Chapter Summaries

Lu Xuan continued experimenting with mutated Spirit Firefly Grass and prepared for a Foundation Establishment breakthrough. After Bai Li Jian Qing visited and learned of Lu Xuan’s plans, Lu Xuan portrayed himself as a cultivator with little combat experience or equipment, and Bai Li Jian Qing encouraged him to remedy that after breaking through.

• Lu Xuan planted fourteen Ice-Type Mutated Spirit Seeds in the Yin Cold Rock Cave and cultivated twelve Fire-Type seeds in the ordinary Spirit Field.
• Over the next two months, Lu Xuan tended his mutated Spirit Firefly Grass, raised his spirit beasts, and prepared to attempt Foundation Establishment.
• Bai Li Jian Qing visited Lu Xuan with Demon Beast Meat from a newly discovered Secret Realm and told him about the rare herbs and dangers he had encountered there.
• Lu Xuan cooked the Demon Beast Meat for Bai Li Jian Qing and his spirit beasts, then asked about how Sect Disciples broke through to Foundation Establishment.
• Bai Li Jian Qing realized Lu Xuan was preparing for a breakthrough, and Lu Xuan claimed that his cultivation had advanced quickly because he focused on cultivation but neglected spells, talismans, and Magic Tools.
• Bai Li Jian Qing reassured Lu Xuan that he could make up for his lack of combat skills and equipment after reaching Foundation Establishment.

Lu Xuan accompanied Bai Li Jian Qing to watch swordsmanship sparring at the Sword Fighting Lodge, where Bai Li won several matches. When the mysterious sheath in Lu Xuan’s Storage Bag began to tremble, he returned to his Cave Mansion and discovered that it reacted to his Swift Lightning Sword Pellet, revealing itself as the damaged Yangxuan Sword Sheath, an unknown treasure that could nurture Sword Qi and temper sword weapons.

• Bai Li Jian Qing explained how cultivators used Foundation Establishment Pills and sect support to attempt a breakthrough, then invited Lu Xuan to the Sword Fighting Lodge.
• Lu Xuan went with Bai Li Jian Qing to watch the swordsmanship sparring, and Bai Li won three matches in a row.
• Lu Xuan sensed the ancient sword sheath trembling in his Storage Bag and left the Lodge to investigate it at his Cave Mansion.
• Lu Xuan released the Swift Lightning Sword Pellet’s sword lights into the sheath, which responded with a delighted sword cry.
• Lu Xuan identified the sheath as the Yangxuan Sword Sheath, an unknown treasure that could nurture Sword Qi and temper sword weapons, though its spirituality was damaged.

Lu Xuan tested the Yangxuan Sword Sheath’s ability to nurture Sword Qi and temper flying swords while continuing his cultivation. After harvesting Spirit Firefly Grass and reaching Qi Refining Completion, he passed the sect’s examination and was told to return in three days to attempt Foundation Establishment with other disciples.

• Lu Xuan found that the Yangxuan Sword Sheath strengthened his Xun Lightning Sword Qi, then forced his Scarlet Flame Sword inside to begin tempering it.
• Lu Xuan harvested thirty-four Spirit Firefly Grass and gained nearly six years of cultivation from their White Light Orbs, bringing his Spiritual Power to its limit.
• Lu Xuan traveled to Azure Cloud Peak and asked the sect to approve his attempt at Foundation Establishment.
• Three cultivators examined Lu Xuan’s Spiritual Power and body, found no problems, and approved him for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• The female cultivator told Lu Xuan to return in three days to attempt Foundation Establishment alongside several other disciples.

Lu Xuan received a Foundation Establishment Pill and entered a secluded room to attempt his breakthrough. After converting his spiritual energy into liquid mana and merging it with his Spiritual Sense, he successfully established his foundation.

• Lu Xuan arrived at Azure Cloud Peak with six other disciples preparing to attempt Foundation Establishment.
• The female Foundation Establishment cultivator explained the sect’s pill rules and distributed a Foundation Establishment Pill to each disciple.
• Lu Xuan and the others entered the underground Quiet Rooms, where the female cultivator described the spirit vein, array, incense, and guard supporting their breakthroughs.
• Lu Xuan chose a remote Quiet Room, swallowed his Third Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, and circulated the Minor Five Elements Art to absorb its power.
• Lu Xuan transformed the spiritual energy in his dantian into liquid mana, merged it with his Spiritual Sense, and completed Foundation Establishment.

