Chapter Summaries

Chen Mobai secured rights to five hundred mu of Spirit Land near Little South Mountain and began turning it into productive fields without disrupting the Divine Wood Sect’s great formation. He left the first Fire Spirit Rice sowing to a new puppet and offered Green Sun Spirit Wood to speed up production of another.

• Meng Hong brought Chen Mobai permission to use five hundred mu of Spirit Land, with the Array, Spiritual Plant, and Spirit Beast Departments helping prepare it.
• Chen Mobai rejected moving an Azure Sun Spirit Tree formation flag to Little South Mountain, and Duan Shaojiu and Sun Gaochang transplanted the two flags elsewhere.
• Chen Mobai surveyed the land with Zhuo Ming and Luo Yixuan, then began clearing and improving its flatter fields for Fire Spirit Rice.
• The Spiritual Plant Department supplied seedlings for one hundred mu, and Chen Mobai demonstrated a Seeding Puppet that planted fifteen mu in one day.
• Chen Mobai offered Li Yixian and the other puppet makers a square of Green Sun Spirit Wood if they completed another Seeding Puppet within two days.

Chen Mobai arranged for the Divine Wood Sect to buy his Fire Spirit Rice at market price while recording the remaining contribution as a debt payable if he formed his core. He helped his disciple Zhuo Ming break through to Qi Cultivation Level 8, assigned spirit mountains to his disciples, and returned to the Immortal Sect, where he learned that Che Yucheng had cleared the way through the forces connected to the Purple Lightning Sword.

• Chen Mobai persuaded Chu Zuoshu to approve the rice purchase at market price and record 180,000 Sect Contribution as a debt in the sect account.
• Chen Mobai inspected the reclaimed fields with Zhuo Ming, confirmed her cultivation was ready to advance, and helped her break through to Qi Cultivation Level 8 on Ting Mountain.
• Chen Mobai gave Ting Mountain to Zhuo Ming, Miao Mountain to Luo Yixuan, and Yi Mountain to Wen Bai.
• Chen Mobai announced that he would enter seclusion and skip the Sect Grand Competition, then returned to the Immortal Sect through Turtle Treasure.
• Chen Mobai learned that Che Yucheng had cleared the way through the forces connected to the Purple Lightning Sword.

Chen Mobai learned that he could compete for the Purple Lightning Sword, though the opportunity would be open to candidates across the Immortal Sect and judged by the sword itself. After handling Student Union work, he reunited with Meng Huang'er and offered to help her find an ancient zither artifact.

• Che Yucheng explained that Wuqi Dao Academy, Five Thunder Academy, Natural Academy, Mountain Sea Academy, the Law Enforcement Hall, and Peach Blossom Venerable had agreed to let the Purple Lightning Sword choose a new master through an Immortal Sect-wide invitation.
• Chen Mobai learned that the selection would begin next year and that Golden Core cultivators Ruan Zixiu and Huo Xiqing were among his strongest rivals.
• Chen Mobai went to the Student Union, learned Zhongli Tianyu had abandoned his administrative duties to cultivate with Bian, and finished approving accumulated documents.
• Chen Mobai discovered that Meng Huang'er had been visiting to search for an ancient zither-type artifact, apologized for forgetting her earlier message, and invited her to his office for tea and help with Treasure Appraisal.

Chen Mobai learned that Meng Huang'er hoped to use a low-grade music Magic Tool to improve her chances of Foundation Establishment, then discovered Zhongli Tianyu had cultivated a powerful Dragon Horse Aspect and Third Tier Eight Trigrams Immortal Thunder. After easily defeating Zhongli, Chen Mobai became even more determined to make him his successor as Student Union President.

• Meng Huang'er asked Chen Mobai to help her open five Artifact Nurturing Spheres and specified that she wanted a Grade 2 low-grade music-type Magic Tool.
• Zhuang Jialan and Che Yucheng explained that Meng Huang'er had not reached Foundation Establishment and that the principal had improved a technique allowing her to absorb a compatible Magic Tool's essence for a ten-percent increase in her chances.
• Chen Mobai learned that Zhongli Tianyu was cultivating with Bian Jingchun and went with her to see him using the True Dragon Cauldron and Zhongli Eight Trigrams Mirror.
• Zhongli Tianyu transformed into a Dragon Horse, revealed his Third Tier Eight Trigrams Immortal Thunder, and challenged Chen Mobai after reaching Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer.
• Chen Mobai subdued Zhongli Tianyu with his Myriad Sword Dharma Body, then resolved to guide him into taking over the Student Union President position.

