Chapter Summaries

Song Qingming assessed the Song Family’s younger generations during its three-day Grand Ceremony of Grace and Honor, finding no likely Foundation Establishment talent. News of the family’s rise reached the Gao Family, where Gao Jinhe and Gao Yubai discussed the Song Family’s prospects and their own cultivation fortunes.

• Song Qingming observed the Song Family’s generations and found that none of the younger cultivators showed the promise Song Qingyu had once displayed.
• The Song Family celebrated its Grand Ceremony of Grace and Honor for three days, and word of the event spread to other Foundation Establishment Families.
• At Lotus Mountain, Gao Jinhe asked Gao Yubai about the Song Family’s rapid growth and Song Qingming’s abilities.
• Gao Yubai said Song Qingyu was more talented than Song Qingming and might reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
• Gao Jinhe reflected that the Gao Family had sent Gao Yuyao to the Carefree Sect so its resources could focus on raising Gao Yubai.

Huang Shengyue worried about Huang Shengxin draining the Huang Family’s resources and warned Huang Sibao to remain wary of the Song Family, while the Lu Family continued to decline under Lu Xingde’s neglect. After Song Qingming failed to break through to Foundation Establishment Layer 6, he was summoned to Qinghe Market and learned that the Carefree Sect would conscript Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Wei State families for a second campaign.

• Huang Shengyue learned that Huang Shengxin had transferred one thousand Spirit Stones from Qinghe Market and continued spending the family’s resources on his attempt to form a core.
• Huang Shengyue cautioned Huang Sibao that the Huang Family should guard against the Song Family and other allies.
• Lu Xingde focused on his own cultivation as the Lu Family lost ground and fell behind the Song Family.
• Song Qingming secluded himself for a year and failed several times to break through to Foundation Establishment Layer 6.
• Song Qingming went to Qinghe Market and learned that the Carefree Sect planned a second conscription after the war against the Tianhai Alliance worsened.
• Song Qingyu learned from Feng De that Foundation Establishment Cultivators from every Foundation Establishment Family in Wei State would likely take turns serving on the front lines.

The Qinghe County families drew lots to determine their turns in the sect’s conscription to the Lu State front lines, leaving Lu Xingde to go first and the Song Family second. Song Qingming worried about the coming danger and met Lu Xingde, who asked him to help obtain Spirit Talismans before departing.

• Feng De gathered the Huang, Gao, Song, and Lu Families’ representatives and proposed drawing lots to set their annual rotation for the Lu State front lines.
• Lu Xingde, Gao Yubai, Huang Shengyue, and Song Qingming drew lots, placing the Lu Family first, the Song Family second, the Gao Family third, and the Huang Family fourth.
• Huang Shengyue mocked Lu Xingde for drawing first, while Feng De assured the representatives that they would guard important locations rather than fight on the main battlefield.
• Song Qingming worried that he would have to go in place of his still-injured sister, Song Qingyu, and resolved to handle Long Feng’s request before then.
• Lu Xingde summoned Song Qingming to a teahouse and asked him to help transfer some Spirit Talismans before Lu Xingde departed in two days.

Song Qingming sold Lu Xingde three defensive talismans before leaving for Yangshan Marketplace to seek rare artifact-refining materials for Long Feng. After waiting more than a month, he learned the Auction date and traveled by Teleportation Array to the Heavenly Pill Alliance Auction.

• Lu Xingde offered Song Qingming twenty percent above market price for defensive talismans, and Song Qingming sold him three.
• Song Qingming returned to Funiu Mountain, briefed Song Changfeng, and accepted the family’s accumulated Spirit Stones for his journey.
• Song Qingming headed to Yangshan Marketplace to seek Geng Gold or silver sand for Long Feng’s magic treasure.
• At the Heavenly Pill Pavilion, Song Qingming learned that Hu Wanqing had replaced Deng Zhongkuo and that the Auction date had not yet been set.
• After waiting more than a month, Song Qingming received Hu Wanqing’s notice, put on his Pig-Head Mask, and took the Teleportation Array to the Heavenly Pill Alliance Auction.

Song Qingming attended the Heavenly Pill Alliance Auction and asked Yin Ling about the items scheduled to appear. He learned that a Foundation Establishment Pill and a rare Talisman Treasure were expected, then asked what else the Auction would offer.

• Song Qingming used his Jade Tile to enter a private room on the Auction’s second floor, where maid Yin Ling greeted him.
• Song Qingming stopped Yin Ling from massaging his shoulders and asked her about the Auction’s notable items.
• Yin Ling said she had heard that a Foundation Establishment Pill would be auctioned, and Song Qingming questioned whether the rumor was true.
• Yin Ling told Song Qingming that the Auction would include high-grade spirit pills, rare magical artifacts, and a Talisman Treasure refined from a deceased Golden Core Cultivator’s Natal Magic Treasure.
• Song Qingming listened to Yin Ling’s explanation of the Talisman Treasure and asked her to name the other valuable items.

