Chapter Summaries

After Mu Xiuyun survived an attack by the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle, Lan Chang'an learned that the Huang Family planned to strengthen Marketplace security while raising management fees. Three years later, Lan Chang'an had reached the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and begun a relationship with Mu Xiuyun, while a major Bamboo Leaf Mountain auction featuring a Foundation Establishment Pill drew near.

• Mu Xiuyun told Lan Chang'an that the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle had attacked her, and that the Huang Family would compensate affected merchants, strengthen security, and raise management fees by thirty percent.
• Huang Yu admitted to his uncle-grandfather that he had provided the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle with information about Mu Xiuyun, while the elder warned him not to endanger the Huang Family's plans for the Marketplace.
• Over the next three years, Lan Chang'an advanced to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, stayed in the Marketplace, and became romantically involved with Mu Xiuyun while secretly preserving his dragon essence.
• Lan Chang'an visited the stall district and a teahouse, where he heard cultivators discussing the upcoming auction and its Foundation Establishment Pill, spirit artifacts, Longevity Pills, and spirit beasts.
• Lan Chang'an learned that Zhao Siyao and Lin Yi planned to attend the auction as visitors continued to arrive at Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market.

As the auction approached, Lan Chang'an reunited with Zhao Siyao, Lin Yi, and Li Ergou, while Lin Yi’s son looked down on Mu Ershun. Lan Chang'an’s closeness with Mu Xiuyun became obvious, and the chapter ended as Mu Maode noticed something about them and Mu Renlong silently approved.

• Li Ergou visited Lan Chang'an and Mu Ershun, lamenting that he had been stuck at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer for years.
• Zhao Siyao and Lin Yi arrived at Bamboo Leaf Mountain, reuniting with Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou twenty years after their first meeting.
• Lin Yi introduced his son Lin Lu to Mu Ershun, while Lin Lu’s superior status and dismissive attitude became clear.
• Mu Xiuyun served tea and showed her closeness to Lan Chang'an, prompting suspicion from Zhao Siyao, Li Ergou, and Lin Yi.
• Lan Chang'an agreed to attend the auction with Mu Xiuyun, and the two spent the night together.
• On auction day, Mu Maode noticed Mu Xiuyun standing close to Lan Chang'an, and Mu Renlong appeared to approve.

At the Bamboo Leaf Mountain auction, Mu Renlong endorsed Lan Chang'an marrying Mu Xiuyun, then the Mu Family attended as honored guests. Lan Chang'an bid aggressively on a First-Order Longevity Pill to test its effect on his Evergreen Art, angering the elderly cultivators competing for it.

• Mu Renlong told Lan Chang'an he would support him marrying into the Mu Family, leaving Mu Maode to reconsider his objections.
• The Mu Family entered the Bamboo Leaf Mountain auction, where Lan Chang'an spotted Li Ergou, Zhao Siyao, and Lin Yi among the attendees.
• The auction opened with Clear Qi Pills and an Azure Steel Twin Swords set, but Lan Chang'an held back his bids.
• When the First-Order Longevity Pills came up, Lan Chang'an bid four hundred Spirit Stones and explained that he wanted to make up for entering cultivation late.
• Lan Chang'an raised his bid to four hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, prompting elderly bidders to accuse the Mu Family of competing with them for lifespan.

Lan Chang'an won the first Longevity Pill at the auction despite angering elderly cultivators, then watched the Zhou Family present rare spirit beasts, including a weakened Mystic Water Turtle egg with an Earth Grade Bloodline. The egg went up for bidding, and Lan Chang'an considered its unusually long lifespan an advantage.

• Lan Chang'an bid five hundred Spirit Stones for the first Longevity Pill, overcoming the elderly cultivators competing for it.
• Mu Renlong urged Lan Chang'an not to bid for another Longevity Pill, and the remaining two sold for more than five hundred fifty Spirit Stones each.
• Lan Chang'an accepted the pill and paid for it, while the auction continued with other items and Mu Xiuyun bought a Youth Preserving Pill.
• Zhou Qingxuan joined the Feather Robe Old Man to present the Zhou Family's spirit beasts and young beasts for auction.
• The Feather Robe Old Man introduced a Mystic Water Turtle egg with an Earth Grade Bloodline, and Zhou Qingxuan disclosed that its vitality was weaker than normal.
• Lan Chang'an considered the turtle's long lifespan appealing as the Mystic Water Turtle egg opened for bidding at two hundred forty Spirit Stones.