Lu Xuan succeeded in breaking through to Foundation Establishment and learned about the privileges and obligations of becoming an Inner Sect Disciple. Of the seven cultivators who attempted the breakthrough, only Lu Xuan and one graceful female cultivator succeeded, strengthening his resolve to cultivate in peace.

• Lu Xuan sensed the improvements to his Spiritual Sense, body, lifespan, and Spiritual Power after reaching Foundation Establishment.
• A charming female cultivator congratulated Lu Xuan and explained the Inner Sect requirements, benefits, resources, and Life Lamp procedure.
• Lu Xuan asked about sect Secret Realms, choosing a mountain peak, cultivation paths, and Core Formation Martial Uncles connected to Spirit Plants or spirit beasts.
• The other six cultivators emerged from Secluded Cultivation one after another, and most showed signs of failure.
• Only Lu Xuan and a graceful female cultivator succeeded among the seven, while the other five left dejected.

After breaking through to Foundation Establishment, Lu Xuan returned to his Cave Mansion, handed over his long-term missions, and completed the sect’s procedures to update his status. He moved to a scenic mountain peak with abundant spiritual resources and declared it his new home.

• Lu Xuan returned to his Cave Mansion after breaking through to Foundation Establishment and told the Wind Falcon Chick and Cloud Stepping Lynx they would soon move to a new mountain peak.
• Lu Xuan told Huang Yuan he was ending his mission raising Flood Dragon Giant Pythons, and Huang Yuan settled the remaining reward at sixty Sword Seals.
• Lu Xuan informed the cultivator tending Burning Origin Wood that he was leaving the mission, and she agreed to find a replacement.
• Lu Xuan updated his sect Identity Token and arranged for a Life Lamp to be made before packing up his Spirit Plants and leaving his old Cave Mansion.
• Lu Xuan arrived at his new mountain peak, inspected its spirit vein, lake, lava river, and other features, and claimed the Spirit Mountain as his own.

Lu Xuan transplanted his spirit plants across his new, expansive mountain peak, then moved into its courtyard and invited familiar fellow disciples to celebrate. The next day, Bai Li Jian Qing greeted him at their meeting place, joking about Lu Xuan’s new status as an Inner Sect Disciple.

• Lu Xuan planted the fourth-grade Mystic Insect Vine at the mountain’s richest Spiritual Energy node, then arranged his third- and second-grade spirit plants in suitable locations across the peak.
• Lu Xuan planted the mutated and ordinary Spirit Firefly Grass, inspected every transplant, and tasked his second-grade Grass Puppet with patrolling the mountain.
• Lu Xuan fed the lake’s spirit fish, learned that the Huge Black Turtle was a nourishing First Grade Spirit Beast, and decided to keep it as a backup ingredient.
• Lu Xuan renovated the mountain’s courtyard, moved in, and sent Communication Talismans inviting Bai Li Jian Qing, Xu Shaoze, Huang Yuan, and Yao Qing to visit.
• The next day, Bai Li Jian Qing greeted Lu Xuan warmly and joked about his new Inner Sect status, while Lu Xuan told him to keep calling him Brother Lu.

Lu Xuan celebrated his Foundation Establishment with fellow cultivators, receiving a Dazzling Fire Flood Dragon egg and a rare Spirit Seed as gifts. After they departed, he began settling into life on his mountain peak and planned to obtain resources and methods suited to his new cultivation realm.

