Chapter Summaries

Liu Ding helped Liu Yandong expose Nie Zhengxu’s secret use of the Soul Forging Cauldrons and delay Liu Ji’s access to them. Later, Liu Ding met the Cloaked Elder, whose limited cultivation shattered his hopes of relying on a powerful hidden mentor in the Sect Lord Contention.

• Liu Ding told Liu Yandong about the medicinal bath, and Liu Yandong called an emergency meeting to share the method with the clan.
• Liu Yandong arranged a borrowing queue for the Soul Forging Cauldrons, leaving Liu Ji far down the list when Nie Zhengxu arrived.
• Liu Yandong accused Nie Zhengxu of secretly helping Liu Ji and of putting his own interests ahead of the family, drawing the clansmen’s contempt.
• Still stuck at the Fourth Soul-Forging Cauldron, Liu Ding considered borrowing the Murong Family’s pill before an aged voice warned him against mixing cultivation methods.
• The Cloaked Elder appeared and revealed that he was only at the Fourth Soul-Forging Cauldron, leaving Liu Ding dismayed that his mentor could not help him win the Sect Lord Contention.

The Cloaked Elder told Liu Ding that blocked Meridian Courts were keeping him from breaking through the Five Soulforging Cauldrons and prescribed getting beaten to open them. Liu Ding arranged for Liu Tao to kick him, and her blow began clearing the Soul Power in his meridians.

• Liu Ding despaired of escaping the Liu family's troubles, but the Cloaked Elder said he could teach him a way to cultivate.
• The Cloaked Elder explained that Liu Ding's body was too powerful for his Soul Power and suggested having someone strike open his blocked Meridian Courts.
• The Cloaked Elder recommended Liu Tao, and Liu Ding went to find her at the Martial Arts Hall.
• Liu Ding pretended to apologize to Liu Tao, then teased her until she kicked him in anger.
• Liu Tao struck the Meridian Court in Liu Ding's Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and the blocked Soul Power began surging through his meridians.

Liu Ding provoked Liu Tao into beating him, then used Zhi'er's medicinal bath to heal and cultivate. He briefly cleared his blocked Meridian Courts, but they began clogging again as General Jiang appeared and rebuked his expectations.

• Liu Tao beat Liu Ding after he claimed his apology did not count and challenged her to return the next day.
• Liu Tao and Liu Ding emerged from the soundproof combat room to find a crowd misreading their bruises and comments, and Liu Tao left in anger.
• Zhi'er recognized Liu Tao had injured Liu Ding, then brought him Du Meridian Fluid to repair his meridians.
• Liu Ding cultivated in the medicinal bath, clearing his Meridian Courts and nourishing his body with the transformed medicinal qi.
• Liu Ding's Meridian Courts began clogging again, and General Jiang told him he was naive to think he could clear them all at once.

Liu Ding learned that clearing his Meridian Court required costly ingredients, including earth-element beast blood and Gallstone Crystals, and went with Zhi'er to shop for supplies. After Zhi'er lent him ten thousand gold coins, they headed to Mercenary Street to find the remaining materials.

• General Jiang told Liu Ding to use Du Meridian Fluid with ferocious beast blood and earth-element Gallstone Crystals to clear his Meridian Court, and Liu Ding worried about the cost.
• Liu Ding asked Zhi'er for money and medicinal ingredients, and she agreed to take him to the night market and pay for what he needed.
• Zhi'er bought Bone Forging Root and Meridian Fusion Grass for Liu Ding, then lent him a gold card containing ten thousand coins.
• Liu Ding explained that only fresh beast blood and earth-element Gallstone Crystals remained, and that the crystals contained Beast Soul Qi.
• Liu Ding led Zhi'er to Mercenary Street, where mercenaries sold beast blood and Gallstone Crystals under the Liu Clan's control.

Liu Ding visited Bleser City's Mercenary Street with Zhi'er and bought a Snow Rhino after bargaining with two mercenaries. While they butchered it, he noticed a bundle in its entrails that resonated with his soul, and General Jiang told him it contained something precious.

