Chapter Summaries

Xiao Chen studied Spirit Beasts and Spirit Insects at the Golden Haze Sect, then learned why the sect’s powerful Gray Feather True Monarch rarely returned. After leaving, he traveled toward the Ten Thousand Immortals Archipelago, where he planned to settle accounts with the Jin Family.

• Golden Whip True Monarch let Xiao Chen freely study the Golden Haze Sect’s records, and Xiao Chen learned that Spirit Insects could provide rapid combat power but required careful rearing.
• Xiao Chen considered raising Soul Devouring Fire Roaches and decided to seek information from Western Region Gu Cultivators in the Vast Sea Secret Realm or at the upcoming Exchange Meet.
• Xiao Chen discovered that the Golden Haze Sect’s Gray Feather True Monarch was an ancient spirit bird at Nascent Soul Middle Stage Great Perfection who spent most of his time catching fish in the North Sea.
• Golden Whip True Monarch showed Xiao Chen three disciples’ mutated Spirit Beasts, and Xiao Chen praised them and gave the disciples three Winter Grass Essence Gathering Pills.
• Xiao Chen traveled toward the Ten Thousand Immortals Archipelago, noticed his bounty had risen to 5.2 million Spirit Stones, and continued on his way to confront the Jin Family.

Xiao Chen settled his grievance with the Jin Family, then arrived at the Soul Division Sword Pavilion for a banquet where Qinghe Temple and the Flame Manipulation School sought to meet him. He remained neutral toward Qinghe Temple’s plans and declined to commit to becoming its Honorary Elder, while accepting gifts from his visitors.

• Heng Yi True Monarch learned Xiao Chen had come to settle an old grievance, pointed him toward the Jin Family, and Xiao Chen emptied the family’s storehouses of 2.33 million Spirit Stones.
• Lie Que True Monarch prepared a fire-rich residence for Xiao Chen at the Soul Division Sword Pavilion and left to oversee preparations for the Spirit Fish Banquet.
• Luo Qihui of Qinghe Temple asked Xiao Chen about the future of the Lightless Sea and Cloud Pool Sea and offered him an Honorary Elder position; Xiao Chen said he was neutral and would consider the offer.
• After Luo Qihui left a Ten Thousand Year Red Ginseng, Lie Que True Monarch revealed that Xiang Yiyang of the Flame Manipulation School had also come with a Blazing Rock Lotus Crystal.
• Xiao Chen accepted both spiritual items and joined Lie Que True Monarch at the banquet, where Xiang Yiyang greeted him and recalled his feat at Heaven Star Island.

Xiao Chen met with Xiang Yiyang and Lie Que True Monarch, who discussed the Flame Manipulation School’s interest in taking control of the Lightless Sea and invited Xiao Chen to join an expedition for Fourth-Order Fire Spirits in the Vast Sea Secret Realm’s Inner Realm. Xiao Chen declined both proposals and listened as Lie Que True Monarch described the Inner Realm’s dangers, landmarks, and rumors of a Fifth-Tier Spirit Item.

• Xiang Yiyang praised Xiao Chen for destroying the Yin Corpse Demonic Sect and argued that an orthodox sect should restore order in the Lightless Sea.
• Xiang Yiyang revealed that the Flame Manipulation School hoped to reignite its Sacred Flame and take control of the Lightless Sea, while Lie Que True Monarch supported the idea and Xiao Chen remained neutral.
• Xiang Yiyang invited Xiao Chen and Lie Que True Monarch to follow the Flame Manipulation School’s route to a treasure ground of Fourth-Order Fire Spirits, but Xiao Chen declined and promised to keep the information secret.
• Lie Que True Monarch declined the Fire Spirit expedition and recounted his previous trip to the Inner Realm, including his journey to Broken Sword Mountain and the dangers of the Core Area.
• Lie Que True Monarch described rumors that a True Lord had found a vanished Fifth-Tier Spirit Item in the Inner Realm’s deep layers and exchanged it for a Rank-Breaking Spiritual Medicine.

Xiao Chen learned rumors about the Vast Sea Secret Realm, sampled Dragon Blood Red Cod King, and asked Withered Leaf True Monarch to keep searching for Azure Wave Rogue. After reviewing his remaining goals, he began cultivating at the Black Iron Cave Residence.

