Chapter Summaries

After transmigrating into a poor Wang Family market patrol inspector, Li Yuan discovered an Equipment Panel that granted him a cultivation-boosting affix from a Spirit Stone. He tested its effects and returned to patrol with his breakthrough injuries already beginning to improve.

• Li Yuan patrolled Qinghe Market and accepted two extra Low-Grade Spirit Stones from Old Zhang as thanks for sending customers to his talisman stall.
• The Equipment Panel appeared and offered Li Yuan the Spirit Qi Filtration affix, which increased cultivation speed and removed impurities from spirit qi.
• Li Yuan equipped the Spirit Stone and learned that cultivating for 100 full circulation cycles would make the affix permanent.
• Li Yuan cultivated with the Spirit Qi Filtration affix and found that spirit qi flowed faster and purer while his injuries began to recover.
• Li Yuan stopped cultivating before his patrol duties were finished.

Li Yuan discovered that he had been assigned a month of dangerous Guard Squad duty starting in twelve days and considered how to break through to Qi Refining Fourth Layer to avoid the rotation. He began cultivating with Spirit Qi Filtration, hoping to make the Affix permanent and gain more options before the deadline.

• Li Yuan read the Guard Squad rotation roster and saw that he was scheduled for duty beginning on the first day of next month.
• Li Yuan considered using the Equipment Panel to find breakthrough-related Affixes, but found that his damaged Dharma Sword could not be equipped and that he lacked the Cleaning Spell needed to equip a Cleaning Talisman.
• Li Yuan decided to focus on rebuilding his cultivation and completing the Permanentization of Spirit Qi Filtration.
• Li Yuan cultivated with the Spirit Guiding Art and raised the Affix's Permanentization progress from 1/100 to 6/100.

Li Yuan collected the Wang Family’s spirit-field rent and discovered that White Jade Rice could grant a useful equipment affix. He left still searching for Qi-Gathering Rice that might help him break through.

• Li Yuan collected a storage pouch from the Management Office and learned that the System could detect it as an equippable item, though he could not equip something he did not own.
• Li Yuan visited the Spirit Field District and collected the Green Jade Rice rent from Uncle Wang, who also gave him a bundle of White Jade Rice.
• Li Yuan’s System revealed the White Jade Rice’s Five Grains Nourishing Qi affix, which improved stamina recovery and Vital Blood, but his equipment slot was already full.
• Li Yuan asked Uncle Wang where to find Qi-Gathering Rice, learned that none was growing in the nearby fields, and left after giving him a receipt.

After collecting rent, Li Yuan learned that rising dangers in the Yuanheng Mountains could affect his upcoming Guard Squad rotation, giving him twelve days to find a way to break through or another solution. He then made a deal with Old Man Zhang to learn the Cleaning Spell, and the System Panel registered his progress as not yet initiated.

• Li Yuan collected Spirit Grain and benefits from more than a dozen spirit farmers, then met Zhou Dazhuang and Sun Liang on the road back to the market.
• Sun Liang celebrated his selection for the Guard Squad, while Zhou Dazhuang warned that Demonic Beasts and Cultivator Bandits had increased around the Yuanheng Mountains and that Rogue Cultivators were disappearing.
• Li Yuan handed ninety percent of his collection benefits to Captain Wang De, received one Spirit Stone, and returned the collected grain and storage bag to the Management Office.
• Li Yuan asked Old Man Zhang to teach him the Cleaning Spell, and they agreed that Li Yuan would promote Old Zhang's stall instead of paying Spirit Stones.
• Old Man Zhang lent Li Yuan the spell booklet and explained its pitfalls, while the System Panel revealed the Cleaning Spell's affix could not be viewed because the booklet did not belong to Li Yuan.
• After studying the spell, Li Yuan saw the System Panel display: Cleaning Spell: Not Yet Initiated (0/100).

