Chapter Summaries

Li Yuan visited Huode Marketplace, where his Demonic Origin Avatar detected five cultivators carrying traces of demonic qi. He bought a Demonic Spirit Bead with a cultivation-enhancing affix and returned to the Ji Family.

• Li Yuan traveled to Huode Marketplace and learned from a tea shop proprietor that traveling merchants supplied the remote trading hub.
• As he explored the marketplace, Li Yuan sensed faint demonic qi on five Qi Refining cultivators scattered among the crowds and shops.
• Li Yuan’s Entry Perception detected a White affix on a Demonic Spirit Bead in a general goods shop, and he bought it for fifteen spirit stones.
• Li Yuan examined the bead’s Demonic Origin Enhancement affix and its requirement for a demonic technique to reach Perfection, then returned to the Ji Family.

Li Yuan received the Fiend Spirit Banner from Ji Huaiyuan, then tested its energy-fusing ability while cultivating and making talismans in Ghost Mist Forest. After two Qi Refining cultivators joined him nearby, he decided to seek an Array Dao inheritance so he could protect his long-term cultivation site.

• Ji Huaiyuan gave Li Yuan the completed Fiend Spirit Banner, and Li Yuan’s Panel revealed a Blue Trait that could convert and fuse spiritual energy and Fiend Qi.
• Li Yuan equipped the banner, tested the fused energy, and left the Ji Family’s fortified manor for Ghost Mist Forest.
• Li Yuan cultivated until the Soul Condensation Art reached Proficiency, then alternated cultivation with making talismans in a forest clearing.
• Zhou and his junior sister, two Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators, asked to cultivate near Li Yuan, and he accepted their Spirit Stones and allowed them to stay nearby.
• Li Yuan realized his clearing lacked protection and decided to look for a systematic Array Dao inheritance at the next Trading Fair.

Li Yuan attended the second Foundation Establishment Trading Fair and traded six Spirit Water Talismans to Wang Ting'an for a complete inheritance covering three First-Order arrays. After studying the array instructions and buying the required materials, he prepared to return to Ghost Mist Forest to set them up.

• Li Yuan returned to Yunyang Marketplace and joined the second Foundation Establishment Trading Fair.
• Li Ze'an traded an Azure Cloud Clam Jade Pearl for a spirit pond, while other attendees exchanged herbs, pills, and materials.
• Li Yuan asked about hiring an Array Dao expert, and Chen Yi said the Yuanyang Sect's master was away.
• Wang Ting'an offered Li Yuan an inheritance for the Early Warning Array, Spirit Gathering Array, and Golden Light Array in exchange for six Spirit Water Talismans.
• Li Yuan studied the inheritance, bought array materials worth more than four hundred Spirit Stones, and planned to return to Ghost Mist Forest the next day.

Li Yuan set up three formations in Ghost Mist Forest, advanced his Array Dao, and gained a stronger perception Affix by combining three perception traits. He continued cultivating under the formations’ protection, bringing the Azure Wood Longevity Technique to Proficiency.

• Li Yuan independently set up and activated the Early Warning Array, Spirit Gathering Array, and Golden Light Array, creating a protected cultivation encampment.
• Li Yuan discovered Affixes on the three formations’ Array Eyes and permanently converted Spirit Mechanism Sensing into an Affix.
• Li Yuan fused Spirit Sense Amplification, Spirit Sense Expansion, and Spirit Mechanism Sensing into the Permanent Affix Spirit Sense Clarity.
• Li Yuan equipped the remaining Array Eye Affixes and cultivated in the Spirit Gathering Array while Fiend Origin Unification drew in Fiend Qi.
• Li Yuan’s Azure Wood Longevity Technique reached Proficiency, improving its cultivation efficiency and further strengthening his vitality.

Chen Yi hired Li Yuan to guard Ghost Mist Forest long-term, and the Yuanyang Sect installed a large-scale Early Warning Array centered at his residence. With steady Contribution Points, Li Yuan acquired and learned two more Second-Order spells before returning to cultivation.

