Chapter Summaries

Yang Chan agreed to prepare the Great Array of Primordial Sacrifice and use Black Dragon to activate it, while warning him against trying to escape. He then learned that Great Zhou Great Ancestor Yang Sheng had died, leaving Old Emperor Yang Yu to manage the mourning and consolidate his rule.

• Yang Chan read Primordial Soul Sword and considered how condensing a Primordial Sword could strengthen his soul and let him fight powerful opponents.
• Yang Chan questioned Black Dragon about guiding the sacrificial array and whether he intended to send his soul into the Primordial Realm; Black Dragon said his restrictions made escape impossible.
• Yang Chan threatened to use the secret art against Black Dragon if he tried to escape, then decided to arrange the array and have Black Dragon activate it.
• Yang Chan reviewed Han Bingyu's reports and learned that Great Zhou Great Ancestor Yang Sheng had died after returning gravely wounded from the borderlands.
• Old Emperor Yang Yu announced Yang Sheng's death, assumed control after removing the Imperial Prince's authority, and offered benefits to the people and major sects as the nation mourned.

Yang Chan learned that the Great Zhou court was praising the Great Zhou Great Ancestor while concealing the truth about the mass deaths caused by his pursuit of longevity. He chose to focus on strengthening himself and continued his daily cultivation, while Han Bingyu monitored the sects and awaited news from the Han Family.

• Yang Chan reviewed intelligence describing how officials praised the Great Zhou Great Ancestor and disguised the border battlefield's deaths as sacrifices for the nation.
• Yang Chan acknowledged that he lacked the strength and ambition to change the era, and resolved to grow stronger so he could survive future calamities.
• Han Bingyu reported that there was no new information about the sects or the agreement with the Great Zhou Imperial Family, and said she would watch for news from the Han Family.
• Yang Chan continued his cultivation routine, practicing martial arts in the courtyard and tempering his bones with the Tiger Demon Bone Refining Fist.

Yang Chan refined the Spirit Replenishing Organ Nourishing Pill, increasing his daily Potential Point income, then prepared the Great Array of Primordial Sacrifice while monitoring the Golden Meng Empire's collapse. The chapter left him watching for developments abroad and urging Han Bingyu to strengthen her cultivation foundation.

• Yang Chan successfully refined the Spirit Replenishing Organ Nourishing Pill, raising his daily Potential Point income to 11.0, and decided to practice more before attempting the Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill.
• Yang Chan prepared to set up the Great Array of Primordial Sacrifice in the mountain forests along Qingzhou's border, using scarce formation books from the Qingyuan Sect.
• Han Bingyu brought Yang Chan a letter reporting Ouyang Qingtian's advance and the Golden Meng Imperial House's weakening hold over the empire.
• Yang Chan and Han Bingyu estimated that the Golden Meng Empire would fall within months and discussed how its successor might take power.
• Yang Chan told Han Bingyu to keep reporting news from the Golden Meng Empire and advised her to temper her cultivation and strengthen her foundation.

Yang Chan studied the Primordial Soul Sword and questioned the Black Dragon about the conditions for condensing the Primordial Sword. He planned to set up the Great Array of Primordial Sacrifice soon, while remaining wary of the Black Dragon and the disturbance the ritual might cause.

• Han Bingyu assured Yang Chan that she would not neglect her martial cultivation, and Yang Chan let her leave.
• Yang Chan studied the Primordial Soul Sword and reasoned that he needed to condense a Primordial Sword before he could improve it with Potential Points.
• Yang Chan asked the Black Dragon about condensing the Primordial Sword, and the Black Dragon said nighttime and a location near water would improve the chances of success.
• Yang Chan told the Black Dragon to prepare a list of the sacrifice materials and consider how the array would interact with an aura-concealing array.
• The Black Dragon promised to draw forth Primordial Qi in one attempt, while Yang Chan warned him to account for the disturbance and avoid attracting interference.

