Chapter Summaries

Sanmu True Person explained how the fallen Year Guardians could return through their Golden Seats, and Fang Qing uncovered the danger surrounding Metal Virtue’s Mutual Slaughter Divine Ability. After Li Que defeated Chu Tianyi and was captured by the Sword Pavilion, Fang Qing learned Li Lu’s fate and left the Wu Kingdom for Northern Zhou.

• Sanmu True Person told Fang Qing that heaven and the Golden Seats remembered the fallen Year Guardians, whose revival could influence True Lords and rightful seats.
• Sanmu warned that Metal Virtue’s Mutual Slaughter Divine Ability could drive Metal Virtue True Lords to slaughter one another, and said the Wu Kingdom imperial clan and its sword cultivators were caught in the Sword Pavilion’s schemes.
• Li Que killed Chu Tianyi in battle, prompting Chu Zhaohuang and the Northern Zhou army to retreat and giving Wu Kingdom a major victory.
• Sword Pavilion cultivators used the Shen Metal Immortal-Binding Prison to confront Li Que, who cast the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow toward the Wu Kingdom palace and chose to fight rather than enter the Pavilion willingly.
• Fang Qing learned Li Lu’s fate through divination, reflected that the righteous sects preyed on the weak, and left for Northern Zhou.

Fang Qing reflected on the limits facing Golden Core True Lords, then used Zhong Lingxiu to obtain the Thunderclap Art from the Heavenfrost Sect. He began studying the lightning technique, hoping it might help him pursue a hidden Profound Thunder Fruit Seat.

• Fang Qing cultivated on an unnamed East Sea island and considered how the Year Guardian and Golden Seats might constrain True Lords.
• Fang Qing’s Dao-Born Pearl shifted his perspective to Zhong Lingxiu at the Heavenfrost Sect, whose headquarters was protected by an unusually active grand formation.
• Zhong Lingxiu entered the sect’s scripture repository and exchanged contribution points for the Thunderclap Art, swearing not to pass it on.
• Senior Brother Yuan told Zhong Lingxiu that Heaven Frost Adept had recovered and that the sect might be using its defenses to bait enemies.
• Fang Qing received the Thunderclap Art through the Dao-Born Pearl and began studying its body-and-spiritual-power cultivation methods.

Fang Qing devised the Thunder-Shaking Pill and used it to cultivate the Thunderclap Art, then spent eight years perfecting Wind-Approaching Foundation and advancing Slay-Break-Wolf. He began cultivating Forestbank Concealment and tried to elevate its perfected Dao Foundation into a Divine Ability.

• Fang Qing created the Thunder-Shaking Pill, used it to advance the Thunderclap Art to Core Formation, and examined the method’s limits and potential uses.
• Fang Qing considered the Void Ruins Secret Realm and the Heavenly Heart Island secret realm, then entered a deep retreat to perfect his first Divine Ability.
• After eight years, Fang Qing perfected Wind-Approaching Foundation and refined Slay-Break-Wolf into a seventh-turn flying sword.
• Fang Qing converted his Divine Ability to Forestbank Concealment, then formed and rapidly perfected its Dao Foundation using the Dao-Born Pearl’s Origin Qi.
• Fang Qing attempted to elevate the perfected Forestbank Concealment Dao Foundation into a Divine Ability.

Fang Qing failed to elevate Forestbank Concealment into a Divine Ability, losing Origin Qi and suffering injuries, but he recovered with his healing abilities and considered how to try again. His experiments with conflicting water lineages led him to wonder about Phoenix's children, and he decided to visit Empty Peacock Tara for Body Refinement.

• Fang Qing failed to cultivate Forestbank Concealment into a Divine Ability, and the attempt depleted his Origin Qi and injured his body and Purple Mansion.
• Fang Qing used the Water-Separating Ring, Spring Healing, and his Divine Abilities to recover, then concluded he could attempt the cultivation again after recuperating.
• Fang Qing transformed Longlasting Sweet Rain into Heaven-One Generates Life and tested how [Chariot Water] interacted with [Wall Water], discovering that [Chariot Water] restrained it.
• Fang Qing connected [Net Moon] to the Silver Crow and reflected on the water positions of Phoenix's children.
• Fang Qing decided to visit Empty Peacock Tara for Body Refinement.

Fang Qing learned that True Lord Profound Earth was active in the Outer Sea and decided to investigate him while traveling through the Qi Ingestion Dao world. He reached Black Teeth Kingdom during its ruler’s coronation and discovered the Sky Horn Sect’s control over the region’s vassal states.

