Chapter Summaries

Three months after Elder Tianding refined Foundation Establishment Pills, Fang Qing prepared for the sect’s compulsory assignments by gathering supplies and seeking stronger talismans. He learned that Spiritual Sense could let Qi Refinement cultivators use Second-Order arts, and left determined to advance his cultivation and body refinement while pursuing it.

• Elder Tianding refined twenty Prime Quality Foundation Establishment Pills, and Xu Wusu stopped Fang Qing to speak with him after the exhausted disciples left.
• Fang Qing accepted Jadeflower Spirit Water refining assignments, then went to the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs to stock up on materials and protective talismans.
• Hua Lian explained that True Disciple places in the Hundred Arts of Immortality were difficult for outsiders to win, and led Fang Qing to Huo Tianhuo’s stall.
• Fang Qing bought Firecloud, Raging Fire, and Fireball Talismans from Huo Tianhuo, who explained that Second-Order arts required Spiritual Sense to use safely.
• Fang Qing abandoned the idea of buying Second-Order talismans and resolved to reach Late Qi Refinement, cultivate Spiritual Sense, and pursue Body Refinement.

Fang Qing visited Floating Boat Market to seek cultivation resources and advice, where he reunited with Li Rulong and Guo Tianhong, then traded pills for Dark Jade Ginseng. He finally met the Old Blind Man, who recognized his Winnowing Basket Water mana, leaving Fang Qing poised to ask him for guidance.

• Fang Qing reflected on finding Body Refinement techniques and planned to use resources from both Ancient Shu and the Azure Sea Sect.
• At Floating Boat Market, Fang Qing reunited with Li Rulong and Guo Tianhong and learned they had entered the Dao through Qi Ingestion.
• Li Rulong told Fang Qing that he had reached the Qi Ingestion Third Layer, become a sword cultivator, and obtained a flying sword and sword manual from an immortal's cave abode.
• Fang Qing traded Blood Pills at a herbal shop for Dark Jade Ginseng and considered using the two worlds' different herbs and pill formulas to expand his alchemy prospects.
• Fang Qing met the Old Blind Man, who recognized his Winnowing Basket Water mana and revealed that he could perceive cultivators through their qi.

Fang Qing traded with the Old Blind Man for the incomplete Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art, learning its dangers and that his Winnowing Basket Water technique could make him a target for the Heavenly Water Luo Family. Back in his Azure Sea Sect cave, he studied the manual and considered cultivating it despite its risks.

• Fang Qing asked the Old Blind Man about a low-cost Body Refinement technique that could strengthen both his body and spirit.
• The Old Blind Man offered the incomplete Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art and warned that Secret Treasury Domain masters could gain control over those who cultivated its lineage.
• Fang Qing agreed to buy the manual and learned that practitioners of his Winnowing Basket Water technique could consume one another's power to break through bottlenecks.
• The Old Blind Man identified the Heavenly Water Luo Family as a prominent Winnowing Basket Water clan, and Fang Qing suspected his technique might have been planted as bait.
• Fang Qing returned to his Azure Sea Sect cave with spirit materials and the manual, then began studying the technique's Threefold Secret Empowerment.

Fang Qing used the Dao-Born Pearl to filter the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art and strengthened his body, then refined spirit water and discovered it could accelerate his cultivation. After receiving visitors Zha Zhu and Li Yusu, he met Hua Lian, who invited him to join a fishing expedition as the Sect Grand Fishing began.

• Fang Qing practiced the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art, transformed its strange force with the Dao-Born Pearl, and found that the filtered method strengthened his body overnight.
• Fang Qing refined Jadeflower Spirit Water, failed to make Ginseng Green Spirit Water, and bought a gourd of it to boost his Dharma Power cultivation.
• Fang Qing discovered that the Dao-Born Pearl let him use Ginseng Green Spirit Water more often, potentially shortening the time needed to reach the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
• Zha Zhu and Li Yusu visited Fang Qing, and he welcomed them before seeing them off.
• Hua Lian arrived by Green Leaf Flying Boat and invited Fang Qing to seek bargains in nearby waters as the Sect Grand Fishing began.

Over the year, Fang Qing kept refining pills and finally succeeded in making Ginseng Green Spirit Water, then joined the Five Dragons Society to gain alchemical guidance and investigate methods of awakening Spiritual Sense. He asked Xu Wusu to help arrange a private Spirit Spring, hoping to refine pills away from the sect’s attention.