Yang Chan and the Black Dragon activated the Great Array of Primordial Sacrifice, opening a temporary passage to the Primordial Realm. The Boundary Breaking Gale began to fade, and the Black Dragon spotted the first Primordial Qi as the chapter ended.

• Yang Chan questioned the Black Dragon about array formations before ordering him to activate the Great Array of Primordial Sacrifice.
• The Black Dragon poured his soul aura into the array, which drew spiritual energy from the offerings and formed a pillar of black light.
• The pillar tore open the void, and the Black Dragon told Yang Chan that the sacrificial array had reached the Primordial Realm.
• The Black Dragon identified the icy aura emerging from the breach as Boundary Breaking Gale and said the sacrifice should last about a quarter of an hour.
• As the gale weakened, the Black Dragon spotted Primordial Qi and urged Yang Chan to collect it with the Mysterious Yin Hanging Beads.

Yang Chan condensed his soul body into a Primordial Sword by absorbing Primordial Qi, but a powerful being in the Primordial Realm attacked him. Yang Chan used Position Swap to escape the killing intent by switching places with the Mysterious Yin Hanging Beads.

• Black Dragon explained the properties of Primordial Qi and advised Yang Chan to condense it within the Great Array of Primordial Sacrifice.
• Yang Chan sent out his soul body, shaped it into a longsword, and absorbed Primordial Qi to refine the Primordial Sword.
• A being in the Primordial Realm noticed Yang Chan stealing Primordial Qi and subjected his soul body to an overwhelming killing intent.
• Yang Chan resisted the killing intent by washing it away with Primordial Qi and continued condensing the Primordial Sword.
• As the being sent a killing strike at him, Yang Chan used Position Swap to exchange places with the Mysterious Yin Hanging Beads beside his physical body.

Yang Chan survived a devastating attack from an existence that could not be looked upon directly, salvaged the remaining Primordial Qi, and fled before investigators arrived. The enormous crater drew attention across the Great Zhou Dynasty, prompting Old Emperor Yang Yu to fear that a Dragon Slayer had appeared in Yuzhou.

• Yang Chan used the Mysterious Yin Hanging Beads to shield himself from the attack, then inspected the damaged beads and found the Black Dragon alive but weakened and asleep.
• Yang Chan gathered the remaining Primordial Qi, especially its high-quality strands, concealed all traces of his presence, and left the area.
• Several groups of Yuzhou experts arrived at the crater, suspected a powerful Martial Saint had acted there, and left after finding no treasures.
• Investigators from across the Great Zhou Dynasty came to examine the battlefield, and reports of the disturbance spread through the empire.
• Old Emperor Yang Yu ordered further investigation and checks on travelers, concealed his whereabouts, and worried that Dragon Slayer Ouyang Qingtian had caused the disturbance.

Yang Chan hid near the Qingzhou border until dawn, then returned to Yuanqing Courtyard after ensuring no one had tracked him. There, he inspected his newly condensed Primordial Sword and found that the Primordial Soul Sword had appeared on his techniques panel, ready to be improved with Potential Points.

• Yang Chan traveled through the Changyuan River to wash away bloodstains and conceal his aura, then waited in a forest near the Qingzhou border until dawn.
• Yang Chan cultivated the Purple Qi Body Cultivation Technique at sunrise and reflected on how far he was from truly returning to simplicity.
• Yang Chan continued sending Primordial Qi to Black Dragon and the Mysterious Yin Hanging Beads while Black Dragon remained asleep.
• Yang Chan returned to Yuanqing Courtyard and examined the Primordial Sword, which had fully condensed and gained power from pure Primordial Qi.
• Yang Chan noticed that Primordial Soul Sword (Beginner 10%) had appeared in the techniques section of his panel and could be improved with Potential Points.

After leaving seclusion, Yang Chan reflected on three peaceful months of cultivation that brought him to the peak of Internal Refinement of Five Organs. He chose to continue tempering himself before attempting the Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster breakthrough and planned to seek materials for refining a Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill.

