Chapter Summaries

Fang Zhong suspected Lan Chang'an had killed Kou Sen, but the New Moon Merchant Association's intelligence cleared Lan Chang'an of suspicion. Meanwhile, Lan Chang'an arranged Xia Wenyue's treatment and cultivation under a secret oath, escorted a Snow Fox Merchant Association convoy, and advanced his own cultivation after fifteen years at the seventh Foundation Establishment layer.

• Fang Zhong accused Lan Chang'an of being connected to Kou Sen's death, but President Le revealed that Lan Chang'an had remained at Qingsha Bay and the association dismissed Fang Zhong's suspicion.
• Lan Chang'an told Xia Wenyue that curing the deeper root of her illness would require a secret Heart Demon Oath, and she agreed to give him the Lunar Jade Liquid her Dao Body might nurture at the middle or late Core Formation stage.
• Lan Chang'an treated Xia Wenyue, gave her the Ice Seal Ancient Scroll, and advised her to switch to the ice-attribute cultivation technique.
• Lan Chang'an secretly protected a Snow Fox Merchant Association convoy from an ambush, while Fu Xuemei and a hidden third-rank great demon kept each other in check beneath the mountain valley.
• Lan Chang'an collected Third-Order Beast Pills as payment, then returned to Autumn Wind Island and guided Xia Wenyue as her cultivation accelerated.
• A year and a half later, Lan Chang'an advanced his cultivation after spending fifteen years at the seventh Foundation Establishment layer.

Lan Chang'an met Shen Bixin, who asked him to help Wang Feng, a Blazing Fire Palace heir seeking medical care and a route back to Liang Kingdom. Tempted by the promised Third-Order High-Grade Spirit Bamboo, Lan Chang'an met Wang Feng in Yunyan Immortal City, where Wang Feng revealed that he had changed his mind about returning to Liang Kingdom.

• Lan Chang'an advanced to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, inspected the failing Mystic Wood Gourd Vine, and nourished the growing Mystic Water Turtle.
• Shen Bixin visited Lan Chang'an, revealed that her husband Song Wenshu had died in the Cultivation War, and told him that Jiang Yechen had formed a True Core.
• Shen Bixin conveyed Wang Feng's request for help reaching Blazing Fire Palace and finding a physician, offering Third-Order High-Grade Spirit Bamboo as compensation; Lan Chang'an agreed to meet him but made no promise.
• Lan Chang'an left Qingsha Bay secretly and found that Wang Feng had disguised himself as a servant while watching a decoy in Seek Immortal Mansion.
• Lan Chang'an revealed his identity to Wang Feng, who said he had recently changed his mind and no longer planned to return to Liang Kingdom.

Lan Chang'an treated Wang Feng's hidden injuries and learned that the Liang Kingdom war would end within three years, while developments in Qingsha Bay strengthened the Xia Clan. As Xia Wenyue's cultivation and beauty attracted unwanted attention, Lan Chang'an intervened when Xia Yuanjing harassed her.

• Wang Feng asked Lan Chang'an to treat the damage to his foundation from an old injury, offering Tongyou Spirit Bamboo, intelligence, and a future favor in exchange.
• Lan Chang'an examined Wang Feng and began a gradual course of treatment, arranging to meet him yearly at Seek Immortal Mansion Inn.
• Wang Feng told Lan Chang'an the Liang Kingdom war would end within three years, and Lan Chang'an later learned Golden Cloud Valley had submitted to the Golden Sun Sect faction.
• Xia Hongyu returned to Qingsha Bay, defeated a New Moon Merchant Association Pseudo-Core True Person, and reorganized the Five Blessings Merchant Association; Young Master Xia later advanced to Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
• Xia Wenyue reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and when Xia Yuanjing pursued her at Autumn Wind Island, Lan Chang'an immobilized him with yellow sand.

