Chapter Summaries

Qin Huaian spared a surviving cultivator who told him about a palace hidden in the Lesser Spirit Realm, then learned the movement technique Free and Easy Wanderer from Gu Ran. After finding three high-grade spirit stones, he was confronted by the Origin Return Sect disciple and fled as the group pursued him.

• Qin Huaian accepted a map to a mysterious palace and spared the eighth-level cultivator who revealed it, then collected the dead cultivators' Storage Rings and burned their bodies.
• Qin Huaian decided to keep mining for two days before seeking the palace, and asked Gu Ran for a useful human cultivation technique.
• Gu Ran taught Qin Huaian Free and Easy Wanderer, which Qin Huaian memorized and recognized as a powerful movement technique.
• Qin Huaian uncovered three high-grade spirit stones, drawing nearby cultivators to his mine shaft.
• The Origin Return Sect disciple demanded Qin Huaian's spirit stones and attacked him with a spear, but Qin Huaian blocked the strike and fled.
• The Origin Return Sect disciple recognized Qin Huaian's sword technique and ordered his followers to chase him.

Qin Huaian lured Senior Brother Bai away from the other Origin Return Sect disciples and killed him in a fierce battle. After recovering in hiding, Qin Huaian ambushed and killed two more pursuers, leaving the remaining cultivators fleeing.

• The Heaven-Swallowing Python told Qin Huaian that the pursuing Origin Return Sect disciple had grasped a trace of Spear Intent, so Qin Huaian drew him away from the other five pursuers.
• Qin Huaian feigned exhaustion, then used a powerful Fireball Technique and his Sword Intent to battle Senior Brother Bai.
• Qin Huaian tricked Senior Brother Bai into rushing forward, seized his spear, and used his flying sword to pierce his heart before destroying the corpse and taking his storage bag.
• Qin Huaian hid and recovered as the remaining Origin Return Sect disciples reached the battlefield and searched for Senior Brother Bai.
• Qin Huaian ambushed two ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators, killing them with a Fireball Technique and his flying sword.
• The surviving ninth-level cultivator and two eighth-level cultivators fled when Qin Huaian charged at them.

Qin Huaian recovered after killing the Origin Return Sect cultivators, looted their storage bags, and cultivated until he reached Qi Refinement great perfection. He began deducing the Power-Accumulating Expansion True Formula before leaving his cave to continue searching the Lesser Spirit Realm.

• Qin Huaian killed the last three pursuers, burned the bodies, and hid in a mountain cave to recover.
• Qin Huaian opened ten storage bags and found spirit herbs, pills, talismans, and nearly 160,000 spirit stones.
• Qin Huaian cultivated with his Mirror Body for ten days, reaching Qi Refinement great perfection as his spirit spring water ran low.
• Qin Huaian considered deducing the Carefree Wandering but chose the Power-Accumulating Expansion True Formula first.
• Qin Huaian spent 2,000 spirit stones to have his Mirror Body deduce the formula, then walked out of the cave.

Qin Huaian strengthened his dantian with the Power-Accumulating Expansion True Formula while searching Taian Forest for spirit herbs. As he left the forest for the unknown palace, he spotted a precious Nine-Leaf Lotus on an island in an uncharted lake and flew toward it cautiously.

• Qin Huaian reached the beginner level of the Power-Accumulating Expansion True Formula, expanded his dantian, and cultivated back to the great perfection of Qi Refinement.
• Qin Huaian spent spirit stones to advance the formula to proficient and mastery levels, greatly increasing his strength while exhausting his high-grade spirit stones and spirit spring water.
• Qin Huaian spent nearly a month searching Taian Forest, gathered spirit herbs, and killed a first-rank Shadow Panther.
• Qin Huaian left Taian Forest to head toward the unknown palace and discovered an uncharted lake with a Nine-Leaf Lotus on its central island.
• Qin Huaian cautiously tested the lake, protected himself with a Vajra Talisman, gathered a fireball, and flew toward the island.

Qin Huaian stole a Nine-Leaf Lotus from a weakened Silver-Ring Water Snake and escaped Taian Forest. He then traveled with Lin Lizhi to a vast palace in the Lesser Spirit Realm, where Yellow Mountain Sword Sect disciples were arguing with Origin Return Sect disciples.