Chen Mobai visited Meng Huang'er and used the Formless Puppet to investigate why her Foundation Establishment attempts kept failing. She offered him a Heaven's Equal Technique bargain for borrowing his fortune, and he agreed to negotiate a contract in exchange for her help with his spiritual-sense bottleneck and future cultivation.

• Chen Mobai suppressed Zhongli Tianyu in a second fight, then discussed Dragon Transformation routes and thunder methods with him and Bian Jingchun.
• Chen Mobai returned Zhongli Tianyu to the Student Union, arranged for Zhuang Jialan to supervise him, and agreed to spar with him in Lesser Red Heaven.
• Chen Mobai visited Meng Huang'er, used the Formless Puppet to simulate her Foundation Establishment, and confirmed that her success chance remained below fifty percent.
• Meng Huang'er explained that her Heart's Sound Profound Melody could help others cultivate and improve their Foundation Establishment chances, but she herself was immune to her own voice.
• Meng Huang'er offered to lend Chen Mobai's fortune through her Heaven's Equal Technique in exchange for his help, promising benefits from her Heart's Sound Profound Melody and future Core Formation breakthrough.
• Chen Mobai accepted Meng Huang'er's proposed bargain, and the two reviewed and finalized a detailed contract before he took her hand on the balcony.

Chen Mobai and Meng Huang'er arranged to use the Heaven's Equal Technique to help her establish her foundation, and their growing closeness loosened his Spiritual Sense bottleneck. After a semester of preparation and school life together, Meng Huang'er received the technique's talisman as Chen Mobai's eighth year at Wuqi Dao Academy ended.

• Chen Mobai and Meng Huang'er agreed to activate the Heaven's Equal Technique during her foundation-establishment attempt, and he helped her select a second-grade pipa from an Artifact Nurturing Sphere.
• Meng Huang'er reflected on why she had chosen Chen Mobai as her partner, while Chen Mobai's happiness at walking to school with her caused his Spiritual Sense bottleneck to crack.
• Chen Mobai sparred with Zhongli Tianyu in Lesser Red Heaven, defeated him repeatedly, and then guided him through a prolonged fight against the Eight Trigrams Immortal Thunder.
• Chen Mobai helped Meng Huang'er open the Artifact Nurturing Sphere and obtain the pipa, then accompanied her to school and guided her in the Spirit Tool Foundation Establishment Technique over the following days.
• Chen Mobai completed his eighth year, arranged his supplies for the next year, and learned from Meng Huang'er that the Heaven's Equal Technique talisman had arrived.

Chen Mobai helped Meng Huang'er attempt Foundation Establishment with the Heaven's Equal Technique, but she failed despite his protection, leaving her injured and despairing. After arranging medical care and promising to investigate a method that might help her, Chen Mobai received a message from Lan Haitan revealing that he had formed his core.

• Chen Mobai asked Che Yucheng about fortune and the Heaven's Equal Technique, learned it came from the Jade Feather Cliff lineage, and chose not to discourage Meng Huang'er.
• Chen Mobai and Meng Huang'er activated the Heaven's Equal Technique and began her second Foundation Establishment attempt with the Foundation Establishment Trio and a Spirit Gathering Formation.
• Meng Huang'er failed to condense the remaining Liquid Spiritual Power, and Chen Mobai used the Lamp Burning Technique to clear her blocked meridians and revive her.
• Meng Huang'er broke down over her failure, and Chen Mobai promised to investigate adapting the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art before school doctors took her for treatment.
• Chen Mobai contacted Tian Wenguang about the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, then received Lan Haitan's delayed message confirming he had formed his core.

