Chapter Summaries

Zheng Fa entered the Nine Mountains Sect’s treasure cave and received Azure Yang Energy, which suited his spiritual roots and Spirit Crane Body. When the other treasures did not respond to him, he chose the Spirit Mountain Method, a technique that could help him produce spiritual energy safely and controllably in the modern world.

• The Nine Mountains Patriarch explained that he was a substitute created by the original patriarch and allowed Zheng Fa to choose two treasures.
• Zheng Fa’s Spirit Crane Body reacted to Azure Yang Energy, and the Nine Mountains Patriarch explained how it could help Zheng Fa develop an Azure Yang Dao Body.
• Zheng Fa absorbed the Azure Yang Energy into his dantian, where it began to permeate and change the forces within him.
• After no other treasures responded to Zheng Fa, the Nine Mountains Patriarch presented jade slips and described the Spirit Mountain Method.
• Zheng Fa chose the Spirit Mountain Method, and the Nine Mountains Patriarch mistook his decision for a sign of great selflessness.

After passing the Immortal Selection Fair, Zheng Fa and Seventh Young Master received sect tokens and rode cloud steeds back to Jingzhou City. At the Zhao Residence, Madam and the Eldest Young Lady rushed to congratulate Zheng Fa, leaving Seventh Young Master ignored.

• Zheng Fa imagined using the Spirit Mountain Method to create a modern cultivation laboratory where experts could help investigate cultivation.
• The Nine Mountains Patriarch sent Zheng Fa back to the Ascension Platform, where he and Seventh Young Master learned that they had passed the Immortal Selection Fair and received tokens for their sects.
• Cloud steeds appeared for the successful candidates, and Zheng Fa, Seventh Young Master, and Zhou Ganyuan rode toward Jingzhou City.
• Zhou Ganyuan parted from Zheng Fa and Seventh Young Master after they entered the city, and the two continued toward the Zhao Residence.
• Madam hurried past Seventh Young Master to praise Zheng Fa, while the Eldest Young Lady also congratulated him.

Zheng Fa reassured the madam about the Seventh Young Master, while Zhou Ganyuan surprised Sun Daoyu by wanting to apologize to Zheng Fa and learn from him. Senior Sister Zhang explained that Zheng Fa needed to pay to activate his sect token before the Nine Mountains Sect’s ship would come for him.

• The madam asked Zheng Fa to help the Seventh Young Master if he ever faced a life-or-death crisis, and Zheng Fa asked her to turn around and praise her son.
• Sun Daoyu tried to comfort Zhou Ganyuan after his loss to Zheng Fa, but Zhou Ganyuan said he wanted to apologize to Zheng Fa and learn talisman arts from him.
• Zheng Fa gave his black token to Senior Sister Zhang, who explained that it was a Dao marker needed to summon the ship taking him to the sect.
• Senior Sister Zhang told Zheng Fa that he needed to pay one hundred taels of silver or ten taels of gold to activate the token, then advised him to bring as much money as he could.

After reading Gao Yuan’s farewell letter, Zheng Fa learned that he had left to study at Jingyang Academy and pursue a way to improve the mortal world. Zheng Fa then discovered that Madam and Seventh Young Master had arranged a banquet to celebrate his entry into the Immortal Sect, attract gifts, and protect his family’s standing; Huang Yu received a jade pendant from Steward Wu.

• Zheng Fa read Gao Yuan’s letter, in which Gao Yuan explained that he had left for Jingyang Academy to take examinations and serve the mortal world.
• Huang Yu discovered a huge three-day banquet outside the Zheng Family courtyard and learned that it was being held in Zheng Fa’s honor.
• Steward Wu told Zheng Fa that Madam had arranged the banquet at Seventh Young Master’s suggestion, allowing local families to offer gifts and warning others not to provoke Zheng Fa’s family.
• Zheng Fa thanked the guests who had brought gift money and thought of Gao Yuan as he received them.
• Steward Wu gave Huang Yu an exquisite jade pendant to curry favor with him, and Huang Yu accepted it.

Zheng Fa boarded a tower ship bound for the Nine Mountains Sect, leaving his mother and sister behind. After arriving, he learned that the welcoming senior brothers’ Dao Discussion was a sales pitch for a talisman book.

