Chapter Summaries

Xu Wangliang and Wu Changli tracked the sword’s scent through empty courtyards, but Chen Fei hid the weapon in his space grid and evaded discovery. As Chen Fei and Chi Defeng learned that Pingyin County had fallen, the Immortal Cloud Merchant Team arrived in Xingfen City and offered passage for a thousand taels per person.

• Xu Wangliang and Wu Changli followed a Gu worm to several abandoned courtyards, where the trail ended and the sword seemed to vanish.
• Chen Fei kept his sword and bow in his space grid, practiced with a tree branch, and reflected on his fight with He Yuanqiu.
• Chi Defeng told Chen Fei that Pingyin County had fallen after hearing the news from someone who escaped to Xingfen City.
• Chen Fei and Chi Defeng drank together as Chi Defeng recounted his ordinary story of wanting to experience the jianghu.
• Five days later, the Immortal Cloud Merchant Team arrived in Xingfen City and offered passage for one thousand taels per person.

Chen Fei and Chi Defeng paid to travel with the Immortal Cloud Merchant Team and prepared for the journey, while Xu Wangliang bribed Manager Dong to delay the team so he could search for his son's killer. Dong Yi accepted the money, setting up a search among the passengers three days later.

• Chen Fei and Chi Defeng bought tokens to travel with the Immortal Cloud Merchant Team and saw Xu Liu try to steal one before Chen Fei threw him to the ground.
• Chen Fei and Chi Defeng bought food and supplies for the journey and shook off people following them before returning to their courtyard.
• Xu Wangliang offered Dong Yi ten thousand taels to delay the merchant team and help him search for the thief who killed his son.
• Dong Yi initially refused, but Xu Wangliang added money for the team and compensation for passengers, bringing the offer to thirty-five thousand taels.
• Dong Yi accepted the money, and Xu Wangliang thanked him for agreeing to help.

Chen Fei and Chi Defeng joined the Immortal Cloud Merchant Team after evading the Xu Family’s search, and Chen Fei continued cultivating and studying herbs. The Blood Tasting Worm failed to identify Chen Fei among the travelers, and the team set out for Xianyun City.

• Dong Yi arranged compensation for the token buyers and allowed Xu Wangliang to search the merchant team for his son’s murderer.
• Chen Fei reached Great Perfection in the Shocking Swallowing Art, raising his daily limit to seven Floating Pills, and studied herbs to deduce the Flying Tomb Pill formula.
• Dong Yi arrived with Xu Wangliang and Wu Changli to search the travelers, while several token buyers encouraged the inspection.
• Wu Changli used the Blood Tasting Worm to check every rogue cultivator, but it showed no reaction to Chen Fei or Chi Defeng.
• The Immortal Cloud Merchant Team departed, and an old man warned the travelers that entering the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect would not be easy.

Chen Fei traveled toward Xianyun City and learned about the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s demanding requirements for new disciples. On the seventh evening, a bride in a Phoenix Crown and Brocade Robe emerged from an isolated hut, and a passenger began gouging out his own eyes.

• An old man told Chen Fei and the other passengers that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect required most applicants to be under fifteen or reach the Marrow Refinement Realm before twenty, though exceptional physique or comprehension could qualify them for a test.
• Chen Fei realized that at twenty-three, with a poor physique, his only potential advantage for entering the sect was his extraordinary comprehension.
• The old man explained that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect held disciple tests monthly and that other sects in Xianyun City also recruited students.
• The Immortal Cloud Merchant Team traveled without incident for seven days while Chen Fei read medical texts.
• A passenger spotted a lone thatched hut in a mountain hollow, and the old man urgently told everyone to get inside.
• A figure in a Phoenix Crown and Brocade Robe stepped from the hut, and one passenger became entranced and viciously gouged at his own eyes.

Chen Fei and Chi Defeng traveled with the Immortal Cloud Merchant Team to Xianyun City, surviving an uncanny encounter along the way. After seeing the great city’s prosperity and formidable guards, they searched for a courtyard and discovered that renting one would be costly.

• An uncanny thatched hut affected the merchant team, but an old man’s warning and the team’s protections prevented the passengers from gouging out their eyes.
• The Immortal Cloud Merchant Team detoured around the mountain hollow and hurried onward, reaching a small city near Xianyun City before traveling on to the main city.
• Chen Fei explored the small city and noted its abundance of martial artists, lower prices for pills and weapons, and the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s demanding entry requirement.
• Chen Fei and Chi Defeng discussed continuing to sell pills, then arrived in Xianyun City and were impressed by its towering walls and powerful guards.
• A broker showed Chen Fei and Chi Defeng a courtyard, but its annual rent of two thousand taels was far beyond what Chen Fei had expected.

