Chapter Summaries

Ji An visited the General Affairs Hall, exchanged his jade badge after achieving Foundation Establishment, and began arranging his cultivation residence and soul lamp. He chose to inspect several possible residences, including the rented Crimson Flame Peak, before deciding where to settle.

• Ji An posted a recruitment task and received a jar of spiritual tea from Tian Qingbai after discussing tea and cultivation.
• Ji An visited the Labor-Study Hall, where Ye Changqing exchanged his sect jade badge and explained its tracking and emergency-message functions.
• Ye Changqing showed Ji An the Map of Mountains and Rivers and described Crimson Flame Peak, a rented residence with a low-grade second-rank Spirit Vein and unusual golden winds and fierce flames.
• Ji An asked Ye Changqing to recommend more places rich in Wood Element Spiritual Energy and agreed to inspect the options before choosing a residence.
• Ye Changqing took Ji An to the Soul Hall, where Ji An paid respects to the patriarchs and lit his soul lamp with his essence blood and aura.

Ji An collected his Grade B supplies, selected cultivation methods and spells, and traveled to Crimson Flame Peak to inspect its Spirit Vein Node. He decided the volatile site suited him, then left as Chen Xingzhou ordered his people to watch for anyone approaching the array.

• Ye Changqing gave Ji An his Grade B clothing, Azure Spirit Pills, and the sect’s treatment rules, explaining that he had one year before he needed to take a sect task.
• Ji An visited the Skill Distribution Hall, chose the Azure Wood Eternal Spring Art and several spells, and demonstrated his skill with the Sharp Metal Art to the old guardian.
• The old man approved Ji An’s choices, advised him to practice the Golden Armor Art and Sharp Metal Art, and deducted 2,500 Contribution Points for his spell slips.
• Ji An traveled to Crimson Flame Peak and spent the night outside its array, where he found that the surrounding spiritual energies had increased his Stone Turtle’s reserves.
• Ji An judged Crimson Flame Peak a better cultivation site than Condensing Emerald Cliff and departed, while Chen Xingzhou ordered his people to report anyone seen near the array.

Ji An chose Crimson Flame Peak as his cave abode and returned to Azure Water Lake after arranging a medicinal-garden Spirit Farmer. Having established his foundation, he offered Huang Feihu a place as one of his attendants, and Huang Feihu accepted.

• Ji An registered Crimson Flame Peak as his cave abode and learned that the sect would grant him thirty mu of Spirit Fields because of the peak’s harsh spiritual energy.
• Ji An shared spiritual tea with Ye Changqing, who explained how different Spirit Charcoal was used to refine medicinal liquids for alchemy.
• Ji An selected a Spirit Farmer skilled in the Minor Cloud and Rain Art and Thick Earth Art to tend his medicinal garden.
• Ji An returned to Azure Water Lake, checked his spirit plants, and told Huang Feihu that he had established his foundation.
• Ji An offered Huang Feihu a position assisting him, and Huang Feihu eagerly accepted.

Ji An practiced the Azure Wood Life Creation Art and Golden Armor Art, then prepared to leave his herb garden after achieving Foundation Establishment. Zhu Qinghao and Chen Xingyun pressured him to give up Crimson Flame Peak, but Ji An refused to yield the cave abode he wanted.

• Ji An practiced the Azure Wood Life Creation Art and used the Stone Turtle to improve it and the Golden Armor Art.
• Ji An assigned a Spirit Farmer to take over his herb garden and continued cultivating his plants before preparing to leave.
• Zhu Qinghao and Chen Xingyun visited Ji An and offered him Spirit Stones to withdraw his choice of Crimson Flame Peak.
• Chen Xingyun raised his offer to 2,000 Spirit Stones, and Zhu Qinghao warned Ji An that refusing could make him an enemy.
• Ji An rejected their pressure and insisted he would keep Crimson Flame Peak.

Ji An refused Zhu Qinghao and Chen Xingyun’s offer to exchange Crimson Flame Peak, then rapidly mastered two cultivation spells using the Stone Turtle. Chen Xingyun and Chen Xingzhou decided the Chen Clan could not surrender the peak and began planning to kill Ji An, leaving them to monitor him before its next fire-vein eruption.

