Chapter Summaries

Qi Chuan used his new identity and secluded Cave Dwelling to begin learning alchemy, relying on Hundredfold Critical Hit to master the Qi Burst Pill formula and improve his ingredient refining and heat control. After preparing six Spirit Materials, he began the delicate process of fusing them to form the pill.

• Qi Chuan settled into a secluded Mid-grade Tier 2 Cave Dwelling under his new identity as an Inner Sect Disciple and set out to improve his alchemy skill.
• Qi Chuan read the Qi Burst Pill formula and, after Hundredfold Critical Hit triggered, comprehended it completely.
• Qi Chuan initially burned Snake Scale Grass to ash, then used the resulting insight to extract its medicinal liquid successfully on his next attempt.
• Qi Chuan refined Azure Green Fruit and the remaining ingredients, steadily improving his heat control and producing six usable Spirit Materials.
• Qi Chuan placed the six Spirit Materials into the Black Mountain Cauldron and began fusing them with alchemy hand seals.

Qi Chuan used his Hundredfold Critical Hit to rapidly advance from a novice to a Tier 1 High-grade Alchemist while refining Qi Burst Pills, Golden Spirit Pills, and Spirit Nourishing Pills. He finished the chapter with strong alchemy foundations and continued ambitions to improve his cultivation with higher-grade pills.

• Qi Chuan successfully formed six Qi Burst Pills, with two usable pills, and advanced to a Tier 1 Low-grade Alchemist.
• Qi Chuan failed his first attempt at forming Golden Spirit Pills, then used the insights from the failure to refine a second batch, producing three good pills and advancing to Tier 1 Mid-grade Alchemist.
• Qi Chuan began refining Tier 1 High-grade Spirit Nourishing Pills and spent half a month overcoming difficulties with their ingredients and formation.
• Qi Chuan formed six Spirit Nourishing Pills, discarded four ruined pills, and advanced to Tier 1 High-grade Alchemist.

After advancing to a Tier 1 Top-grade Alchemist, Qi Chuan practiced refining the Tier 2 Low-grade Spirit Nurturing Pill and gained experience through repeated attempts. His second attempt succeeded, advancing him to a Tier 2 Low-grade Alchemist and leaving him ready to pursue refining Yellow Dragon Pills.

• Qi Chuan advanced to a Tier 1 Top-grade Alchemist after refining Condensing Purple Pills and decided to practice with Spirit Nurturing Pills before attempting Yellow Dragon Pills.
• Qi Chuan refined the lower-grade Spirit Nurturing Pill ingredients and improved his techniques for handling Tier 2 Low-grade Spirit Herbs.
• Qi Chuan failed his first attempt to form Spirit Nurturing Pills, but a Hundredfold Critical Hit greatly improved his pill-forming skill.
• Qi Chuan succeeded in refining Spirit Nurturing Pills on his second attempt and advanced to a Tier 2 Low-grade Alchemist.

Qi Chuan advanced to Tier 2 Low-grade Alchemist, successfully refined Yellow Dragon Pills, and used one to accelerate his mana cultivation. After gaining a fourteenth drop of Liquid Mana in a month, he welcomed his Master, Situ Jiang, who admired his progress.

• Qi Chuan perfected his refinement of the rare Spirit Herb Materials and, after one failed attempt, refined four Yellow Dragon Pills, two of which were ruined pills.
• Qi Chuan swallowed a Yellow Dragon Pill and circulated the Profound Heaven Spirit Devouring Sword Art, gaining a small amount of mana through a Tenfold Critical Hit.
• Qi Chuan estimated that he could reach Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in about five years and continued cultivating.
• A month later, Qi Chuan had formed a fourteenth drop of Liquid Mana and heard Situ Jiang call to him from outside his Cave Dwelling.
• Situ Jiang noticed Qi Chuan's improved aura, and Qi Chuan confirmed that his cultivation had advanced.

Qi Chuan returned to Red Maple Valley in disguise after Situ Jiang gave him talismans to conceal his identity. He found Second Master Qi Baicang grieving his supposed death, then revealed that he was alive and had reached Foundation Establishment.

