Chapter Summaries

Lin Chang'an and Bing Yun learned about the North Cold Continent’s factions at a Market, then crossed the dangerous Storm Mountain Range toward Bing Yun’s destination. They reached a sheltered valley with an Ice Lake, where Lin Chang'an sensed a Fourth-Rank Late Stage Monster Beast.

• Lin Chang'an and Bing Yun bought cold-resistant supplies at a Market, where Bing Yun described the Three Great Factions and the North Cold Continent’s shifting balance of power.
• Lin Chang'an reflected on the Spirit Realm’s vastness and resolved to keep a low profile, then left the Market with Bing Yun carrying Ice Crystal Fish.
• Lin Chang'an and Bing Yun traveled through a blizzard for two months, avoiding Fierce Spirits and seeing the Storm Mountain Range’s dangers and resources.
• Bing Yun sensed their destination in a valley sheltered from the wind, and Lin Chang'an detected a Fourth-Rank Late Stage Monster Beast nearby.

Lin Chang'an revealed himself as the notorious White Bone Superior, drove off Black Wind Old Monster and claimed the Spirit-Purifying Herb and a share of the Gold Essence Mine. Months later, he and Bing Yun reached the perilous Storm Mountain Range to find the herb, and Lin Chang'an began preparing for their entry.

• Lin Chang'an unleashed his Nascent Soul-level aura, identified himself as White Bone Superior, and shattered Black Wind Old Monster's defenses with a sudden strike.
• Lin Chang'an revealed the Biju Absolute Poison, causing the other cultivators to abandon Black Wind Old Monster and accept his claim to the Spirit-Purifying Herb and a share of the Gold Essence Mine.
• Lin Chang'an left with Bing Yun, while True Lord Xue offered her share to him and the Mo Couple began negotiating with the remaining cultivators.
• Months later, Lin Chang'an and Bing Yun reached the Storm Mountain Range, where Bing Yun explained that her mother had traded with the Snow Spirit Race and died near a Fourth-Rank Great Demon's lair.
• Lin Chang'an and Red-Clothed planned to sneak into the lair for the herb, and Lin Chang'an decided to make preparations before entering the dangerous range.

Lin Chang'an and Bing Yun learned about the North Cold Continent’s powers at a Market before traveling through the perilous Storm Mountain Range. They reached Bing Yun’s destination, where Lin Chang'an sensed a Fourth-Rank Late-Stage Monster Beast nearby.

• Lin Chang'an and Bing Yun bought cold-resistant supplies at a Market, where Bing Yun described the Three Great Factions and the political situation in the North Cold Continent.
• Lin Chang'an reflected on the Spirit Realm’s vastness and resolved to act more cautiously than he had in the Lower Realm.
• Lin Chang'an and Bing Yun left the Market and crossed the Storm Mountain Range on foot, avoiding Fierce Spirits and enduring deadly wind and snow.
• Lin Chang'an shared his Mystic Heaven Mana with Bing Yun, helping them travel faster through the resource-rich but dangerous mountains.
• Bing Yun sensed their destination in a sheltered valley around a huge Ice Lake, and Lin Chang'an detected a Fourth-Rank Late-Stage Monster Beast there.

Lin Chang'an used the Spirit-Purifying Herb to suppress his Otherworldly Aura, then returned with Bing Yun to Cold Wind City. He left Bing Yun managing the Chamber of Commerce and began investigating Black Wind Old Monster while planning for the troubles ahead.

• Lin Chang'an and Jin Feng fought the Fourth-Rank Late Stage Ice Bat while Bing Yun retrieved the Spirit-Purifying Herb, and Jin Feng looted the demon's cave before they escaped.
• Lin Chang'an used the herb to suppress his Otherworldly Aura for sixty years, while Red-Clothed and Jin Feng took smaller pills that suppressed theirs for twenty years.
• Lin Chang'an left Bing Yun in a hidden cave while he returned to the Ice Bat's lair, but found the demon had moved away and turned back toward Cold Wind City.
• Bing Yun returned to Cold Wind City with Lin Chang'an and reported that the Gold Essence Mine and the Bing Clan Chamber of Commerce had prospered in her absence.
• Lin Chang'an told Bing Yun to keep managing the Chamber of Commerce, cultivate once matters settled, and investigate Black Wind Old Monster.