Song Qingming attended the Heavenly Pill Alliance Auction, buying a few useful spirit pills while waiting for the item he truly wanted. When a Talisman Treasure sparked a fierce bidding contest between the Ma Family and Lin Tianyu, Song Qingming watched without joining in, leaving Yin Ling puzzled.

• Yin Ling introduced spiritual items to Song Qingming, who showed no interest and asked her questions until the Auction began.
• Song Qingming bid on and won two useful spirit pills, prompting Yin Ling to recommend more items, though he remained uninterested in most of them.
• The Tiger-Head Masked Man presented the Green Leaf Three-Star Ruler, a Talisman Treasure, and bidders quickly drove its price upward.
• A Ma Family elder asked the other bidders to yield, but Lin Tianyu of the Carefree Sect challenged him and bid against him.
• The Ma Family elder won the Talisman Treasure for nine thousand six hundred Spirit Stones, while Song Qingming did not bid despite watching it closely.

Song Qingming watched the Ma Family win the Green Leaf Three-Star Ruler after the auction host enforced the Heavenly Pill Alliance’s rules. He later secured the Silver Sand Stone he had come to buy, and the auction continued without further incident.

• The Tiger-Head Masked Man stopped the Ma Family from using pressure to claim the Green Leaf Three-Star Ruler, then awarded it to them after no one else bid higher.
• The Ma Family withdrew from the Auction, while Song Qingming abandoned his bid on a Level 2 Magic Tool when its price climbed too high.
• Song Qingming recognized the Silver Sand Stone as his main target and told Yin Ling to raise the bidding paddle.
• Song Qingming won the Silver Sand Stone for three thousand one hundred Spirit Stones after other bidders gave up.
• Song Qingming inspected the stone, stored it in his Storage Bag, and Yin Ling reassured him about its quality.

Song Qingming left the Auction early after buying Silver Sand Stone, then traveled to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range to deliver it to Long Feng. Long Feng offered to use some leftover Silver Sand Stone to strengthen one of Song Qingming’s magic artifacts, settling their debt.

• Song Qingming rewarded Yin Ling with Spirit Talismans and asked her to arrange an early departure from the Auction.
• Yin Ling confirmed the Teleportation Array could be activated separately, and Song Qingming paid the fee and left for the area near Yangshan Marketplace.
• Song Qingming avoided returning to Yangshan Marketplace and traveled north to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, arriving more than half a month later.
• Song Qingming gave Long Feng the Silver Sand Stone, and Long Feng praised him for finding the rare material.
• Long Feng offered to refine the remaining Silver Sand Stone into one of Song Qingming’s magic artifacts so they would owe each other nothing.

Song Qingming watched Long Feng refine Silver Sand Stone and learned about Demon Race artifact refining while advancing to Foundation Establishment Layer 6. Long Feng strengthened Song Qingming’s Azure Water Bell and Black Blade, then prepared to send him away as he began work on his own magic treasure.

• Song Qingming spent nearly half a year observing Long Feng refine Silver Sand Stone in Fire Phoenix’s old lair and learned Demon Race artifact-refining methods.
• Song Qingming advanced to Foundation Establishment Layer 6 two months before Long Feng finished refining the Silver Sand Stone.
• Long Feng fused Silver Sand Stone into the Azure Water Bell over three days, greatly improving its defensive power.
• Long Feng selected Song Qingming’s Black Blade and strengthened it from Grade 2 Mid-grade to Grade 2 High-grade.
• Song Qingming asked whether Fire Phoenix had emerged from seclusion, and Long Feng warned him not to pry into her affairs before preparing to send him away.

After resolving Long Feng’s commission, Song Qingming returned to Funiu Mountain and strengthened its defenses before joining cultivators bound for the Lu State front lines. He boarded a Carefree Sect Flying Boat carrying supplies to support the Lingyin Sect against the Tianhai Alliance.

• Long Feng warned Song Qingming not to ask about Fire Phoenix, then escorted him out of the Floating Cloud Mountain Range.
• Song Qingming visited Guiyun Marketplace but found little of use and returned home after a journey lasting more than half a year.
• Song Qingming secluded himself at Funiu Mountain to refine another Second-grade Array Formation for the family’s defenses.
• Feng De summoned Song Qingming to Jiangling Market to join the cultivators traveling to the Lu State front lines.
• A Carefree Sect Flying Boat arrived with supplies for the war, and Song Qingming boarded it with other Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Song Qingming traveled aboard a Carefree Sect Flying Boat toward the Lu State front line, where he reunited with Cao Rongxue and met Zhao Mengzhen. At Mount Guyang, Golden Core Cultivator Zhao Fenglian joined the mission and ordered the boat to depart quickly for Lu State.

