Chapter Summaries

Wang Ping and Yulian fought off Wulang and his companions while fleeing toward the Waterborne Forest. After killing the Wood Cultivator Changqing with the Lightning Law Altar, Wang Ping chose to continue toward Gray Water Pool as another powerful cultivator approached.

• Wang Ping used talismans and Golden Armored Soldiers to defend himself and the unconscious swordswoman from Wulang, a Wood Cultivator, and a spatial Star God.
• Wang Ping reached the Waterborne Forest and used its formation to evade the pursuers, while Yulian struck at the Wood Cultivator with Ocean Summon.
• Wang Ping activated the Lightning Law Altar and weakened Changqing with successive lightning bolts before a powerful strike killed him.
• Wang Ping took Changqing's Storage Bag and, with Wulang held back by a lightning magnetic field, headed toward Gray Water Pool as another Second Realm cultivator approached.

Wang Ping escaped pursuit with Yulian and the unconscious swordswoman, while a spirit snake killed the Wood Cultivator and led Wang Ping and Yulian to Moon Pool. There, Yulian reunited with her mother Zizhu and learned that Lanyang was her father.

• Wang Ping fled through the Wood Spirit Qi with Yulian and the unconscious swordswoman as the Wood Cultivator pursued them and Wulang waited in the void.
• The Wood Cultivator exposed Wang Ping's illusions, but a grayish-white spirit snake pierced his Qi Sea and his mutated Spirit Wood consumed him.
• Wulang fled when the spirit snake revealed itself, and Wang Ping regretted losing the chance to kill him.
• The spirit snake recognized Yulian as Yucheng's Disciple and brought her and Wang Ping down to Moon Pool.
• Zizhu welcomed Yulian as her daughter, and the spirit snake Lanyang was identified as Yulian's father.

Wang Ping received Sacred Heart Grass from Zizhu and Lanyang, then accepted Shen Xiaozhu as a Registered Disciple after she asked for a chance to enter the cultivation world. After resting with Yulian in Gray Water Pool for three days and sending a letter to Daoist Yuanzheng, Wang Ping was told he could leave.

• Zizhu agreed to give Wang Ping three stalks of Sacred Heart Grass while she and Lanyang fought playfully beside the pool.
• Zizhu led Wang Ping and Yulian to the aquatic-clan city at Gray Water Pool, where they were given a courtyard.
• Shen Xiaozhu apologized to Wang Ping for the trouble and knelt to ask for an opportunity to enter the cultivation world.
• Wang Ping accepted Shen Xiaozhu as a Registered Disciple, and she called him Master.
• Wang Ping and Yulian rested in the courtyard for three days, and Wang Ping sent a letter to Daoist Yuanzheng.
• The aquatic steward told Wang Ping that he could leave.

Wang Ping met Daoist Yuanzheng in Cloud Sea City, arranged for Sacred Heart Pills, and made his way back to Nanlin Road. After hearing new evidence that Wulang had orchestrated the ambush and that an informant had betrayed him, Wang Ping joined Zi Luan in pursuing the investigation.

• Wang Ping and Shen Xiaozhu traveled to Cloud Sea City, where Wang Ping met Daoist Yuanzheng through an illusion and arranged to have Sacred Heart Grasses refined into pills.
• Daoist Yuanzheng told Wang Ping that Tianshui Sect had stolen Yuqing Sect's Sacred Heart Grass and Nine-story Exquisite Pagoda, provoking a major conflict.
• Wang Ping spent seven days hiding in a rented courtyard, then traveled for a month and a half before returning to Nanlin Road with Shen Xiaozhu.
• Wang Ping and Shen Xiaozhu met with Zi Luan and Wen Hai at the Daoist Scripture Hall, where Shen Xiaozhu reported that Wulang had sought to ambush Wang Ping and that an undercover agent in the hall was compromised.
• Zi Luan ordered Wen Hai to investigate Wulang and his associates, while Wang Ping offered to cover the investigation's costs through Thousand Wood Temple.

Wang Ping recovered the Second Realm of the Art of Refined Wood from a dead Wood Cultivator and recorded its contents before the bamboo slip crumbled. The inheritance gave Thousand Wood Temple a new cultivation path, though the next steps required many years and suitable conditions.

