Chapter Summaries

Lan Chang'an recognized Zheng Wugong, a former enemy of the Immortal Seedlings, and accepted his thousand Spirit Stones as an apology while agreeing to watch for signs of renewed hostility. Shi Manrong then questioned Lan Chang'an about their past relationship and the inheritance she had left him, ending with his surprise at her revelation.

• Chen Sheng brought Zheng Wugong to Small Plate Peak to request an array from Shi Manrong, then tried to collect a reward and seek introductions to other experts.
• Lan Chang'an recognized Zheng Wugong as the former Bamboo Leaf Mountain elder who had once led an attack on the Immortal Seedlings, and asked Guan Qiaozhi to learn about him.
• Zheng Wugong visited Lan Chang'an, apologized for past offenses, and gave him a thousand Spirit Stones to avert conflict.
• Lan Chang'an learned that Chen Sheng was pressuring Zheng Wugong over disputes tied to Iron Apricot Villa, and advised Zheng Wugong not to indulge him.
• Shi Manrong asked Lan Chang'an whether she had mentioned ancient ruins before losing her memories, then asked why her prior will had promised him part of her inheritance.

Lan Chang'an completed Mu Bingyun’s recovery and accepted her plan to remain as a maidservant while saving for Foundation Establishment. After refining a Second-Order Middle-Grade puppet, he traveled to the Azure Underworld Secret Realm and waited among the gathered cultivators as powerful representatives arrived.

• Lan Chang'an told Mu Bingyun that her dantian foundation was repaired and that her adjustment period had ended, but she chose to stay at Small Turtle Peak and work while pursuing her goals.
• Lan Chang'an agreed that Mu Bingyun could remain as a maidservant, assist with talismans and mountain affairs, and keep the money she earned from selling talismans.
• Lan Chang'an successfully forged a Second-Order Middle-Grade puppet and prepared to travel to the Azure Underworld Secret Realm.
• Lan Chang'an crossed the northern border of Liang Kingdom and reached the secret realm’s gathering place, where cultivators waited for its opening.
• Tuoba Jin arrived with Floating Cloud Sect cultivators, and True Person Yellow Dragon later appeared riding a Third-Order Dragon Beast.

Lan Chang'an waited with the cultivators gathered for the Azure Underworld Secret Realm, warned Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan about Chen Fuhai, and watched the sects open the realm. After only a few days inside, Soul Tablets began breaking faster than expected, and True Person Yuxiao's own tablet collection recorded another death.

• The major Liang Kingdom factions arrived at the secret realm, including the Green Bamboo Sect led by True Person Lingyu and the Blazing Fire Palace led by True Person Yuxiao.
• Lan Chang'an met Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan, sold Zhang four second-rank High-Grade Talismans, and privately warned Zhao Siyao to avoid Chen Fuhai.
• Zhang Tieshan spread word within Golden Cloud Valley that Chen Fuhai was unusually powerful, while Lan Chang'an declined Zhou Qingxuan's proposed cooperation.
• The Core Formation True Persons activated five tokens to open the passage, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators with quotas entered the Azure Underworld Secret Realm.
• After only two or three days, Soul Tablets began cracking at a faster rate than in previous openings, and one of True Person Yuxiao's tablets split.

Lan Chang'an waited for the Azure Underworld Secret Realm to open and learned that Xia Fan had been killed by Li Hai, who escaped with a Lesser Teleportation Talisman. After Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan returned with rare materials, Lan Chang'an learned Chen Fuhai had also died inside, while the whereabouts of his body remained uncertain.

• True Person Yuxiao learned that Xia Fan had died, and Blazing Fire Palace cultivators reported that Li Hai had killed him after ambushing and injuring him.
• Li Hai emerged carrying Xia Fan's head, condemned Xia Fan for humiliating a Profound Sound Pavilion disciple and framing his master, then escaped with a Lesser Teleportation Talisman.
• Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan returned from the secret realm, and Lan Chang'an learned that Zhao Siyao had survived with injuries while Zhou Qingxuan had lost her Blood Demon Butterflies.
• Zhao Siyao traded Lan Chang'an small quantities of Third-rank Profound Iron Crystal and Black Ink Rock, and gave him a Jade Cylinder listing resource holders.
• Zhang Tieshan traded Lan Chang'an a mid-grade third-rank section of Purple Glare Spirit Wood that he had obtained after killing an attacker.
• Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan told Lan Chang'an that Chen Fuhai had ambushed Foundation Establishment cultivators, was exposed, and died while being hunted by a crowd.