Chen Fei and Chi Defeng settled in Xianyun City, where Chen Fei learned that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had made disciple recruitment far more difficult. After testing the market for Light Spirit Pills, Chen Fei went to the sect’s mountain gate to try his chances among a huge crowd of hopeful applicants.

• Chen Fei rented a courtyard with Chi Defeng and learned that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect now required martial artists to reach Bone Forging by fifteen and Marrow Refinement by eighteen.
• Chen Fei and Chi Defeng gathered information around Xianyun City, and Chi Defeng found a source for medicinal herbs while Chen Fei studied pill prices and formulas.
• Chi Defeng brought Chen Fei ingredients for Light Spirit Pills, which Chen Fei planned to refine to improve his Floating Pill proficiency.
• Chen Fei gave Chi Defeng one hundred Light Spirit Pills, and a buyer tested and purchased them all for eight taels each.
• Chen Fei practiced before setting out early for the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s mountain gate, where a huge crowd had gathered for recruitment.

Chen Fei failed to qualify for testing at the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect and searched for another sect to join. He became a provisional Outer Sect Disciple of the Yuan Chen Sword Sect, where he had half a year to master its Thunderous Sword and pass a test.

• Fan Shiyu announced that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect would test only applicants who met strict age and cultivation requirements, and dismissed those who did not qualify.
• Chen Fei accepted that he had no chance at the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect and paid a broker for information about nearby sects.
• Chen Fei ruled out Sinking Water Pavilion and Long Rainbow Sect, and learned that Big Dipper Tower's virgin cultivation art forbade marriage.
• Chen Fei chose to try the Yuan Chen Sword Sect and heard that its Thunderous Sword had been created to rival the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect's Thunderous Sword Force.
• Chen Fei paid one hundred taels for a waist token and martial arts manual, becoming an Outer Sect Disciple who had to master the sword technique and pass a test within half a year.

After the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect rejected him, Chen Fei joined the Yuan Chen Sword Sect and quickly mastered its introductory Primordial Sword. He went to take the inner sect promotion test, where Yang Chuanzhen invited him to attack with all his strength.

• Chen Fei told Chi Defeng that he had joined the Yuan Chen Sword Sect after failing to enter the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, then read the Primordial Sword manual.
• Chen Fei simplified the Primordial Sword to swinging a sword and practiced until he had advanced it to Proficient.
• Over seven days, Chen Fei balanced pill refining and cultivation with practicing the Primordial Sword while keeping his pill sales cautious.
• After reaching Great Perfection in the Primordial Sword, Chen Fei went to the Yuan Chen Sword Sect to take the promotion test.
• Yang Chuanzhen warned Chen Fei about the consequences of failing, then faced him on the testing stage and told him to attack with all his might.

Chen Fei passed the Yuan Chen Sword Sect’s advancement test by matching Yang Chuanzhen’s Primordial Sword and impressing his examiners. Assigned to Feng Xiupu as his master, Chen Fei received the Source Connection Technique, while Feng Xiupu privately doubted how far Chen Fei could advance because of his poor innate bones.

• Chen Fei exchanged dozens of Primordial Sword moves with Yang Chuanzhen, who revealed he had raised his strength to the Marrow Refinement Realm and declared Chen Fei the winner.
• The Steward Disciple registered Chen Fei as an Inner Sect Disciple and explained that the sect’s Four Peaks, Three Veins inheritances were largely lost and reserved for True Disciples.
• The Steward Disciple brought Chen Fei to Feng Xiupu, who tested his Primordial Sword and accepted him despite complaining about his many existing disciples.
• Feng Xiupu gave Chen Fei the Source Connection Technique and told him to return at dawn to meet his senior brothers.
• After Chen Fei left, Feng Xiupu reflected that Chen Fei’s innate bones were poor, while Chen Fei returned to his residence and eagerly examined his new manual.

Chen Fei studied the Yuan Chen Sword Sect’s Source Connection Technique, fused it with the Shocking Swallowing Art, and began cultivating its first level. After Feng Xiupu taught his disciples the basics, he assigned Guo Linshan to help Chen Fei with his questions.

• Chen Fei learned that the Source Connection Technique had five levels and could produce the Great Strength and Iron Bones traits, then circulated its first level.
• Chen Fei fused the Shocking Swallowing Art into the Source Connection Technique and simplified the first level so that practicing the Shocking Swallowing Art advanced it.
• Chen Fei returned to Xianyun City and asked Chi Defeng to collect his medicinal pills at the Yuan Chen Sword Sect for added security.
• Chen Fei met Luo Jun outside Feng Xiupu’s courtyard, where Luo Jun welcomed him as a junior brother.
• Feng Xiupu taught the disciples the basics of the Source Connection Technique and asked Guo Linshan to guide Chen Fei in his cultivation.

