Chapter Summaries

Lin Chang'an obtained a withered vine root that stirred his Life-Bound Spirit Plant, then lured the Wang Family's Great Elder into an array and killed him. After reading the elder's memories, he learned the Wang Family's cultivation-method inheritance had been divided, collected the elder's belongings, and left evidence implicating the Li Fire Palace.

• The Wang Family's Great Elder gave Lin Chang'an a withered vine root, which Lin Chang'an suspected was part of the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine.
• Lin Chang'an persuaded the Great Elder to accompany him to Five Dragon Island, then led him to an island where Lin Chang'an had laid an array ambush.
• The Great Elder discovered the array and fought Lin Chang'an, the Phoenix Cry Bird, and Fire-Devouring Demon Spirits, but Lin Chang'an killed him after he used Forbidden-Breaking Talismans to crack the barrier.
• Lin Chang'an read the Great Elder's memories and learned the Wang Family had obtained only a cultivation-method inheritance and the vine root, while the Li Fire Palace had seized one section and the Wang Family had given another to Five Dragon Island.
• Lin Chang'an collected the Great Elder's valuables, burned his body, cleaned the battlefield, and left traces implicating the Li Fire Palace before departing.

Lin Chang'an revived the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine’s root with his Life-Bound Spirit Plant and learned how its cultivation methods could support his future growth. After securing a vast haul and resolving to prioritize Core Formation over Body Refining, he advanced to a Third-Tier Low-Grade Talisman Master and began preparing to craft a Talisman Treasure.

• Wang Family cultivators learned their Great Elder was in trouble, killed the Five Dragon Island members aboard their merchant ships, and fled into the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea.
• Lin Chang'an joined the withered vine root to his Withered Leaf, spent nearly ten years of lifespan nourishing it, and completed the fusion into his Life-Bound Spirit Plant over the next half year.
• Lin Chang'an studied the Body Refining Chapter, realized it complemented his Self-Healing Body and increased the chance of Nascent Soul, and decided Core Formation had to remain his priority.
• Lin Chang'an inventoried twenty-seven Storage Bags worth tens of thousands of Mid-grade Spirit Stones and resolved to use or sell their contents cautiously rather than become a Cultivator Bandit.
• The Wen Couple and Fang Tie returned from their hunt in good spirits, while Lin Chang'an remained content with hunting alone and continued cultivating steadily.
• Lin Chang'an reached Third-Tier Low-Grade Talisman Master and decided it was time to prepare to craft a Talisman Treasure.

Lin Chang'an studied the Talisman Treasure inheritance and decided to seek rare materials so he could craft a life-saving Talisman Treasure. After failing to find Third-tier Monster Beast hide armor on Five Dragon Island, he considered traveling to the dangerous Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea and decided to ask Old Hu to accompany him.

• Lin Chang'an studied Yun Yao's Talisman Treasure inheritance and considered using the Blood Sha Sword's power to craft hidden trump cards despite the damage it could cause.
• Lin Chang'an visited Five Dragon Island's market, learned that tensions had risen after the Wang Family's defection and the conflict between Li Fire Palace and Five Dragon Island, and exchanged talismans for materials.
• Lin Chang'an asked the Treasury Pavilion shopkeeper for Third-tier Monster Beast hide armor, but the shopkeeper said it was unavailable and hinted that such rare resources went to members of major powers.
• Lin Chang'an searched other shops and realized that the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea was the nearest place where Third-tier materials might be found, despite its deadly winds, spirits, and beast tides.
• Lin Chang'an decided to return to the island and seek out Old Hu as a travel companion, relying on their combined strength and his two Spirit Pets.

Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin traveled to the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea to buy rare materials, arriving at the dangerous Blue Wave Island market. Lin Chang'an entered a butcher shop to seek materials and discovered its owner, a False Core cultivator surnamed Lei, used Foundation Establishment cultivators as Human Puppets.