• Yang Chan used a Potential Point to improve the Primordial Soul Sword and then left seclusion, asking a maid to prepare his usual hot bath.
• Over three months at Qingyuan Sect, Yang Chan raised the Flood Dragon Demon Breath Method to Fourth Order: Proficient 100% and reached the peak of Internal Refinement of Five Organs.
• Yang Chan learned from Gu An and Princess Lanyue that a Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pill could aid his breakthrough, but further tempering first would strengthen his foundation.
• Yang Chan decided to keep tempering for about two more months rather than attempt the breakthrough immediately, since he lacked a Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pill and valued the benefits of extreme tempering.
• Yang Chan planned to ask Gu An for materials to attempt refining a Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill when the Great Zhou Imperial Family's compensation arrived.

Yang Chan received news that the Golden Meng Empire had fallen and Ouyang Qingtian had founded the Rising Sun Empire. The chapter ended with Yang Chan reflecting on the rise and fall of dynasties and the martial artists who sought immortality.

• Yang Chan prepared to attempt refining the Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill after improving his alchemy skills and accumulating materials.
• Han Bingyu told Yang Chan that the Golden Meng Empire had fallen.
• Yang Chan read that a traitor within the Golden Meng Imperial House had helped Ouyang Qingtian destroy its treasure, after which Ouyang Qingtian’s forces slaughtered the imperial family and seized the capital.
• Ouyang Qingtian declared the founding of the Rising Sun Empire and set his sights on creating a Divine Dynasty to reach the Divine Aperture Realm.
• Yang Chan reflected that dynasties eventually fell and that martial artists pursued cultivation to outlast them.

Yang Chan learned that the newly founded Rising Sun Empire remained unstable despite Ouyang Qingtian’s strength, as sects and foreign powers worked to weaken his rule. He welcomed the turmoil because it gave him time to remain in the Great Zhou Dynasty and await entry into Tianxuan Holy Land.

• Han Bingyu explained that the Golden Meng Empire had fallen because its Pillar-Supporting Martial Saint was gone and its limited-use treasure could no longer protect it.
• Yang Chan asked about the Rising Sun Empire, and Han Bingyu said its regions and sects only appeared to submit while resisting Ouyang Qingtian’s authority.
• Han Bingyu said surrounding nations planned to prolong the Rising Sun Empire’s internal chaos to wear down Ouyang Qingtian’s Dragon Slayer identity.
• Yang Chan reasoned that Ouyang Qingtian could eventually overcome the schemes through patience and martial strength, but that the process would take time.
• Yang Chan was glad the major powers were occupied, since he could stay in the Great Zhou Dynasty until entering Tianxuan Holy Land.

Yang Chan learned that the Great Zhou Imperial Family had sensed dragon aura in Yuzhou and feared a new Dragon Slayer might threaten White Jade Capital. He also heard that someone from the Tianxuan Holy Land might visit, and planned to learn whether the visit would bring the complete Peng Demon Marrow Cleansing Scripture.

• Yang Chan told Han Bingyu to keep monitoring the Rising Sun Empire and report significant developments in White Jade Capital.
• Han Bingyu reported that the Great Zhou Imperial Family had detected Martial Saint-level power in Yuzhou, restricted entry to White Jade Capital, and suspected a new Dragon Slayer had appeared.
• Yang Chan realized that the sensed dragon aura had likely come from the Black Dragon and resolved to be more careful about leaving traces.
• Han Bingyu told Yang Chan that the Han Family would send ordinary spirit herbs in two days and that someone from the Tianxuan Holy Land might be coming.
• Yang Chan told Han Bingyu not to worry about the possible visit and considered whether the Holy Land would provide the complete Peng Demon Marrow Cleansing Scripture.

Yang Chan attempted the Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill again while Princess Lanyue watched and learned, and he succeeded on his second try. His passing result made him the youngest Senior Alchemist in the Great Zhou Dynasty, while the pill’s qi also helped temper both their bodies.

