Chapter Summaries

Lan Chang'an bought a Second-Order Longevity Pill at the Yellow Dragon Auction and considered how to use spirit wood to refine treasure talismans. After the auction, Tuoba Jin challenged He Yuanwu and fought him to a standstill, leaving Lan Chang'an to suspect Yellow Dragon Immortal City was approaching a turning point.

• Lan Chang'an bid against Huang Tankong and bought the second Second-Order Longevity Pill for twenty-four hundred Spirit Stones.
• At the auction’s finale, Lan Chang'an saw a Talisman Treasure and an embryonic magical treasure sell for enormous prices, and planned to use Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo for treasure-talisman blanks.
• After Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao left the auction, Tuoba Jin challenged He Yuanwu over their past conflict in the Azure Underworld Secret Realm.
• He Yuanwu and Tuoba Jin fought from day until sunset, until an aged voice ordered them to stop.
• Tuoba Jin departed after declaring that a Pseudo-Core True Person was only so strong, and Lan Chang'an realized Yellow Dragon Immortal City might face a historic turning point.

Lan Chang'an left Yellow Dragon Immortal City and settled on Small Turtle Peak at Wuqi Mountain, where he established his new home with Guan Qiaozhi. After the peak masters signed a joint lease, Lin Ye revealed that Alchemist Hua was his junior brother and said he understood Hua Heng's schemes against Lan Chang'an.

• Lan Chang'an completed a talisman-material trade with Zhou Qingxuan, then left Yellow Dragon Immortal City with Guan Qiaozhi.
• Fu Dong arrived at Water Moon Residence three days after Lan Chang'an's departure and learned from Du Wei that Lan Chang'an had already left.
• Lan Chang'an and Guan Qiaozhi arrived at Small Turtle Peak, and Guan Qiaozhi eagerly set about making their new Daoist grounds beautiful.
• Lan Chang'an and Guan Qiaozhi finished setting up the mountain, and Lan Chang'an assigned the Mystic Water Turtle to water the fields and plants.
• Lan Chang'an, Lin Ye, and Shi Manrong signed a joint lease for Wuqi Mountain, and Lin Ye later told Lan Chang'an that Alchemist Hua was his junior brother and that he suspected Hua Heng had schemed against him.

Lan Chang'an settled into Small Turtle Peak, extended his lifespan with a Second-Order Longevity Pill, and began crafting a Treasure Talisman. After Shi Manrong installed a mountain-protecting formation, she asked whether she could forgo payment.

• Lin Ye told Lan Chang'an that Alchemist Hua had received a secret pill-refining method and warned him that Hua had deceived Lin's beloved junior sister.
• Lan Chang'an declined to recruit servants, instructed Lan Lin about selling his talismans, and sent three letters to other factions.
• Lan Chang'an consumed a Second-Order Longevity Pill, gaining twenty-three years of life and slightly strengthening his Evergreen Mana.
• Lan Chang'an used Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo to make four Treasure Talisman blanks and successfully drew the first embryonic Lightning Treasure Talisman.
• Shi Manrong installed a Second-Order Illusion Moon Water Killing Formation on Small Turtle Peak, then asked Lan Chang'an whether she could accept something other than Spirit Stones for payment.

Over seven years, Lan Chang'an advanced his body-refinement art, helped Guan Qiaozhi reach Qi Refining Late-Stage, and continued to keep his private affairs and formations guarded. The chapter ended with two surges of magical energy rising in his secret chamber as he turned eighty.

• Lan Chang'an refused Shi Manrong's offer of a second-rank array inheritance in exchange for studying his secret defensive array.
• Lan Chang'an broke through to the fifth layer of the Cloud Sand Body Refining Art, gaining physical strength comparable to a mid-second-rank demonic beast.
• Lan Chang'an received Li Erqing's letter reporting that Jade Moon Lake's conflict had settled and the Zhuo and Zhou families had ceased hostilities.
• Lan Chang'an agreed with Shi Manrong's advice and bought a Jade Azure Pill, which Guan Qiaozhi used to advance to Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
• Chen Sheng asked Lan Chang'an to help him live near Shi Manrong and watch out for her pursuers, but Lan Chang'an refused to sublease Small Turtle Peak.
• Seven years later, when Lan Chang'an turned eighty, two surges of magical energy rose inside his secret chamber.

At eighty, Lan Chang'an advanced to the second level of Foundation Establishment and received news about old friends and their descendants. Mu Jiuan arrived at Small Turtle Peak with his wife to pay respects, leaving Yu Yufu struck by how much her husband resembled Lan Chang'an—and how much less impressive he seemed beside him.

