Chapter Summaries

At a gathering of Golden Core Elders, Elder Ma announced that Li Shiming had refined three high-grade Turtle Marrow Essence Enhancing Pills and become a Grandmaster Alchemist. The elders examined the pills, placed Li Shiming’s future Third Grade pill work under sect oversight, and decided to publicly celebrate his achievement.

• Elder Su and Elder Ma shared Silver Frost Spirit Peach and Azure Whisker Nut Li Shiming had sent them, prompting the other elders to regret not taking him as a nominal disciple.
• Elder Ma received Li Shiming’s message that he had refined three high-grade Turtle Marrow Essence Enhancing Pills and announced his success to the gathered elders.
• The Golden Core Elders visited Li Shiming at Sword Holding Peak and examined one of his pills, praising its quality.
• Elder Ma declared that Li Shiming would handle the sect’s Low Grade Third Grade Spiritual Pill missions, while Elder Su said the sect would review any such missions from the Northern Shu Merchant Guild.
• The elders decided not to conceal Li Shiming’s new status and agreed to hold a celebration so he could meet Golden Core cultivators and build connections for future alchemy work.

After Li Shiming became a Grandmaster Alchemist, cultivators and powerful factions reacted to his rising status and prepared to attend his celebration ceremony. The chapter leaves Thousand Leaves Temple debating how to repair its conflict with him through a generous gift.

• Elder Ji realized he could no longer seek revenge on Li Shiming and began considering how to repair their relationship.
• Ye Jingxian rejoiced that Li Shiming could refine the pills she needed and felt her bottleneck toward the Golden Core Stage loosen.
• Shopkeeper Lai celebrated Li Shiming's advancement and considered how to arrange alchemy missions and promote the Youthful Countenance Pill.
• Yin Shilan received a congratulatory gift of Third Grade Spirit Tea from Master Luo, who regretted having once offered Li Shiming only an Outer Sect Disciple position.
• Arhat Zhi Kong and the Venerables of Thousand Leaves Temple discussed giving Li Shiming a substantial gift to resolve their past conflict.

Li Shiming welcomed powerful guests to his Grandmaster Alchemist celebration and introduced Yin Shilan to his Masters, who accepted her and gave her gifts. The gathering left Li Shiming with valuable connections and a promise to discuss exchanging Master Luo’s Array Flags for a Youthful Countenance Pill after the celebration.

• Li Shiming and his Masters welcomed Golden Core guests at the celebration, and Elder Su and Elder Ma accepted Yin Shilan as Li Shiming’s partner and gave her gifts.
• Elder Su explained Li Shiming’s rapid cultivation progress by invoking Old Ancestor Fan’s protection, silencing any doubts among the nearby Golden Core cultivators.
• Yin Shilan gave Li Shiming Third Grade Spirit Tea, Liang Yexuan delivered a Third Grade Spiritual Medicine from Elder Liang, and Master Luo gave him eighteen Third Grade Array Flags.
• Master Luo offered another ninety Array Flags in exchange for a Youthful Countenance Pill, and Li Shiming asked her to stay after the celebration to discuss it.
• Shopkeeper Lai asked Li Shiming to call him Brother Lai, gave Yin Shilan a Life-Saving Talisman, and Li Shiming encouraged her to accept it.

Li Shiming received congratulatory gifts from Shopkeeper Lai and Thousand Leaves Temple, and he reconciled with the temple after accepting its valuable Third Grade Spirit Tea Tree. At his Grandmaster Alchemist celebration, the Shu Mountain Sect presented him with the Five Elements Nine Revolutions Furnace, and he entered a Cave Dwelling to begin refining pills.

• Shopkeeper Lai gave Li Shiming a pair of Spirit Cleansing Koi, which Li Shiming welcomed as useful for his Spirit Spring and Third Grade Golden Lotus.
• Arhat Zhi Kong, Arhat Zhi Ming, and Arhat Zhi Xin arrived from Thousand Leaves Temple and presented Li Shiming with a Third Grade Spirit Tea Tree to resolve their grudge.
• Li Shiming warmly accepted Thousand Leaves Temple's gesture, and Arhat Zhi Kong wished him success in forming his Golden Core and receiving the Divine Eye Art Inheritance.
• Elder Su opened the celebration, and Li Shiming performed a ritual before the Shu Mountain Sect Alchemy Lineage's Spirit Tablets.
• Elder Ma passed the Five Elements Nine Revolutions Furnace to Li Shiming, then advised him to use a Spiritual Artifact Cauldron for the demonstration.
• Li Shiming entered a Cave Dwelling protected by a Formation to refine pills while the guests sampled Spirit Fruits and Second Grade Spirit Tea.

