Chapter Summaries

Jia Rong betrayed the island guards during the battle for Zimu Spirit Island, killing Cao Hu and helping the rogue cultivators attack. Cheng Buzheng realized the north had fallen and weighed escaping with his puppet against losing his Immortal Alliance standing and the chance to obtain Purple Jade Marrow.

• Jia Rong and Cao Hu left the island’s formation to face the rogue cultivators attacking from the north.
• Three Foundation Establishment Late Stage rogue cultivators attacked Cao Hu, and Jia Rong rushed toward the fight.
• Jia Rong turned his sword against Cao Hu, shattered his shield, and killed him, revealing his betrayal to the battlefield.
• Cheng Buzheng sensed Jia Rong leading the rogue cultivators in a slaughter and concluded that he had defected for a chance to advance his cultivation.
• Cheng Buzheng considered escaping through his Teleportation Array but worried that abandoning the battle would cost him his Immortal Alliance rewards and expose his puppet secret.

Cheng Buzheng realized the battle was turning against Zimu Spirit Island and began arranging an escape with Chu Daofeng and Shangguan Qingyu. Meanwhile, True Person Ma remained trapped in the Six-Harmony Great Array but confidently predicted he would break out and kill Heavenly Fiend within a quarter of an hour.

• A masked Golden Core evil cultivator appeared in the north, killed the guarding cultivators, and entered Zimu Spirit Island with Jia Rong and the evil cultivators.
• Cheng Buzheng warned Ye Han and Shangguan Qingyu that a Golden Core evil cultivator had arrived and told them to move toward a meeting point with him and Chu Daofeng.
• Cheng Buzheng and the others slowly shifted their battles toward the meeting point while he concealed his strength to avoid drawing the Golden Core cultivator's attention.
• True Person Ma continued attacking the Six-Harmony Great Array while Heavenly Fiend claimed the breached northern barrier meant Zimu Spirit Island could no longer resist.
• True Person Ma told Heavenly Fiend he would break out of the array and kill him within a quarter of an hour.

True Person Ren used the formation on Zimu Spirit Island to swallow the masked Golden Core heretic cultivator who attacked it. Jia Rong and the remaining heretic cultivators faced the formation without knowing the Golden Core cultivator’s fate, then some began attacking it.

• The heretic cultivators followed Jia Rong to the formation and struck its Light Screen, but their attacks left it untouched.
• The masked Golden Core heretic cultivator enlarged a bronze axe and swung it at the formation.
• True Person Ren opened a gap in the Light Screen and combined the formation’s devouring force, pulling the Golden Core cultivator inside as the gap closed.
• Jia Rong feared the hidden formation director might be a powerful Golden Core cultivator, while the remaining heretic cultivators hesitated and watched the formation.
• Heretic cultivators from the trapped Golden Core cultivator’s family ordered an attack, and the others joined after the formation failed to retaliate.

Jia Rong revealed that a hidden Golden Core cultivator was defending Zimu Spirit Island, prompting Heavenly Fiend to order the evil cultivators to retreat. Cheng Buzheng protected Shangguan Qingyu and Chu Daofeng as the guardian cultivators withdrew behind the Island Protection Array, leaving True Person Ma trapped with the remaining Golden Core evil cultivator.

• Jia Rong left the formation assault and warned Heavenly Fiend that a powerful Golden Core cultivator was hidden on Zimu Spirit Island.
• True Person Ma confronted Jia Rong about his betrayal, and Jia Rong said he had acted to advance on the Immortal Path.
• Heavenly Fiend judged that True Person Ma would soon break free and ordered the evil cultivators to retreat.
• Cheng Buzheng stopped Chu Daofeng from pursuing the retreating evil cultivators and led him and Shangguan Qingyu toward the Island Protection Array.
• The guardian cultivators fled behind the Island Protection Array, leaving only the Golden Core evil cultivator suppressing True Person Ma outside.

The heretical cultivators lifted the black fog and fled, leaving one of their Golden Core companions trapped on Zimu Spirit Island. True Person Ma returned to help True Person Ren, and the abandoned cultivator realized a Nascent Soul True Lord would soon arrive to capture him.

• The black fog and Island Protection Array vanished, and the heretical cultivators’ leader ordered a retreat as Heavenly Fiend abandoned the trapped Golden Core cultivator and fled.
• Cheng Buzheng followed the island’s defenders toward the western barrier, which shattered as True Person Ma broke free and hurried back to the island.
• True Person Ren confirmed to True Person Ma that the Purple Spirit Ancient Tree was safe while continuing to fight the trapped heretic.
• The heretical cultivator realized his companions had abandoned him and that True Person Ma had likely summoned a Nascent Soul True Lord to capture him.

