Chapter Summaries

After four years of cultivation at Qinghua Pond, Li Qing broke through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and began planning a trip south to investigate the Lingyun Sect and his token. He left the cave abode in good spirits, with a possible auction approaching in ten days.

• Li Qing continued practicing the Soul Condensing Slash, using the Soul Nurturing Bell to ease the pain and nourish his soul.
• Cao Xiu delivered Beast Raising Pills and Beast Feeding Pills, and told Li Qing that Senior Qingyang planned to hold an auction at Qinghua Pond in ten days.
• Rice Bucket's transformation had made him a Late First-tier beast, and his killing intent frightened Cao Xiu as he delivered the pills.
• Li Qing sensed a breakthrough, swallowed a Peiyuan Pill, and advanced to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.
• Li Qing decided to gather information on Mu Kingdom and the Lingyun Sect, verify whether his token was an Ascension Token, and seek another Foundation Establishment Pill.

Li Qing attended Daoist Qingyang’s auction at Qinghua Pond, where he sold pills and magic tools and bought auxiliary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills. When Daoist Qingyang presented a nearly five-hundred-year-old Bao Yuan Tree trunk, Li Qing’s interest sharpened as the auction continued.

• Li Qing disguised his appearance, prepared pills and Low-grade Magic Tools to consign, and went to the auction beside Qinghua Pond.
• Li Qing recognized several Tianhe Sect elders among the Foundation Establishment Realm guests and kept a low profile as Daoist Qingyang opened the auction.
• The three bottles of Guangling Pills and Qi Condensing Pills sold for more than eight hundred spirit stones, while Xu Sanniang and Cao Xiu could not afford them.
• A four-hundred-year Earth Yellow Essence sparked fierce bidding among Tianhe Sect elders and sold for one thousand eight hundred spirit stones.
• Li Qing’s consigned Low-grade Magic Tools sold for nearly four hundred spirit stones, and he bought several auxiliary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Daoist Qingyang presented a nearly five-hundred-year-old Bao Yuan Tree trunk, and Li Qing reacted with keen interest.

Li Qing passed on bidding for a five-hundred-year-old Bao Yuan Tree trunk, but realized he might still obtain the worm-eaten remainder for his body-tempering art. Daoist Qingyang then offered three rare inheritances for confidential exchanges as the auction neared its end.

• Li Qing decided not to bid against Foundation Establishment cultivators for the Bao Yuan Tree trunk, which sold for just over sixteen hundred spirit stones.
• The buyer noticed the trunk had a fresh cut, and Daoist Qingyang explained that he had removed a worm-eaten section to study its spirit worm eggs.
• Li Qing realized the discarded section still contained Spirit Wood Essence and planned to ask Daoist Qingyang about buying it after the auction.
• Daoist Qingyang offered an Azure Steel Flying Cloud Shield, a Second-grade Low-tier Talisman inheritance, and the Shi Family's Prajna Water Scripture with Heavy Water Transformation in exchange for items rather than spirit stones.
• After a bidder questioned whether the inheritances might be sold to multiple people, Daoist Qingyang swore he would not duplicate any sale.

Li Qing negotiated with Daoist Qingyang to exchange a five-hundred-year-old Sky Star Grass for the remaining Bao Yuan Tree spirit wood, then set out for the secret realm. After nearly a month of careful travel, he reached its entrance, intending to investigate the Medicine Field Mountain Peaks and check on the Jade Locust Tree.

• After the auction, Li Qing visited Daoist Qingyang and asked to trade for the spirit-worm-damaged Bao Yuan Tree spirit wood.
• Daoist Qingyang rejected Li Qing's spirit stones and second-tier alchemy inheritance, but agreed to reserve the wood in exchange for a Sky Star Grass over five hundred years old.
• Li Qing returned to his cave abode and planned to enter the secret realm to break restrictions on a Medicine Field Mountain Peak and inspect the Jade Locust Tree.
• Three days later, Li Qing put Rice Bucket in his Beast Taming Pouch and left Qinghua Pond, traveling cautiously through remote routes.
• After nearly a month, Li Qing reached the small hillock at the secret realm's entrance.