Chen Mobai abandoned his attempt to obtain Green Snake essence blood and strengthened his spiritual sense, then considered how Meng Huang'er's Heart's Sound Profound Melody might help him overcome his final Core Formation tribulation. Meanwhile, Jade Feather Cliff learned that Meng Huang'er had failed Foundation Establishment, and Chen visited her in the hospital.

• Lan Haitan told Chen Mobai that Green Snake belonged to True Person Xu Yanhe's dao companion, so Chen gave up seeking its essence blood and asked about Water Mist Ice Crystal for Yan Bingxuan.
• Chen Mobai used his stored spiritual sense to plant six Green Wutong Saplings and stabilize the newly opened portion of his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness.
• Chen Mobai considered how Meng Huang'er's Heart's Sound Profound Melody might help him break through the spiritual sense barrier and prepare for his third Core Formation tribulation.
• A Jade Feather Cliff employee reported that Meng Huang'er had failed Foundation Establishment after using the Heaven's Equal Technique, and President Li ordered an investigation.
• Chen Mobai visited Meng Huang'er in the hospital, where she apologized for failing despite his help.

Chen Mobai comforted Meng Huang'er after her failed Foundation Establishment attempt and gave her the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art to study. He then returned to Vermilion Cloud City, reviewed his businesses’ earnings, and moved the Puppet Factory’s surplus talisman paper to Little South Mountain, where a proposed exclusive wine deal ended with his refusal.

• Chen Mobai gave Meng Huang'er the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art and helped her message the Auxiliary Cultivation poster Lone Ranger for advice on mastering it.
• Chen Mobai returned to Vermilion Cloud City to handle year-end business matters and found that the Soaring Heavens Talisman Factory had barely broken even while discounted sales brought in 14 million Merit Points.
• Chen Mobai used the new income to repay two Immortal Sect Bank loans and planned to keep developing Grade 2 talisman paper and ink while hiding the Puppet Factory’s true output.
• Chen Mobai moved the Puppet Factory’s surplus talisman paper to Little South Mountain and praised Liu Wenbai for managing Jian Country’s Five Markets and its income.
• Liu Wenbai told Chen Mobai that Heavenly Meal Tower wanted an exclusive Spirit Wine supply deal, and Chen Mobai refused the arrangement.

Chen Mobai inspected his growing Spirit Fields, named a new Second Tier hybrid rice Green Jade Spirit Rice, and eased Zhuo Ming’s workload while guiding and rewarding his disciples. He left them with protective gifts and tasked Liu Wenbai with searching for Water Mist Ice Crystal and High-grade Spirit Stones in Snow Country.

• Chen Mobai refused an exclusive Spirit Wine contract with Heavenly Meal Tower to avoid burdening Zhuo Ming further.
• Chen Mobai used Yi Wood Divine Thunder to ripen the hybrid rice, and Zhuo Ming reported that more than a third of the harvest was Second Tier; Chen Mobai named it Green Jade Spirit Rice.
• Chen Mobai reassigned management of the migrated mortals to Luo Yixuan and the Little South Mountain Shop to Liu Wenbai so Zhuo Ming could focus on farming and brewing.
• Chen Mobai inspected the reclaimed mountains and calculated that his Spirit Fields could exceed five hundred mu after Shuyang Mountain was opened.
• Chen Mobai taught his three disciples, gave each a Purple Fire Sword Talisman, asked Liu Wenbai to search for Water Mist Ice Crystal and High-grade Spirit Stones, and took Zhuo Ming’s Five Transformations Umbrella to upgrade it with Peach Blossom Sha.
• Chen Mobai offered to draw a defensive Talisman on Luo Yixuan’s Beast Hide, but she said she was wearing the armor and would bring it to him the next day.

Chen Mobai bought Snow Needle Immortal Bud, upgraded the Five Transformations Umbrella and Luo Yixuan’s leather armor, and handled business matters before returning to Chicheng Cave Heaven. He visited the recovering Meng Huang'er and, after learning that the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art might not suit women, wondered whether he could help her comprehend it through practice.

