Chapter Summaries

Mu Xuting tried to match Mu Liuxi and Lin Heng, pushing them out of the hall hand in hand. After Mu Liuxi confronted Lin Heng about invoking the Zhao Family, she asked whether he had feelings for Zhao Wanqing.

• Mu Xuting told Lin Heng she wanted him to marry Mu Liuxi, but he initially denied that they had mutual feelings.
• Mu Liuxi returned home, and Mu Xuting asked both her and Lin Heng what they thought of each other and whether they liked each other.
• Lin Heng claimed the Zhao Family Head had wanted him as a son-in-law, startling Mu Xuting and prompting her to urge Mu Liuxi to date him before Zhao Wanqing could claim him.
• Mu Xuting joined Mu Liuxi and Lin Heng's hands and sent them out of the hall together.
• Mu Liuxi challenged Lin Heng about his claims concerning the Zhao Family, then asked whether he had feelings for Zhao Wanqing.

Lin Heng persuaded Mu Liuxi to pretend to date for Mu Xuting’s sake, then wheedled ten thousand Spirit Stones from her. As Lin Heng returned to cultivate, Yun Yao finished refining his Spirit Source and found that it had brought her close to a breakthrough, leaving her tempted to rely on dual cultivation again.

• Lin Heng teased Mu Liuxi about her jealousy and persuaded her to date him in name to reassure Mu Xuting; Mu Liuxi agreed, but forbade him from showing off to her mother.
• Lin Heng threatened to ask Mu Xuting for pocket money, so Mu Liuxi restrained him with her Golden Core aura and gave him ten thousand Spirit Stones.
• Lin Heng returned to his room to refine the Imperial Dragon Qi and harvested essence, planning to cultivate his Five Elements Body himself.
• Yun Yao finished refining the Spirit Source and discovered that her cultivation had advanced close to the middle Golden Core stage.
• Yun Yao swallowed three Fourth Grade True Spirit Pills but failed to break through, then considered relying on Lin Heng’s Spirit Source again while telling herself it was not depravity.

Lin Heng condensed three streams of Imperial Dragon Qi, triggering a heavenly anomaly that the Mountains and Rivers Map dispelled. He told Mu Liuxi he planned to seek a Foundation Stone and establish his foundation before the Green Pavilion Sect competition.

• Lin Heng used the Nine-Five Sovereign Art to condense three streams of Imperial Dragon Qi, and a terrifying presence threatened him as dark clouds covered Swallow Cloud City.
• The Mountains and Rivers Map flew from Lin Heng’s dantian, shielded him from the presence, and allowed the three streams of Imperial Dragon Qi to fully form.
• Lin Heng left the collapsing pavilion, and Mu Liuxi and Mu Xuting checked that he was unharmed while Mu Liuxi questioned him about the disturbance.
• Lin Heng described his cultivation as a Forbidden Art and warned Mu Liuxi that demonstrating it might cause another heavenly anomaly.
• Lin Heng told Mu Liuxi he planned to seek a Foundation Stone and establish his foundation before the Green Pavilion Sect competition, and she offered him more Spirit Stones.

Mu Liuxi gave Lin Heng Spirit Stones and urged him to Foundation Establishment for Fairy Cloud Peak’s Inter-Sect Competition. Lin Heng consulted Saint Ye about his Imperial Dragon Qi, and Saint Ye warned that it was fortunate for Lin Heng but potentially dangerous for his era.

• Mu Liuxi explained that Lin Heng could compete in the Foundation Establishment track and earn rewards, and Lin Heng agreed to take part.
• Lin Heng left Mufu and entered the Illusory World Mirror to ask Saint Ye about the danger he had encountered after condensing three streams of Imperial Dragon Qi.
• Saint Ye told Lin Heng to command the Mirror Person to manifest the dragon qi, and the Mirror Person successfully did so.
• Saint Ye recognized the Imperial Dragon Qi as a sign of great fortune and said it could bring danger to the era Lin Heng lived in.

Lin Heng learned from Saint Ye that Imperial Dragon Qi carried human fortune and that its condensation might attract a mysterious taboo, though using it afterward was safe. After leaving the Illusory World Mirror, Lin Heng considered the limits of his dragon qi and the Mountains and Rivers Map’s ability to act on its own.

• Saint Ye explained that Imperial Dragon Qi belonged to the human race and carried the fortune of its holder.
• Saint Ye described the vanished Fourth Epoch, when the Human Path and Immortal Path flourished before the entire greater universe was emptied of living beings.
• Saint Ye told Lin Heng that condensing Imperial Dragon Qi could draw the attention of a taboo, but advised letting the Mirror Person condense it and said Lin Heng could use it freely afterward.
• Saint Ye said Lin Heng could use Imperial Dragon Qi and the Time Sword to overpower cultivators of the same realm, then returned to farming with the old ox.
• Lin Heng left the Illusory World Mirror and wondered why he could condense only three strands of dragon qi and what further secrets the Mountains and Rivers Map held.