• Lin Chang'an questioned Lu Yujian about the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea and learned of its dangerous islands, poisonous creatures, Yin Spirits, and cultivator bandits.
• Lin Chang'an prepared for the journey, then joined Hu Jin after he finished a Lu Family order and gathered his own supplies.
• Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin arrived at Blue Wave Island, paid the entry fee, and entered its violent market, where captured cultivators were sold and tortured.
• Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin split up to browse the market while staying in contact and remaining ready to leave.
• Lin Chang'an bought rare materials and visited the shop recommended by the Lu Family, where he saw twelve Foundation Establishment cultivators forced to work as Human Puppets for its False Core owner, Lei.

Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin bought materials for Lin Chang'an’s planned Talisman Treasure in the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea Market, but Cultivator Bandits targeted them as they left. Lin Chang'an lured the pursuers to a reef island and ambushed them with Hu Jin, killing one bandit as the battle continued.

• Lin Chang'an bought Third-tier Monster Beast hide, flesh, blood, and bones from Fatty Lei, then witnessed the brutal sale of He Lao San’s corpse.
• Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin met in the Market and left with their supplies, unaware that five Cultivator Bandits had identified them as outsiders carrying valuable goods.
• When the bandits pursued them, Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin fought back, but Lin Chang'an fled on his Flying Boat while Hu Jin drew the pursuers away.
• Lin Chang'an hid at a reef island and activated the Blood Sha Red Sun Array as Hu Jin led the five bandits into the ambush.
• Lin Chang'an and the Phoenix Cry Bird killed a bandit and his Water-Attribute Monster Beast, then Lin Chang'an attacked another pursuer while the remaining bandits were trapped.

Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin defeated five cultivator bandits, then Lin spent two years preparing materials for Talisman Treasures. He reunited with Yun Yao, who had become a Saintess Candidate and was preparing for Core Formation, and received the complete Ancient Cultivation Method he had sought.

• Lin Chang'an used the Phoenix Cry Bird to kill a cultivator outside the formation while Hu Jin and the formation helped eliminate the five bandits inside it.
• Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin divided the spoils, evaded pursuit by staying on Five Dragon Island, and returned to Jade Spirit Island.
• Lin Chang'an spent two years tanning beast hide into talisman paper and began preparing to imbue it with the Blood Sha Sword's power.
• He Yan delivered Yun Yao's letter and gifts, and Lin Chang'an learned she was preparing for Core Formation as a Saintess Candidate of the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.
• Yun Yao met Lin Chang'an in secret, gave him the complete Ancient Cultivation Method, and said she might need outside aid in the struggle for the Saintess position.

Lin Chang'an obtained the complete cultivation method for the Profound Heaven Spirit Body and began cultivating it, improving his Divine Sense control. After attending Lu Yushu's welcome banquet, he returned his attention to making a Talisman Treasure and preparing Core Formation Spirit Items.

• Lin Chang'an examined Yun Yao's Hidden Spirit Veil and the complete three-chapter cultivation method, learning that the Profound Heaven Spirit Body required the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine as a Life-Bound Spirit Plant.
• Lin Chang'an realized that Li Fire Palace and Five Dragon Island knew part of the method's secret and resolved to keep his Profound Heaven Spirit Root hidden.
• Over several months, Lin Chang'an cultivated the Spirit Refining Chapter and improved his Divine Sense control, while continuing his other practices and planning to form a Golden Core before age one hundred and fifty.
• Hu Jin delivered a modified Spirit Tool, and Lin Chang'an chose not to use the Flying Boat associated with Five Dragon Island.
• Lin Chang'an accepted the Lu Family's invitation to celebrate Lu Yushu's return and presented two Second-Order High-Grade talismans as gifts.
• At the banquet, Lin Chang'an learned that Lu Yushu had become a Golden Core Elder's disciple and noticed Fellow Daoist Fang's aura on Madam Wen; afterward, he focused on crafting a Talisman Treasure and preparing Core Formation Spirit Items.

