Chapter Summaries

He Song reunited with Meng Guan and Wei Fan, shared a carefully limited account of his quiet cultivation, and heard them resolve to be more cautious. Meng Guan gave He Song two Golden Core Jade Slips from a cave dwelling, including an earth-aspected spell, as a gift for remaining outside the One Yang Sect.

• Meng Guan recounted finding a Golden Core cave dwelling in Cloud Province and discovering three Congealed Golden Cores, while Wei Fan added details of their travels.
• He Song repeated a fabricated account of his past decades, mentioning the Golden Core Grand Gathering and two Congealed Golden Cores while concealing his true cultivation and other secrets.
• Meng Guan and Wei Fan admired He Song's peaceful, cautious life and said they would try to be more careful when traveling.
• The three spent several days talking together in the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market courtyard, renewing their old friendship.
• Meng Guan gave He Song two Jade Slips from the Golden Core cave dwelling: an earth-aspected Golden Core spell and a Golden Core Secret Technique.

He Song exchanged Golden Core spells with Meng Guan and Wei Fan, reassuring them that he could provide for his own cultivation despite being a Rogue Cultivator. When the One Yang Sect’s headmaster urgently summoned Meng Guan and Wei Fan, the friends parted, and He Song prepared to leave Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market for Green Moon Immortal Province.

• Meng Guan gave He Song two Jade Slips containing Golden Core spells and secret techniques, and He Song accepted them while giving Meng Guan and Wei Fan six Jade Slips of spells suited to their Golden Core attributes.
• Meng Guan and Wei Fan realized that He Song already had ample Golden Core resources, accepted his Jade Slips, and continued visiting with him.
• He Song asked Meng Guan about taking credit for helping him reach the Golden Core realm, and Meng Guan agreed to let He Song preserve his anonymity while gaining a righteous reputation himself.
• After the friends had gathered for more than ten days, Meng Guan and Wei Fan received urgent messages from the One Yang Sect’s headmaster ordering them back to the sect gate.
• He Song told Meng Guan and Wei Fan to leave at once and said he would depart Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market for Green Moon Immortal Province; the three parted, with Meng Guan and Wei Fan heading for the sect.

While returning to Green Moon Immortal Province, He Song studied the Blood-Burning Escape Technique and Eight Desolations Return-to-Origin Technique, two Golden Core methods that strengthened his escape and defense. After Meng Guan warned him that a major upheaval threatened the Thick Earth Sect and all of Cloud Province, He Song assured him he was already safe in Green Moon Immortal Province and urged Meng Guan and Wei Fan to protect themselves.

• He Song compared the Blood-Burning Escape Technique with his Blood Escape Technique and recognized that the Golden Core method offered greater speed and escape power.
• He Song studied the Eight Desolations Return-to-Origin Technique and decided to pursue offensive spells to balance his strong defensive abilities.
• He Song returned to his cave abode in Green Moon Immortal Province and began comprehending both Golden Core techniques.
• Meng Guan warned He Song to leave the Thick Earth Sect and Cloud Province after the One Yang Sect's Golden Core elders received orders from their Sect Leader True Lord.
• He Song replied that he was already outside Cloud Province and urged Meng Guan and Wei Fan to act cautiously and prioritize their lives.
• He Song considered warning True Monarch Luo Jing but concluded that the Treasure Gathering Pavilion had probably already informed her.

He Song received warnings from True Monarch Luo Jing about the approaching war between the One Yang Sect and the Locking God Sect, declined to join the One Yang Sect, and arranged to meet Luo Jing and Yun Jing after their arrival in Green Moon Immortal Province. The war began with a surprise attack, leaving Luo Jing worried about her master guarding Cloud Province Capital.

• He Song chose not to share Meng Guan’s warning about the coming war, protecting Meng Guan and Wei Fan from possible consequences.
• True Monarch Luo Jing warned He Song about the war, revealed that Yun Jing had become a Golden Core True Lord, and said they were relocating to Azure Moon Prefecture.
• He Song replied that he would remain a Rogue Cultivator, confirmed he was in Green Moon Immortal Province, and offered to meet Luo Jing and Yun Jing.
• He Song returned to cultivating and refining his skills while another half month passed.
• True Monarch Luo Jing informed He Song that she, Yun Jing, and their master had safely reached Azure Moon Prefecture, but that the war had begun with the One Yang Sect’s surprise attack on the Locking God Sect.
• True Monarch Luo Jing worried that her master, alone at Cloud Province Capital, might face danger as the conflict spread.

