Chapter Summaries

At forty, Lin Chang'an decided to give up cultivation and return to the Mortal Realm, but a new land-reclamation order forced him to stay in Green Bamboo Mountain Market and resume drawing talismans. As he meditated, a mysterious status display appeared before him.

• Lin Chang'an recalled being rejected from Li Fire Palace twenty years earlier and surviving as a Qi Refining Third Layer Talisman Master.
• Li Erniu visited Lin Chang'an and warned him that intensified land reclamation would delay his return to the Mortal Realm.
• Li Erniu lent Lin Chang'an twenty-six Spirit Crystals, remembering how Lin Chang'an had helped him join the Zhou Family.
• Lin Chang'an packed his gold and jewelry away and began meditating with the Evergreen Art.
• A glowing status display revealed Lin Chang'an's lifespan, cultivation progress, and skill levels.

After a golden finger appeared, Lin Chang'an discovered that it rewarded genuine insight and effort, not mere repetition. He advanced his Golden Light Talisman skill and began using Spirit Crystals to restore his mana, while remaining wary of the dangers of the Cultivation World.

• Lin Chang'an awakened to a golden finger after a drunken night and resolved to quit drinking and make the most of his opportunity.
• Lin Chang'an assessed his belongings and realized he needed to earn Spirit Stones to prepare for the coming corvée tax.
• Lin Chang'an spent the night drawing Golden Light Talismans and gained a proficiency point after understanding how to improve his technique.
• Lin Chang'an advanced his Golden Light Talisman skill to Mastery, gained new insights, and reduced the mana cost of making the talismans.
• Lin Chang'an concluded that sincere effort and insight—not mindless repetition—earned rewards, then restored his depleted mana with Spirit Crystals as dawn broke.

After deciding to remain in the Cultivation World, Lin Chang'an sold his talismans at True Treasure Pavilion and earned his first Spirit Stone by producing a Fine Golden Light Talisman. He returned home determined to improve his cultivation through better food and to save for a Storage Bag.

• Lin Chang'an walked through the Market, reflecting on his decision to stay rather than go to the Mortal Realm.
• At True Treasure Pavilion, Lin Chang'an sold twenty Golden Light Talismans and eight Godly Travel Talismans to Shopkeeper Miao.
• Shopkeeper Miao recognized Lin Chang'an's Fine Golden Light Talisman and paid him one Spirit Stone for it, along with materials and change for the other talismans.
• Lin Chang'an bought Spirit Rice, Monster Beast Meat, and spirit vegetables on his way home.
• Lin Chang'an ate a hearty meal and resolved to earn enough to eat meat daily and buy a Storage Bag.

After recovering from an exhausting breakthrough, Lin Chang'an improved his cultivation and talisman-making while staying home to save Spirit Stones. Old Man He visited to borrow talismans for a dangerous Land Reclamation opportunity, and Lin Chang'an lent them to him for two Spirit Stones.

• Lin Chang'an recovered from his talisman-drawing breakthrough and saw his Evergreen Art proficiency and Qi Refining progress increase.
• He spent several days cultivating and drawing talismans, reaching a rate of one Fine Golden Light Talisman for every five talismans.
• Old Man He visited Lin Chang'an and warned him that the corvée tax had risen to ten Spirit Stones amid expanded Land Reclamation.
• Old Man He explained that he wanted to send his talented grandson to Li Fire Palace and asked to borrow two Golden Light Talismans for the Land Reclamation.
• Lin Chang'an gave Old Man He two Fine Golden Light Talismans and one Godspeed Talisman, asking for two Spirit Stones in return.

Lin Chang'an discovered that he could maintain his peak talisman-drawing state without resting, then limited his sales to avoid attracting suspicion. As Green Bamboo Mountain Market filled with Rogue Cultivators ahead of a major Land Reclamation effort, he bought a Golden Marrow Pill and Storage Bag and hurried home to test it.

• Lin Chang'an realized he could draw Fine Golden Light Talismans continuously without the usual calming and concentration, as long as his mana held out.
• Lin Chang'an decided to limit his monthly production to avoid revealing his unusual talent, then celebrated his discovery in private.
• Lin Chang'an sold six Fine Golden Light Talismans to Shopkeeper Miao, who told him that outside Rogue Cultivators were arriving ahead of a Land Reclamation effort offering five Foundation Establishment Pill slots.
• Lin Chang'an bought a Golden Marrow Pill and a Storage Bag from Shopkeeper Miao, then grew wary as he saw the Market crowded with unfamiliar faces.
• Lin Chang'an turned down an invitation from two Female Cultivators and hurried home to try out his new Storage Bag.

Lin Chang'an reached Qi Refining Fourth Layer after buying a Golden Marrow Pill, then celebrated his breakthrough with Li Erniu when he returned. Er Niu urged him to pursue First-Order Mid-Grade talisman techniques, which would require him to pay a price or align himself with a sect or cultivation lineage.

• Lin Chang'an returned home with a Storage Bag and decided to raise his cultivation before selling his fine talismans at the Market.
• After several days of cultivation, Lin Chang'an broke through to Qi Refining Fourth Layer, gained ten years of lifespan, and deepened his understanding of the Evergreen Art.
• Lin Chang'an celebrated his breakthrough by buying Spirit Fruits and resumed his routine of drawing talismans, cultivating, and studying his cultivation method.
• Half a month later, Li Erniu returned with Spirit Wine, recognized Lin Chang'an's breakthrough, and celebrated with him.
• Lin Chang'an repaid the Spirit Crystals he had borrowed from Li Erniu, who advised him to seek First-Order Mid-Grade talisman techniques.
• Lin Chang'an understood that acquiring those techniques would require paying a price, joining a sect-managed industry, or throwing in his lot with a cultivation lineage.

Lin Chang'an disguised himself to sell Godly Travel Talismans at the Black Market and searched unsuccessfully for a First-Rank Mid-Grade Talisman-making manual. As he left before dawn, three men targeted him, assuming he was a poor and easy mark.

• Lin Chang'an prepared for the Black Market by disguising his appearance, concealing his aura, and packing his talismans and Green Bamboo Sword.
• Lin Chang'an sold his Godly Travel Talismans quickly, noticing that the Market's Land Reclamation had drawn many more Rogue Cultivators to the area.
• Lin Chang'an searched the Black Market for a Talisman-making manual but found only overpriced or likely fraudulent manuals and left empty-handed.
• Three men followed Lin Chang'an out of the Market and decided he was poor and weak because he had bought nothing.

After killing three rogue cultivators who tried to rob him, Lin Chang'an returned home and focused on keeping his talisman business discreet. He then learned that Elder Lu had died and agreed to attend the funeral with Li Erniu.

• Lin Chang'an killed three rogue cultivators who ambushed him outside the Black Market, then frightened away the other watchers by posing as a Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivator.
• Lin Chang'an returned home before dawn, hid his identity, and used Fine Golden Light Talismans to secure his doors and windows.
• Lin Chang'an decided to keep selling First-tier Low-grade Godly Travel Talismans until he found a safer way to trade in the Black Market.
• Cultivators outside Lin Chang'an's home envied his income and the Monster Beast Meat he could afford as a Talisman Master.
• Li Erniu told Lin Chang'an that Elder Lu had passed away, and Lin Chang'an agreed they should attend his funeral.

Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu traveled to Clearwater Bay to mourn Master Lu, where they reunited with Shen Lie and learned that Yun Yao had also come to the funeral. After Master Lu was buried, Yun Yao invited the old classmates to gather, reviving their long-forgotten promise to reunite.

• Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu rode to Clearwater Bay and paid their respects at Master Lu's memorial.
• Shen Lie welcomed Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu, and told them Yun Yao was comforting Lu Qingqing.
• Shen Lie explained that Yun Yao had reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer and that many visitors had come because she was there.
• Yun Yao and Lu Qingqing emerged to thank the mourners, and the crowd attended Master Lu's burial.
• After the burial, Shen Lie told Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu that Yun Yao had invited them to Gathering Immortal Pavilion for a reunion.

Lin Chang'an reunited with Yun Yao, Shen Lie, Li Erniu, and Wei Yiyi, revealed his progress as a talisman master, and planned to return to the Zhou Family. After watching the gathering, Lu Qingqing rejected him as a family prospect and chose to consider partnering with Shen Lie, while Yun Yao remained focused on Foundation Establishment.

• Lin Chang'an and the others toasted their reunion and caught up on their lives in the Cultivation World.
• Li Erniu defended Lin Chang'an when Wei Yiyi questioned his plans, and Lin Chang'an revealed he could draw First-Rank Low-Grade Premium Talismans and intended to visit the Zhou Family.
• Yun Yao and the others exchanged cultivation insights before parting, while Yun Yao watched Lin Chang'an leave with Lu Qingqing.
• Lu Qingqing told Yun Yao that Lin Chang'an's steadfast Dao heart made him unsuitable for starting a family, while Wei Yiyi's greed for Elder Lu's estate had disappointed her.
• Lu Qingqing decided to consider establishing a Chamber of Commerce with Shen Lie, and Yun Yao agreed to introduce them.

Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu left Clearwater Bay with gifts and new cultivation insights, then headed back toward Green Bamboo Mountain Market. Near the Market, they spotted Cultivator Bandits and turned their ambush around, leaving the attackers caught between their talismans and coordinated strikes.

• Lin Chang'an reflected on Yun Yao's kindness and studied Elder Lu's Evergreen Art notes, gaining insights that improved his technique proficiency.
• Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu discussed the gifts from Lu Qingqing and the differences between skilled cultivators and ordinary Rogue Cultivators.
• Near Green Bamboo Mountain Market, Lin Chang'an suspected an ambush and turned his horse around with Li Erniu, giving him two Fine Golden Light Talismans and a Godly Travel Talisman.
• The Cultivator Bandits chased straw dummies dressed in the riders' robes, while Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu prepared an ambush behind them.
• Li Erniu attacked the Cultivator Bandits with fireballs and his greatsword, while Lin Chang'an struck from concealment using the Invisibility Technique.

Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu killed five cultivator bandits, escaped safely with their spoils, and returned to Green Bamboo Mountain Market. Zhou Antai agreed to meet Lin Chang'an about becoming an External Talisman Master, while warning Er Niu that the Market had grown dangerous.

• Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu ambushed a group of cultivator bandits, killed five of them, and let their burly leader escape rather than risk pursuing him into the forest.
• The pair found forty-two Spirit Crystals and a poisoned, empty Storage Bag among the spoils; Lin Chang'an gave the bag to Li Erniu and told him to exchange it after returning to the Market.
• Lin Chang'an asked Li Erniu to inquire with the Zhou Family about the requirements for becoming an External Talisman Master.
• After returning to Green Bamboo Mountain Market, Li Erniu told Zhou Antai that Lin Chang'an could make high-quality First Tier Low-Grade Golden Light Talismans and had reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
• Zhou Antai verified Lin Chang'an's clean background and invited him to come the next day, then warned Li Erniu to avoid going out and to exchange his Storage Bag.

Lin Chang'an demonstrated his talisman-making skill and negotiated a long-term position with the Zhou Family, gaining a cultivation Dao Field and valuable support. After Old Man He returned with news of He Yan’s success and paid for the talismans, Lin Chang'an noticed evidence that Old Man He had found a Black Wind Wolf Cub.

• Lin Chang'an drew eight Golden Light Talismans for Zhou Antai, including two Fine talismans, and impressed the Zhou Family.
• Lin Chang'an negotiated a ten-year agreement to supply talismans and train Zhou Family juniors in exchange for an inheritance, resources, and a cultivation Dao Field.
• Lin Chang'an returned home wearing a Zhou Family Dharma robe and prepared to move, with the Zhou Family also reducing his corvée tax.
• Old Man He returned with four fingers missing and thanked Lin Chang'an for the Golden Light Talisman that had helped him survive.
• Old Man He revealed that He Yan had joined the Wang Family and passed the entrance examination for Li Fire Palace, then paid Lin Chang'an for the talismans.
• Lin Chang'an spotted Black Wind Wolf Cub fur and blood on the returned Godly Travel Talisman and realized Old Man He had discovered a wolf den.

Lin Chang'an advanced his talisman-making and set a goal of reaching the Qi Refining Seventh Layer before age sixty, while the Wang Family plotted to blame the Zhou Family for an impending Demon Beast attack. Black Wind Wolf Demon Beasts instead drove beasts toward Green Bamboo Mountain Market, setting the stage for a new crisis.

• Lin Chang'an worried that his lifespan had not increased, resolved to pursue Foundation Establishment, and successfully drew his first First-tier Mid-grade Golden Light Talisman after five failures.
• Lin Chang'an settled into the Zhou Family residence and began teaching four apprentices after demonstrating his talent as a Talisman Master.
• The Wang Family's Great Elder ordered wolf cubs released into the Black Market and planned to frame the Zhou Family using planted clothing, talisman scents, and Black Water Turtle shell fragments.
• Two Black Wind Wolf Demon Beasts led their pack into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, where they drove other Demon Beasts toward Green Bamboo Mountain Market.
• A hidden figure watched the wolves depart and expected the coming attack to turn the Market's cultivators against the Zhou Family.

Lin Chang'an taught the Zhou Family youths talisman drawing and realized the Market's Black Wind Wolf cub sales might be part of a plot against the Zhou Family. The Zhou Family's leaders identified the Wang Family as the culprit and planned to recruit more cultivators as Land Reclamation approached.

• Lin Chang'an gave four Zhou Family youths detailed instruction in talisman drawing and considered selling some talismans in the increasingly lively Market.
• Li Erniu told Lin Chang'an that the Zhou Family had bought two Black Wind Wolf cubs with Second-tier bloodlines and that many other cubs had appeared for sale.
• Lin Chang'an connected the cub sales to Old Man He and the Zhou Family's purchase, growing suspicious that he had entered a conspiracy.
• Zhou Renmao and the Zhou Family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor realized that Black Wind Wolf cubs had flooded the Market just after Zhou Renmao bought two cubs with clan funds.
• The Zhou Family leaders blamed the Wang Family for trying to drain their resources ahead of Land Reclamation and decided to publicize their new spirit beasts while recruiting rogue cultivators.

Lin Chang'an exploited the crowded market to trade away most of his talisman stock, then learned that the Zhou Family and other cultivators were aware of the unusual Black Wind Wolf Cubs appearing. Concerned that unrest would come before he could break through, he counted his Spirit Stones and resolved to learn more mid-grade talismans to fund his cultivation.

• Lin Chang'an disguised himself repeatedly and traded away nearly all his accumulated stock before making a final face-to-face exchange of Golden Light Talismans for Fireball Talismans and Bigu Pills.
• At a Zhou Family restaurant, Lin Chang'an overheard cultivators discussing the many Black Wind Wolf Cubs and the Zhou Family's two cubs with Second Tier bloodlines.
• Lin Chang'an returned home and continued cultivating and instructing his apprentices, while the market grew increasingly uneasy.
• Lin Chang'an checked his cultivation panel and realized the Evergreen Art was accelerating his progress, though he still expected to need two or three years to reach the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
• Lin Chang'an counted the Spirit Stones he had accumulated and decided to learn one or two more First-tier Mid-grade Talismans so he could earn resources without revealing his identity.

Three months after Lin Chang'an began cultivating with Spirit Stones, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing arrived at Green Bamboo Mountain Market with their Chamber of Commerce. Their caravan had encountered Demon Beasts on the way, and the group settled in to discuss hiring local cultivators.

• Lin Chang'an reached Qi Refining Fourth Layer (11/100) after three months of cultivation supported by Spirit Stones.
• Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu went to the Market gates to welcome Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing, who were bringing their Chamber of Commerce to Green Bamboo Mountain Market.
• Shen Lie told them that Demon Beasts, including a Golden Light Leopard, had attacked or disrupted the caravan during its journey.
• Lu Qingqing said the Demon Beasts had been driven from their territories by the many cultivators arriving ahead of the Market's land reclamation.
• At Gathering Immortal Pavilion, Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu offered to help Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing recruit reliable local cultivators for their Chamber of Commerce.

Lin Chang'an helped Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing open their shop and worried about the Market’s growing unrest. Ten days later, Monster Beasts attacked Green Bamboo Mountain Market, triggering the mountain-protection array and chaos within as rival families and infiltrators seized the opportunity.

• Lin Chang'an discussed selling discreet goods through Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing’s shop, while Lu Qingqing assured him that Li Fire Palace would protect the business.
• On their way back, Li Erniu asked whether Yun Yao could reach Foundation Establishment, and Lin Chang'an reflected on how difficult it was for ordinary cultivators to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Ten days later, Monster Beasts from the Cloud Mist Mountain Range charged toward the Market, and its mountain-protection array activated.
• The Wang Family’s Great Elder revealed that the Second-tier Monster Beast cubs had been bait to force the Zhou Family to spend Mid-grade Spirit Stones maintaining the array.
• The Zhou Family’s Old Ancestor realized the Wang Family had engineered the crisis and ordered his people to defend the Market.
• Hidden Divine Sword Sect cultivators welcomed the chaos, while Market residents looted and fought after someone shouted about a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Lin Chang'an survived a night of looting and attacks in the Market, while the Zhou Family blamed the Wang Family for colluding with Divine Sword Sect Cultivator Bandits. The Market reopened amid competing rumors, and Lin Chang'an found that Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing had survived but their shop had been looted, destroying goods intended for Yun Yao's Foundation Establishment preparations.

• Lin Chang'an hid Li Erniu's family in his underground chamber and gave Li Erniu talismans before he left to answer the Zhou Family's summons.
• As cultivators looted the Market, the Zhou Family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor told Zhou Renmao to abandon three formation nodes and suspected the Wang Family of aiding the attackers.
• After the unrest ended, Li Erniu returned with a crippled leg and told Lin Chang'an that Divine Sword Sect Cultivator Bandits had destroyed formation nodes and that the Zhou Family blamed the Wang Family.
• Lin Chang'an resolved to rely on his own strength after realizing the Zhou Family's contract did not guarantee his protection.
• Lin Chang'an found the shop looted, then reunited with Lu Qingqing and learned Shen Lie was recovering from injuries and the lost goods had belonged to Yun Yao.

After the Market’s bloody night, Li Fire Palace restored order, and Lin Chang'an sold his talismans amid a boom in secondhand goods. He lost three Spirit Stones to a scammer, then learned that True Treasure Pavilion had opened several kinds of inheritance to the public.

• Li Fire Palace and the Wang and Zhou Families stabilized the Market and announced a curfew until reinforcements arrived in two days.
• Lin Chang'an disguised himself, sold most of his Golden Light Talismans for pills, materials, and Spirit Stones, and kept a few for protection.
• Lin Chang'an bought a damaged Jade Slip for three Spirit Stones, believing it might contain a rare Flying Sword Talisman manuscript, but discovered it was a common Fireball Talisman manuscript.
• The old stallholder moved to another location and prepared to scam more cultivators with an identical damaged Jade Slip.
• Lin Chang'an heard that True Treasure Pavilion had opened its Talisman, Pill Recipe, Artifact Refining, and Formation inheritances to the public.