Chapter Summaries

Shen Changchuan demonstrated his overwhelming strength with a single sword strike, then entered the Heart Questioning Pass after declaring that the plaza’s geniuses were only beginning to catch up to him. Wu Tianhao and the watching cultivators reacted to his words, while You Longzi observed that Shen Changchuan’s perfected Azure Wood Sword Light justified his confidence.

• Shen Changchuan unleashed a sword strike that carved a ravine through the plaza and stunned the gathered cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan declared that the assessments had been meaningless to him and challenged anyone who doubted his right to enter the Heart Questioning Pass.
• Shen Changchuan left the plaza and stepped into the Heart Questioning Pass vortex as the crowd watched without challenging him.
• Wu Tianhao admired Shen Changchuan’s bearing and noted how his words stirred the young cultivators.
• You Longzi watched from an unseen space, praised Shen Changchuan’s perfected Azure Wood Sword Light, and vanished into the void.

Shen Changchuan passed the Dragon Firmament Sect’s Heart Questioning Pass and officially became an Outer Disciple. After the new sect completed its founding ceremony and spent half a month organizing its affairs, he settled into sect life.

• After Shen Changchuan left, Chen Mingdao and other assessment candidates vowed to surpass him, but learned he was the famed prodigy who had killed an Out of Body Stage cultivator while in the Qi Induction realm.
• Shen Changchuan worried the Heart Questioning Pass might expose his agreement with the Shen Family Old Ancestor, but answered its questions honestly and passed.
• Those who passed entered the Ancient Grotto-Heaven Ruins, where You Longzi welcomed them, announced the sect’s rules, and appointed his Personal Disciples as elders.
• Shen Changchuan and the other recruits offered incense at the Ancestral Hall and swore Dao-heart oaths, officially becoming Outer Disciples of the Dragon Firmament Sect.
• After half a month of adjustments, the Dragon Firmament Sect’s affairs were organized, and Shen Changchuan began adapting to life there.

Shen Changchuan settled into life at the Dragon Firmament Sect and considered how its lectures, missions, and spell collection could support his cultivation. Summoned by founding Sect Master You Longzi, he learned that his strength ranked among the top hundred Qi Induction realm disciples of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, leaving him astonished by the number of talented cultivators in the world.

• Shen Changchuan familiarized himself with the sect's monthly training, elders' lectures, Contribution system, and Scripture Depository Pavilion.
• You Longzi summoned Shen Changchuan for an audience at the Dragon Firmament Sect.
• You Longzi assessed Shen Changchuan's cultivation and perfected spells, saying he would rank within the top hundred Qi Induction realm disciples of the Yuqing Immortal Sect.
• Shen Changchuan accepted You Longzi's assessment and expressed surprise that so many outstanding talents existed.

You Longzi praised Shen Changchuan’s clear-headedness, accepted him as a registered disciple, and taught him about Foundation Establishment and advancing into the Out of Body Stage. After applying the guidance, Shen Changchuan improved his cultivation and turned his attention to a worn Jade Slip containing the Divine Ability Seed.

• You Longzi explained how gifted cultivators could surpass Shen Changchuan, then reassured him that his shortcomings came from growing up in the impoverished Tiannan Domain.
• You Longzi offered to take Shen Changchuan as a registered disciple until he broke through, and Shen Changchuan eagerly accepted.
• You Longzi taught Shen Changchuan about Foundation Establishment, Spirit Bodies, and the importance of laying a strong foundation.
• Three days later, Shen Changchuan found that correcting the flaws You Longzi identified had made his Dharma power flow more smoothly and increased his strength by at least ten percent.
• Shen Changchuan took out a worn Jade Slip and began thinking about the Divine Ability Seed.

After You Longzi helped Shen Changchuan refine his cultivation foundation, Shen Changchuan studied the secrets of forming a Spirit Body and a Divine Ability Seed. He resolved to pursue a Divine Ability Seed and cultivate at the Dragon Firmament Sect, where a year passed.