At the Lu Family banquet, True Person Tan recruited Lin Chang'an and other Foundation Establishment cultivators to help hunt a nest of Eagle-Kite Beasts for an Azure Sea Palace birthday gift. Three months later, Lin Chang'an completed a Talisman Treasure and set out, intending to observe a third-tier Demon Beast and prepare for his own future hunt for a Demon Core.

• True Person Tan arrived at the Lu Family banquet, where the Foundation Establishment cultivators respectfully welcomed him and Lin Chang'an observed Lu Yushu.
• Madam Lu and True Person Tan gathered twenty-seven Foundation Establishment cultivators and explained that they would hunt the Eagle-Kite Beasts while Tan handled the third-tier beast.
• Lin Chang'an and the others agreed to join the hunt three months later, encouraged by the promised beast flesh and the chance to build ties with Azure Sea Palace.
• After returning to his Cave Abode, Lin Chang'an studied the Eagle-Kite Beasts and decided to finish crafting a Talisman Treasure for protection.
• Lin Chang'an completed a Talisman Treasure from the Blood Sha Sword, packed his possessions and spirit beasts, and set out for the hunt.

Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin joined True Person Tan and the Lu Family in a hunt for a nest of Eagle-Kite Beasts, helping defeat the Second-tier beasts while True Person Tan trapped and killed the Third-tier male. The female escaped with two hatchlings, and the cultivators returned with spoils and thoughts of hunting together with Third-Order Arrays.

• True Person Tan led thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators to the Eagle-Kite Beast nest discovered by the Lu Family.
• True Person Tan sent his puppets into battle against the Third-tier male Eagle-Kite Beast while the cultivators held off the other beasts.
• Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin coordinated their attacks to sever a Second-tier Eagle-Kite Beast's wings and kill it.
• True Person Tan's puppets completed a Third-Order Trapping Array, but the female Eagle-Kite Beast escaped with two hatchlings as the male remained trapped.
• True Person Tan killed the trapped male Eagle-Kite Beast, and Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin discussed the risks of using arrays to hunt Third-tier beasts.
• The cultivators searched the island, congratulated True Person Tan, and returned without incident.

Lin Chang'an tracked a wounded flock of Eagle-Kite Beasts to a desolate island, trapped them with the Blood Sha Red Sun Array, and captured two valuable cubs while the Phoenix Cry Bird helped him fight. He returned toward Five Dragon Island unaware that Huang Yuntian had identified the Phoenix Cry Bird and that Huang Tianxiao had ordered an investigation to find him.

• Lin Chang'an secretly left Jade Spirit Island and used his enhanced senses to follow the Eagle-Kite Beasts' lingering mana aura into the Outer Sea.
• Lin Chang'an concealed himself, set up the Blood Sha Red Sun Array around the flock's nest, and fought the Eagle-Kite Beasts with its Fire-Devouring Demon Spirits, his Flying Needle Spirit Tool, and the Phoenix Cry Bird.
• Lin Chang'an killed the Quasi-Third-tier Eagle-Kite Beast and the other birds, collected their spoils, and put the two third-tier cubs into a Spirit Beast Bag.
• Huang Yuntian found the battlefield and used an artifact linked to the Phoenix Cry Bird to track its aura, but Lin Chang'an concealed it before reaching Five Dragon Island.
• Huang Tianxiao learned that the Phoenix Cry Bird was in the Five Dragon Island Sea Region and ordered his people to investigate Yue Kingdom Foundation Establishment cultivators and monitor the local market.

Lin Chang'an exchanged his monster materials for Third-Order Spirit Liquid, then spent months cultivating the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine, strengthening his Divine Sense and Self-Healing Body. After discovering that the Phoenix Cry Bird was entering a perilous evolution toward a Golden Flame Divine Bird, he was left weighing its extraordinary potential against its slim chances of survival.

