Chapter Summaries

He Song memorized the spirit patterns on nine stone pillars and a huge circular disk inside the Hidden Rock Jade space, but exhausted much of his mental strength before studying the central platform and disk. After leaving to recover underground, he realized the structures resembled the array flags and plate of his Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array.

• He Song examined the nine stone pillars and committed their distinct spirit patterns to memory.
• He Song memorized the patterns covering the enormous circular disk, using up more than half of his mental strength.
• He Song decided to leave the central platform and small disk for later, then exited the Hidden Rock Jade space with Mingyue and Idle Cloud.
• He Song traveled deeper underground, set up the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array, and prepared to restore his mental strength.
• He Song noticed that the nine pillars resembled array flags and the enormous disk resembled an array plate.

He Song suspected that the nine grooves on the disk atop the high platform powered a teleportation array and reasoned that it likely required superior-grade Spirit Stones. He chose to wait until he confirmed his theory before acquiring any, then returned to the hidden chamber and memorized the remaining spirit patterns.

• He Song examined the disk’s nine grooves and concluded they were likely designed to hold Spirit Stones.
• He Song reasoned that activating the teleportation array probably required nine superior-grade Spirit Stones, which he could exchange for through the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
• He Song decided not to summon Clear Wind or stockpile superior-grade Spirit Stones until he had resolved the matter and confirmed the array’s power source.
• He Song consumed a spirit pill and meditated for several hours to restore his mental strength.
• He Song returned to the hidden chamber, released Mingyue and Idle Cloud to guard him, and memorized and organized the spirit patterns on the high platform and small disk.

He Song examined the materials and construction of the mysterious array, becoming increasingly convinced that it was a teleportation array. After memorizing how its components were made, he left with the array’s purpose and immense cost still to be confirmed.

• He Song used his divine sense to identify the precious materials and refining methods of the nine stone pillars.
• He Song found that the pillars, large disk, and platform shared the same materials and construction, while the large disk concealed Void Stone.
• He Song recalled that Void Stone could affect the void and concluded that it was likely essential to a teleportation array.
• He Song examined the small control disc, memorized its distinct construction, and inferred that its nine grooves held Spirit Stones or other powerful sources of spiritual energy.
• He Song finished recording every detail of the array and turned his attention elsewhere.

He Song confirmed that the hidden chamber was the only anomalous place underground and concluded it held the teleportation array that had transported Silver Moon True Monarch. He built a concealed, fortified cave nearby and began painstakingly deciphering the array’s spirit-patterns, leaving his research underway.

• He Song used Earth Escape to search the earth above the hidden chamber and found no other anomalies.
• After confirming the chamber was the only likely location of the teleportation array, He Song returned to it.
• He Song worried that entering the array might expose him to people who could use or control it, so he decided to study it from a protected cave nearby.
• He Song excavated a temporary cave abode several hundred meters beneath the array and guarded it with a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array.
• He Song began imitating and studying the teleportation array’s spirit-patterns, knowing the process would take a long time.

He Song studied an inactive teleportation array and planned how to obtain the materials needed to build one, including the rare Void Stone. He abandoned the idea of exchanging for a Void Stone from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's treasury to avoid revealing his knowledge to its Nascent Soul-level upper ranks, and prepared to activate the array briefly to aid his study.

• He Song realized that inspecting the inactive teleportation array up close let him memorize its details and could speed his comprehension once he activated it.
• He Song planned to buy the array's ordinary materials far from his usual surroundings so others could not trace the purchases back to him.
• He Song considered obtaining a Void Stone from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's treasury, where one cost two hundred thousand Contribution Points.
• He Song concluded that exchanging for a Void Stone might reveal that he had mastered a teleportation array and draw dangerous attention from a Nascent Soul Cultivator, so he abandoned the idea and planned to search for Void Stones elsewhere.
• He Song decided to activate the teleportation array briefly and memorize the effects of its spirit patterns before studying them in detail.

He Song tested the teleportation array with nine mid-grade Spirit Stones to observe its spirit patterns, but the stones only made the array glow briefly before it went dark. He wondered why teleportation arrays existed if their enormous cost put them beyond most cultivators, while Nascent Soul cultivators might already possess a similar ability.