• Lan Chang'an advanced to the second level of Foundation Establishment, while the Mystic Water Turtle reached late first rank, and he prepared his nurtured Treasure Talismans for further growth.
• Lan Chang'an read Li Erqing's letter about Mu Jiuan's success as a Foundation Establishment cultivator and agreed to support Lin Lu's preparations for Foundation Establishment alongside his old friends.
• Lan Chang'an learned that Mu Jiuan would visit him, then received Mu Jiuan and his Dao companion Yu Yufu at Small Turtle Peak.
• Yu Yufu noticed Lan Chang'an's spirit pets and elegant mountain, then saw that Mu Jiuan resembled Lan Chang'an in appearance and bearing.
• Mu Jiuan and Yu Yufu bowed to Lan Chang'an, while Yu Yufu privately judged her husband less impressive by comparison.

Lan Chang'an received Mu Jiuan, then dealt with Chen Sheng's attempt to force his way onto Small Turtle Peak before accepting Shi Manrong's invitation. When Shi Manrong and Lan Chang'an grew close over wine, he made clear he would not father children, and she abruptly withdrew.

• Lan Chang'an welcomed Mu Jiuan and Yu Yufu, learned Mu Jiuan had come to Liang Kingdom with his master, and saw the couple leave after a brief visit.
• Mu Jiuan told Yu Yufu he had returned only because his father insisted and resented how his father favored Mu Ershun.
• Chen Sheng tried to force his way into Small Turtle Peak, but Guan Qiaozhi activated the protection array and Shi Manrong ordered him away.
• Shi Manrong invited Lan Chang'an and Guan Qiaozhi to dinner as an apology, and Guan Qiaozhi drank enough Green Plum Spirit Wine to fall asleep.
• Shi Manrong drew close to Lan Chang'an under the wine's mood-kindling effect, but he said in advance that he would leave no offspring, causing her to step away.

Lan Chang'an kept Shi Manrong at a distance despite their intimate encounter, then continued developing his puppet craft and seeking resources for his cultivation. After lending Zhang Tieshan supplies for Lin Lu's Foundation Establishment, Lan Chang'an bought a Second-Order Longevity Pill and spirit wood at auction and wrote to Chen Fuhai to inquire about third-order spirit wood.

• Shi Manrong used a push-and-pull seduction on Lan Chang'an, but he left with Guan Qiaozhi without pursuing a relationship.
• Guan Qiaozhi offered to become Lan Chang'an's concubine or maidservant, and he assured her that she mattered more to him than Shi Manrong.
• Shi Manrong asked to stay at Lan Chang'an's residence to study its formation, but he refused and questioned why she wanted it so badly.
• Lan Chang'an advanced his puppet craft, put low- and mid-grade Puppets to work on Small Turtle Peak, and left three high-grade Puppets with Guan Qiaozhi for protection.
• Lan Chang'an lent Zhang Tieshan five hundred Spirit Stones' worth of supplies for Lin Lu's Foundation Establishment and learned about distant sources of third-order spirit wood.
• At an auction in Yellow Dragon Immortal City, Lan Chang'an bought a Second-Order Longevity Pill and second-order superior-grade spirit wood, then wrote to Chen Fuhai to ask about third-order spirit wood.

Lan Chang'an continued nurturing Treasure Talismans and received visits from Lin Lu and Mu Renlong. After helping Mu Renlong meet an alchemist, Lan Chang'an parted with him, unaware it would be their last meeting.

• Lan Chang'an took a Second-Order Longevity Pill, then spent a year nurturing nine Treasure Talismans together.
• Lin Lu visited Lan Chang'an after reaching Foundation Establishment, repaid his debt, and explained how he had obtained his Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Lan Chang'an advised Lin Lu to act carefully now that his family's legacy had been exhausted.
• Lan Chang'an declined to commit to traveling to the Green Bamboo Sect for Third-Order Spirit Bamboo and offered to buy Second-Order Spirit Bamboo instead.
• Mu Renlong visited Lan Chang'an seeking help with a pill to advance to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and Lan Chang'an introduced him to Lin Ye.
• Mu Renlong thanked Lan Chang'an and left to gather materials, while Lan Chang'an did not realize it was their final parting.

