Chapter Summaries

Bai Jing confronted a female ghost at the Fang Residence while concealing his repeated defeats from Old Steward Fang by disguising himself as additional Immortal Masters. He activated a Minor Star Array, mastered the Minor Formless Technique through taking beatings, and defeated the ghost, completing his first assessment task.

• Bai Jing arrived at the Fang Residence and followed Old Steward Fang to the courtyard where the ghost had emerged from a well.
• After Bai Jing entered the courtyard, Elder Fang mistook two disguised appearances of Bai Jing for his senior brothers and led each one inside.
• Four Shangqing Immortal Sect disciples watched from above the clouds and questioned why Bai Jing seemed unable to defeat the female ghost.
• Bai Jing activated the Minor Star Array and discovered that taking beatings had raised the Minor Formless Technique to mastery.
• The female ghost dispersed within the formation, completing Bai Jing's first assessment task.

Bai Jing received a Grade B rating for his first mission, then traveled toward an Immortal Express route while cultivating the Minor Formless Technique and feeding the Talent Tree. He reached a town and used his assessment disciple’s Jade Pendant to gain entry to the Ascension Tower, where he was treated as a distinguished guest.

• Lin Changsheng gave Bai Jing a Grade B rating, despite Senior Disciple Yun and the other disciples arguing that Bai Jing had performed well.
• Bai Jing obtained Elder Fang’s signature after eliminating the evil ghost and left the Fang residence.
• Bai Jing rode toward a town with an Immortal Express route, rested beside a river, and cultivated the Minor Formless Technique.
• Bai Jing devoured the Morning Glow Spiritual Tide, nourishing the Sapling until it grew a third branch.
• Bai Jing entered a town, ate wontons, and went to the Ascension Tower to catch an Immortal Express back to the assessment headquarters.
• Bai Jing showed his Jade Pendant at the Ascension Tower and was escorted to the third floor by the acting manager.

Bai Jing boarded an Immortal Boat after meeting Chen Ping, a prominent assessment disciple, and Ling Qinghe, a girl selling Qi Replenishing Pills. The boat departed for its destination with Bai Jing choosing the cheapest deck passage to save his Ascension Coins.

• Bai Jing woke in a crowded private room and learned that Chen Ping had already begun his third assessment task and reached the Second Stage of Qi and Blood.
• Ling Qinghe told Bai Jing that pill refinement and other skills could offer paths to advancement, then tried to sell him discounted Qi Replenishing Pills on credit.
• The tavern manager announced the Immortal Boat's arrival, and Ling Qinghe invited the disciples to find her in District One if they wanted to buy pills.
• At the Immortal Boat, Chen Ping paid three Ascension Coins for a cultivation room while Bai Jing and Ling Qinghe chose the deck.
• The Immortal Boat roared into the sky with the assessment disciples aboard.

Bai Jing traveled with the assessment disciples to Shangqing Mountain Stronghold, where they turned in missions and prepared to choose new ones. He selected a three-coin mission after deciding that the higher-reward tasks were beyond his current strength.

• Bai Jing overheard that many disciples had begun their second mission, but he chose not to rush because over a month remained in the assessment.
• The Immortal Boat shook during the journey, and Bai Jing moved behind Ling Qinghe for protection before a vast, spiritually imposing Immortal Boat passed overhead.
• Bai Jing and the other disciples arrived at Shangqing Mountain Stronghold and went to Ascension Tower to turn in their missions.
• Ling Qinghe received two Ascension Coins for her completed mission, and Bai Jing received the same reward before entering the Mission Hall.
• Bai Jing reviewed notices for missions involving demons from the first to third stages of the Blood Qi Realm and chose a three-coin mission.

Bai Jing focused on cultivating and went to the dining hall while other assessment disciples hurried to complete missions. After an awkward meal with disciples who mistook him for a promising peer, he left once Ling Qinghe brought out Qi Replenishing Pills to sell.

• Bai Jing cultivated at dawn and declined Zhu Yi’s question about taking another mission, while Zhu Yi assumed he was slacking off.
• Bai Jing went to the inner district dining hall, where Xu Shan invited him to eat with Chu Ming, Lin Feng, and Chen Ping.
• When Bai Jing admitted he was only at the First Stage and had completed just one mission, Chu Ming questioned why he sat with them.
• Ling Qinghe arrived, prompting Chen Ping and Chu Ming to welcome her and discuss her completed missions and their cultivation goals.
• Bai Jing finished his meal and left after Ling Qinghe produced a bottle of Qi Replenishing Pills.

Bai Jing perfected the Minor Formless Technique, greatly increasing his qi and blood, and continued improving the Minor Star Array. Afterward, Xu Shan offered him Spiritual Meat as an apology and a gesture of friendship, giving Bai Jing a taste of how much it could help his cultivation.

