Chapter Summaries

Xu Chunniang realized Little Walnut had seized most of the undersea Spiritual Veins, which expanded her little world and gave her a safe place to cultivate. Still trapped inside the enormous fish, she studied insect-taming arts and began raising Wing-concealing Insect eggs to help her investigate the danger outside.

• Xu Chunniang realized Little Walnut had taken most of the Spiritual Veins, and the little world expanded more than tenfold as the veins merged into it.
• Little Orange and Little White settled beside the new Spiritual Veins, while Xu Chunniang considered how to learn what was happening outside the little world without exposing herself to the fish's acid.
• Xu Chunniang found a Spirit Beast Pouch of insect eggs and an Insect Taming Arts Jade Slip, then carved out a cave abode on the Spiritual Veins.
• After studying the Jade Slip for two months, Xu Chunniang fed her Essence Blood to the black eggs and identified them as slow-hatching Grade Two High-grade Wing-concealing Insects.
• Xu Chunniang continued cultivating, studying formations, tending spirit fields, and carefully feeding the insect eggs while growing Red Pearl Rice for Crimson Wine.

Xu Chunniang tended her spirit fields and brewed Crimson Wine before hatching and refining the Wing-concealing Insect Eggs in her small world. More than a hundred larvae survived and bonded with her, but she decided to wait until they grew stronger before sending them out to gather information.

• Xu Chunniang finished brewing Crimson Wine and prepared a formation in her cave dwelling as the Wing-concealing Insect Eggs neared hatching.
• Xu Chunniang failed to imprint the first larva, which died after resisting her divine sense.
• Xu Chunniang used the Insect Taming Arts to strengthen her bond with the second larva, then successfully branded its Primordial Spirit.
• Xu Chunniang spent three days refining the hatching larvae, and a little over a hundred of the more than three hundred Wing-concealing Insects survived.
• Xu Chunniang fed the hungry larvae Pearl Rice and found that they grew slightly stronger, but decided they were still too fragile to send out for information.

After spending months raising Wing-concealing Insects to test the waters outside her little world, Xu Chunniang concluded that Little Walnut was no longer inside the Nascent Soul giant fish. She emerged into a Crimson Water Crocodile’s nest and faced its attack.

• Xu Chunniang remembered the fourteen years since she left the sect and focused on raising the Wing-concealing Insects so she could safely return.
• After the first ten insects died within minutes of leaving the little world, Xu Chunniang raised stronger scouts and used a secret art to boost ten of them at the cost of their remaining lifespans.
• An eighth-level Qi Condensation Wing-concealing Insect survived outside for nearly nine hours, convincing Xu Chunniang that Little Walnut was no longer inside the giant fish.
• Xu Chunniang left the little world alone and appeared in a Crimson Water Crocodile’s nest, where Little Walnut entered her Primordial Spirit.
• The Crimson Water Crocodile attacked Xu Chunniang by summoning crushing currents, and she formed a thin stream of black water around herself.

After escaping the little world, Xu Chunniang found herself in the Dead Sea and discovered an unconscious cultivator bound aboard a battered boat. She rescued and awakened the woman, who remained wary of her.

• Xu Chunniang drove off a Crimson Water Crocodile, surfaced, and headed west across the seemingly endless Dead Sea.
• Xu Chunniang spotted a small boat to the south and approached it cautiously through the water.
• Xu Chunniang found an unconscious female cultivator bound inside the boat, with her dantian sealed.
• When a storm damaged the boat and threatened to sink it, Xu Chunniang shielded and reinforced the vessel with a formation.
• Xu Chunniang broke the seal on the female cultivator's Primordial Spirit, and the woman woke and questioned who Xu Chunniang was and where they were.
• Xu Chunniang explained that she had rescued the woman from the rough seas, but the woman stayed suspicious and decided to placate her.

Xu Chunniang learned that the sea region lay north of Nansha Island and traveled toward it with the Cheng Family female cultivator. After discovering that the local cultivator had never heard of the Dead Sea, the Carefree Sect, or the Five Great Sects, Xu Chunniang concluded they were likely on the far side of the Dead Sea.

