Chapter Summaries

Song Qingming returned to Qinghe Market as a Golden Core Cultivator and used his newfound authority to halt the conflict between the Lu and Li Families until after the coming Demonic Beast Turmoil. As he left with Song Qingyu, she was still struggling to believe that he had formed his core.

• A Law Enforcement Team cultivator announced Song Qingming’s arrival, and Song Qingyu eagerly tried to leave the Council Hall to meet him.
• Lu Xingde threatened to fight the Li Family unless Li Chengyue signed a Soul Contract, then dismissed Song Qingming’s ability to change his mind.
• Song Qingming entered and revealed that he had reached the Golden Core Realm, shocking everyone in the Council Hall.
• Song Qingming asked Lu Xingde and Li Chengyue to cease hostilities until the Demonic Beast Turmoil ended, and both agreed to follow his arrangements.
• After Song Qingming left with Song Qingyu, the cultivators discussed his breakthrough, and Song Qingyu asked whether she was dreaming.

Song Qingming reunited with Song Qingyu and told her how he formed his core, while the Carefree Sect’s elders debated how to respond to his breakthrough. The sect decided to approach him as a prospective Guest Elder, and two of its Golden Core Cultivators arrived at the Song Family to meet him.

• Song Qingming showed Song Qingyu his Green Willow Sword, confirming that he had reached the Golden Core Realm, and returned with her to Funiu Mountain.
• Song Qingming told Song Qingyu about his core formation in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, claiming a powerful Restriction had protected him from Demon Kings.
• Li Mufeng gathered the Carefree Sect’s Golden Core Elders to discuss Song Qingming’s breakthrough and hear accounts of his dealings with Chu Fengping and Li Wutong.
• Li Wutong proposed recruiting Song Qingming, while True Person Guangling warned that his rapid progress could indicate hidden influences; Zhao Fenglian suggested first inviting him to become a Guest Elder.
• Li Mufeng sent Chu Fengping and Zhao Fenglian to Qinghe County to offer Song Qingming the Guest Elder position and investigate his core formation.
• After an urgent message interrupted his peaceful days on Funiu Mountain, Song Qingming met two Carefree Sect Golden Core Cultivators in the Song Family Council Hall.

Song Qingming accepted the Carefree Sect’s invitation to become a Guest Elder, gaining access to a Golden Core cultivation technique and other resources while remaining with his clan. Afterward, he told Chu Fengping and Zhao Fenglian that an unnamed senior had helped him form his core, but he could not reveal the benefactor’s identity.

• Chu Fengping and Zhao Fenglian invited Song Qingming to join the Carefree Sect as a Guest Elder and explained that he could stay with his clan while answering the sect’s summons.
• Song Qingming accepted the invitation and said he would formally announce his decision after visiting Mount Guyang in a few days.
• Chu Fengping gave Song Qingming cultivation pills, while Zhao Fenglian presented him with a defensive magic tool for his Dao companion.
• Song Qingming asked Chu Fengping and Zhao Fenglian about Golden Core cultivation, and they later questioned him about where and how he had formed his core.
• Song Qingming said an unnamed senior had helped him form his core in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range and that the benefactor had since departed from near Guiyun Marketplace.

Song Qingming joined the Carefree Sect as a Guest Elder and received a generous allotment of Merit Points. At the Merit Pavilion, Chu Fengping began helping him choose a Golden Core cultivation art, introducing the Five Elements Profound Gang Art.

• Chu Fengping and Zhao Fenglian agreed not to investigate Song Qingming’s claim that a hidden expert had supported his Golden Core formation, then returned to the Carefree Sect.
• Song Qingming explained to Huang Siyuan that the Carefree Sect had invited him to become a Guest Elder, and she accepted Zhao Fenglian’s jade-bracelet magic artifact.
• Three days later, Song Qingming accepted a Silver Jade Token from Li Mufeng at his induction ceremony and received three thousand Merit Points.
• Li Mufeng sent Chu Fengping to guide Song Qingming through the Merit Pavilion and help him select a cultivation art.
• Chu Fengping presented three suitable cultivation arts and began explaining the Five Elements Profound Gang Art, which included formidable spells and a method for refining a Natal Magic Treasure.

