Chapter Summaries

After twenty-six years in the Foundation Establishment realm, He Song broke through to the Middle Stage, a progress accelerated by his wealth and Small Spirit Gathering Array. He began consolidating his cultivation inside a residence protected by four arrays, while planning to conceal his new level from others.

• He Song confirmed that his cultivation and divine sense had grown after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• He Song reflected that his cultivation had taken twenty-two active years and abundant resources to advance, making him eight years faster than an ordinary cultivator with four spiritual roots.
• He Song decided to use the Breath Concealment Technique to present himself as a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator when traveling.
• He Song activated the arrays around his residence and circulated the Thick Earth Technique to consolidate his breakthrough.
• He Song relied on the Small Spirit Gathering Array, Nether Smoke Array, Seven Killing Heavenly Fire Array, and Sea Stabilizing Yuan Array to protect himself.

After three years of seclusion, He Song advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and strengthened his body and techniques. With his Spirit Stones running low and his planted crops still years from harvest, he began searching for a safe way to earn more.

• He Song spent four years cultivating the Mysterious God Body Refining Technique, gaining enough physical strength to contend with early Qi Refining cultivators.
• He Song mastered the Sealing Technique and spent the following year cultivating the Soul Splitting Technique.
• He Song received news that Meng Guan had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Su Yan had failed her breakthrough attempt, and Zhao Lin was seeking information about the four-sect alliance.
• After three years of seclusion, He Song broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, though his four Spirit Puppets remained unchanged.
• He Song realized his Spirit Stones were running low, while most of his spirit herbs needed four more years to mature, and he wondered how to earn money without resorting to robbery.

He Song consolidated his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation and resumed studying talisman-making to earn Spirit Stones while planning to learn alchemy in secret. One year later, he successfully drew a Thick Earth Spirit Talisman for Foundation Establishment cultivators, though making it consumed nearly half his spiritual power.

• He Song planned to earn Spirit Stones by studying the Talisman Dao and to use his medicinal gardens to support future alchemy, while concealing both talents from others.
• After a month in seclusion, He Song finished consolidating his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation and went to his talisman-making room.
• He Song reviewed his progress with the Talisman Dao Primer, practiced drawing talismans, and began studying it in earnest.
• He Song's success rate for Superior Thick Earth Talismans passed fifty percent, allowing him to sell them and fund further study.
• One year later, He Song completed a Thick Earth Spirit Talisman for Foundation Establishment cultivators, which drained nearly half his spiritual power.

He Song began studying pill refinement while continuing to improve his Foundation Establishment Spirit Talisman skills, using his wealth and unusual abilities to accelerate his progress. Four years after Clear Moon Real Person left, the four great sects’ alliance remained a nominal arrangement staged for the One Yang Sect.

• He Song successfully drew a lower-grade Lesser Thick Earth Spirit Talisman and decided to raise his success rate while continuing to make Superior Thick Earth Talismans.
• He Song chose to study pill refinement so he could use the spirit herbs in his medicinal gardens and earn more Spirit Stones.
• He Song bought a middle-grade pill furnace and practice herbs, then studied pill refinement alongside the Talisman Dao at his residence.
• He Song rapidly improved at refining Qi Refining-stage pills by applying his divine sense, Qi Observation Technique, wealth, and prior knowledge.
• News spread about secret meetings and plans among the four great sects, but Clear Moon Real Person dismissed it as false information intended to mislead the One Yang Sect.

After learning that the four sects were preparing for war, He Song bought a modest stock of supplies and considered the risks to his safety. He decided to explore other regions and establish hidden retreats before the conflict began.

• Clear Moon Real Person, Meng Guan, Zhao Lin, Wei Fan, and Ping'er told He Song to stockpile supplies ahead of a price surge.
• He Song confirmed with Clear Moon Real Person that Foundation Establishment Real Persons commonly bought war supplies and decided to follow suit.
• He Song disguised himself and spent about ten thousand Spirit Stones on supplies at the Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop.
• He Song weighed whether to flee or fight if war reached his territory and decided to scout other sects and create hidden cave residences.
• He Song planned to find Fang Yu before leaving and give him instructions.

As war preparations began, He Song kept his place in the Thick Earth Sect while preparing hidden refuges and leaving the Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop temporarily. He entrusted the workshop to Fang Yu and set out west toward Pure Yin Sect territory to scout locations for concealed cave dwellings.