• Liu Chengwen recognized Liu Ding and offered guards, but Liu Ding declined and continued through the market with Zhi'er.
• Liu Chengwen secretly ordered his subordinates to protect Liu Ding and Zhi'er as they shopped.
• Liu Ding left Zhi'er near the stalls and found a Snow Rhino, bargaining its blood and Gallstone Crystal down to eight hundred gold coins.
• As the mercenaries butchered the Snow Rhino, Liu Ding spotted a grease-wrapped bundle in its entrails and heard General Jiang say it held something precious.
• Liu Ding bought the whole Snow Rhino for one thousand gold coins, then claimed he no longer wanted it, but the mercenaries insisted the completed sale stood.

Liu Ding bought a hidden bundle from a Snow Rhino and went to buy jewelry for Zhi'er, but Shi Zhongyu grabbed her and injured him when he intervened. Liu Chengwen nearly forced Shi Zhongyu to kneel, but Liu Ji and Nie Zhengxu arrived and Nie blamed Liu Chengwen, leaving the dispute unresolved.

• Liu Ding bought the Snow Rhino from two mercenaries, retrieved an oilcloth bundle from its belly, and used market guards to enforce the deal.
• Liu Ding decided to buy Zhi'er a Pomegranate Crystal Necklace, but Shi Zhongyu grabbed her hand while he was away.
• Liu Ding attacked Shi Zhongyu and was thrown to the ground, where Zhi'er helped him up as the crowd condemned Shi Zhongyu.
• Liu Chengwen arrived with a patrol squad, recognized Shi Zhongyu as the Stone Clan's eldest young master, and prepared to confront him after Liu Ding demanded a Black Tortoise Soul Forging Pill.
• Liu Chengwen and the guards took Soul Forging Pills and threatened Shi Zhongyu until he agreed to kneel and apologize to Zhi'er.
• Liu Ji and Nie Zhengxu arrived, and Shi Zhongyu claimed he had only tried to steady Zhi'er while Nie accused Liu Chengwen of provoking a conflict between the clans.

Liu Ding endured humiliation from Shi Zhongyu and resolved to become strong enough to protect Liu Zhi. After learning that the jade bottle contained a Soul Method he could only activate at Qilin Five Cauldrons, he continued training with Liu Tao, whose surprise kick triggered a possible breakthrough.

• Liu Ding insulted Shi Zhongyu, but Liu Chengwen stopped the confrontation and Nie Zhengxu led Shi Zhongyu away.
• Liu Ding left with Liu Zhi and resolved to grow stronger so he could protect her.
• General Jiang identified the bottle’s contents as a Soul Method that Liu Ding could refine only after reaching Qilin Five Cauldrons and stabilizing his Soul Power.
• After more than three months of training, Liu Tao kicked Liu Ding unexpectedly, and a surge of soul energy struck both of them.
• Liu Tao felt signs of a breakthrough to the Five Soulforging Cauldrons and sat down to cultivate.

Liu Ding and Liu Tao accidentally linked their soul energy while fighting, helping both break through to Five Soulforging Cauldrons. After Liu Tao compared him unfavorably to Liu Ji, Liu Ding insisted he could surpass the clan’s so-called genius, and Liu Tao challenged him to defeat Liu Ji in the Sect Master contest.

• Liu Ding’s soul energy surged through his Governing Vessel after Liu Tao struck his Meridian Courts, and he retaliated by slapping her while trying to clear his own blockage.
• Liu Tao kicked Liu Ding at the Huiyin Meridian Court, causing soul energy in his Ren and Governing Meridians to collide and stir a breakthrough.
• Liu Tao’s punches helped Liu Ding clear his Meridian Courts, and their foreheads joined at the Shenting points, linking their soul energy.
• Liu Ding and Liu Tao both broke through to Five Soulforging Cauldrons, then collapsed from exhaustion.
• Liu Tao demanded that Liu Ding keep their encounter secret from Liu Ji and belittled him by comparing his progress with Liu Ji’s.
• Liu Ding declared that he could surpass Liu Ji, and Liu Tao promised to serve him for life if he defeated Liu Ji in the Sect Master contest.

