Chapter Summaries

Shen Long traded for Soul-Nourishing Wood, hosted a banquet where cultivators discussed the Barbarian threat, and volunteered to join the next battle. Three days later, a Barbarian force advanced on Barbarian-Resisting City, with Gu Bing among its leaders.

• Shen Long exchanged a Foundation Establishment Pill and Mystic Cold True Water with Mu Weiwei for a piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood, then fed his Gold-Eating Ants and Iron Tail Scorpion.
• Shen Long hosted a banquet attended by Chu Yanran, Xia Yihu, Bai Keke, and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who discussed Barbarian tactics and the difficulty of infiltrating their territory.
• Master Ice Silkworm asked Shen Long about the Barbarian cultivators, and Shen Long volunteered to test himself in the coming battle; his master agreed to watch over him.
• Three days later, Shen Long joined the defenders atop the city wall as Barbarians approached on giant wolves and eagles, including Gu Bing riding a Third Rank Cyan Giant Wolf.

Shen Long fought on the front lines outside Barbarian-Resisting City and killed two Foundation Establishment cultivators with help from his Iron Tail Scorpion and Gold-Eating Ants. Master Ice Silkworm praised his disciple while trading barbs with Liu Yuguang, as the battle continued.

• Wu Rong confronted Tali, who vowed to repay her for past kindness, as Barbarian Race forces advanced on Barbarian-Resisting City.
• Murong Feng led Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Shen Long, out of the city to meet the Barbarian Race in battle.
• Shen Long used his spells, Iron Tail Scorpion, and Gold-Eating Ants to defeat a Red-Shirted Man and his Red Giant Tiger.
• A Golden-Skirted Woman and her Silver Giant Eagle attacked Shen Long, but he killed her with a golden projectile after the Iron Tail Scorpion disrupted her.
• Master Ice Silkworm and other cultivators praised Shen Long's strength, while Master Hundred Ghosts and Liu Yuguang dismissed his contribution and Master Ice Silkworm rebuked them.

Shen Long and Huang Yilei fought Barbarian Race cultivators, killing several opponents through coordinated spells and spirit beasts. After Shen Long killed eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Barbarian Race sent a green-shirted man at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection to challenge him.

• Liu Yuguang, Master Ice Silkworm, and Master Hundred Ghosts exchanged accusations over their clans’ and sects’ contributions to the war until Master Ice Flame urged them to prove themselves in battle.
• Shen Long used the Iron Tail Scorpion, his spells, and his spirit beasts to kill a Black-Robed Man and his Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape.
• Shen Long saved Huang Yilei from the Red-Shirted Man, and together they brought down the Red-Shirted Man and his Crimson Fire Crow.
• Shen Long joined other Foundation Establishment Cultivators to kill eight Barbarian Race cultivators in succession, drawing the enemy’s attention.
• A green-shirted man at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection confronted Shen Long with a Cyan Long Staff while another Barbarian Race cultivator kept Huang Yilei occupied.

Shen Long fought in the war against the Barbarian Race, built his reputation, and spent most of his time refining pills as the conflict dragged on for three years. Master Ice Silkworm then asked him to enter a newly discovered Secret Realm, where three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators from each side would compete to decide how the ore vein was divided.

• Shen Long defeated a green-shirted Barbarian cultivator with his spells and Iron Tail Scorpion, then returned to Barbarian-Resisting City with the enemy’s belongings.
• Xu Yunfeng and Xu Yiqing discussed Shen Long’s strength and the Xu Family’s losses, while Gu Bing and Tali resolved to continue the war and summon reinforcements.
• Over three years, Shen Long fought Barbarian cultivators, killed several Great Perfection Foundation Establishment Cultivators, earned Merit Points, and became widely known.
• Shen Long met Lin Sisi at Spirit Control Garden, then hurried to Master Ice Silkworm after receiving his summons.
• Master Ice Silkworm told Shen Long that each side would send three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators into the newly discovered Secret Realm, and the side with more survivors would determine the ore vein’s division.

Shen Long entered the Secret Realm to search for treasure and harvest Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Fruit, but arrived in a cavern swarming with poisonous scorpions. After defeating the swarm and collecting Green Mandala Flowers, he began exploring the unfamiliar realm, while a Barbarian Race cultivator was killed by a Third-Rank Spirit Beast.