• You Longzi's three days of guidance increased Shen Changchuan's strength and removed hidden flaws in his Dharma power.
• Shen Changchuan compared You Longzi's Spirit Body method with Shen Chong's Jade Slip and wondered whether Shen Chong's mysterious 'old man' had concealed information.
• Shen Changchuan learned that a cultivator might form a Divine Ability Seed by evolving a mastered spell during the Heaven-Man Induction of a breakthrough.
• Shen Changchuan set aside his suspicions, resolved to condense a Divine Ability Seed, and began arduous cultivation at the Dragon Firmament Sect.
• A year passed.

Over a year, Shen Changchuan quietly grew closer to Wu Tianhao and cultivated diligently while his fellow Dragon Firmament Sect disciples trained for a chance to defeat him in the grand competition. Though his Cultivation Realm stayed at the Ninth Layer Apex, he greatly strengthened his spiritual power and body, leaving him confident that he had narrowed the gap with peerless Qi Induction cultivators.

• Shen Changchuan kept his status as You Longzi's nominal disciple quiet, and his senior brothers and sisters offered him gifts but had little further contact with him.
• Wu Tianhao invited Shen Changchuan to gatherings, shared stories about the Cultivation World, and grew closer to him.
• Wu Tianhao told Shen Changchuan that their batchmates were cultivating hard so they could beat him at the grand competition three years later.
• Shen Changchuan spent the year consolidating his foundation, greatly strengthening his spiritual power and body despite remaining at the Ninth Layer Apex.
• Shen Changchuan compared himself with his past self and estimated that he could defeat that version in twenty or thirty exchanges without using trump cards or Treasure Artifacts.

After completing his beginner Formation Master legacy, Shen Changchuan entered the hidden Cave Abode Ruins and found a Divine Ability called the Three Azure Luo Sword Array. He told You Longzi about it and learned that he could cultivate it freely, though his master warned him that forming a Divine Ability Seed before Nascent Soul was extraordinarily unlikely.

• Shen Changchuan completed his beginner Alchemy and Formation Master legacies, though alchemy yielded little beyond practice and helping Little Wind reach the Ninth Layer Qi Gathering.
• Using his formation knowledge and the Elephant token, Shen Changchuan opened the Cave Abode Ruins and found few valuable supplies but many Jade Slip records and inheritances.
• Shen Changchuan discovered the Three Azure Luo Sword Array, an advanced dharma gate for Azure Wood Sword Light, among the Cave Abode's records.
• Concerned that the Divine Ability came from the Elephant Mountain Sect, Shen Changchuan asked You Longzi whether cultivating it would make him seem like an enemy-sect remnant.
• You Longzi explained that the Immortal Sect permitted disciples to cultivate Elephant Mountain Sect inheritances and warned that forming a Divine Ability Seed before Nascent Soul was exceptionally rare.
• When Shen Changchuan asked what would happen if he succeeded, You Longzi laughed and said great fortune would befall him.

You Longzi warned Shen Changchuan that pursuing a Divine Ability Seed could consume decades and ruin his chance to advance, so Shen set a firm three-year limit on cultivating the Three Azure Luo Sword Array. With his Master's support and access to the Scripture Depository Pavilion, Shen accumulated related spell experience and reached the array's entry level.

• You Longzi recounted how a talented sect disciple spent his life pursuing a Divine Ability, nearly perfected it too late, and lost his chance to advance to the Nascent Soul realm.
• You Longzi explained the risks to Shen Changchuan and advised him to consider the choice carefully, while leaving the decision to him.
• Shen Changchuan decided to abandon the attempt if he could not perfect the Three Azure Luo Sword Array within three years, and he told You Longzi his plan.
• You Longzi accepted Shen Changchuan's decision, cautioned him not to extend the deadline, and gave him permission to study Wood Element and Sword Element spells in the Scripture Depository Pavilion.
• Shen Changchuan studied related spells, rapidly perfected them, and accumulated enough experience for the Three Azure Luo Sword Array to reach the entry level.

