Chapter Summaries

Lin Chang'an discovered that Evergreen Mana could purify the Heavenly Spirit Sword Body of a captive Human-Monster Hybrid and bought her from Fatty Lei, planning to cultivate her despite pretending to intend a blood sacrifice. As Lin Chang'an returned to Five Dragon Island with her, Yun Yao and her senior sister searched the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea for the Phoenix Cry Bird, unaware that Lin Chang'an had escaped their notice.

• Fatty Lei offered Lin Chang'an a Foundation Establishment female cultivator with the Heavenly Spirit Sword Body and the Divine Sword Sect's Blood Sacrifice Technique, and Lin Chang'an secretly realized his Evergreen Mana could purify her muddled mana.
• Lin Chang'an haggled with Fatty Lei and Red Third Mother, then bought the female cultivator along with the materials for the Blood Sacrifice Technique.
• Lin Chang'an checked the female cultivator for tracking marks, removed her old Restrictions, and took her toward Five Dragon Island; she saw sunlight for the first time and remembered how the Divine Sword Sect Remnant had taken and sold her.
• Yun Yao and her senior sister arrived at the island where Lin Chang'an had hunted the Yin Spirit Beast King and identified the Phoenix Cry Bird's aura.
• Yun Yao's senior sister suspected the hunter had taken another Yin Spirit Beast, and the two began a search, but Lin Chang'an's precautions had already helped him evade them.

Lin Chang'an returned to his cave with the Heavenly Spirit Sword Body cultivator he had bought, imposed restrictions on her, and planned to nurture her until she could form a core. He used his Alchemist Wen identity to refine two superior-quality pills for the Mystic Sound Pavilion and a superior-quality Spirit-Supplementing Pill for himself, then left to return to Red Fire Peak and prepare for seclusion.

• Lin Chang'an brought the female cultivator to his cave, placed restrictions on her, and told her to cultivate on his mountaintop while he worked to rekindle her desire to live.
• Lin Chang'an went to the Mystic Sound Pavilion as Alchemist Wen and obtained permission from Xu Lingfeng and Liu Ruyu to use the third-tier pill furnace.
• Lin Chang'an refined a batch of cultivation-enhancing pills for the Mystic Sound Pavilion and kept one of the three premium-quality pills for himself.
• Lin Chang'an used five third-order mid-grade Five Elements Demon Cores to refine a superior-quality Spirit-Supplementing Pill that could raise his spiritual root and golden core quality to the limit of mid-grade.
• Lin Chang'an gave Xu Lingfeng and Liu Ruyu two superior-quality pills for the sect, then flew back toward Red Fire Peak with his Spirit-Supplementing Pill concealed.

Lin Chang'an gave Qiu Ling'er a cultivation technique suited to her hybrid bloodline, then used a Spirit-Supplementing Pill to improve his spiritual root and golden core. After leaving seclusion, he learned that the Green-Horned Ox was in danger inside the Earth Fire Cave.

• Lin Chang'an gave Qiu Ling'er the Sha Yuan Sword Art and explained that its killing intent could help her overcome the difficulties caused by her human-monster hybrid bloodline.
• Lin Chang'an told Qiu Ling'er that he might take something from her body for his cultivation if she proved her worth, and she resolved to cultivate and avenge her family.
• Lin Chang'an swallowed the Spirit-Supplementing Pill and spent a year and a half absorbing its power in seclusion on Red Fire Peak.
• Lin Chang'an tested his aptitude and found that the pill had raised his spiritual root to the upper end of the mid-grade range and improved his golden core quality.
• As Lin Chang'an prepared to leave seclusion, the Phoenix Cry Bird warned him that the Green-Horned Ox was in trouble inside the Earth Fire Cave.

Lin Chang'an subdued the Green-Horned Ox after it swallowed a bottle of mysterious black qi, discovering that the qi had injured it and triggered a possible bloodline mutation. Later, he examined the Sword Servant’s exceptional Heavenly Spirit Sword Body and resolved to investigate both her hybrid heritage and the black qi.

• Lin Chang'an returned to the Earth Fire Cave and found the Green-Horned Ox rampaging while the Phoenix Cry Bird explained that it had swallowed a jade bottle collecting black qi.
• Lin Chang'an restrained the ox with a Soul-Stabilizing Talisman, treated its injuries, and purified some of the black qi that had fused with its body.
• Lin Chang'an discovered that the ox’s breath had petrified patches of the cave floor and suspected that the black qi had triggered a bloodline mutation, strengthening the ox while endangering it.
• Half a month later, Lin Chang'an reviewed Mystic Sound Pavilion materials about the black qi and advised the Sword Servant on cultivation.
• Lin Chang'an examined the Sword Servant’s Heavenly Spirit Sword Body and found that she controlled the Sha Yuan Sword Art’s sword intent with remarkable ease.
• Lin Chang'an decided to investigate the mysterious black qi, the Sword Servant’s physique, and her human-monster hybrid heritage.