• Situ Jiang gave Qi Chuan Illusion Body Talismans and Breath Concealing Talismans so he could visit Red Maple Valley without drawing attention.
• Qi Chuan disguised himself, left the Wind Moon Sect, and traveled for several days until he reached Red Maple Valley.
• Qi Chuan went to the Independent Peak where Second Master Qi Baicang lived and found the spirit fields disorderly and Qi Baicang asleep inside a simple house.
• Qi Chuan entered the house and woke Qi Baicang, who mistook him for an Outer Realm Demon from his dream.
• Qi Chuan convinced Qi Baicang that he was alive, and Qi Baicang joyfully realized his junior had returned as a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.

Qi Chuan secretly reunited with Second Master Qi Baicang after faking his death, reassuring him that he was safe and helping tend the Spirit Fields on Independent Peak. Before leaving, Qi Chuan gave Qi Baicang a Cosmic Bag full of valuable supplies, and Qi Baicang wept after discovering its contents.

• Qi Chuan explained to Qi Baicang that the Wind Moon Sect had faked his death to protect him after he obtained an opportunity in the Secret Realm.
• Qi Chuan and Qi Baicang discussed the Qi Family’s improved fortunes and agreed to keep Qi Chuan’s return secret.
• Qi Chuan tended the Spirit Fields on Independent Peak and assured Qi Baicang that his Breath Concealing Talisman would prevent anyone from discovering him.
• Qi Chuan gave Qi Baicang a Low-grade Cosmic Bag and departed from Independent Peak.
• Qi Baicang opened the Cosmic Bag and found pills, spirit materials, talismans, and magic tools, then wept over Qi Chuan’s generosity.

Qi Chuan returned to Red Maple Valley and revealed to Qi Wuyou that he had faked his death, easing the Patriarch’s worries and restoring the Qi Family’s hopes of having two Foundation Establishment cultivators. Qi Wuyou welcomed him back, shared family resources with him, and took him to the treasury, where Qi Chuan selected materials for Yellow Dragon Pills.

• Qi Chuan went to Qi Wuyou’s Cave Dwelling on the Main Peak to tell the Patriarch he was safe.
• Qi Wuyou recognized Qi Chuan after he removed his concealment talismans, and Qi Chuan explained that the Wind Moon Sect’s Master Sect Leader had arranged his faked death.
• Qi Chuan showed Qi Wuyou his Qi Family and Wind Moon Sect Elder Tokens, convincing him that he was alive and restoring his confidence in the Qi Family’s future.
• Qi Wuyou and Qi Chuan discussed affairs of the Qi Family and Wind Moon Sect, then Qi Wuyou offered Qi Chuan a choice of resources from the family treasury.
• Qi Chuan entered the treasury with Qi Wuyou and selected Spirit Herb Materials needed to refine Yellow Dragon Pills.

Qi Chuan took rare Yellow Dragon Pill materials and Starfall Profound Cold Iron from the Qi Family Treasury, then repaid Qi Wuyou with Spirit Nurturing Pills and a large stock of talismans. In Qi Wuyou’s guarded Cave Dwelling, Qi Chuan began using the Spirit Devouring Sword Forging Art to draw Metal Essence Qi from the iron for his Azure-Purple Sword.

• Qi Chuan gathered the Yellow Dragon Pill ingredients he needed from the Qi Family Treasury and noticed a fist-sized sphere of Starfall Profound Cold Iron.
• Qi Wuyou explained that the iron was a Tier 2 Top-grade artifact-refining material and offered it to Qi Chuan, who accepted it for his sword.
• Qi Chuan gave Qi Wuyou two bottles of Spirit Nurturing Pills and many Tier 1 Five Elements Talismans for the Qi Family.
• Qi Chuan asked to use Qi Wuyou’s Cave Dwelling, and Qi Wuyou led him there, activated its protective formation, and stood guard outside.
• Qi Chuan circulated the Spirit Devouring Sword Forging Art and began extracting Metal Essence Qi from the Starfall Profound Cold Iron.