Shen Changchuan used the Progress Bar Panel and his mastery of Wood Element and Sword Element spells to begin cultivating the Divine Ability Three Azure Luo Sword Array. He met Shen Tingchu at Great Bay Village, where Shen Tingchu fulfilled their agreement by offering him a chance to enter a Spirit Realm that could help him break through to the Out of Body Stage realm, despite worrying about Shen Changchuan’s uncertain future as a double agent.

• Shen Changchuan raised his progress in Three Azure Luo Sword Array to 10% by mastering more than a hundred related spells.
• Shen Changchuan reported his departure to the External Affairs Hall, left the sect, and flew to Great Bay Village on Little Wind.
• Shen Tingchu explained that he had received an opportunity slot for a Spirit Realm that could help a Ninth Layer cultivator break through to the Out of Body Stage realm.
• Shen Tingchu recalled that he had promised Shen Changchuan the opportunity if he reached the peak of the Ninth Layer within a year, and he came to honor that promise.
• Shen Tingchu regretted that Shen Changchuan’s role as a double agent could put his future and their alliance at risk, but decided to keep his word.

Shen Tingchu explained the Dream Traveling Immortal, a flower that let cultivators simulate a Nascent Soul breakthrough in a partly unreliable dream, and invited Shen Changchuan to use the opportunity. After traveling for half a month, they reached the southeastern Tiannan Domain near the Nanyue Kingdom, where their destination came into view.

• Shen Changchuan told Shen Tingchu he planned to spend two more years preparing before attempting to advance to the Nascent Soul realm.
• Shen Tingchu explained that the Dream Traveling Immortal released a spiritual-energy tide and fragrance that let cultivators enter a dream where they could attempt cultivation and breakthroughs.
• Shen Tingchu warned that the dream's laws were only partly like reality and that the memories brought back could be false, though the experience could still help with a real breakthrough.
• Shen Tingchu and Shen Changchuan traveled atop Little Wind for half a month and reached the southeastern Tiannan Domain near the Nanyue Kingdom.

Shen Changchuan considered using the Dream Traveling Immortal’s life experiences to aid him in condensing a Wood Element Spiritual Body. When he and Shen Tingchu arrived at the Song family to claim their opportunity, the Song Family Old Ancestor revealed that someone else wanted to intervene.

• Shen Changchuan reasoned that the Dream Traveling Immortal’s own memories could provide genuine insights if he experienced its life in the dream realm.
• Shen Changchuan planned to use those insights to condense a Wood Element Spiritual Body and shorten the process of forming his Spirit Body.
• Shen Tingchu told Shen Changchuan that they had reached the Song family, whose members welcomed them respectfully.
• Shen Tingchu explained their reason for visiting, and the Song Family Old Ancestor admitted that someone had taken an interest in the slot and wanted to intervene.

The Song Family Old Ancestor told Shen Tingchu that the other four factions had overruled him and given the promised Spirit Realm slot to a Nanyang Sect prodigy. Shen Tingchu rejected compensation, and Shen Changchuan proposed settling the dispute through a fight.

• The five factions transferred the Song Family’s slot to Shen Tingchu after the Song Family weakened, despite the other four factions’ objections to involving the Tiannan Shen Clan.
• A renowned Nanyang Sect prodigy demanded a slot, and the other four factions forced the Song Family to give him the place instead.
• The Song Family Old Ancestor apologized to Shen Tingchu and offered compensation, explaining that the Song Family could not resist the other factions or the Nanyang Sect.
• Shen Tingchu accused the Song Family of treating the Tiannan Shen Clan as easy to bully and rejected the apology’s implication that compensation could mend the insult.
• Shen Changchuan proposed that the Nanyang Sect prodigy fight Shen, with the winner keeping the slot.

