Chapter Summaries

Li Yuan discovered a Dark Abyss Society supply point, seized a Spirit-Demon Conversion Array Core, and made its fusion effect a permanent affix. He used the sealed Large Spirit Vein beneath Mo Province to build a concealed nine-layer conversion array that generated a dense demonic qi environment, then prepared to use the Demonic Qi Dantai Core.

• Li Yuan intercepted a message about a weakly guarded supply point and killed its two Foundation Establishment Early Stage demonic cultivators.
• He found the Spirit-Demon Conversion Array and its core, equipped the core, and permanently gained the Spirit-Demon Initial Fusion affix.
• Li Yuan gathered formation materials, traveled to Mo Province, and opened a tiny vent in the restrictions sealing the Large Spirit Vein.
• He concealed the vent and constructed nine nested Spirit-Demon Conversion Arrays around the core.
• Li Yuan drew spiritual qi from the Large Spirit Vein and produced a powerful concentration of demonic qi.
• He took out the Black Square Box containing the Demonic Qi Dantai Core.

Li Yuan used the Demonic Qi Dantai Core and his powerful foundation to form a Demonic Qi Golden Core. He reached the Early Golden Core Stage with a Mid-Grade core and considered breaking it to attempt a higher-grade formation.

• Li Yuan activated Dantai Creation and chose to increase the difficulty of Golden Core Formation, raising his net success rate while lowering the potential quality of his core.
• Li Yuan drew demonic qi from the Spirit-Demon Conversion Array and used Perfect Control to condense it into True Essence.
• Li Yuan fused Life-Bound Essence Blood with the True Essence, then imprinted his spiritual power into the resulting core.
• Li Yuan successfully formed a Mid-Grade Demonic Qi Golden Core and reached the Early Golden Core Stage.
• Li Yuan considered shattering his core to attempt a higher-grade Golden Core formation.

After forming a Demonic Qi Golden Core, Li Yuan made several traits permanent, strengthened his abilities, and investigated the spirit vein beneath Mo Province. Back in Wulin Marketplace, he planned to shatter his current core and form a Supreme Grade Spiritual Power Golden Core.

• Li Yuan absorbed the demonic qi remaining after Golden Core Formation and permanently converted several traits, including Demonic Core Creation, Longevity Solidification, and Spirit Vein Spirit Accumulation.
• Li Yuan equipped the Essence Condensing Herb and Snake Scale Bracers, gaining boosts to his essence, qi, and spirit and a passive reduction in damage.
• Li Yuan used his expanded divine sense to trace the Large Spirit Vein to ancient seals pointing toward the region where the Remnants had been.
• Li Yuan shut down the nine Spirit-Demon Conversion Arrays, returned through the Teleportation Stone to Liang Province, and went back to Wulin Marketplace.
• Li Yuan resolved to use permanent Demonic Core Creation to shatter his Demonic Qi Golden Core and then pursue a Supreme Grade Spiritual Power Golden Core.

Li Yuan reorganized the market’s staffing and rules while preparing to shatter his Demonic Qi Golden Core and reform it with spiritual power. As Tianyue Sect expanded its influence at the Outpost and the Dark Abyss Society moved toward Mo Province, Li Yuan maintained his cover and tested the expanded concealment and surveillance granted by his Golden Core cultivation.

• Li Yuan ordered Ji Wenchuan to balance the market’s depleted staff among the Wang Family, Ji Family, Rogue Cultivators, and Mingyuan Chamber of Commerce, and imposed new warehouse, patrol, and tax rules.
• Li Yuan examined his Demonic Qi Golden Core and planned to use Mo Province’s spirit vein, formations, medicines, and restorative pills to prepare for Pill Shattering and Reformation.
• Chen Yi told Li Yuan that Tianyue Sect had sent more Foundation Establishment Late Stage disciples to the Outpost, begun directing exploration teams, and increased the market’s supply demands.
• Li Yuan intercepted Dark Abyss Society messages revealing that a team was heading to the Stone Cave where he had taken the Demonic Qi Dantai Core and that the society was concentrating its strongholds.
• Li Yuan tested Ghostly Concealment and Dark Fiend Insight, confirming that he could mask his Golden Core pressure and monitor more than half of Ghost Mist Forest.