• Xu Shaoze arrived to congratulate Lu Xuan, and Yao Qing and Huang Yuan later came with Yang Qingfeng and Martial Sister He.
• Lu Xuan hosted his guests with Clear and Wonderful Spirit Tea and discussed his breakthrough with them.
• Yang Qingfeng gave Lu Xuan a Dazzling Fire Flood Dragon egg, and Martial Sister He presented him with a Spirit Seed from a Third Grade Burning Origin Wood.
• Lu Xuan let the Wind Falcon Chick and Cloud Stepping Lynx roam freely around the mountain peak after his guests left.
• Lu Xuan placed the flood dragon egg on a spirit vein node and assigned the Wind Falcon Chick to hatch it each day.
• Lu Xuan planned to visit Si Nong Hall and the Scripture Pavilion, expand his Spirit Fields, and obtain a new Array Formation.

Lu Xuan visited Si Nong Hall to claim the cultivation resources available to him after reaching Foundation Establishment and chose Spirit Plant resources. He selected an Earth Fire Heart Lotus seed and Moon Rain Grass, with more Spirit Seeds still to choose.

• Lu Xuan arrived at Si Nong Hall and asked the Old Farmer Cultivator to guide him to the inner hall.
• Lu Xuan met Zhang Ce, who explained the Spirit Seeds and condensation methods available to Foundation Establishment disciples.
• Lu Xuan decided to claim Spirit Plant resources rather than resources from another cultivation skill.
• Lu Xuan chose a Fourth Grade Earth Fire Heart Lotus seed, which he could plant in the Lava River on his mountain peak.
• Lu Xuan chose Moon Rain Grass as one of his Third Grade Spirit Seeds because it could feed and accelerate the growth of Demonic Beasts.

Lu Xuan collected the Spirit Seeds he had selected and returned to his mountain peak, where he planted a Fourth Grade Earth Fire Heart Lotus in the lava. He then prepared to plant Moon Rain Grass, while Xia Chen reflected on Lu Xuan’s rapid rise to Foundation Establishment.

• Lu Xuan chose Moon Rain Grass for his Third Grade Spirit Seeds and selected Rainbow Skirt Grass and Sun Aroma Fruit for his Second Grade Spirit Seeds before receiving them from Zhang Ce.
• After Lu Xuan greeted him at Si Nong Hall, Xia Chen recalled how Lu Xuan had advanced from Qi Refining Stage 9 to Foundation Establishment in less than three years.
• Lu Xuan returned to his mountain peak, where the Wind Falcon Chick incubated the Dazzling Fire Flood Dragon Egg and the Grass Puppet expanded its nesting area.
• Lu Xuan planted an Earth Fire Heart Lotus Spirit Seed in the lava and considered its power to purify polluted auras, resist Evil Spirits, and strengthen Spiritual Sense.
• Lu Xuan went to an empty patch of Spirit Field and took out a Moon Rain Grass Spirit Seed.

Lu Xuan planted several new Spirit Plants, then visited the Scripture Pavilion to choose Foundation Establishment techniques that suited his cultivation and work with Sword Grass. He left with the Greater Five Elements Art, Four Seasons Swordplay, and Floating Light Art, broadening his abilities while remaining confident that farming was still his greatest strength.

• Lu Xuan planted Moon Rain Grass, Rainbow Skirt Grass, and Sun Aroma Fruit, placing the sun-loving seeds at the mountain peak.
• Lu Xuan tended his Spirit Field and left Er Xiao and the Grass Puppet to guard his home before heading to the Scripture Pavilion.
• Lu Xuan chose the Greater Five Elements Art, which shared a lineage with his Minor Five Elements Art and included mid-level techniques and the Five Elements Escape Technique.
• Lu Xuan selected Four Seasons Swordplay to strengthen his sword skills and prepare to cultivate higher-grade Sword Grass.
• Lu Xuan took the Third Grade Floating Light Art and reflected that his offense, defense, concealment, and escape options were now well rounded, though farming remained his greatest advantage.

After advancing to Foundation Establishment, Lu Xuan discovered that harvesting low-grade Spirit Firefly Grass gave him much less cultivation, and he resolved to focus on breeding improved varieties. While sharing grilled fish with his spirit beasts, he met the Mystic Sky White Luan’s new companion, a White Jade Sky Supporting Ape with exceptional potential.

