Chapter Summaries

Shen Changchuan reunited with Han Yue'er and spent the day hearing how his achievements had improved her life. Before he went to meet the Old Ancestor, she warned him to be wary of his father, Shen Fuxing, and explained that suspicious gossip about him had spread through the Shen Family Estate.

• Shen Changchuan reflected on his memories of Han Yue'er and reassured her that he had been well cared for during his years away.
• Han Yue'er proudly told Shen Changchuan that his reputation had stopped people at the estate from bullying her, and she cooked him a meal like she had when he was young.
• Shen Changchuan decided to leave and pay his respects to the Old Ancestor, but Han Yue'er warned him to be careful around Shen Fuxing.
• Han Yue'er explained that unusually rapid gossip about Shen Changchuan's strength had drawn the First Madam's attention and that her secret investigation had uncovered clues.

Han Yue'er warned Shen Changchuan that his father, Shen Fuxing, had secretly engineered the scandals that put Shen Chong and Shen Changchuan in danger, though she did not know why. Shen Changchuan then met the Shen Family Ancestor, who regretted rejecting him for the Seed Project and letting the family’s two greatest prodigies become estranged.

• Han Yue'er explained that Shen Chong's disgraceful return and Shen Changchuan's sudden troubles had both been spread by Shen Fuxing.
• Shen Changchuan agreed to be wary of Shen Fuxing, though he could not understand why his father would target him.
• Shen Changchuan left Han Yue'er and went to meet the Shen Family Ancestor.
• The Shen Family Ancestor lamented that Shen Chong had become the family's enemy and Shen Changchuan had joined another sect.
• The Shen Family Ancestor recalled rejecting Shen Tingchu's proposal to include Shen Changchuan in the Seed Project and regretted his decision.

Shen Changchuan accepted the Shen Family Ancestor’s compensation for the clan’s failure to punish Zhou Yi, then found something startling on the list of resources. Meanwhile, Zhou Lingyun arranged an exchange meet meant to humiliate the Shen Clan, but Shen Fuxing chose not to interfere.

• The Shen Family Ancestor offered Shen Changchuan 150,000 Spirit Stones in compensation, including 80,000 from his own pocket, because he could not bring Zhou Yi to justice.
• Shen Changchuan accepted the offer and studied the list of cultivation resources, where something made his pupils contract and his heart pound.
• Zhou Lingyun asked Shen Fuxing to arrange an exchange meet in three days and boasted that he was offering the Shen Clan a rare chance to see Central Province arts.
• After Zhou Lingyun left, Shen Fuxing recognized that the exchange meet was a pretext to vent his aunt’s anger and disgrace the Shen Clan.
• Shen Fuxing refused to make secret preparations, saying the clan’s loss of face would help curb others’ arrogance and settle their ambitions for the Clan Leader’s seat.

Shen Fuxing used Zhou Lingyun’s proposed exchange match to undermine rival branches, forcing each to send a representative despite the Shen Clan’s likely defeat. Elsewhere in Tiannan City, Shen Changchuan heard about the match from Shen Tingchu but did not yet know the details.

• Shen Fuxing saw Zhou Lingyun’s challenge as a chance to embarrass the branches vying for his position and strengthen his own standing with the Old Ancestor.
• Shen Fuxing recalled how he had previously used the ambitious branches to spread news of Shen Chong’s affair and damage Zhou Yi’s reputation.
• Word spread that Zhou Lingyun wanted to spar with Shen Clan cultivators under fifty, and clan members suspected he was defending Zhou Yi.
• Shen Fuxing ordered every branch to send a representative, arguing that the match would test their disciples and serve the clan’s future.
• Shen Tingchu told Shen Changchuan that the exchange match with Zhou Lingyun would likely make the Shen Clan lose face, while Shen Changchuan admitted he knew nothing about it.

Shen Tingchu explained that he had to face Zhou Lingyun in two days, then asked Shen Changchuan to spar so he could gauge the younger cultivator’s strength. They began a battle in a remote valley, where Shen Tingchu unleashed his life-bound sword and wondered if he had struck too hard.

• Shen Tingchu told Shen Changchuan that the Shen Clan expected him to face Zhou Lingyun, and the two discussed their chances against the challenger.
• Shen Tingchu invited Shen Changchuan to spar, and Shen Changchuan agreed to test his strength after reaching the Out of Body Realm.
• Shen Tingchu and Shen Changchuan flew to a desolate mountain valley two hundred miles from Tiannan City.
• Shen Tingchu launched his blood-red life-bound sword at Shen Changchuan, then worried that his attack might have been too powerful.

