Chapter Summaries

Emperor Yang Yu ordered the Alchemist Alliance to refine an Earth Origin Supreme Saint Pill, setting a dangerous mission in motion that could draw powerful sect figures to White Jade Capital. Yang Chan arrived at the Alchemist Alliance with Yan Jinfeng and Xu Gaocen, hoping to register quietly for the Alchemist Exchange Meet.

• Emperor Yang Yu announced the royal family's request for the Alchemist Alliance to refine an Earth Origin Supreme Saint Pill and assigned Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen to receive the decree.
• Grand Tutor Yan Hongwen, Imperial Tutor Helian Guang, Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen, and Grand Scholar Peng Kang left Taihe Palace, while Yang Yu remarked that the situation would bring calamity to the sects.
• Yang Chan followed Yan Jinfeng and the others through White Jade Capital and sensed extraordinary cultivation in the calligraphy on the Alchemist Alliance's plaque.
• Yan Jinfeng told Yang Chan, Xu Gaocen, and the others to remain quiet and follow him inside the Alchemist Alliance.
• Xu Gaocen introduced Yang Chan to Steward Ding Tong as a Pharmacist who had come to broaden his horizons, and Yang Chan registered without drawing attention to himself.

Yang Chan attended the Alchemist Exchange Meet registration and watched Princess Lanyue arrive to sign up. After hearing about her alchemy and cultivation, he listened to people speculate about her future marriage and learned more about the White Jade Capital.

• Ding Tong recorded the visiting alchemists and pharmacists for the Alchemist Exchange Meet while Xu Gaocen spoke with him.
• Yang Chan stayed quiet during registration, intending to keep a low profile as he observed the proceedings.
• Princess Lanyue arrived at the Alchemist Alliance, and bystanders praised her as a seventeen-year-old Intermediate Alchemist who could refine Return to Origin Pills.
• An Alliance attendant quickly recorded Princess Lanyue's information, and she left with her imperial guards.
• Yang Chan listened as people speculated that Princess Lanyue might recruit a prince consort, learning more about life in the White Jade Capital.

Yang Chan learned about Princess Lanyue’s alchemy master and the rare transformation beyond Top Alchemist before traveling with the Qingyuan Sect group to Qingyuan Pavilion. On the way, Ji Feng struck a fleeing criminal who used their carriage as a stepping stone, leaving Yang Chan to wonder whether the encounter had been arranged to test their strength.

• Xu Gaocen told Yang Chan that Princess Lanyue was an Intermediate Alchemist and had studied under Xuchuan, the Alchemist Alliance’s vice leader.
• Xu Gaocen explained that no one in the Great Zhou Dynasty was known to have advanced beyond Top Alchemist, a realm said to require a difficult transformation of spirituality.
• Elder Yan finished speaking with his acquaintances, and the group left the Alchemist Alliance for Qingyuan Pavilion.
• The group saw the Six Gates pursuing a fleeing man, and Ji Feng knocked the man down after he tried to use their carriage as a stepping stone.
• The Six Gates seized the wounded man and left, while Yang Chan wondered whether the man’s sudden change of route had been a test of their strength.

Yang Chan and the others arrived at Qingyuan Pavilion in the White Jade Capital, where Elder Yan and Elder Ji Feng took charge of the sect’s Guest Officials. Settled into his room, Yang Chan planned to restore his cultivation routine and tested his newly advanced Stepping Wind Steps.

• Zhang Qiang welcomed Yan Jinfeng, Xu Gaocen, Yang Chan, and the others to Qingyuan Pavilion.
• Zhang Qiang arranged rooms for the group, while Elder Yan and Elder Ji Feng went to meet the Guest Officials.
• Yang Chan settled into a room beside Xu Gaocen’s and planned to use his medicinal materials to resume his usual Potential Points gains.
• Yang Chan recalled that his Stepping Wind Steps had reached Fourth Order: Proficient on the journey, though he had not comprehended Artistic Conception.
• Yang Chan sprang from the bed and landed lightly on the table as he tested his improved Stepping Wind Steps.

Yang Chan tested the improved Fourth Order Stepping Wind Steps, confirming that its speed and quiet movement made it an excellent way to escape. While taking a Dragon Bone Medicinal Bath at Qingyuan Pavilion, he considered the situation in White Jade Capital and hoped to learn from Xu Chuan, a top Alchemist.

• Yang Chan tested the Fourth Order Stepping Wind Steps in his room and found that he could move swiftly and almost silently.
• Yang Chan let the Qingyuan Pavilion waiter fill his bath barrel, then added the Dragon Bone Medicinal Bath ingredients and soaked.
• Yang Chan decided to leave the Six Gates’ probing and White Jade Capital’s affairs to Elder Yan, Elder Ji Feng, and the others.
• Yang Chan thought that watching Princess Lanyue’s master, Xu Chuan, refine medicine could improve his Pharmacist proficiency.

