Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi placed fifth in the Inner Sect advancement competition, but Internal Envoy Qin tried to have him disqualified for advancing too quickly. Xu Yi challenged the envoys’ decision, and other contestants began defending the legitimacy of his result.

• Xu Yi mastered the virtual medicinal properties, controlled his score, and earned a place among the ten finalists, finishing fifth.
• Internal Envoy Qin objected to Xu Yi advancing from probationary disciple to Inner Sect Disciple in one day and urged the crowd to reject him.
• Internal Envoy Zhao and Internal Envoy Fang faced an uproar as Internal Envoy Qin ordered guards to remove Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi argued that disqualifying him after the competition would undermine the rules and cast doubt on the other victors’ rankings.
• Zhu Mou, Hu, and other contestants spoke up in support of Xu Yi’s result.

Xu Yi defended the competition’s sanctity and provoked Internal Envoy Qin into accepting a duel to the death. Qin signed a waiver, while Xu Yi reflected on how anger could make an enemy fall into a trap and left Internal Envoy Fang uncertain about his plan.

• Xu Yi’s argument rallied the victorious Outer Sect Disciples, and Internal Envoy Qin stopped the defeated disciples from disrupting the results.
• Internal Envoy Qin said he would report the controversy to the sect, but Xu Yi challenged him to prove his accusations in a fight.
• Internal Envoy Fang tried to defuse the challenge, but an enraged Internal Envoy Qin insisted on fighting Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi claimed that a fight could bring trouble if he killed Qin, so Qin signed a waiver making the duel a matter of life and death.
• Xu Yi reflected on Qin’s anger and the danger of growing overconfident, while Internal Envoy Fang began doubting Xu Yi’s apparent hesitation.

Xu Yi killed Internal Envoy Qin in front of the witnesses, then joined the nine other victors on their way to Mingzhi Hall to complete his entry into Xuanqing Sect’s Inner Sect. The chapter ended as Xu Yi prepared to take the oath before the Heart-Restraining Stone and began to feel goodwill toward the sect.

• Xu Yi killed Internal Envoy Qin in an instant, captured his soul with the Soul-Summoning Banner, and asked Internal Envoy Zhao and Internal Envoy Fang to testify that Qin had held back.
• Internal Envoy Zhao sent Xu Yi and the other nine winning disciples to Mingzhi Hall, while Internal Envoy Fang reassured Xu Yi that he would help secure a favorable outcome.
• Xu Yi reflected that killing Qin had been a deliberate choice to end a threat and make his abilities impossible for Xuanqing Sect’s powerful figures to ignore.
• Internal Envoy Zhao led the ten disciples to Mingzhi Hall, where Xu Yi learned that new Inner Sect disciples had to swear an oath before the Heart-Restraining Stone.
• Xu Yi read the oath and found that it mainly required disciples not to harm the sect’s interests for personal gain, which gave him a measure of goodwill toward Xuanqing Sect.

Xu Yi became an Inner Sect Disciple and settled into his new privileges while reflecting on how his changed status affected his old friends. The chapter ended with Desolate Ancestor warning him that the upcoming Prayer for Heaven Ceremony was a rare chance to meet the sect master and elders.

• True Man Scarlet Fire warned the new Inner Sect Disciples about sect rules and cautioned Xu Yi over Internal Envoy Qin's death, but his stern lecture reassured Xu Yi that the law was on his side.
• Xu Yi received the privileges of an Inner Sect Disciple, while Qiu Wa enjoyed exploring their mountain and Desolate Ancestor managed the attendants and cultivated with Origin Pills.
• Xu Yi hosted Meng Fu and the Co-learning Society, then gave Meng Fu a thousand Origin Pills as a one-time contribution to the society.
• Desolate Ancestor told Xu Yi that his ceremonial garments and rules for the Prayer for Heaven Ceremony were ready, and explained that it was his rare chance to see the sect master and Spiritual Root elders.

