Chapter Summaries

Qin Fengming proposed using Manghuang Mountain’s craftsmen and low-cost services to win the support of cultivators across the Yuanfeng Empire and deter Shashen Sect. Sima Bo approved Qin Fengming’s plan for dealing with Blood Demon Ancestor and welcomed him to discuss a letter from Shashen Sect’s sect master.

• Qin Fengming proposed that Manghuang Mountain advertise its crafting services and offer rare treasures at reduced prices to attract sects and Rogue Cultivators.
• Sima Bo praised Qin Fengming’s insight and asked how to resolve the immediate problem posed by Blood Demon Ancestor.
• Qin Fengming outlined a way to make Blood Demon Ancestor and his companions leave Manghuang Mountain, and the five Great Cultivators decided to follow his plan.
• Sima Bo told Qin Fengming to accompany him when meeting Blood Demon Ancestor, while Qin Fengming felt uneasy about facing the Shashen Sect Great Cultivator again.
• Sima Bo welcomed Shu Jingliang, Blood Demon Ancestor, and four accompanying cultivators into his Cave Abode.
• Blood Demon Ancestor delivered a jade slip containing a handwritten letter from Shashen Sect’s Sect Master Ye, and Sima Bo read it before destroying the slip.

The Blood Demon Ancestor told Sima Bo that Manghuang Mountain had been assigned to the Baleful Intent Sect’s region and was expected to obey its commands ahead of the Three Realms War. Sima Bo then received dozens of sect representatives, whose elder Xun Ming began to explain their reason for gathering.

• The Blood Demon Ancestor revealed that the Yuanfeng Empire’s Integration stage cultivators had divided the realm into nine regions under major powers, placing Manghuang Mountain under the Baleful Intent Sect.
• Qin Fengming learned that Hong Yan and Chen Li were alive and had advanced to the Integration realm.
• Sima Bo received a voice-transmitting talisman from Venerable Dao Ling, who had brought several dozen fellow Daoists seeking to discuss an important matter.
• Sima Bo invited the representatives into his Cave Abode, where they greeted him and took their seats without speaking to the Blood Demon Ancestor and his companions.
• Xun Ming, an elder of Imperial Sword Sect, began explaining why the gathered sect representatives had come.

Xun Ming and representatives from dozens of sects asked Manghuang Mountain to refine pills and magic treasures to prepare for the coming Three Realms War. Sima Bo said the Integration stage seniors had assigned Manghuang Mountain to the Baleful Intent Sect’s region, prompting the visitors to challenge that arrangement and leaving Blood Demon Ancestor’s plans in jeopardy.

• Xun Ming told Sima Bo that the sects wanted Manghuang Mountain to make pills and magic treasures for cultivators preparing to fight in the Three Realms War.
• Sima Bo explained that the Integration stage seniors had divided the Yuanfeng Empire into nine regions and assigned each one to an Integration stage cultivator.
• The visiting sect representatives objected to Manghuang Mountain being placed under the Baleful Intent Sect and proposed asking the super sects to make it independent.
• Blood Demon Ancestor warned the visitors not to challenge the Integration seniors’ decision, but Xun Ming argued that their proposal would strengthen the war effort.
• Qin Fengming watched the exchange and found Xun Ming’s fearlessness toward Blood Demon Ancestor baffling.

Xun Ming invoked the Imperial Sword Sect’s strength while opposing the Blood Demon Ancestor’s claim over Manghuang Mountain. Sima Bo delayed giving a final answer and welcomed Jin Qing and representatives from many sects, whose arrival revealed that the cave was already crowded with sect envoys.

• Xun Ming told the Blood Demon Ancestor that other sects could challenge the decision to place Manghuang Mountain under the Baleful God Sect’s authority.
• The Blood Demon Ancestor pressed Sima Bo for a definite answer, but Sima Bo proposed consulting Senior Cold Brake first.
• A voice transmission announced that Jin Qing, Master Zhuang Daoqin, and representatives from the Tianxuan Sect and other sects had arrived, so Sima Bo went out to receive them.
• Sima Bo led the new arrivals into the cave, where Jin Qing and the others were startled to find it filled with representatives attending the Master-Apprenticeship Ceremony.