Qi Chuan refined the Starfall Profound Cold Iron into his flying sword, advancing it to Tier 2 High-grade and naming it the Meteor Cold Sword. After leaving Red Maple Valley, he returned to White Stone Town to visit the uncle and aunt who had raised him, and arrived at their remodeled home.

• Qi Chuan used the Spirit Devouring Sword Forging Art to refine the Starfall Profound Cold Iron into his Azure-Purple Sword, raising it to Tier 2 High-grade.
• Qi Chuan named the transformed sword the Meteor Cold Sword and stored it in his dantian.
• Qi Chuan thanked Qi Wuyou for lending him the Cave Dwelling, then left Red Maple Valley as Qi Wuyou watched him go.
• Qi Chuan flew to White Stone Town, concealed his identity, and reflected on his childhood and his uncle and aunt's likely worries after news of his faked death.
• Qi Chuan wandered through the expanded town and reached his uncle and aunt's remodeled home.

Qi Chuan returned to his uncle Qi Yue’s home in disguise and offered him Spirit Stones as the basis for a business deal. He revealed his true appearance, leaving Qi Yue stunned to recognize him as A Chuan.

• Qi Chuan used an Illusion Body Talisman to disguise himself before entering his uncle and aunt’s home.
• Qi Yumeng went inside to tell her parents that a merchant had arrived to discuss business.
• Qi Yue met the disguised Qi Chuan, who showed him a Spirit Stone and then piled many more onto the table.
• Qi Yue tried to refuse the deal, saying his family lacked the means to handle so many Spirit Stones.
• Qi Chuan removed the talisman and called Qi Yue uncle, and Qi Yue recognized him as A Chuan.

Qi Chuan reunited with Qi Yue and his wife, revealed that he was alive, and suggested their daughter Qi Yumeng might have a spiritual root. After leaving White Stone Town, he spotted a suspicious Early Foundation Establishment cultivator near Red Maple Valley.

• Qi Chuan proved to Qi Yue that he was his nephew and explained that the news of his death had been false.
• Qi Yue’s wife mistook Qi Chuan for a soul until he took her hand and showed her that he was alive; she then embraced him tearfully.
• Qi Chuan gave Qi Yue Spirit Stones and said Qi Yumeng might possess a spiritual root and could enter the Qi Family Main Vein if confirmed.
• Qi Chuan took his leave from Uncle and Aunt, then left White Stone Town and flew beyond Red Maple Valley.
• Qi Chuan spotted a concealed cultivator secretly descending onto a wooded hill and sensed that the stranger was at the Early Foundation Establishment Realm.

Qi Chuan disguised himself as a Qi Refining cultivator and confronted Qin Bei, a Heavenly Soul Hall Elder and North Magnetic Mountain Hidden Agent spying outside Red Maple Valley. After Qi Chuan severed four of Qin Bei’s fingers and destroyed his spirit artifact, Qin Bei fled.

• Qi Chuan detected Qin Bei hiding near Red Maple Valley and approached him while disguised as a Qi Family cultivator.
• Qin Bei trapped Qi Chuan and tried to force him to reveal recent events in the Qi Family, threatening to use a soul-searching technique.
• Qi Chuan revealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation and severed four of Qin Bei’s fingers with his Sword Qi Membrane.
• Qin Bei attacked Qi Chuan with a black Low-grade Spirit Artifact, but Qi Chuan’s Spirit Devouring Sword Qi shattered it.
• Qin Bei fled, deciding not to risk his life for the Heavenly Soul Hall’s mission.

Qi Chuan killed Qin Bei outside Red Maple Valley with the Meteor Cold Sword and returned toward Wind Moon Sect. Qi Wuyou discovered signs of the battle, while Heavenly Soul Hall learned Qin Bei had fallen.