• Princess Lanyue explained that refining the Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill was the standard for advancing to Senior Alchemist, and Yang Chan prepared three sets of materials for another attempt.
• Yang Chan asked Princess Lanyue to watch his refinement and help identify any problems, so she stopped preparing her own pills and observed closely.
• Yang Chan controlled the earthfire and added the medicinal ingredients in stages, while Princess Lanyue compared his timing with Xu Chuan’s method.
• Yang Chan completed the refinement successfully, and Princess Lanyue recognized the scent as a sign that only the final pill-collecting steps remained.
• Yang Chan opened the cooled furnace and found that the Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill had barely passed the standard.
• Princess Lanyue congratulated Yang Chan on becoming a Senior Alchemist and the youngest one in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Yang Chan refined the Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill repeatedly, using Princess Lanyue’s observations to correct flaws and pursue premium grade. He finally succeeded, and Princess Lanyue absorbed the pure pill qi and congratulated him.

• Princess Lanyue pointed out possible problems in Yang Chan’s first Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill refinement, including fluctuations in the earthfire.
• Yang Chan reviewed the process, identified shortcomings in how the medicinal properties had fused, and began refining again.
• Yang Chan refined another pill that came close to premium grade, then inspected it and continued adjusting his technique.
• Princess Lanyue noticed the pill’s increasingly rich fragrance as Yang Chan refined it again.
• Yang Chan opened the cooled pill furnace and sensed the strong Pill Qi Reversal from a premium-grade pill.
• Princess Lanyue absorbed the pill qi and congratulated Yang Chan on refining a premium-grade Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill.

Yang Chan discovered that pill qi had increased his daily Potential Point gain and spent all his refreshed points to advance his cultivation. In White Jade Capital, Emperor Yang Yu’s newly promoted ministers reported their efforts to find the Dragon Slayer and contain the Rising Sun Empire, with its blockade set to last at least three years.

• Yang Chan saw that the Seven-Revolutions Organ Nourishing Pill and pill qi had raised his daily Potential Point gain to 12.8, then spent all his refreshed points and felt his breakthrough approaching.
• Emperor Yang Yu met with the four new first-rank ministers he had promoted after the previous ministers died or were executed.
• Grand Tutor Lu Yuan reported that no Dragon Slayer had appeared in White Jade Capital, while Imperial Tutor Li Zhongji said investigations in Yuzhou had found no trace beyond a huge pit near Falling Leaf Town.
• Grand Protector Qi Zhixue reported that agents and local groups were obstructing the Rising Sun Empire’s efforts to unify the former Golden Meng Empire.
• Grand Scholar Min Shi reported that several nations had agreed to block supplies to the Rising Sun Empire for at least three years.

Old Emperor Yang Yu ordered his ministers to keep the Rising Sun Empire weak and prevent Ouyang Qingtian from threatening the Great Zhou Dynasty. The ministers accepted their assignments as Yang Yu focused on consolidating his new Martial Saint realm and preparing for the sacred lands’ arrival.

• Yang Yu ordered Grand Tutor Lu Yuan to strengthen investigations and keep dangerous outsiders from entering White Jade Capital.
• Yang Yu told Imperial Tutor Li Zhongji to end the Yuzhou investigation and receive the arriving people from the sacred lands.
• Yang Yu ordered Grand Protector Qi Zhixue to exploit factions opposing Ouyang Qingtian and stir unrest within the Rising Sun Empire while periodically removing its spies.
• Yang Yu instructed Grand Scholar Min Shi to expand the resource blockade against the Rising Sun Empire and coordinate with other dynasties to stop secret trade.

Yang Chan learned that Lu Zhenghai had returned to the Qingyuan Sect leading visitors from Tianxuan Holy Land, and he waited for news about their purpose. Han Bingyu also reported that Holy Land envoys had gone to White Jade Capital, where intense scrutiny made gathering information difficult.

