Chapter Summaries

Song Qingming, Song Qingyu, and Huang Sibao investigated the Fire Scale Leopard’s lair in Yunwu Mountain and found that an unidentified cultivator had driven the beast away. They returned with no sign of the cultivator, leaving Song Qingming uneasy and warning his family to avoid the mountain’s depths.

• Huang Sibao arrived at Funiu Mountain in place of Huang Shengyue, who had entered seclusion, and agreed to follow Song Qingming’s arrangements.
• Song Qingming, Song Qingyu, and Huang Sibao flew to the volcano where the Fire Scale Leopard had lived and found the mountain nearly devoid of demonic beasts.
• The three searched the volcano and discovered a cavern filled with fire-aspect Spiritual Energy and the remains of demonic beasts.
• Song Qingyu found ore remnants and signs of recent human activity in a side chamber, and Song Qingming concluded that a cultivator had driven away the Fire Scale Leopard to refine a magical artifact.
• Song Qingming warned his companions that the unidentified cultivator might still be nearby and said the Song Family should avoid venturing deep into Yunwu Mountain.
• Song Qingming felt an inexplicable unease when the site seemed familiar to him.

Song Qingming and his companions searched the cave where a Fire Scale Leopard had once been driven away, and Feng He warned him that the unknown cultivator might have been a demonic cultivator. As they prepared to leave, the leopard returned to reclaim its nest and was caught and killed by the three cultivators.

• Song Qingming sent Huang Sibao and Song Qingyu to search the cave while he gathered materials and planned to ask Feng He about the unknown cultivator.
• Song Qingming consulted Feng He, who sensed lingering Demonic Energy and said the hidden person might have been a demonic cultivator, though not one above the Golden Core Realm.
• Song Qingming rejoined Huang Sibao and Song Qingyu, and the three decided to leave after finding only a few spiritual herbs.
• Song Qingming spotted the returning Fire Scale Leopard and led the others back into the cave to set an ambush.
• Song Qingming, Huang Sibao, and Song Qingyu trapped the Fire Scale Leopard between them and killed it inside its former nest.

After helping the Song Family eliminate the Fire Scale Leopard, Song Qingming entered seclusion and broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 7. He emerged looking ahead to forming a Golden Core, while Song Qingyu arrived to share that she had advanced her Talisman Making to Level 2.

• Song Qingming gave the Fire Scale Leopard's Artifact Refining materials to Huang Sibao and asked him to have Shengyue refine Level 2 Magic Tools.
• Song Qingyu told Song Qingming that Feng De had summoned the families to a meeting at Qinghe Market, and Song Qingming asked her to represent him while he entered seclusion.
• Song Qingming told Feng He about the Jade Profound Scripture, and Feng He warned that its later portions might be difficult to find and that Song Qingming could eventually need to create a continuation or switch techniques.
• With Feng He's guidance, Song Qingming spent nearly half a year in seclusion and successfully advanced to Foundation Establishment Layer 7.
• Song Qingyu told Song Qingming that she had raised her Talisman Making skill to Level 2.

Song Qingyu celebrated her progress as a Grade Two talisman maker, then learned that Song Qingming had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. The Huang and Gao Families reacted to his breakthrough, and Huang Sibao arrived at Funiu Mountain with a congratulatory gift from the Huang Family.

• Song Qingyu noticed Song Qingming's stronger cultivation and was astonished to learn he had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage before age ninety.
• The Gao Family's bedridden Gao Jinhe warned Gao Yubai that the Song Family could no longer be underestimated.
• Huang Shengxin learned of Song Qingming's breakthrough and ordered Huang Sibao to bring a gift to Funiu Mountain.
• Huang Shengxin chose the Fire Scale Armor, which Huang Sibao had previously promised Song Qingming.
• Huang Sibao arrived at Funiu Mountain, where Song Qingming personally welcomed him.

Huang Sibao brought Song Qingming the Fire Scale Armor, and Song Qingming gave it to Song Qingyu, who planned to enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough. Meanwhile, dark clouds gathered over Golden Feather Mountain, and the Golden Feather Demon Emperor ordered the Demon Kings to seal the mountain.

• Huang Sibao confirmed Song Qingming had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and presented him with the Fire Scale Armor.
• Song Qingming gave Huang Sibao a Level 2 Spirit Peach as a return gift before seeing him off.
• Song Qingming handed the Fire Scale Armor to Song Qingyu, who accepted it and said she planned to attempt a breakthrough in seclusion.
• Dark clouds gathered over Golden Feather Mountain, and the Golden Feather Demon Emperor ordered the Demon Kings to guard every entrance and prevent any demonic beasts from entering or leaving.

