Chapter Summaries

Li Ru emerged from eight days of seclusion having achieved Earth-Grade Foundation Establishment, while Wang Xin told Zhou Ling she was pregnant. Zhou Ling tested his Five Elements sword against Dean Gong’s Sword Shadow and impressed her with his progress before the family welcomed Li Ru out of seclusion.

• Zhou Ling and Zhou Shan guarded Li Ru as she attempted Foundation Establishment, and Zhou Ling sensed that she had succeeded at Earth-Grade Foundation Establishment.
• Wang Xin told Zhou Ling she was pregnant, and he urged her to stay home and focus on the pregnancy.
• Zhou Ling entered Dean Gong’s Sword Shadow Jade and lost a duel against her Falling Wood Sword Qi, gaining insight from the battle.
• Dean Gong sensed Zhou Ling’s sword shadow and was surprised that he had nearly blocked her second-step sword shadow and seemed to grasp Five Elements Sword Intent.
• After eight days in seclusion, Li Ru emerged radiant and youthful, and Zhou Ling and Wang Xin congratulated her on reaching Foundation Establishment.

Li Ru celebrated her successful Earth-Grade Foundation Establishment, while Zhou Ling learned that Wang Xin was pregnant and that he would compete for the Director position in the Heavenly Crafts Division. Wang Qingshang warned him that a Blood Soul Sect Golden Core cultivator was operating nearby and might target him, leaving Zhou Ling determined to protect his family and deal with the threat.

• Zhou Ling and Li Ru celebrated her Foundation Establishment, and Wang Xin announced that she was pregnant.
• Director Qin told Zhou Ling that he would compete against Li Feng and He Shen for the Director position after Qin's appointment in Jinguang Immortal City.
• Wang Qingshang warned Zhou Ling that the Evil Slaying Department had found signs of a Blood Soul Sect Golden Core cultivator, possibly seeking revenge for the destroyed stronghold.
• Wang Qingshang explained that two Golden Core Mystic Guards were pursuing the elusive remnant and advised Zhou Ling to stay home while patrols protected the area.
• Zhou Ling returned to the celebration with a heavy heart and decided to invite his master to stay with his family.

Zhou Ling received a Spirit Origin Immortal Lotus from Zi Ling and learned that a Blood Soul Sect Golden Core Cultivator was targeting him. After the danger prompt warned him of an ambush on the road home, Zhou Ling contacted Dean Gong and decided to confront his attacker instead of retreating.

• Zi Ling praised Li Ru's Fire Ginseng Wine, gave Zhou Ling a Spirit Origin Immortal Lotus seed for his Golden Core tribulation, and asked him to have Li Ru brew the six leaves into wine.
• Zhou Ling told his parents and the Workshop about the Blood Soul Sect threat and urged them to stay within the Zhou Family grounds.
• Hall Master Jin reviewed Zhou Ling's abilities and identities, then resolved to kill him despite the risks of attacking him in Qingyun Immortal City.
• After ten days of peaceful cultivation and work, Zhou Ling went to teach at Nine Heavens Sword Academy and received a crisis warning about a concealed Golden Core Cultivator waiting west of the Academy.
• Zhou Ling sent a voice transmission to Dean Gong and continued toward the ambush, intending to turn the tables on his attacker.

Zhou Ling lured a Blood Soul Sect Golden Core Cultivator out of Qingyun Immortal City, but the man trapped him in a Blood Light Teleportation Array and transported him to a nearby wild mountain. Zhou Ling overcame the cultivator’s attacks and unleashed the Five Elements Sword Domain, leaving the Blood Luan Bird and the man swallowed by sword radiance.

• Zhou Ling traveled through secluded streets to bait the Blood Soul Sect Golden Core Cultivator and identified him with Intermediate Observation.
• The Blood Soul Sect cultivator lured Zhou Ling into a Blood Light Teleportation Array and teleported him to a wild mountain outside the city.
• The cultivator struck Zhou Ling with a divine sense attack, but Zhou Ling pretended to be injured and counterattacked with the Fire Cloud Sword Domain.
• Zhou Ling used the Greater Five Elements Sword Art to break the cultivator’s Blood River Fiend Dragon and overwhelm his blood-ring Treasure Artifact with sword rain.
• Zhou Ling entered Man and Sword as One, resisted the Blood Luan Bird, and formed the Five Elements Sword Domain.
• The Five Elements Sword Domain pierced the Blood Luan Bird and swallowed the middle-aged Blood Soul Sect cultivator in sword radiance.

