Chapter Summaries

Ji An learned more about the Five Elements Sect Ruins and secured permission to obtain a Foundation Replenishing Pill for Wei Songnian. Meanwhile, Yun Nianrong survived her Golden Core tribulation and prepared to carry out the Profound Yin Sacred Cult’s plan.

• Ji An discussed the Crimson Gold Carp and the Five Elements Sect Ruins with True Lord Yuxiao and True Lord Zhengyang, learning that the ruins held a complete Five Elements Cycle Scripture but were guarded by demonic cultivators and powerful enemies.
• Ji An asked to exchange for a Foundation Replenishing Pill for Wei Songnian, and True Lord Zhengyang approved an exception because the Wei Clan had gifted Ji An a Soul Nurturing Wood.
• Ji An returned to Crimson Flame Peak, asked Feng Xing to invite Wei Songnian, and told Xuening to prepare a feast for his old friend.
• Yun Nianrong endured a fierce lightning tribulation, formed a blood-colored core, and advanced to the Golden Core Stage.
• The gray-robed Sect Master congratulated Yun Nianrong and told her that her advancement meant they could carry out their plan.

The Sect Master revealed that the Profound Yin Sacred Cult planned to seize Harmony Peak as a public cover and build power in Western Continent, while Yun Nianrong became its Vice Sect Master. Ji An hosted his aging friends at Crimson Flame Peak, where Wei Baiyang became his third disciple and Wei Songnian received a promised Foundation Replenishing Pill.

• The gray-robed Sect Master told Yun Nianrong that Demonic Cultivators had been created to fight the True Demon Tribulation and were later persecuted, then explained his plan to use Harmony Peak as the Sacred Cult’s cover.
• The Sect Master appointed Yun Nianrong Vice Sect Master and promised to teach her the Demonic Puppet Method.
• Wei Songnian arrived at Crimson Flame Peak with Yin Qiuyun and their son Wei Baiyang, and Ji An welcomed him alongside Liang Qiu and Huang Feihu.
• Ji An hosted the old friends with spirit wine and food, and the group reminisced about their younger days before touring Crimson Flame Peak the next morning.
• Liang Qiu left to establish his own clan, while Ji An accepted Wei Baiyang as his third disciple and gave Wei Songnian a Foundation Replenishing Pill.

Ji An trained Wei Baiyang as his disciple and supported the Wei Clan with a promise of Foundation Replenishing Pills. Ten years later, Ji An learned that Lin Jiuxiao was about to attempt a Golden Core breakthrough, while Ji An’s Gourd World continued cultivating powerful spiritual plants.

• Ji An welcomed Wei Baiyang as his disciple, chose cultivation arts for him, and promised support toward the Origin Seeking realm.
• Wei Songnian revealed to Yin Qiuyun that Ji An had promised the Wei Clan two Foundation Replenishing Pills and urged her to take the first.
• Ten years later, Wei Baiyang had reached the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment, and Ji An learned that Lin Jiuxiao would attempt a breakthrough at Sunrise Peak in three days.
• Ji An told his disciples to observe Lin Jiuxiao’s breakthrough, hoping to learn whether the Stone Turtle could absorb Dao resonance from another cultivator’s tribulation.
• Ji An harvested high-grade Second-tier Fire Coral and used its powder to improve the soil of the Gourd World.
• Ji An inspected the Gourd World and found that its Spirit Vein had reached high-grade Second-tier, greatly accelerating the growth of its spiritual plants.

Ji An tended the growing treasures and spirit fields in his small world, then learned that Lin Jiuxiao had advanced to the Golden Core Stage and absorbed the Dao Rhyme from his breakthrough. The small world's Spirit Vein did not improve, leaving Ji An to seek rare top-grade second-tier spirit soil and hope Lin Qiubai advanced soon.

• Ji An nourished the small world's plants and spirit fields, where the Spirit Devouring Insects had completed their third metamorphosis and many spirit plants had reached second-tier grades.
• Ji An checked his arts and cultivated for three days before taking the Stone Turtle to Sunrise Peak to absorb Dao Rhyme.
• True Lord Zhengyang told Ji An that the Star Tree was transforming toward the third grade, and Ji An requested a share of the Green Lotus Heart-Burning Fire's Seed of Fire when it matured.
• Lin Jiuxiao passed his thunder tribulation, tempered his spirit artifact into a Natal Magic Treasure, and became a Golden Core cultivator whom Ji An and the other Senior Brothers welcomed.
• The Stone Turtle absorbed the Dao Rhyme from Lin Jiuxiao's breakthrough, but Ji An found that the small world's Spirit Vein had not improved and needed rare top-grade second-tier spirit soil to advance it.

