Chapter Summaries

Lu Nan used a Profound Grade Cultivation Chamber to conceal his true cultivation and advanced to the first layer of Qi Condensation. Fu Ye then told him about the coming Sword Erosion Secret Realm, where he learned that Earth Vein Qi could enable Earthly Foundation Establishment.

• Lu Nan exchanged his Spirit Talismans with Fu Ye and rented a Profound Grade Cultivation Chamber to hide from an unknown pursuer.
• Inside the chamber, Lu Nan concealed his aura and advanced to the first layer of Qi Condensation before his hour expired.
• Fu Ye congratulated Lu Nan, gave him two bottles of Qi Condensation Pills, and supplied him with two months' worth of talisman materials.
• Fu Ye explained that the Sword Erosion Secret Realm would host a trial between the Azure Lotus Sword Sect, the Artifact Refining Sect, and the Devil Dao Sect, including the Soul Refining Sect.
• Fu Ye described the three grades of Foundation Establishment and told Lu Nan that the secret realm held enough Earth Vein Qi for ten cultivators to achieve Earthly Foundation Establishment.

Lu Nan chose new techniques at the Scripture Repository and received the Azure Lotus Sword Canon as a sect investment, then cultivated it and improved his strength. As the Sect Trial approached, Fang Rongxuan invited him to watch it at the crowded Sect Square.

• Lu Nan left Fu Ye, avoided entering the Mysterious Space, and returned to the sect to seek cultivation and combat techniques.
• Lu Nan selected three Mortal Grade manuals, and the Scripture Repository elder offered him the Profound Grade Azure Lotus Sword Canon while warning him not to pass it on.
• Lu Nan studied the Azure Lotus Sword Canon, transformed his spiritual power, reached the peak of the fifth layer of Qi Condensation, and trained with pills and the canon’s techniques.
• Fang Rongxuan invited Lu Nan to watch the Sect Trial, and the two arrived at the crowded Sect Square.

Lu Nan learned about the dangers and rewards of the Sword Erosion Secret Realm as the Sword Sect opened it for a fifteen-day trial. He stayed behind rather than enter, while the Sect Leader revealed she knew he was a First-Rank Talisman Master and considered cultivating him if he advanced further.

• Fang Rongxuan told Lu Nan that only disciples at Qi Condensation Perfection had a good chance of surviving the secret realm, while Lu Nan privately considered how to enter for its Earth Vein Qi.
• The Old Man in Blue announced the trial rules, distributed Azure Lotus Sword Tokens, and opened the passageway, sending the participating disciples into the realm.
• The Old Man in Blue and the other elders discussed likely top-ten contenders from their sect and rival sects.
• The woman in white identified Lu Nan as a First-Rank Talisman Master and said she would accept him as a disciple if he rose another level, while telling Qingchuan not to investigate him.
• Lu Nan declined to enter the secret realm or join Fang Rongxuan in betting on its contestants, then headed to the Book Collection Pavilion.

Lu Nan obtained a Spirit Treasure Pavilion token and followed Fu Ye through the pavilion’s channel toward the Sword Erosion Secret Realm. After Wang Wanwan taunted Fu Ye over the plot that ruined her Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, Lu Nan asked why Fu Ye had not taken revenge.

• Lu Nan contacted Fu Ye, who agreed to help him enter the Sword Erosion Secret Realm through the Spirit Treasure Pavilion in exchange for a month of free Spirit Talismans.
• Fu Ye gave Lu Nan a Spirit Treasure Pavilion Yellow Gourd and took him through a Teleportation Array to the pavilion’s headquarters, warning him not to reveal he was an Azure Lotus Sword Sect disciple.
• Fu Ye led Lu Nan to the secret realm entrance and explained that pavilion members could enter in groups or on their own, with no guarantees of safety.
• Wang Wanwan mocked Fu Ye and Lu Nan, and Fu Ye revealed that Wang Wanwan had sabotaged her attempt at Earth Vein Foundation Establishment.
• Lu Nan asked Fu Ye why she had not sought revenge, and Fu Ye turned to look at him.