• Qin Huaian snatched the Nine-Leaf Lotus and fought off the molting Silver-Ring Water Snake long enough to flee across the lake and escape its pursuit.
• Qin Huaian hid overnight, then left Taian Forest several days later and stored the Nine-Leaf Lotus in his Seed Space.
• Qin Huaian gathered more spiritual herbs on the way to the unknown palace and met Lin Lizhi, who told him that dense spiritual energy around the palace suggested an opportunity might appear.
• Qin Huaian and Lin Lizhi reached the immense palace, where thousands of cultivators had gathered and the spiritual energy grew denser near its gates.
• Qin Huaian and Lin Lizhi approached fellow Yellow Mountain Sword Sect disciples and found them arguing with Origin Return Sect disciples.

Qin Huaian joined Yellow Mountain Sword Sect disciples near a palace, where tensions with the Origin Return Sect erupted over missing disciples and Bai Jinglin. As the palace’s spiritual energy continued to rise, demonic beasts surrounded it, leaving Qin Huaian wondering whether the humans might avoid a fight.

• Zhang Chufeng accused Ye Tianming of being involved in Zhang Yan’s disappearance, and Ye Tianming mocked the Origin Return Sect disciples.
• Zhang Chufeng questioned Qin Huaian about Bai Jinglin, and Qin Huaian said Bai Jinglin and five others had tried to seize his spirit stones and kill him at Four Symbols Mountain.
• Ye Tianming explained that the palace was protected by powerful formations and that its surrounding spiritual energy had been growing denser for two days.
• Demonic beasts approached the palace from every direction, and Ye Tianming sent the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect disciples to scout while the Origin Return Sect disciples checked another side.
• As the beasts neared the palace walls, one cultivator charged at them, while Qin Huaian wondered whether they had come only to cultivate in the increased spiritual energy.

Qin Huaian and the other cultivators were forced to fight a horde of late-stage first-rank demon beasts, and fewer than eight hundred reached the Thousand-Step Staircase. After a day to recover, they were ordered to climb the staircase under threat of erasure, and Qin Huaian began ascending against a powerful force pushing him back.

• Qin Huaian fought the demon beasts alongside Ye Tianming, Lin Lizhi, and the other cultivators as many were killed in the initial attack.
• Qin Huaian entered the Thousand-Step Staircase after killing ten demon beasts and found Ye Tianming, Lin Lizhi, Zhang Chufeng, and hundreds of other survivors there.
• Qin Huaian learned that fewer than eight hundred cultivators had arrived, despite thousands having gathered near the palace.
• The staircase’s voice granted the cultivators one day to recover and raised the space’s spiritual energy to more than five times the level outside.
• Qin Huaian cultivated with his Mirror Body, reaching Qi Refinement Level Nine, 85/100, before the cultivators were ordered to climb or be erased.
• Qin Huaian stepped onto the staircase, resisted its tremendous pushing force, and started climbing.

Qin Huaian and the other cultivators began climbing a staircase that offered rewards for reaching certain steps, while a change in heaven and earth opened a path to the Void Refinement Realm for powerful cultivators. The chapter ended with reclusive experts preparing to break through and an old blacksmith sensing that the sky had cleared.

• The Lesser Spirit Realm’s cultivators were teleported to Spirit Realm Mountains before Qin Huaian and the others began climbing the Thousand-Step Staircase.
• A notification announced that cultivators would receive rewards upon reaching five milestones on the staircase, and Qin Huaian sat down to cultivate on the first step.
• Nangong Yunzhao summoned Xue Wujiang, Mu Qinghan, and Shen Canglan after sensing that the restraint on his cultivation had lifted and he could soon break through to the Void Refinement Realm.
• Nangong Yunzhao ordered Shen Canglan to monitor the cultivation world while he entered seclusion, and other powerful cultivators also began preparing to break through.
• An old blacksmith stopped forging in a mortal town, looked at the sky, and murmured that it had cleared.