• Lu Xuan absorbed the Greater Five Elements Art, Sword Art, and Light Body Technique from jade slips, then inspected the Spirit Plants on his mountain.
• He harvested thirty-two mature Spirit Firefly Grass and found that their light-orb rewards gave him about two-thirds less cultivation than before.
• Lu Xuan suspected the reduced rewards came from the gap between his Foundation Establishment realm and the No Grade Spirit Firefly Grass, and decided to turn his remaining plants into seeds for further mutation experiments.
• Lu Xuan caught and grilled a Plump Spirit Fish, sharing it with the Wind Falcon Chick and Cloud Stepping Lynx.
• The Mystic Sky White Luan visited Lu Xuan with a White Jade Sky Supporting Ape, which he identified as a third-rank Heaven Sword Sect guardian beast with the potential to reach Seventh Grade.

Lu Xuan fed the Mystic Sky White Luan and the White Jade Sky Supporting Ape, then inspected how the Yangxuan Sword Sheath had tempered his Scarlet Flame Sword. Later, Yang Qingfeng visited and asked him to help a friend with a pair of exotic beasts that could not breed.

• Lu Xuan shared grilled fish and Crab Spirit Paste with the Mystic Sky White Luan and the White Jade Sky Supporting Ape, and watched them leave through his formation.
• Lu Xuan drew out the Scarlet Flame Sword, saw that the Yangxuan Sword Sheath had strengthened it, and inserted it back into the sheath.
• Lu Xuan spent the following period cultivating Spirit Plants and practicing new techniques while his Foundation Establishment cultivation stabilized.
• Yang Qingfeng visited Lu Xuan and asked him to help a friend whose twin Ancient Exotic Beasts, which shared one body, could not meet their breeding conditions.

Lu Xuan accompanied the Middle-aged Confucian Scholar to meet the True Disciple Ge Pu and examine his ancient Yin Yang Kun Fish, whose latest gestation had stalled. After learning about the fish’s unusual breeding cycle, Lu Xuan asked to feed them before deciding how to help.

• The Middle-aged Confucian Scholar explained Ge Pu’s status as a True Disciple and asked Lu Xuan to help with his rare Spirit Beasts.
• Lu Xuan followed him to Ge Pu’s mountain and saw the black-and-white water sphere containing two giant Yin Yang Kun Fish.
• Ge Pu explained that the fish reproduce through successive generations that parasitize and replace their predecessors, but their increasingly demanding breeding conditions had stopped the latest cycle.
• Ge Pu showed how the fish circled one another without making contact, despite their urge to mate.
• Lu Xuan asked Ge Pu for some of the fish’s usual food so he could feed them and learn more before assessing the problem.

Lu Xuan proposed fertilizing the Yin Yang Kun Fish outside the body by separately simulating yin and yang Spiritual Power environments. Ge Pu tried the method, and the two Kun Fish produced a new pair of offspring that began drawing nutrients from their bodies.

• Ge Pu showed Lu Xuan the pills he used to feed the Yin Yang Kun Fish, and Lu Xuan inspected the ancient beasts.
• Lu Xuan realized the Kun Fish longed to reproduce but could not meet the conditions for gestation, and he considered combining their Kun Essence outside the body.
• Lu Xuan suggested that Ge Pu simulate separate yin- and yang-attribute Spiritual Power environments to obtain Kun Essence from each fish.
• Ge Pu transformed the fish’s water spheres into yin and yang environments, and each Kun Fish produced its corresponding Kun Essence.
• Ge Pu combined the two masses of Kun Essence into a pair of small black-and-white Kun Fish and placed them inside their parents.
• The new Kun Fish swam inside the large fish and began drawing nutrients from their bodies.

Lu Xuan helped Ge Pu solve the Yin Yang Kun Fish’s breeding problem and received a Sword Token in return. After learning it granted entry to a valuable, relatively safe sect blessed land, Lu Xuan decided to consider entering when it next opened.

• Ge Pu thanked Lu Xuan for proposing that newly born Yin Yang Kun Fish parasitize large fish and grow into replacements.
• Ge Pu offered Lu Xuan a reward, and Lu Xuan asked for spirit seeds or Spirit Beasts instead of pills, Talismans, or Magic Tools.
• Ge Pu gave Lu Xuan a Sword Token that served as a key to a sect blessed land.
• The Middle-aged Confucian Scholar told Lu Xuan that the token was worth three to five thousand Spirit Stones and explained that the blessed lands were stocked with rare treasures and kept relatively safe.
• After hearing that the next opening was still some time away, Lu Xuan kept the token and parted from the Middle-aged Confucian Scholar on the way to their respective Cave Mansions.