• Lie Que True Monarch told Xiao Chen and Xiang Yiyang that Spirit Transformation Venerables might exchange for Fifth-Tier Spirit Items and warned them about aggressive Western Region cultivators.
• Lie Que True Monarch served Dragon Blood Red Cod King, and Xiao Chen found that its body-tempering effect was slight for him while Xiang Yiyang struggled to suppress its surge of vitality.
• Xiao Chen visited Withered Leaf True Monarch, learned that Azure Wave Rogue had not been found, and asked him to expand the search for the next two or three years.
• Xiao Chen returned to the Black Iron Cave Residence and planned to trade with the Rebellious Immortal Alliance, attend the Exchange Meet, explore the Vast Sea Secret Realm, and pursue his other goals.
• Xiao Chen used the Spirit Devouring Yuan Great Method to begin condensing True Essence.

White Beard gathered three fellow Robber Cultivators to ambush Universal Salvation Temple envoys carrying World Breaking Stones, and they killed the envoys and took their cargo. After the Temple learned of the robbery, Kong Xing Ming Wang grew suspicious about Xiao Chen and ordered a Zen Master to bring him back in person with the Demon Suppressing Purple Gold Bowl.

• White Beard told Qingyi Swift Sword, White-Faced Scholar, and Black Heart Boatman that a client would pay generously for World Breaking Stones and Top-grade Three-Pattern True Essence Convergence Pills, persuading them to rob Universal Salvation Temple envoys.
• White Beard assigned positions and led the group to ambush the route between Dragon Slaying Sea and Wind Stop Sea.
• Two Golden Body Arhats traveled through Cloud Pool Sea, the Golden Haze Sect, and the Soul Division Sword Pavilion while pursuing Xiao Chen, then were attacked and killed by the four Robber Cultivators, who stole their invitation and World Breaking Stone.
• Lie Que True Monarch arrived after the Robber Cultivators had escaped, and the Universal Salvation Temple learned that its envoys had been robbed and killed.
• Kong Xing Ming Wang suspected the incident might be connected to Xiao Chen and sent a Zen Master to retrieve him, giving the Zen Master the Demon Suppressing Purple Gold Bowl for protection.

Xiao Chen returned to Gui Yun Market after two months of cultivation and learned that the Great Purge had devastated the market and brought severe losses across Ze Realm Blessed Land. After hearing Zhang Cunfu’s account of the crackdown and a powerful battle, Xiao Chen became interested in seeing the site of the Venerable’s strike.

• Xiao Chen completed two months of closed-door cultivation, condensed 1,514 strands of True Essence, and left to settle his transaction and check on his acquaintances.
• Xiao Chen reached Gui Yun Market and found sparse travelers, rising prices, shuttered shops, and Wanted Notices targeting cultivators linked to spirit herb businesses.
• Xiao Chen overheard cultivators say that Holy City had used the Great Purge to eliminate rival spirit herb shops and leave Shang Jia Workshop with a monopoly.
• Xiao Chen met Zhang Cunfu, who explained that his Market Inspector position had protected him during the purge, though he had suffered an injury while pursuing a Rebellious Cultivator.
• Zhang Cunfu told Xiao Chen that the purge had led to mass arrests and executions, and that a Venerable had killed a fleeing Nascent Soul True Lord with a strike from a thousand li away.
• Xiao Chen heard that the Venerable’s attack had left a vast pit where Die Cui Mountain once stood and wanted to visit the site.

Xiao Chen examined the crater left by a Spirit Transformation Venerable and reconsidered how cautiously he should avoid such powerful cultivators. In Pingyi City, he learned of the Cai Family’s losses during the Great Purge and received a troubling letter about the delayed Complete Fusion Spirit Tool.

