Chapter Summaries

He Song escaped Spirit Rabbit Immortal Market with the spirit-rice proceeds and returned safely to Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market. He planned to disguise the fortune by becoming an official talisman master and spending the Spirit Stones gradually, then began buying talisman-making materials.

• He Song burned his clothes, cleansed himself and his Storage Pouch, and used earth escape to leave Spirit Rabbit Immortal Market with nearly two thousand Spirit Stones.
• He Song traveled west toward Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, staying alert and avoiding purchases that might draw attention to him.
• He Song arrived safely at his house, checked that no one had entered, and activated the Mysterious Trace Array and Five Elements Array in his meditation chamber.
• He Song decided to earn Spirit Stones by making and selling talismans so he could gradually spend his fortune without revealing its source.
• He Song headed to the Stall Area to buy talisman-making materials and spent the following days practicing and making talismans.

After four years, He Song broke through to Qi Refining stage 7 and began consolidating his cultivation in a Spirit Gathering Array. He recognized his new standing in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market but resolved to keep cultivating cautiously.

• He Song used dense spiritual energy and Spirit Stones to attempt the breakthrough he had pursued for half a year.
• He Song shattered his bottleneck and successfully reached the Qi Refining Late Stage.
• He Song continued circulating the Thick Earth Technique and used the Spirit Gathering Array and Spirit Stones to consolidate his cultivation.
• He Song reflected on his rise from Qi Refining Layer 1 over twenty-two years and resolved to remain cautious.

After consolidating his breakthrough to Qi Refining stage 7, He Song visited Wei Fan and received a message from Meng Guan, who had reached Qi Refining Great Perfection and planned to attempt Foundation Establishment. He Song and Wei Fan were invited to Qingyuan Immortal City to witness the attempt and were asked to handle Meng Guan’s affairs if he failed.

• He Song reflected on his cautious survival and remembered Su Yan and her late grandfather, Su Jin.
• He Song spent ten days consolidating his cultivation at Qi Refining stage 7, then went to Lingjian Pavilion to meet Wei Fan.
• He Song found Wei Fan studying a note and waited beside him without reading it.
• A Sound Transmission Paper Crane delivered Meng Guan’s message saying he had reached Qi Refining Great Perfection after fourteen years in Qingyuan Immortal City.
• Meng Guan invited He Song and Wei Fan to join him for his Foundation Establishment attempt and asked them to look after his affairs if he failed.
• He Song and Wei Fan were stunned by Meng Guan’s rapid progress despite his Five Spiritual Roots aptitude.

He Song and Wei Fan learned that Meng Guan had reached Qi Refining Great Perfection and planned a dangerous Foundation Establishment attempt without protective pills. As they discussed witnessing his breakthrough, Wei Fan discovered that He Song had advanced to Qi Refining stage 7 in only five years.

• He Song considered the risks of Meng Guan attempting Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill or Meridian-Protecting Pill.
• Wei Fan and He Song discussed Meng Guan’s invitation and his long struggle to reach the threshold of Foundation Establishment.
• Wei Fan noticed He Song’s cultivation and asked in shock whether he had reached Qi Refining stage 7.
• He Song confirmed that he had stabilized his new cultivation that day and had come to find Wei Fan.

He Song discussed his rapid breakthrough to the Qi Refining Late Stage with Wei Fan, who concluded that He Song was simply lucky. As He Song prepared to join Wei Fan in traveling to Qingyuan Immortal City for Meng Guan’s Foundation Establishment attempt, he planned to upgrade his combat gear.

• Wei Fan was shocked that He Song had overcome the Qi Refining Late Stage bottleneck in half a year despite having four spirit roots.
• Wei Fan considered whether He Song had superior aptitude or comprehension, then concluded that He Song was unusually lucky.
• Wei Fan envied He Song, believing a faster breakthrough might have earned him a place as an outer disciple of the Thick Earth Sect.
• He Song agreed perfunctorily and thought about traveling with Wei Fan to Qingyuan Immortal City for Meng Guan’s attempt at Foundation Establishment.
• He Song planned to sell his low-grade Magic Artifacts and buy one offensive and one defensive mid-grade Magic Artifact.

