Chapter Summaries

A veiled young woman won the five-thousand-year-old Golden Grass after driving its price to 130,000 spirit stones, then slipped away. Elder Feng revealed the Golden Body Art as the final auction treasure, and bidding erupted until a newcomer declared it his for 400,000 spirit stones.

• A veiled Foundation Establishment Early Stage woman outbid the old man for the Golden Grass, offering 130,000 spirit stones.
• The woman went to the rear hall to pay for the herb and then disappeared from the great hall.
• Elder Feng introduced the Golden Body Art, explained its extraordinary toughness and extreme difficulty to master, and set its starting price at 200,000 spirit stones.
• Several Core Formation cultivators raised the price above 300,000 spirit stones.
• A newcomer entered the hall, announced that the Golden Body Art was his for 400,000 spirit stones, and silenced the crowd.

Zhuge Qingyun claimed the Golden Body Art at the trading convention, and Qin Fengming left with his newly acquired treasure fragment. In a hidden cave, he discovered that his four Primal Bowl fragments resonated with one another but repelled any attempt to join them.

• Zhuge Qingyun offered four hundred thousand spirit stones for the Golden Body Art, and no one dared to outbid him.
• Elder Feng awarded the Golden Body Art to Zhuge Qingyun, who left the hall with his two Core Formation guards.
• Qin Fengming departed the convention and flew toward Manghuang Mountain, stopping at a concealed cave to rest.
• Qin Fengming brought out all four Primal Bowl fragments, which emitted dark radiance and buzzing sounds in response to one another.
• Qin Fengming tried to fit the fragments together but found that their broken edges repelled each other.

Qin Fengming examined the Primal Bowl fragments and learned how Venerable Beidou had lost the treasure, then rested in his cave. He discovered Zhuge Yu pursuing the veiled woman from the three-race exchange and flew to intervene.

• Qin Fengming found that four Primal Bowl fragments could fit together, but the fifth repelled them, so he stored the pieces and set aside thoughts of repairing the treasure.
• Qin Fengming recalled how Venerable Beidou had obtained the Primal Bowl and how True Lord Bixia shattered it when Venerable Beidou could not wield its full power.
• The little red beast alerted Qin Fengming to two approaching figures, and he recognized the veiled woman who had taken the five-thousand-year-old spirit herb and Zhuge Yu pursuing her.
• Zhuge Yu intercepted the woman and threatened her, while she refused to go with him and warned that someone would avenge her.
• Qin Fengming sensed that the woman’s Core Formation companions were not nearby, changed his appearance, and flew toward her to help.

Qin Fengming ambushed and badly injured the Ghost Sect’s Young Master, but two mid Core Formation cultivators arrived before he could finish him. Pretending to be terrified, Qin Fengming lured one pursuer close and launched three bolts of white lightning at him.

• Qin Fengming confronted the Ghost Sect’s Young Master and attacked him with hundreds of Fireball Talismans, knocking him into the forest.
• A powerful voice warned Qin Fengming to stop, and two identical mid Core Formation cultivators arrived to rescue the Young Master.
• One cultivator ordered his companion to capture Qin Fengming alive while the woman stood paralyzed with fear.
• Qin Fengming feigned terror as the second Core Formation cultivator approached to seal his magic power.
• Qin Fengming revealed his cunning and sent three streaks of white lightning at the cultivator, who countered by releasing a huge black blade.

Qin Fengming killed a Core Formation cultivator with a carefully planned Sun-Shooting Talisman attack, rescued the woman, and fled from the dead man’s brother. He drew the pursuer into the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams Formation and activated it, leaving the two facing off inside the barrier.

• Qin Fengming used three Sun-Shooting Talismans to knock aside the old man’s life-bound treasure and strike his dantian, killing him.
• Qin Fengming sealed the woman’s magical power, caught her, and fled into the mountain forest.
• The surviving Core Formation old man discovered his brother’s death and pursued Qin Fengming underground with the Young Master of the Ghostly Nether Sect.
• Qin Fengming stopped fleeing and confronted the old man, who sent a giant skeleton puppet to attack him.
• Qin Fengming activated the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams Formation, trapping the old man inside its restrictive barrier.

