Chapter Summaries

Wu Tao considered joining the Ethereal Void Sect and cultivated the One Law Heart-Connecting Sword Technique while advancing his artifact-refining skill. He visited Zhou Zhongguan to ask whether Zhou possessed a Tier 2 Magic Tool Refinement Secret Manual, and Zhou reacted warily.

• Wu Tao ruled out several sects and considered joining the Ethereal Void Sect, then completely refined his Heart-Connecting Spell Sword.
• Wu Tao comprehended the One Law Heart-Connecting Sword Technique and began making progress in it while selling Magic Tools to earn Spirit Stones.
• Wu Tao raised the Mystic Origin Artifact Refinement Technique to Grandmaster Level Perfection and sensed that the Golden Winged Eagle egg was close to hatching.
• Wu Tao went to Zhou Zhongguan's shop and asked whether Zhou had inherited a Tier 2 Magic Tool Refinement Secret Manual from his ancestor.
• Zhou Zhongguan acknowledged that his ancestor had been a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner and showed a trace of wariness at Wu Tao's offer to make a deal.

Wu Tao revealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation to Zhou Zhongguan and confirmed that Zhou possessed a Tier 2 Magic Tool Refinement Secret Manual. Zhou agreed to trade it if Wu Tao took his son, Zhou Jinquan, as a student of artifact refinement.

• Zhou Zhongguan cautioned Wu Tao that he should focus on building his foundations before seeking a Tier 2 Magic Tool Refinement Secret Manual.
• Wu Tao revealed his Foundation Establishment aura, surprising Zhou Zhongguan, who addressed him as Senior Han.
• Zhou Zhongguan admitted that he possessed a Tier 2 Magic Tool Refinement Secret Manual and considered aligning himself with Wu Tao.
• Wu Tao offered to trade normally for the manual, and Zhou Zhongguan asked him to take Zhou Jinquan as his artifact refinement student in exchange.

Wu Tao and Zhou Zhongguan agreed to exchange the Tier 2 Magic Tool Refinement Secret Manual for Wu Tao’s help getting Zhou Jinquan into the Ethereal Void Sect’s Artifact Refining Hall. Wu Tao returned home, removed the restriction on the manual’s wooden box, and was about to discover what it contained.

• Wu Tao refused Zhou Zhongguan’s request to take Zhou Jinquan as his disciple, then agreed to help him enter the Ethereal Void Sect’s Artifact Refining Hall instead.
• Zhou Zhongguan gave Wu Tao the wooden box containing the Tier 2 Magic Tool Refinement Secret Manual and accompanying spiritual materials, and they established a contract.
• Wu Tao returned home, ate with Chen Yao, and went to the Artifact Refining Room with the wooden box.
• Wu Tao removed the wooden box’s Magic Power Restriction after an hour.

Wu Tao studied Zhou Mingqing’s Tier 2 artifact-refining notes and learned how magic-tool grades depended on their magic restrictions. After half a month of comprehending the Geomagnetic Spell Sword’s first restriction, he prepared to practice carving it in the void and fulfill his promise to Zhou Yicheng.

• Wu Tao found Zhou Mingqing’s artifact-refining notes and a jade slip containing the Tier 2 Geomagnetic Spell Sword manual among the box’s contents.
• Wu Tao read Zhou Mingqing’s notes and learned that Tier 2 artifact refiners and magic tools had low, middle, and high grades determined by the number of magic restrictions.
• Wu Tao compared his one-restriction spell sword with the three-restriction Heart-Connecting Spell Sword and noted that the Geomagnetic Spell Sword required Geomagnetic Bright Gold Iron, which he lacked.
• Wu Tao spent half a month comprehending the Geomagnetic Spell Sword’s first magic restriction and recorded it in his personal status.
• Wu Tao stood up to begin practicing the restriction in the void and fulfill his promise to Zhou Yicheng.