Li Shiming demonstrated his Grandmaster Alchemy by refining three Advanced Mountain Piercing Pills, then gave Master Luo a Youthful Countenance Pill in exchange for Third Grade Array Flags. After Yin Shilan told him that her family was stranded on Sky Ocean Island, he agreed to ask the Northern Shu Merchant Guild to bring them to the Northern Shu Continent.

• Li Shiming emerged after four two-hour periods and presented three Mountain Piercing Pills, which Elder Ma confirmed were Advanced pills and divided between Li Shiming and Ye Jingxian.
• Golden Core cultivators praised Li Shiming's alchemy, and Arhat Zhi Ming reconsidered the wisdom of making an enemy of him.
• Li Shiming gave Master Luo a high-grade Youthful Countenance Pill, received Third Grade Array Flags from her, and watched her regain her youthful appearance.
• Master Luo returned to the celebration, where female cultivators surrounded her to admire her transformation.
• Li Shiming showed Yin Shilan and Liang Yexuan his Cave Dwelling and its Third Grade Golden Lotus, then Yin Shilan explained that her parents and younger sister could not travel from Sky Ocean Island.
• Li Shiming agreed to ask the Northern Shu Merchant Guild to bring Yin Shilan's family to the Northern Shu Continent.

Li Shiming restored his Third Grade Spirit Tea Tree, refined pills for Ye Jingxian, and learned that she planned to attempt Core Formation in a month. His masters then arranged sect and private alchemy work for him while sharing guidance and resources for his own future Core Formation.

• Li Shiming planted the Third Grade Spirit Tea Tree in his Cultivation Room and revived it with Advanced Spirit Planter spells and simulated sunlight.
• Li Shiming gave Ye Jingxian six advanced Third Grade Spirit Pills, and she announced that she would attempt Core Formation in a month.
• Elder Su asked Li Shiming to prioritize the sect's Low Grade Third Grade Spiritual Pills, promised him resources, and gave him Core Formation notes to study while observing Ye Jingxian.
• Elder Ma asked Li Shiming to refine pill sets for his old friends' juniors and promised to settle the work's priority with the sect and secure extra payment.

Sword Elder prepared to enter seclusion to comprehend the Nascent Soul Great Dao, so he passed control of Ten Thousand Swords Peak to Li Yuanba and warned him that sect elders might covet it. Li Yuanba became the peak’s master and vowed to protect it until Sword Elder returned.

• Sword Elder revealed that he planned to enter seclusion for ten to thirty years and explained that taking Li Yuanba as his disciple had eased his heart and given him insight into a breakthrough.
• Sword Elder warned Li Yuanba that sect elders might seize Ten Thousand Swords Peak while he was away, and Li Yuanba showed him Elder Lu’s design diagram and the materials prepared to turn the peak into a magical treasure.
• Sword Elder urged Li Yuanba to reach the Golden Core Stage within five years, and Li Yuanba said he had obtained cultivation pills from a Grandmaster Alchemist.
• Sword Elder passed control of Ten Thousand Swords Peak to Li Yuanba through its Five Flying Swords Magical Treasures, and Li Yuanba vowed to preserve it until his master returned.
• Li Yuanba sensed that the peak’s spiritual energy, sword intent, and ten thousand flying swords formed a unified network that could repair damaged swords and resist attacks.

Li Shiming began learning artifact refining but found his Rogue Cultivator manuals inadequate, so Elder Zhang offered to teach him and pass on the Zhang Family Refinement Inheritance. Li Shiming accepted the inheritance in return for protecting the Zhang Family, gaining extensive knowledge and specialized refining arts.

• Li Shiming practiced artifact refining with First Grade materials and discovered that his Rogue Cultivator inheritances covered few materials and offered little guidance.
• Elder Zhang visited Li Shiming, praised his finished Magic Artifacts, and identified both his crude techniques and his exceptional talent.
• Elder Zhang offered the Zhang Family Refinement Inheritance and explained that he hoped Li Shiming would protect his family, which had few cultivators and no promising heirs.
• Li Shiming accepted the agreement and examined the Jade Slip, which contained detailed material knowledge and secret arts such as Dragon Breath Burst Fire Art and Hundred Cycle Purification Art.