• Zheng Fa paid ten taels of gold to activate his token, and a tower ship carried him away from his family.
• The receiving disciples took Zheng Fa’s token and left him on deck, where he reunited with Zhou Ganyuan.
• Zhou Ganyuan guided Zheng Fa to a room and explained that the older disciples were wary of the new arrivals.
• After gathering the new disciples, the senior brothers invited them to a Dao Discussion and praised the importance of talisman arts.
• The slightly plump senior brother offered Zhang True Person's Treatise on Talisms for ten taels of gold, and Zheng Fa recognized the gathering as a sales pitch.

Zheng Fa judged Zhang True Person's Treatise on Talisms to be worth its price, prompting the new disciples to buy copies. After learning Zheng Fa was personally taught by Senior Sister Zhang, the three senior brothers changed their attitude and proposed turning the ship around so he could say farewell to his younger sister.

• The fat senior brother gave the new disciples copies of Zhang True Person's Treatise on Talisms to inspect, and Zheng Fa found its practical talisman-making guidance valuable.
• Zheng Fa said the book was worth its price, and Zhou Ganyuan and the other new disciples bought copies based on his judgment.
• The fat senior brother learned that Zheng Fa had been hailed as the greatest talisman arts talent in ten thousand years and that Zheng Fa was personally taught by True Person Zhang.
• The three senior brothers visited Zheng Fa with fawning smiles after learning he was under Senior Sister Zhang's branch, then suggested turning the ship around so he could bid his younger sister farewell.

Zheng Fa reached the Nine Mountains Sect, where Senior Sister Zhang explained that the senior brothers’ schemes against new disciples were tolerated as a way to vent resentment. She assigned the chubby senior brother to guide Zheng Fa, leaving him to wonder who was really being tempered.

• The chubby senior brother offered Zheng Fa the profits from book sales, but Zheng Fa kept two taels and told the three senior brothers to return the rest.
• Zheng Fa arrived at the Nine Mountains Sect and met Senior Sister Zhang, who collected his completed exercise book.
• Senior Sister Zhang explained that she had known about the books and the senior brothers’ usual tactics, and said the sect tolerated minor exploitation amid declining spiritual energy.
• Senior Sister Zhang told Zheng Fa that he needed to be strong enough to handle the sect’s customs and called the experience tempering.
• The next day, the chubby senior brother waited outside Zheng Fa’s courtyard and said Senior Sister Zhang had ordered him to guide Zheng Fa through registering his life plaque and collecting his cultivation technique.

Zheng Fa toured Nine Mountains Sect with Han Qi and learned how spiritual energy and resources were divided among its residents. At the General Affairs Hall, Uncle Fang registered Zheng Fa and arranged his modest allowance and temporary talisman-making supplies.

• Han Qi showed Zheng Fa the crowded valley entrance and explained that access to stronger spiritual energy depended on a disciple’s status.
• Han Qi identified the sect-run shops and told Zheng Fa that rising prices had made spiritual goods unaffordable while guiding new disciples now earned only gold.
• Han Qi warned Zheng Fa that Uncle Fang was arrogant, but Uncle Fang warmly welcomed Zheng Fa after learning Zhang had brought him to the sect.
• Uncle Fang registered Zheng Fa as an outer sect disciple, granting him one Spirit Stone per month for ten years and extra talisman paper and spirit ink for six months.

Zheng Fa went to the Scripture Repository with Han Qi to choose his free Qi Refinement cultivation method, while learning how scarce Spirit Stones and spiritual materials had become. He chose the mild Scarlet Firmament Formula and paid Han Qi ten taels of gold for his recommendations.

• Han Qi explained that Spirit Stones and spiritual materials were scarce, making the sect’s official exchange rate for gold outdated.
• Zheng Fa and Han Qi reached the Scripture Repository, where a senior brother offered to recommend a cultivation method for fifty taels of gold.
• Han Qi objected to the price and led Zheng Fa inside to choose a method themselves.
• Han Qi explained the available fire-element methods and recommended the Scarlet Firmament Formula for its safety and above-average cultivation speed.
• Zheng Fa chose the Scarlet Firmament Formula and gave Han Qi ten taels of gold for the usual routine.