He Song traveled to Azure Moon Prefecture to meet True Monarch Luo Jing and learn why the Treasure Gathering Pavilion feared the One Yang Sect might lose its war against the Locking God Sect. After warning Meng Guan about the danger, he arrived at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s main branch, where True Monarch Luo Jing and True Lord Yun Jing greeted him.

• He Song inferred from True Monarch Luo Jing’s message that the Locking God Sect might hold a decisive advantage over the One Yang Sect, though he could not determine why.
• He Song told True Monarch Luo Jing he would visit her in Azure Moon Prefecture and asked her to share what she knew about the war.
• He Song sent Meng Guan a warning to keep himself and Wei Fan away from the battlefield and to keep the warning secret.
• True Monarch Luo Jing replied that He Song should travel carefully, while Meng Guan explained that he and Wei Fan had stayed behind to guard the One Yang Sect’s gates.
• He Song set up a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array outside Azure Moon Prefecture, then flew to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s main branch.
• True Monarch Luo Jing and True Lord Yun Jing welcomed He Song when he arrived.

He Song met True Monarch Luo Jing and True Lord Yun Jing in Azure Moon Prefecture and asked Luo Jing for intelligence about the war between the One Yang Sect and the Locking God Sect. Luo Jing revealed that the Locking God Sect had a Golden Core Great Perfection true disciple whose strength could bring the One Yang Sect a string of early defeats.

• He Song arrived at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, where True Monarch Luo Jing and True Lord Yun Jing welcomed him as rumors about the unfamiliar Golden Core True Lord spread through Azure Moon Prefecture.
• He Song joined Luo Jing and Yun Jing at their residence, where their shared sense of being outsiders strengthened their relationship.
• Luo Jing dismissed the others and set up a Golden Core Concealment Array so she could discuss the war privately with He Song.
• He Song explained that he wanted information to protect his two friends in the One Yang Sect and asked Luo Jing to share her concerns about the conflict.
• Luo Jing explained the status of Nascent Soul sect true disciples and warned that the Locking God Sect had a Golden Core Great Perfection true disciple whose decisive action could cause the One Yang Sect early defeats.

True Monarch Luo Jing told He Song about True Monarch Tian Jue’s strength and the One Yang Sect’s lack of a comparable true disciple, while He Song considered why the sect had gone to war despite this disadvantage. He Song learned that neither Luo Jing nor Yun Jing knew the war’s cause and asked permission to warn his two friends about Tian Jue.

• True Monarch Luo Jing explained that True Monarch Tian Jue was a powerful Locking God Sect true disciple whose abilities could turn the battle against the One Yang Sect.
• Yun Jing, seeing He Song’s concern for his friends, came to admire him and resolved to become his friend.
• He Song asked why the Locking God Sect would risk sending Tian Jue to battle and whether the One Yang Sect had a true disciple to oppose him.
• True Monarch Luo Jing explained that Tian Jue could likely escape a siege and that the One Yang Sect had never found an Earth Spiritual Root disciple to train as a true disciple.
• He Song asked why the One Yang Sect had started the war despite its disadvantage, but True Monarch Luo Jing and Yun Jing said they did not know.
• He Song thanked True Monarch Luo Jing and asked permission to warn his two friends to flee if they encountered True Monarch Tian Jue.

He Song agreed with True Monarch Luo Jing on how to warn Meng Guan and Wei Fan about True Lord Tianjue without exposing her as the source, then sent Meng Guan the warning. Afterward, He Song asked True Monarch Luo Jing where he could acquire advanced texts on arrays and other arts for a future family or sect inheritance.

