Chapter Summaries

Thirty years later, Miao Hongyu and Zhong Wuyou discussed Aaron’s steady cultivation and his search for the later portions of the Bright Jade Art. Aaron had focused on artifact refinement while stuck at a cultivation bottleneck, but he remained short of the resources and inheritances needed to advance.

• Thirty years after the auction, Miao Hongyu asked Zhong Wuyou about Aaron, and he reported that Aaron was trustworthy, devoted to cultivation, and at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
• Miao Hongyu urged Zhong Wuyou to make greater use of Aaron by offering benefits, and Zhong Wuyou said Aaron wanted later portions of the Bright Jade Art.
• Miao Hongyu recalled seeing the Bright Jade Art auctioned in East Gate Valley and speculated that Aaron might be connected to its former buyer.
• Aaron used the Black Sun Demonic Fire to refine a mid-grade long saber with burning and fire-poison properties.
• Aaron reviewed his progress and realized that his cultivation, artifact refinement, and talisman crafting were all limited by bottlenecks or a lack of higher-tier inheritances.

Aaron accepted a Three Mountains Association mission after Zhong Wuyou offered him the continuation of the Bright Jade Art, then learned that Shen Zui had died peacefully. After attending Shen Zui’s funeral, Aaron set out for Great Marsh Prefecture to inspect his spiritual herb garden before dealing with the mission.

• Aaron met Zhong Wuyou, who offered him the Bright Jade Art’s continuation in exchange for taking a Three Mountains Association mission involving Enchantress Bandits in the Forest Kingdom.
• Aaron accepted the mission after learning the Bright Jade Art had fourteen levels, enough to reach Foundation Formation Early Stage.
• Shen Qingchen told Aaron that her father, Shen Zui, had passed away peacefully, and Aaron promised to attend the funeral.
• Aaron delayed the mission for several days, attended Shen Zui’s funeral, and then left Three Mountains Market for Great Marsh Prefecture to inspect his spiritual herb garden.

Aaron inspected his spirit herbs, visited the Bai Family residence, and discovered that Bai Feifei had inherited the cultivation art he once gave Bai Shuixian. He gave Bai Feifei the art’s later incantations and a magic artifact, then left to check his scattered herb gardens.

• Aaron found that the spirit herbs on Spirit Herb Island had reached two hundred years of medicinal potency and considered transplanting them to a spirit vein later.
• Aaron visited Great Marsh Prefecture City and saw that Three Waters Wharf had become a marsh while a new wharf had appeared nearby.
• Aaron discovered Bai Feifei cultivating the Primal Unity Art at the Bai Residence and learned it had been passed down from Bai Shuixian.
• Aaron tested Bai Feifei’s aptitude, refused to take her as a disciple, and gave her the later incantations of the Primal Unity Art and a low-grade magic artifact.
• Aaron inspected his scattered spirit herb gardens, found some herbs destroyed or stolen, replanted what remained, and departed.

Aaron investigated the destruction of the He Family in Clear Breeze Hollow and discovered that Wu Yuqi, a Three Mountains Association cultivator, had betrayed the association to the Enchantress Bandits. After learning their supposed stronghold was a trap backed by a new Foundation Establishment cultivator, Aaron decided to call in reinforcements and took Wu Yuqi away.

• Aaron arrived at the ruined Clear Breeze Hollow and summoned Wu Yuqi to explain the He Family's destruction.
• Wu Yuqi blamed the Enchantress Bandits and urged Aaron to attack a stronghold he claimed to have located.
• Aaron used the Soul-Confusing Art, noticed Wu Yuqi's unusual urgency, and took the Yinflame Bead from him before he could use it.
• Aaron used the Soul Search Art and learned Wu Yuqi had betrayed the Three Mountains Association and that the supposed stronghold was a trap.
• Aaron discovered the Enchantress Bandits had a newly emerged Foundation Establishment cultivator, then decided to call for reinforcements and flew away with Wu Yuqi.