Lin Chang'an settled into his new cave abode, considered using the Bing Clan Chamber of Commerce to build influence and prepare for the arrival of cultivators from his Lower Realm, and tasked Bing Yun with investigating the Ice God Palace. Meanwhile, Bing Yun avenged herself on the Bing Family and secured Lin Chang'an's support, leaving her poised to advance her ambitions through the Ice God Palace.

• Lin Chang'an welcomed gifts from local factions, reflected on the Spirit Realm's resources and his plans for ascended cultivators, and told Li Erqing to leave Chamber of Commerce affairs to Bing Yun.
• Bing Yun confronted Bing Duanshan, learned that True Lord Feipeng had been involved in the plot against her parents, took Bing Duanshan's Golden Core, and ordered the Bing Family wiped out.
• Lin Chang'an dismissed concern over the Bing Family's destruction, then received Bing Yun and instructed her to expand the Chamber of Commerce's intelligence network.
• Lin Chang'an gave Bing Yun a cultivation art suited to her constitution, and she offered to serve him as a maidservant.
• Lin Chang'an asked Bing Yun to investigate the Ice God Palace, which she hoped to join with his backing.

Lin Chang'an used White Bone Superior’s reputation as a fourth-rank mid-grade alchemist to attract offers from major factions while seeking herbs, resources, and a path toward Spirit Transformation. He accepted a guest elder position in Cold Wind City under Ice God Palace, but remained outside the sect’s inner circle.

• News that White Bone Superior could refine fourth-rank mid-grade pills spread, and True Lord Yunyi and True Lord Liehuo discussed recruiting him for Ice God Palace.
• Lin Chang'an rejected one faction’s demanding offer, then heard a Feipeng Chamber of Commerce recruiter offer two spirit-purifying herbs and a chance to exchange merits for Spirit Transformation resources; he neither accepted nor refused.
• Lin Chang'an questioned the Feipeng recruiter about Black Wind Old Monster joining the alliance, then dismissed the matter and sent him away without making a commitment.
• True Lord Liehuo visited on behalf of Cold Wind City and negotiated with Lin Chang'an over herbs, cultivation conveniences, alchemy work, access to public texts, and top-grade spirit stones.
• Lin Chang'an agreed to become a Nascent Soul guest elder of Cold Wind City under Ice God Palace, while remaining outside its inner circle.

Seven years after settling in Cold Wind City, Lin Chang'an strengthened his position, developed several fourth-rank crafts, and advanced to the Nascent Soul middle stage. The chapter ended with the Yin Demonic Corpse growing restless, forcing him to seek materials to stabilize it.

• Lin Chang'an used his White Bone Old Devil identity to join Ice God Palace, earn resources through alchemy and corpse-puppet commissions, and begin preparing to refine a Heavenly Yin Demonic Corpse from White Bone Old Devil's body and the Three-Eyed Ancient Devil's remains.
• Sword Servant broke through to the Nascent Soul middle stage, while Jin Feng's hopes for a grand ceremony were turned down.
• Bing Yun brought True Lord Xue to meet Lin Chang'an, and True Lord Xue joined the Bing Clan Chamber of Commerce as a Nascent Soul elder with her independence intact.
• Over the next seven years, Lin Chang'an established an intelligence network, developed identities for his clones, and advanced his cultivation by twenty-four points while improving his five fourth-rank crafts.
• Red-Clothed warned Lin Chang'an that the Yin Demonic Corpse was restless again, and Lin Chang'an decided he needed special materials from an upcoming auction to stabilize it.

