Chapter Summaries

Director Long explained the Sima Family’s tangled dispute over Sima Fang’s tomb and warned Fan Cheng away from Xu Yi’s Director position. Meanwhile, Xu Yi provoked Director Fang over a delayed delivery of one hundred thousand Profound Yellow Pills, leaving Fang furious but powerless.

• Director Long told Fan Cheng how Sima Rui and Sima Jin both claimed to be Sima Fang’s legitimate grandson, turning the family’s dispute into a high-profile case that had cost two Directors their positions.
• Fan Cheng decided not to pursue Xu Yi’s position and hurried off to consult his great-uncle.
• Director Fang went to confront the sleeping Xu Yi about the overdue one hundred thousand Profound Yellow Pills, but Xu Yi feigned surprise and offered to return Fang’s thirty-thousand-pill deposit instead.
• Director Fang tore up an official paper in rage, while Xu Yi casually called him “Old Fang” and offered him tea.

Xu Yi arranged a public hearing at Sima Fang’s tomb to resolve the century-long dispute between the Sima Family’s branches, despite Director Fang’s efforts to undermine him. Before the packed crowd, Xu Yi sealed the site against thought transmission and began the proceedings with a tribute to Sima Fang.

• Director Fang left Xu Yi’s room in a rage, while Xu Yi dismissed Old Desolate’s concerns about the case and urged him to read books.
• Fan Cheng told Director Fang and Director Long that Xu Yi had sent Hero’s Posts announcing a public hearing for August thirteenth.
• Director Fang argued that the Sima Family’s main and second branches would reject any ruling, while Director Long noted that over sixty families had confirmed their attendance.
• More than a thousand cultivators gathered at Sima Fang’s tomb, joined by Loose Immortal Academy envoys, Sima Family leaders, and representatives of prominent families.
• Xu Yi used Yellow Turban Strongmen to establish the Five Elements Void Locking Great Formation, preventing the crowd from transmitting thoughts.
• Xu Yi offered incense and paid tribute to Sima Fang, declaring that he would resolve the dispute troubling the deceased’s descendants.

Xu Yi settled the century-long dispute between Sima Rui and Sima Jin by making them honor Sima Fang at his grave, and the crowd accepted the result. His clever ruling earned him notice from a mysterious woman, while Director Fang was punished and Xu Yi’s fame grew without bringing him official rewards.

• Xu Yi asked Sima Rui and Sima Jin to offer incense and show their respect at Sima Fang’s grave.
• Sima Rui wept convincingly, while Sima Jin struggled under the crowd’s pressure and failed to perform the same display.
• Xu Yi declared that the difference between their reactions made the truth plain, and Director Fang failed to challenge his ruling.
• A woman watching from a golden carriage praised Xu Yi’s handling of the case and ordered her maid to record his name.
• Xu Yi became famous across the Loose Immortal Academy, and An Daozhen punished Director Fang with five lashes of the Soul Burning Whip.

After losing his authority at the Loose Immortal Academy, Xu Yi focused on studying its records and spent time posing as Shao Yi Righteous Immortal at the Fahua Gathering. He returned with Profound Yellow Essence and helped A Li prepare to visit his master, then learned that Sima Rui had come to see him.

• Xu Yi lost his external affairs duties to Long Guang and decided to strengthen his fundamentals by studying the academy’s archives.
• Three months later, Xu Yi attended the Fahua Gathering as Shao Yi Righteous Immortal, explained his changed appearance and reduced cultivation, and received gifts from old friends.
• Jiang Zhun told Xu Yi that eleven pieces of Profound Yellow Essence had formed, and Xu Yi collected them.
• A Li broke through to the Second Realm of Yang Fish and asked Xu Yi for permission to visit his master; Xu Yi gave him Profound Yellow Pills to bring along.
• Visitors arrived with gifts for Xu Yi, but he turned them away until a Yellow Turban Strongman showed him Sima Rui waiting outside the academy.