Mu Yunfei told Lan Chang'an that Mu Renlong had been fatally wounded by Huang Tankong, leaving the Mu Family vulnerable to division. Lan Chang'an declined to return to Jade Moon Lake, but secretly followed Mu Yunfei and discovered Huang Tankong's ambush and his own formidable spiritual sense.

• Mu Yunfei arrived at Wuqi Mountain and told Lan Chang'an that Huang Tankong had gravely wounded Mu Renlong in an ambush.
• Lan Chang'an read Mu Xiuyun's letter, learned she hoped he would visit Mu Renlong, and decided he could not reach him in time or risk exposing his secret.
• Lan Chang'an gave Mu Yunfei food and restored his strength, then declined to accompany him back to Jade Moon Lake.
• Huang Tankong and Huang Changling discussed their plan to weaken the Mu Family and their concern that Lan Chang'an might help it later.
• Lan Chang'an secretly tracked Mu Yunfei and overheard Huang Tankong reveal that he had only about half a year to live.
• Lan Chang'an used the Nine Imprint Tablet's amplified spiritual sense to observe Huang Tankong and Huang Changling from several li away.

Lan Chang'an killed Huang Changling in a carefully concealed ambush and took the Huang Family cultivator’s wealth, including most of the materials for a Foundation Establishment Pill. After returning to Wuqi Mountain and later reaching Jade Moon Lake, he found that Huang Tankong had not ambushed him along the expected route and was greeted by an exhausted Li Erqing.

• Lan Chang'an decided not to confront Huang Tankong, whose remaining lifespan was short but whose desperate ambush could still be dangerous.
• Lan Chang'an used a puppet, a spiritual-sense attack, and a second-rank high-grade Lightning Talisman to kill Huang Changling, then removed the corpse and evidence.
• Lan Chang'an found Huang Changling’s spoils included over three thousand Spirit Stones, valuable magic items, and most of the materials needed for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Lan Chang'an returned to Wuqi Mountain, assessed the risk of the Huang Family suspecting him, and later disposed of Huang Changling’s corpse.
• Lan Chang'an traveled toward Jade Moon Lake cautiously but did not find Huang Tankong lying in wait along the expected route.
• Li Erqing greeted Lan Chang'an at Moon Heart Island, exhausted and relieved that he had returned.

Lan Chang'an returned to Jade Moon Lake, where Mu Renlong had died and the Mu Family faced uncertainty over Li Erqing’s growing influence. After discovering that Mu Bingyun’s injuries had damaged her foundation, Lan Chang'an offered to take her away for years of treatment, and she chose to follow him; he then reconsidered the danger posed by Huang Tankong.

• Lan Chang'an learned that Mu Renlong had been buried and saw how unsettled the Mu Family had become under Li Erqing’s position as its only Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Lan Chang'an advised Li Erqing to leave family management to Mu Chengji and Mu Xiuyun, cultivate a Mu clan member to Foundation Establishment, and consider an independent family if his lineage outgrew Jade Moon Lake.
• Lan Chang'an learned that Mu Bingyun had been ambushed by unidentified Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators and suffered lasting damage to her dantian and foundation.
• Lan Chang'an examined Mu Bingyun and offered to slowly treat her with a health-nurturing technique if she left the Mu Family and followed him for years.
• Mu Bingyun decided to leave with Lan Chang'an, hoping her future would differ from Mu Xiuyun's.
• Lan Chang'an returned to the Lakeside Courtyard and resolved to find Huang Tankong, whom he now regarded as a lingering threat.

Lan Chang'an tracked Huang Tankong to an abandoned mine near Jade Moon Lake and wore him down by keeping him waiting, while reconnecting with Zhao Siyao and discussing the Azure Underworld Secret Realm. Huang Tankong finally left for his family, but Lan Chang'an poisoned him along the way and confronted him before he could arrive.

• Lan Chang'an found Huang Tankong hiding near Jade Moon Lake and left the Earth Rock Rat to watch him.
• Lan Chang'an met Zhao Siyao and Lin Lu, discussed Zhao Siyao's plans for the Azure Underworld Secret Realm, and offered to help her obtain talismans later.
• Lan Chang'an stayed at Jade Moon Lake and repeatedly appeared near Huang Tankong, making him wait until his condition worsened.
• Huang Tankong gave up waiting and secretly left Jade Moon Lake to return to the Maple Leaf Huang Family.
• After the Swallow Scout Bird flew ahead for help, Huang Tankong collapsed from poison, and Lan Chang'an appeared before him.

