Chapter Summaries

At Li Lilong’s Foundation Establishment Banquet, Li Qianyin considered trying to refine a spiritual artifact to meet her father’s condition, but Li Qianqing warned her it would cost too much. After the banquet, Yan Xuewei of Clear Wind Valley asked Li Qianqing to see her off, leaving with a favorable impression of him and the Li Family.

• Li Qianyin asked Li Qianqing whether refining a spiritual artifact could satisfy her father’s condition, and he cautioned that the attempt would consume many materials.
• Li Lilong welcomed the guests at his Foundation Establishment Banquet, where Yan Xuewei presented a pill for consolidating cultivation.
• As the guests departed, Yan Xuewei asked Li Lilong to have Li Qianqing see her off, and Li Lilong readily agreed.
• Li Qianqing escorted Yan Xuewei down the mountain, and they exchanged polite remarks about his future Foundation Establishment.
• After Yan Xuewei departed, Li Qianqing concluded that he had left her with a good impression.

Li Qianqing considered how the Li Family’s relationship with Clear Wind Valley could shape its future, while Clear Wind Valley’s visit made the Jiang Clan more wary. After finishing Li Xunting’s combat training, he prepared to leave for tempering, and she promised to reach Late-Stage Qi Refining before he returned.

• Li Qianqing gave Li Lilong the congratulatory gifts, including Clear Wind Valley’s Rank 2 Low-Grade Spirit Solidification Pill, and reassured him that Yan Xuewei was unlikely to investigate him before Foundation Establishment.
• Li Lilong entered seclusion to absorb the pill, while news of Yan Xuewei attending his banquet spread through Xiangshui Prefecture and neighboring prefectures.
• The Jiang Clan Head, alarmed by Clear Wind Valley’s attention to the Li Family, ordered his forces to retreat further and sought to learn Clear Wind Valley’s true attitude.
• Li Qianqing ended Li Xunting’s combat practice, rewarded her with five Rank 1 Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, and declined her request to accompany him on his upcoming journey.
• Li Xunting accepted his decision and promised to reach Late-Stage Qi Refining before Li Qianqing returned.

Li Qianqing received permission from Li Cunliu and Li Lilong to leave the Li Family and train in Yue Kingdom, then set out from Changqing Mountain. After crossing Dust Sky Grassland, he entered Yue Kingdom and continued north toward an opportunity from his previous life.

• Li Qianqing told Li Cunliu and Li Lilong he planned to train in northern Zhao Kingdom and leave in three days, and Li Lilong gave him three Second-Order Low Grade talismans.
• Li Cunliu and Li Lilong discussed the possibility that Li Qianqing might return having reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, while Li Xunting resolved to reach the Qi Refining Seventh Layer before he came back.
• Three days later, Li Qianqing quietly left Changqing Mountain, with only Li Cunliu, Li Lilong, and Li Xunting knowing he had gone.
• Li Qianqing traveled for thirty-five days to reach Dust Sky Grassland, crossed it in one day, and entered Yue Kingdom.
• Li Qianqing planned to visit cultivator markets along his route to buy a detailed map of Yue Kingdom while continuing north toward his destination.

While Li Qianqing was away tempering himself, Li Xunting helped test children for Spiritual Roots, and Li Qianyin broke through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer but failed to persuade Li Lilong to let her travel. Li Qianqing reached a large cultivator market in Yue Kingdom and set out to buy a detailed map.

• Li Lijing learned that Li Qianqing had left to temper himself and asked Li Xunting where he had gone, but she said she did not know.
• Li Lijing took Li Xunting and three others to test children in Liyang City, where they found two children with Mixed Spiritual Roots, including a younger member of the Xun Generation.
• Li Qianyin emerged from seclusion after reaching the Qi Refining Ninth Layer and learned that Li Qianqing had left without her.
• Li Qianyin asked Li Lilong for permission to go out and temper herself, but he refused and said he would allow it only when he no longer needed to worry about her.
• Li Qianqing arrived at a large cultivator market in Yue Kingdom and went to buy a detailed map of the country.

Li Qianqing bought a detailed map of Yue Kingdom and traveled to the Flame Cloud Mountain Range to pursue an opportunity from his previous life. He reached the range and continued toward his destination after refusing an invitation to join a hunting team.

• Li Qianqing disguised himself, bought a detailed map of Yue Kingdom for five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and headed north toward the Flame Cloud Mountain Range.
• After more than three months of travel, Li Qianqing arrived at a busy Cultivator Market near the mountain range and set out early the next morning.
• Two cultivators invited Li Qianqing to join them in searching for a demonic beast, but he declined and continued alone.
• Li Qianqing entered the Flame Cloud Mountain Range and ran toward the location of the opportunity he remembered from his previous life.
• Li Qianqing encountered three demonic beasts on the latter half of the journey, while one that did not pursue him escaped unharmed.