• Master Ice Silkworm explained that the Human Race and Barbarian Race would send three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators each into the Secret Realm, with the side having more survivors earning a greater share of the Qingxu Crystal Ore Vein.
• Master Ice Silkworm tasked Shen Long with gathering Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Fruit, gave him the tree's location, and supplied two Third-Rank Talismans for protection.
• Gu Bing sent Gu Tian and his two brothers into the Secret Realm to seek an item, and warned them not to underestimate the Human Race's cultivators.
• Du Yinyin and Qin Lei led the Human Race cultivators to the entrance, where both sides opened the Cyan Light Gate and sent their teams inside for one month of exploration.
• Shen Long appeared in a cavern surrounded by Green-Eyed Flying Scorpions, killed the swarm with his artifacts and spirit beasts, and collected the Green Mandala Flowers growing there.
• Shen Long found that his location did not match Master Ice Silkworm's map, spotted Spirit-Nourishing Flowers, and moved southwest as a Barbarian Race cultivator was killed and eaten by a Third-Rank Single-Horned Rhinoceros.

Shen Long explored the Secret Realm, collected a Blood Extraction Fruit tree, and manipulated a Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape’s tribulation before targeting the Jade Sandalwood Fruit in its nest. He left the four guardian apes dead after luring them into his Flying Snow Array.

• Shen Long and the Iron Tail Scorpion killed two Blood Jade Spiders, collected their Blood Extraction Fruits, and transplanted the tree with the Hundred Herb Gourd.
• Gu Tian and Gu Yong searched the Secret Realm for something Elder Gu had mentioned, while Li Yin left a gorge after deciding he needed to find other Hundred Ghosts Sect disciples.
• Shen Long interfered with a Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape’s tribulation; the Heavenly Dao’s lightning killed the ape, and Shen Long discovered four apes guarding its nest.
• Shen Long set up a Second-Rank Flying Snow Array, lured the four Great Strength Golden-Backed Apes into it, and killed them with the array and the Iron Tail Scorpion.

Shen Long harvested Jade Sandalwood Fruits and Golden Jade Raw Ore in the Secret Realm, then defeated two Barbarian Race cultivators with help from his spirit beasts. He collected their treasures and returned to a cavern to refine three Top-Grade Dharma Artifacts, while other cultivators continued searching the realm for valuable treasures.

• Shen Long picked five Jade Sandalwood Fruits, transplanted their tree, and fled when a Yellow Centipede pursued Yang Xin and killed him.
• Murong Feng killed a Red Giant Leopard and consulted a map, while Lan Yu'er and Zhao Xin burned the corpses of three Human Race cultivators and set out to search marked locations.
• Shen Long mined Golden Jade Raw Ore from a cavern using his Gold-Eating Ants and a Top-Grade Dharma Artifact.
• Shen Long killed a green-shirted Barbarian Race cultivator and a red-skirted Barbarian Race cultivator with help from the Iron Tail Scorpion, Golden-Winged Wind Peng, and other spirit beasts.
• Shen Long collected three Top-Grade Dharma Artifacts, Spirit Stones, spirit herbs, and a map from the Barbarian Race cultivators, then returned to the cavern to refine the artifacts.
• Xue Dao killed a black giant python, picked three five-hundred-year Black Water Lotuses, and left the valley.

Lin Sisi and Shen Long fought rival cultivators in the Secret Realm, while Shen Long captured a mass of Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire. He identified it as the powerful Red Lotus True Flame and brought it into his Spirit Control Tower, where it took the form of a Crimson Fire Phoenix.

• Lin Sisi killed a green-shirted ambusher in the Red Bamboo Forest and took his valuables.
• Tie Lang and Jima killed a Mystic Yang Sect disciple and chose to hunt cultivators for resources instead of seeking out their allies.
• Shen Long collected Fire Crystal Ganoderma after the Iron Tail Scorpion killed the two Golden Flame Scorpions guarding them.
• Shen Long ambushed four Barbarian Race cultivators, killed them with the Golden Jade Blade, and seized the Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire in the Golden Crow Pot.
• Shen Long brought the spirit fire into his Spirit Control Tower and discovered it was the Red Lotus True Flame.
• The Red Lotus True Flame became a Crimson Fire Phoenix and attacked Shen Long, who countered it with a Cyan Tornado and Giant Wind Blades.