Li Yuan practiced the Cleaning Spell, permanentized Clean Physique to unlock a second Equipment Slot, and equipped a Vein-Clearing Pill to accelerate his cultivation. He began cultivating with faster circulation, but noticed that impurities had returned to his meridians without Spirit Qi Filtration.

• Li Yuan saw fresh wanted posters for cultivator bandits while returning to his Wooden Cabin, then cultivated and practiced the Cleaning Spell.
• Li Yuan collected three Spirit Stones and a Vein-Clearing Pill as his monthly pay and discovered the pill granted a fifty-percent increase in circulation speed.
• Over the next three days, Li Yuan patrolled, cultivated, and practiced until he reached Entry Level in the Cleaning Spell.
• Li Yuan removed the Low-Grade Spirit Stone, equipped a Cleaning Talisman, and permanentized Clean Physique, which unlocked a second Equipment Slot.
• Li Yuan equipped the Vein-Clearing Pill and began cultivating, noticing that impurities had appeared in his meridians after Spirit Qi Filtration became inactive.

Li Yuan visited the crowded market and bought the Iron Ox Technique after discovering it could grant a useful Affix. He continued patrolling the streets, searching for more secular techniques to meet the Affix’s permanent unlock condition.

• Li Yuan calculated the Spirit Stone cost of permanently unlocking the Vein-Clearing Pill and headed to the market on his day off.
• He noticed more Rogue Cultivators in the market, likely driven there by trouble in the Yuanheng Mountains.
• Li Yuan bought the Iron Ox Technique for three Spirit Stones after the System Panel identified it as an equippable item.
• In a secluded corner, Li Yuan learned that the technique granted the Viscera Strengthening Affix, which could be permanently unlocked by cultivating two secular techniques to Perfection.
• Li Yuan continued patrolling East Street, North Alley, and West Street while looking for more secular techniques.

Li Yuan equipped the Iron Ox Technique, quickly reached Entry Level, and strengthened his understanding of the technique through the Panel. After weighing his options, he unequipped it and paired the Vein-Clearing Pill with the Spirit Stone, ending the chapter with Spirit Qi Filtration at 52/100 permanent progress.

• Li Yuan equipped the Iron Ox Technique, gained the Viscera Strengthening affix, and absorbed the technique’s complete knowledge.
• Li Yuan practiced the Iron Ox Technique, reached Entry Level in under an hour, and advanced to 18/200 after practicing its second stance.
• Li Yuan decided to prioritize Spirit Qi Filtration and Circulation Acceleration because the Iron Ox Technique and Vein-Clearing Pill could not become permanent soon.
• Li Yuan unequipped the Iron Ox Technique and equipped the Low-Grade Spirit Stone alongside the Vein-Clearing Pill.
• Li Yuan cultivated through the night with both affixes active, raising Spirit Qi Filtration’s permanent progress to 52/100.

Li Yuan patrolled North Alley and East Street as Rogue Cultivators crowded the market, then discovered that a worn jade pendant had a Blue-grade affix. Zhao Wu quietly took the pendant, leaving Li Yuan aware that the ore seller had recognized its value.

• Li Yuan completed thirteen cultivation circulations overnight, bringing Spirit Qi Filtration's permanent progress to 65/100.
• Li Yuan found East Street crowded with new Rogue Cultivator stalls and reminded several vendors to keep the passage clear.
• Li Yuan settled a dispute between an herb seller and Zhao Wu by ordering them to shift their stalls and leave a passageway.
• While helping gather the scattered goods, Li Yuan touched a jade pendant and saw that it was a complete equippable item with a Blue-grade affix.
• Li Yuan returned the pendant to the stall, and Zhao Wu picked it up and concealed it in his sleeve.

Li Yuan completed the permanent affixing of Spirit Qi Filtration and equipped the Iron Ox Technique, gaining Viscera Strengthening and improving his cultivation. He remained suspicious of Zhao Wu’s deserted stall and jade pendant as his spiritual power stayed saturated.