• The Cheng Family female cultivator told Xu Chunniang that she had grown up on Nansha Island and offered to identify their location.
• The female cultivator recognized the waters north of Nansha Island, and Xu Chunniang ordered her to steer toward the island.
• Xu Chunniang returned to her small world, then brought Little Orange, Little White, and the Wing-concealing Insects outside with her.
• The female cultivator told Xu Chunniang they would reach Nansha Island's range in three days and answered her questions about the island.
• The female cultivator had never heard of the Dead Sea, the Carefree Sect, or the Five Great Sects, leading Xu Chunniang to suspect they were on the far side of the Dead Sea.

Xu Chunniang learned about the islands and regions of the seaborne Cultivation World from Cheng Surong as they approached Nansha Island. Cheng Surong invited her to join the Cheng Family, but Xu Chunniang declined, and they arrived at the island with Cheng Surong resolved to confront whoever had plotted against her.

• Cheng Surong explained the Three Immortal Islands, the Ten Continents, and the nearby islands and teleportation routes around Nansha Island.
• Cheng Surong invited Xu Chunniang to become an Attendant of the Cheng Family, but Xu Chunniang refused and said she planned to buy a map and locate the Dead Sea.
• Xu Chunniang told Cheng Surong that saving her life and guiding her to Nansha Island left neither of them owing the other, while Cheng Surong vowed to remember her kindness.
• As Nansha Island came into view, Xu Chunniang advised Cheng Surong to be careful about the person who had plotted against her, and Cheng Surong resolved to treat that person as an enemy.
• Xu Chunniang dismantled the boat's formations and recovered usable materials, impressing Cheng Surong, who left her the Cheng Family's address.

Xu Chunniang arrived on Nansha Island with Cheng Surong and set out to obtain an identification token. After learning about the island’s tokens and their prices, she considered buying an expensive one that could withstand a Golden Core attack.

• Xu Chunniang stepped ashore with Cheng Surong, and Cheng San questioned Cheng Surong about her absence before welcoming Xu Chunniang to Nansha Island.
• Xu Chunniang explained that she had no identification token, so Cheng San sent Cheng Surong to guide her to the token office.
• Cheng Surong introduced Xu Chunniang to Liu Qinglan, who sensed Xu Chunniang’s superior cultivation and showed her several identification tokens.
• Liu Qinglan described a jet-black token with a defense against a Golden Core attack, communication, and other functions, then offered it for fifty-seven thousand spirit stones.
• Cheng Surong warned Xu Chunniang about the steep price, but Xu Chunniang reassured her and continued considering the token.

Xu Chunniang bought an inexpensive identity token on Nansha Island and rejected Liu Qinglan’s invitation to visit the Liu Family. She parted ways with Cheng Surong and explored the island, marveling at the scale and prosperity of the sea Cultivation World.

• Xu Chunniang declined Liu Qinglan’s sixty-thousand-spirit-stone token and bought a cheaper one for eight thousand spirit stones, then exchanged soul breaths with Liu Qinglan.
• Liu Qinglan invited Xu Chunniang to visit the Liu Family, but Cheng Surong objected and was pressured by Liu Qinglan.
• Xu Chunniang refused both Liu Qinglan’s invitation and Cheng Surong’s offer to accompany her, telling Cheng Surong to cultivate well.
• Xu Chunniang walked through Nansha Island and observed its abundant spiritual energy, crowded streets, and prosperous shops.
• Xu Chunniang reflected that Nansha Island was only one of more than a hundred small islands under Xuanzhou, with larger islands and an ancestral island beyond it.

Xu Chunniang explored Nansha Island, learned that its three great Lineages controlled teleportation formations and broader sea charts, and studied local cultivation materials. Liu Qingfeng expected her to seek out the Liu Family, but nearly half a year passed without her making contact.