• Yun Hai told Lin Changsheng that his frustration came from a rival's disciple reaching the Third Stage of Qi and Blood while his own recruits seemed mediocre.
• Bai Jing's Minor Formless Technique neared perfection, and he continued advancing the Minor Star Array despite how exhausting it was to set up.
• Two days later, Bai Jing perfected the Minor Formless Technique, nearly doubling the density of his qi and blood, but he still fell short of a breakthrough.
• Bai Jing practiced the Minor Star Array until its proficiency reached 20/50, then decided he should take on some tasks.
• Xu Shan apologized for Bai Jing having been ridiculed and offered him Spiritual Meat; Bai Jing accepted a piece and felt it ease his fatigue and nourish his qi and blood.

Bai Jing broke through to the Second Stage of Qi and Blood and searched the Hall of Divine Communication for a travel lightness skill he could afford. After perfecting the Minor Star Array, he prepared to complete his tasks.

• Bai Jing perfected his kidneys and advanced to the Second Stage of Qi and Blood, more than doubling his strength.
• Bai Jing tested his new power, then searched the Hall of Divine Communication for a suitable lightness skill and chose Silver Thread Flying Spider, which cost fifty Ascension Coins.
• Bai Jing continued cultivating for seven days and completed his Minor Star Array proficiency, reaching fifty out of fifty.
• Bai Jing set up the perfected Minor Star Array in thirteen breaths and decided it was time to complete his tasks.

Bai Jing traveled to Qinghong to complete a mission and discovered that she was a ghost who had killed fifty-two villagers to revive her dead husband. After destroying her and burying the villagers, he headed toward his next mission while Lin Changsheng revised his assessment of Bai Jing’s talent.

• Lin Changsheng watched Bai Jing board the Immortal Boat and learned that Bai Jing had accepted five missions worth three Ascension Coins each.
• Bai Jing traveled to Qinghong’s village, where Qinghong mistook him for a guest while hiding that she was a ghost.
• Bai Jing activated the Minor Star Array, revealed the dead villagers, and confronted Qinghong over her slaughter of fifty-two people to revive her husband.
• Bai Jing destroyed Qinghong and her husband’s corpse, while Lin Changsheng recognized Bai Jing’s mastery of the Minor Star Array and raised his mission rating to A.
• Bai Jing buried the villagers and set off for his next destination.

Bai Jing investigated the dog demon Little Yellow, learned how Second Miss Fang had died, and helped bury her. The legitimate daughter was later convicted, while Little Yellow remained alone beside Second Miss’s grave.

• A Fang Residence servant told Bai Jing how Second Miss Fang had been mistreated, forced into a marriage as a concubine, and found hanged before the wedding.
• Bai Jing entered the mourning hall and stopped Little Yellow from attacking him, explaining that the dog was draining its own bloodline power to preserve its mistress’s body.
• Bai Jing persuaded Little Yellow to stop resisting, carried Second Miss’s body outside, and invited the young nobleman to pay his respects.
• Bai Jing buried Second Miss outside town and assured the servant that Little Yellow would not hurt anyone who left it alone.
• Rumors accused the legitimate daughter of murdering Second Miss, and the legitimate daughter confessed and was sentenced.
• Little Yellow stayed beside Second Miss’s grave, while the town eventually forgot her.

Bai Jing completed his missions, earned Grade A ratings, and continued pursuing the Lightness Skill Mastery as the first assessment neared its end. After a powerful figure announced that details of the next assessment would be revealed in three days, Bai Jing obtained the Silver Thread Flying Spider mastery.

• Bai Jing returned to the base after completing five missions and continued taking missions to earn Ascension Coins and obtain the Lightness Skill Mastery.
• Chen Ping advanced to the Third Stage of Qi and Blood, then learned that Shangqing Mountain had posted mission ratings and rewards.
• Bai Jing found three Grade A ratings under his name on the Golden Ranking and comforted Xu Shan, who was worried about his cultivation progress.
• A golden figure appeared above the Golden Ranking and announced that the next assessment's mission details would be revealed in three days.
• Bai Jing left for the Hall of Divine Communication and obtained the Silver Thread Flying Spider mastery.

Bai Jing practiced the Silver Thread Flying Spider lightness skill before learning that the second assessment required ten missions within five months, including five at the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood difficulty. With only two hundred thousand missions available and more than ten thousand disciples certain to be eliminated, he and Xu Shan worried about the competition and the tight deadline.

