Chapter Summaries

On the journey back to the Liu Family, Li Qing learned about Ascension Tokens and quietly resolved to seek one out. He prepared for the workers’ trading fair, balancing his desire to buy useful supplies with the need to conceal his wealth and abilities.

• Old Man Zhou comforted Li Qing about the difficulty of joining a sect, while the workers discussed Ascension Tokens and their promise of sect entry and a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Li Qing returned to the Liu Family and inventoried his possessions, deciding not to sell his magical artifacts or cultivation inheritance at the workers’ fair.
• Li Qing counted his savings of six hundred and seventy-three Spirit Stones and examined a white jade token engraved with Ling and Yun, whose origin he did not recognize.
• Li Qing planned to sell a bear hide and make purchases under multiple identities so other cultivators would not notice his wealth.
• Li Qing listed supplies he wanted, including pills for Rice Bucket, spirit fish, storage and beast-taming pouches, cultivation pills, and spirit wine, then worried whether his Spirit Stones would suffice.

Li Qing reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining and prepared several disguises for the Liu Family trading fair. He bought spirit wine and talismans, surveyed the goods he wanted, and left the crowd gathering around a Spirit Condensing Pill to change outfits and return unnoticed.

• Li Qing refined spirit rice and ambient spiritual energy until he broke through to the Third Layer of Qi Refining.
• Li Qing prepared multiple outfits and disguises before the trading fair began in the Liu Family's worker district.
• Disguised as a spirit farmer, Li Qing bought Azure Spirit Brew and Spirit Calming Brew from a spirit brewer.
• Li Qing bought a Lightning Flash Talisman, a Breath Concealing Talisman, an Ice Arrow Talisman, and Qingling Cultivation World Anecdotes from a talisman seller.
• Li Qing surveyed the stalls, noted where Beast Taming Pouches, Storage Bags, pills, and other goods were sold, and avoided joining the rush for cultivation pills.
• When a Liu Family cultivator's Spirit Condensing Pill drew a crowd, Li Qing slipped away to change his disguise and planned to return for the goods he needed.

Li Qing bought a Beast Taming Pouch and a Storage Bag, then watched the Liu Family offer three cheap Spirit Condensing Pills in exchange for help against the Flying Eagle Bandits. He saw through the scheme, but Zhou Tong bought one of the pills, leaving Li Qing worried for the old miner who had helped him.

• Li Qing disguised himself, bought a Beast Taming Pouch and an extra-large Storage Bag, and followed the crowd toward the Liu Family's pill stall.
• Liu Yun announced that the Liu Family would sell three Spirit Condensing Pills for one hundred spirit stones each, with strict conditions for buyers.
• Liu Yun revealed that successful buyers would have to help the Liu Family eliminate the Flying Eagle Bandits, while offering magic artifacts and potential Guest Elder positions as rewards.
• Li Qing recognized that the Liu Family was using the pills to recruit cultivators for a dangerous mission, but several sixth-level Qi Refining cultivators accepted the offer.
• Zhou Tong was among the three buyers, and Li Qing watched him take a Spirit Condensing Pill with concern.

In Qingling Region, Li Qing learned from a booklet why demonic beasts were scarce and why Foundation Establishment Pills used their crystal cores. He sold his bear demon hide for fifty spirit stones and was left wondering whether his white jade token was connected to Lingyun Sect.

• Liu Yun reported to the Liu Family Patriarch that he had sold three Spirit Condensing Pills and said the rogue cultivators he selected would deal with the Flying Eagle Bandits.
• Li Qing worried that Old Man Zhou's attempt to advance to Late Qi Refining could lead him into the Liu Family's fight against the Flying Eagle Bandits.
• At the trade fair, Li Qing set up a stall to sell an Earth Rock Bear hide and read Qingling Cultivation World Anecdotes while waiting for buyers.
• Li Qing learned about Qingling Region's geography, its four major Immortal Dao Factions, and the use of Second-tier Demonic Beast crystal cores in Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Li Qing saw the name Lingyun Sect in the booklet and wondered whether his white jade token was an Ascension Token.
• Li Qing demanded fifty spirit stones for the bear hide, and the Talisman Master who had mocked the price finally agreed to buy it.