• Han Bingyu told Yang Chan that Lu Zhenghai led Tianxuan Holy Land visitors, including former Qingyuan Sect disciples and unfamiliar faces, and was meeting Gu An at the Medicine Hall’s Council Pavilion.
• Yang Chan decided to wait for Gu An’s updates and hoped Lu Zhenghai might have the complete Peng Demon Marrow Cleansing Scripture.
• Han Bingyu reported that some of the visitors had split off in the Great Zhou Dynasty and traveled to White Jade Capital, as had envoys from other Holy Lands.
• Yang Chan ordered Han Bingyu to monitor White Jade Capital and gather intelligence, while suspecting the mission might concern the Old Emperor’s advancement or the Dragon Slayer.
• Han Bingyu explained that White Jade Capital’s strict inspections and tense atmosphere would make investigating and sending out information difficult.

While White Jade Capital’s nobles and commoners faced equal scrutiny in the search for the Dragon Slayer, Yang Chan tutored Princess Lanyue in alchemy and was then summoned to Qingyuan Sect’s Council Pavilion. He considered whether the meeting might involve Tianxuan Holy Land, the Peng Demon Marrow Cleansing Scripture, or Liu Xuan’s intentions toward the sect.

• The Great Zhou Imperial Family imposed strict investigations and restrictions in White Jade Capital, prompting secret celebrations when troublesome young nobles were punished.
• Princess Lanyue asked Yang Chan about refining the Essence Condensing Organ Refining Pill and other alchemy techniques, and he answered her questions in detail.
• Yang Chan sensed Han Bingyu approaching and ended his lesson with Princess Lanyue.
• Han Bingyu told Yang Chan that Sect Master Gu had summoned him and all the sect’s elders and Intermediate Alchemists to the Council Pavilion.
• Yang Chan wondered whether the summons involved Tianxuan Holy Land, the Peng Demon Marrow Cleansing Scripture, or Liu Xuan’s plans, then headed to the Council Pavilion.

Gu An gathered the sect’s leaders and introduced Lu Zhenghai, who had returned from Tianxuan Holy Land with the complete Peng Demon Marrow Cleansing Scripture. Lu Zhenghai showed interest in recruiting Yang Chan, but Gu An intended to keep him in Qingyuan Sect for now.

• Yang Chan arrived at the Council Pavilion and sat beside Gu An, who introduced him to Lu Zhenghai as Qingyuan Sect’s chief alchemist.
• Yang Chan and Lu Zhenghai exchanged greetings, and Lu Zhenghai praised Yang Chan’s growing alchemy skills.
• Gu An stopped their conversation and explained that Lu Zhenghai had brought back the complete Peng Demon Marrow Cleansing Scripture from Tianxuan Holy Land.
• Gu An announced that Qingyuan Sect members could exchange for the scripture by serving the sect, and Yang Chan looked forward to using it to advance his cultivation.

Gu An gathered Qingyuan Sect’s leaders to explain their changed relationship with Tianxuan Holy Land and hear Lu Zhenghai’s report on life there. Lu Zhenghai revealed the Holy Land’s conflict with underground Earth Demons, while Yang Chan decided that remaining in Qingyuan Sect was better for now.

• Gu An thanked Tianxuan Holy Land, Sect Master Liu, and Lu Zhenghai, making clear that their interests now differed from Qingyuan Sect’s.
• Gu An asked Lu Zhenghai to explain what Tianxuan Holy Land was like, and Lu Zhenghai described its abundant spiritual energy and dangers beneath its Grotto-Heaven.
• Lu Zhenghai said intelligent, dark-skinned, four-armed Earth Demons fought the Holy Lands for control of the Grotto-Heavens, and Sect Master Liu had requested Qingyuan Sect’s help guarding against them.
• Lu Zhenghai explained that Sect Master Liu had been assigned to guard a region after becoming Peak Master of Chiyu Peak, which had delayed the Holy Land’s response to Qingyuan Sect’s troubles.
• Lu Zhenghai revealed that the Holy Lands had entered Taiyin Heaven to seek opportunities and investigate something related to a realm above Martial Saint, though he did not know the details.
• Yang Chan concluded that Tianxuan Holy Land was dangerous and chose to stay in Qingyuan Sect for now rather than risk losing time for cultivation.