Chapter Summaries

Xiao Chen survived the Heart Aperture checkpoint and broke through to become a Fourth Tier Body Cultivator, then adapted to his new strength by studying Black Iron Venerable’s Martial Dao True Intent and learning new martial skills. After completing his preparation in the Black Iron Cave Residence, he set out to check on the Complete Fusion Spirit Tool he had commissioned in the New Cultivation World.

• Xiao Chen guided the Vitality Torrent through the Heart Aperture, endured his heart stopping and his life force fading, then reignited his heartbeat and opened all one hundred and eight major apertures.
• Xiao Chen examined the changes to his Fourth Tier body, restrained its jade-gold glow, and decided to conceal his breakthrough to preserve it as a combat advantage.
• Xiao Chen found that Black Iron Venerable’s Martial Dao True Intent on the inheritance Stone Tablets felt more imposing after his breakthrough, and spent three days studying it.
• Xiao Chen began the Nascent Soul Chapter of the Iron Like Body Tempering Art, reached Ten Temperings, and learned the Sky Burning Extreme Force and the Heavenly Dipper Sect’s Sword Art to the entry level.
• Xiao Chen decided to visit Shattered Gold True Monarch about his Complete Fusion Spirit Tool, then left the Black Iron Cave Residence and traveled to the New Cultivation World.

Xiao Chen investigated rumors behind the increased bounty on Sword Breaking Devil Lord and learned that someone had framed him for killing a Nascent Soul True Lord. He then went to Clear Spring Blessed Land, where Shattered Gold True Monarch revealed that Xiao Chen’s Complete Fusion Spirit Tool had been finished.

• Xiao Chen noticed rogue cultivators selling cheap, multicolored pills near Gui Yun Market and saw that the bounty on Sword Breaking Devil Lord had risen by five million Spirit Stones.
• Zhang Cunfu told Xiao Chen that Gui Yun Sect had arrested cultivators under the pretext of investigating Lu Chengfeng, while Evergreen Sect blamed Sword Breaking Devil Lord for ambushing Patriarch Gong.
• Zhang Cunfu reported that Gui Yun Sect planned to invite Cai Youde into the Blessed Land for special cultivation, leaving Xiao Chen concerned that the invitation would restrict his movements between worlds.
• Xiao Chen gave Zhang Cunfu a Storage Ring of spiritual items for Shopkeeper Yun, then headed to Clear Spring Blessed Land to collect his commissioned Spirit Tool.
• Shattered Gold True Monarch revealed the completed eight-zhang spear and described its fusion-enhanced materials, combat traits, durability, and repair instructions.

Xiao Chen collected and refined the completed spear, learning that it could unleash the Demon Venerable’s Giant Elephant Power, and named it the Giant Elephant Soul Severing Spear. Shattered Gold True Monarch watched Xiao Chen break a restriction with startling speed and pay generously, then concluded that he must secretly belong to a great clan in Holy City.

• Shattered Gold True Monarch showed Xiao Chen the completed Spirit Tool and explained its superior compatibility and ability to unleash up to triple Giant Elephant Power at the cost of true essence and vitality.
• Xiao Chen discovered three restrictions on the spear, removed the outer one, and began refining the weapon while Shattered Gold True Monarch quietly strengthened the cave’s defenses.
• Xiao Chen quickly broke the restriction, startling Shattered Gold True Monarch, then refined the spear and tested its adjustable size and inscriptions.
• Xiao Chen named the weapon the Giant Elephant Soul Severing Spear and offered Shattered Gold True Monarch five million Spirit Stones for the materials and workmanship.
• Shattered Gold True Monarch reconsidered Xiao Chen’s wealth and access to rare materials, then decided that Xiao Chen was a Holy City cultivator secretly backed by one of the great clans.

After obtaining the Giant Elephant Soul Severing Spear, Xiao Chen returned to Pingyi City and learned that the Cai Family was helping Gui Yun Sect circumvent a Holy City Special Envoy’s spirit-pill monopoly. He needed an excuse to avoid Gui Yun Sect’s cultivation invitation, and he proposed claiming that he would travel to a Secret Realm; Master Cai suggested ruins in Dongsha Blessed Land, though they were distant and dangerous.

• Shattered Gold True Monarch explained that a mysterious ancient item had drained his essence, and Xiao Chen cautioned him to recuperate.
• After leaving Shattered Gold True Monarch, Xiao Chen returned to Pingyi City and discovered that vendors were disguising spirit pills dissolved in wine as Spirit Wine.
• Master Cai told Xiao Chen that Gui Yun Sect had tacitly approved the scheme to bypass the Special Envoy’s pill monopoly and was using the Cai Family and others as potential scapegoats.
• Xiao Chen shared Zhang Cunfu’s intelligence and asked Master Cai for a way to refuse Gui Yun Sect’s invitation without arousing suspicion.
• Xiao Chen proposed announcing that he would hunt for treasure in a Secret Realm, and Master Cai named ruins in distant Dongsha Blessed Land that opened every year.

