Chapter Summaries

Song Qingming helped the Song Family establish Mugu Town by setting up a Spirit Gathering Array and a temporary defensive formation. He also postponed a trip to the Carefree Sect until the roads became safer and began training Song Qingsi in formations.

• Song Changfeng and Song Gushan advised Song Qingming to delay visiting the Carefree Sect because demonic beasts and bandits still threatened the roads.
• Song Qingming kept the sealed belongings of a deceased Carefree Sect cultivator unopened, fearing their Restrictions would reveal his involvement.
• Song Changling selected a site west of Funiu Mountain for a new village, and the family named it Mugu Town after the Gu Generation cultivators.
• Song Qingming used the Incomplete Map to refine a Spirit Gathering Array, then established it and a temporary Mid-grade Grand Array at Mugu Town.
• After Song Qingwan ordered a high-grade Mountain Protection Array from the Huang Family, Song Qingming began training Song Qingsi as the family’s most promising formation student.

Song Qingming traveled to Qinghe Market to retrieve a high-grade array and learned that Song Qingwan’s improved Face-Restoring Pill had become a popular product at the family shop. He left intrigued by the pill as Fourth Uncle criticized its value.

• Song Qingrui became Mugu Town’s resident cultivator after his injury left him unable to remain in the family’s demon-hunting team, and he later drifted away from Song Qingming and Song Qingshi.
• Song Changfeng sent Song Qingming to Qinghe Market to collect a completed high-grade array, and Song Qingyu insisted on accompanying him.
• Song Qingming and Song Qingyu reached Qinghe Market, where she wandered off to explore while he went to the Song Family General Store.
• Song Qingwan took the alchemy materials from Song Qingming and told him that Fourth Uncle had the array.
• Song Qingming noticed Wang Changhua’s youthful appearance and learned that Song Qingwan’s improved Face-Restoring Pill was selling well.
• Fourth Uncle criticized the pill as useless, and Song Qingming changed the subject while privately wondering whether it might be worthwhile.

Song Qingming returned from Qinghe Market, broke through to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, and stabilized his cultivation. With the Mountain Protection Array installed and little else to do on Funiu Mountain, he prepared to visit the Carefree Sect.

• Song Qingming bought the remaining four Face-Restoring Pills from Song Qingwan and promised Song Qingyu one when she reached the Late Qi Refining Stage.
• Song Qingming returned to Funiu Mountain, set up the Mountain Protection Array in Mugu Town, and entered seclusion with a Jade Clarity Pill.
• Song Qingming endured the pill’s violent Spiritual Energy and broke through to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, using a Mid-grade Spirit Stone to stabilize his cultivation.
• After a month in seclusion, Song Qingming went to see Song Changfeng and received permission and Spirit Stones for a trip to the Carefree Sect.

Song Qingming left his family and traveled to Yangshan Marketplace beneath Mount Guyang, where he explored the Carefree Sect’s prosperous territory and bought a high-grade Giant Bear Puppet Beast. At his inn, he reunited with Third Brother Song Qingze, who had come after receiving his message.

• Song Qingming exchanged old cultivation manuals for Spirit Stones, distributed unused items to clansmen, and visited his mother before leaving home with the Water Spirit Fruit.
• Song Qingming traveled for a month to Yangshan Marketplace, joining a merchant caravan along the way and finding Guyang Prefecture free of demonic beasts.
• Song Qingming explored Yangshan Marketplace and found a Hundred-Year Green Separation Flower that Song Qingwan had wanted.
• Song Qingming bought a high-grade Giant Bear Puppet Beast for 240 Spirit Stones and returned to his inn.
• Song Qingze greeted Song Qingming at the inn and explained that his journey from several hundred li away had delayed him.

Song Qingming sought out Xu Ziyan at Mount Guyang and told her about a Storage Bag and jade box belonging to a Carefree Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Xu Ziyan took the items to the sect’s Law Enforcement Hall, leaving Song Qingming waiting in her cave abode under a Restriction.

• Song Qingming met Song Qingze at Yangshan Marketplace and asked him to find out whether Xu Ziyan was available.
• Song Qingze confirmed Xu Ziyan’s whereabouts, and Song Qingming left the marketplace to visit her at Mount Guyang.
• Xu Ziyan welcomed Song Qingming warmly, and he explained how he had obtained the Storage Bag and jade box after an incident near Pingyang County.
• Xu Ziyan examined the sect-marked items, warned Song Qingming that he would face a Spirit Questioning Talisman, and agreed to take them to the Law Enforcement Hall.
• Xu Ziyan activated a Restriction around her cave abode and left Song Qingming there while she delivered the items to the sect.

