Chapter Summaries

Chen Sheng used twelve second-grade spiritual objects and the Myriad Origin Spirit Return Technique to enhance his Spirit Roots, then tested his improved aptitude after stabilizing it. He began preparing to raise his Spirit Roots further toward Earth-grade by collecting four more rare spiritual objects, with the Chen Clan Merchant Association already tracking one of them.

• Chen Sheng absorbed the origin spiritual energy of twelve rare treasures and refined it into Spirit Marrow crystals that strengthened his Spirit Roots.
• Chen Sheng stabilized his enhanced Spirit Roots and measured them with a Spirit Testing Formation, finding that four attributes had reached High-grade while his Wood Spiritual Root remained mid-grade.
• Chen Sheng discovered that his affinity for Five Elements Spiritual Energy had improved, allowing him to absorb and control it more easily.
• Chen Sheng stored a Deep Sea Mystic Pearl and Thunder Pattern Dragon Wood obtained from the Sect treasure vault.
• Chen Sheng learned from Chen Xixing that the Chen Clan Merchant Association had found clues to the Purple Lightning Crystal Core, one of four remaining spiritual objects he sought to raise his Spirit Roots toward Earth-grade.

After the Heavenly Bamboo Twin Fiends ambushed Chen Xilong and left him severely injured, Chen Sheng arranged for True Person Cloud Soaring and True Person Heavenly Sword to track down and kill them. The two accepted the task and set out to find the fiends.

• Chen Sheng learned that the Heavenly Bamboo Twin Fiends had ambushed Chen Xilong while he escorted a Purple Lightning Crystal Core, and that his gifts had helped him escape alive.
• Chen Xilong told Chen Xixing how the Twin Fiends trapped him in the Heavenly Net Bamboo Formation, and showed him the crystal core he had managed to save.
• Chen Xixing ordered Chen Xilong to recover at the branch and sent word to Chen Sheng to seek the Twin Fiends' trail.
• Chen Sheng invited True Person Cloud Soaring and True Person Heavenly Sword to hunt the Twin Fiends, offering each one hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones for their help.
• True Person Cloud Soaring agreed to track the fiends, while True Person Heavenly Sword agreed to kill them; both departed with the fiends' identifying information.

Heavenly Sword tracked down and slew the Heavenly Bamboo Twin Fiends in Northern Han Kingdom, ending their brutal occupation of the royal palace. Cloud Soaring delivered their heads to Chen Sheng at Nine Cloud Peak, where the two celebrated the mission’s success before Cloud Soaring departed.

• Heavenly Sword arrived at the Northern Han royal palace and killed the Heavenly Bamboo Twin Fiends with Sword Qi after breaking their weapons and formation.
• Cloud Soaring collected the Twin Fiends’ heads and returned with them to Nine Cloud Peak.
• Chen Sheng inspected the heads and thanked Cloud Soaring and Heavenly Sword for removing his enemies.
• Cloud Soaring recounted Heavenly Sword’s swift victory as he shared wine with Chen Sheng.
• Chen Sheng gave Cloud Soaring Thousand-Year Drunk and Healing Pills, and Cloud Soaring departed.

Chen Xixing publicized the Heavenly Bamboo Twin Fiends’ execution and used the news to promote the Chen Clan Merchant Association’s upcoming auctions. Several years later, Chen Sheng managed Danming Hall’s affairs and practiced the Great Desolation Sky-Tearing Hand, leaving him able to stabilize spatial cracks for three breaths.

• Chen Xixing ordered the Northern Territory branches to spread news of the Heavenly Bamboo Twin Fiends’ execution and announce auctions featuring Grandmaster Weixiang’s Breakthrough Pills.
• Cultivators in Giant Deer Market Town discussed the execution and auction, while rival factions abandoned plans to challenge the Chen Clan.
• Chen Xixing observed the growing interest in the Merchant Association and concluded that the Chen Clan’s prestige and business prospects had improved.
• Several years later, Chen Sheng reviewed Danming Hall’s reports, ordered pill production and material purchases, and left the hall’s remaining affairs to his Deacons.
• Chen Sheng practiced the Great Desolation Sky-Tearing Hand above the Sea of Clouds and stabilized three spatial cracks for three breaths before continuing his training until sunset.