• Xiao Chen collected the proceeds from Zhang Cunfu, gave him more goods to sell, and instructed him to continue the agreed trade with Shopkeeper Bai carefully.
• Xiao Chen visited Die Cui Mountain and studied the Giant Fist Pit, concluding that a Spirit Transformation Venerable’s attack far surpassed what he could safely withstand without his strongest defenses.
• Xiao Chen decided to avoid places where Spirit Transformation Venerables might appear and traveled to Pingyi City to meet the Cai Family.
• Master Cai told Xiao Chen that the Great Purge had cost the Cai Family most of its assets and several hundred clan members, while many others remained imprisoned.
• Xiao Chen read Shattered Gold True Monarch’s letter saying that the Complete Fusion Spirit Tool had been delayed by major unforeseen developments and that they needed to discuss the matter in person.

Xiao Chen met Shattered Gold True Monarch in hiding and learned that political persecution had forced him out of sight, but his spear-forging work was continuing. After discovering that the spearhead’s unusually active Savage Giant Elephant essence blood could greatly improve the weapon, Xiao Chen chose an expensive upgrade and began arranging the required materials; Shattered Gold True Monarch then shared major Holy City news about a powerful warship and a new breakthrough pill.

• Xiao Chen followed Shattered Gold True Monarch’s disciple to a concealed cave and found Shattered Gold True Monarch hiding from a fabricated arrest scheme tied to the Xia Family.
• Shattered Gold True Monarch explained that the spearhead’s active essence blood could enhance the long spear, but using it required many additional spirit materials.
• Xiao Chen chose the most powerful forging plan, agreed to obtain the materials, and learned that the upgraded spear would take seven or eight months to finish.
• Shattered Gold True Monarch told Xiao Chen that the Yan Family’s Blazing Flame Warship had been completed and sent to the Northern Territory for combat testing amid reports of Rebellious Immortal Alliance activity.
• Shattered Gold True Monarch reported that the He Family had developed a new Three Talents Spirit Strengthening Pill using spiritual ore as its Main Ingredient, surprising Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen learned that the He Family’s new Three Talents Spirit Strengthening Pill could offer cultivators a path toward Spirit Transformation, so he considered traveling to the Holy City and arranged a false Cai Family identity in preparation. He returned to Hundred Herbs City for its Exchange Meet, where an unexpectedly large gathering of Nascent Soul True Lords began and two mysterious guests drew Huo Xinghuai’s attention.

• Xiao Chen decided he might need to visit the Holy City to compete for the new Three Talents Spirit Strengthening Pill and began preparing a false identity with Master Cai.
• Xiao Chen chose the name Cai Youde, and he and Master Cai planted convincing traces of the identity throughout the Cai Family and Pingyi City.
• Xiao Chen traveled to Hundred Herbs City, bought a jar of White Jade Little Azure Dragon, and rogue cultivators rushed to buy the same batch after recognizing him as Demon Burning True Monarch.
• Huo Xinghuai welcomed Xiao Chen to the Exchange Meet and introduced Thousand Peaks True Monarch and Azure Pine Sword Master.
• Luo Qihui arrived with Qinghe Temple’s master Luo Jingxing, followed by other True Lords, and Vice President Gu arrived with two powerful, unidentified companions.
• Vice President Gu privately revealed the two companions’ identities to Huo Xinghuai, who reacted with surprise and seated them prominently.

Huo Xinghuai hosted the first day of the Exchange Meet, where the True Lords offered treasures and negotiated trades. Xiao Chen exchanged Purple Light Divine Water for a Thousand Year Ink Vine and bought brocade as a gift for Su Li, while the Azure Mist Commerce Association’s two accompanying True Lords had yet to present their items.

• Huo Xinghuai explained the Exchange Meet’s three-day format and opened the first day’s sequential exchanges by offering Toad-Skin Miasma, which Withered Leaf True Monarch acquired with two Righteous Qi Fruits and extra Spirit Stones.
• Ink Plum True Monarch offered a Golden Armor Tower inheritance reaching the Spirit Transformation Realm, but no one accepted his demand for a Fourth-Order High-Grade Spirit Item.
• Heng Yi True Monarch displayed a Blazing Sun Stone and sought a means to protect him in the Vast Sea Secret Realm Inner Realm, but no one made an offer.
• Xiao Chen offered Purple Light Divine Water for items that aided spell cultivation or comprehension of the Great Dao, and chose Withered Leaf True Monarch’s Thousand Year Ink Vine after declining Che Guang True Monarch’s offer.
• Xiao Chen bought Vice President Gu’s Thousand Flower Ten Thousand Leaf Brocade for Spirit Stones to make into a dress for Su Li.
• After most participants had presented their items, the hall turned its attention to the two Nascent Soul True Lords accompanying Vice President Gu, who had not yet offered anything.