Li Yuan investigated the Abyss Rift, discovered a faint pulse connected to the Jade Bead and evidence of the Dark Abyss Society’s prior interest, then set up monitoring arrays around the rift. He left after killing an agitated Poison Mist Spider and completing the final array.

• Li Yuan equipped the Fiend Vein beneath Ghost Mist Marketplace and decided to reserve his last special slot for control of the Large Spirit Vein in Mo Province.
• Li Yuan traveled into Ghost Mist Forest and sensed a faint pulse from the Abyss Rift that shared an origin with the Jade Bead sealed in the Mysterious Nether Branch Hall.
• Li Yuan found an abandoned Dark Abyss Society stronghold and recovered formation materials and a Jade Slip containing a partial map of the Abyss Rift.
• Li Yuan established three concealed Monitoring Arrays around the rift to detect approaching cultivators and Demonic Beasts.
• A Poison Mist Spider charged toward Li Yuan’s third array node, and Li Yuan killed it with Void-Splitting Slash before completing the array.

Li Yuan discovered the three factions’ spies closing in on the Abyss Rift and learned that powerful Tianyue Sect and Fiend Demon Sect Golden Core cultivators would soon arrive. He uncovered ancient underground passage vents in Ghost Mist Forest and accelerated preparations to shatter and reform his core, leaving his Golden Body Technique newly advanced.

• Li Yuan observed Yuanyang Sect, Dark Abyss Society, and Tianyue Sect spies cautiously moving through Ghost Mist Forest as their searches neared the Abyss Rift.
• Xu Zhang delivered intelligence that a Late Golden Core Stage Tianyue Sect Elder was approaching and that Blood Fiend, a Late Golden Core Stage Fiend Demon Sect cultivator, was stationed at Black Water Valley.
• Li Yuan analyzed three anomalous sites and found that their Earth Vein branches connected to ancient underground passages, then recorded their locations and confirmed their demonic qi signals shared a source.
• Li Yuan reviewed his Golden Core Formation preparations and decided to use a spirit vein in Mo Province to pursue a Supreme Grade Golden Core.
• Li Yuan cultivated through the night, advancing his Golden Body Technique from Mastery to Minor Accomplishment.

Li Yuan reached second-order alchemy perfection after refining high-grade Spirit-Condensing Pills and supreme-grade Fiend-Condensing Pills. To advance further and prepare for Pill Shattering and Reformation, he planned a trip to Baijing Marketplace to seek third-order pill formulas and materials.

• Li Yuan used his Golden Core Realm cultivation and improved spiritual power to refine three furnaces of Spirit-Condensing Pills, producing high-grade and supreme-grade pills.
• Li Yuan added pure Fiend Qi to the Fiend-Condensing Pill formula and refined two second-order supreme-grade pills with enhanced medicinal effects.
• Li Yuan's alchemy proficiency advanced from second-order major accomplishment to second-order perfection, leaving third-order alchemy as the next step.
• Li Yuan asked Xu Zhang for third-order pill formulas, but Xu Zhang said the chamber's headquarters would take at least a month to transfer them.
• Xu Zhang suggested Baijing Marketplace, and Li Yuan decided to go there for third-order pill formulas and Pill Shattering and Reformation materials.

Li Yuan traveled to Baijing Marketplace, collected several new Permanent Affixes, and bought the Tianyuan Pill formula and ingredients from the Mingyuan Chamber of Commerce. He attempted to refine a Third-Order pill but failed at the core condensation step, leaving him aware that he needed more practice weaving stable Spirit Power Lines.

• Li Yuan entered Baijing Marketplace in disguise and bought a Blood Fossil, Yangyuan Resin, and Spirit Pattern Fragment, turning their affixes into Permanent Affixes.
• Li Yuan visited the Mingyuan Chamber of Commerce and purchased the Tianyuan Pill formula for eight hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and a set of ingredients for three hundred more.
• Li Yuan studied the Tianyuan Pill formula at his Stone House in Wulin Marketplace and began refining the pill.
• Li Yuan failed to stabilize the Spirit Power Lines while constructing the Core Condensation Field, causing the furnace batch to collapse into charred residue.
• Li Yuan identified his lack of experience weaving stable Spirit Power Lines as the cause of failure and resolved to improve through further attempts.

