Chapter Summaries

Song Qingming invited his Dao companion Huang Siyuan to return with him to Funiu Mountain, and she agreed to go once she found someone to take over Immortal Phoenix Tower. Meanwhile, Song Qingze departed on a months-long mission, leaving Song Xinyu to tend his nearly mature Golden Light Grass.

• Huang Siyuan bought Song Qingyu an exquisite talisman brush as a gift, and Song Qingming accepted it for her.
• Huang Siyuan revealed that Song Xinhu had been visiting Immortal Phoenix Tower to see someone there, and Song Qingming realized whom he meant.
• Song Qingming invited Huang Siyuan to live with him at Funiu Mountain, and she said she would join him after finding a replacement to manage her shop.
• Song Qingze asked Song Xinyu to watch over the Golden Light Grass in his cave abode while he was away for several months.
• Song Xinyu worried that Song Qingze's mission might be dangerous, but Song Qingze reassured him and departed.

Song Qingming used the Incomplete Map to make Level 2 Talismans from materials sent to the Song Family, expanding his skills and earning commissions. After successfully drawing Three Yuan Lightning Talismans, he received a Sound Transmission Talisman from Song Changfeng and left his cave abode.

• Song Qingming accepted Level 2 talisman-making materials that cultivators brought to the Song Family, relying on the Incomplete Map to work quickly and learn unfamiliar talismans.
• Song Qingming completed three talismans from seven sets of materials, including three Grade 2 Low-grade Three Yuan Lightning Talismans.
• Song Qingming kept one Three Yuan Lightning Talisman and planned to give the other two to the client.
• Song Qingming received a Sound Transmission Talisman from Song Changfeng and hurried out of his cave abode.

After learning that Song Qingze’s Life Tablet had been extinguished, Song Qingming traveled to Yangshan Marketplace to meet Song Xinyu and investigate his brother’s disappearance. Song Xinyu revealed that Qingze had gone exploring with several Carefree Sect disciples, and they planned to report the group’s disappearance to the sect’s Law Enforcement Team.

• Song Changfeng told Song Qingming that Song Qingze had been missing for months and that his Life Tablet had gone out.
• Song Qingming decided to visit the Carefree Sect himself, arguing that the family should investigate Qingze’s fate.
• At Yangshan Marketplace, Song Qingming waited at the inn where he and Qingze had once shared drinks and poured a cup in his absent brother’s honor.
• Song Qingming confirmed to Song Xinyu that Qingze’s Life Tablet had been extinguished, and Xinyu broke down in grief.
• Song Xinyu reported that Qingze had gone exploring with several Carefree Sect seniors and that one companion had also disappeared; Song Qingming decided to take him to the Law Enforcement Hall.

Song Qingming asked the Carefree Sect's Law Enforcement Hall to investigate Song Qingze's death and learned that his brother had vanished near Black Stone Valley with five other disciples. After meeting Bai Yunhua again, Song Qingming agreed to help the Law Enforcement Team search for them using a bloodline connection secret technique.

• Song Qingming reported Song Qingze's death to the Carefree Sect's Law Enforcement Hall, which began investigating the missing disciples.
• Song Qingming waited in Yangshan Marketplace and gathered Rank 2 talisman-making materials before the Law Enforcement Hall summoned him back.
• Song Qingming reunited with Bai Yunhua and learned that Song Qingze and five other disciples had disappeared near Black Stone Valley while seeking an Ancient Cultivator's Cave Mansion.
• Bai Yunhua and the Law Enforcement Team asked Song Qingming to provide blood essence for a search using a bloodline connection secret technique.
• Song Qingming agreed to accompany them to Black Stone Valley to find the missing cultivators and learn what had happened to Song Qingze.

Song Qingming joined Wang Mengxiao and the Carefree Sect cultivators on a search for the missing disciples, traveling to Black Stone Valley aboard a Spirit Boat. Wang Mengxiao’s bloodline technique located Song Qingze inside the valley, and the search party entered a cave to investigate.

• Wang Mengxiao led Song Qingming, Bai Yunhua, and the others east on a Carefree Sect Spirit Boat to search for the missing disciples.
• After three days, the group reached the barren hills surrounding Black Stone Valley and prepared to enter.
• Wang Mengxiao used a bloodline connection technique with Song Qingming’s blood essence and determined that the missing people were inside the valley.
• The three Qi Refining disciples stayed outside as support while Song Qingming and the Foundation Establishment cultivators entered a cave.