Lu Nan reentered the Mysterious Space and found that its spiritual plants had matured, then discovered a group of cultivators assaulting an Azure Lotus Sword Sect disciple. He emerged to confront them, demanding their Earth Vein Qi as he drew his sword.

• Lu Nan hid in a cave and entered the Mysterious Space, where he found it had expanded and grown richer in spiritual energy.
• He discovered that the spirit herbs had reached a hundred years of age and the Peach Tree's fruit had reached two hundred years, then ate a peach and took several more.
• Lu Nan noticed that the Little Gourd used to collect Earth Vein Qi could now be stored in the Mysterious Space, then left and checked that his hiding place was undisturbed.
• While preparing to leave the cave, Lu Nan overheard several men threatening and assaulting a wounded Azure Lotus Sword Sect disciple.
• Lu Nan rushed out and confronted the men, asking their leader for his Earth Vein Qi and drawing his Longsword.

Lu Nan rescued Huang Ying from Soul Refining Sect disciples, learned that Young Master Chi Hun held much of their stolen Earth Vein Qi, and set out with her for a valley full of Erosion Beasts. He entered the valley alone to fight the wolves and test his abilities.

• Lu Nan killed the burly man and his companions, then collected their valuables and absorbed the Earth Vein Qi from their Skull Pouches into his gourd.
• Huang Ying introduced herself as a member of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect and explained that Soul Refining Sect disciples had attacked her and Junior Brother Ye after their group split up.
• Lu Nan gave Huang Ying spare clothes and waited for her to recover, then learned of a valley southwest where many wolf-shaped Erosion Beasts gathered.
• Lu Nan sensed hundreds of Erosion Beasts in the valley and told Huang Ying to stay outside and keep watch while he entered alone.
• The Erosion Beasts charged Lu Nan, and he split a giant yellow wolf in two with a sweep of azure sword light.

Lu Nan escorted the injured Huang Ying to the Azure Lotus Sword Sect’s meeting place, then searched the Central Jungle for more Erosion Beasts. He found a Soul Refining Sect group led by a red-haired man, whose battle against two Foundation Establishment Erosion Beasts was interrupted by a larger incoming horde.

• Lu Nan killed the remaining Wolf Beasts with Azure Lotus Blooms and collected a small amount of Earth Vein Qi in his gourd.
• Lu Nan escorted Huang Ying toward the sect’s meeting place and learned that the sect had issued maps to its Secret Realm disciples.
• Lu Nan left Huang Ying at the meeting place and searched the Central Jungle for Erosion Beasts.
• Lu Nan discovered a red-haired Soul Refining Sect man killing Erosion Beasts and absorbing their Earth Vein Qi into a Skull Pouch.
• Skinny warned the red-haired man that two Foundation Establishment Erosion Beasts were approaching, and the red-haired man prepared to fight as more beasts emerged behind them.

Lu Nan watched the red-haired man defeat two powerful Erosion Beasts with Blood Shadows, then ambushed him and looted his belongings. After escaping to a hidden cave, Lu Nan inspected his haul and prepared to make Beast Luring Pills.

• The red-haired man used a medicinal pill to purge poison, then summoned two Blood Shadows that killed the Armored Dragon-like Erosion Beasts and collected their Earth Vein Qi.
• After ordering Skinny to tell the others to stop luring beasts, the red-haired man sat down to recover while a weaker Blood Shadow guarded him.
• Lu Nan attacked the red-haired man from hiding, knocked him unconscious, split the guarding Blood Shadow with his Longsword, and took the man's Skull Pouch and Storage Ring.
• Skinny returned, and Lu Nan knocked him out and looted him before fleeing to a Strange Rock Forest and hiding in a cave.
• Lu Nan transferred the Earth Vein Qi into his Little Gourd, sorted the Storage Ring's contents, and found an Alchemy Furnace and a Beast Luring Pill recipe.
• Lu Nan gathered Qi Condensing Grass and the other listed materials, intending to try making Beast Luring Pills.

