Chapter Summaries

Chen Ping'an traveled from Peach Blossom Ferry to Cloud City, where he set up a stall and began selling talismans and other treasures. Qi Jinglong continued north with Bai Shou, while Chen Ping'an’s first successful sale left his stall busier but many of his wares still unsold.

• The teahouse keeper gave Chen Ping'an Little Profound Wall tea and three Travelogues and Reports, while Wu Qun and Sun Qing drank wine and discussed Liu Jinglong.
• Qi Jinglong traveled toward the Taihui Sword Sect with Bai Shou, met Academy Sage Zhou Mi and Sword Immortal Dong Zhu, and agreed that three seniors would challenge him when he broke through.
• Chen Ping'an read reports aboard the ferry about Northern Juluzhou, Treasure Bottle Continent, and the coming battle between Huang Xi and a female Martial Cultivator on Spur Mountain.
• Chen Ping'an arrived at Cloud City, rented a market stall, and displayed talismans and several immortal implements for sale.
• An old man bought two Barrier Breaking Talismans and twenty-five talismans in total, along with a painting and a tea cake, giving Chen Ping'an an auspicious start to his sales.

Chen Ping'an disguised himself as a Rogue Cultivator and joined Di Yuanfeng, Sun Daoren, and Huang Shi on their search for an ancient Cave Abode. After they reached its entrance and began probing its traps, they learned that Zhan Qing and Bai Bi were also approaching.

• Di Yuanfeng, Sun Daoren, and Huang Shi met Chen Ping'an by a stream, tested his claims, and invited him to join their expedition after he demonstrated his talismans.
• Chen Ping'an traveled with the three men toward the Cave Abode and learned that Cloud City and Sparrow Mansion might compete for it because of their old enmity.
• The group encountered Zhan Qing, Bai Bi, Gao Ling, and another Martial Grandmaster at a Rest Pavilion, then detoured after Bai Bi let them pass.
• Sun Daoren led the party to the Cave Abode, where Chen Ping'an collected samples of soil infused with Spiritual Energy and used a Barrier Breaking Talisman to guide them inside.
• The four reached a chamber decorated with murals of the Four Heavenly Kings, where Sun Daoren began examining an Eight Trigrams formation as Di Yuanfeng warned that Zhan Qing was following.

Chen Ping'an and his three companions explored an ancient immortal sect’s ruins, where the group found damaged treasures and suspicion of betrayal grew. After the other three split up to search, Chen Ping'an gathered overlooked tiles, bricks, and statue fragments, then spotted Zhan Qing and Bai Bi’s party arriving and hurried down the mountain.

• Di Yuanfeng, Huang Shi, Sun Daoren, and Chen Ping'an crossed the White Jade Arch Bridge and explored the mountain sect, finding skeletons and a few damaged treasures.
• Huang Shi and Di Yuanfeng began searching for valuable items while Sun Daoren privately warned Chen Ping'an to beware Qin Juyuan and escape if he could.
• At the mountaintop temple, Chen Ping'an offered incense, Huang Shi smashed the statue, and Sun Daoren's Pagoda Bells exploded as the temple collapsed behind them.
• Chen Ping'an stayed behind to collect the Green Glazed Tiles, water-infused green bricks, and wooden statue fragments, then set off down the mountain.
• Chen Ping'an saw Zhan Qing and Bai Bi arrive with their party and used a Stele Carrying Talisman to hurry downhill.

Chen Ping'an, Sun Daoren, and Huang Shi searched the Immortal Mansion for treasures, then agreed to cooperate as rival groups entered the secret realm. As fighting spread across the mountain, Chen Ping'an sensed a mysterious Sword Qi patrolling the realm, while an old figure in the mist revealed that the Small World was a trap.