• Shen Xiaozhu cleaned the Mountain Top Dojo courtyard while worrying that she might not be worthy of cultivation because of her age and lack of talent.
• Yulian encouraged Shen Xiaozhu to keep her resolve and warned her to prepare for visitors after Wang Ping returned.
• Wang Ping examined a Storage Bag taken from a Wood Cultivator he had killed and found a bamboo slip sealed with a divine soul imprint.
• Yulian removed the imprint temporarily, allowing Wang Ping to read the Second Realm of the Art of Refined Wood, which required fusing a Wood Spirit, absorbing Essence Wood Souls, and gathering sufficient spiritual qi.
• Wang Ping copied the technique onto a talisman before the bamboo slip broke apart, securing the inheritance for Thousand Wood Temple.

Wang Ping received Yang Hou’s reports on unrest, fundraising, and temple construction, then discussed selling Lightning Law Altars and allowing deserving disciples to cultivate with a renamed technique. Yang Hou left pleased after Wang Ping approved the plan, and Wang Ping began teaching Shen Xiaozhu the Evergreen Cultivation Technique to assess her temperament.

• Wang Ping and Yulian remembered the cursed young master from Ning'an County, but Wang Ping said his fate was his own responsibility.
• Yang Hou reported that three clans had caused hundreds of commoner deaths in Yongshan County, and two clans had been erased after resisting their expulsion.
• Yang Hou told Wang Ping that people connected to the fake secret arts case had attacked disciples and formed bandit forces, which the Daoist Scripture Hall planned to eliminate before spring.
• Yang Hou reported that the fundraising drive and construction projects were short of money, and Wang Ping considered selling Lightning Law Altars through a Black Market.
• Wang Ping approved renaming the Art of Refined Wood the Thousand Wood Technique and allowing major contributors to attempt cultivation with it.
• After Yang Hou left, Wang Ping taught Shen Xiaozhu the Evergreen Cultivation Technique to test her temperament.

Wang Ping took stock of his assets before hosting the Spring Festival gathering at the Mountain Top Dojo. After Guangxuan raised concerns about powerful clans causing unrest, Wang Ping agreed to discuss ways to suppress the conflicts and keep the region stable.

• Wang Ping reviewed his savings, Spirit Wood, arrays, secret arts, and demonic weapons, and decided to seek more wood-attribute treasures.
• Wang Ping celebrated the new year with Daoist Yucheng and held a gathering at the Mountain Top Dojo with his disciples and guests.
• Su Hai and Wang Li introduced Su Hui and Wang Ying, and Wang Ping approved them as potential students.
• Liu Ling and Zhao Yu'er arrived in troubled states of mind, followed by Guangxuan and Liu Chang.
• Guangxuan warned that powerful clans were causing conflicts and that Sanhe Temple was investigating illegal hunting of the Demon Race.
• Wang Ping agreed to speak with Daoist Zi Luan and urged Su Hai and Wang Li to suppress clan unrest in secret.

Wang Ping hosted Liu Chang and Guangxuan, then advised his disciples as they reported on their cultivation and concerns. Hu Qianqian warned that unfamiliar Demon Race members had appeared in Five Dao Prefecture, and Wang Ping sent her to Yang Hou to arrange a response.

• Liu Chang offered Guangxuan a secret art for cultivating a Water Spirit Vein divine soul, and Wang Ping questioned whether Liu Chang could share his father's art.
• Wang Ping rested in the garden, then gave Liu Ling a Blessing Talisman before Liu Ling prepared to attempt Foundation Establishment again in half a month.
• Wang Ping advised Zhao Yu'er to cultivate her heart and consider taking a Disciple, while Su Hai and Wang Li reported their plans for advancement.
• Hu Qianqian reported increased activity in Ningzhou Road and the arrival of unfamiliar Demon Race members in Five Dao Prefecture.
• Wang Ping told Hu Qianqian to ask Yang Hou to use the Imperial Court's authority to appoint controllable Mountain Gods to deal with the Demon Race members.

Wang Ping prepared for seclusion while Liu Shuang began the final step of entering the realm through Wood Gathering at the Mountain Top Dojo. After a long, uneventful absorption and transformation, Liu Shuang succeeded.