Lan Chang'an and Xia Hongyu concealed Xia Wenyue’s Innate Dao Body and agreed that she would become Lan Chang'an’s nominal disciple, while Xia Hongyu’s attempt to bind them through marriage failed. A delayed report from Liang Kingdom then revealed that Golden Sun Sect had breached Blazing Fire Palace, leaving Lan Chang'an shocked by the apparent fall of Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

• Xia Guang complained to Xia Hongyu after Lan Chang'an’s spirit pet petrified Xia Jingyuan, but Xia Hongyu treated the incident as minor when he visited Autumn Wind Island.
• Lan Chang'an revealed that Xia Wenyue possessed an Innate Dao Body, and he and Xia Hongyu agreed to conceal her true aptitude from the Xia Clan and outsiders.
• Xia Hongyu proposed that Lan Chang'an marry Xia Wenyue, then asked him to take her as a disciple; Lan Chang'an declined marriage but accepted her as a nominal disciple.
• Xia Wenyue’s cultivation advanced rapidly, and Lan Chang'an and Xia Hongyu planned to delay her Foundation Establishment attempt to avoid drawing attention.
• Lan Chang'an considered using his second-life Soul Shadow to improve his ability to make Treasure Talismans, but decided its power was too valuable to spend casually.
• Xia Wenyue brought Lan Chang'an a war report stating that Golden Sun Sect had breached Blazing Fire Palace after Master Lihuo lost to True Lord Liuyang, and Lan Chang'an was stunned by the news.

Lan Chang'an confirmed that the war in Liang Kingdom had ended and decided to delay returning until the region stabilized. As Wang Feng hurried to repair his injuries and Blazing Fire Palace’s survivors came under attack, the chapter ended with Master Lihuo confronting Chu Tianfeng after his escape failed.

• Lan Chang'an questioned Young Master Xia and learned that Golden Sun Sect’s victory and the end of the war were supported by market trends and reports of Chu Tianfeng’s pressure.
• Lan Chang'an decided to remain in Jing Kingdom for years before considering a return to Liang Kingdom, and he refused Wang Feng’s request for more frequent treatments.
• Wang Feng revealed that Blazing Fire Palace’s Grand Elder was gravely injured and that he hoped to qualify as a Golden Core Seed, making his damaged foundation a serious concern.
• Liang Shaotian and Vice Alliance Leader Duan attacked Blazing Fire Palace’s survivors, while the wounded Master Lihuo briefly surged in strength before their Profound Yin Heavy Water Array countered his flames.
• Master Lihuo fled after the battle but collapsed, and Chu Tianfeng appeared as Master Lihuo accused him of breaking their agreement by allowing a hidden attack.

Chu Tianfeng explained that an unknown Nascent Soul had disrupted the wager-battle, suspected Wujian Gate infiltration, and offered Master Lihuo aid before letting him leave. Months later, Xia Wenyue established her foundation under Lan Chang'an’s watch, but a mysterious intruder confronted him at home.

• Chu Tianfeng assured Master Lihuo that he had not interfered in the wager-battle and suspected Wujian Gate might have sent the hidden attacker.
• Master Lihuo accepted Chu Tianfeng’s Soul Nourishing Wood but declined his offer of a fourth-rank Spiritual Vein, choosing to seek refuge with an old friend in the Seven Nations Alliance.
• Master Lihuo warned Chu Tianfeng that resisting the Six Demonic Sects might require aid from the Ten Profound Sects or an Eastern Region Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator.
• Chu Tianfeng located Liang Shaotian and considered killing him before he could grow stronger, while Liang Shaotian sensed a sudden chill in his hidden refuge.
• More than half a year later, Xia Wenyue established her foundation, and Lan Chang'an guarded her through the breakthrough.
• After Lan Chang'an returned from Xia Wenyue’s celebration, a mysterious man emerged from the shadows and told him his secret had been exposed.

A Wujian Gate False Core cultivator tried to blackmail Lan Chang'an into becoming a spy, using his past killing of Golden Sun Sect cultivators and his supposed Ancient Ruins prize as leverage. Lan Chang'an resisted the coercion and struck back, leaving the attacker shocked by his body-refining strength.

