Chapter Summaries

Li Yuan traded the spoils from the demonic beasts for a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone and equipped it to upgrade Spirit Qi Filtration into Pure Spirit Power. He continued cultivating through the night in the He Family herb garden, benefiting from faster, purer spirit power.

• He Qing brought Li Yuan fifty-three Spirit Stones for the three First-Order Mid-Grade Demonic Beasts and explained the He Family needed to conserve its resources.
• Li Yuan traded a Short Saber, six Fireball Talismans, six Basic Talismans, and twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones for a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.
• Li Yuan's panel revealed that equipping the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone would upgrade Spirit Qi Filtration to Pure Spirit Power, increasing cultivation speed and purifying his spirit power.
• Li Yuan removed the Hundred Meridians Origin Return Art from an Equipment Slot and equipped the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, activating Pure Spirit Power.
• Li Yuan tested his cultivation and Fireball Technique, then cultivated through the night as his spirit power grew faster and purer.

Li Yuan’s improved spirit power helped him make Rejuvenation Talismans while he learned how the He Family relied on its ties to the Wang Family. When four demonic beasts attacked the herb garden that night, he killed three and captured the fourth to investigate why the beasts kept coming.

• Li Yuan drew Rejuvenation Talismans more steadily after noticing that his cultivation speed had improved.
• Two He Family cultivators told Li Yuan that their family relied on herb sales, array work, and its alliance with the Wang Family to survive.
• Four demonic beasts attacked the herb garden, and Li Yuan and the He Family cultivators fought them off.
• Li Yuan killed three beasts and captured a badger-like demon that tried to circle the garden.
• Li Yuan examined the captured beast but found no sign of tampering, then ordered the He Family cultivators to lock it up until morning.

Li Yuan learned that demonic beasts were troubling the He Family and other territories while he trained with Blood-Qi Pills and advanced his talisman crafting. The chapter left him guarding the herb garden as reports of beast attacks and assaults by unknown cultivators signaled growing danger.

• He Qing told Li Yuan that recurring demonic beast attacks had damaged the He Family's spirit fields and asked that the captured badger demon be examined.
• He Qing said he had no medicinal supplies or talisman materials for Li Yuan, but traveling merchants might arrive in two days.
• Li Yuan consumed six Blood-Qi Pills while practicing the Nurturing Origin Technique, strengthening his blood qi and saving the final pill to equip later.
• Li Yuan rotated among several kinds of talismans, and his Warning Talisman proficiency reached the Proficient Realm.
• He Family guards reported that the Chen Family had faced a led attack by demonic beasts and that unknown cultivator squads were attacking rogue cultivator settlements.
• Li Yuan continued cultivating in the herb garden as distant demonic beast roars sounded beyond its formation.

Li Yuan traded Fireball Talismans to Elder Chen for the Vajra Talisman method and agreed to make Rejuvenation Talismans, while the Chen and He Families discussed defensive arrays. After buying supplies and Fiend Essence Pills from a Traveling Merchant, Li Yuan permanently acquired the Vitality Surge affix and prepared to practice drawing Talismans.

• Li Yuan delivered forty-six Fireball Talismans to Elder Chen and received the Vajra Talisman method and Spirit Stones in return.
• Li Yuan agreed to make ten Rejuvenation Talismans for Elder Chen, who asked He Qing to arrange Warning Arrays or Defense Arrays for the Chen Family's territory.
• Li Yuan bought Green-Veined Paper, Spirit Ink, and Wood-Nurturing Pills from a Traveling Merchant, then noticed and purchased a bottle of Fiend Essence Pills.
• Li Yuan consumed the Wood-Nurturing Pills while wearing a Rejuvenation Talisman and permanently acquired the Vitality Surge affix.
• Li Yuan arranged his Talisman-making supplies and began preparing to draw more Talismans.

Li Yuan responded to an attack on the He Family’s southern herb garden, but the intruders escaped with the Jade Essence Flower. The herb garden was left ruined, and the wounded Uncle Zhou had lost the chance to use the flower to advance his cultivation.

• Li Yuan consumed four Fiend Essence Pills to temper his body, then practiced drawing talismans.
• Two He Family disciples told Li Yuan that attackers were raiding the southern herb garden, and he hurried there with them.
• Li Yuan used a Fireball Technique to interrupt two attackers fighting Uncle Zhou, the He Family’s Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator.
• The Qi Refining Seventh Layer leader took the Jade Essence Flower and ordered the intruders to retreat; Li Yuan’s fireball failed to stop them.
• A He Family disciple explained that the Jade Essence Flower could help make a Foundation Establishment Pill and had been intended to help Uncle Zhou break through to the seventh layer.
• Li Yuan surveyed the ruined garden and considered that the He Family’s strongest remaining fighter was only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

After moving to the He Family’s main compound to help defend it, Li Yuan studied the Vajra Talisman and reached Entry Level. He learned that its Iron Membrane Protection trait required blood from nine different Demonic Beasts, then resumed tempering and cultivation as trouble continued around the compound.