Xu Yi used a gift of Soul Washing Grass to gain a meeting with Elder Gong, hoping to build connections among Xuanqing Sect’s upper ranks. Elder Gong agreed to meet him but clarified that their relationship would be a transaction, not a bond of the Dao.

• Xu Yi learned that the Prayer for Heaven Ceremony would let him meet Xuanqing Sect’s important figures, including Daoist Hongyi.
• Xu Yi focused on befriending Internal Envoy Zhao and, following Desolate Ancestor’s advice, sent him Soul Washing Grass to pass to Elder Gong.
• Internal Envoy Zhao invited Xu Yi to Huixue Peak and told him Elder Gong wanted to see him.
• Xu Yi met Elder Gong in the back hills, where Elder Gong accepted the gift but stated that he would not form a bond of the Dao with Xu Yi.

Elder Gong explained that reaching the Spiritual Root stage required a Spirit Derivation Pill refined with the cultivator’s own soul, and warned Xu Yi that sect seniority would keep him from obtaining one soon. After considering how to pursue the pill himself and hearing Elder Gong’s warning about Elder Hong, Xu Yi attended the Prayer for Heaven Ceremony and entered the Bright Hall.

• Elder Gong told Xu Yi how Spirit Derivation Pills were made and described the Spiritual Root stage as a bottleneck for Xuanqing Sect cultivators.
• Xu Yi asked about commissioning a Spirit Derivation Pill, and Elder Gong warned him that he was not yet qualified to seek one.
• Xu Yi decided he would not wait for seniority and would explore refining a pill himself with Qiu Wa’s help.
• Elder Gong told Xu Yi that Elder Hong would seek revenge, and that Xu Yi needed to grow stronger to stay safe in the long run.
• Xu Yi drank with Internal Envoy Zhao, then attended the Prayer for Heaven Ceremony three days later and took the cushion marked Bing Twelve in the Bright Hall.

Xu Yi attended the Xuanqing Sect’s Prayer for Heaven Ceremony, which Daoist Hongyi moved from Bright Hall to a muddy field and turned into a display of disciples presenting omens, treasures, and poetry. After the elaborate rites, Daoist Hongyi asked everyone to help plant Spiritual Seedlings.

• Xu Yi noticed that Daoist Hongyi and the elders were missing from Bright Hall until True Man Scarlet Fire directed the disciples to the back mountain.
• Xu Yi recognized Daoist Hongyi as the Sect Master when the Inner Sect Disciples greeted him, and Hongyi explained that he had moved the ceremony and changed its purpose.
• An Inner Sect Disciple presented a golden little dragon as an auspicious sign, and the elders praised it before Daoist Hongyi accepted it.
• Jun Wuxie recited a poem, while other Inner Sect Disciples offered treasures, omens, and poems to impress Daoist Hongyi.
• Daoist Hongyi presided over the ceremony with True Man Scarlet Fire, then revealed that the disciples would help plant Spiritual Seedlings and poured out water from a Jade Gourd.

Daoist Hongyi tested the Inner Sect Disciples by having them plant seedlings in Mount Cha Holy Water, which challenged their souls and resilience. Xu Yi outlasted the others and impressed the elders, while Jun Wuxie’s desperate bid to compete left him looking immature.

• Daoist Hongyi poured Mount Cha Holy Water over the spiritual soil and directed the elders and Inner Sect Disciples to plant seedlings as a test.
• Xu Yi discovered that planting required harmonizing his soul with the spiritual water, then steadily increased his pace while keeping his strength in reserve.
• Most Inner Sect Disciples stopped planting, leaving Xu Yi and Jun Wuxie; Xu Yi planted far more seedlings while Jun Wuxie struggled and collapsed.
• True Man Scarlet Fire carried Jun Wuxie to the field’s edge, while Xu Yi continued planting until he chose to withdraw and take medicine.
• Daoist Hongyi planted the remaining seedlings with a sweep of his sleeves, and Jun Wuxie praised him with a poem, drawing True Man Scarlet Fire’s disapproval.