Aaron joined Zhong Wuyou and Shen Qingchen in attacking the Enchantress Bandits’ Bewildering Soul Pool stronghold, where they confronted White Crane Fairy. Shen Qingchen uncovered a second demonic Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose arrival turned the battle against the three allies.

• Zhong Wuyou interrogated Aaron’s prisoners, killed them, and confirmed that the Enchantress Bandits had a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Aaron, Zhong Wuyou, and Shen Qingchen traveled to Bewildering Soul Pool and broke its formation with Zhong Wuyou’s Primordial Unity Bowl.
• White Crane Fairy emerged and fought Aaron and Zhong Wuyou while Shen Qingchen attacked the demonic cultivators below.
• A concealed attacker struck Shen Qingchen, breaking her defenses and injuring her through her inner armor.
• Shen Qingchen warned Aaron and the others about another enemy as two figures revealed their auras, and Zhong Wuyou recognized a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator.

Aaron and the others were caught in a Black Blood Sect trap, where Dongmen Xue and Di Sanshun attacked with powerful magical artifacts and ghost creatures. As Aaron fought to protect Shen Qingchen, reinforcements arrived outside the mist, but Senior Brother Zhang chose to let the Three Mountains Association bear the brunt of the battle.

• Aaron and Zhong Wuyou discovered that the two hidden Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators were Dongmen Xue and Di Sanshun, and learned that White Crane had been bait in a layered trap.
• Di Sanshun unleashed the Thousand Baleful Banner, filling the area with ghost mist and ghost creatures as Dongmen Xue and White Crane Fairy attacked.
• Aaron intercepted Dongmen Xue and used Yinfire Pearls and talismans to keep him at bay after Dongmen Xue shattered the Steady Light Pearl.
• Aaron forced White Crane Fairy to retreat with the Snow-White Sword, easing the pressure on the injured Shen Qingchen.
• Senior Brother Zhang and Junior Brother Lin arrived outside the ghost mist, but Senior Brother Zhang ordered them to wait while the Three Mountains Association cultivators fought and weakened the demonic cultivators.

Aaron and his companions were overwhelmed by demonic cultivators after the Azure Cauldron Sect failed to send help. Aaron revealed his Black Sun Demonic Fire and killed Dongmen Xue and White Crane Fairy, while Di Sanshun remained his opponent.

• Zhong Wuyou’s Primordial Unity Bowl shattered, and Foundation Establishment ghosts killed and devoured him.
• Aaron pretended to be exhausted, allowing White Crane Fairy to strike Shen Qingchen with lightning and knock her unconscious.
• Aaron sent Xiaoqing, the Longlife Turtle, to carry Shen Qingchen away on a flying boat as Dongmen Xue, Di Sanshun, and White Crane Fairy mocked him.
• Aaron invoked the Black Sun Demonic Fire, which destroyed two approaching ghosts and formed firebirds to shield Shen Qingchen and Xiaoqing.
• Aaron used the Wind Wing Art to reach Dongmen Xue and punched through his protective mirror and chest, burning him to ashes.
• White Crane Fairy attacked Aaron, but his demonic fire destroyed her artifact and consumed her.

Aaron annihilated the remaining demonic cultivator and killed two Azure Cauldron Sect witnesses who tried to intervene. After collecting the spoils, he found a sixteen-layer Bright Jade Art and reflected that his fighting methods made him formidable among Foundation Establishment cultivators, though he still avoided testing himself against a Core Formation patriarch.

• Di Sanshun fled from Aaron, but Aaron killed him with Black Sun Demonic Fire after the ghostly fog dispersed.
• Aaron pursued the Azure Cauldron Sect cultivators; he killed Junior Brother Lin and chased down Senior Brother Zhang, destroying the latter's defenses and killing him.
• Aaron returned to the battlefield, collected the storage pouches, erased traces, and checked for tracking markers.
• Aaron found a damaged Thousand Baleful Banner, a Bronze Cauldron, and other spoils, including a sixteen-layer Bright Jade Art in Zhong Wuyou's pouch.
• Aaron concluded that his combat method could overpower Foundation Establishment cultivators but decided not to challenge a Core Formation patriarch.