Shen Changchuan insisted on contesting Mo Lingfeng for the Dream Traveling Immortal despite warnings from the Song Family Old Ancestor and Shen Tingchu. He explained that the treasure could help him condense his Spirit Body and that he wanted to test himself against a future rival, leaving Shen Tingchu unable to dissuade him.

• The Song Family Old Ancestor warned Shen Changchuan not to provoke Mo Lingfeng, but Shen Changchuan asked him to lead the way.
• Shen Tingchu revealed that Shen Changchuan was an Outer Disciple of the Dragon Firmament Sect under You Longzi, prompting the Song Family Old Ancestor to recognize him as the cultivator who had killed an Out of Body Stage Devil Cultivator.
• That night, Shen Tingchu visited Shen Changchuan and urged him to abandon the contest, arguing that Mo Lingfeng had fought an Out of Body Stage cultivator to a draw.
• Shen Changchuan told Shen Tingchu that the Dream Traveling Immortal could help him condense his Spirit Body and that his cultivation had advanced substantially over the past year.
• Shen Changchuan said he wanted to test himself against a potential future rival from the Nanyang Sect, and Shen Tingchu fell silent.

At the Bai Family, Mo Lingfeng laughed off Shen Changchuan’s challenge, recalling how easily he had defeated the Bai Family’s top young genius. After hearing about Shen Changchuan’s past victory over an Out of Body Stage Devil Cultivator, Mo Lingfeng accepted the match, and news of the impending battle stirred the region.

• Mo Lingfeng and the Bai Family members mocked the idea that a Qi Induction cultivator could threaten him.
• The Bai Family recalled how Mo Lingfeng had defeated their top young genius without leaving his seat or disturbing the table.
• The Bai Family Old Ancestor described Shen Changchuan’s widely witnessed victory over an Out of Body Stage Devil Cultivator and explained how luck had helped him.
• Mo Lingfeng judged Shen Changchuan’s feat disappointing but accepted his challenge as entertainment before facing a stronger opponent.
• News of the arranged battle between Mo Lingfeng and Shen Changchuan spread across the region, prompting cultivators to anticipate the match.

Cultivators gathered to watch Shen Changchuan face Mo Lingfeng, while most believed Mo Lingfeng was favored to win. After the two exchanged words, Mo Lingfeng unleashed the Three Yang True Skill, and the crowd marveled that he had mastered it at the Ninth Layer Qi Gathering Peak.

• Cultivators from the five factions and nearby regions gathered at the Spirit Realm entrance to watch the battle between Shen Changchuan and Mo Lingfeng.
• Spectators compared their records and mostly predicted that Mo Lingfeng would defeat Shen Changchuan, though some noted Shen Changchuan's youth.
• Mo Lingfeng praised Shen Changchuan's confidence, then declared that Shen Changchuan would become his defeat.
• Shen Changchuan answered that even a lifetime of defeats would not stop him from moving forward.
• Mo Lingfeng released a scorching aura and activated the Three Yang True Skill, astonishing spectators because it was usually cultivated by Out of Body Stage cultivators.

Shen Changchuan used the Insightful True Eyes to study Mo Lingfeng’s blazing Dharma power and met his attacks with powerful spells and close combat. The two fought evenly, astonishing the watching cultivators as their battle shook the plaza and its surroundings.

• Shen Changchuan used the Insightful True Eyes to discover that Mo Lingfeng’s soul and Dharma power had fused, giving it a blazing intent.
• Mo Lingfeng sent a scorching attack at Shen Changchuan, who countered with the Cloud Dragon Claw Strike and met it evenly.
• Mo Lingfeng rushed Shen Changchuan and attacked at close range, while Shen Changchuan used the Insightful True Eyes to read his movements and fight back.
• Shen Changchuan and Mo Lingfeng exchanged a rapid series of blows, producing shockwaves that damaged the plaza and forced nearby spectators to retreat.
• The watching cultivators marveled at the fighters’ strength and realized they could truly contend with Out of Body Stage cultivators.