Liu Ding rejected Liu Tao and confronted Liu Ji after breaking through, then left with Zhi'er, who confirmed his advancement to Five Soulforging Cauldrons. Back home, Liu Ding found that Du Meridian Fluid no longer helped his cultivation, and General Jiang suggested refining the Soul Method inside the Small Jade Bottle.

• Liu Ding told Liu Tao he bore no responsibility for her brother's death and declared he would enter the Sect Lord Contention, while showing no interest in her.
• Liu Ji confronted Liu Ding, but Liu Ding's new strength made him back down; Liu Ding then provoked him by claiming he had been intimate with Liu Tao.
• Liu Ding left with Zhi'er, and Liu Tao angrily revealed that Liu Ji's original surname was Nie before shutting herself in the fighting room.
• Zhi'er confirmed Liu Ding had reached Five Soulforging Cauldrons, then teased him about living off her and flirting with Liu Tao as they spent the afternoon together.
• Liu Ding recovered in Du Meridian Fluid at home but found its cultivation effect had faded, so General Jiang suggested he refine the Soul Method in the Small Jade Bottle.

Liu Ding opened the Small Jade Bottle and cultivated the Seven Souls Separation Method, eventually leaving his body as a soul. When the wind nearly scattered him, General Jiang saved him with the Black Cloak, then appeared inside it looking exhausted.

• Liu Ding prepared himself with incense, meditation, and the character “Zen” before opening the Small Jade Bottle and learning the Seven Souls Separation Method.
• Liu Ding failed to leave his body several times, then realized the method required the Four Symbols to appear on the cauldron above his head.
• Liu Ding successfully separated his soul from his body, but gusts of wind threatened to scatter his consciousness.
• General Jiang's Black Cloak enveloped Liu Ding and restored him to his body.
• Liu Ding draped the Black Cloak over the incense burner, revealing General Jiang's haggard figure, and realized the cloak protected souls from dispersing.

Liu Ding practiced the Seven Souls Separation Method until he could safely roam at night, hoping to strengthen his soul before the battle for the sect master position. While wandering, he overheard Liu Tao’s parents reveal that Nie Zhengxu planned to help Liu Ji reach the Seven Soul-Forging Cauldrons realm, leaving Liu Ding facing an even more dangerous contest.

• Liu Ding successfully separated his soul again, and General Jiang advised him to practice the Soul Method until he could roam at night and seek a place to gather soul qi.
• General Jiang said Liu Ding would learn the truth about him by defeating Liu Ji, then vanished before revealing where Liu Ding could find more soul qi.
• After an early attempt at night roaming nearly scattered his soul, Liu Ding practiced for forty-nine days while Zhi'er and Sister Zhu'er worried over his cultivation.
• Liu Ding finally roamed safely through Crescent Moon Bay and passed through the walls of Liu Tao's home.
• Liu Tao told her parents that Liu Ding’s soul qi seemed stronger than Liu Ji’s, but her father revealed that Nie Zhengxu planned to help Liu Ji reach the Seven Soul-Forging Cauldrons realm.

Liu Ding secretly watched Liu Tao learn Dragon Crushing Hand, then nearly lost his soul when his protective incense burned out. Zhi'er saved him with fresh incense and told him where to find the clan's insights on the martial skill.

• Liu Tao's parents urged her to cultivate for the Sect Lord Contention and gave her the stolen Dragon Crushing Hand scroll to master.
• Liu Ding studied the scroll and watched Liu Tao demonstrate the skill, but its scorching force drove him back.
• Liu Ding's soul began to drift away after the Lin incense burned out, until Zhi'er lit more incense and helped him return to his body.
• Liu Ding told Zhi'er about his night wandering and what he had seen, and she revealed that Dragon Crushing Hand insights were in the Library Pavilion.
• Liu Ding agreed to sleep, but he lay awake dreaming about Dragon Crushing Hand.

Liu Ding revealed his breakthrough to Five Soulforging Cauldrons to Liu Yandong, then mastered Dragon Crushing Hand using Liu Mushan’s Notes. Guided by General Jiang, he entered the clan’s Everlasting Cave at midnight to train among its ghosts and absorb soul energy.