• Ji An rejected Zhu Qinghao and Chen Xingyun’s offer of up to two thousand Spirit Stones for Crimson Flame Peak, despite their warnings about the coming Demon Catastrophe.
• Ji An used the Stone Turtle to raise the Thick Earth Return Origin Spell to the Perfected Realm and then perfected the Spring Breeze Rain Transformation Art.
• Chen Xingyun told Chen Xingzhou that Ji An had refused to give up the peak, which yielded the Chen Clan valuable spiritual materials during its fire-vein eruptions.
• Chen Xingzhou proposed secretly killing Ji An, and Chen Xingyun warned that they would need a plan that concealed every trace of the attack.
• Chen Xingzhou planned to have the clan raise birds and hawks to watch Ji An until the next Crimson Flame Peak eruption cycle.

Ji An settled plans for his Crimson Flame Peak cave abode, discussed cultivation and spell practice with Ge Ying, and began preparing to transplant his Spiritual Apricot Tree. The chapter ended with Ge Ying advising him to learn the Seal Spirit Art to reduce the damage to spirit plants during transplantation.

• Ji An found flower buds on his Spiritual Apricot Tree and worried that transplanting it would delay its fruiting.
• Ji An reunited with Wei Songnian, invited him to a meal with Liang Qiu, and said he would notify his friends when he moved into Crimson Flame Peak.
• Wei Songnian and Liang Qiu reflected on their different cultivation paths after Ji An left.
• Ji An reported to Ge Ying, discussed his cultivation method and seven chosen Foundation Establishment spells, and accepted her warning to prioritize cultivation.
• Ji An asked Ge Ying about ingredients for Foundation Replenishing Pills and revealed that Crimson Flame Peak had a second-rank low-grade Spirit Vein.
• Ge Ying gave Ji An information about the pill ingredients and advised him to buy the Seal Spirit Art to protect his Spiritual Apricot Tree during transplantation.

After leaving his master, Ji An returned to Condensing Emerald Cliff with the Seal Spirit Art and began planning his cultivation and connections as a newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator. He arranged to attend Li Lingyu’s gathering, learned his consigned magical artifacts remained unsold, and discussed a future Foundation Establishment circle with Zhang Yuanshan amid rumors of a coming Demon Catastrophe.

• Ji An exchanged Contribution Points for the Seal Spirit Art, bought communication talisman swords from Ye Changqing, and forced his reluctant Grey Feather Sand Goose to carry him home.
• Ji An studied the Seal Spirit Art, found its theoretical foundation too difficult, and decided to focus on practicing its formula until he gathered ten Dao Seeds.
• Li Lingyu invited Ji An to a gathering, and Ji An accepted while also asking Zhang Yuanshan about the magical artifacts he had consigned years earlier.
• Zhang Yuanshan replied that the magical artifacts remained unsold, so Ji An planned to retrieve them and sell them in the immortal city.
• Ji An cultivated the Azure Wood Eternal Spring Art and practiced the Sharp Metal Art and Golden Armor Art, resolving to prioritize Metal Element Spells and buy medicinal pills.
• Ji An visited Zhang Yuanshan, discussed Zhao Mengyao and Chu He’s prospects for Foundation Establishment, and proposed a future gathering to discuss cultivation as the Demon Catastrophe approached.

Ji An visited Li Lingyu after achieving Foundation Establishment and celebrated with his fellow disciples over Du Huaiyuan’s spirit wine. Their gathering turned to Liu Yu’s plans for the Three Sects Competition and the sect’s growing concern about Demon Cultivators; it left Ji An considering his own preparation for the competition and the approaching Demon Catastrophe.

• Ji An arrived at Purple Bamboo Mountain, where Li Lingyu congratulated him on achieving Foundation Establishment and explained that their master had given them Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Li Lingyu brought Ji An to her cave abode, where Du Huaiyuan shared spirit wine with their fellow disciples.
• Ji An and the others discussed their cultivation methods, and Liu Yu explained that he had joined the Enforcement Hall to improve his combat skills for the Three Sects Competition.
• Liu Yu said the competition would take place in eighteen years and that the sect would hold its selection in fifteen years.
• Liu Yu warned the group that the Enforcement Hall had captured a Demon Cultivator and was preparing for the Demon Catastrophe.

Ji An discussed preparations for the approaching Demon Catastrophe with Liu Yu and the others, then arranged future trade and mutual support as they settled into their new roles. He planned to move into Crimson Flame Peak, guard against trouble with the Chen Clan, and travel with Li Lingyu to Azure Cloud Immortal City to sell a magic sword.

