Chapter Summaries

Wu Tao attended Ji Lingxu’s Golden Core Ceremony, then returned to forging immortal boat components as the work continued. One year and six months later, he successfully advanced to Spirit Body Layer 3.

• Wu Tao and four other Tier 2 Artifact Refiners left Earth Fire Peak to attend Ji Lingxu’s Golden Core Ceremony at Ethereal Void Immortal Peak.
• Wu Tao greeted Feng Yuan, Guan Peng, and Li Zhi, then spoke with Qin Yi before returning to his fellow artifact refiners.
• Xiong Tian arrived with Xiong Chao'an, and Golden Core cultivators from the six sects gathered to congratulate Ji Lingxu.
• Ji Lingxu appeared and exchanged congratulations with Pei Qing, then the ceremony ended and Wu Tao returned to forging immortal boat components.
• After one year and six months, Wu Tao practiced the Star Body Tempering Technique and broke through to Spirit Body Layer 3.

Wu Tao broke through to Spirit Body Layer 3 and reviewed his cultivation progress and plans to advance as an artifact refiner and forge a body avatar. Chen Yao then broke through to Qi Refining Layer 9, and Wu Tao celebrated with her.

• Wu Tao broke through to Spirit Body Layer 3 and sensed that his body, divine sense, and spiritual-power perception had grown stronger.
• Wu Tao reviewed his cultivation and techniques, then planned to study more Tier 2 Intermediate Magic Restrictions and search the Merit Hall for materials to forge a body avatar.
• Wu Tao sensed that Chen Yao had reached Qi Refining Layer 9 after cultivating with the resources he had provided.
• Chen Yao excitedly told Wu Tao about her breakthrough and teased him about a reward.
• Wu Tao congratulated Chen Yao and said her breakthrough called for a celebration, and they returned to their room together.

Wu Tao refined immortal boat components, studied Tier 2 Intermediate Magic Restrictions, and gathered spiritual materials for a body avatar while steadily cultivating. After more than five months, he broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 4 and entered the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

• Wu Tao returned to Earth Fire Peak, refined immortal boat components, and found that his Spirit Body Layer 3 cultivation slightly increased his Six Yang Li Fire True Technique’s progress.
• Wu Tao exchanged for Tier 2 Intermediate defense, attack, and flight Magic Restrictions and told Zhao Zhen he still needed time to advance as an artifact refiner.
• Wu Tao obtained six spiritual materials for refining a body avatar from the Merit Hall and asked Xiang Jiyuan to watch for the two he still lacked.
• Wu Tao cultivated steadily for more than five months, raising his Six Yang Li Fire True Technique to 99% progress.
• Wu Tao consumed Magic Power Pills and Source Qi of Spells, then broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 4 and the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

After breaking through to Foundation Establishment Layer 4, Wu Tao inspected his increased strength and continued his steady cultivation while waiting for the spiritual materials needed to cultivate a Body Avatar. The Merit Hall disciple finally informed him that the materials had been gathered, leaving Wu Tao ready to collect them.

• Wu Tao assessed his new Foundation Establishment Layer 4 strength and reviewed his cultivation progress and plans to cultivate a Body Avatar.
• Wu Tao went to the Merit Hall, where Xiang Jiyuan told him the two required types of spiritual materials had not yet arrived.
• Wu Tao decided to wait another half month for the materials before spending his Merit Points on the Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refining Secret Manual.
• Wu Tao returned to his usual routine of refining immortal boat components and cultivating, without telling Chen Yao about his breakthrough.
• Seven days later, a Merit Hall disciple told Wu Tao that Xiang Jiyuan had gathered the spiritual materials he needed.

Wu Tao collected the nine spiritual materials needed to forge a body avatar and left the Ethereal Void Sect to avoid drawing the notice of powerful cultivators. He found a remote mountain peak and prepared to begin forging the avatar.

