Chapter Summaries

Han Yuan learned why Yellow-grade Ultimate talismans were rare and discovered that their runes had to withstand the cleansing of heaven and earth. Using an arrangement method from the Wood Spirit Script, he successfully created a Yellow-grade Ultimate Wood Vine Entanglement talisman.

• Han Yuan asked Ancestor Ziyun why there were no Yellow-grade Ultimate talismans, and Ancestor Ziyun explained their rune limits and rarity.
• Han Yuan attempted a one-hundred-and-eight-rune Gale Talisman, but it combusted during activation.
• Han Yuan studied the Wood Spirit Script and used its rune arrangements to stabilize the core of a Wood Vine Entanglement talisman.
• Han Yuan refined the new talisman despite its greater spiritual power requirements, and it survived the cleansing of heaven and earth.
• Han Yuan sealed his successfully completed Yellow-grade Ultimate Wood Vine Entanglement talisman.

Zheng Liangjin tried to force Chang Yixin to reveal Master Apricot's identity, but she killed his ambush with a Sword Qi Forest talisman. Zheng Liangjin and his attackers were left dead or incapacitated, while Chang Yixin was stunned by the talisman's power.

• Zheng Liangjin learned that his disciples had failed to identify Master Apricot, and ordered them to watch Chang Yixin closely.
• Chang Yixin left the Small Courtyard carrying a Yellow-grade Ultimate Sword Qi Forest talisman she had secretly kept.
• Zheng Liangjin and eight Qi Refining disciples trapped Chang Yixin and demanded Master Apricot's location.
• Chang Yixin used her Apricot Talismans to hold off the Qi Refining disciples, then activated the Sword Qi Forest talisman against the attackers.
• The talisman's Sword Qi killed the eight disciples and pinned Zheng Liangjin to a wall, leaving Chang Yixin shocked by its strength.

Han Yuan watched Chang Yixin defeat Zheng Liangjin’s ambush, then secretly eliminated spies and infiltrators throughout Gengchun Market and the Earth God Sect. After the disappearances were discovered, Zhou Renyi ordered tighter security, while Chang Yixin quietly suspected Han Yuan’s involvement.

• Han Yuan gave Chang Yixin a Sword Qi Forest Talisman, which she used to kill Zheng Liangjin and the other attackers.
• Han Yuan denied helping Chang Yixin and let her return to her residence, then vanished to clean up the remaining enemies.
• Han Yuan silently killed two Qi Refining disciples and disposed of their bodies, then eliminated hostile agents across the market and the Earth God Sect.
• Chang Huixiu discovered that thirteen disciples had disappeared and hurried to report the breach to Zhou Renyi.
• Zhou Renyi ordered inspections, night patrols, and stricter defenses after learning Chang Yixin had survived an ambush, while Chang Yixin privately suspected Han Yuan.

Zhao Qizhen blamed Zheng Liangjin for the destruction of the Cloud Sun Sect’s informants and ordered a purge in Gengchun Market. Meanwhile, Han Yuan independently comprehended a Wind Spirit Script, used it to create a new talisman, and began searching for more Spirit Scripts.

• Zhao Qizhen learned that the Cloud Sun Sect’s undercover agents, including Zheng Liangjin, had disappeared and concluded that Zheng Liangjin had exposed and killed them.
• Zhao Qizhen issued a Level One wanted order for Zheng Liangjin’s grandson and ordered a sweeping investigation for spies in Gengchun Market.
• Zhou Renyi received news of the purge and lamented that it had ruined the Earth God Sect’s chance to retaliate in kind.
• Han Yuan combined wind runes from several talismans to independently comprehend an entry-level Wind Spirit Script, whose effect the die multiplied eightfold.
• Han Yuan used the new Spirit Script to create a Wind Walking Technique talisman that let him fly at Foundation Establishment Late Stage speed.
• Han Yuan considered helping Wangcai break through and then turned to the talismans, intent on discovering more Spirit Scripts.

Han Yuan’s Apricot Talismans helped the Earth God Sect gain the advantage at Yunsheng Market, while Zhao Qizhen and Luo Xi plotted to reverse the tide by exploiting a betrayal. After Wu Baogang agreed to betray Yunsheng Market, Zhao Qizhen and Luo Xi secretly set out to attack it.