Song Qingming chose the Five Elements Profound Gang Art and received a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Carefree Sect, whose leaders hoped to secure his family’s loyalty. After the sect placed northeastern Wei State’s cultivation families under the Song Family’s authority, the newly elevated family prepared to host a flood of congratulatory guests.

• Song Qingming chose the Five Elements Profound Gang Art over the Heavenly Origin Heart Sutra and exchanged Merit Points for cultivation pills.
• Chu Fengping reported Song Qingming’s choice to Li Mufeng, who praised his judgment and ordered Guangling to come see him.
• The Carefree Sect sent the Song Family a Foundation Establishment Pill, and Song Qingming agreed to discuss who would receive it at a family meeting.
• The Carefree Sect made Song Qingming a Guest Elder and placed the cultivation families of Qinghe and Pingyang Counties under the Song Family’s authority.
• Dozens of Foundation Establishment Families arrived at Funiu Mountain with gifts as the Song Family prepared its celebratory banquet.

Song Qingming celebrated the Song Family’s advancement into a Golden Core Immortal Clan and learned that the Carefree Sect had placed the cultivators of Qinghe and Pingyang Counties under his command. He realized he was expected to lead Pingyang County’s defense in the approaching Demonic Beast Turmoil, despite the sect’s unexplained lack of reinforcements.

• Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan practiced controlling Golden Illusion Butterflies before Song Qingyu summoned them to the banquet.
• Song Qingming welcomed Chu Fengping and hosted Foundation Establishment Cultivators from nearby counties and Carefree Sect outposts.
• Chu Fengping announced that Song Qingming, as a Guest Elder, would command all sect affairs in Qinghe and Pingyang Counties.
• After the banquet, Chu Fengping told Song Qingming that Pingyang County would likely rely on him during the Demonic Beast Turmoil, while withholding why the sect had granted him authority and gifts.
• Song Qingming concluded that the Carefree Sect might be unable to send another Golden Core Cultivator and resolved to do his utmost to defend the region.

Song Qingming learned that the Carefree Sect might not be able to support Jinshan Market during the approaching Demonic Beast Turmoil, so he began organizing defenses. He reached Jinshan Market with Huang Siyuan and gathered Pingyang County’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators to discuss how to repel the coming attack.

• Song Qingming told Song Qingyu, Huang Siyuan, and Song Yuanli that the Carefree Sect might not spare forces for Jinshan Market, and assigned them preparations to defend the market and protect the Song Family.
• Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan arrived at Jinshan Market, where the guards initially required them to obtain a local guarantee before entering.
• Cao Rongxue recognized Song Qingming as a newly formed Golden Core Cultivator, welcomed him, and had the guards apologize for their mistake.
• Cao Rongxue summoned Pingyang County’s major Foundation Establishment Families and Carefree Sect cultivators stationed nearby to Jinshan Market.
• Song Qingming addressed the assembled cultivators and began discussing how they would defend Jinshan Market against the approaching demonic beasts.

Song Qingming took charge of Jinshan Market’s preparations for the coming Demonic Beast Turmoil and helped the Song Family strengthen its ranks. Four years later, as Northern Frontier demons gathered in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, Fire Phoenix and her companions prepared to relocate to safety.

• Song Qingming convened Pingyang County’s Foundation Establishment families and Carefree Sect disciples, secured their obedience, and ordered them to reinforce Jinshan Market’s defenses.
• Song Qingming settled at Jinshan Market with Huang Siyuan and warned that he would reward those who followed orders and punish anyone who undermined the defense.
• Song Qingyu brought Song Yuanfang and more than twenty Song Family disciples to Jinshan Market, where Song Yuanfang received guidance and successfully established his foundation a year later.
• Huang Siyuan entered seclusion at Jinshan Market and broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 7.
• Four years later, Windwing told Fire Phoenix that Northern Frontier demons had arrived nearby and invited her to shelter at Extreme Cloud Mountain.
• Fire Phoenix agreed to leave with Long Feng and Azure Luan after Long Feng confirmed that many demonic beasts and Demon Kings had gathered in the north.

Song Qingming emerged from two years of seclusion after successfully refining the Five Elements Divine Light Mirror, his Natal Magic Treasure. He learned that demonic beasts were gathering in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range and that Jinshan Market’s defenses had been reinforced, though recruiting rogue cultivators had caused resentment.

