Chapter Summaries

Zhou Ling advanced his spiritual sense to Foundation Establishment, successfully drew a Sword Grade Engraving, and completed a sword disk before attending the Foundation Establishment Seed Assessment. He began refining a sword artifact at the assessment, drawing the attention of disciples and instructors who wondered whether his skill could overcome his poor cultivation and aptitude.

• Zhou Ling absorbed a Two-Pill-Pattern Soul Nurturing Pill, reached Foundation Establishment spiritual sense, and successfully drew a Sword Grade Engraving.
• Zhou Ling completed a sword disk and discussed Dao Academy missions with Sun Dajie over breakfast.
• Zhou Ling and Wang Xin attended the Foundation Establishment Seed Assessment, where Zhou Ling stood out as the only participant with a Low-Grade Spiritual Root and Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation.
• Zhou Ling chose the Crimson Sun Engraving for a Second-Tier sword artifact and used his Spirit Flame to remove its hidden Demon Blood Crystal.
• Instructor Hu defended Zhou Ling's talent as other judges debated his prospects, and they watched to see whether he could refine a Spiritual Artifact.

Zhou Ling completed the Foundation Establishment Seed Assessment first with a powerful Crimson Sun Sword, then was named champion despite his low cultivation. He received generous rewards, including a Spatial Spirit Ring, and began inspecting them back at the dormitory.

• Zhou Ling used beast flame, his soul talents, and a Spirit Sealing Restriction to craft a Crimson Sun Sword whose power rivaled a mid-rank Spiritual Artifact.
• Daoist Supervisor Zhang awarded Zhou Ling’s sword the highest grade, and Zhou Ling returned to the rest area to recover while the other disciples finished.
• Dean Zhong announced Zhou Ling as champion, ahead of Liu Yu, Ye Zhilan, and Wang Gan, and awarded him fifty monthly Dao Points, a refined dwelling, and a Spatial Spirit Ring.
• Zhou Ling accepted his rewards, left the crowd with Wang Xin, and inspected the items in his Storage Pouch back at the dormitory.
• Zhou Ling sent his divine sense into the Spatial Spirit Ring.

After becoming the Foundation Establishment Seeds Champion, Zhou Ling examined his new spatial realm, celebrated his status, and learned about the Dao Academy’s True Inheritance assessment. He moved with Wang Xin to a better residence, where his cultivation improved, and prepared to meet He Zijian about forging a Thunder Gang heavy sword.

• Zhou Ling examined his second-grade spatial realm and learned that Wang Xin could not yet set up the Space-attribute Spirit Gathering Formation.
• He Zijian asked Zhou Ling to forge a second-grade Thunder Gang heavy sword, and they agreed to meet during the ten-day break.
• Zhou Ling and Wang Xin celebrated his Champion status with Sun Dajie, who explained the benefits and requirements of becoming a True Inheritance disciple.
• Zhou Ling and Wang Xin moved into a small courtyard in the southern district, which had a second-grade high-tier spirit vein and cost fifteen Dao Points per month.
• Zhou Ling absorbed a mid-grade Water Attribute Spirit Stone and noticed that the new residence more than doubled his cultivation gains.
• Zhou Ling and Wang Xin left for breakfast before his planned meeting with He Zijian.

Zhou Ling agreed to forge He Zijian’s Thunder Gang Sword and used the Thunder Sword Stone to study its Vast Thunder Sword Intent. After buying supplies with Wang Xin, he practiced the sword intent through an illusion and gained insight into why He Zijian sought real combat to advance.

• At a banquet, He Zijian gave Zhou Ling the materials and Thunder Sword Stone for forging a Thunder Gang Sword, which he planned to make his natal Treasure Artifact.
• Zhou Ling agreed to forge the sword within three months and considered exploring another realm to find resources, while deciding to strengthen his Soul Cultivation first.
• Zhou Ling and Wang Xin bought medicinal herbs and supplies, and Zhou Ling acquired damaged treasures and constructs at secondhand stalls.
• In his Cultivation Room, Zhou Ling used Enacted Illusion Simulation to observe and analyze the Thunder Sword Stone’s Vast Thunder Sword Intent.
• Zhou Ling tested the simulated Thunder Greatsword against his Fire Gang Sword and realized that real combat was the best way to improve sword intent.

Zhou Ling mastered Vast Thunder Sword Intent and learned that his Dao-grade review had been approved, while Wang Yu brought him gifts and a message from home. After using a Soul Origin Pill to advance the Clear Radiance Spirit Nurturing Art, he comprehended the Divine Soul Secret Technique Soul Blade and found his divine sense had grown stronger.