After another year of steady growth on Five Dragon Island, Lin Chang'an rewarded the Sword Servant and read letters from his relatives and contacts. Yun Yao's warning revealed that the Mystic Yin Divine Sect was searching for the Phoenix Cry Bird because it could unlock a treasure in the Monster Sea Abyss, leaving Lin Chang'an determined to keep it hidden.

• Lin Chang'an observed the Green-Horned Ox's mysterious growth and heard the Sword Servant report on Heavenly Spring Peak's affairs.
• Lin Chang'an rewarded the Sword Servant with Spirit Stones and a Spirit Tool, then considered his progress in Artifact Refining.
• Lin Chang'an read letters from Li Yifan, Shen Fan, Wei Yingying, the Zhou Family, and Old Hu, learning about their fortunes and receiving useful intelligence.
• Lin Chang'an recognized Yun Yao's letter and discovered the Mystic Yin Divine Sect had been searching for the Phoenix Cry Bird for over a year.
• Lin Chang'an learned the Phoenix Cry Bird could help retrieve a treasure in the Monster Sea Abyss's First Secret Realm and resolved never to expose it before reaching Nascent Soul.

Lin Chang'an researched the mysterious Black Qi and tested it on the Green-Horned Ox and Phoenix Cry Bird, discovering that it enhanced the ox but overwhelmed the bird. Concluding that it was unusually potent Demonic Qi, he entered secluded cultivation to study whether it could improve his body and Spiritual Root.

• Lin Chang'an found ancient records describing Yin Underworld Ghost Qi and Demonic Qi, and suspected the Black Qi corroding the Fusang Divine Tree was a higher-grade form of one of them.
• Lin Chang'an returned to Heavenly Spring Peak and brought the Green-Horned Ox into the Earth Fire Cave to test the purified Black Qi.
• The Green-Horned Ox absorbed much of the Black Qi and, after half a month, showed signs of strengthened body, purified mana, and improved Spiritual Root.
• The Phoenix Cry Bird absorbed a tiny wisp, but the Black Qi overpowered its golden mana, confirming that the Black Qi had greater quality than even the bird's mana.
• Lin Chang'an concluded that the Black Qi was an enhanced form of Demonic Qi and entered seclusion to study its effects on himself and the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine.

After discovering that the mysterious Black Qi could stabilize and reshape a Golden Core, Lin Chang'an decided to prepare for Core Transformation. He emerged from seclusion, gave the Sword Servant a Dual Cultivation Secret Art, and learned that the Long Family’s Core Formation heirs were being targeted, prompting him to consider an opportunity to reclaim his Mystic Sky Withered Leaf from Long Changqing.

• After half a year of experiments, Lin Chang'an learned that the Black Qi improved Body Refining and Spiritual Root aptitude and could stabilize and reshape a Golden Core, so he decided to plan for Core Transformation.
• Lin Chang'an considered the risks and resources required for Core Transformation, including the Core Formation Phenomenon, and resolved to prepare for forming an Immortal Golden Core.
• Lin Chang'an emerged from seclusion, praised the Sword Servant’s cultivation, and gave her the Yin-Yang Combined Attack Secret Art, which she accepted with gratitude.
• The Sword Servant told Lin Chang'an that three of the Long Family’s Core Formation Seeds had been targeted, and Lin Chang'an recognized that the Long Family’s rivals might unite against it.
• Fairy Nishang visited Lin Chang'an and discussed the Long Family’s vulnerable position; Lin Chang'an probed her knowledge and considered using the turmoil to reclaim his Mystic Sky Withered Leaf from Long Changqing.

As the Long Family faced old enemies and growing pressure after Island Master Long’s failed Nascent Soul attempt, Lin Chang'an refused to join the Lu Family in seizing its assets. After Island Master Long defeated True Person Hai but revealed his weakened strength, Lin Chang'an used the turmoil to approach Long Changqing and investigate whether he still possessed the Mystic Sky Withered Leaf.