• Sun Daoren found an ancient Daoist manual, while Huang Shi took two jars of powerful Go stones from a pavilion and failed to move its Stone Table.
• Chen Ping'an studied the ancient Go board, absorbed much of its Water Transport Spiritual Energy, and followed Sun Daoren to the Water Hall, where Huang Shi confronted him over the manual.
• Chen Ping'an traded talismans with Sun Daoren for a wooden Grand Madam statue, an antique fan, and a pair of woven bamboo cages he suspected were Dragon King's Baskets.
• Chen Ping'an, Sun Daoren, and Huang Shi agreed to cooperate and avoid the mountain steps after Chen Ping'an warned them that more cultivators had entered the Immortal Mansion.
• Di Yuanfeng attacked two Cloud City disciples for their treasures but was driven off by their Dragon Gate Realm Old Attendant, while Zhan Qing's attempt to control the White Jade Arch Bridge sparked a battle among the crowd.
• Bai Bi found that the mist sealed the Small World, then returned toward the mountain as an old figure in the mist spoke of devouring the newcomers; Chen Ping'an sensed Sword Qi strike and disperse that figure.

Chen Ping'an secretly gathered water and branches from the extraordinary green bamboo while the battle at the White Jade Arch Bridge ended through Huan Yun's mediation. A mysterious decree then forced the Secret Realm's inhabitants into a deadly contest, naming Chen Ping'an as the leading treasure-seeker.

• Chen Ping'an collected condensed spiritual water from the green bamboo, then pretended to be a weak cultivator when Huang Shi tested him and secretly harvested more bamboo branches after Huang Shi left.
• At the White Jade Arch Bridge, Zhan Qing's group fought the Wild Cultivators while Bai Bi battled Sun Qing, until Huan Yun intervened and negotiated a truce and compensation for the dead.
• A mysterious old man appeared at the ruined mountain-top temple and triggered strange changes in the river beneath the bridge.
• Two green-clothed guardians and a white-clothed goddess appeared, announcing that only five people could survive the next ten days and proclaiming them prospective disciples of an ascended True Person.
• The goddess displayed five ranked portraits: Chen Ping'an was first, the Cloud City cultivator was second, Sun Daoren third, the sloppy man fourth, and Di Yuanfeng fifth; Chen Ping'an protested that the ranking was mistaken.

With the trapped cultivators turning on one another under the hidden old man's deadly rules, Chen Ping'an disguised himself and tried to survive unnoticed. As the next trial began and the survivors were ranked, Huai Qian revealed that he had come for the Sword Qi and challenged the forces controlling the Small World.

• After the water curtain vanished and the exit talisman shattered, Huan Yun's fragile alliance collapsed, while Chen Ping'an gave Daoist Master Sun concealment talismans and disguised himself to avoid notice.
• The hidden old man revealed that he had engineered the ruins and planned to use new rules to provoke more killing, while the cultivators debated whom to spare and whom to hunt.
• A false warning drove the survivors from the White Jade Arch Bridge, and Gao Ling killed the man who had spread it as groups scattered and began hunting one another.
• Chen Ping'an escaped with Jin Shan, gave him talismans, and hid while reflecting on how the crisis tested his own heart.
• Half a ten-day period later, the divine figures announced that the most prolific killer could become a direct disciple, triggering more deaths and revealing the survivors' rankings.
• Huai Qian disclosed to Liu Guibao that he had come for the Sword Qi, then prepared to confront the hidden old man and Huan Yun with his own talismans.

Sun Daoren stopped time, killed the Great Demon, took Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing as disciples, and left treasures and a book behind before departing. Chen Ping'an escaped with the Ceiling Well, helped Huang Shi, and arrived just in time to intervene when Huan Yun turned on Cloud City's two Direct Disciples.

• Sun Daoren restored the survivors, accepted Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing as Registered Disciples, rejected Liu Guibao as a disciple, and killed the Great Demon.
• Sun Daoren left some treasures for the survivors, gave Liu Guibao a Daoist book and Sun Qing a token, then departed with Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing.
• After time resumed, Chen Ping'an carried off the Ceiling Well, while the survivors divided the remaining treasures and Huan Yun pursued the fleeing Cloud City Attendant.
• Huang Shi told Chen Ping'an that cultivators had killed and skinned more than forty members of his household, and Chen Ping'an gave him Stele Carrying Talismans to help him escape.
• Chen Ping'an encountered Huan Yun confronting the two Cloud City Direct Disciples; the young man rejected Huan Yun's offer and his female companion stabbed him.
• Chen Ping'an stepped out from behind a tree as Huan Yun challenged him to reveal himself.