• Zhou Ling mastered Vast Thunder Sword Intent, then received word from Steward Lu that his Dao-grade review had been approved and that he needed to attend the assessment in mid-December.
• Wang Yu visited Zhou Ling with gifts from his mother, including a Soul Origin Pill, and thanked him for helping Wang Xin's Dark Fire Spirit Body recover.
• Zhou Ling listened to his mother's recording and learned that his family's wine business was thriving and Huzi's marriage had been arranged.
• Zhou Ling nurtured Wang Xin's meridians with the Azure Lotus Spirit Flame, strengthening his physique and spirit flame.
• Zhou Ling absorbed a Soul Origin Pill, advanced the Clear Radiance Spirit Nurturing Art to its second level, and comprehended the Divine Soul Secret Technique Soul Blade.
• Zhou Ling condensed a crimson Soul Blade in his Sea of Consciousness and judged it powerful enough to threaten an early Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Zhou Ling forged the Five Thunder Sword for He Zijian, then traveled to the Ancient Cloud Realm and discovered his master's Purple Cloud Sect under attack. He intervened against the Blood Beast Gate's Third Elder, whose counterattack left the fight unresolved.

• Zhou Ling fused a Thunder Sword Stone into a thunder sword, completed the Five Thunder Sword, and recovered from the exhausting forging process.
• Zhou Ling gave He Zijian the Five Thunder Sword and declined to join his trip to another world, then decided to explore the Ancient Cloud Realm for resources.
• Zhou Ling used a jade seal to reach his master's foothold in the Ancient Cloud Realm and learned that the Blood Beast Gate's Third Elder had attacked the Purple Cloud Sect.
• The Third Elder defeated two Purple Cloud Sect disciples, and Zhou Ling emerged from the hidden courtyard to fight him.
• Zhou Ling's Fire Gang Sword split the Third Elder's blood-wolf attack, but the Third Elder formed scarlet gang qi and summoned a giant blood-colored wolf to attack Zhou Ling.

Zhou Ling rescued Liu Yue'er and Li Yun from a Blood Beast Sect attack, killed the sect’s elder and remaining raiders, and claimed leadership of the Purple Cloud Sect with its jade seal. He left with the two disciples and his spirit beasts to deal with the looted sect and assess its resources, knowing the Blood Beast Sect might retaliate.

• Zhou Ling used Lion's Roar and his sword formation to slay the Blood Wolf, then defeated and killed the Blood Beast Sect elder with his Furnace Sword Intent and Beast Flame.
• Zhou Ling took the elder's Storage Ring and learned from Liu Yue'er that the Purple Cloud Sect's elder and six disciples had died, while seven or eight Blood Beast Sect disciples were looting the main hall.
• Zhou Ling revealed his master's jade seal and declared himself the Purple Cloud Sect's new Sect Master; Liu Yue'er and Li Yun accepted him and followed his order to keep his identity secret.
• Zhou Ling led Liu Yue'er, Li Yun, the Stone Rock Rat, and the Golden Fire Crow to the main hall, where he killed five Blood Beast Sect disciples with his flying swords and the spirit beasts killed the three who fled.
• Liu Yue'er rejoiced that Zhou Ling had avenged the fallen disciples, while Zhou Ling planned to inspect the sect's resources and prepare for the Blood Beast Sect's possible retaliation.

Zhou Ling inspected Purple Cloud Mountain, activated the [Farming Expert] talent by catching Spirit Fish, and began planning to develop the sect’s fields and lake. After dinner, he inventoried the Blood Beast Sect’s spoils and found valuable resources and a Bloodline Beast Taming Art.

• Zhou Ling learned that Purple Cloud Mountain had a Second-Grade Mid-Tier Spirit Vein, extensive spirit fields, mineral veins, and a lake, while the Blood Beast Sect remained a stronger nearby threat.
• Liu Yue'er showed Zhou Ling the sect’s spirit fields and Purple Cloud Lake, and he activated [Farming Expert] after catching ten Spirit Fish.
• Zhou Ling fed Emerald Spirit Bamboo Leaves to the lake’s fish and gained increases to [Farming Expert] and Spirit Fish growth speed.
• Zhou Ling told Liu Yue'er and Li Yun to stay in the sect and cultivate while he delayed any retaliation against the Blood Beast Sect and relied on the Five Elements Illusory Array for protection.
• Zhou Ling examined the Blood Beast Sect’s Storage Ring and Storage Pouches, finding ores, Blood Crystals, spirit herbs, artifacts, and the Bloodline Beast Taming Art.

