Chapter Summaries

Song Qingming sorted the spoils taken from the demonic cultivators and set aside their corrupted items for Feng He to examine. The next morning, Fire Phoenix opened the jade pendant’s Restrictions and revealed a new collection of valuable items for them to inspect.

• Song Qingming opened the Storage Bags Long Feng had given him and sorted through the demonic cultivators’ belongings.
• Song Qingming sealed the demonic cultivation methods and corrupted items in a box for Feng He to study, while keeping several ordinary Magic Tools.
• Song Qingming decided to find more high-level Artifact Refining materials for Long Feng in return for helping him obtain the spoils.
• Azure Luan brought Song Qingming to Fire Phoenix the next morning, where Fire Phoenix showed him the items she had taken from the jade pendant.

Song Qingming and Fire Phoenix opened the jade pendant and found many treasures, including Mid-grade Spirit Stones and a Longevity Fruit. Fire Phoenix uncovered a tracking Formless Worm and kept most of the Demonic Energy-tainted items, while Song Qingming left with selected valuables; afterward, she found a mysterious iron plaque marked “Tongtian.”

• Song Qingming examined the jade pendant’s contents with Fire Phoenix and discovered that many items were tainted by Demonic Energy.
• A green bead and a Green Jade Box began glowing, revealing a Longevity Fruit and a hidden Formless Worm.
• Fire Phoenix identified the Formless Worm as the source of the Demonic Cultivators’ tracking and destroyed it.
• Song Qingming agreed to leave most of the pendant’s contents with Fire Phoenix but took the Mid-grade Spirit Stones and several uncontaminated spiritual items, including the Longevity Fruit.
• After Song Qingming left, Fire Phoenix found an iron plaque marked “Tongtian” among the items.

Song Qingming returned to Funiu Mountain after more than two months away and found Song Qingwan confronting him about Shi Chun’s dealings with Willow Wind Hall. He explained that a mysterious Foundation Establishment Cultivator was involved, leaving Song Qingwan convinced she had misunderstood and ready to apologize to Shi Chun.

• Song Qingming returned to Wei State after leaving the Floating Cloud Mountain Range and hurried back to Funiu Mountain.
• Song Qingwan went to the mountaintop to complain to Song Qingming after Shi Chun transferred valuable spirit items from Song Family shops to Willow Wind Hall and refused to answer her inquiries.
• Song Qingshi rushed to the mountaintop, worried that Song Qingwan would discover Song Qingming was absent, but found her chatting with the returned Song Qingming.
• Song Qingming told Song Qingwan that he had authorized Shi Chun’s dealings with Willow Wind Hall and that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was involved.
• Song Qingwan believed Song Qingming, regretted acting impulsively, and said she would apologize to Shi Chun.

Song Qingming returned to the Song Family and learned that Song Xinyu had entered seclusion to attempt Foundation Establishment. Song Xinyu succeeded, reunited with Song Qingming at Yangshan Marketplace, and agreed to take him to the Law Enforcement Hall at Mount Guyang.

• Song Qingming warned Song Qingshi to keep Willow Wind Hall's secrets concealed and to tighten the family's internal discipline.
• Song Qingshi told Song Qingming that Song Xinyu had exchanged for a Foundation Establishment Pill and begun seclusion at the Carefree Sect.
• Song Xinyu endured the painful marrow cleansing and tendon transformation and emerged from seclusion as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator after more than three months.
• Huang Shengyang congratulated Song Xinyu on his breakthrough and sent him to meet his worried family at Yangshan Marketplace.
• Song Qingming praised Song Xinyu, reminded him to remember the family's kindness, and gave him a Grade 2 Low-grade flying sword.
• Song Xinyu agreed to escort Song Qingming to the Law Enforcement Hall at Mount Guyang.

Song Qingming claimed rewards for Ye Shujie's head, secured additional Merit Points from Gao Yuyao, and learned that Liu Xingfeng was gravely injured after a breakthrough. He left Yangshan Marketplace with talisman-making materials, planning to earn the Spirit Stones needed for a Foundation Establishment Pill and other family expenses.