Lin Chang'an revealed how powerful and dangerous his Yin Demonic Corpse had become, then sought the materials needed to keep it under control. As the Auction approached, he visited True Lord Liehuo to borrow three rare spiritual items, and Liehuo hinted that acquiring them would require a trade.

• Lin Chang'an unsealed the Yin Demonic Corpse, found that it had reached Nascent Soul Late Stage strength, and used its Restraint Rings to punish it when it resisted losing its food.
• Bing Yun tested five Corpse Puppets made from her enemies, learned that White Bone Superior would attend the Auction, and ordered the Chamber of Commerce to mobilize its resources.
• Bing Yun rewarded Li Erqing with a Body Refining Spirit Fruit and urged him to prepare for a breakthrough, while he pledged his loyalty to her.
• Lin Chang'an studied the Auction catalog, identified three materials needed to control his Yin Demonic Corpse, and decided to borrow them rather than divert the Chamber of Commerce's resources.
• Lin Chang'an visited True Lord Liehuo with a gift and asked for help obtaining the three materials; Liehuo said their owners wanted specific spiritual items in exchange.

Lin Chang'an negotiated with True Lord Liehuo for materials and funding, then planned how to restore his cultivation and secure more resources. Li Erqing broke through to Third-Rank Body Refining, and Bing Yun rewarded the Chamber of Commerce members who had stayed loyal; Lin Chang'an ended by preparing to deal with Black Wind Old Monster.

• Lin Chang'an agreed to refine a pair of Fourth-Rank Ice-Fire Corpse Puppets for True Lord Liehuo in exchange for three spiritual items, with Liehuo covering half their cost.
• True Lord Liehuo lent Lin Chang'an four hundred thousand High-grade Spirit Stones for the Fourth-Rank Upper-Grade Pill Furnace, and Lin Chang'an left with the money.
• Lin Chang'an considered how to obtain Fourth-Rank inheritances and resources, then sensed that Li Erqing had broken through to Third-Rank Body Refining.
• Li Erqing celebrated his breakthrough with the Bing Clan Chamber of Commerce, and Bing Yun honored those who had remained loyal during the Chamber of Commerce's crisis.
• Lin Chang'an watched Bing Yun's leadership with approval and planned to confront Black Wind Old Monster after the Auction and the refinement of his Demon Corpse.

Lin Chang'an attended Cold Wind City's grand gathering, traded for a Pill Furnace and alchemy notes, then spent forty-nine days refining a powerful Yin Demonic Corpse. After gaining a new combat partner and the Profound Yin Demonic Fire, he learned that Red-Clothed had found news of Black Wind Old Monster.

• Lin Chang'an entered the Nascent Soul Trading Fair with Bing Yun and Sword Servant, where True Lord Liehuo used his presence to quiet the feuding cultivators.
• Lin Chang'an traded Spirit Stones and promised services for a Fourth-Rank Upper-Grade Pill Furnace, alchemy notes, and Pill Recipes, while Sword Servant acquired Artifact Refining materials.
• Lin Chang'an bought more items at the fair and received three spiritual items from True Lord Liehuo after the gathering ended.
• Lin Chang'an used his essence blood, Buddhist Seals, and Restraint Rings to subdue the Yin Demonic Corpse over forty-nine days.
• Lin Chang'an tested the corpse's Inch-by-Inch Ground-Shrinking ability and Profound Yin Demonic Fire, recognizing its formidable strength and remaining wary of possible betrayal.
• Red-Clothed brought Lin Chang'an news of Black Wind Old Monster in a jade slip.

Lin Chang'an ambushed a Vajra Temple Buddhist cultivator outside Black Stone Mountain to demonstrate his loyalty to Ice God Palace and eliminate a rival faction’s influence. After killing the cultivator and consuming his Nascent Soul, Lin Chang'an reflected on the monk’s Buddhist abilities.

