Chapter Summaries

Song Qingming discovered that the strange letter from Yinfeng Ridge was a trap set by Feng He, who returned after a hundred years as a Ninth Level Golden Core cultivator. Feng He asked Song Qingming to accompany him to Eastern Phoenix Kingdom, and Song Qingming suspected he intended to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

• Song Qingming noticed the suspicious letter about Crimson Essence Jade Stone and sent Song Yuanhao to investigate Yinfeng Ridge.
• Song Yuanhao returned without finding Song Yuanli, but Song Yuanli later arrived at Funiu Mountain and explained that a masked Golden Core cultivator had captured him and forced him to send the letter.
• Song Yuanli delivered a painting of a crane, which Song Qingming recognized as a signal from Feng He.
• Feng He entered Willow Wind Hall in Qinghe Market and reunited with Song Qingming, revealing that he had staged the incident to test him and Song Yuanli.
• Feng He invited Song Qingming to travel with him to Eastern Phoenix Kingdom, and Song Qingming asked whether he planned to attempt a Nascent Soul breakthrough.

Song Qingming agreed to accompany Feng He to the Eastern Phoenix Kingdom in half a year and prepared his family for a long absence, intending to investigate Jade Profound Mountain and Void Palace. At Mount Guyang, he informed Yao Ganshu and Bai Yuxian of his plans, while Yao Ganshu urged him to prepare carefully for the distant journey.

• Feng He asked Song Qingming to accompany him to the Eastern Phoenix Kingdom in half a year, and Song Qingming accepted in exchange for a Crimson Essence Jade Stone.
• Song Qingming told Huang Siyuan and Song Qingyu about his journey and his search for Jade Profound Mountain and Void Palace, then entrusted them with the family's cultivation resources and two Blood Dragon Fruits.
• Song Qingming visited Yao Ganshu at Mount Guyang and learned that Bai Yuxian had begun taking over the sect's affairs as Yao Ganshu prepared to retire.
• Song Qingming explained that he planned to travel to the Eastern Phoenix Kingdom, and Yao Ganshu advised him to make thorough preparations and learn about the region from someone in the sect who had been there.

Song Qingming asked Bai Yuxian about the Eastern Phoenix Kingdom, and she described its major powers and dangers after taking him on a long shopping trip in Guiyun Marketplace. Half a year later, Song Qingming set out with Feng He, encouraged by a breakthrough in his cultivation art and Song Qingyu’s advancement to the Second Layer of Golden Core.

• Bai Yuxian took Song Qingming to Guiyun Marketplace, shopped with him for hours, and then explained the Eastern Phoenix Kingdom’s cultivation forces and dangerous regions.
• Song Qingming arranged for Song Qingyu to manage the Song Family, then traveled around Wei State with Huang Siyuan before returning to Funiu Mountain.
• Song Qingming cultivated beneath the blazing sun while waiting for Feng He, and later discovered that the Tongtian Myriad Spirits Art had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
• Song Qingyu emerged from half a year of seclusion and advanced to the Second Layer of Golden Core.
• Feng He arrived at Qinghe Market, and Song Qingming departed with him aboard his Flying Chariot for their long journey.

Song Qingming and Feng He crossed the Illusion Sea Desert and reached Ningzhou, where Song delivered Feng He’s letter and White Plume Jade to the Heavenly Treasure Merchant Association in Xianyuan City. After learning that the Immortal Origin Sect could expose cultivators who had undergone Body Seizure, Song waited with Feng He until a Golden Core Cultivator arrived and led them to Golden Cloud Temple.

• Song Qingming and Feng He crossed the Illusion Sea Desert, fought off a powerful Sand Worm, and entered the Eastern Phoenix Kingdom Cultivation World.
• In Ningzhou, Song Qingming registered his real identity while Feng He prepared a concealed Rogue Cultivator identity for himself.
• Feng He gave Song Qingming a letter and White Plume Jade to deliver to the Heavenly Treasure Merchant Association in Xianyuan City, instructing him to wait before meeting its steward.
• Song Qingming delivered the items to Gan Ruting, who recognized the White Plume Jade, put the letter and jade away, and hurried out of the association.
• Feng He explained that the Immortal Origin Sect had captured many cultivators who underwent Body Seizure, then waited with Song Qingming until a Golden Core Cultivator led them to Golden Cloud Temple.

