Chapter Summaries

Lu Xuan took over the strange insects Zhong Jingshan had left in Insect Valley and learned to control them with an Insect Whistle. After safely exercising a Demon Blade Black Beetle, he found a group of White Jade Spiders fighting and used the whistle to make them stop.

• Zhong Jingshan left Insect Valley, entrusting Lu Xuan with its strange insects and giving him an Insect Whistle, while Ge Pu offered help if problems arose.
• Lu Xuan examined the Demon Blade Black Beetle, a powerful Fourth Grade Demon Worm, and learned about its habits and feeding needs.
• Lu Xuan used the Insect Whistle to guide the Demon Blade Black Beetle out to hunt, then called it back after half an hour.
• Lu Xuan entered another Insect Room and found more than ten White Jade Spiders fighting; he used the Insect Whistle to make them stop.

Lu Xuan tended Zhong Jingshan’s strange insects in the Insect Valley, calming the Jade Condensing Spiders, feeding the Yin Fire Ants, and collecting Glazed Sand from the Seven Stars Glazed insects. He finished his rounds without taking any of the valuable Glazed Sand for himself.

• Lu Xuan used the Purification Mantra to calm the Jade Condensing Spiders and learned that they became violent after spinning silk.
• Lu Xuan used Zhong Jingshan’s insect-controlling method to briefly shape the Yin Fire Ants into a human form, then fed them spirit ore.
• Lu Xuan watched a Seven Stars Glazed insect produce Glazed Sand and collected the grains in a sealed agarwood box.
• Lu Xuan decided not to keep any Glazed Sand, reasoning that stealing from Zhong Jingshan risked too much for too little gain.

Lu Xuan managed the rare insects in Insect Valley and tried to improve the Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Insects’ lack of interest in each other by filling their room with Pink Miasma. He later found the pair mating, leaving their breeding prospects improved.

• Lu Xuan inspected the Fourth Grade Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Insects and learned they were preparing to breed but loathed each other.
• Lu Xuan spent the next month or two feeding and managing the insects, training the Demon Blade Black Beetle with a series of tests and observing the other species.
• Lu Xuan collected Pink Miasma from the Bewitching Peach and released it into the Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Insects’ room to stir their desire.
• Two days later, Lu Xuan found the Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Insects mating amid the Pink Miasma.

Lu Xuan cared for Zhong Jingshan’s strange insects, studying the Jade Condensing Spiders, training the Demon Blade Black Beetle, and inducing the Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring insects to mate. When Zhong Jingshan returned after more than three months, Lu Xuan told him the insects had conceived, leaving him stunned.

• Lu Xuan found the female Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring insect growing three egg-like lumps and added Pink Miasma to help the exhausted male continue mating.
• Lu Xuan calmed the fighting Jade Condensing Spiders and recorded the signs that they were about to spit silk.
• Lu Xuan praised the Demon Blade Black Beetle for reaching more than thirty kills while avoiding insects filled with foul liquid.
• Lu Xuan controlled the Yin Fire Ants and tracked the Seven Stars Glazed insects’ excretion of Glazed Sand.
• Zhong Jingshan returned to the Mountain Valley, and Lu Xuan told him the Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring insects had conceived.
• Zhong Jingshan stared at Lu Xuan and asked why he had made the insects pregnant when he had only been asked to raise them.

Lu Xuan showed Zhong Jingshan the results of his work raising demon worms, impressing him with successful breeding, improved training, and careful record-keeping. Zhong paid Lu Xuan with Sword Seals and rare Lightning Struck Wood, while Lu Xuan declined his offer to stay in Insect Valley.

• Zhong Jingshan discovered that Lu Xuan had helped the Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Insects conceive using miasma from his Bewitching Peach Spirit Plant.
• Lu Xuan demonstrated a game that trained the Demon Blade Black Beetle's killing techniques and instincts, impressing Zhong Jingshan.
• Lu Xuan explained how he identified Jade Condensing Spiders about to produce silk and showed Zhong Jingshan his timetable for isolating them.
• Lu Xuan gave Zhong Jingshan more Glazed Sand than he expected from the Seven Stars Glazed Insect specimens.
• Zhong Jingshan asked Lu Xuan to stay in Insect Valley long-term, but Lu Xuan declined and accepted his payment of Sword Seals and Lightning Struck Wood.

Lu Xuan planted a Fourth Grade Lightning Fall Wood and inspected the spirit plants in his field, then harvested a Superior Grade Sword Grass. Its White Light Orb granted him Spring Rain Sword Intent, deepening his mastery of the Spring Rain Swordplay.