• Bai Jing practiced the Silver Thread Flying Spider for three days and raised its proficiency to 10/50.
• A golden beam announced the second assessment, drawing the disciples to the square.
• Xu Shan told Bai Jing that disciples had to complete ten missions in five months, with five requiring the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood.
• Xu Shan explained that the Mission Hall held only two hundred thousand missions and that most required the Fifth Stage, making the disciples competitors for scarce tasks.
• Xu Shan admitted he had not broken through in cultivation after more than a month and lacked confidence in passing.
• Chen Ping and Chu Ming discussed the assessment and anticipated the Golden Ranking tracking mission progress and ratings.

Bai Jing trained until he perfected the Silver Thread Flying Spider lightness skill while preparing for the dangerous mission assessment. After learning that Li Huai'an had become the sole name on the Golden Ranking, Bai Jing decided to spend most of his remaining Ascension Coins on Qi Replenishing Pills to improve his cultivation.

• Lin Changsheng complained that Bai Jing had spent his mission earnings on a Lightness Skill Mastery, while Qin Yan Sheng boasted that Li Huai'an had reached the Fourth Stage of Qi and Blood.
• Li Huai'an arrived at the plaza, briefly read the announced assessment contents, and left without showing concern.
• Bai Jing returned to the forest and practiced the Silver Thread Flying Spider skill, reasoning that it would help him travel and escape during the dangerous second mission assessment.
• Over four days, Bai Jing pushed his training until the skill reached the halfway point, while Xu Shan broke through to the Third Stage of Qi and Blood.
• When the Golden Ranking was updated, Bai Jing learned that Li Huai'an had completed two missions with Grade A Ratings and was the ranking's only entry.
• After perfecting the Silver Thread Flying Spider skill, Bai Jing counted his remaining Ascension Coins, set two aside, and decided to buy a bottle of Qi Replenishing Pills with the rest.

Bai Jing bought Qi Replenishing Pills from Ling Qinghe and used them to advance to the Third Stage of Qi and Blood. As two months passed since the second task assessment was announced, he remained focused on cultivation while Li Huai'an dominated the outpost’s rankings.

• Bai Jing met Ling Qinghe at the female disciples’ quarters, bought a bottle of Qi Replenishing Pills for five Ascension Coins, and warned her against spying on others’ cultivation.
• Bai Jing took the pills in seclusion and advanced to the Third Stage of Qi and Blood several days ahead of schedule.
• Li Huai'an completed all ten tasks with Grade A Ratings and broke through to the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood, drawing widespread attention.
• Bai Jing examined the runes on his body and the enlarged Talent Tree, noting that its fourth branch had still not appeared.
• Bai Jing spent his remaining coins on Spiritual Meat, then chose to continue cultivating rather than take tasks before reaching the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood.

Bai Jing struggled to advance his cultivation until Xu Shan shared Spiritual Meat with him and revealed he was nearing the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood. As the Golden Ranking competition began, Bai Jing persuaded Xu Shan to wait until he reached Perfection of the Five Viscera before attempting tasks, so he could aim for Grade A ratings.

• Lin Changsheng and Senior Disciple Yun saw a scarlet beam rise as Li Huai'an reached Perfection of the Five Viscera and condensed an Immortal Foundation.
• Bai Jing met Xu Shan, who borrowed Ascension Coins to buy Spiritual Meat and shared it with him while announcing his approaching breakthrough to the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood.
• Xu Shan told Bai Jing that other disciples had begun taking tasks, and Bai Jing learned that Li Huai'an had condensed an Immortal Foundation.
• The stronghold announced that twelve people had entered the Golden Ranking, while Qin Yan Sheng witnessed a young man named Qin Yan Sheng identify a Golden Cauldron during a fight with a demon serpent.
• Xu Shan brought Bai Jing Spiritual Meat again and said he had reached the Fifth Stage and planned to take tasks.
• Bai Jing advised Xu Shan to wait until Perfection of the Five Viscera before pursuing Grade A task ratings, and Xu Shan agreed.

Xu Shan monitored the Golden Ranking while Bai Jing focused on cultivation and advised Xu Shan to reach Perfection of the Five Viscera before attempting more tasks. Xu Shan achieved perfection and prepared to pursue Grade A Ratings, while Bai Jing remained unaware that his friend might doubt his chances of passing the assessment.

• Chen Ping and Chu Ming discussed their task progress and mocked Xu Shan for not appearing on the Golden Ranking, but Xu Shan ignored their greeting and checked the list.
• Xu Shan noticed that Ling Qinghe and several other talented disciples were absent and guessed they were aiming for the Top Ten Tasks like Bai Jing had advised.
• Bai Jing continued cultivating, reached the Fourth Stage of Qi and Blood, and lamented that too much time had passed for him to seek Grade A Ratings on tasks.
• Two weeks later, Xu Shan told Bai Jing he had reached Perfection of the Five Viscera and felt confident he could earn Grade A Ratings on every task.
• Xu Shan gave Bai Jing most of his Spiritual Meat and said he would be too busy with tasks to spend time with him, leaving Bai Jing to wonder if Xu Shan thought he would fail the assessment.