Zhou Ling killed a Blood Soul Sect Golden Core cultivator with the Five Elements Sword Domain, then recovered from the backlash and discussed the consequences with Wang Qingshang. He left the military merit and the killing’s public attribution to her, while Dean Gong learned what happened; that evening, Zhou Ling treated his injured meridians and examined the valuable spoils.

• Zhou Ling used the Five Elements Sword Domain to kill the Blood Soul Sect Golden Core cultivator, though the effort badly depleted his spiritual power and injured his meridians.
• Zhou Ling collected the Blood Ring and selected valuable items from the cultivator’s Storage Ring, while leaving some spoils behind for submission.
• Wang Qingshang arrived, confirmed Zhou Ling had killed the cultivator, and recorded the scene as evidence for the Mysterious Court Division.
• Zhou Ling asked Wang Qingshang to claim the kill to shield his family from Blood Soul Sect retaliation, and she assured him his military merit would remain private.
• Dean Gong contacted Zhou Ling, learned he had killed the Golden Core cultivator, and urged him to be careful.
• That evening, Zhou Ling concealed the battle from his family, took pills to repair his meridians, and sorted through spoils worth two to three hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Zhou Ling absorbed a Three-Tier Void Soul Pill and raised his divine sense to the early Golden Core level, then received the Three Pure Creation Art from Zi Ling. After learning about the technique and Zi Ling’s past, he began cultivating the method in his room.

• Zhou Ling swallowed the Void Soul Pill and used his talents to absorb its medicinal power, increasing his soul cultivation to two thousand zhang.
• Zhou Ling visited Zi Ling, who gave him a Mysterious Heaven Jade Stone containing the Three Pure Creation Art.
• Zi Ling revealed that she had come from the Purple Sky Sect and named Cang Wu and Tao Ye as Zhou Ling’s senior sisters.
• Zhou Ling studied the Earth-grade Three Pure Creation Art and learned that its first step was to form two additional Soul Trees from his Fire Spirit Maple Tree.
• Zhou Ling returned to his Cultivation Room and began cultivating the Three Pure Creation Art.

Zhou Ling cultivated the Three Pure Creation Art with the Mysterious Sky Ancient Jade, whose sudden fusion with his soul transformed his soul seed into three mysterious golden runes and granted him a Three Pure Soul Body. He left the cultivation room with his divine soul power doubled and a plan to use his strengthened soul for cultivation, crafting, and future ambitions.

• Zhou Ling absorbed soul power from the Mysterious Sky Ancient Jade and began forming a three-colored soul leaf from his Fire Spirit Maple Tree soul seed.
• The Mysterious Sky Ancient Jade surged into Zhou Ling's Sea of Consciousness, shattered the soul seed, and drew its power into three vortices that became golden runes.
• Zhou Ling discovered that his divine soul power had risen to four thousand zhang and that the panel listed a Three Pure Soul Body.
• Zhou Ling found that the Three Pure Creation Art had converted nearly half his divine soul power and estimated he could convert it all within a month.
• Zhou Ling considered how his strengthened soul could improve his artifact crafting and combat, while identifying the Ancient Cloud Realm as a possible future target for establishing a family.

After Zhou Ling fused with the Mysterious Sky Ancient Jade and awakened the Three Pure Soul Body, Zi Ling revealed the jade’s ties to the Ling Xiao lineage and entrusted him with carrying on its orthodoxy. A month of cultivation later, Zhou Ling mastered powerful soul techniques, including the Golden Lotus Dharma Aspect, and prepared to use his growing strength against future threats.

• Zi Ling explained that the Mysterious Sky Ancient Jade was an inherited treasure containing Heaven and Earth Rules, and said Zhou Ling’s Three Pure Soul Body could let him advance beyond the Soul Transformation Realm.
• Zi Ling revealed that she had been gravely injured after being plotted against during a battle with foreign races, and Zhou Ling vowed to avenge her and rebuild the Ling Xiao orthodoxy.
• Zi Ling named Zhou Ling her heir to the Ling Xiao lineage, with the formal transfer to take place once he reached the Golden Core Realm.
• Zi Ling taught Zhou Ling about the Golden Light Soul Protection Art and Golden Lotus Divine Soul Dharma Image, and he continued studying the Three Pure Creation Art with her guidance.
• After a month of cultivation and deduction simulations, Zhou Ling formed three soul figures and developed the stronger Golden Soul Defense Form alongside the Golden Lotus Dharma Aspect.
• Zhou Ling manifested a towering Golden Lotus Divine Soul Dharma Image and judged that its attack could kill Golden Core Cultivators from the Blood Soul Sect.