• Dan Chen delivered Sacred Heart Pills to Wang Ping and warned him about becoming addicted to their effects.
• Wang Ping decided to wait for more Sacred Heart Pills and for Liu Shuang to enter the realm before beginning his own fusion.
• Wang Ping gathered the Wood Spirits from the surrounding forest so Liu Shuang could absorb the spiritual meridian and fuse it with the one she had cultivated.
• Liu Shuang maintained her confidence through the long absorption, with Wang Ping, Yulian, and Daoist Yucheng keeping watch.
• Liu Shuang completed her transformation and opened her eyes after successfully entering the realm.

Liu Shuang entered the Immortal Realm through Wood Gathering, and Wang Ping later began fusing with the Huai Tree Soul’s chaotic memories. As he searched for the cause of the worlds’ destruction, he witnessed the peaceful world of the Huai Tree Soul invaded by enormous humanlike beings who wielded spells resembling those of the Yuqing and Taiyin Sects.

• Liu Shuang thanked Wang Ping for guarding her and received his advice on controlling and digesting her spirit veins after entering the realm.
• Yang Hou asked Wang Ping to approve a celebration for Liu Shuang, and the seven-day ritual gathering took place.
• Wang Ping told Yulian he would enter absolute Secluded Cultivation to fuse with the Huai Tree Soul’s memories, with her using Sacred Heart Pills to stabilize him when needed.
• Wang Ping experienced memories of shattered worlds and a collapsing universe, where a voice said, “A Saint is, in the end, still a Saint...”
• Wang Ping saw the Huai Tree Soul’s peaceful world and witnessed lightning- and decay-wielding invaders arrive, looking like gigantic humans and using spells like Yuqing and Taiyin cultivators.

Wang Ping recovered his memories after fusing with the Huai Tree's divine soul, then awoke from his exhausted sleep and told Yulian about visions of worlds consumed by fire. The chapter ended with Yulian asking whether the world beyond the realm had been destroyed.

• Wang Ping sifted through the fragmented memories until he recovered his sense of self, while ten years passed in the outside world.
• At Baishui Lake, Shen Xiaozhu trained under Yulian and lost another spar to Hu Xin, whom Hu Qianqian disciplined for hiding what she wanted to say.
• Yulian told Hu Qianqian that Wang Ping was nearing the end of his seclusion, then watched over him as he slept for three more days.
• Wang Ping awoke with tears in his eyes, remarked that autumn had come, and described visions of strange worlds wailing amid great fires.
• Yulian shared Wang Ping's visions through their Spirit Sea and asked whether the world beyond the realm had been destroyed.

Wang Ping discussed the looming turmoil and the northern war with Daoist Yucheng, who explained that the New Emperor might reward those who conquered territory with kingship. Back at the Mountain Top Dojo, Wang Ping learned that Shan Jing was secretly refining artifacts and pills for Immortal Realm cultivators and ordered Hu Qianqian to investigate further.

• Wang Ping visited Daoist Yucheng, who said he could not merge with the Huai Tree Soul while his heart demon remained unresolved.
• Daoist Yucheng told Wang Ping that the New Emperor was considering granting lands and kingship to those who fought in the northern war, and that Second Senior Brother hoped to gain merit and a share of the spoils.
• Wang Ping returned to the Mountain Top Dojo, where Hu Qianqian reported that Shan Jing was refining magical artifacts and Essence Blood Pills for cultivators entering the Immortal Realm.
• Hu Qianqian revealed that some of the people delivering materials to Shan Jing were outer members of First Day, and Wang Ping ordered her to continue investigating with help from Internal Affairs if needed.
• Hu Qianqian presented a roster of the Mountain Lords governing Five Dao Prefecture, and Wang Ping warned her to prioritize her own cultivation amid the coming chaos.

Wang Ping completed the Void Spirit Technique setup and spent the Spring Festival checking in with his disciples and allies. As he prepared to cultivate the Taiyan Talisman, Zuo Xuan sent a bloody warning that she was about to advance to the Second Realm.