• Lu Yushu urged Lin Chang'an to join the Lu Family in taking Long Family shops and resources, but Lin Chang'an declined and warned that the Sixth Elder's backing would not protect them from retaliation.
• Lin Chang'an announced he was entering seclusion to avoid visitors, while other cultivators also withdrew from the growing conflict.
• Half a month later, Lin Chang'an sensed True Person Hai fighting Island Master Long and judged that the battle would expose the Long Family's vulnerability.
• Island Master Long defeated True Person Hai after a prolonged fight, confirming to Lin Chang'an that his strength had declined.
• Lin Chang'an disguised himself, found Long Changqing at a Long Family shop, and offered a supposedly urgent treasure to gain a private audience and check for the Mystic Sky Withered Leaf.

Lin Chang'an used Mystic Water Liquid to confirm that Long Changqing carried the Mystic Sky Immortal Leaf, then ambushed and killed him while framing the attack on the Mysterious Yin Demonic Sect. He recovered the leaf, merged it with his Profound Heaven Immortal Vine to gain another External Incarnation, and learned from Long Changqing's memories how the Long Family Core Formation Seed had secretly cultivated it.

• Lin Chang'an sold a small amount of Mystic Water Liquid to Long Changqing for Artifact Refining materials and confirmed that the Mystic Sky Withered Leaf was in his Storage Bag.
• Lin Chang'an spread rumors about the Long Family's goods, then attacked their Spirit Boat with nine Quasi-Tier 3 Forbidden-Breaking Talismans as the Long Family cultivators fled.
• Lin Chang'an's incarnation distracted the Long Family False Core Cultivator while his true body killed Long Changqing, seized his Storage Bag and Talisman Treasure, and escaped.
• Lin Chang'an recovered the half-green Mystic Sky Immortal Leaf and merged it with his Profound Heaven Immortal Vine, gaining another External Incarnation as his injuries healed.
• Lin Chang'an probed Long Changqing's memories and discovered that Long Changqing had found the leaf in the Long Family Treasury and secretly cultivated it for its benefits.

Lin Chang'an advanced his body refining and spiritual root aptitude while considering how to prepare for core transformation. As the Long Family’s power collapsed under pressure from its enemies, it offered him a generous payment to repair its formation.

• As Core Formation battles broke out around the Long Family, Lin Chang'an examined Sword Servant’s human-monster bloodline and used a dual cultivation technique to ease her cultivation troubles temporarily.
• During two years in seclusion, Lin Chang'an used purified demonic qi to reach early second-tier body refining and raise his spiritual root aptitude to high grade.
• Lin Chang'an assessed the risks of the Core Dissolution Secret Technique and began planning to gather additional Core Formation Spirit Items before attempting core transformation.
• Sword Servant reported that the Long Family had lost established Core Formation cultivators, its businesses were being seized, and the Mysterious Yin Demonic Sect’s pressure remained.
• The Long Family asked Lin Chang'an to repair its formation and offered a lavish payment, surprising him.

Lin Chang'an accepted the Long Family’s offer to repair its warship and rebuild its mountain formations in exchange for a Purple Copper Spirit Mine. After completing the formation components, he left Heavenly Spring Peak in secret with the Sword Servant, the Green-Horned Ox, and the Phoenix Cry Bird to hunt in the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea.

• Lin Chang'an consulted Fairy Nishang, then agreed to help the Long Family repair its Third Tier Spirit Warship and install the Big Dipper Two-Forms Formation across two spiritual mountains.
• Long Jie arranged for the Long Family to provide the formation materials and gave Lin Chang'an access to the Purple Copper Spirit Mine as payment.
• Lin Chang'an sent formation materials and instructions to Mystic Sound Pavilion for refining, then used his two External Incarnations to accelerate the work.
• After finishing the Array Flags and Array Disks three months later, Lin Chang'an prepared to leave for the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea while concealing his other identities and plans.
• Lin Chang'an departed Heavenly Spring Peak in secret with the Sword Servant, Green-Horned Ox, and Phoenix Cry Bird.

After a year of hunting in the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea, Lin Chang'an returned with the resources needed for Core Transformation and prepared Crystal Condensation Pills. He told Fairy Nishang of his plan, and she agreed to provide Mystic Sound Pavilion’s support and a damaged Core Transformation method for reference.

• Lin Chang'an watched Sword Servant and the Green-Horned Ox clear Yin Spirits while the Phoenix Cry Bird secretly gathered monster cores and Mystic Water Liquid; he then took his companions home with three portions of Mystic Water Liquid.
• Lin Chang'an completed the Big Dipper Two-Forms Formation for the Long Family and arranged for Sword Servant and cultivators from several factions to manage and work the Spirit Mine.
• Lin Chang'an gathered the materials for Crystal Condensation Pills and planned to undergo Core Transformation twice, using his Self-Healing Body and Pure Demonic Qi to pursue an Immortal Golden Core.
• Lin Chang'an refined two Fine Crystal Condensation Pills and visited Fairy Nishang to explain that he intended to undergo Core Transformation.
• Fairy Nishang offered to have two Core Formation Cultivators protect Lin Chang'an and let him consult Mystic Sound Pavilion's damaged Core Transformation method; Lin Chang'an agreed and promised to share a copy of True Person Blood Sha's Core Dissolution Secret Technique.

