Chapter Summaries

He Song kept Lie Feng Real Person alive long enough to draw out Xu Jie, whom He Song wanted to kill before his connections could threaten him. Lie Feng Real Person agreed to help and He Song promised to spare one of his clansmen to preserve his family line.

• He Song considered the danger of Xu Jie's connections and decided to eliminate him before he could seek help.
• He Song told Lie Feng Real Person he might spare his life, while secretly remaining ready to kill him with the Golden Core Great Array.
• Lie Feng Real Person realized He Song intended to use him to lure out Xu Jie and offered a plan to help kill him.
• Lie Feng Real Person blamed Xu Jie for his predicament and resolved not to let him escape.
• He Song agreed to Lie Feng Real Person's plan and promised to take one clansman from his family to preserve its bloodline.

He Song forced Lie Feng True Person to lure Xu Jie out of Eight Vein Immortal City, threatening his family if he failed. Xu Jie believed Lie Feng True Person’s message and headed toward the trap, while He Song planned to honor his promise by preserving a distant branch of Lie Feng True Person’s bloodline.

• He Song warned Lie Feng True Person that he would spare a branch of his family only if he lured Xu Jie into the array, and falsely claimed to know a Bloodline Tracking Technique.
• Lie Feng True Person agreed to deceive Xu Jie and wrote a message claiming the group had killed He Song, quarreled over the spoils, and wanted to give Xu Jie his share.
• He Song approved the message, and Lie Feng True Person sent it to Xu Jie through a Sound Transmission Talisman.
• Xu Jie hesitated after reading the message but chose to leave Eight Vein Immortal City and hurry toward He Song and Lie Feng True Person.
• He Song confirmed Xu Jie was approaching and planned to preserve Lie Feng True Person’s bloodline by secretly taking away a young girl without spiritual roots.

He Song waited inside the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array for Xu Jie to arrive, while Lie Feng Real Person prepared to attack him. Xu Jie entered the array and was immediately confronted by Lie Feng Real Person, who overwhelmed him as He Song watched.

• He Song decided whom to spare from Lie Feng Real Person’s family and waited for Xu Jie inside the array.
• Xu Jie entered the valley, and He Song closed the array around him.
• Lie Feng Real Person recognized Xu Jie and charged at him, shouting, “Xu Jie! Die!”
• Xu Jie tried to block the attack and searched for the other three True Persons, not knowing they had already died.
• Lie Feng Real Person’s superior cultivation forced Xu Jie back as he attacked without mercy, while He Song watched from concealment.

He Song watched Lie Feng Real Person kill Xu Jie, then slew Lie Feng with divine thunder when he demanded a battle-worthy death. After noticing green smoke escape Lie Feng’s body, He Song turned his attention to Eight Vein Immortal City and the four families’ treasure vaults.

• He Song stayed out of Lie Feng Real Person and Xu Jie’s fight, then watched Lie Feng kill Xu Jie and burn his remains.
• Lie Feng Real Person thanked He Song and waited for divine thunder, which He Song summoned; it pierced Lie Feng’s defenses and turned him to ash.
• He Song saw green smoke escape Lie Feng’s body and could not determine what secret technique had caused it.
• He Song planned to visit the treasure vaults of the four Foundation Establishment families in Eight Vein Immortal City.
• He Song considered using the Soul Searching Technique on the dead cultivators’ Storage Pouches and Magic Artifacts to recover fragments of their memories.

He Song used the Soul Searching Technique on the objects left by the five people he had killed and learned about Lie Feng Real Person and Xu Jie. Xu Jie’s memories revealed a tracking secret art that would have marked his killer for the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, leaving He Song relieved he had not killed Xu Jie himself.

• He Song searched the five dead cultivators’ memories from within the safety of his Golden Core Great Array.
• He Song learned that Lie Feng Real Person had returned to Eight Vein Immortal City to help his descendants establish their foundations.
• He Song discovered that Xu Jie had joined the Treasure Gathering Pavilion using a token found in a hidden cave dwelling.
• He Song learned that Xu Jie had been made master of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s Eight Vein Immortal City branch.
• He Song found that a secret art would have transferred from Xu Jie to his killer and allowed a Golden Core True Lord to track them.
• He Song realized that his decision not to kill Xu Jie himself had spared him from being tracked.