• Yang Hou reported that the alchemy chamber was nearing completion, the mountain beside the Water Institute had been hollowed out, and Zi Luan's fundraising had reached halfway; Wang Ping inspected the chamber and planned to use Puppets to finish its hidden connections.
• Wang Ping summoned Guangxuan and Liu Chang to help set up the Void Spirit Technique, giving Sanhe Temple a share of the benefits while Wen Yang funded the elaborate construction.
• At the Spring Festival gathering, Wang Ping warned Liu Ling about the centuries of desolation involved in cultivating the Thousand Wood Technique, while Yulian reprimanded Liu Shuang for favoring Zhao Yu'er and worsening her emotional state.
• By May, Wang Ping had completed the Void Spirit Technique setup, with spiritual energy at 90/100 and a success rate of 70/100, and informed Wen Yang.
• Wang Ping received Puppet Zi Hong's memories and learned that Daoist Xuanhe sought to become the Daoist Scripture Hall's Fourth Seat; Wang Ping prompted Wen Yang to block him, and Wen Yang later confirmed Xuanhe had no chance.
• After Wang Ping prepared the formation for cultivating the Taiyan Talisman with the costly Jiutian Bamboo Joint, a strong stench of blood came from Winter Water Mountain as Zuo Xuan signaled that she was about to attempt advancing to the Second Realm.

Zuo Xuan endured a brutal advancement that pitted her divine soul against countless spirit entities and the Taiyin aura, while Wang Ping used a Sacred Heart Pill to help her survive. She completed her breakthrough to the Second Realm and awoke with her fused embroidery needles serving as her new arms.

• Wang Ping arrived at Winter Water Mountain and found Zuo Xuan's embroidery needles merging with bloodied tumors where her prosthetic arms had been.
• Wang Ping entered Inspiration World and saw countless spirit entities invade Zuo Xuan's divine soul as she advanced.
• Daoist Yucheng warned Wang Ping that the Taiyin aura and Yin Wind could destroy Zuo Xuan's consciousness, and told him to give her a Sacred Heart Pill if she became unstable.
• Wang Ping fed Zuo Xuan a Sacred Heart Pill and used Wood Spirit Qi to counter some of the Taiyin aura, allowing her to regain control of her divine soul.
• Zuo Xuan subdued and devoured the spirit entities, then accepted the Taiyin aura's transformation and completed her advancement to the Second Realm.
• Zuo Xuan awoke three days later, replaced her damaged arms with her fused embroidery needles, changed clothes, and bowed to Wang Ping.

Wang Ping helped Zuo Xuan manage the cost of her breakthrough and began trying to fuse the Luck Borrowing Talisman with the Spirit Talisman. Months later, Zuo Xuan and Wen Hai visited him at Thousand Wood Temple, where Wen Hai discussed joining the Earth Cave Sect and Wang Ping asked what had brought them.

• Zuo Xuan explained that a formation using Mystic Gate Righteous Qi could stabilize her divine soul, though it would suppress her cultivation and future breakthroughs.
• Wang Ping gave Zuo Xuan five Sacred Heart Pills and offered her a letter of introduction to the Shangdan Sect for future pills.
• Wang Ping set up the Soul Soothing Array with the Jiutian Bamboo Joint and repeatedly tried to fuse the Luck Borrowing Talisman and Spirit Talisman.
• In October, Zuo Xuan and Wen Hai visited Wang Ping at Thousand Wood Temple, and Wen Hai explained that Zi Luan had healed his spirit veins with the Heaven Connecting Talisman.
• Wang Ping offered to help Wen Hai join the Earth Cave Sect, then asked Zuo Xuan whether they had come about an important matter.

Wang Ping delegated an investigation into a suspected evil sacrifice to Zuo Xuan while he remained at Thousand Wood Temple and continued searching for Wulang. After Wang Li abandoned his attempt to enter the Immortal Realm, Zuo Xuan returned with evidence that the sacrifice targeted an Outer Domain Demonic Weapon, but Mozhou Road had stopped cooperating.

• Wen Hai told Wang Ping that the monitoring stations across Mozhou Road would be reestablished and reported the dead fish and Netherworld Aura along the Nanlin Road coastline.
• Wang Ping gave Zuo Xuan the case file and his inspector's ID Badge, assigned Liu Shuang to represent Thousand Wood Temple in the garrison duty, and ordered Wen Hai to keep investigating Wulang.
• Zuo Xuan asked to make Winter Water Mountain her dojo, then left to investigate the coastal case.
• Yulian told Wang Ping that Wang Li had lost his nerve and abandoned his planned Immortal Realm breakthrough, so Wang Ping ordered him to retire at the Wang Family ancestral residence.
• Zuo Xuan returned after a month and reported that Mozhou Road had ceased cooperating and that the sacrifice might be aimed at an Outer Domain Demonic Weapon that killed all life on contaminated land.