Li Qianqing found the hidden cave dwelling beneath the waterfall and recovered the Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid, the Clear Nectar Spirit Stone, and other items left by a deceased Foundation Establishment cultivator. He left the Iron Carp unharmed and planned to bring a Low-Grade Spirit Tool back for Qianyin.

• Li Qianqing reached the waterfall, located the Iron Carp that had led him to the cave dwelling in his previous life, and chose not to attack it.
• Li Qianqing broke open the stone wall with his High-Grade Magic Tool greatsword, entered the cave dwelling, and sealed the entrance.
• Li Qianqing bowed to the skeleton of a presumed Foundation Establishment Middle Stage rogue cultivator and found the Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid and Clear Nectar Spirit Stone in a stone trough.
• Li Qianqing examined the High-Grade Storage Bag and found a Low-Grade Spirit Tool he planned to give to Qianyin, along with other worn-out treasures and books.

Li Qianqing cultivated with Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid while Li Dihong returned to Changqing Mountain to risk establishing his foundation without a pill. As Li Dihong remained in seclusion and Li Xunting advanced to Late-Stage Qi Refining, she went to Li Lilong to ask about her next assignment.

• Li Qianqing began refining Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid to reach Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak within half a month.
• Li Dihong told Li Cunliu he had decided to attempt Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill, and Li Cunliu gave him a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone for the cave dwelling’s array.
• After Li Dihong spent eleven days in secluded cultivation, the Li Family clansmen knew of his attempt but were not optimistic about his chances.
• Li Xunting broke through to Qi Refining Seventh Layer and entered Late-Stage Qi Refining.
• Li Xunting visited Li Lilong and asked what she should do next after advancing.

Li Xunting entered Late-Stage Qi Refining and accepted training to prepare her to teach the clan’s combat instruction. Li Qianqing reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak and returned to Changqing Mountain, where Li Liqiu eagerly greeted him with news.

• Li Lilong arranged for Li Xunting to study combat instruction under Li Diyi for three years and take responsibility for training clan cultivators in the future.
• Li Xunting asked to spar with clan elders, and Li Lilong agreed while warning her not to defeat them too badly.
• Li Qianqing reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak after using two-fifths of the Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid and decided to save the rest for the clan.
• Li Qianqing left the cave behind the waterfall, paid his respects to the white bones, and sealed the cave before returning to Changqing Mountain.
• Li Liqiu excitedly greeted Li Qianqing upon his return, leaving him wondering what had happened.

Li Qianqing returned to Changqing Mountain at Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak and told Li Liqiu and Li Cunliu about his gains while tempering himself. He gave the clan Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid for its treasury and revealed a Clear Nectar Spirit Stone, leaving Li Cunliu to ask whether he intended to give that away too.

• Li Liqiu told Li Qianqing that Li Dihong had failed to establish his foundation and suffered serious injuries that might shorten his lifespan.
• Li Liqiu noticed Li Qianqing had reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak and congratulated him on his progress.
• Li Qianqing returned to Changqing Mountain and learned Li Lilong was in seclusion before meeting Li Cunliu.
• Li Qianqing told Li Cunliu about entering a Foundation Establishment predecessor's cave dwelling and offered the remaining Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid for the Clan Treasury.
• Li Cunliu recognized a Clear Nectar Spirit Stone hidden in the stone trough, and asked Li Qianqing whether he planned to keep it.

Li Qianqing told Li Cunliu that he had obtained a secret Fire Attribute cultivation method reaching Qi Refining Tenth Layer and explained why the Clear Nectar Spirit Stone would benefit him less. He planned to cultivate in seclusion on Changqing Mountain, while Li Cunliu learned that Li Xunting had been waiting for his return so she could ask him for guidance.

• Li Qianqing revealed that he had changed to a cultivation method that could reach Qi Refining Tenth Layer, and Li Cunliu agreed to keep the news secret.
• Li Qianqing explained that the Clear Nectar Spirit Stone would be less effective for him after reaching Qi Refining Tenth Layer and said he would remain on Changqing Mountain.
• Li Cunliu advised Li Qianqing to record the cultivation method on a Jade Slip after reaching Foundation Establishment and learned that it was Fire Attribute.
• Li Qianqing said he already knew Li Dihong had failed his Foundation Establishment attempt.
• Li Cunliu told Li Qianqing that Li Xunting had entered Qi Refining Seventh Layer, defeated the other Seventh Layer cultivators in repeated sparring, and wanted to seek his guidance.

