Chapter Summaries

Lu Xuan discovered mysterious black threads corroding his Spirit Firefly Grass and decided to seek an experienced Spirit Plant Master’s help despite the expense. After harvesting a mature stalk, he found a strange white light orb that granted him three months of cultivation.

• Lu Xuan found that black threads had multiplied on a Spirit Firefly Grass and feared they would spread to nearby plants.
• Lu Xuan resolved to ask an experienced Spirit Plant Master for help and considered saving for a Protective Array.
• Lu Xuan used the Spirit Rain Technique to nourish his plants and noticed that one Spirit Firefly Grass had matured.
• Lu Xuan harvested the mature Spirit Firefly Grass, touched a white light orb left behind, and received three months of cultivation.

Lu Xuan discovered that harvesting Spirit Plants he had cultivated would grant him White Light Orb rewards, and that he could inspect each plant’s growth and condition. After learning that Black Sprout Insect larvae were draining one of his Spirit Firefly Grass stalks, he considered seeking help, then rejected Zhang Hong’s invitation to join a secret-realm expedition and resolved to stay home and cultivate safely.

• Lu Xuan gained the ability to receive White Light Orb rewards from Spirit Plants he had planted and to perceive their growth progress and condition.
• Lu Xuan identified Black Sprout Insect larvae as the pests harming his Spirit Firefly Grass, but concluded his spells could not remove them without risking damage to the plants.
• Zhang Hong visited Lu Xuan and explained that the Wang Family planned to recruit cultivators for a secret-realm reclamation expedition.
• Zhang Hong urged Lu Xuan to join the expedition, but Lu Xuan refused because he preferred the safety and rewards of cultivating Spirit Plants.
• After Zhang Hong left, Lu Xuan decided he would avoid dangerous ventures unless he had complete confidence in surviving them.

Lu Xuan sought a cultivator who could precisely kill the Black Sprout Insect Larvae threatening his Spirit Firefly Grass. Qin Ming removed the pest without harming the plant, but Lu Xuan paid a steep fee and was warned that his Spirit Field’s defenses were weak.

• Lu Xuan left a Fragmented Spirit Stone with the Grass Puppet and went to the North District gathering place to seek help.
• Lu Xuan paid Huang Shixiong for the names and addresses of three Qi Training Stage 4 cultivators suited to the task: Soaring Cloud Fairy, Qin Ming, and Li Xu.
• Qin Ming used the Frost Armor Technique to freeze and remove a Black Sprout Insect Larva without damaging the Spirit Firefly Grass leaf, then checked the nearby plants for more larvae.
• Qin Ming warned Lu Xuan that the courtyard’s defenses were weak and charged him six Spirit Stones and fifty Fragmented Spirit Stones.
• After Qin Ming left, Lu Xuan regretted the expense and called him a profiteer in his thoughts.

Lu Xuan hired Qin Ming to deal with the Black Sprout Insect Larva, then focused on carefully nurturing his spirit plants. Harvesting Spirit Firefly Grass helped him break through to Qi Training Stage 3 and learn the Earth Guidance Art, and the chapter ended with a Good Grade harvest granting him Gold Metal Swordplay.

• Lu Xuan chose Qin Ming, the cheapest of the three cultivators, to handle the Black Sprout Insect Larva and bargained his fee down by fifty Fragmented Spirit Stones.
• Lu Xuan used three Spirit Rain Techniques to restore the damaged Spirit Firefly Grass and checked the rest of his spirit plants.
• Lu Xuan harvested three mature Spirit Firefly Grass, gained cultivation that advanced him to Qi Training Stage 3, and learned the Earth Guidance Art from a Good Grade plant.
• Lu Xuan used the Earth Guidance Art and localized Spirit Rain Techniques to improve his care of the spirit plants, then harvested five more stalks after two days.
• Lu Xuan received more cultivation and improved his Earth Guidance Art comprehension from the next harvests, while a Good Grade Spirit Firefly Grass granted him Gold Metal Swordplay.