Chen Sheng was summoned to an Inner Sect Assembly, where True Lord Chongxu announced that Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven had opened and the sect would send Golden Core cultivators inside. The assembly outlined token distribution and sect-provided equipment, leaving Chen Sheng aware that the coming competition for Nascent Soul Fruits would be fierce.

• Chen Sheng received an urgent summons and traveled from his cave mansion to Primordial Magnetic Peak Hall, suspecting Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven was about to open.
• True Lord Chongxu announced that the Six Sects could open the grotto-heaven passage with their tokens, while Nascent Soul cultivators would be barred from entering.
• True Lord Chongxu said every Inner Sect Golden Core cultivator would receive a token, with remaining tokens going to outstanding Outer Sect cultivators and rogue cultivators through an auction.
• True Person Canglong asked whether the sect would provide support, and True Lord Chongxu promised protective talismans for Golden Core Perfection cultivators and runes and an Escape Speed Talisman for late Golden Core cultivators.
• Chen Sheng recognized that the sect would reserve its greatest treasures for its strongest cultivators to help them seize Nascent Soul Fruits.

Chen Sheng decided to stay out of the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven and prepare to profit by trading alchemy for materials brought back by explorers. His son Chen Xihua returned to Nine Cloud Peak and resolved to enter the Secret Realm, accepting his father's protective talismans and healing pills.

• Chen Sheng weighed the chance to obtain a Nascent Soul Fruit against the danger and chose not to enter the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven.
• Chen Sheng planned to refine Pills and trade them for valuable spiritual materials brought back by Secret Realm explorers.
• Half a month later, Chen Xihua returned to Nine Cloud Peak at the mid-Golden Core stage, having developed his sword Dao and gained a trace of Sword Intent.
• Chen Sheng told Chen Xihua about the Secret Realm's entry rules and explained that he would stay behind.
• Chen Xihua declared that he would enter the Secret Realm to seek materials for his Flying Sword, and Chen Sheng gave him protective talismans and Golden Jade Soul-Restoring Pills.

Chen Sheng refused True Person Shifang’s invitation to explore the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven and revealed that he had auctioned his sect-issued token, choosing safer paths to pursue advancement. True Lord Chongxu assigned powerful treasures and survival items to the Dao Sect’s expedition teams, then noted Chen Sheng’s steady temperament and potential.

• True Person Shifang invited Chen Sheng to join him in the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven, but Chen Sheng declined because the risks of pursuing a Nascent Soul Fruit outweighed the other rewards.
• Chen Sheng told True Person Shifang that he had auctioned his Ancient Yue Token through the Chen Clan Merchant Association, and Shifang accepted his decision before departing.
• True Lord Chongxu assigned the Talisman Infant to True Person Qianyuan and the Five-Beast Separation Fire Fan to True Person Shipeng for the expedition.
• True Lord Chongxu learned that Chen Sheng had withdrawn from the Grotto-Heaven expedition and added a note praising his steady temperament and alchemical potential.

Chen Sheng profited from the Ancient Yue Token frenzy by auctioning a token and preparing pills to trade for treasures, while Chen Xihua and True Person Shifang joined the Three Origins Dao Sect expedition. The six great sects opened the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven, and the Golden Core cultivators entered as the Nascent Soul True Lords watched.

• Chen Xixing told Chen Sheng that Iron Sword True Person had bought the Ancient Yue Token for 3.2 million Mid-grade Spirit Stones after a fierce auction.
• Chen Sheng explained the demand for tokens and revealed his plan to trade Golden Jade Soul-Restoring Pills for spiritual materials from returning cultivators.
• After six months of token-related violence, the six great sects' flying ships carried Golden Core cultivators toward the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven.
• Chen Xihua and True Person Shifang arrived with the Three Origins Dao Sect expedition as ten Nascent Soul True Lords opened the Grotto-Heaven entrance.
• The True Lords infused the cultivators' tokens with spiritual power, and Chen Xihua and True Person Shifang flew through the gate with the others.

After the Nascent Soul True Lords departed from the Void Gate, Chen Xihua and True Person Shifang arrived at Sword-Washing Lake inside the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven. They recognized Great Yue Sword Peak as a rare opportunity, and as they began climbing, the peak’s sword pressure started refining Chen Xihua’s Sword Intent.

