Chapter Summaries

Zhou Ling refined the Five Elements Heart Fire into five Natal Spirit Flames, improving his spiritual power and strengthening his prospects for a Heaven-Grade Golden Core. He accepted Dean Zhong’s offer to become an Outer Academy Instructor and borrowed Third-Order artifact-refining texts, then celebrated the news with his family and Chu Xing.

• Zhou Ling completed his seclusion and refined the Five Elements Heart Fire into five Natal Spirit Flames, discovering that they had grown more powerful and could temper his spiritual power.
• Zhou Ling visited Dean Zhong and accepted the Outer Academy Instructor position in exchange for enhanced treatment and access to inscriptions below the Fourth Order.
• Zhou Ling asked to study Third-Order engraving materials for the upcoming Heavenly Crafts Division assessment, and Dean Zhong granted him permission to borrow them.
• Zhou Ling borrowed four books on Third-Tier artifact refining and engravings from the Scripture Pavilion after Instructor Du cautioned him not to leak their contents.
• Zhou Ling returned home, where his parents and Chu Xing congratulated him on becoming an Outer Academy Instructor.

Zhou Ling successfully crafted his first Third Order engraving with the Dry Yang True Fire and prepared for the Heavenly Crafts Division Heavenly Guard assessment. At the assessment, he chose to attempt a Third-Tier Treasure Sword, taking a risk to improve his chances of winning Qingyun Immortal City's sole final-assessment slot.

• Zhou Ling used the Dry Yang True Fire and his talents to craft a Fire Cloud Engraving on his first attempt, then estimated the flame could raise his success rate by about thirty percent.
• Zhou Ling studied for the assessment, mindful that he needed resources for his future with Xin'er and did not want to become the Wang Family's live-in son-in-law.
• Two days later, Zhou Ling joined more than seventy Second-grade Heavenly Crafts Guards at the Xuanyuan Daoist Academy, where Director Qin explained that the winner would earn Qingyun Immortal City's sole slot in the next Heavenly Guard assessment.
• The judges discussed Zhou Ling's prospects, while Dean Zhong worried that winning a Heavenly Guard position might take him away from the Dao Academy.
• When the assessment began, Zhou Ling reviewed the available artifact options and chose to refine the Third-Tier fire-attributed Treasure Sword.

Zhou Ling forged a Third-Tier Fire Gold Sword in the artifact-crafting assessment, stunning the judges and audience with his skill at early Foundation Establishment. Director Qin awarded him first place before the assessment had even reached its halfway point.

• Zhou Ling chose Third-Tier materials and used his Dry Yang True Fire to refine them into a Fire Gold Sword Embryo.
• The judges and disciples doubted Zhou Ling could craft a Third-Tier Treasure, then marveled at the power of his Spirit Flame as he shaped the sword.
• Zhou Ling took a Vitality Pill, recovered his spiritual power, and inscribed the Fire Gold Sword Seal directly onto the Sword Embryo.
• Zhou Ling fused the Sword Seal into the blade with the Dry Yang True Fire and completed a Third-Tier Fire Gold Sword.
• Director Qin declared Zhou Ling the assessment’s first-place winner, and the other judges agreed.

After taking first place in the Qingyun Immortal City Heavenly Guard assessment, Zhou Ling became a Third-Grade Steward and moved his family to a better courtyard. He also learned that He Zijian had achieved Earth-Grade Foundation Establishment and Xin'er had achieved Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment, leaving him to prepare for the Qingyang Immortal Domain assessment.

• Director Qin rewarded Zhou Ling for winning the assessment, appointed him a Third-Grade Steward, and gave him information to study for next year's Heavenly Guard assessment.
• Steward Zheng processed Zhou Ling's appointment, granted him a new courtyard and a special monthly stipend of two High-grade Spirit Stones, while Xu Baoyuan watched with chagrin.
• Zhou Ling returned home, told his parents about his promotion, and moved the family into a spacious courtyard with Third-Tier Spiritual Energy.
• Zhou Ling received word that He Zijian had successfully achieved Earth-Grade Foundation Establishment.
• Wang Qingshang told Zhou Ling that Xin'er had successfully achieved Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment.