• He Song decided not to leave the Thick Earth Sect outright because he still hoped to access its Golden Core methods, and he used his divine sense to find Fang Yu.
• He Song told Fang Yu he was leaving the Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop temporarily, entrusted its affairs to him, and instructed him to seek help from the Azure Wolf Immortal Market's resident True Person if a major crisis arose.
• He Song warned Fang Yu to keep his departure secret and left him shaken and relieved in the courtyard.
• He Song packed his belongings, left Yu'er in a medicinal garden, and traveled underground using the Earth Escape Technique.
• After traveling dozens of li, He Song emerged and flew west with the Blood Escape Technique toward Pure Yin Sect territory to scout refuge locations.

He Song crossed from Thick Earth Sect territory into Pure Yin Sect territory and secretly carved out a well-stocked cave dwelling more than a thousand meters underground. He then headed toward the One Yang Sect, planning to buy a map and establish more hidden refuges there.

• He Song reached the boundary between Thick Earth Sect and Pure Yin Sect, concealed his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, and entered Pure Yin Sect territory.
• He Song found a remote stone mountain and dug a hidden cave dwelling more than a thousand meters underground, carving out rooms and ventilation shafts.
• He Song left supplies and a tracking mark inside, sealed the cave dwelling behind stone slabs and a boulder, and checked the surroundings for anything amiss.
• He Song left the site and headed south toward the One Yang Sect, intending to purchase a map and locate more places for hidden cave dwellings.

He Song crossed into the One Yang Sect’s territory to scout for a safe place to establish a hidden cave dwelling and found Flying Cloud Immortal Market. He concealed his identity and cultivation, then asked an attendant named Su Qian to lead him to a map.

• He Song reached the boundary between the Pure Yin Sect and the One Yang Sect and flew into the Nascent Soul Sect’s territory.
• He Song used the Qi Observation Technique to locate an Immortal Market, approached it underground, and confirmed that a Foundation Establishment Real Person was stationed there.
• He Song disguised himself as a Qi Refining stage 7 cultivator and entered Flying Cloud Immortal Market, seeking a map in its Spirit Skill Pavilion.
• He Song found Su Qian secretly eating in a corner and asked her to lead him to a map.

He Song visited the Spirit Skill Pavilion in Flying Cloud Immortal Market to obtain maps and information for scouting the One Yang Sect's territory. He acquired a detailed map of Cloud Province and had Su Qian search for maps and other local information, leaving him waiting for her findings.

• He Song asked Su Qian for a map while concealing that he wanted to scout the One Yang Sect's territory for a hidden cave abode.
• Su Qian explained that the One Yang Sect governed ten Immortal Provinces and hundreds of Immortal Cities, revealing the immense scale of its territory.
• Su Qian gave He Song a Jade Slip map of Cloud Province, and He Song read it without revealing his Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• He Song paid Su Qian ten Spirit Stones and asked her to find more detailed regional maps and information about nearby powers, opportunities, and local customs.
• Su Qian hurried off to gather the requested Jade Slips while He Song reflected that he had chosen her because she had been loafing and could be persuaded with Spirit Stones.

He Song gathered regional intelligence from Su Qian, hired her to send him monthly reports, and traveled to the One Yang Sect’s territory to establish a concealed cave abode. After creating the refuge, he received an unexpected Sound Transmission Paper Crane addressed to “Senior Chen.”

• Su Qian brought He Song Jade Slips containing information and maps about the surrounding region, which he memorized.
• He Song arranged for Su Qian to send him information once a month in exchange for one Spirit Stone per report, and he paid her in advance for five years.
• He Song left Flying Cloud Immortal Market and used the maps to choose a remote, secluded site in the One Yang Sect’s territory.
• He Song carved a hidden cave abode deep inside a stone mountain, giving himself refuges in both the Pure Yin Sect and One Yang Sect territories.
• A Sound Transmission Paper Crane caught up with He Song as he flew away, and he opened its message, which began with “Senior Chen.”

He Song received local news from Su Qian, then continued his journey through the sect territories, establishing hidden cave abodes as escape routes. After spending nearly all his reserves on these preparations, he headed for Golden Snake Immortal Workshop to sell spirit rice and replenish his Spirit Stones.