After comprehending the Bright Jade Art, Aaron broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and began planning for his eventual attempt at Core Formation. When Shen Qingchen woke, he claimed he had hidden his strength for years and told her that Elder Zhong had died in the battle.

• Aaron circulated the Bright Jade Art and smoothly advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, strengthening his Jade Bone and increasing his mana.
• Aaron assessed his new strength and resolved to prepare for Core Formation by gathering life-saving and healing treasures rather than competing for medicines that raised his chances of success.
• Xiaoqing informed Aaron that Shen Qingchen had awakened, and he went to see her.
• Aaron told Shen Qingchen he had concealed his strength and had revealed it to protect her from the demonic cultivators.
• Aaron said Elder Zhong had perished in the battle, leaving Shen Qingchen silent.

Aaron refused to return to Three Mountains Market after blaming Dongmen Xue and the other demonic cultivators for the Azure Cauldron Sect cultivators’ deaths, and arranged for Shen Qingchen to collect his reward. After she left, he refined his spoils, changed his appearance, and planned to seek a spiritual-vein site under a false identity.

• Aaron told Shen Qingchen that demonic cultivators had killed the two Azure Cauldron Sect cultivators and said he would not return to Three Mountains Market.
• Aaron gave Shen Qingchen a jade slip authorizing her to collect his reward and told her how to leave him a message.
• Several days later, Aaron sent Shen Qingchen away and stayed behind to inspect his spoils.
• Aaron repaired and refined the bronze cauldron and Thousand Baleful Banner, but failed to find the formula for the lightning spell.
• Aaron decided to find a spiritual-vein site, concealed his cultivation and appearance, and planned to pose as a Qi Refining guest elder for a cultivation family.

Aaron joined the Li Family as a guest elder under the alias Huang San, while the family weighed his trustworthiness and worried about its dwindling prospects for producing another Foundation Establishment cultivator. He settled into Willow Courtyard with two maidservants, and Li Zitong decided to keep observing him.

• Li Zitong accepted Huang San as a guest elder after Li Ruyu confirmed that he appeared to be a Qi Refining cultivator without demonic aura.
• Li Ruyu discussed the Li Family’s need to nurture a successor and planned to seek Meridian Protection Pills through the Three Mountains Association.
• Li Ziqian escorted Aaron to Willow Courtyard and introduced two maidservants, Attendant Scribe and Attendant Painter.
• Aaron welcomed the maidservants and promised to provide a generous dowry if he later sent them away to marry.
• Li Ziqian reported Aaron’s behavior to Li Zitong, who judged him a man of principle but ordered that he continue to be watched.

More than three years after settling with the Li Family, Aaron continued cultivating quietly and tending spirit fields as the family’s finances tightened and Li Ruyu neared his final limit. His peaceful routine ended when Li Ruyu announced that the Black Blood Sect was preparing to invade and the Azure Cauldron Sect had ordered local families to await conscription.

• Aaron cultivated at Little Moon Mountain, reflected on the Li Family’s uncertain future, and enjoyed the service of Yi Hong and Yi Cui.
• Aaron tended the Li Family’s spirit fields and learned from Li Ziqian that the family would harvest them early because it urgently needed spirit stones.
• Aaron kept to himself and trusted that no threat could harm him, but Li Ziqian soon summoned him to the Li Family’s council hall.
• Li Ruyu announced that the Black Blood Sect was about to invade and that the Azure Cauldron Sect had ordered families like the Li Family to prepare for conscription.

The Li Family faced a forced summons to send eleven cultivators to Three Mountains Market, and Li Ruyu chose to send Li Qingjing to the front lines to pursue Foundation Establishment. Aaron accepted a place in the party while suspecting the family was trying to keep him from fleeing, and he wondered whether Li Qinglan, sent to serve him, was part of that plan.

