Chapter Summaries

After Li Chengjie left Black Cloud Market aboard the Cloud Shuttle, the market descended into looting and violence. On the journey to Star Luo Kingdom, he bought Qin Mingyu’s guide to the region’s factions and landmarks.

• After Li Chengjie departed, cultivators fled Black Cloud Market or attacked its shops and warehouses as fires and chaos spread.
• Li Chengjie watched the burning market from the Cloud Shuttle, then settled into his private area and checked it for hidden observers.
• Qin Mingyu introduced himself as the manager of the voyage and offered to answer Li Chengjie’s questions about Star Luo Kingdom.
• Qin Mingyu described Star Luo Kingdom’s Ten Great Factions and offered a Jade Slip containing faction information, a map, and regional guidance for five thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones.
• Li Chengjie paid Qin Mingyu five thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones and bought the Jade Slip.

Li Chengjie studied a detailed guide to the Star Luo Kingdom during the Cloud Shuttle’s journey through the Misty Marsh. After the shuttle stopped at Quanzhou Market to collect supplies and fleeing passengers, it left Chu Kingdom behind and continued toward Star Luo.

• Qin Mingyu gave Li Chengjie a bound Jade Slip and explained the Cloud Shuttle’s rules and voyage schedule.
• Li Chengjie studied the Jade Slip’s information on Star Luo’s factions, Golden Core cultivators, and customs, taking particular note of artifact-refining Grandmaster Mo Jiangyang.
• About ten days into the journey, the Cloud Shuttle stopped above Quanzhou Market and took aboard supplies and seventy or eighty new passengers fleeing Chu Kingdom.
• Li Chengjie watched Quanzhou Market disappear into the mist and reflected on leaving his homeland behind.
• The Cloud Shuttle accelerated south toward Star Luo Kingdom.

Li Chengjie attended Treasure Pavilion’s trade fair aboard the Cloud Shuttle and bought Fire Melting Crystal and Quenching Gold Pills. The auction was interrupted when a group of exhausted Flowing Cloud Sect cultivators arrived, urgently searching the hall.

• Treasure Pavilion announced a voluntary trade fair and auction in the Cloud Shuttle’s Central Hall.
• Li Chengjie watched as Qin Mingyu auctioned the pavilion’s goods, then bought Fire Melting Crystal for ten thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones.
• Li Chengjie won a bottle of five Quenching Gold Pills for twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones.
• Qin Mingyu oversaw the passenger consignment auction, which ended with an ancient defensive jade pendant selling for twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones.
• Around forty or fifty Flowing Cloud Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived at the hall, looking panicked and exhausted as they searched the crowd.

After the auction, Zhao Chenghao led forty-seven surviving Flowing Cloud Sect disciples in asking Li Chengjie to protect and lead them in Star Luo Kingdom. Li Chengjie offered temporary help while reserving the right to decide their future after they reached Azure Wave Market.

• Zhao Chenghao and the forty-seven Flowing Cloud Sect survivors knelt before Li Chengjie and asked him to lead them to Star Luo Kingdom.
• Zhao Chenghao explained that the sect's higher-ups had abandoned them and pleaded with Li Chengjie to preserve the sect's legacy.
• Li Chengjie considered how traveling with the group could attract unwanted attention and tie him to the Flowing Cloud Sect remnants.
• Li Chengjie told the disciples to help one another but to stay orderly, keep a low profile, and conceal their origins until they reached Azure Wave Market.
• Zhao Chenghao accepted Li Chengjie's terms, and the disciples withdrew with renewed hope.

During the Cloud Shuttle’s long voyage, Li Chengjie absorbed Hu Qingshan’s cultivation insights and coordinated with Zhao Chenghao, Liu Wenxuan, and Li Dongxu as they prepared to settle in Azure Wave Market. The shuttle neared the end of its journey, and Li Chengjie considered how traveling with the disciples might change his plans for the Star Luo Kingdom.

• Li Chengjie bought Pulse Nurturing Pills and Soft Gold Jade at auctions, then focused on cultivating and absorbing Hu Qingshan’s experience.
• After seven days of meditation, Li Chengjie found his techniques had reached the limits of the replicated experience and reviewed his System Panel.
• Zhao Chenghao, Liu Wenxuan, and Li Dongxu reported that the disciples had learned about the Star Luo Kingdom and gathered information on Azure Wave Market.
• The three proposed earning income through artifact work, escort and exploration tasks, or hunting in Misty Marsh, while Li Chengjie told them to prioritize safety and keep a low profile.
• Li Chengjie learned that the Cloud Shuttle would reach Azure Wave Market in a little over a month and reflected that his plans might change now that he would not be traveling alone.