Qin Huaian climbed the Inheritance Space’s stairs, using Spirit Spring rewards to strengthen his cultivation while avoiding a premature breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. He reached the six-hundredth step among the last eight cultivators still inside the space.

• Qin Huaian and the other cultivators discovered that their storage pouches could not be used, while the stairs’ increasing force drove weaker cultivators out of the space.
• Several Eighth Qi Refining Layer cultivators received Spirit Spring at the two-hundredth step, and one broke through to the Ninth Qi Refining Layer before being teleported out.
• Qin Huaian reached the two-hundredth step after four days, received a bottle of Spirit Spring, and drank it to cultivate as he climbed.
• Qin Huaian reached the four-hundredth step at Qi Refining Great Perfection, received two bottles of Spirit Spring, and chose not to attempt a Foundation Establishment breakthrough.
• Qin Huaian and Ye Tianming remained among the eight cultivators who reached the six-hundredth step, while Zhang Chufeng and many others were teleported out.

Qin Huaian reached the 800th step and received the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture and the Heavenbreaking Sword Formula. After An Qianchen was teleported away and Qin Huaian failed to pass the 900th step, he learned that Supreme Purity Hall’s Inheritance Space would open periodically for future entrants before being teleported out.

• At the 600th step, Qin Huaian chose an Earth-grade cultivation technique instead of four bottles of Spirit Spring, and the group discovered their wrist marks had turned green, granting annual access to the Supreme Purity Domain.
• The independent cultivator was teleported away before the 700th step, and Ye Tianming was teleported away at the 700th step.
• At the 800th step, Qin Huaian received the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture, swore not to teach it before reaching the Body Integration Realm, and chose the Heavenbreaking Sword Formula as his Earth-grade reward.
• Qin Huaian met An Qianchen of Drifting Snow Palace, who was teleported away at the 850th step as they climbed together.
• Qin Huaian was pushed off the 900th step and heard that Supreme Purity Hall’s Qi Refining Stage Inheritance Space would open every five years and its Foundation Establishment Realm Inheritance Space every ten years before he was teleported out.

The sect leaders learned that the Supreme Purity Hall’s Inheritance Space rewarded cultivators with earth-grade cultivation methods and that the former Lesser Spirit Realm was the Supreme Purity Domain. As the cultivation world anticipated a struggle over entry, Qin Huaian and An Qianchen remained inside, and the leaders pressed An Qianchen about her progress.

• Xie Qingchuan told Shen Canglan that cultivators near the newly appeared palace had not been teleported out, so Shen Canglan went to Spirit Realm Mountains with Mu Qinghan to investigate.
• Cultivators emerging from the Supreme Purity Hall revealed that its inheritance had recurring openings and limited slots, and that those who reached the 200th and 400th steps received Spirit Spring.
• The sect leaders learned that every cultivator who reached the 600th step received a different earth-grade cultivation method, prompting news to spread throughout the cultivation world.
• Shen Canglan made Ye Tianming a direct disciple after learning that he could enter the Supreme Purity Domain once each year and that Qin Huaian had reached around the 720th step.
• An Qianchen emerged as the only remaining cultivator besides Qin Huaian, and Ji Chenghao asked whether she had reached the 800th step.

An Qianchen and Qin Huaian recounted their experiences in the Inheritance Space to the gathered sect leaders, drawing attention to the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture and the trials beyond the eight-hundredth step. Qin Huaian concealed how far he had truly advanced, then announced the schedule for future inheritance openings as the sect leaders began probing his strength.

• An Qianchen described reaching the eight-hundredth step and receiving a foundational cultivation technique, then refused Ji Chenghao's offer to join Origin Return Sect and reaffirmed her loyalty to Drifting Snow Palace.
• Qin Huaian appeared in the valley and was welcomed by Shen Canglan, Xie Qingchuan, and the gathered cultivators.
• At Shen Canglan's urging, Qin Huaian described his rewards and claimed he had been teleported out at the eight-hundred-sixty-third step.
• Qin Huaian announced that Supreme Purity Hall would open a Qi Refining Stage Inheritance Space every five years and a Foundation Establishment Realm Inheritance Space every ten years.
• Li Li tried to use her charm technique on Qin Huaian and asked him to attack her with full strength, but Shen Canglan's snort broke the spell.