After leaving the Azure Underworld Secret Realm, Lan Chang'an investigated the Hundred-Host Soul Gu, sought valuable resources from other cultivators, and bought materials for talismans and body refinement. As he headed home, he discovered Alchemist Hua following him—and someone else following Alchemist Hua.

• Lan Chang'an traded with Zhang Tieshan for the Purple Glare Spirit Wood and learned that Chen Fuhai’s exposed wealth had been surprisingly small, suggesting the Hundred-Host Soul Gu had moved to a new host.
• Lan Chang'an reviewed Zhao Siyao and her companion’s intelligence, chose Xiang Jinglong as a potential trading partner, but rejected his demands for valuable cultivation resources.
• Lan Chang'an recognized the disguised Alchemist Hua near Xiang Jinglong, then purchased a second-order high-grade Monster Beast Hide and a supply of Spiritual Sand Stone from other cultivators.
• The Azure Underworld Secret Realm closed, and Lan Chang'an left for Broken Mouth Canyon while Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan departed aboard Golden Cloud Valley’s golden boat.
• Lan Chang'an noticed Alchemist Hua following him and used the Nine Imprint Tablet to detect another pursuer behind him.

Lan Chang'an used Xiang Jinglong’s attack on Alchemist Hua to expose a plausible culprit, then ambushed and killed Alchemist Hua near the Black Blood Road. He escaped into the Black Mist Mountain Range as nearby cultivators suspected a demonic cultivator was responsible.

• Lan Chang'an lured Xiang Jinglong into attacking Alchemist Hua, who fought back with powerful magic items, talismans, and a Talisman Treasure before driving Xiang Jinglong away.
• Lan Chang'an spread word that Xiang Jinglong had attacked Alchemist Hua, giving witnesses a suspect while Alchemist Hua continued toward Yellow Dragon Immortal City.
• Near the Black Blood Road, Lan Chang'an used an illusion and a divine-sense attack to stun Alchemist Hua, then killed him with his Treasure Talisman.
• Lan Chang'an took Alchemist Hua's Storage Bag and used a Demonic Qi Talisman to make the killing appear connected to Liang Shaotian's lineage.
• Nearby cultivators sensed the powerful spell and demonic qi, speculated that Li Hai was responsible, and fled as Lan Chang'an escaped into the Black Mist Mountain Range.

Lan Chang'an returned from the secret realm with a rich haul after killing Alchemist Hua, and the death was blamed on other suspects rather than investigated. As he began making Treasure Talismans, he received news that Alchemist Hua’s death had been dropped and a letter asking when he would hold his Centennial Birthday Banquet.

• Lan Chang'an reviewed how he had framed Xiang Jinglong and Liang Shaotian's line as suspects in Alchemist Hua's murder, then counted the valuable pills, materials, and weapons in Alchemist Hua's Storage Bag.
• Lan Chang'an returned to Wuqi Mountain, spoke briefly with Shi Manrong, and later used Purple Glare Spirit Wood to make a quasi-third-rank Treasure Talisman.
• Lin Ye told Lan Chang'an that Alchemist Hua had died and that rumors implicated Liang Shaotian's line and Xiang Jinglong; Lan Chang'an concealed his involvement and learned that no one was pursuing the case.
• Lan Chang'an considered how to use the rare pill ingredients he had taken from Alchemist Hua, but decided not to bring them out together or entrust them to Lin Ye.
• At ninety-seven, Lan Chang'an received a letter from Li Erqing asking when he would hold his Centennial Birthday Banquet and offering the Mu Family's help organizing it.

Lan Chang'an arranged for Zhao Siyao to secretly use his materials to refine Foundation Establishment Pills for her disciple, Zhao Tan'er, while she took Tan'er to temper herself in the Black Mist Mountain Range. He also advised Mu Bingyun to improve her combat skills before seeking her own Foundation Establishment opportunity, and the chapter ended with Zhao Siyao bringing him two pills.

• Lan Chang'an declined to hold a grand Centennial Birthday Banquet and wrote to Li Erqing to explain his plans.
• Lan Chang'an proposed that Zhao Siyao use his Foundation Establishment Pill materials and arrange a private refinement through an alchemist she knew.
• Zhao Siyao and Zhao Tan'er visited Small Turtle Peak, where Lan Chang'an returned Zhao Siyao's repaired Turtle Puppet and discussed their plan.
• Zhao Siyao took Zhao Tan'er to the Black Mist Mountain Range to temper her and later warned Lan Chang'an that monster beasts were gathering near its outskirts.
• Lan Chang'an gave Mu Bingyun advice on preparing for the dangers of seeking Foundation Establishment, and she began training against puppets and the Earth Rock Rat.
• Zhao Siyao returned to Small Turtle Peak two months later and handed Lan Chang'an a jade bottle containing two Foundation Establishment Pills.

