Chapter Summaries

One Yang Sect arrived in Azure Moon Prefecture after days of plundering, purged the remaining troublemakers, and restored order while True Monarch Luo Jing explained how the sect war had caused the prefecture’s fall. He Song returned to his cave abode near Golden Sand Immortal Market and began refining five White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisms from the Golden Cores of his enemies.

• One Yang Sect’s Golden Core True Lords arrived in Azure Moon Prefecture, killed fleeing and remaining plunderers, and ordered the prefecture’s residents to return.
• One Yang Sect’s True Lords investigated the returned cultivators, killing those with stolen goods and soul-searching those accused of crimes or false accusations.
• True Monarch Luo Jing told He Song that Locking God Sect had attacked Azure Moon Prefecture before One Yang Sect abandoned it to counterattack in Cloud Province, shifting the war’s front back to the original border.
• He Song learned that the five Golden Core True Lords he had considered enemies were dead, then dismantled his Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array and returned to his cave abode near Golden Sand Immortal Market.
• He Song sent Yu'er into the Canglan Secret Realm, prepared five batches of precious talisman ink, and began refining White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisms from the five cultivator Golden Cores.
• He Song sealed each completed talisman treasure in a jade casing and added it to the bracelet hidden in his sleeve.

He Song completed six White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talismans and assembled them into the White Rainbow Soft Jade Beads, then entered seclusion near the Golden Sand Immortal Market. Ten years later, his mid-stage Golden Core cultivation had advanced considerably and his wealth had largely recovered, though his skills had improved little.

• He Song refined six White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talismans and strung them with genuine jade beads to create the White Rainbow Soft Jade Beads.
• He Song brought Yu'er back from the Canglan Secret Realm, told her to return to the cave abode if danger arose, and began cultivating in seclusion.
• He Song spent ten years cultivating in his temporary cave abode near the Golden Sand Immortal Market, advancing further in the mid-stage Golden Core realm.
• He Song periodically left seclusion to refine materials into products and sell them, rebuilding his Spirit Stones and other resources after his exchange with Meng Guan and Wei Fan.
• He Song calculated that another ten years of earning could restore his former wealth, while his skills had improved little during the decade.

He Song reflected on how ten years of using talisman-making, artifact refinement, and alchemy to earn Spirit Stones had enriched him but left his craft skills unchanged. News of the Thick Earth Sect’s division and resettlement strengthened his suspicion that Fayan Zhenjun had acted on behalf of the One Yang Sect, while Yan Shan True Monarch’s faction struggled on the western border.

• He Song reasoned that earning Spirit Stones through his crafts had deepened his practical understanding, though he had neglected further study to replenish the resources needed to power his formations.
• He Song learned that the Thick Earth Sect had split, with Fayan Zhenjun leading one faction to a secure province in the One Yang Sect’s heartland and Yan Shan True Monarch leading the Mountain-Character faction to the western border.
• He Song recalled how Fayan Zhenjun had broken through to the Golden Core realm at a suspiciously convenient time and quickly taken control of the Thick Earth Sect.
• He Song connected Fayan Zhenjun’s past campaigns and the Thick Earth Sect’s later relocation to his suspicion that the One Yang Sect had supported and directed him.
• He Song considered that Yan Shan True Monarch’s faction might have known the secret, but recognized that his theory remained unsupported by concrete evidence.

He Song learned that the Thick Earth Sect had split between Fayan Zhenjun and Yan Shan True Monarch, while the One Yang Sect–Locking God Sect war remained stalled near its former border. Messages from Meng Guan, Wei Fan, Luo Jing, and Yun Jing brought him news of the changed Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market and their lives, leaving He Song to consider whether he should occasionally leave seclusion himself.

• He Song learned that Fayan Zhenjun’s faction had settled within the One Yang Sect’s heartland and Yan Shan True Monarch had founded a separate Golden Core Sect, dividing the Thick Earth Sect as He had expected.
• He Song heard that the war between the One Yang Sect and the Locking God Sect had continued for ten years without shifting the front from the former border.
• Meng Guan and Wei Fan told He Song that the Locking God Sect’s rule had transformed Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, where demonic cultivators had become prevalent.
• Meng Guan and Wei Fan returned to the battlefield after visiting Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, while He Song reflected on how much their old home had changed.
• He Song considered that he could leave his cave abode for a walk during his free time, then continued reading messages from Luo Jing and Yun Jing after they returned to Cloud Province Capital.

He Song reflected on news from Luo Jing, Yun Jing, and An Ning, along with his own growing strength during ten years of seclusion. Yu'er’s unchecked hunting in the Canglan Secret Realm drove He Song to emerge from seclusion.