• Han Yuan continued making talismans as Apricot Talismans strengthened the Earth God Sect’s fighters and helped them push toward Gengchun Market.
• Zhao Qizhen learned that his mistaken wanted order had led to the death of Elder Zheng’s grandson, and he faced further humiliation over his accusation against Master Apricot.
• Luo Xi told Zhao Qizhen that Wu Baogang had agreed to betray Yunsheng Market and that they could exploit the market’s failing defenses to attack Master Apricot and Zhou Renyi.
• Luo Xi secured an early Golden Core True Person’s transfer from the neighboring battlefield, and Zhao Qizhen agreed to strike Yunsheng Market with her.
• Zhao Qizhen and Luo Xi secretly left Gengchun Market at night, traveling light toward Yunsheng Market to launch a surprise attack.

Han Yuan experimented with combining Spirit Scripts and discovered that they could invoke powerful attacks, leading him to realize he had stumbled onto the Great Dao of Word Manifestation. When two Golden Core cultivators approached, he escaped toward the market using Wood Escape.

• Han Yuan finished collecting thousands of Spirit Scripts and traveled to a remote valley to test how they worked together.
• His first attempt to combine four Spirit Scripts failed when their conflicting traits tore apart the Talisman Paper and unleashed chaotic power.
• Han Yuan selected compatible offensive traits for the four Spirit Scripts, creating a combined attack that devastated the area with power comparable to Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
• Ancestor Ziyun warned Han Yuan that Word Manifestation was a profound Great Divine Ability and told him to master the Qi Control Art first.
• Han Yuan wrote the four Spirit Scripts in midair and focused their attack into a crater, then fled toward the market after sensing two Golden Core cultivators approaching.

Han Yuan uncovered Wu Baogang as the likely traitor and secretly warned Zhou Renyi that Golden Cores were preparing to attack Yunsheng Market. With the market quietly preparing its defenses, Han Yuan began breaking through to Foundation Establishment, awakening the Jianmu Seed and transforming his body.

• Han Yuan spotted Wu Baogang checking a rogue cultivator communication token and suspected him of betraying the market.
• Han Yuan left a warning at Zhou Renyi’s door naming Wu Baogang as an inside man and alerting him to the coming attack.
• Zhou Renyi sent secret instructions to Chang Yiran and the others, and Earth God Sect disciples began preparing to defend the market.
• Han Yuan sealed his room with talismans and used the Ancient Wood Nourishing Spirit Art to awaken the Jianmu Seed.
• The Jianmu Seed drew in Wood Power, transformed Han Yuan into a Mysterious Grade Lower Rank Wood Splendor Spirit Body, and began producing True Essence.
• Han Yuan noticed three enormous dice spinning in front of him.

Han Yuan’s three dice multiplied the Jianmu Seed’s awakening, his spirit-body transformation, and his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, dramatically strengthening his body and bond with the seed. The Jianmu Seed became his true foundation, and its gradual rooting in his Dantian began far ahead of schedule.

• The first die rolled 72, causing the Jianmu Seed to awaken powerfully and draw Wood Power across the marketplace, where cultivators briefly gained insights into the Wood Dao.
• The Wood Power transformed Han Yuan’s spirit body from Mysterious Grade Lower Rank to Earth Grade Lower Rank, while the Jianmu Seed grew and produced much purer True Essence.
• The second die rolled 33 and multiplied Han Yuan’s spirit-body transformation, raising him to a Heaven Grade Lower Rank Wood Spirit Body and awakening a Minor Divine Ability.
• The third die rolled 54 and multiplied the effect of Han Yuan’s Foundation Establishment breakthrough, greatly strengthening the connection between his Dantian and the Jianmu Seed.
• Han Yuan realized that Foundation Establishment was meant to let the Jianmu Seed gradually take root in his Dantian, and the multiplier had accelerated that process by dozens of times.

