Chapter Summaries

Lu Nan followed Ye Bei’s map to True Human Ling Mu’s ruins, hoping to find a Nirvana Flower. There he met Ling Mu’s lingering soul, who offered him an inheritance and spiritual materials if he became his disciple, but Lu Nan refused and was allowed to take only one item.

• Ye Bei told Lu Nan that he would explore the ruins alone and explained that True Human Ling Mu’s ruins had a seventy percent chance of containing Nirvana Flowers.
• Lu Nan used the map to enter the ruins in the Three Veins of Demonic Beasts and reached the palace at its center.
• Lu Nan found a Jade Slip and a Ring above a platform but focused on a Light Membrane blocking the rear of the hall.
• Ling Mu appeared and recognized Lu Nan as an Alchemist, then offered to make him his disciple in exchange for access to the rear courtyard’s spiritual materials and a Fifth-Grade Alchemist’s Inheritance.
• Lu Nan refused because he already had a master, so Ling Mu allowed him to take one item and asked once more whether he would reconsider.

Lu Nan obtained a Nirvana Flower and nine valuable medicinal ingredients from Ling Mu, agreeing to find a successor for Ling Mu's inheritance. After returning to the Azure Lotus Sword Sect, he reunited with Su Wan, discussed the Three Sects Competition, and spent the next month training in alchemy, talismans, and arrays.

• Lu Nan found and transplanted a young Nirvana Flower, then returned to Ling Mu, who gave it to him and asked him to find a successor for his inheritance.
• Lu Nan accepted Ling Mu's request and received a Ring, a Jade Slip, and nine valuable medicinal ingredients as a reward before Ling Mu sent him out of the ruins.
• Lu Nan transplanted the medicines into the Mysterious Space and returned to his residence, where Su Wan embraced him, relieved that he had come back safely.
• Su Wan told Lu Nan about the Three Sects Competition and revealed that Cang Ziqian had not come out of the Azure Desolate Secret Realm.
• Lu Nan learned that Su Wan had been avoiding alchemy, then returned to his room and spent the following month refining pills, making talismans, and studying arrays.

The Red Lotus Sect and White Lotus Sect arrived at the Azure Lotus Sword Sect for the Three Sects Competition, and Ye Hanyan gave Lu Nan information about her Heaven-grade Dao Foundation. The competition began with its rules and rewards announced, leaving Lu Nan intent on winning the Withered Bone Grass he needed.

• Lu Nan joined Ye Hanyan, Qingchuan, and Su Wan to welcome the Red Lotus Sect, led by Hong Lin, and the White Lotus Sect, led by Bai Yuan.
• Ye Hanyan asked Lu Nan to secure victory in the Foundation Establishment division and passed him information about her Heaven-grade Dao Foundation.
• The next morning, Qingchuan announced that the competition would include seven days of individual arena battles followed by team battles in the Three Veins of Demonic Beasts.
• Lu Nan recognized the Withered Bone Grass among the prizes as an ingredient he needed and planned to obtain it.

Lu Nan watched the sword sect contest as the arena champions changed, noting Fang Yu’s movement technique and Hong Yi’s remarkable speed. After Senior Sister Zhang lost, Ye Hanyan sent Lu Nan onto the Foundation Establishment arena, leaving him to face the next challenge.

• Fang Yu defeated Wang Wu by appearing behind him and placing his sword at his throat.
• The arena champions shifted through repeated matches, with White Lotus holding Qi Refining, Azure Lotus holding Foundation Establishment, and Crimson Lotus holding Golden Core.
• Hong Yi defeated Zhang San with a rapid series of sword strikes, then beat Wu Xu after a close fight.
• Lu Nan told Su Wan that Hong Yi seemed stronger than most of the people present, while Su Wan watched Senior Sister Zhang take the arena.
• Senior Sister Zhang lost, and Ye Hanyan sent Lu Nan flying onto the Foundation Establishment arena.

