Chapter Summaries

Lin Chang'an reached First-Order Premium High-Grade Talisman skill and learned that Black Turtle Lu True Person would help establish Celestial Mystery City as a sanctuary for rogue cultivators. As the Market's residents prepared to relocate, Lin Chang'an weighed the dangers of the journey and the city's promise of better cultivation resources for Foundation Establishment.

• Lin Chang'an completed Golden Light and Fireball Talismans at First-Order Premium High-Grade and assessed his cultivation progress and Foundation Establishment preparations.
• Shen Lie told Lin Chang'an that Black Turtle Lu True Person would guard Celestial Mystery City alongside Golden Core cultivators from Li Fire Palace and Mystic Sound Pavilion.
• Shen Lie explained that Celestial Mystery City would open Spirit Vein cave abodes to cultivators and offer rogue cultivators a new place to settle.
• Li Erniu told Lin Chang'an and Shen Lie that his lineage had selected him to relocate a group to Celestial Mystery City.
• Lin Chang'an warned that the journey could invite attacks and considered moving to the city for its richer cultivation grounds and easier access to Foundation Establishment resources.

As Green Bamboo Mountain Market emptied ahead of a mass relocation, Lin Chang'an suspected Ge Li of targeting him and alerted Yun Yao to a trap. Yun Yao killed Ge Li and his accomplices, branded them Demonic Sect remnants, and rewarded Lin Chang'an before Li Fire Palace disciples removed the bodies.

• Lin Chang'an declined Ge Li's offer to travel together but agreed to attend an exchange meet, then sensed that Ge Li might be connected to a fellow cultivator whose aura he recognized.
• Lin Chang'an discovered that Ge Li's supposed exchange meet was taking place earlier than claimed and went to warn Yun Yao instead.
• Yun Yao and Lin Chang'an found an array barrier raised around the courtyard and rushed to intervene.
• Yun Yao defeated Ge Li and his accomplices, while Lin Chang'an revealed that he had reported Ge Li to Li Fire Palace.
• Yun Yao declared the three men Demonic Sect remnants and gave Lin Chang'an plundered resources as a reward, and Li Fire Palace disciples took away their bodies and tokens.

After defeating Ge Li and the other Demonic Sect remnants, Lin Chang'an sorted their spoils and left Green Bamboo Mountain Market with his companions in the Zhou Family convoy. They survived a Black Wind Wolf attack and reached Celestial Mystery City, where Lin Chang'an hoped to pursue Foundation Establishment.

• Lin Chang'an counted the Demonic Sect remnants' treasures, reflected on the battle and his near danger, and resolved to stay cautious until Foundation Establishment.
• Lin Chang'an sold most of the spoils and joined Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, Wei Yiyi, and others traveling with the Zhou Family convoy to Celestial Mystery City.
• The Zhou Family's large procession departed Green Bamboo Mountain Market as Lin Chang'an looked back on the place where he had spent thirty years.
• After several days of travel, the group saw Celestial Mystery City and marveled at its grand walls, protective array, and many Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• A pack of Black Wind Wolves attacked the convoy, but the Zhou Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators helped the travelers survive.
• The exhausted group reached the city, and Lin Chang'an resolved to make Celestial Mystery City the place where he achieved Foundation Establishment.

Lin Chang'an moved to Celestial Mystery City, where he rented a spiritually rich Dao Field and discovered he could profit from the city’s constant influx of cultivators. He focused on preparing for Foundation Establishment, planning to secure at least two Foundation Establishment Pills before entering seclusion.

• Lin Chang'an realized the Zhou Family and other powerful figures had learned about Celestial Mystery City before its public announcement and claimed the best opportunities in advance.
• Lin Chang'an, Shen Lie, and Wei Yiyi learned the city’s rental prices; Shen Lie and Wei Yiyi chose cheaper lodgings, while Lin Chang'an rented a Dao Field for two hundred Spirit Stones a year.
• Lin Chang'an settled near Silver River Waterfall and found that the abundant water spiritual energy suited his Evergreen Art and Wood-Attribute cultivation.
• As cultivators arrived and formed a community, Lin Chang'an crafted First-Order Premium High-Grade Talismans and considered how to sell them without drawing attention.
• Lin Chang'an decided to prepare materials for Foundation Establishment and obtain at least two pills, supplementing his own alchemy results by buying one at Auction if necessary.