• Lu Xuan planted the Lightning Fall Wood and tested how sword energy and the Violet Lightning Sword’s lightning power affected its growth.
• Lu Xuan inspected his spirit plants, cultivated the Five Elements Fruit, and soothed the four Nurturing Spirit Pines.
• Lu Xuan discovered that one Sword Grass had matured and pulled the Superior Grade plant from the Spirit Field.
• Lu Xuan absorbed the Sword Grass’s White Light Orb and gained a profound understanding of Spring Rain Sword Intent.

Lu Xuan harvested a mature Sword Nurturing Gourd and received a Rank 4 Great Sun Sword Talisman, then went to Si Nong Hall to obtain Spirit Seed Condensation Methods and more gourd seeds. He left with plans to cultivate more Sword Nurturing Gourds and grow Flame Fruit and Ice Luo Fruit.

• Lu Xuan infused Spring Rain Sword Intent into the Yangxuan Sword Sheath and found that the Violet Lightning Sword slid into it easily.
• Lu Xuan harvested a mature Sword Nurturing Gourd and received a Rank 4 Great Sun Sword Talisman from its White Light Orb.
• Lu Xuan decided to plant more Sword Nurturing Gourds and to choose Spirit Seed Condensation Methods for Flame Fruit and Ice Luo Fruit.
• Lu Xuan met Zhang Ce at Si Nong Hall and requested the two Second Grade Spirit Seed Condensation Methods.
• Lu Xuan exchanged two hundred and seventy Sword Seals for three Sword Nurturing Gourd Spirit Seeds and left Si Nong Hall.

Lu Xuan visited Thousand Dragon Lake to see his former flood dragons and offer to examine the lake’s hundreds of Flood Dragon Giant Pythons. After reconnecting with Huang Yuan and seeing that the dragons still recognized him, he prepared to inspect them—and secretly planned to collect more Flood Dragon Blood Essence.

• Lu Xuan planted three Sword Nurturing Gourd Spirit Seeds, then studied the condensation methods for Flame Fruit and Ice Luo Fruit spirit seeds.
• Lu Xuan visited Thousand Dragon Lake, where Huang Yuan greeted him as a Foundation Establishment martial uncle and brought him to the platform where he had once raised flood dragons.
• Lu Xuan suppressed the fighting Flood Dragon Giant Pythons, and many of the dragons recognized him and returned to their places in line.
• Lu Xuan fed the dragons according to their individual diets and offered to give all the Flood Dragons in Thousand Dragon Lake a comprehensive examination.
• Huang Yuan contacted cultivators in the other waters to prepare for the examinations as Lu Xuan readied his Red Thread Needle to draw more Flood Dragon Blood Essence.

Lu Xuan examined the Flood Dragons at Thousand Dragon Lake, drawing blood while finding and treating hidden ailments. Tao Zhiqing then led him to inspect his stronger Flood Dragons, where Lu Xuan recognized a Snow White Chi Dragon he had raised before.

• Huang Yuan gathered disciples and their Flood Dragons so Lu Xuan could examine them, while urging Zhang Shidi to attend.
• Lu Xuan examined the outer lake’s Flood Dragons, collected blood, and discovered parasitic Demon Worms and hidden injuries in several of them.
• Tao Zhiqing asked Lu Xuan to examine his Third Grade and Fourth Grade Flood Dragons, and Lu Xuan agreed.
• Tao Zhiqing complained that Yang Qingfeng had refused to lend him an Ink Scale Flood Dragon for breeding.
• Lu Xuan spotted a Snow White Chi Dragon on Tao Zhiqing’s island and recognized it as an old friend he had once raised.

Lu Xuan reunited with an Ice Chi Dragon he had once raised and discovered that a Snow Line Flood Dragon carried a partially undigested Fifth Grade Dragon Bone Grass. The discovery revealed a sealed ancient true dragon skeleton at the bottom of Thousand Dragon Lake, and Tao Zhiqing reported it to the sect while Lu Xuan considered seeing the lake’s depths.

• Lu Xuan recognized the Ice Chi Dragon as one he had raised in the past, and the dragon happily approached him.
• Lu Xuan examined Tao Zhiqing’s flood dragons and found that a Snow Line Flood Dragon contained a foreign object it could not absorb.
• Lu Xuan used his Red Thread Needle to remove the object, which Tao Zhiqing identified as a partially intact Fifth Grade Dragon Bone Grass.
• Tao Zhiqing explained that the grass likely came from an ancient true dragon skeleton buried in the restricted depths of Thousand Dragon Lake.
• Tao Zhiqing reported the discovery to the sect, while Lu Xuan wondered whether he could enter the lake’s depths himself.

Lu Xuan followed True Disciple Dragon Li to the bottom of Thousand Dragon Lake, where they searched for Dragon Bone Grass amid the draconic pressure. After collecting several plants, Lu Xuan secretly took Flood Dragon fossils for his Cave Mansion.