Chen Ping'an prevented Huan Yun from killing Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan, helped them reconcile, and brought them back to Cloud City, where they became engaged. He helped Huan Yun begin making amends, sold the Ceiling Well to Sun Qing, and continued his journey as a Bao Fu Zhai merchant, leaving Jin Shan with two unexpected talismans.

• Chen Ping'an revealed his sword-cultivator identity, and Huan Yun abandoned his plan to kill Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan.
• Xu Xingjiu stopped Zhao Qingwan from stabbing herself, and Chen Ping'an advised them as they began to mend their relationship aboard a Talisman Boat.
• Xu Xingjiu and Huan Yun returned to Cloud City, where Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan secured Shen Zhenze's approval to become Taoist Companions.
• Chen Ping'an urged Huan Yun to face his wrongdoing and helped arrange the sale of the Ceiling Well to Sun Qing for thirty Valley Rain Coins and an Inch Object.
• Huan Yun left to travel and reflect, while Chen Ping'an kept selling talismans in Cloud City and befriended Jin Shan over a meal.
• After Chen Ping'an returned Jin Shan's talismans, Jin Shan discovered two golden talismans hidden among them.

Chen Ping'an refined his treasures, watched Huang Xi defeat Xiu Niang on Spur Mountain, and studied her unusual fist style while political and personal events unfolded across the continents. The chapter ended with Pei Qian accidentally knocking Cen Yuanyi unconscious during a sparring session, as Chen Ping'an's ferry neared Dragon Palace Cave Heaven.

• Chen Ping'an began refining the Inch Object, considered how to use his treasures, and received a Daoist Robe and tea from Wu Qun after Sparrow Mansion benefited from the Ceiling Well.
• Shen Zhenze offered Chen Ping'an a nominal position and property in Cloud City, but Chen declined because he did not want to involve others in the dangers of his journey.
• Chen Ping'an watched Huang Xi and Xiu Niang fight on Spur Mountain, saw Huang Xi survive after striking the decisive blow, and practiced an imitation of Xiu Niang's fist stance.
• Great Li's ministers convened with Cui Chan to discuss the Zhu Ying Dynasty, Book Scroll Lake, and Qingluan Kingdom, while Cao Ci trained against a young woman in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins.
• Luopo Mountain's residents discussed their finances and training, and Pei Qian sent Cen Yuanyi tumbling down the mountain and knocked her unconscious during a sparring session.
• A ferry carrying Chen Ping'an passed Cloud City and neared Dragon Palace Cave Heaven.

Chen Ping'an crossed the Grand River toward Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, where Li Liu sought him out and showed him a recording of Chun Shui’s death. After learning of trouble awaiting Luopo Mountain and the woman’s final message, Chen Ping'an set off again with his sword at his waist.

• Chen Ping'an recorded his travels, reached the Water Dragon Sect’s ferry crossing, and paid to walk its underwater bridge toward Dragon Palace Cave Heaven.
• At a restaurant on the bridge, Chen Ping'an listened as cultivators argued over Ji Yue’s death and learned that Wei Qi was a skilled Qi cultivator.
• Li Liu met Chen Ping'an at the entrance to Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, warned him to reach the Golden Body Realm soon, and told him Luopo Mountain needed two or three thousand Valley Rain Coins to raise Lotus Root Blessed Land.
• Li Liu showed Chen Ping'an a Mirror Flower Water Moon recording of Chun Shui, who had died after revealing her feelings for him; Chen Ping'an recognized her and quietly accepted what he had learned.
• Chen Ping'an chose not to tour Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, put the Sword Immortal at his waist, and descended the steps to continue his journey.