• Qin Bei fled from Qi Chuan and summoned the Four Profound Crimson Jade Tablets to shield himself.
• Qi Chuan struck Qin Bei with the Meteor Cold Sword's Sword Qi Thunder Sound, shattered his defensive spirit artifacts, and killed him.
• Qi Chuan collected Qin Bei's Cosmic Bag and flew toward Wind Moon Sect.
• Qi Wuyou found blood-red ice crystals at the battlefield and decided to report the Foundation Establishment fight to Wind Moon Sect.
• Golden Silkworm's Soul Token for Qin Bei shattered, and Tian Hunzi and the Heavenly Soul Hall elders learned that Qin Bei had died.

After Qin Bei’s death, Heavenly Soul Hall blamed Wind Moon Sect and planned to avenge him, while Golden Silkworm focused on taking the sect’s resources after True Sword Master Xuanjian died. On North Magnetic Mountain, the Mountain Lord learned that Qin Bei, a hidden agent, had fallen and ordered an investigation.

• Tian Hunzi and Heavenly Soul Hall’s elders debated who had killed Qin Bei, then settled on blaming Wind Moon Sect after Golden Silkworm ruled out Qi Wuyou as the culprit.
• Tian Hunzi said Heavenly Soul Hall would attack Wind Moon Sect once True Sword Master Xuanjian died and would avenge Qin Bei by finding the killer.
• Golden Silkworm privately considered Qin Bei’s death unimportant and looked forward to claiming Wind Moon Sect’s resources and Qi Chuan’s opportunity after Xuanjian’s death.
• The Mountain Lord of North Magnetic Mountain discovered that Qin Bei’s Soul Token had shattered and suspected Golden Silkworm might have uncovered Qin Bei’s identity as a hidden agent.
• The Mountain Lord ordered a female disciple to tell North Magnetic Mountain’s Sect Leader to investigate Heavenly Soul Hall’s Sect Domain.

Qi Chuan sorted the treasures taken from Qin Bei’s Cosmic Bag and brought a mysterious pale-purple jade plaque and other items to his Master Sect Leader, Situ Jiang. Situ Jiang was stunned to learn that Qi Chuan had killed another Heavenly Soul Hall Foundation Establishment Elder.

• Qi Chuan broke Qin Bei’s lingering Spiritual Soul Power and sorted the Cosmic Bag’s treasures, finding ten Top-grade Spirit Stones, useful metal materials, and a more complete Blood Refining Art.
• Qi Chuan set aside the Heavenly Soul Hall Elder Token, the Blood Refining Art, and a mysterious pale-purple jade plaque, then went to see Situ Jiang.
• Qi Chuan told Situ Jiang that he had encountered and killed Qin Bei outside Red Maple Valley.
• Situ Jiang recognized the Heavenly Soul Hall Elder Token and was speechless that Qi Chuan had killed another Foundation Establishment Elder so soon after killing Lin Sha.

Qi Chuan showed Situ Jiang the spoils from killing Qin Bei, and the two identified a strange token as evidence that Qin Bei had been a North Magnetic Mountain hidden agent. After Situ Jiang assured Qi Chuan that the incident should cause no trouble, Qi Chuan asked about Core Formation, prompting his master to question how far along his cultivation had progressed.

• Situ Jiang recognized the scroll Qi Chuan had obtained as a Foundation Establishment-level Blood Refining Art and recorded Qi Chuan's merit for turning it over.
• Situ Jiang burned the pale violet token and concluded that it came from North Magnetic Mountain, making the slain Heavenly Soul Hall Elder Qin Bei a hidden agent.
• Qi Chuan worried that killing Qin Bei might create trouble, but Situ Jiang explained the matter should be manageable and told him to deny finding anything unusual.
• Qi Chuan considered how his pills and Hundredfold Critical Hit could help him advance through Foundation Establishment, then asked Situ Jiang about the Core Formation bottleneck.
• Situ Jiang was surprised by Qi Chuan's ambition and asked how many drops of Liquid Mana he had accumulated.

Qi Chuan asked Situ Jiang to explain Core Formation and learned about the resistance, Heart Demons, preparations, and inspiration involved. He left the conversation confident that his Hundredfold Critical Hit could perfect his Inspiration Opportunity and greatly improve his chances of forming a core.