Xu Yi agreed to help Sima Rui sell resources at the Immortal Forest Gathering and accepted an enigmatic white bone key that stirred the Dark Gourd. Sima Rui began recording their transaction and placed a powerful fire-colored pearl on the table, leaving Xu Yi to inspect the goods.

• Xu Yi met Sima Rui, who thanked him for his help and asked him to sell resources at the Immortal Forest Gathering.
• Huang Mei explained that the gathering was a major marketplace and that Ding Shen and Jia Shen had likely sought Xu Yi’s help for the same reason.
• Sima Rui gave Xu Yi a white bone key as thanks, and Xu Yi accepted it after the Dark Gourd rippled faintly.
• Sima Rui activated a Ruyi Pearl to record their transaction, claiming his family elders had required the precaution.
• Sima Rui placed a fire-colored pearl on the table, and its blazing yang energy heated the room until the chair began to scorch.

Sima Rui asked Xu Yi to sell a Phoenix Gall at the Immortal Forest Gathering, giving Xu Yi a chance to obtain one of the rare materials he needed. After agreeing to the deal, Xu Yi worried about raising enough funds for the gathering, and Desolate Charm warned him to deal with Fang.

• Sima Rui showed Xu Yi a Phoenix Gall inherited from his ancestor and asked him to sell it at the Immortal Forest Gathering for at least one million Profound Yellow Pills.
• Xu Yi agreed to sell the Phoenix Gall, concealing his excitement because he needed it for the second level of the Ding Yuan Technique.
• After Sima Rui left, Xu Yi learned from Jiang Zhun that the Immortal Forest Gathering would begin in three days.
• Xu Yi calculated that buying the Phoenix Gall would leave him with only six Profound Yellow Essences, but decided he could not part with any of his treasures.
• Desolate Charm mocked Xu Yi for being unable to sell anything and warned him that he would face trouble unless he got rid of Fang.

Xu Yi suspected that Envoy Xia’s order to deliver a document to Tongcheng Academy concealed a trap, so he postponed the trip and went to the Immortal Forest Gathering seeking information and influential allies. In Xianlin City, he found the guide Liu Xiangdong, who immediately told him that Tong Ming had tricked him.

• Xu Yi emerged exhausted from the underground refining room, slept, and then received Long Guang’s order to deliver a document to Tongcheng Academy.
• Xu Yi examined the document repeatedly, suspected it contained hidden killing intent, and struggled to find anyone willing to advise him.
• Xu Yi postponed delivering the document and left for the Immortal Forest Gathering, hoping to resolve his problems and gain powerful allies.
• At Xianlin City’s gate, Xu Yi hired Tong Ming to lead him to the famously well-informed guide Liu Xiangdong.
• Xu Yi paid Tong Ming four times the usual fee and met the blind, lame Liu Xiangdong, who told him Tong Ming had tricked him.

Xu Yi met Liu Xiangdong, the information broker known as Flower Eye, and discovered that Liu could intercept thought transmissions. After Xu Yi explained his own Sound Interception Technique, the two recognized each other as kindred spirits, and Xu asked Liu for help with a problem.

• Liu Xiangdong sensed Huangmei inside Xu Yi's Starry Sky Ring and revealed his ability to intercept thoughts.
• Xu Yi demonstrated that he could intercept voice transmissions, prompting Liu Xiangdong to ask him to become his master and teach him the art.
• Xu Yi explained the principles of Sound Interception Technique, and Liu Xiangdong lamented that the ability could not be learned.
• Liu Xiangdong revealed that his natural perception came from detecting scents despite being blind from birth, and explained why he had gone into hiding.
• Xu Yi asked Liu Xiangdong for help with a problem unrelated to private affairs, and Liu agreed because they shared the same path.
• Xu Yi gave Liu Xiangdong a Sumeru Ring containing a hundred thousand Profound Yellow Pills, and Liu protested that Xu Yi was treating him like a stranger.

