Chapter Summaries

Li Chengjie spent two months consolidating his early Golden Core realm with a Spirit Solidifying Pill, strengthening his cultivation and mastering several techniques. After leaving seclusion, he received Hu Haihan’s summons to the Core Hall, where a discussion awaited him.

• Li Chengjie swallowed the Third-tier Low-grade Spirit Solidifying Pill and used its power to consolidate his Golden Core while absorbing Hu Qingshan’s cultivation insights and technique experience.
• Hu Haihan read a report revealing Li Chengjie’s Three Spirit Root aptitude and young age, and grew wary of his extraordinary advancement to Golden Core.
• After two months of seclusion, Li Chengjie stabilized his early Golden Core realm, advanced his techniques, and improved his spiritual sense.
• Li Chengjie left seclusion and received Hu Haihan’s message summoning him to the Core Hall.
• Li Chengjie revealed his Golden Core aura, flew toward the Core Hall in Black Cloud Market, and prepared to face the coming conflict.

Li Baolin of the Li Family of Boundless Sea confronted the Flowing Cloud Sect, accusing it of slaughtering his family’s Chu Kingdom branch and demanding surrender and compensation. Hu Haihan denied ordering the attack, but Li Baolin rejected his explanation and threatened to destroy the Hu Family.

• Li Chengjie joined Hu Haihan, Zhao Changpeng, and Li Qingping in the Core Hall as the sect prepared to depart when a peak Golden Core cultivator’s pressure struck Black Cloud Marketplace.
• Li Baolin appeared above the marketplace and accused the Flowing Cloud Sect of nearly wiping out the Li Family’s Chu Kingdom branch.
• Hu Haihan denied that the sect had ordered the slaughter and offered to investigate, but Li Baolin dismissed his claim and demanded that the culprits be handed over.
• Li Chengjie recognized the family genealogy chart from Wei Tong and the others’ Storage Bags as evidence connected to the Li Family branch.
• Li Baolin declared that the Hu Family would cease to exist after today, mocking the sect’s defenses and its late patriarch Hu Guangjian.

Li Chengjie and three Golden Core cultivators defended Black Cloud Market against Li Baolin’s overwhelming assault, then launched a coordinated counterattack. Li Baolin absorbed or destroyed all four attacks with his Water Vortex, while Li Chengjie’s Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword drew his attention.

• Li Baolin unleashed water dragons against Black Cloud Market’s Mountain-Protecting Formation, forcing Hu Haihan, Zhao Changpeng, Li Qingping, and Li Chengjie to reinforce it.
• After more than thirty strikes, a southeastern formation base briefly failed, and Li Baolin targeted the exposed Formation Node with a blue beam.
• Hu Haihan, Li Qingping, Zhao Changpeng, and Li Chengjie combined their attacks against Li Baolin, with Li Chengjie wielding the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword.
• Li Baolin invoked Sea Accepts All Rivers and formed a Water Vortex that swallowed Hu Haihan’s fist and Li Qingping’s sword attack and shattered Zhao Changpeng’s seal.

Li Baolin broke the Flowing Cloud Sect’s Mountain-Protecting Formation and overwhelmed Hu Haihan, Zhao Changpeng, Li Qingping, and Li Chengjie. After Hu Haihan used the sect’s final Flowing Cloud Sword Seal to wound Li Baolin and destroy his Sea God Shield, Li Baolin’s next attack left Hu Haihan preparing to self-detonate his Golden Core.

• Li Chengjie’s Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword pierced Li Baolin’s water vortex, but Li Baolin destroyed it and broke the Mountain-Protecting Formation with a concentrated water pillar.
• Li Baolin used Sea Burial to suppress the four injured defenders, and Hu Haihan unleashed the Flowing Cloud Sect’s final Flowing Cloud Sword Seal.
• The sword struck through Li Baolin’s Sea God Shield, shattered it, and wounded his right palm before Li Baolin knocked the sword away.
• Li Baolin sent the shield fragments raining down as spikes, severely injuring Li Chengjie, Li Qingping, Zhao Changpeng, and Hu Haihan.
• As Li Baolin launched another aura-locking attack, Hu Haihan told the others he would self-detonate his Golden Core, then charged toward the beam while burning his Golden Core and divine soul.