At the Exchange Meet, an unfamiliar True Lord sold maps and intelligence about Desolate Beast Remnants in the Vast Sea Secret Realm, while another displayed a portable war Spirit Tool with an exceptionally high asking price. The first day’s exchanges ended without Xiao Chen finding anything else he wanted.

• A True Lord explained that Desolate Beast Remnants lived in the Inner Realm and offered maps marking the activity ranges of four kinds.
• Xiao Chen exchanged a Fourth-tier Mid-grade Spiritual Material for a map and declined to buy detailed hunting intelligence.
• The True Lord quoted steep prices for intelligence on the Desolate Beast Remnants, and only a few sects purchased any.
• Another mysterious True Lord displayed the Void Crossing Hunting Boat, a portable Spirit Tool with Fourth-tier defensive and entrapment formations, and accepted only Breakthrough Spirit Items effective for Spirit Transformation.
• Huo Xinghuai and other True Lords recorded the boat with Memory Stones, and the first day’s exchange rounds concluded without further items catching Xiao Chen’s interest.

At the City Lord Manor’s public procurement exchange, Xiao Chen bought numerous materials for comprehending the Great Dao of Wood, while the demand for breakthrough resources revealed that several factions were preparing new Nascent Soul cultivators. Afterward, Xiao Chen began preparing for the Vast Sea Secret Realm and nearly mastered the Golden Light Wind-Fixing Art.

• Huo Xinghuai opened the public procurement segment, where True Lords placed requests for talismans, pills, services, materials, and future ventures.
• Ink Plum True Monarch commissioned newly drawn Wind-Fixing Talismans, and other True Lords placed orders for talismans and battle-ready spirit pills.
• Withered Leaf True Monarch promoted the Jade Leaf Commerce Association, while Lie Que True Monarch offered a future partnership to explore a Sword Dao Ruin.
• Xiao Chen paid high prices for wood-related spiritual materials, including a Droplet Green Red Leaf Lotus, Heart Nourishing Dew, and Dao Comprehension Crystals, prompting other True Lords to sell him more items.
• True Lords sought Infant Transformation Pills and other Nascent Soul breakthrough resources, raising Xiang Yiyang’s concern that Qinghe Temple might soon produce a new Nascent Soul cultivator.
• Xiao Chen returned to his courtyard, studied the Golden Light Wind-Fixing Art, and learned to cast it haltingly by the next morning.

During the Exchange Meet’s free-trading session, Xiao Chen declined invitations to discuss a secret technique and an Outer Sea treasure hunt before trading a Black Abyss Blood Escape Evasion Talisman and ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones for Heng Yi True Monarch’s Blazing Sun Stone. The gathering was interrupted when an envoy from the Great Universal Salvation Temple arrived with Kong Xing Ming Wang’s invitation for Xiao Chen to visit.

• Huo Xinghuai opened the free-trading session, and Cui Yunxian invited Xiao Chen to discuss an Ancient Secret Technique, but he politely declined.
• The Azure Pine Sword Master invited Xiao Chen on a future Outer Sea treasure hunt, but Xiao Chen refused because he had other plans and the Vast Sea Secret Realm was approaching.
• Xiao Chen offered Heng Yi True Monarch a Black Abyss Blood Escape Evasion Talisman and ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones for the Blazing Sun Stone, and Heng Yi True Monarch accepted.
• After the traders returned to the Long Pavilion, a Fourth-Order Zen Master arrived and announced that Kong Xing Ming Wang had sent him to invite Xiao Chen to the Great Universal Salvation Temple.
• The monk told Xiao Chen that the temple would pay for the World Breaking Stones needed for the journey, leaving Xiao Chen surprised and wondering why Kong Xing Ming Wang wanted to see him.

Xiao Chen refused Kong Xing Ming Wang’s invitation to Great Universal Salvation Temple, then learned the Vast Sea Secret Realm Inner Realm would open around late March or early April next year. After returning to the New Cultivation World, he witnessed an injured young man ambush and kill a Late-stage Golden Core cultivator from the Gui Yun Sect.