Lin Heng visited Zhao Mother and Zhao Wanqing to obtain a Zhao Family Line Token and directions to the Black Market, then traveled to Green Sun Mountain. He arrived at a burning wooden house and was confronted by an old man carrying a child.

• Lin Heng asked Zhao Mother how to contact the Black Market, and she gave him a Zhao Family Line Token and directed him to Green Sun Mountain.
• After Lin Heng left, Zhao Mother told Zhao Wanqing that she feared the Dynasty would blame the Zhao Family for the dragon roar and revealed contradictions surrounding the family's agreement with the Dynasty.
• Lin Heng flew toward Green Sun Mountain using the Sword Flight Art and told the Nine Heavens Sword to obey him.
• Lin Heng reached a wooden house on Green Sun Mountain and saw that it was on fire.
• An old man hurried up the stone steps with a little boy and asked Lin Heng who he was.

Lin Heng forced Old Deng to reveal the entrance to Green Sun Mountain’s Underground Black Market, then entered with a Line Token. Inside, he began searching for a Foundation Stone and metal-attribute essence items to strengthen his Gold Element Body.

• Lin Heng threatened Old Deng and his grandson until Old Deng revealed that the Black Market was underground and explained its entry rules.
• Old Deng directed Lin Heng to a circular clearing, then hinted that he hoped the cultivator would be valuable prey.
• Lin Heng found the hidden tunnel entrance and descended through Green Sun Mountain.
• Two masked guards checked Lin Heng’s Line Token and let him enter after he bought a mask for 100 Spirit Stones.
• Lin Heng surveyed the bustling Underground Black Market and focused on finding a Foundation Stone and metal-attribute essence items to temper his Gold Element Body.

Lin Heng gathered Element Spirit Stones at the Underground Black Market, where he and a mysterious woman sensed an inexplicable connection. After leaving through the Shu River Region, he was ambushed by people who had followed him, and he drew his sword to fight back.

• Lin Heng bought Element Spirit Stones and Pure Iron Ore from several stalls, and one merchant warned him that showing wealth in the Black Market could attract trouble.
• Lin Heng and a long-haired woman looked back at each other with an inexplicable sense of familiarity, while she discussed recovering her Beast Seal and the Blood Moon Cult’s plans with Black Robe.
• Lin Heng noticed that different merchants’ goods seemed to come from the same source and spent 7,000 spirit stones stockpiling Element Spirit Stones, but he found no suitable Foundation Stone.
• Lin Heng left through the Shu River Region and realized that people had followed him because he had taken the Pig Confucian Passage.
• Lin Heng struck the ambushers with the Nine Heavens Sword, severing one attacker’s arm, as the White-Faced Man ordered the others to kill him and bring back his corpse.

Lin Heng fought off a group of Black Market attendants, killing two while surviving their attacks. As the White-Faced Man and the others unleashed their strongest techniques, Lin Heng revealed the second form of Time Sword, and a nearby woman and Black Robe sensed the terrifying sword intent.

• Lin Heng killed the Black-Faced Man with a swift sword strike after the man charged him.
• The White-Faced Man attacked Lin Heng with a Black Pagoda, but its Purple Light struck one of his own men instead.
• The White-Faced Man summoned a giant palm with a trace of heaven-and-earth power while the other attendants prepared spells and divine abilities.
• Lin Heng shouted for everyone to watch and unleashed Time Sword’s second form, Time Sword Intent, against the incoming attacks.
• A nearby woman sensed the sword intent, and Black Robe urged her to detour around the battle.

Lin Heng defeated the Underground Black Market fighters, then recognized Jiang Caiyan as the woman he had once subdued. He used dragon qi to overpower her and bound her again, before turning to face the remaining Black Market people.

• Lin Heng used the Spirit Treasure Gourd and Sword Intent to break the Black Market group's combined attack and leave its fighters incapacitated.
• Jiang Caiyan recognized Lin Heng and rushed to attack him, then removed her mask and revealed herself.
• Lin Heng discovered that Jiang Caiyan had weakened the Beast Seal and could no longer be controlled by it.
• Lin Heng summoned the Dragon Qi Shield and blasted Jiang Caiyan and Black Robe away, exhausting his True Yuan in the process.
• Lin Heng tied up Jiang Caiyan again, hoisted her over his shoulder, and approached the remaining Black Market fighters.