A red-clothed woman began a Nascent Soul Tribulation at Golden Feather Mountain, alarming Lu Boyang, who feared the breakthrough would upset the balance between the Golden Feather Demon Emperor and the Carefree Sect. After Wind Wing and another Demon King discovered him, Lu Boyang fled while the Golden Feather Demon Emperor ordered them to leave him alone and guard the mountain.

• A red-clothed woman faced successive lightning bolts with her flames and the Art of Rebirth from Flames as several Demon Kings watched.
• Lu Boyang investigated the Heaven and Earth Phenomenon and recognized that a Nascent Soul Tribulation was underway.
• Lu Boyang approached Golden Feather Mountain in disguise but could not identify the woman undergoing tribulation.
• Wind Wing and another Demon King approached Lu Boyang, who used the Blood Shield Art to flee.
• The Giant Elephant Demon King reported Lu Boyang's presence, and the Golden Feather Demon Emperor ordered Wind Wing to drive him away and return to guard Golden Feather Mountain.

The Red-clothed Woman used Profound Yin True Water to weaken the tribulation lightning as she faced the remaining bolts of her Nascent Soul Tribulation. After learning that a Golden Feather Mountain demon was undergoing a breakthrough, Li Mufeng arrived too late to stop the tribulation and spoke with the Golden Feather Demon Emperor.

• The Red-clothed Woman blocked the third tribulation bolt with a jade-powered barrier, then drank Profound Yin True Water before facing the fourth.
• Her Blue Phoenix weakened the fourth bolt, and she prepared to meet the fifth as the Golden Feather Demon Emperor watched.
• Lu Boyang returned to Guiyun Marketplace, imposed a martial lockdown, and activated the Mountain Protection Array.
• Li Mufeng arrived at Guiyun Marketplace and set out alone for Golden Feather Mountain after hearing Lu Boyang's report.
• Li Mufeng saw the multicolored radiance over Golden Feather Mountain and asked the Golden Feather Demon Emperor who had formed a Nascent Soul; the Demon Emperor refused to answer, and Li Mufeng offered to leave.

Li Mufeng secured the Golden Feather Demon Emperor’s promise to uphold its pact with the Carefree Sect and warned Lu Boyang to keep the recent tribulation secret. At the Song Clan’s Spirit Root Testing Ceremony in Mujiao Town, child number twenty-three unexpectedly produced two beams of spiritual light on the testing plate.

• The Golden Feather Demon Emperor privately promised Li Mufeng that the pact with the Carefree Sect would remain in effect as long as the sect stayed out of Demon Race territory.
• Li Mufeng questioned Lu Boyang about the unfamiliar phoenix at Golden Feather Mountain, then ordered him to recover and keep what he had seen secret.
• Li Mufeng left Guiyun Marketplace by Teleportation Array, while Lu Boyang resolved to say nothing about the tribulation.
• Song Xintong and Song Xingui arrived in Mujiao Town to help Song Qingrui conduct the annual Spirit Root Testing Ceremony.
• After more than twenty children tested without results, the boy holding number twenty-three placed his hand on the plate and caused two beams of spiritual light to appear.

At the Song Family’s Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, a boy’s fire and wood Dual Spiritual Roots were confirmed, giving the clan a rare cultivation genius. Song Qingming named him Song Yuanli, ordered the family to conceal his aptitude, and assigned Song Qingrui to teach him.

• Song Xingui’s Spirit Root Testing Plate showed red and green light for a boy, and Song Qingrui took him to Funiu Mountain for another test.
• Song Xintong tested the boy with a second Spirit Root Testing Plate, which confirmed the same two spiritual lights.
• Song Qingming examined the boy and confirmed his fire and wood Spirit Roots, then named him Song Yuanli.
• Song Qingming ordered the clan to conceal Yuanli’s true aptitude and instructed Song Qingshi to manage secrecy in Mujiao Town.
• Song Qingming assigned Song Qingrui to teach Yuanli while he continued guarding Song Qingyu during her seclusion.

Song Qingming taught the younger members of the Song Family and welcomed Song Qingyu after she broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 4. He agreed she could leave on a training journey once her cultivation stabilized, then entered seclusion to cultivate a spell and left her in charge of family affairs.

• Song Qingming discovered Song Yuanli had Dual Spiritual Roots and ordered that underage cultivators could not leave Funiu Mountain without approval and an escort.
• Song Yuanli completed Qi Induction in less than a month and joined Song Qingming's lessons at the Family School.
• Song Qingyu emerged from seclusion and asked Song Qingming to honor his promise to let her go on a training journey.
• Song Qingming agreed that Song Qingyu could leave once her cultivation stabilized, provided she informed him beforehand.
• Song Qingming asked Song Qingyu to manage family affairs while he entered seclusion, then began sorting his stored spiritual items.
• A familiar aged voice told Song Qingming not to make excuses about going down the mountain this time.