After the battle on Zimu Spirit Island, the guarding cultivators discovered a Purple Spirit Ancient Tree bearing thirty-six precious fruits, and Cheng Buzheng anticipated the Immortal Alliance’s response to the attack. He hid No. 3 Puppet in a Soul-Restricting Stone box as a Nascent Soul True Lord was expected to arrive soon.

• The five-colored barrier at the island’s center shattered, revealing a Purple Spirit Ancient Tree bearing thirty-six Purple Spirit Peaches.
• A cultivator explained that the peaches could improve cultivation and repeatedly break Golden Core minor bottlenecks, while Cheng Buzheng understood why evil cultivators had attacked the island.
• A mighty voice ordered everyone not to reveal what they had witnessed, and Cheng Buzheng and the other guarding cultivators agreed.
• Cheng Buzheng assessed the guards’ heavy casualties and anticipated that their smaller squads would face more frequent missions and battles.
• Cheng Buzheng returned to his pavilion, put No. 3 Puppet into a Soul-Restricting Stone box, and prepared for the expected arrival of a Nascent Soul True Lord.

Hall Master Chu arrived at Zimu Spirit Island after the evil cultivators’ failed attack and pursued their traces to a hidden teleportation site, but they escaped. True Person Ren concluded that the carefully planned enemies had anticipated failure and would be difficult to track down.

• An old man caught a third-tier Dragon Fish, received a message on his Jade Talisman, and vanished from the cliff.
• Hall Master Chu arrived at Zimu Spirit Island, where Chu Daofeng greeted him as his grandfather and asked him to keep his identity secret.
• True Person Ma and True Person Ren explained the evil cultivators’ attack, and Hall Master Chu gathered faint traces of their auras to pursue them.
• Hall Master Chu found a hidden hall and a shattered Teleportation Array on a nearby island, but the aura trail faded and he could not locate the fleeing evil cultivators.
• True Person Ren told True Person Ma that the enemies had planned for their scheme to fail and would be difficult to track down.

Cheng Buzheng emerged from hiding and learned that his squad would keep its ten strongest members to guard the north and reinforce other battlefronts. He declined Qiao Hong’s proposal to lead the other group, then borrowed sixteen Spirit Ascension Fruits from him.

• Hall Master Chu told True Person Ma and True Person Ren that the evil cultivators had escaped through a Teleportation Array, assured them the Immortal Alliance would not blame them, and gave them a fourth-tier superior Sound Transmission Jade.
• After hiding inside a God-Restricting Stone casket for two months, Cheng Buzheng emerged, restored his magic power, and visited Qiao Hong.
• Qiao Hong explained that Cheng Buzheng’s ten-person squad would guard the north and reinforce the other battlefronts, and asked him to transfer to the other group and lead it.
• Cheng Buzheng declined the transfer, and Qiao Hong accepted his reasons.
• Cheng Buzheng asked to borrow sixteen Spirit Ascension Fruits, and Qiao Hong handed them over.

Cheng Buzheng borrowed all sixteen Spirit Ascension Fruits from Qiao Hong and continued his work defending Zimu Spirit Island. More than ten years later, the island’s garrison had recovered, and Cheng Buzheng’s squad position remained secure while Chu Daofeng’s pursuit of Shangguan Qingyu went nowhere.

• Cheng Buzheng left Qiao Hong's pavilion with all sixteen borrowed Spirit Ascension Fruits, planning to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm peak ahead of schedule.
• Cheng Buzheng met another puppet at a Qiao Rock and exchanged a Storage Bag and Magic Returning Ring before both puppets departed into the sea.
• Over the next ten years, Cheng Buzheng repeatedly rescued garrison cultivators as Demonic Beasts and Desolate Beasts attacked Zimu Spirit Island.
• As more garrison cultivators arrived, the island’s numbers rose above a hundred and its squads were replenished, though fierce assessments repeatedly changed their membership.
• Cheng Buzheng’s squad position remained secure, while Shangguan Qingyu grew slightly friendlier toward him and Qiao Hong but continued to rebuff Chu Daofeng.

Cheng Buzheng reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and manifested the Starry Sky Descends phenomenon. After testing its power, he returned to his Cave Mansion to temper his cultivation before the mission ended.

• Cheng Buzheng absorbed spiritual energy and advanced to the peak of Foundation Establishment, crediting the Spirit Ascension Fruits for speeding his progress.
• Cheng Buzheng summoned the three hundred and sixty-five gray beads of Starry Sky Descends and assessed the phenomenon's defensive and offensive potential.
• Cheng Buzheng tested Starry Sky Descends against a Flood Dragon formed from his Sword Domain World, and the phenomenon remained powerful after destroying it.
• Cheng Buzheng tested Starry Sky Descends against a dark-gold bell shield and shattered it without exhausting the phenomenon.
• Cheng Buzheng returned to his Cave Mansion and began tempering his realm so he could attempt a Golden Core breakthrough after the mission ended.