• He Song learned that Luo Jing and Yun Jing would become main pavilion masters if they reached the Golden Core Middle Stage, and heard updates about Meng Guan from their letters.
• An Ning continued sending He Song news from Golden Sand Immortal Market and invited him to visit; He Song decided he could guide her if she reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
• He Song’s cultivation and strength increased over ten years, leaving him better able to face Golden Core Early and Middle Stage cultivators.
• Yu'er treated the Canglan Secret Realm as her hunting ground, relying on her tough defenses and He Song’s Golden Core Great Array for safety.
• Yu'er consumed large quantities of demon beast flesh and blood, rapidly improving her cultivation as the secret realm’s demon beast population dwindled.
• After ten years of seclusion, He Song emerged because of Yu'er’s activities.

Yu'er’s unchecked hunting had helped her reach Foundation Establishment Late Stage, while He Song wondered why Snow Wind Palace had sent a force into the Canglan Secret Realm. He overheard the group’s conversation and learned that at least one disciple had not expected the Outer Sect Tournament to lead them to a place like this.

• Over ten years, Yu'er rampaged through the Canglan Secret Realm, ate large quantities of prey, and advanced to Foundation Establishment Late Stage without He Song restraining her.
• An Ning arrived in the Canglan Secret Realm with Snow Wind Palace cultivators, spirit beasts, and Qi Refining disciples, prompting He Song to wonder why the group had come.
• He Song used his Golden Core Middle Stage divine sense to monitor the group and listen in without being detected.
• As the group traveled underground on a Foundation Establishment spirit beast, a young man told his senior brother that participants in the previous Outer Sect Tournament had not visited such a place.

He Song learned that Snow Wind Palace had entered the Canglan Secret Realm for its centennial harvest and training, not because it had discovered him or Yu'er. He secretly watched the cultivators split up and begin their tasks, hoping to learn where the realm's treasures were hidden.

• A Perfect Foundation Establishment elder explained that Snow Wind Palace sent teams into the Canglan Secret Realm every hundred years to capture Foundation Establishment demon beasts and collect treasures while training outer sect disciples against Qi Refining demon beasts.
• He Song concluded that the Snow Wind Palace cultivators had not detected him, Yu'er, or the Golden Core cave dwelling, and he told Yu'er to stay inside.
• He Song watched the Snow Wind Palace group through his divine sense and wondered where its members would find the treasures he had failed to locate.
• The cultivators split into four teams, with An Ning leading seven Qi Refining cultivators while the other teams pursued their assigned tasks.
• The Foundation Establishment teams began capturing demon beasts, while An Ning's disciples fought a pack of Qi Refining demon beasts and An Ning watched from the side.

An Ning wrote to He Song about her experiences in the Cambang Secret Realm, while He Song quietly observed the Snow Wind Palace expedition. As the sect’s groups uncovered hidden formations and medicinal gardens, He Song realized the realm concealed far more treasures than he had found before.

• An Ning sent He Song a letter describing her Snow Wind Palace assignment and training in the Cambang Secret Realm.
• He Song read the letter through his divine sense and replied briefly, avoiding questions that might tempt An Ning to betray her sect.
• An Ning’s group defeated Qi Refining demon beasts, then entered a formation-hidden medicinal garden and gathered its rare spirit herbs.
• He Song discovered that the garden’s water-based concealment formation had escaped his notice even when he had previously searched the realm.
• Another Snow Wind Palace group opened a similar formation and found a second medicinal garden, leading He Song to suspect that many such gardens were hidden throughout the realm.

He Song observed Snow Wind Palace harvesting the Canglan Secret Realm and realized its hidden medicinal gardens and other treasures could give the sect the resources to someday become a Nascent Soul force. As Snow Wind Palace’s cultivators departed, He Song stayed behind to study a water-element concealment formation while keeping watch with his divine sense.

• He Song watched Snow Wind Palace open four concealed medicinal gardens and uncover other treasures, including heavenly treasures, and reconsidered what made the Canglan Secret Realm valuable.
• He Song wondered how the secret realm could nurture heavenly treasures despite its limited spiritual energy and memorized the locations of its concealed formations.
• After gathering the realm’s treasures and Foundation Establishment demon beasts, the Snow Wind Palace cultivators assembled in the center and gave their harvest to their Perfect Foundation Establishment elder.
• The elder ordered the others to return to the sect while he took four Foundation Establishment spirit beasts away in another direction.
• He Song remained concealed near a water-element formation and began studying it as his divine sense covered the surrounding area.

He Song noticed that a Snow Wind Palace elder had returned alone to the center of the Canglan Secret Realm and suspected that the eight Golden Core arrays surrounding the area concealed a secret. He concealed his identity and hurried there as the elder activated a spell that caused another Golden Core Concealment Array to appear.