Lan Chang'an celebrated his hundredth birthday, discussed the Mu Family’s future with Li Erqing, and considered Guan Qiaozhi’s wishes as she grew older. Mu Bingyun reached the peak of Qi Refining and defeated two puppets, while Lan Chang'an advanced to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; he then remembered Li Erqing’s upcoming centennial banquet.

• Zhao Siyao delivered two Foundation Establishment Pills to Lan Chang'an and later informed him that Zhao Tan'er had successfully established her foundation.
• Lan Chang'an celebrated his hundredth birthday with friends and family, and Li Erqing asked for his views on Jade Moon Lake and the Mu Family’s prospects.
• Lan Chang'an asked Guan Qiaozhi about her wishes, and she said she hoped to visit her birth parents’ and master’s homelands and help orphaned children.
• Mu Bingyun returned to Small Turtle Peak, trained with the Earth Rock Rat, and eventually destroyed two puppets as she reached the peak of Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
• Lan Chang'an broke through to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage at age 102 and remembered that Li Erqing’s centennial birthday banquet was approaching.

Lan Chang'an arranged for Mu Bingyun to receive a Foundation Establishment opportunity through Zhao Siyao, then left her to choose her own path. Mu Bingyun successfully established her foundation, while Lan Chang'an returned to Small Turtle Peak, crafted another Second-Order Middle-Grade Turtle Puppet, and later heard that Chen Sheng had been injured.

• Lan Chang'an brought Mu Bingyun to Li Erqing's Centennial Birthday Banquet and sent her to deliver a letter to her master.
• Lan Chang'an asked Zhao Siyao to mediate the sale of a Foundation Establishment Pill to the Mu Family, and Mu Bingyun received the opportunity to establish her foundation.
• Lan Chang'an left Jade Moon Lake without Mu Bingyun, who later successfully established her foundation and thanked him from afar.
• Lan Chang'an returned to Small Turtle Peak and crafted a second Second-Order Middle-Grade Turtle Puppet.
• Guan Qiaozhi told Lan Chang'an that someone had crippled one of Chen Sheng's legs.

Lan Chang'an learned that a beast tide was brewing near Yellow Dragon Immortal City, profited from rising prices, and extended his lifespan with a third Second-Order Longevity Pill. Lin Ye announced that he would leave Wuqi Mountain, while Shi Manrong said she would spend the coming years working for Yellow Dragon Mountain, leaving Lan Chang'an to decide who would share the vacant peak lease.

• Chen Sheng accused Zheng Wugong of breaking his leg, but Lan Chang'an refused to intervene without evidence.
• Zheng Wugong admitted he had crippled Chen Sheng and said he had spared his life because of Shi Manrong and Lan Chang'an.
• Lan Chang'an visited Yellow Dragon Immortal City, learned a beast tide was gathering, sold magic items, and bought a Second-Order Longevity Pill and high-grade metal ore at auction.
• Lan Chang'an took the pill, gaining fourteen and a half years of life, and spent the following year nurturing his Treasure Talismans and receiving letters from Mu Bingyun.
• Lin Ye told Lan Chang'an and Shi Manrong that he would leave Wuqi Mountain, while Shi Manrong said she would be stationed in Yellow Dragon Immortal City and left the choice of a new co-tenant to Lan Chang'an.

After Lin Ye left Wuqi Mountain, Lan Chang'an sought a new peak master to share the mountain’s costs and bolster its security. He chose Ye Fei, though his examination of the candidates revealed that Kong Mao had concealed his identity and Jiang Yechen carried a soul-path artifact.

• Lin Ye withdrew from the shared lease, paid his breach compensation, and left Wuqi Mountain to Lan Chang'an.
• Lan Chang'an recruited candidates for Third Peak through interviews and Golden Cloud Valley’s channels.
• Lan Chang'an considered Su Hongye, Kong Mao, Jiang Yechen, and Ye Fei, favoring Ye Fei for his straightforward background and skills.
• Lan Chang'an discovered that Kong Mao was actually a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator in disguise and sensed a soul-path artifact on Jiang Yechen.
• Su Hongye offered Lan Chang'an a bribe, but he selected Ye Fei as Wuqi Mountain’s new peak master.

Lan Chang'an prepared Wuqi Mountain for the beast tide and watched the attacks escalate across the region. When demonic birds reached Small Turtle Peak, he let them enter the Illusion Moon Water Killing Formation, which killed three of them and trapped the leading bird.