Luo Xi and Zhao Qizhen investigated a mysterious crater before approaching Yunsheng Market to carry out their secret operation. When a surge of Wood Power warned them of a powerful cultivator, they fled, but Han Yuan intercepted and killed Zhao Qizhen with an enhanced flying sword.

• Luo Xi and Zhao Qizhen found a fresh crater with no trace of the cultivator or beast that had made it, then continued toward Yunsheng Market cautiously.
• After scouting the market, Luo Xi and Zhao Qizhen prepared to contact Wu Baogang and discussed retreating if their operation went wrong.
• Luo Xi and Zhao Qizhen sensed Wood Power rushing toward Yunsheng Market and fled in separate directions.
• Han Yuan appeared in Zhao Qizhen's path and said he wanted to test his newly advanced cultivation against him.
• Han Yuan enhanced his flying sword with the Spirit Script “Swift as the Wind” and a random buff multiplier of 20, then killed Zhao Qizhen before he could use the Jade Netherfire Ring.

Han Yuan killed Zhao Qizhen with a single enhanced strike and pursued Luo Xi back to Gengchun Market. He ambushed and killed her just outside the market, leaving its defenders scrambling to activate their formation.

• Han Yuan realized his Spirit Words had made his Sword Pill strike too fast for Zhao Qizhen to resist, then burned the corpse and looted his Storage Ring.
• Han Yuan used Wood Escape to reach Gengchun Market and discovered its cultivators were preparing for battle while Luo Xi had yet to return.
• Han Yuan examined his awakened Ancient Wood Spirit Call Minor Divine Ability, which could cultivate spirit trees and summon fighting Tree Spirits.
• Luo Xi returned to the market after realizing Zhao Qizhen was likely dead and planned to change her defense assignment.
• Han Yuan ambushed Luo Xi near the market, severed her head, and destroyed her soul with a second strike.
• The middle-aged Golden Core True Person saw Luo Xi die and ordered the market's formation activated at full strength.

Han Yuan entered Gengchun Market through its formation using Wood Escape and summoned an army of Tree Spirits to attack the sect disciples guarding it. The market’s middle-aged Golden Core cultivator was left facing a sudden assault that had already killed or wounded more than half the Qi Condensation disciples and slain all seven Foundation Establishment cultivators.

• Han Yuan burned Luo Xi’s body and treasures, then waited outside Gengchun Market for its formation gate to open.
• The middle-aged Golden Core cultivator sent five Qi Refining squads into the mountains to search for Luo Xi’s remains and briefly opened the gate.
• Han Yuan slipped through the gate using Wood Escape, surveyed the market’s shops and vaults, and assessed the defenses around the entrance.
• Han Yuan decided to kill the guards and destroy the formation nodes before attacking the protected Golden Core cultivator.
• Han Yuan summoned three hundred smaller Tree Spirits, thirty larger Tree Spirits, and three Golden Core-level Tree Spirits, which attacked the gathered disciples.
• The Tree Spirits killed or wounded more than half the Qi Condensation disciples and immediately slew all seven Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Han Yuan used Ancient Wood Spirit Call to destroy the forces attacking Gengchun Market, then looted the Cloud Sun Sect and Danxia Sect before escaping back to Yunsheng Market. He found his room packed with low-grade treasures and wondered how to deal with them.

• Han Yuan discovered that he could control the summoned Tree Spirits while in Wood Escape and used one to kill the middle-aged Golden Core cultivator.
• The Tree Spirits slaughtered the two sects’ forces, and Han Yuan took the dead Golden Core cultivator’s Space Ring before dismissing the summoned trees.
• Han Yuan killed a Cloud Sun Sect disciple and looted the Cloud Sun Sect and Danxia Sect shops and storehouses, leaving the Rogue Cultivators’ and minor factions’ shops untouched.
• Han Yuan collected the Storage Pouches and Magic Tools from the battlefield and escaped as Zhou Xuanlin arrived with Earth God Sect cultivators.
• Zhou Xuanlin found the sect compounds emptied, identified the dead cultivator as Yu Hao rather than Zhao Qizhen, and prepared Gengchun Market’s defenses against the approaching Yu Long.
• Han Yuan returned to Yunsheng Market and found his room overflowing with low-grade treasures, leaving him unsure how to handle them.