• Fang Qing continued taking missions and refining Jadeflower Spirit Water, while his attempts to make Ginseng Green Spirit Water repeatedly failed.
• After a year of training, Fang Qing used his improved physique, spirit, and water-control skills to successfully refine and collect a batch of Ginseng Green Spirit Water.
• Xu Wusu visited Fang Qing, who claimed he had found a Rogue Cultivator's cave abode and used its spirit stones to buy alchemy materials.
• Xu Wusu invited Fang Qing to join the Five Dragons Society and gave him the Five Dragons Alchemy Classic, explaining the group’s efforts to help Five Dragons Child advance his alchemy and find a path to Spiritual Sense.
• Fang Qing accepted the invitation and offered to help research ancient pill recipes that could increase spiritual awareness among Qi Refinement cultivators.
• Fang Qing asked Xu Wusu to introduce him to a reliable geomancer so he could build a private Spirit Spring in his cave abode.

Fang Qing broke through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Ingestion and the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement, then arranged for his cave dwelling to be remodeled while he went fishing alone near Jade Island. At sea, he studied the Spirit-Concentrating Powder formula and kept the Seven-Star Grass he had found in Ancient Shu, while his fishing brought him a valuable Jadeflower Treasure Fish.

• Fang Qing advanced to the Fourth Layer of Qi Ingestion and the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement, then concealed his stronger aura by lowering it to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement.
• Xu Wusu delivered approval for Fang Qing to remodel his cave dwelling and introduced him to Senior Sister Qin, while Fang Qing proposed using Seven-Star Treasure Fish as a substitute in the Spirit-Concentrating Powder formula.
• Fang Qing gave Xu Wusu spirit stones for the Five Dragons Society and decided to go fishing alone rather than rent another cave dwelling during the renovations.
• Senior Sister Qin surveyed Fang Qing's cave dwelling and provided a remodeling plan, after which Fang Qing packed his belongings and went to fish in safe waters near Jade Island.
• Fang Qing studied the Spirit-Concentrating Powder formula at sea and revealed the Seven-Star Grass he had found in Ancient Shu.
• Fang Qing caught a Jadeflower Treasure Fish, whose flesh was an ingredient for Jadeflower Spirit Water.

Fang Qing caught a Golden Spearfish and found a valuable Sea Pearl, then arranged to have the pearl refined into an offensive artifact. After improving his cave abode, he was warned that the Azure Sea Sect’s True Disciple contest was growing contentious, leaving him wary of being drawn into faction struggles.

• Fang Qing caught and killed a Golden Spearfish, then searched the seabed and found a valuable Sea Pearl.
• Fang Qing sold the Golden Spearfish through Hua Lian and hired Ming Lingzhen to refine the Sea Pearl into an offensive artifact.
• Fang Qing chose an artifact that could store and unleash seawater, and Ming Lingzhen told him to return in a month.
• Senior Sister Qin installed a spirit spring and Little Maze Formation in Fang Qing’s cave abode, then warned him to avoid Clouddrift Adept’s faction.
• Fang Qing considered the factions competing in the True Disciple contest and hoped Five Dragons Child would prevail, while wishing to focus on cultivation.

Fang Qing failed repeatedly to refine Spirit-Concentrating Powder, then traveled to Ancient Shu to find Seven-Star Grass after Jade Heaven Market suspended trade. He encountered Li Rulong’s Rebel Army forcing the Ye Family to submit and was invited to a banquet in Red Maple Valley.

• Fang Qing exhausted his Seven-Star Grass in failed attempts to refine Spirit-Concentrating Powder, then collected his newly refined Sea-Transforming Pearl from Ming Lingzhen.
• Fang Qing reached Ba Commandery and learned from a river-clam artifact that Jade Heaven Market had suspended trade because of unrest.
• Fang Qing went to Red Maple Valley to seek spirit materials and discovered Li Rulong’s Rebel Army surrounding the Ye Family’s territory.
• A sword cultivator defeated the Ye Family ancestor, who surrendered to Li Rulong to protect his clan.
• Li Rulong recognized Fang Qing and invited him to meet fellow cultivators at a banquet in Red Maple Valley.

At a banquet with Li Rulong’s Rebel Army, Fang Qing traded for Seven-Star Grass but refused to join the rebellion. When Black Blight Sect cultivators attacked, Fang Qing fought a sect cultivator with powerful talismans and unleashed a Firecloud Talisman.