Qin Fengming used the increasingly powerful Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams Formation to trap a mid Core Formation elder, destroy his skeleton treasure with lightning, and force him to rely on a second treasure. The chapter ended as the formation’s many attacks battered the umbrella canopy shielding the elder and the Young Master of the Ghostly Nether Sect.

• The Core Formation elder entered Qin Fengming’s yellow-sand formation and found that it blocked his vision and stopped his steel whip from advancing.
• Qin Fengming activated the formation’s black clouds and sonic thunder, which shattered the elder’s skeleton magic treasure.
• The Core Formation elder summoned a gigantic umbrella canopy that withstood the lightning, and Qin Fengming recognized it as a Wood attribute treasure.
• The formation sent blades of wind, rocks, trees, swords, ice pillars, and fireballs at the elder, who used the umbrella canopy to shield himself and the Young Master of the Ghostly Nether Sect.
• Hundreds of attacks struck the umbrella canopy and made it rock violently.

Qin Fengming entered the formation and used two talismans to kill the trapped Core Formation elder. The Young Master of the Ghostly Nether Sect survived and awoke, while the beautiful woman remained outside the formation.

• Qin Fengming released the woman from her Restrictive Spell, apologized for restraining her, and asked her to stand aside.
• The Core Formation elder's attempts to escape the formation failed as its lightning destroyed his magic treasures.
• Qin Fengming entered the formation and deliberately stopped its attacks, leading the elder to believe its spirit stones had run out.
• As the elder fled beneath his umbrella, Qin Fengming's two white talisman lights pierced him and struck the Young Master of the Ghostly Nether Sect.
• The Young Master of the Ghostly Nether Sect groaned and asked where he was.

Qin Fengming killed Young Master Zhuge of the Ghostly Nether Sect despite his warning that his father would learn of his death. The Sect Master received the death image and saw Qin Fengming strike the fatal blow.

• The Young Master of the Ghostly Nether Sect awoke beside the dead Core Formation cultivator and realized Qin Fengming had killed both of his protectors.
• The Young Master warned Qin Fengming that his father would learn of his death through a Restrictive Spell and promised not to pursue him if released.
• Qin Fengming pretended to consider letting the Young Master go, then killed him with a red spirit weapon.
• An ash-gray light escaped the Young Master's body and carried an image of his death to the Ghostly Nether Sect's main altar.
• The Sect Master of the Ghostly Nether Sect examined the shattered life tablet and saw the image of Qin Fengming killing his son.

Qin Fengming killed the Ghostly Nether Sect's Young Master and two Core Formation cultivators, then fled with the stunning young woman he had rescued. The sect launched a massive search and bounty, while Qin Fengming changed his appearance and headed elsewhere, still uneasy about being discovered.

• The Ghostly Nether Sect Master learned that his son had attended the Three Clans Trade Fair and ordered the sect to hunt down his killer and question the Pei, Feng, and Wu Houses.
• Qin Fengming burned the bodies, collected the treasures and formation flags, and escaped with the stunning young woman aboard the White Swift Boat.
• The Ghostly Nether Sect announced the Young Master Yu's death, issued a huge bounty, and circulated Qin Fengming's portrait among nearby cultivators.
• Qin Fengming urged the young woman to leave and keep the incident secret, then refused to give her his name before they parted ways.
• Qin Fengming changed his appearance, concealed his cultivation, and burned his clothes as he traveled in a different direction, wary that the Ghostly Nether Sect might see through his disguise.

Qin Fengming disguised himself and went to a Marketplace to learn how much the Ghost Nether Sect knew about the Third Young Master’s death. In the auction hall, he heard that the sect had announced details of the killing and offered a rich bounty for his capture.

• Qin Fengming traveled to a nearby Marketplace, rested in hiding, and entered it disguised as an old man.
• Qin Fengming sat in the auction hall and listened as cultivators discussed spirit herbs and an upcoming trade.
• Bao returned from the Three Clans Trade Fair and told the gathered cultivators that the Third Young Master of the Ghost Nether Sect had been slain.
• Bao relayed the sect’s claim that a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator had used a red flying-needle spirit tool and a powerful formation to kill the Third Young Master and two Core Formation cultivators.
• Bao described the Ghost Nether Sect’s bounty and urged the cultivators to search in groups, while Qin Fengming listened without revealing himself.

