Chapter Summaries

He Song received Ping’er’s news that Chu Shuangshuang had failed Foundation Establishment, but he refused to return to the sect because doing so would disrupt his plans to remain inconspicuous. After replying, he found another message from Lin Cong, who had also failed Foundation Establishment and planned to leave Qingyuan Immortal City for Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

• The Thick Earth Sect continued taking territory around the Seven Star Sect while its protective formation remained active, and He Song stayed away from the conflict to cultivate the Arrow God Stab.
• Ping’er told He Song that Chu Shuangshuang had failed Foundation Establishment, recovered from her injuries, and wanted to see him before leaving for another assignment.
• He Song decided not to return to the sect, then sent Ping’er a reply claiming that he had failed Foundation Establishment and was recovering in seclusion.
• He Song went outside his cave abode to clear his mind and found two Sound Transmission Paper Cranes waiting for him.
• Lin Cong wrote that he had failed Foundation Establishment, was leaving Qingyuan Immortal City to seek a marriage and start a family, and would wait for He Song at Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

He Song read letters reporting that Lin Cong had failed Foundation Establishment while Zhao Lin had succeeded, then sent them both brief replies while concealing that he had already become a Foundation Establishment Real Person. After incubating a mysterious egg, he hatched a spirit turtle and decided it would guard his cave dwelling as he continued practicing Arrow God Stab.

• He Song read Lin Cong's letter about failing Foundation Establishment and Zhao Lin's letter announcing his success and impending entry into the Thick Earth Sect.
• He Song sent both men Sound Transmission Paper Cranes, saying he was recovering from a failed attempt, while keeping his actual Foundation Establishment secret.
• He Song tended his medicinal garden and spirit field, then examined the mysterious egg he had found three years earlier and brought it inside to incubate.
• The egg hatched into a tiny spirit turtle, and He Song decided to keep it to guard his home rather than abandon it.
• He Song fed the turtle and returned to the quiet room to practice Arrow God Stab.

He Song completed his mastery of the Arrow God Stab and prepared to establish Foundation Establishment outside the Thick Earth Sect while hiding his existing cultivation. He engineered a breakthrough scene in Qingyuan Immortal City, where a spiritual energy vortex appeared above his inn and drew the city’s cultivators’ attention.

• He Song mastered the Arrow God Stab after two and a half years and decided to replace his Qi Refining tea with Foundation Establishment spiritual tea.
• As he neared his sixtieth birthday, He Song sent Meng Guan, Wei Fan, Ping'er, and Zhao Lin a fabricated account of leaving the sect to mend his Dao Heart before trying Foundation Establishment again.
• He Song planned to stage a Foundation Establishment breakthrough in Qingyuan Immortal City so witnesses would support his explanation for leaving the sect.
• Using the Breath Concealment Technique and Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique, He Song traveled to Qingyuan Immortal City and rented a room at an inn.
• He Song operated a Small Spirit Gathering Array and formed a spiritual energy vortex above the inn, attracting the notice of cultivators throughout the city.

He Song staged a Foundation Establishment breakthrough at an inn in Qingyuan Immortal City so the Thick Earth Sect would have a witness to his achievement. Clear Moon Real Person arrived to meet the new cultivator and was stunned to discover it was He Song.

• Cultivators flocked to the inn after a spiritual energy vortex appeared, while Clear Moon Real Person promised through divine sense to protect the supposed cultivator breaking through.
• He Song maintained the vortex for several days, then let it dissipate and waited for Clear Moon Real Person to arrive.
• Clear Moon Real Person came to the inn seeking a conversation, and He Song greeted her as Martial Aunt.
• Clear Moon Real Person entered and recognized He Song as the new Foundation Establishment Real Person, leaving her shocked.

He Song met Clear Moon Real Person in Qingyuan Immortal City and arranged to return to the Thick Earth Sect with her, while asking about Chu Shuangshuang. Several days later, they reached the sect’s mountain gate, and He Song stood poised to return after years away.

• He Song told Clear Moon Real Person that he had left the sect to recover from the damage to his Dao Heart after failing at Foundation Establishment.
• Clear Moon Real Person offered to escort He Song back to the Thick Earth Sect so she could visit Ping'er and bring her cultivation resources.
• He Song asked about Chu Shuangshuang, and Clear Moon Real Person said she had gone to Lianshan Immortal City after failing Foundation Establishment; He Song promised to try to persuade her to return.
• Clear Moon Real Person and He Song boarded her Spirit Boat and set off for the Thick Earth Sect, while the innkeeper renamed the inn Ascension Inn and sharply raised its room prices.
• After several days of travel, Clear Moon Real Person and He Song arrived at the Thick Earth Sect's mountain gate.

