Chapter Summaries

Lu Xuan joined Ye Xuanyin and several Core Formation cultivators to explore the Thunder Hǒu Beast Secret Realm, secretly intending to warn its defenders. The cultivators tried to lure the beasts into an ambush, but the beasts stayed behind the restriction, leaving the plan stalled.

• Lu Xuan contacted Ye Xuanyin and agreed to join the secret-realm expedition so he could monitor the cultivators and inform the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros.
• Ye Xuanyin introduced Lu Xuan to five Core Formation True Persons and the Foundation Establishment cultivators who would join the expedition.
• The long-bearded elder explained that the Thunder Hǒu Beast Secret Realm held at least five fifth-grade beasts and was protected by a powerful thunder restriction.
• Lu Xuan secretly transmitted the cultivators’ strength and their ambush plan through the Azure Green Sharp Horn.
• The cultivators sent a Core Formation True Person and a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators to attack the restriction as bait, while the others hid nearby.
• The Thunder Hǒu Beasts refused to leave the Secret Realm, and the waiting cultivators began to suspect that their ambush had been detected.

Lu Xuan secretly warned the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros about the cultivators’ plans, helping the Thunder Hǒu Beast Clan repel their attacks. When eleven Core Formation cultivators tried to overwhelm the restriction, the Seventh Grade Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros emerged and killed four, leaving the survivors to wonder whether it was weakened.

• The cultivators abandoned their failed attempt to lure out the Thunder Hǒu Beasts and spent two days staging assaults before planning a sneak attack.
• Lu Xuan secretly informed the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros of the sneak attack, and the Thunder Hǒu Beasts were ready when the cultivators struck the barrier.
• The sneak attack became a fierce battle, and the cultivators retreated after suffering casualties.
• After inviting four more Core Formation cultivators, the group attacked the restriction with eleven Core Formation True Persons.
• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros emerged, killed four cultivators, and badly injured the other seven, while Lu Xuan escaped with superficial injuries.
• The survivors identified the beast as an Ancient Exotic Beast and wondered whether it was already at the end of its strength.

Lu Xuan learned that Golden Yao True Lord had fought the aging Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros to a draw and was gathering other Nascent Soul cultivators to attack its secret realm. Determined to save the beast, Lu Xuan planned to return to his Cave Mansion and use a Heavenly Essence Fruit, hastened by his Divine Wood Azure Kettle, to restore its vitality.

• Lu Xuan and the other Core Formation cultivators decided to wait in the Thunder Sea for Nascent Soul True Lords to deal with the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros.
• Golden Yao True Lord arrived on a silver-white thunder dragon, learned the secret realm's location, and flew toward it.
• A returning cultivator reported that the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros had fought Golden Yao True Lord to a draw and retreated into the secret realm, while the True Lord called for reinforcements.
• Lu Xuan realized a matured Heavenly Essence Fruit and its Light Orb reward might restore the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros's vitality and lifespan.
• Lu Xuan told Ye Xuanyin he was returning to replenish his supplies before joining the others to explore the secret realm.

Lu Xuan ripened a Sixth Grade Heavenly Essence Fruit with the Divine Wood Azure Kettle and obtained a Seventh Grade Turtle Crane Essence Elixir from its light orb. He secretly returned to the Thunder Sea to deliver the lifespan-extending treasures to the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros, and the beast brought him through the Thunder Technique Restriction.

• Lu Xuan returned to his Cave Mansion and soothed the Thunder Dragon Howl and his other Spirit Beasts.
• Lu Xuan used the Divine Wood Azure Kettle to rapidly ripen the Heavenly Essence Fruit and harvested a Superior Grade fruit.
• Lu Xuan touched the light orb and obtained a Seventh Grade Turtle Crane Essence Elixir that could greatly extend lifespan.
• Lu Xuan decided to offer the fruit and pill to the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros, hoping they would restore it to its peak.
• Lu Xuan secretly approached the Thunder Technique Restriction and asked the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros to bring him inside without alerting the Nascent Soul True Lord.
• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros enveloped Lu Xuan in a silver-white Thunder Ball and silently carried him through the restriction.