Xu Yi learned from Liu Xiangdong where to seek Star Core Marrow, a True Dragon Eye, and help with Tongcheng Academy, then showed him the white bone key. After discovering Liu Xiangdong had secretly tried to report the key to Mr. Zhu, Xu Yi killed him and took his life wheel.

• Liu Xiangdong accepted Xu Yi's Sumeru Ring and told him that Si Fang Zhai had a True Dragon Eye, Qiuyue Hall might auction Star Core Marrow, and Jiguzhai had influential ties to Tongcheng Academy.
• Xu Yi showed Liu Xiangdong the white bone key, and Liu Xiangdong said he recognized its ancient patterns but could not remember where he had seen it.
• After Xu Yi left, Liu Xiangdong contacted Mr. Zhu with a Ruyi Pearl and said he had seen the white bone key.
• Xu Yi returned with Huang Mei, confronted Liu Xiangdong, and caught him trying to activate the Ruyi Pearl.
• Xu Yi snapped Liu Xiangdong's neck, took his life wheel, and stopped Huang Mei from consuming it.

Xu Yi learned that Mr. Zhu was pursuing the bone key and arranged to meet him at Dragon Horn Mountain, where he prepared an ambush. Mr. Zhu arrived quickly, and Xu Yi confronted him while concealing Liu Xiangdong’s fate.

• Xu Yi discovered that people could not change their appearance in Xianlin City and answered Mr. Zhu’s message using Liu Xiangdong’s voice.
• Huang Mei explained that Mr. Zhu had offered Liu Xiangdong a million Profound Yellow Pills to find the bone key twenty years earlier.
• Xu Yi decided to meet Mr. Zhu rather than let him trace Liu Xiangdong’s death back to him and his registrar position.
• Xu Yi chose Dragon Horn Mountain as the battlefield and hid a life-wheel with the Four-Colored Seal nearby.
• Mr. Zhu arrived, and Xu Yi answered his demand for Liu Xiangdong by pointing out that he had come to meet him.

Xu Yi tried to bargain with Mr. Zhu over the bone key, then attacked and fled when he realized Mr. Zhu was too dangerous to let go. Mr. Zhu pursued him through the cliffs and unleashed a fire dragon that burned even into the earth.

• Xu Yi showed Mr. Zhu an image of the bone key and demanded three hundred Profound Yellow Essence for it.
• Xu Yi attacked Mr. Zhu with the Taiyi Light Splitting Ruler, but the blows only left white marks on Mr. Zhu's body.
• Xu Yi fled, but Mr. Zhu chased him down and shattered Xu Yi's right arm with a punch.
• Xu Yi used earth escape and his Myriad Transformations technique to hide as a pine tree, while Huang Mei warned that Mr. Zhu had sharp sensory powers.
• Mr. Zhu spat out a gigantic fire dragon that scorched the cliffs and burrowed into the earth.

Xu Yi defeated Mr. Zhu with the Ruyi Universe Circle, the Spiritually Communicating Treasure, and Star Core Sand, but found only a mysterious lump of Blood Freeze where the body had vanished. After recovering, he went to Si Fang Zhai to demand the True Dragon Eye, leaving Head Shopkeeper Zhu wary of his pointed remarks.

• Xu Yi trapped Mr. Zhu with the Ruyi Universe Circle and weakened him with repeated illusions from the Spiritually Communicating Treasure.
• Xu Yi used the Ruyi Universe Circle and Star Core Sand to hold Mr. Zhu down while the Golden Armored Generals hacked him apart.
• Xu Yi found no life wheel or resources, only a transparent lump of Blood Freeze, which he sealed in a jade box before cleaning the battlefield.
• Xu Yi recovered by the sea, then went to Si Fang Zhai and asked Head Shopkeeper Zhu to name a price for the True Dragon Eye.
• Xu Yi suggested that the True Dragon Eye had stopped attracting buyers, and Head Shopkeeper Zhu asked whether he was threatening him.

