Chapter Summaries

Li Qianqing refined Rank 1 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills while Li Xunting began Foundation Establishment using the Star God Grass. She successfully established her foundation, bringing the Li Family to five Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the elders planned to share the news with Li Qianqing after his alchemy work.

• Li Qianqing began refining Rank 1 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills three portions per furnace and planned to complete five furnaces each time he used the Alchemy Furnace.
• Li Xunting traveled to Changqing Mountain, received Foundation Establishment advice from Li Lilong and Li Cunliu, and began her breakthrough after consuming the Clear Nectar Spirit Stone and Star God Grass.
• Li Xunchen felt conflicted about Li Xunting's breakthrough but resolved to cultivate harder so he could surpass her in the future.
• Li Xunting endured a dangerous third pass and successfully established her foundation, causing ice spiritual qi to surge around her cave dwelling.
• Li Xunting emerged the next morning, and Li Cunliu and Li Lilong congratulated her and decided to tell Li Qianqing the news after his pill refinement.

After Li Xunting reached Foundation Establishment, Li Qianqing told Yan Xuewei that the Li family had become a Five Foundation Establishments clan. Yan proposed that Clear Wind Valley recruit Li Xunting for the Four Sects Trial, potentially sparing the clan from suppression, and the Valley Master agreed to consider the plan.

• Li Qianyin told Li Qianqing that Li Xunting had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, and they discussed refining Spirit Guiding Plates and speeding up the collection of their materials.
• Li Qianqing sent Yan Xuewei news of Li Xunting's breakthrough, while the Clear Wind Valley Master considered how to restrain the Li family's growing strength.
• Yan Xuewei met with the Clear Wind Valley Master and proposed using Li Xunting, whose Ice Spiritual Body could make her a strong candidate, in the Four Sects Trial five years later.
• The Clear Wind Valley Master said he would consider Yan Xuewei's proposal and gauge the other higher-ups' reactions, while Yan expected a decision before Li Xunting's Foundation Establishment Banquet.

Li Xunting’s Foundation Establishment brought the Li Clan another celebration, and Li Qianqing learned that Clear Wind Valley wanted her to join Zhao Kingdom’s Four Sects Trial in five years. Yan Xuewei gave Li Xunting a chance to study the powerful Rank 2 Ice Seal Art, with the art’s cost depending on her results in the trial.

• Li Qianqing welcomed Li Xinghu and the Dual Spiritual Root cultivator Li Qiuxue to Changqing Mountain and began their three years of clan guidance.
• The Li Clan held Li Xunting’s Foundation Establishment Banquet, where Zhong Longshi asked Li Qianqing to refine Rank 2 Low-Grade Spirit Enhancement Pills for the Zhong Clan.
• After the banquet, Yan Xuewei told Li Qianqing that Clear Wind Valley wanted Li Xunting to participate in the Four Sects Trial and would ease its suppression of the Li Clan’s development.
• Yan Xuewei gave Li Qianqing a one-time-use Jade Slip containing the Rank 2 Ice Seal Art, which Li Xunting could receive for free if she achieved good results in the trial.

Li Qianqing secured Yan Xuewei’s protection against Clear Wind Valley interference and agreed to refine Rank 2 Low-Grade Spirit Enhancement Pills for the Zhong Clan. After the Zhong Clan’s patriarch left, Li Qianqing considered how the pills would support his cultivation plans before Li Xunting interrupted his thoughts.

• Yan Xuewei warned Li Qianqing that Huo Tianling might target him after the Four Sects Trial, and Li Qianqing said the Li Clan would defend itself if she came to Xiangshui Prefecture.
• Yan Xuewei left after Li Qianqing saw her off, and he reflected on the Li Clan’s gradual rise despite Clear Wind Valley’s influence.
• Li Qianqing offered to refine sixty sets of the Zhong Clan’s Rank 2 Low-Grade Spirit Enhancement Pill ingredients for ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and two hundred pills, including at least ten high-quality pills.
• Zhong Longshi accepted the deal and agreed to deliver the ingredients to Changqing Mountain in three years, while asking that the number of high-quality pills remain flexible.
• After Zhong Longshi departed, Li Qianqing considered keeping the extra pills for his cultivation plans, and Li Xunting interrupted his thoughts.