Lu Xuan gave the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros a Heavenly Essence Fruit and a Seventh Grade Turtle Crane Essence Elixir, helping it recover its strength. When Golden Yao True Lord and his allies moved to break the restriction and kill the beast, they discovered it had returned to its peak.

• Lu Xuan presented the Heavenly Essence Fruit and Turtle Crane Essence Elixir to the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros, which accepted them as repayment for his help.
• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros sent Lu Xuan out of its territory, and Lu Xuan rejoined Ye Xuanyin and the others.
• Azure Cloud True Lord and Rainbow Moon Fairy arrived to help Golden Yao True Lord break the Thunder Technique Restriction.
• Rainbow Moon Fairy used an Array Plate to interfere with the restriction, and the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros appeared amid a storm of lightning.
• Golden Yao True Lord realized the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros had regained its peak strength.

Lu Xuan’s gifts restored the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros to its peak, forcing Golden Yao True Lord and the other Nascent Soul cultivators to retreat. The Rhinoceros agreed to accompany Lu Xuan to an Ancient Medicine Garden in the Thunder Sea once the commotion had died down.

• Azure Cloud True Lord and Rainbow Moon Fairy doubted Golden Yao True Lord’s claim that the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros was near death and weakened their attacks, so the three Nascent Soul cultivators eventually withdrew.
• The Core Formation cultivators abandoned their plans to enter the Secret Realm and fled, while Lu Xuan waited until the area was clear before entering the Thunder Hǒu Beast Territory.
• Lu Xuan reunited with the Mutated Thunder Hǒu Beast and thanked the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros, which credited his life-extending Treasures with restoring its vitality and lifespan.
• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros promised to help Lu Xuan in the future, and Lu Xuan asked it to accompany him to an Ancient Medicine Garden in the Thunder Sea.
• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros agreed to go with Lu Xuan after the commotion settled, leaving Lu Xuan pleased to have gained a powerful protector.

After tending to his spirit plants and discussing the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros’s victory, Lu Xuan returned to the Ancient Medicine Garden with the beast as his protector. They swept through the garden’s dangers until Lu Xuan sensed a familiar presence and stopped the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros from attacking it.

• Lu Xuan inspected the Divine Wood Azure Kettle, collected twenty Thousand Thunder Sword Grass Spirit Seeds, and studied the sword intent around the Star Shifting Sun Changing Sword Grass.
• At a gathering, Ye Xuanyin confirmed that she and Lu Xuan had witnessed the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros repel three Nascent Soul True Lords.
• Lu Xuan asked the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros to accompany him to the Ancient Medicine Garden, and it carried him through the Thunder Qi waterfall unharmed.
• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros cleared Mutated Lei Yin Vines, Restrictions, Demonic Beasts, and Evil Spirits while Lu Xuan collected useful materials and requested intact corpses.
• Lu Xuan sensed a familiar aura in a distant corner and called out just before the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros attacked it.

Lu Xuan reunited with Thunder Ghost and explored the Ancient Medicine Garden with the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros, finding more spirit seeds and reaching the Azure Wood Spirit Thunder Vine. He arranged for the rhinoceros to drain the Thunder Pool so he could transplant the Seventh Grade Spirit Plant.

• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros restrained Thunder Ghost, but spared him after Lu Xuan asked and explained their old connection.
• Lu Xuan gave Thunder Ghost Silver-White Lotus Seeds, and Thunder Ghost happily accepted the treat before guiding him onward.
• Lu Xuan and the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros broke through the garden’s Restrictions, collected Five Thunder Twin Flowers Spirit Seeds and silver-white gravel, and found the Azure Wood Spirit Thunder Vine.
• Lu Xuan asked the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros to help transplant the vine, offering it half of the Azure Wood Spirit Thunder Liquid in return.
• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros entered the Thunder Pool and rapidly absorbed its Thunder Qi, while Lu Xuan prepared to retrieve the vine from the bottom.