• Lin Chang'an sold monster materials and two Third-tier Monster Beast cubs to Mystic Sound Pavilion for Third-Order Spirit Liquid, and the shopkeeper warned him that True Person Tan had recently hunted an Eagle Kite Beast.
• Lin Chang'an returned secretly to his cave abode, fed Spirit Liquid to the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine, and cultivated the Spirit Refining Chapter.
• By early spring, Lin Chang'an's Divine Sense rivaled a False Core Cultivator's, and his Self-Healing Body rapidly repaired a deep wound.
• Lin Chang'an noticed that the Phoenix Cry Bird wanted to eat Yin Spirits and Fierce Souls, and suspected that it was nearing a breakthrough or evolution.
• Lin Chang'an bought a Record of Strange Beast Secrets on Five Dragon Island and learned that the Phoenix Cry Bird was a Bird of Ultimate Yang entering a dangerous evolution into a Golden Flame Divine Bird.

Lin Chang'an discovered that Li Fire Palace was using a reward to hunt for the Phoenix Cry Bird and its thief, then used his Evergreen Mana to conceal the bird from tracking. Back on Jade Spirit Island, he received an invitation from Madam Wen, who hinted that she had clues about a Core Formation Spirit Item.

• Lin Chang'an learned that the Phoenix Cry Bird's evolution required rare spirit items and planned to rent a Cave Abode near Five Dragon Island's Earth Lung Fire when it was ready.
• Two Foundation Establishment cultivators questioned Lin Chang'an about a fire-aspected bird Spirit Pet stolen from Li Fire Palace's Huang Family, alerting him that the Phoenix Cry Bird had drawn attention.
• Lin Chang'an bought intelligence from Mystic Sound Pavilion and learned that Li Fire Palace was trying to flush out the killer of Huang Shaohai, whose father Huang Yuntian sought revenge.
• Lin Chang'an tested a tracking Dharma Disk and found that injecting Evergreen Mana into the Phoenix Cry Bird concealed its aura.
• On Jade Spirit Island, Lu Yushu challenged Lin Chang'an to offer sword-fighting pointers, but Lin Chang'an declined to compete.
• Madam Wen sent Lin Chang'an a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman inviting him to talk and hinting at clues to a Core Formation Spirit Item.

Lin Chang'an exposed and killed the three cultivators who had lured him to their cave abode, then discovered they were the infamous Zhong Family Three Evils and that their lead on a Core Formation Spirit Item was genuine. He covered up the killings, took their wealth and clues, and returned home while Hu Jin remained unaware of what had happened.

• Madam Wen tried to lure Lin Chang'an into her cave abode, but he recognized the trap and poisoned her with a concealed needle.
• Lin Chang'an revealed that Fang Tie and Fellow Daoist Wen were hiding inside, then fought them after sabotaging their formation and summoning his spirit pets.
• Lin Chang'an used the Blood Sha Sword Talisman Treasure to kill Fang Tie and Fellow Daoist Wen, despite their warning that they possessed a great secret.
• Lin Chang'an searched the three corpses and learned that the group were the Zhong Family Three Evils, who had targeted him and Hu Jin to obtain supplies for a real Core Formation Spirit Item lead.
• Lin Chang'an looted the cave abode, destroyed the bodies, erased the battle traces, and returned to his own cave abode; Hu Jin later called at the Wen family's cave abode and left without receiving an answer.

Lin Chang'an prepared to investigate a rumored Core Formation Spirit Item at a Yin Spirit gathering site in the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea, developing a way to briefly wield two sword radiances with his False Core Divine Sense. After learning that the Wen Couple and Fang Tie had disappeared and discussing a Five Dragon Island Trading Fair with Hu Jin, he set out confident that his preparations and Phoenix Cry Bird gave him an advantage against Yin Spirits.

• Lin Chang'an assessed the Zhong Family Three Evils' Yang- and Fire-Attribute treasures and forced the Sword Shadow Follows Heart Technique to summon two unstable sword radiances, briefly reaching attack power comparable to a False Core cultivator.
• Lin Chang'an considered the rumored Mystic Water Liquid and Yin Pulse Spirit Spring as ways to improve his slow cultivation, then began preparing for the journey to the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea.
• Months later, the Lu Family discovered that the Wen Couple and Fang Tie had vanished, reported it to Five Dragon Island, and arranged for other Foundation Establishment cultivators to maintain the array.
• Hu Jin told Lin Chang'an about the disappearances and a planned Five Dragon Island Trading Fair, returned two repaired spirit tools, and cautioned him to withdraw if danger became too great.
• Lin Chang'an inventoried his weapons, talismans, and the Phoenix Cry Bird, then resolved to investigate the Yin Spirit gathering site despite its dangers.