The author explained subscription and update practices, reflected on problems with the New Hextech plot and admitted losing control of some story details. The chapter ended with a discarded bonus scene in which Xiao Chen used a token bearing Su Li’s image to gain entry to Secluded Doom Island.

• The author said the New Hextech needed revision and explained how readers could access updated chapters.
• The author answered readers’ questions about releases, comments, and recommended Chapter 234 for Su Li’s first appearance.
• The author apologized for frustrating plot choices and described how changes to the outline and limited experience had affected the story.
• The author revealed a deleted draft in which Cloud Cliff True Person’s group trapped Xiao Chen outside Secluded Doom Island.
• Xiao Chen presented a carving that showed Su Li’s phantom, and Cloud Cliff True Person withdrew the formation and let him pass.

Xiao Chen investigated the massacre at Yellow Magpie Valley, killed a rogue demonic cultivator, and uncovered Spirit Stones secretly hoarded by Su Dechang. Back at Emerald Valley, he accepted a rare Ice Element Top-Grade Magical Artifact on credit, bringing him closer to completing the Lesser Three Talents Sword Formation.

• A masked man helped an old rogue cultivator slaughter Su Dechang, the workers at Yellow Magpie Valley, and seven nearby villages before leaving him to cultivate demonic arts there.
• After the Signal Stone sent unusually punctual contacts and nearby villages were found empty, Xiao Chen traveled to Yellow Magpie Valley and discovered the massacre.
• Xiao Chen ambushed the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer demonic cultivator, but his Flowing Light Golden Light Pearl killed him before Xiao Chen could take him alive.
• Xiao Chen found Su Dechang's hidden vault containing 4,600 Spirit Stones, took them, and destroyed the tunnel and vault before the sect sent disciples to guard the valley.
• After Su Wanqing returned to mourn Su Dechang, Shen Siyue came to Emerald Valley to tend the spirit flowers while Xiao Chen completed an order for one hundred bottles of Bloodspike Pills.
• Chen Tianfeng showed Xiao Chen a rare Ice Element Top-Grade Magical Artifact Flying Sword, and Xiao Chen agreed to buy it for 27,000 Spirit Stones on credit.

Xiao Chen stayed behind while other cultivators went to reinforce He Province, handling Demon Subduing Hall cases and helping the Pill Refining Hall repair an Iron Bone Pill recipe. His quiet routine ended when a disciple reported that a Foundation Establishment demonic fiend was causing trouble.

• Mei Yong announced that the Spirit Origin Sect and Li Fire Sect had joined forces against the Divine Fire Sect and invited cultivators to reinforce He Province, but Xiao Chen decided to wait for news from the first group.
• Xiao Chen investigated reports for the Demon Subduing Hall and found false alarms, including a clandestine couple and a rogue cultivator using children in a fake Elixir of Immortality scheme.
• Xiao Chen recognized that Red Cong could improve the Iron Bone Pill and revised its recipe with three herbs that suppressed its poison, despite Jiang Shize's accusations.
• Xiao Chen returned to his routine in Emerald Valley while Su Wanqing tended his unusual Heavenly Net Star flowers, which grew rapidly and formed large buds.
• On the night of July thirtieth, a Demon Subduing Hall disciple woke Xiao Chen and reported that a Foundation Establishment demonic fiend was causing trouble.

Xiao Chen acquired the Luo Tian Sect’s cultivation methods and Gathering Evil Gourd, absorbed the Heavenly Flame Fiend, and formed a Yang Fire Seal that greatly strengthened his fire spells and improved his prospects for Core Formation. After returning to the Li Fire Sect, he learned Su Wanqing had won the Sect Tournament, searched for other sources of Killing Intent, and was summoned to an urgent assembly about He Province.

• Xiao Chen searched Qian Yong and Old Wang’s belongings, found advanced Luo Tian spells and a formation diagram for Luo Tian Sacred Fire, and took Old Wang’s Gathering Evil Gourd.
• Xiao Chen absorbed the Heavenly Flame Fiend from the basin and the gourd, formed a Yang Fire Seal, and discovered that it greatly increased the power of his fire spells and raised his Core Formation chances.
• Xiao Chen returned to the Li Fire Sect, learned Su Wanqing had won the Sect Tournament, and gave her a Water Spirit Pearl as a congratulatory gift.
• Xiao Chen searched the Scripture Pavilion for clues about other Killing Intent and asked Lin Ping'an to invite him on future Secret Realm expeditions, but found no new leads.
• A disciple summoned Xiao Chen to the Sect Hall for an urgent assembly concerning He Province, and Xiao Chen arrived as the sect’s managers and Elders gathered.