Xu Yi outshone Jun Wuxie with a simple poem at the Ceremony of Praying to Heaven, earning Daoist Hongyi’s admiration and deepening Jun Wuxie’s jealousy. Later, Elder Hong discovered that Deputy Envoy Tu had brought Jun Wuxie to him hoping to advance his own position, and Tu pleaded that his motives were innocent.

• Jun Wuxie recited an ornate poem and earned Daoist Hongyi’s praise before urging him to ask Xu Yi to compose one.
• Jun Wuxie targeted Xu Yi because he feared Xu Yi might receive the next Spirit Derivation Pill instead of him.
• Xu Yi calmly recited a plain but transcendent poem, and Daoist Hongyi left repeating its final line.
• After the ceremony, Elder Hong refused to meet Jun Wuxie until Deputy Envoy Tu said Jun had a way to deal with Xu Yi.
• Elder Hong exposed Tu’s role in summoning Jun Wuxie, and Tu admitted he hoped to win Elder Hong’s favor and secure a permanent appointment.

Xu Yi accepted the appointment as master of Xuanqing Sect’s Guanglong Hall branch in Qingxing City, where he was tasked with strengthening the hall and investigating its former master’s murder. The chapter ended with True Man Scarlet Fire asking whether Xu Yi was confident he could establish the hall in the strategically important city.

• Elder Hong explained that he had chosen to reconcile with Xu Yi rather than pursue a grudge, and ordered Deputy Envoy Tu to study the Military Strategist’s Notes.
• Xu Yi learned that Elder Hong had sent him a Spiritual Jade Cake as a public gesture of goodwill and sent a generous gift in return.
• Xu Yi spent several peaceful days exchanging visits and gifts with sect figures before Desolate Ancestor brought word that True Man Scarlet Fire had summoned him.
• True Man Scarlet Fire told Xu Yi that Qing Xiu, the master of Guanglong Hall in Qingxing City, had been murdered and that the elders had unanimously selected Xu Yi to replace him.
• Xu Yi accepted the appointment and asked whether his main duty was to investigate the killer; True Man Scarlet Fire said establishing the hall and meeting the sect’s growth target came first.

Xu Yi prepared to take over Guanglong Hall and visited Jiang Ming to obtain supplies for the dangerous assignment. He bought a Starry Sky Ring, furnished it with a Spirit Gathering Array, and placed Qiu Wa and the Ice Fire Rabbit inside before heading toward Qingxing City.

• Xu Yi accepted True Man Scarlet Fire’s appointment as head of Guanglong Hall and requested detailed information about Guanglong Hall and Qingxing City.
• Xu Yi told Qiu Wa and Desolate Ancestor about his new post, then sent Desolate Ancestor ahead to Qingxing City while he and Qiu Wa left Xuanqing Sect separately.
• Xu Yi met Jiang Ming at the Five Lakes Merchant Alliance’s Inkwell Branch and bought a Starry Sky Ring for a thousand essence pills.
• Xu Yi set up a Spirit Gathering Array inside the Starry Sky Ring, and Qiu Wa moved in.
• Xu Yi used a Blood Refinement Contract to place the Ice Fire Rabbit inside the ring.

Xu Yi and Jiang Ming attended an alchemy symposium with Bao Guang, where Kong Qi demonstrated a method that contradicted everything Xu Yi had learned about refining an Essence Pill’s auxiliary agent. The chapter ended with Xu Yi and Jiang Ming stunned by the result.

• Jiang Ming invited Xu Yi to an alchemy symposium, and Xu Yi agreed to attend with him.
• Jiang Ming contacted Bao Guang, who arrived early and led them to the Tao Family residence for the gathering.
• Bao Guang brought Xu Yi and Jiang Ming underground to a hall where more than a hundred cultivators had gathered.
• Kong Qi began the symposium by refining an auxiliary agent, adding the ingredients to the furnace in stages.
• Xu Yi and Jiang Ming watched the method succeed despite contradicting the alchemy techniques they knew.