• A hooded man confronted Lan Chang'an and accused him of killing Golden Sun Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators during the war.
• The hooded man claimed Lan Chang'an had taken a Golden Core Realm opportunity from the Ancient Ruins, though Lan Chang'an realized the accusation was partly a bluff.
• The man revealed he belonged to Wujian Gate and wanted Lan Chang'an to serve as a spy, threatening him with exposure and death if he refused.
• The hooded man sealed the room and attacked Lan Chang'an with a mana-restricting technique and a shadow blade.
• Lan Chang'an's talisman shield was cut through, but his Quasi-Third-Order body stopped the blade and his counterattack sent the hooded man crashing into the wall.

Lan Chang'an captured Xing Peng, a Wujian Gate Incense Master, and used a Soul Bewitching Spell to question him about the organization and its plans. He learned that Wujian Gate had targeted him for recruitment and that its supreme mask belonged to the sect’s “uncrowned king.”

• Lan Chang'an poisoned and injured the hooded intruder, then knocked him unconscious with help from a Rat Demon and searched his belongings, finding a mask resembling an inferior Hundred Illusion Mask.
• Lan Chang'an discovered the intruder was Xing Peng and bound him in an underground chamber, intending to kill him before fleeing Jing Kingdom for Feng Kingdom.
• Xing Peng begged for his life, and Lan Chang'an decided that infiltrating Wujian Gate might resolve the crisis and provide him with intelligence.
• Lan Chang'an cast a Soul Bewitching Spell on Xing Peng and learned that he was an Incense Master in the Liang Kingdom branch, whose leaders included a Late Core Formation helmsman and a Middle Core Formation altar master.
• Xing Peng revealed that Lan Chang'an was listed as a recruitable target because of his connections to Fairy Shi and Zhang Tieshan, and explained the hierarchy of Wujian Gate's masks, including the legendary Faceless Mask held by its sect master.

Lan Chang'an used the soul power of his Peak Core Formation second life to securely control Xing Peng and prepare to infiltrate Wujian Gate under an assumed identity. He completed nine Third-Order Treasure Talismans and ended by transforming into his previous life’s White-Bearded Elder appearance with the Hundred Illusion Mask.

• Lan Chang'an learned from Xing Peng that the Six Demonic Sects might invade surrounding cultivation nations within about a dozen years and that Wujian Gate had already infiltrated the region.
• Lan Chang'an decided to have his second life descend so he could plant a powerful Restriction on Xing Peng and use the man’s Wujian Gate status without exposing his own identity.
• Lan Chang'an summoned the Peak Core Formation Soul Shadow of his second life, discovered it could remain for over a year in a dormant state, and used its power to prepare Treasure Talisman materials.
• Lan Chang'an took essence and heart blood from the Earth Rock Rat and added Five Elements Soil to produce Third-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Ink.
• Lan Chang'an drew nine Third-Order Treasure Talismans, including seven mid-grade and two low-grade talismans.
• Lan Chang'an put on the Hundred Illusion Mask and used his previous life’s soul power to transform into the White-Bearded Elder of Peak Core Formation.

Lan Chang'an bound Xing Peng with a powerful Restriction and used him to obtain intelligence about the Blazing Fire Palace and Young Master Wang. In Yunyan Immortal City, Lan Chang'an began treating Wang Feng, and the Nine Imprint Tablet suddenly trembled.

• Lan Chang'an planted a Restriction in Xing Peng's Sea of Consciousness and compelled him to provide intelligence in exchange for the promise of a chance to reform his core.
• Xing Peng reported that Liang Shaotian had ambushed Blazing Fire Palace cultivators and that Young Master Wang had traveled alone to Yunyan Immortal City.
• Lan Chang'an went to Yunyan Immortal City to keep his treatment agreement with Wang Feng and pursue other preparations.
• Lan Chang'an met Wang Feng at Seek Immortal Mansion Inn and began treating him with Evergreen Mana.
• The Nine Imprint Tablet in Lan Chang'an's mind trembled as he treated Wang Feng.

