Chapter Summaries

Shen Xuan revisited old friends in Cloud Abyss Immortal City, shared cultivation insights with Tang Renhao and Zhu Jintang, and collected information about nearby Water Demons. He then demonstrated his mastery of [Water Spirit Condensing Yuan Art] to Ruan Siting and prepared to show how powerful its attacks were.

• Shen Xuan watched Zhao Chunsheng and Jiang Yingxue from afar, then slipped away without meeting them.
• Shen Xuan visited Tianxiang Pavilion and stayed through the night’s performances.
• Shen Xuan met Tang Renhao and Zhu Jintang, shared insights from the Divine Treasure Canghai Technique, and received an Information Jade Slip about four nearby Second-Order High-Grade Water Demons.
• Tang Renhao told Shen Xuan that Wen Zijian had become a Sect Elder, and Shen Xuan parted from his old friends after recognizing the value of their connection.
• Shen Xuan demonstrated his Dark Spirit Fish defenses to Ruan Siting, whose water blade broke through only three Green Light Spirit Walls.
• Shen Xuan invited Ruan Siting to test the Dark Spirit Fish’s offensive power.

Shen Xuan demonstrated his Great Accomplishment Water Spirit Condensing Yuan Art, advised Ruan Siting on cultivation, and collected Water Yao Essence Blood. He learned that the Immortal Slaying Water Qi Art was Bishui Sect’s Supreme Skill, and Ruan Siting began revealing the sect’s secret history after an accident more than three hundred years earlier.

• Shen Xuan showed Ruan Siting how his Dark Spirit Fish could attack and return while using little spiritual power, inspiring Ruan to pursue Great Accomplishment.
• Shen Xuan examined Ruan Siting’s cultivation, advised him to reach Foundation Establishment Middle Stage first, and shared insights that deepened Ruan’s understanding of the Water Spirit Condensing Yuan Art.
• Ruan Siting gave Shen Xuan seven portions of Water Yao Essence Blood, and Shen Xuan paid him fifty thousand spirit stones.
• Shen Xuan asked about the Immortal Slaying Water Qi Art, and Ruan Siting warned that copies outside Bishui Sect were forgeries because only its Sect Leader and Personal Disciples could cultivate the Supreme Skill.
• Shen Xuan revealed that he had bought the art from a mysterious old Daoist and sworn a Heavenly Dao Oath, prompting Ruan Siting to take him to a secret chamber.
• Ruan Siting assured Shen Xuan that the art was genuine and began explaining an accident at Bishui Sect more than three hundred years earlier.

Shen Xuan learned that Bishui Sect's Nameless Old Daoist was likely tied to the sect's troubled past, then collected Water Yao Essence Blood and discovered signs that Huang Wanting bore the mark of Yin Sha Sect. He attended Qingyun City's auction, sold Poison Talismans, bought two Spirit Plants, and set out for Weiwu Commandery to meet Qi Wanqing.

• Ruan Siting warned Shen Xuan that the Nameless Old Daoist was likely one of Bishui Sect's former direct disciples and urged him not to meet the old man again; Shen Xuan agreed.
• Shen Xuan visited Silver Hook Island, traded thirty-eight Sha Breaking Divine Thunder Talismans for three portions of Water Yao Essence Blood, and sensed demonic energy around Huang Wanting.
• After Shen Xuan left, Huang Wanting appeared behind the Huang Family Head with the mark of the Holy Maiden of Yin Sha Sect glowing on her brow.
• Shen Xuan traveled to Qingyun Immortal City, submitted more than a thousand Poison Talismans for auction, and bought a Sunward Flower and a Moon Frost Grass.
• Shen Xuan sold his Poison Talismans for twenty-four thousand spirit stones, rested at an inn, and then flew to Weiwu Commandery to meet Qi Wanqing.

Shen Xuan agreed to protect Li Ruyi and provide her with resources in exchange for her refining Foundation Purifying Pills. A year and a half later, he finished a period of cultivation and prepared to refine the final portion of Water Yao Essence Blood, hoping the Giant Eyed Strange Shrimp blood would yield a surprise.