Li Shiming watched Ye Jingxian attempt to form her Golden Core, seeing her survive the perilous formation of the core with his high-grade pills before a bolt of Golden Lightning struck her. The chapter ended with Ye Jingxian falling backward, charred smoke rising from her body.

• Li Shiming continued studying refinement with Elder Zhang while refining pills for cultivators seeking to form Golden Cores.
• Elder Su summoned Li Shiming to watch Ye Jingxian form her Golden Core alongside Wan Zheng.
• Ye Jingxian drew immense Spiritual Qi into her body and relied on high-grade Meridian Protecting Pills and a Spirit Stabilizing Pill to endure the strain.
• Ye Jingxian swallowed two Mountain Piercing Pills, compressed her Spiritual Power, vitality, and mental power into a Golden Core, and used two Rebirth Pills to recover as the core stabilized.
• Ye Jingxian braced herself for the divine thunder, but Golden Lightning pierced the Formations and struck her directly, making her fall backward as black smoke rose from her body.

Ye Jingxian survived a dangerous breakthrough and became a Golden Core cultivator, while Li Shiming congratulated her with rare gifts. Back at Sword Holding Peak, Li Shiming refined another Spiritual Artifact for the Northern Shu Merchant Guild and continued preparing equipment for his Iron Corpses and Clone Li Yuanba.

• Elder Su treated Ye Jingxian after she endured the Golden Lightning, and she awoke to find that she had successfully formed her Golden Core.
• Elder Su congratulated Ye Jingxian and warned Wan Zheng that his mental strength needed more tempering before he could break through.
• Li Shiming gave Ye Jingxian twenty pieces of Third Grade New Tea and a Youthful Countenance Pill as a congratulatory gift.
• Li Shiming refined and enhanced a Spiritual Artifact Flying Sword, then prepared to send it to the Northern Shu Merchant Guild in exchange for artifact-refining materials.
• Li Shiming planned future Magical Treasure weapons for Clone Li Yuanba and his Iron Corpses, while feeding a High Grade Spirit Pill to his rapidly growing Spirit-Sealing Phantom Serpent.

Elder Yin, Elder Ren, and Ren Fei'er escaped Sky Ocean Island aboard a North Sea Merchant Guild flying boat, where Cultivator Jiang treated them with puzzling deference. They arrived at the town outside the Thousand Illusions Sect, and Elder Yin still planned to ask Yin Shilan why they had received such special treatment.

• Elder Yin, Elder Ren, and Ren Fei'er boarded the North Sea Merchant Guild's flying boat after receiving Boat Tickets, and Cultivator Jiang assigned them Suite No. 2 and treated them with unusual respect.
• During the voyage, Elder Yin and Elder Ren wondered whether Yin Shilan's status had changed, while Ren Fei'er reflected on her separation from Li Shiming.
• After the flying boat crossed the North Sea and stopped at the Ten Thousand Mountains, Cultivator Jiang served Elder Yin and Elder Ren Third Grade Spirit Tea made by Guest Elder Li.
• Cultivator Jiang explained that Guest Elder Li was a Grandmaster Alchemist, but did not reveal that he was Li Shiming, and he continued building a friendship with Elder Yin.
• The flying boat passed the Vast Array Sect's checkpoint and made an additional stop outside the Thousand Illusions Sect, where Elder Yin's family disembarked.

Yin Shilan reunited with her parents and Ren Fei'er at the Thousand Illusions Sect and explained Li Shiming’s success and their close relationship. Her parents planned to establish a clan on the Northern Shu Continent, and Yin Shilan said she would discuss helping them with Shiming, revealing that they had agreed to become Dao companions once both reached the Golden Core stage.

• Ren Fei'er and Yin Shilan reunited, and Yin Shilan welcomed Elder Yin and Elder Ren to the sect with permission arranged through her status and Master Luo’s note.
• Cultivator Jiang departed after crediting Guest Elder Li with helping the family, prompting Elder Yin to wonder about Li Shiming’s influence.
• Yin Shilan told her family that Li Shiming had given her a Youthful Countenance Pill and had become a Grandmaster Alchemist and a guest elder of the North Sea Merchant Guild.
• Elder Ren noticed Ren Fei'er’s lingering feelings for Li Shiming and warned her not to interfere with his relationship with Yin Shilan.
• Elder Yin and Elder Ren said they wanted to establish a clan on the Northern Shu Continent and have another child, and Yin Shilan proposed seeking Shiming’s help to secure a Spiritual Vein, a Market, and business support.
• When Elder Yin worried about imposing on Shiming, Yin Shilan revealed that she and Shiming had agreed to become Dao companions once they both became Golden Core cultivators.