Song Qingming underwent questioning by the Carefree Sect after returning Junior Brother Mo’s belongings, then helped its enforcement cultivators recover Mo’s body. Elder Li Wutong rewarded him with the chance to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill if he gathered eight thousand Spirit Stones within two years.

• Xu Ziyan brought Song Qingming to the Law Enforcement Hall, where Senior Brother Zhou used a Spirit Questioning Talisman to verify his account.
• Senior Brother Zhou arranged for Song Qingming to guide several enforcement cultivators to Junior Brother Mo’s body in Pingyang County.
• After the group recovered Mo’s body, Song Qingming waited at Xu Ziyan’s cave abode until the Law Enforcement Hall summoned him again.
• Li Wutong offered Song Qingming a Foundation Establishment Pill for eight thousand Spirit Stones if he could gather the amount within two years.
• Song Qingming thanked Li Wutong and later told Xu Ziyan about the opportunity.

Song Qingming learned the truth behind Mo Rongshan’s death and received a chance to exchange eight thousand Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill. He settled near Mount Guyang and began selling his possessions to raise the remaining funds.

• Xu Ziyan told Song Qingming that the Hu Family patriarch had ambushed Mo Rongshan’s group to steal a spiritual item, and warned him that the jade box’s restrictions could be lethal.
• Song Qingming discussed his two-year deadline to gather eight thousand Spirit Stones, and Xu Ziyan offered to help transfer his exchange opportunity if he fell short.
• Song Qingming gave Xu Ziyan an unusually potent Face-Restoring Pill before leaving her cave dwelling.
• Song Qingming rented a long-term cave dwelling at Yangshan Marketplace and wrote to his family that he would stay near Mount Guyang for two years.
• Song Qingming sold his White Jade Sword, Black Gold Shield, and two Level 2 Magic Tools, raising more than two thousand Spirit Stones.

Song Qingming joined Song Qingze and five other Carefree Sect disciples on a mission to hunt a Grade 2 Low-grade Flowing Flower Leopard. He encountered Du Yucheng again, raising doubts about whether Du knew Song had found Liu Tianlong’s Storage Bag, and the group reached the leopard’s territory ready to begin the hunt.

• Song Qingze invited Song Qingming to join a sect mission, offering him fifty Spirit Stones after they hunted a Grade 2 Low-grade demonic beast.
• Song Qingming accepted, and the two traveled from Yangshan Marketplace to meet the other mission participants.
• Song Qingming recognized Du Yucheng, whom he had last seen during a mission in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, and wondered whether Du knew about Liu Tianlong’s Storage Bag.
• Song Qingze introduced Liu Qiting, Meng Ran, Gu Feng, Wei Wuyang, and Du Yucheng to Song Qingming.
• The seven cultivators traveled south for six days and reached the mountain where a Flowing Flower Leopard had occupied a Second-grade Spirit Vein.

Song Qingming and the others lured the Flowing Flower Leopard into Wei Wuyang’s Four Symbols Dragon Trapping Formation and wore it down in a difficult battle. Liu Qiting’s purple greatbow nearly killed the beast, but it rose again and charged toward the formation controllers.

• Wei Wuyang, Gu Feng, and Song Qingming set up the Four Symbols Dragon Trapping Formation while Song Qingze’s group caught a Flying Carp for bait.
• The Flowing Flower Leopard followed the fish’s scent into the formation, where earth-shaped puppets restrained it and Song Qingze’s group attacked.
• Song Qingze and Liu Qiting led the assault as the others distracted the leopard, gradually weakening it despite its fierce counterattacks.
• Liu Qiting charged his purple greatbow while Meng Ran shielded him, then pierced the Flowing Flower Leopard with a powerful arrow.
• Song Qingze warned that the leopard was still alive as it got back up, roared, and charged toward Song Qingming and the other formation controllers.

After the Flowing Flower Leopard killed Wei Wuyang, Song Qingming realized Du Yucheng had deliberately abandoned his companions and suspected he had betrayed the Liu Family years earlier. Song Qingming returned to Yangshan Marketplace determined to save enough Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill before risking the Water Spirit Fruit.

• Liu Qiting's strike shattered the formation puppets, and the Flowing Flower Leopard charged at Song Qingming, Gu Feng, and Wei Wuyang.
• Du Yucheng retreated instead of stopping the beast, and the Flowing Flower Leopard killed Wei Wuyang before Song Qingming and Gu Feng defended themselves.
• Song Qingze, Liu Qiting, and the others struck the exhausted Flowing Flower Leopard down, and Song Qingze killed it.
• Song Qingming kept Du Yucheng's betrayal from Song Qingze and concluded that Du Yucheng had likely exposed the Liu Family's secrets to the Carefree Sect.
• The group returned to Mount Guyang, where Song Qingming received two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones and then went back to Yangshan Marketplace.
• Song Qingming decided to save enough Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill before considering taking the Water Spirit Fruit elsewhere.