Jin Qing arrived with representatives of orthodox sects to ask Manghuang Mountain to refine treasures and pills, but Sima Bo hesitated because of the recent decision concerning the nine regions. Jin Qing challenged the plan to place Manghuang Mountain under the Baleful Intent Sect, and the Blood Demon Ancestor left after warning Sima Bo to consider the matter carefully.

• Jin Qing arrived with cultivators from first-rate sects and exchanged guarded greetings with the Blood Demon Ancestor.
• Sima Bo asked Jin Qing why the visiting sects had come, and Jin Qing invited Fellow Daoist Sun of the Wuji Sect to explain their request.
• Fellow Daoist Sun asked Manghuang Mountain to refine magic treasures and medicinal pills for the gathered sects.
• Sima Bo said he could not agree easily because the request involved a decision by several Fusion-stage seniors about the nine regions.
• Jin Qing argued that treating Manghuang Mountain as an ordinary sect under the Baleful Intent Sect would weaken its role in the Yuanfeng Empire's Cultivation World.
• The Blood Demon Ancestor warned Sima Bo that he would report the matter to his Supreme Elder, then left with the four Devil Dao cultivators.

After the Blood Demon Ancestor left, Sima Bo and the gathered cultivators discussed how to protect Manghuang Mountain from the Baleful Intent God Sect’s jurisdiction. Sima Bo revealed a plan to seek Senior Chen Li’s command over the mountain, leaving Jin Qing reassured that the proposal might succeed.

• Sima Bo opened the Cave Dwelling Restriction and thanked the cultivators who had helped resolve the Baleful Intent God Sect’s attempt to control Manghuang Mountain.
• Xun Ming and Jin Qing warned that the sect could still make moves against Manghuang Mountain and discussed petitioning the Integration stage seniors to change its jurisdiction.
• Jin Qing privately asked Sima Bo whether Manghuang Mountain had a countermeasure, and Sima Bo said it might persuade seniors from the Hidden Cloud Sect and the Brahma Sound Temple to change sides.
• Sima Bo told Jin Qing that Manghuang Mountain knew where to find a Wood Crystal Stone sought by Senior Xiao Ling and a high-level flood dragon soul needed by Senior Chen Li.
• Sima Bo proposed having Senior Chen Li command Manghuang Mountain instead of seeking complete independence, and Jin Qing recognized that this could protect the mountain from the Baleful Intent God Sect.

Sima Bo and the other Great Cultivators thwarted Blood Demon Ancestor’s attempt to claim Manghuang Mountain, with Qin Fengming’s warning about Integration stage cultivators helping them respond. After becoming the five Masters’ Direct Disciple, Qin Fengming arranged to spend five years studying their skills and classics, beginning with artifact refinement.

• Jin Qing accepted Sima Bo’s countermeasure and left to inform Sect Master Wang about renegotiating Manghuang Mountain’s status.
• Wei Ming and Ancestor Tianji joined Sima Bo and the others, who credited Qin Fengming’s foresight with helping send Blood Demon Ancestor back empty-handed.
• Sima Bo asked Qin Fengming about his plans for cultivation, and Qin Fengming proposed studying under the five Masters for five years while consolidating his realm.
• The five Masters agreed to teach Qin Fengming for one year each and provide the spiritual herbs and pills he needed.
• Sima Bo told Qin Fengming to remain in his Cave Abode for the next year and study artifact refinement.

Qin Fengming spent nearly a year studying Sima Bo’s artifact-refining collection and received seven days of personal discussion with his master, while the Three Realms War prompted major changes across the Yuanfeng Empire. He left the chamber with copied texts and a deepened theoretical understanding, unaware that Sima Bo believed he had to suffer a grievance for Manghuang Mountain’s safety.

