Chapter Summaries

Li Qianqing received news that Li Xunming had reached Peak Core Formation and that Pao Pao had become a Mid Third Order demon beast, then passed Xunming’s news to Li Xunting. Years later, during the Li Clan’s annual spiritual root testing, young Li Tongxin set out alone and got lost on the way.

• Li Qianqing learned that Li Xunming had reached Peak Core Formation and that Pao Pao had advanced to Mid Third Order, raising hopes for the Iron Carp’s future growth.
• Li Qianqing told Li Xunting about Li Xunming’s progress and teased her for falling behind; she later reached Peak Core Formation as well.
• Six years after Li Xunting reached Peak Core Formation, the Li Clan began its annual spiritual root testing in Changqing City’s outer city.
• Li Tongxin’s mother asked him to put away his wooden sword and accompany her to the test, but he decided to go alone.
• Li Tongxin lost his way while trying to reach the spiritual root testing site.

Li Tongxin was tested as a Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivator with the Sword Spirit Body, and Li Qianqing began personally guiding him toward becoming a Sword Cultivator. The chapter ended with Li Tongxin eager to train and the Li clan’s annual testing complete.

• A Qi Refining cultivator discovered Li Tongxin had a Heavenly Spiritual Root while escorting him to the Li clan’s testing site.
• The Li clan’s tester confirmed Li Tongxin had a single Metal Spiritual Root and reported the discovery to Li Qianqing.
• Li Qianqing examined Li Tongxin and discovered he also possessed the Sword Spirit Body, then began teaching him Sword Cultivator basics.
• Li Tongxin asked about flying and promised to work hard after Li Qianqing said he could likely achieve Sword Flight at Mid-Stage Qi Refining.
• The Li clan finished testing its children in Qing Country, finding two Dual Spiritual Root children, nine Three Spiritual Roots children, and twenty-seven Mixed Spiritual Root children besides Li Tongxin.

Li Tongxin returned home after four years away, while news of his Heavenly Spiritual Root and Special Physique prompted other powers to assess the Li Family. Li Xunming began seclusion to attempt Nascent Soul, Li Xunting followed a month later, and Li Tongxin prepared to enter seclusion for Foundation Establishment.

• Li Tongxin flew back to Changqing City's outer city, awkwardly fell short of his home, and reunited with his delighted mother for a one-day visit.
• A Da Ming Royal Family cultivator reported that Li Tongxin might possess a Special Physique, but his granduncle ordered the family not to provoke the Li Family.
• After returning from three years of tempering, Li Xunming told Liu Mingjuan he would enter seclusion to attempt the Nascent Soul Realm, then began his seclusion in Li Yue City.
• Li Qianqing learned from Li Xunming's Sound Transmission Talisman that Xunming had begun his attempt, and Li Xunting told him she would begin her own seclusion the following month, on his birthday.
• Li Xunting entered seclusion to attempt the Nascent Soul Realm, and Li Tongxin arrived by sword to tell Li Qianqing he was preparing to enter seclusion for Foundation Establishment.

Li Qianqing responded to the Yin Family’s plea for help and traveled to Da Ming Country after learning that the Song Family threatened to destroy them. He arrived at the Yin Family Ancestral Land and asked how he could help, leaving the family ready to borrow the power of his presence.

• Li Tongxin successfully established his Foundation and began cultivating a sword technique Li Qianqing gave him.
• The Yin Family sent Li Qianqing a plea for help after the Song Family threatened them over Yin Yuanshen.
• The Yin Family Patriarch warned the Song Family that a powerful senior would avenge them if the clan were destroyed, and the Song Family agreed to wait a month.
• Li Qianqing reached the Yin Family Ancestral Land less than two days after the message was sent.
• The Yin Family Patriarch asked Li Qianqing to let them borrow his influence so they could develop safely for about a hundred years.

Li Qianqing honored the Li Clan’s old agreement with the Yin Family, promising revenge if anyone destroyed them and deterring the Song Clan and Da Ming royal family from targeting them. Four years into seclusion, Li Xunming emerged after failing to reach Nascent Soul, still at Peak Core Formation and considering another attempt.