He Song reflected on the income from his twenty mu of Spirit Fields and chose to keep his large stock of Spirit Rice rather than risk drawing attention by selling it frequently. With more than one thousand Spirit Stones on hand from talisman making and stipends, he considered investing in stronger talismans and other ways to improve his protection.

• He Song expanded the valley’s Spirit Fields to twenty mu after failing to find another suitable hidden location.
• He Song calculated that the fields had produced more than sixty-seven thousand jin of Spirit Rice over four years, leaving him with just over sixty-six thousand jin.
• He Song decided not to sell Spirit Rice often because repeated large sales could alert the Thick Earth Sect to his hidden fields and the array master behind them.
• He Song noted that talisman making and stipends had left him with more than one thousand Spirit Stones despite four years of heavy spending.
• He Song began calculating how to spend his Spirit Stones, including buying high-grade and life-preserving Spirit Talismans.

He Song planned his preparations for a trip to Qingyuan Immortal City and accepted Wei Fan’s help in becoming a steward in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market. He chose a remote courtyard to stay outside Chengsan Real Person’s usual divine sense range.

• He Song decided to replace his low-grade Magic Artifacts with mid-grade ones and buy high-grade and life-saving Spirit Talismans before traveling with Wei Fan.
• Wei Fan said they would prepare and leave for Qingyuan Immortal City the next morning to meet Meng Guan before his attempt at Foundation Establishment.
• Wei Fan offered He Song a steward position and an assigned courtyard, and He Song revealed he had come to secure both.
• Wei Fan gave He Song a token for choosing a department and a map of available courtyards.
• He Song selected a quiet courtyard more than three li from Chengsan Real Person to avoid his divine sense range.

He Song chose a secluded courtyard in the inner ring of Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market and arranged to become a Lingjian Pavilion steward. After moving his belongings in, he inspected the spacious residence and found its layout much like Wei Fan’s home.

• He Song refused Wei Fan’s advice to choose a courtyard closer to the market’s center, citing his preference for quiet, and asked to serve as a Lingjian Pavilion steward.
• Wei Fan agreed to report He Song’s courtyard and position to Chengsan Real Person.
• He Song packed his belongings into his Small Freight Storage Pouch and decided to wait until his next spirit-rice sale to buy a large Storage Pouch.
• He Song reached his new courtyard on the inner ring’s outer edge, more than three li from Chengsan Real Person’s residence.
• He Song toured the two-story house and discovered that its rooms and courtyard resembled Wei Fan’s home and other residences in the inner ring.

He Song settled into his new residence and visited the Magic Artifact Pavilion to exchange his low-grade Magic Artifacts for mid-grade ones before departing for Qingyuan Immortal City. There, the respect he received as a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator led him to consider enjoying a more comfortable life.

• He Song furnished his new courtyard and decided to build a deeper underground shelter after returning from Qingyuan Immortal City.
• He Song went to the Magic Artifact Pavilion to trade his low-grade Magic Artifacts for mid-grade ones before his trip the next day.
• Lu Yang recognized He Song’s breakthrough to Qi Refining stage 7, greeted him as Senior He, and ushered him into the VIP Hall.
• He Song requested mid-grade Magic Artifacts, and Lu Yang went to fetch them while a young woman served him tea.
• He Song reflected on the improved treatment his cultivation brought and resolved that he could make his life more comfortable.

He Song bought a Scarlet Gold Sword and a Thick Earth Shield from the Magic Artifact Pavilion, trading in two low-grade Magic Artifacts and paying 870 Spirit Stones. After leaving, he headed toward the Spirit Talisman Pavilion to consider its wares.

• Lu Yang showed He Song several mid-grade Magic Artifacts and explained their features and prices.
• He Song tested the Scarlet Gold Sword and Thick Earth Shield, then chose them for offense and defense.
• He Song traded in two low-grade Magic Artifacts and paid Lu Yang 870 Spirit Stones for his purchases.
• He Song left the Magic Artifact Pavilion satisfied and turned his attention to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.

He Song visited the Spirit Talisman Pavilion to buy superior-grade talismans for protection and exchanged his unused mid-grade talismans toward the cost. After choosing two Superior Earth Escape Talismans and four Superior Thick Earth Talismans, he waited while Su Yue assessed his trade-in.