Lin Chang'an used the Phoenix Cry Bird and his Blood Sha Red Sun Array to eliminate the Yin Spirits guarding a valley in search of Mystic Water Liquid. After collecting a small drop and absorbing the Yin Pulse Spirit Spring through his Profound Heaven Immortal Vine, he advanced his cultivation and prepared to seek more such places, but sensed two cultivators arriving on the island.

• Lin Chang'an reached the desolate island and used his Spirit Eye to locate the Yin Spirits and the dangerous valley within it.
• He identified a nearly Third Tier Yin Spirit Beast King and set up the Blood Sha Red Sun Array around the valley.
• Lin Chang'an, the Phoenix Cry Bird, and the array destroyed more than a thousand Yin Spirits and defeated the Beast King.
• He found a fingertip-sized amount of Mystic Water Liquid at the bottom of the Yin Pulse Spirit Spring and collected it.
• Lin Chang'an let the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine absorb the Spirit Spring, advancing his cultivation to Foundation Establishment Late Stage +1.
• As he prepared to retrieve the array, Lin Chang'an sensed two cultivators arriving on the island.

Lin Chang'an killed two Li Fire Palace cultivators who tracked the Phoenix Cry Bird, then escaped before their reinforcements arrived and returned to Jade Spirit Island. As he planned another search of the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea, the Green-Horned Ox began preparing to break through and Lin Chang'an considered pushing the Phoenix Cry Bird toward Third Tier.

• Lin Chang'an trapped two Li Fire Palace cultivators in an array and killed them with the Phoenix Cry Bird, the Green-Horned Ox, and his Blood Spirit Thorn needles.
• Lin Chang'an learned from the cultivators' memories that they had alerted nearby sect members, so he fled with his beasts and left misleading clues implicating the Zhong Family Three Evils.
• Huang Yuntian inspected the island and wrongly concluded that the Zhong Family Three Evils had killed his son and stolen the Phoenix Cry Bird.
• Lin Chang'an returned to Jade Spirit Island, where Rong Qing informed him that the Lu Family's reduced rent burden had shifted extra costs onto other cultivators.
• Hu Jin complained about Five Dragon Island's rule, while Lin Chang'an accepted the added rent and agreed to sell Talismans to two new Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• The Green-Horned Ox began preparing to break through, and Lin Chang'an planned to visit a Trading Fair before secretly returning to investigate Yin Spirit gathering grounds in the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea.

Lin Chang'an received letters from the Yue Kingdom after the Seven Kingdoms Alliance reopened its trade route, learned how his old friends and their families were faring, and replied to them. At a Foundation Establishment Trading Fair on Five Dragon Island, he traded Forbidden-Breaking Talismans and watched a cloaked cultivator reveal a dark-red coffin.

• Lin Chang'an sold Talismans on Five Dragon Island and exchanged more through the Mystic Sound Pavilion Treasury Pavilion while preparing for seclusion and an exploration of a place where Yin Spirits gathered.
• The shopkeeper gave Lin Chang'an letters from Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, Li Erniu, Wei Yiyi, Zhou Bingyun, and their younger relatives, describing changes in the Yue Kingdom and the Li Family.
• Lin Chang'an wrote replies to his old friends and arranged for the shopkeeper to send them back along the reopened trade route.
• Three days later, Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin attended a secret-chamber Trading Fair with twenty-three Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators, where Lin Chang'an traded Forbidden-Breaking Talismans for a Fire Attribute Monster Core and Spirit Stones.
• As the Trading Fair continued, a cloaked cultivator released a dark-red coffin from a Spirit Beast Bag, shocking everyone present.