Li Baolin rushed toward Hu Haihan during his self-detonation, hoping to seize his Storage Bag, but the explosion destroyed it and left Li Baolin gravely injured. He then attacked the wounded Li Chengjie, Li Qingping, and Zhao Changpeng, and the chapter ended with Li Chengjie knocked away and Li Baolin demanding his sword.

• Li Baolin charged Hu Haihan to seize his Storage Bag, but Hu Haihan completed his self-detonation before Li Baolin could reach it.
• The explosion destroyed Hu Haihan’s Storage Bag and severely wounded Li Baolin, while Li Chengjie, Li Qingping, and Zhao Changpeng were thrown back and injured.
• Li Baolin gathered enough strength to attack the three early Golden Core cultivators, and Li Qingping and Zhao Changpeng joined Li Chengjie in resisting him.
• Li Chengjie used the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword to block Li Baolin’s beam, which the sword partly absorbed, but Li Baolin then struck Li Chengjie and sent him flying.
• Li Baolin approached the injured Li Chengjie and demanded that he hand over the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword.

Li Chengjie and the other Flowing Cloud Sect cultivators fought Li Baolin, a peak Golden Core enemy who pushed himself to unleash increasingly powerful attacks. As the four battered cultivators stood together again, Li Baolin launched his Sea God's Hand with nowhere for them to escape.

• Li Baolin used Blood Sea Burning Origin to strengthen himself and fired a deadly sphere at Li Chengjie, but Hu Qingshan returned and deflected it, leaving Li Chengjie with a deep wound.
• Li Baolin sent two blue-red spheres at Li Chengjie and Hu Qingshan; both sword attacks failed to stop them, and the spheres severely wounded both cultivators.
• Li Qingping and Zhao Changpeng interrupted Li Baolin as he approached Li Chengjie, giving Hu Qingshan and Li Chengjie time to get back up and retrieve their swords.
• Li Baolin activated his secret technique again, formed the Sea God's Hand, and swung it at all four cultivators, covering their escape routes.

Li Qingping sacrificed herself to help Hu Qingshan, Li Chengjie, and Zhao Changpeng defeat Li Baolin. The three survivors killed him, but Li Qingping died in the battle.

• Li Qingping burned her Soul Origin and charged at Li Baolin, while Li Chengjie, Zhao Changpeng, and Hu Qingshan launched attacks of their own.
• Li Baolin struck Li Qingping, but she self-detonated, destroying his blue giant hand and creating an opening for the others.
• Li Chengjie, Zhao Changpeng, and Hu Qingshan hit Li Baolin with their attacks, leaving him gravely wounded.
• Li Chengjie charged in and killed Li Baolin with a final sword strike.
• Hu Qingshan, Li Chengjie, and Zhao Changpeng collapsed from exhaustion as they mourned Li Qingping, whose self-detonation left only a crater.

Li Chengjie killed Li Baolin and secretly recharged the spirit stones from his Storage Bag before handing it over to Hu Qingshan for the sect. Hu Qingshan distributed rewards to Zhao Changpeng and then invited Li Chengjie to choose two treasures.

• Li Chengjie seized Li Baolin’s Storage Bag and erased its divine-sense mark while Hu Qingshan and Zhao Changpeng watched warily.
• Li Chengjie used the system to consume all the spirit stones in the bag, gaining 1050 Replication Points.
• Li Chengjie declared that the spoils should go to the sect and handed the Storage Bag to Hu Qingshan.
• Hu Qingshan found the Storage Bag had no spirit stones, but suppressed his suspicions and offered ten treasures as rewards for Li Chengjie and Zhao Changpeng.
• Zhao Changpeng chose the Thousand Year Phantom Spirit Grass and a Mystical Passage Pill, and Hu Qingshan asked Li Chengjie to choose next.