Lin Chang'an began Core Transformation at Heavenly Spring Peak, drawing a crowd as the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce and other cultivators considered interfering. Fairy Nishang and the Mystic Sound Pavilion protected him while his Golden Core began reforming at a higher grade.

• Fairy Nishang told Liu Ruyu and Xu Lingfeng that Lin Chang'an was attempting Core Transformation, and the three prepared to protect him at Heavenly Spring Peak.
• Lin Chang'an dissolved his Golden Core, refined the resulting liquid spiritual power with spirit items, and began condensing a new core while his strong body healed the damage.
• A Core Formation phenomenon appeared above Heavenly Spring Peak, attracting cultivators from across Five Dragon Island, including the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.
• The Sword Servant ordered Heavenly Spring Peak's cultivators to stay back, while Fairy Nishang, Liu Ruyu, and Xu Lingfeng faced the gathering cultivators outside the peak.
• As Lin Chang'an's core formation proceeded smoothly toward High-grade quality, Zheng Hu attacked Fairy Nishang after the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce urged him to interfere.
• Fairy Nishang fought Zheng Hu and suppressed him, while Zhu and Liang watched and waited for an opportunity.

Lin Chang'an completed core dissolution and formed a high-grade golden core, then emerged from Heavenly Spring Peak to confront Zheng Hu. With Fairy Nishang’s help, he killed Zheng Hu and was welcomed by the Mystic Sound Pavilion as an increasingly valuable ally.

• Lin Chang'an broke through to a high-grade golden core after using demonic qi to stabilize and reshape his core.
• Zheng Hu blamed Lin Chang'an for ruining his plans and attacked him outside Heavenly Spring Peak, while Lin Chang'an unleashed a Fire-Devouring Demon Spirit.
• Lin Chang'an used Sword Shadow Follows Heart and the Sha Yuan Sword Art to suppress Zheng Hu, and Fairy Nishang struck him with the Silver Cord Golden Bell.
• Lin Chang'an and Fairy Nishang took advantage of Zheng Hu’s moment of disorientation to kill him with coordinated finishing blows.
• Liang and Zhu tried to distance the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce from Zheng Hu, while Fairy Nishang invited everyone to the Mystic Sound Pavilion and sought to strengthen her ties with Lin Chang'an.

After recovering from Core Transformation, Lin Chang'an strengthened his ties with Fairy Nishang and continued cultivating on Heavenly Spring Peak. Two years later, he assessed his growing strength and began preparing materials for a Life-Bound Dharma Treasure using an ancient method linked to the Mystic Sky Immortal Leaf.

• Fairy Nishang visited Lin Chang'an, returned Zheng Hu's Storage Bag to him, and gave him Mystic Sound Pavilion's insights into the Five Elements Evasion Technique.
• Lin Chang'an accepted the gift, discussed cultivation and strange encounters with Fairy Nishang, and later recorded the congratulatory gifts brought by visiting Lineages.
• After two years, Lin Chang'an noted his improved cultivation progress and judged that his strength approached that of an ordinary Core Formation Mid-Stage cultivator.
• Lin Chang'an ordered the Sword Servant to gather materials from the Lu Family and Treasury Pavilion, then read Yun Yao's congratulatory letter and decided to reply to Old Hu.
• Lin Chang'an began preparing to refine a Life-Bound Dharma Treasure with an ancient method recorded by two Mystic Sky Immortal Leaves.

Lin Chang'an refined the Fusang Divine Tree and planned a life-bound set of extreme-yang swords while continuing his cultivation and craft training. After equipping his injured Sword Servant, Qiu Ling'er, with a talisman treasure, he learned that the Li Fire Palace was threatening the Mystic Sound Pavilion’s merchant ships and that unrest was spreading through the Outer Sea.

• Lin Chang'an used the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine to cleanse the Fusang Divine Tree and began refining it with essence blood for a life-bound dharma treasure.
• Lin Chang'an continued cultivating and trained his artifact-refining skills through his two clones while monitoring the Green-Horned Ox and his Sword Servant.
• Qiu Ling'er reported that she had killed two of three cultivator bandits but was injured, so Lin Chang'an gave her healing pills and the Blood Sha Sword talisman treasure.
• Qiu Ling'er told Lin Chang'an that the Li Fire Palace was using Zheng Hu’s death as an excuse to threaten merchant ships linked to him and the Mystic Sound Pavilion, and Lin Chang'an warned the Lu Family to be careful.
• Lin Chang'an read a letter from Hu Jin, who cautioned him about unrest in the Outer Sea and rumors that the Azure Sea Palace’s Two Palace Masters had suffered qi deviation.