Lu Xuan and the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros explored the Thunder Pool and the deepest Thunder Islands, where the Rhinoceros retrieved a mysterious Spirit Seed. Back at his Cave Mansion, Lu Xuan learned it was a Seventh Grade Light Hong Immortal Feather, which could eventually let him enter the unknown High Heaven Profound Void Sky.

• Lu Xuan harvested the Azure Wood Spirit Thunder Vine, its Spirit Soil, and a strange thunder-patterned stone pillar from the Thunder Pool.
• The Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros went alone into the deepest Thunder Islands with the Demon Ghost Vine, while Lu Xuan waited behind.
• The Rhinoceros found a quasi-Seventh Grade Demonic Beast essence soul on one island and a mysterious female corpse surrounded by an Array Formation on another, then took a Spirit Seed floating above her head.
• The innermost island erupted with resentment, so the Rhinoceros carried Lu Xuan, the Thunder Ghost, and the Demon Ghost Vine out of the Medicine Garden.
• Lu Xuan invited the displaced Thunder Ghost to live at his Cave Mansion, then planted the Spirit Seed and identified it as the Seventh Grade Light Hong Immortal Feather from High Heaven Profound Void Sky.

Lu Xuan settled the rare Spirit Plants he had brought back from the Ancient Medicine Garden and spent a peaceful stretch tending his Cave Mansion. Yao Qingyue, the Li Yang Dao Sect Dao Child, arrived to deliver a promised Spirit Seed and remarked on Lu Xuan’s talent for cultivating Spirit Plants.

• Lu Xuan planted the Light Hong Immortal Feather Spirit Seed and transplanted the Azure Wood Spirit Thunder Vine into his Cave Mansion, protecting it with a powerful restriction.
• Lu Xuan introduced Thunder Ghost to the Cave Mansion’s Spirit Beasts, then cultivated his Spirit Plants and reflected on the valuable harvest from the Ancient Medicine Garden.
• Thunder Ghost startled the Tree Nymphs while Lu Xuan tended his thriving Spirit Plants.
• Yao Qingyue visited Lu Xuan to deliver the Spirit Seed he had promised in thanks for Lu Xuan rescuing Xuan Kui.
• Yao Qingyue praised the Cave Mansion’s abundant vitality and asked whether Lu Xuan’s talent was being wasted in Thunder Fire Star Cave.

Yao Qingyue invited Lu Xuan to join the Li Yang Dao Sect, but Lu Xuan declined because of his ties to the Sea Pavilion Merchant Guild and his preference for freedom. Yao Qingyue rewarded him with a rare Yellow Millet Dreamwood Spirit Seed, leaving Lu Xuan eager to cultivate it.

• Yao Qingyue told Lu Xuan that the Li Yang Dao Sect wanted to recruit him as a Spirit Plant Master and explained the path he could take within the sect.
• Lu Xuan considered the sect’s offer but chose to remain a Guest Elder of the Sea Pavilion Merchant Guild, citing his existing obligations and the freedom of Heavenly Star Grotto.
• Yao Qingyue gave Lu Xuan a Sixth Grade Yellow Millet Dreamwood Spirit Seed in thanks for saving the Dao Sect’s young Xuan Kui beast.
• Yao Qingyue handed Lu Xuan a communication talisman, accepted three bottles of Fourth Grade spirit wine, and departed.
• Lu Xuan hurried to the core Spirit Field, eager to cultivate the Yellow Millet Dreamwood.

Lu Xuan visited Fengyuan Star Cave to tend its eerie Spirit Plants and discovered that the Fiendish Granny Treant had matured. He brought out the Demon Ghost Vine, and the two lifelong enemies immediately clashed.

• Lu Xuan planted the Yellow Millet Dreamwood Spirit Seed in his core Spirit Field and noted the danger its Illusionary Realm posed to the unwary.
• Lu Xuan traveled to Fengyuan Star Cave, where his avatar Ling Gu reported that the Spirit Plants were growing well.
• Lu Xuan inspected the Cave’s Yin-affiliated Spirit Plants and supplied bones to the nearly mature Corpse Demon Temple.
• Lu Xuan found the Fiendish Granny Treant mature and summoned the Demon Ghost Vine, which fought off the treant’s spear-like branches.