• Shen Xuan visited Qi Wanqing in disguise, where Li Ruyi revealed she had recovered some memories and was seventy percent confident she could refine Foundation Purifying Pills.
• Li Ruyi offered to refine pills for Shen Xuan in exchange for help gathering Underworld Cultivation resources and protection until she formed a Soul Core.
• Shen Xuan and Li Ruyi agreed to split the pills, with Li Ruyi transferring her share of Foundation Purifying Pills to Shen Xuan in exchange for Underworld Cultivator spirit items.
• Shen Xuan returned to Qingyang Prefecture with Li Ruyi, ten portions of Water Yao Essence Blood, and an agreement with the Second-grade High-rank Alchemist.
• A year and a half later, Shen Xuan finished cultivating at Feiyun Mountain and found that the Water Yao Essence Blood had yielded little beyond Dao Rhyme Points.
• Shen Xuan examined his final portion of Essence Blood, which came from a Giant Eyed Strange Shrimp, and hoped it would bring a surprise.

Shen Xuan plundered Keen Eyesight from a Giant Eyed Strange Shrimp and received Tie Wendao’s latest trade goods and intelligence. After checking on Li Ruyi’s cultivation, he decided to seek Imperial Flow Essence from the Imperial Beast Zhou Family so she could eventually refine Foundation Purifying Pills.

• Shen Xuan used the Mysterious Jade Talisman on Giant Eyed Strange Shrimp Essence Blood and plundered its Keen Eyesight talent.
• Tie Wendao delivered a Yin Soul Banner, Spirit Stones, Spirit Herbs, and Water Monster Essence Blood, and warned Shen Xuan that Zhou Haoyu seemed displeased with him.
• Shen Xuan learned that Nangong Guang was recuperating and that Foundation Establishment cultivators in Qingyang Prefecture remained confident in the war.
• Shen Xuan gave Li Ruyi the Yin Soul Banner and discussed the resources she needed to strengthen her Netherworld Dao Body and refine Foundation Purifying Pills.
• Shen Xuan decided to obtain Imperial Flow Essence from the Imperial Beast Zhou Family for Li Ruyi.

Shen Xuan visited the Zhou Family to trade Corpse Refining Gold Powder for Imperial Flow Marrow, then kept his promise to visit White Lotus Fairy. The chapter ended with White Lotus Fairy welcoming him eagerly to her transformed residence.

• Shen Xuan arrived at the Zhou Family and asked Zhou Family Master for Imperial Flow Marrow.
• Zhou Family Master offered Shen Xuan ten drops, but Shen Xuan proposed trading Corpse Refining Gold Powder for it.
• White Lotus Fairy came to see Shen Xuan and asked him to visit her at White Lotus Residence after his business was finished.
• Shen Xuan traded five portions of Corpse Refining Gold Powder for four bottles of Imperial Flow Marrow and refused to sell the recipe.
• Shen Xuan went to White Lotus Residence, where White Lotus Fairy welcomed him in her boudoir.

Shen Xuan and White Lotus Fairy shared an intimate night before confronting the end of their relationship, as their ambitions and paths diverged. Shen Xuan left the Zhou Family grounds at dawn, hoping their years together would remain free of regret.

• Shen Xuan reunited with White Lotus Fairy at White Lotus Residence, and they spent the night together.
• White Lotus Fairy told Shen Xuan she was nearing a breakthrough and said the Zhou Family Ancestor would help her; she also asked him to refine a Second-Order Middle Grade Corpse Beast for her after she broke through.
• White Lotus Fairy asked Shen Xuan to marry her, but he refused, explaining that he wanted to pursue a greater Dao Path and would not promise her a future.
• White Lotus Fairy vowed to cultivate to Core Formation and find Shen Xuan again, while he affirmed he would keep his promise to help refine her corpse beast.
• Shen Xuan stayed with White Lotus Fairy through the night, then left White Lotus Residence and the Zhou Family grounds at dawn after encountering Zhou Family Master.
• Shen Xuan rode back to Listening Rain Pavilion and heard bad news upon his return.

Su Jiayuan returned to Feiyun Mountain on behalf of the Su Family to renegotiate its Thunder Talisman profit share with Shen Xuan. After making her wait, Shen Xuan heard her proposal, which sought to raise the Su Family’s share from 2.5 percent to 3 percent.

• Su Jiayuan tried to enter Listening Rain Pavilion, but Su Xue'er blocked her and refused to discuss the Su Family’s business in Shen Xuan’s absence.
• Su Huaijing and three other Su Family Clan Elders agreed to send Su Jiayuan to negotiate a larger share of the Thunder Talisman profits, while one elder warned that Shen Xuan might turn against the family.
• Shen Xuan returned, told Su Xue'er not to provoke Su Jiayuan, and made her wait while he cultivated and ate.
• Shen Xuan met Su Jiayuan in the Reception Hall, where she was struck by how youthful he still looked after twenty years.
• Su Jiayuan told Shen Xuan that the Su Family wanted to raise its Thunder Talisman profit share from 2.5 percent to 3 percent.

