Chapter Summaries

Shen Changchuan brought the caravan safely to Great Bay Village, then returned to Half-Mountain Courtyard to rest and review his gains. He found little wealth among the bandits’ spoils but acquired many spell techniques and several low-grade Pill Recipes.

• Shen Changchuan credited his reconnaissance and strength for helping the caravan survive attacks with only a few damaged carriages and injured people.
• The trading-house shopkeepers praised Zhang Qingyuan, Shen Changchuan’s alias, after learning he had slain two Qi Induction Eighth Level bandit cultivators.
• Shen Changchuan told the shopkeepers to notify him when the return journey was ready, then went to Half-Mountain Courtyard to visit Young Master Shen.
• Shen Changchuan changed back into his own appearance, rested, and assessed the journey’s spoils, which were worth only five or six thousand Spirit Stones.
• Shen Changchuan selected Endless Vitality and Three Thunders Shadow Erasing Sword to cultivate and discovered several low-grade Pill Recipes among his gains.

Shen Changchuan discovered three pill recipes that could help him develop his alchemy and earn substantial wealth, but he prioritized cultivation while the merchant caravan regrouped. After five days of refining an Azure Jade Pill, he reached the peak of the Qi Gathering Seventh Level as rumors about Zhang Qingyuan spread through the region.

• Shen Changchuan examined the Essence Pill, Blood Pill, and Qi Uniting Pill recipes he had found, and saw a chance to profit from alchemy.
• Shen Changchuan set alchemy aside to focus on increasing his strength and refining Azure Jade Pills.
• Rogue cultivators in Great Bay Village debated Zhang Qingyuan's reported victories, with some doubting the stories and others boasting they could defeat him.
• Shen Changchuan refined an Azure Jade Pill and reached the peak of the Qi Gathering Seventh Level.

Shen Changchuan escorted the merchant caravan from Great Bay Village toward Qing City, using the journey to temper his peak seventh-level cultivation. After defeating an ambusher who challenged Zhang Qingyuan and killing a powerful group of raiding cultivators, he continued the journey with the caravan.

• Shen Changchuan suppressed his urge to use the Core Condensing Barrier Breaking Pill and accepted two thousand Spirit Stones from the caravan's shopkeepers for escorting them.
• Shen Changchuan departed Great Bay Village with the caravan, traveling under the guise of Zhang Qingyuan.
• An early eighth-level cultivator blocked the road to challenge Zhang Qingyuan, and Shen Changchuan slapped him into the roadside grass before the caravan continued.
• Shen Changchuan spotted a raider ambush through Little Wind's perspective, but the attackers killed several caravan guards before the Guard Team captains held them back.
• Shen Changchuan killed the peak eighth-level raider leader, the early eighth-level raider, and the remaining raiders, prompting the caravan to cheer.

After reflecting on the limits of his Azure Wood Sword Light, Shen Changchuan safely escorted the caravan into Qing City's territory. He used his growing fortune to buy three powerful spells at the Myriad Spirits Pavilion.

• Shen Changchuan realized that the Azure Wood Sword Light's brief casting delay could let faster opponents evade it, and considered adding more offensive spells to his arsenal.
• The caravan encountered no further attacks after Shen Changchuan, disguised as Zhang Qingyuan, defeated the raider cultivators led by a peak Eighth Level cultivator.
• Shen Changchuan found only three to four thousand Spirit Stones' worth of spoils among the defeated raiders, bringing his total wealth to more than fifteen thousand Spirit Stones.
• After reaching Qing City, Shen Changchuan visited the Myriad Spirits Pavilion and bought three powerful spells to complement the Azure Wood Sword Light.

Shen Changchuan bought Soul Clarifying Incense and advanced spells in Qing City, then returned to Great Bay Village to cultivate. After a month, he reached the eighth layer, cleared hidden medicinal residue and pill toxin from his body, and perfected two advanced spells.

• Shen Changchuan spent five thousand Spirit Stones on ten sticks of Soul Clarifying Incense at Myriad Spirits Pavilion, along with three advanced spells.
• He left Qing City without encountering another attack, rode Little Wind back to Great Bay Village, and entered secluded cultivation.
• Over the next month, Shen Changchuan used two sticks of Soul Clarifying Incense and a Core Condensing Barrier Breaking Pill to break through to the eighth layer.
• The incense helped Shen Changchuan strengthen his foundation and discover and remove residual medicinal power and pill toxin.
• Shen Changchuan tested his improved speed and cultivated Endless Vitality and the Three Thunders Shadow Erasing Sword to the Perfect level.