Feng He entered seclusion at the Gathering Immortals Alliance headquarters to form a Nascent Soul, with Song Qingming staying nearby while he prepared and underwent the breakthrough. Ten years later, Feng He faced the lightning tribulation, and after his first defensive treasures were damaged, he activated the Heavenly Dipper Five Elements Array against the remaining bolts.

• Luo Tongzhou accepted Feng He's White Plume Jade and spiritual items, then led Feng He and Song Qingming through a Teleportation Array to the Gathering Immortals Alliance headquarters.
• Song Qingming learned that the Gathering Immortals Alliance was a powerful underground organization that offered Feng He a guarded place to attempt his breakthrough.
• After more than a year of preparation, Feng He entered seclusion, while Song Qingming later returned to remain nearby as the years passed.
• Ten years later, Feng He's Nascent Soul formation stirred a lightning tribulation, and Song Qingming joined Luo Tongzhou and other cultivators to watch.
• Feng He blocked the first two lightning bolts with a Golden Jade Seal and defensive treasure, but the third shattered the seal and weakened his barrier.
• Feng He activated the Heavenly Dipper Five Elements Array to defend against the remaining tribulation, while Song Qingming watched anxiously.

Feng He survived the Nascent Soul Tribulation with Song Qingming’s array and a rare talisman, then rewarded Song Qingming before returning to stabilize his cultivation. Song Qingming resumed his travels and received a list of possible locations for Jade Profound Mountain and Void Palace, along with a warning that one might be dangerous.

• Feng He used a Grade 4 Thunder-Repelling Talisman to blunt the sixth tribulation bolt and successfully formed his Nascent Soul.
• Feng He gave Luo Tongzhou a bottle of Earth Spirit Dew and gave Song Qingming two bottles, then let him take the damaged Heavenly Dipper Five Elements Array in exchange for Spirit Stones.
• Song Qingming left the Gathering Immortals Alliance headquarters and traveled north, planning to return to Wei State before the next Demonic Beast Turmoil.
• Song Qingming visited Li Mengchen at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion in Fengyuan City to ask about Jade Profound Mountain and Void Palace.
• Li Mengchen gave Song Qingming a scroll listing seven possible locations and warned him that one of them might be dangerous.

Song Qingming searched several Jade Profound Mountains for clues to the Jade Profound Scripture before attending the Heavenly Puppet Sect’s auction at Heaven Puppet Market. The auction began with high-grade treasures and Foundation Establishment Corpse Puppets, while Song Qingming waited for items that could strengthen Golden Wind.

• Song Qingming examined a scroll marking seven locations and set out to search them for clues to the Jade Profound Scripture.
• After three years of searching four Jade Profound Mountains without finding Void Palace, Song Qingming left the latest mountain and traveled to Heaven Puppet Market for the Heavenly Puppet Sect Assembly.
• Song Qingming entered the market as a Golden Core Cultivator and learned that the auction would offer Corpse Puppets and items for raising their cultivation.
• At the auction, Song Qingming bought a bottle of Level Three Pills but passed on the early treasures and the expensive Foundation Establishment Corpse Puppets.
• The Heavenly Puppet Sect began auctioning Corpse Puppets, and Song Qingming watched for the Golden Core-level ones that might help Golden Wind advance.

Song Qingming attended the Heavenly Puppet Sect’s three-day auction, where he bought a Golden Puppet Pill and other items to help Golden Wind advance. The auction’s finale was a Late Golden Core Stage Corpse Puppet, and its bidding grew tense after a Grey-robed Elder’s domineering offer and a rebuke from another bidder.

• Song Qingming watched Foundation Establishment Corpse Puppets sell for high prices and made few bids on the auction’s second day.
• A Golden Core Corpse Puppet sold for forty-eight thousand spirit stones, while Song Qingming held back to save his funds for later items.
• Song Qingming agreed with a black-robed cultivator to split the two Golden Puppet Pills, then bought the first for seven thousand spirit stones and let the other cultivator take the second for six thousand five hundred.
• Song Qingming bought additional pills and spiritual items for Golden Wind as other Golden Core Corpse Puppets and rare treasures sold at the auction.
• The Heavenly Puppet Sect unveiled a Late Golden Core Stage Corpse Puppet, and bidding surged until the Grey-robed Elder offered sixty thousand spirit stones and mocked the other bidders.
• A middle-aged man challenged the Grey-robed Elder, saying the auction’s attendees were honored guests and had the right to bid.