Shen Xuan used the Su Family’s attempt to demand a larger share of the Thunder Talisman partnership as grounds to prepare to end his garrison assignment and return to Qingyun Sect. He planned to bring Su Xue’er with him, and Tie Wendao offered to continue working for him in the sect’s Immortal City.

• Shen Xuan rejected the Su Family’s demand for a thirty-percent share, reduced its share to twenty percent, and gave it twelve hours to accept or end the partnership.
• Su Huaijing insisted that thirty percent was the Su Family’s bottom line, but Shen Xuan threatened to break his legs, prompting the Su Family elders to warn him to stay away from Listening Rain Pavilion.
• Shen Xuan decided to use the dispute to leave Qingyang Prefecture and return to Qingyun Sect, where he could cultivate on a Third-grade Spirit Vein.
• Shen Xuan told Su Xue’er she could return to the sect with him, and she joyfully agreed to pack her belongings.
• Shen Xuan told Tie Wendao he was leaving and would no longer need his services, but Tie Wendao asked to accompany him and work in the sect’s Immortal City.

Shen Xuan prepared to leave Qingyang Prefecture and return to Qingyun Sect, clashing with the Su Family when they delayed his departure. Before leaving Myriad Beast Valley, he said goodbye to White Lotus Fairy and gave her the Crimson Winged Singing Snake Corpse Beast as a gift.

• Tie Wendao told Shen Xuan about his many descendants and asked him to help secure a Second-Rank Spirit Vein, then hurried to move to Qingyun City.
• Shen Xuan, Su Xue'er, and Li Ruyi packed their valuables and prepared to leave Listening Rain Pavilion for the sect.
• At the Su Clan gates, Shen Xuan demanded that the Mountain Protection Array be opened and broke Su Huaijing's leg after Su Huaijing tried to pressure him to stay.
• Shen Xuan left the Su Clan Land with Su Xue'er and warned Su Huaijing not to appear before him again.
• At the Zhou Family grounds, Shen Xuan told White Lotus Fairy he was returning to the sect and gave her the Crimson Winged Singing Snake Corpse Beast as a congratulatory gift.

Shen Xuan left Myriad Beast Valley after parting from White Lotus Fairy, then returned to Qingyun Sect and faced his master over his actions at the Feiyun Su Family. Lone Peak True Person appointed him a True Person Direct Disciple and set a three-year delay before he would take over Little Solitary Peak’s affairs.

• Shen Xuan told White Lotus Fairy he would not return to Qingyang Prefecture without a reason, then flew away with Su Xue'er while she resolved to live well and resume cultivation.
• Su Xue'er's Silver Horned Heavenly Steed unfurled illusory wings, caught up with Shen Xuan, and raced ahead after he moved her onto his mount.
• In Qingyun Immortal City, Lu Zhengying gave Shen Xuan an intelligence jade slip about Qingyun Sect's leadership and disciples, and warned him to avoid provoking the Core Formation Direct Disciples.
• Lone Peak True Person scolded Shen Xuan for leaving the Feiyun Su Family and breaking Su Huaijing's leg, but accepted Shen Xuan's account after Gu Jinqin spoke in his defense.
• Lone Peak True Person made Shen Xuan his True Person Direct Disciple and ordered him to take over Little Solitary Peak's affairs after three years, once he had advanced and stabilized his cultivation.
• As Shen Xuan and Gu Jinqin flew toward the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, he asked how he had become her senior brother.

After becoming a True Person Direct Disciple, Shen Xuan visited the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, where Gu Jinqin revealed she had used his 200,000 spirit stones to cover Little Solitary Peak’s expenses. He collected his back pay and began choosing a Cave Abode, leaving the Cave Abode Management Office considering a Spirit Vein Node beside a Spirit Lake for him.

• Gu Jinqin told Shen Xuan that Little Solitary Peak ranked disciples by age, making him her Third Senior Brother, and accompanied him to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
• True Person Tongxuan oversaw Shen Xuan’s re-registration as a True Person Direct Disciple and invited him to visit the hall for help in the future.
• Gu Jinqin admitted she had used Shen Xuan’s 200,000 spirit stones to cover Little Solitary Peak’s expenses and tried to persuade him to take over its administration early, but Shen Xuan refused.
• Gu Jinqin suggested Shen Xuan use the absent Eldest Senior Sister’s Cave Abode, but he chose to select his own instead.
• Shen Xuan collected twenty-one years of Registered Disciple salary, then met Lu Zhengying at the Cave Abode Management Office to inspect seven high-grade Spirit Vein Nodes on Little Solitary Peak.
• Shen Xuan asked Senior Brother Qian to find a Cave Abode near a Spirit Lake or Spirit Pond, and Senior Brother Qian revealed a Spirit Lake beside one of the available nodes.