Li Shiming traded for rare artifact-refining material and arranged for the Northern Shu Merchant Guild to establish a market at Inner Yang Mountain for Yin Shilan’s parents. The market was ready for them to settle at, while Li Shiming remained inside Shu Mountain Sect because of the danger surrounding him.

• Shopkeeper Lai showed Li Shiming offers for a Youthful Countenance Pill, and Li Shiming chose Violet Lightning Nine Revolutions Thunder Gold as his exchange.
• Shopkeeper Lai revealed that Old Ancestor Ling had reserved the pill but would provide Li Shiming with his chosen material, and Li Shiming accepted the arrangement.
• Li Shiming asked Shopkeeper Lai to help find a Golden Core spiritual vein for Yin Shilan’s parents, and Shopkeeper Lai arranged for the guild to build Northern Shu Market at Inner Yang Mountain in exchange for thirty percent of its profits.
• Li Shiming agreed to stir-fry another batch of Spirit Tea for Shopkeeper Lai as payment for the guild’s help.
• Yin Shilan told Elder Yin that Inner Yang Mountain and the market had been arranged, and Elder Yin was pleased with the location and terms.

After Sword Elder left to prepare for a Nascent Soul breakthrough, Li Yuanba worked to strengthen Ten Thousand Swords Peak and prepared for the sect’s growing interest in it. He began completing combat missions before Old Ancestor Lu entered seclusion, while Elder Yue plotted to seize the peak and moved against Li Yuanba.

• Sword Elder gave Li Yuanba the Sword Intent Soaring Pavilion Scroll and left for secluded cultivation at Three Saints Peak.
• Li Yuanba began reinforcing Ten Thousand Swords Peak with Spiritual Artifacts while cultivating with Top Grade Spiritual Pills.
• After receiving Old Ancestor Lu’s warning that he would enter seclusion in one month, Li Yuanba selected three combat missions to complete.
• Elder Yue learned of Li Yuanba’s mission plans and sent out an order as he continued plotting to take Ten Thousand Swords Peak.
• Li Yuanba reached the first mission target, broke through the formation with one sword, and killed the Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator.

Li Yuanba’s third mission became a fight for survival when Niu Ziru, a Golden Core cultivator sent by Elder Yue, ambushed him. Li Yuanba used Lotus Steps and his Supreme Yang Sword Intent to wear Niu Ziru down, leaving the battle unresolved as the latter’s defenses neared collapse.

• Li Yuanba broke the Formation at his mission target’s Cave Dwelling, but dodged Niu Ziru’s ambush with Lotus Steps.
• Niu Ziru attacked Li Yuanba with his Pestle Magical Treasure, while Li Yuanba recognized his opponent as a Rogue Cultivator Golden Core and chose to fight back.
• Li Yuanba struck Niu Ziru’s Demonic Path Defense Secret Technique with the Third Grade Sword Foundation, and his Supreme Yang Sword Intent burned away part of its protection.
• Niu Ziru used a Golden Core Stage Talisman to spread gray fog, but Li Yuanba escaped its range with Lotus Steps.
• Niu Ziru tried to flee, but Li Yuanba pursued him and repeatedly appeared to strike, weakening his defenses over three double-hours.

Li Yuanba wore down Niu Ziru, who tried to detonate his Golden Core, and killed him while surviving the blast. By cracking Niu Ziru’s Communication Token, Li Yuanba discovered that Elder Yue had arranged the attack and realized that revealing Lotus Steps had exposed him to further danger.

• Li Yuanba repeatedly struck Niu Ziru with his sword, breaking through his defense and inflicting wounds that carried Supreme Yang Sword Intent.
• Niu Ziru spat out his Golden Core and tried to detonate it, but Li Yuanba moved it away with Lotus Steps and used Niu Ziru’s body to shield himself from the blast.
• Li Yuanba transformed into a Refined Corpse, survived the shockwave, and killed the defenseless Niu Ziru with his Third Grade Sword Foundation.
• Li Yuanba found Niu Ziru’s Storage Bag and used his Divine Sense to examine a Communication Token bearing the Vast Array Sect’s mark.
• Li Shiming helped crack the token, and Li Yuanba discovered that Elder Yue had been Niu Ziru’s last contact and had arranged the attack.
• Li Yuanba realized that using Lotus Steps had exposed his Divine Foot Passage inheritance and could put him in danger within the sect.

