Chapter Summaries

Lan Chang'an and Mu Xiuyun were pursued after Ge Yi summoned Zheng Yuanhua, a powerful Zheng Family elder. Lan Chang'an escaped with the poisoned Mu Xiuyun, then killed Ge Yi with his hidden Golden Blade Talisman and erased the evidence, while Mu Renlong held Zheng Yuanhua back.

• Lan Chang'an used poisoned needles, talismans, and magical artifacts with Mu Xiuyun to weaken Ge Yi, but Mu Xiuyun collapsed as her poison took effect.
• Zheng Yuanhua arrived to aid Ge Yi, and Mu Xiuyun recognized him as a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Zheng Family elder.
• Lan Chang'an carried Mu Xiuyun away with a High-Grade Godly Travel Talisman as Mu Renlong arrived and confronted Zheng Yuanhua.
• Ge Yi pursued Lan Chang'an by Flying Boat while Zheng Yuanhua fought Mu Renlong, and Lan Chang'an put Mu Xiuyun to sleep beside a river.
• Lan Chang'an revealed his Golden Blade Talisman and killed Ge Yi with one slash, then collected the artifacts and destroyed Ge Yi's body in the river.

Lan Chang'an rescued Mu Xiuyun from the poison and concealed that he had killed Ge Yi, while Mu Renlong arrived and praised his service. After the others left, Lan Chang'an opened Ge Yi's Storage Bag to inspect the spoils.

• Lan Chang'an treated Mu Xiuyun's poison and told her that Ge Yi had withdrawn after their fight.
• Mu Renlong arrived, treated Mu Xiuyun, and learned that Ge Yi had been suspected of being an insider.
• Mu Renlong praised Lan Chang'an's actions, then returned with him and Mu Xiuyun to the Medicine Garden, where they found its cultivators and servants dead.
• Mu Renlong assigned Lan Chang'an to keep guarding the Medicine Garden and promised retaliation against the Zheng Family.
• Mu Xiuyun departed with Mu Renlong, leaving Lan Chang'an to break the Restriction on Ge Yi's Storage Bag and examine its contents.

Lan Chang'an sorted through Ge Yi's spoils, discovered a Beast Taming Token, and took control of the Earth Rock Rat. Meanwhile, a mysterious Disheveled Man ambushed Zheng Yuanhua, drained his supplies, and killed him after searching his soul for information about the Mu and Zheng Families.

• Lan Chang'an examined Ge Yi's stolen herbs, pills, artifacts, alchemy materials, and the Flying Boat Zheng Yuanhua had lent him.
• Lan Chang'an found Marrow-Corroding Powder and a Beast Taming Token in Ge Yi's Storage Bag.
• Lan Chang'an used the token to control the Earth Rock Rat and ordered it to remain underground nearby.
• Zheng Yuanhua went to the agreed meeting place and found a coughing Disheveled Man instead of Ge Yi.
• The Disheveled Man overpowered Zheng Yuanhua, took his pills and herbs, and searched his soul for memories of the Mu Family, Zheng Family, medicine garden, and treasure vault.
• The Disheveled Man killed Zheng Yuanhua after the soul search.

Lan Chang'an settled into the Mu Family Medicine Garden, received letters from Lin Yi and Zhao Siyao, and considered how to support their plans. After Zheng Yuanhua died mysteriously, the Mu Family gained the upper hand and reached a truce with the Zheng Family over the Violet Heart Copper mine; Lan Chang'an sensed the Mu Family Old Ancestor returning to Moon Heart Island.

• Lan Chang'an moved into Ge Yi's former courtyard and met the newly arrived Medicine Garden workers, including the recovering Li Ergou.
• Lan Chang'an read Lin Yi's invitation to join Hidden Immortal Pavilion and Zhao Siyao's news that she planned to compete for Core Disciple status; he declined to join the organization, agreed to sell Lin Yi talismans, and sent Zhao Siyao three Mid-Grade Talismans.
• Lan Chang'an taught the Mu Family girls to patrol and operate the formation, while hearing that the Huang Family marriage alliance with the Mu Family had collapsed over demands about Mu Xiuyun's position as a wife.
• The Mu Family learned that Zheng Yuanhua had died mysteriously, shifting the balance of power in its conflict with the Zheng Family.
• Ancestor Zheng and the Mu Family Old Ancestor negotiated a ceasefire, with the Zheng Family agreeing to share oversight and divide the Violet Heart Copper mine evenly.
• Lan Chang'an sensed the Mu Family Old Ancestor returning to Moon Heart Island and concluded that the dispute was nearing its end.