He Song examined Xu Jie's memories, learned more about Treasure Gathering Pavilion and considered the token Xu Jie had used to join it. Memories from another cultivator also revealed the full story of Meng Guan's destruction of the Li Family, leaving He Song with a clearer sense of his friend's fearsome strength.

• He Song realized that the tracking secret technique had not marked him and suspected the green smoke from Lie Feng Real Person's body was what remained after the technique dissipated.
• He Song learned from Xu Jie's memories that Xu Jie had secretly killed at least eight or ten cultivators over the decades and had joined Treasure Gathering Pavilion using a token.
• He Song considered whether he could obtain a token and join Treasure Gathering Pavilion, but returned to examining the remaining cultivators' memories.
• He Song discovered that a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator had planned to raid the Li Family, a family with ties to a vanished Golden Core force, before Soul-Severing Real Person disrupted his scheme.
• He Song recognized Soul-Severing Real Person as Meng Guan and recalled that Meng Guan had destroyed the Li Family after discovering its betrayal.
• He Song learned from eyewitness memories how Meng Guan's blade qi had overwhelmed the Li Family and filled onlookers with dread.

After uncovering memories about Meng Guan’s past attack on the Li Family, He Song speculated that Meng Guan might have taken Golden Core secrets from its treasury. He then entered Eight Vein Immortal City in disguise and looted the four slain Foundation Establishment families’ vaults, before turning toward Lie Feng Real Person’s residence.

• He Song learned from the dead cultivators’ memories that Meng Guan had destroyed the Li Family and taken its accumulated treasures, then wondered whether they included Golden Core Secret Techniques.
• He Song collected the dead cultivators’ Storage Pouches and Magic Artifacts, and kept the Golden Core Great Array intact as a possible escape route.
• He Song disguised himself as a Qi Refining cultivator and entered Eight Vein Immortal City without being detected.
• He Song emptied the treasure vaults of the four Foundation Establishment families whose True Persons he had killed.
• He Song arrived near Lie Feng Real Person’s family residence and reminded himself not to establish a family.

He Song left Eight Vein Immortal City without raiding Treasure Gathering Pavilion, having decided not to provoke the powerful organization. He left an ordinary girl far away with a tracking mark and then sold his pills and the spoils from the four families and five Foundation Establishment Real Persons.

• He Song abducted an ordinary girl from Lie Feng Real Person's estate and secretly carried her out of Eight Vein Immortal City.
• He Song decided against raiding Treasure Gathering Pavilion because its stolen goods could be tracked, and he had not personally killed Xu Jie.
• He Song collected his Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array and left the city with the unconscious girl.
• He Song left the girl in a mortal city tens of thousands of miles away and placed a Spirit-Seeking Secret Technique tracking mark on her.
• He Song traveled among immortal cities, selling his spiritual pills, the four families' treasure-vault items, and the dead Foundation Establishment Real Persons' possessions.

After selling his pills and the spoils from Eight Vein Immortal City, He Song returned to his cave abode with nearly four million Spirit Stones. He found Yu'er transformed into a room-sized turtle spirit beast and realized she had broken through to Foundation Establishment.

• He Song sold his spiritual pills and other goods, increasing his Spirit Stones to nearly four million.
• He Song returned to the vicinity of Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market several months after leaving his cave abode.
• He Song spotted an unfamiliar giant object inside his Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array and activated his defensive measures.
• He Song recognized the jade-white turtle spirit beast as Yu'er after sensing her familiar aura and confirming he could control her life and death.
• He Song discovered Yu'er had reached Foundation Establishment and withdrew his defenses before approaching her.

He Song examined Yu'er's new Foundation Establishment abilities and found no sign of the mysterious blood-red pattern that had once appeared on her. After returning to his cave abode, he prepared to refine Five Elements Spiritual Pills and reflected on Meng Guan's journey toward One Yang Sect.