Li Chengjie brought the former Flowing Cloud Sect disciples to Azure Wave Market and kept them there while they quietly assessed the area. After ten days, Gao Chen grew concerned that the Golden Core cultivator and his large group intended to settle in the Monster Hunter Guild’s territory, and he visited Li Chengjie to sound out their plans.

• Li Chengjie led the disguised former Flowing Cloud Sect disciples off the Cloud Shuttle and into Azure Wave Market, where Gao Chen briefly observed their arrival.
• Li Chengjie had Liu Wenxuan collect the market rules and pay a temporary residence deposit, then instructed the group to keep a low profile while Liu Wenxuan and two disciples gathered information.
• Ten days after the Cloud Shuttle departed, Li Chengjie’s group remained in Azure Wave Market, prompting Gao Chen to worry that they might challenge the Monster Hunter Guild’s control.
• Gao Chen brought gifts to Li Chengjie’s inn and asked whether he and his companions had settled in and needed assistance.
• Li Chengjie said the group found Azure Wave Market comfortable, giving Gao Chen no indication that they planned to leave.

Li Chengjie told Gao Chen that his party intended to settle in Azure Wave Market, alarming the Monster Hunter Guild master. Gao Chen returned to headquarters and sent an urgent message summoning Liu Wenbo, leaving the Guild waiting for reinforcements.

• Li Chengjie told Gao Chen that he and his forty or fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators had come to Star Luo Kingdom to find a foothold, not merely to pass through.
• Gao Chen feared that Li Chengjie's group would threaten his authority, so he concealed his alarm and ended the visit politely.
• Gao Chen hurried back to Monster Hunter Guild headquarters and ordered the guards to activate its formation.
• Gao Chen used a Myriad Miles Sound Transmission Talisman to urgently summon Liu Wenbo to Azure Wave Market.
• Gao Chen watched over Azure Wave Market and worried that the Monster Hunter Guild's long-held position was under threat.

Liu Wenbo returned to Azure Wave Market after Gao Chen warned him that Li Chengjie, a Golden Core cultivator with a large group, appeared intent on establishing a foothold there. After hearing Gao Chen’s account, Liu Wenbo went to meet Li Chengjie directly, leaving the Guild Master to wait anxiously.

• Liu Wenbo received Gao Chen’s urgent summons and ended his secluded cultivation to return to Azure Wave Market.
• Liu Wenbo arrived at the Monster Hunter Guild headquarters, where Gao Chen welcomed him and brought him into a soundproof study.
• Gao Chen described Li Chengjie and his forty or fifty Foundation Establishment followers, who had spent ten days studying the Marketplace and might intend to seize it.
• Gao Chen left the response to Liu Wenbo, who decided to visit Li Chengjie without further preparation.
• Liu Wenbo left the Guild headquarters to meet Li Chengjie, while Gao Chen stayed behind to await the outcome.

Liu Wenbo, a guest elder of the Monster Hunter Guild, challenged Li Chengjie to spar after Li settled in Azure Wave Market. The two traveled to Azure Wave Peak, where Liu began probing Li before making his first move.

• Liu Wenbo visited Li Chengjie at Welcome Guest Inn and asked whether he intended to settle in Azure Wave Market.
• Liu claimed his Golden Core bottleneck was loosening and invited Li to discuss the Dao and spar, making clear he wanted to test Li's strength.
• Li accepted Liu's challenge, and the two left Azure Wave Market for Azure Wave Peak as local cultivators watched them go.
• At Azure Wave Peak, Liu questioned Li about his background and warned that the Monster Hunter Guild maintained order over Sunken Star Marsh.
• Liu invited Li to make the first move, then moved himself.

Liu Wenbo attacked Li Chengjie with his Profound Ice Splitting Light Sword, forcing him to defend against a coordinated storm of sword lights. Liu Wenbo then trapped him in an Ice Crystal Storm and concentrated the swords’ power into a single strike.

• Liu Wenbo summoned his Lifebound Magic Treasure and split it into sixty-four sword lights that attacked Li Chengjie from multiple directions.
• Li Chengjie used the Fire Cloud Escape and Flowing Fire Cloud Shield to dodge and block the sword lights, though one grazed his arm and the attacks began draining his strength.
• Liu Wenbo studied Li Chengjie’s defenses and guided the sword lights’ cold qi into an Ice Crystal Storm that slowed him and disrupted his fire True Essence.
• Liu Wenbo merged the power of the sixty-three illusory sword lights into the true sword light and unleashed Profound Ice—Army Breaker.

Li Chengjie countered Liu Wenbo’s killing strike with the Flame Erosion Finger and revealed the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword, which overcame Liu Wenbo’s defenses and wounded him. Liu Wenbo survived the attack but was left severely injured and terrified.