Song Changfeng visited Song Qingming in Yangshan Marketplace and gave him more than three hundred Spirit Stones to support his attempt to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. With the family’s help added to his savings, Song Qingming had nearly gathered the eight thousand Spirit Stones he needed.

• Song Qingming settled into life in Yangshan Marketplace, improved his Talisman Making, and earned Spirit Stones from regular customers.
• Song Changfeng arrived at Song Qingming’s cave abode and scolded him for keeping his dangerous opportunity secret from the family.
• Song Qingming told Song Changfeng that he had gathered several thousand Spirit Stones but still lacked enough for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Song Changfeng gave Song Qingming more than three hundred Spirit Stones on behalf of the family and urged him to stay safe.
• Song Changfeng returned to Funiu Mountain, and Song Qingming realized his savings had nearly reached eight thousand Spirit Stones.

Song Qingming visited Heavenly Pill Pavilion to seek spiritual items that could improve his chances of Foundation Establishment, but learned that its Marrow Cleansing Pills were sold out. A green-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator offered to direct him to a secret Heavenly Pill Alliance exchange where he might obtain one.

• Song Qingming went to Heavenly Pill Pavilion and teased the clerk by asking whether the shop sold Foundation Establishment Pills.
• A green-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator invited Song Qingming to discuss Foundation Establishment aids in the rear hall.
• The old man explained that Heavenly Pill Pavilion's Marrow Cleansing Pills were sold out across Yangshan Marketplace because demand had surged.
• Song Qingming asked when the pills would become available again and said he needed one before attempting Foundation Establishment.
• The old man revealed that the Heavenly Pill Alliance secretly organized exchange meetings where Song Qingming could find a Marrow Cleansing Pill or even a Foundation Establishment Pill if he offered valuables in return.

Song Qingming learned that the Heavenly Pill Alliance was holding a secret auction where Foundation Establishment Pills might be available, so he bought an invitation and traveled to the hidden gathering point. After waiting with nearly a hundred masked cultivators, he prepared to follow the organizers to the auction site.

• The green-robed old man explained that the Heavenly Pill Alliance’s secret auction required an invitation costing one hundred Spirit Stones, and Song Qingming bought one.
• More than half a month later, Song Qingming reached a mountain west of Yangshan Marketplace and showed his invitation to an Ox-Head Masked Man.
• The Ox-Head Masked Man gave Song Qingming a mask that concealed his face and blocked divine sense, then led him through a concealed cave entrance.
• Song Qingming joined dozens of masked cultivators in the cavern, hoping the auction might offer a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Over the next several days, the gathering grew to nearly a hundred cultivators, and the Ox-Head Masked Man and Horse-Head Masked Man announced they were ready to lead everyone to the auction.

Song Qingming traveled through a Small Teleportation Array to the Heavenly Pill Alliance’s Auction venue and learned the rules for attending. The Auction was about to begin, with Elder Gu appearing to host it.

• The Horse-headed Man explained the dangers of teleportation and sent the cultivators through the Small Teleportation Array in several groups.
• Song Qingming arrived at the Auction venue with the final group and followed the guides into a crowded hall.
• The Horse-headed Man explained that Green Invitation holders had to sit on the first floor, while Red Invitation holders could use the private rooms upstairs.
• Song Qingming took a seat, received Spirit Tea from a maid, and asked her about the Auction rules.
• Elder Gu entered the hall and announced that the Auction would begin shortly, prompting a cultivator to identify him as a rarely seen Golden Core Elder.

Song Qingming attended the Heavenly Pill Alliance Auction, watched rare treasures sell at high prices, and waited for the Marrow Cleansing Pills he needed for Foundation Establishment. He bought one for 320 Spirit Stones, leaving the auction with his goal achieved.

• A Tiger-Head Masked Man began the auction and sold an Azure Wave Shield for 960 Spirit Stones.
• A masked young man bought a high-grade Red Flame Furnace and quickly left the auction hall.
• Song Qingming waited through the sale of many treasures until the Marrow Cleansing Pills appeared.
• Song Qingming watched the first two pills sell, then bid 320 Spirit Stones for the third and won it.
• The remaining Marrow Cleansing Pills sold for between 290 and 350 Spirit Stones.