He Song returned to the Thick Earth Sect with Clear Moon Real Person and faced an inquiry from Round Mountain True Person about his Foundation Establishment outside the sect. After Clear Moon explained his departure, the two arrived at the Main Peak to meet the Sect Leader True Lord, leaving He Song anxious but prepared.

• He Song recognized Round Mountain True Person approaching the Spirit Boat, recalling that he had intercepted him when He Song first entered the sect.
• Round Mountain True Person and Clear Moon Real Person apologized for their past factional hostility and eased their relationship.
• Clear Moon Real Person explained that He Song had left to repair his damaged Dao heart and achieved Foundation Establishment in Qingyuan Immortal City, and Round Mountain True Person accepted her account.
• Round Mountain True Person apologized to He Song and departed, ending the inquiry into his return.
• Clear Moon Real Person escorted He Song to the Main Peak, where they requested an audience with the Sect Leader True Lord.

He Song met Fayan Zhenjun, who praised the three friends’ rise but abruptly dismissed him, leaving him puzzled. Clear Moon Real Person explained that He Song’s friendship with his companions may have reminded Fayan Zhenjun of his former closeness with Yan Shan True Monarch; He Song then left to claim his sect rewards.

• Fayan Zhenjun welcomed He Song and Clear Moon Real Person, praised the three friends for supporting one another, and dismissed them after a sudden sigh.
• Clear Moon Real Person brought He Song to her cave abode, where Ping'er learned that He Song had reached Foundation Establishment and was now her Martial Uncle.
• Clear Moon Real Person told He Song the rumor that Fayan Zhenjun and Yan Shan True Monarch had once been close before their relationship changed.
• He Song reasoned that Fayan Zhenjun's past bond with Yan Shan True Monarch explained his reaction and his earlier gift of Foundation Establishment Pills.
• He Song thanked Clear Moon Real Person, took his leave, and headed to the Main Peak to claim his rewards.

After receiving Fayan Zhenjun’s Foundation Establishment rewards, He Song secured himself in his old courtyard and examined his new possessions. He refined the White Jade Boat and learned how the disciple tokens and cave-dwelling token could be used, but had not yet chosen a site for his cave dwelling.

• He Song collected a White Jade Boat, three blank disciple tokens, 200 contribution points, a top-grade Storage Pouch, and a cave-dwelling token from the Thick Earth Sect’s treasure vault.
• He Song returned to his former Qi Refining courtyard, activated its formation, and used his divine sense to guard against anyone probing inside.
• He Song examined the rewards and refined the White Jade Boat, storing it in his dantian after several days.
• He Song put away the disciple tokens because his friends were already Foundation Establishment cultivators and Lin Cong was too old to benefit from joining the sect.
• He Song learned that the cave-dwelling token let the Artifact Refining Hall build and equip a cave dwelling after he selected its location.

He Song used his new elder status to arrange a cave abode near Meng Guan and Wei Fan, then visited the Scripture Pavilion to select Foundation Establishment methods. He chose the Foundation Establishment version of the Thick Earth Technique and several spells, leaving with a plan to exchange for them.

• He Song stored his cave abode token and reviewed the contribution points and rewards Fayan Zhenjun had granted him as a new elder.
• He Song decided to establish a cave abode within the Thick Earth Sect and use the Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique to leave secretly when needed.
• He Song asked the Artifact Refining Hall to place his cave abode beside those of Meng Guan and Wei Fan, who were still in Lianshan Immortal City.
• Yang Yan recognized He Song as a Foundation Establishment Real Person and directed him to the Scripture Pavilion's second floor.
• He Song selected the Foundation Establishment Thick Earth Technique, Earth Dragon Technique, Thick Earth Seal, Illusionary Shadow Escape Technique, Molten Fire Shield, and Dust Clothing Technique.

He Song redeemed six Foundation Establishment methods and changed his cultivation technique to its Foundation Establishment section, greatly improving his cultivation speed. He moved into his new cave abode beside Meng Guan and Wei Fan's, where he examined its arrays.

• He Song used 61 contribution points to redeem the Foundation Establishment section of the Thick Earth Technique and five other methods, including the costly Thick Earth Seal.
• He Song reflected on Fayan Zhenjun's generous grant of 200 contribution points but resolved to flee first if danger arose.
• He Song spent several days converting his cultivation method and brought his mana absorption and conversion speed up to that of other Foundation Establishment Real Persons.
• After receiving his cave abode token, He Song moved from his small courtyard to a cave beside those of Meng Guan and Wei Fan.
• He Song inspected the cave abode's Tiny Spirit Gathering Array and Purple Cloud Celestial Dipper Array, finding both less capable than the arrays he had used elsewhere.

