Chapter Summaries

He Song read Meng Guan’s account of destroying the Li Family and moving to Cloud Province, where Meng spent eight years searching in vain for a path to the Golden Core realm. He Song remained in Tianquan Xiancheng, improved his alchemy, and began refining the Three Lives Spirit Pill.

• Meng Guan told He Song that the Li Family had secretly betrayed him, so he used the Soul Searching Technique to uncover their schemes and wiped out the clan before leaving Eight Vein Immortal City for Cloud Province.
• He Song considered the dangers Meng Guan might face in Cloud Province but chose not to warn him, trusting that Meng Guan had learned to be cautious.
• Meng Guan settled in Cloud Province and spent eight years seeking opportunities, but found no Golden Core secret art or Congealed Golden Core and considered visiting other provincial capitals.
• He Song spent eight years in Tianquan Xiancheng mastering the Blood Stasis Dissolving Pill and then turned to refining the Three Lives Spirit Pill.

He Song refined Spirit Protection Pills and pushed against the bottleneck blocking his advance to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, estimating that he would break through in about a year. A message from Lin Cong invited him to meet after decades apart, and He Song realized his old friend was nearing the end of his life.

• He Song continued refining Spirit Protection Pills, which gradually strengthened his divine sense, while his cultivation reached a bottleneck at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• He Song repeatedly attacked the bottleneck and estimated that he would break through it within one or two years.
• He Song swallowed a Spirit Protection Pill and headed toward his alchemy room to refine more pills while its medicinal power took effect.
• A Sound Transmission Paper Crane delivered Lin Cong's message inviting He Song to visit him at Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
• He Song recalled how Lin Cong had failed to achieve Foundation Establishment decades earlier and realized that, as a Qi Refining cultivator, he likely had little time left.

After receiving Lin Cong’s letter, He Song went to Treasure Gathering Pavilion to find a Longevity Pill for his dying Qi Refining stage friend. He learned that such pills were extraordinarily rare and left without a way to help Lin Cong.

• He Song stored Lin Cong’s letter with the many messages he had collected from friends over the years.
• He Song went to Treasure Gathering Pavilion in Tianquan Xiancheng and asked Master Luo Jing whether she had a Longevity Pill for Lin Cong.
• Master Luo Jing explained that Longevity Pills for Qi Refining stage cultivators were exceptionally scarce because growers and refiners could earn more by using older herbs for pills suited to higher realms.
• He Song realized that the pill he sought was rarer than he had assumed and regretted that he could not give Lin Cong the farewell gift he had intended.

He Song visited Tianquan Xiancheng and prepared a cultivation method and puppet-making instructions as a gift for Lin Cong’s descendants. He quietly entered Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market to reunite with Lin Cong, who greeted him with envy and emotion.

• He Song chose a root-compatible Qi Refining cultivation method for Lin Cong’s descendants and sealed it with a portion of his puppet-refining method in a weathered Jade Slip.
• He Song traveled to Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, concealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation, and sent a Sound Transmission Paper Crane to Lin Cong.
• He Song entered the market and reflected on his years as a Spirit Plant Farmer and on the friends he had made there.
• Lin Cong appeared before He Song, greeted him after decades apart, and lamented that He Song had grown stronger while he had entered his declining years.

He Song visited his dying friend Lin Cong, failed to find him a Longevity Pill, and gave him a jade slip to help any descendants with spiritual roots enter cultivation. Before their likely final parting, Lin Cong told He Song about a strange valley he had found after leaving Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

• He Song explained that he had searched Immortal City for a Longevity Pill but could not find one.
• He Song gave Lin Cong a Skill Transmission Jade Slip containing a qi-drawing method and an incomplete puppet technique for his descendants.
• He Song met Lin Cong's large family and stayed with them for several days before Lin Cong prepared to move them to the mortal world.
• Lin Cong asked He Song to prevent eavesdropping and revealed that he had once found a valley that seemed unusual but whose mystery he could never uncover.
• Lin Cong invited He Song to investigate the valley, which lay more than a hundred li east of Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

He Song bid farewell to Lin Cong, who planned to take his family far from Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, and received a map to a mysterious valley. After deciding to investigate the area cautiously before returning to Tianquan Xiancheng, He Song searched near the market and found an evil cultivator.