Ji An refined Dao Resonance to upgrade the Gourd World, discovering that its Spirit Vein and Gathering Origin Tree had reached higher grades. Meanwhile, Falling Maple Valley’s leaders discussed how to contain the Golden Spirit Sect’s growing strength and whether to reform their own sect.

• After Lin Qiubai broke through to Golden Core, Ji An refined his Dao Resonance and upgraded the Gourd World.
• Ji An found the Spirit Vein had improved and the Gathering Origin Tree had become a mid-grade Second-tier spirit tree, expanding the small world to about one hundred and fifty mu.
• Ji An planted Pearl Blood Rice and other spirit crops, using farming spells to nourish the expanded fields.
• At Falling Maple Valley, True Lord Huoyun and his junior brothers discussed the Golden Spirit Sect’s rise and the threat it posed to the balance among Western Continent’s sects.
• True Lord Chongxuan proposed secretly joining Harmony Peak, restricting the Golden Spirit Sect’s access to markets and pills, and investing more in disciples with Golden Core potential.
• True Lord Huoyun considered adopting reforms like the Golden Spirit Sect’s, while True Person Huayang warned that redistributing benefits would bring resistance.

Limitless Hall celebrated the sect’s growing strength as Li Haoran returned and prepared to form a Golden Core through the perilous Sword Cultivator method. He survived the lightning tribulations, leaving the sect’s Golden Core ceremony and the consequences of its rising power ahead.

• True Lord Zhengyang and the other ancestors discussed the sect’s growing Spirit Veins and arranged Lin Qiubai’s Golden Core ceremony.
• Li Haoran returned and revealed that he had completed the final step needed to form a Golden Core with Sword Essence.
• True Lord Zhengyang approved Li Haoran’s plan to attempt the breakthrough, gave him a Golden Core Pill, and arranged for him and Lin Qiubai to hold their ceremonies together.
• Ji An asked True Lord Zhengyang to settle his merit accounts and requested notice of the Spirit Vein’s advancement and Li Haoran’s breakthrough.
• Li Haoran faced successive lightning tribulations by sending a torrent of sword intent against them, and the tribulation clouds dispersed after the Chaos Thunder Tribulation vanished.

After Li Haoran completed his breakthrough, the sect’s six Golden Core cultivators gathered to address the strain their stipends and pill needs placed on its reserves. They agreed to reduce pill allotments, but left the meeting with no settled long-term solution as Ji An volunteered to train as an Alchemist.

• Li Haoran returned to Sunrise Peak with his life-bound sword transformed into a Natal Magic Treasure, and True Lord Zhengyang invited him to a meeting about the sect’s future.
• Ji An absorbed the Dao Resonance from Li Haoran’s breakthrough and refined it to raise the grade of his small world.
• At Limitless Hall, True Lord Zhengyang explained that the sect could not afford the stipends and Golden Core pills required for its six True Persons.
• The Golden Core cultivators unanimously supported reducing their medicinal pill allotments from one every five years to one every ten years.
• Lin Qiubai proposed hunting Golden Core demonic beasts, but True Lord Yuxiao warned that more powerful beasts might be controlling them; Ji An then suggested training Alchemists and volunteered to try.

Ji An helped the Golden Spirit Sect plan overseas footholds and later found a Crimson Gold Carp in the magma beneath Crimson Flame Peak. He brought the unconscious fish and its twelve eggs into the Gourd World, where they could become new residents.

• Ji An volunteered to refine pills for the sect, and the leaders agreed on plans to establish and staff footholds in other regions.
• Three years later, the sect had established Red Rock Immortal City and Rongman Immortal City, and Zhu Xiangrong visited Master Gu Tai with Gu Hongming.
• Master Gu Tai told Gu Hongming to remember the Gu Clan’s secret formula and suggested he offer it to Ji An after reaching the Chaoyuan Stage.
• Ji An harvested mature Fire Coral plants and searched the magma beneath Crimson Flame Peak for spiritual treasures.
• Ji An spotted and stunned a Crimson Gold Carp, then discovered it carried twelve eggs.
• Ji An sealed the cave passage and placed the unconscious Crimson Gold Carp in the Gourd World’s magma abyss.

Ji An tested the Seal Spirit Art on the Green Deer, then approved Zhang Xuening’s plan to attempt Foundation Establishment. After half a year of cultivation in his small world, he prepared for Crimson Flame Peak’s imminent advancement to Grade 3 and invited the sect’s Golden Core cultivators to visit.