Zheng Fa chose the long-abandoned Five-Thunder Dharma Body despite its dangerous cultivation requirements and the scarcity of Mystic Thunderstone. Han Qi, moved by Zheng Fa’s generosity and choice, decided to visit Senior Sister Zhang.

• Zheng Fa asked Han Qi about affordable pure-yang body-tempering techniques and learned that most cost dozens of Spirit Stones.
• Han Qi showed Zheng Fa several cheap techniques that could not be cultivated because their required materials or conditions were unavailable.
• Han Qi explained that the Five-Thunder Dharma Body could strengthen Lightning Talismans but required scarce Mystic Thunderstone and eventual Heavenly Thunder tempering.
• Zheng Fa bought the Five-Thunder Dharma Body for one Spirit Stone despite Han Qi warning him against it.
• Han Qi told his lackeys that Zheng Fa had given him ten taels of gold and revealed that Zheng Fa had chosen the Five-Thunder Dharma Body.
• Han Qi left to visit Senior Sister Zhang, while his two lackeys wondered whether ten taels of gold was worth it.

Han Qi told Senior Sister Zhang that Zheng Fa had chosen the Five-Thunder Dharma Body and explained why he hoped the sect would prosper, while Zhang and a young girl discussed the pressures Zheng Fa faced. As Zheng Fa began cultivating the Scarlet Firmament Formula, a Yin-Yang Twin-Fish Jade Pendant appeared in his consciousness and awakened memories from his modern life.

• Han Qi asked Senior Sister Zhang to persuade Zheng Fa to abandon the Five-Thunder Dharma Body, then admitted that Zheng Fa's kindness had made him care about the sect's future.
• Senior Sister Zhang and a young girl discussed Han Qi's motives and how Zhang's support for Zheng Fa might make other sect members jealous.
• Zheng Fa began cultivating the Scarlet Firmament Formula and successfully drew spiritual energy through his meridians.
• The spiritual energy surged into Zheng Fa's Niwan Palace, where he saw a Yin-Yang Twin-Fish Jade Pendant and a sleeping youth who looked like him.
• The youth opened his eyes, and Zheng Fa recovered memories of his modern-world childhood and schooling.

Zheng Fa discovered that the Yin-Yang Fish Jade Pendant had strengthened his Divine Sense, then attended the Talisman Arts Pavilion’s discussion day, where Senior Brother Zhuang barred him from using the talisman materials provided to other students. The chapter ended with Zheng Fa accepting the restriction without protest.

• Zheng Fa examined the pendant’s memories and learned that he could control the timing of his crossings between the Xuanwei Realm and the modern world by changing the Yin-Yang Fish’s rotation.
• Zheng Fa found that his Divine Sense could reach about one zhang beyond his body, far exceeding the usual strength of a new Qi Refining cultivator.
• Han Qi told his two lackeys that he planned to leave the Nine Mountains Sect after Zheng Fa’s matter was settled, and warned that joining Zheng Fa could make them targets for the Talisman Arts Pavilion’s senior brothers.
• Han Qi escorted Zheng Fa to the Talisman Arts Pavilion for its Talisman Discussion Day and explained that the two branches held separate lessons because of their rivalry.
• Senior Brother Zhuang assigned Zheng Fa a table without talisman materials and said he could not use the pavilion’s supplies because Senior Sister Zhang already gave him a monthly allotment.
• Zheng Fa accepted Senior Brother Zhuang’s restriction and said he understood.

Zheng Fa learned how talisman grades were determined and discovered that his insight into Talisman Diagrams could make his talismans more powerful. Outside the lesson, Senior Brother Zhuang defended Zheng Fa from Senior Brother Li, then fought him in what the sect called a talisman discussion.