After reaching the ninth qi refining layer, Lin Chang'an prepared to pursue foundation establishment and sought a high-grade formation in Celestial Mystery City. Yun Yao agreed to help him obtain one, while her worsening cold yin aura left him wondering what had happened to her.

• Lin Chang'an reflected on his cultivation progress and Celestial Mystery City's growth, then decided to prepare for foundation establishment.
• Lin Chang'an noted that he had gathered most required materials but still lacked key items, especially a monster core, and decided to buy a formation before seeking one.
• Lin Chang'an visited Yun Yao and encountered Su Miaoyin, a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator and Yun Yao's senior sister.
• Yun Yao agreed to take Lin Chang'an to select a first-tier high-grade formation, citing his clean background and past contribution against the Demonic Sect's remnants.
• Lin Chang'an sensed Yun Yao's cold yin aura had grown stronger and wondered what had happened to her.

Lin Chang'an bought a powerful wood-attribute array from True Treasure Pavilion and received Yun Yao’s gift of spirit stones and Foundation Establishment insights. With his preparations nearly complete, he began planning to obtain a second-tier monster core.

• Yun Yao vouched for Lin Chang'an at True Treasure Pavilion so he could purchase an array.
• Lin Chang'an bought the quasi-second-tier Wood Armor Binding Spirit Array for three thousand spirit stones, trading in a damaged array and talismans to cover part of the cost.
• Yun Yao sent Lin Chang'an eight mid-grade spirit stones and a jade slip recording her Foundation Establishment insights.
• Lin Chang'an reflected on his debt to Yun Yao and decided to seek a second-tier monster core in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

Lin Chang'an mastered the Wood Armor Binding Spirit Array and acquired a missing ingredient for a Foundation Establishment Pill. After leaving Celestial Mystery City disguised as a lower-realm cultivator, he headed into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

• Lin Chang'an spent two months mastering the Wood Armor Binding Spirit Array and studied its strengths and weaknesses.
• Shen Lie told Lin Chang'an that two cultivators had surplus Foundation Establishment materials, including Spirit Protection Grass.
• Lin Chang'an met the cultivators at Alchemist Song's Danxin Residence and bought Spirit Protection Grass, Green Beard Vine, and Rainbow Dress Grass for five hundred Spirit Stones.
• Alchemist Song emerged, and the two cultivators entered his Cave Abode with their materials for Alchemy.
• Lin Chang'an told Shen Lie he planned to cultivate in seclusion, then secretly used his Perfect Realm Breath Concealment Technique to pose as a Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator and leave for the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

Lin Chang'an ventured into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range and trapped a weakened Iron-Backed Demon Mantis in an array. He began attacking it while it struggled to escape, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Lin Chang'an used his Monster Hunting Squad experience to track down a pair of Iron-Backed Demon Mantises during mating season.
• A weakened male Iron-Backed Demon Mantis escaped the female, and Lin Chang'an used the Green-Horned Ox as bait to lure it toward him.
• Lin Chang'an activated the Wood Armor Binding Spirit Array, sealing the valley and cutting off the mantis from its territory.
• Lin Chang'an attacked the trapped mantis with Fire Element Talismans, burning its wings as vines restrained it.
• The injured mantis continued fighting the vines as its tail was wounded and green blood splattered through the array.

Lin Chang'an killed an Iron-Backed Demon Mantis and discovered a Foundation Establishment Pill hidden beneath Old Man He's gravestone, then hurried toward Celestial Mystery City. Far away, He Yan served the Divine Cult as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, unaware that Lin Chang'an had found the pill he buried years earlier.