• Chen Yi offered Li Yuan two hundred Contribution Points per month to protect cultivators and clear Demonic Beasts around Ghost Mist Forest, and Li Yuan accepted.
• Four Yuanyang Sect disciples installed a large-scale Early Warning Array covering the forest outskirts and Mine Cave, with its central node at Li Yuan’s residence.
• Li Yuan used his Contribution Points to exchange for the Second-Order Mystic Light Shield and Origin Condensation Formula.
• Li Yuan practiced until both new spells reached Entry Level, completing a basic set of Second-Order spells for offense, defense, movement, and support.
• Li Yuan resumed cultivating while both Early Warning Arrays monitored the area without detecting any threats.

Li Yuan was approached by a man posing as a rogue cultivator who offered to sell him concentrated fiend qi, but Li Yuan recognized signs of demonic cultivation and survived the man's ambush. After killing him, Li Yuan found evidence linking the attacker to remnants of the Demon Sect and acquired a Demonic Fiend Banner with a Green Trait.

• Li Yuan sensed an unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivator approaching his camp and identified an aura resembling Li Ze'an's.
• The man introduced himself as a rogue cultivator named Fang and offered to supply concentrated fiend qi.
• Fang attacked Li Yuan at close range, but Li Yuan evaded the strike and countered with the Fire Python Technique.
• Li Yuan strengthened his attack with the Origin Condensation Formula, broke through Fang's defenses, and killed him as he fled.
• Li Yuan searched Fang's storage pouch and found blood resembling Li Ze'an's, an aura-disguising orb, and a Demonic Fiend Banner filled with demonic qi.
• Li Yuan concluded that Fang was connected to remnants of the Demon Sect, disposed of the body, and returned to his camp.

Li Yuan absorbed the Demonic Fiend Banner’s stored demonic qi, advancing his Demonic Origin Technique to Proficiency and confirming that his demonic cultivation operated separately from his immortal path. After finding several aura patterns in the disguised demonic cultivator’s Breath Simulation Array Bead, he met Li Ze'an, who asked whether Li Yuan had encountered someone impersonating him.

• Li Yuan alternated the Demonic Origin Technique with the Azure Wood Longevity Art until the Demonic Fiend Banner was emptied and his Demonic Origin Technique reached Proficiency.
• Li Yuan tested his demonic qi on a stone, observed its corrosive properties, and confirmed that his demonic cultivation did not interfere with his Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• Li Yuan inspected his campsite arrays, noted that they needed upgrading to protect against Foundation Establishment cultivators, and examined the spoils from the demonic cultivator.
• Li Yuan discovered that the Breath Simulation Array Bead contained three aura patterns, including Li Ze'an's and two unfamiliar identities, then preserved the demonic cultivator's corpse as evidence.
• Li Ze'an arrived at the campsite and asked Li Yuan to watch for someone using an aura nearly identical to his own.

Li Yuan learned that he had already killed the Demonic Cultivator who had been impersonating Li Ze'an, and received two Red Flame Condensing Essence Pills as thanks. After testing the pills’ Blue Affix, he patrolled near the settlement and tested how Demonic Qi affected a living target.

• Li Ze'an told Li Yuan about the Demonic Cultivator who had impersonated a Li Family Foundation Establishment cultivator and offered him a Red Flame Condensing Essence Pill as a reward for killing the culprit.
• Li Yuan revealed that he had already killed the Demonic Cultivator, and Li Ze'an offered the second pill in exchange for Li Yuan helping clear Demonic Beasts from Lingxi Valley.
• Li Yuan used the Panel to learn that both Red Flame Condensing Essence Pills had the Flame Essence Refinement Affix, which doubled fire-technique proficiency growth and increased fire-attributed spell power by thirty percent.
• Li Yuan headed north to patrol and tested Demonic Qi on a Grey-Maned Wolf, finding that it corroded living creatures on contact but caused limited damage when dispersed.
• Li Yuan ended the Grey-Maned Wolf's suffering with a Fireball Technique.

Li Yuan investigated a demonic cultivator’s attack with Chen Yi, traded Spirit Water Talismans to the Wang Family for advanced array inheritances, and bought materials and spells in Yunyang Marketplace. He built stone houses for the garrison and, after two days of talisman crafting, advanced his Tier 2 Talisman Crafting Art to Proficiency before resuming cultivation.