• Lin Cong gave He Song a map to a strange valley more than a hundred li from Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, and He Song memorized it.
• Lin Cong told He Song he would take his family into the distant mortal world, while He Song reflected on Lin Cong's failed Foundation Establishment and impending death.
• He Song and Lin Cong drank tea together for several more days, then He Song bid farewell as Lin Cong led his family away from the market.
• He Song stopped in a concealed spot, took out Lin Cong's map, and decided to probe the valley without risking entry himself.
• He Song spread his divine sense around Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market for several days and finally detected an evil cultivator.

He Song disguised himself as a Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market steward and forced Lin Dong to flee toward a valley while investigating whether it contained a formation. Lin Dong believed He Song was toying with him and plotted to escape, unaware He Song intended to kill him after reaching the valley.

• He Song caught Lin Dong disposing of a murdered cultivator’s body, then wounded him with Stele-Splitting Finger and gave him a Three Lives Spirit Pill.
• He Song pursued Lin Dong while steering him away from Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market and toward the valley.
• He Song repeatedly wounded Lin Dong as the pill healed him, keeping him fleeing along the intended route.
• Lin Dong mistook He Song’s pursuit for a cat-and-mouse game and secretly resolved to escape.

He Song discovered that a mysterious array concealed a valley and cautiously observed it after killing Lin Dong. He suspected the array guarded a Golden Core True Lord’s cave abode, so he withdrew and left the area.

• He Song noticed an array in the valley while pursuing Lin Dong, then killed him and took his belongings.
• He Song used the Concealing Breath Technique and Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique to approach the valley in secret.
• From more than a dozen li away, He Song observed the array and realized it combined concealment and killing functions, possibly with defense as well.
• He Song suspected the array was a Golden Core array protecting a Golden Core True Lord’s cave abode, so he retreated underground and emerged several hundred li away.

After discovering that the valley’s array might be a Golden Core array, He Song feared its possible master would pursue him and hurried to the Thick Earth Sect’s mountain gate for safety. He arrived without being followed and settled into his cave abode, still watching the sky warily.

• He Song recognized the valley’s array as likely a Golden Core array and left, fearing a Golden Core True Lord might detect or pursue him.
• He Song cleansed himself of possible tracking marks, changed his appearance, replenished his spiritual power, and prepared to use the Blood Escape Technique if necessary.
• He Song flew for several days to the Thick Earth Sect’s mountain gate, staying alert and ready to flee until he was inside its bounds.
• A Foundation Establishment Real Person questioned He Song, then accepted his elder’s token and cultivation as proof of identity.
• He Song reached his cave abode, activated its array, and watched the sky beyond the mountain gate.

He Song returned to the Thick Earth Sect and searched its Scripture Pavilion for a technique that could hide him from both sight and divine sense. Finding only the Dust Transformation Art, he began studying it and remained in the sect, telling his three companions in Tianquan Xiancheng that he would return later.

• He Song concealed himself inside the Thick Earth Sect after wondering whether a Golden Core True Lord had watched him, then went to the Scripture Pavilion seeking a way to evade divine sense.
• A disciple told He Song that Yang Yan had failed his Foundation Establishment breakthrough more than twenty years earlier and now served an elder in Qingyuan Immortal City.
• He Song searched the Scripture Pavilion but found no Foundation Establishment method that could hide both his figure and aura while defeating divine sense scans.
• He Song memorized the Dust Transformation Art, which could disguise him as earth and rock, and planned to combine it with the Concealing Breath Technique.
• He Song spent two months studying the Dust Transformation Art and sent word to his three companions in Tianquan Xiancheng that he would return after cultivating spells.

After returning safely to Tianquan Xiancheng, He Song spent two years researching how to evade divine sense and practicing the Dust Transformation Art, then broke through from Foundation Establishment Middle Stage to Foundation Establishment Late Stage. After stabilizing his cultivation, he planned to replace his high-grade Magic Artifacts with top-grade ones.