Lu Nan successfully brewed a Beast Luring Pill and inscribed Second-grade talismans, then continued searching for Earth Vein Qi. He eventually returned to the Central Jungle, where Su Wan’s group faced the Soul Refining Sect over an Erosion Beast nest.

• Lu Nan ambushed Chi Hun and Chi Er, stole their Storage Ring and Earth Vein Qi, and left them unconscious beside a slain Blood Shadow.
• Chi Hun woke up, realized his belongings were gone, and ordered Chi Er to help identify the handsome youth who attacked them.
• Lu Nan made a Beast Luring Pill, judged himself a first-grade alchemist, and inscribed Golden Body and Divine Speed Talismans, though most attempts failed.
• Lu Nan spent eight or nine days searching for Erosion Beasts but still lacked one-tenth of the Earth Vein Qi he needed.
• Lu Nan returned to the Central Jungle and watched Su Wan confront a tall woman from the Soul Refining Sect over an Erosion Beast nest.

Lu Nan learned how Earth Vein Foundation Establishment worked by kidnapping Chi San, then sought out Su Wan to question her about information known to the realm’s geniuses. He abducted Su Wan when they unexpectedly met at the Azure Lotus Sword Sect’s camp.

• Su Wan ordered the Azure Lotus Sword Sect disciples to retreat rather than fight the much larger Soul Refining Sect, which cleared the Erosion Beast nest and left.
• Lu Nan followed the Soul Refining Sect, kidnapped Chi San, and questioned him about Earth Vein Qi and the ten treasure lands where it could be refined.
• Chi San told Lu Nan that ten people could establish an Earth Vein Foundation and that he was guarding Lord Chi Hun, one of two Soul Refining Sect cultivators who had gathered enough Earth Vein Qi.
• Lu Nan released Chi San and decided to seek more information from Su Wan, then followed the Azure Lotus Sword Sect to its camp in a valley.
• Lu Nan silently took down the camp guards, encountered Su Wan, and carried her off over his shoulder.

Lu Nan questioned Su Wan about Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, then gathered the remaining Earth Vein Qi and searched for a treasure land. With only three days left before the secret realm closed, he encountered Chi Hun and launched an attack.

• Lu Nan carried Su Wan away from the pursuing Azure Lotus Sword Sect disciples and asked her who had gathered Earth Vein Qi and how Earth Vein Foundation Establishment worked.
• Su Wan explained that Chi Hun, Chi Mei'er, several Artifact Refining Sect disciples, Chen Sheng, and two Azure Lotus Sword Sect disciples had gathered all the Earth Vein Qi, and that a treasure land was essential for Foundation Establishment.
• Lu Nan left Su Wan, who concealed his identity from the arriving sect disciples and wondered about his secrets and alchemy skills.
• Lu Nan gathered the last of his Earth Vein Qi and spent the next day searching unsuccessfully for an Earth Vein Treasure Land.
• Lu Nan found Chi Hun meditating outside a cave, inspected the area, then charged at him and dodged his punch with Azure Lotus Strike.

Lu Nan defeated Chi Hun, entered the cave, and killed the figure cultivating inside after finding an unfamiliar energy purer than Earth Vein Qi. He threatened Chi Hun with a drug until Chi Hun began answering questions about the cave.

• Lu Nan ambushed Chi Hun, sealed his spiritual power, and tied him up outside the cave.
• Lu Nan found a figure cultivating in pale blue Earth Vein Qi and killed it when it warned him to leave.
• Lu Nan sensed a strange energy throughout the cave that was purer than Earth Vein Qi but could not refine it.
• Lu Nan returned to Chi Hun and threatened to force him to take Pillar Supporting the Heavens unless he answered questions.
• Chi Hun confirmed that the cave was an Earth Vein Treasure Land and said its earth energy revealed this.

Lu Nan learned from Chi Hun about Earth Vein Qi and the Azure Desolate Secret Realm, which offered a chance at Heavenly Foundation Establishment. After taking Chi Hun's valuables and temporarily restraining him, Lu Nan left eager to seek out the secret realm.