• He Song sensed that the Perfect Foundation Establishment elder had returned alone to the secret realm's center after the other Snow Wind Palace cultivators departed.
• He Song recalled that eight connected arrays formed a circle around the center and concluded that they were likely Golden Core arrays hiding something.
• The elder formed hand seals and cast a spell at the center of the Canglan Secret Realm.
• He Song concealed his aura and changed his appearance and physique before heading toward the center.
• A Golden Core Concealment Array emerged as the elder's spell took effect.

He Song investigated the ninth formation in the Canglan Secret Realm as a Perfect Foundation Establishment elder opened it with a spirit banner. After sensing a palace beyond its lush herb garden, He Song felt an overwhelming warning of danger and fled toward his Golden Core cave dwelling.

• He Song pondered the origins of the nine formations as he hurried toward the center of the Canglan Secret Realm.
• A Perfect Foundation Establishment elder shook a spirit banner and opened the ninth formation.
• He Song cautiously sensed a flourishing herb garden, white jade steps, and a palace inside the formation.
• A bone-chilling warning struck He Song as he perceived part of the palace.
• He Song withdrew his divine sense, strengthened his concealment, and fled toward his Golden Core cave dwelling.

After a chilling warning from his body, He Song fled the Canglan Secret Realm and returned to his cave dwelling, convinced that whatever lay within the hidden formation could threaten him. He began preparing to leave with Yu'er, using a miniature Golden Core formation to conceal them as they escaped.

• He Song sensed the palace inside a formation, felt an inexplicable dread, and immediately concealed himself and fled without investigating further.
• He Song resolved to trust future bodily warnings, use the Hidden God Technique, and escape quietly whenever danger seemed near.
• He Song traveled thousands of miles beneath the underground current with his self-created Earth Escape Technique and reached his cave dwelling near the Golden Sand Immortal Market.
• He Song gathered the cave dwelling's spiritual herbs, buildings, and Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit Tree into his Storage Pouch, then decided to take Yu'er away as well.
• He Song prepared to set up a miniature Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array on Yu'er so she could carry him away while concealing them both.

He Song concealed Yu'er with a reduced Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array and fled the Canglan Secret Realm after his body warned him of danger. After more than ten days without pursuit, they reached One Yang Sect territory, but He Song remained determined to put as much distance as possible between himself and the secret realm.

• He Song considered the possibility of turning Yu'er into a mobile cave abode in the future, then set aside the idea to focus on escaping.
• He Song set up a reduced Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array on Yu'er and retrieved the Spirit Gathering Array and Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array from his cave abode.
• He Song had Yu'er leave through their existing route and fly away under the formation's concealment, while he stayed alert and kept his protective measures active.
• Yu'er carried He Song out of Hu Province and Purple Cloud Sect's sphere of influence, reaching One Yang Sect territory after more than ten days without encountering danger.
• He Song considered possible causes of the warning he had sensed, then dismissed the speculation and focused on getting farther from the Canglan Secret Realm and Hu Province.

He Song fled the regions near the Canglan Secret Realm and chose to relocate to Luofeng Prefecture, on the Golden Snake Sect’s southwestern border. After several months of travel, he arrived with Yu'er and began surveying the unfamiliar area.

• He Song ruled out the Purple Cloud Sect, the One Yang Sect, the Nether Blade Sect, and Purple River Prefecture as unsafe places to stay, then chose the Golden Snake Sect’s Luofeng Prefecture.
• He Song learned that Luofeng Prefecture was named for its trade in birds brought from the nearby Myriad Monster Realm, not for a fallen phoenix.
• He Song decided to inspect Luofeng Prefecture first and told Yu'er where they were headed.
• Several months later, Yu'er carried He Song to a location several hundred li from Luofeng Prefecture’s provincial capital.
• He Song opened his eyes, told Yu'er to wait, and descended into the forested mountains.

He Song arrived in Luofeng Prefecture Capital, learned that its Golden Core forces were peaceful toward outsiders, and decided to conceal his Golden Core cultivation as Perfect Foundation Establishment. He settled into an estate and secretly built extensive underground defenses, while keeping a prepared escape route outside the capital.

• He Song left Yu'er inside a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array outside Luofeng Prefecture Capital, then flew to the capital.
• He Song bought an updated Golden Snake Sect map and learned about the capital's Golden Core rulers, prosperous trade, and many Foundation Establishment residents.
• He Song concluded that Luofeng Prefecture Capital was safe and chose to conceal his cultivation rather than attract attention as a Golden Core True Lord.
• He Song rented a large estate, installed a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array and a Spirit Gathering Array, and began making it his long-term residence.
• He Song secretly excavated deep beneath the estate to build concealed offensive, defensive, and cultivation arrays, while retaining an array outside the capital as an escape route.

He Song chose to settle in Luofeng Prefecture under the outward identity of a talisman master, hoping to blend in while keeping his life relatively undisturbed. He warned An Ning that Setting Sun Immortal City might not be safe and advised her to flee toward Hu Province Capital, while he gradually became familiar with his new neighbors.