Song Qingming left Funiu Mountain to find a suitable body for Feng He while protecting Song Yuanli and the secret of his Incomplete Map. In Guiyun Marketplace, he received a lead that the Four Seas Gang might be hiding near Dragon Cloud Mountain and set out to investigate.

• Song Qingming refused Feng He's suggestion to use Song Yuanli as a body and secretly descended Funiu Mountain.
• A month later, Song Qingming heard Rogue Cultivators discuss finding five Grade 2 Blazing Fire Grass plants near Old Lone Mountain.
• Song Qingming reflected on how Feng He's presence had forced him to hide the Incomplete Map and spend down his savings.
• A Man in Yellow reported that members of the Four Seas Gang had been seen near Dragon Cloud Mountain.
• Song Qingming rewarded the Man in Yellow with Spirit Stones and left the restaurant to pursue the lead.

Song Qingming tracked the wanted Four Seas Gang to its concealed hideout at Dragon Cloud Mountain, hoping to find a cultivator with a strong Spirit Root for Feng He’s Body Seizure. After the gang’s members revealed themselves, he questioned their leader about whether he was Wang Sihai.

• Song Qingming quietly reached Dragon Cloud Mountain and watched the area for signs of the Four Seas Gang.
• He followed two furtive cultivators to a hidden Phantom Image Array and learned that the gang’s leader, Wang Sihai, was rumored to have Dual Spiritual Roots.
• Song Qingming approached the hideout and prepared to break its array, but a cultivator inside voluntarily dispelled the illusion.
• Seven or eight Four Seas Gang members came out to meet Song Qingming, and their blue-robed leader confirmed their identity.
• Song Qingming asked the blue-robed cultivator whether he was Wang Sihai and remarked that he did not resemble the wanted notice.

Song Qingming learned that Wang Sihai had been abducted by a powerful cultivator and used a special bell to confirm that Wang was likely still alive. With Feng He offering to track down the suspected Demonic Cultivator, Song Qingming set off to find him and reclaim Wang Sihai.

• Ma Tongsheng told Song Qingming that Wang Sihai had vanished after a mysterious cultivator attacked the Four Seas Gang near Dongyang Mountain.
• Ma Tongsheng showed Song Qingming a yellow bell that indicated Wang Sihai’s divine soul had not dispersed.
• Song Qingming asked whether anyone had visited that day, and Ma Tongsheng silenced Yan Hu before claiming no one had come.
• Song Qingming paid Ma Tongsheng nearly a hundred Spirit Stones for the bell and left the gang’s hideout.
• Feng He told Song Qingming that the abductor was likely a Demonic Cultivator and offered to use the bell to track him down.

Song Qingming used Feng He's Yin Wind Soul Guiding Technique to capture Wang Sihai's soul fragment and prepare to track the Demonic Cultivator who abducted him. Meanwhile, Carefree Sect received an urgent report of a Demonic Cultivator in Black Stone Valley, prompting plans to send reinforcements.

• Song Qingming stripped Wang Sihai's divine soul from the yellow bell and sealed it in a Soul Gathering Bowl.
• Feng He explained that the Yin Wind Soul Guiding Technique was a Demonic Cultivation Method, but argued that using a few practical spells would not corrupt Song Qingming.
• Song Qingming asked whether the Soul Devouring Art was also demonic, and Feng He said he had deciphered it from an ancient text and only understood it through the Golden Core Realm.
• A white-robed disciple delivered a request for aid to the Carefree Sect's Law Enforcement Hall at Mount Guyang.
• The Grey-robed Elder told Senior Brother Wang that Junior Brother Xu had encountered a powerful Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator in Black Stone Valley and barely escaped.
• Senior Brother Wang ordered reinforcements to be sent because the fiend might be after the Demon Suppressing Pagoda and Xiao Huang.

A black-robed man used a blood-fed Ghost Head to break the White Tiger Subduing Demon Formation outside a mountain cave and entered to retrieve something hidden there. Two pursuers, Uncle-Master Hong and Liu Junior Brother, arrived afterward and went into the cave to seek Old Ghost Xiao.

• The black-robed man summoned a Ghost Head with his Array Flag, and it defeated the White Tiger guarding the formation.
• A voice warned the black-robed man that Carefree Sect reinforcements might arrive, so he entered the cave after taking the White Flying Sword.
• Uncle-Master Hong and Liu Junior Brother reached the cave and concluded that the black-robed man might have found Old Ghost Xiao's hiding place.
• Uncle-Master Hong and Liu Junior Brother entered the cave, hoping to find Old Ghost Xiao and earn their master's favor.

Song Qingming entered Black Stone Valley to track a demonic cultivator, relying on Feng He’s concealment artifacts to avoid detection. He found the cave seal already broken and discovered several demonic cultivators battling in the cavern, leaving the situation more complicated than he expected.