Lan Chang'an was targeted by Master Lihuo, who had possessed Wang Feng, but escaped the ambush and allowed the Nine Imprint Tablet to consume the Nascent Soul that invaded him. The Fourth Life began to light up, and Master Lihuo’s phantom started forming within its imprint.

• Lan Chang'an refused Young Master Wang’s offer to treat Blazing Fire Palace’s injured in exchange for a Seven-Core Mysterious Moon Flower, then bought a worn Third-Order mid-grade talisman brush through True Person Hanyu.
• After leaving Yunyan Immortal City, Lan Chang'an recognized an illusion formation and discovered Master Lihuo had possessed Wang Feng to capture him.
• Lan Chang'an used defensive, thunder, escape, and restriction-breaking Treasure Talismans to flee the formation, while an Earth Rock Rat spell disrupted Wang Feng’s pursuit.
• Master Lihuo’s Nascent Soul left Wang Feng’s body and caught up with Lan Chang'an, who let it enter his Sea of Consciousness.
• The Nine Imprint Tablet imprisoned and ground up Master Lihuo’s Nascent Soul, lighting the Fourth Life and forming a purple-robed phantom in its imprint.

After devouring Master Lihuo’s Nascent Soul, Lan Chang'an unlocked the Nine Imprint Tablet’s three reincarnation methods and learned that Master Lihuo’s wish was to revive Blazing Fire Palace. He spared Wang Feng and returned to Autumn Wind Island, where he broke the restriction on Master Lihuo’s storage ring.

• Lan Chang'an entered the formation, found the unconscious Wang Feng alive, and discovered that the Nine Imprint Tablet’s Fourth Life had fully lit up after consuming Master Lihuo’s Nascent Soul.
• Lan Chang'an learned that the tablet could let him customize a future reincarnation, turn Master Lihuo into a Previous Life by settling his karma, or create a dreamlike cultivation life whose experience might become his own.
• Lan Chang'an examined Master Lihuo’s scattered memories, glimpsed his Nascent Soul formation and conversation with Chu Tianfeng, and learned that reviving Blazing Fire Palace was his dying wish.
• Lan Chang'an searched Wang Feng’s memories, learned how Master Lihuo had planned to find a compatible vessel, and spared Wang Feng so he could remain Blazing Fire Palace’s Golden Core Seed.
• Lan Chang'an sent Wang Feng away after treating his injuries, returned to Autumn Wind Island, and broke the restriction on Master Lihuo’s storage ring with the Earth Rock Rat’s help.

Lan Chang'an discovered the treasures and fragmented memories left by Master Lihuo, then focused on cultivating and preparing for Wang Feng’s final treatment appointment. Wang Feng stayed away, sent compensation through Shen Bixin, and came to suspect Liang Shaotian rather than Lan Chang'an.

• Elder Wang saw Master Lihuo’s Life Soul Painting turn gray, concealed his death from Blazing Fire Palace, and resolved not to investigate openly.
• Lan Chang'an examined Master Lihuo’s Storage Ring and found fourth-rank Soul Nourishing Wood, powerful magic treasures, a Seven-Star Mysterious Moon Grass, Lesser Teleportation Talismans, and other valuable items.
• Lan Chang'an found fragments of Master Lihuo’s memories but stopped searching them, then used Tongyou Spirit Bamboo to make eight Treasure Talismans.
• When Wang Feng did not appear for their appointment, Shen Bixin delivered his letter and a third-rank spirit wood to Lan Chang'an as compensation.
• Lan Chang'an sent Wang Feng a courteous reply and wished him success in forming a Golden Core and restoring Blazing Fire Palace.
• Wang Feng read Lan Chang'an’s reply, felt guilty for suspecting him, and decided Liang Shaotian was the chief suspect in Master Lihuo’s death.

Three years after Blazing Fire Palace’s destruction, Lan Chang'an learned that Xia Wenyue had been attacked by a suspected New Moon Merchant Association elder and helped Xia Hongyu arrange a secret assassination. Two months later, Wu Feng, the association’s grand elder, was killed, while Lan continued preparing for his eventual advance to Golden Core.