Zhou Ling advanced his Body Tempering to the Second-tier, mastered the Two Suns True Body and Golden Body Protection, and refined a Second-tier Blood Beast Seal. He used it on a Purple Scale Fish with Purple Scaled Flood Dragon bloodline, strengthening it to Mid Second-tier and leaving it to grow in Purple Cloud Lake.

• Zhou Ling studied the Bloodline Beast Taming Art and began absorbing blood crystal stones to improve his physique and True Yang Body.
• After half a month of cultivation, Zhou Ling reached Second-tier Body Tempering, condensed the Two Suns True Body, and tested its defense and attack against a Blood Wolf in Enacted Illusion Simulation.
• Zhou Ling refined a Second-tier Blood Beast Seal from his Sun Blood Essence and went to Purple Cloud Lake to test it on an Early Second-tier Purple Scale Fish.
• Zhou Ling used Beast Pressure to help the Blood Beast Seal fuse with the fish's Purple Scaled Flood Dragon Essence Blood, strengthening the fish to Mid Second-tier and establishing a connection with it.
• Zhou Ling released the fish into Purple Cloud Lake and ordered it to eat no more than three other Spirit Fish each day.

Zhou Ling advanced to the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation and went with Liu Yue'er to collect ore, only to be ambushed by Deng Hu and Blood Beast Sect disciples. He launched a sword formation and sent his spirit beasts to attack, leaving the battle underway.

• Zhou Ling gathered resources at Purple Cloud Sect while Blood Beast Sect Master Du Sheng and Second Elder Deng Hu planned to lure him away from Purple Cloud Mountain and kill him.
• Zhou Ling improved his Spirit Fish farming, and his Golden Fire Crow and Stone Rock Rat both reached Tier 2.
• Zhou Ling broke through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation and learned that the Qi Family wanted the sect to collect ore directly from its mine.
• Zhou Ling and Liu Yue'er set out for the mine, but Zhou Ling detected an ambush by Blood Beast Sect cultivators and chose to confront them.
• Deng Hu confronted Zhou Ling, who released his flying swords in a formation and ordered the Golden Fire Crow and Stone Rock Rat to attack the other disciples.

Zhou Ling defeated Deng Hu and the other Blood Beast Sect disciples, then returned to Qingyun Immortal City with valuable spoils and ore. He accepted Lu Yunxi’s recommendation for the Heavenly Crafts Division’s Second-grade assessment, leaving himself fewer than ten days to prepare a mid-tier Spirit Sealing Restriction.

• Zhou Ling used his sword formation, Golden Sun True Body, and Beast Flame to kill Deng Hu and the other Blood Beast Sect disciples, then left with Liu Yue'er.
• Zhou Ling collected Purple Fire Crystal Ore and battle spoils, including blood-mark techniques, bone artifacts, and Tier 2 materials.
• Zhou Ling returned to Qingyun Immortal City and learned from Lu Yunxi that he could take the Second-grade Heavenly Crafts Division assessment.
• Zhou Ling accepted the assessment recommendation, hoping to gain access to better materials and accelerate awakening the Five Elements Thunder Gang Physique.
• Zhou Ling began reviewing the Spirit Sealing Restriction and worried whether he could draw a second-grade mid-tier one before the assessment.

Zhou Ling cultivated Spirit Sealing Restrictions and unlocked the Five Elements Spirit Gathering talent, which let him briefly fuse his spiritual power and strengthen his combat ability. At the Heavenly Crafts Division assessment, he stunned the Dao Academy disciples by entering the Second-Grade assessment despite being only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation.

• Zhou Ling studied Spirit Sealing Restrictions, unlocked Five Elements Spirit Gathering, and tested its ability to fuse wood and fire spiritual power for several breaths.
• Over the next eight days, Zhou Ling drew Spirit Sealing Restrictions and raised Five Elements Spirit Gathering to Second Grade before the assessment began.
• Zhou Ling met Sun Dajie at breakfast and said he was participating in the Heavenly Crafts Division assessment, then learned that competition for both grades was fierce.
• Liu Yu challenged Zhou Ling at the assessment grounds, expecting him to compete for a first-grade position, but Zhou Ling passed inspection and entered the Second-Grade assessment area.
• Liu Yu, Ye Zhilan, Wang Gan, Sun Dajie, and the watching disciples were shocked that an Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation cultivator was taking the Second-Grade assessment.