Lan Chang'an won a weak Mystic Water Turtle Egg at the auction, then discovered that hatching it would cost far more than he had paid. As the auction reached its climax, the Yu River Ning Family bought a flawed Foundation Establishment Pill, but Huang Changling refused their request to use Bamboo Leaf Mountain’s Second-Order Spiritual Vein for a breakthrough.

• Lan Chang'an bought the Mystic Water Turtle Egg for three hundred eighty Spirit Stones and sensed Liang Shaotian’s sinister divine sense at the auction.
• Zhou Qingxuan gave Lan Chang'an a Jade Cylinder detailing the egg’s poor condition and the high cost of hatching it, while Lan Chang'an dismissed his purchase as a way to live up to his nickname.
• Zhou Jingxuan bought the Cold Moon Blade for the Zhou Family, and the Zhou Family also won a Blood Spirit Pill.
• The Yu River Ning Family bought the flawed Foundation Establishment Pill for four thousand Spirit Stones.
• Old Ning asked Huang Changling to let his grandson attempt Foundation Establishment on Bamboo Leaf Mountain, but Huang Changling refused because the mountain’s Second-Order Spiritual Vein supported the Marketplace’s Protective Array.

After the auction, the Ning Family hired Heaven Guard Tower to escort them home, while Liang Shaotian attacked the Beast Taming Zhou Family near Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market. Liang drove off the Huang Family cultivators with his Black Astral Demonic Flame, then spared the Marketplace, claiming he did so for Senior Yan.

• Huang Changling arranged for Bodyguard Pang and Heaven Guard Tower to escort the Ning Family home for fifteen hundred spirit stones.
• Liang Shaotian intercepted Zhou Jingxuan's Flying Boat and demanded the Cold Moon Blade and Blood Spirit Pill.
• Liang Shaotian badly wounded Zhou Jingxuan, took the offered Storage Bag, and ordered Zhou Qingxuan to sever her uncle's arm.
• Huang Tankong and Huang Changling rushed to confront Liang Shaotian, but fled when he revealed the Black Astral Demonic Flame and activated the Marketplace's Second-Order Defensive Array.
• Liang Shaotian approached the array, noticed Lan Chang'an, then left without attacking Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market, saying he spared it for Senior Yan.

After Liang Shaotian left Bamboo Leaf Mountain, Lan Chang'an tested the First-Order Longevity Pill and discovered that it added ten years to his lifespan and slightly strengthened his mana. The market recovered, while Zhou Qingxuan chose to stay and investigate the mysterious Senior Yan; Lan Chang'an ended the chapter taking out a dark gray turtle egg.

• Liang Shaotian left Bamboo Leaf Mountain as robber and Evil Path cultivators attacked cultivators outside the marketplace, then recalled the ancient records identifying Yan Donglai as a Nascent Soul great cultivator.
• Huang Tankong and Huang Changling sought an audience with Senior Yan, then visited the injured Zhou Jingxuan and learned how Zhou Qingxuan had saved him by preserving and reattaching his severed arm.
• Zhou Qingxuan told Zhou Jingxuan she wanted to stay at Bamboo Leaf Mountain and investigate Senior Yan, despite his warning against excessive curiosity.
• Two days later, Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market returned to normal, though the auction's violence left the marketplace less popular for years afterward.
• Lan Chang'an swallowed the First-Order Longevity Pill and found that it added ten years to his lifespan while slightly increasing his mana.
• Lan Chang'an considered seeking more lifespan-extending treasures and took out a dark gray turtle egg.

Lan Chang'an stabilized the failing Mystic Water Turtle Egg with Evergreen Mana and later used his healing secret art to strengthen it at the cost of six months of lifespan. He saw Zhao Siyao off as she left to train in the Black Mist Mountain Range, then continued his quiet life until Zhou Qingxuan departed and he resumed treating the egg.

• Lan Chang'an found that the Mystic Water Turtle Egg was near death and used Evergreen Mana to halt its decline, though he expected its hatchling to be sickly.
• Lan Chang'an saw Zhao Siyao off as she set out for Yellow Dragon Immortal City and the Black Mist Mountain Range to temper herself and seek a path to Foundation Establishment.
• Lan Chang'an gave Zhao Siyao a Swiftness Talisman and a Spring Return Talisman, and she accepted them before departing.
• Over the following years, Lan Chang'an remained at the Marketplace and advanced his Cloud Sand Body Refining Art to its third layer, while Zhou Qingxuan continued searching for Senior Yan.
• After Zhou Qingxuan left, Lan Chang'an used the Evergreen Art's healing secret art on the Mystic Water Turtle Egg, spending six months of lifespan to restore its vitality and improve its constitution.

