Chapter Summaries

Liu Ling advanced through the Art of Refined Wood, while Wang Ping oversaw his disciples and received new pills from Wu An. Zhang Xinghuai then proposed exploiting Emperor Jianwu’s planned northwest campaign to secure influence over its military command, leaving Wang Ping to consider how to pursue the opportunity.

• Liu Ling used force to suppress her Wood Spirit, and Wang Ping helped stabilize her as she attempted to advance.
• Liu Shuang reported that Liu Ling had successfully advanced, and Yulian cautioned Wang Ping not to disturb Zhao Yu'er during her secluded cultivation.
• Yulian told Shen Xiaozhu to prepare for a spiritual kitten to become his Spirit Pet and advised him to stop studying the Wood Soldier technique until Foundation Establishment.
• Wu An delivered superior-quality True Essence Pills and healing pills to Wang Ping, who told him he could claim his reward once he was ready.
• Zhang Xinghuai proposed taking advantage of Emperor Jianwu’s plan to settle accounts in the northwest and securing control of the campaign’s commander-in-chief appointment.

Wang Ping and his allies dealt with political upheaval and the brutal serf system while the northwest campaign moved forward. In May, a demonic weapon formed beneath the Fire Academy, drawing another Outer Realm Object and greedy Immortal Realm cultivators as Zhao Yu'er began advancing.

• Zi Luan invited Wang Ping to Jinhuai Prefecture, where they discussed the northwest and agreed that Zhang Xinghuai would handle the arrangements.
• Wang Ping witnessed the serf system around Capital City, and Zhang Xinghuai later reported that an imperial envoy had been sent to rectify the northwest smuggling route.
• After the emperor died and Xia Yao returned to Capital City, Feng Miao visited Wang Ping before heading there to seek her help in advancing to the Second Realm.
• A demonic weapon took form beneath the Fire Academy, and Wang Ping and Yulian suppressed it with Water Spirit before sealing it away.
• An Outer Realm Object appeared above the academy as Zhao Yu'er began advancing, and Yulian blocked a golden attack from greedy Immortal Realm cultivators.

Wang Ping stopped Zhao Yu'er's advancement from being overtaken by an Outer Realm Demonic Creature, but discovered that the two had fused into a precarious balance. He sealed Zhao Yu'er beneath her dojo, and ten days later she awoke and asked where her Master was.

• A dying Gold cultivator disrupted Wang Ping's restraints, allowing an Outer Realm Demonic Creature to break free as Zhao Yu'er advanced.
• Zuo Xuan and Yulian subdued the Gold cultivator while Wang Ping rushed to Zhao Yu'er's dojo and severed her body and divine soul to stop the fusion.
• The creature restored Zhao Yu'er's body, and Yulian determined that it was suppressing her rampaging Wood Spirit Spiritual Meridian and keeping her divine soul balanced.
• Wang Ping read a Blood Refining Technique guide explaining how a spirit could share a host's body, along with the risks of madness and loss of self.
• Wang Ping enclosed Zhao Yu'er's dojo in a forest and sank it underground, while warning Zuo Xuan not to be distracted during advancement.
• Ten days later, Zhao Yu'er awoke and asked Wang Ping where her Master was.

Wang Ping oversaw years of changes at Thousand Wood Temple, helped Xingshan advance, and entered secluded cultivation to complete the first half of the Taiyan Talisman. Ten years into his seclusion, he fused his divine soul with the Spirit Talisman and Luck Borrowing Talisman, but still needed to refine his array and practice using his expanded abilities.

• Wang Ping asked Huodouzi how to prevent Outer Realm Demonic Creatures from gathering, then had Yang Hou build a pit by the underground sealing site based on Huodouzi's advice.
• Over the next ten years, Wang Ping strengthened his talisman abilities while Thousand Wood Temple's disciples and officials pursued cultivation, teaching, and handovers amid unrest across the realm.
• Yang Hou stepped down from managing the inner court, chose the Art of Refined Wood, and received a Wood Spirit Spiritual Meridian and an advancement dojo from Wang Ping.
• Daoist Yucheng brought Xingshan to the Mountain Top Dojo to advance, and Xingshan successfully entered the realm.
• Wang Ping began twenty years of secluded cultivation to complete the first half of the Taiyan Talisman, and after ten years he finished fusing his divine soul with the Spirit Talisman and Luck Borrowing Talisman.