Qin Fengming learned that the Ghostly Nether Sect’s portrait showed only his assumed appearance, then traveled toward Manghuang Mountain to seek entry. After arriving in its mountain range, he heard a battle nearby and went to investigate.

• Qin Fengming copied the Ghostly Nether Sect’s portrait from the cultivator surnamed Bao and confirmed that it showed his disguised appearance.
• Qin Fengming left the Marketplace and traveled toward Manghuang Mountain, encountering Foundation Establishment cultivators but no Core Formation cultivators along the way.
• Qin Fengming reached Manghuang Mountain’s range and rested in a concealed spot, preparing himself to seek entry.
• Qin Fengming sensed three Foundation Establishment cultivators fighting nearby and flew toward them under concealment.

Qin Fengming found Yuan Shihai fighting the Wen brothers over two rare refining materials and intervened before Yuan could self-detonate. He sent two Grade 4 spirit beasts after the fleeing brothers and reassured Yuan, who thanked him for saving his life.

• Qin Fengming concealed himself near the battlefield and learned that the Wen brothers were trying to seize Yuan Shihai's two ancestral refining materials.
• Yuan Shihai refused to hand over the materials and prepared to self-detonate rather than let the brothers take them.
• Qin Fengming appeared, recognized the Wen brothers' betrayal, and ordered them to surrender or face him.
• The Wen brothers fled, and Qin Fengming sent two Grade 4 spirit beasts to chase them.
• Qin Fengming reassured Yuan Shihai that he meant him no harm, and Yuan thanked him for intervening.

Qin Fengming rescued Yuan Shihai from the Wen brothers and learned how Manghuang Mountain’s skill Grand Competition selected new disciples. Yuan Shihai offered Qin his rare weapon-refinement materials, but Qin clarified that he did not want them, leaving Yuan relieved.

• Qin Fengming met Yuan Shihai after driving off the two Wen brothers and heard how they had tried to rob him.
• Yuan Shihai explained Manghuang Mountain’s admission requirements and the skill Grand Competition for cultivators with special crafts.
• Yuan Shihai said the Wen brothers had coveted his rare materials because contestants in the weapon-refinement trial could substitute their own materials.
• Qin Fengming considered whether to enter Manghuang Mountain with his token or compete in the trial.
• Yuan Shihai offered Qin the two materials, but Qin denied wanting them, and Yuan put his fears aside.

Qin Fengming discussed Manghuang Mountain’s upcoming skill Grand Competition with Yuan Shihai, then agreed to travel with him to wait near its gates. They reached the towering jade archway, and Yuan Shihai led him toward the temporary residences outside the gates.

• Yuan Shihai asked Qin Fengming which skill branch he planned to join, and Qin Fengming said he had studied several skills but would decide after arriving.
• Qin Fengming summoned his spirit beasts and gave Yuan Shihai the captured cultivator surnamed Wen to deal with; Yuan Shihai killed him and searched his corpse.
• Yuan Shihai explained that Manghuang Mountain held its skill Grand Competition every ten years and that this year’s event would begin in a little over a month.
• Yuan Shihai told Qin Fengming that cultivators could rent temporary Cave Abodes near the gates, and Qin Fengming agreed to wait there with him.
• Qin Fengming and Yuan Shihai flew to Manghuang Mountain and reached its jade archway, where Yuan Shihai directed him toward the temporary residences outside the gates.

Qin Fengming followed Yuan Shihai to Manghuang Mountain and settled into a temporary cave abode ahead of the skill competition. He then examined the spoils from the cultivators he had slain, finding numerous treasures and several powerful magical treasures.

• Yuan Shihai led Qin Fengming to the Hall of Waiting Virtuous and obtained a cave abode token for him.
• Yuan Shihai showed Qin Fengming to cave abode 683 and left him to rest until Manghuang Mountain summoned them for the competition.
• Qin Fengming entered the cave abode and activated its restrictive barrier, then decided to study his texts instead of cultivating while he waited.
• Qin Fengming brought out the storage rings and Spirit Beast Pouches taken from slain cultivators and sorted their contents.
• Qin Fengming found several magical treasures among the spoils, including Venerable Red Demon's disciple's shield, a split short blade, and treasures belonging to the Ghostly Nether Sect's Young Master.