• He Song decided the risk of activating the teleportation array was low and chose to test it with mid-grade Spirit Stones.
• He Song placed nine mid-grade Spirit Stones into the array’s grooves, causing its central disc to glow briefly before the light faded.
• He Song concluded that nine high-grade Spirit Stones might be needed for a single teleportation and estimated that each use could cost tens of thousands or even over a hundred thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones.
• He Song questioned why Golden Core cultivators would use teleportation arrays at such a cost and considered that Nascent Soul cultivators might already be able to move instantaneously.

He Song discovered that enough mid-grade Spirit Stones could activate the unattended teleportation array, then carefully powered it up to study its spiritual runes. With the array fully active and his defenses prepared, he began memorizing the runes’ effects.

• He Song inspected the teleportation array’s nine-groove disc and theorized that stacked mid-grade Spirit Stones could supply its power.
• He Song placed batches of mid-grade Spirit Stones on the disc and confirmed that the array absorbed their spiritual energy.
• He Song estimated that roughly a thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones would suffice to activate the array, and fed them in gradually to conserve resources.
• He Song prepared defensive treasures, talismans, formations, and a way to escape in case the array brought danger.
• He Song placed the final batch of Spirit Stones on the disc, fully activated the teleportation array, and memorized the effects of its spiritual runes.

He Song studied and activated an ancient teleportation array, memorizing its construction and operation so he could reproduce it elsewhere. He chose not to send anything through it, then dispersed its stored spiritual energy before leaving.

• He Song memorized the activated teleportation array and considered using it, but rejected the idea because its destination and dangers were unknown.
• He Song concluded that he had learned nearly all the array’s secrets and could reproduce it after studying its spirit patterns.
• After observing that no cultivators appeared, He Song reasoned that activating the array was unlikely to attract attention, but still decided not to risk sending an object through it.
• He Song checked that he could recreate the array, then used its control hub to disperse its stored spiritual energy.

He Song decided to leave the underground teleportation array after memorizing its construction and setting a tracking mark nearby. He returned to Clear Wind, recovered his treasured items, and prepared to control the puppet through the Realm-Entry Puppet Control Technique.

• He Song judged that remaining near the teleportation array was dangerous, withdrew the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array, and marked a stone thousands of meters underground to track the site.
• He Song traveled to Clear Wind’s location to reclaim the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit Tree, the Mixed Gold Spirit Fruit, the White Rainbow Mountain-Splitting Talisman, and his other treasures.
• He Song confirmed that Clear Wind and the stored treasures were safe, then retrieved the treasures and packed away the Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array.
• He Song maintained his aura at Perfect Foundation Establishment and cast the Realm-Entry Puppet Control Technique to control Clear Wind, whose control would weaken with distance and time.

He Song weighed the risks of buying teleportation-formation materials and decided to avoid the nearby Northern Sun Prefectural Capital and Yan Yun Prefecture. He turned his attention to Greenwood Immortal Province, where he could make his purchase farther from the teleportation formation he had discovered.

• He Song decided to search for Void Stones and buy teleportation-formation materials without using the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's treasury, prioritizing his safety over saving time and Spirit Stones.
• He Song realized that buying the materials in Northern Sun Prefectural Capital might attract the attention of anyone who knew about the nearby teleportation formation, so he ruled out that destination.
• He Song considered going to Yan Yun Prefecture to seek Xiao Qing's help, but remembered Ghost-Faced True Monarch and decided not to risk encountering him.
• He Song recalled Greenwood Immortal Province, a southern territory of the Golden Snake Sect known for its spirit beasts and busy markets, as another possible destination.

He Song traveled to Greenwood Prefectural Capital to buy treasures for a teleportation array, using Clear Wind as a Golden Core decoy while disguising himself as a Foundation Establishment attendant. At the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, its staff served tea to both Clear Wind and He Song, and a voice sounded outside the VIP Hall.

• He Song chose Greenwood Prefectural Capital instead of Yan Yun Prefecture and traveled south with Clear Wind, bypassing the One Yang Sect and Golden Snake Sect.
• He Song set a Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Array in a secluded valley outside the capital, then used the Realm-Entry Puppet Control Technique to position Clear Wind as his apparent superior and shield.
• He Song and Clear Wind entered the Greenwood Prefectural Capital branch of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, where staff escorted them to a VIP Hall for Golden Core guests.
• A pavilion attendant served Clear Wind Golden Core spirit tea, then returned with Foundation Establishment spirit tea for He Song, who appreciated the staff's attentiveness.
• As He Song waited for the pavilion master, a voice came from outside the VIP Hall.