• Lin Chang'an used his formation, talismans, and Green Bamboo Sword to defeat the Iron-Backed Demon Mantis, then prevented its severed body from launching a surprise attack by testing it with a corpse.
• Lin Chang'an returned to Green Bamboo Mountain Market, paid respects at Old Man He's grave, and discovered a Jade Bottle containing a Foundation Establishment Pill beneath the gravestone.
• Lin Chang'an concluded that He Yan had hidden the pill after stealing it during the Market's past turmoil, then cleaned the area and left for Celestial Mystery City with the pill.
• Within Divine Sword Sect territory, Protector Xiang ordered his Foundation Establishment subordinates to spread the Divine Cult's Foundation Seizing Method and sow chaos across the Yue Kingdom.
• He Yan, now a Foundation Establishment cultivator serving the Divine Cult, recalled stealing and hiding the pill beneath Old Man He's grave, and planned to retrieve it someday.

Lin Chang'an returned to Celestial Mystery City with a Monster Core and a Refined Foundation Establishment Pill, gathered the remaining materials, and spent two years cultivating to Qi Refining Ninth Layer 97. He decided to begin preparing for Foundation Establishment and learned that Shen Lie and his companions were willing to support him.

• Lin Chang'an returned to his Cave Abode in disguise and secured the Monster Core and Refined Foundation Establishment Pill with Fireball Talismans.
• Lin Chang'an obtained a Heavenly Spirit Fruit at an Auction six months later while Celestial Mystery City's turmoil gradually stabilized.
• After two years of cultivation, Lin Chang'an reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer 97 and realized his Spiritual Root still kept him short of full perfection.
• Lin Chang'an chose to begin preparing for Foundation Establishment rather than wait longer to improve his cultivation.
• Lin Chang'an emerged from seclusion, reunited with his Green-Horned Ox, and read Shen Lie's letter offering support and asking him to protect them after Foundation Establishment.

Lin Chang'an reunited with old friends at the Gathering Immortal Pavilion, where they gave him Spirit Stones to support his Foundation Establishment. After keeping their gifts as cherished memories, he began planning his attempt and decided to visit Yun Yao for help.

• Lin Chang'an toasted Li Erniu, Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, and Wei Yiyi as they reminisced and discussed the tense situation among the Three Great Sects.
• Lu Qingqing, Shen Lie, Wei Yiyi, and Li Erniu each gave Lin Chang'an Spirit Stones to support his Foundation Establishment.
• Lin Chang'an treasured the gifts and decided not to spend them, valuing the friends' intentions more than the money.
• Lin Chang'an considered the risks of seeking a Foundation Establishment Pill from the factions in Celestial Mystery City.
• Lin Chang'an decided to visit Yun Yao, trusting her and hoping to maintain their connection.

Lin Chang'an entrusted Yun Yao with the materials for a Foundation Establishment Pill, and she agreed to take him to an Alchemist despite her injuries. Yun Yao concealed the severity of her wounds and her plans involving Li Fire Palace and the Mysterious Yin Demonic Sect, while Huang Yuntian prepared to secure more pills for Huang Shaohai.

• Lin Chang'an visited Yun Yao and asked her to arrange the refining of a Foundation Establishment Pill, handing over his materials and payment.
• Yun Yao told Lin Chang'an she had been injured while fighting Demonic Sect remnants and asked him to return in two days to visit an Alchemist.
• After Lin Chang'an left, Yun Yao coughed blood and frost, revealed that the Water Deity Divine Art had harmed her, and vowed to use a method developed by Li Fire Palace against the Mysterious Yin Demonic Sect.
• Huang Yuntian scolded Huang Shaohai for problems caused by his Yin-Harvesting Yang-Supplementing Method and warned him to achieve Foundation Establishment or return to the sect.
• Huang Shaohai insisted that his unusually strong spiritual power would make him formidable after Foundation Establishment, and Huang Yuntian resolved to seek more pills for him.

Lin Chang'an received three Foundation Establishment Pills, including two refined ones, and entered a secluded chamber to prepare for his breakthrough. Outside, Yun Yao rebuffed Huang Yuntian and Huang Shaohai, who left resentful and began their own seclusion.