Li Liu brought Chen Ping'an into Dragon Palace Cave Heaven and arranged for him to cultivate at Fushui Island, where he learned that Sword Immortal had become an Immortal Weapon and that news could not reach Luopo Mountain. The chapter left Chen Ping'an weighing whether to refine a third Destiny Item while other characters pursued their own paths and Liu Xianyang began a conversation with an old scholar.

• Li Yuan appeared before Li Liu, then arranged a quiet place for Chen Ping'an after she ordered the Water Dragon Sect not to disturb him.
• The Water Dragon Sect's Patriarch Hall learned that Li Yuan had closed the cave heaven's gates, but Sun Jie settled the alarm and warned Shao Jingzhi against overstepping the sect's boundaries.
• Li Liu told Chen Ping'an that he had missed a share of Gu You's martial fortune, and he accepted the loss while resolving to practice his punches harder.
• Li Yuan took Chen Ping'an and Li Liu to Fushui Island, gave Chen Ping'an its formation token, and Li Liu also gave him her own token and asked him to pass a statue to Li Huai.
• Li Liu told Chen Ping'an that Sword Immortal had become an Immortal Weapon and that letters could not reach Luopo Mountain; after she left, he practiced, wrote to Zhu Lian, and considered refining a third Destiny Item.
• Cao Ci advised the wounded young woman to count her punches, while Lu Chen judged his junior brother's trial of the heart and Liu Xianyang listened as an old scholar asked about the Chen Clan's family traditions and scholarly ethos.

Chen Ping'an received Zhu Lian’s and Pei Qian’s letters and learned of major developments at Luopo Mountain, including Wei Bo’s breakthrough and plans for the Lotus Root Blessed Land. As Chen Ping'an reconsidered his habit of pursuing every detail, Li Yuan and Shen Lin grappled with their failing divine bodies and the distant figure who had abandoned them.

• Chen Ping'an met Shen Lin, the Southern Breeze Water Palace’s failing Water God Matriarch, and chose not to pry into her connection with Li Yuan or the greater secrets of the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven.
• Li Yuan delivered Zhu Lian’s Secret Letter to Chen Ping'an, who recognized Piyun Mountain’s restriction and inferred that Wei Bo had advanced to the Upper Five Realms.
• Shen Lin pressed Li Yuan for information about Chen Ping'an, but he refused to reveal what he knew; she then declined to see Shao Jingzhi and returned to her palace.
• Li Yuan went drinking on the bridge, where he watched Huan Yun treat Bai Bi fairly and reflected on his own despair and the Water Dragon Sect’s politics.
• Fire Dragon True Person and Zhang Shanfeng arrived near the Water Dragon Sect, and Fire Dragon True Person contacted Sun Jie without asking him to come out.
• Chen Ping'an read Zhu Lian’s report on Wei Bo, Pearl Hairpin Island’s lease of Ao Yu Bei, and Luopo Mountain’s affairs, then read Pei Qian’s self-praising letter and reconsidered scolding her.

The Fire Dragon True Person and Zhang Shanfeng reached Fushui Island, where the old True Person challenged Chen Ping'an to confront the selfishness and fear behind his shattered literary courage. After confessing his doubts and convictions, Chen Ping'an accepted that he would rather be himself and asked the True Person to help with his third Destiny Item.

• The Fire Dragon True Person and Zhang Shanfeng crossed the bridge, met Sect Master Sun Jie, and entered the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven.
• Chen Ping'an wrote Zhu Lian a detailed letter about Luopo Mountain’s plans and then noticed a Talisman Boat approaching Fushui Island.
• The Fire Dragon True Person reunited with Chen Ping'an and questioned him about why he had been unable to kill a man who deserved death.
• Chen Ping'an reflected on his fears, his past, and the principles he held dear, then told the Fire Dragon True Person that he would rather be himself.
• Chen Ping'an asked the Fire Dragon True Person to help with his third Destiny Item and went to catch up with Zhang Shanfeng.

Chen Ping'an reunited with Zhang Shanfeng, received Fire Dragon True Person’s help evaluating his treasures, and began refining his third Destiny Item. As he cultivated on Fushui Island, Fire Dragon True Person guided Li Yuan and Shen Lin, while Chen Ping'an’s memories of the past surfaced in a vision of his childhood self leaving home.