After the battle, Li Chengjie chose a damaged Beast Pattern Shield and Crimson Flame Golden Pattern Grass from the spoils, then returned to Black Cloud Market with Hu Qingshan and Zhao Changpeng. He secluded himself to recover from his wounds, using the herb to restore most of his injuries while remaining wary of Hu Qingshan’s meaningful look.

• Li Chengjie chose the damaged Beast Pattern Shield and seven-hundred-year Crimson Flame Golden Pattern Grass, and Hu Qingshan handed them over.
• Hu Qingshan, Zhao Changpeng, and Li Chengjie returned to Black Cloud Market after Li Baolin’s death, and the surviving cultivators cheered their victory.
• Hu Qingshan announced that Li Baolin had been executed and told the Marketplace to return to normal, then flew to the Core Hall to address his injuries and the sect’s losses.
• Zhao Changpeng flew to his residence to treat his severe injuries, while Li Chengjie returned to his Cave Abode and strengthened its defenses.
• Li Chengjie swallowed healing pills and three leaves of Crimson Flame Golden Pattern Grass, using their Fire-attribute power to repair his injuries.
• One day later, Li Chengjie woke with his aura stabilized and roughly seventy percent of his injuries healed.

Ten days after recovering from his battle with Li Baolin, Li Chengjie visited Treasure Pavilion, where Foundation Establishment cultivators had gathered to buy escape tickets and flee the Chu Kingdom. The chapter left them scattering in fear after Li Chengjie calmly allowed them to trade freely.

• Li Chengjie recovered most of his injuries and steadied his Golden Core cultivation during ten days of meditation.
• Li Chengjie arrived at Treasure Pavilion and found dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators anxiously waiting outside.
• The cultivators mistook Li Chengjie's arrival for a threat and knelt, offering excuses for their presence while secretly seeking flying-boat tickets to escape the coming war.
• Li Chengjie told the cultivators that trade in the Marketplace was free and allowed them to buy whatever they wished.
• Qian Mancang welcomed Li Chengjie and escorted him to a private room on Treasure Pavilion's Third Floor.
• The Foundation Establishment cultivators fled the plaza in a panic without entering Treasure Pavilion.

Li Chengjie arranged a guaranteed seat on Treasure Pavilion’s Cross-Domain Cloud Shuttle to Star Luo Kingdom, paying the previously agreed price despite rising demand. He left with a departure date twenty-seven days away and a Purple Ring Talisman to confirm the pickup location.

• Qian Mancang told Li Chengjie that demand for Cloud Shuttle seats had driven the price to three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, but he would honor their original price of two hundred thousand.
• Qian Mancang explained that the shuttle would depart in twenty-seven days, stop at a secret Black Cloud Market pickup point, cross Misty Marsh, and arrive at Azure Wave Market in Star Luo Kingdom.
• Li Chengjie accepted the risks of remaining in Chu Kingdom and requested a guaranteed seat on the shuttle.
• Li Chengjie reviewed and signed the passage contract with Qian Mancang, then left Treasure Pavilion with the Purple Ring Talisman.

Hu Qingshan sent Li Chengjie to destroy the Xiong Clan, concealing that its reclusive Golden Core cultivator might still be alive. Five days later, Li Chengjie arrived at Dragon Lake Mountain and unleashed his Golden Core aura, beginning the assault.

• Hu Qingshan ordered Li Chengjie to travel to the Chu Royal Capital and slaughter the Xiong Clan, claiming its rebellion had been confirmed.
• After Li Chengjie left, Zhao Changpeng confronted Hu Qingshan about Li Chengjie’s plan to leave the sect, and Hu revealed he had sent him against the Xiong Clan without warning him about Xiong Bailing.
• Hu Qingshan and Zhao Changpeng discussed how Li Chengjie might collide with Xiong Bailing and die during the mission.
• Li Chengjie flew to Dragon Lake Mountain, the Xiong Clan’s cultivation stronghold, intending to eliminate its defenders swiftly.
• Li Chengjie released his early Golden Core aura above the lake, alarming the Xiong Clan’s Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Li Chengjie attacked Dragon Lake Mountain, shattered its protective formation, and slaughtered its disciples before Xiong Bailing emerged as a hidden mid Golden Core cultivator. Realizing Hu Qingshan may have deliberately concealed Xiong Bailing’s existence to use him against the Xiong Clan, Li Chengjie faced the furious ancestor.