Lu Nan dominated the Foundation Establishment arena, defeating every challenger with ease and revealing that he had comprehended sword intent. He claimed the stage and settled in to defend it for six days, leaving the watching sect leaders astonished.

• Lu Nan defeated Hong Yi after disarming her sleeve swords and reaching her from behind, prompting her to admit defeat.
• Lu Nan blasted Bai Zhan off the arena with a single strike, and Hong Lin and Bai Yuan recognized the sword intent behind his attack.
• Ye Hanyan confirmed that Lu Nan was her newly accepted disciple and truly had Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• Lu Nan called for challengers and repeatedly sent each one off the arena with a single sword strike until nobody else came forward.
• Lu Nan sat at the center of the arena, closed his eyes, and prepared to hold the stage for six days.

After Hong Fei insulted Ye Hanyan and the Azure Lotus Sword Sect, Hong Lin tried to protect him and negotiate a settlement. Hong Fei’s further provocation brought Qingchuan and others back to confront them, and Hong Fei demanded a same-realm fight as his way out.

• Hong Lin and Bai Yuan described the heavy losses suffered by Southern Domain factions in Azure Desolate, while Qingchuan said only a dozen or so Azure Lotus Sword Sect members had returned.
• Ye Hanyan rushed to the Golden Core arena after learning Hong Fei had insulted her, but Hong Lin blocked her attack and offered an apology and compensation.
• Hong Lin promised that Hong Fei would be confined for twenty years and that the Crimson Lotus Sword Master would personally apologize, so Ye Hanyan and Qingchuan left.
• Hong Fei continued insulting Ye Hanyan and the Azure Lotus Sword Sect, and Hong Lin slapped him for his disrespect.
• Qingchuan and others confronted Hong Lin and Hong Fei, but Hong Fei demanded a fight between Golden Core cultivators, wagering that a victory would let them leave.

Hong Fei and Hong Lin wagered that Hong Fei could win a best-of-three duel against Azure Lotus Sword Sect disciples and leave alive. Hong Fei won the first round, and the chapter ended as a crowd of Azure Lotus disciples challenged him while Xu Kai accused Hong Lin of restraining him.

• Hong Lin persuaded Ye Hanyan to accept Hong Fei's best-of-three wager, with Hong Fei allowed to leave if he won.
• Li Si fought Hong Fei, but Hong Fei blocked his strongest strike and attacked after Li Si conceded; Qingchuan intervened, and Hong Fei was declared the winner of the first round.
• Hong Fei began meditating to recover, while Hong Lin stopped Xu Kai from attacking and restrained him when he tried to leave the arena.
• Azure Lotus disciples volunteered to take Xu Kai's place, and many crowded onto the arena to face Hong Fei.
• Hong Lin released Xu Kai, who cursed him and accused him of using underhanded tricks to restrain him.

Hong Fei killed Xu Kai in the second match, provoking Qinglian’s leaders until Ye Hanyan allowed Hong Lin and Hong Fei to leave. Lu Nan then arrived and offered to fight the agreed-upon final match.

• Hong Lin ordered Hong Fei to kill Xu Kai, while Qingchuan and Qinglian’s leaders prevented Hong Lin from interfering with the match.
• Xu Kai used Talismans, Flying Swords, and pills to strengthen himself, but Hong Fei unleashed his blood-colored swords and fatally pierced him.
• Qingchuan called for Qinglian to forfeit, but Hong Lin insisted the match was not over, and Xu Kai died before the leaders could reach him.
• Hong Lin and Bai Yuan protected Hong Fei from Qinglian’s furious leaders, and Ye Hanyan ordered the two men to leave.
• Lu Nan greeted Ye Hanyan and offered to take the field for the final match.

Lu Nan insisted on fighting Hong Fei despite being at Foundation Establishment, and Ye Hanyan allowed the match to proceed. Lu Nan shattered Hong Fei’s blood swords with a single strike, but Hong Fei unleashed his spirit sword in a colossal attack that left Lu Nan hidden in dust.