• The True Lords of the six great sects stored their flying ships and departed, leaving the Void Gate behind.
• Chen Xihua and True Person Shifang were transported to the shore of a lake, where Shifang marveled at the rich Spiritual Energy.
• Chen Xihua and Shifang identified the lake as Sword-Washing Lake and the nearby mountains as Great Yue Sword Peak, a sword cultivator’s treasure ground.
• Shifang explained that only the first fifty cultivators could ascend the peak, and Chen Xihua noted its sword insights and nearby Myriad Spirit Stone Milk as valuable opportunities.
• Chen Xihua and Shifang flew to the peak and began climbing, where sword pressure forced Shifang to resist while Chen Xihua absorbed Sword Dao insights and strengthened his Sword Intent.

Chen Sheng successfully refined three Five-Turn Longevity Pills and prepared to make more pills for trading with cultivators exploring the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven. Inside the grotto-heaven, Chen Xihua neared the summit of Great Yue Divine Edge while Yue Wushuang struggled toward the six-thousandth step.

• Chen Sheng used the Four Symbols Fire Array and his secret ingredient-extraction art to refine three high-grade Five-Turn Longevity Pills.
• Chen Sheng considered trading longevity and breakthrough pills for rare ingredients from cultivators returning from the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven, and worried about Chen Xihua and the others amid reports of many deaths.
• Chen Sheng resumed work by preparing to refine top-grade third-grade Breakthrough Pills, intending to build up pills for future exchanges.
• Chen Xihua climbed to within a hundred steps of the summit of Great Yue Divine Edge and formed the beginnings of Sword Intent Manifestation.
• Yue Wushuang climbed the stone staircase roughly five thousand steps behind Chen Xihua, aiming to reach the six-thousandth step for insights into Sword Intent Manifestation.

Chen Xihua reached the summit of Taiyue Divine Peak, where his Sword Heart and Sword Intent were perfected and his Sword Intent Manifestation emerged. After the peak teleported its cultivators away, Chen Xihua arrived in a special space and found a black stone stele that resonated with his Sword Pellet and released profound sword Dao insight.

• True Person Shifang sensed that he was close to forming a Sword Heart, then left for Sword-Grinding Cliff to seek Sword Heart Bamboo.
• Chen Xihua climbed Taiyue Divine Peak for three months, drawing strength from his Sword Pellet as his Sword Heart and Sword Intent advanced to Sword Intent Manifestation.
• Chen Xihua recalled how he had found the Sword Pellet in an abandoned Sword Manor Secret Realm, where it later replaced his Life-Bound Flying Sword and revealed the Myriad Origin Spirit Return Technique.
• Chen Xihua reached the summit, triggering a golden barrier that teleported every cultivator on Taiyue Divine Peak away.
• Yue Wushuang, Liu Chengfeng, a female cultivator from the Western Wasteland Mirage Tower, and True Person Shifang were scattered across distant locations by the spatial force.
• Chen Xihua found a black, rune-carved stone stele in a special space and absorbed its immense sword Dao insight as a Sword Shadow formed behind him.

After comprehending the inheritance, Chen Xihua learned that Taiyue Divine Peak was the sword form of the Great Yue Void Slaying Sword and took control of its restrictions. He gathered its hidden treasures, including nine Nine Origin Spirit Fruits, while the fruit tree began to wither.

• Chen Xihua uncovered the Xichuan Sword Mansion inheritance and learned the connection between Taiyue Divine Peak and the Great Yue Void Slaying Sword.
• Chen Xihua resonated with the summit stele, took control of Taiyue Divine Peak, and teleported to the Five Elements Crystal Essence Grotto.
• Chen Xihua bypassed the grotto’s restriction and collected more than a thousand drops of Myriad Spirit Stone Milk.
• Chen Xihua used his control of the Divine Peak to retrieve Primordial Chaos Thunder Crystals from a spatial rift and Ice Soul Sword Marrow from the Cold Crystal Cave.
• Chen Xihua harvested all nine ripe Nine Origin Spirit Fruits, and the fruit tree began to wither.

Chen Xihua concealed his gains at Taiyue Divine Peak until every other cultivator had left the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven, then claimed the peak’s sword form and reunited it with the sword core. He left the Secret Realm carrying its treasures, the complete Great Yue Void Slaying Sword, and the Xichuan Sword Mansion inheritance.