• He Song arrived at the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, where Su Yue greeted him and led him to the VIP Hall.
• He Song asked Su Yue to show him superior-grade and life-saving Spirit Talismans.
• Su Yue presented various talismans and explained their abilities and prices to He Song.
• He Song chose two Superior Earth Escape Talismans and four Superior Thick Earth Talismans.
• He Song offered his unused mid-grade Spirit Talismans toward payment, and Su Yue began counting them.

He Song bought protective talismans and mid-grade Magic Artifacts, then prepared for travel and left Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market with Wei Fan. After a safe journey of more than two thousand li, they arrived at Qingyuan Immortal City.

• Su Yue calculated the price of He Song's talismans, and He Song exchanged mid-grade Spirit Talismans and 420 Spirit Stones for six superior-grade Spirit Talismans.
• He Song returned home, placed the talismans where he could quickly reach them, and refined and practiced with the Scarlet Gold Sword and Thick Earth Shield.
• He Song practiced the One-Yang Sword Art with the Scarlet Gold Sword and prepared for his departure.
• He Song met Wei Fan at the Immortal Market's exit and followed him north using the Mountain-Connecting Light Body Technique.
• He Song and Wei Fan traveled more than two thousand li without danger and arrived at Qingyuan Immortal City.

He Song and Wei Fan reached Qingyuan Immortal City and reunited with Meng Guan, who recounted how he joined the City Enforcement Team while striving to reach Qi Refining Great Perfection before turning sixty. Meng Guan had become a feared fighter known as the Soul-Severing Daoist.

• He Song and Wei Fan arrived at Qingyuan Immortal City and paid a Spirit Stone each to enter.
• He Song and Wei Fan found Meng Guan at his courtyard, where he welcomed them and served tea.
• Meng Guan told He Song and Wei Fan that he had advanced from Qi Refining stage 7 to stage 8 after years of taking dangerous missions, but struggled to gather enough resources to progress further.
• Meng Guan joined the City Enforcement Team after hearing it offered a generous stipend and allowed members to keep everything seized from evil cultivators.
• Meng Guan excelled in battles with his long saber, earning the name Soul-Severing Daoist throughout Qingyuan Immortal City.

Meng Guan told He Song and Wei Fan how he had reached the great perfection of Qi Refining and prepared to attempt Foundation Establishment before his sixtieth birthday. As his friends stood by him and explored Qingyuan Immortal City, He Song grew fond of North City and its entertainments.

• Meng Guan recounted slaying evil cultivators, earning the title Soul-Severing Daoist, and advancing to the great perfection of Qi Refining.
• He Song wondered whether Meng Guan had concealed parts of his story but chose not to investigate, and he and Wei Fan congratulated Meng Guan.
• Meng Guan welcomed He Song and Wei Fan to stay with him and help guard him as he prepared to attempt Foundation Establishment.
• He Song and Wei Fan took turns exploring Qingyuan Immortal City's four districts and learned how their residents and livelihoods differed.
• He Song toured the districts and came to enjoy North City, where mortals gathered and people pursued entertainment and leisure.

He Song and Wei Fan learned that a small auction in Qingyuan Immortal City would offer a Meridian-Protecting Pill and summoned Meng Guan, who needed it for his approaching Foundation Establishment attempt. The three agreed to pool their Spirit Stones, while He Song began considering whether the pill might benefit him in the future.

• News spread that a small auction in Qingyuan Immortal City would include a Meridian-Protecting Pill, so He Song and Wei Fan told Meng Guan before he began his breakthrough.
• Meng Guan asked He Song and Wei Fan to help him obtain the pill, and they agreed to support him as much as they could.
• Meng Guan explained that a Meridian-Protecting Pill usually cost about two thousand Spirit Stones and could help a failed Foundation Establishment attempt heal within ten years.
• He Song realized that his remaining Spirit Stones might be insufficient and considered selling his spirit rice or finding another way to raise funds.
• Meng Guan said he had over twelve hundred Spirit Stones and asked He Song and Wei Fan to lend him more.