• Chen Mobai bought one jin of Snow Needle Immortal Bud from Bai Dingxian for 8,000 Spirit Stones and returned to the Divine Wood Sect.
• Chen Mobai and Luan Jingsheng upgraded the Five Transformations Umbrella with Peach Blossom Sha, and Chen Mobai discussed the Soaring Heavens Talisman Factory’s quality problems and recruitment needs with him.
• Chen Mobai added a First Grade Water Element Shield to Luo Yixuan’s leather armor and gave Wang Xinying a Five Gold Essence Stone as a New Year’s gift.
• Chen Mobai returned to Chicheng Cave Heaven and visited Meng Huang'er, who was recovering in the hospital and had not comprehended the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art.
• Meng Huang'er said the art seemed suited to male cultivators, and Chen Mobai wondered whether he could help her comprehend it through repeated practice.

After returning to the Dao Academy, Chen Mobai prepared for a possible war with Mountain Shaking Peak, advanced his cultivation, and sought advice about the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art to help Meng Huang'er. As Li Yuejiao’s schemes around them remained unresolved, Meng Huang'er came to Chen Mobai’s bedroom, and he told her to turn around.

• Chen Mobai learned that Mountain Sea Academy was using the Purple Lightning Sword to recruit students, while Che Yucheng confirmed that Chen and other connected cultivators would reach the final selection round.
• At Little South Mountain, Chen Mobai returned upgraded Magic Artifacts to Zhuo Ming and Luo Yixuan, heard reports of rising threats across the Eastern Wasteland, and was warned to prepare to lead the Divine Wood Sect if war broke out.
• Chen Mobai consulted Tian Wenguang about the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, then explained the advice to Meng Huang'er, who hesitated over whether to try cultivating the technique.
• Chen Mobai used a Spirit Gathering Formation to break through to Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer and later learned that Yun Yangbing had refined a Swift Formation into his body.
• Lai Songqiang identified Chen Mobai as the man Meng Huang'er often visited, but Li Yuejiao remained confused about why Meng Huang'er's Heaven's Equal Technique had reported an ordinary-fortune target.
• Chen Mobai stepped back from Student Union duties, began preparing for the Third-tier Talisman Master examination, and went to Meng Huang'er's bedroom after she invited him over; she asked him to be gentle, and he told her to turn around.

Chen Mobai used Meng Huang'er’s Profound Sound Wonderful Method to advance his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, then returned to Little South Mountain and expanded his spirit-rice fields with Divine Wood Sect’s approval. The chapter left him learning about the spirit beasts on the newly granted land and growing interested in using them for cultivation.

• Meng Huang'er’s Heart's Sound Profound Melody helped Chen Mobai break through to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer, and he left her to seize a new insight into the Critical Point Method.
• Chen Mobai inspected the fields Zhuo Ming had opened, recognized that her visions reflected the land she tended, and gave her a recipe for Incense of Thought.
• Chen Mobai asked Meng Hong for another five hundred mu of land, and Divine Wood Sect’s Three Halls Twelve Departments approved the expansion after a tied vote and the Three Great Halls’ decision.
• Ma Wuniang apologized to Chen Mobai after Quan Shanlin explained that Old Ancestor Fu supported him, allowing the land transfer to proceed smoothly.
• Chen Mobai arranged to keep the Azure Sun Spirit Trees while dispersing the spiritual veins, then learned about the spirit beasts living on Di Mountain, Dan Mountain, and Ji Mountain.

Chen Mobai arranged to manage three spirit mountains and their beasts, then sought a way to bypass the Spiritual Plant Department’s resistance to his plans for expanding spirit fields. After returning to the Immortal Sect, he helped Meng Huang'er practice and learned that Yan Qiongzhi had advanced to Core Formation and entered the Purple Lightning Sword contest.