Lin Heng killed the Black Market guards, seized their treasures, and learned about their mine near Biyun Mountain Spring. He spared Jiang Caiyan but carried her off as he flew toward the mine.

• Lin Heng killed the Black Market guards who had attacked him, leaving only the White-Faced Man alive.
• The White-Faced Man revealed that the Black Market sourced goods from a mine near Biyun Mountain Spring and offered Lin Heng his treasures in exchange for his life.
• Lin Heng took the White-Faced Man's treasures, including the Purple Linglong Tower, then killed him despite his pleas.
• Lin Heng carried Jiang Caiyan away and told Black Robe that she would be safe, leaving him to pass the message to the Blood Moon Cult.
• Lin Heng flew toward Biyun Mountain Spring, hoping to obtain metal-type essence items from the mine.

Lin Heng cultivated inside the Black Market’s hidden mine, rapidly advancing until his Spirit Wheels spiraled out of control and pushed him to the brink of Foundation Establishment. When Black Market workers discovered the intruders, he freed Jiang Caiyan and sent her to deal with them.

• Lin Heng used the imperial jade seal to enter the hidden mine with Jiang Caiyan and began refining its metal-rich ore.
• Lin Heng refined metal-attribute Spirit Stones and advanced his Gold Element Body while Jiang Caiyan worried about being trapped and discovered.
• Over several days, Lin Heng broke through to Qi Refining Seventh Layer, reached greater mastery in his Gold Element Body, and opened a sixth Spirit Wheel.
• Lin Heng’s Spirit Wheels became uncontrollable, driving his cultivation to Qi Refining Ninth Layer and leaving him unable to stop absorbing metal elements and spiritual energy.
• Black Market workers approached after discovering the guards at Green Sun Mountain had been killed, and Lin Heng cut Jiang Caiyan’s binding rope and told her to deal with them.

Lin Heng chose the mysterious black pearl as his Foundation Stone and began Foundation Establishment while Jiang Caiyan fought two Black Market guards in the mine cave. He expected to finish quickly and deal with the guards himself once his breakthrough succeeded.

• Jiang Caiyan attacked two Foundation Establishment Middle Stage guards after Lin Heng criticized her for letting them talk.
• Lin Heng considered possible Foundation Stones but found that the Mountains and Rivers Map refused to be used.
• Lin Heng selected the unidentified black pearl and began refining it as his Foundation Stone.
• The black pearl bonded with Lin Heng without the usual bodily rejection, allowing his Foundation Establishment to progress quickly.
• Lin Heng estimated that he could complete the heavenly cycle and form Mind Sense in three double-hours.

Lin Heng emerged from cultivation to rescue Jiang Caiyan, who had been weakened by fighting while her cultivation realm rotated. After defeating their attackers, he discovered she needed Yang Essence and considered letting her absorb some of his.

• Jiang Caiyan struggled against two men who wanted to capture her while her cultivation rotation left her dangerously weak.
• Lin Heng appeared, mocked Jiang Caiyan’s refusal to sacrifice herself for him, then killed one attacker with a single strike.
• Jiang Caiyan collapsed from complications with her rotation, and Lin Heng carried her out of the mine as he cut down the remaining attackers.
• Lin Heng examined Jiang Caiyan and heard her murmur that she wanted Yang Essence.
• Lin Heng recalled that Jiang Caiyan used Yang Essence to rotate her cultivation and decided he would let her absorb some, but not any of his lifespan.

Lin Heng held the bound Jiang Caiyan captive in a hot spring after restoring her meridians and forced her to choose between dual cultivation and becoming his slave. The chapter ended with Jiang Caiyan silently responding through her actions, though her choice remained unstated.

• Lin Heng observed that the Spirit Source had restored Jiang Caiyan's meridians and kissed her as she woke in the hot spring with her hands tied.
• Jiang Caiyan realized Lin Heng had taken her body and fought him, accusing him of repaying her kindness with betrayal.
• Lin Heng argued that he had saved her from the Black Market and blamed her past choices for her current predicament.
• Lin Heng offered Jiang Caiyan the choice of walking the Dual Cultivation Path with him or becoming his slave and a cultivation cauldron.
• Jiang Caiyan asked whether begging for mercy would make Lin Heng release her, and he did not answer.
• After a long silence, Jiang Caiyan closed her eyes and answered through her actions.

Lin Heng renewed his control over Jiang Caiyan with the Beast Seal after she agreed to become his Dao companion, then demanded that she visit him at Green Pavilion Sect for two days each month. Their confrontation continued at the hot spring, leaving Jiang Caiyan furious and in tears.