Xiao Chen and Huang Haoran entered the Ten Thousand Demons Mountain Range to investigate the Demonic Cultivators’ operation, while Ding Sanlei prepared to ambush them. Ding Silei attacked the pair with a Yellow Springs secret art, summoning the Tongue-Pulling Hell.

• Ye Fei volunteered to search with Miao Yuqing, and Huang Haoran agreed to accompany Xiao Chen into the mountains.
• Mei Yong sent the four cultivators along separate routes, and Xiao Chen used the Acupoint Sealing Qi Concealment Art to hide his cultivation from Huang Haoran.
• Ding Sanlei learned that Li Fire Sect cultivators had entered the mountains and sent Ding Silei to attack the two approaching from the left.
• Ding Silei mistook Xiao Chen and Huang Haoran for weak rookies and ambushed them with the Yellow Springs art Tongue-Pulling Hell.

Xiao Chen found a bounty order and clues linking a demonic cultivation method to the Divine Fire Sect, but the search for Jing Qiyuan was interrupted by the murder of Steward Song. The sect identified a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator using a Yellow Springs Path Demonic Art and prepared to investigate the northern mountains, with Xiao Chen volunteering to join.

• Xiao Chen searched the Jing Family’s storage bag, finding a body-refining inheritance, the Flesh Eating Body Forging Method, an Iron Bone Pill recipe, and bounty portraits of himself, Ye Fei, Miao Yuqing, and Huang Haoran.
• Xiao Chen told Chen Zhi'an that the Jing Family had been silenced before he arrived, while Chen Zhi'an reported that the Zhu Family members were being interrogated and sect elders were patrolling.
• Xiao Chen and Chen Zhi'an learned that Steward Song Fengbo had been killed while tracking Jing Qiyuan, and Elder Chen confirmed the news before taking them to the Sect Hall.
• Mei Yong explained that Song Fengbo had been attacked while separated from Song Fengtao and that the killer had used a Yellow Springs Path Demonic Art that prevented its victim from speaking and casting spells.
• Mei Yong ordered the Grand Elder and several elders to investigate the northern mountains and forbade anyone from leaving the sect alone, while Xiao Chen volunteered to join the search.

Xiao Chen survived Han Minghui’s ambush and discovered that the attacker was a Body Cultivator who had been sent to silence him. After defeating Han Minghui, Xiao Chen resumed searching for Jing Qiyuan and the missing rogue cultivators.

• Han Minghui disguised himself as a wounded child and attacked Xiao Chen by choking him, expecting to kill him with his explosive strength.
• Xiao Chen’s refined body withstood Han Minghui’s grip, and Xiao Chen seized him and demanded to know who had sent him.
• Han Minghui revealed his Foundation Establishment Stage 6 strength in a sudden frenzy, but Xiao Chen used his sword and Tassel-Edged Brocade Handkerchief to subdue him.
• Xiao Chen took Han Minghui’s Storage Bag and planned to look for clues about Jing Qiyuan and the rogue cultivators’ route northwest.

Xiao Chen rushed to Jingchuan County to investigate the Jing Family, but found the city ravaged by its maddened residents and the family estate abandoned. After clearing the streets and finding no trace of Jing Qiyuan, he carried a boy toward the boy’s wounded mother and was warned not to trust others so easily.

• Xiao Chen delivered the Zhu Family’s Account Book to Elder Chen and entrusted the Chen Family with the follow-up matters before heading to Jingchuan County.
• Xiao Chen killed a blood-crazed black bear and learned from two rogue cultivators that Jing Family members were attacking people throughout the city.
• Xiao Chen killed the maddened Jing Family members he encountered and found their ruined estate empty, with no sign of Jing Qiyuan or a Foundation Establishment attack.
• A barefoot boy asked Xiao Chen to save his wounded mother, and Xiao Chen carried him toward the East Gate.
• An aged voice suddenly told Xiao Chen not to trust others so easily in his next life.

Xiao Chen captured Zhu Xiuguo and dismantled the Zhu Family’s operation abducting rogue cultivators. He found records linking the Zhu Family’s “Spirit Sheep” trade to the Jing Family, but the deeper mystery remained unresolved.