• Tao Zhiqing introduced Lu Xuan to Dragon Li and showed him the Dragon Bone Grass found inside her Snow Line Flood Dragon.
• Dragon Li opened a path through the lake’s restrictions, and Lu Xuan followed him underwater using his Water Element Pearl.
• Dragon Li protected Lu Xuan from the growing draconic pressure as they descended to the lake bottom.
• Dragon Li found four fifth-grade Dragon Bone Grasses, and Lu Xuan found another among the strange stones.
• Lu Xuan asked to take some Flood Dragon fossils, then secretly stored more than ten strange stones in his Storage Bag.

After helping search Thousand Dragon Lake, Lu Xuan earned four hundred Sword Seals and secretly recovered three Dragon Bone Grass Spirit Seeds hidden in flood dragon fossils. He planted one in his mountain lake and celebrated the discovery of all three Fifth Grade seeds.

• Long Li awarded Lu Xuan four hundred Sword Seals for discovering Dragon Bone Grass and treated Tao Zhiqing’s flood dragon as Tao’s reward.
• Lu Xuan inspected and drew blood from Tao Zhiqing’s remaining flood dragons before leaving the island.
• Back at his cave mansion, Lu Xuan recalled that he had secretly collected stones containing three Dragon Bone Grass Spirit Seeds.
• Lu Xuan planted one seed in the lake on his mountain peak and discovered that all three were Fifth Grade Spirit Seeds.

Lu Xuan tended the Dragon Bone Grass and harvested the last Sword Nurturing Gourd, gaining a Fourth Grade Starfall Sword Talisman. Harvesting the Sword Grasses also gave him four kinds of Sword Intent, and he planned to visit the Sword Hall once the remaining plants matured.

• Lu Xuan decided to preserve the Dragon Bone Grass in a Flood Dragon fossil until he could obtain the spiritual liquid needed to cultivate it, and warned the Dazzling Fire Flood Dragon to stay away.
• Lu Xuan harvested the final mature Sword Nurturing Gourd and obtained a Fourth Grade Starfall Sword Talisman.
• Lu Xuan removed the spent Sword Nurturing Gourd vine and decided to keep one or two gourds while dealing with the rest through the sect.
• Lu Xuan harvested the mature Sword Grasses and gained Spring Rain, Summer Day, Autumn Wind, and Winter Snow Sword Intents, advancing his Four Seasons Swordplay to sword stances.
• Lu Xuan noted that the Third Grade Wind Lightning Sword Grass and the grass nurtured with Scarlet Flame Sword Qi were still growing, and planned to visit the Sword Hall after the latter matured.

Lu Xuan brought nine mature Sword Grass plants to Shen Ye, who was astonished to learn that Lu Xuan had also improved the missing tenth seed into a Third Grade Wind Lightning Sword Grass. After inspecting it, Shen Ye praised Lu Xuan’s achievement and recognized his talent for cultivating Sword Grass.

• Lu Xuan visited Sword Hall and showed Shen Ye the nine Good Grade Sword Grass plants he had cultivated.
• Shen Ye asked about the tenth seed, and Lu Xuan revealed that he had improved it into a Third Grade Sword Grass.
• Shen Ye hurried Lu Xuan back to his cave mansion to inspect the Wind Lightning Sword Grass.
• Shen Ye confirmed that the plant contained the power of wind and lightning and was indeed Third Grade.
• Shen Ye praised Lu Xuan for creating a rare new Sword Grass variety on his first large-scale cultivation attempt.

Shen Ye formally inducted Lu Xuan into Sword Hall after recognizing his skill in cultivating sword grass. Lu Xuan received several spirit seeds and sword arts, including a Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite, and prepared to cultivate them.

• Shen Ye praised Lu Xuan's sword-grass cultivation and offered him formal membership in Sword Hall, which Lu Xuan accepted.
• Shen Ye brought Lu Xuan to Sword Hall and explained his duties and the benefits of membership, including spirit seeds and sword arts.
• Shen Ye awarded Lu Xuan a Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite spirit seed, and Lu Xuan asked to keep one of his cultivated grasses for Bai Li Jian Qing.
• Lu Xuan chose Second Grade spirit seeds, a Third Grade Starlight Sword Grass, and a Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite, then received them with the corresponding sword arts and seed-condensation method.

Lu Xuan planted new Sword Grass seeds, visited Bai Li Jian Qing, and gave him a flame-scorching Sword Grass. In the Sword Hall, a furious middle-aged cultivator confronted Shen Ye over the Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite Spirit Seed Lu Xuan had taken.