• Liu Wenbo launched his strongest sword strike at Li Chengjie, who answered with the Flame Erosion Finger aimed at Liu Wenbo and forced him to divert his sword and raise an ice shield.
• Li Chengjie summoned the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword, whose aura weakened Liu Wenbo’s Ice Soul Locking Light Net and corroded his Profound Ice Splitting Light Sword.
• The Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword clashed with Liu Wenbo’s sword and began attacking the spiritual sense connection, while Li Chengjie used Soul Seize to strike Liu Wenbo’s soul directly.
• Liu Wenbo’s soul was badly hurt, and Li Chengjie drove the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword through his ice shields and inner armor until Liu Wenbo’s robe stopped it.
• Blood Fiend Qi and Soul Shattering Power seeped into Liu Wenbo, who vomited blood and was left gravely weakened and terrified.

Liu Wenbo and Li Chengjie fought a deadly sparring match that left Liu wounded and his sword damaged, while Li revealed the strength of his Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword. Both cultivators chose to end the fight and reconcile, leaving them wary but open to future dealings in Azure Wave Market.

• Li Chengjie wounded Liu Wenbo with the Blood Bone Soul Shattering Sword, nearly piercing his heart and attacking his soul.
• Liu Wenbo recognized that Li Chengjie had the advantage and weighed retreating rather than risking his life for the Monster Hunting Guild.
• Li Chengjie considered that Liu Wenbo still had the strength and hidden means to counterattack, so neither cultivator pressed the fight.
• Liu Wenbo praised Li Chengjie's abilities and signaled that he wanted to reconcile, while Li returned guarded praise.
• Liu Wenbo and Li Chengjie agreed to call the battle sparring and described themselves as evenly matched.
• The Killing Intent faded as Liu and Li resumed a wary but civil exchange.

After defeating Liu Wenbo, Li Chengjie let him leave and followed him back toward Azure Wave Market. Their arrival at the market revealed the outcome of the duel to the gathered Monster Hunter Guild and Flowing Cloud Sect cultivators.

• Li Chengjie watched Liu Wenbo retreat toward Azure Wave Market and resolved to remain wary of him.
• Gao Chen and the Monster Hunter Guild gathered at the north gate plaza, while Zhao Chenghao and the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples waited on the opposite side for the duel’s outcome.
• Liu Wenbo returned first, leading the Monster Hunter Guild to believe he had won and leaving the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples fearing for Li Chengjie.
• Li Chengjie appeared behind Liu Wenbo, and the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples took his steady pursuit as proof that he had defeated Liu Wenbo.
• Gao Chen and the Monster Hunter Guild realized Liu Wenbo was fleeing as Li Chengjie followed close behind.

After Liu Wenbo admitted that Li Chengjie had defeated him, Gao Chen invited Li Chengjie and the Flowing Cloud Sect into the Monster Hunting Guild to avoid a forced takeover. Li Chengjie accepted the title of Grand Elder, leaving the Guild’s day-to-day leadership with Gao Chen.

• Liu Wenbo landed at Azure Wave Market and admitted to Gao Chen that Li Chengjie was stronger than he was.
• Li Chengjie arrived with the Flowing Cloud Sect, and Gao Chen realized the Guild could not oppose him by force.
• Gao Chen invited Li Chengjie and his people to join the Monster Hunting Guild, offering Li Chengjie leadership of the Guild and Marketplace.
• Li Chengjie declined to manage daily affairs, so Gao Chen offered him the detached title of Grand Elder and posts for his disciples.
• Li Chengjie accepted the invitation, and the Monster Hunting Guild members greeted him as their Grand Elder.
• Gao Chen arranged a banquet at Guild headquarters for the following day and departed with the Guild members.

Li Chengjie joined the Monster Hunting Guild as Grand Elder, offered it three Golden Core cultivation methods, and then demanded control of its Spirit Stone reserve. The chapter ended with Zhu Zhengping backing Li Chengjie as his spiritual pressure bore down on the hall.

• Gao Chen welcomed Li Chengjie and the Flowing Cloud Sect Disciples to the guild and hosted a banquet in his honor.
• Li Chengjie agreed to advise on major decisions while leaving the guild's daily affairs to Gao Chen.
• Li Chengjie donated three Golden Core cultivation methods to the guild, winning over many of its stewards and elders.
• Li Chengjie asked about the guild's Spirit Stone reserve, and Zhu Zhengping reported that it held five million five hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones.
• Li Chengjie exerted Golden Core spiritual pressure and asked to safeguard the guild's public Spirit Stones, and Zhu Zhengping voiced his support.

Li Chengjie used his Golden Core cultivation and the guild’s support to take control of its Spirit Stones and reshape the Monster Hunting Guild’s leadership. Gao Chen yielded publicly but retained day-to-day authority, then began asserting it over Vice Guild Master Zhu Zhengping.