• He Song proposed concealing True Monarch Luo Jing's identity and taking responsibility for the warning himself, and she agreed to his plan.
• He Song wrote to Meng Guan that True Lord Tianjue of the Locking God Sect was a formidable Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator and urged Meng Guan and Wei Fan to flee if they encountered him.
• True Monarch Luo Jing and True Lord Yun Jing felt reassured by He Song's conduct and became more eager to befriend him.
• True Monarch Luo Jing withdrew the Golden Core Concealment Array, and Azure-Robed True Lord noticed the three cultivators' auras had returned.
• He Song asked True Monarch Luo Jing where he could buy advanced texts on arrays and other arts for a future family inheritance or sect foundation.

He Song asked True Monarch Luo Jing and Yun Jing about advanced formation texts and obtained a Golden Core formation art Jade Slip from the Azure Moon Main Pavilion at a reduced price. After spending half a month with the two women, he left Azure Moon Prefecture so he could study the Jade Slip without exposing his formation skills.

• He Song pretended to yearn for formation arts to make his request for advanced craft texts seem natural.
• True Monarch Luo Jing asked Yun Jing about the texts, and Yun Jing had the Main Pavilion search its holdings.
• The search uncovered more than a dozen craft Jade Slips, but only one was a Golden Core formation art text.
• Yun Jing offered He Song the Jade Slip for fourteen thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones, and he accepted the price and bought it.
• He Song spent half a month chatting with True Monarch Luo Jing and Yun Jing before leaving Azure Moon Prefecture to study the Jade Slip privately.

After leaving Azure Moon Prefecture, He Song studied the Xiuyuan Array Compendium and chose three techniques to master before beginning seclusion. News from Luo Jing then revealed that the One Yang Sect and Locking God Sect had reached a standoff at their border, with True Monarch Tian Jue leading the Locking God Sect.

• He Song said farewell to Luo Jing and True Lord Yun Jing, retrieved the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array, and headed back to his cave abode.
• On the way, He Song studied the Xiuyuan Array Compendium and chose to learn its complete Spirit Gathering Array, Origin-Gathering Array, and Profound Spirit Prohibition Technique.
• He Song returned to his cave abode and entered seclusion, planning to study the Spirit Gathering Array first.
• A month later, Luo Jing sent He Song news that the Locking God Sect had rallied under True Monarch Tian Jue and pushed the One Yang Sect back to the border.
• Luo Jing reported that the two sects were now locked in a standoff, with the One Yang Sect's true inheritance disciples absent.

He Song learned that One Yang Sect’s sneak attack had failed to gain an advantage after True Monarch Tian Jue entered the war, and he warned Meng Guan and Wei Fan to stay safe. Meng Guan obeyed the sect master’s order and left to fight, while Wei Fan remained behind to strengthen himself; He Song continued studying the Spirit Gathering Array in seclusion.

• He Song read True Monarch Luo Jing’s report about True Monarch Tian Jue and concluded that One Yang Sect might lose Cloud Province, then sent warnings and reassurance to his associates.
• Meng Guan received He Song’s warning to avoid the battle and the Sect Master True Lord’s order to go fight Locking God Sect, leaving him conflicted.
• Meng Guan decided to obey the sect master and depart for the front lines, while urging Wei Fan to cultivate and prepare for the possibility of fighting later.
• Meng Guan left One Yang Sect’s mountain gate to join the battle, and Wei Fan entered seclusion to improve his strength.
• He Song remained unaware of their decisions and continued studying the Spirit Gathering Array and planning to establish stronger arrays in his cave abode.

He Song planned hidden cave abodes in the Purple Cloud Sect and Golden Snake Sect in case the One Yang Sect lost its war against the Locking God Sect. True Monarch Luo Jing then reported that True Monarch Tian Jue had suppressed two One Yang Sect Golden Core Great Perfection cultivators, making the battle’s likely outcome clear.

• He Song decided to prepare escape routes beyond Green Moon Immortal Province and considered the Purple Cloud Sect and Golden Snake Sect as safe locations for hidden cave abodes.
• He Song dismissed the Nether Blade Sect as too dangerous and concluded that he would establish hidden caves in the Purple Cloud Sect and Golden Snake Sect.
• He Song received An Ning’s monthly letter, replied that she should focus on cultivation, and returned to studying the Spirit Gathering Array.
• True Monarch Luo Jing reported that the One Yang Sect and Locking God Sect had begun fighting after a month of confrontation.
• True Monarch Luo Jing said True Monarch Tian Jue had suppressed two One Yang Sect Golden Core Great Perfection cultivators, making the battle’s outcome appear decided.