Shen Changchuan and Mo Lingfeng pushed their battle toward a decisive clash as Mo Lingfeng unleashed Three Yang Piercing Sun. Shen Changchuan’s first Azure Wood Sword Light broke, but he followed with two coordinated strikes that overwhelmed Mo Lingfeng and sent him flying.

• Mo Lingfeng recognized that Shen Changchuan’s mastery of spiritual power, Spiritual Sense, and spells let him match Mo Lingfeng’s superior Three Yang True Skill.
• Mo Lingfeng formed three radiant halos and merged them into Three Yang Piercing Sun, intending to settle the battle with one strike.
• Shen Changchuan’s Insightful True Eyes could not find a flaw in the blinding attack, so he countered with Azure Wood Sword Light.
• Three Yang Piercing Sun shattered Shen Changchuan’s first sword light and engulfed the area in scorching energy.
• Shen Changchuan used his Spiritual Sense to coordinate two successive Azure Wood Sword Lights, which struck Mo Lingfeng and sent him flying backward.

Shen Changchuan defeated Mo Lingfeng with a coordinated sword technique, leaving the Song Family Old Ancestor regretting his decision to give Mo the competition slot. After Mo challenged him to fight again in five years, Shen Changchuan turned his attention to the Yuqing Immortal Sect entrance grand competition and how it recruited talent.

• Shen Changchuan's intertwined Azure Wood Sword Lights overwhelmed Mo Lingfeng, and Out of Body Stage cultivators speculated that Shen Changchuan might possess a Divine Ability.
• The Song Family Old Ancestor regretted transferring the slot to Mo Lingfeng and offending the Tiannan Shen Clan and Shen Changchuan.
• Shen Changchuan analyzed how Spiritual Sense had helped his Azure Wood Sword Lights work together, and his Three Azure Luo Sword Array progress rose to 17%.
• Mo Lingfeng woke after his defeat and challenged Shen Changchuan to fight again at the Yuqing Immortal Sect entrance grand competition in five years; Shen Changchuan accepted the message without concern.
• Shen Changchuan considered the upcoming competition and learned how the Yuqing Immortal Sect recruited talented members through subordinate factions such as the Dragon Firmament Sect.

Shen Changchuan learned that the Yuqing Immortal Sect’s entrance competition would take place in five years and set his sights on joining it. After spending several days reflecting on his fight with Mo Lingfeng, he entered the newly opened Spirit Realm.

• Shen Changchuan learned that the Yuqing Immortal Sect welcomed disciples from subordinate powers and that the entrance competition would take place in five years.
• Shen Changchuan resolved to prepare for the competition, recognizing that older prodigies under fifty would make it fierce.
• After Mo Lingfeng’s departure, the five powers delayed the Spirit Realm’s opening by two days, while other powers visited Shen Changchuan to build ties.
• Shen Changchuan left the visitors to Shen Tingchu and focused on digesting what he had learned from his battle with Mo Lingfeng.
• The Spirit Realm opened, and Shen Changchuan entered it.

Shen Changchuan and Shen Tingchu entered the Spirit Realm, where Shen Changchuan gained much from the Dream Traveling Immortal despite the dream lasting less time than expected for the other disciples. After the factions began investigating the anomaly, the pair left to return to their sect, and the Song Family Old Ancestor reflected on Shen Changchuan’s honorable conduct.

• Shen Changchuan entered the Dream Traveling Immortal’s dream and emerged three days later with a faint azure light in his eyes and confidence in his gains.
• The disciples from the four other factions awoke, found their dream experiences unusually short, and wondered whether the Dream Traveling Immortal was underdeveloped.
• Shen Changchuan privately suspected he might have caused the dream anomaly but showed no sign of concern, and none of the factions blamed him.
• The five factions began inspecting the Spirit Realm while Shen Changchuan and Shen Tingchu declined invitations to stay and departed on Little Wind.
• The Song Family Old Ancestor recalled that Shen Changchuan had accepted only a few Dharma Gates and secret arts instead of demanding compensation from the Song Family.