As his guarding mission ended, Cheng Buzheng received the final three Spirit Ascension Fruits and visited Qiao Hong to repay the sixteen fruits Qiao had lent him, along with three thousand Spirit Stones. Qiao Hong refused the repayment at first and then invited Cheng Buzheng to a feast six months later, leaving their friendship reaffirmed.

• Cheng Buzheng received three Spirit Ascension Fruits as the reward for controlling the Monitoring Tower for eight years.
• Cheng Buzheng went to Qiao Hong’s pavilion and gave him a storage bag containing sixteen Spirit Ascension Fruits and three thousand Spirit Stones.
• Cheng Buzheng told Qiao Hong he wanted to repay his kindness, but refused Qiao’s offer to sell the fruits to him at market price.
• Cheng Buzheng said he had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and had no use for the fruits.
• Qiao Hong invited Cheng Buzheng to a feast six months later, and they agreed on a date and place before chatting together.

Cheng Buzheng said farewell to his teammates on Zimu Spirit Island and left for a large Immortal City to turn in his completed mission and obtain Purple Jade Marrow. He departed his underwater cultivation cave, packed away his formation, and flew out of the sea.

• Cheng Buzheng exchanged farewells and promises with Shangguan Qingyu, Ye Han, Qiao Hong, and Chu Daofeng, agreeing to meet them again in six months.
• Cheng Buzheng left Zimu Spirit Island and flew away from his teammates.
• Several days later, Cheng Buzheng ended his cultivation in an underwater cave mansion and collected his belongings.
• Cheng Buzheng removed the Spirit Thunder Purgatory Array and flew from the seabed through the sea and into the sky.

Cheng Buzheng returned to Immortal Alliance City to complete his assignment guarding Zimu Spirit Island and collect his Contribution Points. With 9,101 points now in his Immortal Alliance Ring, he headed to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to exchange for resources.

• Cheng Buzheng arrived in Immortal Alliance City and went straight to the Guard Hall to turn in his assignment.
• The clerk processed Cheng Buzheng’s assignment, adding 1,680 Contribution Points to his existing balance.
• Cheng Buzheng confirmed that his Immortal Alliance Ring held 9,101 Contribution Points and exchanged salutes with the clerk.
• Cheng Buzheng left the Guard Hall and headed for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, feeling instinctive pressure as he passed Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators.

Cheng Buzheng explored the Immortal Alliance’s Myriad Treasures Pavilion and learned to use its isolated exchange chambers. He browsed the available breakthrough pills and saw how valuable Contribution Points were compared with Spirit Stones.

• Cheng Buzheng entered the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and observed cultivators using chambers whose jade markers changed from green to red when occupied.
• Cheng Buzheng entered an available second-floor Secret Chamber and found a Spirit Jade Platform and a Light Screen overlooking an immense Mustard Seed Space.
• Cheng Buzheng placed his ring in the Spirit Jade Platform’s recessed nest, activating the exchange interface.
• Cheng Buzheng browsed the breakthrough Spirit Pills and noted the costs and restrictions on the Foundation Establishment Pill, Golden Core Breaking Pill, and Nascent Soul Breaking Pill.
• Cheng Buzheng concluded that Contribution Points were more valuable than Spirit Stones because cultivators had to earn them through missions.

Cheng Buzheng explored the Myriad Treasures Pavilion’s offerings, surveying pills, arrays, artifacts, talismans, and rare materials. He found the Purple Jade Marrow he needed but postponed buying it after discovering Spirit-Devouring Immortal Gold and reading Supreme Emperor Divine Axe’s account of its mysterious forging properties.

• Cheng Buzheng examined the pill selection and noted the high prices and limited supply of advanced cultivation pills.
• Cheng Buzheng browsed the arrays, artifacts, and talismans, finding powerful high-rank items scarce and costly.
• Cheng Buzheng searched the Miscellaneous category and found Purple Jade Marrow listed for 7,500 Contribution Points, with purchases limited to one per cultivator.
• Cheng Buzheng delayed purchasing the Purple Jade Marrow and opened the Heaven and Earth Rare Items subcategory.
• Cheng Buzheng discovered Spirit-Devouring Immortal Gold listed for 90,000 Contribution Points and read Supreme Emperor Divine Axe’s note about its potential to create a treasure capable of growing into an Immortal Artifact.

Cheng Buzheng considered exchanging for Spirit-Devouring Immortal Gold to make a powerful Life-Bound Magic Treasure, but its price of ninety thousand Contribution Points was far beyond his means. He exchanged for Purple Jade Marrow instead, leaving the secret chamber with just 1,601 Contribution Points.