Shen Changchuan overwhelmed Shen Tingchu in a spar, revealing how much his mastery of momentum strengthened his attacks. After they fought again for half a day, the two parted ways outside Tiannan City, with Shen Tingchu still struggling to understand the gap between them.

• Shen Changchuan's mana hand shattered Shen Tingchu's sword strike and hurled him into a hill, leaving him dazed but not seriously injured.
• Shen Changchuan realized his mastery of momentum gave him an overwhelming advantage over ordinary Out-of-Body Realm cultivators.
• Shen Tingchu insisted on fighting Shen Changchuan again, and they sparred for half a day.
• Outside Tiannan City, Shen Changchuan said he was going to visit his mother, and the brothers parted ways.
• Shen Tingchu watched Shen Changchuan leave and wondered how someone who had only just entered the Out-of-Body Realm could be so strong.

After defeating Shen Tingchu, Shen Changchuan assessed how his carefully built foundation had raised his strength while reminding himself that powerful peers could still surpass him. He returned to Han Yue'er’s estate, postponed meeting his father, and entered seclusion to reflect on the battle.

• Shen Changchuan concluded that he had decisively outclassed Shen Tingchu, even while holding back his force and relying on second-tier spells.
• Shen Changchuan judged that he could likely defeat ordinary Out of Body Realm cultivators below the third level, but was not ready to challenge those in the middle stage.
• Shen Changchuan reminded himself that Innate Spirit Bodies and powerful family resources could produce formidable rivals ahead of the Jade Clarity Immortal Sect entrance competition.
• Shen Changchuan returned to Han Yue'er, who told him his father had sent for him, but he chose to meet his father in a few days.
• Han Yue'er led Shen Changchuan to a quiet house near a spirit spring, where he began reviewing his fight with Shen Tingchu and made a slight improvement.

After Shen Changchuan absorbed the lessons from his one-sided fight with Shen Tingchu, he spent his compensation from the Old Ancestor on expensive cultivation pills and other resources. His choice left the Old Ancestor surprised, since most Out of Body Realm cultivators prioritized spirit treasures and other ways to improve their combat strength.

• Shen Changchuan reflected on how fighting Shen Tingchu had helped him improve his command of mana and combat ability.
• Shen Changchuan decided he had no need to risk dangerous battles to advance because he could use the Progress Bar Panel to perfect his spells in seclusion.
• Shen Changchuan used his 150,000 Spirit Stone quota from the Shen Clan treasury to obtain mid-grade Spirit Stones, second-tier pills, and Rejuvenation Pills.
• Shen Changchuan lamented the high cost of cultivation resources and concluded that perfect-grade second-tier spells could serve him better than spirit treasures.
• The Old Ancestor was surprised that Shen Changchuan spent his entire quota on pills instead of spirit treasures, talismans, or formations.

Shen Changchuan refined a True Essence Pill and discovered that his Wood Element Spirit Body helped him process pills unusually quickly, possibly absorbing their toxins. He left to meet Shen Fuxing, who intended to use his powerful son as a tool for his plans.

• Shen Changchuan refined a True Essence Pill for two days and advanced his cultivation by a small step.
• Shen Changchuan suspected his Wood Element Spirit Body accelerated pill refinement and absorbed pill toxin, so he decided to ask his master whether it was safe.
• After Shen Fuxing sent for him again, Shen Changchuan left for the Shen Family Estate to find out what his father wanted.
• Shen Fuxing recalled his neglect of Shen Changchuan and hoped his son would either obey him as a father or serve as a useful helper.

Shen Fuxing tried to recruit Shen Changchuan into a match against Zhou Lingyun, hoping to restore the Shen Clan’s reputation and advance his own plans. Shen Changchuan refused, leaving Shen Fuxing’s scheme uncertain.

• Shen Changchuan addressed Shen Fuxing as Clan Chief and made clear he felt no filial affection for him.
• Shen Fuxing abandoned his attempt to mend their relationship and explained that Zhou Lingyun planned to challenge the Shen Clan’s younger generation.
• Shen Fuxing urged Shen Changchuan to fight Zhou Lingyun, claiming it could protect Han Yue'er’s standing and restore the clan’s reputation.
• Shen Fuxing privately planned to use Shen Changchuan’s appearance to counter Zhou Yi’s influence and divert her attention.
• Shen Changchuan refused to take part in the matches.