Li Qing returned to the Eternal Night World after decades had passed there and encountered a restless mushroom forest whose crimson spores fed on blood and vitality. After escaping the forest and avoiding a search by black-feathered fliers, he was confronted by a Black Feather Person who demanded to taste his blood, leaving Li Qing ready to fight.

• Li Qing entered the Eternal Night World with Rice Bucket and discovered that Rice Bucket could safely absorb the Red Moon Secret Power.
• The mushroom trees began moving and scattering crimson spores, forcing Li Qing to flee while using the Crimson Shadow Umbrella to shield himself.
• Crimson spores rooted in Li Qing's hand and drained his vitality until he stopped their growth with the Limitless Golden Body and scraped them off with the Dragon-like Dagger.
• Li Qing hid from four black-feathered fliers, who blamed the forest's disturbance on a martial arts expert from Giant Rock City.
• A Black Feather Person confronted Li Qing and demanded a taste of his blood, prompting Li Qing to respond with killing intent.

Li Qing overpowered a Black Feather Outsider, learned how Giant Rock City and martial arts had changed, and killed four Heavenly Measure Mountain disciples who witnessed his cultivation spells. He avoided the mutated mushroom forest and continued luring exotic beasts with crimson moonlight, while planning to explore Heavenly Measure Mountain after reaching Foundation Establishment.

• Li Qing seized the Black Feather Outsider, broke one of his wings, and resisted his iron-feather attack with the Limitless Golden Body.
• Li Qing questioned the captive, who explained that the mushroom forest had turned bloodthirsty twelve years earlier and that Giant Rock City’s martial arts had changed after Zhao Kou became a Grandmaster and suppressed a Red Moon Secret Power outbreak.
• Three more Black Feather Outsiders arrived, and Li Qing killed them with Fireball Spells before killing their captive companion with his Dragon-like Dagger.
• Li Qing decided to avoid the mushroom forest and postpone exploring Heavenly Measure Mountain until he reached Foundation Establishment.
• Li Qing released Rice Bucket to continue transforming under the red moon, then used the Jade Pendant to lure exotic beasts from the Eternal Night World.

Li Qing used the jade pendant to draw red moonlight and accelerate Rice Bucket’s transformation, but the concentrated power attracted a terrifying One-Eyed Giant Deer. As the beast charged toward them, Li Qing prepared to escape with Rice Bucket before it arrived.

• Li Qing captured three Mid First-tier strange beasts and then found Rice Bucket undergoing a transformation beneath the red moon.
• Li Qing used the jade pendant to gather red moonlight around Rice Bucket, accelerating his transformation while watching for changes to his consciousness.
• Li Qing realized Rice Bucket seemed resistant to Red Moon Secret Power and worried that ancient demonic beasts in the Eternal Night World might have become immensely powerful.
• The red moonlight attracted a violent One-Eyed Giant Deer, which charged toward Li Qing and the cocooned Rice Bucket.
• With the giant deer almost upon them, Li Qing began preparing Two Realms Travel and waited for Rice Bucket’s transformation to finish.

Li Qing escaped the Eternal Night World with Rice Bucket, which reached the peak of Late First-tier after absorbing the crimson moonlight. He then began breaking the restriction around the Medicine Field Mountain Peak, discovering that his Black Furnace could withstand its powerful attacks.

• Li Qing and Rice Bucket vanished just before the One-Eyed Giant Deer crushed them, and a powerful Black Feather Person later collected the corpses of the four fallen Black Feather People.
• Back in the Soul Nurturing Secret Realm, Rice Bucket emerged from its cocoon and absorbed World Spiritual Energy until it reached Peak Late First-tier, gaining dark crimson fur and mismatched black and red eyes.
• Li Qing surveyed the restriction around the Medicine Field Mountain Peak and chose a weak point to attack with demonic beasts attracted by his blood and red crystal.
• Li Qing released three demonic beasts in succession, and their attacks tore a small gap in the restriction before all three died.
• Li Qing tested the Black Furnace against the restriction's attack and found it undamaged, then used it to block the killing lights as he approached the gap.