• Li Yuan reported the demonic cultivator he had killed to Chen Yi, who inspected the corpse, awarded him four thousand Contribution Points, and warned him to report suspicious activity.
• A Wang Family steward bought ten Spirit Water Talismans from Li Yuan for twelve hundred Spirit Stones and gave him two Jade Slips containing Composite Array theory and a Fire-Attribute Attack Array.
• Li Yuan purchased array materials, talisman supplies, pill formulas, and the Earth Manipulation Art in Yunyang Marketplace, where his Entry Perception revealed its Thick Earth Amplification affix.
• Li Yuan used the Earth Manipulation Art to build a stone house for himself and six smaller houses for the cultivators at the garrison.
• Li Yuan crafted talismans for two days, and his Tier 2 Talisman Crafting Art reached Proficiency before he began cultivating.

Li Yuan rebuilt the base’s arrays into a linked defensive system and gained the permanent Blazing Sun Method affix. As more Rogue Cultivators settled there, the base became a small gathering place near Ghost Mist Forest.

• Li Yuan studied the Composite Array inheritance and rebuilt the base’s arrays, linking the Early Warning, Spirit Gathering, Golden Light, and Fire-Attribute Attack Arrays.
• Li Yuan equipped the Fire Element Array Stone, made Fire Element Condensation permanent, and fused three fire-related affixes into the Blazing Sun Method.
• Li Yuan replaced the consumed Fire Sun Stone, restored the Fire-Attribute Attack Array, and completed the four-array defensive system.
• Rogue Cultivators from the Mine Cave and nearby areas began arriving, and Li Yuan let them rent Stone Houses at the base.
• Li Yuan built more Stone Houses as residents gathered, and by month’s end more than a dozen Rogue Cultivators had settled there.

Li Yuan refined two medicinal pills, permanently gained their affixes, and advanced his alchemy skill to mastery. After hearing that news of his settlement was spreading, he continued cultivating and brought the Soul Condensation Art to mastery, greatly improving his divine sense.

• Li Yuan successfully refined a Qi Condensation Pill and made its Mastery affix permanent after meeting the condition.
• Li Yuan refined an Origin Cultivation Pill, made its Abundant Qi-Blood affix permanent, and fused it with Blood-Qi Nourishment into Qi-Blood Vigor.
• Li Yuan refined more pills until his First-Order Alchemy Art reached mastery, then flew to Yunyang Marketplace to buy supplies.
• Li Yuan overheard rogue cultivators discussing his gathering place near the Ghost Mist Forest, where people remained cautious despite reports of its favorable conditions.
• Li Yuan continued cultivating until the Soul Condensation Art reached mastery, strengthening his divine soul and improving his divine sense.

Li Yuan agreed to Yuanyang Sect’s proposal to expand his outpost into an official marketplace, and the sect began construction and array deployment. As the marketplace took shape, Li Yuan advanced his Array Dao and gained a steady supply of fiend-qi-saturated Array Base Stones for cultivation.

• Chen Yi offered Yuanyang Sect’s support to expand Li Yuan’s outpost into a marketplace in exchange for management rules, a sect station, and thirty percent of its income.
• Li Yuan negotiated the terms and agreed to the arrangement, receiving half the marketplace land and seventy percent of its normal operating profits after management costs.
• Yuanyang Sect’s construction team arrived within three days and began building roads and houses while Array Masters deployed five layers of Fiend Gathering Arrays.
• Li Yuan studied the Array Masters’ terrain-based techniques, practiced setting arrays, and advanced his Array Dao from Proficiency to Mastery.
• Li Yuan and Chen Yi agreed that replaced Array Base Stones would belong to Li Yuan, who extracted their stored fiend qi to improve his cultivation.

Li Yuan negotiated several deals at the Foundation Establishment Trading Fair to secure shops and future Spirit Fields around the new marketplace. He left with contracts in place, while the Second-Order water-attribute Medicinal Pill and fiend-type Demonic Beast Core remained to be obtained.