• Xiao Chen wounded Zhu Xiuguo, who revealed that he was working for the Jiang Family and tried to immobilize Xiao Chen with a spell, but Xiao Chen killed him while protected by the Divinity Veil.
• Xiao Chen gathered four local Cultivation Families and raided the Zhu Family, rescuing fourteen imprisoned rogue cultivators and searching the family’s Warehouse.
• Xiao Chen distributed some of the Zhu Family’s spirit ore for investigation, took the Spirit Stones for the sect, and returned to Emerald Valley with Zhu Xiuguo’s Storage Bag.
• Xiao Chen broke the Storage Bag’s restriction and found 7,500 Spirit Stones, used restraints, and an Account Book recording the Jing Family’s purchases of “Spirit Sheep” from the Zhu Family.
• Xiao Chen learned from the Account Book that the trade had expanded sharply and that the Jing Family had raised its price to seventy-five Spirit Stones per “Spirit Sheep.”

Xiao Chen went with Su Wanqing to Li Fire City’s Lantern Festival, where he spotted Jing Qiyuan and secretly followed him to a scheme involving captured rogue cultivators. After discovering that the Jing Family and the Zhu Family were involved, Xiao Chen attacked the Zhu Family group, while Zhu Xiuguo summoned a python and fled.

• Xiao Chen agreed to join Su Wanqing at the Lantern Festival in Li Fire City and sampled her Poria cocos cake.
• Xiao Chen recognized Jing Qiyuan, sent Su Wanqing home, and followed Jing Qiyuan under his Stealth Cloak.
• Xiao Chen found Jing Qiyuan and Zhu Xiuguo overseeing the capture of rogue cultivators, then saw Jing Qiyuan take a hundred captives away in carts.
• Xiao Chen confronted the Zhu Family cultivators as they returned from capturing rogue cultivators and attacked them with thirty-six Li Fire Thunderbolts.
• Zhu Xiuguo summoned a giant python with a Talisman and escaped on his flying sword.

After breaking through, Xiao Chen gained a vast increase in Spiritual Sense and chose the Alchemist's Heart Hextech, then successfully refined six Foundation Establishment Pills from one Five-Colored Golden Lotus. He reviewed his plans for the coming year, including cultivation, exploring a Secret Realm with Lin Ping'an, and seeking the Ice Sword.

• Xiao Chen completed his breakthrough, expanding his Spiritual Sense to nearly seven hundred zhang and absorbing three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones.
• Xiao Chen chose Alchemist's Heart from three Class Transfer Hextech cards, reinforcing his alchemy path.
• Xiao Chen gathered ingredients and used his Pill Furnace and High-Grade Sandalwood to refine three Foundation Establishment Pills, then received three more through Buy One, Get One Free.
• Xiao Chen set goals to reach Foundation Establishment Late Stage, prepare a congratulatory gift, and wait for Lin Ping'an before exploring a Secret Realm.
• Xiao Chen planned to cultivate spells with the East Region Spirit Pearl, seek the Ice Sword from the Spirit Origin Sect, watch over the Su Family, and consult Elder Chen about alchemy.

Xiao Chen celebrated the New Year and used the Five Lights Profound Water to advance to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Meanwhile, Divine Fire Sect’s leader prepared to unleash the Blood Plague Demon against Li Fire Sect during the holiday, leaving the threat still approaching.

• Xiao Chen asked Chore Peak disciples for six red lanterns and gave them Qi Nourishing Pills to decorate Emerald Valley.
• Divine Fire Sect’s leader ordered his subordinates to open the Blood Plague Secret Realm within a month and capture sacrifices during Li Fire Sect’s New Year celebrations.
• The leader revealed he had bribed two local Foundation Establishment Cultivators to obstruct the Demon Subduing Hall and planned to use the Blood Plague Demon to destabilize Li Province.
• Xiao Chen attended New Year celebrations with the Chen Family, where his Foundation Establishment cultivation silenced marriage proposals from collateral branches.
• Xiao Chen cultivated with the Five Lights Profound Water and broke through to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month.

Xiao Chen strengthened his Spiritual Sense and perfected his Mystic Fire Crow technique into the Mystic Yang True Fire before Lin Ping'an invited him to search for an Ancient Secret Realm. After agreeing to leave in March, Xiao Chen resumed cultivation and found that Five Lights Profound Water could help him break through ahead of schedule.

• Xiao Chen expanded his Spiritual Sense range to four hundred zhang and learned to layer his Mystic Fire Crow formations into a powerful Super Fire Crow Formation, which he renamed Mystic Yang True Fire.
• Xiao Chen celebrated his progress at White Jade Teahouse and encountered Lin Ping'an waiting outside his home.
• Lin Ping'an told Xiao Chen he had bought every Treasure Map from a Black Market stall and invited him to search for the Ancient Secret Realm after the New Year.
• Xiao Chen agreed to join Lin Ping'an in March, after Lin Ping'an had time to reach Foundation Establishment Stage 2.
• Xiao Chen cultivated with Five Lights Profound Water and expected to break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage before the fifteenth day of the first month.