Li Yuanba returned to the Vast Array Sect after completing his missions and resumed cultivating, while Li Shiming’s alchemy raised his standing within the Shu Mountain Sect. Ren Fei'er traveled to meet Li Shiming, but after learning how inaccessible he had become, she returned to Sunward Mountain without seeing him.

• Li Yuanba turned in his missions, returned to Ten Thousand Swords Peak, and spent his days cultivating and arranging Artifact Refining Materials.
• Li Shiming completed months of Third Grade Spiritual Pill orders, gained resources and connections, and became increasingly important to the Shu Mountain Sect.
• Elder Yin and Elder Ren completed the Northern Shu Market on Inner Yang Mountain, allowing Ren Fei'er to travel toward the Shu Mountain Sect.
• Ren Fei'er reached the Shu Mountain Sect mountain gate but could not meet Li Shiming without an invitation or his approval.
• After hearing that Golden Core cultivators visited Li Shiming daily, Ren Fei'er lost hope and returned to Sunward Mountain without mentioning him again.

Over two years, Li Shiming reduced his pill-refining commissions, advanced to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and improved his artifact-refining skills while trying to reach the Golden Core realm. His attempts to deploy satellites revealed that rockets sent into orbit kept flying away, and he suspected the world was not spherical.

• Two Arhats from Thousand Leaves Temple entered the Ten Thousand Mountains and disappeared after the Vast Array Sect pursued them into spirit beast territory.
• Li Yuanba completed his three second-year missions after secretly leaving the sect, then stayed at Ten Thousand Swords Peak.
• Li Shiming cut back on refining Third Grade Spiritual Pills on Elder Ma's advice, while his reputation and income from pill refining and artifact crafting grew.
• Li Shiming reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and the Spirit-Sealing Phantom Serpent grew to the peak of second grade.
• Li Shiming studied formations but remained unable to achieve the insight needed to become a Formation Master.
• Li Shiming reviewed data from five failed satellite launches and concluded that the world might not be spherical.

Li Shiming launched a rocket to investigate the world’s shape and discovered that the Northern Shu Continent’s curvature defied his expectations, prompting him to suspend his satellite plans and research long-endurance drones. Meanwhile, Li Yuanba ended his seclusion at Foundation Establishment Late Stage and prepared to leave Ten Thousand Swords Peak, having discovered that alternating between his human and corpse refinement states greatly accelerated his cultivation.

• Li Shiming launched his sixth rocket from ten thousand meters and used its camera to capture an image of the world.
• Li Shiming saw the Northern Shu Continent and nearby islands in the image, whose slight curvature led him to reconsider his assumptions about the planet and set aside his satellite program.
• Li Shiming shifted his research toward drones powered by spirit stones that could remain airborne for months and communicate through radio microwaves.
• Li Yuanba ended his seclusion at Foundation Establishment Late Stage, with his sword intent and combat strength greatly improved after two years of cultivation.
• Li Yuanba reflected on how alternating between human cultivation by day and corpse refinement by night let his body absorb both Spiritual Qi and Yin-Cold Qi, accelerating his progress.

Li Yuanba left the Vast Array Sect to meet Main Body Li Shiming and collect pills for forming his Golden Core, while two Arhats from Thousand Leaves Temple prepared to capture him as a supposed reincarnated Bodhisattva. Arhat Zhi Xin trapped Li Yuanba in a mental illusion, and Li Shiming sensed the attack through their soul connection and withdrew his consciousness.

• Li Yuanba sealed Ten Thousand Swords Peak, slipped out of the Vast Array Sect at night, and used Lotus Steps to travel toward Boundary Mountain Pass.
• Arhat Zhi Hui sensed Li Yuanba's departure, used Karmic Awareness to predict his route, and set out with Arhat Zhi Xin to capture him alive.
• Arhat Zhi Xin concealed the two Arhats near Li Yuanba's path with Mind Penetration and ensnared him in an illusion of gods, Buddhas, and chanting.
• Li Shiming sensed the attack on Clone Li Yuanba through their soul connection, but IBMz15 warned him that his consciousness was being affected, so he withdrew it.