• Li Qianqing changed his promise to the Yin Family, pledging that the Li Clan would avenge them if anyone destroyed their clan.
• The Song Clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivator discovered Li Qianqing’s Nascent Soul strength, withdrew the Song Clan’s pressure on the Yin Family, and offered compensation.
• Yin Yuanshen and the Yin Family Patriarch discussed the clan’s future, including possible ties to the Li Clan and the Da Ming royal family.
• The Da Ming royal family learned of Li Qianqing’s promise and warned Tianyang County’s Core Formation forces not to target the Yin Family.
• Li Xunming emerged from four years of seclusion after failing to break through to Nascent Soul, and Liu Mingjuan suggested he try again at the Li Clan Ancestral Land.

Li Xunting successfully passed the Minor Lightning Tribulation and became the Li Clan’s second Nascent Soul cultivator. The breakthrough also raised the potential of her Ice Spiritual Body to seventy percent.

• Li Xunming received news that Li Renjie had advanced to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, improving his mood after his failed Nascent Soul breakthrough.
• Li Qianqing sensed that Li Xunting’s seclusion was nearing its final stage and went to watch over her as thunderclouds gathered above Changqing Mountain.
• Li Xunting passed the first and second bolts of the Minor Lightning Tribulation, then used her Seventh-Grade Spirit Art to withstand the third.
• A golden-blue pillar of light scattered the thunderclouds, confirming that Li Xunting had become a Nascent Soul cultivator.
• Li Qianqing recognized that the lightning-tribulation baptism had raised Li Xunting’s Ice Spiritual Body potential to seventy percent.

Li Xunting broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm, and Li Qianqing tested her strength before giving her a Heavenly Cold Mysterious Stone. She planned to challenge other Nascent Soul cultivators, so the Li Clan arranged a grand banquet and began inviting the Five Kingdoms Land’s major forces.

• Li Xunting emerged from seclusion with her Ice Spiritual Body further awakened, and Li Qianqing told her that Li Xunming had failed his Nascent Soul breakthrough but remained able to try again.
• Li Xunting fought Li Qianqing in a remote area and lost, after which he gave her a Heavenly Cold Mysterious Stone to strengthen her Natal Magic Treasure.
• Li Xunting asked to spar with other Nascent Soul cultivators, and Li Qianqing decided to invite the Five Kingdoms Land’s Nascent Soul forces to her grand banquet.
• The Heavenly Sun Sect Master and Sun Yuanhua discussed the Li Clan’s growing strength and received news that Li Xunming was visiting.
• Li Xunming invited the Heavenly Sun Sect to Li Xunting’s Nascent Soul Grand Banquet and confirmed that the Star Constellation Sect would also be invited.

Li Qianqing gathered the Five Kingdoms Land’s Nascent Soul forces at Li Xunting’s banquet and explained that she might visit them to exchange combat pointers. Six years later, Li Tongxin had advanced rapidly, and a mysterious white-robed cultivator rescued Wang Yayun from a Foundation Establishment Late Stage attacker.

• Sun Yuanhua and the Star Constellation Sect wondered why the Li Clan had invited every Nascent Soul force, while the Da Ming Royal Family accepted the invitation despite its surprise.
• At Li Xunting’s Nascent Soul Grand Banquet, six visiting Nascent Soul Cultivators joined the Li Clan’s two, and Li Qianqing explained that Li Xunting might visit them to seek combat guidance.
• The visiting Nascent Soul forces welcomed Li Xunting’s future visits, and the banquet ended smoothly as the cultivators discussed cultivation and regions beyond the Five Kingdoms Land.
• Zuoqiu Lipeng reflected on his own stalled cultivation and Clear Wind Valley Master Yan Xuewei’s attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Six years later, Li Tongxin had reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in less than fifteen years, while Wang Yayun was captured by a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Loose Cultivator.
• A white-robed cultivator killed Wang Yayun’s attacker with a sword strike, and Wang Yayun thanked the cultivator for saving her.

Li Tongxin rescued Wang Yayun in Yue Kingdom and received her help finding Dan Zong Forest, while Li Xunming decided to travel beyond the Five Kingdoms Land before attempting Nascent Soul. Ten years later, Li Xunting visited Heavenly Sun Sect to spar with one of its Nascent Soul cultivators, and their duel began.