Shen Changchuan tested his advanced spells, identified their brief casting windups, and planned to strengthen himself while remaining in Great Bay Village. Nangong Cheng then arrived to invite him to explore a vast underground cave and claim an opportunity.

• Shen Changchuan tested the Three Thunders Shadow Erasing Sword and Endless Vitality and found that advanced spells still required a brief casting windup.
• Shen Changchuan concluded that rising cultivation and stronger Spiritual Sense might eventually eliminate the windup.
• Shen Changchuan decided to keep cultivating advanced spells and later seek pills and other ways to turn his Spirit Stones into strength.
• Nangong Cheng reached the Ninth Layer Qi Gathering realm, explored the Border Wasteland Forest, and discovered a massive underground karst cave containing something valuable.
• Nangong Cheng visited Shen Changchuan and invited him to join the expedition, intending to repay his earlier favor.

Shen Changchuan joined Nangong Cheng on a dangerous journey into the Yao Beast Mountain Forest, despite Nangong Cheng's concerns about his safety. After they encountered a Giant Python, Shen watched Nangong Cheng fight and grew eager to learn more about the opportunity that had strengthened him.

• Shen Changchuan told Nangong Cheng that Zhang Qingyuan could not come and insisted on joining him alone.
• Nangong Cheng reluctantly agreed, resolving to abandon the opportunity if necessary to protect Shen Changchuan.
• More than ten days later, Nangong Cheng fought a Giant Python while Shen Changchuan watched from a safe distance.
• The Giant Python released poisonous smoke that swallowed Nangong Cheng, but an earthy yellow light soon appeared in the mist.
• Nangong Cheng's mountain-engraved seal expanded into a huge mountain and crushed the Giant Python into a crater.

Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan traveled deeper into the Yao Beast Mountain Forest, avoiding powerful Demon Beasts as they headed for an underground cave. When they reached the ravine concealing its entrance, members of the Home Protection Mutual Aid Alliance confronted them and ordered them to leave.

• Nangong Cheng killed a Ninth Layer Giant Python, and Shen Changchuan praised his strength.
• Nangong Cheng harvested the Giant Python's valuable parts before he and Shen Changchuan left the area.
• Over the next two days, the pair cautiously avoided several powerful Demon Beasts, including some at the Ninth Layer Apex.
• Nangong Cheng told Shen Changchuan that the underground cave lay beneath a ravine beyond the mountain ahead.
• At the ravine, the Home Protection Mutual Aid Alliance ordered Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan to leave or bear the consequences.

Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan clashed with the Home Protection Mutual Aid Alliance while entering an underground cave, then continued deeper toward their destination. After letting them pass, Cao Hongshang resolved to retaliate and contacted the Qi Family, suspecting Shen Changchuan had found a precious treasure.

• Several Home Protection Mutual Aid Alliance cultivators blocked Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan, and Nangong Cheng condemned the alliance’s abuses before revealing his Ninth Layer Qi Gathering aura.
• Cao Hongshang confronted Nangong Cheng with an equal aura, but ultimately ordered his men to move aside and let the pair pass.
• After Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan entered the cave, Cao Hongshang decided the insult would not go unanswered and told his subordinate to contact the Qi Family with an offer.
• Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan continued through the dark underground cave, planning to find a safe place to rest before heading to their destination.

Nangong Cheng led Shen Changchuan through the underground caverns to a pool of Earth Vein Spirit Milk, a rare treasure that had helped Nangong Cheng recover and advance his cultivation. Nangong Cheng stood guard as Shen Changchuan went to use the pool, and Nangong Cheng considered his debt to Shen Changchuan repaid.

• Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng discussed how the underground caverns might conceal the Wu family's source of Azure Origin Water Grass.
• Nangong Cheng led Shen Changchuan through a narrow, jagged passage into a vast hollow containing a pool of Earth Vein Spirit Milk.
• Nangong Cheng explained the pool's benefits and how it had helped him recover and reach the Ninth Layer realm.
• Shen Changchuan thanked Nangong Cheng, who said his earlier help against the Blood Slaughter Three Demons had repaid the Alchemist inheritance.
• Nangong Cheng offered to stand guard while Shen Changchuan approached the pool, then felt that he had repaid his debt.

Nangong Cheng brought Shen Changchuan to a cavern of Earth Vein Spirit Milk to repay him for saving his life. Shen Changchuan absorbed most of the spirit milk over three days, just as newcomers discovered the cavern and lamented arriving too late.

