Chapter Summaries

The Spring Breeze Pavilion Master arrived in Da Ming Country and gathered the eight Nascent Soul evil cultivators to plan the conquest of Fallen Devil Valley. They set their attack for half a month later, while Nascent Soul representatives of the Da Ming Royal Family and Heavenly Dao Sect met Li Xunting at Fallen Devil Valley but learned nothing about the Li Family’s intentions.

• The fourth batch of Mist Rain Forest evil cultivators entered Da Ming Country, including the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master and a Netherworld Hall Vice Master.
• The Spring Breeze Pavilion Master heard reports from the other Nascent Soul evil cultivators and decided they should conquer Fallen Devil Valley before moving against the rest of Da Ming Country.
• The Spring Breeze Pavilion Master ordered the group to exterminate the Core Formation forces in Fallen Devil Valley’s territory and launch their general attack in half a month.
• The Corpse Yin Sect, Blood Shadow Sect, Netherworld Hall, and Spring Breeze Pavilion chose which nearby Core Formation forces they would attack.
• The Heavenly Dao Sect and Da Ming Royal Family sent Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivators to Fallen Devil Valley, where they tried to question Li Xunting about the Li Family but received no answers.

The Mist Rain Forest’s evil cultivators attacked Fallen Devil Valley’s subordinate forces, prompting the allied Nascent Souls to disperse and provide support. Demon Subduing Daoist encountered the Nascent Soul Late Stage Spring Breeze Pavilion Master, who ambushed him as he tried to warn Fallen Devil Valley.

• The Fallen Devil Valley Master received news that the evil cultivators had attacked the Fang Family, and Li Xunting volunteered to reinforce them.
• Further attacks were reported against Fallen Devil Valley’s subordinate forces, so Nascent Souls from the Da Ming Royal Family and Heavenly Dao Sect went to help.
• Demon Devouring Child and Demon Subduing Daoist each left to reinforce another subordinate force while the Fallen Devil Valley Master remained behind.
• After the Fallen Devil Valley Master received the fifth report, Demon Subduing Daoist headed toward the Bao Clan and felt a sudden sense of danger.
• The Spring Breeze Pavilion Master revealed herself as a Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator and attacked Demon Subduing Daoist as he sent a warning back to Fallen Devil Valley.

Spring Breeze Pavilion Master killed Demon Subduing Daoist and captured his Nascent Soul, but the Mist Rain Forest invasion suffered another loss when Li Xunting killed Netherworld Hall’s vice master. The invaders agreed to pause before attacking Fallen Devil Valley, whose leaders faced the threat of Spring Breeze Pavilion Master’s renewed offensive.

• Spring Breeze Pavilion Master trapped Demon Subduing Daoist in a tightening pink net, captured his Nascent Soul when he tried to escape, and left his body to decay.
• Spring Breeze Pavilion Master went to the Bao Clan’s ancestral land, then learned that Li Xunting had killed Netherworld Hall’s vice master.
• Spring Breeze Pavilion Master told the Mist Rain Forest forces to lie low and wait for an opportunity before moving against Fallen Devil Valley.
• Fallen Devil Valley’s Valley Master and Demon Devouring Child mourned Demon Subduing Daoist’s fall and worried that Spring Breeze Pavilion Master’s attack would continue.

After the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master led the Mist Rain Forest’s assault on Fallen Devil Valley, Li Qianqing decided to send Li Xunting home and secretly take her place so he could target the Pavilion Master. The Da Ming royal family also resolved to strike back against the evil cultivators and began gathering intelligence.

• Fallen Devil Valley’s leaders discussed their losses, the threatened affiliated clans, and the lack of a reply from the Heavenly Dao Sect.
• Li Qianqing learned that the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master had killed the Demon Subduing Daoist and decided to secretly summon Li Xunting back before heading to Fallen Devil Valley himself.
• Li Qianqing planned to avoid revealing his presence until he could confront the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master, whose death he believed could break the Mist Rain Forest’s alliance.
• The Da Ming royal family discussed its fallen Nascent Soul cultivator and agreed that its Ancestor should act against the Mist Rain Forest.
• The Da Ming Royal Family Ancestor ordered the family to gather intelligence on Nascent Soul Evil Cultivators and coordinate with Fallen Devil Valley.

Netherworld Hall’s Elder Tian concealed news that Li Qianqing had entered Fallen Devil Valley, while the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master revealed that she had injured the Da Ming Royal Family Ancestor. The four forces then agreed to attack Fallen Devil Valley while the ancestor was hurt.