Han Yuan disguised himself as a reclusive Golden Core expert and invited the Earth God Sect to trade for the market’s seized goods. Zhou Renyi met him at Red Valley Wine House and discovered that Han Yuan’s materials were worth an estimated 370 million Low-grade Spirit Stones.

• Han Yuan used the Wutian Mask and Hidden Qi Art to disguise his appearance and cultivation as a peak mid Golden Core.
• Zhou Renyi received Han Yuan’s message claiming he had killed three Golden Cores and wanted to trade with the Earth God Sect.
• Zhou Renyi decided to meet Han Yuan at Red Valley Wine House and told Chang Huixiu and the others to keep watch.
• Han Yuan hosted Zhou Renyi, whose first impression of Han Yuan’s aura shifted from overwhelming sword pressure to an almost imperceptible presence.
• Han Yuan gave Zhou Renyi a Jade Slip listing seized materials estimated to be worth 370 million Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Han Yuan proposed exchanging the resources seized at Gengchun Market for treasures that could improve cultivation, comprehension, or combat power, and Zhou Renyi referred the offer to the Earth God Sect's ancestor. Ancestor Ziyun approved the trade and sent a list of priced treasures, which Zhou Renyi handed to Han Yuan.

• Han Yuan asked Zhou Renyi to trade his seized resources for preferably Golden Core-grade treasures, arguing that the Earth God Sect could use the resources to strengthen its forces during the war.
• Zhou Renyi recognized that Han Yuan's offer also carried a warning about which side he might support, but requested permission from the sect before agreeing.
• Ancestor Ziyun received a report about Old Demon Han's victories and trade proposal, wondered briefly whether he could be Han Yuan, then selected treasures from the sect treasury instead of contacting him.
• Zhou Renyi received Ancestor Ziyun's approval and presented Han Yuan with a Jade Slip listing the treasures and their prices.

Han Yuan arranged to trade war resources for large quantities of flawed spiritual materials from the Earth God Sect, then left Zhou Renyi to receive the supplies. Meanwhile, Zhao Yumu learned that Zhao Qizhen had been killed and hurried to Yunsheng Market, where he waited outside its sealed formation through the night.

• Han Yuan ordered one hundred portions each of Earth Fiend Spiritual Fire, Profound Nether Heavy Water, and Profound Yin Yellow Earth, and Zhou Renyi secured the Earth God Sect's agreement to trade.
• Han Yuan left the resources at the Earth God Sect encampment and disappeared from Zhou Renyi's Spiritual Sense; Zhou Renyi found thousands of Storage Pouches awaiting inventory.
• Zhao Yumu successfully began cultivating the Divine Wood Immortal Scripture and discovered that it greatly increased his spiritual power's purity and his combat abilities.
• Zhao Yumu learned that Zhao Qizhen had been assassinated by an unknown Golden Core expert in Yunsheng Market and set out to avenge him.
• Zhao Yumu reached Yunsheng Market and waited to enter, but its formation remained sealed throughout the night.

Han Yuan detected Zhao Yumu near Gengchun Market and realized that his Jianmu Seed seemed to suppress cultivators who practiced a forged pseudo-Nascent Soul method. The discovery deepened his fear that the Jianmu Immortal Codex concealed a trap, and he quietly followed Zhao Yumu before withdrawing to wait for an opportunity.

• Zhao Yumu ended his Wood Escape to restore his mana, exposing his aura to Han Yuan.
• Han Yuan recognized Zhao Yumu and sensed that his Jianmu Seed could suppress him and potentially absorb his mana.
• Han Yuan suspected that the Jianmu Immortal Codex and other cultivation methods hid schemes that could turn their practitioners into tools, and he resolved to build his strength before Ascension.
• Han Yuan used Wood Escape and an Elder Token to leave the formation, then followed Zhao Yumu without being detected.
• Han Yuan saw Zhao Yumu's powerful defensive equipment and chose to return to the market and wait for a chance to act.