Song Qingming left the Heavenly Puppet Sect Auction after receiving a letter from Li Xuan, who offered to lead him to Flame Spirit Water in Demon Sealing Valley to strengthen Golden Wind. After weighing the danger, Song Qingming joined Li Xuan, Cui Ping, and Liang Daosheng on the expedition, and the group reached a waterfall deep in the valley.

• Nascent Soul Sect cultivators competed for the Late Golden Core Stage Corpse Puppet, while Song Qingming left the auction after receiving a letter from Li Xuan.
• Li Xuan told Song Qingming that Flame Spirit Water in Demon Sealing Valley could speed up a Corpse Puppet’s cultivation and invited him on an expedition.
• Song Qingming agreed to go, and a month later he met Li Xuan, Cui Ping, and Liang Daosheng outside Heaven Puppet Market.
• Li Xuan led the group north by Flying Boat for more than half a month until they reached the outer edge of Demon Sealing Valley.
• The four cultivators concealed themselves and traveled through the valley for three days before Li Xuan stopped beneath a towering waterfall.

Li Xuan led Song Qingming, Cui Ping, and Liang Daosheng to the Flame Spirit Water in a cave behind a waterfall in Demon Sealing Valley. After driving off the guarding Demon King and collecting the water and a secret art, Song Qingming urged everyone to leave the dangerous valley.

• Li Xuan revealed the Flame Spirit Water’s location and asked the group to drive away the Late Golden Core Stage Demon King guarding the waterfall.
• Song Qingming, Li Xuan, Cui Ping, and Liang Daosheng attacked the one-horned Demon King, which injured Liang Daosheng before fleeing.
• Li Xuan led the group through the waterfall into a cave and found the Flame Spirit Water in a stone chamber.
• Li Xuan filled bottles with the spirit water, gave one to each companion, kept the extra bottle, and distributed bamboo slips containing the cleansing secret art.
• Liang Daosheng asked how Li Xuan had found the cave, and Li Xuan said a beast-hide map from a Senior's Cave Mansion had led him there.
• Song Qingming urged the group to stop talking and leave Demon Sealing Valley.

Song Qingming and Li Xuan discovered that Liang Daosheng had lured them into an ambush by the Heavenly Puppet Sect, which sought their Flame Spirit Water and Corpse Puppet-cleansing formula. After Cui Ping tried to escape and the others split off in pursuit, Song Qingming and Li Xuan fought to flee, but powerful opponents blocked them.

• Song Qingming detected a formation outside the waterfall, and four Heavenly Puppet Sect cultivators led by Duan Longshan appeared and demanded the Flame Spirit Water and formula.
• Song Qingming realized Liang Daosheng had betrayed the group as a secret Guest Elder of the Heavenly Puppet Sect, while Li Xuan refused to surrender.
• Cui Ping handed over the spiritual items and pretended to comply, but used a High-tier Substitute Talisman to flee; Duan Longshan sent Liang Daosheng and two cultivators after him.
• Song Qingming and Li Xuan tried to escape when the pursuers departed, but Duan Longshan and Chen Zifeng intercepted them with a Late Golden Core Stage Corpse Puppet.
• Song Qingming held off Chen Zifeng and the Black Armored Corpse Puppet, while Duan Longshan suppressed Li Xuan and tried to keep him alive for what he possessed.

Song Qingming escaped Chen Zifeng by destroying his Black Armored Corpse Puppet with a Grade 3 High-grade Spirit Talisman, then hid in a Concealment Array to avoid the Heavenly Puppet Sect. Li Xuan arrived pursued by a swarm of Black Demon Crows, and after Song Qingming brought him into hiding, Li Xuan collapsed unconscious.

• Song Qingming used the Golden Radiance Treasure Ring, Golden Wind, and Golden Illusion Butterflies to trap Chen Zifeng's Black Armored Corpse Puppet and strike it with Feng He's Crimson Spirit Talisman.
• Song Qingming fled Chen Zifeng aboard the Phantom Boat, replenished his Mana with Thousand Year Spirit Milk, and hid inside a Concealment Array on a remote mountain.
• Li Xuan flew toward Song Qingming while pursued by thousands of Black Demon Crows and begged him for help.
• Song Qingming brought Li Xuan into the array, and they remained hidden while the Black Demon Crows searched the mountain and then flew away.
• Song Qingming asked Li Xuan how he had found him, but Li Xuan collapsed unconscious before answering.