• Ji An used the Seal Spirit Art to bind the Green Deer’s Demonic Power for about ten hours, confirming the spell’s usefulness despite its short range.
• Zhang Xuening told Ji An she wanted to risk a Foundation Establishment attempt, and he gave her permission and urged her not to turn back once she decided.
• Ji An entered the small world, found the Crimson Gold Carp had recovered and adapted to the lava lake, then cultivated beneath the Gathering Origin Tree.
• Half a year later, Ji An sent Golden Message Swords to the sect’s Golden Core cultivators and Jia Yu, inviting them to Crimson Flame Peak ahead of its expected Grade 3 advancement.
• Ji An ordered preparations for the visiting True Persons, and Zhang Xuening asked permission to invite Xia Yulian and Xia Yuhan to help host them.

True Lord Zhengyang and True Lord Yuxiao visited Ji An at Crimson Flame Peak, where he showed them its wealth of rare Spirit Plants and revealed his plan to leave for Central Continent. Seven days later, Crimson Flame Peak erupted as its second Grade 3 Spirit Vein node was about to form, and cultivators rushed to gather the treasures cast up by the lava.

• True Lord Zhengyang, True Lord Yuxiao, and Jia Yu teleported to Crimson Flame Peak and met Ji An, who welcomed them on a tour of his cultivation ground.
• Ji An showed the visitors the Soul Nurturing Wood and other abundant Spirit Plants, and privately told True Lord Zhengyang that he intended to travel through Central Continent and leave Crimson Flame Peak to the sect.
• True Lord Zhengyang agreed that the sect would compensate Ji An for taking over the resources, while Ji An continued showing the group Crimson Flame Peak’s rare plants and developing treasures.
• Seven days later, the Stone Turtle left Ji An’s body, and Crimson Flame Peak erupted with lava, ash, and surging spiritual energy as its second Grade 3 node began to form.
• Li Haoran hurried away to search for third-tier Metal Element Spiritual Items, while True Lord Yuxiao explained to True Lord Zhengyang why cultivators enjoyed gathering treasures during eruptions.

After Crimson Flame Peak’s eruption yielded more Grade 3 Spiritual Items, Ji An used the gathered Dao Resonance to nurture the Gourd World and discovered that its Gathering Origin Tree had grown to high-grade second-tier. The next day, he joined True Lord Zhengyang in exploring the volcano’s magma passages but refused to search deeper without a clear reward.

• Jia Yu organized the collection of eruption resources, and the disciples found eight Grade 3 Spiritual Items, including Leaving Fire Crystals containing Phoenix Stone.
• Ji An checked the Stone Turtle’s gains and used all the Dao Resonance to nurture the Gourd World, where the Gathering Origin Tree had grown markedly.
• Ji An suspected that the tree’s rapid growth came from absorbing Dao Resonance and resolved to test whether he could use it to raise a single spiritual plant’s grade.
• True Lord Zhengyang took Ji An into the volcano, where they found passages beneath the magma lake but could explore them only briefly.
• True Lord Zhengyang hinted that the passages might contain Grade 3 Spiritual Items, but Ji An refused to search further without knowing what reward awaited.

Ji An discovered that the Spiritual Peach Tree on Crimson Flame Peak was advancing to the third grade, and he and the True Lords discussed how third-grade spiritual land enabled spirit plants to break through. The sect leaders then investigated the possibility of a buried depleted high-grade Spirit Vein beneath the peak, and True Lord Yuxiao descended into the lava lake with a Fire Repelling Pearl.

• Ji An found the Spiritual Peach Tree transforming and sent Golden Message Swords summoning True Lord Zhengyang and True Lord Yuxiao.
• True Lord Zhengyang and True Lord Yuxiao examined the tree, and Ji An theorized that third-grade Spirit Vein nodes contained energy required for spirit plants to reach the third grade.
• True Lord Yuxiao said Cloud Crane Mountain's Spirit Vein might reach the third grade within half a year, potentially allowing the Azure Mist Pine to advance.
• True Lord Zhengyang proposed that Crimson Flame Peak's eruptions indicated a depleted low-grade third-tier Spirit Vein lay buried beneath the earth.
• True Lord Yuxiao activated a powerful Fire Repelling Pearl and entered the lava lake to explore, carrying five-thousand-year Stone Marrow to restore his mana.

Ji An and the Golden Core cultivators confirmed that an exhausted Spirit Vein lay beneath Crimson Flame Peak, but the dangers and lack of stone milk made mining it impractical for now. Three months later, Ji An harvested the mature Green Lotus Heart-Burning Fire, prepared two Seeds of Fire for preservation, and began refining the third; its spirituality had yet to rekindle.