Han Yuan collected the materials from Zhou Renyi and agreed to join the Earth God Sect as a Guest Elder in exchange for five thousand contributions. After warning Zhou Renyi of a late Golden Core expert waiting near Yunsheng Market, Han Yuan left, and Zhou Xuanlin and Qian Fen set out to respond.

• Han Yuan found that Zhou Renyi had brought three hundred Jade Boxes of Profound Nether Heavy Water to Red Valley Wine House using the Earth God Sect’s miniature teleportation array.
• Zhou Renyi offered Han Yuan membership as a Guest Elder and explained the sect’s contribution rewards for killing hostile Golden Core cultivators and capturing a market.
• Han Yuan agreed to join as a Guest Elder and received a token containing five thousand contributions, but learned that Infant Nurturing Pills were unavailable to Guest Elders.
• Han Yuan warned Zhou Renyi that a late Golden Core expert was waiting outside Yunsheng Market, then departed.
• Zhou Xuanlin received Zhou Renyi’s request for aid, and Qian Fen agreed to accompany him after learning that Han Yuan had provided the warning.

Han Yuan used Fire Spirit Scripts to refine Earth Fiend Spiritual Fire, then absorbed it into his heart and gained greater control over fire. An 18x positive-effects buff strengthened the flame and removed its harmful effects, and after refining a second portion, he watched the first flame devour its spirituality.

• Han Yuan inscribed Fire Spirit Scripts and fed them to the Earth Fiend Spiritual Fire until his True Essence and Spiritual Sense marks subdued it.
• Han Yuan guided the spiritual fire into his heart, where it purified his blood and sharpened his perception of Fire Attribute Spiritual Energy, though its Killing Intent threatened his mind.
• A die granted an 18x positive-effects multiplier and reduced the flame’s negative effects by 180%, raising it to mid-grade Earth-rank and turning its Qi of Earth Sha into a force that strengthened Han Yuan’s mind and Spiritual Sense.
• Han Yuan tested the stronger Earth Fire, noted its heavy True Essence consumption, and refined a second portion of Earth Fiend Spiritual Fire.
• Han Yuan placed the second portion in his heart, and the first Earth Fiend Spiritual Fire enveloped it and began devouring its spirituality.

Han Yuan completely refined the Earth Fiend Spiritual Fire, then discovered that Earth God Sect cultivators had prepared a formation to deal with Zhao Yumu. When Zhao Yumu entered the market town and was detected, three Golden Core cultivators attacked him.

• Han Yuan used his soul power to absorb the Earth Fiend Spiritual Fire’s emerging intelligence, making the flame a part of himself and granting him keen perception of fire.
• Han Yuan discovered Zhou Xuanlin and Qian Fen setting up a massive trapping and killing formation, but they decided not to summon him.
• Qian Fen and Zhou Xuanlin entered the market town through a concealed route as the gates opened and Rogue Cultivators fled.
• Zhao Yumu used Wood Escape to enter the market town and searched the Earth God Sect’s garrison for his target.
• Qian Fen detected Zhao Yumu hiding in a spiritual tree, and her flying sword severed its life force before three Golden Core cultivators attacked him.

Zhao Yumu was ambushed by Zhou Renyi, Zhou Xuanlin, and Qian Fen inside the market and fought desperately to escape. After Qian Fen’s Sword Array overwhelmed his defenses, he broke open the formation entrance and fled outside, badly wounded.

• Zhao Yumu met the three attackers’ weapons with his treasured sword and summoned Thousand Silk Vines, but Zhou Renyi used the market formation to destroy the vines with lightning.
• Zhou Xuanlin blocked Zhao Yumu’s escape with thorn tree demons, while Qian Fen attacked him and sent him crashing into a crater with Zhou Renyi’s lightning.
• Zhao Yumu revealed that his inherited cultivation technique had transformed his spiritual power, then tried to escape while Qian Fen and Zhou Xuanlin pressed their attacks.
• Qian Fen summoned a twelve-sword Sword Array, forcing Zhao Yumu to use a wooden block and Wood Escape Technique to reappear near the market entrance.
• Zhao Yumu used talismans and a defensive Spiritual Tool to withstand the Sword Array while attacking the formation, finally opening a gap and escaping outside after being struck and coughing up blood.