Lan Chang'an killed Huang Tankong while investigating who had attacked Mu Bingyun, then brought her from Jade Moon Lake to Wuqi Mountain and began treating her damaged foundation. A year later, he learned the Huang Family had secured protection from a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, leaving him wary of a possible confrontation.

• Lan Chang'an questioned Huang Tankong, who denied that the Huang Family had ambushed Mu Bingyun, then died after Lan confirmed his vitality was gone.
• Lan Chang'an left Huang Tankong's body and belongings untouched to make his death appear natural, then watched Huang Family cultivators discover the corpse.
• Lan Chang'an returned to Jade Moon Mountain Villa and later departed with Mu Bingyun, declaring that he had settled as a second-rank Talisman Master at Wuqi Mountain.
• Lan Chang'an brought Mu Bingyun to Small Turtle Peak, where Guan Qiaozhi welcomed her and Mu chose a room in the cave abode.
• Lan Chang'an used the Evergreen Secret Technique to ease Mu Bingyun's damaged foundation and began planning regular treatments.
• Lan Chang'an received Li Erqing's letter stating that Huang Yingchun had become Dao companions with a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, preserving the Huang Family's businesses and Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market.

Lan Chang'an completed his first second-rank Puppet and gathered materials to build a defensive turtle Puppet while keeping his new craft secret. Shi Manrong later offered him a private opportunity and sent him the layout and weaknesses of her Mountain Protection Array, leaving him surprised by her apparent sincerity.

• Lan Chang'an assigned Mu Bingyun work preparing talisman materials and gave Guan Qiaozhi secret puppet components to handle.
• Two years later, Lan Chang'an completed a second-rank humanoid Puppet with power comparable to an early Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Lan Chang'an bought puppet materials in Yellow Dragon Immortal City and learned from Zhou Jingxuan about True Person Yellow Dragon's failed breakthrough and Tuoba Jin's Golden Core ambitions.
• Lan Chang'an decided to make his next second-rank Puppet a turtle-type defender, while noticing Shi Manrong arrive at Small Plate Peak in a hurry.
• Shi Manrong sent Lan Chang'an a Sound Transmission Talisman and Jade Cylinder proposing a transaction and providing the layout and weaknesses of her Mountain Protection Array.

Lan Chang'an met Shi Manrong to discuss a trade, then learned that a Pseudo-Core True Person had bound her consciousness with a Restriction and that she hoped to break it and explore an ancient ruin. He refused to replace his defensive formation but exchanged a sea-of-consciousness restriction art for her formation inheritance and a portable formation, leaving their possible cooperation over the ruin unresolved.

• Lan Chang'an invited Shi Manrong to Small Turtle Peak and set a Restriction around the study before they spoke.
• Shi Manrong tried to seduce Lan Chang'an, but he stopped her and insisted that they keep their personal feelings separate from the trade.
• Shi Manrong revealed that True Person Qi had planted a deadly Restriction in her sea of consciousness and had died in an ancient ruin two years earlier.
• Shi Manrong told Lan Chang'an that True Person Qi had glimpsed Yin-Yang Water and Mystic Wood Vine in the ruin, and proposed that they explore it together if he helped her break the Restriction.
• Lan Chang'an refused to trade his defensive formation but offered a Foundation Establishment Realm restriction art, which Shi Manrong accepted in exchange for a complete second-rank high-grade formation inheritance and portable formation disks.

Lan Chang'an declined to join Shi Manrong's dangerous ruin expedition but completed their transaction and grew closer to her. Later, he considered revenge against the injured Alchemist Hua, and at age ninety he prepared Guan Qiaozhi for a possible Foundation Establishment attempt, leaving her readiness uncertain.

• Lan Chang'an refused to explore the ancient ruin with Shi Manrong, completed their transaction, and spent time with her before she left.
• Lan Chang'an suspected Shi Manrong had hidden motives and watched her search for a way to break her restriction.
• Lin Ye told Lan Chang'an that Alchemist Hua had survived an assassination attempt, prompting Lan Chang'an to consider revenge but worry about a trap and Fu Xuemei's suspicions.
• The three great sects defeated Liang Shaotian and destroyed his Demonic Cult stronghold near the Black Mist Mountain Range.
• Lan Chang'an told Guan Qiaozhi about a possible inferior Foundation Establishment Pill and gave her a Foundation Establishment Method and related insights to study.
• Three years later, Lan Chang'an reached age ninety and wondered how Guan Qiaozhi's preparations for Foundation Establishment were going.