• Xiao Chen suspected the temple’s invitation was connected to his Killing Intent, tested the Zen Master’s response, and ultimately refused to visit Kong Xing Ming Wang.
• The Zen Master left after warning that he would report Xiao Chen’s refusal, while Cui Yunxian felt relieved that Xiao Chen had also rejected her invitation.
• Huo Xinghuai announced that the Vast Sea Secret Realm Inner Realm would likely open around late March or early April next year, giving Xiao Chen time to obtain and prepare his Complete Fusion Spirit Tool.
• Xiao Chen left Hundred Herbs City, returned to the New Cultivation World, and discovered an injured young man hiding near a group of Gui Yun Sect cultivators pursuing him.
• The young man ambushed two Late-stage Golden Core cultivators, using Blood Flying Swords to kill one of them in a single exchange.

Xiao Chen discovered that Lu Chengfeng’s Blood Feeding Secret Method involved controlling Killing Intent and rescued him from Gui Yun Sect pursuers. After hearing how the sect had destroyed Lu Chengfeng’s family and branded him a Rebellious Cultivator, Xiao Chen had gained a chance to learn more about the method and the Rebellious Immortal Alliance.

• A Gui Yun Sect cultivator fled after Lu Chengfeng used Blood Flying Swords to kill his companion, and Xiao Chen noticed Blood Sha Qi seeping from Lu Chengfeng’s wounds.
• Xiao Chen resolved to obtain Lu Chengfeng’s Blood Feeding Secret Method and waited for the pursuers, planning to rescue him and earn his trust.
• When five Gui Yun Sect disciples approached to capture Lu Chengfeng, Xiao Chen restrained them, healed Lu Chengfeng, and killed the pursuers.
• Xiao Chen introduced himself as a passerby who opposed the Holy City, then took Lu Chengfeng ten thousand li away to a secluded ravine.
• Lu Chengfeng told Xiao Chen that the Gui Yun Sect had arrested and killed members of his Lu Family after a report, leaving him branded a fugitive and driving him to become a Rebellious Cultivator.

Xiao Chen learned how Lu Chengfeng joined the Rebellious Immortal Alliance and survived the deadly Blood Pool Secret Realm to cultivate the Blood Feeding Secret Method. After Lu Chengfeng demonstrated his Blood Flying Swords, Xiao Chen recognized their technique as a form of Malevolent Qi Attack Secret Art and saw a chance to study it.

• Xiao Chen reflected on how the Great Purge had driven many cultivators into the Rebellious Immortal Alliance and asked Lu Chengfeng about his Blood Feeding Secret Method.
• Lu Chengfeng explained that the Alliance had recruited him after Gui Yun Sect framed him, and that its strict compartmentalization limited what members could reveal about one another.
• Lu Chengfeng recounted entering the Blood Pool Secret Realm with 104 others, where he survived repeated bouts of unconsciousness and absorbed six Blood Evil after consuming twelve portions of Essence Blood.
• Lu Chengfeng explained that Alliance members used Blood Sha Qi to support breakthroughs, provide tainted blood to the Golden Feather Blood Eagle, and strengthen Blood Path Spells.
• Xiao Chen gave Lu Chengfeng Essence Returning Pills and waited while he recovered his true essence.
• Lu Chengfeng demonstrated six Blood Flying Swords, and Xiao Chen sensed the Blood Sha Qi within them and identified the technique as the Malevolent Qi Attack Secret Art he wanted to study.

Xiao Chen learned that Gui Yun Sect was mourning Elder Luo, whose death in Holy City had sparked rumors of a failed Spirit Transformation breakthrough or foul play. After delivering materials to Shattered Gold True Monarch, Xiao Chen visited Master Cai and learned that the Cai Family was preparing to seize some Shang Family resources while the family lacked Elder Luo’s protection.