Disguised as a wandering Rogue Cultivator, Li Yuan met Elder Shen and learned that three keys were needed to open the Mysterious Nether Sect's Abyssal Secret Cave. He made a pact to supply the Remnants in exchange for their underground guidance, then detected the Dark Abyss Society's treasure retrieval team entering the ruins and chose to wait.

• Li Yuan disguised himself and approached the Remnants' settlement, showing Elder Shen relics from the Mysterious Nether Sect's Flow Guidance System.
• Elder Shen told Li Yuan that three keys were needed to open the Abyssal Secret Cave: a Jade Bead, an unknown pattern, and a key at the Sect Master's Private Chamber.
• Elder Shen offered supplies and array support in exchange for underground guides and help cultivating spirit plants, and Li Yuan agreed to deliver supplies within three days.
• Li Yuan sensed the Dark Abyss Society's treasure retrieval team moving through the Flow Guidance System toward the Stone Cave where the Demonic Qi Dantai Core had been stored.
• Li Yuan tracked the five cultivators and headed back toward the Teleportation Array, deciding to let them search unsuccessfully before acting.

Li Yuan learned the Dark Abyss Society’s contact signals and supply route while tracking its squad to the Stone Cave, where the cultivators found the treasure missing. He killed all five, seized their intelligence, and left the cave without a trace, gaining a map that could expose the Society’s logistics outside Ghost Mist Forest.

• Li Yuan intercepted the squad leader’s secret transmission and recorded the Contact Signal, North Line supply route, and instructions for the mission.
• The Dark Abyss Society squad opened the Stone Cave and found the Black Square Box empty, then turned back to report their failure.
• Li Yuan ambushed the five cultivators at the cave entrance, killed them within three breaths, and gained the Body Protection Permanent Affix as he withstood a full-force hammer strike.
• Li Yuan collected the squad’s storage bags and intelligence Jade Slips, copied the Society’s contact signals and supply route, and destroyed the originals.
• Li Yuan burned the corpses, restored the Stone Cave’s restrictions, and returned toward the Teleportation Array with the North Line route map.

Li Yuan discovered a Dark Abyss Society base beneath the Mystic Stone Mine and learned that its Demonic Cultivators were widening an underground passage toward the Ruins in Ghost Mist Forest. He left the base undisturbed to preserve his intelligence, then successfully refined and equipped a Tianyuan Pill, advancing his alchemy to Third-Order Entry Level.

• Li Yuan compared Dark Fiend Insight's monitoring data with the North Line supply route map and located a Dark Abyss Society base beneath the Mystic Stone Mine.
• He found thirteen Demonic Cultivators in the base and discovered they were widening a fissure to create an underground route into the Ruins region.
• Li Yuan chose not to attack the base so the Dark Abyss Society would not realize its North Line had been infiltrated, and he collected a Mystic Stone from abandoned mine waste.
• Back at the Stone House, Li Yuan corrected his spirit power weaving and successfully refined a Third-Order Low-Grade Tianyuan Pill.
• Li Yuan equipped the Tianyuan Pill, gaining its Blue affix, and his alchemy proficiency advanced to Third-Order Entry Level.

Li Yuan explored the Black Water Waterfall’s restricted passages and found a secret art for using a Golden Core to refine a Life-Bound Dharma Artifact, along with a Danyuan Jade Tablet that could let him safely detach his core. After returning to Liang Province, he learned that Tianyue Sect and Yuanyang Sect had uncovered the Mysterious Nether Branch Hall’s outer gate, and he assessed its restrictions at the Outpost.

• Li Yuan traveled with A-Cheng through the underground passages to the Black Water Waterfall and found a side chamber beside its heavily restricted opening.
• Li Yuan broke the side chamber’s restriction and discovered a Bamboo Slip describing how to temper a Life-Bound Dharma Artifact with a Golden Core, plus a Jade Tablet that granted the Danyuan Detachment Affix.
• Li Yuan concluded that the Jade Tablet could let him use his transitional Demonic Qi Golden Core to improve his Dharma Artifact before forming a new Golden Core.
• Ji Wenchuan told Li Yuan that Tianyue Sect’s Array Masters and Yuanyang Sect had found a huge Mysterious Nether Sect Stone Gate beneath Ghost Mist Forest and requested supplies and a meeting.
• Li Yuan brought supplies to the Outpost, identified the Stone Gate as the Mysterious Nether Branch Hall’s outer main gate, and estimated that breaking its restrictions would take at least twenty days.