• Sima Bo gave Qin Fengming access to his texts on magic-treasure refining for a year and offered to answer his questions.
• Qin Fengming selected and studied the most useful texts in Sima Bo’s collection, while Nascent Soul cultivators across the Yuanfeng Empire received a summons about the Three Realms War.
• Manghuang Mountain announced that it would open its gates to cultivators across the empire and help them refine what they needed.
• After nine months of study, Qin Fengming met with Sima Bo for seven days and nights, then returned to the chamber to continue studying.
• Sima Bo privately resolved to let Qin Fengming suffer a grievance for Manghuang Mountain’s safety, promising himself he would pass on his legacy if Qin Fengming survived the crisis.
• Qin Fengming copied difficult texts onto jade slips, returned the originals, and left the chamber as his year of study ended.

Qin Fengming met with his five masters after completing a year of studying Artifact Refining and asked to continue reading Zhuang Daoqin’s records before learning another skill. His question about repairing a shattered Spirit Treasure left the masters astonished, and Sima Bo admitted he did not know the answer.

• Qin Fengming reported that he had spent the year studying ancient Artifact Refining texts and had copied some records, but had not personally refined a magic treasure.
• Sima Bo asked Qin Fengming which skill he wanted to learn next, and Qin Fengming requested more time to finish studying the records in Zhuang Daoqin’s Cave Abode.
• Zhuang Daoqin celebrated Qin Fengming’s choice and prepared to take him away to study the Puppet Technique.
• Qin Fengming asked Sima Bo to explain a question about Artifact Refining, then described a record of a senior who had a shattered Spirit Treasure repaired.
• Sima Bo said he had heard the same rumor but had never found out how the Spirit Treasure was repaired.

Qin Fengming learned that his masters could not explain how true Spirit Treasures were repaired, but Sima Bo gave him an ancient text about refining imitation Spirit Treasures. Sima Bo then introduced the Two Elements Furnace and entrusted it to Qin Fengming, leaving him astonished by its abilities.

• Qin Fengming asked his masters about repairing Spirit Treasures, and Sima Bo explained that true Spirit Treasures were beyond the reach of Human Realm cultivators.
• Sima Bo offered Qin Fengming an ancient scroll containing a senior's insights into refining imitation Spirit Treasures.
• Qin Fengming copied the scroll onto a jade slip, learned that he could study ancient-script books in Shulu Hall, and returned the original to Sima Bo.
• As Zhuang Daoqin prepared to leave with Qin Fengming, Sima Bo presented the Two Elements Furnace and explained that it weakened the repulsion between opposing materials during refinement.

Qin Fengming received the Two Elements Furnace and spent nearly a year studying the Puppet Technique under Zhuang Daoqin’s guidance. As his apprenticeship ended, Zhuang Daoqin gave him a mid Core Formation stage puppet, while another master dismissed its usefulness against his talismans.

• Qin Fengming accepted the Two Elements Furnace from Sima Bo and left with Zhuang Daoqin.
• Zhuang Daoqin gave Qin Fengming more than a hundred classics, scrolls, and jade slips to study in the original chamber.
• After eleven months of study, Qin Fengming asked Zhuang Daoqin about the Puppet Technique, and Zhuang Daoqin answered his questions.
• Venerable Dao Ling arrived to take his turn as Qin Fengming’s master after the Great Cultivators had drawn lots.
• Zhuang Daoqin gave Qin Fengming a black-robed puppet with mid Core Formation stage cultivation.
• An unidentified speaker claimed the Core Formation puppet was scrap metal compared with his talismans.

Qin Fengming collected puppet-making materials and souls from Zhuang Daoqin before Venerable Dao Ling took him away. Venerable Dao Ling brought him to an Immortal Realm in the mortal world and revealed a Cave Abode.