• Xiao Chen parted from Lu Chengfeng and went to Gui Yun Market, where he discovered the widespread mourning was for Gui Yun Sect Elder Luo, who had died in Holy City.
• Zhang Cunfu told Xiao Chen that Elder Luo’s death had been announced four days earlier and described rumors that he had failed a Spirit Transformation breakthrough or been secretly harmed.
• Zhang Cunfu gave Xiao Chen the Rebellious Immortal Alliance’s order lists, and Xiao Chen rejected requests for rare, dangerous items such as the Li Huo Divine Light Curse.
• Xiao Chen delivered the auxiliary materials to Shattered Gold True Monarch, who said he would rest before beginning the artifact refinement and recalled Elder Luo as a former mentor.
• Xiao Chen visited Master Cai and saw a map of Ze Realm Blessed Land’s cultivation resources as Master Cai planned to take resources from the Shang Family now that Elder Luo was gone.

Xiao Chen and Master Cai began establishing Xiao Chen's Cai Family false identity as the talented junior Cai Youde, using Elder Luo's memorial ceremony to attract attention. After a mysterious True Lord disrupted their plans, Gui Yun Sect summoned them to meet its leaders, where Master Cai introduced Cai Youde as a grateful, promising Cai Family disciple.

• Master Cai proposed that Xiao Chen appear at Elder Luo's memorial ceremony to present himself as a Cai Family genius and build a convincing public identity.
• Xiao Chen learned the Heaven-grade Wood Element spells Glorious Spring Thousand Leaf Sword and Spirit Crossing Spring Blossom Barrier from the Cai Family's Rong Chun Du Ling Jue.
• Xiao Chen attended the memorial ceremony as Cai Youde, and the Gui Yun Sect's Internal Affairs Elder recorded his name after Master Cai identified him as an adopted member of the Direct Lineage.
• A white-haired old man arrived on a Fourth-Order Twin-headed Swallow, forced his Spiritual Sense through the memorial hall's restrictions to inspect Elder Luo's coffin, then departed and threw the ceremony into confusion.
• Gui Yun Sect invited Master Cai and Cai Youde into a tent to meet Gui Yun True Monarch, Caiyun True Monarch, and True Lord Lan Yun.
• Master Cai presented Cai Youde as a talented, grateful junior who had remembered Elder Luo's indirect guidance and had come to pay his respects.

Master Cai arranged a staged treasure hunt and battle to introduce Xiao Chen publicly as Cai Youde, a promising Cai Family Golden Core cultivator. After Xiao Chen defeated three rogue cultivators in a staged breakthrough, Gui Yun Sect sent its Law Transmission Elder to meet him and assess his potential.

• Master Cai concluded that Gui Yun Sect was watching Cai Youde's potential and began planning a public appearance for him.
• Master Cai spread rumors that treasure lay near a Cai Family spirit mine, drawing Golden Core rogue cultivators, including Hong Santao, to dig nearby.
• The Cai Family staged a treasure emergence, and Hong Santao and two other cultivators attacked the mine guard to seize the treasure and raid the mine's Warehouse.
• Xiao Chen arrived as Cai Youde, fought the three attackers, and staged a sudden breakthrough that let him defeat them before Master Cai's arriving witnesses.
• Cai Youde's feat spread throughout the Ze Realm Blessed Land, and Gui Yun Sect's Law Transmission Elder visited him, sensing his strong attainments in the Great Dao of Wood.

Gui Yun True Monarch decided to lavish support on the genius Xiao Chen was impersonating as Cai Youde, hoping to secure future help and a place in Holy City's grand competition. Xiao Chen left the Cai Family and began a breakthrough to Fourth Tier Body Cultivator, enduring the first two perilous passes as he charged his acupoints.

• Gui Yun Sect's Law Transmission Elder praised Cai Youde as a Peerless Prodigy, prompting the True Lords to consider supporting him.
• Gui Yun True Monarch proposed giving Cai Youde exceptional cultivation resources and preparing him to compete at Holy City's grand competition.
• Xiao Chen secretly left the Cai Family, returned to the Storm Sea, and delayed his transaction with the Rebellious Immortal Alliance so he could cultivate.
• Xiao Chen consumed Fourth-Order Spiritual Items and spent three days and nights refining his body before beginning his major breakthrough.
• Xiao Chen charged his acupoints with a Vitality Torrent, endured the Brow Ancestral Acupoint's assault, and overcame the agonizing Spinal Dragon Acupoint pass.