Chen Fei investigated Luo Jun’s claim that Guo Linshan expected a gift, then visited Guo and found him sincere and helpful. After learning the sect had assigned their branch a mission, Chen Fei went to confront Luo Jun that night, and Luo was beaten by an unseen attacker.

• Luo Jun warned Chen Fei to bring Guo Linshan a gift, claiming Guo would otherwise reject him and fellow disciples would exclude him.
• Chi Defeng reported that more pill stalls had opened nearby, while Chen Fei’s pills continued to sell out.
• Chen Fei visited Guo Linshan, who answered his cultivation questions without accepting a gift and told him their branch had a sect mission in a few days.
• Chen Fei suspected Luo Jun had tried to trick him and decided to confront him that night.
• An unidentified attacker ambushed Luo Jun at his residence, beat him under a sack, and left him bruised and crying.

Chen Fei learned from Guo Linshan that the Alchemist Alliance could protect alchemists who sold pills in Xianyun City, then went to seek membership. He entered the Alliance headquarters for an assessment while Chi Defeng waited outside.

• Chen Fei asked Guo Linshan about a coming mission and learned that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had asked several sects to gather medicinal herbs.
• Chen Fei told Guo Linshan that he refined Light Spirit Pills and asked how to avoid trouble when selling them in Xianyun City.
• Guo Linshan explained that joining the Alchemist Alliance offered protection and required passing an assessment to prove one's pill-refining skill.
• Chen Fei and Chi Defeng found the Alliance headquarters, where a guard barred Chi Defeng because he was not an alchemist.
• Chen Fei followed the guard inside for his assessment as Chi Defeng waited at a teahouse across the street.

Chen Fei passed the Alchemist Alliance’s entrance examination by refining outstanding Light Spirit Pills in just over fifteen minutes and received an alliance token. He then applied for the Eighth-grade Alchemist examination, and Qin Jinglan led him to a Pill Chamber where an elderly alchemist awaited.

• Qin Jinglan explained the entrance requirements, and Chen Fei paid the fee and began the Light Spirit Pill examination.
• Chen Fei refined a batch of high-quality Light Spirit Pills in less than a quarter of an hour, surprising Qin Jinglan.
• The alliance verified Chen Fei’s pills and recorded imprint, then issued him an identification token as a Subordinate Ninth Rank Alchemist.
• Chen Fei asked about pill formulas and learned that alliance members could obtain them with Contribution Value; Qin Jinglan explained that refining Floating Pills could qualify him for Eighth-grade status.
• Chen Fei applied for the Eighth-grade Alchemist examination, and Qin Jinglan led him to a Pill Chamber where an elderly alchemist was waiting.

Chen Fei passed the Eighth-grade Alchemist assessment after refining Floating Pills of exceptional quality, then declined an offer to join a great clan to obtain the Flying Tomb Pill formula. He left the Alchemist Alliance with a new badge and planned to use its medicine bottles to sell pills safely on North Street.

• Chen Fei refined a batch of excellent Floating Pills, impressing Duan Zhilie and Qin Jinglan.
• Chen Fei said he lacked the Flying Tomb Pill formula, and Duan Zhilie explained that Alliance formulas could not be traded privately.
• Duan Zhilie offered to introduce Chen Fei to great clans, but Chen Fei declined because he preferred to remain independent.
• Chen Fei passed the Eighth-grade Alchemist assessment and received a new Alliance jade badge.
• Chen Fei asked Qin Jinglan about displaying the Alliance emblem on his medicine bottles, then left the Alliance to meet Chi Defeng.
• Chen Fei told Chi Defeng to use his badge to buy Alliance medicine bottles so they could sell pills without further trouble.

Chen Fei perfected the first stage of the Source Connection Technique within days, astonishing Guo Linshan and Feng Xiupu. Feng Xiupu taught him the second stage, and Chen Fei predicted he could perfect it within ten days.

• Chen Fei finished refining the first stage of the Source Connection Technique and found that it improved his cultivation effect by about ten percent.
• Chen Fei asked Guo Linshan when Feng Xiupu would teach him additional techniques, and Guo Linshan said mastering the first stage would count as excellent progress.
• Chen Fei demonstrated his perfected technique, stunning Guo Linshan, who brought him to Feng Xiupu.
• Feng Xiupu confirmed Chen Fei's progress and taught him the second stage of the Source Connection Technique.
• Chen Fei estimated that he could perfect the second stage within ten days, shocking Guo Linshan and Feng Xiupu.