Li Xunting reached Foundation Establishment and agreed to represent Clear Wind Valley in the Zhao Kingdom's Four Sects Trial, while Li Qianqing set expectations for her training. At the Li Family's meeting, the elders approved stricter standards for high-level membership and plans to expand the family's spirit veins, then turned to deciding where Li Xunting would live.

• Li Qianqing told Li Xunting that Clear Wind Valley wanted her to compete in the Four Sects Trial, gave her a Rank 2 Spirit Art, and required her to meet his strength standard before the trial.
• Li Xunting asked Li Qianqing to spar with her, and he agreed to do so after the family's Core High-Level Meeting.
• Li Qianqing briefed the family leaders on Yan Xuewei's proposal, and they discussed the Rank 2 Spirit Art and the benefits of Li Xunting's participation.
• The family leaders agreed to raise the standard for high-level membership to Qi Refining Ninth Layer, with current members retaining their status until set breakthrough milestones.
• Li Qianqing proposed adding Micro Spirit Veins to the family's lands, and Li Cunliu assigned him and Li Qianyin to handle the work.
• The meeting ended with the leaders considering where Li Xunting would live.

Li Xunting chose to live on Changqing Mountain, and the Li Family announced new rules that changed which Qi Refining cultivators could be part of its upper echelon. After Li Xunting and Li Qianqing sparred, he pointed out how she could improve her fighting and reminded her to stay focused on her target.

• Li Xunting chose Changqing Mountain, and Li Cunliu asked Li Qianqing to arrange her residence there.
• The Li Family issued new rules for upper-echelon membership, prompting cultivators—especially those at Qi Refining Sixth to Eighth Layer—to reconsider their cultivation and work harder.
• Li Xunting visited Li Qianqing after he finished refining pills and asked to spar with him, noting that she had learned the Ice Rain Technique.
• On Changqing Mountain's right peak, Li Xunting attacked Li Qianqing with ice spells, but he countered her moves and suggested how she could conceal her attacks better.
• When Li Qianqing began attacking, Li Xunting was quickly defeated after getting distracted by his methods and failing to use her divine sense.
• Li Qianqing told Li Xunting to study an opponent's weaknesses and warned her not to be astonished or distracted during battle.

Li Qianqing trained Li Xunting, assessed her new Ice Attribute spirit art, and completed a large batch of Rank 1 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills for the clan. He then assigned Li Xingsheng to secure spirit veins from a Qi Refining clan, explaining that the Li Clan needed to handle the matter carefully and offer compensation if the clan cooperated.

• Li Xunting tested her entry-level spirit art on Li Qianqing, whose Mystic Tortoise Shield was damaged by the attack.
• Li Qianqing finished refining Rank 1 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills and placed most of them in the Clan Treasury, where their Contribution Point cost was reduced.
• Li Qianqing asked Li Xingsheng to obtain Micro Spirit Veins from Qi Refining clans as the Li Clan prepared to expand its spirit veins.
• Li Xingsheng chose the nearby Song Family and identified other possible targets while considering the cost of using Spirit Guiding Plates.
• Li Qianqing instructed Li Xingsheng to negotiate with the Song Family, offer compensation if they agreed, and take the spirit vein by force if they refused.

Li Xingsheng visited the Song Clan to demand the Micro Spirit Vein beneath their territory and offered compensation for it. He rejected the Song Clan Head’s request to work for the Li Clan, leaving the clan to sign the contract and surrender the vein.

• Li Qianqing advised Li Xingsheng to offer no more than one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones for the Song Clan’s spirit vein.
• Li Xingsheng rode a first tier late-stage Wind Cloud Horse to the Song Clan and met with the Song Clan Head.
• Li Xingsheng told the Song Clan Head that the Li Clan needed their spirit vein and offered three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• After the Song Clan Head objected, Li Xingsheng raised the offer to five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• The Song Clan Head offered to hand over the vein and work for the Li Clan, but Li Xingsheng refused and ordered him to sign the contract.