• Senior Brother Zhuang taught the disciples how to draw Golden Armor Talismans and explained that talisman grades corresponded to the power of spells at different cultivation realms.
• Zheng Fa realized that his grasp of Talisman Diagrams could let him make stronger talismans than other Qi Refinement Realm cultivators.
• Han Qi explained that Senior Brother Zhuang valued equal standards and had likely been assigned to teach the lesson because someone wanted to trouble Zheng Fa.
• Senior Brother Li mocked Zheng Fa's special resources, and Senior Brother Zhuang rebuked him for interfering in another branch's affairs.
• Senior Brother Zhuang and Senior Brother Li began fighting with talismans outside the classroom, leaving Zheng Fa to question whether that counted as a discussion.

Zheng Fa joined the Talisman Arts Pavilion’s factional brawl and used a Water Prison Talisman to help Senior Brother Zhuang’s side. After a Discipline Hall Martial Uncle arrived and learned Senior Brother Zhuang had fought over Zheng Fa, Senior Sister Zhang appeared and demanded to hear what had been said about her.

• Han Qi rallied disciples to join Senior Brother Zhuang’s fight, while Zheng Fa stayed behind to draw a Water Prison Talisman and recover his spiritual power.
• Zheng Fa directed the inexperienced disciples to retreat and joined the battle after the reinforcements they had drawn Talismans arrived.
• When Senior Brother Zhuang was trapped by a Water Prison Talisman and seemed about to lose, Zheng Fa secretly used his own Water Prison Talisman to trap Senior Brother Li.
• A Discipline Hall Martial Uncle arrived, checked the disciples for injuries, and questioned Senior Brother Zhuang and Senior Brother Li about the fight.
• Senior Brother Zhuang revealed that he had defended Zheng Fa after Senior Brother Li insulted him and Senior Sister Zhang, and Senior Sister Zhang arrived to demand an explanation.

Senior Sister Zhang defended her special allotment for Zheng Fa after he was revealed as a Profound-grade Talisman Master. As Zheng Fa left the Talisman Arts Pavilion, Senior Brother Zhuang thanked him and offered him talisman paper, while Han Qi and Zhou Ganyuan both showed interest in gaining his favor; Zheng Fa then went to Senior Sister Zhang’s courtyard to hear what she wanted to tell him.

• Senior Sister Zhang rejected Uncle-Master Wang’s accusation of favoritism and declared she would keep Zheng Fa’s allotment even if he were only a Yellow-grade Talisman Master.
• Zhou Ganyuan revealed that Zheng Fa had cast a Profound-grade Water Prison Talisman, and Senior Brother Li admitted the talisman had trapped him.
• Senior Brother Zhuang thanked Zheng Fa for protecting the new disciples and gave him three sheets of talisman paper, acknowledging that Zheng Fa deserved the proper allotment.
• Han Qi considered seeking Zheng Fa’s patronage after noticing Zhou Ganyuan’s interest in him, and the lanky man agreed they could not compete with Zhou Ganyuan.
• Zheng Fa entered Senior Sister Zhang’s courtyard, where True Person Zhang instructed him to pass through three gates and meet her in the rear courtyard.

Senior Sister Zhang explained that the Five-Thunder Dharma Body enabled cultivation of the rare Divine Firmament Thunder-Commanding True Method, then offered Zheng Fa her flawed Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method in exchange for his willingness to study it. After accepting, Zheng Fa received a Mystic Thunderstone and began testing how to safely use electricity to cultivate the Five-Thunder Dharma Body.

• Senior Sister Zhang told Zheng Fa that the Five-Thunder Dharma Body was connected to the Divine Firmament Thunder-Commanding True Method and that the Sect Master was its only cultivator.
• Senior Sister Zhang revealed that her Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method had left her Golden Core flawed and asked Zheng Fa to cultivate her perfected version; Zheng Fa agreed.
• Senior Sister Yuan gave Senior Sister Zhang a Mystic Thunderstone after losing a bet, and Senior Sister Zhang passed it to Zheng Fa.
• Senior Sister Zhang explained that Senior Brother Zhuang wanted to wipe out the Immortal Sects because he believed spiritual energy and immortal cultivation brought repeated calamities to ordinary people.
• Zheng Fa used the Mystic Thunderstone to study the Five-Thunder Dharma Body's stages, then tested a five-volt power bank by touching its exposed charging wires.