Shen Long imprisoned the Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, gathered spirit herbs with his Spirit Beasts, and learned that Xu Yunfeng and Xu Yiqing were nearby. He headed southwest to hunt them down, while Xu Feng separately found a treasure location on a Barbarian map.

• Shen Long trapped the Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire inside the cavern, then gathered supplies and sent his Spirit Beasts to search for high-aged spirit herbs.
• Xu Feng ambushed and killed a Barbarian Race cultivator, taking a map marked with a possible treasure location.
• Shen Long followed the Green-Eyed Spirit Fox to Green Wind Grass and killed the Demon Tiger guarding it.
• The Spirit-Tracking Beast sensed Xu Yunfeng and Xu Yiqing nearby, and Shen Long detected three people to the southwest.
• Shen Long harvested the Green Wind Grass, gathered his Spirit Beasts, and rushed southwest to kill the enemies.

Shen Long ambushed and killed Xu Yiqing, Xu Yunfeng, and the Black-Skirted Woman, then used their map to locate the valley of the Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Tree. He discovered that a Third-Rank Snow-Eyed Toad guarded the valley and left to seek someone who could help him deal with it.

• Xu Yunfeng, Xu Yiqing, and the Black-Skirted Woman killed a gigantic cyan spider and discussed hunting Shen Long.
• Shen Long ambushed the three cultivators with his spirit beasts, killed them, and took their treasures and map.
• Shen Long combined the map with two others to identify overlapping areas that could lead him to the Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Tree.
• After five days of travel, Shen Long found the valley and discovered a Third-Rank Snow-Eyed Toad guarding the cave.
• Shen Long used the Hundred-Eyed Golden Cicada to learn that a pregnant Second-Rank female Snow-Eyed Toad remained in the cave while the Third-Rank toad hunted.
• Shen Long decided he needed an ally and left the valley to look for other cultivators.

Shen Long rescued Bai Keke from black spiders and enlisted her help to obtain the Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Fruit guarded by two Snow-Eyed Toads. They secured the fruits and parted ways, with Shen Long keeping most of the harvest and Bai Keke relieved he did not attack her.

• Shen Long rescued Bai Keke from three black spiders, and she agreed to help him pick the Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Fruit in exchange for one fruit.
• Bai Keke revealed that she had a Tier 3 Enemy-Trapping Talisman, and Shen Long explained that a Small Five Elements Array and Monster Luring Powder would draw out the Snow-Eyed Toads.
• Shen Long and Bai Keke lured the Snow-Eyed Toads from their cave, and Bai Keke trapped the Third-Rank Snow-Eyed Toad while Shen Long distracted them.
• The Third-Rank Snow-Eyed Toad broke free and returned to find the seven remaining Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Fruits gone.
• Shen Long gave Bai Keke one fruit, then left to travel alone, and Bai Keke sighed with relief that he had not killed her.

Outside the Secret Realm, Du Yinyin, Qin Lei, and True Monarch Xuanyang discussed the Fire Sun Race and wagered on whose descendants would survive. Inside, Lin Sisi’s group defeated a pack of Red Flame Wolves while Shen Long escaped underground after a Third Rank Butterfly King nearly killed him.

• Du Yinyin explained that the Secret Realm might not have belonged to the Fire Sun Race, and True Monarch Xuanyang noted that some Fire Sun Race members still lived elsewhere in the Gan Yang Realm.
• Qin Lei proposed a wager about whose descendants would have more survivors leave the Secret Realm, and Du Yinyin and True Monarch Xuanyang agreed.
• Lin Sisi used a Talisman Treasure to kill the Red Flame Wolves surrounding her group, and she wondered where Shen Long and the others were.
• Shen Long used his Gold-Eating Ants to defeat a swarm of Black Poison Bees and killed their fleeing Bee Queen with a Golden Light Flowing Spear.
• Four Barbarian Race cultivators fled into Shen Long’s clearing with a Third Rank Butterfly King behind them, and its attack sent him crashing to the ground.
• Shen Long used a Third Rank Five Spirits Treasure Armor Talisman and a golden lightning talisman to injure the Butterfly King, then escaped underground with the Iron Tail Scorpion.