• Li Yuan cultivated for several days, raising Spirit Qi Filtration’s permanence progress while noticing little change in his saturated dantian.
• Li Yuan observed that Zhao Wu’s stall remained deserted and the Blue Trait jade pendant was still hidden among the mineral fragments.
• Li Yuan completed the conditions for permanently affixing Spirit Qi Filtration, and the Panel consumed the equipped item and opened an equipment slot.
• Li Yuan equipped the Iron Ox Technique and gained Viscera Strengthening, easing the strain of circulating Spirit Qi through his body.
• Li Yuan cultivated with Spirit Qi Filtration, Circulation Acceleration, and Viscera Strengthening active, then stopped after more than a dozen cycles.

Li Yuan broke through to Qi Refining, Fourth Layer, after refining his spiritual power and preparing carefully. During his patrol, he noticed signs that Zhao Wu might be plotting something and decided to report his suspicions to Wang De rather than act alone.

• Li Yuan noticed Zhao Wu watching the market entrance and the guards at the Management Office instead of attending to his ore stall.
• Li Yuan used his refined spiritual power and strengthened body to break through the bottleneck, reaching Qi Refining, Fourth Layer.
• After recovering overnight, Li Yuan noticed that most of Zhao Wu's ore scraps had disappeared and that Zhao Wu was sitting more tensely than before.
• Li Yuan overheard Zhao Wu ask a passing Rogue Cultivator about Demonic Beasts and the Guard Squad's manpower.
• Li Yuan suspected Zhao Wu was preparing to act and decided to find Wang De rather than intervene on his own.

Li Yuan reported his suspicions about Zhao Wu to Wang De, then registered his breakthrough to Qi Refining, Fourth Layer and was assigned a vacant deputy captain position. Zhao Wu had fled east, but Wang De said the Guard Squad and Wang Family were already watching him and told Li Yuan not to investigate on his own.

• Li Yuan told Wang De that Zhao Wu had repeatedly watched guards and asked Rogue Cultivators about the Guard Squad's manpower, and Wang De ordered him to keep patrolling without approaching Zhao Wu.
• Li Yuan registered his breakthrough to Qi Refining, Fourth Layer at the Management Office and received a Deputy Captain identity plaque for the Patrol Squad.
• The clerk exempted Li Yuan from the current Guard Squad rotation and told him he would receive a deputy captain's stipend starting the next month.
• Li Yuan learned from a North Alley vendor that Zhao Wu had left early that morning with a bundle and headed east, after a young man had visited him several times.
• Li Yuan told Wang De that Zhao Wu had fled, and Wang De said the Guard Squad and Wang Family already had their eyes on him and warned Li Yuan not to investigate independently.

Li Yuan adjusted to the heavier workload of his Deputy Captain position while steadily practicing the Iron Ox Technique and Spirit Guiding Art. He could not find affordable pills or a suitable second mortal technique, so he continued saving and searching.

• Li Yuan handled disputes and registration tasks as Deputy Captain, then practiced the Iron Ox Technique and cultivated the Spirit Guiding Art at night.
• Li Yuan considered the costs of retaining the Vein-Clearing Pill permanently and found that rising medicinal pill prices left no cheaper substitute.
• Li Yuan searched for a second mortal technique but found that the manuals he inspected could not be equipped or lacked an Affix.
• Over the next few days, Li Yuan kept patrolling and training, advancing the Iron Ox Technique to Entry Level (132/200) and beginning its fourth stance.
• Li Yuan learned that Demonic Beast attacks had reduced herb gathering and pushed Qi Nourishing Pill prices higher; he also found a Jade Statue Art manual with a Gray Trait, but could not afford its five-Spirit-Stone price.