After learning that the One Yang Sect was likely to lose Cloud Province, He Song decided to leave Green Moon Immortal Province and take his treasures to the Purple Cloud Sect for safety. He left messages for his allies and began preparing his cave abode, while deciding whether to bring Yu'er.

• He Song read True Monarch Luo Jing's warning that the One Yang Sect had no way to prevent defeat and decided Green Moon Immortal Province was no longer safe.
• He Song sent True Monarch Luo Jing a message announcing his departure and advising her and True Monarch Yun Jing to prepare for danger.
• He Song warned Meng Guan and Wei Fan to protect themselves and wait for the One Yang Sect's Nascent Soul Ancestor to intervene before joining the war, unaware that Meng Guan was already fighting on the battlefield.
• He Song decided to take the valuable items from his cave abode rather than risk leaving them for a future intruder.
• He Song considered leaving Yu'er behind because the large turtle would make his journey conspicuous, and planned to leave the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array guarding his cave abode.

He Song prepared his cave abode for a long absence, leaving Yu'er and a puppet behind, then traveled east to establish a hidden refuge in the Purple Cloud Sect’s territory. After reaching Hu Province’s prefectural capital, he headed to the local Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

• He Song packed away the cave abode’s valuables and structures, replanted spirit herb seeds, and left a puppet to tend the herbs and give Yu'er a Hundred Beasts Pill each day.
• He Song set up a concealed Nether Smoke Array for Yu'er, told her how to hide if intruders arrived, and left enough Spirit Stones to power the array for more than a hundred years.
• He Song left his cave abode, traveled east by flying boat, and entered the Purple Cloud Sect’s territory while concealing his cultivation at Perfect Foundation Establishment.
• After half a month of travel, He Song reached Hu Province, set up a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array in a secluded valley, and continued to its prefectural capital.
• He Song entered Hu Province’s prefectural capital and went to the main branch of Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

He Song bought a map of the Purple Cloud Sect, a Blazing Sun Pearl, and Golden Core materials from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, then traveled through the sect’s territory to establish hidden cave abodes. After True Monarch Luo Jing warned him that the One Yang Sect was struggling in its war with the Locking God Sect, He Song continued toward the safer Golden Snake Sect.

• He Song purchased a detailed Purple Cloud Sect map, a Blazing Sun Pearl, and numerous Golden Core materials at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s Hu Province branch.
• He Song checked that no one had followed or marked him, studied the map, and dismantled his Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array.
• He Song opened a small hidden cave abode beneath southern Hu Province and left a Storage Pouch inside.
• He Song established a second hidden cave abode in the Purple Cloud Sect’s heartland and received a letter from True Monarch Luo Jing about the worsening war between the One Yang Sect and the Locking God Sect.
• He Song urged True Monarch Luo Jing to stay cautious, then continued traveling toward the Golden Snake Sect to seek refuge.

He Song reached the Golden Snake Sect to escape the war between the One Yang Sect and the Locking God Sect, then established a temporary cave dwelling by the Purple River and another hidden retreat in the sect’s heartland. While he secluded himself to study the Spirit Gathering Array and cultivate techniques from Meng Guan, reports revealed that the One Yang Sect kept retreating as the Locking God Sect took more of Cloud Province.

• He Song arrived in Purple River Prefecture and chose a secluded cliff by the Purple River for his temporary cave dwelling.
• He Song excavated a cave in the cliff, concealed it with the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array, and furnished it as a temporary residence.
• He Song established a second hidden cave dwelling in the Golden Snake Sect’s secluded heartland, then returned to the Purple River cave and entered seclusion.
• He Song focused on comprehending the Spirit Gathering Array and cultivating the two Golden Core Secret Techniques he had obtained from Meng Guan.
• True Monarch Luo Jing and Meng Guan sent He Song updates showing the One Yang Sect abandoning immortal cities as the Locking God Sect advanced through Cloud Province.

After eight years in the Golden Snake Sect, He Song strengthened his cultivation and advanced his studies in arrays, pills, talismans, and artifacts. As he began refining a Spirit Gathering Array, he broke through a barrier in artifact refinement and realized what gave Spiritual Artifacts their defining quality.

