Chapter Summaries

Lan Chang'an stabilized his cultivation at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer and received Zhang Tieshan, who brought Lin Lu to Yellow Dragon Immortal City for a fresh start and delivered Foundation Establishment Pill materials from Zhao Siyao. After Zhang Tieshan departed, Lan Chang'an joined Daoist Guan's banquet and realized the aging man might have less than ten years to live.

• Lan Chang'an read Li Erqing's letter about his cultivation and Mu Xiuyun's withdrawal from contact after failing to reach Foundation Establishment.
• Zhang Tieshan arrived with Lin Lu, whose squandered inheritance, failed romance, and stagnant cultivation had left him dispirited, and asked Lan Chang'an to look after him while he adjusted to Yellow Dragon Immortal City.
• Lan Chang'an agreed to help Lin Lu within reason, and Zhang Tieshan gave him Foundation Establishment Pill materials collected by Zhao Siyao as repayment for Lan Chang'an's past help.
• Zhang Tieshan discussed his search for the elusive Evil-Faced Flying Eagle, then left with Lin Lu after noticing Lan Chang'an's Mystic Water Turtle.
• Daoist Guan invited Lan Chang'an to a banquet, where Lan Chang'an saw that Guan Qiaozhi had grown up and sensed that Daoist Guan might not live another ten years.

Lan Chang'an advanced his alchemy skills while waiting for Alchemist Hua to refine Foundation Establishment Pills. He joined Su Yuetong and the other contributors at Alchemist Hua's residence, where the alchemist confirmed their materials were complete and warned that the number of pills would depend on the results.

• Lan Chang'an told Old Guan that Guan Qiaozhi could either work at the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family or come to his household, but said Old Guan should first ask her opinion.
• Lan Chang'an met Du Wei for a banquet, asked to observe Alchemist Hua's next pill-refining session, and handed Du Wei another portion of the alchemy inheritance.
• Two years later, Lan Chang'an had reached first-order high-grade alchemy and hit a bottleneck in the third layer of his body-refining art.
• Du Wei summoned Lan Chang'an, Su Yuetong, and Su Yuetong's Dao companion Nie Xiang to Alchemist Hua's residence.
• Alchemist Hua inspected the materials from Su Yuetong, Madam Liu, and Young Master Zhou, confirmed they could make Foundation Establishment Pills, and explained that the batch might yield one to three pills.

Lan Chang'an observed Alchemist Hua refine Foundation Establishment Pills and assessed his own prospects for obtaining a genuine pill. Three years later, Lan Chang'an broke through to the fourth layer of the Cloud Sand Body Refining Art and continued gathering Foundation Establishment materials and second-rank Talismans.

• Alchemist Hua refined three pills for Young Master Zhou, Su Yuetong, and Madam Liu's group, producing one genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, one inferior pill, and one ruined pill.
• Young Master Zhou took the genuine pill, while Su Yuetong gave the inferior pill to Nie Xiang and later arranged to trade it to Madam Liu for materials and Spirit Stones.
• Lan Chang'an concluded Alchemist Hua's Foundation Establishment pill-refining skills were average and planned to collect more valuable materials so he could claim a genuine pill in the future.
• Three years later, Lan Chang'an's Cloud Sand Body Refining Art reached its fourth layer, giving him a physique comparable to an early Second-Order demonic beast.
• Guan Qiaozhi helped Lan Chang'an after his breakthrough, and he learned that Lin Lu had advanced to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
• Lan Chang'an continued collecting Foundation Establishment materials and accumulated ten second-rank Talismans, including two Escape Talismans.

Lan Chang'an went to Su Yuetong’s residence to discuss a supposed Foundation Establishment Pill refining channel, but discovered that she and Nie Xiang had lured him into an ambush. He killed Su Yuetong and Nie Xiang’s demonic eagle, survived their attacks, and seized Nie Xiang’s Thunder Baleful Bead as Nie fled in black mist.

• Su Yuetong invited Lan Chang'an to her courtyard to discuss a better channel for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Lan Chang'an recognized Nie Xiang’s plot, crushed Su Yuetong’s hand, and resisted her poison and hidden attacks as Nie trapped them inside a formation.
• Nie Xiang and Su Yuetong attacked Lan Chang'an alongside Nie’s demonic eagle, but Lan Chang'an killed the eagle with a premium Golden Blade Talisman.
• Lan Chang'an withstood Nie Xiang’s White Bone Arrow and Su Yuetong’s Purple Soft Sword, then killed Su Yuetong with earth spikes.
• Nie Xiang threw a Thunder Baleful Bead at Lan Chang'an and fled under cover of black mist, but Lan Chang'an seized the bead with his spiritual sense.