• Song Qingming presented Ye Shujie's head to the Carefree Sect's Law Enforcement Hall, gave a prepared account of the killing, and received one thousand Spirit Stones and five hundred Merit Points.
• Song Qingming told Song Xinyu to keep the story of Ye Shujie's death quiet, and Song Xinyu planned to visit Funiu Mountain after taking leave.
• Song Qingming met Gao Yuyao at the Merit Pavilion and received the five hundred Merit Points she had promised him.
• Gao Yuyao told Song Qingming that Liu Xingfeng had injured her meridians during a breakthrough and had gone to Wu State with a disciple to seek treatment.
• Song Qingming bought a hundred sets of talisman-making materials from Shopkeeper Fang at Jade Tower Pavilion so he could make talismans and earn Spirit Stones.
• Song Qingming concluded that the family still needed about eight thousand Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill and left Yangshan Marketplace with the materials.

Song Qingming celebrated Song Xinyu’s Foundation Establishment, made and sold Level 2 Spirit Talismans, and obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill while postponing the decision about who would receive it. Meanwhile, the Minghe Sect sought help from two powerful female Rogue Cultivators to retake a Spirit Stone Mine at Gufeng Ridge, and they agreed to join the mission.

• Song Xinyu returned to Funiu Mountain, where Song Qingming held a grand banquet attended by the Song Family’s allies and Carefree Sect cultivators.
• Song Qingming weighed whether Song Xintang, Song Xinhe, or Song Yuanli should receive the family’s future Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Song Qingming advanced to Grade 2 Mid-grade talisman maker, sold his talismans for nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, and exchanged Merit Points for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Tao Hede met with the woman surnamed Liu, who introduced him to two powerful female Rogue Cultivators and asked them to help the Minghe Sect retake the Gufeng Ridge Spirit Stone Mine.
• Tao Hede offered each woman a spiritual item from the Minghe Sect’s list as payment, and the two agreed to take part.

Song Qingyu persuaded He Mengxin to join Minghe Sect's attack on a spirit mine in exchange for a Jade Dragon Pill, and the two joined a large force heading to Lone Peak Mountain. The assault began with Tao Hede breaking through the mountain's protection array and leading Minghe Sect disciples inside to destroy its array eyes.

• Song Qingyu convinced He Mengxin to accept Minghe Sect's mission, promising to stay together and withdraw if the battle proved too dangerous.
• Tao Hede gathered Song Qingyu, He Mengxin, Wood Dragon Venerable, and other cultivators, distributed their promised rewards, and warned that a Golden Core Cultivator might appear but would be restrained by Minghe Sect's ancestor.
• The cultivators traveled to Lone Peak Mountain, where Tianxing Sect had seized Minghe Sect's spirit mine a year earlier.
• The attackers struck the mountain's protection array, while Tao Hede and several Minghe Sect disciples used two Formation Breaking Beads to create breaches.
• Tao Hede led his disciples through the breaches and ordered them to destroy the array eyes before the defenders could delay the assault.

Minghe Sect and its allies fought the Tianxing Sect cultivators for the Spirit Stone Mine at Lone Peak Mountain, but Xu Qiulong destroyed the mine vein under orders from Old Ancestor Qian. As the defeated forces fled, Song Qingyu pursued a veiled woman and recognized her as someone from her past.

• Tao Hede and Minghe Sect's cultivators attacked the Five Elements Array, destroyed four of its Array Eyes, and drove Xu Qiulong's defenders into retreat.
• Old Ancestor Qian's Flying Boat was intercepted by a white-robed Golden Core cultivator, so Qian's Foundation Establishment reinforcements escaped to Lone Peak Mountain without him.
• Junior Brother Wang told Xu Qiulong that Old Ancestor Qian had ordered them to destroy the mine vein and retreat, and Xu Qiulong used an Earthshaking Gold Talisman to trigger the destruction.
• The mine's collapse killed many of the mortals hiding in its tunnels, and Tao Hede offered three thousand Spirit Stones for each opposing Foundation Establishment cultivator killed.
• Song Qingyu pursued the veiled woman despite He Mengxin's concerns, and the woman removed her veil after Song Qingyu asked whether she recognized her.