• He Song formed a divine-sense connection with Yu'er and decided to teach her about the cultivation world while keeping his own secrets.
• He Song examined Yu'er's bloodline and found it ordinary, with no trace of the blood-red pattern that had appeared after she received a Hundred Beasts Pill.
• He Song soothed Yu'er, then returned to his cave abode to refine his harvested Five Elements Spiritual Ginseng and prepare for years of cultivation and skill training.
• He Song brewed spiritual tea in the reception hall and recalled Meng Guan's messages about his travels, including the slaughter of a family in Eight Vein Immortal City.

He Song learned that a Golden Core True Lord had investigated the deaths of five Foundation Establishment True Persons in Eight Vein Immortal City but found no clues. After reviewing how his actions had erased the trail, He Song felt relieved that the investigation would not lead back to him.

• He Song considered whether Meng Guan might have obtained a Golden Core Secret Technique from the Li Family and resolved to ask him about it if they next spoke.
• He Song remained in his cave abode, cultivating, refining pills, studying cultivation arts, and teaching Yu'er.
• Su Qian sent He Song a message reporting that five Foundation Establishment True Persons, including the four great families' patriarchs and the Treasure Gathering Pavilion branch master, had died in Eight Vein Immortal City.
• A Golden Core True Lord investigated the deaths, found no useful clues, and left after announcing a bounty and plans to send a new branch master.
• He Song recalled killing the five cultivators with the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array and concluded that the vanished tracking mark and Lie Feng True Person's death had concealed his involvement.

He Song reflected on the destruction of Eight Vein Immortal City’s four great families and concealed his role in the affair from Su Qian and Meng Guan. After learning Meng Guan might have found a Golden Core Secret Technique, He Song began to suspect his friend’s fortune had changed at the Red Spirit Gold Mine.

• He Song replied cautiously to Su Qian’s concerned letter, keeping his involvement in Eight Vein Immortal City secret.
• He Song resumed cultivating and waited for a message from Meng Guan.
• After hearing that the four families and Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s master had been killed, He Song sent Meng Guan a partly truthful account and asked what he knew.
• He Song considered whether Meng Guan had obtained a Golden Core Secret Technique from the Li Family and whether his unusual fortune might lead him to more opportunities.
• He Song recalled that Meng Guan’s life had changed after he entered the Red Spirit Gold Mine and returned three years later.

He Song learned from Meng Guan that he had obtained a Golden Core Secret Technique from the Li Family treasury in Eight Vein Immortal City. Reassured that Meng Guan had secured the city's greatest secret, He Song agreed not to get involved and returned to secluded cultivation.

• He Song considered investigating the Red Spirit Gold Mine but decided to wait until Meng Guan replied.
• Meng Guan told He Song that the Li Family was a branch of a Golden Core Force and that he had taken a Golden Core Secret Technique from its treasury.
• Meng Guan warned He Song to stay out of Eight Vein Immortal City's affairs and asked him to keep the secret, promising to share the technique if He Song found a Congealed Golden Core.
• He Song was moved by Meng Guan's trust and concluded that Meng Guan possessed extraordinary destiny and fortune.
• He Song assured Meng Guan he would not interfere, then entered secluded cultivation to refine spirit pills and steadily improve his spiritual power.

As the war between the Righteous Dao Alliance and the Devilish Dao Alliance intensified and Golden Core True Lords clashed, He Song continued cultivating safely inside the Golden Core Great Array. Seven years after returning to his cave abode, he reached Perfect Foundation Establishment.

• Su Qian, Clear Moon Real Person, and Ping'er sent He Song news about the escalating war, while Clear Moon Real Person and Ping'er joined the fighting.
• Foundation Establishment Real Persons from both alliances entered fierce magical combat, and many suffered grievous injuries.
• Red Sword True Monarch fought a Devilish Dao True Lord, scattering the battlefield before either side could claim victory.
• He Song learned that the Cloud Province Capital was taking an interest in the war but remained focused on cultivating within the Golden Core Great Array.
• Seven years after returning to his cave abode, He Song filled his dantian with spiritual power and achieved Perfect Foundation Establishment.

After reaching Perfect Foundation Establishment, He Song found that a Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit had ripened and began refining Congealed Golden Core Pills for his attempt to enter the Golden Core realm. He left the next fruit growing on the tree and started the first refinement with the Blazing Sun Furnace.