Zhou Ling advanced his soul cultivation, condensed the Fire Maple Tree Dharma Aspect, and prepared for his first lecture as an Instructor at Xuanyuan Daoist Academy. After teaching engraving techniques, he recognized several promising disciples and learned that Bai Ji shared his humble origins.

• Zhou Ling refined three Soul Origin Pills, raised his divine sense to a thousand zhang, and reached the third layer of the Clear Radiance Spirit Nurturing Art, allowing him to comprehend the Fire Maple Tree Dharma Aspect.
• Zhou Ling considered how to obtain a higher-level soul cultivation method and calmed his anxiety about the Wang Family before preparing for his first class.
• Zhou Ling arrived to teach Artifact Crafting and found Ye Zhilan, Liu Yu, and Wang Gan among the disciples attending his lecture.
• Zhou Ling introduced himself and taught the disciples methods for refining First-grade High-tier Engravings, then answered their questions.
• Zhou Ling took note of talented disciples Song Yue and Bai Ji, and learned from the records that Bai Ji came from Muguang Immortal City and had risen from a poor family through his own talent and perseverance.

Zhou Ling prepared to forge the remaining Five Elements Treasure Swords and was assigned by Zi Ling to take a disciple for the Dao Academy. He accepted Bai Ji and Song Yue as disciples, giving them swords and offering guidance.

• Zhou Ling used [Illusion Simulation] to study Sword Souls and test forging a Wood Attribute Third Order Treasure Sword, discovering that Azure Lotus Spirit Flame could improve its success rate and power.
• Zi Ling told Zhou Ling that he would take over her annual duty of accepting a disciple after Dean Zhong approved the arrangement.
• Zhou Ling consulted Instructor Hu about the students, then evaluated the class and chose to approach Bai Ji about becoming his disciple.
• Bai Ji eagerly accepted Zhou Ling's offer and bowed to him as his master.
• Song Yue returned and asked Zhou Ling to accept her too, so he made both her and Bai Ji his Disciples and gave each a First-Tier Supreme-Grade Sword.

Zhou Ling arranged cultivation paths and a Workshop for his new disciples, Bai Ji and Song Yue, then reunited with Wang Xin after her Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment. He and his friends celebrated their breakthroughs and discussed their plans, while He Lingyun prepared to pursue Foundation Establishment next year.

• Zhou Ling and Zi Ling assessed Bai Ji and Song Yue's cultivation, and Zi Ling recommended that Bai Ji try the Dry Yang Fire Art while Song Yue continued the Azure Flame Art.
• Zhou Ling gave Bai Ji the Dry Yang True Art and medicinal herbs, then assigned Bai Ji and Song Yue to manage his Dao Academy Workshop.
• Wang Xin returned to Zhou Ling's home after achieving Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment and told him she had chosen to leave the Wang Family and live with him.
• Zhou Ling invited He Zijian and He Lingyun to celebrate with him and Wang Xin; the group toasted He Zijian's and Wang Xin's Foundation Establishment.
• He Lingyun said she planned to compete for the Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill next June, and asked Wang Xin to refine Blood Beast Pills to help awaken the Sun Yang Bird's bloodline.

Wang Xin brought Zhou Ling rare ingredients to help Li Ru advance toward Foundation Establishment, and the Zhou family celebrated Wang Xin’s Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment. Li Ru pushed Zhou Ling and Wang Xin to marry within five days, and the family began preparing their home and wedding.

• Wang Xin gave Zhou Ling two second-grade Green Spirit Fruits and Cloud Spring Water, then agreed to refine Green Spirit Pills for Li Ru using her Ancestral Flame Seed.
• Zhou Shan, Li Ru, and Chu Xing returned from the Wine Workshop, and the family welcomed Wang Xin with a celebratory dinner.
• Li Ru asked when Zhou Ling and Wang Xin would marry, and Wang Xin agreed to Li Ru’s proposal to hold the wedding before the year ended.
• Li Ru set the wedding for five days later, and Zhou Ling and Wang Xin accepted the plan.
• The Zhou family decorated their courtyard and prepared for the wedding while Wang Xin refined Green Spirit Pills and Zhou Ling selected a small group of guests.