After emerging from seclusion with his Soul Cultivation greatly improved, Zhou Ling collected the rewards for killing a Blood Soul Sect Golden Core Cultivator and prepared for upcoming duties and events. He left the Mysterious Court Division with most of his reward, keeping two Lightning Fire Runes to protect his family.

• Zhou Ling received messages about his reward, the Heavenly Crafts Division steward contest, and Song Yue’s successful Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment, then congratulated her and agreed to attend her celebration.
• Zhou Ling visited Wang Xin and Li Ru, told Wang Xin that his Soul Cultivation had reached the Golden Core level, and shared a meal with them.
• Zhou Ling learned that Song Yue’s Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment had brought Xuanyuan Daoist Academy widespread attention, and he agreed to attend her family’s celebration in three days.
• Wang Qingshang gave Zhou Ling his reward for killing the Blood Soul Sect Golden Core Cultivator, including military merits, spirit stones, pills, a treasure sword, and Lightning Fire Runes.
• Zhou Ling gave He Zijian one Lightning Fire Rune but kept the other two to protect his parents, then asked Wang Qingshang about recent Blood Soul Sect activity in Qingyun Immortal City.

Song Yue invited Zhou Ling’s family to her Foundation Establishment banquet and told him the Song Family wanted partners to pioneer a Fourth Order domain. Zhou Ling advised her on her Life Treasure and sword cultivation, then sparred with Dean Gong’s sword shadow and managed to match its attack before his own shadow dispersed.

• Song Yue visited the Zhou Family after achieving Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment and invited Zhou Ling’s family to her banquet, but pregnant Wang Xin stayed home while Zhou Ling agreed to attend.
• Song Yue told Zhou Ling that the Song Family had found a Fourth Order domain and wanted to invite four or five families to help open it; Zhou Ling considered the risks and the potential value of obtaining a spirit vein.
• Song Yue asked which Life Treasure to choose, and Zhou Ling gave her the Pure Yang Sword Art and Myriad Wood Sword Art, offered to craft her a fire-wood treasure sword, and advised her to prioritize Artifact Crafting.
• Zhou Ling challenged Dean Gong’s third sword shadow and used his Five Elements Sword Domain to match its attack, but his sword shadow dispersed from the strain.
• Dean Gong’s sword shadow praised Zhou Ling’s Sword Dao talent before dispersing.

Zhou Ling attended Song Yue’s Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment celebration, where Song Nian invited the Zhou Family to supply artifacts for a joint expedition into the Chang Sheng Domain. Zhou Ling agreed to meet the expedition’s demands and planned to gather more materials, while considering a return to the Ancient Cloud Realm to replenish the Workshop’s supplies.

• Zhou Ling attended Song Yue’s celebration and received thanks from Song Nian for helping her achieve Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment.
• Song Nian invited Zhou Ling to have the Zhou Family supply Treasure Artifacts for the five families’ development of the Chang Sheng Domain, which held four Nascent Soul forces and a Deity Transformation inheritance sought by the Song Family.
• Song Nian outlined the expedition’s forces, required artifact supplies, and plan to divide the domain’s resources among the five families.
• Zhou Ling agreed to provide the required artifacts within twenty days, and Yuan Hu estimated the Workshop’s current production capacity.
• Zhou Ling left with Yuan Hu to buy Workshop materials and planned to visit the Ancient Cloud Realm to obtain more ores.

After emerging from seclusion, Zhou Ling strengthened Liu Yue'er’s preparations for Foundation Establishment and learned that the Black Water Sect had seized Purple Cloud Sect’s mines. He attacked the Black Water Sect, and the chapter ended as he launched two Third-Order Sword Intents at its elders.