• Liu Ding told Liu Yandong he had reached Five Soulforging Cauldrons, and Liu Yandong promised to help him pursue Six Soulforging Cauldrons before the Sect Master contest.
• Liu Ding studied Liu Mushan’s Notes and used memories of golden dragons to master Dragon Crushing Hand after three days of practice.
• General Jiang suggested that Liu Ding try gathering invisible soul energy with the technique and promised to take him somewhere rich in soul energy that night.
• General Jiang led Liu Ding to Everlasting Cave, warned him that ghosts could devour soul spirits, and taught him an incantation to repel them.
• Liu Ding entered Everlasting Cave and was met by chilling wind and terrifying shrieks.

Liu Ding gathered Yin Soul Qi in Everlasting Cave and glimpsed a hidden valley, but the mixed souls nearly drove him mad. After Zhi'er used costly Dream Incense to help him refine the energy, General Jiang revealed that the valley was real and could provide Liu Ding with rare herbs to sell.

• Liu Ding scattered the Yin souls in Everlasting Cave, gathered their soul qi, and broke through further in the Five Soulforging Cauldrons realm.
• Liu Ding launched a soul sphere at the cave wall, briefly revealing a valley of rare medicinal herbs before the vision vanished.
• After leaving the cave, Liu Ding collapsed when the mixed Yin Soul Qi in his Sea of Souls turned violent.
• Sister Zhu'er told Liu Ding that Zhi'er was preparing an antidote, and Zhi'er used expensive Dream Incense to help him refine the Yin Soul Qi.
• General Jiang told Liu Ding that the valley behind Everlasting Cave was real, sealed by the family, and filled with herbs he could gather to make money.

Liu Ding entered the hidden cave within Everlasting Cave and found an ancient study whose books crumbled to dust when touched. He memorized a surviving scroll about reaching the Six Soulforging Cauldrons stage and learned the Du Ling Juice formula, then remained inside with its secrets.

• General Jiang told Liu Ding to light candles and sandalwood incense in Everlasting Cave, refine his divine soul, and open the hidden passage to Everlasting Valley.
• After waiting two or three days, Liu Ding left a letter for Zhi'er and the others and slipped into Everlasting Cave at night.
• Liu Ding appeased the Yin souls with candles and incense, found a concealed mechanism in the rock wall, and entered the cave within a cave.
• Liu Ding cleaned the dust from a Night-Luminescent Pearl and discovered a desolate cave residence filled with shelves of cultivation manuals that crumbled when touched.
• Liu Ding carefully read a surviving scroll explaining how to break through from the Five Soulforging Cauldrons to the Six and memorized the Du Ling Juice formula and refining method.

Liu Ding discovered Everlasting Valley hidden beyond the cave dwelling and learned how to open its sealed gate by using a creature’s attack against the mechanism. After seven nights of refining his soul, he opened the gate and rushed into the valley.

• Liu Ding memorized the Du Ling Juice scroll, then searched the cave walls with his soul and discovered Everlasting Valley, a vast garden of rare medicinal plants.
• Liu Ding returned to his body after three days, reassured Zhi'er, and decided to refine Du Ling Juice himself without telling her about the valley.
• General Jiang explained that Liu Ding could use the cave dwelling’s unique substance to make his soul physical and redirect a creature’s attack onto the gate mechanism.
• Liu Ding spent seven nights refining the substance into his soul with Dream Incense, then entered Everlasting Valley and lured a speckled hen toward the mechanism.
• Liu Ding merged into the mechanism as the hen pecked it, endured severe soul pain, and opened the gate before rushing into Everlasting Valley.

Liu Ding refined Du Ling Juice by using his consecrated divine soul to infuse it with qilin soul qi, then took his herbs to Bleser City to sell. After the Spirit Herb Pavilion clerk dismissed him, Liu Ding threatened to take his business elsewhere, and a woman arrived to question the clerk.