• Lin Chang'an chose a seclusion chamber in Celestial Mystery City while waiting for Yun Yao to finish refining the pills.
• Yun Yao brought Lin Chang'an two Foundation Establishment Pills, one refined, and gave him Tier-2 Concentration Incense.
• Lin Chang'an entered the sealed chamber, discovered he had three pills including two refined ones, and began preparing for Foundation Establishment.
• Huang Yuntian confronted Yun Yao over the Refined Foundation Establishment Pill, but she rebuked him and he left with Huang Shaohai.
• Huang Shaohai resented the cultivator who received the refined pill, then entered seclusion with four reserved Cave Abode tablets numbered Nine, Six, Five, and Three.

Lin Chang'an used two Refined Foundation Establishment Pills to overcome the final obstacle in his breakthrough and established his foundation after nearly three months of seclusion. He emerged into a snow-covered Celestial Mystery City and went to visit Yun Yao, while nearby rogue cultivators envied his success.

• Lin Chang'an began his breakthrough with the Evergreen Art and a Refined Foundation Establishment Pill, using his pure mana and divine sense to start transforming it.
• When his progress stalled at the final step, Lin Chang'an swallowed a second Foundation Establishment Pill and continued refining his mana.
• After several days, Lin Chang'an successfully reached Foundation Establishment Early Stage, with surplus mana raising his cultivation slightly.
• Lin Chang'an emerged from seclusion after two months and twenty-seven days, learned that winter had arrived, and gave the steward two Spirit Stones.
• Lin Chang'an headed to Yun Yao's Cave Abode to thank her for her pills, formation, and guidance, while nearby rogue cultivators discussed and envied his success.

Lin Chang'an celebrated reaching Foundation Establishment with his old friends, gave them gifts, and planned a deal with the Zhou Family involving his remaining Foundation Establishment Pill. Back in his Cave Abode, he began cultivating the Everlasting Evergreen Technique, but the ancient leaf that bore it consumed his ginseng and became his Life-Bound Spirit Plant instead.

• Lin Chang'an toasted Shen Lie, Li Erniu, Wei Yiyi, and Lu Qingqing, thanking them for their past support and celebrating his Foundation Establishment breakthrough.
• Lin Chang'an gave Shen Lie Clear Spirit Powder, Lu Qingqing High-grade Golden Marrow Pills, Wei Yiyi medicine for his damaged meridians, and Li Erniu Rank-Breaking Pills.
• Lin Chang'an revealed that he still had a Foundation Establishment Pill and asked Li Erniu to approach the Zhou Family about Beast Control techniques for his Green-Horned Ox, offering him a chance to earn merit with the family.
• After the banquet, Lin Chang'an returned to his Cave Abode, noted his increased lifespan, and prepared to cultivate the Everlasting Evergreen Technique using a 3,500-year-old ginseng as his Life-Bound Spirit Plant.
• Lin Chang'an's Spirit Liquid activated the ancient leaf, which consumed the ginseng as he refined it; the leaf formed a connection with him and began glowing azure, so he chose it as his Life-Bound Spirit Plant and started cultivating the technique.

After refining the Withered Leaf of the Undying Profound Heaven Immortal Vine, Lin Chang'an gained powerful regenerative abilities but lost thirty-one years of lifespan and faced the costly burden of feeding it Spirit Liquid. As he considered joining Celestial Mystery City, Yun Yao warned him that Huang Shaohai blamed him over a Foundation Establishment Pill and might target him, though Huang was likely to be sent to the front lines.

• Lin Chang'an completed the refinement of the Withered Leaf of the Undying Profound Heaven Immortal Vine, sacrificing thirty-one years of lifespan while gaining extraordinary healing and recovery.
• Lin Chang'an reviewed invitations from various factions and leaned toward joining Celestial Mystery City for access to better resources and talisman inheritance.
• Yun Yao told Lin Chang'an that Huang Yuntian and Huang Shaohai had learned she helped him refine a Foundation Establishment Pill and were interested in the Refined Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Yun Yao explained that Huang Shaohai had established his foundation through the Foundation Seizing Method, leaving him with reduced potential and a shortened lifespan, and that he resented Lin Chang'an over a pill trade.
• Yun Yao advised Lin Chang'an to stay cautious and choose a faction; Lin Chang'an said he favored Celestial Mystery City, and Yun Yao noted Huang Shaohai would likely be sent to the front lines.