• Sangji asked Empty Peacock Tara about Phoenix Nurturing Five Chicks and learned that Grand Swan and Yuezhuo had been Water Virtue True Lords.
• Sangji warned Fang Qing that True Lord Profound Earth was active in the Outer Sea, and Fang Qing decided to watch for him and potentially eliminate him.
• Fang Qing left seclusion, traveled to the Outer Sea, and considered having Sangji prepare a hidden realm to conceal his travel between worlds.
• Fang Qing arrived at Black Teeth Kingdom during Black Jie’s coronation and observed the kingdom’s poor cultivation resources and customs.
• Fang Qing divined that the Sky Horn Sect controlled hundreds of vassal states, required each new ruler’s investiture, and possessed powerful Purple Mansion cultivators.

Fang Qing tracked True Lord Profound Earth to an Outer Sea temple and arrived posing as a Bond Metal Sword Immortal. He met the Rhinoceros-Scaled Demon King, learned more about the Flood-Dragon Palace and Outer Sea politics, and left True Lord Profound Earth probing his origins while denouncing the Hegemon Nations’ exploitation.

• Fang Qing divined True Lord Profound Earth's location and found him at Profound Earth Temple on an island in the Outer Sea.
• True Lord Profound Earth hosted the Rhinoceros-Scaled Demon King and discussed a matter with him over Blood Peaches.
• Fang Qing arrived at the temple as True Person Profound Sword, and True Lord Profound Earth invited him inside.
• The Rhinoceros-Scaled Demon King rebuffed Fang Qing's questions about the Flood-Dragon Palace and departed, prompting Fang Qing to consider pursuing Chariot Water through the Palace.
• True Lord Profound Earth questioned Fang Qing about Bond Metal and Li Que, then explained that Chu Zhaohuang had lost influence after Li Que killed Chu Tianyi and Northern Zhou's campaign failed.
• True Lord Profound Earth condemned Northern Zhou and Southern Wu for exploiting Outer Sea cultivators through their coastal territories.

Fang Qing joined True Lord Profound Earth, True Person Su Huan, and the Rhinoceros-Scaled Demon King to explore a hidden realm near Langya Prefecture, where they expected to confront Chu Zhaohuang. On the way, they encountered minor cultivators pursuing a woman, and True Lord Profound Earth killed them all with his insects.

• Fang Qing considered killing True Lord Profound Earth but chose to wait after divining that sparing him might lead to an opportunity connected to Chu Zhaohuang.
• Fang Qing cultivated in a cave abode, replenished his Devouring Sea Method with a Third-Order Demon Pill, and later realized True Lord Profound Earth had divined his whereabouts.
• True Lord Profound Earth invited Fang Qing, True Person Su Huan, and the Rhinoceros-Scaled Demon King to explore a hidden realm formed by [Wall Water] near Langya Prefecture.
• The group agreed on how to divide the spoils and set out for the hidden realm, mindful that Chu Zhaohuang and the Nine-Heavens Fire Manor might oppose them.
• On the way, True Person Su Huan proposed a wager about a woman fleeing Three Waters Society cultivators, but Fang Qing and Rhinoceros Scale refused.
• True Lord Profound Earth froze the pursuers and the woman, then sent insects from their bodies flying away, leaving nothing behind.

Fang Qing and his allies opened a secret realm and discovered the Abyssal Kan Flame, a powerful spirit fire linked to the Grand Swan Great Sage. As the others tried to contain it, Fang Qing fought Chu Zhaohuang, and the chapter left the battle unresolved while True Person Su Huan captured the flame.

• True Person Su Huan used a formation to open the secret realm while Fang Qing prepared to defend the group.
• A Grand Swan-shaped spirit fire burst from the opening, badly injuring True Lord Profound Earth before he seized several Blazing Heavenly-Sea Plumes.
• True Person Su Huan identified the spirit fire as the Abyssal Kan Flame, and the Rhinoceros-Scaled Demon King and Su Huan worked to restrain it.
• Chu Zhaohuang arrived and attacked the group with the Withered-Bone Jade Flame, while Fang Qing met him with his flying sword and Sharp Edge Chapter.
• True Person Su Huan sealed the Abyssal Kan Flame in an earthen bowl, and the Rhinoceros-Scaled Demon King joined the fight as True Lord Profound Earth urged her to drive Chu Zhaohuang away.