Lan Chang'an killed Evil-Faced Flying Eagle and Su Yuetong, then seized their Foundation Establishment resources and concealed the full extent of his strength. He went to Golden Cloud Valley's station to report the kill, where Zhang Tieshan warned him about Su Yuetong and Lan Chang'an decided to reveal the truth to him.

• Lan Chang'an broke through Nie Xiang's defenses and killed him, revealing that he had deliberately baited Evil-Faced Flying Eagle and Su Yuetong into an ambush.
• Lan Chang'an collected the pair's treasures, including a Foundation Establishment Pill and many pill materials, and found that he was now short only one main ingredient and two rare auxiliary medicines.
• Lan Chang'an altered Evil-Faced Flying Eagle's corpse to make him appear aged, then prepared to pass the kill's credit to Zhao Siyao while hiding his own full strength.
• Lan Chang'an went to Golden Cloud Valley's station in Yellow Dragon Immortal City, where Zhang Tieshan warned him that Su Yuetong was suspected of being Evil-Faced Flying Eagle's mistress.
• Lan Chang'an privately told Zhang Tieshan that he had just dealt with Evil-Faced Flying Eagle, and Zhang Tieshan asked him to lead the way to the scene.

Lan Chang'an traded with Zhang Tieshan after Zhang took responsibility for Evil-Faced Flying Eagle's death, gaining materials for Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients and second-order talismans. As the incident subsided, Lan Chang'an turned to the first-order Longevity Pill among his spoils.

• Lan Chang'an gave Zhang Tieshan Illusion Heart Grass, second-order beast hide, and demon blood in exchange for Zhang claiming the kill and taking Evil-Faced Flying Eagle's remains and keepsakes.
• Lan Chang'an explained that he had killed Su Yuetong and Evil-Faced Flying Eagle with his Earth Rock Rat, body-refinement skills, talismans, and a Second-Order Attack Talisman.
• Zhang Tieshan agreed to report that he had killed Evil-Faced Flying Eagle alone because he needed merit and reputation for promotion in the Law Enforcement Hall.
• Yellow Dragon Immortal City's law-enforcement cultivators sealed Su Yuetong's courtyard, and Du Wei learned that Nie Xiang had been Evil-Faced Flying Eagle in disguise.
• Lan Chang'an reassured Du Wei that Evil-Faced Flying Eagle had been executed and denied helping with the kill.
• After the disturbance faded, Lan Chang'an took a first-order Longevity Pill from the spoils he had sorted.

Lan Chang'an extended his lifespan with a Longevity Pill and continued gathering Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients, but found Mystic Spirit Fruit nearly impossible to obtain. A letter from Li Erqing arrived with one piece of good news and one bad, leaving their contents undisclosed.

• Lan Chang'an swallowed a Longevity Pill, gained eight years of lifespan, and felt his Evergreen Mana strengthen.
• Lan Chang'an gathered nearly all the materials for a Foundation Establishment Pill, with only Mystic Spirit Fruit and February Tear still missing.
• Lan Chang'an turned fifty-nine as Daoist Guan grew weaker and Guan Qiaozhi took on more responsibility at her stall.
• Lan Chang'an attended a major auction, found no Mystic Spirit Fruit, and saw Foundation Establishment Pills draw intense competition from powerful cultivators.
• Lan Chang'an considered hunting a suitable Second-Order monster for its core as a backup ingredient, but decided not to risk going alone.
• The Earth Rock Rat brought Lan Chang'an a letter from Li Erqing containing one good piece of news and one bad piece of news.

Lan Chang'an learned that the Huang Family had allied with the Beast Taming Zhou Family, putting the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family at risk while the Zhou Family was distracted by conflict with the Ten Thousand Swords Zhuo Family. Two months later, Mu Ershun arrived at Yellow Dragon Immortal City to visit Lan Chang'an, leaving their reunion just beginning.

• Lan Chang'an read Li Erqing's letter about Mu Jiuan being taken as a disciple by a mysterious True Person and the Huang Family's growing alliance with the Beast Taming Zhou Family.
• Lan Chang'an realized the conflict between the Zhou Family and the Ten Thousand Swords Zhuo Family could leave the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family vulnerable to the Huang Family.
• Mu Ershun traveled to Yellow Dragon Immortal City and reunited with Lin Lu, bringing gifts despite Lin Lu's worry that he had come to collect an old debt.
• Lin Lu led Mu Ershun to Water Moon Residence, where Mu Ershun saw Lan Chang'an again and respectfully greeted him.