Lu Xuan harvested the Fiendish Granny Treant and obtained the Sixth Grade Mystic Demon Rope, then remained in the Fengyuan Star Cave to cultivate his evil Spirit Plants. When Tong Ying invited Ling Gu to explore a Corpse Forest Secret Realm, Lu Xuan grew suspicious of the invitation.

• Lu Xuan harvested the matured Fiendish Granny Treant’s White Light Orb and received the Mystic Demon Rope, a Sixth Grade treasure that could bind and control cultivators.
• Lu Xuan tested the Mystic Demon Rope on his avatar Ling Gu, found that it could not affect the emotionless Spirit Fruit Avatar, and handed it to Ling Gu.
• Lu Xuan stayed in the Cave Mansion to cultivate his high-grade evil Spirit Plants and instructed Ling Gu on their care.
• Tong Ying visited Ling Gu and invited him to explore a Corpse Forest Secret Realm where a thousand-year ancient corpse guarded a mysterious treasure.
• Lu Xuan considered the invitation and suspected something was wrong with Tong Ying’s offer.

Lu Xuan rejected Tong Ying’s invitation to explore the Corpse Forest, suspecting it was a trap, and stayed in his Cave Mansion to cultivate spirit plants. After a Ten Thousand Year Corpse emerged and was sealed, he learned that it had lured and devoured several Core Formation Cultivators, confirming his suspicions and leaving him wary of future invitations.

• Lu Xuan directed Ling Gu to refuse Tong Ying’s invitation to explore the Corpse Forest, despite Tong Ying’s promises of treasure and safety.
• Three days later, Lu Xuan noticed cultivators and other forces rushing toward the Corpse Forest, but stayed behind to cultivate his spirit plants.
• Five Infants True Person told nearby cultivators that an evil thought had possessed the thousand-year Ancient Corpse, transformed it into a Ten Thousand Year Corpse, and caused many casualties before it was sealed back into Fengdu Ghost City.
• Ling Gu reported that the Ancient Corpse had lured and swallowed several Core Formation Cultivators to reach Nascent Soul strength.
• Lu Xuan suspected Tong Ying had either helped the Ancient Corpse lure its victims or had been killed by it, and resolved to be more cautious about future Secret Realm invitations.

Lu Xuan tended the spirit plants in his Thunder Fire Star Cave and harvested a mature Fifth Grade Yuan Yang Wood, receiving the Sixth Grade Primordial Yang True Fire Furnace. He continued caring for his rare plants and reflected on revealing his Core Formation Mid-Stage cultivation and obtaining the Zhou Tian Star Fighting Sword Formation.

• Lu Xuan cultivated the Star Shifting Sun Changing Sword Grass and inspected his Thousand Thunder Sword Grass and Small Profound Cave Sword Gourds.
• Lu Xuan nourished the mature Ice Firefly Grass and considered how to explain his rapid cultivation progress while revealing his Core Formation Mid-Stage cultivation.
• Lu Xuan tended his rare spirit plants, including the Eightfold Palace, Spirit Cage, Dragon Transformation Grass, and Azure Dragon Wood, while checking on the Alligator Dragon eggs.
• Lu Xuan harvested the mature Yuan Yang Wood and received the Sixth Grade Primordial Yang True Fire Furnace.

Lu Xuan tested his new artifact-refining tools by crafting a Fourth Grade Flying Sword, then met Qi Wuheng, who was surprised by his rapid advance to Core Formation Mid-Stage. Lu Xuan played down his strength and accepted an invitation to a banquet hosted by Thunder Fire True Lord.

• Lu Xuan examined the Sixth Grade Primordial Yang True Fire Furnace and decided to practice refining with Wu Geng Wood before attempting to use the more valuable Yuan Yang Wood.
• Lu Xuan used the furnace and his artifact-refining knowledge to craft a Fourth Grade Flying Sword, which he considered suitable for sale to ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
• Qi Wuheng visited Lu Xuan and noticed that Lu Xuan had reached Core Formation Mid-Stage after only a little over thirty years.
• Lu Xuan claimed he had focused on cultivation and spirit plants, while modestly insisting that his treasures and combat abilities were inferior to those of other cultivators.
• Qi Wuheng invited Lu Xuan to attend a joyous banquet held by Thunder Fire True Lord and presented him with a Gilded Invitation.