Song Qingming and the Carefree Sect group explored a cavern, where they found their missing disciples dead and discovered a Demon Suppressing Pagoda whose seal had been broken. They retreated and reported the danger, and the chapter ended as Golden Core cultivators Li Wutong and an unfamiliar woman arrived in Black Stone Valley.

• Wang Mengxiao warned the group about the cavern’s strange, bloody aura and sent a Spirit Sensing Rat ahead to scout.
• The group found two blood-drained corpses, including Song Qingze, and discovered four more dead Carefree Sect disciples near a stone platform.
• Bai Yunhua identified the sealed Stone Tower on the platform as a Demon Suppressing Pagoda and said the disciples had released the evil entity within.
• Wang Mengxiao gathered the bodies and led everyone out of the cavern so they could alert the sect.
• A day later, Li Wutong and an unfamiliar Golden Core woman arrived in Black Stone Valley, where Song Qingming and the others greeted them.

Bai Yuxian examined the Demon Suppressing Pagoda and reinforced its seal while Li Wutong fought off a demonic spirit that tried to interrupt her. The demon’s main body was secured for another two hundred years, but a part of its Primordial Spirit had already escaped and remained unaccounted for.

• Song Qingming learned that Bai Yuxian was the Carefree Sect’s third-ranked Golden Core Elder and followed the group to the Demon Suppressing Pagoda.
• Bai Yuxian determined that the demon’s main body remained sealed and warned everyone to keep their distance while she strengthened the seal.
• Black mist formed a head and attacked Bai Yuxian, but Li Wutong drove it off with his sword and Demon Subduing Talismans.
• Bai Yuxian reinforced the seal, saying the demon would remain contained for two hundred years, and planned to seal the cave entrance with a formation.
• Bai Yuxian told Li Wutong that part of the demon’s Primordial Spirit had escaped, but they did not know where it had gone.

Du Yucheng had become a demonic cultivator after escaping Black Stone Valley with a portion of Xiao Huang’s Primordial Spirit inside him. Meanwhile, Song Qingming learned that Du Yucheng’s corpse was missing, leaving his fate unknown to the Carefree Sect.

• Du Yucheng spoke with Xiao Huang, who told him the seal on his true body had strengthened and assigned him another task.
• The chapter recounted how Du Yucheng’s failed Foundation Establishment and hardship in the Carefree Sect led him to join the expedition to Black Stone Valley.
• At the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, Xiao Huang killed the other cultivators, spared Du Yucheng, and made him his disciple.
• Unable to break the seal, Xiao Huang sent Du Yucheng away with part of his Primordial Spirit so Du Yucheng could grow stronger before returning.
• After the group returned to Mount Guyang, Song Qingming learned that Song Qingze was among the dead and that Du Yucheng’s corpse had not been found.

Song Qingming learned that Du Yucheng had survived and that the Carefree Sect had identified the sealed demon Xiao Huang, whose threat remained contained in Black Stone Valley. He brought Song Qingze’s ashes home to Funiu Mountain, where the family held a modest funeral and buried him in the Song Family cemetery.

• Song Qingming reflected on Du Yucheng’s name as the Carefree Sect investigated the Demon Suppressing Pagoda and learned Xiao Huang’s identity and history.
• After cremating Song Qingze, Song Qingming gave his remaining spirit items to Song Xinyu and decided to take the ashes back to Funiu Mountain.
• Song Qingming returned to Qinghe County with the ashes, and Song Changfeng heard how Song Qingze had died far from home.
• Song Changfeng arranged a simple funeral, and Song Qingze became the first cultivator of the Qing Generation buried in the Song Family cemetery.
• Song Qingming paid respects at Song Qingze’s grave, where Song Qingshi and Song Qingrui joined him and shared wine.

Song Qingming settled Song Qingyu at Qinghe Market, where her Foundation Establishment stirred rumors about the Song Family’s rise. After visiting Huang Siyuan at Immortal Phoenix Tower, he learned that she had suddenly left the market without saying where she was going.

• Song Qingming and his brothers drank before Song Qingze’s grave and parted ways.
• Two years later, Song Qingming brought Song Qingyu and Song Family cultivators to Qinghe Market, where she took charge of the team and assumed the family’s station there.
• Song Qingyu’s appearance as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator fueled rumors about the Song Family’s growing power, while Song Qingming warned his clansmen not to respond to them.
• Song Qingming visited Huang Siyuan at Immortal Phoenix Tower and discussed transferring Song Xinhu to help run the restaurant.
• Song Qingyu returned to Funiu Mountain and told Song Qingming that Huang Siyuan had left a note and departed Qinghe Market alone.