Li Qing bought supplies for Rice Bucket at the trade fair and returned home to enjoy a spirit fish meal. The next morning, he witnessed Zhou Tong successfully break through to Late Qi Refining.

• Li Qing bought Beast Feeding Pills, Beast Raising Pills, and a Blood Contract Seal method, which he decided to have Old Senior Zhou inspect before using on Rice Bucket.
• Li Qing spent more spirit stones on spirit fish and Spirit Rice, then fed Rice Bucket a Beast Raising Pill while cooking porridge.
• Li Qing enjoyed the spirit fish porridge and spent the night resting beside Rice Bucket instead of cultivating.
• The next morning, Li Qing sensed a powerful aura coming from Zhou Tong's courtyard and realized he was attempting a breakthrough.
• Zhou Tong's aura surged and stabilized, confirming that he had reached Late Qi Refining.

Li Qing congratulated Zhou Tong on reaching Late Qi Refining and learned more about the dangerous mission to hunt the Flying Eagle Bandits. Zhou Tong also explained that Li Qing had wasted fifteen spirit stones on a Blood Contract Method he did not need, and Li Qing left with the hunt still ahead.

• Zhou Tong refused to entertain congratulating cultivators without gifts, then welcomed Li Qing, who brought spirit fish and wine to celebrate his breakthrough.
• Li Qing warned Zhou Tong to be careful on the Liu Family’s mission, and Zhou Tong explained that the Flying Eagle Bandits were dangerous but the Liu Family had supplied detailed intelligence and magic tools.
• Li Qing read about the Demon Eagle Guest’s Sky-Rending Eagle, Illusory Wind Feather Blade, and exceptional wind-based speed, then wished Zhou Tong success.
• Li Qing asked Zhou Tong to check a Blood Contract Method he had bought for fifteen spirit stones, and Zhou Tong said it was genuine but unnecessary for someone with only one demon beast.
• Li Qing accepted that he had wasted the spirit stones, said farewell to Zhou Tong, and left.

Li Qing bought Condensing Water Sand for refining a Water Entanglement Net, then planned how to strengthen himself after learning that Old Man Zhou’s bandit mission had lost a cultivator to a failed breakthrough. As Li Qing faced a bottleneck at Early Qi Refining, he resolved to build his strength, pursue artifact refinement, and eventually travel south to investigate his white-jade token.

• Li Qing haggled with a stall owner and bought about six pounds of Condensing Water Sand for 102 spirit stones.
• Li Qing learned that one of the other Spirit Condensing Pill buyers had failed to break through, leaving Old Man Zhou’s group short-handed against the Flying Eagle Bandits.
• Old Man Zhou demanded support from the Liu Family, which sent Liu Cong, a Late Qi Refining cultivator, to join the campaign.
• Li Qing hit a bottleneck at Early Qi Refining and planned to improve his cultivation, artifact-refining skills, and means of self-defense before traveling to Mu Kingdom.
• Li Qing resumed cultivating, and the day of his seventh descent into the mines arrived.

Li Qing worked relentlessly in a rich mining area and kept most of the Spirit Stones he unearthed. When Fan Meng discovered a valuable Thunder Spirit Crystal, the Tianhe Sect disciples and Liu Family prepared to claim the credit and rewards, while Li Qing returned to focusing on his own gains.