Lan Chang'an raised a Mystic Water Turtle from an egg and, years later, learned from Zhao Siyao that Lin Yi had died after being gravely wounded in an ambush. He traveled with Li Ergou to mourn Lin Yi, where his words offered comfort to those shaken by their friend’s death.

• Lan Chang'an hatched the Mystic Water Turtle, warned the Earth Rock Rat to treat it as a master, and raised the clingy cub until it reached Qi Refining Early-Stage.
• Lan Chang'an received Zhao Siyao’s letter reporting that Lin Yi had died from injuries sustained while helping Golden Cloud Valley disciples pursue an Evil Cultivator.
• Lan Chang'an and Mu Xiuyun traveled to Jade Moon Lake, where Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou decided to go mourn Lin Yi; Mu Xiuyun lent them her Flying Boat.
• Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou reached Lin Yi’s Hidden Immortal Pavilion stronghold near Hengshui City, where Zhao Siyao and Lin Lu were gathered by his grave.
• Li Ergou broke down grieving Lin Yi and lamented the dangers of the cultivation path, while Lan Chang'an offered a hopeful reflection on continuing the Immortal Path.

After Lin Yi’s funeral, Lan Chang'an returned to the Mu Family and continued cultivating until he reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. With his strength and prospects improved, he prepared to leave the family and pursue opportunities beyond its Spiritual Vein.

• At Lin Yi’s funeral, Zhang Tieshan explained how Lin Yi’s work with him had led to his later role in Hidden Immortal Pavilion and ultimately his death in an ambush, while the gathered cultivators promised to protect Lin Lu and his inheritance.
• Lan Chang'an learned from Lin Lu that Xia Feilun had been forced to take poison and die, and heard that Lin Yi had urged his son to learn from him.
• Zhao Siyao told Lan Chang'an she had secured a Foundation Establishment Pill and thanked him for the talismans that had helped her in the Black Mist Mountain Range.
• After returning to Jade Moon Mountain Villa, Lan Chang'an returned Mu Xiuyun’s Flying Boat and declined her offer to remain as chief talisman master in exchange for a Jade Azure Pill.
• Lan Chang'an secluded himself at Lakeside Courtyard and, after one or two years, advanced to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer at age forty-five, gaining the strength to consider leaving the Mu Family.

After Lan Chang'an reached the seventh layer of Qi Refining, Mu Renlong offered him a choice between serving the Mu Family as a guest elder and marrying into the clan, but Lan declined for now and amicably ended their cooperation. He and Li Ergou traveled to Golden Cloud Valley for Zhao Siyao’s Foundation Establishment celebration, where Zhao gave Li a Jade Azure Pill and learned he had renamed himself Li Erqing.

• Lan Chang'an celebrated reaching Qi Refining Seventh Layer with Li Ergou and received Zhao Siyao’s invitation to her Foundation Establishment celebration.
• Mu Renlong offered Lan Chang'an guest-elder status or marriage into the Mu Family, but Lan said he would consider it later and left the family on amicable terms.
• Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou departed for Golden Cloud Valley, and Li changed his name from Li Changqing to Li Erqing at Lan’s suggestion.
• After a ten-day journey, Lan Chang'an and Li Erqing arrived at Golden Cloud Valley, where Zhao Siyao welcomed them as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Zhao Siyao gave Li Erqing a Jade Azure Pill as a return gift and learned that he had changed his name.

Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou attended Zhao Siyao's Foundation Establishment Small Celebration at Golden Cloud Valley, where the gulf between sect cultivators and ordinary clan cultivators left Li Ergou feeling out of place. After learning more about the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle and seeing Li Ergou's spirits sink, Lan Chang'an prepared to take him somewhere before leaving the Mu Family.

• Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou arrived at Zhao Siyao's cave abode and felt the pressure of the many Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered there.
• Zhao Siyao introduced them as old friends from the Mu Family, while Li Ergou struggled to feel comfortable among the sect disciples.
• Zhang Tieshan arrived, spoke with Lan Chang'an, and revealed that the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle had once employed the Evil Cultivators responsible for Lin's death.
• Jiao Lechi pressed Li Ergou for details about Zhao Siyao's Foundation Establishment, but Zhao Siyao stopped him when Li Ergou could no longer handle the wine.
• Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou left Golden Cloud Valley, and Lan Chang'an, seeing Li Ergou's low spirits, said he would take him somewhere.