• True Lord Yuxiao explored the magma lake and confirmed the exhausted Spirit Vein, but reported that reaching it required better protection and consumed too much spiritual power.
• True Lord Zhengyang explored the passage himself and agreed that the sect would need a third-tier high-grade magic treasure and more stone milk before attempting to collect its spiritual items.
• Three months later, Ji An found that the Green Lotus Heart-Burning Fire had matured and brought its lotus pod to True Lord Zhengyang.
• Ji An divided the spirit fire into three Seeds of Fire, sealed two in Top-Grade Azure Dragon Wood for preservation, and discussed Han Yan as a future recipient of one seed.
• Ji An swallowed the remaining Seed of Fire and guided it beside his Primordial Life Fire to begin refining it, then waited for its spirituality to rekindle.

True Lord Zhengyang responded to Harmony Peak sealing its gates by cautiously expanding the sect’s influence, while Ji An refined the Green Lotus Heart-Burning Fire and prepared to begin making Foundation Replenishing Pills. Ji An then struck a research agreement with Han Yan, who was preparing to travel and study Five Elements mutual generation.

• Zhang Zizhao told True Lord Zhengyang that Harmony Peak had recruited new disciples and sealed its mountain gates, and Zhengyang ordered the sect to expand into local markets without going too far.
• Ji An completed the refinement of the Green Lotus Heart-Burning Fire, which the Stone Turtle strengthened with Pure Spiritual Qi.
• Ji An exchanged spirit herbs for two sets of Foundation Replenishing Pill materials and obtained the pill formula from Jia Yu, who said he would soon retire from Treasure Pavilion and be succeeded by Yue Yunlong.
• Jia Yu told Ji An that Han Yan had completed her Five Elements Divine Mansion and planned to travel and gain experience.
• Ji An gave Han Yan Bodhi Fruits, Soul Incense, tea, and a Bing Fire Divine Thunder Talisman in exchange for her guidance in refining Foundation Replenishing Pills and her research into improving the Bodhi Fruits.

Ji An learned Han Yan’s pill-processing techniques and began refining Foundation Replenishing Pills, suffering several failures before producing a premium-grade pill. He started refining the next batch with Han Yan impressed by his talent.

• Han Yan swore a Great Dao Oath and received five years’ worth of top-grade spirit tea and Bodhi Fruits from Ji An as advance payment for her research.
• Han Yan taught Ji An how to process medicinal materials and refine Foundation Replenishing Pills while he prepared the Fire Crane Sun Furnace.
• Ji An extracted the essences from all twelve medicinal ingredients, then failed to produce a usable pill in his first three attempts.
• After lunch, Ji An resumed refining and produced a premium-grade Foundation Replenishing Pill with three pill patterns.
• Ji An cleaned the pill furnace and began refining the second batch.

Ji An fulfilled his promise to the late Wei Clan Head by giving Yin Qiuyun a premium Foundation Replenishing Pill and sending Wei Baiyang and Han Shan to pay their respects. Two years later, news arrived that the Spirit Vein at Cloud Crane Mountain was about to advance, and Ji An sent them there to witness its manifestation.

• Han Yan praised Ji An’s pill-refining success, discussed her planned travels, and accepted Purifying Spirit Talismans from him.
• Ji An learned that Wei Clan Head had died, gave Yin Qiuyun a premium Foundation Replenishing Pill, and arranged for Wei Baiyang and Han Shan to attend the funeral at Minor Bamboo Mountain.
• Wei Clan Head’s death prompted Ji An to reflect on mortality, cultivation, and the possibility of immortality.
• Two years later, Feng Xing found a ripe Blood Soul Profound Origin Fruit, and Ji An rewarded him and Zhang Xuening after receiving good news.
• Ji An visited Lin Lan and instructed her to tell Han Shan and Baiyang that the Spirit Vein at Cloud Crane Mountain was about to advance.

Ji An witnessed Cloud Crane Mountain’s Yin Spirit Vein rise to Third-grade, then used the Stone Turtle’s Dao Rhyme to raise the Gathering Origin Tree to supreme grade and improve the Gourd World. He left the small world with its Spirit Vein still below Third-grade, planning to advance it further.