Shen Long rescued Lin Sisi and Ye Yutang from two Demon Bears, then chose to hide with them until the Secret Realm closed. After the women left safely, Shen Long used his Teleportation Talisman and returned to the Human Race’s formation, where Master Ice Silkworm welcomed him.

• Outside the Secret Realm, Gu Bing and Tali learned that the Life Soul Lamps of their missing cultivators had gone out and discussed the dangers within.
• A Third-Rank Yellow Giant Rat killed and devoured two Hundred Ghosts Sect disciples in the Cyan Bamboo Forest.
• Shen Long rescued Lin Sisi and Ye Yutang by attacking two Demon Bears with Meteor Fire Rain and the Shadowless Needle.
• Lin Sisi told Shen Long about a place with Blood Buddha Flowers, but he declined to pursue them and proposed hiding until the Secret Realm closed.
• Ye Yutang and Lin Sisi used their Teleportation Talismans to leave, and Shen Long followed after confirming their safe return.
• Shen Long emerged on the Human Race’s Silver Dharma Array, where Master Ice Silkworm greeted him.

After the Secret Realm contest ended, Shen Long returned to the Spirit Control Sect with valuable spirit herbs and a Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Fruit. He learned how the fruit could affect Spirit Beasts and began closed-door cultivation, while asking Qian Dafu to collect high-grade Golden-Winged Fire Ant Inner Cores.

• True Monarch Xuanyang declared that the Human Race had won, and Gu Bing agreed to the Qingxu Crystal Ore Vein division before leaving with her clansmen.
• At the Spirit Control Garden, Shen Long and the other survivors handed over spirit herbs for Merit Points; Shen Long presented the most, including a Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Fruit, and earned a Golden Core Spirit Item as a reward.
• Master Ice Silkworm gave Shen Long a Five-Colored Jade Ganoderma Fruit and explained that such fruits could prompt mutations in Spirit Beasts, Spirit Birds, and Spirit Insects, though the results were uncertain.
• Three days later, Shen Long returned to the Spirit Control Sect and asked Qian Dafu to collect Inner Cores from high-grade Golden-Winged Fire Ants.
• Shen Long entered a cultivation chamber, swallowed a Blood Flood Dragon Pill, and began closed-door cultivation.

After reaching Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, Shen Long prepared to pursue the Golden Core Realm, received guidance from Master Ice Silkworm, and refined the Red Lotus True Flame. Meanwhile, Xu Yuyan and Chen Chi learned that Ancestor Yunfeng had died and vowed to settle the score with Shen Long after advancing to the Golden Core Realm.

• Shen Long emerged from five years of seclusion at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and learned from Qian Dafu that he had collected over thirty Golden-Winged Fire Ant inner cores.
• Shen Long visited Master Ice Silkworm, who gave him insights on attempting the Golden Core Realm and advised him to spend time with fellow disciples before entering seclusion again.
• Shen Long collected the ant inner cores from Qian Dafu and learned that Xu Feng had advanced to the Golden Core Realm.
• Shen Long used the Golden Condensation Mirror to restrain the Crimson Fire Phoenix and spent a month refining the Red Lotus True Flame.
• Xu Yuyan and Chen Chi learned that Ancestor Yunfeng and others had died in the Secret Realm, blamed Shen Long for Yunfeng's death, and returned to the Hundred Ghosts Sect to attempt the Golden Core Realm.
• After refining the Red Lotus True Flame, Shen Long spent Merit Points at the Scripture Depository to copy seniors' insights on nurturing spirits.

Shen Long refined his first batch of high-grade Beast Spirit Pills and then prepared to attempt Golden Core formation. With his master’s support and a sect-provided Golden Core Spirit Item, he entered Green Plum Pavilion to cultivate.

• Shen Long fed his Gold-Eating Ants and other spirit beasts, then used the Red Lotus True Flame to refine ten high-grade Beast Spirit Pills.
• Master Ice Silkworm agreed to attend the Ancestor of the Wang Clan’s eight-hundredth birthday celebration.
• After emerging from seclusion, Shen Long attended gatherings with fellow disciples and learned that Lin Sisi had left to travel.
• Shen Long told Master Ice Silkworm he was preparing to attempt Golden Core formation, and He Xin arranged for the sect to provide him with a Golden Core Spirit Item.
• Master Ice Silkworm gave Shen Long top-grade defensive Dharma Artifacts, and Li Sheng escorted him to Green Plum Pavilion to begin cultivating.