• Li Tongxin killed the Loose Cultivator pursuing Wang Yayun, introduced himself as a member of the Qing Country Li Clan, and accepted her offer to guide him toward Dan Zong Forest.
• Li Xunming told Li Qianqing he would travel beyond the Five Kingdoms Land before attempting to break through to Nascent Soul, and Li Qianqing gave him a small square boat and regional information.
• Li Xunming prepared to set out within three months after leaving the Clan Head Cave Dwelling.
• Ten years after Li Xunting's Nascent Soul breakthrough, she went to Heavenly Sun Sect seeking a spar, and the sect's Round-Faced Cultivator agreed to face her.
• The Heavenly Sun Sect Master, the Round-Faced Cultivator, Gu Jinrong, and Li Xunting went to a wasteland seven hundred li from the sect, where Li Xunting and the Round-Faced Cultivator began their spar.

Li Xunting defeated the Round-Faced Cultivator in a sparring match, prompting the Heavenly Sun Sect to reconsider its stance toward the Li Clan. Twenty-two years later, Li Qianqing reached peak Nascent Soul Early Stage and reviewed the clan’s growth before deciding whether to pursue his next breakthrough.

• Li Xunting used a powerful Seventh-Grade Ice Attribute Spirit Art to suppress the Round-Faced Cultivator, who eventually admitted defeat.
• Gu Jinrong asked whether Li Xunting planned to visit the Star Constellation Sect and offered to accompany her, but the Heavenly Sun Sect Master warned her against it.
• After Li Xunting left, the Round-Faced Cultivator told the Heavenly Sun Sect Master that she had fought sincerely, and they agreed the sect should maintain a better attitude toward the Li Clan.
• Twenty-two years later, Li Qianqing finished refining the Golden Essence Pill and reached peak Nascent Soul Early Stage.
• Li Qianqing reviewed the Li Clan’s numbers: it had three thousand Qi Refining cultivators, eighty-nine Foundation Establishment cultivators, and nine Core Formation cultivators.

Li Qianqing broke through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, strengthening the Li Family’s position and making plans to travel to the Heavenly Pool Domain. Li Tongxin then entered seclusion and formed his core before turning sixty, bringing the Li Family to ten Core Formation Cultivators.

• Li Qianqing emerged from seclusion at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage and discovered that his divine sense could reach six hundred li.
• Li Qianqing planned to travel to the Heavenly Pool Domain to prepare for his fourth major opportunity and bid for the Five Provinces Furnace.
• Li Qianqing gave Li Tongxin Gold Star Dew and personally sent him into seclusion to attempt Core Formation.
• The Da Ming Royal Family learned of Li Qianqing’s breakthrough and decided the Li Family was too costly to challenge.
• In Qingli Year 215, Li Tongxin formed his core before age sixty, raising the number of Li Family core formation cultivators to ten.

After setting out for Heavenly Pool Domain to attend Treasure Gathering Mountain’s hundred-year auction and pursue a future opportunity, Li Qianqing revisited Wind Cloud Pavilion in disguise. He learned that Wind Cloud Pavilion and Mountain Sea Gate were nearing an arranged battle and decided to investigate, possibly offering discreet help.

• Li Qianqing set Li Tongxin a goal of excavating sixty percent of his Sword Spirit Body’s potential by Mid-Stage Core Formation, and family cultivators came to congratulate him.
• In Qingli year two hundred and eighteen, Li Qianqing prepared to leave for Heavenly Pool Domain and asked Li Qiuben which spiritual herb seeds he wanted brought back.
• Li Qianqing crossed the Nether River Mainstream and entered Heavenly Pool Domain through Red Crane Sect’s territory before traveling to Treasure Gathering Mountain’s central sphere of influence.
• Li Qianqing disguised himself as a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator and visited Wind Cloud City, where he recalled his past as Wind Cloud Pavilion’s honorary Supreme Elder.
• A Foundation Establishment cultivator told Li Qianqing that Wind Cloud Pavilion and Mountain Sea Gate had fallen into conflict after a Mountain Sea Gate elder advanced to Late-Stage Core Formation.
• Li Qianqing left the market and decided to follow the situation, prepared to help Wind Cloud Pavilion while keeping his involvement within proper limits.

