Chapter Summaries

He Song reassured True Monarch Luo Jing that Purple-Robed True Lord was protected by Treasure Gathering Pavilion, then received news that An Ning had become an overseer at Golden Sand Immortal Market near Purple Cloud Sect. As the war over Cloud Province Capital intensified, Meng Guan earned the title Soul-Severing True Monarch, leaving He Song with a sense of helplessness when he heard of his friend’s exploits.

• He Song wrote to True Monarch Luo Jing, urging her to stay calm because Purple-Robed True Lord was unlikely to be harmed, then returned to seclusion.
• An Ning told He Song she had been assigned to oversee Golden Sand Immortal Market and offered to share news from near Purple Cloud Sect.
• He Song welcomed An Ning’s new access to information, replied that he had left Green Moon Immortal Province, and resumed cultivating.
• Locking God Sect and One Yang Sect committed more cultivators to the battles over Cloud Province Capital, making the fighting increasingly fierce.
• Meng Guan held off two early Golden Core opponents until reinforcements arrived, and his battlefield title of Soul-Severing True Monarch spread.
• True Monarch Luo Jing told He Song of Meng Guan’s exploits and lamented his poor spiritual-root aptitude; He Song responded with helplessness.

After learning that Meng Guan had hidden the dangers of his battlefield exploits, He Song found a way to send supplies through Sound Transmission Talismans and offered Meng Guan pills and Spirit Talismans. Meng Guan received He Song’s teasing message and understood that his friend wanted him to stop concealing such matters in the future.

• He Song reflected on why Meng Guan had concealed his battle against two enemies and replied to True Monarch Luo Jing that he could not return to Green Moon Immortal Province soon.
• He Song decided to help Meng Guan and Wei Fan from afar rather than risk joining the war himself.
• He Song tested whether flattened spiritual pills could fit inside a Sound Transmission Talisman, then confirmed that the pill retained its medicinal potency after being restored.
• He Song sent Meng Guan a teasing message asking whether he needed pills or Spirit Talismans and included two defensive Golden Core spiritual talismans.
• Meng Guan read the message outside Cloud Province Capital and understood that He Song was urging him not to hide future dangers from their friends.

Meng Guan accepted He Song’s offer to send spiritual pills and talismans to support him and Wei Fan in the war, and resolved to remember the favor rather than discuss repayment. He Song began arranging to obtain Golden Core talisman knowledge so he could supply them, confident that his wealth and status made the expense and any exposure manageable.

• Meng Guan read He Song’s letter, realized He Song already knew the matter he had concealed, and decided he no longer needed to hide it from him.
• Meng Guan found the two Golden Core defensive talismans He Song had sent and stored them, recognizing how valuable extra supplies would be during the war.
• Meng Guan replied that he needed spiritual pills and talismans and told He Song to send any he could spare, while resolving to remember the favor and tell Wei Fan about it.
• After receiving Meng Guan’s reply, He Song decided to seek Golden Core talisman knowledge and asked True Monarch Luo Jing to notify him if a suitable jade slip appeared.
• He Song considered using his accumulated wealth and skills to provide supplies, believing Meng Guan and Wei Fan could repay his help through future gains in the war.

He Song arranged to conceal his alchemist and talisman-master identities while supplying Meng Guan and Wei Fan, then learned that a Golden Core Talisman Dao Jade Slip was available in Hu Province. After securing his cave abode with arrays, he traveled to the Hu Province Capital to obtain it.

• He Song decided to buy pill and talisman materials in other provinces, mix purchased goods with his own creations, and sometimes claim supplies were short to avoid raising Meng Guan and Wei Fan's suspicions.
• He Song purchased spiritual pills and Spirit Talismans in the Purple River Prefecture Capital and sent them to Meng Guan and Wei Fan, whose battlefield strength improved after receiving the more powerful supplies.
• True Monarch Luo Jing told He Song that a Golden Core Talisman Dao Jade Slip was being sold at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion in the Hu Province Capital and that You Yun had agreed to reserve it.
• He Song fortified his temporary cave abode with the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array, the Earth Treasury Divine Light Array, and the Phantom Maze Array before setting out.
• He Song traveled to Hu Province by flying boat, established a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array in a valley outside the capital, and headed openly to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

He Song visited the Treasure Gathering Pavilion in Hu Province and met True Monarch Youyun to obtain a Golden Core Talisman Dao Jade Slip reserved by True Monarch Luo Jing. After confirming the jade slip was what he needed, he learned Youyun would sell it to him for eighteen thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones.