After the treasure hunt, Fang Qing left Profound Earth Temple with his share, while True Person Li Yan and Chu Zhaohuang moved to seize the Abyssal Kan Flame for the Nine-Heavens Fire Manor. Their assault trapped True Person Profound Earth at the temple, leaving his fate uncertain.

• True Person Su Huan separated the combatants, and Chu Zhaohuang refused her medicine before leaving with his wounds.
• True Person Profound Earth divided the treasures, giving Fang Qing, Su Huan, and Rhinoceros Scale the Blazing Heavenly-Sea Plumes and Mystic Clarity of Floating Clouds; Fang Qing promptly departed.
• True Person Li Yan told Chu Zhaohuang that the Nine-Heavens Fire Manor wanted the Abyssal Kan Flame to build auspicious momentum toward the [Wings Fire] inheritance.
• True Person Li Yan attacked Profound Earth Temple with golden flames, and True Person Profound Earth fled while leaving Rhinoceros Scale behind.
• Chu Zhaohuang used the Capital-Sky Blazing Flame Banner to seal the Great Void and force True Person Profound Earth back out.

After leaving the ruined Profound Earth Temple behind, Fang Qing returned to the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm and learned of a quasi-fourth-order water-attributed Demon Pill carried by the Helian Three Fiends. He seized the damaged Mountain-Moving Tortoise inner core, then departed as the bandits resumed fighting the merchant ship.

• Fang Qing sensed that Dark Earth had died and become a Gu den, then returned to the Qi Refinement Way to lie low and check his informants' reports.
• At Yuanxin Market, Shang Yuanxin told Fang Qing that the Helian Three Fiends had stolen a shipment containing a quasi-fourth-order Mountain-Moving Tortoise inner core.
• Fang Qing traveled to the Helian Sea Region and used [Words Become Law] to make the bandits' lower-ranked cultivators kill themselves.
• Fang Qing demanded the inner core from the Helian Three Fiends, and their eldest brother handed him the damaged pill.
• Fang Qing departed, and the Helian Three Fiends resumed their attack on the merchant ship.

Fang Qing prepared to advance his cultivation while monitoring the failing All-Heaven Star Palace Secret Realm. Zhan Hongxiu returned to Three Origins Island as a Core Formation cultivator and planned to enter the secret realm, where she sought the Nine-Soul Agate.

• Fang Qing bought five Third-Order Demon Pills from Shang Yuanxin and declined help tracking the Helian Three Fiends.
• Qin Ruxue told Fang Qing that the All-Heaven Star Palace Secret Realm would likely open within two or three years and might collapse afterward.
• Fang Qing settled into seclusion on Jade Spring Island and used Demon Pills to convert the Devouring Sea Method's True Core, aiming for Core Formation Late Stage.
• Zhan Hongxiu arrived at Three Origins Island atop a massive Longevity Tortoise and announced her return to the cultivators there.
• Zhan Hongxiu returned to her old cave abode, while Turtle Elder warned her about Fang Qing's Devouring Sea Method and urged her to obtain the Nine-Soul Agate.

Fang Qing broke through to Core Formation Late Stage and tested his growing strength before meeting Zhan Hongxiu, who sought entry to the approaching Circumcelestial Secret Realm. He appeared before her disguised as a Purple Mansion True Person, then welcomed her to discuss the matter over tea.

• Fang Qing used the Mystic Star Flying-Waterfall Pill and other treasures to break through to Core Formation Late Stage, strengthening his physique and Spiritual Sense.
• Fang Qing tested his Life-Bound Artifacts and considered how he could use the Heaven-Hearing Bell, then stored the quasi-fourth-order Demon Pill for a future breakthrough.
• Fang Qing refined his understanding of Forestbank Concealment and noticed that Zhan Hongxiu had arrived on Heavenly Heart Island and met Qin Ruxue.
• Zhan Hongxiu asked Qin Ruxue for a chance to enter the approaching secret realm, and Qin Ruxue told her that Fang Qing would decide.
• Fang Qing appeared disguised as a Purple Mansion True Person, invited Zhan Hongxiu for tea, and claimed he practiced an ordinary water-attribute cultivation method.

Fang Qing negotiated with Zhan Hongxiu for access to the collapsing secret realm and learned she planned to seek the Nine-Soul Agate. Months later, the group gathered to enter the realm, where Qin Ruxue warned that they would have less than ten days to escape.