• He Song ended his seven-year seclusion after reaching Perfect Foundation Establishment.
• He Song harvested the ripe Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit and noticed that the tree had begun growing another fruit.
• He Song resolved to use as many Congealed Golden Core Pills as necessary to break through to the Golden Core realm.
• He Song prepared himself in the alchemy room and brought out the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit and its supplementary herbs.
• He Song lit the Blazing Sun Furnace and put the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit inside, turning the furnace golden.

He Song successfully refined his first batch of Congealed Golden Core, producing three normal pills and easing his worries about reaching the Golden Core realm. He then prepared his remaining ingredients and began refining a second batch.

• He Song burned impurities from the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit and auxiliary herbs, then carefully combined their medicinal liquids in the Blazing Sun Furnace.
• He Song controlled the furnace's heat and used a pill-condensing technique to complete the Congealed Golden Core.
• He Song guided the golden pill light into a jade bottle and found three normal Congealed Golden Core pills inside.
• He Song capped the bottle, calmed himself, and began refining a second batch with his remaining Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit and herbs.

He Song refined the second batch of Congealed Golden Cores, bringing his total to five as he prepared for a future breakthrough to the Golden Core realm. He decided to move Yu'er out of the Golden Core Great Array during his seclusion and planned to conceal her with a Mysterious Trace Array.

• He Song refined the second batch of Congealed Golden Cores and obtained two pills, suspecting the freshly harvested Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit had produced fewer than one left to mature longer on its tree.
• He Song stored the two pills, bringing his total to five Congealed Golden Cores, and considered what might disrupt his Golden Core breakthrough.
• He Song decided Yu'er could not remain inside the Golden Core Great Array while he secluded himself to break through.
• He Song saw Yu'er's house-sized body and decided to place a Mysterious Trace Array on her before taking her to the place where she had been born.

He Song concealed Yu'er with the Mysterious Trace Array, brought her to her birthplace, and established a protected home for her. After returning to his cave abode, he prepared for seclusion and began adjusting himself for his breakthrough to the Golden Core realm.

• He Song hid Yu'er with the Mysterious Trace Array and flew with her to the river where he had found her.
• He Song set up four Foundation Establishment arrays around Yu'er's rebuilt cave abode, Spirit Field, and medicinal garden.
• He Song left a spirit puppet to feed Yu'er a Foundation Establishment realm Hundred Beasts Pill each day, then bid her farewell.
• He Song returned to his cave abode, secured the meditation chamber, and replenished the Golden Core Great Array with Spirit Stones.
• He Song entered seclusion, calmed his state of mind, and began circulating the Thick Earth Technique and mobilizing his mana.

He Song circulated the Great Circulation Breathing Technique to gather the mana hidden throughout his body in preparation for breaking through to the Golden Core realm. The chapter explains how the technique strengthens his reserves and outlines the core-condensation process, leaving his attempt still ahead.

• He Song mobilized all the mana in his body and began circulating the Great Circulation Breathing Technique.
• He Song completed a Great Circulation, drawing hidden mana from his meridians into his dantian and increasing his reserves.
• He Song learned from the technique’s records that he could perform nine Great Circulations before the method ceased to help.
• He Song reviewed how a cultivator used a Congealed Golden Core, infused it with mana, and imprinted divine sense on the resulting Golden Core nucleus.
• The chapter described the risks of core condensation failing if the nucleus, embryonic Golden Core, or infusion of mana went awry.

He Song began his Golden Core breakthrough, using the Great Circulation Breathing Technique to gather his spiritual power and preparing all five Congealed Golden Cores in case he needed them. After swallowing the first, its medicinal liquid gathered into a round Golden Core at the center of his dantian.

• He Song recalled that failed Golden Core breakthroughs often resulted from a Golden Core prototype scattering before it could condense, and that additional Congealed Golden Cores could provide more time and medicinal power.
• He Song reviewed how a Golden Core enhanced spiritual power and spells according to the cultivator’s Foundation Establishment technique, giving Golden Core True Lords overwhelming power over Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• He Song repeatedly operated the Great Circulation Breathing Technique until his dantian was full of spiritual power.
• He Song brought out both jade bottles and all five of his Congealed Golden Cores so he could use them quickly during the breakthrough.
• He Song swallowed one Congealed Golden Core, and its medicinal liquid gathered in his dantian into a round Golden Core.