Li Qianqing, disguised as an elderly Nascent Soul cultivator, intervened in a dispute between Wind Cloud Pavilion and Mountain Sea Gate over a spirit mine, then visited Wind Cloud Pavilion and healed its injured Pavilion Master. He learned about the sect’s history and agreed to attend Treasure Gathering Mountain’s auction with Wind Cloud Pavilion.

• Song Feng and Luan Yinglin argued over ownership of a spirit mine near the border between Wind Cloud Pavilion and Mountain Sea Gate.
• Li Qianqing arrived in disguise, declared the mine to be in Wind Cloud Pavilion territory, and sent Luan Yinglin and the Mountain Sea Gate cultivators away.
• Song Feng brought Li Qianqing to meet Wind Cloud Pavilion’s Pavilion Master, who thanked him for resolving the dispute.
• Li Qianqing gave the injured Pavilion Master an Azure Ganoderma Pill and asked him to recount what had happened over the past six hundred years.
• The Pavilion Master invited Li Qianqing to attend Treasure Gathering Mountain’s auction with Wind Cloud Pavilion, and Li Qianqing agreed.

Li Qianqing maintained his disguise as an aged Nascent Soul Cultivator while Mountain Sea Gate reported his appearance to Treasure Gathering Mountain, which chose not to provoke him. He accompanied Song Feng to Treasure Gathering Mountain’s once-in-a-century auction, where their improved reception suggested the sect wanted to win his favor.

• Luan Yinglin told the Mountain Sea Gate master about Li Qianqing, and the master sent him to report the mysterious Nascent Soul Cultivator to Treasure Gathering Mountain without embellishing the account.
• Treasure Gathering Mountain’s Supreme Elder judged that the old cultivator was likely a rogue cultivator near the end of his lifespan, ordered the sect to monitor him, and warned Mountain Sea Gate not to provoke him.
• Song Feng told Li Qianqing that Wind Cloud Pavilion’s master was recovering and that he would accompany Li Qianqing to the auction, then gave him the available auction-item lists.
• Li Qianqing and Song Feng arrived at Treasure Gathering Mountain, where Floating Cloud Old Ghost greeted Li Qianqing and Luan Yinglin cautiously acknowledged them.
• Treasure Gathering Mountain’s staff led Li Qianqing and Song Feng to a third-floor private room, and Li Qianqing suggested the improved treatment was a goodwill gesture and an attempt to recruit him.

Li Qianqing attended Treasure Gathering Mountain’s auction, won the Dan Yang Meteorite Furnace, and met with Supreme Elder Zuo Bolun, who tried to recruit him. After declining the invitation, Li offered to refine Fourth-Order Pills and learned Treasure Gathering Mountain needed Returning Void Pills.

• Song Feng won the Water Moon Zither for another Wind Cloud Pavilion Supreme Elder and later secured an item for the pavilion.
• Li Qianqing outbid private room number three and bought the Dan Yang Meteorite Furnace for seven thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
• After the auction, Li Qianqing met Zuo Bolun, who invited him to join Treasure Gathering Mountain as a Supreme Elder or honorary Supreme Elder.
• Li Qianqing declined membership but offered to refine several furnaces of Fourth-Order Pills.
• Zuo Bolun asked whether Li Qianqing could refine Returning Void Pills, and Li said he expected one pill per furnace, with a fifty percent chance of producing two.

Li Qianqing refined Returning Void Pills for Treasure Gathering Mountain and then left to gather spirit herb seeds while exploring the Heavenly Pool Domain. A year later, his grandson Li Xunming survived a Nascent Soul lightning tribulation at a rented Treasure Gathering Mountain cave dwelling and revealed his identity to its Supreme Elders.

• Li Qianqing agreed to refine two furnaces of Returning Void Pills for five High-Grade Spirit Stones and declined to sell Treasure Gathering Mountain any extra pills he might make.
• Li Qianqing refined four Returning Void Pills in the first furnace and three in the second, keeping five for the Li Family and giving two to Zuo Bolun.
• Li Qianqing left Treasure Gathering Mountain and planned to collect spirit herb seeds for Li Qiuben while exploring the Heavenly Pool Domain.
• One year later, Li Xunming endured three lightning bolts at Grade A Number Three Cave Dwelling and broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Treasure Gathering Mountain’s two Supreme Elders congratulated Li Xunming and asked who he was, and he identified himself as a member of the Li Family of the Five Kingdoms Land.