Yang Chan enjoyed White Jade Capital’s specialties in the safety of his quarters while the Supreme Court’s Minister Kou Gui warned the Four Great Divine Constables against targeting sect members. Kou Gui’s intervention left Six Gates silent and signaled that the imperial court would not tolerate further interference with the sects.

• Yang Chan ate a generous meal of White Jade Capital specialties in his room, valuing safety over the chance to overhear restaurant gossip.
• Minister Kou Gui arrived at Six Gates, where the Four Great Divine Constables had gathered to receive him.
• Jin Feihua asked Kou Gui why he had come, and he ordered Six Gates to stop targeting members of the sects.
• Jin Feihua claimed Six Gates had only tested the sects’ strength to protect the capital, but Kou Gui warned that further tricks would bring someone else in his place.
• Kou Gui and the Supreme Court delegation left, while the Six Gates officials remained in a tense silence.

The Six Gates decided to stop independently targeting sects after Minister Kou Gui’s visit, leaving further action to the Supreme Court. In Qingyuan Pavilion, Yang Chan used his new Potential Points to strengthen his cultivation and combat abilities as he prepared for the dangers of the White Jade Capital.

• Jin Feihua ordered the Six Gates constables to resume their assignments, while Tie Zexin objected to the court protecting sects.
• Dongfang Hong and Leng Xiu argued that the Six Gates should halt its campaign against the sects, and Jin Feihua ordered them to act only on instructions from the Supreme Court.
• Jin Feihua reflected that someone had deliberately directed the Six Gates to target sects and worried about the organization’s precarious position.
• Yang Chan checked his gains from medicines and allocated three Potential Points to the Flood Dragon Demon Breath Method, the Sword Master profession, and the Flood Dragon Demon Martial Imprint.
• Yang Chan reviewed his improved abilities and cultivation progress, then went to sleep in Qingyuan Pavilion.

Yang Chan planned to spend his two days before the Alchemist Exchange Meet cultivating in Qingyuan Pavilion, but Cai Kun arrived with Elder Yan’s order for him to visit Ningxiang Tower and meet alchemists from other sects. Yang Chan reluctantly prepared to go, choosing an outfit that would not attract unwanted attention.

• Yang Chan practiced the Purple Qi Body Cultivation Technique and planned to use his Potential Points to improve his strength while waiting for the Alchemist Exchange Meet.
• Cai Kun came to Yang Chan’s room with several disciples and said Elder Yan had arranged for Yang Chan to visit Ningxiang Tower and exchange ideas with other alchemists.
• Yang Chan recalled Zhao Yi’s warning that Elder Yan and the others visited the Twelve Floors whenever they came to White Jade Capital.
• Yang Chan agreed to go and changed into a formal blue brocade robe, then swept his hair back to make his appearance less striking.

Yang Chan accompanied Cai Kun and the others to Ningxiang Tower, where he blended in with a gathering of alchemists and listened to their chatter. The crowd grew excited when Bai Xian'er was announced to be performing a dance, but she had not yet appeared.

• Yang Chan followed Cai Kun and the others into Ningxiang Tower and joined Xu Gaocen among the Intermediate Alchemists.
• Yang Chan kept a low profile, listening to the alchemists while chatting about the capital's famous women.
• The crowd learned that Bai Xian'er would perform a dance and eagerly waited for her to appear.
• Xu Gaocen and the other Intermediate Alchemists stopped talking and watched the stage from the third floor.

Yang Chan watched Bai Xian'er’s dance at Ningxiang Tower and realized that a subtle fragrance there heightened desire and encouraged lavish spending. He left with the Qingyuan Sect group, while Elder Ji Feng’s remark suggested he also knew the fragrance’s effect.

• Bai Xian'er performed a mesmerizing dance accompanied by zither and song, leaving Ningxiang Tower’s guests clamoring for more.
• Yang Chan recognized that Ningxiang Tower’s faint fragrance could intensify desire and deepen guests’ impressions of Bai Xian'er.
• Yang Chan praised Bai Xian'er alongside Xu Gaocen and the other disciples to blend in, then asked whether they were returning to Qingyuan Pavilion.
• Xu Gaocen explained that Elder Yan had warned White Jade Capital was unsafe, and Yang Chan joined the group leaving Ningxiang Tower.
• Elder Yan and Elder Ji Feng noticed Yang Chan’s restraint and reassessed his willpower, while Ji Feng remarked that Ningxiang Tower’s fragrance could stir people’s hearts.