Lan Chang'an accepted Li Erqing's gift of Foundation Establishment materials, learned Mu Jiuan had left to study under a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and later mourned Daoist Guan with Guan Qiaozhi. At sixty-two, Lan Chang'an reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and Guan Qiaozhi approached him that night to attend him.

• Mu Ershun brought Lan Chang'an a gift of Foundation Establishment materials from his father, including the February Tear he needed.
• Mu Ershun told Lan Chang'an that Mu Jiuan had become a Foundation Establishment senior's disciple and left Jade Moon Lake.
• Two years later, Daoist Guan died of natural causes, and Lan Chang'an and Guan Qiaozhi carried out his simple funeral.
• After her mourning period, Guan Qiaozhi moved into Water Moon Residence and chose to serve Lan Chang'an despite his offer to let her reconsider.
• Lan Chang'an reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer at sixty-two, and Guan Qiaozhi prepared a celebration before offering to attend him in his bath.

Lan Chang'an extended his lifespan with a Longevity Pill and learned that Fu Xuemei had a Mystic Spirit Fruit and was seeking partners to refine Foundation Establishment Pills. Although the opportunity could bring him closer to a pill, he refused to cooperate because the powerful Fu Xuemei would leave him with little control.

• Lan Chang'an accepted Guan Qiaozhi's company and spent the night with her, then declined the yang-tonifying soup she prepared the next morning.
• Disguised as an elderly cultivator, Lan Chang'an attended an auction in Yellow Dragon's inner city, bought a first-rank Longevity Pill, and gained six years of lifespan after consuming it.
• Lan Chang'an asked Du Wei about Foundation Establishment Pill materials and learned that Fu Xuemei had a Mystic Spirit Fruit, which she intended to use to help her younger brother.
• Du Wei later told Lan Chang'an that Fu Xuemei was seeking partners to provide the remaining materials in exchange for an equal split of the pills.
• Lan Chang'an refused Du Wei's proposal, deciding that cooperating with the powerful Fu Xuemei would leave him without control.

Lan Chang'an waited for a chance to obtain a Mystic Spirit Fruit while improving his talisman-making and preparing to avoid the coming auction. Ten days before the auction, Mu Maode visited Water Moon Residence and reunited with Lan Chang'an after many years.

• Guan Qiaozhi sold Lan Chang'an's talismans and helped prepare Spirit Ink, while he kept her earnings and conduct in order.
• Lan Chang'an learned that Fu Xuemei's Mystic Spirit Fruit had helped a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, but he accepted that he had missed the opportunity.
• Lan Chang'an reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, increased his spiritual sense, and crafted three Second-Order Middle-Grade talismans.
• Guan Qiaozhi showed Lan Chang'an a Puppet Dog from Puppeteer Sang and prepared to attend the large-scale auction, while Lan Chang'an decided to stay home.
• Mu Maode arrived at Water Moon Residence and greeted Lan Chang'an, who recognized him from their meeting decades earlier.

Lan Chang'an agreed to privately ask Zhou Qingxuan whether the Zhou Family would sell the Mu Family an old Second-Order Spirit Beast. When he met her, she rejected the request, pointing to the Zhou Family's need for fighting strength amid its standoff with the Ten Thousand Swords Zhuo Family.

• Mu Maode asked Lan Chang'an to contact Zhou Qingxuan about helping the Mu Family acquire a Second-Order Spirit Beast, and Lan Chang'an agreed to make an introduction without joining the transaction.
• Mu Maode told Lan Chang'an that Zhou Qingxuan was staying at the Zhou Family residence in Yellow Dragon Immortal City for an auction.
• Lan Chang'an prepared carefully, disguised himself, and went to the Zhou Family residence, where Zhou Qingxuan received him.
• Lan Chang'an told Zhou Qingxuan that the Mu Family wanted to buy an old, weak Second-Order Spirit Beast.
• Zhou Qingxuan rebuked Lan Chang'an, saying the Zhou Family needed its Second-Order Spirit Beasts for its standoff with the Ten Thousand Swords Zhuo Family.

Lan Chang'an secured Zhou Qingxuan's help for the Mu Family and bought an Earth Spirit Pill for his Earth Rock Rat, then discovered the pill had abnormal medicinal properties. Outside the Zhou Family estate, he also recognized the woman sweeping there as Mu Yinglan, whose unhappy marriage had left her a servant.