After ten years of preparation, Shen Long attempted to form a Golden Core and endured an unusually powerful lightning tribulation. He survived the final strike with help from his defenses and Gold-Eating Ants, and Master Ice Silkworm and Chen Xiao congratulated him on becoming a Golden Core Cultivator.

• Shen Long consumed a Jade Sandalwood Fruit and Golden Core Jade Liquid to solidify his forming core, drawing spiritual qi toward Green Plum Pavilion.
• Master Ice Silkworm arrived and watched as Shen Long’s Golden Core attempt triggered a lightning tribulation.
• Shen Long used defensive Dharma Artifacts, the Five Spirit Beads, and a Glazed Golden Body Talisman to withstand the tribulation, which escalated to Three-Colored Divine Lightning.
• Shen Long released Gold-Eating Ants and used the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Technique to survive the final strike, though he was badly injured.
• Master Ice Silkworm gave Shen Long a healing pill, and Chen Xiao congratulated him on becoming a Golden Core Cultivator.

Shen Long learned that his unusually powerful Three-Colored Divine Lightning reflected his strength and could foreshadow future tribulations as he advanced. After entering the Golden Core Realm, he returned to Green Lotus Garden to consolidate his cultivation and consider the next stage of his technique.

• Chen Xiao and Master Ice Silkworm explained that tribulation strength depended on a cultivator's strength, and Chen Xiao ordered Shen Long's Three-Colored Divine Lightning kept secret.
• Master Ice Silkworm described how True Monarch Golden Crow had risen from an unremarkable cultivator to the foremost of Donghua's Five Immortals after forming his Nascent Soul.
• Shen Long exchanged Merit Points for the Seventh Floor of the and told Lin Shan to notify Qian and the others that he was entering seclusion.
• Shen Long inspected his Golden Core and discovered his divine sense reached one hundred and twenty li, then reflected on his progress and his unresolved revenge for his parents.
• Shen Long learned the Seventh Floor required Third-Rank Flood Dragon Essence Blood, which he did not have, and began meditative breathing while Lin Shan turned away visitors.

After stabilizing his Golden Core cultivation, Shen Long received congratulations from his subordinates and guidance from Master Ice Silkworm about his cultivation technique and Life-Bound Dharma Treasure. He returned to Green Lotus Garden and began refining Third-Rank pills.

• True Man Profound Yin praised Chen Chi’s advancement and gave Xu Yuyan a Cyan Porcelain Bottle as she prepared to pursue the Golden Core Realm.
• Shen Long emerged from seclusion and accepted two hundred thousand Spirit Stones and two five-hundred-year Crimson Moon Ganoderma plants from Qian Dafu and the others.
• Shen Long learned that Liu Yuruo had been transferred back to the main altar and asked Qian Dafu to send her to see him when she returned.
• Master Ice Silkworm advised Shen Long on whether to continue the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Technique, discussed his Life-Bound Dharma Treasure, and invited him to the Wang Clan’s birthday celebration.
• Shen Long exchanged Merit Points for three Third-Rank pill formulas and herbs, then began refining pills in Green Lotus Garden.

Shen Long finished six months of pill refining and traveled with Master Ice Silkworm and Chen Bing to the Wang Clan’s birthday celebration. At the Begonia Mountain Range, they arrived as guests from Medicine King Valley appeared.

• Shen Long refined ten mid-grade Crimson Moon Pills and presented two bottles to Master Ice Silkworm.
• Master Ice Silkworm set out for the Wang Clan’s celebration aboard the Ice Moon Skiff with Shen Long and Chen Bing.
• Fang Ru told Du Yinyin that the Amethyst Flying Scorpion had mutated to conceal itself, but had not gained the Soul-Devouring Scorpion’s soul attack.
• Master Ice Silkworm presented his invitation to a Wang Clan patrol at the Begonia Mountain Range, where they encountered Wang Yinghua.
• Shen Long recognized the arriving cultivators aboard a cyan ship as members of Medicine King Valley.