Zhou Ling began the Second-Grade Daoist Position Assessment and chose a Five Elements jade platform to take advantage of its spiritual energy. In the first round, he selected a damaged Three-Colored Sword and started restoring it, drawing the judges’ admiration as the assessment continued.

• Qin Ye explained the assessment’s two rounds, and Zhou Ling noticed that the jade platforms differed in spiritual energy attributes and density.
• Zhou Ling chose Jade Platform Number Three, whose Five Elements spiritual energy suited his cultivation, and the judges learned that he was a twelve-year-old Qi Condensation cultivator with talent in Inscription.
• Wang Xin spotted Zhou Ling on the Second-Grade Assessment platform and declared that he would win, while Wang Yu doubted his chances against the Foundation Establishment competitors.
• When the assessment began, Zhou Ling examined the three damaged Spiritual Artifacts and chose to restore the Three-Colored Sword.
• Zhou Ling used his Five Elements Spirit Flame and divine sense to begin repairing the sword, impressing Director Qin with his precise flame control.

Zhou Ling restored the Three-Colored Sword by mastering and fusing its Golden Dragon Sword Intent, drawing the judges’ attention as a rare Sword Forger. After recovering, he began the second assessment and chose to refine a Thunderwood Sword.

• Zhou Ling used precise spirit-flame control to repair the Three-Colored Sword’s inscription nodes and discovered its hidden Metal Attribute Sword Intent.
• Zhou Ling comprehended the Golden Dragon Sword Intent through [Enacted Illusion Simulation] and used his Furnace Sword Intent to suppress it.
• Zhou Ling connected the Golden Dragon Sword Intent to the restored inscriptions, completing the Three-Colored Sword and impressing Director Qin, Instructor Hu, and the other judges.
• Zhou Ling’s completed sword drew the plaza’s attention, while Liu Yu, Ye Zhilan, and Wang Gan were shocked by his progress.
• Zhou Ling recovered his spiritual power and divine sense, then chose the Thunderwood Sword for the second assessment.

Zhou Ling mastered the Purple Light Engraving in an illusion simulation, then forged a powerful Thunderwood Sword and submitted it alongside his repaired Three-Colored Sword. He won first place in the Second-Grade Daoist Position assessment despite being only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation, and was told to report to the Heavenly Crafts Division the next day.

• Zhou Ling studied the Thunderwood Sword and chose the second-grade mid-tier Purple Light Engraving, then practiced it repeatedly in the Enacted Illusion Simulation until he could draw it flawlessly.
• Steward Qin praised Zhou Ling's bold choice, while Dean Zhong and Instructor Hu worried that the Thunderwood Sword's unstable materials and complex swordcraft made the assessment especially difficult.
• Zhou Ling recovered his strength, forged the Thunderwood Sword with a Purple Light Engraving and a wisp of Thunder Sword Qi, and presented it with his repaired Three-Colored Sword to the judges.
• Steward Qin and the other judges unanimously awarded Zhou Ling Top Grade A and placed him in the top three after inspecting both swords.
• Director Qin announced Zhou Ling as the assessment's top-ranked candidate, stunning the plaza, and instructed all successful disciples to report to the Heavenly Crafts Division the next day.

Zhou Ling became a Second-Grade Steward of the Heavenly Crafts Division, gained new resources and a Metal Attribute Spirit Flame, and prepared to bring his parents to Qingyun Immortal City. During the Dao Academy holiday, he boarded a Spirit Boat back to Lingxia Immortal City, planning to reunite with his family and help them cultivate.

• Director Qin praised Zhou Ling's assessment and arranged for him to become a Second-Grade Steward, with monthly resources and required assignments.
• Zhou Ling completed his employment procedures, received a residence and steward supplies, then absorbed the Metal Attribute Spirit Flame sealed in his jade seal.
• Zhou Ling began absorbing Gold Essence Ore to develop his Five Elements Spirit Flames and planned to forge his assigned swords before the Dao Academy holiday.
• On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, Zhou Ling said goodbye to Wang Xin and boarded a private-cabin Spirit Boat bound for Lingxia Immortal City.
• During the journey, Zhou Ling reviewed his progress, considered cultivation methods and resources for his parents, and listened as Shen He announced the Spirit Boat's route.

Zhou Ling returned to Lingxia Immortal City, reunited with his parents, and arranged for them to cultivate and move with him to Qingyun Immortal City after the New Year. Amid the city’s attention and New Year visits, he absorbed a Thunder Crystal Stone and successfully activated his Postnatal Five Elements Thunder Gang Spirit Body.