• Liu Yu, Mu Qingwan, Du Huaiyuan, and Ji An discussed the likely timing and dangers of the Demon Catastrophe and how the sects could use strongholds and independent cultivators to prepare.
• Liu Yu said the sect was cultivating its Spirit Vein toward the third rank, while he and the others viewed the coming conflict as both a danger and an opportunity.
• Ji An explained that he had chosen Crimson Flame Peak for its Spirit Fields and spiritwood, and Liu Yu offered to visit there to purify his spiritual power.
• Du Huaiyuan, Mu Qingwan, and Li Lingyu warned Ji An about Zhu Qinghao and the Chen Clan after hearing of his dispute over the cave dwelling.
• Ji An arranged to buy beast hides and Monster Beast Essence Blood from Liu Yu, while Li Lingyu and Mu Qingwan ordered Spirit Charcoal and other supplies from him; Du Huaiyuan also asked to use a secluded pool for fermenting wine.
• Ji An told Li Lingyu that they would go to Azure Cloud Immortal City in a few days to sell his magic sword and divide the Spirit Stones.

Ji An mastered the Seal Spirit Art, completed his daily cultivation, and traveled with Li Lingyu to Azure Cloud Immortal City to sell goods and buy supplies for his new cave abode and beast companions. He paused his talisman business and left the city equipped for his next stage of cultivation.

• Ji An successfully cast the Seal Spirit Art and confirmed that he could improve it with refined spiritual opportunity, though he lacked the required spirits.
• After half a month of cultivation and farm work, Ji An harvested Talisman Grass and Azure Corn, then notified Li Lingyu that he was ready to travel to Azure Cloud Immortal City.
• Ji An and Li Lingyu sold a Grade 1 High-tier flying sword, bought medicinal materials, and Ji An purchased an Inverted Five Elements Array for his cave abode.
• Ji An and Li Lingyu paused their talisman-shop partnerships, while Pang Mingde recalled his failed attempts to track and ambush Ji An.
• At Treasure Talisman Pavilion, Ji An told Yin Ling Su that he might resume selling talismans later but would likely offer only mid-grade ones.
• Ji An bought a flying shuttle artifact, two Spirit Beast Bags, and a larger Storage Bag from the sect's artifact-refining shop.

Ji An lent Li Lingyu Spirit Stones to support her alchemy practice, then completed the arrangements to move to Crimson Flame Peak. After signing the rental contract, he was left to begin furnishing and managing the unusual, nearly empty mountain.

• Ji An bought eighty Azure Spirit Pills at Precious Pill Workshop and lent Li Lingyu another one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.
• Ji An returned to the sect, gave Huang Feihu one hundred Spirit Stones for supplies, and spent more than a month cultivating and tending spirit plants.
• After Ye Changqing told him the Chen Clan had vacated Crimson Flame Peak, Ji An agreed to move in and resolved to conceal his Metal and Water spells.
• Ji An rode his Spirit Shuttle to Sky Ascension Peak, then accompanied Ye Changqing and several disciples to Crimson Flame Peak.
• Ye Changqing explained the peak's Spirit Fields, cultivation conditions, and rental quotas, and he and Ji An signed the rental contract.
• Ye Changqing collected spirit spring water from the cold pool and departed, leaving Ji An at Crimson Flame Peak.

Ji An established defenses and began preparing Crimson Flame Peak for cultivation, planting trees and arranging help with spirit herbs and fish. He settled in for a demanding routine of nighttime work and cultivation as he prepared to develop the peak.

• Ji An surveyed Crimson Flame Peak, installed an Inverted Five Elements Array, and bought sealing formations to close the Earth Fire openings.
• Ge Ying gave Ji An records on planting and alchemy, and Ji An hired Xiang Yong to tend the Fire Cloud Ginseng in his small courtyard.
• Ji An invited Liang Qiu to raise spirit fish at Crimson Flame Peak, then moved a Spirit Fruit Tree there with Huang Feihu.
• Ji An replanted the Spirit Fruit Tree, sealed the Earth Fire openings, and prepared more than twenty thousand Mysterious Sun Wood cuttings with Huang Feihu.
• Ji An planned to hire disciples to help plant the cuttings and ended the night cultivating the Azure Wood Eternal Spring Art.