• Lu Nan stopped Hong Lin and Hong Fei from leaving and demanded a match with Hong Fei; Ye Hanyan agreed after Lu Nan insisted.
• Lu Nan and Hong Fei entered the arena under the condition that neither side would interfere.
• Hong Fei attacked with nine blood swords, but Lu Nan’s Sword Drawing Technique shattered them and injured Hong Fei.
• Hong Fei swallowed Healing Pills, summoned his bound spirit sword, and sent a colossal blade crashing down on Lu Nan.
• The Qinglian disciples anxiously wondered whether Lu Nan had lost as dust swallowed him.

Lu Nan defeated Hong Fei and killed him after learning that the Soul Refining Sect had spread recordings about the Soul Erosion Abyss. A disguised attacker tried to reach Lu Nan but escaped as a decoy, leaving Qinglian wary of the Soul Refining Sect while Lu Nan was declared the Golden Core arena champion.

• Ye Hanyan and Qingchuan blocked Hong Lin as Lu Nan held Hong Fei on the arena and questioned him about the Soul Erosion Abyss.
• Hong Fei said he had heard rumors and that the Soul Refining Sect had released recordings, and Lu Nan broke his leg and hand while pressing him for answers.
• Lu Nan killed Hong Fei, and Ye Hanyan discovered a black-robed Soul Refining Sect figure who lunged toward him but vanished into a piece of Yin Soul Wood.
• Qingchuan identified the intruder as a substitute likely sent by Lian Hunyu, and the elders warned that the Soul Refining Sect might be planning something.
• Qingchuan dismissed Hong Lin and declared Lu Nan the winner, making him the Golden Core arena champion.

Lu Nan won the Golden Core division and received the Withered Bone Grass he had entered the competition to obtain. After declining the team matches, he returned to his residence, where Ye Hanyan questioned him about his fight with Hong Fei and cultivation before summoning him to Sect Master Peak.

• Qingchuan announced Wang Kang, Zhao Jun, and Lu Nan as the victors of their divisions, then gave Lu Nan the first-place reward containing Withered Bone Grass.
• Lu Nan declined to participate in the team matches and left the competition grounds after Ye Hanyan agreed to his choice.
• Hong Lin called Lu Nan a genius and urged Bai Yuan to avoid making an enemy of him, while worrying about the Crimson Lotus Sword Master's response to Hong Fei's death.
• Ye Hanyan questioned Lu Nan about fighting Hong Fei, and he claimed he was at the third level of Foundation Establishment and had learned a Secret Art.
• Ye Hanyan gave Lu Nan her command token and ordered him to move to Sect Master Peak, then appeared to take him there.

Lu Nan moved to Sect Master Peak, cultivated to Foundation Establishment’s ninth level before tempering his spiritual power back to the first level, and learned his sect had placed last in the Three Sects Competition. After visiting the Mysterious Space, he returned to his cave to practice alchemy until he used up his medicinal herbs.

• Lu Nan moved to Sect Master Peak, carved out a cave dwelling, and received a Ring from Ye Hanyan containing one hundred thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones and one thousand High-grade Spirit Stones.
• Lu Nan cultivated for seven days, reaching Foundation Establishment’s ninth level before tempering his spiritual power until his realm settled at the first level and its quality became nine times greater.
• Su Wan told Lu Nan that White Lotus had won the team competition, Red Lotus had come second, and their sect had finished last; she also said Ye Hanyan had entered seclusion and announced Lu Nan’s identity to the sect.
• Lu Nan returned to his cave, entered the Mysterious Space, transplanted his medicinal herbs, and decided to save the Earth Vein Qi rather than use it for cultivation.
• Lu Nan practiced Alchemy until he had used up his medicinal herbs and noticed the many medicine bottles he had produced.

After spending a month refining pills and reaching fourth-grade alchemist level, Lu Nan visited the sect’s Market to sell pills and gauge what was happening. His supreme-grade Qi Boosting Pills sold out quickly, and he prepared to offer third-grade pills to the arriving Core Disciples.