• He Qing asked Li Yuan to move from the herb garden to the main compound for three additional Spirit Stones a day, and Li Yuan accepted.
• Li Yuan moved into the main compound and began practicing the Vajra Talisman, learning to control Spirit Power at its dense patterns, connections, and sharp turns.
• Li Yuan successfully crafted a Vajra Talisman, whose panel previewed the White trait Iron Membrane Protection and a permanent transformation condition requiring blood from nine different Demonic Beast species.
• After two days of practice, Li Yuan reached Vajra Talisman Entry Level and had three finished talismans.
• Li Yuan watched the He Family repair a wall damaged by Demonic Beasts, swallowed two Fiend Essence Pills, and circulated the Nurturing Origin Technique.
• When hurried footsteps sounded outside, Li Yuan opened the door to respond.

Li Yuan completed his garrison duty at the He Family compound as repeated attacks forced the family to abandon its estate and migrate under Wang Family protection. Back at the mine, he learned that its staff had dwindled and decided to save his Scripture Pavilion quota for a potentially better opportunity.

• Li Yuan defended the He Family compound against repeated demonic beast attacks and intruders, collecting blood samples from four kinds of beasts.
• He Qing told Li Yuan that the He Family had decided to migrate, and a Wang Family cultivator ended Li Yuan’s garrison mission and gave him a Scripture Pavilion quota.
• Li Yuan left the He Family compound and returned to the mine, where Steward Liu told him that two cultivators had been transferred and the captives had been taken away.
• Steward Liu advised Li Yuan to save his quota in case he could transfer to a department with a better Scripture Pavilion, such as the Talisman Hall.
• Li Yuan counted the four kinds of demonic beast blood he had collected and headed toward the low house.

Li Yuan used fiend qi tempering to accelerate the Nurturing Origin Technique, perfected it, and made Qi-Blood Self-Generation permanent. At the Trading Fair, he bought body-tempering liquids and the last five kinds of Demonic Beast blood he needed, then made Iron Membrane Protection permanent and prepared to pursue the Iron Wall Body Refining Art.

• Li Yuan combined Fiend Qi Body Tempering with the Nurturing Origin Technique, reaching Perfection after several days of accelerated cultivation.
• Li Yuan cultivated with Qi-Blood Fullness until Qi-Blood Self-Generation became a Permanent Affix, freeing an Equipment Slot.
• Li Yuan attended the larger Trading Fair and bought three body-tempering formulas, five kinds of Demonic Beast blood, and talisman-making supplies.
• Li Yuan drank blood from nine different Demonic Beasts and made Iron Membrane Protection permanent, strengthening his skin and meridians.
• Li Yuan put away the body-tempering liquids needed for the Iron Wall Body Refining Art and left his Low House as night fell.

Li Yuan began tempering his body with three medicinal formulas while advancing his talisman crafting to Mastery. He left the Mine to take the Talisman Hall assessment and continued toward the Hall after meeting Talisman Master Yu on the road.

• Li Yuan soaked in Iron Bone Liquid, Mystic Armor Decoction, and Crimson Marrow Paste to begin a full body-tempering cycle.
• Li Yuan practiced several talismans until he reached Mastery in Tier 1 Talisman Crafting Art.
• Li Yuan told Steward Liu he intended to take the Talisman Hall assessment, and Steward Liu gave him his Mine settlement and other earnings.
• Li Yuan left the Mine the next morning and traveled toward the Talisman Hall.
• Li Yuan met Talisman Master Yu on the road, told him he was going to take the assessment, and continued toward the Hall.

Li Yuan passed the Talisman Hall assessment by drawing several first-order Talismans and learning to make a Breath-Concealing Talisman. He received the method and temporary lodging, where he began practicing to improve his low success rate.

• Li Yuan drew one of each Talisman he claimed to know, passed with four successful Talismans, and was asked to make a Breath-Concealing Talisman.
• Li Yuan studied the unfamiliar Concealment Pattern and succeeded on his seventh attempt, passing the second part of the assessment.
• The examiner Talisman Master told Li Yuan to stay in temporary lodging while his employment was processed and gave him the Breath-Concealing Talisman method.
• Li Yuan met Talisman Master Yu outside the East Courtyard, told him he had passed, and watched him leave in surprise.
• Li Yuan settled into his lodging and began practicing the Breath-Concealing Talisman again.