He Song used Clear Wind to negotiate a purchase with Crimson Gold True Lord and obtain information about the power south of the Golden Snake Sect. After secretly verifying the information, He Song learned the power was Spirit Wind Valley, renowned for its escape arts, and grew eager to investigate them.

• Crimson Gold True Lord introduced himself and agreed to procure He Song's requested treasures, which would take about a month to arrive.
• He Song asked about the power south of the Golden Snake Sect, and Crimson Gold True Lord gave Clear Wind a Jade Slip containing information about it.
• He Song left the Treasure Gathering Pavilion with Clear Wind, then changed his appearance, cultivation, and aura before buying a second account of the region's information.
• He Song compared the two sources and confirmed that Spirit Wind Valley was a Nascent Soul Sect famed for its cultivators' exceptional escape arts.
• He Song became excited by Spirit Wind Valley's escape arts.

He Song considered how escape speed could dominate battles and concluded that Spirit Wind Valley’s escape arts, secret techniques, and treasures could greatly improve his survival and combat ability. He settled in Greenwood Prefectural Capital to watch for such resources and study the region while waiting for teleportation-array materials; more than a month later, his appointment with Crimson Gold True Lord arrived.

• He Song reasoned that superior escape speed could help cultivators evade attacks, exploit blind spots, and gain the upper hand, even against opponents using divine sense.
• He Song decided to seek powerful escape arts and related secret techniques and treasures within Spirit Wind Valley’s sphere of influence, while also studying the teleportation array he had memorized.
• He Song bought an estate in Greenwood Prefectural Capital, kept a low profile, and monitored Spirit Wind Valley and the neighboring Golden Core Sects for suitable resources.
• He Song stayed in Greenwood Prefectural Capital while waiting for the materials needed to refine the teleportation array, and more than a month passed.
• On the day of his appointment with Crimson Gold True Lord, He Song used the Realm-Entry Puppet Control Technique to send his divine sense into Clear Wind’s core.

He Song tested his control of Clear Wind by sending the Golden Core puppet to collect treasures for a teleportation array, then traveled to Red Maple Prefecture in search of powerful escape techniques. After gathering auction and technique information from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, he considered how to receive news while in seclusion but realized the Pavilion’s people would need proof of his identity and resources before trusting him.

• He Song controlled Clear Wind to collect the teleportation-array treasures from Crimson Gold True Lord at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, then inspected them himself and confirmed the puppet had not been exposed.
• He Song left Greenwood Prefectural Capital and traveled to Red Maple Prefecture, choosing the border province to avoid Spirit Wind Valley’s heartland while searching for escape techniques.
• He Song concealed his cultivation, prepared Heavenly Dipper Divine Thunder Arrays inside and outside his new residence, and began gathering information.
• He Song paid the Red Maple Prefecture Treasure Gathering Pavilion for news of upcoming auctions, reported escape techniques, and nearby sources of secret arts.
• He Song considered relying on someone to relay news while he was in seclusion, but concluded that the Pavilion’s people would likely require proof of his identity and treasures before trusting him.

He Song gathered information about where profound escape techniques could be found in and around Spirit Wind Valley, then sought a discreet contact to keep him informed. He selected Zhou Ruo, whose declining family had once produced a Golden Core True Lord, and considered obtaining its inherited escape art.

• He Song decided not to reveal his identity or pay the Treasure Gathering Pavilion cultivator, choosing instead to find a low-level cultivator to relay information.
• He Song learned that profound escape techniques could appear at periodic grand auctions, in old cave dwellings, and among declining families that had once produced Golden Core cultivators.
• After searching for half a month, He Song summoned Zhou Ruo to his residence and considered her as a source of information.
• He Song recalled that Zhou Ruo's family had declined after its Golden Core ancestor vanished and now had only one Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• He Song considered using a Foundation Establishment Pill and his relationship with Zhou Ruo to persuade her family to give him its inherited escape art.

He Song considered using Zhou Ruo and her declining Zhou Family as a route to obtaining a profound escape technique, while deciding to support the family’s struggle over its last shop in exchange for her help. He asked Zhou Ruo to pass him news from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion while he was in seclusion, leaving her to decide whether to accept.