Liang Shaotian plundered the Zheng Family’s Medicine Garden and treasure vault, then turned toward the Mu Family while injured and weakened. At the Mu Family’s Medicine Garden, Lan Chang'an hid with the others, but Liang Shaotian demanded that the steward reveal himself.

• Liang Shaotian raided the Zheng Family’s Medicine Garden, killed an elder, and forced Zheng Yuanqing to lead him to the treasure vault.
• Ancestor Zheng confronted Liang Shaotian, but Liang Shaotian overwhelmed him, took the Zheng Family’s treasures, and left after Ancestor Zheng suggested targeting the Mu Family.
• Liang Shaotian collapsed in a ravine after leaving, coughing blood as his cultivation fell back to the Qi Refining Realm.
• The Mu Family learned of the raid and moved to reinforce its defenses; Mu Xiuyun flew toward the Medicine Garden, saw Foundation Establishment pressure above it, and hurried back toward the family grounds.
• Lan Chang'an sensed Liang Shaotian approaching and hid the Medicine Garden’s residents, disguising himself as a withered log in the basement.
• Liang Shaotian found the Medicine Garden empty and demanded that its steward come out, leaving Lan Chang'an in hiding.

Liang Shaotian attacked the Medicine Garden, but Lan Chang'an used the Nine Imprint Tablet’s First Life and a claimed Nascent Soul identity to drive a bargain with him. Liang Shaotian left with spiritual herbs and two inheritances from Lan Chang'an, while the Medicine Garden’s people survived and waited for reinforcements.

• Liang Shaotian used Earth-Shaking Evil Sound to search the Medicine Garden, knocking out its residents and discovering Lan Chang'an in a basement.
• Lan Chang'an fused the First Life imprint with his current self and struck Liang Shaotian with Soul-Startling Slash, then claimed to be the Nascent Soul Great Cultivator Yan Donglai.
• Lan Chang'an advised Liang Shaotian about his damaged foundation, and Liang Shaotian asked to take precious spiritual herbs in exchange for inheritances.
• Liang Shaotian gave Lan Chang'an a Foundation Establishment-level alchemy inheritance and the Cloud Sand Body Refining Art, then departed with spiritual herbs.
• Lan Chang'an confirmed that no one had died, reassured Li Ergou, and sent a young girl to find out why the lineage's reinforcements had not arrived.

After Liang Shaotian raided the Medicine Garden, Lan Chang'an left his guardian post and returned to the Mu Family residence. Mu Renlong then returned as a new Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, prompting the Mu Family to prepare for a counterattack against the Zheng Family.

• Lan Chang'an explained that he had hidden everyone during Liang Shaotian's raid, and the Mu Family discovered that the Medicine Garden's spirit herbs had been plundered but no one had been harmed.
• Lan Chang'an asked to leave his post as Medicine Garden Guardian, and Mu Maode agreed to send a replacement; Mu Xiuyun questioned him about marriage and told him why Liang Shaotian was wanted by the sect.
• Mu Yunfei arrived to take over the garden after advancing to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, and Lan Chang'an returned to Jade Moon Mountain Villa.
• Sect disciples investigated the raid, while Lan Chang'an secluded himself to study Liang Shaotian's Cloud Sand Body Refining Art.
• Mu Renlong returned as a second Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and the Mu Family called a meeting to prepare to counterattack the Zheng Family.

Lan Chang'an stayed behind while the Mu Family attacked the Zheng Family, only for the Maple Leaf Huang Family to intervene and claim much of the spoils after the ancestors died. Three years later, Lan Chang'an received a letter from Zhao Siyao and attended Li Ergou's wedding to two Mu Family sisters.

• Lan Chang'an declined Mu Yunfei's invitation to join the assault team and remained at Jade Moon Mountain Villa while the Mu Family marched on Bamboo Leaf Mountain.
• News arrived that Ancestor Mu and Ancestor Zheng had perished together, and the Maple Leaf Huang Family intervened as Mu Renlong led the battle to take the Zheng Family residence.
• Zheng Wugong submitted to the Huang Family, forcing the Mu Family to accept a poor share of the spoils and recover only the disputed First-Order Violet Copper Mine and some loot.
• Three years later, Lan Chang'an received a letter from Zhao Siyao and went to Li Ergou's courtyard, where Li Ergou celebrated marrying Mu Caiwei and Mu Cailin.