• Jiang Caiyan asked Lin Heng to return the Beast Seal, explaining that losing it could cost her the position of young master.
• Lin Heng pretended to return the Beast Seal, then branded Jiang Caiyan with a new restraint and regained control over her.
• Lin Heng ordered Jiang Caiyan to visit him at Green Pavilion Sect for two days every month, and she protested that she did not want to comply.
• Lin Heng continued to torment Jiang Caiyan at the hot spring after saying he would let her go, and she resisted by biting him.
• Jiang Caiyan cried and blamed Lin Heng for treating her like a toy despite their agreement to become Dao companions.

Lin Heng offered Jiang Caiyan corpses and living captives to help feed the Blood Moon Cult’s Corpse Puppet, then questioned her about the cult’s activities. After teasing her and revealing that his Senior Sister was his Dao companion, he prepared to take Jiang Caiyan to collect the corpses and capture two people.

• Lin Heng offered Jiang Caiyan the corpses beneath the mountain spring and promised to catch two living people for her.
• Jiang Caiyan explained that the Blood Moon Cult fed Fierce Creatures with flesh, blood, and Life Origin Force, sometimes to serve the interests of the righteous factions.
• Lin Heng warned Jiang Caiyan that the Dynasty might target the Blood Moon Cult and kissed her cheek, irritating her.
• Lin Heng told Jiang Caiyan that his Senior Sister was his Dao companion, and they argued about whether cultivators could have multiple partners.
• Jiang Caiyan dressed herself, and Lin Heng said he would take her to collect the corpses and capture two living people.

Lin Heng and Jiang Caiyan collected corpses on Jade Cloud Mountain, where Lin Heng copied Jiang Caiyan’s corpse-control spell after seeing it once. They later reached Green Sun Mountain, where Jiang Caiyan took two people for the Corpse Puppet and Lin Heng arranged to meet her again.

• Lin Heng and Jiang Caiyan pulled thirteen corpses from a pit, and Jiang Caiyan demonstrated how to control them as puppets.
• Lin Heng imitated Jiang Caiyan’s spell and used the Blood Moon Cult’s Wandering Soul Control Art to make three corpses hop, shocking her with his quick learning.
• Black Robe emerged from hiding and reunited with Jiang Caiyan, who told him to take the corpses to feed the Corpse Puppet.
• Lin Heng and Jiang Caiyan flew to Green Sun Mountain, where Lin Heng confronted Old Deng and ordered Jiang Caiyan to take him and the little boy.
• Lin Heng told Jiang Caiyan to meet him at the Wind Pavilion early the next month, kissed her cheek, and watched her leave with the two captives.

Jiang Caiyan and Black Robe discussed Lin Heng’s Dragon Qi and concluded he was not connected to the Dynasty, while Lin Heng hurried back to Green Pavilion Sect after realizing Ye Tian might threaten Meng Yutong and the other Senior Sisters. At Fairy Cloud Peak, Mu Liuxi found Yun Yao looking gloomy in the Alchemy Chamber.

• Black Robe told Jiang Caiyan that Lin Heng had been lost by Green Pavilion Sect’s Sect Leader and raised in the Western Continent wilderness, and Jiang Caiyan ordered him to investigate Lin Heng again.
• Black Robe argued that Lin Heng must have learned Dragon Qi later in life and was therefore not part of the Dynasty’s imperial clan, easing Jiang Caiyan’s concern for the Blood Moon Cult.
• Lin Heng crossed Zigu in two days and realized that if Ye Tian brought down Meng Yutong, he could also control the Senior Sisters, so he hurried to return to Green Pavilion Sect.
• At Fairy Cloud Peak’s Alchemy Chamber, Mu Liuxi taught a Miscellaneous Servant Disciple to control the fire under a pill cauldron, then asked why Yun Yao had left seclusion and whether she would continue toward the middle Golden Core stage.

Yun Yao discussed her cultivation bottleneck with Mu Liuxi, who mistook her secret shortcut for stealing a spirit treasure and warned her not to bully Lin Heng. Two days later, Lin Heng returned to Fairy Cloud Peak and went to register for the Inner-Sect Competition, where disciples questioned his rapid rise to Foundation Establishment.

• Mu Liuxi advised Yun Yao to stabilize her realm and warned her that shortcuts could harm her body, while Yun Yao hid that Lin Heng was involved.
• Yun Yao teased Mu Liuxi for defending Lin Heng, and Mu Liuxi praised him as reliable.
• Lin Heng returned to Fairy Cloud Peak two days later, and Yun Yao and Mu Liuxi sent him to register for the competition before the deadline.
• At Main Peak Pavilion, disciples noticed Lin Heng had reached Foundation Establishment and speculated about his progress, while some Sitting Dao Peak disciples disparaged him.
• Lin Heng joined the registration line, and when he recognized the girl behind the counter, he blurted out, "Little Potato!?"