Wang Ping refined his Iron Bamboo Sword and Bing Talisman techniques, then began practicing Soul Leaving Body. His first attempts succeeded, but he learned he needed to keep part of his consciousness in his body to control his expanding spiritual meridians and resist the pull of spiritual life-forms.

• Daoist Tongyu advised Wang Ping to master his Sword Talismans in stages and coordinate his Bing Talismans in groups.
• Wang Ping tested his fourteen Iron Bamboo Swords against Yulian, whose ice defenses held until she surrendered.
• Wang Ping, Yulian, Daoist Tongyu, and Mingshui debated how to use the Bing Talismans, and Wang Ping restored the island's ecology with seeds.
• Wang Ping constructed an array and attempted Soul Leaving Body, but Yulian pulled him back when a Wood Spirit approached his soul.
• Yulian explained that Wang Ping needed to leave some consciousness in his body to suppress his expanding spiritual meridians, and he made a second, shorter attempt.

After twenty years of secluded cultivation, Wang Ping’s soul could roam the Inspiration World for two shichen, and he emerged to learn of changes across Central Province. He then traveled to Jinhuai Prefecture to seek Daoist Zi Luan’s guidance on soul cultivation and the Taiyan Talisman secret method.

• Wang Ping discovered that his soul absorbed spiritual energy on its own, while the spiritual veins in his body caused trouble whenever his soul left it.
• Wang Ping ended his secluded cultivation after the new emperor’s accession, having extended his soul’s time outside his body to two shichen and learned to cleanse extensive assimilation quickly.
• Zhao Wan reported that Princess Xia Yao had gained a portion of the National Destiny, the northwest remained unstable, and new demonic soldiers and spirits were emerging.
• Zuo Xuan warned Wang Ping that Rogue Cultivators were coveting his lands, while Wang Ping later spent a day and night discussing cultivation with Daoist Yucheng.
• Wang Ping visited Daoist Zi Luan, heard that Zhang Xinghuai’s plan was weakening the Imperial Guard in the northwest, and manifested his soul to ask for guidance.

Wang Ping completed the first half of the third volume of the Taiyan Talisman and met Lord Xiaoshan to exchange memories of the Huai Tree. Lord Xiaoshan judged Wang Ping valuable enough to advance to the Third Realm and gave him the secret method for the latter half of the volume.

• Zi Luan praised Wang Ping's stable soul, gave him a personal letter for Lord Xiaoshan, and warned that great fortune could make reaching the Third Realm difficult.
• After Wang Ping left, Zi Luan divined that Wang Ping's fortune would attract attention and said he would watch Xiu Yu perform, while ordering the Qi practitioner to search for Wulang.
• Wang Ping presented Zi Luan's letter at the Six Hearts Sect and met Lord Xiaoshan in the forest courtyard.
• Lord Xiaoshan asked what Wang Ping had seen in the Huai Tree's memories, and Wang Ping described civilizations destroyed by calamities while concealing that he had seen life like humans.
• Lord Xiaoshan shared his own blurred memories of forests, a steel city, and a civilization-ending disaster, then declared Wang Ping valuable enough to reach the Third Realm.
• Lord Xiaoshan sent the secret method for the latter half of the third volume of the Taiyan Talisman into Wang Ping's memories.

Wang Ping learned the requirements and dangers of advancing to the Third Realm, and Lord Xiaoshan offered him protection at the Six Hearts Sect when he reached the final step. After thanking Zi Luan, Wang Ping visited Baishui Lake, where Hu Qianqian shared news of her cultivation progress and Yulian offered to test her strength.

• Wang Ping read the Taiyan Talisman guide, learned he had completed the soul-strengthening step and possessed a soul seed, and noted the dangers posed by Third Realm true spirits.
• Lord Xiaoshan told Wang Ping to preserve his humanity and seek secluded cultivation at the Six Hearts Sect when he neared advancement, offering protection in return for their shared lineage and future alliance.
• Wang Ping left the Six Hearts Sect with Yulian, visited Zi Luan to thank her, and then headed to Baishui Lake to fish and grill fish.
• At Baishui Lake, Wang Ping found Hu Qianqian cultivating in her blessed grotto-heaven, and she said her false core had grown more solid and she was nearing the Second Realm.
• Yulian eagerly offered to test Hu Qianqian's strength.