Qin Huaian and An Qianchen demonstrated spiritual power about twice that of ordinary Qi Refining Stage Great Perfection cultivators, prompting Ji Chenghao to raise the issue of reallocating entry quotas for the Supreme Purity Domain. On the return journey, Qin Huaian explained his cultivation and revealed his swordsmanship to Shen Canglan, who discovered that he had comprehended Sword Intent beyond the beginner level.

• Shen Canglan had Qin Huaian strike him to demonstrate his spiritual power, and Luo Lingsu had An Qianchen do the same.
• Luo Lingsu and Shen Canghai judged that both young cultivators possessed roughly twice the spiritual power of an ordinary Qi Refining Stage Great Perfection cultivator.
• Ji Chenghao called for the sects to reconsider their quotas for entering the Supreme Purity Domain, then departed.
• A Joyous Union Sect cultivator invited Qin Huaian to join her sect, but he left with Shen Canglan and Junior Brother Xie.
• On the flying boat, Qin Huaian told Shen Canglan that he had cultivated the Power-Accumulating Expansion True Formula and found a small Spirit Spring in the Supreme Purity Domain.
• Qin Huaian demonstrated his swordsmanship, and Shen Canglan realized he had comprehended Sword Intent beyond the beginner level.

Qin Huaian demonstrated his Sword Intent and cultivation achievements to Shen Canglan, who praised his extraordinary comprehension and offered him and Tianming the chance to become personal disciples. Back at his cabin, Qin Huaian used the Mirror Body to begin deducing the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture, spending 100,000 spirit stones.

• Qin Huaian showed Shen Canglan his Sword Intent and demonstrated his mastery of the Yi Wood True Formula.
• Shen Canglan praised Qin Huaian’s comprehension, explained East Dawn Peak’s opportunities, and said the sect would formally accept him and Tianming as personal disciples.
• Qin Huaian left the reception hall pleased that he had established a reputation for exceptional comprehension, which could explain his rapid progress.
• Qin Huaian counted his remaining spirit stones and found he had about 355,000 after his previous deductions and spoils.
• Qin Huaian spent 100,000 spirit stones to have the Mirror Body deduce the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture to the entry level.

Qin Huaian returned from the Supreme Purity Domain and sold his gathered spirit herbs to the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect to earn contribution points for additional Foundation Establishment Pills. After the appraisal, a cultivator recognized him by his Identity Token, drawing the crowd’s attention.

• Qin Huaian spent the final two days aboard the Flying Boat cultivating the Spirit Tempering Formula while his Mirror Body deduced the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture.
• Xie Qingchuan announced that returning disciples had to sell their spirit herbs to the sect for contribution points.
• Qin Huaian kept his rare third-rank spirit herbs and submitted his other herbs, which astonished the appraisers with their quantity.
• The sect appraised Qin Huaian’s herbs at 75,053 contribution points, and he handed over his Identity Token for the credit.
• A Foundation Establishment cultivator recognized Qin Huaian as a disciple of East Dawn Peak, prompting nearby cultivators to look at him.

Qin Huaian became famous for reaching the 800th step in the Supreme Purity Hall and received an introduction to the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect’s peaks before attending a gathering at Heavenly Capital Peak. The chapter ended with Sect Master Shen Canglan announcing that he would accept Qin Huaian and Ye Tianming as personal disciples and asking which elders wished to teach them.

• Qin Huaian returned to East Dawn Peak, where Little Fatty and Lin Qingxuan visited and heard his advice about the Power-Accumulating Expansion True Formula.
• He Zhiping explained the sect’s personal disciple system and introduced the roles and leaders of its main peaks, while Qin Huaian considered where he might study.
• A disciple escorted Qin Huaian to Heavenly Capital Peak, where Shen Canglan and the sect’s senior cultivators had gathered.
• Qin Huaian recounted how he entered the Supreme Purity Hall’s Inheritance Space and reached the 800th step.
• Shen Canglan announced that Qin Huaian and Ye Tianming would become personal disciples and asked the gathered seniors who wished to take them as students.