Lin Chang'an attended the Core Formation Trading Fair at Five Dragon Island Market, studied reports of unrest in the Monster Sea Abyss, and bought a protective artifact for Sword Servant. He revealed that he was seeking materials to help the Green-Horned Ox break through to Third Tier as the trading began.

• Lin Chang'an read a report that Azure Sea Palace's Two Palace Masters had remained in seclusion while factions in the Outer Sea grew restless, and resolved to stay prepared.
• At the banquet, Sword Servant turned away a maid and gave Lin Chang'an the Auction catalogue, from which he selected a Top-grade Spirit Artifact inner armor for her.
• Lin Chang'an bought items directly from the Auction catalogue, drawing attention from cultivators who knew he was a wealthy Third-Order Formation Master.
• The Core Formation Trading Fair opened, and Lin Chang'an observed that cultivators were trading more Demon Beast materials amid growing instability.
• Lin Chang'an offered a Third-Order Early Stage Yin Spirit Beast King's Demon Core in exchange for Earth Attribute Core Formation Spirit Items, revealing he was preparing the Green-Horned Ox for a Third-tier breakthrough.

At a Core Formation Trading Fair, Lin Chang'an exchanged for an incomplete ancient array and noticed the Sword Servant react to a hooded cultivator. After learning the woman belonged to the Divine Sword Sect, Lin Chang'an suspected a wounded sect elder was behind her search for healing items.

• Lin Chang'an offered a Third-Order Yin Spirit Monster Core in exchange for a superior earth-attribute Demon Beast Core Formation spirit item and secretly arranged two other deals.
• Lin Chang'an examined and bought the incomplete Heavenly Fire Great Array for fifty thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones after judging that its ancient materials would be difficult to replace.
• When a hooded female cultivator sought healing items, the Sword Servant turned pale, and Lin Chang'an concealed her reaction by pulling her close.
• After the Trading Fair, Lin Chang'an told Liu Ruyu that the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce was an alliance of interests whose members might not unite in a crisis.
• Back at Heavenly Spring Peak, Lin Chang'an gave the Sword Servant a Top-grade Spirit Artifact Inner Armor and asked about the hooded cultivator.
• The Sword Servant said the woman was from the Divine Sword Sect and had sold her; Lin Chang'an suspected a Divine Sword Sect elder had been seriously wounded.

Ten years after selling information about the Divine Sword Sect Remnant, Lin Chang'an had prospered as a formation master and alchemist while his cultivation steadily advanced. He recognized a hunted remnant among two disguised visitors and decided to alert the Mystic Sound Pavilion rather than confront them himself.

• Lin Chang'an repaired a Core Formation Cultivator surnamed Fan's array and sent damaged secondary flags to the Mystic Sound Pavilion for its formation masters to practice on.
• Lin Chang'an reviewed his formation progress, Golden Core cultivation, and the Green-Horned Ox's signs of impending advancement.
• Alchemist Wen treated a middle-aged Core Formation Cultivator's injuries and accepted Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea materials in payment for medicinal pills.
• Lin Chang'an recognized the visitor's connection to the Divine Sword Sect Remnant when the man met a False Core Cultivator and the two disguised themselves as Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
• Lin Chang'an decided against attacking the pair and planned to inform the Mystic Sound Pavilion, expecting they would remain on Five Dragon Island for treatment.

Lin Chang'an lured two Divine Sword Sect Remnants into his repaired Blood Sha Red Sun Array and fought them with Sword Servant's help. He killed both remnants, leaving Sword Servant with a decisive role in the final strike.

• The two Divine Sword Sect Remnants targeted Sword Servant as a body for possession, and Lin Chang'an warned her and disguised himself as her companion.
• Lin Chang'an and Sword Servant fled from the remnants, drawing them into the Blood Sha Red Sun Array he had prepared.
• Lin Chang'an revealed his identity and used the array, Fire-Devouring Demon Spirits, and sword techniques to battle the two injured Core Formation cultivators.
• Zhang Kuang trapped Lin Chang'an's sword and demon spirits with a Golden Net, but Lin Chang'an used the Phoenix Cry Bird and his body-refining strength to kill him.
• Sword Servant struck the remaining female cultivator with a Blood Sha Sword Talisman Treasure, killing her.