Zhou Ling and Wang Xin married with their families and friends present, then began married life together. Wang Yu brought the Wang Family’s condition that Wang Xin return to cultivate there unless she reached Golden Core within ten years, and Zhou Ling accepted the challenge, promising to help her form a Heaven-Grade Golden Core.

• Zhou Ling and Wang Xin held their wedding at the Zhou Family Courtyard, with Zi Ling standing in for Wang Yu and many Dao Academy and Heavenly Crafts Division guests attending.
• After the wedding, Zhou Ling and Wang Xin drank ceremonial wine and spent their first night together as husband and wife.
• The next morning, Wang Xin served tea to Zhou Shan and Li Ru, who welcomed her and urged the couple to have a child soon.
• Wang Yu arrived, accepted that Zhou Ling and Wang Xin had married, and relayed Patriarch Wang’s condition that Wang Xin return to the Wang Family if she failed to reach Golden Core within ten years.
• Zhou Ling accepted the condition and vowed to help Wang Xin achieve a Heaven-Grade Golden Core within ten years, while Wang Xin said she would not return to the Wang Family even if she failed.

Zhou Ling planned how to help Wang Xin meet the Wang Family’s ten-year Golden Core pact, then completed his Five Elements Natal Sword and discovered it strengthened his sword seals. He left seclusion more confident about passing the Heavenly Crafts Division Heavenly Guard assessment and went to check on Wang Xin’s cultivation.

• At lunch, Zhou Ling reassured Wang Xin and Li Ru that ten years was enough for Wang Xin to reach the Golden Core realm, and gave Wang Xin Golden Fire Crystal Stones to strengthen her Flame Seed.
• Wang Xin absorbed the Golden Fire Crystal Stones and found that they improved both her Flame Seed and her cultivation, so Zhou Ling planned a regimen of flame growth, pills, and technique study.
• Zhou Ling resolved to prioritize refining the Five Elements Natal Sword and passing the Heavenly Crafts Division Heavenly Guard assessment, while Qingyun Immortal City’s families visited to recruit or befriend him.
• After returning to the Dao Academy and spending a month in seclusion, Zhou Ling completed five third-tier Natal Swords: the Fire Cloud Sword, Wave Light Sword, Golden Dragon Sword, Wood Lotus Sword, and Three Revolutions Earth Origin Sword.
• Zhou Ling used the Fire Cloud Sword’s sword qi to refine a sword seal and found that it improved the seal’s success rate and power, then left seclusion to see how Wang Xin’s cultivation had advanced.

After successfully refining five Third Order Treasure Swords as Natal Swords, Zhou Ling visited Zi Ling with Wang Xin and received secret arts to cultivate their Spirit Flames. They chose different arts suited to their flames, while the Wang Family’s demand that Zhou Ling form a Golden Core within ten years remained unresolved.

• Zhou Ling told Wang Xin that refining his five Third Order Treasure Swords had gone smoothly, and they went to meet Zi Ling.
• Zi Ling praised Zhou Ling’s progress, reassured the pair that the Wang Family would not act against them while they remained her disciples, and presented three Spirit Flame cultivation secret arts.
• Zhou Ling chose the Spirit Flame Six Revolutions Art because it suited his cautious approach and had no attribute restrictions.
• Zi Ling recognized Wang Xin’s flame as a Natal Flame Seed of the Golden Soul Burning Heaven Flame and advised her to choose the Divine Fire Condensation Art for faster cultivation.
• Wang Xin accepted Zi Ling’s advice, and she and Zhou Ling took their Jade Slips and studied their chosen secret arts in the courtyard.

Zhou Ling unlocked the Six Revolutions Transformation talent, used it to improve his cultivation and engraving, and raised his Dry Yang True Fire to the fourth grade. With ten days remaining before the Heavenly Guard assessment, he prepared to study his opponents and learned that Wang Xin’s cultivation had also accelerated.

• Zhou Ling completed ten Spirit Flame compression cycles and unlocked the Six Revolutions Transformation talent, which could shrink and enlarge Spirit Flames and engravings.
• Zhou Ling tested the talent on his Five Elements Spirit Flame and a Volcano Engraving, discovering that it increased cultivation efficiency and engraving power while reducing difficulty.
• After ten days of secluded cultivation, Zhou Ling advanced the talent to its second revolution and raised his Dry Yang True Fire to the fourth grade.
• Zhou Ling left the Cultivation Room with ten days remaining before the Heavenly Guard assessment and decided to review the participating guards’ information.
• Wang Xin told Zhou Ling that the Divine Fire Condensation Method had nearly doubled her cultivation speed and improved her Ancestral Flame Seed by around twenty percent.