• The Short-Bearded Cultivator described Qinglan Marketplace’s abundant, low-priced goods near the fighting front, but Wang Ting'an warned that it was dangerous.
• Li Ze'an offered a First-Order Demonic Beast cultivation site for ten shops in Li Yuan’s new marketplace, but Li Yuan declined and requested Spirit Stones instead.
• Qin Ruoshuang offered to reclaim one hundred mu of Spirit Fields for Li Yuan in exchange for two shops, and the three parties finalized their linked transaction in signed Jade Slips.
• Li Yuan requested a Second-Order water-attribute Medicinal Pill and a Second-Order fiend-type Demonic Beast Core; Alchemist He agreed to refine the pill when materials were available.
• The Short-Bearded Cultivator agreed to provide the Demonic Beast Core in exchange for use of 1,900 mu of Spirit Fields for thirty years, with Li Yuan arranging defensive formations and a Fiend Gathering Array.
• Li Yuan signed a contract with the Short-Bearded Cultivator, then left the Trading Fair and returned to his courtyard.

The New Marketplace quickly became a busy hub for rogue cultivators, and Chen Yi told Li Yuan that the Yuanyang Sect had assigned him a Fiend Ore vein. Li Yuan detected a trace of Demonic Qi on a traveling merchant and, after consuming a Second-Order fiend-type demonic beast core, permanently affixed Fiend Spirit Conversion as a trait while moving closer to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

• The New Marketplace opened near Ghost Mist Forest and soon drew rogue cultivators and traveling merchants with its convenient location and complete facilities.
• Chen Yi told Li Yuan that the Yuanyang Sect had assigned him a Fiend Ore vein deep in Ghost Mist Forest, where demonic beasts had left traces.
• Li Yuan detected Demonic Qi on a middle-aged traveling merchant in the plaza and decided to observe him before taking action.
• Li Yuan swallowed the Second-Order fiend-type demonic beast core and absorbed its Fiend Qi through Fiend Origin Unification.
• The Panel permanently affixed Fiend Spirit Conversion as Li Yuan's fourth Blue Trait, and the core's energy brought his cultivation closer to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Li Yuan tracked a traveling merchant carrying demonic qi to a hidden space in Ghost Mist Forest, then later confronted him and recovered the merchant’s Token. The Token revealed coordinates to the hidden entrance and confirmed that demonic qi alone could activate it, leaving Li Yuan with a lead on the organization behind it.

• Li Yuan followed the merchant to Rocky Beach and watched him use a demonic qi Token to enter a concealed spatial passage.
• Li Yuan bought a Spirit Essence Bead and made its Spirit Essence Expansion affix permanent, increasing his spiritual energy limit by about twenty percent.
• The merchant returned to the marketplace, and Li Yuan followed him into Ghost Mist Forest again.
• Li Yuan confronted the merchant, but a dark purple Spirit Pattern triggered a self-destruction spell and killed him before Li Yuan could stop it.
• Li Yuan found the merchant’s Token, activated it with demonic qi, and learned the coordinates of Rocky Beach and a three-character codename.

Li Yuan joined Li Ze'an, Zhao the Cultivator, and array master Zhou in Lingxi Valley to clear demonic beasts from the Li Family’s planned spirit-beast grounds. They killed a Lower Second-Order Green-Scaled Water Lizard and cleared the First-Order beasts, then rested before pushing farther into the valley.

• Li Yuan gave Chen Yi the Dharma Protector Token and the traveling merchant’s remaining belongings, and Chen Yi took the Token back to the sect for investigation.
• Li Yuan set up a Fiend Gathering Array at his fiend ore mine, lowering the fiend qi around its entrance.
• Li Ze'an arrived with array master Zhou and took Li Yuan to Lingxi Valley, where Zhao the Cultivator joined them.
• The group reached the Li Family’s proposed spirit-beast grounds and encountered a Lower Second-Order Green-Scaled Water Lizard at a natural pool.
• Li Yuan and Zhao the Cultivator killed the Green-Scaled Water Lizard, then the four cleared the surrounding First-Order demonic beasts.
• The group rested with their spoils still undistributed and planned to continue clearing the valley the next day.