Kong Qi and a cloaked pill master demonstrated a flexible alchemy method, leaving Xu Yi convinced it relied on a learnable understanding of medicinal properties. Kong Qi explained the exchange gathering’s purpose and invited attendees to demonstrate their skills, while Xu Yi wondered why the organization was sharing its methods so openly.

• Kong Qi refined auxiliary agents successfully three times using different herb orders, astonishing Xu Yi and the newcomers.
• A cloaked figure refined Essence Pills successfully three times, producing more than thirteen hundred pills and confirming Xu Yi’s theory that the method could be learned.
• Kong Qi answered questions, saying the group meant to share its teachings, gave no date for returning to Modou City, and kept its organization’s name secret.
• Kong Qi invited attendees to demonstrate their alchemy, and several people hurried onto the stage, hoping to attract the organization’s notice.

Xu Yi demonstrated an extraordinary talent for preparing auxiliary agents and earned Kong Qi’s invitation to join the Golden Core Society. Kong Qi explained the society’s origins and open research culture, while Xu Yi recognized the subtle loyalty that held it together.

• Xu Yi stepped forward and prepared two auxiliary agents in succession, then failed on his third attempt.
• Xu Yi succeeded on his fourth attempt, impressing Kong Qi, who took him to a secluded chamber for a private conversation.
• Kong Qi invited Xu Yi to become a Gray Chapter Member of the Golden Core Society.
• Xu Yi asked why the society shared its alchemical knowledge and preached the Way instead of guarding its techniques.
• Kong Qi described how five alchemy researchers founded the society around an inclusive research culture, and explained that its members maintained other identities in the Cultivation World.
• Xu Yi concluded that the Golden Core Society’s loose structure and subtle influence fostered a deep sense of belonging.

Xu Yi joined the Golden Core Society as an initiate, then traveled to Qingxing City to take charge of Guanglong Hall’s branch office. He learned that the struggling hall was close to collapse and went to gather its people.

• Kong Qi gave Xu Yi a gray Initiate's Chapter badge, explained how members could earn points and rank up, and welcomed him to the Golden Core Society.
• Xu Yi exchanged Ruyi Pearls with Kong Qi, then left Modou City without meeting Jiang Ming.
• Jiang Ming’s gathering broke up as people questioned him about Xu Yi, and he introduced Xu Yi as the new chief guest retainer of the Five Lakes Merchant Alliance's Inkwell Branch.
• Xu Yi traveled to Qingxing City, rented a secret chamber, and studied information about Guanglong Hall and the city.
• Desolate Ancestor told Xu Yi that Guanglong Hall was nearly falling apart, with most branches closed and its merchants taken by rival sects.
• Xu Yi set out with Desolate Ancestor for Guanglong Hall’s branch office in Qingxing City.

Xu Yi took over Guanglong Hall but spent his first days resting while its rivals doubted the hall could survive. Zuo Feng tried to secure Wang Qijue and Lei Qianxiao’s cooperation in dividing Guanglong Hall’s holdings if it fell, but Wang urged them to wait and see.

• Xu Yi showed his token at Guanglong Hall, met manager Bai Qing, and asked for a quiet courtyard and several days of rest.
• Xu Yi kept to himself for seven or eight days, making no visible move to manage Guanglong Hall.
• Zuo Feng hosted Wang Qijue and Lei Qianxiao at White Tiger Tower and proposed that their halls stand together.
• Zuo Feng argued that Guanglong Hall was collapsing because Vice Hall Master Kuang had alienated people and Xu Yi lacked support.
• Lei Qianxiao welcomed the possibility of dividing Guanglong Hall’s holdings, while Wang Qijue insisted they wait to see whether it actually fell.

Kuang Xiong and eight sub-hall masters confronted Xu Yi at Guanglong Hall, expecting to force him out, but Xu Yi seized control and crushed their resistance. He ordered Kuang Xiong interrogated over Qing Xiu’s death and announced that all branch halls would be shut down.