Lu Xuan accepted an invitation to Thunder Fire True Lord’s thousand-year birthday celebration and agreed to brew one hundred bottles of Spirit Wine for the banquet. After delivering the wine and collecting payment, he attended the celebration, where True Lord Yaoguang arrived to offer congratulations.

• Qi Wuheng invited Lu Xuan to Thunder Fire True Lord’s birthday celebration and commissioned one hundred bottles of Lu Xuan’s Fourth Grade Spirit Wine.
• Lu Xuan gathered ingredients and completed the order, then delivered the wine to Qi Wuheng and received the remaining payment.
• Lu Xuan traveled with familiar cultivators to Thunder Fire True Lord’s mountain residence and met fellow guests at the banquet.
• Thunder Fire True Lord appeared and welcomed the gathered cultivators to his birthday celebration.
• True Lord Yaoguang of Li Yang Dao Sect arrived at the hall to congratulate Thunder Fire True Lord.

Lu Xuan attended Thunder Fire True Lord’s birthday banquet, where his spirit brews and spirit-plant expertise drew attention from cultivators and the Mu Family Head. After the banquet, the guests were moved to a mountain peak for a series of games, beginning with a Foundation Establishment combat contest.

• Nascent Soul True Lords arrived at Thunder Fire True Lord’s longevity banquet, and Lu Xuan recognized Evergreen True Lord and Golden Yao True Lord among them.
• Ye Xuanyin and nearby cultivators praised Lu Xuan’s three spirit brews, and he promoted his You Jian General Store in Star Plucking Tower.
• Golden Yao True Lord described his failed attempt to capture the Azure Horn Thunder Rhinoceros, unaware Lu Xuan had helped restore the beast’s strength.
• Lu Xuan invited Core Formation cultivators to sell him rare spirit seeds, then spoke with the Mu Family Head, who praised him and thanked him for looking after Mu Kui.
• After the banquet, a star envoy brought the guests to a flattened mountain summit, where Foundation Establishment cultivators began competing in Combat Arts.

Lu Xuan watched the birthday festivities at Thunder Fire True Lord’s Star Master’s Cave Mansion and received a Fifth Grade Purple Thunder Gold gift. He then learned that guests could ask a Seventh Grade Treasure Devouring Thunder Toad for treasures, and decided to observe others before choosing whether to make an offering.

• Yang Hong of the Li Yang Dao Sect won the Foundation Establishment contest and received the Frost Cunning Sword, while the other finalists received lesser prizes.
• A Star Envoy gave the Core Formation guests Fifth Grade Purple Thunder Gold as a birthday gift from Thunder Fire True Lord.
• The Star Envoy led the guests to a mountain, where a giant toad swallowed bolts of thunder.
• Qi Wuheng identified the beast as a Seventh Grade Treasure Devouring Thunder Toad and explained that guests could request treasures by making offerings.
• Lu Xuan chose to watch what others received before deciding whether to offer a treasure himself.

Lu Xuan watched cultivators gamble treasures with the Treasure Devouring Thunder Toad and used his first chance to offer it a Bewitching Peach. After reading the toad’s preferences and thoughts, he decided he knew how to win its favor with his remaining chances.

• Foundation Establishment Cultivators traded treasures with the Treasure Devouring Thunder Toad, with results ranging from rare rewards to disappointing common items.
• Lu Xuan observed that most cultivators received little value for the treasures they offered and considered how to use his three chances.
• After a Core Formation Cultivator received one Fourth Grade Talisman and two ordinary items, Lu Xuan offered the toad a Third-grade Bewitching Peach.
• The Treasure Devouring Thunder Toad gave Lu Xuan a Third-grade Talisman, and Lu Xuan sensed that it liked lightning-attribute Spirit Fruits and Spirit Flowers.
• Lu Xuan realized the toad resented cultivators trying to obtain its treasures cheaply and resolved to use his knowledge of spirit beasts to approach it.