Song Qingyu and He Mengxin returned to Wei State after helping the Minghe Sect reclaim its spirit vein, and Song Qingyu reunited with her family at Funiu Mountain. Song Qingming welcomed He Mengxin, who planned to enter seclusion there, after Qingyu explained that He Mengxin had once saved her life.

• Song Qingyu and He Mengxin declined Tao Hede's offer to settle at Immortal Crane Marketplace, accepted the Minghe Sect's Spirit Stones, and set out for Wei State.
• Song Qingming met Feng He, congratulated him on achieving Foundation Establishment, and gave him the belongings of the two devil cultivators killed by a Golden Core Demon King.
• Song Xin hu told Song Qingming that Song Qingyu had returned, so he hurried from Qinghe Market to Funiu Mountain.
• Song Qingyu embraced Song Qingming and introduced He Mengxin, who asked to enter seclusion on the mountain.
• Song Qingyu told Song Qingming that He Mengxin had saved her life, easing his suspicion of their guest.

Song Qingming welcomed Song Qingyu and He Mengxin back to Funiu Mountain and learned about their travels and He Mengxin’s rare insight into Spiritual Affinity. After Huang Shengyue invited him to a major Trade Fair at Tuoyun Mountain, Song Qingming decided to attend and began gathering Spirit Stones for the journey.

• Song Qingming heard Song Qingyu recount her years of training abroad and welcomed He Mengxin to stay at Funiu Mountain.
• He Mengxin praised Song Qingming, and he encouraged her to make a breakthrough at Funiu Mountain when she was ready.
• Song Qingming received a letter from Huang Shengyue inviting him to the Tuoyun Mountain Trade Fair a month later.
• Song Qingyu urged Song Qingming to attend because the Trade Fair could offer a rare chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Song Qingming agreed to go, and he sent Song Qingshi to gather Spirit Stones from the family while Song Qingyu went to Qinghe Market for funds.

Song Qingyu revealed that she had found Huang Siyuan, giving Song Qingming hope of seeing his long-lost wife again. Song Qingming then traveled with Huang Shengyue and Huang Shengxin to Tuoyun Mountain for a meeting with Chen Jinliang.

• Song Qingyu questioned Song Qingming about Huang Siyuan and told him she had encountered her while traveling, leaving him astonished and delighted that she had succeeded in Foundation Establishment.
• Song Qingming arrived at Taiyuan Mountain, where Huang Shengyue welcomed him and explained that Huang Shengxin had gone to Wufeng Mountain.
• Huang Shengxin returned, greeted Song Qingming, and took him and Huang Shengyue aboard his repaired Flying Boat toward Tuoyun Mountain.
• Song Qingming and the Huang Family arrived at Tuoyun Mountain, a settlement where Chen Jinliang offered affordable Cave Abodes and protection to Rogue Cultivators.

Song Qingming arrived at Tuoyun Mountain with Huang Shengxin and Huang Shengyue to attend Chen Jinliang’s Trade Fair, where Feng Yangde welcomed them and guided them to the Golden Cloud Pavilion. The chapter ended as Song Qingming met the formidable Chen Jinliang and was invited to sit with the assembled guests.

• Huang Shengxin presented Chen Jinliang’s invitation at Tuoyun Mountain, and Feng Yangde came to escort the group inside.
• Huang Shengxin introduced Song Qingming to Feng Yangde, who praised Song Qingming’s cultivation and welcomed him to Tuoyun Mountain.
• Feng Yangde guided Song Qingming and the Huang siblings through the mountain marketplace toward the Golden Cloud Pavilion.
• Huang Shengyue explained that Tuoyun Mountain reserved its valuable spiritual items for the Golden Cloud Pavilion.
• Song Qingming entered the pavilion, sensed Chen Jinliang’s formidable presence, and joined the others as Chen Jinliang invited them to sit.