Qin Fengming studied the Golden Body Art and learned that its powerful body-refining and breakthrough benefits came with nearly impossible cultivation requirements. After days of rest in his temporary cave abode, he recovered fully and prepared to move on.

• Qin Fengming sorted the magic treasures, spirit artifacts, books, and jade slips he had obtained, then examined the Golden Body Art.
• Qin Fengming learned that the Golden Body Art could strengthen the body and improve the odds of breaking through major cultivation bottlenecks.
• Qin Fengming discovered that the art required abundant spiritual power alongside an inability to absorb the Five Elements, making it exceptionally difficult to cultivate.
• Qin Fengming set aside the jade slip after a day of reflection and stopped dwelling on an art he could not readily study.
• Qin Fengming spent more than twenty days meditating in his temporary cave abode, feeding his spirit beasts and spirit insects diluted mysterious liquid until he had fully recovered.

Qin Fengming joined the Foundation Establishment cultivators gathering at Manghuang Mountain’s gate for its once-every-ten-years skill Grand Competition. After explaining why he needed the sect’s protection and resources, he followed the crowd inside at Jiang Qize’s invitation.

• Qin Fengming heard the bells and drums summoning Rogue Cultivators and left his temporary Cave Abode.
• Yuan Shihai met Qin Fengming, and they flew together toward Manghuang Mountain’s gate with the other cultivators.
• Qin Fengming observed the gathered Foundation Establishment cultivators and reflected that joining Manghuang Mountain could strengthen his cultivation and combat abilities while protecting him from powerful enemies.
• Nearly two thousand cultivators gathered at the gate as the bells and drums stopped at noon.
• Jiang Qize introduced himself as the External Affairs Hall steward and invited the assembled cultivators to enter Manghuang Mountain for the skill Grand Competition.

Elder surnamed Jiang led Qin Fengming and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators through Manghuang Mountain’s hidden formation into its inner grounds. There, Shu Jingliang explained the grand competition’s rules and warned that participants who failed or damaged materials would face penalties.

• Elder surnamed Jiang opened a passage through Manghuang Mountain’s powerful Restrictive Spell formation and led the cultivators inside.
• Qin Fengming and the others crossed the formation and entered Manghuang Mountain’s scenic inner grounds.
• Elder surnamed Jiang warned the group to stay together as they flew past the inner mountain’s dangerous Restrictive Spells.
• The cultivators arrived at a plaza before the main hall, where Qin Fengming recognized three Nascent Soul cultivators among the elders.
• Shu Jingliang introduced himself and the other presiding hall masters, then announced the competition’s categories, two-month time limit, and rules for joining Manghuang Mountain.

Qin Fengming learned that he could enter multiple skill competitions at Manghuang Mountain and passed the cultivator eligibility test. His astonishing cultivation speed drew attention from the elders, and he settled into a room to prepare for the two-month competition period.

• Elder surnamed Shu explained that contestants could enter multiple competitions, replace one prepared material with their own, and would receive tokens and maps after passing the age and cultivation test.
• Qin Fengming entered the hall for testing after Yuan Shihai, and a Core Formation elder was shocked by his youthful appearance and peak Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• Qin Fengming said he had cultivated for nearly forty years, drawing the attention of the gathered contestants and the three Nascent Soul cultivators.
• The Core Formation elder gave Qin Fengming a jade token and map slip without testing his bone age, and Qin Fengming entered his assigned room and activated its restrictions to meditate.

Qin Fengming went to Manghuang Mountain’s artifact-refinement competition, confident in his skill, and arrived at the volcanic site where it would be held. After the participants drew their order numbers from their jade tokens, he discovered that he had been assigned number one.

• Qin Fengming chose to enter the artifact-refinement competition and traveled south to the volcanic site marked on his map jade slip.
• Qin Fengming reached the magma lake and found hundreds of cultivators gathered outside a cave, including Yuan Shihai.
• A Manghuang Mountain cultivator announced that one hundred participants could enter the artifact-refinement rooms at a time and that their jade tokens would reveal their order.
• Qin Fengming activated his jade token and saw that he had drawn the number one, leaving him puzzled about how Manghuang Mountain had assigned the order.