• Li Chengjie broke the Water Dragon Chant Wave Formation with his Formation-Breaking Drill.
• Li Chengjie unleashed Flowing Flame Skyfall across Dragon Lake Mountain, killing or injuring nearly all its low-ranking disciples and outer Stewards.
• Xiong Bailing burst from a hidden Cave Abode and revealed himself as a mid Golden Core cultivator.
• Li Chengjie recognized Xiong Bailing and suspected Hu Qingshan had concealed the ancestor’s existence to use him as a weapon against the Xiong Clan.
• Xiong Bailing vowed to kill Li Chengjie and make his Golden Core a sacrifice for the Xiong Clan’s disciples.

Li Chengjie confronted Xiong Bailing at Dragon Lake Mountain, where Xiong Bailing declared his plan to restore the Xiong Clan and unleashed his strongest attacks. Li Chengjie escaped the combined strike by exploiting a momentary flaw, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Li Chengjie accused the Xiong Clan of betraying the sect alliance and announced that he had come to clean house.
• Xiong Bailing argued that the Xiong Clan had once ruled the Chu Kingdom and that its ancestors had been wronged by the Meng and Hu families; he vowed to reclaim the clan’s former power.
• Xiong Bailing summoned nine Muddied Waves Yellow Dragons and attacked Li Chengjie with his Profound Yin Heavy Water Sword.
• Li Chengjie used his heightened spiritual sense to notice Xiong Bailing’s control over the dragons falter while he powered the sword.
• Li Chengjie used Fire Cloud Escape to slip through the gap in the attack, and the Sword Qi and yellow dragons collided in a massive explosion.

Li Chengjie struggled against Xiong Bailing’s relentless sword assault and used the damaged Black Tortoise Shield to stop a fatal strike. He left Xiong Bailing’s sword hand wounded with his Flame Erosion Finger, interrupting his mana circulation.

• Xiong Bailing stirred Dragon Lake’s waters and disrupted the Fire Spiritual Qi while using sword lights to constrain Li Chengjie’s movement.
• Xiong Bailing drove the Profound Yin Heavy Water Sword into Li Chengjie’s shield, then pressed him with a barrage that left Li Chengjie wounded and weakened.
• Xiong Bailing seized Li Chengjie’s momentary stumble and thrust at his Golden Core.
• Li Chengjie brought out the damaged Black Tortoise Shield, which halted Xiong Bailing’s strike long enough for him to counterattack.
• Li Chengjie pierced Xiong Bailing’s right wrist with the Flame Erosion Finger, throwing his mana circulation into chaos.

Li Chengjie killed Xiong Bailing with the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword and defeated the fleeing Xiong Clan disciples at Dragon Lake Mountain. Exhausted and injured, he left the ruined stronghold silent after collecting the fallen cultivator’s belongings and finishing off the fleeing Foundation Establishment cultivators.

• Li Chengjie exploited Xiong Bailing’s injured wrist and momentary distraction to unleash the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword.
• The Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword pierced Xiong Bailing’s defenses, destroyed his Golden Core and soul, and killed him.
• Li Chengjie collected Xiong Bailing’s Storage Bag and personal items, gathered the ruined Profound Yin Heavy Water Sword, and recalled the damaged Black Tortoise Shield.
• The Xiong Clan disciples fled Dragon Lake Mountain after witnessing Xiong Bailing’s death, and Li Chengjie used spells to kill the fleeing Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Li Chengjie silenced the remaining resistance at Dragon Lake Mountain, where only wind and crackling flames remained.