Xu Yi negotiated with Si Fang Zhai’s Head Shopkeeper Zhu to buy the True Dragon Eye for forty Profound Yellow Essences, then brought a mysterious treasure to Jiguzhai to sell. The chapter ended with Shopkeeper Su and Head Shopkeeper Lin discovering nested boxes inside Xu Yi’s jade box and wondering what lay within.

• Xu Yi pressured Head Shopkeeper Zhu with the threat of damaging Si Fang Zhai’s reputation, and Zhu agreed to sell the True Dragon Eye for forty Profound Yellow Essences.
• Xu Yi went to Jiguzhai and told Shopkeeper Su that he wanted to sell a Mystical Treasure for a high price.
• Xu Yi revealed a radiant jade box, drawing attention from the hall and prompting Shopkeeper Su to escort him to a private room.
• Shopkeeper Su summoned Head Shopkeeper Lin, who recognized the golden octagonal box inside the jade box as the long-lost Ancient-Modern Box.
• Shopkeeper Su identified the next, round container as the Flowing Water Box, while Xu Yi prepared to reveal what was inside.

Xu Yi presented an ancestral treasure to Jiguzhai and negotiated over using it as collateral, while hiding its true value. He revealed that his family needed a True Dragon Eye and Star Core Marrow, leaving Head Shopkeeper Lin and Shopkeeper Su to reconsider their offer.

• Xu Yi revealed a Starry Sky Treasure Box whose pure primordial energy stunned Shopkeeper Su and Head Shopkeeper Lin.
• Xu Yi claimed his ancestor had forbidden him to open the box and let Jiguzhai inspect it only while it remained sealed.
• Head Shopkeeper Lin offered ten pieces of Profound Yellow Essence, while Shopkeeper Su acted as if the amount was excessive.
• Xu Yi pretended to abandon the deal, prompting Shopkeeper Su and Head Shopkeeper Lin to ask what problem he was trying to solve.
• Xu Yi said his family needed a True Dragon Eye and Star Core Marrow, and that Si Fang Zhai had offered a True Dragon Eye for forty pieces of Profound Yellow Essence.

Xu Yi negotiated a five-year live pawn deal with Jiguzhai for the True Dragon Eye and Star Core Marrow, then followed Head Shopkeeper Lin to meet the proprietor. Huang Mei warned him that the meeting could end in disaster, but Xu Yi refused to back out.

• Head Shopkeeper Lin raised his offer to fifty pieces of Profound Yellow Essence, but Xu Yi said it was not enough for the True Dragon Eye and Star Core Marrow.
• After Xu Yi rejected a dead pawn and threatened to leave, Head Shopkeeper Lin agreed to procure the two treasures and issue a five-year pawn ticket, with twenty pieces of Profound Yellow Essence owed as interest for redemption.
• Head Shopkeeper Lin told Shopkeeper Su that the proprietor would decide whether to pursue the deal and that Jiguzhai could unseal Xu Yi's treasure if he failed to redeem it.
• Head Shopkeeper Lin led Xu Yi across the lake to a pavilion where more than ten Great Powers of Divine Diagram were gathered.
• Huang Mei warned Xu Yi that the plan could bring utter destruction, but Xu Yi said he would not turn back.

Xu Yi was pulled into Director Yu’s contest with Liu Guancen, where he had to devise a puzzle to prevent her from removing her veil. He left the chapter poised to test Liu Guancen with a written character.

• The guests pressured Director Yu to unveil herself, and she agreed to do so if Liu Guancen solved a puzzle set by Xu Yi.
• Director Yu stopped Xu Yi as he was leaving and asked him to help, threatening to send him to Qian Prison if he failed.
• Xu Yi reluctantly accepted the challenge and reassured Director Yu that he could stump Liu Guancen.
• Liu Guancen invited Xu Yi to choose any subject for his puzzle, and Xu Yi proposed writing a character for Liu Guancen to interpret.