Lan Chang'an attended Li Ergou’s wedding before traveling with Li Ergou and Lin Yi to Golden Cloud Valley in response to Zhao Siyao’s invitation. Zhao Siyao welcomed them at the sect, where the group reunited and settled in to talk.

• Lan Chang'an gave Li Ergou two high-quality Wind Speed Talismans at his wedding, where Li Ergou married Mu Caiwei and Mu Cailin.
• Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou agreed to support Zhao Siyao’s bid to become a Core Disciple, offering one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones between them.
• Lan Chang'an left Jade Moon Lake with Li Ergou to sell his spoils and buy Spiritual Sand Stones for body refinement.
• Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou met Lin Yi at the Royal Marquis Estate, then traveled with him toward Golden Cloud Valley.
• Lan Chang'an, Li Ergou, and Lin Yi arrived at Golden Cloud Valley, where Zhao Siyao greeted them and led them to Guest Peak.

Lan Chang'an, Lin Yi, and Li Ergou met with Zhao Siyao, who asked them to help repair a damaged High-Grade Magic Item and complete sect missions. After they left, Lin Yi revealed that Xia Feilun had been imprisoned for selling harmful pills.

• Zhao Siyao praised Lin Yi’s Hidden Immortal Pavilion and advised all three friends on their cultivation.
• Zhao Siyao explained that she needed a damaged High-Grade Magic Item repaired discreetly and was short on Spirit Stones.
• Lan Chang'an, Lin Yi, and Li Ergou pooled 210 Spirit Stones, and Zhao Siyao entrusted Lan Chang'an with taking the Iron Umbrella to Five Peaks Market for repair.
• Zhao Siyao assigned Li Ergou a bodyguard mission and Lin Yi a mission to gather Han Yue Grass.
• As the three men descended the mountain, Lin Yi told Lan Chang'an that Zhang Tieshan had reported Xia Feilun for selling inferior and poison pills, leading to Xia Feilun’s imprisonment.

Lan Chang'an traveled to Five Peaks Market, gathered information, and arranged for Gu Lai to repair Zhao Siyao's Iron Net Umbrella. He secretly sold stolen goods for nearly a thousand Spirit Stones, then discovered that someone had marked one of his payments with tracking powder.

• Lan Chang'an used Zhao Siyao's map to travel to Five Peaks Market and entered under a disguise after registering for an identity plaque.
• A young guide showed Lan Chang'an around the Marketplace, where he learned about its shops, stalls, and artifact refiner Gu Lai.
• After waiting two days, Lan Chang'an arranged with Gu Lai to repair the Iron Net Umbrella for two hundred Spirit Stones within a month and secured the agreement with a Spirit Contract Scroll.
• Lan Chang'an rented a cave abode and spent more than half a month selling pills, magic tools, and other goods under changing disguises, earning nearly a thousand Spirit Stones.
• Lan Chang'an found tracking powder on a Spirit Stone he had received, crushed it, and burned away the powder in a burst of flame.

Lan Chang'an retrieved his repaired Iron Net Umbrella and discovered that the Spirit Medicine Pavilion shopkeeper had followed him to steal aged herbs from his Storage Bag. After completing his mission for Zhao Siyao and learning about Yellow Dragon Immortal City, Lan Chang'an returned to Hengshui Prefecture, where Lin Yi offered to take him to a Hidden Immortal Pavilion outpost.

• Lan Chang'an reasoned that someone might have detected the contents of his Storage Bag, then stayed cautious and avoided the black market.
• Gu Lai returned Lan Chang'an's repaired Iron Net Umbrella, and Lan Chang'an left Five Peaks Market after asking about having another one forged.
• Lan Chang'an detected the Spirit Medicine Pavilion shopkeeper tracking him with an insect that sensed aged herbs, killed the insect with a divine-sense shock, and watched the shopkeeper flee.
• Lan Chang'an delivered the mission item to Zhao Siyao, who told him that Yellow Dragon Immortal City offered a chance to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Lan Chang'an returned to Hengshui Prefecture, met Lin Yi at the Royal Marquis Estate, and agreed to see a Hidden Immortal Pavilion outpost and a surprise.