• He Song left the Thick Earth Sect's mountain gate after two months in seclusion, using the Dust Transformation Art and Concealing Breath Technique on his journey back to Tianquan Xiancheng.
• He Song returned safely, informed Wei Fan, Black Crane, and Fengquan True Person, and resumed seclusion to practice the Dust Transformation Art and investigate how to deceive divine sense.
• Over two years, He Song made no progress transferring the Nether Smoke Array's ability to deceive divine sense, but learned to cast the Dust Transformation Art with ease.
• He Song broke through the bottleneck to Foundation Establishment Late Stage and spent several months stabilizing his cultivation.
• After emerging from seclusion, He Song resolved to replace his high-grade Magic Artifacts with top-grade Magic Artifacts.

He Song concealed his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and sought information about auctions, hoping to find a method that could help him develop a Golden Core Great Array. Master Luo Jing explained how the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s auctions worked and revealed that the Cloud Province Main Pavilion’s next auction would be held soon.

• He Song hid his Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation and continued researching ways to evade divine sense scans, though his experiments had made little progress.
• He Song decided to watch for a secret technique that could help him create a Golden Core Great Array and went to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion to ask Master Luo Jing about auctions.
• Master Luo Jing greeted He Song with unexpected flirtatiousness, then answered his questions about branch and main pavilion auctions.
• Master Luo Jing told He Song that the Cloud Province Main Pavilion’s next auction was due soon, so he would need to set out within days if he wanted to attend.

He Song learned that a Cloud Province auction was approaching and obtained its catalog through Master Luo Jing’s contact at the main pavilion. He decided to attend for the Violet Heavens Tranquil Meditation Art, while planning to prepare carefully for the journey and asking when the auction would begin.

• He Song asked Master Luo Jing for the Cloud Province auction catalog, but she explained that she did not have the main pavilion’s catalog.
• Master Luo Jing offered to ask a friend working at the Cloud Province main pavilion for the catalog, then brought He Song several pages listing the auction items.
• He Song spotted the Violet Heavens Tranquil Meditation Art, which could conceal him from divine sense detection, and decided that attending the auction was worthwhile.
• He Song planned to upgrade his Magic Artifacts and acquire talismans and other life-saving items before traveling to Cloud Province.
• He Song asked Master Luo Jing when the auction would begin and said he could also visit his old friend Soul-Severing Real Person while in Cloud Province.

He Song agreed to deliver Master Luo Jing’s Jade Slip to her friend in Cloud Province, where he was already traveling for an auction. After receiving a discount from Master Luo Jing, he asked to buy top-grade Magic Artifacts and awaited her return with them.

• Master Luo Jing asked He Song to deliver a Jade Slip to her friend at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion in Cloud Province and told him not to inspect its contents.
• He Song agreed without asking for a reward and requested the friend’s Sound Transmission Talisman information.
• Master Luo Jing gave He Song the Jade Slip, offered him a ten-percent discount on his purchases, and asked whether he needed travel advice.
• He Song asked to buy one offensive and one defensive top-grade Magic Artifact.
• Master Luo Jing said the pavilion had top-grade Magic Artifacts and went to fetch them.

He Song bought two supreme-grade Magic Artifacts and other supplies from Master Luo Jing, spending more than 164,000 Spirit Stones after a discount. After learning that the Cloud Province Auction would take place in three months, he returned to his residence to prepare for the long journey from Tianquan Xiancheng.

• Master Luo Jing showed He Song more than twenty supreme-grade Magic Artifacts, and he chose the Spirit Snake Bone Seal and the Diamond Shield.
• He Song bought Foundation Establishment Spirit Talismans, pills, and other life-saving items, and explained his wealth by saying he was a talisman master.
• Master Luo Jing discounted He Song's purchases by ten percent, bringing the total to more than 164,000 Spirit Stones.
• Master Luo Jing told He Song that the Cloud Province Auction would begin in three months and that the journey from Tianquan Xiancheng could take around two months.
• He Song left the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and returned to his residence to prepare for the journey.