After spending time at Baishui Lake, Wang Ping returned to Thousand Wood Mountain and replied to Liu Shuang’s invitation. Liu Shuang visited the unstable Zhao Yu'er, then prepared to bring her new disciple, Yang Rong, to see Wang Ping.

• Yulian and Hu Qianqian ended their duel at Baishui Lake, where Hu Qianqian discussed her cultivation and her disciple with Yulian and Wang Ping.
• After half a month at Baishui Lake, Wang Ping returned to Thousand Wood Mountain, reported to Daoist Yucheng, and chose invitations from several acquaintances to answer.
• Liu Shuang visited Zhao Yu'er, who asked to be released from her restricted dojo, but Liu Shuang urged her to keep cultivating and promised to return in half a year.
• Liu Shuang returned to her dojo and encouraged Yang Rong after hearing about her progress in the Evergreen Cultivation Technique.
• After receiving Wang Ping’s reply, Liu Shuang decided to take Yang Rong to the Mountain Top Dojo, and they dressed in new Daoist Robes before setting out.

Wang Ping advised Liu Shuang on her cultivation and helped her steady her emotions before spending time playing Go with her and Yang Rong. As he continued designing a Puppet for his advancement, Zhao Wan and Zhang Xinghuai arrived at the dojo, where Zhang warned him that internal strife could jeopardize Wang Ping’s plans for Central Province.

• Wang Ping discussed a spiritually suitable Puppet design with Daoist Tongyu, then welcomed Liu Shuang and Yang Rong to the courtyard.
• Wang Ping gave Liu Shuang an array to help her expand her spirit veins and warned her to preserve her human emotions; Yulian explained that Zhao Yu'er’s divine soul was stirring Liu Shuang’s negative emotions.
• Wang Ping played Go with Liu Shuang and Yang Rong, encouraging Yang Rong after she narrowly lost two games.
• Wang Ping continued designing the Puppet and later arranged for a Puppet to refine Power Pills.
• Zhang Xinghuai warned Zhao Wan that conflict between the temple’s courts could become bloody and disrupt their arrangements for Central Province.
• Zhang Xinghuai reminded Zhao Wan that Wang Ping and other powerful figures watched the temple closely, then a Young Disciple announced that Wang Ping had summoned them.

Wang Ping resumed secluded cultivation to prepare for the Third Realm and worked to refine his body into a spiritual body. His first attempt began successfully but nearly caused his body to lose its normal form, though it raised his success rate slightly.

• Wang Ping told Zhang Xinghuai he would enter secluded cultivation until he reached the Third Realm and directed him to seek help from Zuo Xuan or Yulian if needed.
• Wang Ping completed a Puppet and later obtained a Wood Spirit Puppet with 83/100 compatibility.
• Wang Ping borrowed an energy-isolating cultivation hall from Daoist Zi Luan and summoned Zuo Xuan to guard him.
• Wang Ping and Yulian meditated in the hall before Wang Ping began refining his Physical Body into a spiritual body.
• Wang Ping’s spiritual veins grew wildly during the refinement attempt, so Yulian pulled his divine soul from the Puppet and Wang Ping restored his body.
• Wang Ping noticed that his body had briefly felt unfamiliar and that his success rate had risen from 31/100 to 32/100.

Zhang Xinghuai and Wang Yang discussed the Wang Family’s plans to gain military influence in the northwest while preparing for a senior scholar’s advancement. On Cloud Sea Grassland, Xia Yao struggled to refine her spiritual veins and discussed how Lord Xiaoshan’s advancement could disrupt the world’s balance, leaving her uneasy about a deeper scheme.

• Zhang Xinghuai cultivated spiritual veins while reading Human Way and welcomed Wang Yang to Dingxia Courtyard.
• Zhang Xinghuai and Wang Yang discussed placing Wang Family members in the northwest and securing a position among the Generals of Nanlin Road.
• Zhang Xinghuai dismissed rumors about Martial Granduncle’s advancement and ordered Liu Huai to suppress discussion of it among students and Cultivators.
• Xia Yao vomited Water Spirit crystals after failing to refine the spiritual veins around her Qi Sea, though she said she had found a way forward.
• Xia Yao and Jiang Cun discussed Lord Xiaoshan’s impending advancement, the risk of bloodshed in Central Province, and the possibility of a deeper arrangement by a True Lord.
• Xia Yao said she hated feeling like livestock awaiting slaughter as she and Jiang Cun looked over Cloud Sea City.