• Black Wind Old Monster and a Vajra Temple monk pressured Black Stone Mountain’s Nascent Soul cultivators to give the Feipeng Chamber of Commerce a share of the Gold Essence Mine, and the cultivators agreed to yield a small portion.
• Lin Chang'an learned that Black Wind Old Monster was at the border market with the Vajra Temple monk and waited until the monk left the market alone.
• Lin Chang'an and his companions ambushed the monk in a Fourth-Rank Formation, using multiple incarnations, the Withered Bone Blade, and a Yin Demonic Corpse to overwhelm him.
• The monk tried to escape with his Nascent Soul, but Lin Chang'an captured and destroyed it to prevent his Buddhist reincarnation technique from leaving a remnant soul.
• Lin Chang'an reviewed the monk’s life and remarked on the power of Buddhist secret arts as the Yin Demonic Corpse and Withered Bone Blade devoured the body.

Lin Chang'an killed a Vajra Temple monk, looted his cave, and framed Black Wind Old Monster for the murder while Jin Feng helped ransack a market. The blame spread to the Mo Couple and other cultivators, while Lin Chang'an returned to Cold Wind City and secured a first copy of insights on Spirit Transformation from True Lord Liehuo.

• Lin Chang'an used the Yin Demonic Corpse and Withered Bone Blade to consume the monk's remains, then sealed away Buddhist-marked loot and took the monk's identity.
• Jin Feng exposed True Lord Mo's secret gold essence trade with Vajra Temple, and Lin Chang'an and Jin Feng headed to the market to frame Black Wind Old Monster.
• Lin Chang'an and Jin Feng looted the monk's cave and market, staged an attack that made Black Wind Old Monster appear responsible, and fled as rumors spread.
• Black Wind Old Monster fled and spread blame to True Lord Mo, the Mo Couple, and three other Nascent Soul cultivators, prompting them to consider ties with Cold Wind City.
• Lin Chang'an returned to Cold Wind City, gave True Lord Liehuo the recovered resources, and obtained a promise to borrow one set of Spirit Transformation insights.

After ten years in Cold Wind City, Lin Chang'an reached the peak of the Nascent Soul middle stage and sought Fire Attribute resources to support Jin Feng's breakthrough. He learned of Bingjin Mountain, a distant market with a suitable fire cultivation site, and planned to gather funds before traveling there.

• Lin Chang'an and Jin Feng examined the Buddhist disciple's spoils, and Lin Chang'an planned to melt down the Vajra Pestle and trade the monk's sensitive intelligence to True Lord Liehuo.
• True Lord Liehuo used the intelligence to identify factions betraying Cold Wind City and swiftly purged them, while the Mo Couple and three Nascent Soul cultivators joined Lin Chang'an's circle and the Bing Clan Chamber of Commerce.
• Bing Yun reassured Granny Bing that she would focus on cultivation rather than internal power struggles, believing Senior White Bone's strength and inheritance mattered more than the chamber's influence.
• Ten years later, Lin Chang'an reached the Nascent Soul middle stage peak and learned Jin Feng needed Fire Attribute treasures to avoid damaging her foundation before a breakthrough.
• Lin Chang'an asked True Lord Liehuo for a suitable Fire Attribute cultivation site, learned of Bingjin Mountain and its market beyond Human Race territory, and decided to gather funds before going.

Lin Chang'an traveled to Bingjin Mountain with Jin Feng and Red-Clothed, gathering Gold Essence and examining Ice God Palace’s Teleportation Array as he prepared to establish hidden escape routes. After arriving at the bustling frontier Market, he met Shi Yunzhou and Cheng Yunya and learned that the couple’s affectionate behavior was an act.