• The pavilion master greeted He Song and escorted him to meet True Monarch Youyun.
• He Song introduced himself as Cang Song and explained that True Monarch Luo Jing had sent him to purchase the reserved jade slip.
• True Monarch Youyun presented the Golden Core Talisman Dao Jade Slip, and He Song confirmed that it contained the methods he needed.
• He Song asked about the price and whether he could pay with Spirit Stones.
• True Monarch Youyun offered the jade slip for eighteen thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones, giving He Song a favorable price for True Monarch Luo Jing's sake.

He Song bought the Golden Core talisman manual Talisman Radiance Record from True Monarch Youyun and read about talisman treasures, especially the White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman. After deciding he needed far more talisman expertise before attempting to craft one, he returned to his temporary cave abode in Purple River Prefecture and checked it with his divine sense.

• He Song paid True Monarch Youyun eighteen thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones for the Talisman Radiance Record and left Hu Province without visiting An Ning at the Golden Sand Immortal Market.
• While traveling home, He Song studied the Talisman Radiance Record and learned how Golden Core spiritual talismans and reusable talisman treasures worked.
• He Song discovered the manual's talisman treasure method for the White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman, which could unleash powerful sword qi and gradually replenish its uses in a spiritually rich place.
• He Song decided to postpone crafting the White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman until he had mastered Golden Core talisman techniques.
• After returning to Purple River Prefecture, He Song approached his temporary cave abode underground and swept it with his divine sense.

He Song returned to his cave abode, secured it, and entered a decade of secluded cultivation focused on Golden Core talismans, pills, arrays, spells, and his own advancement. Ten years later, his strength had grown considerably, and he expected to reach the peak of Early Golden Core within several more years, though he had not yet broken through.

• He Song confirmed his cave abode had been undisturbed, removed unnecessary formations to conserve Spirit Stones, and thanked True Monarch Luo Jing for helping him obtain the Talisman Radiance Record.
• He Song entered seclusion to study Golden Core talisman, pill, and array methods while continuing to cultivate and practice his spells.
• Over ten years, He Song's Golden Core spiritual power steadily increased, but he remained in the Early Golden Core realm and expected to reach its peak after several more years.
• He Song practiced the Eight Desolations Return-to-Origin Technique to proficiency, joining the Blood-Burning Escape Technique among his mastered Golden Core spells.
• He Song deployed the Origin-Gathering Array, which steadily refined the spiritual power in his Golden Core and would help him recover if he changed cultivation techniques again.

After two years cultivating in the Origin-Gathering Array, He Song had purified his spiritual power and continued growing stronger while studying the Profound Spirit Prohibition Technique. Over ten years of seclusion, he mastered two Golden Core pills, advanced in artifact refining, and began comprehending Golden Core talismans.

• He Song cultivated in the Origin-Gathering Array for two years, refining his spiritual power and strengthening the benefits of the Purple Mansion Strengthening Yuan Technique.
• He Song continued studying the Profound Spirit Prohibition Technique, which could break arrays and restrictions below the Golden Core Great Array level.
• He Song mastered the Quiet Energy Pill and Seven-Star Detox Pill, then made considerable progress studying the Nine-Turn Life-Transformation Pill.
• He Song became proficient at refining Low-grade Spiritual Artifacts but had only begun studying the methods for mid-grade Spiritual Artifacts.
• He Song made the Talisman Radiance Record a priority and began comprehending its Golden Core spiritual talismans during his seclusion.

After ten years of secluded study, He Song mastered the One-Guarding Talisman and the Myriad Swords Talisman and prepared to work toward refining the White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman. He also considered the news An Ning had sent him about the Purple Cloud Sect and the war between the One Yang Sect and the Locking God Sect, trusting her local reports but treating the distant war rumors with caution.

• He Song mastered drawing the One-Guarding Talisman and the Myriad Swords Talisman during ten years of study and tested their defensive and offensive power.
• He Song turned his attention to the White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman, planning to gather its precious materials and carefully prepare before attempting to refine it.
• He Song learned from An Ning that True Monarch Youyun was a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator whose late Golden Core master normally oversaw the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's main branch in Hu Province Capital.
• He Song compared reports from An Ning with news from Meng Guan and True Monarch Luo Jing, finding that An Ning's account of the One Yang Sect's war against the Locking God Sect greatly exaggerated the One Yang Sect's victories.
• He Song concluded that An Ning's distant war reports were unreliable rumors but continued to trust her information about the Purple Cloud Sect.

He Song reflected on the One Yang Sect’s war against the Locking God Sect and how Meng Guan and Wei Fan had grown powerful enough to encircle and kill early Golden Core cultivators. After ten years in seclusion, He Song emerged and prepared to refine a White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman.