Li Yuan uncovered Tianyue Sect’s hidden communications at the outpost and infiltrated a Fiend Demon Sect transit station to gather intelligence about its plans and the wider cultivation world. He returned to the market with new information and an Artifact Refining Manual, while tensions against Tianyue Sect emerged across multiple sects.

• Li Yuan discovered three concealed Messaging Arrays beneath Yuanyang Sect’s outpost, learned that True Person Xuanpu would arrive in three days, and heard that fighting on the front had recently quieted.
• Li Yuan disguised himself as a Demonic Cultivator and entered the First Transit Station, where a guard told him that a Golden Core Elder was coming with items connected to the Abyssal Secret Cave in Mo Province.
• The guard revealed that three underground passages were in use, the next supply batch would arrive in seven days through the Third Transit Station, and the Second Transit Station would soon be dismantled.
• Li Yuan learned from the guard that the world’s spiritual energy was declining and that there were no Spirit Transformation sects, then left through a backup passage.
• Li Yuan bought an Artifact Refining Manual from Xu Zhang and learned that Yuanyang Sect and the Three Sects of Jing Province resented Tianyue Sect’s conduct.

After Yuanyang Sect withdrew its Deacons, Li Yuan accepted help from Mingyuan Chamber of Commerce and established rules that placed the marketplace’s factions under mutual checks. He then advanced his alchemy and artifact-refining skills, gained a permanent fire-element Affix, and ended the chapter seeking a water-element cultivation method.

• Ji Wenchuan told Li Yuan that Yuanyang Sect had withdrawn every Deacon from Ghost Mist Marketplace, leaving the marketplace short-staffed.
• Xu Zhang offered six experienced Chamber Stewards, and Li Yuan accepted them while reserving the right to set the rules.
• Li Yuan established joint warehouse signatures, rotating cross-faction patrols, and mutual audits, consolidating control of the marketplace through interlocking systems.
• Li Yuan refined a stable Third-Order Low-Grade Tianyuan Pill and raised his alchemy proficiency.
• Li Yuan reached First-Order Mastery in artifact refining, made Fire Element Speed Boost permanent with a Flame Blade, and found that the Water Spirit Sword’s Affix required a water-element cultivation method.
• Li Yuan decided to find a water-element cultivation method so he could satisfy future Permanent Affix conditions.

Li Yuan attended a larger Trading Fair in Yunyang Marketplace, gathered news about the region, and bought a Golden Body Armor crafting method and a Second-Order Illusion Technique. After returning, he advanced his First-Order artifact refining to Major Accomplishment and began studying the path toward Second-Order artifacts.

• Chen Yi told Li Yuan about the Trading Fair, and Li Yuan decided to attend.
• At the fair, Li Yuan heard Rogue Cultivators and Lineage cultivators discuss unrest, sects, and opportunities in Liang Province and beyond.
• Li Yuan bought an iron plate containing the Golden Body Armor crafting method for twenty-five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Li Yuan bought a Second-Order Illusion Technique Jade Slip for two hundred Spirit Stones.
• Back at the marketplace, Li Yuan experimented with First-Order artifact forging until his Artifact Refining Attainment advanced to First-Order Major Accomplishment.
• Li Yuan examined the Golden Body Armor patterns and prepared to study Second-Order artifact refining.

Li Yuan returned to Baijing Marketplace to restock pill ingredients and buy materials for a Golden Body Armor, then refined the Second-Order artifact in a rented workshop. He left with a new Earth Escape affix and a completed armor whose defensive affix still required combat testing to become permanent.

• Li Yuan bought Tianyuan Pill ingredients and Second-Order artifact-refining materials at the Mingyuan Chamber of Commerce.
• Li Yuan purchased an Earth Vein Grass, equipped it, and gained the permanent Earth Escape Micro-Speed affix.
• Li Yuan noticed Tianyue Sect disciples buying underground exploration equipment in bulk.
• Li Yuan rented a Second-Order artifact-refining room at Cloud Furnace Workshop and forged the Golden Body Armor after three failed attempts.
• Li Yuan reached First-Order Perfection in artifact refining and discovered that the Golden Body Armor offered the Indestructible Golden Body affix, which required it to withstand three full-force attacks to become permanent.
• Li Yuan packed away the Golden Body Armor and left Baijing Marketplace after nightfall.