Lin Chang'an killed a Cultivator Bandit who ambushed him for his Mystic Water Liquid and uncovered Five Dragon Island’s covert use of bandits to gather Core Formation resources. After escaping suspicion, he entered the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea to seek Core Formation materials and prepare for the Phoenix Cry Bird’s evolution.

• At the Trading Fair, Lin Chang'an exchanged medicinal pills for a bottle of Corpse Oil but declined to trade for a Second-Order Late Stage Iron Armored Corpse.
• After Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin split up to leave Five Dragon Island, a Cultivator Bandit and his Iron Armored Corpse ambushed Lin Chang'an, demanding the Mystic Water Liquid in his Storage Bag.
• Lin Chang'an revealed his False Core-level power and, with the Phoenix Cry Bird, defeated the bandit, whose Corpse Armor Beetles were countered and devoured by the bird.
• Lin Chang'an learned from the bandit's memories that Rong Qing and Five Dragon Island had secretly raised Cultivator Bandits to collect Core Formation resources; he then joined Hu Jin in erasing the evidence.
• Rong Qing discovered that two more of his bandits' Soul Lamps had gone out and planned to involve the remaining bandits in more jobs.
• Lin Chang'an and Hu Jin returned to Jade Spirit Island, then Lin Chang'an went into the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea to search Yin Spirit gathering places and prepare for the Phoenix Cry Bird's evolution.

After three years of hunting Yin Spirits, Lin Chang'an killed a Third Tier Yin Spirit Yaksha and prepared to bring the exhausted Phoenix Cry Bird to Mystic Sound Pavilion for its dangerous evolution. Back on Jade Spirit Island, he learned that cultivator bandits had destroyed the four great families on Spirit Snake Island and decided to prioritize the bird’s breakthrough over Old Hu’s lead on an injured Third Tier Monster Beast.

• Lin Chang'an and the Phoenix Cry Bird killed the Third Tier Yin Spirit Yaksha, collected its Yin Spirit Ash, and took its rare Yin-attribute Demon Core.
• Lin Chang'an reviewed his progress after three years of hunting, then decided to seek a protected spiritual ground at Mystic Sound Pavilion for the Phoenix Cry Bird’s imminent evolution while concealing his true cultivation.
• Lin Chang'an returned to Jade Spirit Island and heard from Lu Yujian that cultivator bandits had wiped out Spirit Snake Island’s four great families; Lu Yujian warned him that remnants of the Ping, Feng, and Li clans were among the bandits.
• Lin Chang'an listened to Old Hu’s message about an injured Third Tier Monster Beast but chose to prioritize the Phoenix Cry Bird’s breakthrough, leaving Old Hu a message that he might not arrive in time.

Lin Chang'an arranged for the Phoenix Cry Bird to attempt Core Formation at the Mystic Sound Pavilion, trading mystic water liquid for a Blazing Sun Fruit and securing a protected Earth Fire Chamber. As the breakthrough began, the Long Family’s True Person Li plotted to seize the bird, while Lin Chang'an took precautions without knowing of the threat.

• Disguised as True Person He, Lin Chang'an met Fairy Nishang and exchanged mystic water liquid for a Blazing Sun Fruit, arranging to use the Mystic Sound Pavilion’s Earth Fire Chamber and formation protection in two months.
• Fairy Nishang brought the mystic water liquid to her aging master, who hoped it would help the Mystic Sound Pavilion gain another Core Formation cultivator and warned her to be wary of the Long Family.
• True Person Li learned that Lin Chang'an had a spirit pet preparing to reach the third tier and plotted to take the Phoenix Cry Bird and its master’s essence blood for his bronze armored corpse.
• Lin Chang'an spent two months preparing the Phoenix Cry Bird, then returned to the Mystic Sound Pavilion disguised as True Person He and inspected the Earth Fire Chamber with Fairy Nishang.
• After Fairy Nishang left, Lin Chang'an set up his Blood Sha Red Sun Array, checked the chamber, and released the Phoenix Cry Bird to begin its breakthrough preparations.