• Lin Lan learned from Ji An that Cloud Crane Mountain’s Yin Spirit Vein would rise in grade because of its connection to the Yang Spirit Vein, and she prepared for the Department of Agriculture’s increased workload.
• The sect’s northern region was sealed before the Spirit Vein advanced, causing a six-hour upheaval that damaged some Spirit Fields and gave Ji An insight into Yin and Yang power.
• True Lord Zhengyang assigned Zhang Zizhao and the Labor-Study Hall to survey the enlarged Spirit Fields and update the mountain-protecting grand formation, while Zhang revealed that Liu Mingli would replace him after the task.
• Ji An found that Cloud Crane Mountain had yielded a different balance of Dao Rhyme than he expected, then spent more than forty points to raise the Gathering Origin Tree to supreme grade.
• Ji An used the remaining Dao Rhyme to improve the Gourd World, found that its spiritual-energy density had increased without advancing its Spirit Vein, and inspected his growing spirit plants.

Ji An inspected his small world and discovered that Pearl Blood Rice had advanced to mid-grade Second-tier, then spent fifteen years cultivating as Falling Maple Valley struggled with the Golden Spirit Sect’s growing influence. As the sects considered their next moves, True Lord Yuxiao invited Ji An to a Central Continent auction, where his considerable stock of spirit wood made him wealthier than he claimed.

• Ji An tended the Spirit Fields, found that Pearl Blood Rice grains from the still-unripened plants had become mid-grade Second-tier, and returned to cultivate beneath the Gathering Origin Tree.
• Fifteen years later, True Lord Huoyun and the other Falling Maple Valley leaders discussed declining pill sales and the threat posed by the Golden Spirit Sect’s expansion.
• True Person Huayang proposed sharing information about the Golden Spirit Sect with Central Continent factions, but True Lord Chongxuan warned that the plan could provoke suspicion and conflict.
• True Lord Yuxiao told Ji An that the Central Continent Merchant Airship had arrived and invited him to attend a Golden Core cultivator auction in half a month.
• When Ji An said he lacked the resources to bid, True Lord Yuxiao pointed out that his Azure Dragon Wood stock made him one of the sect’s wealthiest members.

Ji An learned that the sect was preparing a major trade with Central Continent cultivators to obtain pills and Golden Core inheritances, then discovered the small world had advanced and planted new Spirit Plants there. A month later, True Lord Yuxiao led the sect’s Golden Core cultivators to Azure Cloud Immortal City for an auction and exchange gathering.

• True Lord Yuxiao cut three side branches from the Purple Gold Wutong Wood as Ji An discussed the sect’s preparations to trade resources for pills and Golden Core cultivation inheritances.
• Ji An found that the Gourd Stone would not let him enter the small world, cultivated until his divine-soul fatigue eased, then entered and discovered its Spirit Vein had advanced and its area had expanded to about two hundred mu.
• Ji An planted Mystic Leaf Sword Bamboo, Vajra Bodhi Trees, Azure Wave Spirit Mist Trees, Cloud Top Jade Trees, Nethermoon Azure Jade Trees, Blazing Fire Immortal Apricots, and Pearl Blood Rice in the small world.
• At a gathering on Sunrise Peak, Li Haoran said he wanted the Golden Core-level Heavenly River Sword Art, while Lin Qiubai explained that he had chosen the same art and converted his mana to its Sword Essence.
• True Lord Yuxiao departed with the sect’s Golden Core cultivators for Azure Cloud Immortal City to attend the Central Continent auction and exchange gathering.

Ji An joined the Golden Spirit Sect’s delegation at an auction in Azure Cloud Immortal City, where the sect bought medicinal pills and other inheritances. The auction ended without Golden Core Pills, leaving True Lord Yuxiao and True Lord Chongxuan to challenge the Merchant Alliance’s explanation that none were available.

• True Lord Yuxiao led the Golden Spirit Sect cultivators to Azure Cloud Immortal City, and Ji An studied the Stone Turtle’s status and a Third Order talisman inheritance while waiting for the auction.
• At the auction, True Lord Yuxiao told Ji An that the sect had bought the Golden Core-level portion of the Heavenly River Sword Art, several other inheritances, and two ancient pill formulas.
• True Lady Huayun opened the auction with a Soul Stirring Bell, which a Central Continent cultivator bought for nineteen hundred High-grade Spirit Stones.
• True Lord Yuxiao outbid True Lord Chongxuan for Spirit Resonance Essence Tempering Pills, securing the three bottles for three thousand High-grade Spirit Stones.
• After the exchange meeting, True Lord Yuxiao and True Lord Chongxuan questioned True Lady Huayun about the missing Golden Core Pills, and she said the Merchant Alliance had not refined enough; she privately revealed that the alliance had canceled its planned sale after receiving news.