• Li Qing dug up a Mid-grade Spirit Stone and hundreds of other Spirit Stones during his time in the rich mining area.
• Li Qing used Two Realms Travel to keep one hundred and seven Spirit Stones, then handed them in and received ten in return.
• Fan Meng uncovered a Thunder Spirit Crystal, and a Tianhe Sect disciple identified it as a rare material for forging lightning-aspect magical treasures.
• The Tianhe Sect disciples agreed to report the discovery, while Fan Meng asked them to remember his contribution.
• Liu Haitian praised Fan Meng and said he would report the discovery to the Liu Family head, as Li Qing suspected Fan Meng's reward would be reduced by others taking their shares.

Li Qing improved his artifact-refining skills by making Inferior Magical Artifacts and gained thirty years of lifespan. He tried to refine the Peerless Hammer with Earth and Fire spirit patterns, but repeated inscription failures drained its spirituality before he had to prepare for another trip into the mine.

• Li Qing practiced cultivation and artifact refinement, successfully making five Inferior Magical Artifacts and gaining thirty years of lifespan.
• After refining the Curved Water Sword, Li Qing studied the basic Five Elements spirit patterns and decided to make the Peerless Hammer mainly Earth Attribute with some Fire Attribute patterns.
• Li Qing tempered the Peerless Hammer with Spiritual Power and began inscribing Earth Attribute spirit patterns onto it.
• The spirit-pattern inscriptions repeatedly failed and drained the Peerless Hammer's spirituality, leaving Li Qing unable to refine it successfully before his next descent into the mine.
• Li Qing stopped refining artifacts and meditated to restore his Spiritual Power for the following day's mine trip.

Li Qing returned from the spirit mine and watched the Liu Family prepare for its clan sacrifice, while visitors gathered at Lake Heart Island. After a Tianhe Sect disciple named Yang showed interest in Rice Bucket and looked down on Li Qing, Li Qing put the tiger away and resolved to endure the insult while growing stronger.

• Li Qing counted his harvest of 283 Spirit Stones and considered traveling with a Liu Family merchant caravan to Tianhe Marketplace, but worried the family might monitor him.
• On the journey back, Liu Haitian promised Fan Meng a reward for finding a Thunder Spirit Crystal, which had pleased a Foundation Establishment True Person from the Tianhe Sect.
• The Liu Family opened Lake Heart Island for its clan sacrifice, and Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived, including an old man riding a Second-tier Fire Feather Sparrow.
• A Tianhe Sect disciple named Yang inspected Rice Bucket and remarked that he could have used the male tiger for breeding if it had not already bonded with Li Qing.
• Li Qing put Rice Bucket into the Beast Taming Pouch, swallowed his anger, and returned to practicing artifact refinement.

Over several months at the Liu Family, Li Qing grew wealthy from mining and pushed his cultivation close to a breakthrough into Mid Qi Refining while continuing to practice artifact refinement. He began another attempt to reforge the Peerless Hammer with his last piece of Ink Gold.

• The Liu Family's clan sacrifice concluded smoothly, and Tianhe Sect disciples announced a reward of a top-grade offensive Magic Tool, Spirit Condensing Pills, and Spirit Stones for the family.
• Li Qing earned nearly two thousand Spirit Stones through repeated mining trips and continued studying artifact refinement, despite wasting the spirituality in earlier pieces of Ink Gold.
• Li Qing ate lavish spirit food and drank Azure Spirit Brew to support his cultivation, bringing his Early Qi Refining bottleneck close to breaking.
• After deciding to increase his daily spirit rice intake, Li Qing turned to the Ink Gold tempering in his furnace and prepared to try reforging the Peerless Hammer again.

Li Qing forged the Peerless Hammer into a Low-grade Magic Tool, gained nine years of lifespan, and broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining. Jinchuan then told him that Old Man Zhou had died fighting the Flying Eagle Bandits and left him a message.