He Song prepared to leave Tianquan Xiancheng for the Cloud Province Auction, securing Yu'er and arranging for his absence before traveling south. He reached the Flying Cloud Immortal Market and found Su Qian waiting for him in their agreed valley.

• He Song packed his belongings and left Yu'er in a secluded riverbank enclosure protected by three arrays, with a spirit puppet assigned to feed it.
• He Song failed to find Wei Fan, so he asked Black Crane True Person to notify Wei Fan and Fengquan True Person of his departure and received his agreement.
• He Song offered to divide his share of the chamber of commerce's profits among Black Crane True Person, Fengquan True Person, and Blessed Fortune Real Person during his absence in exchange for their overlooking his departure.
• He Song set out south aboard the White Jade Boat and traveled through several sect territories without incident.
• He Song reached Flying Cloud Immortal Market, where Su Qian was waiting for him at their arranged valley.

He Song reunited with Su Qian, rewarded her for years of sending him information, and continued toward the Cloud Province prefectural capital. Along the way, he sold off unwanted treasures to build his funds for the auction where he hoped to acquire the Violet Heavens Tranquil Meditation Art.

• He Song met Su Qian at the Flying Cloud Immortal Market and gave her several bottles of Qi-Congealing Pills to help her advance toward Foundation Establishment.
• He Song left Su Qian one thousand Spirit Stones as payment for her past messages and future information, then departed by Spirit Boat.
• Su Qian resolved to gather information for He Song even more diligently and returned to the Flying Cloud Immortal Market without telling anyone about his visit.
• He Song traveled south through the One Yang Sect's sphere of influence, where lower-ranked cultivators generally avoided him after he revealed his Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation.
• He Song sold pills, talismans, Magic Artifacts, and other unwanted items in passing immortal cities, rapidly increasing his Spirit Stones as he prepared for the auction.

He Song reached the outskirts of the Cloud Province Capital and secretly built a deep underground refuge before entering the city. He reunited with Meng Guan at the gate, and they began catching up over spirit tea in a teahouse.

• He Song spotted the vast Cloud Province Capital and descended into a secluded valley outside it.
• He Song dug a refuge about two thousand meters underground, reinforced it, set up four formations, and left a tracking mark.
• He Song returned to the valley, disguised his cultivation as Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and flew to the city.
• Meng Guan met He Song at the city gate and led him away from the crowds to a teahouse.
• He Song tasted the spirit tea, felt his travel fatigue vanish, and Meng Guan asked what he thought of it.

He Song stayed with Meng Guan in the Cloud Province Capital and arranged to deliver Master Luo Jing’s Jade Slip to her junior sister. He met Yun Jing at the Ten Thousand Flowers Tea House, where she asked whether he had come for the city’s once-every-ten-years grand auction.

• Meng Guan welcomed He Song to the Cloud Province Capital, served him spiritual tea, and explained the city’s powerful residents and Golden Core families.
• He Song chose not to inspect Master Luo Jing’s Jade Slip and sent a message asking its recipient to meet him.
• Yun Jing received He Song’s message at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and arranged to meet him at the Ten Thousand Flowers Tea House.
• He Song asked Meng Guan for directions, then traveled to the tea house and met Yun Jing.
• Yun Jing introduced herself and asked He Song whether he had come to attend the grand auction held every ten years.

He Song delivered Luo Jing's restricted Jade Slip to Yun Jing and learned that she and Luo Jing had guarded its contents from him despite his honesty. Yun Jing apologized and began offering a gift to make amends, while He Song suspected she was a Golden Core True Lord's disciple.

• He Song handed Yun Jing True Person the Jade Slip from Luo Jing without inspecting its contents.
• Yun Jing examined the Jade Slip and explained that a hidden restriction would destroy its information if someone tried to forcefully inspect it.
• Yun Jing apologized for suspecting He Song and offered him a great gift to make amends.
• He Song inferred that Luo Jing and Yun Jing might be disciples of a Golden Core True Lord, then acted hurt to encourage Yun Jing to present her promised gift.
• Yun Jing asked whether He Song had come to the auction for a particular item, and He Song calmly confirmed it.