Wu Tao traveled to the Five Spirit Region to get Zhou Yicheng’s address from Gu Mingsheng, then boarded a Flying Void Boat for Purple Gold Cultivation City to fulfill his contract with Zhou. On the fifth day of the voyage, the boat was suddenly attacked by a flying demonic beast.

• Wu Tao arrived in the Five Spirit Region, crossed the wilderness to West City, and visited Gu Mingsheng’s home, where he reunited with Gu Mingsheng, Li Feiyao, and Gu An.
• Wu Tao asked Gu Mingsheng for Zhou Yicheng’s address in Purple Gold Cultivation City, and Gu Mingsheng told him Zhou had stopped doing business in West City six months earlier.
• Wu Tao learned that a Flying Void Boat would soon travel to Purple Gold Cultivation City, said farewell to Gu Mingsheng’s family, and boarded it.
• On the fifth day of the voyage, the Flying Void Boat shook violently while Wu Tao was inscribing a spell restriction, indicating an attack by a flying demonic beast.

The Wind-Splitting Cloud Eagle attacked the Flying Void Boat while a worn array loop threatened to fail, forcing Zhang Shenghong to call on the passengers to power a backup array. Wu Tao joined the other rogue cultivators as they faced a crisis with only a fifty percent chance of survival.

• The Wind-Splitting Cloud Eagle attacked the Flying Void Boat, and Zhang Shenghong discovered that a damaged array loop was weakening its defenses.
• Zhang Shenghong learned that the boat’s array had not been properly inspected and activated the secondary reserve array.
• An Ethereal Void Sect disciple summoned all rogue cultivators to the second-floor deck and instructed them to channel spiritual power into the array vortexes.
• Wu Tao joined the passengers on deck and saw the Wind-Splitting Cloud Eagle battering the unstable light-screen array.
• Zhang Shenghong told the disciple that the passengers had only a fifty percent chance of surviving without another Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Wu Tao revealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation to help Zhang Shenghong stabilize the Void Boat’s formation and drive off a Wind-Splitting Cloud Eagle. Afterward, Zhang Shenghong invited him to join the Ethereal Void Sect, and Wu Tao accepted a recommendation token while postponing his decision until he handled other matters.

• Wu Tao refined and activated a second formation disk, helping Zhang Shenghong stabilize the grand array and strike the Wind-Splitting Cloud Eagle with sword radiance.
• The Wind-Splitting Cloud Eagle fled after losing two feathers, and Zhang Shenghong waited until the Void Boat left its territory before withdrawing the formation.
• Zhang Shenghong gave Wu Tao one of the eagle’s feathers and learned that he was Han Fan, a newly Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator from Ethereal Void Cultivation City.
• Zhang Shenghong invited Han Fan to join the Ethereal Void Sect and described its Foundation Establishment cultivation techniques and Grade C Cave Abodes.
• Han Fan said he had matters to settle before joining, so Zhang Shenghong gave him a recommendation token and invited him to a Foundation Establishment Trading Fair in Purple Gold Cultivation City.

Wu Tao agreed to attend a Foundation Establishment Trading Fair with Zhang Shenghong and visited Zhou Yicheng to fulfill a promise by delivering array-breaking beads. After arranging for Yu Hai to return with him, Wu Tao joined Zhang Shenghong, who asked whether he knew about the Source Qi of Spells.

• Wu Tao accepted Zhang Shenghong’s invitation to the Foundation Establishment Trading Fair and moved to the second floor to build their relationship.
• Wu Tao visited Zhou Yicheng’s medicinal herbs shop, where he reunited with Zhou Yicheng and Yu Hai.
• Wu Tao delivered thirty-six array-breaking beads to Zhou Yicheng, then sold him another thirty-six for spirit stones.
• Wu Tao arranged for Yu Hai to meet him the next morning and return with him to the Ethereal Void Cultivation City.
• Wu Tao briefly greeted Huang Ying before going to the Flying Void Boat office to meet Zhang Shenghong.
• Zhang Shenghong prepared to leave early with Wu Tao and asked him whether he knew about the Source Qi of Spells.