Lin Chang'an joined Celestial Mystery City as a guest elder, gaining a cultivation method, Talisman inheritances, a cave abode, and protection in exchange for supplying Talismans for thirty years. Meanwhile, Huang Shaohai was ordered to the front lines, and Huang Yuntian planned for him to seize a rare demon beast cub from the Zhou Family.

• Lin Chang'an chose Celestial Mystery City’s guest elder position over the other offers and traveled to meet its representatives.
• Su Miaoyin explained the terms, and Lin Chang'an signed a thirty-year Spirit Contract in exchange for cultivation resources, three Second-Rank Talisman inheritances, and protection.
• Huang Shaohai raged that Lin Chang'an had refused Li Fire Palace’s offer, while Huang Yuntian reprimanded him for wasting two Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Huang Yuntian ordered Huang Shaohai to stabilize his cultivation and then serve at the front lines for three to five years.
• Huang Yuntian told Huang Shaohai to collect a rare demon beast cub from the Zhou Family, and the two planned to take it for themselves.

Lin Chang'an chose a Foundation Establishment cultivation method and three talisman inheritances, then met with Zhou Renmao to trade his remaining Foundation Establishment Pill for supplies to strengthen his Green-Horned Ox. The Zhou Family agreed to provide a Beast Spirit Pill, Spirit-Feeding Pills, and beast-raising insights.

• Lin Chang'an selected the Longevity Art and the Diamond, Godspeed, and Firebird Talisman inheritances.
• Su Miaoyin reviewed Lin Chang'an's background while Yun Yao collected an Ice Soul spiritual item and received a warning about her incomplete Gui Water Demonic Art.
• Lin Chang'an welcomed Er Niu and Zhou Renmao into his Cave Abode, where Zhou Renmao asked about his remaining Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Lin Chang'an offered the pill in exchange for help improving his Green-Horned Ox, whose growth had slowed at the First-Rank Late Stage.
• Zhou Renmao agreed to trade one Second-Rank Beast Spirit Pill, ten bottles of Spirit-Feeding Pills, and beast-raising insights for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Lin Chang'an refused the Zhou Family's marriage proposal and advanced to a proficient Second-Rank Talisman Master after settling into his Foundation Establishment cave abode. Finding that his Low-grade Spiritual Root made cultivation painfully slow, he decided to learn alchemy and make pills to accelerate his growth while continuing to build his reputation as a talisman master.

• Lin Chang'an declined Zhou Bingyun's marriage proposal, and Li Erniu agreed to use his Rank-Breaking Pill to pursue a breakthrough.
• Lin Chang'an reflected on his new status in Celestial Mystery City and resolved to aim for Golden Core.
• Lin Chang'an became a proficient Second-Rank Talisman Master but worried that selling too many talismans would attract attention.
• Lin Chang'an realized his Low-grade Spiritual Root severely limited his cultivation speed, even if he earned more Spirit Stones.
• Lin Chang'an decided to study alchemy, buy ingredients, and make Second-tier Pills to improve his cultivation while keeping talisman-making as his public foundation.

Lin Chang'an sought to improve his alchemy after repeated failures and obtained a detailed herbal reference from Wei Yiyi. At the Gathering Immortal Pavilion, he met Zhou Bingyun, a young alchemist whose expertise he hoped to consult.

• Lin Chang'an ruined another batch of pills and realized he needed to study medicinal properties instead of following recipes mechanically.
• Lin Chang'an left his alchemy room, scolded his Green-Horned Ox for its slow progress, and went to the Gathering Immortal Pavilion.
• Lin Chang'an asked Wei Yiyi for alchemy guidance, and Wei Yiyi lent him a family copy of the Hundred Herbs Classic.
• Lin Chang'an studied the Classic and found detailed information about spirit grasses and their medicinal potency.
• Zhou Bingyun arrived at the pavilion, and Lin Chang'an welcomed her, intending to ask her questions about alchemy.