• Chen Ping'an accepted Shenze Lake water pills from Zhang Shanfeng, listened to his travels, and fell asleep as Zhang Shanfeng sat outside his room.
• Fire Dragon True Person reprimanded Li Yuan for neglecting his duties and urged him to become a decent person, then examined Chen Ping'an’s treasures and explained how to refine the blue bricks into his mountain shrine.
• Fire Dragon True Person identified the wooden idol as a powerful Daoist treasure, assessed Chen Ping'an’s other items, and explained why he guided Zhang Shanfeng by letting him discover the Dao for himself.
• Chen Ping'an secluded himself to refine his third Destiny Item, while Zhang Shanfeng spoke with Li Yuan, who later notified the nearby water palaces of the events on Fushui Island.
• Fire Dragon True Person and Zhang Shanfeng watched Shen Lin draw spiritual energy toward Fushui Island, then discussed Chen Ping'an and the duties of cultivators.
• A vision showed Chen Ping'an outside the house of his childhood, watching his younger self pass through him and leave home carrying a basket.

After refining his Destiny Item, Chen Ping'an thanked Shen Lin, sold most of his Green Glazed Tiles through the Fire Dragon True Person, and continued his journey west along the Grand River. The chapter ended with He Xiaoliang meeting him at the river's mouth after a long separation.

• Chen Ping'an emerged from seclusion with his Destiny Item refined, and the Fire Dragon True Person advised him on cultivation and agreed to sell 120 Green Glazed Tiles for 600 Valley Rain Coins.
• Chen Ping'an visited Shen Lin at the Southern Breeze Water Palace, learned about refining water pills, and returned to Fushui Island to cultivate and reflect on his Heart Knot.
• Yuan Ling Hall delivered the 600 Valley Rain Coins and a replica sword from Hate Sword Mountain to Chen Ping'an before departing.
• Chen Ping'an left Fushui Island and entrusted Li Yuan with a letter and Li Liu's Hornless Dragon Jade Token; Li Liu later healed Shen Lin and told her she would become the Ji Du Spirit Source Duke.
• Li Yuan caught up with Chen Ping'an on the Grand River, offered him water pills, and gave him the Rest a While wooden plaque before returning home.
• After traveling west to the Grand River's mouth, Chen Ping'an encountered He Xiaoliang and her young companion in an alley, and He Xiaoliang greeted him after a long separation.

Chen Ping'an parted from He Xiaoliang on terms of continued rivalry, then visited Li Huai’s family and asked Li Er to help him temper his fist intent. The chapter ended as Li Er prepared to spar with Chen Ping'an after their meal.

• He Xiaoliang told Chen Ping'an they would go their separate ways until they met at the summit of the Vast Heaven and Earth, then left before he did.
• The Fire Dragon True Person discussed Chen Ping'an’s martial path and his disciples’ cultivation with Yuan Ling Hall and Li Liu, then sent Yuan Ling Hall to accompany Zhang Shanfeng on a journey.
• Chen Ping'an visited Aunt Liu’s cloth shop, reunited with her and Li Er, and asked Li Er where he could find Li Xisheng.
• Li Er punched toward a distant presence, then relayed Li Xisheng’s message that Chen Ping'an should not seek him out to thank him for the peachwood charm or the talismans.
• Chen Ping'an explained to Li Er that he wanted to build his Golden Body Realm on the limits of his own body, and Li Er promised to feed him punches after they ate.

Li Er brought Chen Ping'an to Lion Peak and began a brutal round of fist training, while events elsewhere reshaped the fortunes of Coolness Sect and the Great Li Dynasty. Back on Luopo Mountain, Pei Qian endured Cui Cheng's harsh taunts and finally struck him before collapsing.