• Zhan Hongxiu asked Fang Qing for permission to enter the secret realm and offered him a chance to enter the Void Ruins Secret Realm in exchange.
• Fang Qing revealed his Core Formation Late Stage cultivation and demanded a thirty-percent share of Zhan Hongxiu's spoils, while allowing her first pick of one item from her own finds.
• Zhan Hongxiu agreed, and Turtle Elder told her to secure the Nine-Soul Agate; Fang Qing overheard the plan and decided to follow her toward it.
• Several months later, Cui Zhe joined Fang Qing, Zhan Hongxiu, Qin Ruxue, and the disciples at the underground bronze palace before their entry.
• Qin Ruxue explained that the secret realm's restrictions were collapsing and that the group would have less than ten days to leave before the spatial passage collapsed.

As the All-Heaven Star Palace Secret Realm began collapsing, Fang Qing and Zhan Hongxiu separately headed for the Soul-Nurturing Hall. Zhan Hongxiu discovered its treasures were gone and was ambushed by a powerful demon infant formed from sentient Nine-Soul Agate, leaving her searching for a way to survive or capture it.

• Fang Qing entered the weakening secret realm with the Azure Sea Sect cultivators, then used Forestbank Concealment to head alone for the Soul-Nurturing Hall.
• Zhan Hongxiu reached the Soul-Nurturing Hall and broke its restriction with the method Turtle Elder taught her.
• Zhan Hongxiu found the hall’s treasure platforms empty and the Soul-Nourishing Wood missing, then a tiny attacker struck her from behind with Nascent Soul-level power.
• Zhan Hongxiu fought off the attacker with her artifacts and learned from Turtle Elder that it was a demon infant born from the sentient Nine-Soul Agate.
• Turtle Elder warned Zhan Hongxiu that the demon infant could teleport through space and would be difficult to capture without powerful cultivators, a formation, and a void-type treasure.

Fang Qing captured the Nine-Soul Demon Infant after fighting it and luring it into a formation prepared by Xiang Dahu and Qin Ruxue. Back at Heavenly Heart Island, the Secret Realm survivors returned with their gains, and Zhan Hongxiu arrived with a trove of treasures.

• Turtle Elder used a Profound Heart Slash to distract the Nine-Soul Demon Infant and help Zhan Hongxiu escape.
• Fang Qing attacked the Demon Infant, exploiting its weak Spiritual Sense while battling its teleportation and immense strength.
• The Demon Infant fled into the Great Void, where Xiang Dahu and Qin Ruxue trapped it in a prepared formation; Fang Qing then sealed it inside the Devouring Sea Flask.
• Fang Qing returned with Xiang Dahu and Qin Ruxue to Heavenly Heart Island and opened the passage for the Azure Sea Sect disciples to leave the collapsing Secret Realm.
• Cui Zhe reported that the sect had transplanted the Five-Elements Fruit Tree, and Zhan Hongxiu emerged with more than ten millennium-old Spirit Herbs, damaged magic treasures, ores, and ancient medicinal pills.

Fang Qing devised and completed the Jade-Heart Seed-Demon Art, converting the Nine-Soul Demon Infant into a second Nascent Soul without splitting his soul. The new Nascent Soul rapidly cultivated the Devouring Sea Method beyond Fang Qing’s own level and began refining the Heaven-Hearing Bell.

• Fang Qing accepted Zhan Hongxiu’s promise of future cooperation and collected treasures from Cui Zhe on Jade Spring Island.
• Fang Qing combined the Soul-Splitting Infant-Offering Method, the Azure Wood Primordial Womb Art, and Yaolingxuan to devise the Jade-Heart Seed-Demon Art.
• After obtaining the Purple Mansion chapter of the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art, Fang Qing raised Yaolingxuan to the Divine Ability level and used it to convert the Nine-Soul Demon Infant.
• Fang Qing completed the first refinement, making the Nine-Soul Demon Infant resemble him and establishing it as his second Nascent Soul.
• The second Nascent Soul cultivated the Devouring Sea Method past the peak of Core Formation, while Yu Xiang’er sensed its power but saw no lightning tribulation.
• Fang Qing brought out the Heaven-Hearing Bell, and his second Nascent Soul refined it into a small bell.

Fang Qing tested the power of his second Nascent Soul, which he called a False-Holding Nascent Soul, then discovered calamity qi gathering over Ice Heaven Island. There, he intervened when Heaven Talisman Superior pressured Shang Yuanxin for information about Fang Shui and faced the elder in a duel.