Shen Changchuan rejected Shen Fuxing’s attempt to enlist him against Zhou Lingyun and decided to send his mother to Dawan Village for safety. At Clan Plaza, Zhou Lingyun continued to dominate the Shen Clan’s young cultivators, leaving the gathered crowd stunned.

• Shen Changchuan refused to fight Zhou Lingyun, told Shen Fuxing to defend the clan’s honor himself, and left the reception hall.
• Shen Changchuan considered his mother’s safety and decided she should leave Tiannan City for Dawan Village to stay with her family.
• Shen Fuxing watched Shen Changchuan leave, smashed a jade teacup, and angrily called him ungrateful.
• Shen Changchuan saw Zhou Lingyun standing over a badly injured Shen Clan fighter in the shattered arena at Clan Plaza.
• Zhou Lingyun boasted that he had expected more from the Shen Clan because his aunt Zhou Yi had married into it.

Zhou Lingyun humiliated the Shen Clan’s younger generation and threatened the clan into obeying his aunt, First Madam Zhou Yi, shifting the balance of power in her favor. Shen Changchuan recognized the danger but chose to leave the Shen Clan’s political struggle with his mother.

• Zhou Lingyun berated the Shen Clan for mistreating Zhou Yi and warned that the Zhou Clan would retaliate if she was made unhappy again.
• The Shen Clan’s elders feared Zhou Lingyun’s display would make the clan members submit to Zhou Yi and allow her to seize power.
• First Madam Zhou Yi welcomed the change in how the Shen Clan regarded her and anticipated gaining influence.
• Shen Changchuan sensed that Zhou Yi’s power would grow, but decided to leave the estate with his mother rather than intervene.
• Shen Changchuan suspected Shen Fuxing would suffer most from Zhou Yi’s rise and left without looking back.

Shen Changchuan arranged for Han Yue'er to leave the Shen Family Estate and stay in Dawan Village, closer to the Dragon Firmament Sect. As they prepared to depart, news of Zhou Lingyun's victory spread, and cultivators debated how he would fare against Shen Chong and Shen Changchuan.

• Shen Changchuan told Han Yue'er about the danger posed by the Shen Family's turmoil and proposed moving to Dawan Village.
• Han Yue'er agreed to leave and asked to bring along the maids who had served her for many years.
• Shen Changchuan and Han Yue'er spent three days arranging their departure from the estate.
• News of Zhou Lingyun defeating the Shen Family's young cultivators spread through Tiannan City and beyond.
• Cultivators argued that Shen Chong and Shen Changchuan were the Shen Family's true prodigies and speculated about how they might have matched Zhou Lingyun.

Shen Changchuan left Tiannan City with his mother and party, choosing to avoid the Shen Clan’s internal struggles and pursue cultivation. After five uneventful days on the road, the party was suddenly ambushed.

• Shen Changchuan kept to himself for three days while the Shen Clan speculated about his relationship with Shen Fuxing and the fallout from Zhou Lingyun’s victory.
• Shen Changchuan decided the Shen Clan’s power struggles were not worth his time and focused on pursuing higher realms of cultivation.
• Han Yue'er finished preparing to leave, and Shen Changchuan informed the Old Ancestor before quietly departing Tiannan City with his party.
• As the party traveled, Shen Changchuan sensed a familiar gaze from the city and wondered why the Old Ancestor had allowed Zhou Yi’s influence to grow.
• The party traveled a thousand miles over five days without incident, until an assassination attempt struck without warning.

Shen Changchuan tried to avoid a fight with Zhou Lingyun, who had blocked the convoy on the First Madam’s orders, but attacked after Zhou refused to let him pass. As Zhou’s terrifying aura rose after the clash, a familiar voice intervened and blocked it.

• Zhou Lingyun confronted Shen Changchuan in an uninhabited valley and admitted he had come to fight him, refusing to let him go despite Shen’s attempt to avoid the Shen Clan’s conflict.
• Shen Changchuan set up an Immovable Mountain Array to protect the carriage convoy and the people behind him.
• Shen Changchuan burst forward with blue lightning and punched Zhou Lingyun, sending him crashing through a small mountain.
• A powerful aura surged from the mountain’s shadow, but a familiar voice and vast soul force intervened to block it.