• Lan Chang'an learned that Blazing Fire Palace had moved west and that Wujian Gate had lost track of Master Lihuo.
• Xia Wenyue returned to Autumn Wind Island wounded and told Lan Chang'an she had been attacked by a disguised Pseudo-Core True Person.
• Xia Hongyu suspected Old Ghost Wu of the New Moon Merchant Association and planned to retaliate against the association.
• Lan Chang'an offered to arrange for a powerful old friend to kill Old Ghost Wu, and Xia Hongyu agreed to pay the reward.
• Lan Chang'an secretly tasked the Earth Rock Rat with the assassination and sought intelligence help from Wujian Gate.
• Two months later, news arrived that Wu Feng, the New Moon Merchant Association's grand elder, had died in a mysterious assassination.

Lan Chang'an’s arrangements helped Xia Wenyue leave Jing Kingdom for Proud Moon Palace, while the Five Blessings Merchant Association recovered after Old Ghost Wu’s death. The chapter ends with a furious young man approaching the Xia Clan, claiming Xia Wenyue as a daughter of the Xie family.

• Xia Hongyu thanked Lan Chang'an for arranging Old Ghost Wu’s assassination and agreed to consider sending Xia Wenyue to a major sect.
• Xia Wenyue learned that her birth father had broken his promise to her mother and rejected her mother’s request to seek refuge with his family.
• The Earth Rock Rat returned with Xing Peng and the spoils from killing Old Ghost Wu; Lan Chang'an divided the gains and extended his lifespan with two Longevity Pills.
• With the New Moon Merchant Association weakened, the Five Blessings Merchant Association regained its footing, and Xia Wenyue chose to join Proud Moon Palace.
• Xia Hongyu and Xia Wenyue secretly departed for Feng Kingdom, while rumors about Xia Wenyue’s exceptional aptitude drew attention from cultivation forces.
• A young man on an iron-fan magical treasure arrived near the Xia Clan, denouncing the Five Blessings Merchant Association and declaring Xia Wenyue to be the Xie family’s daughter.

Lan Chang'an was pressured by Xie Wuji to persuade Xia Wenyue to return to the Taihu Xie Clan, but he secretly planned to evade the demand while benefiting from the offered Golden Core resources. After years of relative stability in Qingsha Bay, Lan Chang'an broke through to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment.

• Xie Wuji invaded the Xia Clan’s territory, questioned Xia Mingqu about Xia Wenyue, and struck him when he suspected concealment.
• Xie Wuji confronted Lan Chang'an and demanded that he persuade Xia Wenyue to leave Proud Moon Palace and acknowledge the Xie Clan; Lan Chang'an accepted a seven-year deadline and signed a Third-Order Spirit Contract in exchange for a Golden Core opportunity.
• Lan Chang'an accepted Xie Wuji’s Pure Water, then resolved to endure the contract and noted his resentment of the Taihu Xie Clan.
• Xia Hongyu returned from Feng Kingdom and told Lan Chang'an that Proud Moon Palace had accepted Xia Wenyue as a disciple and offered protection to the Xia Clan.
• Lan Chang'an kept a low profile through several years of stable development in Qingsha Bay, then reached the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment after fifteen years.

Lan Chang'an arranged to attempt Core Formation at Yunyan Immortal City, relying on his Core Dissolution plan and the Xia Clan's help. As he waited for his reserved venue, the Profound Yin Demonic Sect gained legal standing in Jing Kingdom, and Lan Chang'an received messages revealing that True Person Hanyu had uncovered his assumed identity.