• Nangong Cheng decided to repay Shen Changchuan by sharing the Earth Vein Spirit Milk, which could not be transported or traded.
• Shen Changchuan immersed himself in the Earth Vein Spirit Milk and meditated as it strengthened his body, healed hidden injuries, and refined his mana.
• Nangong Cheng watched in astonishment as Shen Changchuan absorbed the spirit milk despite its painful effects.
• Three days later, the pool's spiritual essence had been almost completely absorbed by Shen Changchuan.
• Newcomers entered the cavern and cried out that they had arrived too late.

The Qi Family Old Ancestor arrived at the Earth Vein Spirit Milk pool and attacked Shen Changchuan, furious that the treasure had already been used. Cao Hongshang revealed the Qi Family’s desperate situation and urged the old ancestor to kill Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan; Old Ancestor Qi launched another attack.

• Nangong Cheng woke as Cao Hongshang and the Qi Family Old Ancestor entered the cavern and found Shen Changchuan in the Earth Vein Spirit Milk.
• The Qi Family Old Ancestor struck at Shen Changchuan, but Nangong Cheng intercepted the attack with a punch.
• Cao Hongshang explained that the Qi Family had sought the Azure Origin Water Grass and needed the Earth Vein Spirit Milk to strengthen its younger generation amid threats from rival families.
• Cao Hongshang urged Old Ancestor Qi to eliminate Nangong Cheng and Shen Changchuan, and Old Ancestor Qi formed a deep-blue tiger that charged at Nangong Cheng.

The Qi Family Old Ancestor joined Cao Hongshang in attacking Nangong Cheng, leaving him badly wounded and on the verge of death. Shen Changchuan intervened, revealed his greatly improved strength, and wounded the Qi Family Old Ancestor in their first exchange.

• The Qi Family Old Ancestor joined Cao Hongshang in besieging Nangong Cheng, who was forced back despite using his seal to defend himself.
• Nangong Cheng was struck by the Qi Family Old Ancestor's hammer and then blasted away by Cao Hongshang's assault.
• The Qi Family Old Ancestor launched a mana spear at the helpless Nangong Cheng, but Shen Changchuan blocked it with a sword strike.
• Cao Hongshang realized Shen Changchuan had reached the middle stage of the Eighth Level of Qi Induction and wondered why he had hidden his strength.
• The Qi Family Old Ancestor attacked Shen Changchuan with a mana claw, but Shen Changchuan's Three Thunders Shadow Erasing Sword cut through it and left a bloody scar on the Old Ancestor's face.

Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng joined forces against the Qi Family Old Ancestor and Cao Hongshang, but the stronger foes began to overwhelm them. Shen Changchuan used the Soul-Snatching Bell and Azure Wood Sword Light to kill Cao Hongshang, forcing the Qi Family Old Ancestor to flee as their attacks caught up to him.

• Shen Changchuan repelled the Qi Family Old Ancestor, then agreed on a plan with Nangong Cheng.
• Shen Changchuan, Nangong Cheng, Cao Hongshang, and the Qi Family Old Ancestor clashed, with the stronger opponents gradually suppressing the two allies.
• Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng switched opponents, and Shen Changchuan stunned Cao Hongshang with the Soul-Snatching Bell before killing him with Azure Wood Sword Light.
• The Qi Family Old Ancestor fled toward the underground entrance, and Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng's spell attacks caught up to him.

Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng defeated the Qi Family Old Ancestor, survived his attempt to self-detonate, and recovered before leaving the cavern. Outside, Shen Changchuan interrogated Home Protection Mutual Aid Alliance guards and uncovered the alliance’s ties to the Qi Family, the Wu family, and unidentified black-robed people.

• Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng defeated the Qi Family Old Ancestor after Cao Hongshang was killed, and Shen Changchuan healed Nangong Cheng’s injuries with Endless Vitality.
• Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng gathered the spoils, burned the enemies’ corpses, and meditated for two or three days before leaving the underground cavern.
• Shen Changchuan captured Home Protection Mutual Aid Alliance guards waiting near the cavern entrance and killed several when they refused to talk.
• A surviving Qi Gathering Fourth Level guard revealed that Cao Hongshang had contacted the Qi Family Old Ancestor and tracked Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng into the cavern.
• The guard told Shen Changchuan that the alliance had long-standing ties to the Qi Family, had hosted masked people suspected of belonging to the Wu family, and gathered people for unidentified black-robed individuals.

Shen Changchuan spared a guard who revealed the Home Protection Mutual Aid Alliance’s tangled connections, then returned to Great Bay Village with Nangong Cheng. After sharing a Beast Taming Secret Art, Shen Changchuan reflected on how the Earth Vein Spirit Milk had strengthened his unstable cultivation foundation.