Lan Chang'an nurtured his Treasure Talismans, encouraged Guan Qiaozhi to attempt Foundation Establishment, and advised Shi Manrong about her consciousness-linked Restriction. Guan Qiaozhi's breakthrough failed, but Lan Chang'an's Evergreen Secret Technique and secret medicine protected her foundation and eased her fears about aging.

• Lan Chang'an emerged from seclusion and found Mu Bingyun managing the mountain while Guan Qiaozhi prepared for Foundation Establishment.
• Lan Chang'an visited Shi Manrong, offered ideas for breaking her Restriction, and turned away her half-joking request to have a child with her.
• Chen Sheng searched for Shi Manrong and accused Lan Chang'an, but Lan Chang'an confronted him and sent him away.
• Guan Qiaozhi's attempt at Foundation Establishment failed, and Lan Chang'an used the Evergreen Secret Technique to soothe her backlash and protect her foundation.
• Lan Chang'an gave Guan Qiaozhi secret medicine and reassured her that she would not age rapidly from the failed attempt.

After Shi Manrong broke the restriction in her Sea of Consciousness, she survived but lost some memories, while Lan Chang'an traveled to Yellow Dragon Immortal City to meet Chen Fuhai. The chapter ended with Chen Fuhai giving Lan Chang'an two Second-Order High-Grade Spirit Bamboos.

• Guan Qiaozhi accepted Mu Bingyun and spent more time caring for the Mystic Water Turtle after her Foundation Establishment failure.
• Chen Fuhai wrote to Lan Chang'an that he would bring him two Second-Order High-Grade Spirit Bamboos to Yellow Dragon Immortal City.
• Shi Manrong shared her plan to break the restriction in her Sea of Consciousness, and Lan Chang'an gave her a Clear Heart Steady Spirit Talisman.
• Shi Manrong broke the restriction but awoke with partial amnesia, unable to remember Lan Chang'an or much of their recent relationship.
• Lan Chang'an traveled to Yellow Dragon Immortal City with Guan Qiaozhi and Mu Bingyun and met Chen Fuhai, who had reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
• Chen Fuhai gave Lan Chang'an two Second-Order High-Grade Spirit Bamboos and spoke of his failed search for the Heavenly Moon Wolf that killed Xiao Yingxue.

Lan Chang'an discovered a mysterious Hundred-Host Soul Gu lodged in Chen Fuhai and chose to keep his knowledge hidden. After attending Yellow Dragon's auction and meeting Lin Lu, he left Yellow Dragon Immortal City with Guan Qiaozhi and Mu Bingyun.

• Lan Chang'an bought two stalks of Second-Order High-Grade Spirit Bamboo from Chen Fuhai, then sensed something unusual about him and investigated with the Nine Imprint Tablet.
• Lan Chang'an saw a crystalline emerald-green insect in Chen Fuhai's Sea of Consciousness and suspected it was the legendary Hundred-Host Soul Gu, so he decided to stay wary and pretend he knew nothing.
• At Yellow Dragon's auction, Lan Chang'an outbid Zhou Qingxuan for a Black Blood Lotus Seed and fed it to the Earth Rock Rat.
• Lin Lu told Lan Chang'an that Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan planned to enter the Azure Underworld Secret Realm and described the Mu Family's internal conflicts.
• Lan Chang'an sold some second-rank Talismans, bought supplies, and later departed Yellow Dragon Immortal City with Guan Qiaozhi and Mu Bingyun.

Lan Chang'an strengthened his spirit-pet and talisman reserves, then sold Zhao Siyao talismans and puppets and arranged to invest in her Azure Underworld Secret Realm expedition. The chapter ended as Chen Sheng brought Foundation Establishment cultivator Zheng to Wuqi Mountain to seek a clan-protecting formation.

• The Earth Rock Rat advanced to the mid second order, while the Mystic Water Turtle remained afraid of it.
• Nearly a year later, Zhao Siyao visited Lan Chang'an and bought a set of Second-Order Middle-Grade and High-Grade talismans for the Azure Underworld Secret Realm.
• Lan Chang'an sold Zhao Siyao two Second-Order Low-Grade puppets at a discount and asked her to seek resources or intelligence for him in the secret realm; she agreed.
• Zhao Siyao left Wuqi Mountain after spending the day talking with Lan Chang'an.
• Several days later, Chen Sheng brought Zheng to Wuqi Mountain, promising that Fairy Shi would customize an excellent clan-protecting grand formation for Zheng's clan.