Qin Huaian became Lin Tianyu’s personal disciple at Pagoda Peak after several sect peaks competed to recruit him. As he prepared to attempt Foundation Establishment, he asked Lin Tianyu for advice, but his new master had no experience with Foundation Establishment Pills.

• Sun Haoxuan arranged for Ye Tianming to become Elder Zhou’s personal disciple at Accomplished Harmony Peak.
• Several peak masters sought to take Qin Huaian as a personal disciple, but Qin Huaian chose Lin Tianyu of Pagoda Peak for its quiet cultivation environment.
• Lin Tianyu accepted Qin Huaian, and Shen Canglan announced changes to training, inheritance access, and preparation for the next opening of the Supreme Purity Domain.
• Qin Huaian registered as a personal disciple, received a mid-grade Spirit Artifact flying sword from Lin Tianyu, and met his senior sister, Min Yingzhu.
• Qin Huaian asked Lin Tianyu how to use a Foundation Establishment Pill, but Lin Tianyu and Min Yingzhu had no experience to offer.

Qin Huaian moved into his new cave dwelling on Pagoda Peak and spent half a year cultivating while his Mirror Body deduced the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture. After mastering its entry-level version, he found that it strengthened and compressed his spiritual power even as his cultivation realm fell, leaving him at Qi Refining Level Nine with steadily increasing strength.

• Lin Tianyu told Qin Huaian to collect a Foundation Establishment Pill and prepare a Pulse-Protecting Pill, promising to stand guard when he attempted Foundation Establishment.
• Min Yingzhu showed Qin Huaian the vacant personal-disciple cave dwellings, and he chose one near the mountain forest.
• Qin Huaian told Min Yingzhu that he planned to prepare three Foundation Establishment Pills, then entered his new cave dwelling and began cultivating.
• After half a year, Qin Huaian received the completed entry-level deduction of the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture and spent a day absorbing its insights.
• Qin Huaian began circulating the new scripture, which drew in spiritual energy, compressed and strengthened his spiritual power, and further expanded his dantian.
• After half a month of cultivation, Qin Huaian's realm stabilized at Qi Refining Level Nine, 50/100, while his strength continued to rise.

After ten months of cultivation, Qin Huaian returned to the great perfection of Qi Refining and collected his sect resources and Foundation Establishment pills. He left Pagoda Peak for his master Lin Tianyu's cave abode to prepare for Foundation Establishment.

• Qin Huaian used up his remaining Spirit Spring, then cultivated with his Mirror Body and True Essence Pills until he reached the great perfection of Qi Refining.
• Qin Huaian went to the Affairs Hall on Heavenly Capital Peak and collected nine hundred mid-grade spirit stones and a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Qin Huaian purchased two more Foundation Establishment Pills and a Pulse-Protecting Pill at the Trading Hall for 65,000 sect contribution points.
• Qin Huaian decided not to wait to deduce the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture and headed to Lin Tianyu's cave abode after adjusting his condition.

Qin Huaian attempted Foundation Establishment under Lin Tianyu’s guidance and succeeded after cleansing and widening his meridians, breaking through the barrier, and transforming his spiritual power into liquid. After stabilizing his new cultivation and cleaning up, he heard that Number Seven Seed space was upgrading for three days.

• Lin Tianyu recognized Qin Huaian’s improved strength and initial grasp of the Supreme Purity Ascension Scripture, then agreed to guard his Foundation Establishment attempt.
• Lin Tianyu explained the three steps and dangers of Foundation Establishment, advising Qin Huaian when to use a Foundation Establishment Pill or a Pulse-Protecting Pill.
• Qin Huaian cleansed and widened his meridians, then took a Foundation Establishment Pill and used its power alongside his own spiritual power to break through the Foundation Establishment barrier.
• Qin Huaian transformed his spiritual power into liquid and extended his divine sense beyond his body, successfully establishing his foundation.
• Lin Tianyu activated the Spirit Gathering Array as Qin Huaian absorbed spiritual energy for a day and stabilized his Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• Qin Huaian cleaned himself and went to the reception room, where he heard that Number Seven Seed space was upgrading for three days.