Xu Yi outwitted Liu Guancen with a character-reading wager, then won over the gathered cultivators by playing the part of a melancholy, refined wanderer. Wu Si invited him to stay and asked where he had learned his elegant words.

• Xu Yi wagered his life against Liu Guancen’s favor and wrote the character “wrong,” forcing Liu to concede.
• Song Qingying laughed at Xu Yi’s trick, while Liu Guancen destroyed the paper and admitted defeat.
• Meng Changlai insulted Xu Yi for being a low-level clerk, but Xu Yi’s melancholy speech prompted Meng to apologize.
• Xu Yi tried to leave, but Wu Si stopped him and invited him to enjoy himself with the group.
• Xu Yi claimed his words came from traveling widely, seeing much, and reflecting on life.

Xu Yi impressed Director Yu and the other guests with his flattery and poetry at the lakeside gathering, then pretended to get drunk and slept at their residence. The next morning, Wu Si welcomed him as a close friend, while the gathering’s new connections remained open to develop.

• Xu Yi praised Song Qingying and Director Yu, winning their amusement and leaving Director Yu visibly impressed.
• Su Xiangjun showed Xu Yi his wife's painting, and Xu Yi wrote four lines that delighted the guests and moved Liu Guancen to vow to study rather than speak of poetry for ten years.
• Xu Yi composed more verses through the evening until he feigned drunkenness, told the others to bring their qin the next day, and fell asleep at the stone table.
• Xu Yi woke in an elegant room and admitted to himself that he had only pretended to get drunk before sleeping there.
• Wu Si arrived with Head Shopkeeper Lin and insisted Xu Yi call him Brother Wu rather than Shopkeeper Wu.

Xu Yi pawned the Starry Sky Treasure Box at Jiguzhai in exchange for the True Dragon Eye and Star Core Marrow, while insisting that the box remain sealed. After Xu Yi left, Wu Si and his experts tried to open it and debated risking damage to its contents, with Head Shopkeeper Lin arguing that Xu Yi would have little power to object.

• Xu Yi showed Wu Si the Starry Sky Treasure Box and secured his agreement to provide the True Dragon Eye and Star Core Marrow.
• Xu Yi required the pawn ticket to state that the sealed box must not be opened, and Wu Si agreed to the terms.
• Head Shopkeeper Lin delivered the True Dragon Eye and Star Core Marrow, and Xu Yi completed the pawn transaction before declining Wu Si's invitation to the auction.
• After Xu Yi left, Wu Si summoned three restriction experts to examine the box, but they made no progress for nearly half a month.
• The experts proposed using one restriction to break another, and Wu Si hesitated over the risk to the box's contents and Jiguzhai's reputation.
• Head Shopkeeper Lin urged Wu Si to proceed, arguing that Xu Yi's family was unlikely to redeem the box and would have to accept its condition.

Xu Yi’s Starry Sky Box ruse left Wu Si empty-handed, while Xu Yi met Liu Guancen and used a drunken confession about his troubles at the Loose Immortal Academy to win his sympathy. The chapter left Xu Yi cultivating Liu Guancen’s admiration as he sought help with his latest predicament.

• Wu Si and the three white-bearded men broke open the Starry Sky Box, found it empty, and Wu Si killed the three men in anger.
• Head Shopkeeper Lin claimed that the treasure had escaped, then privately feared that Jiguzhai had been tricked; he later searched books for the source of the box’s pure primordial energy.
• Xu Yi had created the box’s shining contents from strands separated in the Four-Colored Seal Space and pawned it at Jiguzhai to make money without selling a real treasure.
• Xu Yi met Liu Guancen at a tavern and drank with him, knowing that Liu admired his poetry and prose.
• Xu Yi told Liu Guancen that he was being sidelined at the Loose Immortal Academy and reluctantly forced into another unwanted assignment, then acted out his despair by drinking from a wine jar.