• A Law Enforcement Team disciple reported a flash of golden light near Song Qingming’s cave abode, and Song Qingyu went to investigate.
• Song Qingming emerged and showed Song Qingyu his newly refined Five Elements Divine Light Mirror.
• Song Qingyu reported that demonic beasts had gathered in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, while Jinshan Market’s formations, crossbows, and recruited defenders strengthened its defenses.
• Song Qingming approved of the preparations, while the influx and generous treatment of rogue cultivators had stirred objections among local families and Carefree Sect disciples.

Song Qingming finished preparing Jinshan Market for war, then received news that the Northern Frontier demonic beasts had begun marching south. As forces gathered and the Carefree Sect deployed its Golden Core elders to Guiyun Marketplace, Li Mufeng asked about Song Qingming’s preparations and the cultivators assembling at Jinshan Market.

• Song Qingming inspected Jinshan Market’s defenses, praised the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and personally guided Cao Rongxue and Zhao Chuancheng.
• Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan spent several peaceful days sightseeing before the Carefree Sect reported that the demonic beasts had begun their southward march.
• Song Qingming ordered cultivators from Pingyang County and Qinghe County to gather at Jinshan Market, while reinforcements from Jiangling County and Liuyang County were also summoned.
• The Golden Feather Demon Emperor assigned White Dragon to lead the attack on the human race and ordered Wind Wing to target Guiyun Mountain while keeping Northern Frontier demons away from Extreme Cloud Mountain.
• Li Mufeng sent Bai Yuxian and four other Golden Core Elders to defend Guiyun Marketplace, then asked Guangling about Song Qingming’s preparations at Jinshan Market.

Li Mufeng prioritized defending the Carefree Sect’s own strongholds while Yao Ganshu recovered, and the sect’s leaders waited for news from their absent contact. At Jinshan Market, Song Qingming confirmed that a Level 3 Demon King was leading the approaching beast army, then reassured the defenders as Cao Rongxue rallied them for battle.

• Li Mufeng ordered True Person Guangling to focus on Mount Guyang and not divert the sect’s strength to Tuoyun Mountain or Iron Immortal Fortress.
• Yao Ganshu offered to appear at the front lines, but Li Mufeng and Chen Xuanxin persuaded him to keep recovering and remain a hidden threat to the Demon Kings.
• Li Mufeng asked Chen Xuanxin whether he had heard from their contact, and Chen Xuanxin said his letters had gone unanswered.
• Song Qingming told the Jinshan Market defenders that the Demonic Beast Army was less than two thousand li away and included a Level 3 Demon King, likely the White Lion Demon King.
• Song Qingming reassured the defenders that Jinshan Market was strong enough to resist, and Cao Rongxue encouraged them by pointing to their numbers and preparations.

Song Qingming prepared Jinshan Market’s cultivators for the Demonic Beast Turmoil and led them to a decisive victory over the first demonic beast vanguard. The chapter ended with the defenders celebrating their win while mourning their dead and bracing for the larger army to come.

• Song Qingming reassured Jinshan Market’s forces, distributed supplies from the marketplace Treasury, and prepared the assembled cultivators for battle.
• Two days later, Cao Rongxue and Song Qingyu led a force out to attack the arriving vanguard before it reached the Mountain Protection Array, while Song Yuanli’s Enforcement Cultivators monitored the fighting.
• Cao Rongxue and Song Qingyu killed the two leading Grade 2 Low-grade beasts, while a Grade 2 Mid-grade fire ox fled and escaped pursuit under Song Qingming’s orders.
• With their leaders defeated or gone, the Level 1 Demonic Beasts fled, and Jinshan Market’s cultivators pursued them before stopping at their commanders’ order.
• The defenders won the battle and collected the demonic beast materials, but more than thirty cultivators were injured and seven or eight died, as Song Qingming anticipated harsher fighting ahead.

Song Qingming’s forces celebrated their victory at Jinshan Market, but the White Lion Demon King gathered its army and launched a much larger assault the next day. After the defenders wore down the beasts with their formations and Flying Cloud Crossbows, the White Lion Demon King revealed itself and charged the city.