Shen Xuan chose a site on Little Solitary Peak and commissioned He Zhongchang to build an enormous, luxurious Cave Abode for eight hundred thousand spirit stones. Later, he reunited with Qin Yuehan and Lu Zhengying, heard that Ling Zhenfeng had defeated Lei Yaoyang, and asked Qin Yuehan about the administrative shortfall on Little Solitary Peak.

• Shen Xuan selected a site on Little Solitary Peak, and Lu Zhengying paid Senior Brother Qian three thousand spirit stones after Qian registered it and recommended He Zhongchang for the construction.
• At Ten Thousand Immortals Tea House, Shen Xuan planned a thirty-mu Cave Abode with a Spirit Pool, gardens, Earth Fire, and formations, then agreed to He Zhongchang's estimate of at least eight hundred thousand spirit stones.
• He Zhongchang asked for a fifty-percent deposit, but Shen Xuan insisted on the standard thirty percent and agreed to pay the remainder after inspection.
• At Cold Moon Pavilion, Shen Xuan, Lu Zhengying, and Qin Yuehan reunited and discussed news that Lei Yaoyang was being forced to withdraw from Tianzhang Prefecture after Ling Zhenfeng defeated him.
• Shen Xuan asked Qin Yuehan how severe the administrative shortfall on Little Solitary Peak was.

Shen Xuan settled into Water Moon Residence, established his cultivation routine, and arranged for Li Ruyi to refine Spirit Gathering Pills while he focused on advancing his cultivation. After half a year of seclusion, Wu Xueting visited and asked whether he could refine Spirit Gathering Pills.

• Shen Xuan learned about Little Solitary Peak’s annual deficit and heard Qin Yuehan describe the other disciples, including her warning to stay away from Wu Xueting and Wu Yuting.
• Shen Xuan rented a Cave Abode for Su Xue'er, improved his Keen Eyesight talent, and oversaw construction of a larger Cave Abode connected to Fairy Lake.
• Shen Xuan inspected the Cave Abode’s formations and facilities, named it Water Moon Residence, and moved in with Su Xue'er and their belongings.
• Shen Xuan entrusted Lu Zhengying with purchasing ingredients and selling Spirit Gathering Pills, while Li Ruyi refined them and began recovering her alchemy skills.
• Shen Xuan spent six months cultivating in seclusion at Water Moon Residence and rarely interacted with others.
• Wu Xueting visited Shen Xuan, greeted him, and asked whether he could refine Spirit Gathering Pills.

Wu Xueting and Wu Yuting tried to uncover whether Shen Xuan refined Spirit Gathering Pills and to gain access to his spacious residence, but he saw through their schemes and sent them away. After failing to swindle him, the twins turned their attention to Xu Shaopeng and the Purple Qi Alliance.

• Wu Xueting questioned Shen Xuan about refining Spirit Gathering Pills and offered cheaper ingredients, but he denied the rumor and refused to let her stay at Water Moon Residence.
• Wu Xueting met Wu Yuting and told her that Shen Xuan had resisted her advances and requests.
• Wu Yuting visited Shen Xuan the next day, but he recognized her as Wu Yuting and declined her invitation, promised two congratulatory gifts, and refused to let her stay.
• Shen Xuan told Su Xue'er to keep the twins out of Water Moon Residence if they returned.
• Wu Xueting and Wu Yuting decided Shen Xuan was too formidable to provoke and set their sights on Xu Shaopeng of the Purple Qi Alliance.

Shen Xuan broke through to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage after twenty-three years and used most of his Dao Rhyme Points to strengthen his techniques and talents. After emerging from seclusion, he celebrated with Su Xue'er, while Gu Jinqin planned to leave Little Solitary Peak’s administrative burdens to him.