• Lan Chang'an traded Zhou Qingxuan an Ice Roar talisman for her promise to meet with someone from the Mu Family after the auction.
• Lan Chang'an asked Zhou Qingxuan for an Earth Spirit Pill, and she sold him one for sixteen hundred Spirit Stones.
• Lan Chang'an passed Mu Yinglan sweeping the Zhou Family courtyard, and she broke down after recognizing him and recalling her unhappy marriage.
• Lan Chang'an recognized Mu Yinglan after leaving the estate but chose not to investigate her circumstances.
• Lan Chang'an examined the Earth Spirit Pill at Water Moon Residence and discovered it contained abnormal medicinal properties.

Lan Chang'an helped Mu Maode secure Zhou Qingxuan's token and gave him gifts for the Mu Family before preparing the Earth Rock Rat to consume a volatile Earth Spirit Pill. The rat survived the dangerous breakthrough, mutated into a High Grade Bloodline, and stabilized as an early Second-Order Monster Beast.

• Lan Chang'an decided to let the Earth Rock Rat try the abnormal Second-Order Earth Spirit Pill after the auction.
• Lan Chang'an sold the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle's spoils, bought Second-Order talisman materials, and later gave Mu Maode Zhou Qingxuan's token, three talismans, and a Jade Cylinder for Mu Xiuyun.
• Mu Maode left urgently to act for the Mu Family, and Lan Chang'an found the eight hundred Spirit Stones he had left behind.
• Lan Chang'an rented a cave abode and used two Second-Order formations to protect the Earth Rock Rat as it swallowed the Earth Spirit Pill and broke through.
• The pill's violent effects nearly killed the Earth Rock Rat, but Lan Chang'an used a secret healing technique that cost two months of lifespan to save it.
• The Earth Rock Rat stabilized as an early Second-Order Monster Beast, its bloodline improved to High Grade, and Lan Chang'an tested its enhanced abilities.

Lan Chang'an prepared to enter the Black Mist Mountain Range with Zhao Siyao in search of a Foundation Establishment opportunity, while investigating why Li Erqing had stopped replying to his letters. Zhao Siyao arrived with news that the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family had been devastated by war with the Maple Leaf Huang Family.

• Lan Chang'an spent two years accumulating Second-Order Talismans and considered hunting a special monster core in the Black Mist Mountain Range as a backup route to Foundation Establishment.
• After receiving Zhao Siyao's letter about her plans to train in the Black Mist Mountain Range, Lan Chang'an prepared his magical artifacts and talismans to accompany her.
• Lan Chang'an discovered that Li Erqing had not replied to his letters for two years and learned that the Maple Leaf Huang Family had escalated its conflict with the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family.
• Zhao Siyao arrived at Water Moon Residence, and Lan Chang'an asked her about the Jade Moon Lake Mu Family.
• Zhao Siyao told Lan Chang'an that the Maple Leaf Huang Family had besieged Jade Moon Lake, Mu Renlong was gravely wounded, Mu Maode had died, and Li Erqing was seriously injured.

Lan Chang'an learned how the Mu Family survived the Huang Family’s siege and uncovered how Li Erqing had obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill. He then recruited Zhao Siyao to join him in hunting a powerful monster in the Black Mist Mountain Range, and they agreed to set out in half a month.

• Zhao Siyao told Lan Chang'an that the Mu Family had repelled the Huang Family’s attack with Li Erqing’s new Foundation Establishment cultivation, a Second-Order Spirit Beast, stronger arrays, and Mu Xiuyun’s talismans, though both sides suffered losses.
• Zhao Siyao explained that Li Erqing’s son Mu Jiuan had offered a rare treasure to a True Person, who compensated Li Erqing with a Foundation Establishment Pill and took Mu Jiuan as his disciple.
• Lan Chang'an thanked Zhao Siyao for mediating between the families and helping persuade the Huang Family to withdraw.
• Zhao Siyao told Lan Chang'an she planned to temper herself in the Black Mist Mountain Range because her cultivation had stalled and her confidence had weakened.
• Lan Chang'an showed Zhao Siyao his talisman formation and Second-Order Earth Rock Rat to persuade her to help hunt a Second-Order Monster Beast for a special monster core.
• Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao agreed to travel to the Black Mist Mountain Range in half a month, while Zhao Siyao planned to buy supplies and stay at the Golden Cloud Valley station.