Lan Chang'an visited Lin Yi's Hidden Immortal Pavilion stronghold, where he found the disgraced Xia Feilun forced to refine pills. Later, he killed Zheng Feng and Zheng Dong when they crossed his path, then returned to Jade Moon Mountain Villa and fed his Earth Rock Rat.

• Lin Yi showed Lan Chang'an his Underground Palace and revealed that Xia Feilun was serving as a pill-refining laborer after being crippled and expelled from Golden Cloud Valley.
• Lan Chang'an sold Lin Yi Talismans, refused his offer to become deputy pavilion master, and left the Hidden Immortal Pavilion stronghold.
• Lan Chang'an spotted Zheng Wugong leading a migrating convoy, then ambushed and killed Zheng Feng and Zheng Dong with poison and a flying shuttle.
• Zheng Wugong found the bodies and recognized the poison as Marrow-Corroding Powder, but he led the Zheng Family onward without identifying the killer.
• Lan Chang'an learned that the Zheng Family branch had migrated under the Beast Taming Zhou Family's protection, then fed a two-hundred-year-old spirit fruit to his Earth Rock Rat.

Two or three years later, Lan Chang'an advanced his body refinement and explored alchemy while keeping up his cultivation and connections. After the Mu Family opened Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market, Mu Xiuyun invited him to serve as the chief Talisman Master for its new shop, and he had yet to answer.

• Lan Chang'an reached Qi Refining Fifth Layer and the second level of the Cloud Sand Body Refining Art, while his Earth Rock Rat became a First-Order Late-Stage Spirit Beast.
• Lan Chang'an received letters from Lin Yi, whose sixth son had a Spiritual Root, and Zhao Siyao, who had become a Core Disciple and repaid her loan with a promise of a favor.
• Li Ergou asked Lan Chang'an to help his son Mu Ershun pursue talisman drawing at the Mu Family's new shop in Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market.
• Mu Xiuyun visited Lan Chang'an and offered him the chief Talisman Master position, with extra salary for making talismans and teaching apprentices.

Lan Chang'an accepted Mu Xiuyun’s offer to become chief Talisman Master at the Mu Family’s new shop in Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market, where he settled in and taught two apprentices. The marketplace began to prosper, while Huang Yu’s proposal to marry Mu Xiuyun remained unresolved but did not lead to further visits.

• Lan Chang'an accepted a position at Mu's Spirit Talisman Shop, and Mu Xiuyun agreed to take Mu Ershun on as an apprentice.
• Mu Xiuyun brought Lan Chang'an, Mu Ershun, and Mu Shan to Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market and explained how the Huang Family had courted the Zhou Family with shops and Cave Abodes.
• Lan Chang'an and Mu Xiuyun opened Mu's Spirit Talisman Shop, with Lan Chang'an living in the shop and the apprentices staying in the rear courtyard.
• Huang Yu visited the shop and gave Mu Xiuyun a letter offering three shops and five Cave Abodes as betrothal gifts if she married him.
• Lan Chang'an taught the apprentices and cultivated at Bamboo Leaf Mountain as the shop's business gradually improved over more than half a year.

Lan Chang'an sold Frostwind Talismans to a Zhou Family servant and learned that the Zhou Family’s gifted granddaughter, Zhou Qingxuan, needed stronger talismans to hunt a Firefowl. When she came to Mu's Spirit Talisman Shop and requested Frostfall Talismans, Lan Chang'an claimed he could not craft them.

• Lan Chang'an successfully crafted a High-Grade Talisman and reflected on Mu Xiuyun’s support and the shop’s demand.
• A Qi Refining Ninth Layer elder from the Zhou Family bought all four Frostwind Talismans in stock, and Shopkeeper Xu explained that he served Zhou Qingxuan.
• The Zhou Family servant returned seeking Frostfall Talismans, but Lan Chang'an said he lacked the skill to craft them.
• Zhou Qingxuan arrived with the servant and revealed she wanted Frostfall Talismans to help capture a First-Order Late-Stage Firefowl on Bamboo Leaf Mountain.
• Zhou Qingxuan questioned Lan Chang'an about his age, then explained her request, while Lan Chang'an again claimed he was not skilled enough to make Frostfall.