• Lin Chang'an planned to find Fire Attribute spiritual items for Jin Feng’s breakthrough and secretly establish Teleportation Arrays to prepare for unrest.
• Lin Chang'an borrowed Gold Essence from Nascent Soul Cultivators at Black Stone Mountain, promising to repay them through trade and connections.
• True Lord Liehuo escorted Lin Chang'an and his companions through Ice God Palace’s Teleportation Arrays to Bingjin Mountain, where Shi Yunzhou received them coldly and Cheng Yunya offered to guide them.
• Lin Chang'an and Red-Clothed explored Bingjin Mountain Market, learned about its many races and dangers, and heard that Shi Yunzhou and Cheng Yunya were only pretending to be a loving couple.

Lin Chang'an explored Bingjin Mountain Market, learned how dangerous and lucrative it was, and traded for the fire-attribute spiritual materials he needed. Shi Yunzhou drew him into an Ice God Palace trading circle while secretly planning to use outsiders in a perilous Relic Nest expedition, but Lin Chang'an left the fair intent on avoiding their schemes and pursuing his own breakthrough and escape plans.

• Lin Chang'an and Red-Clothed observed the market’s mix of races, human exploitation, and violent trade, then rented a fire-attribute cave abode while Jin Feng stayed hidden.
• Shi Yunzhou welcomed Hou Changfeng and recruited him and Cheng Yunya for a dangerous Relic Nest venture, while Hou pursued Cheng Yunya and the estranged couple concealed their mutual resentment.
• Lin Chang'an received Shi Yunzhou’s invitation to a Nascent Soul Trading Fair and agreed to attend cautiously, while Shi Yunzhou and Cheng Yunya argued over their past and their plans for him.
• Lin Chang'an attended the fair, exchanged Gold Essence for part of a Fourth-Rank Fire Python’s shed skin, and privately acquired a 3,400-year-old Fire Spirit Flower.
• Lin Chang'an declined further trades and left the fair with Shi Yunzhou and Cheng Yunya, intending to break through, gather Teleportation Array materials, and return without joining their scheme.

Lin Chang'an declined Shi Yunzhou's invitation to explore a Relic Nest, then secluded himself with Jin Feng, who broke through to the Nascent Soul late stage. While trading in Bingjin Mountain Market, Lin Chang'an agreed to refine Cheng Yunya's corpse into a puppet for Shi Yunzhou, and Shi Yunzhou and Hou Changfeng continued plotting against each other over the ruins.

• Lin Chang'an declined Shi Yunzhou's offer to explore a Relic Nest and left to prepare for a cultivation breakthrough.
• After three years in seclusion, Jin Feng broke through to the Nascent Soul late stage, and Lin Chang'an gave her a fire-python-aura-concealing inner armor.
• Lin Chang'an continued seeking fourth-rank upper-grade void nether stone to complete his teleportation array and received a trading offer through his puppet-master avatar.
• Shi Yunzhou, disguised as a woman, asked Lin Chang'an to refine Cheng Yunya's corpse into a corpse puppet and offered void nether stone and ancient spirit grass as payment.
• Shi Yunzhou and Hou Changfeng argued over the dangerous ruins, then agreed to keep their conflict quiet until they secured the ruins while each secretly planned to kill the other.

Lin Chang'an completed Shi Yunzhou's corpse puppet, received the Void Nether Stone, and later broke through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage. He and Jin Feng chose a Poison Swamp as the site for a hidden Teleportation Array, subdued its Fourth-Rank zombie guardian, and altered its memories so it would unknowingly guard their arrangements.