Lu Xuan cultivated the Gold Metal Swordplay and sold nine mature stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass at a higher price. As the marketplace prepared for the Wang Family’s secret-realm reclamation, he remained focused on protecting and expanding his Spirit Field.

• Lu Xuan learned the Gold Metal Swordplay from a Light Orb and tested its Sword Qi by cutting through a Black Thorn.
• Lu Xuan decided to sell his mature Spirit Firefly Grass and use the proceeds to buy Spirit Seeds and possibly a low-grade Protective Array.
• Lu Xuan met Zhang Hong, who again invited him to join the secret-realm reclamation, but Lu Xuan refused.
• Lu Xuan saw cultivators crowding the marketplace for defensive talismans and Healing Elixirs as news of the Wang Family’s reclamation spread.
• At Hundred Herbs Hall, Lu Xuan negotiated with Manager He and sold six ordinary and three Good Grade stalks for twenty-nine Low-Grade Spirit Stones and seventy Fragmented Spirit Stones.

Lu Xuan spent the money he earned from Spirit Firefly Grass on new plants and a secondhand Protective Array. He returned with twenty Spirit Firefly Grass seeds, a Red Cloud Pine seedling, and the array to protect his Spirit Field.

• Lu Xuan counted the spirit stones he had earned and regretted the losses caused by the Black Sprout Insect Larvae.
• Lu Xuan bought twenty Spirit Firefly Grass seeds and bargained for a Red Cloud Pine seedling.
• Lu Xuan rejected a Blood Devouring Vine because he could not afford to feed it and chose the Red Cloud Pine instead.
• Lu Xuan haggled with a rogue cultivator and bought a secondhand Protective Array for twenty-one Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Lu Xuan reflected that his savings were depleted but that he had secured the plants and array he wanted.

Lu Xuan installed a Protective Array, planted Spirit Firefly Grass seeds and a Red Cloud Pine, and continued tending his Spirit Plants. Harvesting three Good Grade Spirit Firefly Grass rewarded him with cultivation, improved Gold Metal Swordplay, and a powerful Sword Qi Talisman, while his new seedlings began to grow.

• Lu Xuan activated a Protective Array around his courtyard, giving him a warning if anything tried to intrude.
• Lu Xuan planted ten Spirit Firefly Grass seeds and a Red Cloud Pine sapling, then nourished the pine with spirit rain and Fireball Technique flames.
• Lu Xuan spent three days at home caring for his Spirit Plants and practicing the Earth Guidance Art and Gold Metal Swordplay.
• Lu Xuan harvested four mature Spirit Firefly Grass stalks, including three Good Grade plants, and received half a year of cultivation, improved Gold Metal Swordplay, and a First Grade Sword Qi Talisman.
• Lu Xuan saw that the ten new Spirit Firefly Grass shoots had emerged and the Red Cloud Pine had grown about an inch.

Lu Xuan killed a Black Bud Worm that tried to invade his spirit field, then spent the following days tending his plants and harvesting Spirit Firefly Grass. The final harvest yielded an Exorcism Talisman and the Breath Concealment Technique, leaving him with a new method to hide his aura and cultivation.

• Lu Xuan spotted a Black Bud Worm caught by his protective array, killed it with a Sword Qi Talisman, and burned its remains after the Grass Puppet warned him too late.
• Zhang Hong visited Lu Xuan before joining the Wang Family’s expedition into a newly emerged secret realm and asked him to watch over his wife and children.
• Lu Xuan harvested eight mature Spirit Firefly Grasses, receiving cultivation, technique experience, and three first-grade talismans before planting ten more seeds.
• Lu Xuan harvested the final three Spirit Firefly Grasses, including his first superior-grade plant, and received cultivation and an Exorcism Talisman from two of their light orbs.
• The superior-grade Spirit Firefly Grass’s light orb taught Lu Xuan the Breath Concealment Technique, which could restrain his aura and cultivation.