• Elder Tian and Elder Yan discussed Netherworld Hall’s losses and agreed to stay in the Five Kingdoms Land while selectively handling information.
• Three years passed without Netherworld Hall concealing any gathered information.
• Elder Tian learned that Li Xunting had left Fallen Devil Valley and Li Qianqing was there, then erased the information instead of reporting it.
• At a meeting, the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master told the Blood Shadow Sect Nascent Soul, the Corpse Yin Sect Supreme Elder, and Elder Tian that she had fought and lightly injured the Da Ming Royal Family Ancestor.
• The Spring Breeze Pavilion Master decided the forces should attack Fallen Devil Valley, and ordered Elder Tian to spread the news of the ancestor’s injury.

Netherworld Hall spread news that Spring Breeze Pavilion Master had injured Da Ming Royal Family Ancestor, weakening confidence in Da Ming Country and prompting its forces to limit their support for Fallen Devil Valley. Li Qianqing revealed that he could kill Spring Breeze Pavilion Master and prepared for the coming attack, while Li Yongfeng set a goal to defeat three Core Formation evil cultivators.

• Spring Breeze Pavilion Master ordered Netherworld Hall's Elder Tian to spread news of Da Ming Royal Family Ancestor's defeat before the evil cultivators moved against Fallen Devil Valley.
• Netherworld Hall spread the news across Da Ming Country, and Da Ming Royal Family's silence convinced many cultivators it was true.
• Da Ming Royal Family leaders decided to offer only ordinary support to Fallen Devil Valley while their ancestor recovered, and Heavenly Dao Sect planned to limit its support as well.
• At Fallen Devil Valley, Li Yongfeng told Li Qianqing about the duel, and Li Qianqing said Spring Breeze Pavilion Master would fall in a one-on-one fight against him.
• After leaving Li Qianqing's cave residence, Li Yongfeng set a goal of eliminating at least three Core Formation evil cultivators when the attack began.

Mist Rain Forest’s evil cultivators attacked Fallen Devil Valley, and the Corpse Yin Sect’s elders broke through its protective array. Li Qianqing joined the defenders and faced the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master as the battle for Fallen Devil Valley began.

• The Spring Breeze Pavilion Master led seven Nascent Soul Evil Cultivators to surround Fallen Devil Valley while its cultivators prepared to resist.
• The Corpse Yin Sect’s two Supreme Elders used six Corpse Puppets to bombard Fallen Devil Valley’s Mountain Protecting Grand Array.
• Li Qianqing arrived at Fallen Devil Valley, surprising the Da Ming Royal Family and Heavenly Dao Sect Nascent Souls who had expected Li Xunting.
• The Spring Breeze Pavilion Master noticed Li Qianqing but remained confident that Fallen Devil Valley would fall.
• The grand array shattered, and the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master led the attack into Fallen Devil Valley.
• Li Qianqing confronted the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master as the Nascent Soul battle began.

Li Qianqing killed the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master in a single exchange, turning the battle at Fallen Devil Valley against the invading Mist Rain Forest evil cultivators. The survivors fled or were hunted down, and Fallen Devil Valley prepared to reclaim its occupied spiritual vein lands.

• Li Qianqing used the Greater Mastery Second Absolute of Extinguishing Spirit Three Absolutes to heavily injure the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master, then killed her with his flame dragon before one breath had passed.
• Elder Tian of Netherworld Hall and the two Corpse Yin Sect Supreme Elders fled, while the Blood Shadow Sect cultivators remained caught in battle.
• Fallen Devil Valley cultivators pursued the fleeing evil cultivators, and Li Qianqing killed the Spring Breeze Pavilion Supreme Elder and a Blood Shadow Sect Nascent Soul alongside the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master.
• Demon Devouring Child regretted that Li Qianqing had ended the fight too quickly, but Li Qianqing said he had needed to prevent the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master from gaining more opportunities.
• The Da Ming Royal Family and Heavenly Dao Sect elders sent messages canceling reinforcements, while Fallen Devil Valley's Valley Master thanked them and prepared to reclaim the occupied spiritual vein lands.
• Li Yongfeng returned after killing two Core Formation evil cultivators and lamented that he had not met his own goal because Li Qianqing had acted so quickly.