Zhou Ling learned that the Heavenly Guard assessment would be fiercely competitive and prepared to forge a Third-Tier Fire Cloud Sword to secure a position. Wang Qingshang proposed that Wang Xin remain with the Wang Family without interfering in her marriage, and Zhou Ling left for Qingyang Immortal City with Wang Xin planning to accompany him.

• Director Qin explained the Heavenly Guard assessment rules and warned Zhou Ling that fewer than thirty percent of contestants would likely earn a position by forging a Third-Tier Treasure.
• Zhou Ling decided his strongest choice was a Third-Tier Fire Cloud Sword incorporating the Fire Cloud Sword Soul.
• Wang Qingshang discussed Wang Xin's future in the Wang Family, promising not to interfere with her relationship with Zhou Ling if she became patriarch and offering her cultivation resources.
• Wang Qingshang gave Wang Xin more than a hundred high-quality Tier 2 spirit herbs, and Wang Xin accepted them.
• Zhou Ling told Wang Qingshang he planned to attend the assessment in Qingyang Immortal City, and Wang Xin asked to accompany him.

Zhou Ling learned that this year’s Heavenly Crafts Guard assessment was packed with powerful young contenders, but he chose to attempt the difficult Triple Layered Sword in hopes of winning first place and earning spirit land for his family. After Director Qin explained the challenge, Zhou Ling saw that his Five Elements Spirit Flame and skill with multi-attribute seals could give him an advantage.

• Lu Yunxi showed Zhou Ling and Director Qin recordings of elite Heavenly Crafts Guards, and Director Qin warned that Zhou Ling would face formidable competition.
• Director Qin revealed that City Lord Li would award Zhou Ling spirit land if he became a Heavenly Crafts Guard, motivating Zhou Ling to pursue the assessment.
• Lu Yunxi described the assessment options, including the difficult Triple Layered Sword, which offered five bonus points.
• Zhou Ling chose to attempt the Triple Layered Sword and asked whether he could also select a familiar Treasure Artifact.
• Director Qin explained the sword’s demanding materials, Spirit Ink, and three-attribute seals, while Zhou Ling recognized that his Five Elements Spirit Flame could help him overcome these difficulties.

Zhou Ling studied the Triple Layered Sword Seal and used his talents and three Spirit Flames to inscribe it successfully on his first attempt. Confident in his chances, he arrived at the Xuanyuan Daoist Academy headquarters for the Heavenly Guard assessment and took his station as the judges prepared to begin.

• Zhou Ling read Director Qin’s Jade Slip and learned the layered method for refining the Triple Layered Sword Seal, which Director Qin had never completed himself.
• Zhou Ling chose Dry Yang True Fire, Beast Flame, and Azure Lotus Spirit Flame, then used [Six Revolutions Transformation] to reduce the seal’s difficulty and inscribed it successfully on Spirit Paper.
• Zhou Ling celebrated with Xin'er before traveling with Wang Xin, Director Qin, and Lu Yunxi to the Xuanyuan Daoist Academy headquarters.
• Lu Yunxi introduced the five assessment judges, including Dean Shen, Chief Ye, and Patriarch Wang, while Zhou Ling assessed the formidable late Foundation Establishment competitors.
• Chief Ye announced that the assessment would begin after an incense stick, and Zhou Ling entered his station, checked the prepared materials, and waited.

Zhou Ling began the Heavenly Guard assessment by forging the difficult Triple Layered Sword, drawing attention from the judges and audience when he controlled a Fourth-Grade Dry Yang True Fire. After melting all the materials, he started shaping the sword embryo.

• The judges discussed the contestants, and Patriarch He boasted that Tianxia Daoist Academy's disciples were favored to claim most of the Heavenly Guard slots.
• The judges noticed Zhou Ling had chosen the Triple Layered Sword, and Patriarch Wang revealed that Zhou Ling was his family's son-in-law.
• Chief Ye announced the assessment's start, and Zhou Ling examined his materials before placing them into the Purple Sun Furnace.
• Zhou Ling used his Fourth-Grade Dry Yang True Fire to melt the materials, surprising the judges and drawing attention from the audience.
• After the materials melted, Zhou Ling formed hand seals and began shaping the Triple Layered Sword's embryo.