Lu Xuan practiced the Breath Concealment Technique to hide his rapidly rising cultivation, then sold his Spirit Firefly Grass to Manager He for a handsome price. He returned home with nearly fifty-five spirit stones and a hint of a possible opportunity from Manager He, though he remained focused on his quiet farming life.

• Lu Xuan used the Breath Concealment Technique to conceal his cultivation and make himself appear to be at Qi Training Stage 2.
• Lu Xuan checked the growing Eclipse Moon Trees and anticipated the rewards their Full Moon fruits might yield.
• Lu Xuan sold Manager He fourteen stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass and negotiated four Low-Grade Spirit Stones for his Superior Grade stalk.
• Manager He offered to introduce Lu Xuan to an opportunity if he continued producing high-quality spirit plants.
• Lu Xuan went home with nearly fifty-five spirit stones and decided not to spend money on better food because he had rent to pay.

Lu Xuan saved his Spirit Stones for rent and continued tending his Spirit Plants while Zhang Xiuyuan visited. When four Eclipse Moon Fruits matured, their Light Orbs gave him three fragments of a First-grade Split Silver Blade and a Purification Talisman, leaving him to wonder how many fragments would complete the weapon.

• Lu Xuan decided not to buy more Spirit Seeds because rent was due soon and his Spirit Field was full.
• Zhang Xiuyuan visited Lu Xuan and offered to help in the Spirit Field, but Lu Xuan sent him away by asking about his studies.
• After three days, Lu Xuan harvested four Good Grade Eclipse Moon Fruits and absorbed their White Light Orbs.
• Lu Xuan received three Split Silver Blade fragments and a Purification Talisman, then guessed the fragments belonged to one complete magic tool.
• Lu Xuan hoped the remaining Eclipse Moon Fruits would yield more fragments so he could assemble the complete Split Silver Blade.

Lu Xuan helped Xu Wan remove Black Sprout Insect Larvae from the Zhang family's Spirit Field and refused her payment of five Spirit Stones. Instead, he accepted a withered, unknown sword-shaped Spirit Seed, leaving with it after visiting Zhang Hong's family.

• Xu Wan asked Lu Xuan to recommend someone to deal with the Black Sprout Insect Larvae infesting the Zhang family's Spirit Field.
• Lu Xuan offered to handle the pests himself, recalling Zhang Hong's past help and judging the task safe enough.
• Lu Xuan used Gold Metal Swordplay to cut apart the Black Sprout Insect Larvae while Zhang Xiuyuan watched in admiration.
• Xu Wan offered Lu Xuan five Spirit Stones, but he refused and asked for an Unknown Spirit Seed instead.
• Xu Wan gave Lu Xuan a withered, sword-shaped seed that Zhang Hong had been unable to identify or sell, and Lu Xuan left the Zhang family with it.

Lu Xuan revived a withered Second Grade Sword Grass Spirit Seed by using Spirit Rain and nourishing it with Sword Qi, then considered seeking out other Unknown Spirit Seeds. He left the Sword Grass growing and continued caring for the Spirit Plants in his courtyard.

• Lu Xuan planted the withered Sword Grass Spirit Seed and learned that it needed abundant water and Spiritual Energy.
• Lu Xuan used seventeen rounds of the Spirit Rain Technique, nearly exhausting his Spiritual Energy, and continued tending the seed over the next two days.
• Lu Xuan discovered that the Sword Grass needed Sword Qi and used Gold Metal Swordplay to nourish it until it entered its growth stage.
• Lu Xuan considered buying Unknown Spirit Seeds but decided to wait for cultivators returning from the Reclamation Secret Realm and save his Spirit Stones.
• Lu Xuan checked the thriving Spirit Firefly Grass and Red Cloud Pine, while the Eclipse Moon Fruit entered rapid ripening.

Lu Xuan harvested eight Eclipse Moon Fruits and gained several treasures, then accepted Zhang Xiuyuan’s offer to help another family with an insect infestation. After clearing the pests at Cai Hai’s home for five Spirit Stones, Lu Xuan proposed paying Zhang Xiuyuan to find more cultivators who needed his help.