• Song Qingming distributed battle spoils as rewards, while the White Lion Demon King killed a returning fire bull and prepared to attack Jinshan Market with its assembled army.
• At dawn, the Demonic Beast Army advanced on Jinshan Market, and the defenders hurried to their assigned positions and activated the Mountain Protection Array.
• The Thick Earth Golden Light Array and Flying Cloud Crossbows repelled and weakened the Demonic Beasts, while Level 2 beasts led the assault from above.
• Song Qingyu ordered the defenders to withdraw the outer formation and prepare for battle as the depleted Demonic Beast Army charged toward the market.
• The White Lion Demon King appeared above its army and pounced toward Jinshan Market, alarming the cultivators on the city wall.

Song Qingming confronted the White Lion Demon King while the cultivators of Jinshan Market fought off the Demonic Beast Army with support from their defensive arrays. After Huang Siyuan trapped the Demon King in the Bewitching Illusion Array, Song Qingming struck it with the Green Willow Sword, leaving it badly wounded as the battle continued.

• The White Lion Demon King attacked Jinshan Market after the Thick Earth Golden Light Array fell, and Song Qingming intercepted it while Song Qingyu led the defenders out to fight.
• Song Yuanli activated the Purple Firmament Thunder Array, which struck down flying demonic beasts as the Human Race Cultivators fought with support from the marketplace defenses.
• Song Qingming lured the White Lion Demon King away from the battlefield and trapped it in the Bewitching Illusion Array that Huang Siyuan controlled.
• The White Lion Demon King used its inner core to disperse the illusion and spotted Huang Siyuan, but Song Qingming attacked from behind before it could reach her.
• Song Qingming's Green Willow Sword pierced the White Lion Demon King's golden-light barrier and tore a bloody hole in its leg.

Song Qingming drove back the White Lion Demon King, then returned to help turn the battle at Jinshan Market into a human victory. The beasts retreated, but Song Qingming knew the turmoil was far from over.

• Song Qingming wounded the White Lion Demon King and pursued it on a Flying Boat, but failed to prevent its escape.
• Song Qingyu, nearly overwhelmed by three demonic beasts, used a White Crane Puppet Beast to break free before Huang Siyuan arrived and told her Song Qingming had driven back the demon king.
• Zhao Chuancheng and Song Qingyu spread the news of Song Qingming's victory, raising the cultivators' morale while the fighting continued.
• Song Qingming returned and slew more than a dozen demonic beasts, prompting the Foundation Establishment beasts to lead a retreat that the cultivators pursued.
• Song Qingming met Song Yuanli while the Law Enforcement Team cleared the battlefield and warned that the beasts would return in force.

After Jinshan Market’s costly victory, Song Qingming handled compensation, reassured Song Yuanli about the Law Enforcement Team’s role, and learned that reinforcements had arrived. News from elsewhere in Wei State revealed that Guiyun Marketplace, Tuoyun Mountain, and Iron Immortal Fortress were all under pressure, leaving the wider war in a worsening position.

• Song Yuanli reported that Jinshan Market had killed nine Level 2 and more than eight hundred Level 1 Demonic Beasts, while more than one hundred and sixty Qi Refining Cultivators and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had died.
• Song Qingming arranged compensation for the fallen, promised to seek a Foundation Establishment Pill for the Zhao Family, and told Song Yuanli that the Law Enforcement Team’s service would be rewarded after the turmoil.
• Huang Siyuan told Song Qingming that Song Qingyu was recovering from her injuries, while he worried about Jinshan Market’s depleted forces and supplies.
• Cultivators from Liuyang County and Jiangling County arrived, bringing ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators and nearly a thousand Qi Refining Cultivators to reinforce Jinshan Market.
• Reports revealed that Guiyun Marketplace and Tuoyun Mountain faced dangerous sieges, while Iron Immortal Fortress was surrounded by at least four Demon Kings and cut off from contact with the Ma Family.

Song Qingming strengthened Jinshan Market and refined his Green Willow Sword technique before the White Lion Demon King renewed his attacks. When the Demon King shifted to raiding Pingyang County to lure the defenders out, Song Qingming kept Jinshan Market secure and organized resistance at Huoyun Mountain.