Li Qing harvested Sky Star Grass from Medicine Field Mountain Peak and successfully cultivated the Soul Condensing Slash. After using a thousand-year Sky Star Grass to recover and strengthen his soul, he prepared to leave the secret realm with Rice Bucket.

• Li Qing harvested an eight-hundred-year Sky Star Grass for his trade with Daoist Qingyang and picked several younger plants for himself.
• Li Qing endured severe soul pain and successfully formed and unleashed the Soul Condensing Slash.
• Li Qing swallowed a thousand-year Sky Star Grass, which relieved the strain on his soul and strengthened his Spiritual Sense.
• Li Qing tested the Soul Condensing Slash and noticed the world appeared more vivid before calling Rice Bucket to accompany him back.

Li Qing exchanged an eight-hundred-year-old Sky Star Grass with Daoist Qingyang for the Bao Yuan Tree trunk and an offer of Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients. He used the trunk to complete the third layer of the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art, leaving his physical strength just below that of a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Body Cultivator.

• Li Qing gave Daoist Qingyang an eight-hundred-year-old Sky Star Grass and received the Bao Yuan Tree trunk, while Daoist Qingyang offered to bring him supplementary Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients from Tianhe Marketplace.
• Li Qing returned to his cave abode, found that Cao Xiu had kept it clean, and decided to cultivate there until its lease was nearly over.
• Li Qing absorbed the Spirit Wood Essence from the Bao Yuan Tree trunk to temper his body, and the trunk crumbled into powder once its vitality was exhausted.
• Li Qing completed the third layer of the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art and tested his strength, blasting a crater into the stone floor with a restrained punch.
• Li Qing judged his body to be far stronger than that of a Late Qi Refining Body Cultivator but slightly weaker than that of a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Body Cultivator.

After months of cultivation, Li Qing left Qinghua Pond and gave Cao Xiu pills, temporary access to his cave dwelling, and advice to keep advancing. He met Ye Feng in Tianhe Marketplace to collect intelligence about Mu Kingdom and the Lingyun Sect, but after drinking with him, Li Qing suddenly collapsed.

• Li Qing ended his seclusion, left Guangling Pills and a carved message for Cao Xiu, and departed from Qinghua Pond.
• Cao Xiu found Li Qing’s gifts and message, then knelt to thank him and resolved to remember his advice.
• Li Qing entered Tianhe Marketplace and met Ye Feng, who had gathered intelligence about Mu Kingdom and the Lingyun Sect.
• Ye Feng hosted Li Qing with aged Hundred Flower Spirit Brew, and Li Qing read the intelligence while drinking.
• Li Qing drank a bowl with Ye Feng, then dropped his wine bowl and appeared to collapse.

Li Qing survived Ye Feng’s attempt to poison and kill him, then killed Ye Feng and fled Tianhe Marketplace before the sect could seal it. The Tianhe Sect discovered Ye Feng’s death and began investigating as Li Qing escaped into the forest on Rice Bucket.

• Ye Feng confessed that he had drugged Li Qing to steal his Foundation Establishment Pill and inherit the Soul Nurturing Temple secret realm, then tried to kill him.
• Li Qing used Soul Condensing Slash to grievously wound Ye Feng’s soul, exposed the poison on the bowl, and killed him with the broken sword.
• Li Qing took Ye Feng’s Storage Bag and intelligence, then hurried to leave Tianhe Marketplace, reflecting on how Ye Feng’s treatment in the sect had changed him.
• Li Qing passed through the marketplace exit, heard disciples disparage Ye Feng and his visitors, and withdrew his spiritual sense as he fled into the forest.
• Tianhe Sect disciples sealed Tianhe Marketplace, so Li Qing mounted Rice Bucket and raced away.
• A guardian in the Tianhe Sect’s Soul Lantern Hall discovered Ye Feng’s broken Soul Lantern and ordered an investigation into the law enforcement disciple’s death.