• Lu Nan discovered that he had successfully refined ten batches of fourth-grade pills and realized a month had passed.
• Finding Su Wan absent from Sect Master Peak, Lu Nan headed to the disciple Market to sell pills and learn about recent events.
• Lu Nan sold his second-grade Qi Boosting Pills for nine hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones per bottle, and Zhang Dan confirmed they were supreme grade.
• The disciples quickly bought all thirty bottles, and Lu Nan promised those who missed out that he would return with more.
• A group of Core Disciples arrived, and Lu Nan greeted them and explained that he was selling pills for a friend.

Lu Nan sold his pills for a large profit, then went to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion after Fu Ye reported finding three medicinal ingredients he needed. Ye Hanyan accompanied him, and the chapter ended with her discovering that he could refine fourth-grade pills.

• Lu Nan sold all his Three Yuan Pills to the Core Disciples and left the Market with a substantial profit from his pill sales.
• Fu Ye contacted Lu Nan with news about medicinal ingredients, and he set out for the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.
• Ye Hanyan stopped Lu Nan at the mountain gate, learned he was seeking ingredients for a body-tempering formula, and insisted on accompanying him.
• Fu Ye told Lu Nan she had found the Pure Yang Sacred Lotus, Innate Essence, and Shifting Heaven Ginseng, but their combined cost was thirty-five thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones.
• Lu Nan asked Fu Ye to appraise ten bottles of his fourth-grade pills, and Ye Hanyan realized he could refine fourth-grade pills.

Lu Nan sold supreme-quality Nascent Soul Pills, received Spirit Stones from Ye Hanyan, and arranged for Fu Ye to obtain ingredients for a Youth Preserving Pill. He persuaded Ye Hanyan to let him stay at the Artifact Refining Sect for two months, and she left him near its mountain gate.

• Liu Ming inspected Lu Nan's ten bottles of Nascent Soul Pills, praised their supreme quality, and bought them for ten Top-grade Spirit Stones each.
• Ye Hanyan gave Lu Nan thirty-five thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones, and Fu Ye returned with his payment for the pills.
• Lu Nan asked Fu Ye to obtain the Pure Yang Sacred Lotus, Innate Essence, and Shifting Heaven Ginseng, then offered to have his friend refine a Youth Preserving Pill for her.
• Fu Ye agreed to prepare the ingredients, and Lu Nan told her to contact him through the Communication Stone when they arrived.
• Lu Nan asked Ye Hanyan to let him study formations at the Artifact Refining Sect, and she carried him there and promised to return in two months.

Lu Nan returned to the Artifact Refining Sect and reunited with Liu Qilan and Wu Wan, then astonished them by revealing he had become a fourth-grade Alchemist. After he successfully refined Nascent Soul Pills, Liu Qilan asked whether he could make a Spirit Transformation Barrier Breaking Pill, but she declined his offer to try because she had already contacted a fifth-grade Alchemist.

• Lu Nan returned to Ninth Peak, where Liu Qilan and Wu Wan praised his victory over a Golden Core cultivator at the Azure Lotus Sword Sect.
• Lu Nan told Liu Qilan he would spend two months studying formations and improving his cultivation, and she urged him to call her sister.
• Lu Nan revealed he was a fourth-grade Alchemist and said he had refined ten cauldrons of Nascent Soul Pills during a month of seclusion.
• Liu Qilan provided ingredients, and Lu Nan successfully refined nine Nascent Soul Pills before Liu Qilan asked about the Spirit Transformation Barrier Breaking Pill.
• Lu Nan offered to attempt the difficult pill, but Liu Qilan refused because she had already contacted a fifth-grade master Alchemist.

Lu Nan used Liu Qilan’s Spirit Stones to cultivate and condense his spiritual power to the Foundation Establishment second layer, then partnered with Wu Wan to sell pills. After refining her Qi Boosting Pills, he began making the Youth Preserving Pills he owed Fu Ye.