Lan Chang'an accepted Zhou Qingxuan’s request to craft Frostfall Talismans and earned her favor, materials, and a talisman brush. Months later, after hearing rumors of robber cultivators, he received a summons from Young Master Huang, a powerful Marketplace administrator.

• Zhou Qingxuan pressured Lan Chang'an to craft Frostfall Talismans and offered him a favor in exchange for his efforts.
• Lan Chang'an accepted twenty sheets of High-Quality Cold-Attribute Talisman Paper and a talisman brush, though he already had completed Frostfall Talismans in his Storage Bag.
• Six days later, Lan Chang'an gave Zhou Qingxuan three Frostfall Talismans, and she let him keep the brush.
• Over the following months, Mu's Spirit Talisman Shop began turning a stable profit as Bamboo Leaf Mountain Marketplace grew busier.
• Lan Chang'an heard rogue cultivators complain that Robber Cultivators had killed several people outside the Marketplace.
• A servant summoned Lan Chang'an to meet Young Master Huang, and Shopkeeper Xu warned him not to offend the Marketplace administrator.

Lan Chang'an refused Young Master Huang's lavish offer to leave the Mu Family, then resisted Mu Xiuyun's growing affection. Later, Shopkeeper Xu told him about a hidden Zheng Family treasure vault and invited him to help break its Restrictions.

• Young Master Huang offered Lan Chang'an Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and a Jade Azure Pill to join the Huang Family, but Lan refused to betray the Mu Family.
• Young Master Huang suggested Lan wanted Mu Xiuyun and crudely promised to make her his concubine; Lan rebuked him and left.
• Lan told Mu Xiuyun that Young Master Huang had tried to poach him, and she thanked him before he withdrew from her advances.
• Lan reflected on the temptations of wealth and romance and chose to avoid attachments that might distract him from cultivation.
• Shopkeeper Xu revealed that he had found a hidden Zheng Family treasure vault near Bamboo Leaf Mountain and asked Lan to help break its powerful Restrictions.

Lan Chang'an repeatedly refused Shopkeeper Xu’s attempts to lure him away from the Marketplace and spent the next year strengthening his talisman skills. When Mu Xiuyun’s warning talisman flashed, he disguised himself and rushed to the Marketplace exit, where he caught her as she fell from her damaged Flying Boat, gravely wounded and barely alive.

• Shopkeeper Xu invited Lan Chang'an to search a hidden treasure vault, visit Spring Night Tower, and attend a wine-tasting party outside the Marketplace, but Lan Chang'an declined each time.
• Lan Chang'an grew suspicious of Shopkeeper Xu’s invitations, distanced himself from him, and warned Mu Xiuyun that someone might be targeting him.
• Over the following year, Lan Chang'an’s shop prospered, and he accumulated powerful high-grade talismans and a temporary formation capable of contending with Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• While instructing Mu Ershun, Lan Chang'an received a danger warning from Mu Xiuyun’s paired Message Talisman and disguised himself before leaving the shop.
• Lan Chang'an saw Mu Xiuyun’s bloodstained Flying Boat approach the Marketplace and caught her as she fell, discovering a black-smoking White Bone Arrow through her chest and a heartbeat close to stopping.

Lan Chang'an used the Evergreen Art’s healing secret art to save Mu Xiuyun from a fatal arrow wound, discovering that the technique consumed his lifespan. After Mu Xiuyun confessed her feelings and kissed him, Lan Chang'an said he would leave the Mu Family once he reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer; meanwhile, Mu Xiuyun rallied the Marketplace’s merchants to demand stronger security.

• Lan Chang'an used the Evergreen Art’s healing secret art to revive Mu Xiuyun and learned that it cost him two months of lifespan.
• Mu Xiuyun identified the attackers as three masked Robber Cultivators led by a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator with a high-grade bow and a fast Flying Eagle Spirit Beast.
• Mu Xiuyun confessed that she had hoped to marry Lan Chang'an, and Lan Chang'an realized her heartbeat had stabilized and removed the White Bone Arrow.
• Mu Xiuyun swore not to reveal Lan Chang'an’s secret, then kissed him and asked whether he would leave; Lan Chang'an admitted he planned to leave the Mu Family after reaching the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
• After the attack caused a stir, Mu Xiuyun joined the Marketplace’s major merchants in pressuring the Maple Leaf Huang Family to strengthen security and deal with the Robber Cultivators.