• Shen Changchuan dismissed the guard after learning what he knew about the Home Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, and the guard promised to leave and never return.
• Nangong Cheng wondered how the Wu family had escaped and noted that the attackers’ methods resembled the Devil Dao, but he chose to return and recover from his injuries.
• Shen Changchuan and Nangong Cheng flew back to Great Bay Village on Little Wind, reaching it in just over three days.
• Shen Changchuan gave Nangong Cheng a Jade Slip containing a Beast Taming Secret Art in gratitude for the Earth Vein Spirit Milk.
• Shen Changchuan reflected that the Earth Vein Spirit Milk had repaired the instability and hidden damage caused by his rapid, pill-fueled cultivation.

After Earth Vein Spirit Milk cleansed Shen Changchuan’s body and stabilized his foundation, he planned to use pills to advance further and escort trading caravans to Great Bay Village. In Qing City, he learned that cultivation pills for Eighth-Level cultivators were costly, leaving him weighing the expense of his rapid progress.

• Shen Changchuan reflected that Earth Vein Spirit Milk had removed accumulated pill toxins and hidden injuries, allowing him to pursue faster cultivation without an unstable foundation.
• Nangong Cheng accepted the Beast Taming Secret Art Jade Slip and resolved to remember Shen Changchuan’s favor.
• Great Bay Village prospered as a trading hub, earning Shen Changchuan three thousand six hundred Spirit Stones in net profit while its merchants’ stocks ran low.
• The trading companies paid Shen Changchuan five hundred Spirit Stones to contact Zhang Qingyuan and arrange caravan escorts, and Shen Changchuan secretly assumed Zhang Qingyuan’s identity to travel to Qing City.
• Shen Changchuan asked Myriad Spirits Pavilion about Eighth-Level cultivation pills and learned that they cost at least seven hundred Spirit Stones each.

Shen Changchuan spent all his Spirit Stones on eight Purple Gold Pills and joined a larger caravan traveling from Qing City to Great Bay Village. Meanwhile, the Shen Family’s First Madam demanded that her subordinates find Shen Chong, whose possible involvement in a dispute near the Border Wasteland Forest gave them a lead.

• Shen Changchuan bought eight Purple Gold Pills, exhausting his savings and worrying about the cost of further cultivation.
• After resting for a day in Qing City, Shen Changchuan joined the caravan as it set out for Great Bay Village.
• The First Madam berated her subordinates for failing to capture Shen Chong and gave them a month to bring her his head.
• The subordinates discussed the First Madam’s background and learned that Shen Chong might have appeared in the Border Wasteland Forest near Qing City.
• The subordinates decided to search the Border Wasteland Forest for Shen Chong.

Shen Changchuan defeated a band of rogue cultivators attacking the caravan, killing their leaders and pursuing the fleeing attackers. After the caravan continued on, news of the battle spread and Zhang Qingyuan’s name became known across the nearby cultivation regions.

• Shen Changchuan used the Three Thunders Shadow Erasing Sword to wound a Black Clad Figure and evade a second attacker’s ambush with Swift Light Film.
• Shen Changchuan killed the Black Clad Figure with the Great Sword Technique, then struck down the fleeing ambusher with Azure Wood Sword Light.
• The other rogue cultivators fled, but Shen Changchuan caught up with them and slaughtered nearly the entire group.
• The caravan cheered Shen Changchuan, cleaned up the battlefield, and continued through the mountain forest.
• People discovered the battlefield and identified the dead, causing Zhang Qingyuan’s name to spread through nearby cultivation regions.

Shen Changchuan’s destruction of a powerful bandit cultivator gang spread Zhang Qingyuan’s fame and made the merchant caravan’s route safer. After another uneventful journey, Shen Changchuan returned to Qing City with his cultivation strengthened by two Purple Gold Pills.

• Word spread that Zhang Qingyuan had slain Ninth Layer realm bandit cultivators, earning him fame as a monstrous young genius.
• Shen Changchuan watched the merchant caravan enter Great Bay Village and planned to escort one or two more shipments before leaving it to travel on its own.
• Half a month later, Shen Changchuan escorted the caravan back toward Qing City without encountering any attacks.
• Shen Changchuan regretted losing the chance to gain spoils on the peaceful return journey, though he had previously collected around seven thousand Spirit Stones and other rewards.
• Shen Changchuan refined two Purple Gold Pills on the road and reached the peak of the middle stage of Qi Induction Eighth Level.