• After learning that other northern Wei State battlefields were going poorly, Song Qingming kept the news from most defenders, reinforced Jinshan Market, and urged the rear families to send supplies.
• Song Qingming entered seclusion to practice using the peak-level Invisible Light Needle with his Green Willow Sword, building on the technique that had wounded the White Lion Demon King.
• After about a month, the White Lion Demon King attacked Jinshan Market again, but Song Qingming fought him to a draw while the marketplace's defenses helped the cultivators withstand the assault.
• Unable to break Jinshan Market directly, the White Lion Demon King sent demonic beasts to raid Spirit Mountains around Pingyang County while his main force harassed the marketplace.
• Song Qingming refused to lead the defenders into a decisive battle, ordered northern Pingyang County families to retreat toward Huoyun Mountain, and sent Cao Rongxue and other cultivators to support them.
• At Huoyun Mountain, Cao Rongxue and the gathered cultivators lured in and struck the southbound demonic beasts, while most families withdrew with limited losses.

Li Mufeng refused True Person Guangling’s request to take the Carefree Sect’s Level 3 Puppet Beast to defend Gaoyun County, revealing that he planned to send it to Jinshan Market so Song Qingming’s forces could later reinforce Guiyun Marketplace. The chapter left Guangling confused about Li Mufeng’s strategy as the demonic beast crisis continued across Wei State.

• Cao Rongxue and Song Yuanfang’s reinforcements held Huoyun Mountain against the demonic beasts, but Song Yuanfang was severely injured and sent back to Funiu Mountain.
• Song Qingming’s forces and the White Lion Demon King remained deadlocked near Jinshan Market for more than half a year.
• True Person Guangling reported that Guiyun Marketplace and several regions in Wei State were suffering heavy losses, while Tuoyun Mountain and Iron Immortal Fortress continued resisting.
• True Person Guangling asked Li Mufeng to release the Carefree Sect’s Level 3 Puppet Beast so he could defend Gaoyun County from two Demon Kings.
• Li Mufeng refused and explained that he intended to send the Puppet Beast to Jinshan Market first, hoping Song Qingming’s forces could later reinforce Guiyun Marketplace.

Li Mufeng told True Person Guangling that the Carefree Sect was preparing a counterattack and sent him back to defend Gaoyun County with a Golden Talisman. At Iron Immortal Fortress, Ma Hongshan learned that Mount Fulong had fallen and Jing Xuan had died, leaving the Ma Family in an increasingly desperate position.

• Li Mufeng explained that a plan to counterattack the demonic beasts had about a fifty-percent chance of ending the turmoil early, but he kept its details secret and ordered True Person Guangling to hold Gaoyun County.
• Li Mufeng gave True Person Guangling a Golden Talisman for emergencies, and Guangling departed for Gaoyun County.
• A Ma Family cultivator reported that the Silver Elephant Demon King had overrun Mount Fulong, most of the Yu Family cultivators had died, and Jing Xuan's Soul Lamp had gone out after he lured the Demon King away.
• Ma Hongshan ordered the escaped Yu Family cultivators confined and the news of Mount Fulong's fall and Jing Xuan's death concealed to protect morale.
• Ma Hongshan complained that Feng Yangde and Tuoyun Mountain had failed to send aid, and recalled how the Ma Family, Carefree Sect, and Tuoyun Mountain had formed their alliance for different purposes.
• Ma Hongshan reflected that the arrival of two unfamiliar demonic beasts had made Iron Immortal Fortress's position even more perilous than during the previous turmoil.

With Iron Immortal Fortress isolated and the Ma Family losing faith in both Tuoyun Mountain and the Carefree Sect, Ma Hongshan decided they could not wait passively for help. At Jinshan Market, Song Qingming learned that the Carefree Sect’s three reinforcements had secretly brought its Golden Winged Flying Tiger puppet, giving him confidence to strike at the White Lion Demon King’s army.

• Ma Hongshan learned that Feng Yangde kept delaying aid from Tuoyun Mountain and that the Carefree Sect had sent no reinforcements to Iron Immortal Fortress.
• Ma Hongshan recalled the Carefree Sect’s long history of controlling resources and limiting the Ma Family’s independence, then resolved that his family could not sit and await death.
• Song Qingming met Carefree Sect cultivators Wu Wenhai, Yu Zhen, and Fu Deshui, who delivered a personal letter from Grand Elder Li Mufeng.
• Wu Wenhai revealed that the three cultivators had secretly brought the Golden Winged Flying Tiger, a Level 3 Puppet Beast that could help restrain the White Lion Demon King.
• Song Qingming ordered the three to join the coming battle and told Song Qingyu to gather the marketplace’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators for a meeting.