After Li Qing killed Ye Feng in self-defense, the Tianhe Sect branded him a demon and launched a region-wide hunt. Liu Hanyue and Jiu Xiao recognized that the sect had broader motives but could not intervene, while Li Qing struggled to escape through Little Cui Ridge.

• Tianhe Sect elders used disciples’ memories to sketch Li Qing’s portrait, declared him a wanted criminal, and ordered his capture.
• The Tianhe Sect spread Li Qing’s wanted posters, warned Cultivation Families not to shelter him, and sealed routes toward Mu Kingdom and Liang Kingdom.
• Liu Hanyue visited Jiu Xiao to ask about Li Qing, and Jiu Xiao explained that the sect was using the case to assert authority and train its disciples.
• Jiu Xiao and Liu Hanyue understood that Li Qing was in danger but did not risk opposing the sect’s decision.
• Li Qing hid in Little Cui Ridge, found his wanted posters throughout the region, and decided he needed another way to reach Mu Kingdom.

Li Qing decided to evade the Tianhe Sect blockade by detouring north through Wangyuan City and into Shangqing Sect territory. Meanwhile, Senior Brother Yang used a Divination Instrument to track the Storage Bag Li Qing had taken, and his squad rushed north after him.

• Li Qing judged the wilderness too heavily patrolled to cross and chose to travel north through Wangyuan City, Liang Kingdom, and Shangqing Sect territory before heading to Mu Kingdom.
• A Tianhe Sect squad discussed the bounty on Li Qing and the Origin Melting Fruit offered for capturing him alive.
• Senior Brother Yang recognized Li Qing from a Liu Family Clan Sacrifice and believed Li Qing’s rapid cultivation and hidden fate pointed to a valuable secret.
• Senior Brother Yang explained that his uncle had used the law enforcement disciple’s Storage Bag to determine Li Qing’s general direction.
• Senior Brother Yang activated a bronze Divination Instrument, which pointed north, and led the squad in pursuit of Li Qing.

Li Qing tried to evade the Tianhe Sect by hiding in the wilderness, but Yang Xi and four disciples tracked him with a Divination Instrument. After Li Qing killed Lin Ya, he continued north while the remaining disciples pursued him.

• Li Qing concealed his aura with a Breath Concealing Talisman and the Jade Ruyi, then headed toward a mortal city and a route north to Liang Kingdom.
• Yang Xi and four Tianhe Sect disciples tracked Li Qing with a Divination Instrument and attacked the forest with their Serpent-headed Spirit Boat.
• Yang Xi sent the disciples to search the forest, promising a Foundation Establishment Pill to whoever found Li Qing.
• Li Qing ambushed and killed Lin Ya, took his Storage Bag, and left without alerting the other searchers immediately.
• Yang Xi saw the Divination Instrument point north and led the remaining disciples after Li Qing, who raced north through the forest under cover of night.

Li Qing wandered through Xunjiang City, enjoyed returning to the mortal world, and avoided visiting his parents for fear Tianhe Sect would use them to find him. He then discovered that Tianhe Sect had tracked him to the city, leaving him hidden among the crowds as his pursuers debated what to do.

• Li Qing walked through Xunjiang City, brushed away petty thieves, and bought straw sandals from a little girl.
• Li Qing paid the girl with a piece of refined jade and erased the memories of bystanders who had seen him give it to her.
• Li Qing thought of visiting his parents but decided against it because Tianhe Sect might threaten them.
• Li Qing spotted the Serpent-headed Spirit Boat overhead and concealed himself in the crowd as Tianhe Sect turned back toward the city.
• Tianhe Sect members said their Divination Instrument pointed to Xunjiang City and questioned how to proceed because the sect forbade revealing themselves in mortal cities.