• He Song judged Zhou Ruo to be cautious and discreet, and considered her a useful link to the Zhou Family and its profound escape technique.
• He Song recalled that the Zhou Family was fighting another Foundation Establishment faction to keep its only remaining shop in Red Maple Prefecture.
• He Song invited Zhou Ruo to discuss lending the Zhou Family his support, though he intended to claim benefits and conditions in return.
• Zhou Ruo realized He Song had approached her with a purpose and wondered what he wanted from her or the Zhou Family.
• He Song asked Zhou Ruo to pass along news from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion every few days while he was in seclusion, promising to provide sufficient Spirit Stones.

He Song told Zhou Ruo he wanted her to monitor the Treasure Gathering Pavilion for profound escape arts and offered her rewards, including a Foundation Establishment Pill. Zhou Ruo eagerly accepted and hinted that she already knew something about obtaining a profound movement technique.

• Zhou Ruo realized He Song wanted her to gather information rather than carry out a dangerous task, and she agreed to serve him.
• He Song explained that he sought a profound escape art from Spirit Wind Valley or its sphere of influence and asked Zhou Ruo to check the Treasure Gathering Pavilion regularly.
• He Song promised Zhou Ruo Spirit Stones and other rewards, potentially including a Foundation Establishment Pill, depending on her efforts.
• Zhou Ruo considered the opportunities He Song’s support could bring and resolved to help him.
• Zhou Ruo promised to gather and pass along information, then said she already knew something about obtaining a profound movement technique.

Zhou Ruo told He Song that the Wu Family might possess a profound escape technique, suggesting he kill its Foundation Establishment cultivators and search their memories. He Song considered the rewards but rejected slaughtering a family for his own gain, leaving him reassessing Zhou Ruo.

• Zhou Ruo realized she could earn a Foundation Establishment Pill by telling He Song about a profound escape technique.
• He Song promised Zhou Ruo a Foundation Establishment Pill if her information helped him obtain the technique.
• Zhou Ruo explained that the Wu Family had sold its heritage to fund a rapidly advancing three-spiritual-root cultivator, and that a profound escape technique had appeared at an auction around that time.
• Zhou Ruo proposed that He Song kill the Wu Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators and search their memories for the technique and their ancestor's treasures.
• He Song considered the benefits but decided he would not exterminate the Wu Family for profit, and reconsidered his judgment of Zhou Ruo.

He Song rejected Zhou Ruo’s suggestion to destroy the Wu Family for its treasures, choosing instead to help the Zhou Family make them retreat without unnecessary bloodshed. After instructing Zhou Ruo to keep gathering information, he prepared to return to secluded cultivation while waiting for a profound escape art to appear.

• He Song reconsidered Zhou Ruo’s character and wondered whether she was trying to use him to eliminate the Wu Family, but decided that her motives did not change his own plans.
• He Song refused to slaughter the Wu Family for a profound escape technique and promised Zhou Ruo that he would help the Zhou Family and reward her.
• Zhou Ruo accepted He Song’s decision and explained that his presence and reputation as a Perfect Foundation Establishment cultivator would be enough to make the Wu Family retreat.
• He Song gave Zhou Ruo Spirit Stones to purchase information from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and sent her away to handle the matter.
• He Song prepared to resume secluded cultivation while Zhou Ruo gathered information about profound escape arts.

He Song continued comprehending the teleportation array while Zhou Ruo relayed news from outside. When a Golden Core cave dwelling drew numerous powerful cultivators, He Song declined to investigate, and later learned that its treasures were claimed by Golden Core True Lords and one was ambushed on the way home.

• He Song estimated that mastering the teleportation array’s spirit patterns would take at least ten years and continued studying them in seclusion.
• Zhou Ruo informed He Song that a Golden Core cave dwelling had appeared south of Spirit Wind Valley, attracting Foundation Establishment cultivators and Golden Core True Lords.
• He Song judged that joining the contest would be too dangerous and told Zhou Ruo he could not leave his critical seclusion.
• Zhou Ruo continued sending He Song reports, though her limited cultivation restricted the information she could gather.
• Several Golden Core True Lords fought over the cave dwelling, then divided its treasures and left little for the other cultivators.
• He Song learned that one Golden Core True Lord was ambushed while returning and rejoiced that he had avoided the danger.