Ji An settled into Crimson Flame Peak, inspected his transplanted spirit trees, and tested how the peak’s fierce metal and fire spiritual essences affected cultivation. Huang Feihu recruited local Spirit Farmers for planting and charcoal work, while the chapter ended with plans to reclaim wasteland and expand cultivation.

• Ji An inspected the Spiritual Peach Tree and Spiritual Apricot Tree, then nourished both with the Spring Breeze Rain Transformation Art and Thick Earth Return Origin Spell.
• Ji An and Huang Feihu gathered Purple Sun Wood branches, and Ji An brought Huang Feihu to the cold pool to cultivate in milder conditions.
• Ji An practiced the Sharp Metal Art amid the peak’s fierce spiritual essences and later found that daytime cultivation purified his spiritual power, though the tempering caused pain.
• Huang Feihu learned from Zhang Erniu that Crimson Flame Peak’s Spirit Vein Node made the peak rich in spiritual energy but left the surrounding fields comparatively poor.
• Huang Feihu hired Zhang Erniu and more than twenty local Spirit Farmers to plant saplings and burn Spirit Charcoal, and discussed reclaiming wasteland and planting Talisman Grass.

Ji An managed Crimson Flame Peak’s spirit woods and Talisman Grass while preparing for Zhao Mengyao’s Foundation Establishment Celebration. When Wei Songnian and Liang Qiu arrived to arrange a spirit-fish business, Ji An offered them a large quantity of mid-grade Talisman Paper, raising concerns about how quickly it could be sold.

• Ji An received Zhao Mengyao’s invitation to her Foundation Establishment Celebration and replied that he would attend.
• Ji An’s Spirit Farmers harvested a hundred mu of Talisman Grass, and Huang Feihu told them their payment would come after the talisman paper was sold.
• Wei Songnian and Liang Qiu arrived at Crimson Flame Peak, where Liang Qiu surveyed the cold pool and identified the fish and custom formation needed for raising spirit fish.
• Ji An gave Liang Qiu a jade slip listing the spirit fish required for a sect mission and said he had more than ten thousand sheets of mid-grade Talisman Paper available.
• Ji An offered Wei Songnian twelve thousand sheets of talisman paper and asked whether that much could be sold quickly.

Ji An refined the Stone Turtle’s spiritual energy, advanced his Golden Armor Art, and gained a fourth Dao Seed that strengthened his Geng Metal Dao aptitude. At his delayed Foundation Establishment Celebration, guests discussed the sect’s growing network of wilderness strongholds and the compulsory assignments many cultivators would soon face.

• Ji An agreed to draw Explosive Flame Talismans for Wei Songnian, who expected the talismans to sell quickly as the sect expanded its strongholds.
• Ji An used the Stone Turtle to advance the Golden Armor Art and Sharp Metal Art, gaining the unranked Sharp Edge Revealed Dao Seed hidden in his Taiyuan Acupoint.
• Two months later, Ji An held his Foundation Establishment Celebration at night and welcomed cultivators from his sect and former connections.
• Zhang Yuanshan and Mu Qingwan said they had received compulsory three-year assignments to Redwood Ridge, where Zhang Yuanshan planned to look after Mu Qingwan.
• Liu Yu explained that the sect was establishing more wilderness strongholds and that mountain-protecting formations could protect their residents, while warning that more compulsory assignments were coming.
• Ji An worried that his work as a Talisman Crafter would bring him many compulsory talisman-making assignments, though Liu Yu said Spirit Farmers would not be sent to strongholds.

Ji An expanded Crimson Flame Peak’s pine-nut and spirit-charcoal plans while improving his spells. Meanwhile, Chen Xingzhou and Chen Xingyun conspired to kill him before the Earth Lung Fire Vein erupted.

• Du Huaiyuan explained that he wanted Ji An’s spirit charcoal to improve his cooking, then stored thirty jars of passion fruit wine at Crimson Flame Peak with Liang Qiu’s help.
• Huang Feihu and the Spirit Farmers gathered and roasted Crimson Cloud Pine nuts, and Ji An planned their distribution and the planting of new pine seeds.
• Ji An strengthened the pine seeds with his spells and later used Spiritual Essence to advance the Azure Wood Life Creation Art and Exploding Flame Art.
• Chen Xingzhou urged Chen Xingyun to find a chance to kill Ji An before the Earth Lung Fire Vein erupted and they lost their opportunity.
• Chen Xingyun reported that Ji An rarely left Crimson Flame Peak, and the brothers agreed to target him at the Spirit Fields without leaving evidence against the Chen Clan.