Wu Tao learned how Foundation Establishment cultivators used and traded the Source Qi of Spells, then accompanied Zhang Shenghong to a Foundation Establishment Trading Fair in Purple Gold Cultivation City. At the fair, he spotted the Geomagnetic Bright Gold Iron he needed, and Zhang Shenghong noticed his interest.

• Wu Tao examined a jade bottle of Source Qi of Spells and learned how it was produced and why the Seven Righteous Sects forbade their Foundation Establishment cultivators from exploiting one another for it.
• Zhang Shenghong offered to cover Wu Tao’s trading costs until he joined the Ethereal Void Sect and obtained Source Qi of Spells.
• Zhang Shenghong brought Wu Tao to the Foundation Establishment stronghold, where they encountered Chu Fang and Qi Yong at the trading fair hosted by a Purple Gold Grotto cultivator surnamed Huang.
• Zhang Shenghong introduced Wu Tao as Han Fan, a fellow daoist of the Ethereal Void Sect, before the trading began.
• Wu Tao spotted a piece of Geomagnetic Bright Gold Iron among Huang’s displayed items, and Zhang Shenghong asked whether he wanted it.

Wu Tao obtained the Geomagnetic Bright Gold Iron through Zhang Shenghong and traveled with him to Ethereal Void Cultivation City, where Yu Hai joined his household and became the shopkeeper of Wu Tao’s Magic Tool shop. After four peaceful months, Wu Tao’s status showed that he had mastered one Magic Restriction for the Geomagnetic Spell Sword to 50%.

• Wu Tao learned sound transmission and asked Zhang Shenghong to buy the Geomagnetic Bright Gold Iron, which Zhang Shenghong obtained from Fellow Daoist Huang for thirty strands of Source Qi of Spells.
• At the Trading Fair, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators discussed Heavenly Gate Mountain and the Loose Cultivator Alliance before Zhang Shenghong gave Wu Tao the Geomagnetic Bright Gold Iron.
• Before departure, Wu Tao arranged for Yu Hai to board the Flying Void Boat, introduced him to Zhang Shenghong, and told him he could bring six people into the Ethereal Void Sect.
• After ten days of travel, Wu Tao returned to Ethereal Void Cultivation City with Yu Hai, who became the Magic Tool shop’s shopkeeper; Wu Tao and Chen Yao reunited.
• Four months later, Wu Tao’s status showed his Geomagnetic Spell Sword’s single Magic Restriction at 50%.

Wu Tao spent four months advancing his artifact refining and sword technique, then went into the wilderness to test his strength as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. After killing a tier 1 Advanced Demonic Beast, he faced the Tier 2 Demonic Beast that had once threatened him, and prepared to fight it.

• Wu Tao perfected several Qi Refining spells and secret techniques, completed half of a Magic Restriction, and refined a Second-Rank Heart-Connecting Spell Sword.
• Wu Tao learned that Zhang Ming might not return to the Artifact Refining Hall and visited Yu Hai at the Magic Tool Shop to encourage him to keep cultivating.
• Wu Tao traveled into the wilderness and released his Soul-Devouring Insects, which still needed about half a year before they could advance to Tier 2.
• Wu Tao tested his One Law Heart-Connecting Sword Technique on a tier 1 Advanced Demonic Beast and killed it with Sword Radiance.
• A Tier 2 Demonic Beast swooped down at Wu Tao, and he recognized it as the beast that had threatened him before his Foundation Establishment.

Wu Tao tested his Foundation Establishment strength by killing a Tier 2 flying demonic beast, then brought its meat home and agreed to take Chen Yao into the wilderness for combat experience. Five months later, he completed the first magic restriction of the Geomagnetic Spell Sword.

• Wu Tao used his sword radiances, Azure Sky Golden Sea Bird talisman treasure, and Wind and Thunder Form to kill a Tier 2 flying demonic beast and assess his strength.
• Wu Tao returned home with the beast, and he agreed to take Chen Yao to the wilderness for combat experience while warning her not to feed Tier 2 meat to the Golden Winged Eagle.
• Wu Tao gave twenty pounds of the beast's meat to Zhang Shenghong and went with his disciple to the Flying Void Boat office.
• Five months passed, and Wu Tao saw that the Geomagnetic Spell Sword's One Magic Restriction had reached 100%.