• An Ning continued sending He Song reliable monthly information, while Meng Guan and True Monarch Luo Jing kept him informed about the war between the One Yang Sect and the Locking God Sect.
• The One Yang Sect reclaimed the Cloud Province Capital and gained ground, while Meng Guan and Wei Fan grew stronger by killing early Golden Core cultivators and exchanging their spoils for resources.
• He Song reasoned that Meng Guan and Wei Fan’s strength, teamwork, and battlefield circumstances made their victories possible, and he warned them to avoid drawing the Locking God Sect’s attention.
• Meng Guan and Wei Fan told He Song that his Golden Core spiritual pills and talismans had helped them succeed, and He Song eventually believed their claim after sending them his own talismans.
• After ten years of cultivation, He Song left his meditation chamber, went beneath the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit Tree, and prepared to refine a White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman.

He Song prepared to refine the White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman and decided to use Silver Moon True Monarch's Golden Core unless he could obtain another suitable core. He traveled to Purple River Prefecture City to order the remaining materials from Treasure Gathering Pavilion and settled there to wait for their delivery.

• He Song considered the precious materials needed for a talisman treasure and resolved to ask Meng Guan and Wei Fan to sell him any Golden Cores they obtained.
• He Song chose Silver Moon True Monarch's Golden Core as the likely main body for his talisman treasure and planned to acquire the remaining talisman-ink materials through Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
• He Song packed his equipment and the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit Tree, left his temporary cave dwelling, and traveled toward Purple River Prefecture City.
• He Song set up a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array outside the city and entered Purple River Prefecture City displaying Golden Core cultivation.
• He Song learned that Treasure Gathering Pavilion could supply some of his requested materials after two or three months, while cultivators' Golden Cores cost one hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones and were unavailable for sale.
• He Song bought a courtyard in the city and chose to wait there rather than return to his cave abode.

He Song concealed his cave abode and settled in Purple River Prefecture Capital, where the Zhao Family quickly invited him to a banquet to probe his intentions. He attended their elaborate welcome under the assumed title Feiyu, still wary of the family’s motives.

• He Song chose to stay in Purple River Prefecture Capital rather than reveal that he had a cave abode nearby, then rented a residence.
• A Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Zhao Family delivered a banquet invitation and a gift of one thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones on behalf of its Golden Core True Lord.
• He Song inspected the gift and invitation for danger, accepted the invitation, and waited until nightfall to visit the Zhao Family grounds.
• He Song arrived at the brightly lit Zhao Family mountain range and was greeted by True Lord Feihu and more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Real Persons.
• He Song introduced himself as Feiyu rather than revealing his true Daoist title, keeping his identity concealed in case he needed to flee.

He Song concealed his identity while meeting True Lord Feihu of the Zhao Family, presenting himself as a well-backed Golden Core cultivator from a major sect. He explained that he was only staying in Purple River Prefecture temporarily while waiting for rare items, easing Feihu’s concerns about a permanent rival.

• He Song treated True Lord Feihu’s lavish welcome as suspicious and resolved to avoid any traps or troublesome requests.
• He Song accepted Feihu’s banquet invitation while hinting that he came from a major power and praising the Purple River’s scenery.
• He Song and True Lord Feihu shared a cordial banquet, and He Song impressed him with secrets about Nascent Soul Sects.
• True Lord Feihu asked whether He Song planned to settle in Purple River Prefecture or was only passing through.
• He Song explained that he had come to buy rare items from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and would leave once they arrived.

True Lord Feihu learned that He Song was a powerful outsider merely passing through and considered asking him to help capture a Golden Core Twin-Winged White Tiger. He planned to use He Song’s presence to improve his position when recruiting other Golden Core cultivators, but still needed their combined strength to subdue the beast.

• After learning He Song had no plans to compete for local resources, True Lord Feihu became more cordial and considered seeking his help.
• True Lord Feihu’s title came from his Foundation Establishment spirit tiger, which had since reached Perfect Foundation Establishment but could no longer keep pace with him.
• True Lord Feihu had discovered a Twin-Winged White Tiger in the wilderness months earlier, marked it with a Tracking Technique, and left without attempting to capture it alone.
• True Lord Feihu judged that capturing the Golden Core demon beast would require at least four Golden Core True Lords working together.
• True Lord Feihu hoped He Song’s status would help him recruit local Golden Core cultivators without letting them exploit or betray him.

He Song continued to avoid True Lord Feihu’s probing while Feihu worked to win his trust and distance him from the other Golden Core True Lords. As He Song prepared to leave Purple River Prefecture, Feihu began revealing the history behind his title and his Foundation Establishment spirit tiger, leading into the matter he had been cultivating for months.

• True Lord Feihu apologized for testing He Song and blamed the other Golden Core True Lords, while He Song concealed his suspicions and refused to commit to any plans.
• True Lord Feihu hosted He Song at the Zhao Family residence and arranged to visit him again the next day, while He Song returned to his estate and cultivated behind a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array.
• Over the following months, True Lord Feihu repeatedly visited and probed He Song, while spreading word that He Song came from a major power and was only passing through.
• As He Song awaited the items he had ordered and neared the end of his stay, True Lord Feihu increased his probing about a request he wanted He Song to accept.
• True Lord Feihu asked He Song about the origin of his title, then explained that he had earned it after acquiring his Foundation Establishment spirit tiger and fighting alongside it.