• Chen Xihua gathered rare treasures and planned to use some to help his father and pursue the Xichuan Sword Mansion inheritance.
• Chen Xihua manipulated Taiyue Divine Peak’s restrictions to make it appear on the verge of collapse, discouraging arriving cultivators from investigating.
• As the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven closed, Chen Xihua held back the teleportation force until every other cultivator had left.
• Chen Xihua resonated with Taiyue Divine Peak, revealed its true form as a colossal sword, and absorbed its scattered spirit materials.
• Chen Xihua shrank the sword into the Void Slaying Qingfeng longsword and fused it with the Void Sword Pellet in his Dantian.
• Chen Xihua released control of the remaining restrictions and allowed the teleportation force to carry him out of the Grotto-Heaven.

Chen Sheng received news that True Person Shifang had died in the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven, while Chen Xihua survived its closure and the Nascent Soul Fruits were claimed by the sects and Mirage Tower. Afterward, Chen Sheng and Chen Xixing used the surge of spiritual materials and prepared pills to acquire rare resources for the Chen Clan, including the Thick Earth Origin Crystal needed for Chen Sheng’s Dao path.

• Chen Sheng demonstrated that his Great Desolation Sky-Tearing Hand had reached minor mastery, then learned from True Person Shifang’s eldest disciple that Shifang’s Soul Jade had shattered and offered his condolences.
• After the Grotto-Heaven closed, Chen Sheng saw that Chen Xihua’s Soul Jade remained intact, and news emerged that the six great Nascent Soul Sects had each secured one Nascent Soul Fruit while the Mirage Tower disciple took the seventh.
• Chen Xixing reported that spiritual materials were flooding the markets and that the Chen Clan had begun trading its prepared pills for them; Chen Sheng ordered him to prioritize the materials on his list.
• At auctions across the Yue Kingdom, Chen Xixing coordinated Chen Clan bidders and secured the Thick Earth Origin Crystal for four hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones.
• Chen Xixing received reports that Chen Clan members had acquired more than ten high-grade spiritual materials, including Heaven-Burning Grass, as their gains from the expedition exceeded expectations.

Chen Sheng completed the materials needed to cultivate the second layer of the Myriad Origin Spirit Return Technique, then welcomed Chen Xihua back from the Ancient Yue Grotto-Heaven. Chen Xihua offered him Myriad Spirit Stone Milk, but learned that True Person Shifang had died in the Grotto-Heaven.

• Chen Sheng received word that Chen Xixing had successfully bid for the Thick Earth Origin Crystal, completing the materials needed for his cultivation.
• Chen Sheng learned that Chen Xihua had returned to the Three Origins Dao Sect and opened the array for him.
• Chen Xihua presented Chen Sheng with three drops of Myriad Spirit Stone Milk, explaining that he had obtained them when Taiyue Divine Peak's restrictions fell into disorder.
• Chen Xihua told Chen Sheng that True Person Shifang had been on the verge of comprehending Sword Heart and Sword Intent.
• Chen Sheng told Chen Xihua that True Person Shifang's Soul Jade had shattered after he fought another cultivator over spiritual materials, and both had died.

Chen Sheng fused six spiritual origins into his Spirit Roots, advancing all five elemental roots to Earth-grade. After congratulating his father, Chen Xihua announced he would leave the Dao Sect to travel and cultivate beyond the scrutiny of its Nascent Soul experts.

• Chen Sheng refined six spiritual objects into Spirit Marrows and fused them into his Spirit Roots over months of cultivation.
• Chen Sheng tested his aptitude and confirmed that all five elemental Spirit Roots had reached Earth-grade.
• Chen Xihua sensed his father's breakthrough and congratulated Chen Sheng when he emerged from seclusion.
• Chen Xihua explained that he planned to leave the Dao Sect and travel while concealing the powerful inheritance and treasures he had gained.
• Chen Sheng accepted his son's decision and urged him to put safety first as Chen Xihua departed into the Sea of Clouds.

After twelve years, three Three Origins Dao Sect cultivators became Nascent Soul True Lords, while Chen Sheng broke through to the late Golden Core stage. He ended the chapter reflecting on his unusually strong Spiritual Sense and his rapidly advancing Qi Refining cultivation.