• He Song considered the likely course of the war between the One Yang Sect and the Locking God Sect, then returned to seclusion because the conflict mattered to him mainly through Meng Guan and Wei Fan.
• Over eight years, He Song increased his Golden Core spiritual power and fully comprehended the Spirit Gathering Array, preparing to refine its array plate and flags.
• He Song mastered the Heart Clearing Pill and used it alongside Earth Yuan Pills to remove pill toxins and accelerate his cultivation, while he also studied Quiet Energy Pills.
• He Song became proficient in High-grade Foundation Establishment Talismans but could not find texts on Golden Core spiritual talismans in the Purple River Prefecture Capital.
• He Song broke through his longstanding barrier in artifact refinement while attempting to craft a Low-grade Spiritual Artifact and realized that a refiner had to imbue it with a trace of spirituality.

He Song discovered that forging Spiritual Artifacts required investing focused emotion in the artifact embryo, then altered the appearances of his flying vessel and three other Spiritual Artifacts to conceal their origins. During his eight years in seclusion, the war shifted: True Monarch Tian Jue led the Locking God Sect from Cloud Province into the One Yang Sect’s heartland, until an unexpected development followed his capture of Blazing Sun Province.

• He Song realized that his expectations for an artifact embryo had enabled him to forge Low-grade Spiritual Artifacts, a method he could not find in Silver Moon True Monarch’s incomplete memories.
• He Song changed the appearance of Silver Moon True Monarch’s flying vessel and his Purple Lightning Spirit Snake Seal, Starfall Pearl, and Green Jade Leaf to avoid recognition.
• He Song learned from Meng Guan and True Monarch Luo Jing that the Locking God Sect had seized Cloud Province and the One Yang Sect was now besieging its capital.
• True Monarch Tian Jue led the Locking God Sect south, overcoming the One Yang Sect’s resistance and capturing Blazing Sun Province.
• An unexpected development occurred after True Monarch Tian Jue captured Blazing Sun Province.

One Yang and the Locking God Sect’s Nascent Soul Ancestor confronted each other above the Blazing Sun Province Prefectural Capital but did not fight, and True Monarch Tian Jue returned to the Locking God Sect. As the war settled into a stalemate, He Song learned that Meng Guan and Wei Fan were fighting together while True Monarch Luo Jing remained safe in the Azure Moon Province Prefectural Capital.

• One Yang appeared above the Blazing Sun Province Prefectural Capital, but another Nascent Soul Ancestor arrived, and the two phantom faces dispersed after silently facing each other.
• True Monarch Tian Jue left the battlefield and returned to the Locking God Sect, while the war between the two sects continued without him.
• He Song reasoned that neither Nascent Soul Ancestor wanted to risk fighting the other and that they had likely communicated during their encounter.
• Meng Guan told He Song that he had joined the war at the Cloud Province Capital battle and that Wei Fan had later joined him; both were now fighting together as the conflict stalemated.
• He Song learned that Purple-Robed True Lord had avoided the Locking God Sect’s purge and told True Monarch Luo Jing to remain in the Azure Moon Province Prefectural Capital with Yun Jing True Lord.

He Song strengthened his temporary cave abode with a Spirit Gathering Array, planted the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit Tree, and resumed seclusion while the war over Cloud Province Capital continued. After the One Yang Sect’s attack failed, He Song reassured Meng Guan about the battle and considered True Monarch Luo Jing’s renewed fears for Purple-Robed True Lord, concluding that the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s influence would protect him.

• He Song received Meng Guan’s news that the One Yang Sect was preparing to attack Cloud Province Capital and urged Meng Guan and Wei Fan to be cautious.
• He Song forged and installed a Spirit Gathering Array, kept the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array in place, and planted the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit Tree in his cave abode.
• He Song returned to seclusion, but Meng Guan soon informed him that the One Yang Sect’s attack on Cloud Province Capital had failed and the war had returned to a stalemate.
• He Song warned Meng Guan that the apparent lull might be the calm before a storm, prompting Meng Guan to become vigilant again.
• True Monarch Luo Jing told He Song she feared Purple-Robed True Lord might be forced to aid the Locking God Sect or be purged, but He Song concluded that the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s power made such threats unlikely.