Wang Ping learned about land contamination, took in young Wang Yang, and watched the political situation shift as the Old Emperor died and the Jianwu era began. He and Yulian visited a pleasure boat, where a performance celebrating Wang Kang’s northern campaign stirred students to call for another war.

• Wang Ping asked Zuo Xuan to investigate the contamination and let her keep his inspector ID Badge for convenience.
• Yulian and Shen Xiaozhu brought Wang Yang to Wang Ping, who assigned him temple chores and arranged for him to live with the young attendants.
• Five years passed as Wang Ping advanced his talisman fusion to (4/100) and Shen Xiaozhu supervised Wang Yang’s cultivation practice.
• Yulian told Wang Ping that the Old Emperor had died and the new era name was Jianwu.
• Wang Ping and Yulian visited a pleasure boat and listened to a performance recounting Wang Kang’s campaign to reclaim North Pass.
• A young man in the audience called for the students to follow Wang Kang’s example and sweep across the snowy lands, and Wang Ping reflected that Wang Kang had become someone others admired.

Wang Ping watched the Summer Dynasty prepare for war against the Northern Kingdom as old friends and disciples moved toward their own paths. After the conscription began, Su Hai joined the northern campaign, while Xingshan prepared to enter Secluded Cultivation.

• Wang Ping visited a flower boat and an academy, where Yulian sensed that Second Senior Brother had gained a share of the world's fortune.
• In the fifth year of Jianwu, Guangxuan entered thirty years of Secluded Cultivation, and Wang Ping later welcomed Feng Miao, who delivered Xia Yao's letter and spoke of her plans to advance.
• Xia Yao's letter said the Summer Dynasty's imperial family had decided to send troops north and asked Wang Ping for support.
• In the seventh year of Jianwu, Liu Zixiu reported that the New Emperor had chosen war, and Wang Ping sent the news to Daoist Dan Chen; the court then issued nationwide conscription notices.
• Su Hai visited Wang Ping after fusing with a demonic weapon and announced he would follow the Prefectural Army north; Wang Ping approved his choice.
• Xingshan told Wang Ping that the Wang Family had slipped from his control and said he would soon enter Secluded Cultivation.

Wang Ping learned from Zi Luan that Liu Zixiu had been assassinated in Capital City, and the news was being concealed by both the Emperor and the Prefect. After discussing the assassination with Daoist Yucheng, Wang Ping decided to investigate through Internal Affairs rather than travel to Capital City immediately.

• Zi Luan told Wang Ping that Liu Zixiu had been assassinated at home three days earlier and that only seven people knew the news.
• Zi Luan urged Wang Ping to influence Liu Zixiu's Disciple to support a fiercer northern war, while Wang Ping realized the Prefect and imperial family wanted to frame each other.
• Wang Ping went to Thousand Wood Temple and told Daoist Yucheng about Liu Zixiu's death.
• Wang Ping advised Daoist Yucheng not to go to Capital City yet and proposed activating Internal Affairs' Undercover Agents to investigate.
• Daoist Yucheng agreed, and Wang Ping told Yulian to call Yang Hou.

Wang Ping prepared for a trip to the Southeast Islands to consult Xia Yao about Liu Zixiu’s movements, while arranging security and responsibilities in Nanlin Road during his absence. He sent a secret letter to Zi Luan through Zuo Xuan and left Hu Qianqian in charge of keeping Five Dao Prefecture stable.

• Wang Ping meditated at the Mountain Top Dojo and planned to investigate Liu Zixiu’s recent movements through Xia Yao in the Southeast Islands.
• Wang Ping sent a letter to Xia Yao through his Registered Disciple Zi Hong, then discussed Shen Xiaozhu’s cultivation with Yulian.
• Xia Ying delivered Xia Yao’s reply, and Wang Ping wrote back that he would visit within three months.
• Wang Ping warned Hu Qianqian and Zuo Xuan to act cautiously, remain in Nanlin Road, and keep Five Dao Prefecture orderly while he was away.
• Wang Ping gave Zuo Xuan a secret letter for Zi Luan and instructed Hu Qianqian to continue monitoring the alchemist connected to First Day without exposing their involvement.