• Lin Chang'an delivered the corpse puppet to Shi Yunzhou and received the Void Nether Stone, while Shi Yunzhou used Cheng Yunya's Spirit Infant to complete his scheme.
• Six months later, Lin Chang'an broke through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage and decided to restore the Withered Bone Blade as his next source of strength.
• Jin Feng showed Lin Chang'an three possible sites for a Teleportation Array, and he chose the Poison Swamp because its Fourth-Rank zombie could be made to guard the location.
• Lin Chang'an, Jin Feng, and Red-Clothed subdued the zombie, learned through Soul Search that it had once been a Nascent Soul cultivator, and discovered Red-Clothed felt an unexplained familiarity with its Underground Palace.
• Lin Chang'an altered the zombie's memories, bound it and two Quasi-Fourth-Rank corpse puppets to the Spirit Vein, and built a concealed Teleportation Array a thousand zhang below the palace.
• The zombie awoke believing it had established its own underground dynasty and went to sleep for a hundred years, unaware that Lin Chang'an had altered its memories.

After returning to Cold Wind City as a Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator, Lin Chang'an learned that Vajra Temple’s encroachment had stirred up conflict across the reclaimed territory. When Bing Yun reported that the Black Wind Old Monster and the Feipeng Chamber of Commerce might be targeting a Spirit Stone Mine, Lin Chang'an agreed to use her plan to uncover those behind the scheme and prepared to demonstrate his strength.

• Lin Chang'an declined Shi Yunzhou’s invitation to explore the Secret Realm, traded Gold Essence for a walnut-sized Void Nether Stone, and returned to Cold Wind City with Red-Clothed.
• True Lord Liehuo told Lin Chang'an that Vajra Temple’s forces were infiltrating Ice God Palace’s reclaimed territories and that clashes had already involved Spirit Transformation Cultivators.
• Bing Yun reported attacks on the Chamber of Commerce’s operations and revealed that outsiders had discovered and raided a Spirit Stone Mine she and True Lord Xue had been developing.
• Bing Yun explained that her investigation had linked the mine’s attackers to a disciple of the Black Wind Old Monster and the Feipeng Chamber of Commerce, and proposed continuing her plan to expose them.
• Lin Chang'an approved Bing Yun’s plan and told her to seek True Lord Xue’s help, while privately preparing to use the conflict to test his strength and deter his enemies.

Bing Yun gathered a force of Core Formation cultivators to retake a Spirit Stone Mine, while Lin Chang'an and Red-Clothed watched from hiding and discovered the operation was a trap involving Black Wind Old Monster and the Feipeng Chamber of Commerce. The mine battle exposed an old rivalry between Fairy Xue and Fairy Bishui, who began fighting as their followers watched.

• Bing Yun persuaded more than fifty Core Formation cultivators to help retake the mine and secretly told the leaders that True Lord Xue would assist them.
• Lin Chang'an and Red-Clothed watched the expedition from a distant Snow Peak, sensed the trap, and learned that another Nascent Soul Cultivator was involved.
• Bing Yun led nearly eighty cultivators through the mine's barrier, where they fought Black Wind Old Monster's bandits and his disciple.
• Black Wind Old Monster's disciple called for help from the Feipeng Chamber of Commerce, prompting Fairy Bishui and Fairy Xue to appear.
• Fairy Xue and Fairy Bishui traded accusations over their past and their ties to powerful cultivators, then attacked each other.

True Lord Xue battled Fairy Bishui while Lin Chang'an and Bing Yun set a trap for Black Wind Old Monster at the spirit stone mine. Lin Chang'an revealed his recovered Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivation, killed Black Wind Old Monster, and left Fairy Bishui facing True Lord Xue.

• True Lord Xue and Fairy Bishui fought fiercely, trading attacks and taunts as their followers clashed nearby.
• Lin Chang'an noticed Jin Feng sneaking into the spirit stone mine and signaled Bing Yun to act on their plan.
• Bing Yun pretended to use White Bone Old Devil's Possession Spirit Technique, drawing out Black Wind Old Monster and his ambush.
• Black Wind Old Monster attacked as Fairy Bishui's forces activated a barrier, but Lin Chang'an appeared and revealed his Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivation.
• Lin Chang'an captured and refined Black Wind Old Monster's Spirit Infant, while Fairy Bishui realized White Bone Old Devil's recovery had been a deception.