• Fang Qing tested his Nascent Soul mana, the Heaven-Hearing Bell, and the Nine Abysses secret art, concluding that his strength surpassed ordinary Early and Middle Purple Mansion cultivators.
• Fang Qing sensed calamity qi brewing over Ice Heaven Island and went there.
• Shang Yuanxin learned that Heaven Talisman Superior had sent another letter demanding intelligence about Fang Shui, and ordered the captured informant and his connections eliminated.
• Fang Qing appeared beside Shang Yuanxin, praised him for resisting Heaven Talisman Superior, and confronted the elder through his Avatar Talisman.
• Fang Qing and Heaven Talisman Superior exchanged powerful auras, then agreed to move elsewhere to discuss the Dao and left Ice Heaven Island.

Fang Qing tested his new Nascent Soul strength against Heaven Talisman Superior and forced Talisman Sword Island to make peace. Back on Jade Spring Island, he refined pills and prepared to use rare Great Sun Violet Qi and Lunar Azure Qi in his cultivation.

• Fang Qing fought Heaven Talisman Superior outside Ice Heaven Island, using the Devouring Sea Method, swordsmanship, and close combat to overwhelm the avatar.
• Heaven Talisman Superior surrendered the Grudge Infant Fruit, and his true body arrived afterward, wary of Fang Qing's strength and potential.
• Fang Qing told Shang Yuanxin that the dispute with Heaven Talisman was settled, accepted an invitation to observe the Shang Clan's next young master selection if free, and requested ingredients for pill refining.
• On Jade Spring Island, Fang Qing reflected that his strength had let him end the danger rather than flee, then gathered herbs and refined pills over several months.
• Fang Qing revealed Great Sun Violet Qi and Lunar Azure Qi, rare upper-grade Ninth Rank True Qi that he had arranged to collect in large quantities.

Fang Qing attempted to refine Great Sun Violet Qi and Lunar Azure Qi into Origin Qi, then returned to the cursed site of Profound Earth Temple and learned how True Lord Profound Earth had died. After declining True Person Su Huan’s offer to join Sky Horn Sect, Fang Qing met Sanmu in Profound Void Heaven and began recounting his conflict with Li Yan.

• Fang Qing failed to combine Great Sun Violet Qi and Lunar Azure Qi into Origin Qi, though he believed he could refine each type of qi separately into valuable medicines.
• Fang Qing visited Profound Earth Temple as True Person Profound Sword and learned from True Person Su Huan that Li Yan had killed True Lord Profound Earth and gravely wounded the Rhinoceros-Scaled Demon King.
• True Person Su Huan invited Fang Qing to join Sky Horn Sect under the protection of its Grand Elder, Guangmu, but Fang Qing declined and left.
• Fang Qing entered Profound Void Heaven, considered the coming return of Grand Yellow Heaven, and heard cultivators discussing Northern Zhou’s Fire-Fighting Tournament.
• Fang Qing met Sanmu, the leader of the Four-Silence Sect, in a sealed tea room and told him that Li Yan and Chu Zhaohuang had killed his friend True Lord Profound Earth.

Fang Qing joined True Person Sanmu and several Purple Mansion cultivators in an attack on Chu Zhaohuang, hoping to wound him and let Steel Strength Dudzi take the blame for his death. The ambush turned into a trap when True Person Li Yan appeared with reinforcements and sealed the Great Void.

• Fang Qing insisted on revenge against Chu Zhaohuang, and True Person Sanmu proposed gathering Purple Mansion allies to attack him while leaving the final killing to Steel Strength Dudzi.
• Fang Qing learned that Profound Void Heaven marked and recorded its visitors, while True Person Sanmu argued that their plans would escape a True Lord's notice.
• True Person Sanmu gathered Fang Qing, True Person Chigu, and an unnamed sword cultivator in Langya Prefecture, and they agreed to wound Chu Zhaohuang without bearing the final Causality.
• Chu Zhaohuang recovered from his injuries at the Garrison Residence before the group attacked his cave abode and damaged its Purple Mansion formation.
• Chu Zhaohuang fought back with the Calamity-Ash Seal and Scarlet Firmament Sword, then fled into the Great Void as the attackers pursued him.
• True Person Sanmu sensed an ambush, and True Person Li Yan appeared with two other Purple Mansion True Persons, sealing the Great Void with the Capital-Sky Blazing Flame Banner.