Song Qingming prepared for the Tuoyun Mountain Trade Fair by gathering Spirit Stones and seeking a Grade 2 Mid-grade array plate, then joined the opening gathering. The fair began with Chen Jinliang and Ma Hongshan taking their places on the high platform, while the assembled cultivators speculated about other Golden Core guests.

• Chen Jinliang spoke amiably with Song Qingming and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators before leaving, and Huang Shengxin led the group to rented Cave Abodes.
• Song Qingming visited Golden Jade Pavilion with Huang Shengyue, bought several medicinal pills, and traded surplus magical items and talismans for Spirit Stones.
• Song Qingming focused on finding a Grade 2 Mid-grade array plate so he could improve his formation equipment and work toward raising his family's spirit vein.
• When the Trade Fair opened, Huang Shengxin led Song Qingming and Huang Shengyue to seats among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
• Chen Jinliang took the seat of honor, and Ma Hongshan of Iron Immortal Valley arrived and sat beside him.

Song Qingming attended the Tuoyun Mountain Trade Fair, where Chen Jinliang announced a Sword Discussion Assembly and a partnership with the Carefree Sect to establish a marketplace. After buying expensive array plates, Song Qingming went to Golden Cloud Pavilion to sell surplus items and reunited with Fang Wuqian, who explained how the pavilion acquired goods for the fair.

• Song Qingming recognized Ma Hongshan as the old ancestor of the Ma Family of Iron Immortal Valley, then watched Chu Fengping arrive with Carefree Sect disciples.
• Chen Jinliang announced a Sword Discussion Assembly and revealed that Tuoyun Mountain and the Carefree Sect would jointly build and manage a marketplace.
• Song Qingming bought Grade 2 High-grade array plates after failing to find a cheaper suitable set, leaving him with few Spirit Stones.
• Feng Yangde advised Song Qingming to exchange surplus spiritual items at Golden Cloud Pavilion, where he ran into Fang Wuqian.
• Fang Wuqian explained that Golden Cloud Pavilion bought items from Trade Fair attendees and resold them at the summit the next day.

Song Qingming sold accumulated spiritual items at Golden Cloud Pavilion, gaining more than seven thousand Spirit Stones to prepare for possible core-forming treasures at the Tuoyun Mountain Trade Fair. After finding nothing useful over the next two days, he arrived for the Sword Trial Tournament and met the two Huang Family cultivators.

• Fang Wuqian explained Golden Cloud Pavilion’s buying practices and advised Song Qingming to take rare items to its third floor.
• Song Qingming sold four Second-grade Array Formations to a black-clad old man for eighteen hundred Spirit Stones.
• Song Qingming sold his other accumulated spiritual items, including talismans, magic tools, and Storage Bags, and gained more than seven thousand Spirit Stones in total.
• Song Qingming returned to his rented cave abode and found no useful core-forming items at the Trade Fair over the next two days.
• The Sword Trial Tournament began on the fifth day, and Song Qingming met two Huang Family cultivators beside the Foundation Establishment competition platform.

Song Qingming entered the Sword Discussion Assembly at Tuoyun Mountain, where the valuable prizes and chance to hear Old Ancestor Chen preach drew many cultivators. After advancing from his first match, he defeated a body-refining cultivator in the next round and moved on in the contest.

• Song Qingming and Huang Shengxin discussed the assembly’s prizes and the chance for its top ten Foundation Establishment cultivators to hear Old Ancestor Chen preach.
• Fairy Qiu Die of Iron Immortal Valley defeated a Foundation Establishment Layer 7 opponent with swarms of mana butterflies, revealing herself as a formidable contender.
• Song Qingming, Huang Shengxin, and Huang Shengyue all won their first matches against ordinary rogue cultivators.
• Song Qingming faced a bald Foundation Establishment Layer 6 body-refining cultivator on the second day and trapped him with his Bewildering Soul Banner.
• Song Qingming struck the trapped opponent with a powerful transparent spike, knocked him off the platform, and advanced to the next round.