Li Yuan visited the Hidden Merit Pavilion and bought Nurturing Origin Technique, hoping to gain its Qi-Blood Self-Generation trait and satisfy a requirement for making Viscera Strengthening permanent. The System Panel revealed the trait’s effects and conditions, leaving Li Yuan with a long path of training before he could permanently secure both traits.

• Li Yuan searched the Hidden Merit Pavilion’s mundane techniques and found Cloud-Parting Palm, Nurturing Origin Technique, and Mystic Turtle Body with System Panel traits.
• Li Yuan chose Nurturing Origin Technique because it strengthened Vital Blood and could aid recovery, then exchanged seven Contribution Points for it.
• Back at his residence, Li Yuan unsealed the booklet and saw that Qi-Blood Self-Generation increased Vital Blood recovery by fifty percent and accelerated healing.
• Li Yuan learned that permanentizing Qi-Blood Self-Generation required Perfection and twenty-four shichen of cultivation while Qi-Blood Full.
• Li Yuan realized that perfecting Nurturing Origin Technique alongside Iron Ox Technique would let him make Viscera Strengthening permanent before pursuing both traits permanently.

Li Yuan learned that Demonic Beasts were driving Rogue Cultivators into Qinghe Market, where the Wang Family planned to expand housing and stalls. After helping uncover Zhao Wu’s market surveillance, Li Yuan equipped the Nurturing Origin Technique and began practicing it.

• Li Yuan postponed equipping the Nurturing Origin Technique until after his patrol.
• Li Yuan heard that Demonic Beasts were appearing near the outskirts and driving Rogue Cultivators into the market.
• A Management Office clerk gave Li Yuan a notice that the Wang Family would build more houses and rent vacant areas, including empty cabins in the Patrol Inspector residential area.
• Wang De told Li Yuan that Zhao Wu had spent nearly a month studying the market’s defenses and ordered him to watch for similar newcomers without acting alone.
• Li Yuan removed the Iron Ox Technique, equipped the Nurturing Origin Technique, gained Qi-Blood Self-Generation, and began practicing its first form.

Li Yuan quickly learned the Nurturing Origin Technique, then met Fang He, a Monster Hunting Squad cultivator who described the dangers in the Yuanheng Mountains as serious but exaggerated by rumors. He bought White Jade Rice and resumed practicing the Iron Ox Technique and cultivating, with both techniques continuing to advance.

• Li Yuan practiced the Nurturing Origin Technique until it reached Entry Level and sensed that his vital blood flowed more strongly and clearly.
• Fang He introduced himself as Li Yuan’s new neighbor and explained that demonic beasts had pushed outward, though many squad losses resulted from greed or infighting rather than a massive invasion.
• Li Yuan bought one jin of White Jade Rice for a spirit stone while patrolling North Alley.
• After the Iron Ox Technique’s cooldown ended, Li Yuan re-equipped it and practiced it alongside the Nurturing Origin Technique before circulating the Spirit Guiding Art.
• Li Yuan’s Panel showed the Iron Ox Technique at Entry Level (170/200) and the Nurturing Origin Technique at Entry Level (14/200).

Li Yuan completed the fifth form of the Iron Ox Technique and began patrolling as reports showed rising violence around Qinghe Market. The chapter left him continuing his patrol while the market faced growing danger and shortages of combat supplies.

• Li Yuan mastered the fifth form of the Iron Ox Technique, advancing it to Proficient and strengthening his body.
• Liu Ping told Li Yuan that killings by Cultivator Bandits were increasing and that attackers had raided a Rogue Cultivator settlement, killing two people.
• Liu Ping reported that the Wang Family had sent three direct clansmen at the Qi Refining Late Stage to reinforce the Guard Squad.
• Li Yuan saw more Monster Materials for sale and found that his System Panel could not equip any of them.
• Li Yuan learned from Old Zhang that combat Talismans had sold out and grown more expensive, while Old Zhang could not afford to learn how to make Beast-Skin Talisman Paper.