• Chen Mobai paid for the Array Department to install a formation around the three spirit mountains and arranged for Liu Wenbai to take over their beast-raising task.
• Sun Gaochang explained that Shi Fengping and Jin Shanping opposed Chen Mobai’s rice fields because their department would lose income, and both men refused to meet him.
• Chen Mobai proposed a plan to Chu Zuoshu to reduce the Spiritual Plant Department’s burden, and Chu Zuoshu agreed to raise it at the next Three Halls Twelve Departments meeting.
• Chen Mobai inspected the mountains with Zhuo Ming and Luo Yixuan, gave Zhuo Ming spirit beasts and a Mountain Cat to train with, and tested whether local meat could improve his Spirit Root Attribute.
• After Meng Huang'er resumed seclusion, Chen Mobai visited Che Yucheng and learned that Yan Qiongzhi had replaced Natural Academy’s candidate for the Purple Lightning Sword.
• Chen Mobai asked Zhongli Tianyu about opening a Golden Core Domain, challenged him to three duels in Lesser Red Heaven, and later returned to help Meng Huang'er practice again.

Chen Mobai secured permission to sell Spirit Rice for sect Contribution Points, then sold his first harvest to the Body Refining Department and planned to keep planting. Just as he considered sharing his Foundation Establishment experience, he heard that twelve sword geniuses had triggered the Resonance of the Purple Lightning Sword, challenging the persona he had carefully maintained.

• At the sect assembly, Chen Mobai proposed creating a Spirit Rice Department, but the departments rejected the idea and approved his request to trade Spirit Rice for sect Contribution Points instead.
• Shi Fengping and Jin Shanping discussed the decision, then recalled the Spiritual Plant Department's harvest team from Little South Mountain.
• Chen Mobai prepared harvesting and husking machines, advertised Spirit Rice at his Little South Mountain Shop, and sold his first harvest to Kou Canzhi's Body Refining Department for 15,000 Contribution Points.
• After Chen Mobai sent Kou Canzhi a gift worth one thousand Spirit Stones, Kou agreed that the Body Refining Department would buy the next year's first harvest as well.
• Chen Mobai told Luo Yixuan to keep planting Fire Spirit Rice and considered ways to sell the surplus, but news from the Immortal Sect reported that twelve sword geniuses had triggered the Resonance of the Purple Lightning Sword.

Chen Mobai traveled with Meng Huang'er to Mountain Sea Academy to investigate the twelve sword geniuses selected for the Purple Lightning Sword Selection, while helping her master the Critical Point Method. After reaching the academy, he learned that Principal Hao Cao had personally chosen the twelve and was told that winning the sword's acknowledgment required exceptional control of sword qi.

• Chen Mobai asked Che Yucheng about the twelve sword geniuses, then arranged to visit Mountain Sea Academy and invited Meng Huang'er to come along.
• During the four-day train ride, Meng Huang'er mastered the Critical Point Method, and Chen Mobai discussed helping her prepare for Foundation Establishment.
• Pei Azurefrost met Chen Mobai at White Stone Cave Heaven and told him that he was the last of four predetermined candidates for the Purple Lightning Sword Selection.
• Pei Azurefrost explained that Principal Hao Cao had personally selected the twelve sword geniuses after examining their sword-qi white stones.
• At Hao Cao's request, Chen Mobai tried to place his sword qi into a white stone, but it broke when he attempted to combine his Five Elements Sword Qi.
• Pei Azurefrost took Chen Mobai away to rest, telling him she would not oppose him becoming the Purple Lightning Sword's master.

Chen Mobai learned how White Stone revealed sword qi control and why resonance mattered in the Purple Lightning Sword selection, then asked Yan Qiongzhi about Golden Core Domains and the sword’s selection. Pei Azurefrost revealed that the twelve supposed geniuses were a cover for a prodigy who had infused fourteen sword qi strands into one stone: Old Ancestor Bai Guang’s reincarnation body.

• Chen Mobai infused White Stones with sword qi, studied how later strands merged with earlier ones, and learned from Pei Azurefrost that the method tested compatibility with the Purple Lightning Sword.
• Pei Azurefrost explained the resonance ratings of Ruan Zixiu, Huo Xiqing, and Yan Qiongzhi, and said Yan Qiongzhi might still win despite her low score.
• Chen Mobai visited Yan Qiongzhi, learned how she had opened a Golden Core Domain, and asked why she intended to invite the Purple Lightning Sword back to be enshrined.
• Yan Qiongzhi asked whether the twelve peerless Sword Dao geniuses were a Maze Formation, and Pei Azurefrost explained that they concealed a prodigy with fourteen sword qi strands in one White Stone.
• Pei Azurefrost revealed that the prodigy was Old Ancestor Bai Guang’s reincarnation body.