Ji An cultivated, refined his talisman-making, and prepared to expand the work on Crimson Flame Peak before masked cultivators ambushed him and Zhang Erniu. Ji An sent a distress signal and used mist to evade the attackers, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Ji An cultivated on Crimson Flame Peak, nourished his spiritual herbs, and drew Explosive Flame Talismans on paper and Fire Horned Rhinoceros hide.
• Ji An asked Liu Yu to obtain beast hide and discussed hiring helpers and planting Jade Marrow Rice with Liang Qiu and Huang Feihu.
• Half a month later, Ji An sensed danger while tending the fields and saw two flying shuttles approach with masked cultivators aboard.
• Two attackers leaped from the shuttles, and one killed Zhang Erniu as Ji An activated a distress signal.
• Ji An recognized that he faced four Foundation Establishment cultivators, dodged a fireball, and used the Minor Cloud and Rain Art to spread a vast mass of mist.

Ji An used dense fog to thwart an assassination attempt, then helped the Enforcement Hall investigate Zhang Erniu’s death. The attackers were linked to the Chen Clan, but the evidence remained unclear; three months later, Crimson Flame Peak erupted, and lava began flowing down the mountain.

• Ji An filled the area with thick fog, forcing Boss Dong and the other attackers to abandon their ambush and flee.
• Mu Songde searched for clues with Ji An, but the attackers’ scent-concealing powder foiled his spirit beast; he later reported that rogue cultivators had been committing murders nearby.
• Ji An arranged for Zhang Erniu’s ashes to be held for his family and offered to compensate them.
• Chen Xingzhou told Chen Xingyun that the assassination attempt had failed, and the two agreed to lie low while Ji An’s response to Crimson Flame Peak’s eruption remained uncertain.
• Ji An kept watch around Crimson Flame Peak for three peaceful months, then witnessed lava burst from the summit and flow down the mountain.

Ji An discovered that Crimson Flame Peak’s eruptions produced valuable spiritual items and realized the Chen Clan had tried to kill him to protect that wealth. He stayed on the peak for ten years, while Chen Xingzhou and Chen Xingyun waited for a chance to attack and learned that a major sect mission might finally force Ji An to leave.

• Ji An found Crimson Flame Crystal after Crimson Flame Peak erupted, then searched the area with the Spirit Seeking Rat and uncovered many valuable ores and a Leaving Fire Crystal.
• Ji An concluded that the Chen Clan had arranged the attack against him and concealed the peak’s recurring wealth, so he sealed the area and searched it thoroughly with the Spirit Seeking Rat.
• Ji An gave up tending distant Spirit Fields, told Huang Feihu to manage them, and restricted trade and hiring to reduce the risk of exposure.
• Over the next ten years, Ji An remained at Crimson Flame Peak, while Chen Xingzhou and Chen Xingyun failed to find an opportunity to attack him.
• Chen Xingyun said the sect was planning a major mission in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and expected Ji An to be summoned.

After ten years of cultivation, Ji An reached the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment and used accumulated Spiritual Inspiration to perfect several combat spells. While inspecting his thriving spirit fruit trees, he received Ye Changqing, who delivered a sect task requiring more Explosive Flame Talismans and was astonished by Ji An’s breakthrough.

• Ji An advanced to the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment and reviewed the Dao Seeds he had gained from mastering his spells and cultivating spirit plants.
• Ji An refined years of stored Spiritual Inspiration, perfected Golden Light Art, Explosive Fireball, and Mountain Stabilizing Art, and gained the Immovable as a Mountain Dao Seed.
• Ji An tested his strengthened spells and found that his Golden Light Art could attack and defend while his metal and earth defenses could work together.
• Ji An inspected his spirit fruit trees, treating them with spells as the Spiritual Peach Tree reached Grade 1 High-tier and the Spiritual Apricot Tree produced a larger crop.
• Ye Changqing arrived with materials for a sect task requiring Ji An to provide fifty additional Explosive Flame Talismans each month, then realized Ji An had reached the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment.