Chapter Summaries

He Song asked Meng Guan and Wei Fan about the attack on Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market and learned that the incident concealed a conflict and possible cooperation between the Thick Earth Sect’s Golden Core factions. He concealed his suspicions and turned the conversation to his preparations for Foundation Establishment.

• He Song asked Meng Guan and Wei Fan about the sect’s affairs, the True Persons who had left the mountain, and the attack on Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
• Meng Guan warned He Song that the attack involved hidden secrets and was too dangerous for a Qi Refining cultivator to investigate.
• He Song suspected Fayan Zhenjun was monitoring their conversation, denied any intention of getting involved, and said he would focus on Foundation Establishment.
• Meng Guan and Wei Fan privately recalled that the attack had been part of a scheme within the Thick Earth Sect, involving the rival factions of Yan Shan True Monarch and Fayan Zhenjun.
• Meng Guan changed the subject by recalling He Song’s early days in cultivation, and He Song reflected on his ample Foundation Establishment resources.

He Song kept his secrets from Meng Guan and Wei Fan, focused on advancing his cultivation, and waited for news about the attack on Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market. After several months, Foundation Establishment Real Persons returned to the Thick Earth Sect, and a Sound Transmission Talisman suddenly lit up beside He Song as he cultivated.

• He Song declined to discuss Foundation Establishment with Meng Guan and Wei Fan, then left their mountain peak and returned to his courtyard.
• He Song recalled Meng Guan's claim that the attack on Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market concealed another secret and that news would arrive soon.
• He Song spent several months cultivating and studying the Seven Fragrance Tracking Technique, the Qi Sinking Dantian Technique, and the Nether Smoke Array.
• Zhao Lin sent He Song a Sound Transmission Paper Crane saying several Foundation Establishment Real Persons were heading toward the Thick Earth Sect's mountain gate and asking him to share news about Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
• Several days after receiving Zhao Lin's letter, He Song was cultivating when his Sound Transmission Talisman lit up.

He Song reunited with Ping'er and Chu Shuangshuang after the Thick Earth Sect recalled its disciples from outside the mountain gate. Their return and the arrival of Foundation Establishment cultivators led him to suspect that the sect was preparing for a major move, though he decided to wait for news.

• He Song received Ping'er's message that she and Chu Shuangshuang had returned, and invited them to meet him in his courtyard.
• Ping'er and Chu Shuangshuang traveled back to the Thick Earth Sect among disciples recalled from around Qingyuan Immortal City.
• He Song watched several Spirit Boats arrive and wondered whether they carried Foundation Establishment cultivators returning to report.
• Ping'er was surprised that He Song had reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer and insisted on addressing him as Senior Brother.
• He Song learned that the sect had recalled its disciples and suspected it might be preparing to act against whoever was behind the attack on Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

He Song waited for news after the Thick Earth Sect recalled its outer sect disciples, then learned that the Seven Star Sect accused the Thick Earth Sect of destroying one of its Immortal Markets and killing a Foundation Establishment Real Person. As cultivators departed for battle, He Song suspected the Thick Earth Sect had staged the conflict and had been preparing for war.

• He Song spent several months cultivating while waiting for the Thick Earth Sect to announce what had happened at Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
• News spread that rogue cultivators had attacked a Seven Star Sect Immortal Market and killed its Foundation Establishment Real Person.
• The Seven Star Sect blamed the Thick Earth Sect, and the Thick Earth Sect responded by accusing the Seven Star Sect of supporting attacks on its own Immortal Markets.
• He Song watched streaks of escaping light leave the sect and concluded that the recall of disciples and the months of silence had likely been preparations for war.

He Song realized the Thick Earth Sect had likely engineered a conflict with the Seven Star Sect and watched Foundation Establishment cultivators depart for Lianshan Immortal City. Meng Guan told He Song and Wei Fan he would soon leave to guard the city in secret, while Wei Fan chose the title Blessed Fortune Real Person.

• He Song concluded that the Thick Earth Sect had staged attacks and rumors to create grounds for war against the Seven Star Sect.
• The Thick Earth Sect sent Foundation Establishment cultivators to Lianshan Immortal City, and Meng Guan summoned He Song to discuss his departure.
• Meng Guan revealed that he would secretly guard Lianshan Immortal City and gave He Song and Wei Fan his Sound Transmission Talisman for future contact.
• He Song comforted Meng Guan and Wei Fan about being unable to guard his future foundation breakthrough, then warned them to flee if they faced stronger opponents.
• Meng Guan asked Wei Fan about choosing a Daoist title, and Wei Fan named himself Blessed Fortune Real Person.

He Song watched Meng Guan depart for Lianshan Immortal City and resolved to avoid the coming war between the Thick Earth Sect and the Seven Star Sect. As he considered leaving the sect before establishing his foundation, a bell rang and an unfamiliar cultivator arrived near the outer disciples’ residential area.

• Wei Fan told He Song and Meng Guan that he had chosen the Daoist title Blessed Fortune Real Person, and they agreed to keep addressing one another as before.
• He Song reflected that the sect war offered danger rather than opportunity to him and decided he would avoid joining it if possible.
• Meng Guan bade farewell to He Song and Wei Fan, then set out overland for Lianshan Immortal City.
• He Song considered mastering the Nether Smoke Array and establishing his foundation outside the sect, though doing so would leave him without Foundation Establishment methods and spells.
• A bell rang, the outer disciples climbed to high points in their courtyards, and a streak of escape light arrived and stopped in midair nearby.

After the Outer Sect Tournament was announced, He Song secured six Foundation Establishment Pills by secretly leaving the Thick Earth Sect to sell his Spirit Rice and returning to exchange the proceeds. Three months later, the tournament was underway, but He Song stayed behind to cultivate.

• A green-robed figure announced that the Outer Sect Tournament would be held in three months, with Foundation Establishment Pills and advancement to the inner sect among its rewards.
• He Song exchanged Spirit Stones for three Foundation Establishment Pills, then discovered the sect had barred outer sect disciples from leaving the mountain gate.
• He Song used the Earth Escape Technique and Conceal Breath Art to slip out of the sect, sell his Spirit Rice, and return with more than seventeen thousand Spirit Stones.
• He Song exchanged fifteen thousand Spirit Stones for a sixth Foundation Establishment Pill, securing enough for his first attempt.
• He Song refined the Seven Fragrance Tracking Technique and learned to track marked objects, while avoiding using it around Qionghua Sect members.
• Three months later, the Outer Sect Tournament began while He Song continued cultivating.

He Song avoided entering the outer sect competition because winning would expose him to dangerous attention, but he went to watch so he would not stand out. He watched Ping'er lose her match, then stayed with her and Chu Shuangshuang as the competition continued and its purpose became clear.

• He Song decided not to compete, fearing that recognition and a Golden Core True Lord's scrutiny could expose his secrets, but attended the event to avoid seeming unusual.
• Chu Shuangshuang led He Song to watch Ping'er's match, where Ping'er faced a stronger Qi Refining Ninth Layer opponent despite having no hidden trump card.
• After several exchanges, Ping'er conceded and joined He Song and Chu Shuangshuang beneath another arena.
• The three watched the matches and chatted while He Song greeted acquaintances among the outer sect disciples.
• He Song learned that Fayan Zhenjun had arranged the temporary competition to award Foundation Establishment Pills to disciples whose masters might be unavailable during the war with the Seven Star Sect.

After two years of cultivation, He Song completed the Nether Smoke Array and left the Thick Earth Sect to establish a concealed cave abode. He chose a hill beside a river and activated the array, vanishing as he entered its range.

• He Song learned that the outer sect tournament’s Foundation Establishment Pills were meant for disciples who lacked one, and he was relieved he had not competed despite already possessing two.
• He Song returned to cultivation and spent the next two years studying the Nether Smoke Array and the Qi Sinking Dantian Technique.
• He Song completed the Nether Smoke Array and decided to leave the sect to establish a cave abode where he could cultivate in greater safety.
• He Song gathered his belongings, used the Earth Escape Technique to leave the Thick Earth Sect, and traveled east to a scenic site beside a river.
• He Song installed the Nether Smoke Array around a small hill and supplied it with Spirit Stones.
• He Song stepped into the array’s range and vanished.

He Song established a hidden cave abode outside the Thick Earth Sect, then visited the sect’s Scripture Pavilion to seek Song Zhen. He learned that Song Zhen had died three months earlier, leaving He Song with regret.

• He Song expanded the Nether Smoke Array, set up the Small Spirit Gathering Array, and carved a concealed cave abode into the mountain.
• He Song bought spirit herb seeds at Colorful Cloud Immortal Market and returned to the Thick Earth Sect to find Song Zhen and obtain Talisman Dao Initial Understanding.
• At the Scripture Pavilion, He Song met Yang Yan and asked about Song Zhen.
• Yang Yan told He Song that Song Zhen had failed his Foundation Establishment attempt, been assigned to Lianshan Immortal City, and died in an attack three months earlier.
• He Song remembered Song Zhen’s past kindness and felt regret at learning of his death.

He Song exchanged Array Dao Initial Understanding for Talisman Dao Initial Understanding and bought the Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique. He returned to his new cave abode, prepared its surroundings, and began practicing the secret technique as he planned to cultivate toward the great perfection of the Qi Refining stage.

• He Song asked Yang Yan to exchange Array Dao Initial Understanding for Talisman Dao Initial Understanding and found the Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique in the Scripture Pavilion.
• He Song purchased the Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique, received both Jade Slips, and left the Thick Earth Sect for his cave abode.
• He Song turned the land around his cave abode into Spirit Fields and medicinal gardens, diverted river water, and admired the concealed refuge protected by the Nether Smoke Array.
• He Song studied the Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique and considered its speed, depth, ambush potential, and vulnerability to the Earth-Shaking Technique.
• He Song began practicing the Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique and the Qi Sinking Dantian Technique while aiming to reach the great perfection of the Qi Refining stage.

After three years in seclusion, He Song had expanded his Spirit Fields, saved enough Spirit Stones to prepare for Foundation Establishment, and nearly reached the great perfection of Qi Refining. A message from Wei Fan drew him back to the Thick Earth Sect, where he learned Wei Fan was being sent to the dangerous front line at Lianshan Immortal City.

• He Song completed his Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique and comprehended the Qi Sinking Dantian Technique while cultivating and harvesting spirit rice over three years.
• He Song saved more than thirty thousand Spirit Stones and accumulated six Foundation Establishment Pills, while his cultivation neared the great perfection of Qi Refining.
• He Song received Wei Fan’s message saying the Sect Master True Lord had dispatched him to Lianshan Immortal City to serve alongside Old Meng.
• He Song worried that Wei Fan lacked Meng Guan’s combat experience and decided to advise him to lie low at Lianshan Immortal City.
• He Song returned to the Thick Earth Sect, where Wei Fan welcomed him and warned him about demonic cultivators exploiting the war with the Seven Star Sect.

He Song visited Wei Fan, who revealed that Round Mountain True Person had once caught him secretly leaving the Thick Earth Sect using an Earth Escape Technique but had let him go. He Song concealed his improved escape method, while Wei Fan relayed that he could simply ask Round Mountain True Person for permission next time.

• Round Mountain True Person told Wei Fan that he had seen He Song sneak out of the sect underground and had chosen not to detain him.
• Wei Fan warned He Song to be careful, then explained that he had learned about the incident from Round Mountain True Person.
• He Song realized Round Mountain True Person had spotted him only once and concluded that his newer Mountain-Linked Earth Escape Technique would keep him hidden.
• He Song told Wei Fan that he had learned an Earth Escape Technique, without revealing that he now used the superior Mountain-Linked version.
• Wei Fan relayed Round Mountain True Person's offer to let He Song leave the sect if he informed him first, and teased He Song for being overly cautious.

He Song sent Wei Fan to Lianshan Immortal City to join Meng Guan, then returned to seclusion and reached Qi Refining Great Perfection. He emerged from his cave abode, ready to seek the opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment.

• He Song agreed to inform Round Mountain True Person when he left the sect and warned Wei Fan to stay cautious and travel with Meng Guan.
• Wei Fan departed for Lianshan Immortal City over land, keeping his identity as a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator concealed.
• He Song returned to his cave abode and resumed cultivation, while studying the Seven Killing Heavenly Fire Array.
• After more than a month, He Song's spiritual power filled his body's limit, and he realized he had reached Qi Refining Great Perfection.
• He Song emerged from seclusion and looked over the scenery around his cave abode as he considered seeking the opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment.

He Song waited for the opportunity to establish his foundation while staying protected by the Nether Smoke Array, and discovered an unknown egg by the river that he decided to hatch. Days later, the breakthrough impulse finally came, and he began gathering the spiritual energy in his body into his dantian.

• He Song tried to find the right state of mind by the river but decided to wait patiently for the opportunity to establish his foundation.
• He Song found a white egg with signs of life, brought it to his cave abode, and chose to hatch it so he could later bind it with a Beast Taming Token.
• He Song left the egg to hatch in a remote place and continued waiting for his breakthrough opportunity.
• Several days later, He Song felt the impulse to establish his foundation and prepared to begin within the protection of the Nether Smoke Array.
• He Song sat cross-legged on the small mountain and began directing all the spiritual energy in his body into his dantian.

He Song began his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, using the Qi Sinking Dantian Technique, six Foundation Establishment Pills, and a vast supply of Spirit Stones to prepare and compress his spiritual power. He had completed two compressions and was gathering strength for the third, knowing he needed to form a thread of dharma power within ten compressions to succeed.

• He Song used the Qi Sinking Dantian Technique to draw all his spiritual power into his dantian and resolved to learn a body-tempering technique after reaching Foundation Establishment.
• He Song swallowed six Foundation Establishment Pills, whose medicinal force would aid compression and protect him if the breakthrough failed.
• He Song surrounded himself with his Spirit Stones to increase the spiritual energy available during his attempt.
• He Song began compressing the spiritual power in his dantian, completing two compressions and preparing for a third.
• He Song recalled that Meng Guan formed a thread of dharma power on his tenth compression, while Wei Fan failed at ten compressions once and succeeded after nine in his second attempt.

He Song successfully broke through to Foundation Establishment, giving birth to magic power and divine sense. After converting his spiritual power into magic power, he remained in seclusion to test the range and strength of his divine sense.

• He Song compressed his spiritual power for a fifth time and produced his first trace of magic power.
• The new magic power transformed He Song's soul into divine sense, allowing him to sense his body and nearby surroundings while his perception hovered above him.
• He Song's perception returned to his body, and he circulated the Thick Earth Technique for several days to convert his spiritual power and absorb outside spiritual energy into magic power.
• He Song filled his meridians and dantian with magic power but stayed in seclusion to investigate whether his divine sense was stronger than other cultivators'.
• He Song extended his divine sense across the Nether Smoke Array and formed a detailed planar map of the area in his mind.

After consolidating his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, He Song considered how to obtain higher-realm methods without being sent to fight in the war between the Thick Earth Sect and the Seven Star Sect. He chose to remain in seclusion for four years and discovered that one of Mi Cang’s Jade Slips contained the Blood Escape Technique.

• He Song found that his divine sense could reach three li, far beyond that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator.
• He Song returned to his cave abode, reviewed his breakthrough, and decided against reporting his advancement to the Thick Earth Sect because he wanted to avoid being deployed to the battlefield.
• He Song decided to cultivate in seclusion for four years while waiting to see how the conflict between the Thick Earth Sect and the Seven Star Sect developed.
• He Song used his newly formed divine sense to inspect the Jade Slips he had taken from Mi Cang.
• He Song learned that the Blood Escape Technique could provide a tremendous burst of speed by burning blood essence, but that using it carried a steep cost.

He Song examined two techniques looted from Mi Cang’s Storage Pouch and decided to remain in his cave dwelling until he learned them. After contacting Meng Guan about the war, he received word that the battle situation was unchanged, though the True Lord had ordered Foundation Establishment cultivators to make brief, frequent appearances in the Seven Star Sect’s territory.

• He Song discovered the Blood Escape Technique and saw it as a way to flee Foundation Establishment opponents at the cost of a drop of blood essence.
• He Song read the Arrow God Stab Jade Slip and decided the divine-sense attack suited him, especially for ambushes and escapes.
• He Song resolved to spend the next four years learning both techniques and not leave his cave dwelling before mastering them.
• He Song sent Meng Guan a message using spiritual energy rather than magical power so the message would not reveal that he had achieved Foundation Establishment.
• Meng Guan replied that Wei Fan had arrived safely in Lianshan Immortal City and eagerly wanted to attack, while the True Lord had ordered Foundation Establishment cultivators to make brief, frequent appearances in Seven Star Sect territory.

He Song spent three years mastering the Blood Escape Technique and training in the more difficult Arrow God Stab while keeping watch on the Thick Earth Sect’s war with the Seven Star Sect. The Thick Earth Sect’s two True Lords launched a surprise attack, drove the Seven Star Sect back to its mountain gate, and left it defending behind its protective grand formation.

• He Song replied to Meng Guan that he did not know why Wei Fan had become unusually warlike, urged Meng Guan to watch him closely, and began cultivating the Blood Escape Technique and Arrow God Stab.
• He Song mastered the Blood Escape Technique in a year and a half, choosing a watery-blue escaping light to blend with the sky, then spent the next year and a half struggling to master the Arrow God Stab.
• Yan Shan True Monarch and Fayan Zhenjun launched a surprise assault on the Seven Star Sect’s defensive line after securing the Thick Earth Sect’s retreat.
• Tian Shu True Monarch appeared and held off both Thick Earth Sect True Lords, but the Seven Star Sect suffered heavy losses and its leader was injured.
• Yan Shan True Monarch and Fayan Zhenjun drove the battle line from Lianshan Immortal City to the Seven Star Sect’s mountain gate, where the Seven Star Sect activated its protective grand formation and withdrew its Foundation Establishment Real Persons.
• The Thick Earth Sect’s True Lords stopped short of attacking the formation, began taking control of the Seven Star Sect’s territory, and deactivated their own protective grand formation.