Li Qing learned that the Wei family was in danger and went to repay his promise to Wei Cang. He arrived as Wu Yang threatened the family, and his sudden challenge interrupted the confrontation.

• Senior Brother Yang ordered Tianhe Sect disciples to search Xunjiang City for Li Qing, who concealed himself and settled in an inn.
• Li Qing heard that the Calamity-Breaking Spear and the Limitless Art had become prizes in a martial arts tournament, then learned that Wei Tian had died and the Wei family was controlled by Wu Yang.
• Li Qing confirmed the Wei family was the one he had promised to help and went to its estate on Bamboo Cypress Road, knocking out two guards with his divine sense.
• Wu Yang confronted Wei Qingqing and the Wei family's direct descendants while holding the twin blades Lingering Fire, blaming them for supporting Wei Tian.
• Li Qing arrived and asked Wu Yang why he was wielding twin blades instead of using the Inch Punch.

Li Qing rescued the Wei family by crippling Wu Yang, then secretly learned disguise and Bone-Shrinking Arts while evading Tianhe Sect pursuers. The chapter ended with Senior Brother Yang preparing to frame Li Qing for massacring a city and inciting the Cultivation World against him.

• Li Qing blocked Wu Yang's attacks with his fingers, took the twin blades Lingering Fire, and severed Wu Yang's wrist and ankle tendons.
• Li Qing warned Wei Qingqing to conceal his identity, gave her healing pills, and left the Wei family residence.
• Li Qing watched for Tianhe Sect disciples in Xunjiang City and concluded their tracking Magic Tool could only locate a general area.
• Li Qing captured a dwarf skilled in Bone-Shrinking Art and disguise, memorized both techniques, and paid him fifty silver taels.
• Senior Brother Yang accused Li Qing of slaughtering a city's mortals and activated the Serpent-headed Spirit Boat, pressing nearby mortals to the ground.

Yang Xi slaughtered mortals to force Li Qing out, and Li Qing killed the Tianhe Sect disciples aboard their spirit boat before learning that Yang Xi’s uncle was a sect elder. Li Qing left the ruined city with the bodies, while the Tianhe Sect discovered the deaths of four disciples and prepared to investigate.

• Yang Xi used the Serpent-headed Spirit Boat to massacre mortals, blaming the slaughter on Li Qing and forcing him to appear.
• Li Qing saw the devastation on Zhu Bai Street and attacked the Tianhe Sect disciples, breaking through the spirit boat’s defenses with Thunderstorm Talismans.
• Aboard the spirit boat, Li Qing killed three disciples and crippled Yang Xi after breaking the defensive Jade Pendant.
• Li Qing asked Yang Xi how he had tracked him, but Yang Xi could not answer; Li Qing then took the spirit boat and dragged the four bodies out of the city.
• The Wei Lineage estate lay partly in ruins, and Li Qing destroyed the bodies far from the city to avoid involving more mortals.
• The flames of four Tianhe Sect disciples’ Soul Lanterns went out, and the hall-guarding elder realized they had died.

After Li Qing killed Yang Xi and four other Tianhe Sect disciples, Elder Suxin pursued him with a divination instrument that tracked the stolen Serpent-headed Spirit Boat. Li Qing fled toward Liang Kingdom, but Suxin accelerated and began closing the distance as he raced for Shangqing Sect territory.

• Tianhe Sect disciples learned of Li Qing's killings, and Yang Xi's uncle asked Elder Suxin to capture him while he remained in seclusion.
• Elder Suxin used Yang Xi's divination instrument to locate Li Qing, who had taken the Serpent-headed Spirit Boat.
• Li Qing flew north across Feng Kingdom, passed Wangyuan City, and continued toward Liang Kingdom while replenishing his magical power with spirit stones.
• Li Qing spotted Elder Suxin pursuing him and pushed the spirit boat to its limits, using Mid-grade Spirit Stones to sustain its speed.
• Elder Suxin recognized Li Qing's keen Spiritual Perception and increased her speed to prevent him from reaching Shangqing Sect's territory.