Li Yuan settled into the Talisman Hall, received his Grade C Talisman Master badge and supplies, and learned how assignments and contributions worked. After speaking with Talisman Master Wei and practicing talismans, he completed the second round of his body-tempering medicinal baths.

• Li Yuan chose a stone house in the Talisman Hall and continued cultivating while taking his second round of body-tempering baths.
• A Talisman Hall cultivator brought Li Yuan to the Steward, who transferred his identity, issued his Grade C Talisman Master badge and basic supplies, and confirmed his Scripture Pavilion quota.
• Li Yuan returned to his residence, organized the supplies, and practiced Fireball, Rejuvenation, and Vajra Talismans.
• Li Yuan met Talisman Master Wei, who explained that current assignments focused on combat Talismans and described how contributions, material costs, and advances worked.
• Li Yuan completed his final Crimson Marrow Paste bath, finishing the second round of all three body-tempering medicinal liquids.

Li Yuan chose the Spirit-Refining Talisman crafting method from the Talisman Hall’s Scripture Pavilion and later attended the hall’s training for new members. After applying the instructor’s more precise techniques, his Fireball Talisman proficiency increased.

• Li Yuan searched the Scripture Pavilion and selected the Spirit-Refining Talisman crafting method because it could strengthen the user’s soul.
• A guard registered Li Yuan’s choice and provided him with a copied scroll, which he took back to his residence without studying it yet.
• The Steward sent Li Yuan Breath-Concealing Talisman materials, extra Green-Veined Paper and Spirit Ink, and notice of five days of talisman-making training.
• Li Yuan attended the first training session and memorized the elderly talisman master’s detailed guidance on brush angle and spirit power distribution.
• After training, Li Yuan practiced the instructor’s starting angle on Fireball Talismans and saw their quality and his proficiency improve.

Li Yuan improved his talisman-crafting skills, completed a Breath-Concealing Talisman, and received an assignment to return to the Mine. After stocking up on materials, he set out for the Mine before dawn.

• Li Yuan practiced new talisman techniques and successfully crafted a Breath-Concealing Talisman with an Aura Concealment trait.
• The old talisman master demonstrated a First-Order Mid-Grade Qi Gathering Talisman, and Li Yuan received a list of combat talisman assignments.
• A cultivator delivered Li Yuan’s transfer order, assigning him to guard the Mine while completing talisman-crafting work.
• Li Yuan exchanged for crafting supplies, including twenty sets of Upper First-Order Spirit-Refining Talisman materials on credit.
• Li Yuan left the Talisman Hall before dawn and headed back toward the Mine.

Li Yuan returned to the mine, learned that a cultivator attack had killed one guard, and saw the Wang Family tighten its control over minor Lineages. He failed to craft Spirit-Refining Talismans but used the attempts to sharpen his spirit-power control, then trained in the deeper mine and left the Iron Ox Technique stronger before nightfall.

• Li Yuan returned to the mine and learned from Steward Liu that an attack had killed a Qi Refining Third Level guard and that He Ming had reinforced the Detection Array.
• Steward Liu explained that the Wang Family had absorbed the He Family and other small Lineages, placing their cultivators under direct deployment.
• Li Yuan used two Meridian Expanding Talismans to increase his cultivation gains, then failed to craft four Spirit-Refining Talismans and realized the practice improved his spirit-power control.
• Li Yuan trained the Iron Ox Technique in the newly excavated mine cavity, where Fiend Qi and vital blood strengthened his internal organs and raised his progress beyond four hundred.
• Li Yuan cultivated spirit power for two more hours, then returned to the low house and sat with Sun Liang as distant Demonic Beast roars sounded.

Li Yuan sold talismans to Elder Chen, learned that the Chen Family had joined the Wang Family’s protection agreement, and heard how cultivators and small lineages were gathering under the Wang Family amid growing dangers. Back at the mine, he completed his third set of body-tempering baths and permanently affixed the Iron Wall Body Refining Art, improving his absorption of medicinal pills.

• Li Yuan sold Elder Chen his talismans, received a Detoxification Talisman crafting method and extra spirit stones, and learned the Chen Family no longer needed his talismans after joining the Wang Family’s agreement.
• Li Yuan overheard rogue cultivators discuss beast attacks, raids on settlements, and small groups joining the Wang Family for protection and supplies.
• Elder Chen announced that the Chen Family would buy medicinal herbs at above-market prices and seek pills to help a junior break through from the Qi Refining Sixth Layer to the Seventh Layer.
• Li Yuan returned to the mine and completed his third Iron Bone Liquid, Mystic Armor Decoction, and Crimson Marrow Paste body-tempering cycle.
• Li Yuan permanently affixed the Iron Wall Body Refining Art and found that his body absorbed the effective components of a Fiend Essence Pill more thoroughly, with less residue and Fiend Qi damage.