• Song Qingming spotted Cao Rongxue aboard the Flying Boat and greeted her, learning she had volunteered to gain experience in Lu State.
• Cao Rongxue introduced Zhao Mengzhen, who asked Song Qingming to look after him during their journey.
• The Flying Boat collected supplies and summoned cultivators at Danyang Market before stopping at Mount Guyang to take on Carefree Sect disciples.
• Zhao Fenglian suddenly appeared aboard the Flying Boat, and the Carefree Sect disciples recognized her as their Golden Core Martial Aunt.
• Zhao Fenglian told everyone to set out without delay, and the Flying Boat headed southeast toward Lu State.

Song Qingming and the Carefree Sect’s cultivators traveled through Pei State and reached the Lingyin Sect with a shipment of supplies despite the threat of Tianhai Alliance raiders. After Zhao Fenglian’s group departed for the southern front, Song Qingming and the others were assigned to guard and transfer supplies at a marketplace near the battlefield.

• The Carefree Sect’s Flying Boat crossed Pei State and entered Lu State, where Zhao Fenglian concealed it in clouds to avoid Tianhai Alliance raiders.
• After more than ten days of cautious travel, the Flying Boat landed safely at Baimeng Mountain, and Cheng Bufan welcomed Zhao Fenglian and the Carefree Sect cultivators.
• Cheng Bufan hosted a banquet, arranged for the shipment to be handed over, and stationed the Carefree Sect cultivators at the Lingyin Sect to await orders.
• A few days later, Zhao Fenglian led some Carefree Sect disciples to the southern front to replace cultivators who had served there for months.
• After more than ten days at the Lingyin Sect, Song Qingming and the others were assigned to guard and transfer supplies at a marketplace near the front line.

Song Qingming and Wei Tianhe led reinforcements to Huanglong Market, where Liu Wenguan’s depleted defenders feared another Tianhai Alliance attack. With the arriving Qi Refining disciples bolstering the garrison, Song Qingming prepared for the dangerous mission as Huanglong Market remained a frontline stronghold.

• After a surprise attack by Tianhai Alliance cultivators killed or wounded many defenders, Liu Wenguan and the remaining guards worried that Huanglong Market could not withstand another assault.
• Liu Wenguan recognized Wei Tianhe and welcomed him and the other reinforcements sent by Carefree Sect, while Wei explained that fifty Qi Refining disciples were following behind.
• Liu Wenguan described how the attackers had breached the market’s formation with Formation Breaking Beads and how he had used a Third-tier Talisman to help drive them off.
• Song Qingming chose a cave abode, restored his mana, and resolved to prepare for the possibility of another attack.
• Several days later, the fifty Qi Refining disciples arrived, increasing the number of defenders at the market, which Lingyin Sect had taken over as a frontline supply stronghold.

Song Qingming spent half a year guarding Huanglong Market, learning about the Lingyin Sect’s second-tier Puppet Beasts and hoping to acquire one, though he lacked the Merit Points. As the front lines remained costly but Huanglong Market stayed peaceful, he received a summons to assemble just after returning from guard duty.

• Song Qingming learned that Huanglong Market’s defenses included second-tier Puppet Beasts and that the Lingyin Sect offered them in exchange for Merit Points.
• Song Qingming considered obtaining a second-tier Puppet Beast for himself or the Song Family, but could not afford one.
• Song Qingming and the other guards spent half a year in Huanglong Market without fighting Tianhai Alliance cultivators, despite several requests to aid attacked convoys.
• Cao Rongxue eagerly volunteered for missions, while Song Qingming and Zhao Mengzhen prioritized staying alive.
• Song Qingming received a sound transmission summoning all cultivators to assemble.

Song Qingming joined Cao Rongxue’s support force to help the Lingyin Sect surround Tianhai Alliance infiltrators at Qingniu Ridge. As reinforcements gathered around the trapped enemies, their cultivators debated a breakout and pressed Senior Brother Wu to act.

• Liu Wenguan announced that Tianhai Alliance cultivators had been found at Qingniu Ridge, and Cao Rongxue volunteered to lead a support force.
• Song Qingming, Wei Tianhe, Wen Hou, and more than forty Qi Refining disciples joined Cao Rongxue and traveled to Qingniu Ridge.
• The support force found Lingyin Sect cultivators surrounding the ridge and preparing to attack the Tianhai Alliance infiltrators trapped inside.
• Wang Liangping maintained the siege while more than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Tianhai Alliance remained behind the ridge’s Level 2 Grand Formation.
• The trapped cultivators urged Senior Brother Wu to order a breakout before the Lingyin Sect’s forces grew stronger.