• Shen Xuan reached the bottleneck at Foundation Establishment Early Stage but waited to break through until he felt the time was right.
• Su Xue'er advanced to Qi Refining Level 5 and went to find Shen Xuan, sensing a powerful aura from his training room.
• Shen Xuan absorbed the room’s dense spiritual energy and broke through to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, gaining an eighty-percent increase in spiritual power and twelve years of lifespan.
• Shen Xuan spent more than sixteen thousand Dao Rhyme Points upgrading his cultivation art and several techniques, leaving only eight Dao Rhyme Points.
• After stabilizing his realm, Shen Xuan told Su Xue'er he had broken through and asked her to cook him a meal.
• Gu Jinqin sensed Shen Xuan’s breakthrough, then decided to leave Little Solitary Peak’s administrative work to him and pursue her own cultivation.

After advancing to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Shen Xuan took over Little Solitary Peak’s household affairs and received the Jianghai Myriad Waters Map from Lone Peak True Person. He then learned that the Peak’s accumulated deficit was eight million eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand spirit stones.

• Qin Yuehan reflected on Shen Xuan’s rise from a struggling Qi Refining cultivator to a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator and wondered about his potential and mortal wife.
• Shen Xuan assessed his growing strength and decided to keep a low profile while preparing to deal with Little Solitary Peak’s failing finances.
• Shen Xuan visited Lone Peak True Person and received the Jianghai Myriad Waters Map, a Space Magic Treasure suited to his Water Law cultivation.
• Lone Peak True Person hinted that Shen Xuan should manage Little Solitary Peak’s household affairs, and Shen Xuan agreed to take on the responsibility.
• Gu Jinqin revealed that Little Solitary Peak’s deficit totaled eight million eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand spirit stones.

Shen Xuan took over Little Solitary Peak’s affairs and discovered its accumulated deficit was nearly nine million spirit stones. He proposed a Great Furnace Alchemy plan with Li Ruyi to create income, and Lone Peak True Person agreed to review it before deciding whether to support it.

• Gu Jinqin handed Shen Xuan the account book, revealing Little Solitary Peak’s enormous deficit and the two hundred thousand spirit stones she had borrowed from him.
• Shen Xuan learned that Lone Peak True Person and her disciples had no income because they focused on cultivation and lacked practical skills.
• Shen Xuan presented Lone Peak True Person with his Great Furnace Alchemy plan and explained that Little Solitary Peak needed revenue to address its deficit.
• Shen Xuan summoned Li Ruyi, who endorsed the plan and explained that large-scale Spirit Gathering Pill production was feasible with a larger furnace, formations, and controlled heat.
• Lone Peak True Person kept Shen Xuan’s plan and asked him to review it with Li Ruyi while she considered whether to proceed.

Shen Xuan persuaded Lone Peak True Person to pursue Great Furnace Alchemy through the sect, with Gu Jinqin managing the project. The method remained untested, and Lone Peak True Person insisted the sect wait to hear about it until Little Solitary Peak succeeded.

• Lone Peak True Person showed Longevity True Person Shen Xuan's Great Furnace Alchemy proposal, and they agreed to cooperate while keeping the method under her control.
• Shen Xuan explained the method's potential to earn the sect vast profits and asked Lone Peak True Person to put Gu Jinqin in charge of coordinating the work.
• Shen Xuan outlined the equipment, formations, fire, staff, and security needed, and promised to help Gu Jinqin earn spirit stones later.
• Lone Peak True Person confronted Longevity True Person over protecting her secret technique, and he proposed presenting the method to the elders after Little Solitary Peak proved it worked.
• Shen Xuan returned to Water Moon Residence and reflected that he had avoided Little Solitary Peak's administrative burden while leaving the high-stakes project to the sect.

Shen Xuan invested in Spirit Gathering Pill ingredients while preparing for Great Furnace Alchemy, then agreed to help Wu Xueting rescue Wu Yuting from the Purple Qi Alliance. He confronted Xu Shaopeng at Silver Hook Gambling House, where Xu rejected his request to release Wu Yuting and threatened him.

• Shen Xuan gave Lu Zhengying three hundred thousand spirit stones’ worth of Monster Beast remains and Poison Talismans to sell, instructing him to buy Spirit Gathering Pill ingredients.
• Shen Xuan continued cultivating and advancing his skills while guiding Gu Jinqin and preparing Great Furnace Alchemy.
• Wu Xueting told Shen Xuan that Xu Shaopeng’s men had restrained Wu Yuting after the sisters’ scheme at Silver Hook Gambling House went wrong.
• Shen Xuan agreed to help Wu Xueting, and they flew to Qingyun Immortal City on the Golden Claw Divine Eagle Corpse Beast.
• Xu Shaopeng brought Wu Yuting outside and mocked Shen Xuan’s request to release her, ordering him to leave or face violence.