• Li Qing completed the Peerless Hammer and received nine years of lifespan, then assessed his weapons and combat strength.
• Li Qing broke through to Mid Qi Refining and tested his increased magical power and sharper perception.
• Li Qing reviewed his plans to keep working at the spirit mine, attend the trade fair, and learn more about cultivation materials and the Tianhe Marketplace.
• Jinchuan came to Li Qing's courtyard and reported that Old Man Zhou had died during the campaign against the Flying Eagle Bandits.
• Jinchuan explained that a second formidable Late Qi Refining cultivator had appeared among the bandits and said Old Man Zhou had left final words concerning Li Qing.

After Old Man Zhou died during a Liu Family mission, Li Qing learned that Zhou had left him a chance to enter the Liu Family's Scripture Repository. Liu Hanyue approved the transfer and promised the Liu Family would care for Zhou's descendants, and Li Qing later went to use the token.

• Jinchuan told Li Qing that Old Man Zhou had died fighting the Flying Eagle Bandits and had left him his final chance to enter the Scripture Repository.
• Li Qing visited Zhou's empty courtyard, mourned him with Winter Plum Wine, and resolved not to risk his life recklessly in pursuit of cultivation.
• Liu Hanyue visited the courtyard and approved transferring Zhou's repository chance to Li Qing, who received a token allowing him to copy one item from the first two floors.
• News of Zhou's death spread, and the Liu Family made the surviving injured Rogue Cultivator an outside-surname Guest Elder, improving Liu Hanyue's reputation among Rogue Cultivators.
• A few days later, Li Qing took the token and went to the Scripture Repository.

Li Qing explored the Liu Family Scripture Repository, studying artifact-refining materials and inspecting the inheritances available on its second floor. He found two secret arts that tempted him but had to choose only one to copy.

• Li Qing presented his token to the Scripture Repository guard, who allowed him to enter for one day but barred him from the third floor.
• Li Qing studied the Spirit Material Catalog and recognized several materials he had used or possessed, including Snow Silver Iron and Fire Cloud Stone.
• Li Qing examined second-floor combat spells and cultivation inheritances, but found most of them unsuitable or too basic.
• Li Qing discovered the incomplete Essence Augmentation Secret Art, which could deepen a Qi Refining cultivator's magic power through spirit medicines.
• Li Qing found the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art and agonized over which of the two secret arts to copy.

Li Qing chose the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art and memorized its inheritance after swearing not to reveal it. He bought a Spirit Willow branch from a Liu Family elder and began cultivating the art, drawing its Spirit Wood Essence into his body.

• Li Qing decided that the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art suited his strong physical foundation and returned to the first floor to read more books.
• Li Qing chose the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art before the Liu Family elder and swore an oath not to pass it on.
• Li Qing memorized the inheritance from a jade slip and learned that the Liu Family had aged Spirit Willow branches for sale.
• Li Qing bought one branch from the elder for fifty spirit stones and returned to his courtyard.
• Li Qing used the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art to draw Spirit Wood Essence from the branch and nourish his physique with his vigorous blood vitality.

Li Qing strengthened his body with the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art and planned to balance body cultivation with spiritual cultivation while gathering information about Tianhe Marketplace. As he waited for the trading fair and asked Chen Xin about the marketplace, startled cries suddenly rang out beyond their courtyard.

• Li Qing used a spirit willow branch to cultivate the Precious Wood Body Tempering Art, modestly improving his already formidable physique, and decided to seek out more high-year spirit wood.
• Li Qing waited a month for the trading fair while mining enough to raise his savings above two thousand Spirit Stones.
• Li Qing learned from Chen Xin about the Liu Family’s deliveries of live spirit fish and discussed the family’s businesses in Tianhe Marketplace.
• Li Qing asked Chen Xin about Spirit Phoenix Tower, and Chen Xin described its expense and his own plans to save money and marry.
• Li Qing prepared to ask about safer routes to Tianhe Marketplace, but startled cries suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

After the Flying Eagle Bandits attacked a Liu Family convoy, Li Qing stayed in Longevity Valley and watched as Liu Haide gathered the family’s strongest cultivators to hunt them down. Liu Haide’s plan left him uneasy, while the attack and other setbacks further delayed Liu Hanyue’s progress toward Foundation Establishment.