Wu Tao completed his practice of a magic restriction and decided to borrow Earth Fire so he could forge a second-rank magic tool and become a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner. The chapter ended with Zhang Shenghong realizing Wu Tao might be an artifact refiner and asking him about it.

• Wu Tao completed a magic restriction and decided he was ready to attempt promotion to a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner.
• Wu Tao told Chen Yao he planned to ask Zhang Shenghong to help him borrow Earth Fire from the Ethereal Void Sect Artifact Refining Hall.
• Wu Tao visited Chen Xiu and Zhang Shenghong at the Ethereal Void Cultivation City Foundation Establishment Guard Station.
• Wu Tao asked Zhang Shenghong to arrange for him to borrow Earth Fire, prompting Zhang Shenghong to ask whether he was an artifact refiner.

Wu Tao secured Zhang Shenghong’s help to use Earth Fire and promote to a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner, paving the way to join the Ethereal Void Sect with Chen Yao. Zhang Shenghong brought him into the sect and introduced him to Fang Zhengqi at Earth Fire Peak.

• Wu Tao told Zhang Shenghong he sought Earth Fire to promote to a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner, and Zhang agreed to arrange it while asking Wu Tao to name him as his recommender.
• Wu Tao encountered Xu Zhongze at the Guard Station, where Xu’s companion mistakenly concluded that Wu Tao was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Wu Tao told Chen Yao that he planned to join the Ethereal Void Sect and bring her with him.
• Three days later, Zhang Shenghong took Wu Tao aboard a Flying Void Boat to the Ethereal Void Sect and led him through its mountain-guarding formations.
• Zhang Shenghong brought Wu Tao to Earth Fire Peak, where Wu Tao met Fang Zhengqi, the cultivator in charge of Earth Fire.

Wu Tao entered Earth Fire Peak to refine a Second-Rank Geomagnetic Spell Sword and advance to a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner. He completed the sword successfully, leaving Zhao Zhen and the others to assess his skill.

• Fang Zhengqi welcomed Wu Tao, gave him an artifact-refining room token and a Clear Fire Pill, and sent him down into Earth Fire Peak.
• Zhao Zhen arrived with Fang Zhengqi and Zhang Shenghong to observe Wu Tao's attempt, while Zhang Shenghong worried about losing the sect reward for recommending him.
• Wu Tao swallowed the Clear Fire Pill, adjusted his condition, and used the Fire-Taking Technique to draw earth fire cleanly on his first attempt.
• Wu Tao processed the four Tier 2 materials and refined the Geomagnetic Spell Sword using his Mystic Origin Artifact Refinement Technique.
• Wu Tao completed the sword at superior quality and recognized that he had successfully advanced to Tier 2 Artifact Refiner.

Wu Tao successfully refined the Geomagnetic Spell Sword and became a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner, then declared his intention to join the Ethereal Void Sect. At the General Affairs Hall, the sect began processing his entry, but Hong Tiebao was surprised to learn Wu Tao was joining as an artifact refiner rather than as a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator.

• Wu Tao completed the Geomagnetic Spell Sword, cleaned the borrowed Artifact Refining Room, and flew to meet Zhang Shenghong and Fang Zhengqi.
• Zhao Zhen inspected Wu Tao’s spell sword, praised his skill, and confirmed that Wu Tao intended to join the Ethereal Void Sect.
• Zhao Zhen sent Zhang Shenghong to take Wu Tao to the General Affairs Hall to complete his entry procedures.
• Hong Tiebao explained the standard benefits and obligations for a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator joining the sect.
• Zhang Shenghong clarified that Wu Tao was joining as a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner, leaving Hong Tiebao surprised that he had not been told earlier.