• Lan Chang'an brought Ye Fei to Small Pill Peak, where Ye Fei paid a deposit and signed a spirit contract to move in.
• Lan Chang'an suspected that Kong Mao was a disguised Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator who had infiltrated Wuqi Mountain, so he strengthened Small Turtle Peak’s defenses and warned Guan Qiaozhi to stay nearby.
• Shi Manrong helped Ye Fei set up his mountain array and added hidden warning formations across Wuqi Mountain before the three peak masters renewed their shared-rental contract.
• When the beast tide erupted in the Black Mist Mountain Range, Lan Chang'an raised the prices of his Talismans and Puppets as demand and prices for supplies increased.
• Several months later, a Second-Order black demonic bird and three late First-Order birds attacked Small Turtle Peak, where the Illusion Moon Water Killing Formation killed the three smaller birds.

Lan Chang'an defended Small Turtle Peak from a Second-Order black bird and bought monster-beast materials from the Beast Taming Zhou Family and Zheng Wugong. After learning about Zheng Wugong's knowledge of the front lines and Yellow Dragon Immortal City, Lan Chang'an saw a potential use for him as an informant and errand-runner.

• Lan Chang'an used Small Turtle Peak's formation and Diamond Bell to slow a Second-Order black bird, and the orange-yellow Rat Demon killed it.
• Ye Fei worried that the Beast Tide might reach Wuqi Mountain, but Lan Chang'an chose to stay and protect his holdings.
• Zhou Jingxuan brought Lan Chang'an monster-beast materials, and they arranged a discounted transaction worth over ten thousand Spirit Stones.
• Zheng Wugong visited Lan Chang'an and traded Second-Order beast hides for talismans, while complaining about Chen Sheng's poor talisman skills.
• Lan Chang'an questioned Zheng Wugong about the front lines and Yellow Dragon Immortal City, then recognized that Zheng could serve as his eyes, ears, and errand-runner.

Lan Chang'an learned that Fox Valley had been massacred and suspected the attackers were linked to Kong Mao, then defended Wuqi Mountain from a demon-beast raid. Blazing Fire Palace investigators Gao Cheng and Zhuang Wenjing turned out to be impostors who attacked him, while their allies targeted Ye Fei; Lan Chang'an and his companions gained the upper hand, leaving Gao Cheng injured and furious.

• Lan Chang'an hired Zheng Wugong to obtain talisman materials and front-line intelligence while he stayed at Wuqi Mountain and sold talismans during the Beast Tide.
• Zheng Wugong reported that Fox Valley had been wiped out, and Lan Chang'an suspected the massacre was connected to Kong Mao's earlier attempt to infiltrate Wuqi Mountain.
• Lan Chang'an and Ye Fei fought off a demon-beast group led by a Two-Headed Demon Lion, with the Earth Rock Rat helping them wear it down.
• Two disguised cultivators approached Wuqi Mountain, then fled when a Blazing Fire Palace boat arrived; Gao Cheng and Zhuang Wenjing introduced themselves as investigators of the Fox Valley massacre.
• Gao Cheng attacked Lan Chang'an, while two gray-clothed accomplices cornered Ye Fei; Lan Chang'an held Gao off as the Earth Rock Rat and wolf-headed puppet overwhelmed Zhuang Wenjing.
• Zhuang Wenjing died from the attack, and Lan Chang'an realized Gao Cheng's injuries had not healed.

Lan Chang'an helped drive Gao Cheng from Wuqi Mountain and pursued him until True Person Hong Song intervened. Gao Cheng died rather than be taken alive, and Hong Song acknowledged Lan Chang'an’s role in defeating the thief leader and promised him a share of the spoils.

• Lan Chang'an used the Earth Rock Rat, the Wolf-Head Puppet, spells, talismans, and a Blood Sun Pill to injure Gao Cheng and force him to flee Wuqi Mountain.
• Lan Chang'an found a strange mask that concealed itself from spiritual sense, then followed Gao Cheng while the Earth Rock Rat tracked his aura.
• Ye Fei warned Lan Chang'an that the Robber Cultivators might have another heavily injured leader, but Lan Chang'an continued pursuing Gao Cheng as the greater threat.
• True Person Hong Song appeared and subdued Gao Cheng, who shattered his own viscera and died rather than be captured.
• Lan Chang'an introduced himself to Hong Song, explained how he had fought Gao Cheng, and showed him the ruined Wolf-Head Puppet.
• Hong Song told Lan Chang'an that he would not take away his share of the spoils for helping defeat the thief leader.