• The injured cultivator surnamed He reported that the Flying Eagle Bandits had robbed the Liu Family convoy and stolen its formation materials and talisman paper.
• Li Qing advised Chen Xin to let the Liu Family handle the matter, and he gave up his plan to visit Tianhe Marketplace while bandits were active nearby.
• After news of the attack spread, Liu Haide summoned more than ten Late Qi Refining cultivators and ordered three teams to search for the bandits with younger disciples.
• Liu Haide remained in seclusion to cultivate a secret art, worried about the Demon Eagle Guest and the timing of the attack, while his forces prepared to support one another.
• The attack and other setbacks delayed Liu Hanyue’s sect missions and her chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Li Qing followed the Liu Family’s campaign against the Flying Eagle Bandits while attending a trading fair and slowly cultivating. The Liu Family failed to find the bandits, and as Liu Haitian was replaced on the campaign to lead the spirit mine workers, Li Qing feared the group might attack them on the way to the mine.

• Li Qing hoped the Liu Family would defeat the Flying Eagle Bandits, then attended the rogue cultivators’ trading fair and bought Rice Bucket pills, two Fire Rain Talismans, spirit wine, spirit rice, and spirit fish.
• Li Qing increased his consumption of spirit rice and spirit fish to support his slow progress toward the fifth Qi Refining layer.
• After more than ten days, the Liu Family had still not found the Flying Eagle Bandits, and the approaching mining assignment worried the clan.
• The Liu Family replaced Liu Haitian in the campaign force so he could lead the workers to the Tianhe Sect’s spirit stone mine.
• Li Qing heard the dawn signal for the miners to assemble and worried that the Flying Eagle Bandits might attack them on the journey.

Li Qing and the Liu Family's spirit mine workers fled the Flying Eagle Bandits along the secret passage to the Tianhe Sect's mine. Liu Haitian held off the attackers long enough for some workers to escape, while the bandits broke off their pursuit and looted the dead.

• Li Qing realized the Liu Family had used the spirit mine workers as bait, and prepared a Wind-Walking Talisman while fleeing the Sky-Rending Eagle and the Flying Eagle Bandits.
• Liu Haitian attacked the Sky-Rending Eagle with his fan-shaped Magic Tool and urged the workers to reach the mine, where reinforcements and Upper Sect's disciples awaited.
• Li Qing used his Wind-Walking Talisman to speed ahead of the group as other workers also boosted their mounts to escape.
• Demon Eagle Guest attacked the fleeing workers with the Illusory Wind Feather Blade, and Liu Haitian summoned trees to block most of the Wind Blades.
• Liu Haitian led the survivors onward, while Demon Eagle Guest halted the pursuit and ordered the Flying Eagle Bandits to loot the dead before retreating into the mountain forests.

After escaping an attack by the Flying Eagle Bandits, Li Qing and the Liu Family’s Spirit Mine Workers reached the Tianhe Sect mine and reunited with Liu Haitian. The Liu Family escorted everyone home, troubled by the bandits’ threat, while Shi Bai tried to poach their workers for the Shi Family.

• Li Qing and the surviving Spirit Mine Workers returned to the Tianhe Sect mine after the Flying Eagle Bandits killed several people and chased them along the road.
• Liu Haitian arrived and told the Tianhe Sect disciples that the bandits had fled rather than pursue them to the mine.
• Shi Bai mocked Liu Haitian and invited the Liu Family’s workers to join the Shi Family, prompting Liu Haitian to threaten him before the Tianhe Sect disciples intervened.
• Three Late Qi Refining Liu Family elders arrived after failing to track the Flying Eagle Bandits, then questioned Liu Haitian about the attack.
• The Liu Family elders escorted Liu Haitian and the Spirit Mine Workers home, resolving to find a countermeasure against the bandits.