Shen Changchuan faced Zhou Lingyun in a brutal fight while Shen Chong held off Zhou Lingyun’s Fourth Uncle. Zhou Lingyun resumed attacking with overwhelming force, and the chapter ended as he unleashed another blade strike against Shen Changchuan’s Bronze Bell.

• Shen Chong confronted Zhou Lingyun’s Fourth Uncle and accused the Zhou Clan of interfering in a supposedly fair fight.
• Zhou Lingyun emerged from the smoke, accepted Shen Chong’s challenge to stay out of the duel, and revealed that Shen Changchuan’s attack had shattered his Protective Jade Talisman.
• Zhou Lingyun unleashed his powerful aura and told his Fourth Uncle to hold Shen Chong off before attacking Shen Changchuan from behind.
• Shen Changchuan used the Bronze Bell to block Zhou Lingyun’s blade, but the impact sent him plunging downward and threatened to damage the artifact.
• Zhou Lingyun vanished and launched another devastating blade strike toward Shen Changchuan.

Shen Changchuan used his perfected Thunder Shadow Swift Movement to evade Zhou Lingyun’s full-power strike and counterattack, while Shen Chong blocked the square-faced middle-aged man. The chapter ended as that man launched a massive attack at Shen Chong.

• Zhou Lingyun unleashed a powerful blade strike, but Shen Changchuan used Thunder Shadow Swift Movement to dodge it.
• Shen Changchuan appeared behind Zhou Lingyun and punched him into the ground, shattering his shield and a Jade Talisman.
• The square-faced, middle-aged man tried to intervene, but Shen Chong stopped him.
• An aged voice in Shen Chong’s mind praised Shen Changchuan’s exceptional talent and perfected movement spell.
• The square-faced, middle-aged man roared at Shen Chong and sent a colossal hand crashing toward him.

Shen Changchuan pressed his attack on Zhou Lingyun while Shen Chong fought Zhou Lingyun’s square-faced Dao Protector. Zhou Lingyun survived Shen Changchuan’s sword array by activating a protective Eight Trigrams mirror.

• The square-faced middle-aged man realized Shen Changchuan was far stronger than he had expected and feared Zhou Lingyun would lose.
• The square-faced man charged Shen Chong, who confronted him while Shen Changchuan focused on Zhou Lingyun.
• Shen Changchuan struck Zhou Lingyun into the ground and unleashed his Three Talents Azure Wood Sword Light array.
• Shen Chong exploited the square-faced man’s distraction and sent him flying.
• Zhou Lingyun emerged from the crater behind a white barrier projected by an Eight Trigrams mirror as Shen Changchuan’s sword lights descended.

Shen Changchuan overwhelmed Zhou Lingyun with repeated Azure Wood Sword Light attacks, while Zhou Lingyun relied on the White Jade Bagua Mirror and struggled to land a hit. After Zhou Lingyun hesitated to use a rare one-time technique from his Old Ancestor, Shen’s latest attack pierced the mirror’s defenses and drove him back.

• Shen Changchuan’s triple Azure Wood Sword Light attack struck the White Jade Bagua Mirror, and Zhou Lingyun barely blocked it with the treasured artifact.
• Zhou Lingyun poured his power into the mirror and fired a massive white beam at Shen Changchuan, but Shen escaped with Thunder Shadow Swift Movement.
• Zhou Lingyun recalled his Old Ancestor’s advice to master secret arts, realizing that his treasured artifacts were useless if he could not hit Shen.
• Shen Changchuan launched another triple sword-light attack, which Zhou Lingyun blocked with the White Jade Bagua Mirror.
• Zhou Lingyun hesitated to use his one-time technique, and Shen’s next attack pierced the mirror’s protection and knocked him back more than a dozen zhang.

Shen Changchuan killed Zhou Lingyun with a strike empowered by his Divine Ability Seed after her White Jade Bagua Mirror failed. He realized the seed could nurture and transform his sword technique, then took the dangerous Jade Talisman from her corpse.

• Zhou Lingyun's White Jade Bagua Mirror cracked under repeated Azure Wood Sword Light attacks, leaving her exposed as she prepared to use a Jade Talisman.
• Shen Changchuan used the Three Forest Senluo Sword Array to freeze Zhou Lingyun and pierce through her with a transformed sword strike, killing her.
• Shen Changchuan realized his Divine Ability Seed had fused the three Azure Wood Divine Swords into a stronger, evolved technique.
• Shen Changchuan took the Jade Talisman from Zhou Lingyun's corpse and recognized the danger he had avoided by stopping her from activating it.