• Li Zitong announced that the Azure Cauldron Sect had ordered the Li Family to send eleven cultivators to Three Mountains Market.
• Li Ruyu offered Aaron spirit stones and a magic artifact to join the expedition, and Aaron reluctantly accepted while planning to desert if necessary.
• Li Ruyu overruled Li Zitong and ordered Li Qingjing to accompany the party so he could attempt Foundation Establishment near the front lines.
• Li Ruyu explained that he hoped to secure a Foundation Establishment Pill through war merit and vowed to protect Qingjing, even at the cost of the others' lives.
• Li Ziqian brought Aaron a group of women, including the cultivator Li Qinglan, and Aaron suspected the family meant to monitor him.
• Li Qinglan told Aaron she was willing to serve him because she felt indebted to her family and wanted to support Qingjing's Foundation Establishment.

Aaron arrived at Three Mountains Market as the Black Blood Sect’s invasion forced the market to activate its defenses and gather cultivators for war. After recovering his belongings from Shen Qingchen, he learned the invasion was driven by the Vast Righteous Sect’s westward advance and that powerful forces from the eastern great cultivation realm might be invading the Far Western Lands.

• Aaron entered Three Mountains Market with the Li Family and gave Li Qinglan spirit talismans to protect her in the coming battle.
• Aaron secretly became Elder Fang and met Shen Qingchen, who returned his stored belongings and reported that Lin Yuanping had died on an expedition.
• Shen Qingchen explained that the Vast Righteous Sect was relocating westward into the Martial Kingdom, pressuring the Black Blood Sect to push into the Forest Kingdom.
• Aaron learned that the Vast Righteous Sect’s advance might be caused by forces from the eastern great cultivation realm invading the Far Western Lands.

Aaron learned more about the cultivation powers beyond the far west and warned Shen Qingchen that the Azure Cauldron Sect’s alliance with the Vast Righteous Sect could endanger the Three Mountains Association. He used Shen Qingchen’s token to shop at the wartime auction, then left East Gate Valley disguised as Huang San.

• Aaron told Shen Qingchen that the Black Blood Sect’s fall could leave the Three Mountains Association exposed, and she vowed to persuade her allies while preparing to protect herself.
• Shen Qingchen gave Aaron her elder’s token, allowing him to pose as her Qi Refinement junior and leave the valley.
• At the Three Mountains Market auction, Aaron bought an incomplete second-tier talisman master inheritance and reflected on the soaring prices of wartime supplies.
• Aaron went to the East Gate Valley entrance and presented Shen Qingchen’s token to Elder Mei, claiming he needed to buy Three-Star Waterweed for Drunken Beauty.
• Elder Mei accepted Aaron’s explanation and let him pass, pleased by what he believed was his special connection to Shen Qingchen.

Aaron discovered that Li Ruyu had tracked him with scent-tracing insects and confronted him outside East Gate Valley. After Li Ruyu revealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation and attacked, Aaron exposed his own Foundation Establishment Middle Stage strength and trapped him in the Thousand Baleful Banner’s ghostly mist; the fight continued as a bronze cauldron crashed down on Li Ruyu.

• Aaron stopped in midair and attacked a hidden pursuer with Fire Feather Arrow Talismans, revealing an unfamiliar late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator.
• The pursuer identified Aaron as Huang San and revealed himself as Li Ruyu, a Li Family Foundation Establishment cultivator who had tracked him with scent-tracing insects.
• Li Ruyu admitted he had followed Aaron for his wealth and attacked, but Aaron revealed that he was a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator.
• Aaron trapped Li Ruyu in the Thousand Baleful Banner’s ghostly mist and sent a Foundation Establishment ghost after him.
• Li Ruyu used his top-tier flying knives to decapitate the ghost, then Aaron’s gigantic bronze cauldron appeared above him and crashed down.