• True Person Qianyuan, True Person Canglong, and True Person Yunfu each survived their Heavenly Lightning Tribulations and became Nascent Soul True Lords.
• True Lord Chongxu celebrated the Dao Sect gaining three new True Lords, including Yunfu's breakthrough as a Rune Branch cultivator.
• Chen Sheng swallowed his Scarlet Flame Barrier-Breaking Pill and used it with his cultivation method to shatter the barrier into the late Golden Core stage.
• After several months of stabilizing his breakthrough, Chen Sheng extended his Spiritual Sense ninety-seven li and examined the five lit stars in his Sea of Consciousness Formation Foundation.
• Chen Sheng recognized that his Earth-grade Spirit Root had accelerated his Qi Refining progress, allowing him to reach the late Golden Core stage in half the expected time.

After breaking through to the late Golden Core stage, Chen Sheng reviewed the Chen Clan’s Spirit Root testing results and reassured Chen Xilong that poor Spirit Roots did not decide a cultivator’s limits. He asked Chen Xilong to send exceptional young disciples to Nine Cloud Peak so he could personally nurture them.

• Chen Sheng arrived at the ancestral hall after breaking through to the late Golden Core stage, and Chen Xilong congratulated him.
• Chen Xilong gave Chen Sheng the Jade Book recording this year’s Spirit Root testing results and explained that he had presided while the eldest brother was away.
• Chen Sheng reviewed the results, which showed many disciples with no or Low-grade Spiritual Roots, about three hundred with Mid-grade Spiritual Roots, fewer than fifty with High-grade Spiritual Roots, and none with Earth-grade Spiritual Roots.
• Chen Xilong described the extra teaching and resources arranged for talented children with Mid-grade Spiritual Roots, and Chen Sheng approved of the family’s efforts.
• Chen Sheng instructed Chen Xilong to send exceptionally talented or steadfast children to Nine Cloud Peak for his personal guidance, and Chen Xilong vowed to find them.

Chen Sheng celebrated his birthday as cultivators from across Three Origins Immortal City and distant regions gathered to honor his power and reputation. The banquet showcased the Chen Clan’s strength, while Chen Xixing and the clan’s second generation paid their respects before distinguished guests.

• Golden Core cultivators from many sects arrived at Yunlan Mountain to celebrate Chen Sheng’s birthday, while False Core guests watched from outside the Ancestral Hall.
• Rogue Cultivator Golden Cores praised Grandmaster Weixiang’s pill-making and recounted how even an elder of Purple Cloud Sect had waited days to request a pill.
• True Person Golden Buddha and Giant Elephant saw that even powerful cultivators lacked access to the inner hall, so Golden Buddha abandoned his plan to discuss trade shares.
• Chen Xixing led the Chen Clan Second Generation in offering birthday wishes to Chen Sheng, and the chapter noted that he had recently reached early Golden Core after decades of cultivation.
• Chen Sheng welcomed his descendants and received praise from True Person Huayu for the Chen Clan’s many talented heirs.

After his birthday banquet, Chen Sheng inspected the gifts and discovered that Chen Xihua had given him three rare spiritual treasures and a secret art. The gifts could help him improve his aptitude and prepare for reaching the Nascent Soul realm, while the secret art could conceal his aura and Spirit Root.

• Chen Sheng examined the guests’ gifts and decided to move Golden Core cultivators who had offered valuable presents up the waiting list for Pills.
• Chen Sheng opened gifts from Chen Xixing and Chen Xilong, finding Sword-Nourishing Wood and soul-calming incense among the useful offerings.
• Chen Sheng opened Chen Xihua’s restricted Jade Box and found a Primordial Chaos Thunder Crystal, a Nine Origin Spirit Fruit, and a Jade slip containing a secret art.
• Chen Sheng realized that the three spiritual treasures, combined with Myriad Spirit Stone Milk and the Myriad Origin Spirit Return Technique, could raise his aptitude to a Heaven-grade Spiritual Root and improve his chances of condensing a Nascent Soul.
• Chen Sheng learned the Void Qi Concealment Technique and understood that Chen Xihua had left it to protect him from those who might covet his Spirit Root and treasures.