Huang Siyuan left Qinghe County to seek an opportunity for Foundation Establishment, leaving Song Qingming to respect her choice despite worrying about her safety. As his Level 2 Spirit Talismans became difficult to sell in Qinghe Market, Song Qingming decided to take them to Guiyun Marketplace.

• Song Qingming received Huang Siyuan’s note saying she had left to seek the Dao and should not be searched for.
• Huang Siyuan traveled with a black-clad cultivator, while the Song Family took over the Immortal Phoenix Tower in Qinghe Market.
• Song Qingming told Song Qingyu he would not search for Huang Siyuan, believing she had left to seek a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Song Qingming reflected on Huang Siyuan’s departure and continued crafting Level 2 Spirit Talismans as his stock grew difficult to sell.
• Song Qingming decided to bring his surplus Spirit Talismans to Guiyun Marketplace, where cultivators hunting demon beasts created greater demand.

Song Qingming sold Level 2 Talismans at Illusory Cloud Pavilion and learned about a Foundation Establishment cultivators’ Exchange Meeting. He agreed to attend, while Shi Chun returned from searching Guiyun Marketplace for Huang Siyuan.

• Song Qingming followed Shi Chun’s recommendations to sell Spirit Talismans at shops in Guiyun Marketplace.
• At Illusory Cloud Pavilion, Shopkeeper Zhan bought most of Song Qingming’s talismans and sold him cultivation pills.
• Song Qingming asked about the Exchange Meeting, and Shopkeeper Zhan invited him to the gathering scheduled for midnight two days later.
• Song Qingming agreed to attend the Exchange Meeting and returned to his rented cave abode.
• Shi Chun came back from searching for Huang Siyuan and shook his head to indicate he had found no news.

Song Qingming attended an Exchange Meeting at Illusory Cloud Pavilion to trade spiritual items and meet other Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After seeing several offerings he did not want, he spotted a Formation Canon that interested him.

• Song Qingming arrived at Illusory Cloud Pavilion with Fatty Zhan and joined the Exchange Meeting with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
• Song Qingming recognized Hu Longhai among the late arrivals, but they exchanged only a brief greeting.
• Fatty Zhan explained the meeting’s rules and officially opened the Exchange Meeting.
• A Rogue Cultivator surnamed Meng offered Grade 2 High-grade Cuiyun Bamboo in exchange for a Grade 2 Mid-grade flying sword, but no one accepted.
• After two ordinary trades, a cultivator offered Qingxi Brush Talk, a Formation Canon containing dozens of Level 2 Formation Diagrams, in exchange for a Level 2 Purple Gold Orchid or equivalent spiritual medicine.

Song Qingming traded a Purple Gold Orchid for the Formation Canon Qingxi Brush Talk and studied it to overcome his long-standing formation bottleneck. After buying materials in Guiyun Marketplace, he told Shi Chun they would return to Qinghe County the next day.

• Song Qingming exchanged a Purple Gold Orchid with Elder Gu for Qingxi Brush Talk, while Elder Gu warned Xiang Conghu not to trouble him.
• Fatty Zhan assured Song Qingming that Illusory Cloud Pavilion would protect him, and the Exchange Meeting ended after the cultivators completed their trades.
• Song Qingming studied Qingxi Brush Talk in his cave abode for several days and gained confidence in advancing to Rank 2 Formation Master.
• Song Qingming went to Guiyun Marketplace to buy materials for refining Second-grade Array Formations.
• Song Qingming told Shi Chun to pack because they would return to Qinghe County the next day.

Song Qingming returned to Funiu Mountain and focused on gathering materials to improve his Formation Skill, successfully refining a Second-grade Spirit Gathering Array after half a year of study. He emerged from seclusion having reached Rank 2 Formation Skill and Foundation Establishment Layer 5.

• Song Qingming and Shi Chun returned safely to Funiu Mountain, where Song Qingming rewarded Shi Chun with a Level 2 Talisman.
• Song Qingming began preparing to refine a Second-grade Array Formation and ordered Song Family cultivators to gather the necessary materials.
• Song Qingming collected the remaining materials from Jinshan Market and spent half a year studying and refining formations.
• Song Qingming successfully refined a Second-grade Spirit Gathering Array, raising his Formation Skill to Rank 2.
• Song Qingming emerged from seclusion after breaking through to Foundation Establishment Layer 5 a month earlier.

Song Qingming refined and tested the Golden Net Immortal Trapping Formation, then sent it to Qinghe Market for Song Changxiong to train the family’s demon-hunting teams. After learning that Huang Sibao had achieved Foundation Establishment, Song Qingming attended the Huang Family’s grand ceremony on Taiyuan Mountain, where the gathering of Qinghe County’s major families was underway.