Wu Tao joined the Ethereal Void Sect as a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner and received upgraded treatment, including the right to choose a permanent Grade B cave abode. He selected a remote cave abode for its location and privacy, then went with Hong Tiebao and Zhang Shenghong to inspect it.

• Hong Tiebao explained Wu Tao's improved benefits and said the Artifact Refining Hall alone would manage his duties as a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner.
• Wu Tao lent his Foundation Establishment aura to make a sect token, which bore the emblems of both the Ethereal Void Immortal Peak and Earth Fire Peak.
• Hong Tiebao showed Wu Tao the cave abode map, and Zhang Shenghong explained that Wu Tao's refiner status meant he outranked other Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect.
• Wu Tao chose a Grade B cave abode far from the mountain entrance, preferring its potential escape route and its lower-grade neighbors.
• Hong Tiebao registered the cave abode and led Wu Tao and Zhang Shenghong to inspect it.

Wu Tao chose a Grade B Cave Abode and returned to Ethereal Void Cultivation City to prepare to move into the Ethereal Void Sect with Chen Yao. After telling Zhou Zhongguan about his promotion to Tier 2 Artifact Refiner, Wu Tao departed for the sect with Chen Yao and Chen Xiu.

• Hong Tiebao showed Wu Tao the Cave Abode, explained its features, and told him to register Chen Yao and his servants at the General Affairs Hall.
• Wu Tao returned home, told Chen Yao he had joined the Ethereal Void Sect, and shared the news with Chen Shan's memorial tablet; Chen Shan appeared to respond from behind his desk.
• Wu Tao told Zhou Zhongguan he had become a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner and promised to bring Zhou Jinquan into the sect's Artifact Refining Hall once he learned its procedures.
• Three days later, Wu Tao and Chen Yao boarded the Flying Void Boat, while Yu Hai stayed behind to handle matters at the Magic Tool Shop.
• Chen Xiu greeted Wu Tao and Chen Yao, asked Wu Tao for help after learning he was a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner, and agreed to bring him materials for a Magic Tool.

Wu Tao and Chen Yao arrived at the Ethereal Void Sect, settled into their Grade B Cave Abode, and registered Chen Yao as the dao companion of a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner. After learning she could select a sect cultivation technique, Wu Tao took her to the Cultivation Technique Pavilion.

• Wu Tao and Chen Yao admired the sea of clouds aboard the Flying Void Boat as Wu Tao considered his goals of forming a golden core and cultivating a spirit body.
• After a day and a half, Zhang Shenghong escorted Wu Tao and Chen Yao to their Grade B Cave Abode, where Wu Tao revealed their new home.
• Wu Tao brought Chen Yao to the General Affairs Hall, where Hong Tiebao registered her and gave her a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner Family Token.
• Hong Tiebao told Wu Tao that Chen Yao could receive a sect stipend and choose a cultivation technique practiced by Ethereal Void Sect Qi Refining disciples.
• Wu Tao explained the benefits of changing techniques, and the next day he took Chen Yao to the Cultivation Technique Pavilion.

Wu Tao visited the Ethereal Void Sect’s Cultivation Technique Pavilion with Chen Yao to choose new cultivation techniques. He selected the Six Yang Li Fire True Technique and swore an immortal oath before transcribing it, learning that the sect possessed a Nascent Soul True Lord.

• Wu Tao arrived at the Cultivation Technique Pavilion, where Liu Sishu arranged for Chen Yao to obtain the Ethereal Void Qi Refining Technique.
• Liu Sishu explained Wu Tao’s Foundation Establishment technique options, and Wu Tao chose the Six Yang Li Fire True Technique because it shared a lineage with the Sanyang Technique.
• Liu Sishu explained that Wu Tao could use a cultivation room for free until he comprehended the technique and that Chen Yao would not need merit points either.
• Liu Sishu presented the Book of Immortal Oath, which forbade Wu Tao from sharing the technique without the sect’s permission, even with Chen Yao or his descendants.
• Wu Tao recited the oath, and the Book of Immortal Oath burned away as its strange aura branded his divine sense.