Chen Mobai learned that the Purple Lightning Sword’s selection depended on whether it wanted a promising master or a safe place to reside, and he considered improving his offer despite being only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. After discussing Core Formation methods and Yan Bingxuan’s remaining time to establish her foundation, he promised Pei Azurefrost he would work on resonating with White Stone.

• Pei Azurefrost told Chen Mobai and Yan Qiongzhi that a genius able to put Fourteen Sword Qis into White Stone was Old Ancestor Bai Guang’s reincarnation, and that Teacher Hao Cao had taken the blame for concealing the ancestor’s identity.
• Pei Azurefrost explained that Yan Qiongzhi could offer the Purple Lightning Sword a safe home, while Ruan Zixiu and Huo Xiqing would ask it to make sacrifices for their cultivation.
• Chen Mobai considered offering the Purple Lightning Sword better treatment, though he worried that his Foundation Establishment cultivation would make him an unsuitable master.
• Yan Qiongzhi described her year-long Core Formation process and shared her Freezing Art with Chen Mobai and Pei Azurefrost.
• Yan Qiongzhi said she had reserved Snow Elf Water for Yan Bingxuan, while Chen Mobai considered seeking Water Mist Ice Crystal through Liu Wenbai.
• Pei Azurefrost urged Chen Mobai to improve his resonance with White Stone, and he said he could produce five Sword Qis after learning the technique from her demonstration.

Chen Mobai visited Mountain Sea Academy’s Sword Tower with Hao Cao and Pei Azurefrost, where he tested his Resonance with the Purple Lightning Sword and saw the Sea Stabilizing Sword. Afterward, Yan Feng visited him and made an ambiguous remark about him and Pei Azurefrost.

• Chen Mobai showed Hao Cao a white stone infused with Five Elements Sword Qi, and Hao Cao urged him to specialize in the sword dao.
• Hao Cao took Chen Mobai and Pei Azurefrost through the Sword Tower, where Chen Mobai saw its collection of flying swords and learned how they were maintained.
• Chen Mobai gripped the Purple Lightning Sword and used Yi Wood Divine Thunder, reaching 33% Resonance before Hao Cao ended the test.
• Hao Cao brought Chen Mobai to pay respects to the Sea Stabilizing Sword, housed in a Top-grade Spirit Stone, and Chen Mobai left wondering whether he could attract the Purple Lightning Sword with a generous spirit-stone offer.
• Yan Feng visited Chen Mobai and offered to show him around, then remarked that only a Proud Son of Heaven like Chen Mobai could be paired with Pei Azurefrost.

Chen Mobai learned about Yan Feng’s family’s Heavenly Heart Sword Talisman legacy and considered producing its materials, but Pei Azurefrost moved the Purple Lightning Sword Selection’s final round forward to seven days later. As the twelve selected sword geniuses arrived, Chen Mobai reunited with Zhongli Tianyu and Zhai Jianbai before another participant came looking for him.

• Chen Mobai and Yan Feng discussed their outstanding graduating class and Yan Feng’s ancestor, Yan Canzhang, whose rare Heavenly Heart Sword Talismans had supported the Yan family for generations.
• Yan Feng explained why the Yan family could no longer reliably produce the talismans, and Chen Mobai found materials about them on the Talisman Master Association’s forum and considered making their required paper and ink.
• Pei Azurefrost told Chen Mobai that the final round had been moved up to seven days later, when the four candidates and twelve selected sword geniuses would compete for the Purple Lightning Sword.
• Chen Mobai prepared a Raw Spirit Stone as a gift for the Purple Lightning Sword, then visited Meng Huang’er and spent the night with her before returning to Mountain Sea Academy.
• Zhongli Tianyu and Zhai Jianbai arrived among Hao Cao’s selected geniuses; Chen Mobai explained that Zhai Jianbai’s white stone held two streams of sword qi, while his own held five.
• A third selected sword genius knocked and asked whether Chen Mobai was there.