• Su Qian sent He Song reports about recent events near Flying Cloud Immortal Market, Eight Vein Immortal City, and Cloud Province, and He Song praised her work while warning her to send only true information.
• He Song replied to Su Qian under the false name Chen Zhou and continued his journey, deciding to avoid the reported opportunity east of Eight Vein Immortal City.
• He Song traveled through the Qionghua Sect and Golden Sword Sect territories, establishing hidden cave abodes and completing a network of five across four sects.
• After leaving nearly all his supplies and Spirit Stones in the hidden cave abodes, He Song decided to sell the spirit rice he had stored from his former fields.
• He Song reached the outskirts of Golden Snake Immortal Workshop but paused before entering to make preparations.

He Song prepared a hidden array trap before disguising himself as a Qi Refining cultivator and selling spirit rice at Golden Snake Immortal Workshop. After Sun Yu showed unusual restraint during the transaction, He Song grew suspicious and began monitoring his movements with divine sense.

• He Song set up three arrays in a nearby valley and disguised himself as the rogue cultivator Chen Zhou.
• He Song entered Golden Snake Immortal Workshop and told Spirit Medicine Pavilion steward Sun Yu that he wanted to sell spirit rice.
• Sun Yu brought a cargo Storage Pouch, and He Song transferred 121,000 jin of spirit rice into it.
• Sun Yu offered 10,900 spirit stones for the rice, and He Song accepted the price.
• When Sun Yu left to fetch the payment, He Song extended his divine sense to track him, suspecting he had a hidden scheme.

He Song completed his spirit-rice trade at Golden Snake Immortal Workshop after Sun Yu secretly alerted his superiors, then disguised himself and escaped the inn where the Enforcement Squad had been watching for him. While dining nearby, he overheard that the chief steward had personally ordered his capture, confirming that the pursuit was still underway.

• He Song used his divine sense to watch Sun Yu send a report about a suspected connection to the mysterious spirit-rice seller and receive instructions from Liu Ping to proceed with the trade.
• Sun Yu returned to the VIP Hall with 10,900 Spirit Stones, and He Song completed the transaction before leaving the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.
• He Song rented an inn room, burned his black robe, removed any tracking marks, changed his appearance and cultivation aura, then escaped underground.
• He Song went to a restaurant and spread his divine sense over the surrounding area as a precaution.
• Two Enforcement Squad cultivators said the chief steward had ordered a capture and complained that their watchers had let their target escape; He Song realized they were pursuing him.

He Song escaped the search for the false identity Chen Zhou and finished his business in Golden Snake Immortal Workshop, but True Person Cangjian sealed the market before he could leave. He Song faced a blocked exit and learned that the market’s wards prevented underground escape.

• He Song overheard Enforcement Squad cultivators say that the chief steward had ordered them to search for Chen Zhou after He Song sold spirit rice.
• The Enforcement Squad searched Golden Snake Immortal Workshop but eventually stopped after failing to find Chen Zhou, while He Song ate, paid his bill, and decided to continue toward Hundred Herbs Immortal Workshop.
• He Song found the market exit blocked by Enforcement Squad members, who said True Person Cangjian had sealed Golden Snake Immortal Workshop to catch a rogue cultivator.
• He Song considered escaping underground, but Enforcement Squad members revealed that the Metal-Stone Technique made underground passage impossible and dragged away an injured cultivator who had tried it.
• True Person Cangjian appeared above the crowd, and the cultivators at the entrance bowed to him.

He Song was accused of disrespecting True Person Cangjian and suspected of being an evil cultivator at the Golden Snake Immortal Workshop. When Cangjian probed him, He Song fled toward a valley where he had prepared three formations, while Cangjian pursued him and revealed he wanted the source of He Song’s spirit rice.

• Li'er accused He Song of disrespecting True Person Cangjian and called him an evil cultivator, but Cangjian first ordered his disciple to stand down.
• True Person Cangjian then declared that he would inspect the crowd with his divine sense and singled out He Song for examination.
• He Song recognized that Cangjian intended to target him and fled the Golden Snake Immortal Workshop, leading Cangjian toward the valley where he had set three formations.
• True Person Cangjian pursued He Song and said he had identified him as the mysterious spirit rice seller from the Thick Earth Sect.
• True Person Cangjian offered to spare He Song if he revealed where he obtained the spirit rice and joined the Golden Sword Sect.

He Song lured True Person Cangjian into a valley where he had prepared arrays, then trapped him with the Nether Smoke Array and the Seven Killing Heavenly Fire Array. As True Person Cangjian’s sword struck the figure charging through the flames without stopping it, he saw He Song’s mysterious, patterned form approach.