• Lu Xuan examined the Starlight Sword Grass and Sword Thousand Owl Sword Grass seeds, learned their cultivation requirements, and planted ten Second Grade Sword Grass seeds.
• Lu Xuan visited Bai Li Jian Qing, who said he had reached Qi Refining Completion and was preparing to attempt Foundation Establishment.
• Lu Xuan gave Bai Li Jian Qing a crimson Sword Grass with flame-scoring sword qi, and the two caught up over Spirit Fruits.
• A middle-aged cultivator challenged Shen Ye about the Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite Spirit Seed going to a newly arrived Foundation Establishment Early Stage Inner Sect Disciple.
• Shen Ye confirmed he had strongly supported the decision and that Martial Uncle Murong had not objected.

Shen Ye defended his decision to give the Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite Spirit Seed to Lu Xuan, explaining that Lu Xuan had improved a Third Grade Sword Grass on his first try. Liao Yu Fang visited Lu Xuan intending to pressure him into surrendering the seed, but the Spirit Beasts in Lu Xuan’s courtyard left him intimidated.

• Liao Quanfu challenged Shen Ye’s decision, but Shen Ye told him to appeal to Elder Murong and explained Lu Xuan’s achievement in improving a Third Grade Sword Grass.
• Liao Quanfu left without persuading Shen Ye, and his nephew Liao Yu Fang decided to pressure Lu Xuan to reclaim the Sword Thousand-Kite Spirit Seed.
• Liao Yu Fang arrived at Lu Xuan’s residence and accepted an invitation to join his Spirit Fruit banquet.
• Liao Yu Fang saw a snow-white Luan Bird and a small jade-like monkey in Lu Xuan’s courtyard and apologized for disturbing them.

After learning Sword Hall’s higher-ups were displeased that he had obtained the Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite Spirit Seed, Lu Xuan invited the Mystic Sky White Luan and White Jade Sky Supporting Ape to his courtyard for protection. Liao Yu Fang came to question him about the seed, but left after seeing Lu Xuan’s close ties with the spirit beasts and hearing how he had cultivated Sword Grass.

• Shen Ye warned Lu Xuan that some Sword Hall higher-ups were displeased about his Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite Spirit Seed and advised him to be cautious.
• Lu Xuan invited the Mystic Sky White Luan and White Jade Sky Supporting Ape to his courtyard before Liao Yu Fang arrived.
• Liao Yu Fang probed Lu Xuan about his relationship with the spirit beasts, then watched in astonishment as they showed him affection.
• Lu Xuan explained that he had cultivated nine of Shen Ye’s Second Grade Sword Grass seeds and that one had mutated into the Fourth Grade Sword Thousand-Kite Spirit Seed.
• Liao Yu Fang praised Lu Xuan’s Spirit Nectar, said he would return to ask about Sword Grass cultivation, and left the courtyard.
• Lu Xuan thanked the two spirit beasts for helping him deter a possible threat and offered them more Spirit Fruit and Spirit Nectar.

After a quiet half month tending his Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts, Lu Xuan advanced his sword skills and harvested a large crop of Water Firefly Grass. The harvest granted him twenty-eight years of cultivation, leaving his cultivation greatly strengthened.

• Lu Xuan devoted himself to cultivating Spirit Plants and raising Spirit Beasts, while Liao Yu Fang's visit caused no further trouble.
• Lu Xuan practiced the Starlight Sword Art until he reached its threshold, then planted a Third Grade Starlight Sword Grass Spirit Seed and fed it Starlight Sword Qi.
• Lu Xuan found that the Bewitching Peach trees' growing allure could ensnare him and the Demon Ghost Vine, so he used a Purification Mantra and led the vine away.
• Lu Xuan inspected his Spirit Plants, noted that the Earth Fire Heart Lotus was forming lotus seeds, and decided to replace the weakening Red Lotus Flame in the Phoenix Wood.
• Lu Xuan harvested more than eighty mature Water Firefly Grass plants and ripened fifty of them, collecting Light Orbs that included twenty-eight years of cultivation.

After collecting enough Light Orb rewards to approach the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Lu Xuan was assigned a sect garrison mission. He chose a bitterly cold island near the Boundless Sea for its relative safety and possible spirit-planting opportunities.

• Lu Xuan reflected that another batch of Water Firefly Grass would help him break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and he let the remaining plants mature naturally for Spirit Seeds.
• Huang Shixiong visited Lu Xuan and told him that he had to complete a sect garrison mission or risk ten years of confinement.
• Huang Shixiong described three possible posts, including a rogue cultivator city near the Fallen Nightmare Mountain Range, Xuan Yin City, and an island near the Boundless Sea.
• Lu Xuan chose the island near the Boundless Sea because it was safer and could offer sea resources, rare spirit grasses, and possibly spirit liquid.