• Zuo Feng and Lei Qianxiao celebrated Kuang Xiong’s advance on Guanglong Hall and planned to take over its headquarters.
• Kuang Xiong and the eight sub-hall masters entered Guanglong Hall and found Xu Yi calmly being attended by maids.
• Xu Yi dismissed the rebels, seized Kuang Xiong, and crushed Hall Master Cao when he tried to rally the others.
• The sub-hall masters surrendered, and Xu Yi ordered Desolate Ancestor to interrogate Kuang Xiong about Qing Xiu’s death.
• Xu Yi announced that Guanglong Hall would retain only its main hall and temporarily close every branch hall.

Xu Yi seized control of Guanglong Hall, shut it down for reorganization, and used appointment tokens to quiet the rebels. After learning that the hall’s branch leaders had withheld profits, he discovered that Guanglong Hall owed Xuanqing Sect 130,000 yuan-dan, leaving its external problems unresolved.

• Xu Yi ordered Guanglong Hall into lockdown, abolished the branch-hall positions, and offered appointment tokens to those who earned them through the reorganization.
• Zuo Feng, Wang Qijue, and Lei Qianxiao concluded that Kuang Xiong had lost and worried that Xu Yi’s takeover could bring trouble to them.
• Xu Yi told True Man Scarlet Fire that he had handled the hall, while reflecting that the sect’s communications blackout had helped keep his past hidden.
• Desolate Ancestor reported that Kuang Xiong had confessed to stirring up the rebellion for profit and that Guanglong Hall’s branch halls had kept much of the money they collected.
• Desolate Ancestor told Xu Yi that Guanglong Hall had fallen behind on its payments and owed Xuanqing Sect 130,000 yuan-dan.

Xu Yi took responsibility for Guanglong Hall’s Origin Pill debt and ordered the hall to focus exclusively on buying medicinal ingredients, while Zuo Feng, Lei Qianxiao, and Wang Qijue united against him. The three rivals dismissed Xu Yi’s plan as foolish and agreed to watch for a chance to strike.

• Xu Yi told Desolate Ancestor that he had promised True Man Scarlet Fire to pay the Origin Pills owed before year’s end, then asked about capable staff.
• Xu Yi ordered Guanglong Hall to suspend all other businesses and deal only in medicinal ingredients used to refine Origin Pills, and he announced he would enter seclusion.
• Wang Qijue told Zuo Feng and Lei Qianxiao that Xu Yi had joined the Xuanqing Sect and might oppose them over Guanglong Hall’s lost clients.
• Zuo Feng, Lei Qianxiao, and Wang Qijue agreed to stand together and resist Xu Yi’s efforts to reclaim Guanglong Hall’s business.
• A messenger reported that Guanglong Hall was buying medicinal ingredients in bulk at prices twenty percent above the market rate.
• Zuo Feng, Lei Qianxiao, and Wang Qijue laughed at Xu Yi’s strategy but agreed to watch him closely and attack if an opportunity arose.

Xu Yi ended his seclusion, completed Guanglong Hall’s bulk herb purchases, and arranged for merchants to supply the hall regularly. Tang Shanhai returned afterward with an enormous offer of origin-pill ingredients, leaving Xu Yi to question his stated quantity.

• Xu Yi met the merchants who had waited seven days and apologized before Guanglong Hall completed their herb purchases.
• Xu Yi offered the merchants an additional ten percent above the agreed price for long-term supplies, and they agreed to deliver herbs on the fifth of every month.
• Desolate Ancestor reported that Guanglong Hall had nearly run out of origin pills, but Xu Yi told him not to worry.
• Xu Yi sent Desolate Ancestor to check for a visitor, and Tang Shanhai soon arrived to speak with him privately.
• Tang Shanhai offered to sell Xu Yi another batch of origin-pill ingredients, and Xu Yi laughed at the quantity he claimed to have.