Lu Xuan harvested a mature Flowing Light Wood and obtained the Third Grade Flowing Light Rune Array, which he set up to strengthen the mountain peak’s defenses. He also discovered a light orb beneath a Yin Locust and received a Second Grade Yin Soul Pearl.

• Lu Xuan checked on the Wind Falcon Chick and learned that the Dazzling Fire Flood Dragon Egg it was incubating was close to hatching.
• Lu Xuan inspected his Spirit Plants and used a Purification Mantra to clear the Bewitching Peach’s influence from his mind.
• Lu Xuan spent half a month cultivating Spirit Plants, raising Spirit Beasts, practicing cultivation arts, and tempering his body with flood dragon essence blood.
• Lu Xuan harvested a mature Superior Grade Flowing Light Wood and received the Third Grade Flowing Light Rune Array.
• Lu Xuan spread the Flowing Light Rune Array’s talismans through the mountain woods to improve its defenses.
• Lu Xuan touched a light orb beneath a Yin Locust and obtained a Second Grade Yin Soul Pearl.

Lu Xuan received a message from Shen Ye inviting him to Sword Hall to cultivate Sword Grass. After touring the Sword Hall, Lu Xuan learned about Sword Grass’s importance and the hall’s work to develop advanced varieties.

• Lu Xuan placed the grievance souls from his Grievance Soul Bell inside the Second Grade Yin Soul Pearl, where they could be nourished.
• Shen Ye sent a puppet bird to tell Lu Xuan that two Sword Grass Spirit Seeds awaited him and invited him to Sword Hall.
• Lu Xuan followed the puppet bird to Sword Hall, where Shen Ye welcomed him and opened the protective formation.
• Shen Ye explained that Sword Grass was an Innate Sword Weapon, that the sect had developed varieties as high as Fourth and Fifth Grade, and that Sword Hall studied ways to cultivate improved versions.

After joining the Sword Hall, Lu Xuan received ten Sword Grass seeds to cultivate and planned to experiment with different sword energies to produce improved varieties. He returned home determined to earn more seeds, though his limited mastery of the Four Seasons Swordplay remained an obstacle.

• Shen Ye explained how spiritual energy and sword arts could influence Sword Grass and praised Lu Xuan's sword talent.
• Shen Ye formally admitted Lu Xuan to the Sword Hall and gave him ten Sword Grass Spirit Seeds to cultivate for compensation.
• Lu Xuan accepted the seeds, declaring that a little sacrifice for the sect was nothing.
• After returning home, Lu Xuan resolved to cultivate mutated Sword Grass and use his ability to read each plant's condition to guide his experiments.
• Lu Xuan recognized that his shallow mastery of the Four Seasons Swordplay was his main limitation.

Lu Xuan devised a plan to cultivate Sword Grass with different sword qi and use the Yangxuan Sword Sheath to guide two seeds toward mutation. The Dazzling Fire Flood Dragon hatched, and the newborn dragon settled beneath the Wind Falcon Chick as if it were its mother.

• Lu Xuan planned to cultivate eight Sword Grass Spirit Seeds with four kinds of sword qi and use the Yangxuan Sword Sheath and other sword intent to guide the remaining two toward mutation.
• Lu Xuan drew the Scarlet Flame Sword from the Yangxuan Sword Sheath and placed a Sword Grass Spirit Seed inside to expose it to the lingering fire-element energy.
• Over the next few days, Lu Xuan planted the eight Sword Grass Spirit Seeds around the mountain peak while continuing to cultivate his other spirit plants.
• Lu Xuan hurried to the Wind Falcon Chick's grass nest after hearing a cry and saw the Dazzling Fire Flood Dragon Egg crack open.
• The Young Flood Dragon ate its eggshell fragments, then wriggled beneath the Wind Falcon Chick's belly and rested against it.