Li Qianqing returned from his training, briefed Li Cunliu, and visited Li Xunting, who had recently reached Qi Refining Seventh Layer. After rewarding her for helping strengthen the family cultivators, he returned to prepare for his breakthrough to Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

• Li Qianqing gave Li Cunliu the Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid and Clear Nectar Spirit Stone and described his training and plans to break through.
• Li Qianqing visited Li Xunting, who told him she had reached Qi Refining Seventh Layer in the first month of the year.
• Li Xunting explained that Li Lilong had assigned her to train the family in combat, and that she had been sparring with the elders to improve their strength.
• Li Xunting complained that the Qi Refining Eighth Layer elders had refused to spar with her after the Seventh Layer elders lost to her.
• Li Qianqing praised Li Xunting and gave her three Rank 1 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills.
• Li Xunting returned to cultivation, while Li Qianqing went home and prepared to break through to Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

Li Qianqing broke through to Qi Refining Tenth Layer after three days of seclusion, gaining stronger spiritual energy and divine sense. He began cultivating the Spirit Concealment Art and remained secluded while the Li Clan discussed his rapid progress.

• Li Qianqing decided not to visit Li Qianyin because she and Li Lilong were both in seclusion, then entered seclusion to break through.
• After three days, Li Qianqing successfully reached Qi Refining Tenth Layer, formed a Super Great Cyclone, and unlocked more information sealed in his Sea of Consciousness.
• Li Qianqing learned he could cultivate the Spirit Concealment Art and planned to reach entry level before ending his seclusion.
• Li Qianqing's divine sense range increased from thirty zhang to forty-five zhang, and he began cultivating the Spirit Concealment Art.
• Li Clan cultivators learned that Li Qianqing had returned at Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak and discussed how quickly he had advanced.

After Li Qianqing placed Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid in the Clan Treasury, Li Dijian used a portion to break through to Qi Refining Seventh Layer. Li Qianqing ended his seclusion and planned to reach Foundation Establishment before forty while preparing the Li clan to take the Jiang Family’s ancestral land.

• The Li clan learned that Li Qianqing had contributed seven portions of Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid to the Clan Treasury, where eligible cultivators could exchange for them with Contribution Points.
• Li Dijian exchanged ten thousand Contribution Points for a portion of Clear Nectar Spirit Liquid and successfully advanced to Qi Refining Seventh Layer, becoming a clan higher-up.
• Li Qianqing ended his seclusion after cultivating the Spirit Concealment Art to entry level, concealing his true cultivation from nearly everyone below Core Formation.
• Li Qianqing planned to reach Foundation Establishment before forty and strengthen the Li clan’s relationship with Clear Wind Valley before taking the Jiang Family’s ancestral land.
• Li Qianqing resumed cultivation with Rank 1 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, aiming to reach Qi Refining Tenth Layer Peak before forty.

Li Qianqing concealed his Qi Refining Tenth Layer cultivation from Li Lilong and received the handover of clan affairs. He proposed expanding the Li Clan’s mortal population, and Li Lilong agreed to discuss cautiously loosening the restrictions with the Patriarch.

• Li Lilong visited Li Qianqing, confirmed he had reached Qi Refining Tenth Layer, and learned that his concealment method hid his true cultivation even from divine sense.
• Li Lilong handed over news of the clan, including its growing number of cultivators, Li Xunting’s breakthrough, and the reassignment of a Di Generation cultivator to guard Azure Wave Lake alongside a Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivator.
• Li Qianqing asked whether the Li Clan could increase its mortal population, but Li Lilong explained that expanding the Clan Population Base could invite danger and was best delayed until the clan had three Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Li Qianqing argued that the clan could begin expanding now, and Li Lilong agreed to discuss loosening the restrictions with the Patriarch.

Li Qianqing considered how loosening birth restrictions could increase the Li clan’s population and the number of children tested for spiritual roots. Two years after the proposal, the clan began implementing the change, while Li Qianqing continued cultivating toward Qi Refining Tenth Layer Peak.

• Li Qianqing hoped the Li clan could expand its mortal population to produce more children with spiritual roots, and noted that Li Xingtian’s eight-year-old child could be tested next year.
• Li Qianqing refined a Rank 1 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pill and considered the benefits a Beast Tamer could bring to the clan.
• Li Lilong’s proposal to increase the clan’s population base passed, but the Li clan spent two years coordinating with Clear Wind Valley and the Zhao Country Royal Family before issuing new instructions.
• The Li clan’s mortal women and their husbands eagerly responded to the loosened birth restrictions, anticipating a wave of new births.
• Li Qianqing completed another pill, assessed his progress toward Qi Refining Tenth Layer Peak, and expected to begin preparing for Foundation Establishment within about two years.