Over four years, He Song mastered the Thick Earth Seal and Earth Dragon Technique, upgraded his equipment, and returned to the Scripture Pavilion to obtain five auxiliary methods. He began cultivating the Concealing Breath Technique and Qi Observation Technique so he could hide his Foundation Establishment cultivation and trade more safely in Immortal Markets.

• He Song activated the Tiny Spirit Gathering Array and Purple Cloud Celestial Dipper Array, then continued cultivating in his new cave dwelling.
• Over the next four years, He Song mastered the Thick Earth Seal and Earth Dragon Technique and replaced his Spirit Talismans and Magic Artifacts with stronger ones.
• He Song returned to the Scripture Pavilion and memorized the Concealing Breath Technique, Qi Observation Technique, Soul Searching Technique, Sealing Technique, and Soul Splitting Technique.
• He Song studied how the Concealing Breath Technique concealed cultivation from divine sense scans and how the Qi Observation Technique saw through the Breath Concealment Technique.
• He Song began cultivating the Concealing Breath Technique and Qi Observation Technique so he could conceal his cultivation and conduct Immortal Market transactions with less risk.

He Song avoided selling his growing stockpile of spirit rice while the Thick Earth Sect investigated its origins, and he focused on learning concealment and observation spells. The war ended with the Seven Star Sect relocating, and Meng Guan and Wei Fan returned to congratulate He Song on reaching Foundation Establishment.

• He Song recalled that the Thick Earth Sect had begun investigating the spirit rice he had sold, so he kept his harvest stored and considered selling it beyond the sect's territory.
• He Song began cultivating the Concealing Breath Technique, the Qi Observation Technique, and the Soul Searching Technique.
• Four Golden Core True Lords met outside the Seven Star Sect; after days of discussion, Tian Shu True Monarch led the Seven Star Sect's elders and disciples away, ending the war through the sect's relocation.
• Fayan Zhenjun and Yan Shan True Monarch entered the Seven Star Sect's mountain gate, sealed it, and returned to the Thick Earth Sect.
• Meng Guan and Wei Fan returned from Lianshan Immortal City, and He Song emerged from seclusion to welcome them.
• Meng Guan and Wei Fan congratulated He Song on reaching Foundation Establishment and insisted on holding a celebration for him.

He Song welcomed Wei Fan and Meng Guan back from the front lines, learned that Meng Guan had reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and listened to their accounts of the campaign. After they left, He Song wondered what the four Golden Core True Lords had discussed and why the Seven Star Sect had received no aid.

• He Song declined Wei Fan and Meng Guan's suggestion to celebrate his Foundation Establishment and asked whether Meng Guan had been injured.
• Wei Fan explained that Meng Guan had become renowned as Soul-Severing Real Person and recently advanced to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• He Song concealed his suspicions about Meng Guan's rapid cultivation and listened as Wei Fan and Meng Guan recounted the war and the four Golden Core True Lords' meeting.
• After Wei Fan and Meng Guan returned to their cave abodes, He Song activated the Purple Cloud Celestial Dipper Array and pondered why the Seven Star Sect's allies had not intervened and what the Golden Core True Lords had discussed.

He Song questioned the sudden outcome of the Seven Star Sect war and prepared for possible upheaval by learning Foundation Establishment methods and seeking access to Golden Core techniques. Unable to enter the Scripture Pavilion’s third floor, he returned to seclusion, refined two powerful artifacts over two years, and continued strengthening himself.

• He Song wondered why the Seven Star Sect was relocating, what the Thick Earth Sect’s leaders intended, and whether the sect’s factions would clash over the spoils.
• He Song visited the Scripture Pavilion, memorized Foundation Establishment methods, and asked Yang Yan to borrow Golden Core methods.
• Yang Yan told He Song that an array, Foundation Establishment elders, and the sect leader True Lord’s token restricted access to the third floor.
• He Song returned to seclusion and spent two years refining the Black Tiger Seal and Azure Water Turtle Shell Shield.
• After eight years back at the Thick Earth Sect, He Song continued practicing spells and studying Foundation Establishment secret arts to increase his strength.

After spending ten years at Thick Earth Sect, He Song mastered the Soul Searching Technique and prepared for the transfer order that would send him to guard an Immortal Market or Immortal City. Instead, a message from Ping'er revealed that she had established her foundation nine years earlier and asked to visit him before he departed.

• He Song spent two more years cultivating, advanced toward the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and learned the Soul Searching Technique.
• Thick Earth Sect dispatched Meng Guan, Wei Fan, Zhao Lin, and other Foundation Establishment cultivators to guard newly occupied markets and cities, while He Song saw his three friends off.
• He Song repeatedly studied Foundation Establishment methods in the Scripture Pavilion and began considering how to obtain Thick Earth Sect's Golden Core methods.
• After fully mastering the Soul Searching Technique, He Song emerged from seclusion on the tenth anniversary of his return to the sect and expected a transfer order.
• He Song received Ping'er's message saying she had established her foundation nine years earlier and asking to visit before he left.