• Xu Chunniang searched an island shop for formations and sea charts, learning that the three great Lineages monopolized teleportation formations and larger maps.
• Xu Chunniang rented a courtyard, asked about the Dead Sea and Northwest Five Sects, then began studying bone books about local materials and demon beasts.
• Liu Qinglan told Liu Qingfeng about Xu Chunniang, and he decided she would eventually approach the Liu Family because her passage token preserved Liu Qinglan's soul aura.
• Liu Qinglan waited for Xu Chunniang to contact the Liu Family, but nearly half a year passed without a word.
• With the Hunting Competition only a few months away, Liu Qingfeng summoned Liu Qinglan and asked whether Xu Chunniang had come to the Liu Family.

Xu Chunniang joined the Cheng Family as an Attendant to gain access to its library, and Cheng Shangling tried to recruit her for the Hunting Competition by offering her the third floor’s books. She was tempted by the chance to research the Dead Sea and the Northwest Five Sects, but she remained unsure whether she could take on the competition.

• Liu Qinglan told Liu Qingfeng that Xu Chunniang had agreed to serve the Cheng Family, and Liu Qingfeng decided not to pursue her further.
• Xu Chunniang spent a month studying in the Cheng Family library after becoming an Attendant, while Cheng Surong achieved Foundation Establishment and recruited a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator for the family.
• Cheng Shangling summoned Cheng Surong and asked whether Xu Chunniang would participate in the Hunting Competition, then decided to offer her access to the library’s third floor.
• Cheng Shangling welcomed Xu Chunniang with rare Spirit Tea and offered her the third-floor bone books if she represented the Cheng Family in the competition.
• Xu Chunniang considered the offer because she had found no information about the Dead Sea or the Northwest Five Sects, but said she feared she was not suited to the responsibility.

Xu Chunniang agreed to join the Cheng Family’s Hunting Competition in exchange for permanent access to its library’s third floor. While searching the collection for information about the Dead Sea and teleportation formations, she found no answers and wondered who had built the Cheng Family’s formation.

• Cheng Shangling explained the Hunting Competition and offered Xu Chunniang third-floor library access if she joined, and she agreed.
• Cheng Shangling told Cheng Qingjia that he was gambling on Xu Chunniang because the declining Cheng Family needed to change.
• Xu Chunniang entered the library’s third floor and spent half a month searching for information about the Dead Sea and the Northwest Five Sects without success.
• Xu Chunniang read several books about teleportation formations but found none that explained their principles or key materials.
• Xu Chunniang wondered who had set up the teleportation formation possessed by the Cheng Family.

Xu Chunniang traveled with the Cheng Family to Coral Island for the Hunting Competition, where she encountered Liu Qinglan again. After a tense exchange over which family Xu Chunniang served, the Cheng group was escorted to a secluded courtyard.

• Xu Chunniang inferred that a greater force had established the teleportation arrays and considered traveling to Pingfeng Island after the Hunting Competition.
• Cheng Qingjia brought Xu Chunniang and the Cheng Family cultivators to the teleportation array, and they arrived on Coral Island.
• Xu Chunniang recognized that the array guardians belonged to the Zhan Family and helped Cheng Qingjia carry the disoriented Cheng cultivators away from the formation.
• Liu Qinglan arrived with a powerful group and urged Xu Chunniang to leave the Cheng Family, but Xu Chunniang only agreed that Liu Qinglan was right.
• Cheng Qingjia led the group away, and a Zhan Family cultivator escorted them to a secluded courtyard after learning they were from Nansha Island.

As the Cheng Family prepared for the Hunting Competition, Cheng Qingjia learned that its two teams left the lineage badly outnumbered, and Cheng Qi reorganized them by strength. At the competition’s start, Zhan Yingluo ordered Cheng Qingjia to join her team, while an elder dismissed her objection that this would leave the Cheng Family short-handed.