The Da Ming Royal Family and the Bai Family learned that Li Qianqing had killed Spring Breeze Pavilion Master and driven back the Mist Rain Forest evil cultivators. The Da Ming Ancestor ordered his clan to investigate Li Qianqing’s strength, while the Bai Family began considering becoming subordinate to the Li Clan.

• The Da Ming Royal Family Clan Head received word that Li Qianqing had killed Spring Breeze Pavilion Master in less than a breath and informed the Da Ming Ancestor.
• The Da Ming Ancestor recognized Li Qianqing as a threat and ordered the clan to gather detailed information about the battle.
• The Bai Family Clan Head told his gathered high-levels that the Mist Rain Forest evil cultivators had been repelled by Li Qianqing, not by the Da Ming Royal Family or Heavenly Dao Sect.
• A Bai Family high-level suggested that the family could more easily become subordinate to the Li Clan than to Fallen Devil Valley, and the Bai Family Clan Head agreed.

After Li Qianqing killed the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master, the remaining evil cultivators prepared to flee the Five Kingdoms Land while nearby Core Formation forces moved to pursue them and seek ties with the Li family. News of Li Qianqing’s victory spread across Da Ming Country, where the Yin family prepared to attach itself to the Li family.

• The Bai Family High-Level decided to hunt down fleeing evil cultivators to earn the Li family’s goodwill before attaching the Bai family to it.
• Core Formation forces near Fallen Devil Valley sent out more cultivators to sweep the regions west, south, and north of the valley as the evil cultivators retreated east.
• The Spring Breeze Pavilion Supreme Elder gathered the surviving Spring Breeze Pavilion forces in Da Ming Country and led them back to Mist Rain Forest.
• Elder Tian of Netherworld Hall persuaded the Blood Shadow Sect Nascent Soul to escort Netherworld Hall back to Mist Rain Forest, while privately considering the outcome disappointing.
• Yin Yuanshen ordered the Yin family to spread news of Li Qianqing’s victory and began preparing to break away from the Da Ming royal family and attach themselves to the Li family.
• Nearly half a month after the battle, news of Li Qianqing killing the Spring Breeze Pavilion Master spread throughout Da Ming Country as cultivators discussed the retreating evil cultivators.

After the Mist Rain Forest cultivators’ invasion, Li Qianqing established Changlin Mountain and accepted Core Formation families into the Li Family’s influence in Da Ming Country. The Li Family’s territory grew rapidly while the Da Ming Royal Family chose not to oppose it, wary of Li Qianqing’s strength.

• Li Qianqing guarded Changlin Mountain while its spirit vein was adjusted and met the Bai Family Clan Head, who asked to become subordinate to the Li Family after separating from the Da Ming Royal Family.
• Li Qianqing accepted the Yin Family, which had already separated from the Da Ming Royal Family, as the Li Family’s first subordinate Core Formation force in Da Ming Country.
• Over the following months, Li Qianqing accepted several Core Formation families but rejected the Xiao Family because it had failed to support Fallen Devil Valley during the invasion.
• The Li Family’s sphere of influence in Da Ming Country grew to more than three times Fallen Devil Valley’s, and the Da Ming Royal Family Clan Head ordered news of the Xiao Family’s rejection spread.
• The Da Ming Royal Family decided against opposing the Li Family, fearing Li Qianqing’s power and the risk of provoking him.

The Da Ming Royal Family debated how to respond to the Li Family’s growing influence and decided to express goodwill rather than provoke Li Qianqing. The Da Ming Royal Family Clan Head offered the Li Family the shipping business between the Three Small Kingdoms region and Da Ming Country, and Li Qianqing accepted.

• The Da Ming Royal Family’s higher-ups discussed the Li Family’s refusal to accept the Xiao Family and argued over whether the Li Family would keep expanding in Da Ming Country.
• A higher-up urged the royal family to improve relations with the Li Family and offer them the Nether River Tributary shipping business, and the Da Ming Royal Family Ancestor approved the plan.
• The Da Ming Royal Family Clan Head volunteered to deliver the offer to Li Qianqing in person.
• Li Qianqing considered the royal family’s likely concerns and reflected on the Mortal Expanse Realm’s development and his plans to strengthen the Li Family.
• The Da Ming Royal Family Clan Head offered the Li Family the shipping business between the Three Small Kingdoms region and Da Ming Country, and Li Qianqing accepted.