• Zhuang Daoqin let Qin Fengming choose materials and souls from his chambers for refining puppets.
• Qin Fengming collected large quantities of puppet materials and half of the jade bottles containing souls.
• Venerable Dao Ling mocked Zhuang Daoqin, then grabbed Qin Fengming and flew away with him.
• Zhuang Daoqin watched them leave and reflected on Venerable Dao Ling's standing and Sima Bo's cultivation prospects.
• Venerable Dao Ling brought Qin Fengming to an Immortal Realm in the mortal world and produced a Cave Abode.

Venerable Dao Ling set conditions for Qin Fengming to inherit his talisman-crafting legacy and gave him two high-grade talisman incantations to study. Qin Fengming entered the chambers prepared for him and discovered the Turtle Shell Talisman and Mountain Breaking Talisman, leaving him ready to begin practicing.

• Venerable Dao Ling told Qin Fengming that he would pass on his knowledge if Qin Fengming reached the late Core Formation stage within two hundred years, and explained the requirements for inheriting his legacy.
• Qin Fengming said he would cultivate diligently and asked to begin practicing unfamiliar talismans.
• Venerable Dao Ling gave Qin Fengming two jade slips containing high-grade, early-stage talisman incantations and a token granting access to two chambers.
• Qin Fengming entered the chambers and found more than a hundred Grade 5-6 demon beast hides and a large collection of ancient texts and jade slips.
• Qin Fengming studied the jade slips and identified their incantations as the defensive Turtle Shell Talisman and the offensive Mountain Breaking Talisman.

Qin Fengming studied the Tortoise Shell and Mountain Breaking Talisman incantations and spent nearly a year attempting to refine an advanced-grade talisman. He emerged after the deadline with one successfully refined, astonishing Ancestor Tianji and delighting Venerable Dao Ling.

• Qin Fengming recognized the power and rarity of the two advanced-grade talismans and began studying their incantations.
• As the one-year deadline passed, Ancestor Tianji arrived at Venerable Dao Ling's Cave Abode, but Qin Fengming remained behind the chamber's restrictions.
• Ancestor Tianji and Venerable Dao Ling waited another half-month while Venerable Dao Ling assured him Qin Fengming was safe.
• Qin Fengming emerged looking pale, apologized to both Masters, and revealed that he had refined an advanced-grade talisman.
• Ancestor Tianji confirmed the talisman was genuine, and Venerable Dao Ling asked Qin Fengming to bring it closer for examination.

Qin Fengming astonished Venerable Dao Ling by successfully refining a Tortoise Shell Talisman despite his Foundation Establishment cultivation. After giving Qin Fengming precious demon beast hides for future practice, Venerable Dao Ling bestowed two talismans to protect him on his future travels.

• Venerable Dao Ling praised Qin Fengming for refining the Tortoise Shell Talisman and asked how he had sustained his spiritual power and divine sense.
• Qin Fengming explained that years of artifact refinement and talisman-making had strengthened his divine sense, while pills replenished his spiritual power.
• Qin Fengming apologized for wasting more than a dozen demon beast hides, but Venerable Dao Ling told him to keep all the hides for future talisman practice.
• Ancestor Tianji encouraged Qin Fengming to accept the valuable hides, which he gathered from the cave chamber.
• Venerable Dao Ling gave Qin Fengming a Shape-Shifting Talisman and a Lightning Talisman for protection, and Ancestor Tianji remarked that he had long wanted a Shape-Shifting Talisman.

Qin Fengming learned how rare and powerful the Shape-Shifting Talisman was, then heard his masters discuss the Nine Heavens Soul Falling Array. As Old Ancestor Tianji led him away, Qin Fengming noticed the layout of the Cave Abodes and learned it was part of Manghuang Mountain’s protective formation.

• Master Dao Ling explained that he had crafted only four Shape-Shifting Talismans and had given one to Qin Fengming to protect his life.
• Old Ancestor Tianji lamented that Master Dao Ling had refused to trade a Shape-Shifting Talisman for his modified Nine Heavens Soul Falling Array, and Master Dao Ling clarified that it was only a fraction as powerful as the original.
• Old Ancestor Tianji took Qin Fengming from the Cave Abode, and Master Dao Ling urged Qin Fengming to reach the late Core Formation stage so he could inherit his legacy.
• Qin Fengming noticed that the five Cave Abodes appeared arranged according to the Four Symbols Heavenly Origin Array.
• Old Ancestor Tianji revealed that the five Cave Abodes were key nodes in Manghuang Mountain’s protective grand formation and warned Qin Fengming to keep the secret.