• Cheng Qingjia learned that most rival clans and rogue cultivator factions had sent more hunting teams than the Cheng Family, leaving the lineage fearing a poor ranking.
• Tang Chuan recommended concentrating the stronger cultivators into one team, and Cheng Qi agreed to form a second team of only early Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Five days later, Xu Chunniang and the other competitors received point-recording rings at the Zhan Family training grounds, and Zhan Siming explained the scoring rules before beginning the competition.
• As Cheng Qi led his group out, Zhan Yingluo stopped them and demanded that Cheng Qingjia go to sea with her.
• Cheng Qingjia objected that joining Zhan Yingluo would leave the Cheng Family team one person short, but an elder said her command was the rule and an honor.

Cheng Qingjia negotiated for the Cheng Family team to accompany Zhan Yingluo, and she agreed before hosting them aboard the Zhan Family cloud boat. At the banquet, the Cheng cultivators learned that Zhan Yingluo’s elder sister had recently reached Golden Core at age eighty, while Cheng Qi hoped the connection could help the declining Cheng Family.

• Cheng Qingjia refused to leave his team behind, and Zhan Yingluo agreed to bring the entire Cheng Family group along.
• The Cheng cultivators boarded the Zhan Family cloud boat, where Xu Chunniang recorded her formation insights before joining Zhan Yingluo’s banquet.
• Tang Chuan recognized the rare spirit foods at the banquet, while Xu Chunniang examined a Wood Fragrance Fruit and considered its growing conditions.
• A Zhan Family elder revealed that the Wood Fragrance Fruits had come from Penglai Immortal Island, prompting the Cheng cultivators to discuss Zhan Yingluo’s elder sister and her extraordinary talent.
• Zhan Yingluo confirmed that her elder sister had recently formed her Golden Core, and Cheng Qi urged Cheng Qingjia to pursue the family connection despite his lack of interest in Zhan Yingluo.

Cheng Qingjia struggled with pressure from the Cheng Family to rely on the Zhan Family, but Xu Chunniang’s words eased his distress and renewed his resolve to restore his family’s fortunes. As the cloud boat continued its journey, Zhan Yingluo learned that Xu Chunniang had been studying its formations and considered whether she posed any threat to her plans.

• Cheng Qingjia’s relatives urged him to accept the Zhan Family’s support, leaving him unable to settle his mind.
• Cheng Qingjia met Xu Chunniang at the boat’s stern and asked what she thought of the Zhan Family and the Cheng Family.
• Xu Chunniang acknowledged the Zhan Family’s strength and recalled that a Cheng Family ancestor had entered Penglai Immortal Island, while Cheng Qingjia described the ancestor’s early death.
• Xu Chunniang asked whether Spirit Transformation cultivators lived on the Three Immortal Islands, and Cheng Qingjia offered what he had heard before leaving with renewed resolve.
• Xu Chunniang spent four days observing the cloud boat’s formations as it crossed the sea.
• Zhao Hucheng and the Zhan Family elder told Zhan Yingluo about Xu Chunniang’s background and likely formation skills, and Zhan Yingluo judged that she probably would not interfere with her plans.

Zhan Yingluo met with Xu Chunniang to assess her talent and background, then discussed whether the Formation Master might join the Zhan Family. The chapter ended with Zhan Yingluo learning that Cheng Qingjia had rejected her proposal and hoped to restore his ancestors’ glory.

• Zhan Yingluo invited Xu Chunniang to discuss the cloud vessel’s formations and offered her a bone fragment recording its auxiliary formations, but Xu Chunniang declined it.
• Zhan Yingluo questioned Xu Chunniang about her origins, and Xu Chunniang claimed that sea beasts had destroyed her unnamed home island before she reached Nansha Island with help from the Cheng Family.
• Zhao Hucheng failed to discern whether Xu Chunniang was lying, and Zhan Yingluo judged that most of her account was true while considering how to recruit her.
• Zhan Yingluo asked Zhan Fu whether Cheng Qingjia had accepted her condition, and Zhan Fu reported that he had refused and intended to restore his ancestors’ glory.