The Li Clan secured goodwill from the Da Ming Royal Family and the Heavenly Dao Sect, helping stabilize the Five Kingdoms Land as the clan expanded. Li Qianqing planned a future journey to obtain the Essence of Wind, while Li Tongxin reached Mid-Stage Core Formation and asked to travel to Da Ming Country.

• Li Qianqing accepted the Da Ming Royal Family's goodwill after it handed over its shipping business, and the Da Ming Clan Head returned intending to restrain radical clan members.
• The Heavenly Dao Sect's sect master and a Supreme Elder learned of the agreement and decided to release goodwill toward the Li Clan as well.
• The Demon Devouring Child told Li Qianqing that the Corpse Yin Sect, Blood Shadow Sect, and Netherworld Hall were involved in renewed conflict in the Mist Rain Forest, while Spring Breeze Pavilion might be facing internal problems.
• Li Qianqing decided Changlin Mountain was safe enough for him to leave and summoned Li Qingqing to oversee it in his place.
• Over two decades later, the Five Kingdoms Land remained stable and the Li Clan had gained three Core Formation cultivators; Li Qianqing planned to seek the Essence of Wind in ten years.
• Li Tongxin told Li Qianqing that he had reached Mid-Stage Core Formation and wanted to travel to Changlin Mountain in Da Ming Country, and Li Qianqing agreed.

Li Qianqing prepared to search the Nether Soil Plateau for the Essence of Wind, arranging for Li Renhe to refine a Wind-Seeking Compass. After reaching the plateau, he encountered the Divine Essence Sect’s screening measures and pressed its deacon to explain why they were testing visitors’ spiritual roots.

• Li Qianqing approved Li Tongxin’s preparations to visit Changlin Mountain, then continued cultivating while planning to seek the Essence of Wind.
• Three years later, Li Qianqing collected materials for a Wind-Seeking Compass and asked newly Core-Formed Li Renhe to refine one.
• At the Divine Essence Sect, Daoist Heavenly Wind discussed the dangerous storm, the possibility of an Essence of Wind appearing, and plans to guard the plateau’s landing points against demonic cultivators.
• Li Qianqing reached the Nether Soil Plateau by flying alongside the Nether River and followed invisible threads to a Divine Essence Sect checkpoint.
• A Divine Essence Sect deacon tested Li Qianqing with a Crystal Ball, which revealed his spiritual roots as well as indicating he did not use demonic cultivation techniques.
• Li Qianqing challenged the deacon over the unexpected spiritual-root test and demanded a justification for the sect’s screening.

Li Qianqing learned that the Divine Essence Sect was watching for Wind Attribute Nascent Souls, then gathered information and searched the storm-swept areas of the Nether Soil Plateau for the Essence of Wind. After five years, his Wind-Seeking Compass finally reacted and led him to a masked female cultivator.

• Li Qianqing persuaded the Divine Essence Sect steward to reveal that the sect was watching for Wind Attribute Nascent Souls, likely on Daoist Heavenly Wind's orders.
• Li Qianqing visited Heaven's Secret Sect's branch, traded a promise to report a man from a portrait for a map of the storm-swept areas, and bought information about the Azure Moon Sect.
• Li Qianqing spent nearly five years searching the marked areas without finding the Essence of Wind or the man in the portrait.
• Li Qianqing's Wind-Seeking Compass finally pointed northeast, and he followed it to a masked female cultivator looking toward him.

Li Qianqing discovered that the heaven-and-earth spiritual object he had tracked belonged to Ye Lingwei, an injured Azure Moon Sect elder, and agreed to escort her in exchange for the chance to buy Essence of Wind. Near the Azure Moon Sect’s border, a Divine Cloud Sect elder intercepted them, and Li Qianqing fought to let Ye Lingwei escape.

• Li Qianqing found Ye Lingwei carrying a space-attributed spiritual object and chose not to seize it.
• Ye Lingwei offered Li Qianqing the right to purchase the Azure Moon Sect’s Essence of Wind if he escorted her back, and he agreed.
• After recovering, Ye Lingwei introduced herself as Long Ling’s master, and Li Qianqing gave his name and origin.
• Near the border between the Azure Moon Sect and Divine Essence Sect territories, a blue-clothed Divine Cloud Sect elder blocked Li Qianqing and Ye Lingwei.
• Li Qianqing struck the elder’s electric net with One Flame, River-Severing, while Ye Lingwei fled; the elder then questioned whether Li Qianqing was from the Nether Soil Plateau.