Li Xunming broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm while renting a Treasure Gathering Mountain cave residence, and Li Qianqing learned of the breakthrough while preparing for the Ancient Cultivator Cave Heaven. When the Cave Heaven appeared, a Luo Family cultivator entered its entrance and returned with his mind apparently deranged, prompting the Luo Clan Head to investigate.

• Li Xunming revealed his identity to Treasure Gathering Mountain’s two Supreme Elders, then returned to his cave residence to cultivate the next divine ability of the Heaven Wind Art.
• Li Qianqing heard that an unknown cultivator had broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm at Treasure Gathering Mountain, but he could not learn the cultivator’s identity and continued preparing for the Ancient Cultivator Cave Heaven.
• Two months later, spatial fluctuations revealed a floating mountain and a dark cave entrance near the Luo Family’s territory, and the Luo Clan Head brought clan cultivators to investigate.
• The Luo Family’s late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator entered the cave and returned three days later raving about treasures, so the Luo Clan Head knocked him unconscious and treated him.
• Believing the cave might be a mystic realm that a Core Formation cultivator could enter safely, the Luo Clan Head ordered the remaining cultivators to wait outside and entered himself.

The Luo Clan and Red Crane Sect failed to explore the mysterious cave entrance, which seemed to affect cultivators through their divine sense, and both alerted stronger forces. Treasure Gathering Mountain and Red Crane Sect Nascent Souls gathered at the floating mountain, where two cultivators entered the cave and had not returned after a day.

• The Luo Clan Head emerged from the cave after two days with a severe headache and no memory, then realized that using divine sense triggered the pain.
• The Luo Clan Ancestor entered the cave and returned after a day and a half without memories, leading him to conclude that a Nascent Soul Cultivator was needed to explore it.
• A Red Crane Sect elder discovered the floating mountain, reported it to his sect master, and the sect sent a Nascent Soul Cultivator to investigate.
• The Luo Clan Head brought Zuo Bolun and Supreme Elder Chang of Treasure Gathering Mountain to the site, where they met a Blue-Clothed Female Cultivator from the Red Crane Sect.
• Supreme Elder Chang and a Red Crane Sect Nascent Soul entered the cave, but neither had returned after a day.

Nascent Soul cultivators gathered outside the mysterious cave entrance as Zuo Bolun and the Blue-Clothed Female Cultivator tried to determine why those who entered had not returned. Li Qianqing discovered that Li Xunming had reached the Nascent Soul Realm and entered the cave, then followed him inside himself.

• A Fire Cloud Sect Nascent Soul cultivator entered the cave, bringing the number of trapped Nascent Souls to three, while Zuo Bolun explained that contact with those inside had been lost.
• The Blue-Clothed Female Cultivator proposed drawing the two remaining Nascent Soul forces to the cave, and Zuo Bolun arranged for Treasure Gathering Mountain to spread the news.
• Li Qianqing recognized the approaching Nascent Soul cultivator as Li Xunming, realized he had broken through less than a year earlier, and headed for the cave after him.
• Li Xunming arrived, spoke with Zuo Bolun, and entered the cave despite the uncertainty surrounding it.
• Li Qianqing arrived pretending surprise, declined Zuo Bolun's warning, and entered the cave while the Blue-Clothed Female Cultivator speculated about his origins.

Li Qianqing easily passed the Ancient Cultivator Cave Heaven’s entry trial and reunited with Li Xunming in a grand hall containing ten sealed doors. As cultivators slowly gathered, a failed Nascent Soul was expelled, prompting Zuo Bolun and others outside to enter and try the trial themselves.

• Li Qianqing passed the trial, entered the grand hall, and found Li Xunming among the four Nascent Soul Cultivators already there.
• Floating Cloud Old Ghost warned that the hall was safe if they did not touch or move anything, and the cultivators waited for ten people to gather.
• Li Qianqing secretly revealed his identity to Li Xunming, and they discussed their breakthroughs and chose which great doors they hoped to enter.
• A Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator and then a Late Stage Core Formation loose cultivator entered, bringing the hall’s total to seven.
• Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator Wan was expelled after failing the trial and losing his memories, while Zuo Bolun and several others entered the cave mouth to attempt it.