• Chen Ping'an drank at Li Er's home, then followed him into Lion Peak's ancient cave heaven, where Li Er revealed the mirror entrance and attacked him with powerful ninth- and tenth-realm punches.
• He Xiaoliang's feud with Xu Xuan left Coolness Sect isolated, while Li Xisheng departed after teaching her disciples and warning her about Bai Shang's threat.
• Cui Chan outlined to Emperor Song He a long-term plan to profit from Northern Juluzhou, rebuild Tongye Continent, and strengthen Great Li through policies aligned with Confucian rules.
• Pei Qian celebrated Zhou Mili's appointment as Luopo Mountain Right Guardian, while Zhu Lian arranged a revised profit split for the planned search for the Water Palace Dragon Boat.
• Cui Cheng battered and taunted Pei Qian during boxing practice, but she eventually vanished from his sight, struck at his head, and collapsed unconscious; Cui Cheng praised her progress.

Yuanlai admired Cen Yuanyi on Luopo Mountain while Zhu Lian and Lu Baixiang discussed their disciples and Pei Qian’s training. On Lion Peak, Chen Ping'an recovered from Li Er’s punishing lessons, visited the Li family’s cloth shop, and returned to practice alone on the lake.

• Yuanlai sat on the mountain steps hoping to speak with Cen Yuanyi, while Yuanbao trained with her and Pei Qian played with Chen Ruchu and Zhou Mili.
• Zhu Lian explained to Lu Baixiang why Cui Cheng’s harsh punches were necessary to shape Pei Qian, and they discussed how Yuanlai might overcome a future bottleneck.
• Zhu Lian told Zheng Dafeng to delay Cui Cheng’s planned trip with Pei Qian to Lotus Root Blessed Land until Chen Ping'an returned to Luopo Mountain.
• Li Er ended a session of feeding punches after Chen Ping'an endured severe injuries, and Chen Ping'an went down to help at the Li family’s cloth shop.
• Chen Ping'an spoke with Li Liu about the shop and the hometown of his childhood, then returned to Lion Peak and practiced fist techniques alone on the lake.

Li Liu reflected on her life and remembered Qi Jingchun’s words, while Li Er taught Chen Ping'an deeper Boxing Principles and battered him through another training session. As Chen Ping'an shared memories and hopes with Li Er, Li Er found him strangely familiar.

• Li Liu recalled Old Man Yang warning that her repeated rebirths would keep her from becoming fully human, and remembered Qi Jingchun’s advice that a person was shaped by how they traveled through life.
• Li Er explained that a fighter had to keep his heart steady, refine every part of his body, and make his fist intent alive; he tested Chen Ping'an’s reactions and taught him to adapt the Godly Drumming Stance.
• Li Er attacked Chen Ping'an with ninth-realm strength and knocked him off the mirror into the water.
• Cui Cheng shared wine with Chen Lingjun, told him Chen Ping'an considered him a decent fellow, and urged him to value himself and treat others well.
• Chen Ping'an told Li Er about his journey, the hardships he had witnessed, and his wish to be remembered for the good he had done; Li Er found him strangely familiar.

Chen Ping'an learned boxing principles from Li Er and discussed cultivation, martial luck, and the meaning of seeing people from different perspectives with Li Liu. As Li Liu returned to her family, Chen Ping'an left the shop and walked alone through the unfamiliar town, looking back for a long time.

• Li Er taught Chen Ping'an about ancient boxing methods, true qi circulation, and the different training paths of his fellow disciples.
• Chen Ping'an told Li Er that Zhong Qiu had created the Spinal Dragon stance, and Li Er and Li Liu agreed that Zhong Qiu should leave Lotus Flower Blessed Land for Vast Heaven and Earth.
• Li Liu urged Chen Ping'an to seek opportunities in cultivation, explained how martial luck passed between continents, and described the strength of Li Er and Song Changjing.
• Chen Ping'an shared his thoughts on books, travel, and human perspective with Li Liu, who bowed and thanked him for teaching her.
• Li Er told Li Liu he would accept her changing nature if she recovered her true form, while asking her to continue treating her mother well; Li Liu promised.
• Chen Ping'an left the shop and walked alone through the town, looking back toward it for a long time.