During the Hunting Competition, Zhan Yingluo pressured Cheng Qingjia by exploiting the Cheng Family’s weakness until he agreed to her terms. Watching the Cheng Family’s predicament changed Xu Chunniang’s resolve, and she reconsidered her plan to return to her sect.

• Zhan Yingluo insisted that the Cheng Family stay with the Zhan Family in dangerous waters, despite Cheng Qi’s concerns about their strength.
• Cheng Qi, Tang Chuan, and Xu Chunniang joined the fight, but Zhan Family cultivators repeatedly took the credit for the demon beasts they weakened.
• Cheng Qingjia saw his family struggling and agreed to Zhan Yingluo’s earlier terms.
• The Zhan Family began helping the Cheng Family earn points by leaving nearly defeated demon beasts for them to finish.
• Xu Chunniang reflected on the Cultivation World’s power imbalance and reconsidered returning to her sect.

Xu Chunniang reflected on the insight she glimpsed while hunting demon beasts and sensed that the path to Golden Core was becoming clearer, though she still lacked a suitable cultivation method beyond Foundation Establishment. As the Hunting Competition ended, Zhan Yingluo’s pressure on Cheng Qingjia gave way to a hidden intent to kill him, and the group began its return voyage with the Cheng Family’s points at an unprecedented high.

• Xu Chunniang realized she needed to reach Golden Core or Nascent Soul before she could hope to cross the Dead Sea, but the Carefree Art had no Golden Core stage.
• Xu Chunniang meditated on her fleeting insight that human cultivators and demon beasts killed to survive, then found clarity and a faint outline of the path ahead.
• Cheng Qingjia refused Zhan Yingluo’s attempt to rush their marriage, and Zhan Yingluo left him alone while secretly deciding he no longer needed to live after she obtained what she wanted.
• Zhan Yingluo led the group to hunt demon beasts with her map and Golden Core support, rapidly raising the Cheng Family’s points as its members grew eager to flatter her.
• As the three-month Hunting Competition ended, Zhan Yingluo led everyone aboard the cloudship to return, while Xu Chunniang reflected that she had barely had a chance to fight.

Zhan Yingluo tried to recruit Xu Chunniang into the Zhan Family by promising to help her reach Golden Core, but Xu Chunniang refused and insisted on relying on her own cultivation. After Xu Chunniang left, Zhan Fu learned that she might have established her foundation naturally.

• Zhan Yingluo praised her family's strength and offered to help Xu Chunniang travel to Pingfeng Island for a price.
• Zhan Yingluo invited Xu Chunniang to join the Zhan Family and promised a seventy percent chance of helping her attain Golden Core.
• Xu Chunniang refused, saying she would not rely too heavily on external aid, even after Zhan Yingluo reduced the service term to two hundred years.
• Zhan Yingluo sent Xu Chunniang away, and Zhan Fu complained that she had rejected the offer.
• Zhan Yingluo said some exceptionally talented cultivators could establish their foundation naturally, leaving Zhan Fu astonished.

Zhan Yingluo refused to call off her marriage-in arrangement with Cheng Qingjia and planned to take him to Pingfeng Island to obtain an item from him. Cheng Shangling challenged the Zhan Family over the arrangement, was trapped and wounded by its defensive formation, and Cheng Qingjia and Xu Chunniang saw him in danger.

• Zhan Yingluo told Zhan Siming she would marry Cheng Qingjia and take him to Pingfeng Island, despite his demand that she explain the arrangement as a misunderstanding.
• Zhan Siming compared Zhan Yingluo unfavorably with her sister, Zhan Xuanji, and dismissed her after she accepted the criticism with a smile.
• Cheng Shangling confronted Zhan Siming and declared that he opposed Cheng Qingjia marrying into the Zhan Family.
• Zhan Siming warned Cheng Shangling to leave as the Zhan Family's defensive formation activated, but Cheng Shangling was trapped and wounded by it.
• Cheng Qingjia recognized his injured grandfather in the formation and cried out to him, while Xu Chunniang looked up at Cheng Shangling.