• Song Qingming reached Black Stone Valley and told Feng He about the powerful demonic fiend sealed there and the possibility that Carefree Sect cultivators were guarding it.
• Feng He gave Song Qingming three spiritual items, including a jade pearl that concealed his aura, and assured him he could handle the danger.
• Song Qingming used the jade pearl and his Spirit Concealing Shirt to enter the valley unseen, then found that the formation sealing the cave had long been destroyed.
• Song Qingming followed the tunnel into the underground cavern and heard fighting near the Demon Suppressing Pagoda.
• Song Qingming saw a Man in Red and a long-bearded elder fighting a black-robed figure and a huge Ghost Head, and Feng He told him that demonic cultivators often fought among themselves.

Song Qingming hid in the cave as Du Yucheng and Xiao Huang’s enemies battled them, then Carefree Sect cultivators arrived and forced the demonic cultivators to unite against them. The two sides faced off, with Song Qingming still concealed nearby.

• Song Qingming stayed hidden while the Man in Red and the Long-Bearded Elder fought Du Yucheng and the Bull-headed Ghost, then watched the elder retreat as the Man in Red held off both demons.
• Song Qingming recognized the Man in Red’s blood-mist technique as resembling that of a red-robed demonic cultivator he had fought decades earlier.
• Song Qingming learned that Du Yucheng had returned with Xiao Huang to free Xiao Huang’s main Primordial Spirit from the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, while the Man in Red and the Long-Bearded Elder had tracked them there.
• When more people arrived, Song Qingming moved deeper into the cave to hide, as Li Yungong and four Carefree Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators entered and attacked the demonic cultivators.
• The demonic cultivators stopped fighting one another and joined forces to face Li Yungong and the Carefree Sect group, which included Bai Yunhua.

Song Qingming watched as the Carefree Sect cultivators fought Du Yucheng and the other demonic cultivators, who eventually fled Black Stone Valley. After the sect’s forces left, a second Ghost Head returned to the Demon Suppressing Pagoda and revealed that Xiao Huang’s Primordial Spirit had escaped.

• Du Yucheng and the other demonic cultivators joined forces against the Carefree Sect party, while Song Qingming watched from hiding.
• Li Yungong battled the Man in Red and the injured Long-Bearded Elder, while Bai Yunhua used an array to help his group hold off Du Yucheng.
• The Man in Red trapped Li Yungong in a Red Jade Cauldron, then fled with the Long-Bearded Elder; Li Yungong broke free and pursued them.
• Du Yucheng and the Ghost Head escaped as well, and Bai Yunhua inspected the Demon Suppressing Pagoda before leading the Carefree Sect cultivators away.
• A second Ghost Head slipped into the empty cave and laughed that it had finally gained a chance to see the light of day.

Xiao Huang used the Five Spirit Nail to weaken the Demon Suppressing Pagoda’s seal and began escaping, but Song Qingming ambushed the cultivator controlling the artifact. Song Qingming confronted Xiao Huang with a Golden Palace Net, while Bai Yuxian learned the seal was in danger and left to seek help.

• Xiao Huang used the Five Spirit Nail to disrupt the Demon Suppressing Pagoda’s seal, prompting Bai Yuxian to leave seclusion and head for the Law Enforcement Hall.
• Xiao Huang struggled to escape the pagoda, managing to expose his hands and head through the weakened seal.
• Song Qingming ambushed the yellow-robed cultivator controlling the Five Spirit Nail and interrupted his spell.
• Xiao Huang attacked Song Qingming with crescent blade lights, but Song Qingming blocked them with the Golden Palace Net.
• Xiao Huang recognized the Golden Palace Net and questioned Song Qingming, who claimed an elder of the Carefree Sect had given it to him.

Song Qingming fought Xiao Huang, a weakened Golden Core demonic fiend still trapped in the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, and tried to disrupt the seal while avoiding his attacks. The fight remained unresolved as Song Qingming revealed a third-tier Lightning Talisman and Xiao Huang recognized the danger.

• Song Qingming knocked one of the Five Spirit Nails from the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, intensifying the seal’s pressure on Xiao Huang and interrupting his spellcasting.
• Xiao Huang seized Song Qingming’s Black Blade and sent wind blades at him, but Song Qingming retreated and blocked their force with the Golden Palace Net.
• Song Qingming blinded Xiao Huang with the Golden Palace Net and struck his head with the Black Blade, leaving only a faint wound.
• Song Qingming asked Feng He how to overcome Xiao Huang’s tough body, and Feng He urged him to use the third-tier Lightning Talisman and end the fight quickly.
• Song Qingming distracted Xiao Huang with his artifacts and activated the Lightning Talisman, shocking Xiao Huang with its power to restrain demonic cultivators.