• Wu Tao rewarded a Merit Hall disciple, then accompanied him to the hall, where Xiang Jiyuan handed over the two spiritual materials Wu Tao had requested.
• Wu Tao checked the nine spiritual materials required for the body avatar and decided to leave the sect to forge it somewhere secluded.
• Wu Tao told Chen Yao he might be gone for up to two months, then asked Zhao Zhen for leave from the Artifact Refining Hall.
• Wu Tao left the Ethereal Void Sect and spent a day searching for a safe place to forge the body avatar.
• Wu Tao found a mountain peak with no second-tier demonic beasts and decided to forge the body avatar there.

Wu Tao prepared a hidden cave and forged a Body Avatar using spiritual materials, his heart blood, and part of his divine sense. After awakening and naming it Wu Xuan, he recovered most of his strength and headed for Ethereal Void Cultivation City to settle the avatar before returning to the sect.

• Wu Tao released a Second-Rank Soul-Devouring Insect, set up the Small Five Elements Inversion Formation, and dug a concealed cave to forge his Body Avatar in private.
• Wu Tao refined nine spiritual materials into a human-shaped embryo, then sacrificed heart blood and ten miles of divine sense to complete the Body Avatar.
• Wu Tao awakened the avatar, named him Wu Xuan, and ordered him to stand guard while Wu Tao recovered.
• After recovering seven or eight-tenths of his strength, Wu Tao merged Wu Xuan into his shadow and packed up the cave.
• Wu Tao recalled the Soul-Devouring Insect, put away the formation, and flew toward Ethereal Void Cultivation City on his Purple Wing Boat.

Wu Tao encountered Deng Ming, a wounded Foundation Establishment cultivator from the remnants of Heavenly Gate Mountain who sought revenge on the Six Immortal Dao Sects. Deng Ming attacked Wu Tao, but Wu Tao summoned his Body Avatar and forced him to flee into the wilderness.

• Deng Ming recovered from his injuries, left his hidden cave, and resolved to meet other survivors of his branch.
• Deng Ming spotted Wu Tao returning toward Ethereal Void Cultivation City and decided to kill him, believing his higher cultivation gave him the advantage.
• Deng Ming pretended to be an Ethereal Void Sect cultivator, then attacked Wu Tao when asked to show his identity token.
• Wu Tao defended himself with the Heart-Connecting Sword Technique and summoned his Body Avatar, which attacked Deng Ming with the Inverse Dragon Spear.
• Deng Ming fled into the wilderness, but Wu Tao and his Body Avatar pursued him while continuing their attacks.

Wu Tao killed Deng Ming and sent his disguised Body Avatar Wu Xuan to join the Ethereal Void Sect, while he headed back toward the sect himself. Wu Xuan secured Chen Xiu’s help and a ride on the Flying Void Boat, leaving Chen Xiu to arrange for Zhang Shenghong to cover his post.

• Wu Tao and Wu Xuan defeated Deng Ming, and Wu Xuan’s spear strike shattered his defensive robe before the Heart-Connecting Sword Radiance annihilated him.
• Wu Tao traveled to the wilderness outside Ethereal Void Cultivation City, transformed Wu Xuan into an unremarkable middle-aged rogue cultivator, and commanded him to join the Ethereal Void Sect and gather information about the Righteous-Demonic War.
• Wu Tao sent Wu Xuan into the city to seek out its Foundation Establishment garrison, Chen Xiu, while he rode the Purple Wing Boat back toward the sect.
• Wu Xuan told Chen Xiu he wanted to join the Ethereal Void Sect, and Chen Xiu welcomed him and promised him a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique.
• Chen Xiu introduced Wu Xuan to Zhang Shenghong and asked him to garrison the city while Chen Xiu escorted the newcomer to the sect on the Flying Void Boat.

Wu Tao returned to the Ethereal Void Sect after refining his Body Avatar and resumed his artifact-refining work while planning to use the avatar to learn about the battlefield. He learned that Wu Xuan had joined the sect and was invited to attend Wu Xuan’s initiation ceremony at the General Affairs Hall.

• Wu Tao returned to his cave abode, reassured Chen Yao that he had not been attacked, and spent the night with her.
• Wu Tao reported back to Zhao Zhen, then went to Earth Fire Peak to resume refining immortal boat components.
• Wu Tao planned to stay in the sect, recover from refining his Body Avatar, and gather merit points toward becoming a Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refiner.
• Feng Yuan told Wu Tao that another Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator had joined the sect, and Wu Tao realized it was his Body Avatar, Wu Xuan.
• Wu Tao and Feng Yuan met Guan Peng and Li Zhi, visited Wu Xuan, and accepted his invitation to attend his initiation ceremony at the General Affairs Hall in ten days.

Wu Tao monitored his body avatar Wu Xuan’s admission to the Ethereal Void Sect, then spent six months accumulating Merit Points and studying a Tier 2 Intermediate Defensive Magic Tool manual. He prepared to advance as an artifact refiner, with Zhao Zhen arranging materials and inviting other refiners to observe.

• Wu Tao learned about Wu Xuan’s sect terms and confirmed that the avatar’s disguised aura had allowed it to join without detection.
• Wu Tao attended Wu Xuan’s initiation ceremony, where Ji Lingxu appeared, welcomed the new disciple, and spoke with Wu Tao.
• Over the next half year, Wu Xuan completed a land reclamation mission while Wu Tao accumulated enough Merit Points to obtain and master a Tier 2 Intermediate refinement manual.
• Wu Tao told Zhao Zhen he intended to refine a Tier 2 Intermediate Magic Tool, and Zhao Zhen offered to cover the Spiritual Materials.
• Wu Tao agreed to let Junior Brother Fan and the other artifact refiners observe, and Zhao Zhen arranged three portions of materials in case the first attempt failed.

Wu Tao prepared to attempt refining a Tier 2 Intermediate Defensive Magic Tool, while Zhao Zhen assembled several artifact refiners to observe his advancement. The group reached Earth Fire Peak, where Wu Tao began restoring his condition as the spiritual materials arrived.

• Zhao Zhen arranged for Fan Zhifeng, He Changcheng, Han Zhen, and Jiang Lian to watch Wu Tao refine a Tier 2 Intermediate Magic Tool, and Gao Xing asked to see Wu Tao afterward instead of attending.
• Fan Zhifeng and the others congratulated Wu Tao and thanked him for allowing them to observe his refining process.
• Zhao Zhen led Wu Tao and the four artifact refiners to Earth Fire Peak, where Wu Tao said he planned to refine a ten-restriction Tier 2 Intermediate Defensive Magic Tool.
• Wu Tao sat down to restore his condition with a Magic Power Pill while Zhao Zhen inspected the delivered spiritual materials.

Wu Tao refined an Azure Cloud Magic Robe and successfully advanced to a Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refiner, earning Zhao Zhen and the others’ congratulations. Zhao Zhen told him the Artifact Refining Hall had new arrangements and that Gao Xing wanted to see him, where Wu Tao expected to receive a reward.

• Wu Tao inspected the Spiritual Materials, reviewed defensive Magic Restrictions, and demonstrated his Earth Fire drawing and artifact-refining techniques to Zhao Zhen, Fan Zhifeng, and the other refiners.
• Wu Tao deliberately failed his first attempt at refining the Azure Cloud Magic Robe, then recovered and successfully completed it on his second attempt.
• Zhao Zhen confirmed the robe met the standard and recognized Wu Tao as a fellow Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refiner, while Fan Zhifeng and the others congratulated him.
• Zhao Zhen sent Fan Zhifeng and the others away to reflect on what they had learned, then told Wu Tao to keep refining Immortal Boat components and visit Gao Xing after work.
• Wu Tao went to the Artifact Refining Hall and asked Zhao Zhen why Gao Xing wanted to see him; Zhao Zhen said the hall would reward him for advancing.

Wu Tao advanced to Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refiner and received a reward from the Artifact Refining Hall, though Hall Master Wen Xingrui could not grant the Foundation Establishment Pill he wanted for Chen Yao. Wu Tao chose spells and an artifact-refining manual, received Wen Xingrui’s Sword Letter Magic Tool for free, and left with Zhao Zhen carrying the copied manual.

• Wen Xingrui praised Wu Tao’s advancement and offered him a reward, but said the Righteous-Demonic War prevented him from granting a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Wu Tao chose spells as his reward, and Wen Xingrui gave him a Magic Talisman to select them and the Sword Letter Magic Tool for free.
• Wen Xingrui told Zhao Zhen to take Wu Tao to select a Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refining Secret Manual, then told Gao Xing he believed Wu Tao could become a Tier 3 Artifact Refiner.
• Zhao Zhen informed Zhang Ming that Wu Tao had advanced, prompting Zhang Ming to address him as Senior Uncle Han.
• Wu Tao selected a manual for a magic tool with eighteen magic restrictions, and Zhao Zhen gave him a copied Sword Letter Magic Tool Refining Manual to keep.

Wu Tao celebrated his promotion to Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refiner, began studying a higher-grade immortal boat refining manual, and chose a powerful Foundation Establishment sword spell. After arranging for Wu Xuan to exchange mission Merit Points for materials, Wu Tao went to Earth Fire Hall, where Zhao Zhen told him the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm would open ahead of schedule.

• Wu Tao told Chen Yao about his advancement and shared the news with Chen Shan's memorial tablet.
• Zhao Zhen brought Wu Tao to Earth Fire Hall, gave him an entry token, and assigned him to forge higher-grade immortal boat components.
• Wu Tao studied part of the immortal boat refining secret manual, then returned it because the hall's rules prohibited him from keeping it.
• At the Cultivation Technique Pavilion, Wu Tao returned Wen Xingrui's magic talisman and chose the Ethereal Void Five Elements Sword Scripture.
• Wu Tao summoned his Body Avatar, Wu Xuan, and directed it to exchange 10,000 Merit Points for spiritual materials.
• At Earth Fire Hall, Zhao Zhen told Wu Tao that the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm would open ahead of schedule.

Wu Tao learned that the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm would open early for the Righteous-Demonic War and worried about obtaining enough Foundation Establishment Pills for Chen Yao. He agreed to let her enter after preparing her with protective artifacts and arranging for his Body Avatar, Wu Xuan, to watch over her; Chen Yao departed for the gathering point while Wu Tao returned to the Artifact Refining Hall.

• Zhao Zhen told Wu Tao that the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm would open early so the sects could gather herbs and refine more Foundation Establishment Pills for the Righteous-Demonic War.
• Chen Yao told Wu Tao she wanted to enter the secret realm to gather herbs and earn a Foundation Establishment Pill, and Wu Tao asked for two days to consider her request.
• Wu Xuan delivered the materials for Wu Tao's Sword Letter Magic Tool and said he would oversee the Qi Refining disciples outside the secret realm.
• Wu Tao agreed to Chen Yao's plan and introduced her to Wu Xuan, whom she did not recognize as Wu Tao's Body Avatar.
• Wu Tao spent the following days refining protective Trump Cards for Chen Yao, then watched her depart for the secret realm's gathering point.

Chen Yao prepared to leave for the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm, and Wu Tao came to see her off before the Flying Void Boat departed. The boat carried her and the other Qi Refining disciples beyond the sect, leaving Wu Tao to return to the Artifact Refining Hall.

• Wu Tao turned his Purple Wing Boat around and headed to the External Affairs Hall so he could watch Chen Yao leave the sect.
• Chen Yao arrived at the External Affairs Hall and reunited with Lu Feixue and two male cultivators she had traveled with before; she had received a quota without competing for it.
• On the Flying Void Boat, Ji Lingxu probed Yao Guangsheng about his exchange of blows with Pei Qing, while Feng Yuan and Wu Xuan discussed Chen Yao’s presence in the secret realm party.
• Wu Tao arrived on the boat’s second-floor deck, greeted Ji Lingxu and Yao Guangsheng, then stood beside Wu Xuan and Feng Yuan to watch Chen Yao below.
• Chen Yao looked up and met Wu Tao’s gaze as the party prepared to depart.
• Wu Tao watched the Flying Void Boat leave the sect, then turned back toward the Artifact Refining Hall.

Wu Tao began studying immortal boat refining manuals as a Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refiner while planning to improve his cultivation during Chen Yao’s two-month absence. On the Flying Void Boat, Chen Yao learned from Lu Feixue and two fellow disciples how the group could reunite inside the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm.

• Wu Tao arrived late at the Earth Fire Hall after seeing Chen Yao off, and Zhao Zhen acknowledged that the Artifact Refining Hall had secured her a secret-realm quota but could not obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill for her.
• Zhao Zhen gave Wu Tao a token granting him the same access to immortal boat secret manuals as other Tier 2 Intermediate Artifact Refiners, and Wu Tao began studying them in a separate room.
• Wu Tao reviewed his cultivation progress and planned to spend three hours daily comprehending the manuals, cultivate the Six Yang Li Fire True Technique, and study the Ethereal Void Five Elements Sword Scripture after work.
• Aboard the Flying Void Boat, Chen Yao reflected on her determination to seek a Foundation Establishment Pill herself and welcomed Lu Feixue and two male cultivators into her room.
• Lu Feixue and the male cultivators explained that only Qi Refining cultivators could enter the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm, and that induction talismans would let sect members sense and reunite with one another within fifty miles.

Chen Yao entered the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm alone after the disciples of the Seven Immortal Sects gathered and opened its entrance. Wu Tao remained in the Ethereal Void Sect, thinking of Chen Yao before returning to his studies and cultivation.

• Chen Yao privately decided to act alone, though she told Lu Feixue and the others she would try to meet up with them.
• Yang Qi distributed Induction Talismans to the sixty Ethereal Void Sect disciples and urged them to help one another in the secret realm.
• After fifteen days, the Seven Immortal Sects' Formation Masters opened the realm, and the Qi Refining Layer 9 disciples flew inside.
• The entrance separated Chen Yao from Lu Feixue and the others; she landed, killed a Tier 1 Intermediate Demonic Beast, and set up the Three Extremes Water and Fire Sword Formation.
• Wu Tao thought Chen Yao had entered the secret realm, then returned a Jade Slip, studied the Ethereal Void Five Elements Sword Scripture, fed the Golden Winged Eagle, and began comprehending the Tier 2 Intermediate Defensive Law.

Wu Tao mastered the Ethereal Void Five Elements Sword Scripture and began forging Tier 2 intermediate Immortal Boat components to earn merit points. As Chen Yao emerged from the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm, the sects prepared for the Six Demonic Sects’ attack.

• Wu Tao completed his comprehension of the Ethereal Void Five Elements Sword Scripture and decided to earn merit points for the five spell-sword manuals he needed.
• Wu Tao demonstrated his understanding of Tier 2 intermediate Immortal Boat components to Zhao Zhen, then began forging them for 150 merit points each.
• Wu Tao forged two Immortal Boat components each day while cultivating the Six Yang Li Fire True Technique, and waited for Chen Yao’s return.
• Yao Guangsheng and the other Golden Cores prepared to defend the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm entrance as the seven formation masters opened it.
• Wu Xuan monitored the surroundings and prepared to protect Chen Yao as the Qi Refining disciples emerged from the secret realm.
• Yao Guangsheng sensed the Six Demonic Sects’ arrival, and Ji Lingxu recognized the difference in their strength.

The demonic sects ambushed the cultivators emerging from the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm, forcing Wu Xuan to protect Chen Yao while Yao Guangsheng turned the battle against his attackers. Three days later, Wu Tao set out with Ning Qiudao to reach the battlefield, while Chen Yao and Wu Xuan remained hidden from a pursuing demonic cultivator.

• Sha Moye and the demonic cultivators attacked the Seven Immortal Sects as their disciples emerged from the Minor Mystic Heaven Secret Realm, and Wu Xuan shielded Chen Yao from a Foundation Establishment attacker before killing him.
• A stronger demonic cultivator pursued Wu Xuan and Chen Yao, who fled and hid in an underground cavern while he continued searching for them over the next three days.
• Yao Guangsheng feigned weakness, then worked with Sha Moye to kill Senior Brother Yin; Sha Moye returned to Yao Guangsheng but was ordered back to the Celestial Yin Sect.
• Wen Xingrui sent Wu Tao and Zhao Zhen to repair the damaged void boat near the secret realm, and Ning Qiudao took them there at great speed.
• Yao Guangsheng ordered Yang Qi to search for the missing disciples, while Wu Xuan warned Chen Yao that their pursuer was still nearby.