• Qi Chuan told Situ Jiang that he had increased his Liquid Mana from thirteen drops to fourteen since entering Foundation Establishment.
• Situ Jiang explained that Core Formation required compressing Liquid Mana into a solid pill, but the resistance was immense and worsened after each failed attempt.
• Situ Jiang described ways to improve the odds, including increasing Liquid Mana reserves, strengthening Spiritual Soul Power and will, and preparing for Heart Demons.
• Situ Jiang explained that luck and Inspiration Opportunities could help overcome resistance, and recalled how a lost inspiration and Heart Demon had caused his own Core Formation failure.
• Qi Chuan realized that his Hundredfold Critical Hit could accumulate and perfect Inspiration Opportunities, giving him confidence in his chances of Core Formation.
• Qi Chuan thanked Situ Jiang for the explanation, and Situ Jiang was astonished that his disciple already felt confident.

Qi Chuan planned for future core formation and spent a year strengthening his cultivation and spiritual soul while hiding in the Wind Moon Sect. The Heavenly Soul Hall reduced its searches and tensions with the sect eased, while Qi Chuan’s spiritual soul reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage strength.

• Situ Jiang gave Qi Chuan twenty Tier 2 Top-grade talismans, then prepared himself for False Core and the Wind Moon Sect’s future crisis.
• Qi Chuan assessed what he would need to form a core and decided to leave his cave occasionally to temper his state of mind, while prioritizing spiritual soul cultivation.
• Qi Chuan spent a year cultivating with Yellow Dragon Pills and meditating with the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Prison Meditation Method, steadily improving his mana and spiritual soul.
• The Heavenly Soul Hall reduced its searches for Qi Chuan and lay low as tensions with the Wind Moon Sect eased, though both sides continued to watch for signs of True Sword Master Xuanjian’s fate.
• Qi Chuan completed another meditation session and judged that his spiritual soul had reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage strength.

Qi Chuan sought to create an offensive Spiritual Soul Secret Technique by drawing on the agony of the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Prison Meditation Method. After three days and nights of repeated meditation and refinement, he succeeded and named the technique the Nine Layers Painful Soul Technique.

• Qi Chuan realized that his spiritual soul strength had surpassed his mana cultivation but that he needed an offensive secret technique to improve his combat ability.
• Qi Chuan entered the meditation state repeatedly, enduring Illusory Heavenly Dao Thunder while trying to shape the spiritual soul agony into a technique.
• Qi Chuan used the Golden Finger’s feedback and inspiration to refine his technique framework, continuing his efforts for three days and nights.
• Qi Chuan received a hundredfold harvest and successfully created a Spiritual Soul Secret Technique that inflicted intense spiritual soul pain while also making him relive the agony.
• Qi Chuan named his new technique the Nine Layers Painful Soul Technique and realized it could grow stronger as he continued cultivating.

Qi Chuan strengthened his soul and increased his Liquid Mana foundation to twenty-six drops, then refined another batch of Yellow Dragon Pills and arranged a sect-wide search for scarce ingredients. After a year in seclusion, he left his cave to temper his state of mind and went in disguise to inspect the mission notice seeking those herbs.

• Qi Chuan reviewed his newly created Nine Layers Painful Soul Technique and recognized how it strengthened his combat ability alongside his swordsmanship.
• Qi Chuan saw that his dantian held twenty-six drops of Liquid Mana, nearly double his foundation from a year earlier, and estimated he would need more time to reach the fifty drops he wanted before attempting a breakthrough.
• Qi Chuan refined six Yellow Dragon Pills, three of them successful, and gained improved alchemy proficiency and heat-control techniques through a Fiftyfold Critical Hit.
• Qi Chuan asked Sect Leader Situ Jiang to issue long-term, high-price missions for Dust Settling Grass and Withered Flourish Flower, including rewards for information about the ingredients.
• Qi Chuan left his cave to ease the strain of seclusion and, wearing an Illusion Body Talisman and a Breath Concealing Talisman, visited the inner sect Mission Hall to view the newly posted mission.