• Lu Xuan harvested eight Good Grade Eclipse Moon Fruits and received five Split Silver Blade fragments, two talismans, and an Essence Nurturing Pill.
• Zhang Xiuyuan told Lu Xuan that Cai Bin’s family needed help with Black Sprout Insect Larvae, and Lu Xuan agreed to go for a fee.
• At the Cai family courtyard, Li Shi doubted Lu Xuan could solve the infestation, but Cai Hai agreed to pay him five Spirit Stones regardless of the outcome.
• Lu Xuan used Golden Sword Qi to kill all the Black Sprout Insect Larvae and collected his payment from Cai Hai.
• Lu Xuan offered Zhang Xiuyuan thirty Fragmented Spirit Stones for each pest-control lead, but Zhang Xiuyuan said he would help without payment.

Lu Xuan earned Spirit Stones by helping independent cultivators fight Demon Worms while tending his spirit plants. After the first cultivators returned from the Reclamation Secret Realm and some families mourned their dead, Zhang Hong came home safely with a large bundle of gains, then visited Lu Xuan.

• Lu Xuan hired Zhang Xiuyuan to find North District cultivators suffering Insect Pests, limiting himself to helping three households a day.
• Over a dozen days, Lu Xuan treated many infestations, accumulated about two hundred Spirit Stones, paid rent, and harvested eleven Eclipse Moon Fruits.
• Lu Xuan and Zhang Xiuyuan heard that the first cultivators from the Reclamation Secret Realm had returned, and Zhang Xiuyuan hurried home to check on his father.
• Lu Xuan saw a cultivator mourning the death of Cultivator Xiong and resolved to avoid taking risks, then stayed home tending his spirit plants.
• Zhang Hong returned safely from the Wilderness with a full bundle, reunited with Xu Wan and Zhang Xiuyuan, and later went to visit Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan bought an unknown wild Spirit Seed from Daoist Long and learned that it was a Second Grade Dark Marrow Mushroom. He planted it in his Spirit Field, where it could grow in darkness beside rotting Spirit Tree.

• Zhang Hong thanked Lu Xuan for helping his family and praised his Swordplay, while Lu Xuan explained his skill as the result of buying and practicing Gold Metal Swordplay.
• Zhang Hong recounted the dangers and casualties he had faced in the newly reclaimed Secret Realm and offered to help Lu Xuan find unknown wild Spirit Seeds.
• Zhang Hong introduced Lu Xuan to Daoist Long, who sold him an unknown Spirit Seed for five Spirit Stones.
• Lu Xuan planted the dark-red fungus and identified it as a Second Grade Dark Marrow Mushroom that grew in darkness beside rotting Spirit Tree.

Lu Xuan found decaying Spirit Trees for his Dark Marrow Mushroom, then continued cultivating his Spirit Plants and harvested more Eclipse Moon Fruits. A Superior Grade fruit gave him an Essence Nurturing Pill recipe, leaving him to consider learning alchemy.

• Lu Xuan built a shed to block light from the Dark Marrow Mushroom and went to Zhou Yuan to seek decaying Spirit Trees.
• Lu Xuan negotiated with Zhou Yuan for three rotten logs and placed them around the Dark Marrow Mushroom, whose dark-red hyphae spread into the wood.
• Lu Xuan stayed home cultivating Spirit Plants and practicing his techniques and spells, and he visited the Rogue Cultivator Market twice without finding any unfamiliar Spirit Seeds.
• Lu Xuan harvested five Eclipse Moon Fruits, received two Split Silver Blade fragments and two First Grade Talismans from their White Light Orbs, and absorbed a pill recipe from the Superior Grade fruit.
• Lu Xuan learned that the recipe described the First Grade Essence Nurturing Pill and wondered whether more Eclipse Moon Fruits could improve his alchemy experience.