• Cheng Buzheng decided that he needed a Life-Bound Magic Treasure to improve his combat strength and protect himself, and he believed the Heavenly Jade Disc could help him refine one from Spirit-Devouring Immortal Gold.
• After viewing the treasures on the Spirit Jade Mirror, Cheng Buzheng exchanged 7,500 Contribution Points for Purple Jade Marrow.
• A streak of white light delivered the Purple Jade Marrow in a Big-Bellied Round Bottle, and Cheng Buzheng stored it away.
• Cheng Buzheng saw that Purple Jade Marrow and other treasures for breaking through to the Golden Core Realm were no longer available for exchange.
• Cheng Buzheng checked his Immortal Alliance Ring, confirmed that 1,601 Contribution Points remained, and left the secret chamber.

Cheng Buzheng visited the Dust World Pavilion in Minghua Immortal City and found that Cheng Liu had built a successful business with the recipes he had left behind. Cheng Liu reported that he had learned to refine Qi Gathering Pills with a forty-percent success rate, and Cheng Buzheng was pleased with his progress.

• Cheng Buzheng arrived in Minghua Immortal City and went to the busy Dust World Pavilion.
• Cheng Buzheng overheard Rogue Cultivators praise the pavilion’s affordable Spirit Meals and recognized the success of his recipes.
• Cheng Buzheng asked a server to take him to the proprietor, and Cheng Liu greeted him as Old Ancestor.
• Cheng Buzheng praised Cheng Liu’s progress and asked about his alchemy; Cheng Liu said he could refine Qi Gathering Pills with a forty-percent success rate.
• Cheng Buzheng accepted Cheng Liu’s progress as better than he had expected.

Cheng Buzheng guided Cheng Liu in cultivation and alchemy before spending six months tempering his own cultivation in Minghua Immortal City. He left seclusion to meet his teammates at Sea Suppressing Immortal City and arrived at the Immortal Gathering Hall, where Senior Qiao was waiting.

• Cheng Liu presented Cheng Buzheng with spirit beast blood collected by the Dust World Pavilion, and Cheng Buzheng urged him to keep collecting it and focus on cultivation and alchemy.
• Cheng Buzheng spent a day answering Cheng Liu's cultivation questions, then spent six days correcting his alchemy techniques.
• Cheng Buzheng rented a Class B Cave Mansion in Minghua Immortal City and spent half a year tempering his cultivation.
• Cheng Buzheng left seclusion, traveled to Sea Suppressing Immortal City, and went to the Jade Jade Pavilion to meet his teammates.
• A maid led Cheng Buzheng to the Immortal Gathering Hall, where Senior Qiao was waiting, and Cheng Buzheng opened the door.

Cheng Buzheng reunited with his teammates for a feast hosted by Qiao Hong, while Chu Daofeng speculated about Shangguan Qingyu’s feelings and began forming a plan. The gathering continued as Ye Han arrived and attendants served the group Spirit Meals, wine, and tea.

• Cheng Buzheng arrived at the Jade Jade Pavilion and greeted Qiao Hong, Chu Daofeng, and Shangguan Qingyu.
• Chu Daofeng wondered whether Shangguan Qingyu liked Qiao Hong and started devising a vague plan.
• Cheng Buzheng recalled how Chu Daofeng had once planted Azure Spirit Coral after noticing Shangguan Qingyu admire it.
• Ye Han arrived, apologized for keeping everyone waiting, and took a seat.
• Qiao Hong arranged for attendants to serve Spirit Meals, Spirit Wine, and Spirit Tea to the group.

Cheng Buzheng and his companions shared a banquet at Jade Jade Pavilion, honoring Qiao Hong for his past support. As they discussed their futures, Chu Daofeng offered Cheng Buzheng a chance to become a Second-Rank Supervision Cultivator, and Cheng decided to accept the opportunity.

• Qiao Hong toasted Cheng Buzheng, Chu Daofeng, Ye Han, and Shangguan Qingyu, and they returned his toast in gratitude for his help over the years.
• The group tasted Jade Jade Pavilion's Spirit Meals, and Cheng Buzheng considered how a skilled Spirit Chef could improve his own Dust World Pavilion's business.
• Qiao Hong said he planned to return to his sect and enter seclusion in hopes of reaching the Golden Core Realm.
• Cheng Buzheng explained that he would complete his remaining Immortal Alliance service after his rest period by taking a flexible mission.
• Chu Daofeng offered to use his connections to help Cheng Buzheng pursue a Second-Rank Supervision Cultivator post, and Cheng decided not to let the opportunity pass.