After Li Yuan’s Iron Ox Technique reached the Proficient Realm, he learned he would be assigned to patrol the market district’s dangerous outskirts for extra pay. He returned home, met his new neighbor Chen Shu, and continued training, leaving the Nurturing Origin Technique at 78/200.

• Li Yuan spotted a Spirit Gathering Ring at a roadside stall but could not afford it and continued patrolling without buying anything.
• Li Yuan considered joining the Guard Squad or taking bounty missions to earn Spirit Stones, but rejected the risks of those options.
• Wang De told Li Yuan that the Patrol Squad would temporarily take over outskirts patrols and assigned him a route once every three days for extra compensation.
• Li Yuan agreed to the assignment, which would raise his monthly income to eleven Spirit Stones.
• Li Yuan met Chen Shu, who had moved into the cabin beside Fang He’s, then practiced the Iron Ox Technique, the Nurturing Origin Technique, and the Spirit Guiding Art.

Li Yuan investigated claw marks from a suspected demonic beast near the Spirit Field District and was assigned to lead a team searching for it. Before the mission began, Wang De gave him a Spirit Detection Disk whose Green affix Li Yuan could not equip because his slots were full.

• Farmer He showed Li Yuan trampled Green Jade Rice and large three-toed claw prints at the southern edge of the Spirit Field District.
• Li Yuan followed the tracks until they disappeared, then reported the suspected demonic beast to Wang De, who assigned him to investigate and try to kill it.
• Wang De told Li Yuan that a problem with the South Line patrol had occurred the previous month and said he would investigate it separately.
• Wang De assigned Zhou Dazhuang, Xu Mao, and Lin Xiaowu to assist Li Yuan on a mission starting that afternoon.
• Wang De gave Li Yuan a Spirit Detection Disk, and Li Yuan saw its Green Spirit Sense Expansion affix but could not equip it because both equipment slots were full.
• Wang De informed Li Yuan that his monthly salary had changed to three Spirit Stones and fifteen Contribution Points, and Li Yuan left the station.

Li Yuan used a spirit detection disk to discover that a demonic beast had repeatedly watched the spirit fields from the southern grasslands. After reporting the danger and warning nearby farmers, he learned Zhou Dazhuang had been distracted by his pregnant wife’s worsening condition.

• Li Yuan split the patrol into two groups to search for signs of the demonic beast south and east of the spirit field district.
• Li Yuan used the spirit detection disk to find a flattened resting place with fresh and old claw prints in the southern grasslands.
• Li Yuan concluded the beast had lingered there and could watch the spirit fields, then returned with Zhou Dazhuang to meet Xu Mao and Lin Xiaowu.
• Li Yuan warned nearby spirit farmers to leave before dark and report anything unusual, then reported the findings to Wang De.
• Wang De ordered daily patrols of the spirit field district and assigned Li Yuan to lead them with additional men.
• Zhou Dazhuang told Li Yuan his pregnant wife was seriously ill and that worry about her had disrupted his patrol.

Li Yuan and his patrol team tracked down and killed a First-Order Mid-Grade Demonic Beast that had been damaging the Spirit Field District, then sold its materials and collected a modest mission reward. As the market town grew more crowded and supplies worsened, Li Yuan settled a dispute between Rogue Cultivators during patrol.

• Li Yuan used the Spirit Detection Disk to locate a sleeping Demonic Beast in the southern wasteland grass, and his team surrounded and killed it.
• Li Yuan and the others dismantled the beast and divided its materials according to their contributions; the Panel did not react when Li Yuan touched them.
• Li Yuan reported the hunt to Wang De, sold his share of the materials for fourteen Spirit Stones, and collected two Spirit Stones and eight Contribution Points as a mission reward.
• As the market town became more crowded, Li Yuan intervened when two Rogue Cultivators fought over the quality of a Qi Nourishing Pill and ordered the seller to refund one Spirit Stone.