Bai Jing and Xu Shan discussed missions, Ascension Coins, and the coming assessment as Xu Shan repeatedly treated Bai Jing to Spiritual Meat. When Xu Shan assumed Bai Jing would fail and they would soon part, Bai Jing revealed he had enough Ascension Coins to buy two more portions, leaving Xu Shan stunned.

• Xu Shan celebrated earning two Grade A mission ratings and treated Bai Jing to Spiritual Meat at the Immortal Canteen.
• Xu Shan paid Ling Qinghe eight Ascension Coins for information that the final assessment would involve mission ratings and extremely difficult missions.
• Bai Jing advised Xu Shan to earn Ascension Coins, and Xu Shan spent the following half month completing missions and treating Bai Jing to meals.
• With one month left before the assessment ended, Xu Shan told Bai Jing he expected Bai Jing to fail and treated him generously because they might soon part ways.
• Bai Jing added six Ascension Coins to Xu Shan’s order for Spiritual Meat, and Xu Shan stared in surprise at Bai Jing’s coins.

Bai Jing explained how his Lightness Skill Mastery had let him complete ten missions in five days, then went to Ascension Tower to select another batch. With ten days left in the assessment, the Golden Ranking was renewed.

• Lin Changsheng told Fang Wenze that Bai Jing had completed his assessment early by using a Lightness Skill Mastery to finish missions quickly.
• Bai Jing told Xu Shan he had earned his Ascension Coins by completing ten missions in five days, and Xu Shan realized they might both enter Shangqing Immortal Mountain.
• Bai Jing went to Ascension Tower and searched for missions while avoiding open terrain, human targets, and powerful enemies.
• Li Huai'an entered the Mission Hall, took three Bounty Notices, and left as the other disciples made way for him.
• Lin Changsheng and Fang Wenze observed Bai Jing choose ten missions at Tianxiang Mountain, and the Golden Ranking was renewed with ten days remaining in the assessment.

As the assessment neared its end, Bai Jing rose to second place on the Golden Ranking through completing fifty tasks, while Xu Shan earned eighteen Grade A ratings. The assessment then officially concluded, and Li Huai'an headed for the Ascension Tower.

• Chen Ping and Chu Ming reunited and went to check the Golden Ranking as the assessment approached its end.
• The disciples saw that Li Huai'an remained first, while the unfamiliar Bai Jing had climbed to second by completing fifty-seven tasks, all rated Grade A.
• Chen Ping and Chu Ming recognized Xu Shan among the all-Grade-A performers and realized he had reached the Golden Ranking by waiting until Perfection of the Five Viscera before taking tasks.
• Xu Shan and Bai Jing arrived together; Xu Shan found himself ranked thirty-third and discovered Bai Jing in second place with fifty completed tasks.
• Li Huai'an saw Bai Jing's ranking and left for the Ascension Tower, and ten days later the assessment officially ended.

The final assessment began as the Shangqing Mountain expert ordered unfinished disciples to leave and announced the requirements for the last mission trial. Bai Jing arrived as the disciple who had surpassed Li Huai'an in completed missions, and the remaining disciples learned they had five months to complete the assessment.

• A young man in a golden robe reviewed the records and noted that Bai Jing had surpassed Li Huai'an in completed missions, while Li Huai'an still led the overall score.
• As the bells rang, Xu Shan told gathered geniuses that Bai Jing was cultivating, then pulled Bai Jing aside to spare him from meeting them; Bai Jing exchanged a brief greeting with Li Huai'an.
• The Shangqing Mountain expert ordered every disciple who had not completed the assessment to leave within one incense stick or die, and the eliminated disciples departed, including Zhu Yi.
• The expert announced that disciples had to complete three Level One missions with Grade A ratings, and that all missions would be open for resource exchanges during the five-month assessment.

After learning that the final assessment required three Grade A Ratings from level-one missions within five months, Bai Jing and Xu Shan examined the available targets and planned how to prepare. They decided that raising their cultivation was their most urgent priority.

• Bai Jing and Xu Shan waited out the crowd at the immortal cafeteria, ate, and then headed to the Ascension Tower.
• Bai Jing and Xu Shan found that level-one missions targeted former Shangqing Mountain assessment participants, including Qi and Blood cultivators in distant regions.
• Bai Jing realized the missions could span the Southern Territory and warned that travel would make each one take ten days to half a month.
• Bai Jing advised preparing by cultivating above a target's level, learning an expensive ultimate art and an escape technique, and bringing pills, talismans, and a reserve trump card.
• Bai Jing and Xu Shan agreed that raising their cultivation was the most urgent preparation.