• True Person Cangjian pursued He Song and offered him a place in the Golden Sword Sect, while He Song recognized that Cangjian had targeted him over his spirit rice.
• He Song led Cangjian to the valley where he had prepared arrays and pretended to be exhausted to keep Cangjian from suspecting a trap.
• Cangjian mocked He Song and charged into the valley, confident that a Qi Refining cultivator’s arrays could not threaten him.
• He Song activated the Nether Smoke Array and the Seven Killing Heavenly Fire Array, obstructing Cangjian’s divine sense and burning away his mana.
• Cangjian tried to capture the figure rushing through the flames, but his weakened sword strike failed to stop it, and he saw He Song’s patterned appearance up close.

He Song trapped True Person Cangjian in the Seven Killing Heavenly Fire Array and Nether Smoke Array, then unleashed his spirit puppets and Foundation Establishment techniques to overwhelm him. True Person Cangjian began to show signs of defeat as He Song prepared to press the attack.

• True Person Cangjian realized He Song's spirit puppet was a Foundation Establishment-level threat and tried to persuade He Song to lower the arrays.
• He Song ignored True Person Cangjian's offer and kept him trapped, letting the heavenly fire drain his spiritual power while the puppet harried him.
• He Song released Clear Wind, Bright Moon, Idle Cloud, and Wild Crane, then summoned an earth dragon with the Earth Dragon Technique.
• He Song activated the Black Tiger Seal, sending its skeletal black tiger into the fight while the seal protected him.
• True Person Cangjian struggled to fend off the combined attacks of the four puppets and saw his sword qi barely damage them.

He Song kept True Person Cangjian trapped in his arrays and prepared a coordinated attack while Cangjian searched for a way out. Cangjian unleashed the Setting Sun Golden Cloud Sword, but He Song struck his divine sense with the Arrow God Stab, leaving him crying out in pain.

• He Song sent an earth dragon and a skeletal Black Tiger to join the four spirit puppets besieging True Person Cangjian.
• True Person Cangjian threatened He Song, offered his possessions and information about a Foundation Establishment cave abode, and begged for release, but He Song ignored him.
• True Person Cangjian searched for the Nether Smoke Array's weak point, while He Song prepared the Arrow God Stab and Thick Earth Seal to exploit an opening.
• After finding the weak point, True Person Cangjian surrounded himself with defensive spirit talismans and unleashed the Setting Sun Golden Cloud Sword against the formation.
• He Song's Arrow God Stab pierced True Person Cangjian's defenses and struck his Mud Palace Pill, making him cry out in pain.

He Song killed True Person Cangjian, searched his memories, and erased the traces of the battle. He then disguised himself as Ningyin Real Person of the Seven Star Sect and returned to Golden Snake Immortal Workshop to frame him, where he sent two Spirit Puppets against the Enforcement Squad.

• He Song grievously wounded True Person Cangjian's divine sense with the Arrow God Stab, then struck him with the Thick Earth Seal and had his puppets and summoned creatures kill him.
• He Song performed the Soul Searching Technique on True Person Cangjian, burned the corpse, collected the ashes and belongings, and erased the traces in the valley.
• He Song put away his formations, changed his appearance, and flew toward Golden Snake Immortal Workshop with a blood-colored escape light to frame Ningyin Real Person.
• He Song arrived above Golden Snake Immortal Workshop and claimed that Ningyin Real Person had killed True Person Cangjian and demanded that the people below surrender.
• He Song released the black-robed Spirit Puppets Idle Cloud and Wild Crane and sent them toward the Golden Snake Immortal Workshop's Enforcement Squad.

He Song killed True Person Cangjian’s disciple Zhou Li and used the deaths of Golden Snake Immortal Workshop’s Enforcement Squad to plunge the market into chaos. After looting valuable goods and erasing traces of his visit, he escaped toward the Thick Earth Sect, while a Golden Sword Sect cultivator arrived to restore order.

• He Song ordered Idle Cloud and Wild Crane to kill the Enforcement Squad, then killed Zhou Li and collected the squad members’ Storage Pouches.
• He Song claimed a True Lord had summoned him and fled, then secretly returned in disguise and started looting the Magic Artifact Pavilion to spark wider plundering.
• He Song searched the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, erased the remaining evidence of his presence, and left without looting other shops.
• He Song used the Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique and Concealing Breath Technique to travel toward the Thick Earth Sect.
• Golden Snake Immortal Workshop descended into hours of looting until a young Foundation Establishment cultivator arrived in a golden escape light, frightening the remaining plunderers.