• Liu Qilan gave Lu Nan a Ring containing two hundred thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, and Wu Wan asked him to refine Qi Boosting Pills from herbs she would provide.
• Lu Nan cultivated with the Spirit Stones, reached the Foundation Establishment fifth layer, then compressed his spiritual power until he was at the second layer and stronger in combat.
• Wu Wan brought herbs for ten batches of Qi Boosting Pills, and Lu Nan proposed that he refine pills while she sold them, with an eighty-twenty profit split.
• Lu Nan refined all ten batches into nine supreme-quality pills each, and Wu Wan took the bottles to test them.
• Lu Nan found three sets of ingredients for the Youth Preserving Pills he owed Fu Ye and successfully refined the first two batches before starting the last.

Lu Nan gave Wu Wan the pill-sale earnings and a Youth Preserving Pill, then asked her to deliver more pills to Fu Ye. After Liu Qilan asked him to refine Spirit Transformation Barrier Breaking Pills, Lu Nan succeeded in making nine top-grade pills and handed them to her.

• Wu Wan told Lu Nan the pills had sold well, and Lu Nan refused his share of the Spirit Stones because she had supplied the ingredients and managed the sales.
• Lu Nan gave Wu Wan a Youth Preserving Pill, which she swallowed, and asked her to deliver a batch of pills to Fu Ye at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion in the Azure Lotus Sword Sect's Mountain Market.
• Liu Qilan asked Lu Nan to refine Spirit Transformation Barrier Breaking Pills after Ji Li angered her, and Lu Nan began refining them with the materials she provided.
• Lu Nan's first attempt failed and damaged the Alchemy Furnace, but he identified excessive heat as the cause and refined the pills again.
• Lu Nan successfully made nine top-grade Spirit Transformation Barrier Breaking Pills and gave them to Liu Qilan, who embraced him and called him her precious treasure.

Lu Nan gave Liu Qilan a Youth Preserving Pill before she entered seclusion, then sent Wu Wan to deliver two more pills to Fu Ye and collect valuable herbs. Wu Wan heard Lu Nan tell Fu Ye that he trusted her, and she received three rare ingredients for him.

• Liu Qilan praised Lu Nan, told him she would enter seclusion for three to six months, and accepted the Youth Preserving Pill he had refined.
• Liu Qilan learned that Fu Ye had supplied the pill’s ingredients, teased Lu Nan about their closeness, and left to prepare for her breakthrough.
• Lu Nan returned to studying his Array Manual while Wu Wan visited Fu Ye at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to deliver two jade bottles of Youth Preserving Pills.
• Fu Ye used a Communication Stone to confirm with Lu Nan that the herbs had arrived, and Wu Wan heard him say he trusted her to hand them over.
• Fu Ye gave Wu Wan three brocade boxes containing ten-thousand-year Pure Yang Sacred Lotus, eight-thousand-year Innate Essence, and sixteen-thousand-year Shifting Heaven Ginseng.

Lu Nan advanced to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment and refined a large batch of pills for Wu Wan to sell. After receiving his share of the proceeds, he told her to stop accepting orders because their two-month deadline was nearly over, then invited her to try a formation he had devised.

• Wu Wan delivered the correct medicinal ingredients to Lu Nan, who thanked her with Qi Boosting Pills and told her that their master planned to enter seclusion for a breakthrough.
• A month later, Wu Wan brought Lu Nan orders for several kinds of pills, including Nascent Soul Pills, and explained that the Sect Leader supported their business.
• Lu Nan refined the pills in seven days and reached the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment while improving his alchemy and formation skills.
• Wu Wan sold the pills and returned with ten thousand High-grade Spirit Stones, keeping two thousand and giving Lu Nan the remaining eight thousand.
• Lu Nan told Wu Wan to stop taking orders as their two-month deadline approached, then offered to demonstrate a formation, claiming he could set up a fourth-grade formation under the right conditions.