As the college entrance exam approaches, Zheng Fa discovers that his cultivation has made him electrically charged, while Tang Lingwu reveals she was directly admitted to Capital University. After Old Man Bai realizes Zheng Fa’s body can shock people, he jokingly suggests Capital University Medical School take him in as a specimen.

• Zheng Fa buys a variable transformer and finds that 90 volts recreates the skin-tempering sensation described in the Five-Thunder Dharma Form.
• Tang Lingwu tells Zheng Fa she was directly admitted and jokes that she enjoys watching everyone else study, while Old Chen worries about their relationship and Tang Lingwu’s possessive mother.
• Old Man Bai notices Zheng Fa’s rapid progress and urges him to prioritize the college entrance exam over topology and martial arts.
• Tang Lingwu gets shocked when she touches Zheng Fa, and Old Man Bai confirms the electrical numbness by touching him himself.
• Zheng Fa explains that the shocks come from practicing his martial art, prompting Old Man Bai to joke that Capital University Medical School could take him as a specimen.

Zheng Fa revealed his cultivation to Old Man Bai and Tang Lingwu, then agreed to see if he could help Tang Lingwu’s mother. In the Xuanwei Realm, he chose a concealment Talisman Diagram for his Foundation Establishment method but left the Nine Revolutions Pavilion without buying the pill needed to cultivate it.

• Zheng Fa told Old Man Bai and Tang Lingwu about the Nine Mountains Sect and offered to teach them to cultivate immortality.
• Tang Lingwu asked Zheng Fa whether he could treat her mother’s mental illness, and Old Man Bai explained how he had reassured her mother about Zheng Fa.
• Tang Lingwu offered money for Zheng Fa’s help, and he agreed to try.
• In the Xuanwei Realm, Zheng Fa chose the Upright Shadowless Talisman as the Talisman Diagram he would condense in his dantian.
• Zheng Fa went to the Nine Revolutions Pavilion for an Origin-Consolidating Pill, but left after learning that each pill cost twenty Spirit Stones.

Zheng Fa explored the Marketplace to learn how he could earn Spirit Stones, discovering that Yellow-grade Talisman sales were crowded and barely profitable while Profound-grade Talismans commanded much higher prices. Senior Sister Yuan summoned him to complain that Senior Sister Zhang’s new standards had left her doing the Marketplace accounts herself, then confronted Han Qi and Zheng Fa about poaching people from her.

• Zheng Fa learned that completing the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method would require hundreds of Spirit Stones and went to the Marketplace to research ways to earn money.
• Zheng Fa discovered that Talisman stalls were oversaturated and their owners earned little, while Han Qi told him Profound-grade Talismans sold for nearly ten times the price of Yellow-grade ones.
• Han Qi showed Zheng Fa the Marketplace stewards’ building, where Senior Sister Yuan called Zheng Fa inside.
• Senior Sister Yuan blamed Zheng Fa’s problems for making Senior Sister Zhang dismiss her account books as too simple, forcing her to calculate them herself.
• Senior Sister Yuan recognized Han Qi and accused Zheng Fa of taking her people and Senior Sister Zhang away from her.

Zheng Fa began working for Senior Sister Yuan and planned to earn money by drawing Profound-grade talismans, while Han Qi and his companions and Zhou Ganyuan offered him their savings. He refused their gifts but accepted the three older disciples’ help, leaving Zhou Ganyuan asking whether Zheng Fa disliked talented people.

• Senior Sister Yuan discovered Zheng Fa had reached the Skin Tempering Realm in three days and persuaded him to handle the marketplace accounts for five Spirit Stones a month.
• Zheng Fa worked on accounts by day and practiced drawing Profound-grade talismans at night to earn more money.
• Han Qi convinced his two companions to offer Zheng Fa their life savings, hoping to secure a place under his protection in the Nine Mountains Sect.
• Zhou Ganyuan arrived with forty Spirit Stones, and Zheng Fa invited both groups inside.
• Zheng Fa refused Han Qi and his companions’ savings and Zhou Ganyuan’s Spirit Stones, then accepted the three disciples’ offer to help him.
• Zhou Ganyuan asked Zheng Fa whether he disliked clever people and those with high aptitude.