Lan Chang'an helped Blazing Fire Palace finish investigating the robber cultivators and received a damaged Magic Treasure Prototype as his share of the spoils. Back in his secret chamber, he investigated the Mysterious Mask more deeply, discovered strange fragments of information, and put it on.

• True Person Hong Song questioned Lan Chang'an about the surviving robbers, then split the recoverable spoils with him while reserving alleged stolen goods for Blazing Fire Palace.
• Lan Chang'an chose a damaged Black Gold Curved Blade that was a Magic Treasure Prototype, accepting only a small share of the remaining loot.
• Blazing Fire Palace cultivators found the injured female robber dead in a cave and identified her as the bandit chief's Dao companion, who had committed crimes to advance her and her daughter's cultivation.
• Lan Chang'an met Song Wenshu and helped Blazing Fire Palace investigate the case and settle its aftermath at Wuqi Mountain.
• Lan Chang'an reviewed how the battle had exposed some of his strength while improving Wuqi Mountain's deterrence, then examined the Magic Treasure Prototype and Mysterious Mask in his secret chamber.
• Lan Chang'an sensed ancient, eerie information and images within the Mysterious Mask, then pressed it to his face.

Lan Chang'an tested the Hundred Illusion Mask and began repairing his Magic Treasure Prototype before learning that True Person Yellow Dragon had led array masters into the Black Mist Mountain Range. There, their plan to trap a late third-rank Green-Eyed Stone Ape began in disaster, and the gathered True Persons fought the heaven-rank great demon.

• Lan Chang'an used blood and mana aura to test the Hundred Illusion Mask, transforming into Gao Cheng and Guan Qiaozhi.
• Lan Chang'an began repairing and tempering his Black Gold Curved Blade with Tier 3 Profound Crystal Iron.
• Zheng Wugong told Lan Chang'an that True Person Yellow Dragon had gone to the Black Mist Mountain Range with a group of array masters.
• Shi Manrong helped coordinate the formations as True Person Yellow Dragon and the array masters prepared to confront a powerful target.
• The Green-Eyed Stone Ape attacked before the plan was ready, killing a third-rank formation master and injuring Shi Manrong.
• True Person Yellow Dragon and the other True Persons attacked the Green-Eyed Stone Ape, but it knocked back his mountain seal and sent his Earth Dragon Beast flying.

The chapter revealed that the Green-Faced Man let the Green-Eyed Stone Ape face the human ambush, while True Person Yellow Dragon’s forces suffered casualties and withdrew. Later, Lan Chang'an heard that Yellow Dragon Immortal City had grown chaotic and received an urgent offer from Zhou Qingxuan to join her for a rare opportunity at Yellow Dragon Mountain.

• The Heavenly Moon Wolf admitted to the Green-Faced Man that it had warned the Green-Eyed Stone Ape, and he said the ape’s battle was a small tribulation.
• The Green-Eyed Stone Ape broke apart to escape its bindings, killing one Core Formation cultivator and injuring others before reassembling and forcing True Person Yellow Dragon’s group to retreat.
• Lan Chang'an gave Guan Qiaozhi permission to visit her birth family’s and master’s homelands after the Beast Tide, and suggested she visit the Raging River Gang.
• Zheng Wugong told Lan Chang'an that True Person Yellow Dragon had returned injured from fighting a third-rank demon and that Yellow Dragon Immortal City’s outskirts were rife with violence.
• Lan Chang'an gifted Zheng Wugong a Second-Order Talisman Master inheritance and warned him against getting too deeply involved in dangerous affairs.
• Zhou Qingxuan arrived at Wuqi Mountain and asked Lan Chang'an to join her for a rare opportunity at Yellow Dragon Mountain.

Lan Chang'an learned that True Person Yellow Dragon had saved his Earth Dragon Beast by consuming the origin of his True Core, leaving Yellow Dragon Mountain weakened and in decline. As Guan Qiaozhi prepared to return to the secular world and Lan Rou joined Small Turtle Peak as a maidservant, Lan Chang'an remained wary of the changing balance of power.

• Zhou Qingxuan asked Lan Chang'an to treat the Earth Dragon Beast, but he refused and promised not to reveal her visit.
• Shi Manrong said True Person Yellow Dragon had revived the Earth Dragon Beast by sacrificing True Core origin, reducing his strength and lifespan.
• Lan Chang'an and Ye Fei learned that Yellow Dragon Immortal City had lost influence, sold properties, and suffered the killing of a direct-line member.
• Guan Qiaozhi told Lan Chang'an she planned to leave for the secular world the next day, and he gave her a Storage Bag before she departed.
• Guan Qiaozhi introduced Lan Rou as a new maidservant for Small Turtle Peak.