Song Qingming defeated a Carefree Sect disciple and then fought a powerful yellow-robed cultivator for a place in the Sword Discussion Assembly’s top ten. He outmaneuvered the old man with the Azure Water Bell and a concealed attack, leaving his opponent stunned after being struck from an unexpected direction.

• Song Qingming defeated a Carefree Sect disciple at the peak of Foundation Establishment Layer 6 and advanced to a match for a top-ten place.
• The yellow-robed old man attacked Song Qingming with three white jade bottles that unleashed a rain of fire arrows.
• Song Qingming endured the assault behind the Azure Water Bell, then used the bell, his blades, and the Bewildering Soul Banner to conceal his tactics.
• The old man’s blazing spear failed to break the Azure Water Bell’s defenses, and Song Qingming suddenly appeared beside him and knocked him off the platform.
• The old man asked how Song Qingming had escaped from inside the bell, and Song Qingming replied that he had never been hiding inside it.

Song Qingming defeated the Old Man in Yellow to enter the Sword Discussion Assembly’s top ten, but surrendered early against Lin Yutian and received a Moon Gazing Pill. After the contest ended, Golden Cloud Pavilion began the trade fair’s final exchange of rare spiritual items.

• Song Qingming used the Bewildering Soul Banner and Spirit Concealing Shirt to outmaneuver the Old Man in Yellow, destroy his black bronze mirror, and defeat him to claim a place in the top ten.
• Song Qingming watched the other matches and saw Fang Wuqian enter the top ten while Huang Shengxin lost to a Foundation Establishment Layer 8 Rogue Cultivator.
• Song Qingming surrendered early against Lin Yutian, while Fang Wuqian fought Fairy Qiudie and was defeated.
• Lin Yutian, Fairy Qiudie, and a tall, portly Rogue Cultivator won the top three prizes, and Song Qingming and the other top-ten contestants received Moon Gazing Pills.
• Golden Cloud Pavilion began the trade fair’s final stage by presenting rare spiritual items, including Foundation Establishment Pills and Barrier Breaking Pills, for exchange with items valuable to Golden Core Cultivators.

Song Qingming failed to exchange his Longevity Fruit and Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill at the Tuoyun Mountain Trade Fair. As the fair’s high-tier trades concluded, he saw the Huang Family members off and remained at Tuoyun Mountain to hear Old Ancestor Chen expound the Dao.

• Song Qingming and Huang Shengxin submitted slips offering rare items in exchange for their desired treasures.
• Huang Shengxin was invited to the third-floor platform and returned looking calm, while Song Qingming waited without receiving an invitation.
• Old Ancestor Chen rejected Song Qingming’s Longevity Fruit because he had already consumed one and had used others to make Spirit Prolonging Pills for his disciples.
• Song Qingming accepted that his offer had little chance among the many cultivators seeking a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• After the high-tier trades ended, Song Qingming accompanied the Huang Family members partway as they left for Taiyuan Mountain, and Huang Shengxin promised to send word to Funiu Mountain.

Song Qingming attended Chen Jinliang’s lecture on forming a core after Huang Shengxin revealed his plan to enter life-and-death seclusion. Chen Jinliang shared his cultivation insights, leaving Song Qingming and the other listeners to reflect on the difficult path to the Golden Core Realm.

• Huang Shengxin told Song Qingming and Huang Shengyue that he would enter life-and-death seclusion in hopes of forming a core, admitting that decades of effort had not brought him a breakthrough.
• Song Qingming saw Huang Shengxin and Huang Shengyue off, then returned to Tuoyun Mountain as the Trade Fair ended and its visitors departed.
• After three more days, Song Qingming received notice that Chen Jinliang would give a lecture on the Dao and went to the mountaintop with the other invited cultivators.
• Chen Jinliang explained that he would share his personal insights into forming a core, and the gathered cultivators listened in silence.
• Chen Jinliang spoke about his own path to core formation and the scarcity of helpful Spiritual Items, emphasizing the importance of cultivation understanding and disposition.