Li Qianqing paid the Song Clan five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones for its Micro Spirit Vein and began moving it to Changqing Mountain. After the Song Clan’s vein arrived, he brought a second Micro Spirit Vein from the Hu Clan toward the mountain, which was set to have seven Micro Spirit Veins.

• Li Xingsheng signed a contract with the Song Clan Head to buy the Song Clan’s Micro Spirit Vein for between three hundred and five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• The Song Clan Head learned that the Hu Clan faced the same demand and prepared his clansmen to leave their spirit vein land.
• Li Qianqing arrived with five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, gave the Song Clan time to evacuate, and used a Spirit Guiding Plate to move its Micro Spirit Vein toward Changqing Mountain.
• Li Xunting told Li Qianqing that Duan Rongrong had arrived, and he asked for her help around noon the next day.
• After the Song Clan’s Micro Spirit Vein entered Changqing Mountain, Li Qianqing brought a second Micro Spirit Vein from the Hu Clan to within three li of the mountain.

Song Clan Head rejected Clan Head Hu’s proposal to oppose the Li Clan and left hoping his clan might eventually serve the Li Clan. On Changqing Mountain, Duan Rongrong finished preparing a Second-Order High Grade Spiritual Field and was surprised when Li Qianqing called Yan Xuewei “Xuewei-jie.”

• Clan Head Hu urged Song Clan Head to seek help from other Foundation Establishment clans and resist the Li Clan, but Song Clan Head refused to join him.
• Clan Head Hu complained that the Li Clan had offered his clan only one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones for its spirit-vein land, while Song Clan Head accepted that the contract was settled and departed.
• Song Clan Head considered that cooperating with the Li Clan might help his clan obtain spirit-vein land again in the future, while Clan Head Hu remained alone with his plan.
• Duan Rongrong guided the spiritual energy at Changqing Mountain to prepare a three-fen Second-Order High Grade Spiritual Field as Li Qianqing watched.
• After Duan Rongrong finished, Li Qianqing offered her a Nourishing Spirit Pill as a personal gesture and called Yan Xuewei “Xuewei-jie,” surprising Duan Rongrong.

Li Qianqing finished developing Changqing Mountain’s new Second-Order High Grade spiritual field and began planning the Li Clan’s involvement in Wutong Prefecture. As the clan prepared for next year’s intervention, Li Xingsheng brought news that a Wind Cloud Horse was pregnant.

• Li Qianqing accepted Duan Rongrong’s offer of friendship, completed the spiritual field’s planting, and left its care to Li Qiantong.
• Cultivators across Xiangshui Prefecture discussed the Li Clan’s expansion, while the Huang Clan recognized that the Li Clan controlled the region’s direction.
• After Duan Rongrong left Changqing Mountain, Li Qianqing reviewed intelligence on Wutong Prefecture’s clans and decided to contact the Ma Family first.
• Li Xingsheng told Li Qianqing that one of his Wind Cloud Horses was pregnant and that Shu Shu was sleeping after absorbing energy.

Li Qianqing sent Li Xingsheng to Wutong Prefecture to seek the Ding Clan’s cooperation ahead of the Li Clan’s promised intervention in the prefecture’s power struggle. Li Xingsheng reached the Ding Clan and was escorted toward its Patriarch, while Li Qianqing prepared to set out for the Chen Family.

• Li Qianqing explained the Li Clan’s plans for Wutong Prefecture and asked Li Xingsheng to persuade the Ding Clan to cooperate, with the Su Clan as a backup.
• Li Xingsheng left Changqing Mountain with Shu Shu and traveled safely into Wutong Prefecture on a Wind Cloud Horse.
• At the Ding Clan’s spirit vein land, Li Xingsheng introduced himself to Ding Yuanchun and asked to meet the clan’s Patriarch.
• Ding Yuanchun escorted Li Xingsheng through the clan and described Wutong Prefecture’s four Foundation Establishment clans as Li Xingsheng listened for useful information.
• Li Xingsheng’s arrival interrupted the Ding Clan Patriarch’s cultivation.