Zhou Ling completed a Third Order Triple Layered Sword Embryo in under half an hour, then used three Spirit Flames to forge the finished sword seal with astonishing speed. His performance stunned the judges and spectators, and he appeared poised to take first place in the Heavenly Guard assessment.

• Zhou Ling forged the Triple Layered Sword Embryo in less than half an hour, then rested and recovered his mana.
• Zhou Ling began inscribing the sword seal and controlled the Dry Yang True Fire, Azure Lotus Spirit Flame, and Beast Flame simultaneously.
• The spectators and judges reacted in disbelief as Zhou Ling demonstrated control of three high-grade Spirit Flames.
• Chief Ye declared that the Heavenly Crafts Division would focus on nurturing Zhou Ling regardless of the assessment result.
• Zhou Ling completed the Triple Layered Sword, leaving the judges convinced he would likely take first place and He Yunshan visibly troubled.

Zhou Ling won first place in the Heavenly Guard assessment and chose to remain in Qingyun Immortal City, where he became Deputy Steward of its Heavenly Crafts Division. He received ten mu of Third-Tier spirit land and learned he might become Director after Director Qin's transfer in half a year.

• Chief Ye announced Zhou Ling as the assessment champion after he forged a Third-Tier Triple Layered Sword, and Dean Shen offered to transfer him to Qingyang Immortal City.
• Chief Ye offered Zhou Ling a choice between transferring to Qingyang Immortal City or remaining in Qingyun Immortal City as Deputy Steward, and Zhou Ling chose to stay.
• News of Zhou Ling's victory spread through Qingyun Immortal City, bringing visitors, invitations, and requests for his services.
• Director Qin gave Zhou Ling the deed to ten mu of Third-Tier spirit land awarded for his victory and said Director Qin would transfer to Golden Lotus Immortal City in half a year.
• Director Qin told Zhou Ling he might take over as Director, and Zhou Ling discussed the possibility before leaving the division.

After obtaining ten mu of Third Order Spirit Land in Qingyun Immortal City, Zhou Ling discussed turning it into a Zhou Family estate with his parents and Wang Xin. They settled on plans for a residence, an Artifact Workshop, and Spirit Fields, and began arranging construction, leaving Zhou Ling ready to start once the materials were gathered.

• Zhou Ling showed Zhou Shan the deed to the family's ten mu of Spirit Land, and his parents celebrated his achievement.
• Wang Xin examined the jade deed and proposed placing the family residence in the center, an Artifact Workshop on the right, and high-grade Spirit Fields on the remaining land.
• Wang Xin prepared two construction budgets, and Zhou Ling decided to ask Sun Dajie to use construction puppets to reduce labor costs.
• Zhou Ling contacted Sun Dajie, who promised to complete the estate's construction and Spirit Field reclamation within twenty days using twelve puppets.
• Zhou Ling gave Zhou Shan six middle-grade Spirit Stones and Wang Xin's materials list, then shared the plans with Sun Dajie and agreed to pay him the market rate.

Zhou Ling prepared for upcoming assessments and competitions while receiving pills and Dao Academy points from Zi Ling, then used a Jade Clarity Pill to break through to the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment. He stabilized his new realm with an Essence Augmentation Pill and left the Cultivation Room three days later.

• Zi Ling praised Zhou Ling's cultivation progress, gave him and Xin'er Jade Clarity Pills, and handed him a jade token holding three hundred Dao Academy points.
• Zhou Ling visited the family Workshop, urged Bai Ji and Song Yue to prepare for the Foundation Establishment Seed Assessment, and gave them notes on second-tier engravings.
• Zhou Ling returned to his residence and planned to compete in the coming Inner Academy combat strength competition to earn resources for his family and Xin'er.
• Zhou Ling swallowed a Jade Clarity Pill and broke through to the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment.
• Zhou Ling took an Essence Augmentation Pill to replenish his spiritual energy, stabilized his realm over three days, and left the Cultivation Room.