He Song and Wei Fan pooled their Spirit Stones with Meng Guan’s to help him buy a Meridian-Protecting Pill for his planned Foundation Establishment attempt. Three days later, they arrived together at Qingyuan Immortal City’s small auction, disguised in black robes.

• He Song explained that he had only a little over two hundred Spirit Stones but offered to sell a Magic Artifact to help Meng Guan obtain a Meridian-Protecting Pill.
• Wei Fan revealed that he had saved more than a thousand Spirit Stones, and He Song added his remaining funds to the pile.
• Meng Guan thanked He Song and Wei Fan for their support, vowing to remember their kindness if he achieved Foundation Establishment.
• Meng Guan took He Song and Wei Fan sightseeing around Qingyuan Immortal City for three days without incident.
• He Song, Wei Fan, and Meng Guan attended the small auction in black robes and concealed their identities among several dozen cultivators.

He Song and Wei Fan helped Meng Guan buy a Meridian-Protecting Pill and stood guard while he prepared to attempt Foundation Establishment. After several days of preparation, Meng Guan swallowed the pill and began compressing his spiritual power to form dharma power.

• He Song, Wei Fan, and Meng Guan attended a small auction, where Meng Guan bought a Meridian-Protecting Pill for two thousand Spirit Stones without competition.
• The three returned to Meng Guan's home, and He Song and Wei Fan agreed to stand guard while Meng Guan cultivated in seclusion.
• He Song and Wei Fan watched the surroundings with four mid-grade Magic Artifacts as several days passed.
• Meng Guan reached his peak condition, swallowed the Meridian-Protecting Pill, and began compressing his spiritual power to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Meng Guan’s Foundation Establishment breakthrough caused a spiritual energy vortex to form above his courtyard in Qingyuan Immortal City. He Song and Wei Fan guarded him from onlookers, and the City Enforcement Team arrived to help protect him.

• He Song and Wei Fan kept watch over Meng Guan’s courtyard while Meng Guan continued his breakthrough in seclusion.
• He Song sensed spiritual energy growing denser and, with Wei Fan, took position on the roof as a vortex formed above the courtyard.
• Cultivators drawn by the vortex approached, but He Song and Wei Fan summoned four mid-grade Magic Artifacts, and the would-be troublemakers retreated.
• The City Enforcement Team arrived and said Clear Moon Real Person had ordered them to assist in protecting Meng Guan.

Meng Guan emerged from seclusion as a Foundation Establishment Real Person, and he, He Song, and Wei Fan celebrated his breakthrough. After choosing the Daoist name Soul-Severing Real Person, Meng Guan received an unexpected visit from Clear Moon Real Person.

• The City Enforcement Team guarded Meng Guan while he stabilized his new Foundation Establishment cultivation, at Clear Moon Real Person’s request.
• Meng Guan emerged looking young again, thanked He Song, Wei Fan, and the Enforcement Squad, then asked the squad and onlookers to leave.
• He Song and Wei Fan congratulated Meng Guan, and the three friends drank tea together and affirmed their bond.
• Meng Guan decided to use the name Soul-Severing Real Person, carrying over his Qi Refining title, Soul-Severing Daoist.
• Clear Moon Real Person arrived at the courtyard and introduced herself to Meng Guan.

Clear Moon Real Person visited Meng Guan after his breakthrough and tried to recruit him into the Thick Earth Sect, while He Song and Ping'er recognized each other among their companions. The chapter ended with Meng Guan and Clear Moon Real Person still bargaining over his return to the sect.

• Clear Moon Real Person arrived at Meng Guan's courtyard with Ping'er and another Qi Refining cultivator, and He Song recognized Ping'er as one of her attendants.
• Ping'er also recognized He Song but followed Clear Moon Real Person into the courtyard after her master entered.
• Clear Moon Real Person urged Meng Guan to return to the Thick Earth Sect as an elder, while Meng Guan negotiated for better terms.
• He Song and Ping'er quietly caught up and confirmed that Meng Guan was He Song's friend and that Clear Moon Real Person was Ping'er's master.
• He Song and Ping'er exchanged congratulations about each other's connections to Foundation Establishment Real Persons.