As demonic beast attacks eased, Li Yuan improved his talisman-making and used Fiend Qi to advance his cultivation in the Mine Cave. He discovered a patch of Fiend Stones and began drawing Fiend Qi from one to train more efficiently.

• Li Yuan completed a Detoxification Talisman, equipped it, and learned that Mine Cave Fiend Qi counted as bodily contamination for its permanentization condition.
• Li Yuan found a Fiend Stone in a newly excavated section of the Mine Cave and learned from Lao Zhou that the stones were usually uncommon and inexpensive.
• Lao Zhou uncovered five more Fiend Stones, and Li Yuan reported the discovery to Steward Liu, who went to inform the Lineage.
• Li Yuan drew Fiend Qi from the first Fiend Stone, accelerating his Iron Ox Technique training and increasing its mastery to 461/800.

Li Yuan returned from the mine to the Talisman Hall, where he reconnected with Old Sun and arranged to have Upper First-Order Fiend Qi refined. Back in his residence, he practiced talismans and used Fiend Essence Pills to temper his body and advance his Detoxification Talisman progress.

• Steward Liu gave Li Yuan his transfer order, his reward for discovering the Fiend Stone, and instructions to return to the Talisman Hall.
• Li Yuan left the mine, noticed the Wang Family was building an Array Hall, and reported back to the Talisman Hall.
• Li Yuan found Old Sun working at the Alchemy Hall and bought all forty-three of his Fiend Essence Pills.
• Old Sun explained how Fiend Qi formed during pill refining, and agreed to make Upper First-Order Fiend Qi for Li Yuan if he supplied the herbs.
• Li Yuan practiced several talismans, failed twice to draw a Spirit-Refining Talisman, then swallowed two Fiend Essence Pills and circulated his cultivation technique.

Li Yuan permanentized Slow-Release Toxin Purification, equipped the Origin Condensation Art, and was assigned by the Talisman Hall to supply the Guard Squad at Qinghe Market. He returned to the garrison, reunited with He Shou and Fang He, and began producing talismans for its patrols.

• Li Yuan permanentized Slow-Release Toxin Purification and equipped the Origin Condensation Art, improving his cultivation as he neared the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
• A Talisman Hall assistant assigned Li Yuan to Qinghe Market’s Guard Squad and gave him the method for making Heart-Locking Talismans.
• Li Yuan met Zhao Hu and Zheng Xiaoman on his way through Qinghe Market, then reported to the Guard Squad garrison.
• He Shou and Fang He explained the squad’s urgent need for talismans and told Li Yuan to prioritize Fireball and Heart-Locking Talismans.
• Li Yuan studied the Heart-Locking Talisman method, made Fireball, Rejuvenation, and Vajra Talismans, then took Fiend Essence Pills and cultivated for the night.

Li Yuan mastered Aura Concealment and began producing Heart-Locking Talismans while supplying the Guard Squad with talismans. After He Shou and Fang He prioritized Fireball and Heart-Locking Talismans for patrols, Li Yuan returned to crafting.

• Li Yuan permanentized Aura Concealment, allowing him to suppress his aura by up to thirty percent without spending spirit qi.
• Li Yuan searched East Street and North Alley for Mutually Opposing Herbs, found none, and heard that cultivators were causing trouble near the west gate.
• Li Yuan completed his first Heart-Locking Talisman and discovered its Spirit Power Healing affix, which required a healing spell cultivated to Perfection for permanentization.
• Li Yuan delivered thirty-two Fireball Talismans, ten Rejuvenation Talismans, six Vajra Talismans, four Detoxification Talismans, and three Heart-Locking Talismans to He Shou.
• He Shou agreed with Fang He's suggestion to prioritize Fireball and Heart-Locking Talismans, and Li Yuan resumed making Fireball Talismans.

Li Yuan obtained the two Upper First-Order Mutually Opposing Herbs through the Patrol Team and broke through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. He permanently transformed Spirit Qi Condensation, unlocked a fourth equipment slot, and continued cultivating at the Guard Squad station.

• Captain Wang warned Li Yuan that Li Family cultivators and hired bandits made the Yuanheng Mountains dangerous, then offered to have the Patrol Team search for his herbs in exchange for more talismans.
• Li Yuan agreed to make additional talismans and continued cultivating while making Fireball and Heart-Locking Talismans.
• Two days later, He Shou delivered the two Upper First-Order herbs that Li Yuan needed for Fiend Qi Affinity.
• Li Yuan reached saturation at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and broke through to the Seventh Layer, expanding his dantian and meridians.
• Li Yuan permanently transformed Spirit Qi Condensation and unlocked a fourth equipment slot, leaving him one green Permanent Affix short of the next slot.