Song Qingming rescued the badly injured Li Xuan, learned that she was Li Xuanyi and agreed to help her escape Demon Sealing Valley in exchange for a Wind Spirit Pearl. As they neared the valley’s border, Duan Longshan and Chen Zifeng caught up with them, and Li Xuanyi asked Song Qingming to agree to one more thing.

• Song Qingming discovered that Li Xuan’s purple pearl had concealed her true face, treated her injuries, and heard how she escaped Duan Longshan and found his hiding place using a mark on the Purification Recipe.
• Li Xuan offered Song Qingming a Wind Spirit Pearl in exchange for help escaping, and he agreed to do his utmost while reserving the right to abandon her if they faced a deadly threat.
• Li Xuan revealed her true name, Li Xuanyi, and Song Qingming shared his name and origin with her.
• After hiding for nearly half a month, Song Qingming and Li Xuanyi left by another route, while Duan Longshan and Chen Zifeng tracked them and set off in pursuit.
• Near Demon Sealing Valley’s border, Duan Longshan and Chen Zifeng caught up; Duan attacked Li Xuanyi while Chen went after Song Qingming, and Li Xuanyi asked Song Qingming to agree to one more thing.

Li Xuanyi killed Duan Longshan with a devastating strike, then collapsed, and Song Qingming fled with her and treated her while hiding in northern Qingzhou. After selling pills from Duan Longshan’s storage artifact and preparing to leave, Song Qingming watched Li Xuanyi awaken beneath a familiar emerald-green barrier.

• Li Xuanyi gave Song Qingming a square jade pendant, charged Duan Longshan, and killed him with a single white sword strike that pierced his defenses.
• Li Xuanyi collapsed from the backlash, so Song Qingming caught her, took Duan Longshan’s belongings, and fled Demon Sealing Valley while Chen Zifeng escaped.
• Song Qingming gave Li Xuanyi an Azure Origin Pill and carried her north, later hiding with her in a marketplace in northern Qingzhou.
• Song Qingming sold three bottles of pills from Duan Longshan’s storage artifact, bought more healing pills for Li Xuanyi, and learned the artifact contained Old Daoist Cui’s possessions.
• As Song Qingming prepared to leave the inn with Li Xuanyi, an emerald-green barrier formed around her, and she woke from her coma.

Song Qingming cared for the recovering Li Xuanyi, returned her jade pendant, and agreed to escort her to Southern Prefecture in exchange for part of Duan Longshan’s treasures. They set out together, unaware that Heavenly Puppet Sect had suppressed news of the killing and would not pursue them.

• Li Xuanyi awakened after seventeen days unconscious, but using her mana worsened her injuries, so Song Qingming urged her to rest and returned her jade pendant.
• Li Xuanyi explained that her master had left her a secret technique capable of unleashing a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s full-strength strike, which had killed Duan Longshan.
• Song Qingming offered to split Duan Longshan’s treasures with Li Xuanyi, and she asked him to escort her to Southern Prefecture; he agreed to give her the Spirit Stones and keep the other treasures.
• Song Qingming stayed a few extra days, gave Li Xuanyi healing pills, and questioned her about the green spiritual-light armor, which resembled but differed from his Mystic Light Armor.
• Song Qingming and Li Xuanyi left the marketplace and traveled cautiously through Qingzhou, while Heavenly Puppet Sect concealed Duan Longshan’s death and punished the survivors of the expedition.
• After crossing Qingzhou safely in less than two months, Song Qingming relaxed as they continued south toward Southern Prefecture.

After escorting Li Xuanyi back to her family’s mountain, Song Qingming continued south to Falling Star Sea and reached Nanling Island. He entered Nanling Pavilion to seek a Treasure Ship bound for the Outer Sea.

• Li Quansheng and Li Xuanfeng received two cultivators from Yellow Dragon Mountain, who requested a visit to Liuyun Mountain on behalf of their family ancestor.
• Song Qingming declined Li Xuanyi’s invitation to visit her family, parted from her after she returned safely to Liuyun Mountain, and flew south to Falling Star Sea.
• Song Qingming encountered Han Tiefei’s demon-hunting party on a small island and asked them for directions to the nearest marketplace and a ship bound for the Outer Sea.
• Han Tiefei and his companions guided Song Qingming to Nanling Island, where he paid them for their help and entered the island’s demon-hunting hall.
• Xue Jinling, a steward of Nanling Pavilion, welcomed Song Qingming and invited him upstairs to discuss a Treasure Ship to the Outer Sea.