Li Yuan cultivated with the Fiend Vein, upgraded the marketplace’s defenses, and prepared pills while keeping his Golden Core abilities concealed. After True Person Xuanpu summoned him to discuss the Ghost Mist Forest, Li Yuan inspected the Tianyue Sect’s monitoring arrays and studied their advanced design.

• Li Yuan used Sha Vein Nourishment to cultivate the Golden Body Technique through the night, then rebuilt the marketplace’s defenses as a three-layer array system over five days.
• Li Yuan refined Fiend-Condensing Pills and Tianyuan Pills, improving his alchemy proficiency as the marketplace’s pill shop attracted more customers.
• Ji Wenchuan delivered a summons from True Person Xuanpu, and Li Yuan concealed his Golden Core-related possessions and suppressed his aura before traveling to the outpost.
• True Person Xuanpu questioned Li Yuan about the Ghost Mist Forest and Fiend Demon Sect, and Li Yuan answered only with information appropriate to a marketplace manager.
• Li Yuan discovered that the Tianyue Sect had installed Third-Order Monitoring Arrays throughout the outpost and memorized their nested Spatial Folding design for further study.

Li Yuan joined the exploration team as it opened the Stone Gate and discovered a damaged Jade Bead sustaining the Mysterious Nether Branch Hall’s Mist Formation. The formation’s change drew three Golden Core cultivators to the site, and Li Yuan left with the Foundation Establishment team while the leaders stayed to negotiate.

• Li Yuan received a deployment order and joined the Tianyue and Yuanyang Sect disciples heading into Abyss Rift.
• The Array Masters opened the Stone Gate, and the team found the inner main hall emptied of its former contents.
• The team discovered a cracked Jade Bead sustaining the Mist Formation, and the Array Masters said removing it safely would take fifteen to twenty days.
• Li Yuan detected the arrival of True Person Blood Fiend and two Yuanyang Sect Golden Core cultivators after the formation’s energy pulses intensified.
• True Person Xuanpu, the Yuanyang Sect Elder, and True Person Blood Fiend briefly tested one another’s power before agreeing to talk.
• The Foundation Establishment cultivators withdrew from the Branch Hall, and Chen Yi complained to Li Yuan that their team had been used as expendable scouts.

Li Yuan raided the Second Transit Station, killing its five guards and recovering supply records, codes, and a demonic qi spell. After mastering Dark Erosion Finger, he made the Mystic Stone’s Demonic Qi Condensation affix permanent, strengthening his demonic qi and broadening his combat options.

• Li Yuan used Illusion Technique and Void-Splitting Slash to kill all five demonic cultivators at the Second Transit Station in two breaths.
• Li Yuan searched the station, copied its supply and movement records and coded Jade Slip, and found an Array Pattern Engraving Plate.
• Li Yuan discovered that Fiend Demon Sect had sent an Early Golden Core Stage cultivator toward Mo Province with something connected to the Abyssal Secret Cave, and obtained the Dark Erosion Finger spell.
• Li Yuan practiced Dark Erosion Finger until it reached Entry Level, piercing a Second-Order spiritual power shield and a Spirit Iron plate.
• Li Yuan unequipped the Essence Condensing Herb and equipped the Mystic Stone, making its Demonic Qi Condensation affix permanent and increasing the density of his demonic qi.

Li Yuan lured a Fiend Demon Sect Golden Core Cultivator into an abandoned passage of the Flow Guidance System and killed him with carefully prepared arrays and spells. He defeated the cultivator’s three attendants as well and began collecting the spoils.

• Li Yuan detected the Fiend Demon Sect group searching for an entrance to the Flow Guidance System in Mo Province.
• Li Yuan prepared an ambush in an abandoned Mine Tunnel and planted traces to lure the Golden Core Cultivator inside.
• Li Yuan trapped the three Foundation Establishment Late Stage attendants outside and forced their commander into the passage.
• Li Yuan fought the Early Golden Core Stage Fiend Demon Sect cultivator, overcame his defenses, and killed him with Void-Splitting Slash.
• Li Yuan’s arrays killed the three attendants, and his Void-Splitting Slash and Dark Erosion Finger advanced as he started gathering the spoils.