Wu Wenlong’s group remained trapped at Qingniu Ridge until a crimson flame cloud arrived, giving them a chance to break out. The Man in Red drew the Lingyin Sect’s Golden Core Cultivators into battle, while the Woman in Black discovered that his flame cloud was fleeing in another direction.

• Wu Wenlong explained that a Lingyin Sect cultivator had tracked them to Qingniu Ridge after keeping the Storage Bag of a slain sect descendant, and he urged his group to hold the formation until Elder Liang arrived.
• On the third day of the siege, a crimson flame cloud appeared and blasted several Lingyin Sect cultivators aside, revealing the arrival of a Golden Core Cultivator.
• Wu Wenlong seized the commotion as an opportunity and ordered his cultivators to charge out, but an old man in white robes blocked them and threw two Foundation Establishment Cultivators back.
• The Man in Red emerged from the flame cloud and challenged Martial Uncle Fang, but the Woman in Black intervened to fight him.
• The Man in Red enveloped himself in crimson flames, and the Woman in Black used her flower basket magic treasure to absorb them before spotting another flame cloud fleeing in the distance.

Song Qingming and the Tianhai Alliance cultivators broke through the Lingyin Sect’s siege at Qingniu Ridge and fled while both sides fought. Above them, Fang Ziquan and Li Yuxia pressed the Man in Red, Liang, until he revealed a jade bottle that released red lightning.

• Fang Ziquan and Li Yuxia intercepted Liang after he tried to escape, and the three Golden Core Cultivators began fighting.
• Wu Wenlong led the Tianhai Alliance cultivators through the breach in the Lingyin Sect’s encirclement and fled down the mountain.
• Wang Liangping ordered the Lingyin Sect cultivators to pursue the escapees, and Song Qingming and Cao Rongxue joined the chase.
• Fang Ziquan and Li Yuxia prepared to attack Liang in earnest, and Liang tossed his jade bottle into the air, releasing red lightning.
• Fang Ziquan recognized the danger of the lightning and warned Li Yuxia to get away.

Song Qingming pursued a black-clad Foundation Establishment cultivator whose Wind Riding Boots let him flee at great speed, but the chase ended in a trap. Song Qingming broke free from the earthen restraint and prepared to counterattack the exhausted cultivator.

• Song Qingming struggled to keep up with the black-clad cultivator, then swallowed a drop of Thousand Year Spirit Milk when he noticed the man slowing down.
• The black-clad cultivator descended into a forest and used a Humanoid Decoy Puppet to lure Song Qingming toward a trap.
• Song Qingming struck the decoy puppet with flaming arrows, but a Level 2 Spirit Talisman trapped him inside a mound of earth.
• The black-clad cultivator repeatedly stabbed at the mound, but Song Qingming blocked every strike with the Azure Water Bell.
• Song Qingming broke the Spirit Talisman, descended from the air, and told the stunned black-clad cultivator that it was his turn to attack.

Song Qingming defeated and killed the black-clad cultivator who had tried to escape, then returned to Qingniu Ridge after recovering some Mana. He learned that the enemy Golden Core Elder had escaped by destroying his Natal Magic Treasure.

• Song Qingming blocked the black-clad cultivator’s attacks, pursued him until his Mana ran out, and killed him with a single slash.
• Song Qingming took the Wind Riding Boots and the damaged substitute Puppet Beast, then returned to Qingniu Ridge.
• Cao Rongxue, Wei Tianhe, and the others welcomed Song Qingming, who showed them the black-clad cultivator’s severed head.
• Fang Ziquan and Li Yuxia searched Qingniu Ridge while most pursuing cultivators returned empty-handed and three remained missing.
• Cao Rongxue told Song Qingming that the Man in Red had escaped the two Golden Core Elders after self-destructing his Natal Magic Treasure.

After the mission at Qingniu Ridge ended, Song Qingming and the others hurried back to Huanglong Market after learning it had been attacked, but arrived to find it burning and its defenders dead. Liu Wenguan survived and reported that Foundation Establishment Cultivators had launched the surprise attack, likely Wu Wenlong’s group.

• The Man in Red destroyed his Natal Magic Treasure to escape, sacrificing his cultivation prospects to preserve his life.
• Fang Ziquan and Li Yuxia left Qingniu Ridge after the battlefield was cleared, and Wang Liangping later ordered Song Qingming and the others back to Huanglong Market.
• Cao Rongxue received a message that Huanglong Market was under attack, so the group sent several Qi Refining Cultivators to report to Qingniu Ridge while the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushed ahead.
• Song Qingming and the others reached Huanglong Market and found it engulfed in flames, with Zhao Mengzhen, a He Family Cultivator, and the other defenders dead.
• Liu Wenguan arrived and told the group that attackers with a Formation Breaking Bead and Talisman Treasures had overwhelmed the marketplace, and Cao Rongxue suspected they were the cultivators who had escaped Qingniu Ridge.