After destroying the Xiong Clan’s stronghold, Li Chengjie treated his injuries and converted the clan’s seized Spirit Stones into Replication Points. He found a Sea Spirit Pearl that might help repair his Black Tortoise Shield and flew toward Black Cloud Market, where several Foundation Establishment cultivators were rushing toward him.

• Li Chengjie left Dragon Lake Mountain, treated his wounds, and spent seven days recovering his Spiritual Energy and stabilizing his injuries.
• Li Chengjie converted the seized Spirit Stones into Replication Points, raising his total from 1050 to 1560.
• Li Chengjie inspected Xiong Bailing’s belongings and identified a Sea Spirit Pearl in the Profound Abyss Crown as a possible catalyst for repairing his Black Tortoise Shield.
• Li Chengjie stored the crown and pearl, concealed his Golden Core cultivation, and flew toward Black Cloud Market.
• Li Chengjie sensed several Foundation Establishment cultivators speeding toward him.

Li Chengjie met Fan Zhiyong fleeing the royal capital and revealed that the Flowing Cloud Sect, not the Blood Fiend Cult, had destroyed the Xiong Clan for treason. Fan Zhiyong realized the Xiong family’s fall could open the way for his own family to take the throne of Chu Kingdom.

• Fan Zhiyong and four Foundation Establishment cultivators encountered Li Chengjie while fleeing rumors that the Blood Fiend Cult had attacked the royal capital.
• Fan Zhiyong told Li Chengjie that the Xiong Clan’s cultivation branch at Dragon Lake Mountain had been slaughtered and that panic had spread through the capital.
• Li Chengjie told Fan Zhiyong that the Flowing Cloud Sect had purged the Xiong Clan for treason and that he had carried out the sect’s orders himself.
• Fan Zhiyong doubted that Li Chengjie could have destroyed the Xiong Clan alone but began to believe his claim because of Li Chengjie’s confidence and past displays of power.
• Fan Zhiyong realized the Xiong Clan’s fall could strip the royal family of its legitimacy and began plotting for the Fan Family to seize the throne with the sect’s approval.

Li Chengjie learned that Hu Qingshan and Zhao Changpeng had abandoned Black Cloud Market, while Fan Zhiyong interpreted the sect’s vague words as permission for the Fan Family to pursue power in Chu Kingdom. Back at the deserted marketplace, Li Chengjie witnessed cultivators’ fear turn into open defiance as Brother Wang called for an escape through the north gate.

• Li Chengjie told Fan Zhiyong that the sect would decide the fate of the remaining Xiong Royal Family and urged him to prepare for changes in Chu Kingdom.
• Fan Zhiyong read Li Chengjie’s remarks as a possible opening for the Fan Family and asked to travel with him, but Li Chengjie refused and departed.
• Five days later, Li Chengjie returned to Black Cloud Market and found its shops deserted, patrols diminished, and cultivators discussing the departure of Hu Qingshan and Zhao Changpeng.
• Li Chengjie realized that Flowing Cloud Sect had effectively abandoned the marketplace and noted that Hu Qingshan and Zhao Changpeng had left without informing him.
• Brother Wang denounced the sect for leaving the cultivators behind and announced that he would lead anyone willing to join him in charging through the north gate at dawn.

Li Chengjie silenced a crowd threatening to revolt in Black Cloud Market, then waited for the Treasure Pavilion’s Cross-Domain Cloud Shuttle to arrive. When it appeared, a late Golden Core cultivator ordered everyone with a boarding token to board.

• The man surnamed Wang panicked when he saw Li Chengjie and begged forgiveness for urging cultivators to resist and flee.
• Li Chengjie ordered the crowd to disperse, and the cultivators scattered without challenging him.
• More than ten days later, Li Chengjie sensed the approaching shuttle, cleared his temporary Cave Abode, and went to the plaza behind the Treasure Pavilion.
• The Cross-Domain Cloud Shuttle arrived over the plaza as cultivators gathered, fearing Li Chengjie might stop them from leaving.
• A late Golden Core elder from the Treasure Pavilion ordered token holders to board and warned everyone else to leave.