obtained the Divine-Sense-blocking mist he used in the Arena Competition.

Song Changsheng discovered that Song Youping had secretly ventured into the Vast Jungle and brought back dangerous Mist Concealing Worms, then allowed him to pursue poison-making under strict supervision. He recruited Song Xinyuan into the Clan School and was left to hear Song Youbai’s request for a reward.

• Song Youping explained how he had secretly left the mountain five times and captured Mist Concealing Worms in the Vast Jungle.
• Song Changsheng condemned Song Youping’s recklessness, then learned the worms could survive only in their own mist and ordered him to raise them away from Vast Peak under supervision.
• Song Changsheng told Song Qingyun to find Song Youping a concealed location at least twenty li from Vast Peak and explained why the clan should cultivate a Poison Master.
• Song Changsheng offered Song Xinyuan a place in the Clan School, and Song Xinyuan accepted after learning his family had no objections.
• Song Youbai asked Song Changsheng whether he had summoned them to give them a reward.

Song Changsheng learned that Song Youbai had bonded with three spirit beasts and chose to keep them despite their low potential, so he tasked him with taming a Thunder Spirit. Song Changsheng then flew to the Vast Jungle to investigate Mist Concealing Worms and found the forest’s spiritual energy unusually sparse.

• Song Youbai told Song Changsheng that he had bonded with Qingfeng, Zhizhi, and Ziyun, and insisted they were family and he would not abandon them.
• Song Changsheng accepted Song Youbai’s choice and assigned him the task of taming a Thunder Spirit, directing him to report to the Grand Elder at Cloud Reaching Hall the next morning.
• Song Qingyun told Song Changsheng that Song Qingli had asked to meet him, and Song Changsheng let him go while explaining he planned to inspect the Vast Jungle.
• Song Changsheng recalled warnings about Immortal Trapping Valley and grew concerned that the Mist Concealing Worms in the Vast Jungle might be connected to it.
• Song Changsheng flew to the Vast Jungle and discovered that its dense forest had unusually thin spiritual energy.

Song Changsheng entered a stable Spatial Tunnel and discovered a living little world overrun by intelligent Mist Concealing Worms. After surviving a parasitized beast horde, he challenged the hidden Mist Concealing Worm King to reveal itself.

• Song Changsheng tested the Spatial Tunnel with the Silver Flood Dragon Mace, reinforced it with a formation, and crossed into the mist-shrouded world.
• Song Changsheng found abundant life and a centuries-old Seven-Leaf Blood Ginseng, then discovered Mist Concealing Worms parasitizing a rabbit demon.
• Song Changsheng inferred that a worm king controlled the intelligent Mist Concealing Worms and their parasitized hosts.
• A horde of parasitized demonic beasts attacked Song Changsheng, who slaughtered thousands until the Mist Concealing Worm King ordered the survivors to retreat.
• Song Changsheng called on the hidden Mist Concealing Worm King to come out or face being burned away.

Song Changsheng discovered a valuable Small World occupied by Mist Concealing Worms and began planning how the Song Clan could develop it. He also brought Song Youxiang to Hundred Herbs Hall so Jiang Shuming could test her as a potential disciple.

• Song Changsheng failed to draw out the Mist Concealing Worm King, then built a Four Directions Divine Fire Array around the Spatial Tunnel and marked the territory with the Song family banner.
• Song Changsheng told Song Xianming about the Small World, and Song Xianming agreed to arrange a Space Teleportation Array to ease travel and supply transport.
• Song Changsheng asked Song Youping to devise a safe way to eliminate the Mist Concealing Worms, and Song Youping proposed luring them together with a concoction.
• Song Changsheng realized they would need to draw out the Worm King before carrying out Song Youping's plan, then decided to take Song Youxiang to Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Song Youxiang overcame her hesitation and stepped off the flying boat, where Song Changsheng introduced her to Jiang Shuming as a potential disciple.
• Jiang Shuming said Song Youxiang did not impress him at first glance, and Song Changsheng insisted that a test would reveal her exceptional talent.