Lan Chang'an brought Li Erqing to Five Peaks Market, where music helped him accept Lan Chang'an's departure for Yellow Dragon Immortal City. After Li Erqing returned to the Mu Family and broke through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, Lan Chang'an continued north and arrived near the city, where he witnessed masked cultivators murder a family and heard them boast of killing Golden Cloud Valley disciples.

• Lan Chang'an took Li Erqing to Hundred Fragrance Immortal Pavilion and told him he planned to leave the Mu Family for Yellow Dragon Immortal City.
• Lan Chang'an advised Li Erqing to attempt a breakthrough without the Jade Azure Pill before bringing him back to Jade Moon Lake and departing north.
• Li Erqing broke through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, and Mu Caiwei reported that his son Mu Jiuan had a Mid-Grade Spiritual Root.
• Lan Chang'an flew north for four or five months and reached the barren mountains less than one thousand li from Yellow Dragon Immortal City.
• Lan Chang'an witnessed two masked cultivators kill a family of three, then stopped when he heard them boast that they had also ambushed and killed Golden Cloud Valley disciples.

Lan Chang'an killed two followers of the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle and reached Yellow Dragon Immortal City, where he began looking for a place to live. In the inner city, he unexpectedly encountered Daoist Guan and his granddaughter.

• Lan Chang'an entered the concealment formation and, with an Earth Rock Rat's ambush and his own artifacts, killed two masked men who had attacked Golden Cloud Valley disciples.
• Lan Chang'an collected the spoils and flew toward Yellow Dragon Immortal City, while a bamboo-hatted man arrived at the battlefield and transformed into a graceful young master before following him.
• Lan Chang'an reached Yellow Dragon Immortal City, registered his identity, and obtained an identity token.
• Lan Chang'an decided to rent a house in the inner city rather than live in the outer city or on Yellow Dragon Mountain.
• An old Daoist recognized Lan Chang'an in a street alley, and Lan Chang'an realized the man was Daoist Guan.

Lan Chang'an reunited with Daoist Guan, the cultivator who had guided him onto the immortal path, and met Guan's disciple, Guan Qiaozhi. While helping them and looking for an inner-city residence, Lan Chang'an found a courtyard near Alchemist Du Wei's estate, hoping the connection might help him obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.

• Lan Chang'an reunited with Daoist Guan after nearly thirty years and met Guan Qiaozhi, whom Guan introduced as his disciple.
• Lan Chang'an treated Guan as the benefactor who had guided him into cultivation and hosted Guan and Guan Qiaozhi at Fragrant Aroma Pavilion.
• Daoist Guan told Lan Chang'an about his difficult years in Yellow Dragon Immortal City and how he and Guan Qiaozhi earned a living selling talisman-making materials.
• Daoist Guan showed Lan Chang'an a quiet courtyard for rent in Brocade District, and Lan Chang'an learned that the neighboring estate belonged to high-grade alchemist Du Wei, a disciple of Alchemist Hua.
• Lan Chang'an decided to rent the courtyard, hoping to make contact with Alchemist Hua and pursue a private route to obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Lan Chang'an settled into Water Moon Residence in Yellow Dragon Immortal City, met his neighbors, and continued his steady cultivation. Two and a half years later, he reflected on reaching thirty years of cultivation and the greater potential of his current life.

• Lan Chang'an leased Water Moon Residence for ten years, moved in, and received help from Guan Qiaozhi as he prepared his new home.
• Su Yuetong visited Lan Chang'an with pastries, and he recognized that her apparent Qi Refining Sixth Layer concealed her true Eighth Layer cultivation.
• Lan Chang'an visited Alchemist Du Wei, gave him talismans, and considered using Du Wei to make an introduction to Alchemist Hua.
• Lan Chang'an met Puppeteer Sang, learned that he could only make first-order mid-grade puppets, and found they did not suit his needs.
• After settling in Water Moon Residence, Lan Chang'an cultivated for two and a half years and reflected on his thirty years of cultivation and the soul projections within the Nine Imprint Tablet.