Chen Fei learned Starry Night Sword and Soul Chasing Steps from Feng Xiupu, who used the difficult techniques to test his comprehension. Guo Linshan told Chen Fei that their mission would begin in five days, leaving him to prepare for several days in the mountains.

• Chen Fei asked Feng Xiupu to teach him sword and movement techniques, and Feng Xiupu chose Starry Night Sword and Soul Chasing Steps for their defensive and long-distance escape strengths.
• Feng Xiupu explained Starry Night Sword, and Chen Fei learned it to Beginner level during the lesson.
• Feng Xiupu taught Chen Fei Soul Chasing Steps, which Chen Fei also learned to Beginner level.
• Feng Xiupu privately considered Chen Fei's talent and wondered whether his progress came from technique compatibility or exceptional comprehension.
• Guo Linshan told Chen Fei that their mission would begin in five days, and Chen Fei returned to his residence to check his panel.

Chen Fei cultivated his newly acquired techniques before joining Guo Linshan’s herb-gathering mission in the mountains. After the convoy was ambushed and Guo Linshan went to help, Kuang Dingbo of the Long Rainbow Sect arrived at the outpost and challenged the Yuan Chen Sword Sect.

• Chen Fei simplified the Source Connection Technique, Starry Night Sword, and Soul Chasing Steps, then spent five days cultivating them.
• Chen Fei entered the mountains with Guo Linshan and the other disciples to supervise herb gatherers on the sect’s compulsory mission.
• Luo Jun spoke with Chen Fei, unaware that Chen Fei had been the one who previously beat him up.
• Shi Dahe returned bloodied and reported that the herb convoy had been ambushed, so Guo Linshan and several disciples rushed to rescue it.
• Kuang Dingbo of the Long Rainbow Sect threw an injured herb gatherer at the outpost and accused him of trespassing in his sect’s mission area.

The Long Rainbow Sect's Kuang Dingbo provoked the Yuan Chen Sword Sect and tried to claim medicinal herbs through a fight, but Guo Linshan returned and fought him to a standstill. Guo Linshan then revealed that two junior brothers had died, with the Divine Flame Sect suspected of killing them.

• Kuang Dingbo accused a Yuan Chen Sword Sect herb gatherer of stealing herbs, kicked him, and demanded a contest with medicinal herbs as the stake.
• Chen Fei caught the injured herb gatherer and treated him while Wen Ziqian confronted Kuang Dingbo.
• Guo Linshan arrived and fought Kuang Dingbo, forcing him back before the two reached a standstill.
• Kuang Dingbo withdrew, and Guo Linshan told the disciples that two junior brothers had died.
• Guo Linshan said the traces suggested the Divine Flame Sect had killed them.

After a caravan was attacked and two disciples were killed, Guo Linshan reported the incident to Qian Lindu, who decided to escort future herb shipments himself. That night, Chen Fei perfected the Soul Chasing Steps and Starry Night Sword, leaving the camp with his skills greatly improved.

• Chen Fei asked Guo Linshan whether the Long Rainbow Sect might have been behind the caravan attack, and Guo Linshan said he was unsure.
• Guo Linshan told Chen Fei that he had completed the fifth level of the Source Connection Technique and hoped to pursue a True Disciple inheritance after breaking through to the Organ Refinement Realm.
• Qian Lindu arrived, heard Guo Linshan's account of the attack and Kuang Dingbo's interference, and ordered the disciples to continue gathering herbs while he escorted later shipments.
• After nightfall, Chen Fei practiced in the woods as Guo Linshan watched and reflected on his diligence and prospects.
• Chen Fei perfected the Soul Chasing Steps and Starry Night Sword, demonstrating his increased speed and sword technique among the treetops.

Chen Fei and Guo Linshan tracked a weak eerie entity away from camp and heard voices in an area where no sect was stationed, raising suspicions of the Divine Flame Sect. After Chen Fei hurried back to summon Qian Lindu, his bone-attached sore reacted to another eerie entity charging toward him.

• Qian Lindu escorted a herb convoy to Xianyun City, and it arrived safely without being attacked.
• Three days passed without further attacks on the herb gatherers or their convoys.
• Chen Fei noticed his bone-attached sore reacting and told Guo Linshan that it could signal a nearby eerie entity.
• Chen Fei and Guo Linshan followed the weak signal nearly ten li, then heard distant voices where no sect camp was supposed to be.
• Guo Linshan went to investigate the voices while Chen Fei hurried back to fetch Qian Lindu and reinforcements.
• After running a few li, Chen Fei felt his sore grow active again as another eerie entity charged toward him.