• Zhou Ling emerged from seclusion, gave the young disciples Qi Gathering Pills, and provided Liu Yue'er an Earth-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, Lingxia True Spring, a Spirit Gathering Formation, and cultivation guidance.
• Liu Yue'er told Zhou Ling that the Black Water Sect had taken several of Purple Cloud Sect’s mines and that its First Elder was preparing for the Golden Core Tribulation.
• Zhou Ling inspected the sect, collected its remaining resources, and decided to confront the Black Water Sect before returning to Qingyun Immortal City.
• Zhou Ling flew to Black Water Island, analyzed the Golden Light Array, and shattered it with the Fire Cloud Sword.
• The Black Water Sect Master and a black-robed elder confronted Zhou Ling, who revealed his identity and demanded the stolen ore back.
• Zhou Ling summoned the Fire Cloud Sword and Golden Dragon Sword and sent their Third-Order Sword Intents toward the two elders.

Zhou Ling defeated the Black Water Sect’s elders and forced the sect to swear allegiance to the Purple Cloud Sect. After securing their submission, he began taking control of their resources and advised Ye Shan on improving his chances of surviving the Golden Core Tribulation.

• Zhou Ling overwhelmed the Black Water Sect Master and Third Elder with his sword attacks, while the sect’s Foundation Establishment cultivators failed to stop him.
• The Black Water Sect’s First Elder arrived, and Zhou Ling attacked him with three more Natal Swords before forming the Five Elements Sword Formation to defeat all three leaders.
• Zhou Ling demanded that the Black Water Sect submit to the Purple Cloud Sect or die, and Ye Shan, Qin Mao, and the disciples swore Dao oaths of allegiance.
• Zhou Ling ordered Qin Mao to hand over the sect’s ore and inventory its resources, then followed Ye Shan into the great hall.
• After assessing Ye Shan’s cultivation, Zhou Ling warned that his Golden Core Tribulation success rate was below thirty percent and recommended refining his spiritual power and using a Water Attribute spiritual object.

Zhou Ling subdued Black Water Sect, collected its Black Fire Spirit Flame for Xin'er, and secured its ore and spirit herbs for Purple Cloud Sect. After leaving the sect under Liu Yue'er’s supervision and protecting her upcoming breakthrough, he returned to Qingyun Immortal City with plans to refine pills and strengthen his cultivation before pursuing the Steward examination.

• Zhou Ling used Dry Yang True Fire to extract the Black Fire Spirit Flame from Black Water Tree and sealed it for Xin'er, then planted a wisp of Azure Lotus Spirit Flame in the tree.
• Zhou Ling had Ye Shan lead him to Black Water Sect's spirit medicine garden, then received the sect's ore and spirit herbs and made Black Water Sect an affiliated force of Purple Cloud Sect.
• Zhou Ling assigned Black Water Sect's monthly tribute to Liu Yue'er and left the Golden Fire Crow and several puppets to protect her during her Foundation Establishment breakthrough.
• Zhou Ling inspected Ye Shan's storage ring, found abundant ore and spirit herbs including two Black Flame Fruits, and considered refining the fruits into pills after consulting Xin'er.
• Zhou Ling returned from the Ancient Cloud Realm to Qingyun Immortal City, intending to improve his cultivation and compete for the Heavenly Crafts Division Steward examination.

Zhou Ling gave Chu Xing a Foundation Establishment Pill and advised Bai Ji to earn his own through the Dao Academy assessment. After Wang Xin refined a weakened Black Fire Spirit Flame, she unexpectedly advanced to Mid Foundation Establishment, and the family prepared to celebrate.

• At the Zhou Family Workshop, Zhou Ling gave Chu Xing an Earth-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill and auxiliary resources for his next attempt.
• Zhou Ling told Bai Ji to strive for a Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill himself and reminded him to refine his cultivation techniques.
• At home, Zhou Ling offered Wang Xin the Black Fire Spirit Flame, and she began refining it despite Li Ru's concern.
• Wang Xin smoothly absorbed the Black Fire Spirit Flame and broke through to Mid Foundation Establishment.
• Li Ru and Zhou Ling invited family and Workshop members to celebrate Wang Xin's breakthrough.

Zhou Ling learned what was needed to collect a Third Order spirit vein, then used two Black Flame Fruits to advance from Foundation Establishment fourth layer to seventh layer. He left seclusion ready to focus on the Heavenly Crafts Division director competition and prepare for future Golden Core formation.