Ancestor Tianji instructed Qin Fengming to focus on small formations and formation talisman inscriptions rather than protective grand formations, then gave him access to texts and materials in his Cave Abode. After studying for most of the year, Qin Fengming organized the collection and returned to seek his master's guidance before the deadline.

• Ancestor Tianji advised Qin Fengming to study small formations and formation talisman inscriptions, and warned him not to disturb the Cave Abode's arrangements.
• Ancestor Tianji gave Qin Fengming a token to control some Restrictive Spells and allowed him to use the classic texts, scrolls, and formation materials in two chambers.
• Qin Fengming spent more than half a year examining the collection and found over a hundred texts on formation talisman inscriptions.
• Qin Fengming studied several inscriptions during the remaining months but decided not to attempt refining a formation.
• With more than a month left before the deadline, Qin Fengming returned the texts to their places and went to ask Ancestor Tianji for guidance.

After more than a year studying formations, Qin Fengming received intensive instruction from Ancestor Tianji, who then gave him an improved version of the Nine Revolutions Cold Ice Array to study. Wen Taihang took Qin Fengming to his own secluded valley, where he would teach him Alchemy Art in place of True Man Wei Ming.

• Ancestor Tianji spent more than twenty days answering Qin Fengming’s questions about formations and Restrictive Spells, and Wen Taihang waited five more days for the instruction to finish.
• Ancestor Tianji praised Qin Fengming’s profound questions and gave him a jade slip containing an improved Nine Revolutions Cold Ice Array.
• Ancestor Tianji told Qin Fengming to study Alchemy Art with Senior Brother Wei Ming for the next year and sent him off.
• Wen Taihang explained that True Man Wei Ming had left Manghuang Mountain on an urgent matter and had entrusted Qin Fengming’s lessons to him.
• Wen Taihang brought Qin Fengming to the secluded valley where he usually cultivated and offered to help him if anything came up.

Qin Fengming began a year of alchemy study under Senior Brother Wen Taihang, reading the classics True Man Wei Ming left for him. After finishing the jade slips, he received hundreds of kinds of spiritual herbs to practice with, including several rare varieties.

• Wen Taihang gave Qin Fengming more than a hundred jade slips of alchemy insights and a restriction token for his cave chamber.
• Qin Fengming devoted himself to studying the jade slips while occasionally tending to his spirit beasts and spirit insects.
• By the tenth month, Qin Fengming had finished reading the jade slips and corrected flaws in his alchemy techniques.
• Wen Taihang answered Qin Fengming's questions and handed him spiritual herbs left by True Man Wei Ming.
• Qin Fengming found several hundred kinds of herbs in the storage ring, including more than a dozen rare varieties, and promised to use them carefully.

As his five-year term on Manghuang Mountain neared its end, Qin Fengming finished studying the alchemy texts True Man Wei Ming had left him and prepared to visit his masters before entering seclusion. He met with Sima Bo and Venerable Dao Ling, who asked what he planned to do next.

• Wen Taihang gave Qin Fengming two pill formulas and, after Qin Fengming said he would visit his masters, presented him with ten golden pills as a parting gift.
• Qin Fengming left Wen Taihang's Cave Abode, wary of the former disciples of the five Great Cultivators and resolved to take precautions once he left Manghuang Mountain.
• Qin Fengming reached Sima Bo's Cave Abode, where Sima Bo and Venerable Dao Ling were already together.
• Qin Fengming told his masters he had finished studying True Man Wei Ming's books and jade slips and would need to practice diligently to improve his Alchemy Art.
• Sima Bo asked Qin Fengming what he planned to do next and offered to help him consider his options.