• Chi Hun explained that Earth Vein Qi contained vitality and was necessary for Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, while dragon vein qi alone could not replace it.
• Lu Nan questioned why Chi Hun had not established his foundation, and Chi Hun admitted that a thief had stolen all his Earth Vein Qi.
• Lu Nan pressured Chi Hun into revealing that he had delayed Foundation Establishment to enter the Azure Desolate Secret Realm and pursue Heavenly Foundation Establishment.
• Chi Hun explained that the secret realm opened periodically, admitted those below Foundation Establishment, and held 108 Earth Vein Foundation Establishment Slots.
• Lu Nan took Chi Hun's storage pouch, broke its Soul Imprint, and left after restraining Chi Hun for half an hour.

Lu Nan investigated Chi Hun's claims, confirmed that Su Wan intended to pursue Heavenly Foundation Establishment, and chose to seek his own chance in the Azure Desolate Secret Realm. As the realm neared its closing, he rescued Azure Lotus Sword Sect disciples from the Soul Refining Sect and prepared to leave.

• Lu Nan tracked the Azure Lotus Sword Sect's main force, met Su Wan in secret, and learned that she planned to compete for Heavenly Foundation Establishment in the Azure Desolate Secret Realm.
• Lu Nan stored his two portions of Earth Vein Qi in the Mysterious Space and decided to pursue Heavenly Foundation Establishment rather than use them for a stable advancement.
• Lu Nan joined a battle between the Azure Lotus Sword Sect and the Soul Refining Sect, helped the Azure Lotus disciples defeat their opponents, and took a Skull Pouch.
• The rescued disciples crushed their Jade Tokens to leave the secret realm, while Lu Nan returned to his cave and transferred Earth Vein Qi from the Yellow Gourd into the Skull Pouch.
• Lu Nan gathered medicinal herbs, left the Mysterious Space, crushed the gourd, and shot into the sky to exit the secret realm.

Lu Nan returned from the secret realm with Earth Vein Qi and sold Fu Ye fifty second-grade Talismans before rushing back to the sect. At the Book Collection Pavilion, the Mysterious Woman confronted him about abandoning his post and stopped him from leaving.

• Fu Ye met Lu Nan after his return, and they went back to their residence together.
• Lu Nan confirmed that he had brought Earth Vein Qi out of the secret realm and that it could exist outside it, though the Skull Pouch could not be stored in his Ring.
• Lu Nan realized he had missed more than half a month of duty at the Book Collection Pavilion and feared punishment.
• Lu Nan gave Fu Ye fifty second-grade Talismans, received one hundred and fifty Medium-grade Spirit Stones and second-tier Spirit Talisman materials, and asked her to cover for his absence.
• Lu Nan returned to the sect and went to the Book Collection Pavilion, where the Mysterious Woman questioned him about his absence and blocked his attempt to leave.

Ye Han caught Lu Nan lying about skipping his duties, extorted most of his Spirit Stones, and beat him until he revealed his Talisman skill. After recovering, Lu Nan planned his cultivation priorities for the year before the Azure Desolate Secret Realm opened and returned to his duties at the Book Collection Pavilion.

• Ye Han examined Lu Nan’s Ring, discovered his lie, and took one hundred of his one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones in exchange for promising to speak to Steward Mo.
• Ye Han demanded to know Lu Nan’s Talisman grade and beat him until he admitted he could inscribe first-grade Talismans, then revealed her name before leaving.
• Lu Nan recovered from the beating and realized his physical strength had improved.
• Lu Nan decided to focus mainly on Alchemy, with Talisman Crafting second, and aimed to become a third-grade alchemist before the Azure Desolate Secret Realm opened.
• Lu Nan successfully inscribed nearly all of the Divine Speed and Golden Body Talismans needed for his monthly task, then recovered and resumed his watch at the Book Collection Pavilion the next morning.