Song Qingming traveled by Treasure Ship to Jade Profound Island and searched the island, finding a hidden valley inhabited by ordinary mortals. He entered Yanhu Village and was taken to meet its Immortal Master, Zheng.

• Song Qingming paid Xue Jinling to reserve passage on Nanling Island's Treasure Ship to within a hundred li of Jade Profound Island.
• After the Treasure Ship drove off several demonic beasts, Song Qingming reached the island, watched it from a reef, and then began exploring while concealed.
• Song Qingming discovered a Concealment Array in a valley, broke through it, and found two mortal children playing there.
• A Yellow-clothed Woman led Song Qingming to Yanhu Village, where she explained that several generations of mortals lived in the valley and that the village had an Immortal Master.
• Wang Qin escorted Song Qingming to Immortal Master Zheng's courtyard, where a voice told Wang Qin to let the visitor enter alone.

Song Qingming reunited with Zheng Xingyun on Jade Profound Island and learned that the Taiyi Sect expected him to live among mortals before meeting Zheng Xingyun’s Master. After more than half a year in Yanhu Village, Song Qingming gained new cultivation insights, but his life there was interrupted when Second Master Zhang suffered a grave fall.

• Song Qingming met Zheng Xingyun, the Nascent Soul Cultivator who had once helped pass him the Jade Profound Scripture, and was told he would have to wait months to meet Zheng Xingyun’s Master.
• Zheng Xingyun explained the Taiyi Sect’s rules for blending into mortal life, and Song Qingming stayed in Yanhu Village, working alongside its residents while continuing to cultivate.
• Song Qingming learned that Jade Profound Island concealed the Taiyi Sect, which had quietly left cultivation inheritances for people of fortune, and he spent over half a year living among the villagers.
• While harvesting rice, Song Qingming accepted Wang Qin’s invitation to dinner with Second Master Zhang, but Wang Fengzhi rushed over to report that the old man had fallen and was vomiting blood.
• Wang Qin hurried to Second Master Zhang, but an old man carrying silver needles warned him not to move the critically injured elder.

Song Qingming witnessed Second Master Zhang’s death without interfering, then gained insight from mortal life and broke through to the Golden Core Sixth Layer. He met the Taiyi Sect’s Sect Master, Daoist Lingxu, who revealed that the Jade Profound Scripture came from a Taiyi Sect predecessor.

• Song Qingming chose not to use his pills to save Second Master Zhang, who died overnight, and he attended the funeral before entering secluded cultivation nearby.
• After more than half a year, Song Qingming broke through to the Golden Core Sixth Layer, and Zheng Xingyun praised the insight he had gained from living among mortals.
• Zheng Xingyun took Song Qingming through a hidden array to the Taiyi Sect’s floating mountain, where Liu Yang guided him to meet his master.
• Song Qingming recognized the Sect Master as the shopkeeper from Guiyun Marketplace, offered him Spirit Tea, and learned his Daoist Name was Daoist Lingxu.
• Daoist Lingxu confirmed that the Jade Profound Scripture Song Qingming cultivated was an inheritance left by a Taiyi Sect predecessor.

Song Qingming learned that the Jade Profound Scripture had no established continuation and was invited by Daoist Lingxu to derive one by studying an ancient stone tablet in Void Palace. After more than four years of comprehension, Song Qingming remained inside, while Senior Sister Li returned to Jade Profound Mountain and learned his surname.

• Daoist Lingxu told Song Qingming that the Jade Profound Scripture had no follow-up beyond the Golden Core Realm and invited him to help derive one from a stone tablet.
• Daoist Lingxu saved Song Qingming from an illusion cast by the sealed Upper Realm True Demon's Primordial Spirit and gave him a calming art.
• Daoist Lingxu brought Song Qingming to Void Palace, where he explained that cultivators derived different techniques from the Green Stone Tablet.
• Song Qingming suppressed the tablet's influence with the calming art and a Calming Heart Talisman, then began studying it using the Five Elements Profound Gang Art.
• More than four years later, Senior Sister Li returned to Jade Profound Mountain and learned from Liu Yang that Song Qingming was still comprehending the tablet.
• Senior Sister Li was surprised when Liu Yang said the new junior brother's surname was Song.