• Wang Xin told Zhou Ling that collecting a Third Order spirit vein required a Space Treasure Tool and a Pulse Collection Magic Array, and explained that she knew a medium-sized array.
• Zhou Ling consumed one Black Flame Fruit, endured its violent medicinal power, and broke through to Foundation Establishment fifth layer.
• After stabilizing his cultivation for two days, Zhou Ling consumed the second fruit and reached Foundation Establishment seventh layer.
• Zhou Ling checked his cultivation panel and resolved to advance the Five Elements Dry Yang True Art before preparing to form a Golden Core.
• After five days in seclusion, Zhou Ling checked messages from Director Qin and Lu Yunxi about the director competition.

Zhou Ling asked Zi Ling about forming a Heaven-Grade Golden Core and learned that his Five Elements cultivation could subject him to a five-bolt thunder tribulation. Zi Ling gave him Five-Colored True Cloudglow Spirit Milk and Golden Core records, leaving Zhou Ling to study how he might prepare for the formidable tribulation.

• Zhou Ling told Zi Ling he had reached late Foundation Establishment and wanted advice on forming a Golden Core.
• Zi Ling explained the four gates of Golden Core formation and estimated Zhou Ling had less than a fifty-percent chance because of his powerful Five Elements tribulation.
• Zi Ling gave Zhou Ling Third Order Five-Colored True Cloudglow Spirit Milk to help him pass the Mana Gate.
• Zi Ling handed Zhou Ling records on forming a Golden Core with the Five Elements Dry Yang True Art and a Jade Slip containing the Hidden Origin Secret Art.
• Zhou Ling studied the secret art and Golden Core records, learning that his thunder tribulation could involve three or five bolts and that surviving it could grant him a Five Elements Mysterious Silk Edict.

Zhou Ling learned that the Heavenly Crafts Division’s competition could secure him the Steward position and a valuable Spirit Gathering Pearl, then joined Li Feng and He Shen at Xuanyuan Daoist Academy. He chose to forge a Five Elements treasure sword and began refining its materials as the contest got underway.

• Director Qin congratulated Zhou Ling on reaching late Foundation Establishment and explained that forging a third-tier top-grade Treasure Artifact could win him the Steward position.
• Director Qin revealed that Zhou Ling would receive a Fourth-Tier Spirit Gathering Bead and two thousand points if he won, or one thousand points if he lost.
• Director Qin advised Zhou Ling on forging third-tier treasure swords and answered his questions about Fourth Order inscriptions.
• Three days later, Zhou Ling, He Shen, and Li Feng gathered at Xuanyuan Daoist Academy for the Steward competition, which gave them three hours to forge treasure swords.
• After examining the available materials, Zhou Ling chose ten Five Elements materials and began refining them to form a Sword Embryo.

Zhou Ling forged a set of Third-Tier Top-Grade Five Elements Treasure Swords during the artifact-refining competition, impressing the judges and spectators. Cheng Pu declared Zhou Ling the winner, and the chapter ended with all three finalists' swords presented for judgment.

• Cheng Pu and the other observers watched Zhou Ling use Dry Yang True Fire and the Essence-Linking Method to forge five sword bodies from Five Elements materials.
• Zhou Ling recovered his mana, engraved Five Elements Sword Seals, and incorporated Lesser Five Elements Sword Intent into the sword bodies.
• Zhou Ling completed the Five Elements Treasure Swords and believed they could reach Fourth Order power in his hands.
• Li Feng and He Shen also completed Third-Tier Top-Grade treasure swords, and the three contestants presented their weapons to the judges.
• Cheng Pu announced that Zhou Ling had won according to the competition's original rules.

Zhou Ling agreed to test his Five Elements Treasure Sword against He Shen’s Thunderclap Sword to settle the Heavenly Crafts Division steward contest. His sword withstood He Shen’s strongest attack, and Zhou Ling was declared the winner and appointed the next steward, taking office the following month.

• He Shen argued that his Thunderclap Sword’s Die Lei Sword Seal gave it power comparable to a Fourth Order sword, then proposed a one-strike test against Zhou Ling’s Five Elements Treasure Sword.
• Zhou Ling accepted the sword test and asked to keep his sword afterward; Cheng Pu explained that the contestants could only use basic spiritual power to activate their swords.
• He Shen’s Thunderclap Sword unleashed a powerful lightning attack, but Zhou Ling’s Five Elements Treasure Sword blocked it with a five-colored sword net.
• He Shen activated the Die Lei Sword Seal, yet the Five Elements sword net held firm, and He Shen admitted defeat when both swords remained intact.
• Cheng Pu declared Zhou Ling the winner and announced that he would become the next Steward of the Heavenly Crafts Division, officially taking office the following month.