Wang Ping completed the refinement of his Physical Body into a spirit body after five years of secluded cultivation, merging it with his soul while retaining his humanity. He and Yulian prepared to leave the underground cultivation site.

• Zuo Xuan rebuked Zuo Liang for believing rumors about Daoist Changqing and sent her north to gain experience.
• Wang Ping’s refinement success rate reached 99/100, but he could not complete the final step of assimilating his Physical Body.
• Wang Ping and Yulian discussed the transformation of life into spirit bodies, then prepared to refine his Physical Body.
• Wang Ping used his soul to suppress the spiritual veins while Yulian linked their Qi Seas, and the refinement finished after three days and three nights.
• Wang Ping merged his soul with his refined body, confirmed he could still breathe and enter Inspiration World, then left the cultivation site with Yulian.

Wang Ping spent a brief respite at Baishui Lake before examining and refining the Soul Lure given to him by Daoist Zi Luan. After successfully fusing it with a blank talisman, he began planning a costly Lightning Law Altar to prepare for the Lightning Tribulation.

• Wang Ping defeated Zuo Xuan’s embroidery-needle array with his Luck Borrowing Talisman, then joined her for tea and fishing at Baishui Lake.
• Hu Qianqian reported that the sheep demon alchemist’s advancement artifacts had led to a Gold cultivator connected to Daoist Wulang, and Wang Ping ordered her to report any further news.
• Hu Qianqian told Wang Ping that Wen Hai had joined Pingdong Gate and had a strong chance of advancing to the Second Realm.
• After returning to his dojo, Wang Ping used a Soul Lure to gather spiritual energy, refined it in eleven days, and fused it with a blank talisman.
• Wang Ping estimated that constructing the Lightning Law Altar would cost six to seven million taels, then decided to use Yang Thunder stones in key sections and Thunder Gold elsewhere.

After gathering the materials for the Lightning Law Altar, Wang Ping prepared to advance to the Third Realm and learned the rules and obligations governing the breakthrough. Zi Luan agreed to protect him as he began the attempt.

• Wang Ping raised his soul's familiarity with spiritual energy to 76/100, spent two years gathering the Lightning Law Altar's materials, and completed the altar in a month.
• After receiving a good omen, Wang Ping wrote letters to his friends, instructed his disciples before entering secluded cultivation, and traveled with Yulian to the Six Hearts Sect.
• Lord Xiaoshan explained that Third Realm cultivators needed a true spirit's slot and that Wang Ping could skip the usual approval process if he served the Daoist Scripture Hall for two hundred years after advancing.
• Lord Xiaoshan told Wang Ping he would be granted a Third Seat position after a vote and sent him to a Wood Spirit-rich dojo.
• Zi Luan welcomed Wang Ping and offered to protect him during his breakthrough.

Daoist Yucheng gathered Sanhe Prefecture cultivators to coordinate intervention in the Northwest Four Routes and discuss Changqing’s bid for a Third Seat. The group agreed to cooperate in the northwest and considered targeting Yuan Hu, while Yucheng warned that their next objective could be the Three Roads to Shangjing region.

• Daoist Yucheng met Daoist Yuanzheng, Wen Yang, Yang Ye, Liaoyuan, Old Daoist Wu, and Lin Chen at the gathering, where Lin Chen reported several absences and departures.
• Daoist Yucheng proposed intervening in the Northwest Four Routes, and the attendees pledged to send people, intelligence, and resources through their respective networks.
• Daoist Yucheng said the group would divide the spoils individually and asked Wen Yang and Old Daoist Wu to avoid unnecessary conflict with the two northwest Prefects.
• Daoist Yuanzheng offered Nine Revolutions Pills for information about Yuan Hu, and Liaoyuan urged the group to capture the Shangdan Sect traitor themselves.
• The attendees discussed supporting Changqing’s Third Seat vote, with Wen Yang and Daoist Yuanzheng promising help despite expected opposition.
• Daoist Yucheng said the northwest operation was only the beginning and named the Three Roads to Shangjing region as their likely next target.