• Zhu Zhengping and several Stewards backed Li Chengjie’s demand to safeguard the guild’s Spirit Stones, leaving Gao Chen to surrender.
• Li Chengjie ordered Gao Chen to deliver the inventoried treasury and promoted Zhu Zhengping and Zhao Chenghao to Vice Guild Masters.
• The next morning, Gao Chen delivered 5.5 million Low-grade Spirit Stones and the account books, and Li Chengjie told him to continue overseeing daily affairs.
• Zhu Zhengping offered to help Gao Chen, who assigned him the menial task of collecting overdue shop rent.
• Zhu Zhengping accepted the assignment, while Gao Chen privately resolved to keep control of the guild.

Li Chengjie decided to seek a foothold in Medicine King Valley by advancing his Pill Dao, then settled a dispute over the Monster Hunting Guild’s plans to hunt Demonic Beasts in Misty Marsh. The guild would send experienced hunters with a small number of reliable newcomers, while the rest could remain in Azure Wave Market for now.

• Li Chengjie recharged his spirit stones and gained 550 Replication Points, bringing his total to 2,110.
• Li Chengjie considered seeking help from Heavenly Sword Pavilion to repair the Black Tortoise Shield, but chose to pursue Medicine King Valley instead.
• Zhao Chenghao objected to sending Flowing Cloud Sect cultivators into Misty Marsh, citing the danger to the newly arrived group.
• Zhu Zhengping proposed letting the original Monster Hunting Team hunt while the newcomers stayed behind, and Gao Chen suggested selecting a few capable newcomers to join the experienced hunters.
• Li Chengjie approved Gao Chen’s plan, ordered Zhao Chenghao to choose reliable disciples, and assigned Gao Chen to coordinate the matter.

Li Chengjie traveled to Yi Men Market to learn about the Star Luo Kingdom, where he bought pills and an Appearance Fixing Pill recipe. After meeting the rogue cultivator alchemist Xiao Shenlin, he agreed to travel with him to Spirit Medicine Market and seek a chance to join Medicine King Valley.

• Li Chengjie left Azure Wave Market, concealed his identity, and reached Yi Men Market after thirty days of travel.
• Li Chengjie explored Yi Men Market and bought two bottles of Third-grade Spirit Healing Pills and several cultivation pills from Treasure Pavilion.
• Li Chengjie bought an Appearance Fixing Pill recipe from a stall owner for twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones.
• Xiao Shenlin approached Li Chengjie, discussed the recipe with him, and learned that he was a second-tier Mid-grade alchemist.
• Xiao Shenlin told Li Chengjie that Medicine King Valley would recruit Outer Sect Alchemists and invited him to travel to Spirit Medicine Market.
• Li Chengjie accepted Xiao Shenlin's invitation to depart together the next day.

Li Chengjie traveled toward Medicine King Valley with Xiao Shenlin, only to discover that Xiao and two other cultivators had lured him into a robbery. He revealed his Golden Core strength, killed all three, and gained Spirit Stones and 130 Replication Points before continuing south.

• Li Chengjie agreed to travel with Xiao Shenlin and met him at the South Gate of Yi Men Market the next morning.
• During their journey, Wu Xinquan and Mo Wuyi ambushed Li Chengjie and Xiao Shenlin, and Xiao revealed that the three had planned to rob him.
• The three robbers attacked Li Chengjie, but he released his Golden Core spirit pressure and stopped their weapons and escape attempts.
• Li Chengjie killed Xiao Shenlin, Wu Xinquan, and Mo Wuyi with three flaming longswords, then took their Storage Bags and burned their bodies.
• Li Chengjie gained more than one hundred fifty thousand Spirit Stones and 130 Replication Points before continuing toward Jiangling River.

Three months later, Li Chengjie disguised himself as the rogue alchemist Lin Zichao and went to Spirit Medicine Market to seek entry into Medicine King Valley. He registered for the upcoming recruitment and left with an Assessment Token for the preliminary test.

• Li Chengjie arrived at Spirit Medicine Market in disguise and learned from the shopkeeper at Hundred Herbs Pavilion that Medicine King Valley would recruit adult rogue alchemists the following month.
• Li Chengjie went to the Alchemist Guild Hall and joined the queue to register for the recruitment.
• Li Chengjie registered as Lin Zichao, claiming to be a forty-seven-year-old second-tier mid-grade alchemist and a rogue cultivator from Chu Kingdom.
• Li Chengjie showed the registration disciple his Cloud Shuttle ticket as evidence of his origins and denied ever joining a sect or lineage.
• The female disciple gave Li Chengjie Assessment Token One Hundred Fifty-Three and told him to return on the first day of next month for the preliminary test.