Li Qianqing prepared to refine the Li Family’s harvest of Rank 1 Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pill ingredients and tested how many portions he could handle per furnace. After choosing a more reliable pace, he expected to finish the batch quickly and use the saved time to cultivate toward Foundation Establishment.

• Li Qianqing reflected on the family’s recent cultivators, including a Xing Generation cultivator with Three Spiritual Roots.
• Li Xunting told Li Qianqing that Li Lilong had appointed her to guide the family’s combat arts, and Li Qianqing advised her on teaching and sparring.
• Li Qianqing invited Li Xunting to seek him out for combat practice, easing her concern that she could no longer visit him often.
• Li Ditu returned from Changle Mountain with three hundred portions of ingredients for Rank 1 Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pills.
• Li Qianqing refined three portions in one furnace and produced thirty pills, then tried four portions and produced thirty-eight pills with two ruined.
• Li Qianqing decided to refine three portions per furnace, estimating he would finish the batch in one hundred days and be ready to begin Foundation Establishment around the end of the year after next.

Li Qianyin became one of the Li Clan’s core high-level members after Li Lilong decided she understood what mattered and would keep Li Qianqing’s alchemy talent secret. At a special clan meeting the following year, Li Qianqing reported producing 2,958 Rank 1 Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, and the clan leaders began discussing how to handle the surplus.

• Li Qianyin joined the Li Clan’s core high-level members, and Li Lilong explained that the next Foundation Establishment Pill would go to Li Qianqing.
• Li Qianyin agreed that Li Qianqing should receive the pill, while Li Lilong approved her entry into the clan’s inner leadership.
• By July of the following year, the Li Clan held a special Core High-Level Meeting to discuss Li Qianqing’s alchemy results.
• Li Qianqing reported that 300 furnaces had yielded 2,958 pills, keeping 25 additional pills for himself.
• Li Lilong asked the clan leaders how to handle the more than 400 pills beyond the clan’s expected yield.

Li Qianqing proposed placing the surplus Rank 1 Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pills in the Clan Treasury and lowering their exchange cost instead of secretly selling them outside the prefecture. The clan leaders approved the plan and moved on to discuss its details.

• Li Ditu suggested secretly selling the extra pills in Cultivator Markets in another prefecture, but Li Lilong noted the risks and the lower prices shops would offer.
• Li Lilong concluded that Li Dihong would be the best person to sell the pills if they chose that approach, while keeping Li Qianqing and Li Qianyin out of danger.
• Li Qianqing proposed adding the pills to the Clan Treasury and lowering the Contribution Points required to exchange for them so more clan members could benefit.
• Li Qianqing suggested listing treasury stock with vague markers rather than exact quantities, and Li Dihong, Li Ditu, and Li Lilong agreed the change would prevent suspicion.
• Li Cunliu approved the plan, and the clan leaders continued discussing its practical details while Li Qianyin mostly listened.

The Li Family lowered the Contribution Point price of Rank 1 Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pills after Li Qianqing helped produce a larger, better-than-expected batch, while concealing the treasury's stock levels. As the pills went on sale, cultivators began exchanging for them, and people in the market discussed Li Qianqing’s rising reputation as an alchemist.

• After the family core meeting, Li Qianqing returned to his residence and cultivated with a Rank 1 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pill as he approached Qi Refining Tenth Layer Peak.
• Two months later, the Li Family announced that its Rank 1 Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pill production had exceeded expectations and reduced the exchange price from five hundred to four hundred Contribution Points.
• Family cultivators began exchanging for the pills, while the Li Family monitored exchanges to prevent cultivators from reselling treasury pills for Spirit Stones.
• The Li Family stocked more Rank 1 Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Pills for both its treasury and shop, making sales easier and likely shortening the time needed to sell the batch.
• Rogue cultivators in the Cultivator Market discussed whether Li Qianqing’s pill-forming rate had surpassed Li Ditu’s and predicted he would become the Li Family’s leading alchemist.

Li Qianqing continued cultivating toward Qi Refining Tenth Layer Peak before leading the annual spiritual-root test in Puya County. There, he discovered that Li Xingsheng had Three Spiritual Roots and welcomed him into the family of cultivators.

• Li Qianqing left Rank 1 Low-Grade pill refining to another Li Family alchemist and focused on cultivation.
• Li Qianqing and Li Xunting traveled to test the spiritual roots of the Li Family's mortal children, with Li Xunting also planning to visit her mother.
• During the test in Puya County, Li Qianqing found that Li Xingsheng had Metal, Wood, and Earth Three Spiritual Roots.
• Li Qianqing told Li Xingsheng that he would be his Thirteenth Uncle, while Li Xunting reflected on Li Xingsheng's seniority in the family.