Li Qianqing shook off a Divine Essence Sect elder who tried to intercept him, then returned to the Azure Moon Sect with Ye Lingwei and received a small portion of Essence of Wind as his escort payment. He met Ye Lingwei’s disciple Long Ling before leaving for the Divine Cloud Sect’s territory to search for more Essence of Wind.

• Li Qianqing easily countered the Blue-Clothed Old Man’s attacks until the elder gave up, then caught up with Ye Lingwei.
• Li Qianqing and Ye Lingwei reached the Azure Moon Sect, where Ye Lingwei went to report to the sect master and obtain Essence of Wind.
• Ye Lingwei gave Li Qianqing a small portion of Essence of Wind in payment for protecting her from the Nascent Soul Middle Stage interceptor.
• Li Qianqing and Ye Lingwei talked through the night, and Ye Lingwei gained insight from his cultivation knowledge.
• Long Ling arrived, and Li Qianqing met Ye Lingwei’s disciple before taking his leave.
• Li Qianqing left the Azure Moon Sect and headed for the Divine Cloud Sect’s territory to search for more Essence of Wind.

Ye Lingwei told Long Ling about Li Qianqing and his distant homeland while Divine Essence Sect’s elders discussed their failed attempt to capture her. More than a year later, Li Qianqing encountered Thousand-Faced Lord fighting a Divine Essence Sect elder and recognized him as an old acquaintance from the Spirit Realm, though Thousand-Faced Lord did not recognize Li Qianqing.

• Ye Lingwei told Long Ling that Li Qianqing came from the Five Kingdoms Land and explained why she trusted him.
• Divine Essence Sect’s elders returned from their failed interception, and the sect master turned their attention to the spiritual treasures expected after the storm.
• After more than a year of searching unsuccessfully for Essence of Wind, Li Qianqing detected a battle between two Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivators.
• Li Qianqing recognized one fighter from a portrait requested by Heaven's Secret Sect and sent a Sound Transmission Talisman reporting his location.
• The fighter struck the Divine Essence Sect elder into a mountain, prompting Li Qianqing to recognize him as Thousand-Faced Lord from the Spirit Realm.
• The injured elder fled, and Thousand-Faced Lord asked Li Qianqing whether he was interested in him; Li Qianqing denied it and said he had come seeking resources.

Li Qianqing parted ways with Thousand-Faced Lord, then followed the Wind-Seeking Compass to a pool where the Essence of Wind was forming. When Daoist Heavenly Wind arrived to compete for it, Li Qianqing used a Divine Sense Secret Technique to seize the newly born essence and leave.

• Li Qianqing and Thousand-Faced Lord exchanged information, revealed neither of their names, and parted on friendly terms.
• After months of unrest in Divine Essence Sect territory, Li Qianqing followed the Wind-Seeking Compass to a pool where he identified signs that the Essence of Wind was forming.
• Daoist Heavenly Wind arrived and tested Li Qianqing with a wind attack; Li Qianqing cleaved it apart, and the two waited for the Essence of Wind to be born.
• Daoist Heavenly Wind drove away another Nascent Soul cultivator who arrived shortly before the Essence of Wind appeared.
• When the Essence of Wind was born, Li Qianqing trapped Daoist Heavenly Wind with Enter Dream, sealed the essence in a container, and left.
• Daoist Heavenly Wind recovered and realized that Li Qianqing's divine sense methods were exceptionally powerful.

Li Qianqing returned to Changqing Mountain with the Essence of Wind and found the Li Family thriving after his eight-year absence. He checked on Pao Pao’s breakthrough and ordered Li Qiuben to focus on strengthening himself for a future attempt at Nascent Soul.

• Daoist Heavenly Wind left the Nether Soil Plateau after deciding to summon his sect’s Spirit Transformation cultivator if he found the Essence of Wind again.
• Li Qianqing returned safely to Changqing Mountain, where he learned that the Li Family had gained ten Foundation Establishment cultivators and suffered no major setbacks.
• Li Changlin told Li Qianqing that Pao Pao had reached Late Third Order, and Li Qianqing visited the Iron Carp at Azure Wave Lake.
• Li Qianqing encouraged Pao Pao to break through its bloodline limit again and eventually reach the Spirit Realm.
• Li Qianqing discovered that Li Qiuben had reached Peak Core Formation and ordered him to stop tending spiritual medicines and prepare to pursue Nascent Soul.