Li Xingsheng negotiated an intelligence-sharing partnership between the Li and Ding Families, while Li Qianqing visited the Ma Family to seek cooperation. The Ding Clan accepted Li Xingsheng’s terms, and Li Qianqing was about to meet the Ma Family Patriarch.

• Ding Yuanxin rejected the idea of making the Ding Clan an affiliated force of the Li Family and considered Li Xingsheng’s proposal to exchange Wutong Prefecture intelligence for help against the Zeng Clan.
• Ding Yuanxin agreed to cooperate with the Li Family in exchange for one free High-Grade Magic Tool every five years, with the Ding Clan supplying the materials.
• Ding Yuanchun questioned whether Ding Yuanxin had asked for enough, but she explained that the partnership’s future benefits mattered more than demanding extra terms.
• Li Qianqing arrived at the Ma Family’s mountain gate and asked to see its Patriarch.
• Ma Xuanzong learned that Li Qianqing had arrived and went down the mountain to receive him.

Li Qianqing visited the Ma Clan and negotiated an alliance that would let the Li Clan intervene in Wutong Prefecture in exchange for helping the Ma Clan deal with its enemies. The clans signed a Spirit Contract and agreed to secure a spirit-vein land for the Li Clan in four years, leaving the Li Clan poised to expand its influence after the Four Sects Trial.

• Ma Xuanzong greeted Li Qianqing and brought him to meet Ma Tianxing in the Ma Clan’s reception hall.
• Li Qianqing proposed that the Li Clan support the Ma Clan against its enemies while the Ma Clan helped the Li Clan establish a foothold in Wutong Prefecture.
• Ma Tianxing agreed to cooperate, and Ma Xuanzong joined the two in negotiating the details of the alliance.
• The Ma Clan agreed to help the Li Clan obtain a spirit-vein land in four years, which Li Qianqing planned to use as a springboard in Wutong Prefecture.
• Li Qianqing, Ma Tianxing, and Ma Xuanzong drafted the agreement and signed two identical copies of a Spirit Contract.

Li Qianqing secured the Ma Family’s cooperation in Wutong Prefecture and learned that Li Xingsheng had won the Ding Clan’s support as well. Their arrival unsettled local forces, and the Sun Family and Chang Clan debated whether to ask Heaven Harmony Sect for help.

• Li Qianqing offered Ma Tianxing discounted Rank 2 pill refining, while warning that he needed five or six years before he could handle Second-Order Middle Grade pills.
• Li Qianqing returned to Changqing Mountain, where Li Xingsheng reported that the Ding Clan had agreed to cooperate in exchange for one free High-Grade Magic Tool within five years.
• Chen Bokui learned that Li Qianqing had visited the Ma Family and ordered his clan to watch the Ma Family while he waited for developments.
• Sun Wubin and Chang Yousheng discussed Li Qianqing’s visit and agreed that the Li Clan likely intended to expand its influence in Wutong Prefecture.
• Chang Yousheng proposed informing Heaven Harmony Sect, but Sun Wubin argued it was too soon to seek help and suggested the Chen Clan might act first.

Li Qianqing navigated the Li Clan’s growing involvement in Wutong Prefecture, received a newly refined spirit tool, and tested Li Xingtian’s son Li Xunming. The chapter ended with Li Qianqing discovering that Li Xunming possessed a Variant Spiritual Root.

• Chang Clan Head and Sun Wubin disagreed over whether Clear Wind Valley was behind the Li Clan’s move into Wutong Prefecture, then agreed to watch events before involving Heaven Harmony Sect.
• Ding Yuanchun and Ding Yuanxin welcomed the likely cooperation between the Li Clan and Ma Family while keeping the Ding Clan’s own partnership with the Li Clan secret.
• Li Qianqing guided Li Qiuxue, considered Clear Wind Valley’s response to his dealings in Wutong Prefecture, and received a successfully refined Low-Grade Spirit Tool from Li Qianyin.
• Li Xingtian brought his son Li Xunming to Changqing Mountain for a spiritual-root test, and Li Qianqing discovered that the child had a Variant Spiritual Root.