Lu Nan returned to the Book Collection Pavilion, where Fang Rongxuan offered him a patrol mission and Su Wan explained that he could advance to Formal Disciple early through the Assessment Hall. After seeing Lu Nan cultivate the costly Azure Lotus Sword Canon and watching him refine Qi Condensation Pills, Su Wan asked him to teach her alchemy.

• Fang Rongxuan welcomed Lu Nan back, refused his Spirit Stone, and invited him to join a patrol mission worth sixty Contribution Points, but Lu Nan declined because he still had a month left on his pavilion assignment.
• Su Wan told Lu Nan that he could register for an early examination at the Assessment Hall instead of waiting for the Sect Assessment.
• Su Wan learned that Lu Nan was cultivating the Azure Lotus Sword Canon, which cost three thousand Contribution Points, but he kept quiet about how he had obtained it.
• Su Wan asked whether Lu Nan could refine pills, then provided an Alchemy Furnace and medicinal herbs for him to use.
• Lu Nan refined nine Qi Condensation Pills and handed them to Su Wan, who asked him to teach her alchemy.

Lu Nan reluctantly agreed to teach Su Wan alchemy, then sent her away to study basic theory and medicinal herbs. After his guard duty ended, he noticed a dangerous patrol mission tied to the Wang Family and went to the Assessment Hall to raise his status so he could qualify.

• Su Wan used her two remaining favors and threatened to expose Lu Nan, so he agreed to teach her alchemy in exchange for three conditions, including secrecy.
• Lu Nan tested Su Wan's knowledge, found she could not identify Blood Vein Grass, and told her to master several theory books before returning.
• Su Wan studied for a month while Lu Nan finished his Book Collection Pavilion guard duty and spent the time cultivating.
• At the Task Pavilion, Lu Nan saw a patrol mission investigating disappearances in the Wang Family's territory and suspected it might explain Fang Rongxuan's absence.
• Lu Nan went to the Assessment Hall, learned how the spiritual-power assessment worked, and placed his hand on the stone stele.

Lu Nan became a Formal Disciple, collected his new benefits, and prepared to investigate the dangerous Wang Family Patrol Mission. After reviewing intelligence that the Wang Family might have at least two Foundation Establishment cultivators, he asked Fu Ye to help him buy defensive spirit treasures.

• Lu Nan passed the assessment, registered as a Formal Disciple, and accepted the Class C, Grade 3 Wang Family Patrol Mission despite a Senior Brother's warning.
• Lu Nan collected his Formal Disciple benefits and moved into a courtyard with denser spiritual energy, where he examined his new sword and Qi Nurturing Pills.
• Lu Nan studied intelligence on the Wang Family and considered the possibility that it had at least two Foundation Establishment cultivators, resolving to investigate cautiously and flee if he found danger.
• Lu Nan visited Fu Ye at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion and asked her to help him purchase defensive spirit treasures capable of withstanding mid-to-late Foundation Establishment attacks.

Lu Nan prepared to pursue the mission tied to his missing Senior Brother despite learning that the Wang Family had powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators. Before descending the mountain, Fu Ye equipped him with supplies, and he visited Shopkeeper Mo to repay his past kindness.

• Fu Ye warned Lu Nan that the Wang Family Ancestor might have reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, but Lu Nan refused to abandon the mission because his Senior Brother had disappeared while pursuing it.
• Fu Ye agreed to provide Lu Nan with a defensive magic treasure and additional supplies, including pills, weapons, armor, a Hundred Mile Talisman, and a defensive array plate on credit.
• Lu Nan returned to his residence, bound the Ling Hong Sword and Body Fortifying Armor, meditated until he reached peak condition, and refined more pills before leaving the mountain the next day.
• Lu Nan descended through Mountain Market to Azure Lotus Market and visited Shopkeeper Mo at the inn where he had once found help.
• Lu Nan gave Shopkeeper Mo Body Tempering Pills, Qi and Blood Pills, and a Sword Leaf token, promising to help him once in repayment for his kindness.