• Song Qingming tested the Golden Net Immortal Trapping Formation and found it could restrain him despite his Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• Song Qingming sent the formation to Qinghe Market and entrusted it to Song Changxiong to train the Song Family’s demon-hunting teams.
• Song Qingming learned that Huang Sibao had achieved Foundation Establishment and concluded that the Huang Family had begun supporting its younger cultivators instead of devoting all its resources to Huang Shengxin’s Golden Core attempt.
• The Huang Family invited Qinghe County’s major families to Huang Sibao’s Foundation Establishment ceremony, and Song Qingming prepared a gift and traveled to Taiyuan Mountain with Song Qingshi and Song Qingchen.
• Huang Shengyue welcomed Song Qingming at the ceremony and led him to the Song Family’s seats in the reception hall.

Song Qingming attended Huang Sibao’s Foundation Establishment banquet, where he observed the balance of power among Qinghe County’s families and learned that Lu Yuanfeng had a close relationship with the Huang Family. The ceremony continued with Lu Yuanfeng presenting Huang Sibao a valuable jade pendant as a congratulatory gift.

• Song Qingming took his seat beside Gao Jinhe and Lu Xingde, and Gao Jinhe noticed Song’s progress and considered improving relations with the Song Family.
• Song Qingming observed the Huang Family’s vassals and reflected on how the family had restored control after losing territory and influence.
• Huang Shengxin brought Huang Sibao into the banquet, and Huang Sibao greeted Song Qingming and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Huang Shengyue prepared to welcome Lu Yuanfeng, but Lu entered the banquet himself and was escorted to his seat.
• Lu Yuanfeng gave Huang Sibao a treasured high-grade jade pendant, while Huang Shengyue accepted the guests’ gifts and offered return gifts.

Eagle Nest Ridge’s bandits launched a surprise attack on Qinghe Market, using an insider’s help to destroy two control points of its Mountain Protection Array. Song Qingyu and Song Changxiong organized the marketplace’s defense as the weakened array neared collapse, hoping to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

• Brother Meng told a scarred middle-aged man that Lu Yuanfeng was away and the attack was ready to begin.
• Song Changxiong pursued two suspicious cultivators, and explosions revealed that attackers had sabotaged the Mountain Protection Array’s control points.
• Song Qingyu warned Song Changxiong of the impending attack, and they rushed to secure the marketplace and activate its array.
• Cheng Yilong led more than a hundred Eagle Nest Ridge Bandit Cultivators to surround Qinghe Market and attack its weakened protection array.
• Song Qingyu and Song Changxiong organized a defense and hoped to hold out until reinforcements arrived from Taiyuan Mountain.

When bandit cultivators attacked Qinghe Market, Song Qingming and five other Foundation Establishment cultivators hurried from Taiyuan Mountain to reinforce it. Song Qingyu organized the marketplace’s defenders as the damaged protection array began to fail, trying to hold the eastern side until help arrived.

• Huang Shengxin received word that bandit cultivators were attacking Qinghe Market, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators at the banquet left to support it.
• Song Qingming worried about Song Qingyu, who was the only Foundation Establishment cultivator defending the marketplace.
• Cheng Yilong led three Foundation Establishment cultivators and more than a hundred Qi Refining cultivators in attacking Qinghe Market, exploiting damage caused by their infiltrators.
• Song Qingwan warned Song Qingyu that the array’s damaged eastern formation veins would not hold much longer.
• Song Qingyu ordered the marketplace’s Spirit Stones distributed as rewards and sent the gathered cultivators to reinforce the east.

Song Qingyu led a counterattack from the marketplace’s southern gate to draw bandits away from the eastern array and relieve the defenders. She faced two Foundation Establishment opponents and was quickly pushed onto the defensive as the battle intensified.

• Hu Maocai reported that the infiltrating Bandit Cultivators had been subdued, and Song Qingyu ordered them crippled before leading the Law Enforcement Team toward the southern gate.
• Song Changxiong watched cultivators pour Mana into the failing eastern array and feared they would be overwhelmed if reinforcements did not arrive.
• Song Qingyu led Hu Maocai and twenty cultivators through the southern gate, defeated the few bandits there, and drew the attention of Cheng Yilong’s forces.
• Cheng Yilong sent Wu Xiang and Chen Zicong to intercept Song Qingyu, while she gave her group Spirit Talismans and led them toward the eastern battlefield to distract the bandits.
• Song Qingyu attacked Wu Xiang and Chen Zicong, but their joint assault put her at a disadvantage until she used a Level 2 Talisman to force them back.