He Song met Ping'er after she achieved Foundation Establishment, and she asked him to help bring Chu Shuangshuang back from Lianshan Immortal City. He Song agreed, and the two set off together, with Ping'er changing her conspicuous golden escaping light to match his discreet water-blue one.

• He Song replied to Ping'er's message and welcomed her to his cave abode for tea.
• Ping'er told He Song that Chu Shuangshuang had gone to Lianshan Immortal City after failing Foundation Establishment, and asked him to help persuade her to return.
• He Song agreed, honoring his earlier promises to Clear Moon Real Person and Chu Shuangshuang, and set out with Ping'er.
• While they flew toward Lianshan Immortal City, Ping'er asked He Song about his water-blue escaping light, and he explained that it helped him avoid attention.
• After seeing people below worship her dazzling golden light, Ping'er changed her escaping light to water-blue to blend into the sky.

He Song and Ping'er traveled to Lianshan Immortal City to visit Chu Shuangshuang, with He Song teaching Ping'er to approach the journey cautiously. They reached Chu Shuangshuang's courtyard, where she stopped upon noticing He Song behind Ping'er.

• Ping'er thanked He Song for explaining how changing her escape light’s color could make her less noticeable.
• He Song and Ping'er flew to Lianshan Immortal City, landing outside it so He Song could inspect the city before entering disguised as a Qi Refining cultivator.
• Ping'er imitated He Song’s precautions and explained that she had not learned the Concealing Breath Technique.
• He Song asked Ping'er where Chu Shuangshuang was, and Ping'er led him through the city to her senior sister’s courtyard.
• Chu Shuangshuang rushed out to greet Ping'er, then stopped when she saw He Song behind her.

He Song and Ping'er persuaded Chu Shuangshuang to return to Clear Moon Real Person, and Chu Shuangshuang agreed. He Song then received Fayan Zhenjun's order assigning him to guard Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop, while Ping'er's Sound Transmission Talisman lit up as well.

• He Song and Ping'er visited Chu Shuangshuang and persuaded her to return to Clear Moon Real Person.
• Chu Shuangshuang agreed to go back and began discussing gifts for Clear Moon Real Person with Ping'er.
• He Song received Fayan Zhenjun's transfer order assigning him to oversee and guard Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop under Yuheng Xiancheng.
• He Song considered the duties of an Immortal Market garrison and resolved to prioritize his own safety if danger came.
• Ping'er's Sound Transmission Talisman lit up as He Song waited to read its message.

He Song, Ping'er, and Chu Shuangshuang received news that their assignments and plans brought them to Yuheng Xiancheng, so they traveled together aboard He Song's White Jade Boat. He Song advised Ping'er to use Earth Escape Technique for discreet travel, and she said she would learn it after mastering Concealing Breath Technique.

• Ping'er received an order to guard Azure Wolf Immortal Market, while He Song was assigned to Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop.
• He Song and Ping'er learned that their neighboring assignments were both under Yuheng Xiancheng and agreed to travel with Chu Shuangshang, who was heading there to find Clear Moon Real Person.
• He Song released his White Jade Boat, and the three departed Lianshan Immortal City for Yuheng Xiancheng.
• Ping'er asked He Song how to travel safely by Spirit Boat, and he recommended vigilance and using Earth Escape Technique when traveling discreetly.
• Ping'er thanked He Song and said she would learn Earth Escape Technique after she learned Concealing Breath Technique.

He Song brought Ping'er and Chu Shuangshuang to Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop, where he was due to take up his post, hoping their presence would make investigating the newly occupied market safer. After secretly listening with his divine sense, he discovered that the market’s upper ranks were acting like puppets and suspected demonic cultivators were behind it.

• Ping'er asked He Song to teach her the Earth Escape Technique as well as the Concealing Breath Technique, and he agreed to share more methods of cautious cultivation.
• After half a month of travel, He Song reached Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop and invited Ping'er and Chu Shuangshuang inside before they continued to Yuheng Xiancheng.
• Ping'er persuaded Chu Shuangshuang to stay and observe He Song taking over the market so she could learn what to expect at Azure Wolf Immortal Market.
• He Song hovered over Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop in his White Jade Boat, drawing the attention of the market’s cultivators and prompting its leaders to gather and welcome him.
• He Song used his divine sense to eavesdrop on the people below and discovered that the market’s upper ranks seemed controlled like puppets, making him suspect a demonic cultivator’s scheme.