Wang Ping drew the Heaven Connecting Talisman and endured the resulting Lightning Tribulation, advancing toward the Third Realm as his soul absorbed spiritual energy to become a Primordial Spirit. The tribulation devastated the area around the Six Hearts Sect, but the Wood Spirit Qi revived the scorched land as Wang Ping’s transformation continued.

• Yucheng and Wen Yang discussed plans to exploit the coming upheaval and secure a place in the Fourth Realm, while Lin Chen reported that Guangxuan’s advancement was progressing well.
• Wang Ping suppressed his human memories with Yulian’s help and drew the Heaven Connecting Talisman, then crushed Si Ran’s Primordial Spirit before it could reveal a secret.
• A bolt of lightning struck Wang Ping, and his manifested Wood Spirit Qi spread across the region, drawing a violent storm that damaged Jinhuai Prefecture and its crops.
• Wang Ping used the Lightning Law Altar and Purgatory Banner to divert most of the Lightning Tribulation and survive its strike.
• Wang Ping used the Heaven Connecting Talisman to absorb spiritual energy, while Wood Spirit Qi restored the scorched land and his soul began forming a Primordial Spirit.

Wang Ping completed his advancement to the Third Realm, forming a Primordial Spirit and learning to wield the Wood Spirits around him. After he demonstrated his new abilities, Zi Luan congratulated him and passed on the first half of the fourth volume of the Taiyan Talisman on the Prefect’s behalf.

• Xiu Yu praised Wang Ping’s potential, then left for the western forest with a giant eagle while Zi Luan watched over Wang Ping’s advancement.
• Wang Ping stabilized his soul, regained his humanity, and formed a Primordial Spirit after forty days of cultivation.
• Wang Ping merged his Primordial Spirit with his spirit-body, absorbed the Wood Spirit Qi nearby, and suppressed the consciousness of the spiritual veins within him.
• Wang Ping used the Wood Spirits to create a sentient Wood Soldier, restore the destroyed forest, and explain his new talismans and power to Yulian.
• Zi Luan congratulated Wang Ping, invited him for tea, and gave him the first half of the fourth volume of the Taiyan Talisman on the Prefect’s behalf.

After reaching the Third Realm, Wang Ping received the Taiyan Talisman cultivation method and was appointed Pacification Commissioner of the Daoist Scripture Hall on Nanlin Road. As he prepared to take office and planned a ceremony, an unexpected visitor from his past sent him a calling card.

• Zi Luan gave Wang Ping the first part of the Taiyan Talisman method and told him the Third Seat vote would take place on the third day of the ninth month.
• Zi Luan announced that the Prefect had appointed Wang Ping Pacification Commissioner and required him to pay three million taels to compensate Jinhuai Prefecture's farmers for crop damage.
• Wang Ping returned to Thousand Wood Temple, confirmed Daoist Yucheng's spirit veins could still be saved, and told his Master he would take the commissioner post; Daoist Yucheng agreed to handle preparations.
• Wang Ping received visits from cultivators across Nanlin Road, while Thousand Wood Temple and Six Hearts Sect disciples began compensating the damaged farmers.
• Wang Ping brought Hu Qianqian, Liu Shuang, and Zuo Xuan to Jinhuai Prefecture to prepare his appointment ceremony, then received a calling card from Ajiu.

He Jiu arrived at the Daoist Scripture Hall in Nanlin Road seeking work from Wang Ping, who was preparing to take over as Pacification Commissioner. After He Jiu revealed what he knew about Xuanhe’s network on Mozhou Road, Wang Ping assigned Liu Shuang to arrange an investigation; Taishan then arrived and confronted Zi Luan.

• He Jiu was escorted from the crowded front hall to meet Wang Ping and Zi Luan in the backyard.
• He Jiu explained that Xuanhe had built a network across more than half of Mozhou Road and had once recruited him into the Inspection Team.
• Zi Luan told Wang Ping that Xuanhe had been connected to the True Sun Sect, the Earth Cave Sect, the Taiyin Sect, and the First Day, and warned that he was dangerous.
• He Jiu offered to gather intelligence, and Wang Ping questioned him about his lack of contact with Xuanhe before assigning Liu Shuang to handle his request for work.
• Taishan arrived, greeted Wang Ping, and teased Zi Luan for remaining involved after stepping down.