• Lan Chang'an decided to attempt Core Formation in a year, planning to dissolve his first core and relying on his Evergreen Secret Technique, second-life soul, and False Core-level body to reduce the risks.
• Lan Chang'an asked Xia Hongyu to help secure a Third-Order Spiritual Vein site, and after reviews by the Merchant Alliance, he obtained approval to form his core at Yunyan Immortal City.
• The Profound Yin Demonic Sect openly established itself near Jing Kingdom after Liang Shaotian defeated two Late Core Formation cultivators and drew with a Peak Core Formation expert.
• Lan Chang'an arrived in Yunyan Immortal City with Xia Hongyu, but Deputy city lord Gongyang delayed his reserved venue because a Snow Fox Merchant Association cultivator received priority.
• Lan Chang'an read keepsakes from True Person Hanyu, learned she had discovered his True Person Xiang disguise, and destroyed the messages rather than contacting her before Core Formation.

Lan Chang'an entered a Third-Order cave abode in Yunyan Immortal City and successfully formed a lower-tier True Core, astonishing the cultivators who had expected little from his attempt. His breakthrough coincided with Xiang Jinglong confronting True Person Hanyu, while Xiang Jinglong recognized Lan Chang'an and watched his achievement with envy.

• Gao Cheng of the Snow Fox Merchant Association formed a Gray Core, and Lan Chang'an entered the vacated cave abode to attempt Core Formation.
• Lan Chang'an’s steady Core Formation phenomena expanded beyond a li, drawing crowds as observers began to suspect he could achieve a True Core.
• Xiang Jinglong arrived with True Person Yellow Wolf to confront True Person Hanyu, who retreated into Gao Cheng’s cave abode for protection.
• Xiang Jinglong recognized Lan Chang'an and recalled their past dealings, then watched the breakthrough with shock and jealousy.
• Lan Chang'an completed Core Formation, and True Person Yellow Wolf identified his deep, solid aura as that of a True Core.
• Lan Chang'an tested his new power and concluded that he had achieved a lower-tier True Core.

Lan Chang'an stabilized his newly formed True Core, emerged to congratulations, and chose the Daoist Title Changqing. As he left Fenglin Mountain with his allies, Xie Wuji arrived to confront him over the Third-Order Spirit Contract, only to discover that Lan Chang'an had already formed a True Core.

• Lan Chang'an stopped cultivating after stabilizing his True Core and emerged from seclusion to congratulations from cultivators including Deputy city lord Gongyang, True Person Yellow Wolf, and Xiang Jinglong.
• Lan Chang'an spoke with True Person Hanyu and Xia Hongyu, shielding Hanyu from Xiang Jinglong's attention while refusing her invitation to visit the Snow Fox Merchant Association that day.
• Lan Chang'an announced that his Daoist Title would be Changqing, despite the Xia Clan leader's hesitation about its unlucky history.
• Xie Wuji arrived at Yunyan Immortal City, furious that Lan Chang'an had neglected their agreement to persuade Xia Wenyue to visit the Xie Clan.
• Lan Chang'an revealed his True Core cultivation to Xie Wuji and credited Xie's Golden Core spiritual item, leading onlookers to assume he had the backing of the Xie Clan.

Lan Chang'an formed a True Core, renegotiated his spirit contract with Xie Wuji, and prepared to celebrate at Qingsha Bay. As the celebration began, unexpected guests arrived beyond the Jing Kingdom factions he had invited.

• Lan Chang'an revealed his True Core and credited Xie Wuji’s Golden Core spiritual item, forcing Xie Wuji to acknowledge his sponsorship in front of Clan Leader Xia.
• Outside Yunyan Immortal City, Lan Chang'an used his new standing and a contingency message to secure a five-year extension to his spirit contract with Xie Wuji.
• Lan Chang'an agreed to hold a modest Core Formation celebration at Qingsha Bay and returned to the Xia Clan, where its members welcomed him as a True Core cultivator.
• During his seclusion, Lan Chang'an nourished his Treasure Talismans and Mystic Water Turtle with True Core mana, while Xing Peng reported that Altar Master Jueying had taken notice of him.
• True Person Hanyu visited Lan Chang'an before the celebration and said Xiang Jinglong had left Yunyan Immortal City without troubling her.
• Representatives and cultivators arrived at Qingsha Bay for Lan Chang'an’s celebration, and the gathering drew more guests than he had expected.