Song Qingming obtained the Marrow Cleansing Pill he had won, then offered his mature Water Spirit Fruit in exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill at the auction’s finale. He left the Heavenly Pill Alliance with the pill and a warning to keep the transaction secret.

• A cat-faced maid escorted Song Qingming to a private chamber, where he paid three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones for the Marrow Cleansing Pill.
• The auction continued through medicinal pills and ended with the Heavenly Pill Alliance offering two Foundation Establishment Pills in exchange for selected spiritual items.
• Song Qingming submitted his Jade Tile, and Elder Gu selected the Water Spirit Fruit he had offered.
• The Tiger-Head Man inspected Song Qingming’s mature Water Spirit Fruit and gave him a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• The Tiger-Head Man warned Song Qingming not to reveal the exchange, and a cat-faced maid escorted him out.

Song Qingming exchanged his spiritual items for a Foundation Establishment Pill at the Heavenly Pill Alliance auction, then worried that other cultivators had noticed him. After the auction, two masked Foundation Establishment Cultivators followed a young man they believed carried valuable loot and confronted him in a forest.

• Song Qingming received a Foundation Establishment Pill and returned to the auction hall, where he sensed suspicious gazes watching him.
• The auction ended, and cultivators gathered to use the Teleportation Array back from the venue.
• The Pig-Head Masked Man proposed hunting down the Foundation Establishment Pill holder, but the Goat-Head Masked Man refused and chose a young man with a set of Level 2 Magic Tools as their target instead.
• The Goat-Head Masked Man and Pig-Head Masked Man followed the young man from the teleportation site into a forest.
• The young man stopped and called out his pursuers, and the Goat-Head Man and Pig-Head Man emerged and threatened him.

Song Qingming left the Heavenly Pill Alliance Auction early and hid his return to Yangshan Marketplace by traveling with a merchant caravan. After arriving safely, he confirmed that he had obtained the spiritual items he needed for Foundation Establishment and prepared to focus on breaking through.

• The Minotaur and Horse-headed Man discussed Old Ghost Wu and Shorty Lu targeting the young cultivator in the conical hat, then noted his invitation had likely borne the surname Li and registered the matter with the alliance.
• Song Qingming paid thirty Spirit Stones to use the Teleportation Array alone before the Auction ended and hurried away from the cave.
• Song Qingming joined a Jade Tower Pavilion merchant caravan and shared Spirit Tea with its cultivator-manager, Fang Yan, to avoid drawing attention while traveling back.
• Song Qingming reached Yangshan Marketplace safely two days later, thanked Fang Yan, and returned to his rented cave abode.
• Song Qingming examined his Marrow Cleansing Pill and Foundation Establishment Pill and resolved to prepare wholeheartedly for Foundation Establishment.

Song Qingming visited Xu Ziyan with a valuable Spirit Medicine and explained why he had delayed Foundation Establishment while gathering enough Spirit Stones for a second Foundation Establishment Pill. Xu Ziyan took him to the Carefree Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall to collect the reward promised by Martial Uncle Li, where they waited for word of his arrival.

• Song Qingming gave Xu Ziyan a Grade 2 Spirit Medicine to thank her for her help.
• Song Qingming explained that he had postponed Foundation Establishment until he could gather the eight thousand Spirit Stones needed to exchange for another Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Song Qingming told Xu Ziyan that his family had helped him gather the Spirit Stones, and Xu Ziyan compared his support to what she and Gao Yuyao had received.
• Xu Ziyan brought Song Qingming to the Carefree Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall and asked the guards to report his arrival and check whether Martial Uncle Li was present.
• Xu Ziyan reassured the nervous Song Qingming that Martial Uncle Li would honor his promise.

Song Qingming obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill and secluded himself on Xu Ziyan’s Spirit Mountain to attempt Foundation Establishment. Nearly a year later, he emerged successful, while Xu Ziyan had also advanced to the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment.

• Song Qingming paid eight thousand Spirit Stones at the Law Enforcement Hall and received a Foundation Establishment Pill, then accepted Xu Ziyan’s offer to cultivate on her Spirit Mountain for safety.
• Song Qingming chose an abandoned cave abode, and Xu Ziyan shared her Foundation Establishment experience with him before he entered secluded cultivation.
• Song Qingming spent more than ten days studying Xu Ziyan’s advice and then activated the cave’s Restriction to begin his breakthrough.
• Nearly a year later, Song Qingming told Xu Ziyan that he had achieved Foundation Establishment three months earlier and had spent the intervening time stabilizing his cultivation.
• Song Qingming and Xu Ziyan congratulated each other and exchanged thanks, as Xu Ziyan revealed that the Spirit Medicine pearl he had given her had helped her advance to the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment.