Chapter Summaries

Wu Tao continued refining Immortal Boat components and cultivating while reflecting on the Loose Cultivator Alliance’s precarious position in the war. Meng Haoting prepared to pursue Foundation Establishment, and Wu Tao returned to find Wu Xuan back from Demon Suppression Pass, possibly with a Foundation Establishment Pill for Chen Yao.

• Wu Tao practiced Ten-Mile Star Fall and the Star Body Tempering Technique, making slight progress toward Spirit Body Layer 5.
• Wu Tao reflected that the Six Sects had used the Loose Cultivator Alliance to weaken Heavenly Gate Mountain after it withheld part of the Immortal Boat refinement secret manual.
• Meng Haoting told Wu Tao he had sensed a Foundation Establishment Opportunity and would enter seclusion, thanking Wu Tao for his guidance.
• Wu Tao continued refining Immortal Boat components and studying advanced artifact refining knowledge and magic restrictions.
• Wu Tao sensed Wu Xuan waiting outside his Cave Abode and wondered whether he had brought back a Foundation Establishment Pill for Chen Yao.

Wu Tao received a Foundation Establishment Pill from Wu Xuan, returned Ming Song’s pill, and built goodwill with Feng Yuan and Guan Peng. After six months of steady cultivation, Wu Tao broke through to Spirit Body Layer 5.

• Wu Xuan brought Wu Tao a Foundation Establishment Pill and shared memories of his time fighting alongside Feng Yuan and Guan Peng at Demon Suppression Pass.
• Ming Song asked Feng Yuan to help him recover the Foundation Establishment Pill Qin Yi had held for his father, and Feng Yuan and Guan Peng agreed to approach Wu Tao with him.
• Wu Tao returned the pill to Ming Song, who asked him to keep it until he was ready to attempt Foundation Establishment.
• Wu Tao offered to provide Magic Tools to Feng Yuan and Guan Peng after they thanked him for returning Ming Song’s pill.
• Wu Xuan and the others returned to Demon Suppression Pass after resting, while Wu Tao continued cultivating for six months.
• Wu Tao’s status showed his breakthrough to Spirit Body Layer 5.

Wu Tao continued balancing cultivation and artifact refining as the Artifact Refining Hall increased production of Immortal Boat Components. He agreed to oversee Meng Haoting’s advancement to a Tier 2 Low-Grade Artifact Refiner and kept pursuing Ancient Restriction Runes as a possible means of escape from the Immortal Origin Realm.

• Wu Tao assessed his progress after reaching Spirit Body Layer 5 and set a goal of advancing to Foundation Establishment Layer 6 within a year.
• Wu Tao practiced the Ethereal Void Five Elements Sword Scripture, refined Immortal Boat Components, and sensed that the Golden Core Masters might soon enter the conflict.
• Meng Haoting delivered Spiritual Materials and asked Wu Tao to oversee his attempt to advance to Tier 2 Low-Grade Artifact Refiner in a month; Wu Tao agreed.
• Wu Tao noticed that his cultivation speed had increased and expected to reach Foundation Establishment Layer 6 within a year, while wondering whether he could form a Golden Core at fifty-three.
• Wu Tao continued studying the Tier 2 High-Grade Five Elements Magic Restriction, hoping to obtain Ancient Restriction Runes from Wen Xingrui and find a way to leave the Immortal Origin Realm if the Six Demonic Sects prevailed.

Chen Yao reached Qi Refining perfection and asked Wu Tao about the Foundation Establishment Opportunity, while he promised to protect her when it arrived. At the Artifact Refining Hall, Wu Tao learned the sect had acquired Beast Taming Techniques and decided to obtain one for Chen Yao after her Foundation Establishment.

• Chen Yao told Wu Tao she had perfected Qi Refining, and he explained his Foundation Establishment experience and promised her three Foundation Establishment Pills and his protection.
• Chen Yao learned Wu Tao had reached Foundation Establishment Layer 5 and confronted him about hiding his cultivation, then overwhelmed him.
• Wu Tao went to the Artifact Refining Hall after reaching Spirit Body Layer 5 and met Zhao Zhen and Fan Zhifeng after work.
• Fan Zhifeng told Wu Tao and Zhao Zhen that the sect had traded with the Beast Taming Sect for manuals on taming Tier 1 and Tier 2 Demonic Beasts.
• Wu Tao decided to redeem a Beast Taming Technique for Chen Yao after she achieved Foundation Establishment, so she could tame and command the Soul-Devouring Insect.

Wu Tao studied Tier 2 Advanced Artifact Refining Knowledge and planned to obtain a Beast Taming Technique for Chen Yao, while considering how the Soul-Devouring Insect could protect her. A month later, as Wu Tao prepared to accompany Meng Haoting to his advancement, he sensed that the Soul-Devouring Insect was about to awaken as a Tier 2 High-Grade Demonic Beast.

• Zhao Zhen and Fan Zhifeng agreed with Wu Tao that Ning Qiudao’s plans were strengthening the Ethereal Void Sect, while Fan Zhifeng said he wanted to learn Beast Taming for the sake of appearances and guarding his Cave Abode.
• Wu Tao visited the Magic Tool Secret Manual Building, where Gao Xing asked about his progress; Wu Tao then continued studying the Tier 2 High-Grade Five Elements Magic Restriction.
• Wu Tao examined the Cultivation Technique Pavilion’s catalogue, found five Beast Taming Techniques for Tier 2 Demonic Beasts, and planned to have Chen Yao exchange for one after reaching Foundation Establishment.
• Wu Tao told Chen Yao about the Beast Taming Techniques and planned to give her the Soul-Devouring Insect as a trump card once it awakened and advanced.
• After another month of cultivation, Wu Tao went to meet Meng Haoting before his advancement to Tier 2 Low-Grade Artifact Refiner, then sensed that the Soul-Devouring Insect was about to awaken as a Tier 2 High-Grade Demonic Beast.

Wu Tao oversaw Meng Haoting’s successful advancement to a Tier 2 Low-Grade Artifact Refiner, then watched the Soul-Devouring Insect reach the Tier 2 Intermediate stage. After months of steady cultivation, Wu Tao broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 6.

• Wu Tao accompanied Meng Haoting to Earth Fire Peak and guided him through refining a Tier 2 Low-Grade Magic Tool, securing his advancement to a Tier 2 Low-Grade Artifact Refiner.
• Wu Tao returned to his Cave Abode and watched the Soul-Devouring Insect successfully advance to a Tier 2 Intermediate Demonic Beast, though it refused to attack his Sea of Divine Sense because it feared the Coffin Nail.
• Wu Tao resumed his stable cultivation while the Ethereal Void Sect continued suppressing the Celestial Yin Sect at Demon Suppression Pass, and spring arrived as he planted Spirit Rice.
• After finishing a Tier 2 Intermediate Immortal Boat Component, Wu Tao consumed Magic Power Pills and Source Qi of Spells and broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 6.

Wu Tao advanced to Foundation Establishment Layer 6 and continued cultivating and studying artifact refinement, while Chen Yao prepared to make her own breakthrough. The chapter ended with Chen Yao telling Wu Tao she had sensed the Foundation Establishment opportunity and would attempt Foundation Establishment the next day.

• Wu Tao broke through to Foundation Establishment Layer 6, raising his divine sense to ninety-three miles.
• Wu Tao celebrated his breakthrough with Chen Yao, then asked whether she had sensed a Foundation Establishment opportunity; she said she had no regrets but had not yet sensed one.
• Wu Tao refined immortal boat parts and cultivated the Six Yang Li Fire True Technique, finding that his cultivation had slowed somewhat after advancing.
• Wen Xingrui answered Wu Tao's questions about Tier 2 advanced artifact refining knowledge and encouraged him to keep improving.
• Chen Yao told Wu Tao she had sensed the Foundation Establishment opportunity and planned to attempt Foundation Establishment the next day, asking him to guard her.

Wu Tao prepared his cultivation room and watched over Chen Yao as she attempted Foundation Establishment. After two months, Chen Yao emerged successful, and the two celebrated the prospect of spending more years together.

• Wu Tao prepared dense Spiritual Power and three Foundation Establishment Pills for Chen Yao, then encouraged her to begin her breakthrough.
• Chen Yao consumed the pills and circulated the Lingxu Qi Refining Chapter while Wu Tao watched over her without interfering.
• After half a day, Chen Yao's newly transformed Magic Power grew unstable, but it steadied over the following days as she passed the most dangerous stage.
• Wu Tao waited and cultivated outside the Cave Abode while Chen Yao remained in deep insight for two months.
• Chen Yao emerged from deep insight and told Wu Tao that she had achieved Foundation Establishment.
• Chen Yao sensed that her Divine Sense extended twenty li and told Wu Tao she was glad her longer lifespan would let her stay with him longer.

After Chen Yao established her foundation, Wu Tao returned to work and resumed cultivating and refining. A representative from the General Affairs Hall offered Chen Yao a choice of benefits, and Wu Tao chose the option that kept her from being assigned dangerous missions during the war at Demon Suppression Pass.

• Wu Tao returned to the Earth Fire Hall, where Zhao Zhen and Fan Zhifeng congratulated him on Chen Yao's successful foundation establishment.
• Wu Tao refined five Immortal Boat components, cultivated the Six Yang Li Fire True Technique, and studied Tier 2 Advanced Artifact Refining Knowledge.
• Liu Jingtong of the General Affairs Hall visited Wu Tao's Cave Abode to explain Chen Yao's benefits as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
• Liu Jingtong offered Chen Yao either greater benefits with mandatory assignments or basic benefits as Wu Tao's Dao Companion without those assignments.
• Wu Tao chose the second option to keep Chen Yao away from the dangerous battlefield at Demon Suppression Pass, and Chen Yao agreed with his decision.

After Chen Yao consolidated her Foundation Establishment, Wu Tao received gifts for her from Gao Xing, Zhao Zhen, and Fan Zhifeng, then accompanied her to exchange for Foundation Establishment techniques and a beast-taming technique. The chapter ended with Wu Tao planning to record the Yin Spirit Tremor and Qi Observation Technique on a jade slip for Chen Yao to study.

• Gao Xing, Zhao Zhen, and Fan Zhifeng gave Wu Tao a flying boat, a spell sword, and a defensive robe as gifts for Chen Yao's Foundation Establishment.
• Wu Tao gave Chen Yao the three magic tools and agreed with her suggestion to invite the artifact refiners to the cave abode for a meal.
• Wu Tao and Chen Yao went to the Cultivation Technique Pavilion, where Liu Sishu helped transfer merit points to Chen Yao's identity token.
• Chen Yao exchanged for the Ethereal Void Foundation Establishment Chapter, spells, and a beast-taming technique, while Wu Tao also exchanged for a beast-taming technique.
• Wu Tao returned to the cave abode with Chen Yao and planned to record the Yin Spirit Tremor and Qi Observation Technique on a jade slip for her.

Wu Tao prepared spells for Chen Yao and tried to help her gain combat experience by disguising himself as a Demonic Cultivator attacking their Cave Abode. Chen Yao activated a warning talisman, nearly getting Wu Tao killed by Ji Lingxu, and Wu Tao admitted his mistake.

• Wu Tao paid Zhou Chongwen for buying blank Jade Slips, invited Zhao Zhen, Fan Zhifeng, and Gao Xing to a meal, and agreed with Gao Xing on a date three days later.
• Wu Tao recorded Yin Spirit Tremor and the Qi Observation Technique on Jade Slips and gave them to Chen Yao, who explained she lacked experience fighting Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
• Wu Tao and Chen Yao tried a Spell Battle, but both held back, so Chen Yao decided to focus on cultivating before testing her strength again.
• Wu Tao disguised himself as a Demonic Cultivator and attacked the Cave Abode to make Chen Yao fight without restraint.
• Chen Yao activated a warning command talisman, prompting Ji Lingxu to attack Wu Tao with his Formless Sword; Wu Tao ended his disguise and narrowly avoided death.
• Wu Tao admitted his carelessness to Chen Yao, who apologized for summoning help, and he praised her for following his safety advice.

Wu Tao hosted Gao Xing, Zhao Zhen, and Fan Zhifeng for a meal and an exchange of artifact-refining knowledge, then spent half a year cultivating as the war intensified and Golden Core Cultivators entered the battlefield. After nearing mastery of a Tier 2 High-Grade Five Elements Magic Restriction, he accepted Fan Zhifeng’s invitation to a Foundation Establishment Exchange Meeting.

• Wu Tao and Chen Yao bought supplies and hosted Gao Xing, Zhao Zhen, and Fan Zhifeng, who exchanged artifact-refining knowledge with Wu Tao and praised his skill.
• Over the next half year, the war at Demon Suppression Pass intensified, more rogue cultivators were conscripted and killed, and Wu Xuan advanced to Foundation Establishment Layer 3.
• Wu Tao revealed his Foundation Establishment Layer 4 cultivation and brought his comprehension of the Tier 2 High-Grade Five Elements Magic Restriction to 99%.
• Wu Tao grew concerned when Golden Core Cultivators, including Ji Lingxu, entered the battlefield at Demon Suppression Pass.
• Fan Zhifeng invited Wu Tao to a Foundation Establishment Exchange Meeting, and Wu Tao agreed to go with him.

Wu Tao attended a Foundation Establishment exchange meeting on Cloud Gazing Peak, where he learned about the war and the fate of the Loose Cultivator Alliance while earning two artifact-refining commissions. The next day, he completed his Tier 2 High-Grade Five Elements Magic Restriction.

• Fan Zhifeng brought Wu Tao to a Foundation Establishment exchange meeting, where cultivators welcomed him and praised his Tier 2 warships for helping defeat the Celestial Yin Sect.
• Liu Zhou thanked Wu Tao for a warship that had saved his life, and Wu Tao credited the sect, Five Spring Mountain negotiations, and Sect Master Ning instead.
• The cultivators discussed Heavenly Gate Mountain restoring its banners and rumors that it had secretly murdered Wu Zhongxing; Wu Tao quietly remembered his deceased friend.
• Wu Tao and Fan Zhifeng left the meeting, and Wu Tao thanked Fan Zhifeng for the invitation and agreed to join future gatherings.
• The next day, Wu Tao completed the Tier 2 High-Grade Five Elements Magic Restriction and checked his progress, confirming the restriction had reached 100%.

Wu Tao prepared to advance to Tier 2 Advanced Artifact Refiner and successfully refined a Tier 2 High-Grade water-attributed Spell Sword under Gao Xing’s supervision. He left the advancement ceremony with his new rank achieved, ready to pursue the Ancient Restriction Runes promised by Wen Xingrui.

• Wu Tao reviewed his cultivation and artifact-refining progress, then decided to ask Gao Xing to oversee his advancement.
• Wu Tao told Gao Xing he would advance in ten days, and Gao Xing agreed to supervise him and advised him to prepare by studying Tier 2 High-Grade Magic Tools.
• Wu Tao invited Zhao Zhen and Fan Zhifeng to witness his advancement, and they agreed.
• Ten days later, Wu Tao began refining a water-attributed Spell Sword in the West Hall while Gao Xing, Zhao Zhen, and Fan Zhifeng watched.
• Wu Tao completed the refinement in one attempt and produced a flawless watery blue Spell Sword.

After advancing to Tier 2 Advanced Artifact Refiner, Wu Tao visited Wen Xingrui to obtain access to materials on the Ancient Restriction Runes. Wen Xingrui gave him a secret-chamber token and limited his study to one hour each day for two and a half years.

• Gao Xing congratulated Wu Tao on advancing and told him to rest before starting work on Tier 2 Advanced Immortal Boat Components.
• Wu Tao left the West Hall and went to find Wen Xingrui at the Magic Tool Secret Manual Building.
• Wen Xingrui inspected Wu Tao’s Mystic Azure Spell Sword and praised his seasoned Artifact Refinement Technique.
• Wen Xingrui took Wu Tao to a hidden chamber containing books, Jade Slips, and Bone Script about the Ancient Restriction Token.
• Wen Xingrui gave Wu Tao the token to open the chamber and permitted him to study the materials for one hour daily for two and a half years.

Wu Tao celebrated becoming a Tier 2 Advanced Artifact Refiner with Chen Yao, then helped her establish a connection with the Golden Winged Eagle. He later entered the secret chamber beneath the Magic Tool Secret Manual Building to study Ancient Restriction Runes, hoping to recover knowledge from the destroyed artifact refining system.

• Wu Tao told Chen Yao he had advanced to a Tier 2 Advanced Artifact Refiner, and he paid respects to his late master Chen Shan.
• Wu Tao and Chen Yao celebrated, and Wu Tao slept for four hours before helping her tame the Golden Winged Eagle.
• Chen Yao planted a Divine Soul Imprint in the Golden Winged Eagle and successfully commanded it.
• Wu Tao went to the secret chamber on the fourth floor of the Magic Tool Secret Manual Building and began studying Ancient Restriction Runes.

Wu Tao discovered that the books on Ancient Restriction Tokens were written in Ancient Script, and Wen Xingrui gave him books to learn it. After beginning his studies, Wu Tao went to the Artifact Refining Hall to start working with Gao Xing in the West Hall.

• Wu Tao realized he could not read the Ancient Script on the books and asked Wen Xingrui for a way to learn it.
• Wen Xingrui gave Wu Tao two piles of books and reminded him to focus on artifact refining.
• Wu Tao returned to his Cave Abode and studied Ancient Script, learning one thousand characters in an hour.
• Wu Tao ate dinner with Chen Yao, then rode his Purple Wing Boat to the Artifact Refining Hall the next morning.
• Gao Xing gave Wu Tao the token for activating the West Hall's magic array and led him inside.

Wu Tao studied the Tier 2 Advanced Immortal Boat Refining Secret Manual while balancing cultivation and his other duties. After two months of steady progress, he mastered 60,000 ancient characters and broke through to Spirit Body Layer 6.

• Gao Xing gave Wu Tao the jade slip on refining Tier 2 Advanced Immortal Boat Components, and Wu Tao studied it in Artifact Refining Room No. 2.
• Wu Tao concluded that reaching the Immortal Boat’s main sections would require becoming a Tier 3 Artifact Refiner, then cultivated the Six Yang Li Fire True Technique.
• Wu Tao explained the Yin Spirit Tremor to Chen Yao and returned to studying ancient characters.
• Over the next two months, Wu Tao studied the refining manual, cultivated, and mastered 60,000 ancient characters.
• Wu Tao gathered starlight beneath the full moon and broke through to Spirit Body Layer 6.

Wu Tao reached Spirit Body Level 6, completed his study of the Tier 2 Advanced Immortal Boat Component manual, and successfully refined a component. He urged Gao Xing to begin his Golden Core breakthrough, leaving Gao Xing poised to do so.

• Wu Tao broke through to Spirit Body Level 6, strengthening his Starry Stellar Qi and speeding his progress toward Foundation Establishment Layer 7.
• Wu Tao and Gao Xing discussed preparing for the Golden Core realm, and Gao Xing explained that he had not cultivated a True Art.
• After three months of study, Wu Tao fully comprehended the Tier 2 Advanced Immortal Boat Component manual and began refining the components.
• Wu Tao successfully refined a Tier 2 Advanced Immortal Boat Component, and Gao Xing inspected it and praised its quality.
• Wu Tao urged Gao Xing to begin his Golden Core breakthrough now that Wu Tao could handle the advanced refining work.

Wu Tao mastered refining Tier 2 Advanced Immortal Boat Components, and Gao Xing explained the requirements for becoming a Tier 3 Artifact Refiner before inviting him to observe his Golden Core breakthrough. Wu Tao arrived at Ethereal Void Immortal Peak and followed a fellow cultivator toward the Spirit Vein Forbidden Land, where Gao Xing would attempt the breakthrough.

• Gao Xing assigned Wu Tao two Tier 2 Advanced Immortal Boat Components to refine each day and gave him time to master the work.
• Wu Tao shortened his time with Chen Yao to keep up with his refining tasks, and Chen Yao mistakenly believed pills had helped him recover.
• After a month, Wu Tao had mastered the refining work and reduced the time needed for each component to an hour and a half.
• Gao Xing told Wu Tao that becoming a Tier 3 Artifact Refiner required forging a Golden Core, forging true fire, and creating a new magic restriction, then invited him to observe his breakthrough.
• Wu Tao traveled to Ethereal Void Immortal Peak and followed a Ninth Level Foundation Establishment cultivator toward the Spirit Vein Forbidden Land.