Lu Xuan sold twenty-eight Eclipse Moon Fruits to Manager He and discussed a possible partnership with Hundred Herbs Hall. He chose a seed-supply arrangement that would preserve his independence, while his need for a larger Spirit Field grew more pressing.

• Lu Xuan sold twenty-eight Eclipse Moon Fruits, including one Superior Grade fruit, to Manager He for thirty-two Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Manager He praised Lu Xuan’s improved planting skill and explained two ways Hundred Herbs Hall could cooperate with Spirit Plant Masters.
• Lu Xuan chose the arrangement in which Hundred Herbs Hall would sell him Spirit Seeds and receive first refusal on the harvest.
• Manager He agreed to present Lu Xuan’s choice to the higher-ups and notify him after they made a decision.
• Lu Xuan resolved to find a larger and better Spirit Field.

Lu Xuan rejected an expensive Spirit Field, continued earning Spirit Stones by removing insect pests, and faced a veiled threat from Qin Ming, a rival pest remover. Suspecting Qin Ming might be harming the Black Sprout Insect Larvae after treating infestations, Lu Xuan sent Zhang Xiuyuan to investigate.

• Lu Xuan inspected a spacious Spirit Field but decided its rent was beyond his means, then blacklisted the broker after overhearing his insult.
• Lu Xuan and Zhang Xiuyuan continued finding clients with insect infestations, and Lu Xuan earned five Spirit Stones for removing pests.
• Qin Ming confronted Lu Xuan, warned him to focus on cultivation instead of competing for pest-removal work, and watched him leave.
• Lu Xuan asked Zhang Xiuyuan to question friends about whether Qin Ming had treated their infestations and what he did with the Black Sprout Insect Larvae afterward.
• Zhang Xiuyuan entered a friend’s courtyard to ask questions while Lu Xuan waited outside with Talismans.

Lu Xuan discovered that Qin Ming had been secretly infesting rogue cultivators’ Spirit Fields with Black Sprout Insect Larvae to harvest them for profit, so he stayed home to prepare for a possible confrontation. As he strengthened his defenses and collected rewards from ripened Spirit Plants, he completed his Split Silver Blade and broke through to Qi Training Stage 4.

• Lu Xuan learned from Zhang Xiuyuan and other Rogue Cultivators that Qin Ming took away the Black Sprout Insect Larvae after clearing infestations, and concluded that Qin Ming had planted the pests himself.
• Lu Xuan checked his Protective Array, decided to avoid clearing Insect Pests, and stayed home while preparing for Qin Ming to attack.
• Lu Xuan harvested fourteen Eclipse Moon Fruits, completed the Split Silver Blade, and stored the First Grade Talismans and Essence Nurturing Pills he received.
• Lu Xuan guarded his home for over ten days while tending his Spirit Plants and instructed Zhang Xiuyuan to avoid going out carelessly.
• Lu Xuan harvested six mature Spirit Firefly Grass and used the cultivation rewards from their White Light Orbs to break through to Qi Training Stage 4.

Lu Xuan used his talismans and swordplay to defeat Qin Ming, who had come to kill him in his courtyard. Qin Ming died after discovering too late that Lu Xuan's strength far exceeded what his Qi Training Stage 2 cultivation suggested.

• Lu Xuan comprehended Gold Metal Swordplay to Minor Achievement and gained more combat strength from the mature Spirit Firefly Grass.
• Qin Ming broke through Lu Xuan's Basic Protective Array at night and attacked what he thought was Lu Xuan asleep in bed.
• Lu Xuan's Gold Metal Swordplay pierced Qin Ming's Frost Armor, but Qin Ming's Jade Token Magic Tool blocked the fatal strike.
• Lu Xuan unleashed many First Grade Talismans, breaking through Qin Ming's Ice Wall and creating an opening for his Silver-White Sword.
• Lu Xuan's Silver-White Sword split into fragments that struck Qin Ming throughout his body and cut his throat, killing him.