Aaron captured and killed the impostor Li Ruyu, then discovered the demonic lineage and disguise behind his identity. After learning to use the Thousand Illusions Mask, Aaron considered impersonating Li Qingjing to take control of the Li Family and its spirit vein.

• Aaron overwhelmed Li Ruyu with the Black Sun Demonic Fire and flying swords, then sealed his powers and carried him away alive.
• Aaron searched Li Ruyu’s soul, removed the Thousand Illusions Mask, and killed him after obtaining his belongings and journal.
• Aaron learned that the impostor belonged to the Phantom Demon Lineage and had killed the real Li Ruyu before taking his place in the Li Family.
• Aaron used the mask to alter his appearance, mana, and divine-sense fluctuations.
• Aaron considered replacing Li Qingjing and claiming the Li Family’s spirit vein, but also questioned whether he should pursue better opportunities elsewhere.

Aaron hid in Black Marsh Prefecture City, where he rescued Shen Qingchen from Azure Cauldron Sect pursuers and learned that the Three Mountains Association had been destroyed. He considered raiding Three Mountains Market for its inheritances but decided the risk of encountering Azure Pill was too great.

• Aaron disguised himself as a mortal and lived quietly in Black Marsh Prefecture City for three months.
• Shen Qingchen and Elder Mei fled into the city, but Elder Mei abandoned her as Azure Cauldron Sect cultivators closed in.
• Black Blood and the Azure Cauldron Sect surrounded Shen Qingchen, and Aaron killed the attackers with his Thousand Baleful Banner.
• Aaron took Shen Qingchen away from the city and asked her what had happened to the Three Mountains Association.
• Shen Qingchen explained that Azure Pill and the Vast Righteous Sect had killed Patriarch Black Blood and then destroyed the Three Mountains Association in a surprise attack.
• Aaron considered going to Three Mountains Market for its inheritances but chose to keep lying low rather than risk meeting Azure Pill.

After the Three Mountains Association fell, Shen Qingchen prepared to seek Core Formation opportunities elsewhere and gave Aaron a valuable third-tier alchemy inheritance. Aaron chose to remain in the Forest Kingdom and headed for Little Moon Mountain, where Li Qinglan was fleeing the aftermath of her family’s bloody raid.

• Shen Qingchen told Aaron she planned to travel through the Far Western Lands, or cross the desert to Great Qian, to pursue Core Formation.
• Aaron refused to leave the Forest Kingdom and promised to protect the descendants of the Shen and Zi families.
• Shen Qingchen gave Aaron jade slips containing an incomplete third-tier alchemy inheritance from the Three Mountains Association.
• The next day, Shen Qingchen and Aaron parted; Aaron flew toward Little Moon Mountain to see whether he could enlist the Li Family.
• Li Qinglan traveled through the forest, haunted by the night Li Qingjing led the Li Family in a spree of slaughter and plunder at Three Mountains Market and Three Mountains Peak.

Aaron found the wounded Li Qinglan after the chaos at Three Mountains Association, searched her memories, and discovered a method for making spirit artifacts that he decided to pursue. He altered Li Qinglan’s memories and, disguised as Li Qingjing, told her Little Moon Mountain might be besieged and announced his plan to break through to Foundation Establishment.

• Li Qinglan recalled Li Qingjing’s apparent death and escaped pursuers before collapsing near Little Moon Mountain, where Aaron caught her.
• Aaron searched Li Qinglan’s soul and found nearly five thousand spirit stones, supplies, and a jade slip describing spirit artifacts that could grow stronger through cultivation.
• Aaron decided spirit artifacts suited his long-term plans, then altered Li Qinglan’s memories so she would believe Li Qingjing had survived and returned with spoils.
• Li Qinglan woke in Aaron’s cave abode and thanked him, believing he had rescued her while they were traveling back to the family.
• Disguised as Li Qingjing, Aaron warned Li Qinglan that Little Moon Mountain might be besieged and that Lord Jade Ancestor might have fallen.
• Aaron told Li Qinglan he would enter seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment and become the Li Family’s new backbone.