Lan Chang'an prepared for an expedition into the Black Mist Mountain Range with Zhao Siyao, acquiring puppets to strengthen his combat ability. After gathering valuable resources along the way, they killed a Second-Order bear demon, leaving Zhao Siyao delighted and Lan Chang'an assessing the beast's hide for talisman paper.

• Lan Chang'an bought an Avian Puppet and a Heavy Armor Humanoid Puppet from Puppeteer Sang in exchange for inferior second-order talismans and received a Puppet Control Art.
• Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao traveled from Yellow Dragon Immortal City into the Black Mist Mountain Range and proceeded on foot through its monster-beast territory.
• Lan Chang'an sent his Earth Rock Rat scouting and found a four-hundred-year-old Second-Order Blood Ink Flower.
• Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao fought a Second-Order bear demon, with Zhao Siyao attacking directly while Lan Chang'an used his puppets and bow for support.
• Zhao Siyao credited Lan Chang'an's help for the victory, while Lan Chang'an examined the bear demon's hide as potential material for Second-Order Talisman Paper.

Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao hunted Second-Order monster beasts in the Black Mist Mountain Range while searching for a special monster core. After finding a White Jade Python whose pure, neutral core could substitute for a Mystic Spirit Fruit, they attacked it, and the fight was underway when the chapter ended.

• Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao killed a bear demon, divided its materials, and met Green Bamboo Sect cultivators Chen Fuhai and Xiao Yingxue, who warned them about a dangerous Scorpion Armor Beast.
• Over the next two months, Lan Chang'an, Zhao Siyao, and the Earth Rock Rat killed two more early Second-Order beasts, then avoided a mid Second-Order Fire Lizard to prevent injuries.
• Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao found a White Jade Python's shed skin and tracked it to a hidden cave, where the Earth Rock Rat collapsed rocks around the entrance.
• Lan Chang'an froze the early Second-Order White Jade Python with an Ice Roar Talisman while Zhao Siyao struck it with the Thousand Mechanisms Umbrella.
• The White Jade Python injured Zhao Siyao and melted through her protective barrier, but she blocked its beam with a bronze mirror as Lan Chang'an activated a formation of sixteen lightning talismans around it.

Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao killed the White Jade Python and secured its demon core, then negotiated with Chen Fuhai and Xiao Yingxue to cooperate in refining Foundation Establishment Pills. The four agreed on the arrangement and traveled together toward Yellow Dragon Immortal City.

• Zhao Siyao, Lan Chang'an, and the Earth Rock Rat weakened the White Jade Python with their attacks until it fell, but its corpse suddenly revived and shot a deadly blood arrow that the Heavy Armor Puppet and Lan Chang'an's White Pearl blocked.
• Lan Chang'an confirmed the White Jade Python was dead and had the Earth Rock Rat retrieve its demon core before Chen Fuhai and Xiao Yingxue arrived and asked to buy it.
• Zhao Siyao defended Lan Chang'an, while he offered Chen Fuhai and Xiao Yingxue a chance to cooperate in refining Foundation Establishment Pills instead of selling the demon core.
• Lan Chang'an chose Alchemist Hua of Yellow Dragon Immortal City for the pill refinement, and Chen Fuhai and Xiao Yingxue agreed to supply the missing materials.
• Lan Chang'an, Zhao Siyao, Chen Fuhai, and Xiao Yingxue set out together for Yellow Dragon Immortal City, traveling cautiously through the Black Mist Mountain Range.

Lan Chang'an and his companions encountered two fighting wolf demons, but the apparent Pale Moon Wolf was an illusion created by a Heavenly Moon Wolf. The Heavenly Moon Wolf killed Xiao Yingxue and wounded Chen Fuhai and Zhao Siyao, leaving Lan Chang'an to flee with Zhao Siyao as the Black Wind Wolf pursued them.

• Lan Chang'an refused to join Chen Fuhai and Xiao Yingxue in killing the apparent Pale Moon Wolf, while Zhao Siyao agreed to help them.
• Chen Fuhai attacked the weakened-looking Pale Moon Wolf, but the illusion vanished and revealed the Black Wind Wolf unharmed.
• The Heavenly Moon Wolf emerged beneath the full moon and killed Xiao Yingxue with a surprise strike.
• The Heavenly Moon Wolf wounded Chen Fuhai and Zhao Siyao, while the Black Wind Wolf pursued Zhao Siyao.
• Lan Chang'an helped Zhao Siyao escape the Black Wind Wolf, then grabbed her hand and flew away with her.