Li Yuan and his companions killed an Azure-Scaled Dragon Lizard in Lingxi Valley, collected its materials, and helped the Li Family establish arrays for a spirit-beast raising site. The chapter ended with Li Yuan setting aside a water-attributed beast core and wondering whether it could help meet the conditions for Hundred Rivers Return to Sea.

• Li Yuan, Li Ze'an, Zhao the Cultivator, and the Array Master found an Azure-Scaled Dragon Lizard in a marsh after Li Yuan killed a small snake that had alerted it.
• Li Yuan and his companions fought together and killed the Second-Order Middle Grade beast before it could return to the water.
• Li Ze'an divided the spoils, and Li Yuan received a Lower Second-Order water-attributed beast core along with scales and bones.
• Senior Brother Zhou set up Defense and Cultivation Arrays in the valley for the Li Family's planned spirit-beast raising site.
• Li Yuan returned to the marketplace and stored the beast core separately, unsure whether it could satisfy the conditions for Hundred Rivers Return to Sea.

Li Yuan permanently retained Hundred Rivers Return to Sea and unlocked a Special Trait Equipment Slot, then learned more about the Dark Abyss Society from Chen Yi. While expanding the Fiend Gathering Arrays in the Fiend Ore mine, Li Yuan discovered that the mine vein could be equipped once he fully explored it and ventured deeper inside.

• Li Yuan swallowed a Red Flame Condensing Essence Pill and a water-element beast core, permanently retained Hundred Rivers Return to Sea, and unlocked a Special Trait Equipment Slot.
• Chen Yi told Li Yuan that the Dark Abyss Society was a loose Demonic Cultivator network whose strongholds suppressed non-Demonic Cultivators, and that a larger force might be backing it.
• Chen Yi instructed Li Yuan to stay vigilant and monitor anyone carrying demonic qi without alerting them.
• Li Yuan flew to the Fiend Ore mine and began setting up a third layer of Fiend Gathering Array deeper in the Mine Tunnel.
• The Panel identified the entire Fiend Vein as a special equipment target, but Li Yuan had to explore the incomplete mine vein before he could equip it.
• Li Yuan finished the array work at hand and continued deeper into the mine, absorbing the rising Fiend Qi with Fiend Origin Unification.

Li Yuan fully explored the Fiend Ore vein and equipped it as special equipment, gaining an efficient supply of Fiend Qi and insight into the vein’s circulation and growth. He left the mine considering whether he could find a Spirit Vein to equip as well.

• Li Yuan explored the mine’s side passages, memorized its layout, and found abandoned nests and signs of demonic beasts.
• Li Yuan killed a Fiend Scorpion and two Fiend Centipedes, collecting the scorpion’s stinger and pincers.
• Li Yuan reached the ore vein’s central cavity and completed his exploration, unlocking the Fiend Vein as an equippable special item.
• Li Yuan equipped the Fiend Vein, causing Fiend Qi to circulate through it and flow directly to him while revealing the condition of its Sha Ore Stones.
• Li Yuan considered searching Ghost Mist Forest for a Spirit Vein, then left the Fiend Ore mine.

Li Yuan oversaw Wulin Marketplace as its shops and departments began operating, then sold permanent rights to five storefronts and used the proceeds to buy an earth-element cultivation art. He advanced Thick Earth True Art, permanently converted two traits, and strengthened his earth-element spells.

• Li Yuan inspected the newly opened shops and marketplace departments, including the Array Maintenance Team and Qin Ruoshuang’s spirit-field reclamation project.
• Li Yuan named the marketplace Wulin Marketplace, and its first monthly report showed his share of the income was less than one hundred spirit stones.
• Li Yuan sold permanent operating rights to five prime storefronts for four thousand spirit stones and traveled to Yunyang Marketplace to buy Thick Earth True Art.
• Li Yuan began cultivating Thick Earth True Art and permanently converted Spirit Gathering Pulse into a Permanent Affix.
• Li Yuan raised Thick Earth True Art to Major Accomplishment, permanently converted Thick Earth Amplification, and enhanced his earth-element spells.