Li Xingtian brought his son Li Xunming to Changqing Mountain, where Li Qianqing discovered that the boy had the clan’s first Variant Spiritual Root: a Wind Spiritual Root. The clan celebrated the news and planned to reward Li Xingtian, while Li Xunming began his instruction under Li Qianqing and the news spread through Tongyang County.

• Li Qianqing tested Li Xunming and confirmed that he had a Wind Spiritual Root, astonishing Li Xingtian.
• Li Qianqing promised to personally instruct Li Xunming for the next three years and told Li Xingtian there was no need to keep the boy’s spiritual roots secret.
• Li Qianqing began Li Xunming’s lessons after Li Xingtian departed, then reported the news to Li Cunliu with a Sound Transmission Talisman.
• Li Cunliu and Li Lilong celebrated the clan’s first Variant Spiritual Root cultivator and discussed rewarding Li Xingtian and encouraging Five Spiritual Roots cultivators to have children.
• Li Xingtian held a family banquet in Tongyang County, announced Li Xunming’s cultivation, and later surprised Li Dixing by revealing that the boy had a Variant Spiritual Root.

Li Xunting emerged from seclusion and asked Li Qianqing to test her progress as the Li Family prepared for her Four Sects Trial. More than a year later, Li Xingsheng discovered that Shu Shu was breaking through its bloodline limit, leaving him anxiously watching over the Mutated Gold Devouring Rat.

• Li Qianqing confirmed that Li Xunming had quickly begun cultivating and discussed the Variant Spiritual Root cultivator’s prospects with Li Xunting.
• Li Xunting told Li Qianqing that her seclusion had improved her strength and asked him to test her results.
• Li Xingtian spread news of Li Xunming’s Variant Spiritual Root, prompting varied reactions among the forces of Xiangshui Prefecture and Wutong Prefecture.
• Li Xingsheng noticed that Shu Shu was unusually tired and let the Mutated Gold Devouring Rat rest.
• Li Xingsheng sensed spiritual energy shifting around Shu Shu and realized it was attempting to break through to First Order Mid-Stage.

Shu Shu broke through to First Order Late-Stage, gaining extraordinary speed, and Li Qianqing arranged for Li Xingsheng to train it to identify Metal Spirit Ore. Later, Li Qianqing allowed Li Xunming to accompany Li Xingsheng on a task within Xiangshui Prefecture, giving him a chance to leave the clan grounds.

• Shu Shu completed its breakthrough to First Order Late-Stage and demonstrated speed that surpassed a First Order Late-Stage Peak Wind Cloud Horse.
• Li Xingsheng brought Shu Shu to Li Qianqing, who praised them, fed Shu Shu a Low-Grade Spirit Stone, and tested its intelligence.
• Li Qianqing told Li Xingsheng to teach Shu Shu to judge Metal Spirit Ore deposits so the Li Clan could decide which mines to develop or conceal.
• Half a month later, Li Xunming asked Li Qianqing to let him go out for experience, but Li Qianqing initially objected because he had only recently reached Mid-Stage Qi Refining.
• After learning Li Xunming only wanted to explore Xiangshui Prefecture, Li Qianqing agreed that he could accompany Li Xingsheng on an upcoming task.

Li Xingsheng took Li Xunming out from Changqing Mountain to search for Metal Spirit Ore, while observing the young cultivator for Li Qianqing. Li Xingsheng learned that Li Xunming simply enjoyed seeing new scenery, and the party continued its search with Shu Shu leading the way.

• Li Qianqing allowed Li Xunming to go out with Li Xingsheng, provided he returned before his next cultivation guidance session.
• Li Xingsheng met Li Xunming, introduced him to Shu Shu, and set obedience as his sole requirement for the outing.
• Li Xingsheng noticed Li Xunming smiling at the scenery and asked whether he could see spirit bodies; Li Xunming explained that he just enjoyed different views.
• Shu Shu searched for Metal Spirit Ore while Li Xingsheng and Li Xunming followed, and Li Xingsheng told the rat to slow down after it raced ahead.
• Li Xingsheng and Li Xunming continued after Shu Shu, with Li Xunming asking what the rat had meant and accepting Li Xingsheng's explanation.