Yang Chan tried to avoid further visits to brothels by telling Elder Yan and Elder Ji Feng he needed to prepare for the Alchemist Exchange Meet. Instead, the elders insisted he join them at Hundred Flowers Tower the next day, leaving him unable to refuse.

• After returning from Ningxiang Tower, Yang Chan bathed, reviewed the evening, and decided to avoid future visits to brothels.
• Yang Chan visited Elder Yan and Elder Ji Feng and asked to spend the next day reading in preparation for the Alchemist Exchange Meet.
• Yan Jinfeng told Yang Chan that cramming was unnecessary and decided he would accompany them to Hundred Flowers Tower.
• Ji Feng backed Yan Jinfeng's decision, sent Yang Chan away, and gave him no chance to refuse.

Yang Chan abandoned his plan to avoid work, cultivated the Flood Dragon Demon Martial Imprint, and slept through the night. At Ningxiang Tower, the Heavenly Fragrance Sect’s Saintess discussed Crown Prince Yang Gan’s ambitions and prepared to use her dance and Heavenly Fragrance Mystique to advance her cultivation.

• Yang Chan regretted choosing the wrong approach with Elder Yan and Ji Feng, then cultivated the Flood Dragon Demon Martial Imprint and went to sleep.
• Granny Rao told the veiled Saintess which sects had visited Ningxiang Tower and reported that Crown Prince Yang Gan had approached the Heavenly Fragrance Sect.
• The veiled Saintess and Granny Rao discussed Yang Gan’s possible bid for power, his dealings with the Wusheng Heresy, and the danger he posed to the sects.
• The Saintess agreed not to interfere in the imperial struggle and heard that her dance and Heavenly Fragrance Mystique would soon make her famous in White Jade Capital.
• The Saintess planned to use Ningxiang Tower to gather human fragrance aura and complete the Human Fragrance Volume.

Bai Xian'er and Granny Rao discussed the Heavenly Fragrance Sect’s cultivation and intelligence operations in White Jade Capital. They chose to keep the sect out of the succession struggle while watching Six Gates, the imperial palace, and the Supreme Sect’s Saintess.

• Bai Xian'er learned that Ningxiang Tower’s selection had identified men with firm wills who might later provide Earth Incense for her cultivation.
• Granny Rao assured Bai Xian'er that the Heavenly Fragrance Sect had planted Moles in Six Gates and would monitor its actions.
• Bai Xian'er decided the sect would expose Six Gates to the imperial family if it threatened their plans, but otherwise stay out of the conflict.
• Granny Rao reported that the imperial palace had yielded no unusual intelligence, and Bai Xian'er ordered the sect’s forces to remain withdrawn while monitoring the situation.
• Bai Xian'er ordered continued observation of pharmacists and the Supreme Sect Saintess staying at Hundred Flowers Tower.

Yang Chan spent the day cultivating and preparing for the Alchemist Exchange Meet before joining Cai Kun and the Qingyuan Sect elders at the Hundred Flowers Tower. There, he sensed a strange spiritual power and secretly cut away a wisp of it with his sword intent, then joined the Pharmacists he had met the day before.

• Yang Chan cultivated the Purple Qi Body Cultivation Technique, practiced martial arts, read the Medicine Codex, and carefully inspected the delicacies delivered to him.
• Yang Chan heard the disciples return from Ningxiang Tower and saw no sign that their overnight visit had affected them.
• Cai Kun came for Yang Chan near sunset, and Yang Chan went with him and the Qingyuan Sect elders to the Hundred Flowers Tower.
• Yang Chan sensed that the Hundred Flowers Tower’s visitors emitted a strange spiritual power and used his sword intent to sever a wisp from himself.
• Yang Chan followed Cai Kun and the others upstairs, greeted the Pharmacists from the previous day, and joined their conversation.

Yang Chan visited the Hundred Flowers Tower with the Pharmacists, where he gathered information about sect hostility toward Six Gates and the danger facing White Jade Capital. He left with the group and returned to Qingyuan Pavilion, where a young maiden was sent to his room.

• Yang Chan blended in with the Pharmacists at the Hundred Flowers Tower while keeping watch on the Senior Alchemists and Internal Refinement Grandmasters.
• Yang Chan overheard that the sects opposed Six Gates and might kill its Divine Constables to prevent them from reaching the Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster realm.
• Yang Chan refused the narcissus girl's invitation and left the Hundred Flowers Tower with Xu Gaocen and the others.
• Yang Chan saw a young maiden sent into Xu Gaocen's room and realized Xu Gaocen had likely known she would be waiting for him.
• Yang Chan had the young maiden sent to his own room so he would not seem out of place among the group.