• Zhou Ling returned home, delighted to find Li Ru healthy and at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, then visited Instructor Fang, Steward Qin, and Master Lu.
• Zhou Ling gave Li Ru pills and the Qingyuan Art, gave Zhou Shan the Three Suns Art and Blood Crystals, and planned to take his parents to Qingyun Immortal City after the New Year.
• Zhou Ling arranged for Yuan Hu to manage the Wine Workshop, while Yuan Hu declined ownership because he was a live-in son-in-law of the Zhao Family.
• During the New Year, Zhou Ling received many visitors, gifts, and requests to refine Spiritual Artifacts, but paid little attention to the invitations and praise.
• Zhou Ling absorbed a Thunder Crystal Stone and successfully activated his Postnatal Five Elements Thunder Gang Spirit Body, which drew spiritual energy into him with remarkable ease.

After condensing the Five Elements Thunder Gang Physique, Zhou Ling advanced to the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation and began planning for Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment. He and his parents left Lingxia Immortal City for Qingyun Immortal City, where they settled into a courtyard provided by the Heavenly Crafts Division.

• Zhou Ling comprehended the second level of the Five Elements Dry Yang True Art, reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation, and condensed the Dry Yang True Fire.
• Zhou Ling planned to seek two more spirit flames and Foundation Establishment resources while improving his sword formation, forging, and inscription skills.
• Li Ru and Zhou Shan celebrated Zhou Ling's advancement with a banquet, and Zhou Ling declined Aunt Xu's request to take her children as disciples, recommending Instructor Fang instead.
• Zhou Ling and his parents boarded a Spirit Boat and departed Lingxia Immortal City for Qingyun Immortal City.
• Zhou Ling brought his parents to the Heavenly Crafts Division courtyard on Ningyuan Street, where Wang Xin helped them settle in and Wang Yu joined them for dinner.

Zhou Ling arranged for his parents to make a living selling wine, took on sword-forging assignments, and spent three months refining Five Elements Spirit Swords and comprehending the Five Elements Sword Intent. After testing the Five Elements Sword Formation in an illusion, he judged it strong enough to face Mid Foundation Establishment cultivators and planned to visit the Ancient Cloud Realm for resources.

• Li Ru decided to rent a stall and sell the family’s Spirit Wine, while Zhou Ling encouraged her and Zhou Shan to keep cultivation a priority.
• Zhou Ling commissioned Xu Qiang to make a Brewing Furnace, then accepted assignments to refine Spirit Swords through the Heavenly Crafts Division.
• Zhou Ling bought two pieces of Third Order Burning Stone and a damaged Wood Lotus Sword containing Wood Attribute Sword Intent, then began refining a Sword Stone in an illusion.
• Over the next three months, Zhou Ling refined Spirit Swords and comprehended all Five Elements Sword Intents, allowing him to master the Five Elements Sword Formation.
• Zhou Ling tested the formation in an illusion and carved a deep gash into a Second-grade High-tier Glazed Jade pillar, then concluded that he could use it against Mid Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• With only seven mid-grade Spirit Stones remaining, Zhou Ling planned to enter the Ancient Cloud Realm to gather resources and look for Blood Crystal Stone for Zhou Shan.

Zhou Ling reviewed the Purple Cloud Sect’s resources and learned of a suspected Spirit Flame in Black Mountain Valley, then discovered that the Golden Fire Crow had awakened Three-legged Golden Crow bloodline and a powerful flame-fusion ability. He activated his own Flame Fusion talent by absorbing the Golden Sun Flame, and the story left him with the talent condensed at eleven out of one hundred flames.

• Liu Yue'er reported the sect’s crops, ore, and Spirit Stone stores to Zhou Ling, and warned that the Black Water Sect was harassing their mining grounds.
• Liu Yue'er told Zhou Ling that a miner had spotted a Black Flame in an underground cavern in Black Mountain Valley, within Black Water Sect territory, and Zhou Ling decided to investigate.
• Zhou Ling visited Purple Cloud Lake and found that the Purple Scale Fish had grown to the mid Second-tier.
• Zhou Ling summoned the Golden Fire Crow and learned it had reached the mid Second-tier, awakened Three-legged Golden Crow bloodline, and gained Golden Sun Flame and the Golden Sun Flame Fusion Technique.
• Zhou Ling tested the Golden Fire Crow’s Golden Sun Flame against his own flames, absorbed its power, and successfully condensed the Flame Fusion talent after accumulating eleven flames.