• He Song decided that posing as a talisman master would help him blend in among Luofeng Prefecture’s Foundation Establishment Real Persons without attracting too much attention.
• An Ning sent He Song a message saying she had chosen Setting Sun Immortal City, far from Golden Sand Immortal Market, as her Snow Wind Palace posting.
• He Song warned An Ning that the crisis might reach Setting Sun Immortal City and advised her to hand over her duties, then flee to Hu Province Capital.
• He Song quietly cautioned Meng Guan, Wei Fan, Luo Jing, and Yun Jing to stay away from Hu Province without revealing his reasons.
• An Ning followed He Song’s guidance and moved farther from the Canglan Secret Realm, while He Song established himself as a talisman master and greeted his new neighbors.

He Song established himself in Luofeng Prefecture while secretly building a deep underground chamber beneath his residence. After An Ning reached Hu Province Capital safely, he sent her protective talismans and continued maintaining his public identity as a Foundation Establishment talisman master.

• He Song cultivated friendships with nearby Foundation Establishment Real Persons by sharing insights while concealing his true Golden Core cultivation.
• He Song dug several thousand meters beneath his residence, discovered a nearby secret chamber, and carved out one of his own.
• He Song installed a Blazing Sun Pearl and set up arrays in his chamber, activating the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array and Complete Spirit Gathering Array.
• An Ning reported that she had reached Hu Province Capital, and He Song told her to settle there, stay alert, and leave if danger arose.
• He Song sent An Ning several life-saving Foundation Establishment Spirit Talismans.
• He Song sold ordinary Foundation Establishment Spirit Talismans nearby while continuing to socialize with local cultivators.

After receiving An Ning’s report that Snow Wind Palace had ordered its Foundation Establishment elders to return, He Song reconsidered the nine linked arrays and mysterious palace in the Canglan Secret Realm. He suspected a Nascent Soul Ancestor might be hidden there, but remained in Luofeng Prefecture, far from Snow Wind Palace.

• An Ning told He Song that Snow Wind Palace’s Headmaster True Lord had urgently summoned nearly all Foundation Establishment elders back to the sect.
• He Song recalled the nine concealed arrays in the Canglan Secret Realm and reasoned that they might be linked to concentrate spiritual energy.
• He Song remembered the white jade palace at the center of the arrays and the bone-chilling sensation he had felt while probing it.
• He Song suspected that a Nascent Soul Ancestor or a powerful treasure might be inside the palace, sustained by the arrays.
• He Song concluded that Snow Wind Palace’s unusual recall order could signal a major development, but he remained in Luofeng Prefecture.

He Song speculated that Snow Wind Palace’s urgent summons might signal the emergence of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and he reconsidered the danger he had sensed in the Canglan Secret Realm. Months later, An Ning reported that returning Foundation Establishment elders were being personally received by the sect master, deepening the mystery.

• He Song weighed possible reasons for Snow Wind Palace’s urgent summons and chose not to tell An Ning his speculation, instead advising her to observe events and wait in Hu Province Capital.
• He Song recalled the nine Golden Core Great Arrays and the white jade palace in the Canglan Secret Realm, concluding that his instincts had warned him of a possible Nascent Soul Ancestor.
• He Song considered whether the secluded Nascent Soul Ancestor had noticed him or Yu’er, then decided that the danger no longer mattered because he was far away in Luofeng Prefecture.
• Several months later, An Ning told He Song that Foundation Establishment elders had begun returning to Snow Wind Palace and that the sect master was personally receiving each one for private discussions.

He Song received An Ning’s report that Snow Wind Palace’s former Sect Master had become a Nascent Soul Ancestor and advised her to wait until he returned before leaving Hu Province Capital. After Ancestor of Snow Wind took command of Snow Wind Palace, An Ning returned to Setting Sun Immortal City, while news of the new Nascent Soul power spread among the surrounding sects.

• An Ning reported that Snow Wind Palace’s former Sect Master had reached the Nascent Soul realm and asked He Song whether she should return to Setting Sun Immortal City.
• He Song told An Ning to wait until Ancestor of Snow Wind reached Snow Wind Palace, since returning before then could leave her exposed to Purple Cloud Sect.
• He Song considered how Snow Wind Palace’s new status might improve An Ning’s prospects of obtaining a Congealed Golden Core and forming a Golden Core.
• Ancestor of Snow Wind emerged after a century of seclusion, took control of Snow Wind Palace, and convened a Nascent Soul Convention.
• An Ning returned to Setting Sun Immortal City and resumed her post as its guardian True Person.
• News of Ancestor of Snow Wind spread to One Yang Sect, Locking God Sect, Purple Cloud Sect, and other surrounding Nascent Soul forces.