Yang Chan attended the Alchemist Alliance’s solemn opening rites for the Alchemist Exchange Meet, where Princess Qianyue represented Emperor Yang Yu and the alliance’s powerful leaders and guests gathered. After the meet began, Yang Chan exchanged knowledge with other pharmacists and improved his pharmacist proficiency.

• Emperor Yang Yu sent Princess Qianyue and Sikong Wenwen to oversee the meet while Crown Prince Yang Gan remained in the East Palace.
• Lu Qianfan and Xu Chuan led the alliance’s sacrificial rites, which Yang Chan attended with Yan Jinfeng and the others.
• An Internal Refinement of Five Organs expert announced that the Alchemist Exchange Meet had begun.
• Yang Chan and the pharmacists he knew discussed pill refinement, medicine preparation, and unusual medical cases.
• Yang Chan shared ideas and asked questions during the discussions, and his pharmacist proficiency increased.

At the Alchemist Exchange Meet, Yang Chan gauged the abilities of other pharmacists and reflected on how his Intermediate Alchemist experience compared with his martial cultivation. He followed Yan Jinfeng and Xu Gaocen to listen as Senior Alchemists began sharing their knowledge, and the chapter left them hearing a discussion on refining the Five-Cycle Organ Nourishing Pill.

• Yang Chan exchanged knowledge with pharmacists and used their questions and explanations to assess their abilities, while concealing that his experience already matched an Intermediate Alchemist's.
• Yang Chan considered how the White Jade Capital's many Internal Refinement Grandmasters and Marrow Cleansing Grandmasters made his current cultivation insufficient for living freely in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
• Yang Chan followed Xu Gaocen as they ended their conversation and joined the group gathering around the Senior Alchemists.
• Yan Jinfeng and Xu Gaocen helped Yang Chan blend into the Senior Alchemists' circle so he could learn from their exchange.
• A white-haired Senior Alchemist introduced the Five-Cycle Organ Nourishing Pill and explained its ingredients and the need to control the flame temperature during refinement.

After the first day of the Alchemist Exchange Meet, Yang Chan joined Elder Yan, Xu Gaocen, and other alchemists at Xunfang Tower, where he observed their guarded discussions and played the role of an inconspicuous companion. Back at Qingyuan Pavilion, he took a Dragon Bone Medicinal Bath and had Xiao Yuer massage his temples.

• Elder Yan and several Senior Alchemists led the group of alchemists to Xunfang Tower using the Alchemist Alliance's funds.
• Yang Chan accepted the company of an innocent-looking woman after Alchemist Gao offered to take her instead.
• The alchemists briefly discussed lessons and uncertain information from the Exchange Meet before returning to talk about romance and pleasure.
• Xu Gaocen and the others called Yang Chan to leave, and he returned to Qingyuan Pavilion.
• Yang Chan soaked in a Dragon Bone Medicinal Bath and asked Xiao Yuer to massage his extra-meridian acupoints.

Yang Chan joined Qingyuan Sect’s alchemists at the Alchemist Alliance in White Jade Capital for a four-day pill-refining contest. The competition began with the One-Cycle Viscera Nourishing Pill, and Yang Chan planned to take part without revealing too much of his ability.

• Yang Chan cultivated, recovered his strength, and learned that the contest would award sects cultivation resources according to the quality of their pills.
• Elder Yan and Xu Gaocen joined Yang Chan, and Qingyuan Sect’s delegation entered the Alchemist Alliance while its guards waited outside.
• Yang Chan saw the earthfire courtyard and learned that a Martial Saint of the imperial family had moved the fire there centuries earlier and confined it with formations.
• Yang Chan stood near Luo Zhenming of the Tianshan Sword Sect while Alliance leader Lu Qianfan explained the contest schedule and the days of alchemy demonstrations and awards.
• The Alchemist Alliance gave each contestant two sets of materials for the One-Cycle Viscera Nourishing Pill, and Yang Chan decided he should not fail conspicuously or be the first eliminated.

Yang Chan prepared to refine a One-Cycle Viscera Nourishing Pill at the Alchemist Alliance assessment, carefully calibrating the earthfire and checking his ingredients. As the leaders and Senior Alchemists evaluated the participants, Yang Chan focused on producing a successful pill rather than impressing them with his process.

• Yang Chan adjusted the earthfire until it matched the temperature he normally used for pill refinement and learned how to control its heat.
• Yang Chan inspected the prepared ingredients, discarded several herbs, and replaced them to suit his own proportions and habits.
• Yan Jinfeng and the other Senior Alchemists observed the Pharmacists and had their refining methods scored separately from their finished pills.
• Yang Chan decided that results mattered most because a successful pill enabled further refining, while a failed attempt left a Pharmacist without materials.
• Lu Qianfan and Xu Chuan watched the young Pharmacists and exchanged remarks about those who caught their attention.