• Liu Ding gathered ingredients in Everlasting Valley and repeatedly infused the steaming Du Ling Juice with qilin soul qi, successfully refining his first bottle.
• Liu Ding filled his bag with herbs and returned to the courtyard, where Zhi'er recognized rare ingredients for Dream Incense and Du Ling Juice.
• Liu Ding refused to let Zhi'er trade the Du Ling Juice ingredients and went to Bleser City to sell his refined medicine at the Ximen Family's Spirit Herb Pavilion.
• The Spirit Herb Pavilion clerk treated Liu Ding dismissively, so Liu Ding threatened to take his business to the Murong Family's Divine Pill Chamber.
• A woman entered the Spirit Herb Pavilion, asked Xiao Zhu why he was arguing with a customer, and heard the clerk accuse Liu Ding of causing trouble.

Liu Ding received a Soul-Devouring Beast's Gallstone Crystal from Ximen Yaoji and learned that the Murong Divine Pill Chamber had driven her Spirit Herb Pavilion toward closure by promoting a rival cultivation liquid and pressuring its customers. He offered to help and showed Yaoji his Du Ling Juice, asking her to compare it with the rival product.

• After Yaoji promised him any medicinal ingredient in stock, Liu Ding asked for a Soul-Devouring Beast's Gallstone Crystal, and she gave him one for free.
• Liu Ding offered to help save the Spirit Herb Pavilion, and Yaoji sent Xiao Zhu home after Liu Ding threatened to have him fired.
• Yaoji told Liu Ding that the Murong Divine Pill Chamber had obtained the Liu Clan's Qilin Soul Forging Pill formula and created Zhe Spirit Liquid by combining it with the Murong Clan's Taotie Soul Forging Pill.
• Yaoji explained that the Murong Divine Pill Chamber had pressured Zhe Spirit Liquid users to avoid her shop, causing the Spirit Herb Pavilion's business to plummet.
• Liu Ding handed Yaoji a bottle of Du Ling Juice and asked her to compare it with Zhe Spirit Liquid.

Liu Ding offered Ximen Yaoji a partnership to sell his Du Ling Juice and help the Spirit Herb Pavilion defeat the Murong Divine Pill Chamber. They planned to use the upcoming Pill Trade Fair to challenge the rival’s Zhe Spirit Liquid, and Ximen Yaoji learned that Liu Ding was the Liu Clan’s supposedly foolish young master.

• Liu Ding explained that Du Ling Juice used different ingredients from the Liu Clan’s Qilin Soul Forging Pill, and Ximen Yaoji confirmed its potency.
• Liu Ding agreed to split profits with the Spirit Herb Pavilion fifty-fifty if it supplied Soul-Devouring Beast Gallstone Crystals, Jade Marrow Fungus, and Yin Condensing Grass every three days.
• Liu Ding demanded that Ximen Yaoji strike back against the Murong Divine Pill Chamber, and she proposed using the Pill Trade Fair in half a month to pit Du Ling Juice against Zhe Spirit Liquid.
• Liu Ding told Ximen Yaoji to promote Du Ling Juice without letting customers try it, hoping the rival would increase production and suffer losses when the products were compared.
• Ximen Yaoji recognized Liu Ding as the Liu Clan’s so-called fool, and Liu Ding called himself a legend.

Liu Ding accepted Ximen Yaoji’s Restoration Pill for his grandfather and returned to find the Liu Clan elders arguing over the Sect Lord Contention rules and the Murong Divine Pill Chamber’s Zhe Spirit Liquid. As the elders considered letting Liu Ding try the liquid, he stepped forward to reject their hopes of a miracle.

• Ximen Yaoji gave Liu Ding a Restoration Pill after explaining that Nie Zhengxu had spread word of Liu Yandong’s declining cultivation, and Liu Ding hurried back to the clan.
• Liu Ding arrived at the Sect Lord’s residence and heard Liu Yandong and Nie Zhengxu arguing over whether Six Soulforging Cauldrons disciples should receive an advantage in the Sect Lord Contention.
• Liu Chengyuan proposed letting Six Soulforging Cauldrons disciples enter the clan competition’s top eight, and the elders agreed to the arrangement.
• Nie Zhengxu promoted the Murong Divine Pill Chamber’s Zhe Spirit Liquid, while Liu Yandong warned that it could damage the Liu Clan disciples’ cultivation paths.
• After most elders left to seek the Zhe Spirit Liquid, the remaining elders suggested Liu Ding try it, and Liu Ding declared that there would be no miracle.