True Lord Feihu explained how his Foundation Establishment spirit tiger had helped him reach the Golden Core realm, then revealed that he planned to leave it with the Zhao Family as their guardian beast. He asked He Song to help capture a recently advanced Golden Core Twin-Winged White Tiger, and awaited He Song’s answer.

• He Song envied True Lord Feihu’s spirit tiger, while Feihu abandoned his prepared complaints about the tiger becoming a burden.
• True Lord Feihu said he would leave the Foundation Establishment spirit tiger with the Zhao Family to raise as its guardian beast.
• He Song approved of Feihu’s plan to protect the tiger by keeping it with the family.
• True Lord Feihu revealed that he had found a Twin-Winged White Tiger in Purple River Prefecture and wanted He Song to help capture it alongside several other Golden Core cultivators.
• True Lord Feihu offered He Song a generous reward and waited for him to respond.

He Song refused True Lord Feihu’s invitation to help capture the Golden Core demon beast, the Twin-Winged White Tiger, and said he would leave after collecting his items from Treasure Gathering Pavilion. True Lord Feihu accepted the refusal and began considering how to proceed without him.

• He Song considered the risks of revealing the rare Golden Core demon beast’s location and decided that, despite True Lord Feihu’s hidden goal, he would keep the matter confidential.
• He Song told True Lord Feihu that he would not join the capture and would depart after collecting his items from Treasure Gathering Pavilion in a few days.
• True Lord Feihu accepted He Song’s refusal, said he trusted He Song to keep the secret, and invited him to visit again.
• True Lord Feihu decided to contact other Golden Core True Lords and capture the Twin-Winged White Tiger before it mastered its power.

He Song refused True Lord Feihu’s invitation to help capture the Twin-Winged White Tiger, then left Purple River Prefecture Capital after collecting materials for precious talisman ink. Suspecting Feihu would recruit other Golden Core True Lords and spark turmoil, He Song dismantled his cave dwellings and headed toward the Purple Cloud Sect.

• True Lord Feihu accepted He Song’s refusal without resentment, and He Song promised to keep the Twin-Winged White Tiger secret before they parted.
• He Song collected the materials he needed from Treasure Gathering Pavilion and left Purple River Prefecture Capital while True Lord Feihu watched him go.
• He Song hid in his Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array for several days, then returned to his cave dwelling and removed its herbs, structures, and formations.
• He Song established a new hidden cave dwelling tens of thousands of miles away, left a small Storage Pouch there, and set off toward the Purple Cloud Sect.
• He Song reasoned that True Lord Feihu would seek allies to capture the Twin-Winged White Tiger, risking betrayal and upheaval across Purple River Prefecture.

He Song decided Purple River Prefecture had become too dangerous after the Twin-Winged White Tiger's emergence, so he fled toward the Purple Cloud Sect. He reached Golden Sand Immortal Market in disguise to visit An Ning, where his arrival stirred excitement among the market's cultivators.

• He Song concluded that the Golden Core True Lords drawn by the Twin-Winged White Tiger could make Purple River Prefecture perilous, and decided to leave after establishing another hidden cave abode.
• He Song left Purple River Prefecture, crossed the One Yang Sect's territory, and entered the Purple Cloud Sect's territory ten days later.
• He Song set up a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array near Golden Sand Immortal Market and concealed his Golden Core cultivation as Perfect Foundation Establishment.
• An Ning sensed He Song approaching, welcomed him outside Golden Sand Immortal Market, and led him inside for a banquet.
• The market's cultivators saw An Ning welcome He Song and became excited at the rare sight of two Foundation Establishment True Persons together.

He Song visited An Ning at Golden Sand Immortal Market, where she showed him Gold-Spirit Sand from a nearby abandoned mine and invited him to explore it. He agreed, chiefly because the mine’s maze-like tunnels could serve as a hidden retreat, but postponed the expedition so he could first explore the Immortal Market.

• He Song entered Golden Sand Immortal Market with An Ning and joined her for a banquet at her residence.
• An Ning showed He Song a spirit ore sample, and he broke it apart to identify it as deep-vein Gold-Spirit Sand.
• An Ning offered to guide He Song through the abandoned mine, explaining that people had found treasures there while others had disappeared.
• He Song considered using the mine’s winding tunnels and arrays as cover for secluded cultivation and escape, then agreed to accompany An Ning.
• He Song let An Ning keep the Gold-Spirit Sand and said they would explore the mine in a few days, after he had wandered around Golden Sand Immortal Market.