Lan Chang'an cared for his Mystic Water Turtle Cub, learned from letters that Mu Xiuyun’s Foundation Establishment attempt had failed and Zhao Siyao could not provide him a sect Foundation Establishment Pill, then began selling stolen magic tools in Yellow Dragon Immortal City. After successfully fencing several tools without attracting attention, he concluded that the city offered a safe market for ordinary stolen goods.

• Lan Chang'an observed that his Evergreen Art cultivation accelerated the Mystic Water Turtle Cub’s cultivation and bloodline growth, and noted its emerging defensive and water-based talents.
• Lan Chang'an read Li Erqing’s letter, learned that Li Erqing had reached Qi Refining Seventh Layer and that Mu Xiuyun had failed her Foundation Establishment attempt, and read Zhao Siyao’s explanation that sect Foundation Establishment Pills could not be sold to outsiders.
• Lan Chang'an decided to sell his unused magic tools to fund his plans for obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Lan Chang'an disguised himself and sold three magic tools for 180 Spirit Stones at a shop that bought secondhand tools.
• Lan Chang'an changed identities, sold four more magic tools for over 200 Spirit Stones, and returned to the crowd without being followed.
• Lan Chang'an inferred that Yellow Dragon Immortal City’s shops quietly bought stolen goods and likely sheltered many unidentified Evil Cultivators and Robber Cultivators.

Lan Chang'an defended Daoist Guan and Guan Qiaozhi from market bullies by invoking his Golden Cloud Valley connection, then learned Alchemist Du had once sought Guan Qiaozhi as a concubine. The next day, Du Wei invited Lan Chang'an to celebrate his new concubine three days later.

• Lan Chang'an sold stolen magic artifacts, visited Daoist Guan's stall, and praised Guan Qiaozhi's Talisman Paper.
• Three cultivators threatened Daoist Guan over his Talisman prices, but Lan Chang'an drove them off by identifying himself as a High-Grade Talisman Master with a Foundation Establishment friend in Golden Cloud Valley.
• Daoist Guan invited Lan Chang'an home for dinner, where he revealed that Alchemist Du had asked to take thirteen-year-old Guan Qiaozhi as a concubine three years earlier.
• The next day, Lan Chang'an received an invitation from Du Wei to attend a wedding feast for his new concubine three days later.

Lan Chang'an attended Du Wei's celebration and used his gift and a promised alchemist inheritance to build a relationship with him. After learning that Su Yuetong sought Alchemist Hua's help arranging a Foundation Establishment Pill, Lan Chang'an left with a plan to use Du Wei's interest in the inheritance to secure his future assistance.

• Lan Chang'an gave Du Wei six Mid-Grade Talismans and two High-Grade Talismans at his celebration and was seated in the main hall.
• Su Yuetong arrived with a gift worth two or three hundred Spirit Stones, and Lan Chang'an suspected she wanted help obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill for the man behind her.
• Du Wei invited Lan Chang'an and Su Yuetong to his residence, where Su Yuetong asked him to introduce her to Alchemist Hua and learned that his appointments were booked ten years ahead.
• Du Wei explained that Foundation Establishment Pill materials should be gathered with other cultivators, and Su Yuetong said her group had most of the ingredients but lacked one or two main ones.
• Lan Chang'an told Du Wei he had no immediate need for pills but offered to show him an alchemist's inheritance, making Du Wei more receptive to him.
• Lan Chang'an left intending to offer Du Wei part of a second-order alchemist inheritance as bait and use their growing relationship to obtain help later.

Lan Chang'an spent years gathering materials for a Foundation Establishment Pill while secretly advancing his Second-Order talisman skills. After reaching the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, he received a visit from a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

• Lan Chang'an asked Zhao Siyao to gather non-key Foundation Establishment Pill materials and continued searching for materials in Yellow Dragon Immortal City.
• Lan Chang'an bought a Second-Order Talisman Brush, grew closer to Du Wei by sharing part of an alchemy inheritance, and drew a Second-Order Low Grade Lightning Talisman.
• Du Wei brought Lan Chang'an and Su Yuetong to meet Alchemist Hua, but an honored guest from Yellow Dragon Mountain prevented the meeting.
• Du Wei apologized by offering Lan Chang'an a choice of his wives and concubines, but Lan Chang'an declined.
• Over the next three years, Lan Chang'an cared for his Mystic Water Turtle and advanced to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer at age fifty-three.
• A Foundation Establishment cultivator visited Lan Chang'an at Water Moon Residence.