• Li Rulong explained that the Pu Family supported his Rebel Army and that cultivators above Dao Foundation had agreed not to intervene in the conflict.
• Fang Qing refused Li Rulong’s invitation to join the Rebel Army and traded Spirit Grain and spiritual water for Seven-Star Grass from Chun Yun and the Ye Family patriarch.
• A Black Blight Sect cultivator arrived, and Li Rulong attacked, killing Junior Brother Miao and triggering a battle across the valley.
• A triangular-eyed Black Blight Sect cultivator targeted Fang Qing, who retreated beyond the valley and chose to fight rather than withdraw.
• Fang Qing struck the cultivator with three Fireball Talismans and a gold-attributed talisman, then engulfed him in fire clouds with a Firecloud Talisman.

After helping Li Rulong’s group survive an attack, Fang Qing suspected that powerful factions were manipulating events and chose to keep his distance. Four years later, he had reached Qi Refinement Sixth Layer Great Perfection but faced a bottleneck, and he pursued other ways to break through amid growing unrest in Ba Commandery.

• Fang Qing’s firecloud display distracted the Black Blight Sect cultivators, allowing Li Rulong to kill their leader and drive them away.
• Fang Qing fled, suspecting the weak attack on Li Rulong’s group had been part of a larger scheme, and decided to avoid getting involved.
• Fang Qing returned to Azure Sea Sect and spent the following years cultivating, refining spirit water, and practicing body refinement.
• Four years later, Fang Qing reached Qi Refinement Sixth Layer Great Perfection but could not break through to the seventh layer.
• Fang Qing considered advancing the Black Ridge Observation Book or successfully refining Spirit-Concentrating Powder to overcome his bottleneck, while noting that Ba Commandery had grown more dangerous.

Fang Qing successfully refined Spirit-Concentrating Powder, used it to condense Spiritual Sense, and then broke through to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement. He ended the chapter newly qualified to compete for a True Disciple position while continuing to pursue alchemy and cultivation.

• Fang Qing refined First-Order high-grade Spirit-Concentrating Powder and took a dose, which brought him close to condensing Spiritual Sense.
• Fang Qing declined Hua Lian’s invitation to join the fishing fleet, choosing to remain in seclusion to refine pills.
• Fang Qing took more Spirit-Concentrating Powder and successfully condensed Spiritual Sense, gaining clearer memories and new insight into cultivation and the Hundred Arts of Immortality.
• Fang Qing used Ginseng Green Spirit Water and the Origin Qi accumulated by the Dao-Born Pearl to break through to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement.

Fang Qing reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, refined a strand of Great Sun Violet Qi, and learned that the Great White Zhong Clan had attacked the Azure Sea Sect. After learning that Zha Zhu and several companions had died, he suspected Hua Lian might have played a role and wondered whether Flying Fish Island had betrayed the sect.

• Fang Qing refined his Black Water Dharma Power, studied the Black Ridge Observation Book and Plum Blossom Divination, and discovered that his Spiritual Sense could form a secret attack through the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art.
• Fang Qing completed a strand of Great Sun Violet Qi and used Plum Blossom Divination to foresee minor misfortune, then learned that the Great White Zhong Clan had attacked the Azure Sea Sect and that the sect had raised its protective formation.
• Fang Qing watched battered ships return and saw Hua Lian and Li Yusu arrive, while Huo Tianhuo, Ming Lingzhen, and Zha Zhu were missing.
• Li Yusu told Fang Qing that Zha Zhu, Ming Lingzhen, and the others had died, while Hua Lian said Yu Taohua had died protecting him.
• Fang Qing divined that Hua Lian brought him great misfortune and suspected Hua Lian had concealed treachery or that Flying Fish Island had collaborated with the Great White Zhong Clan.

Fang Qing was assigned to guard the Red-Scale Fishery during the war between the Azure Sea Sect and the Zhong Family, then discovered that divination barely worked in Ancient Shu. He considered using the Heavenly Water Luo Family to test the consequences of trading Great Sun Violet Qi and heard that Li Rulong had captured another city in Ba Commandery.

• Five Dragons Child explained the three wartime assignments, and Fang Qing chose a guarding post while many Five Dragons Society members volunteered for the front lines.
• Fang Qing arrived at the Red-Scale Fishery, reunited with Zeng Shu, and learned that the injured Li Yusu had also been assigned there.
• Fang Qing entered Ancient Shu and suffered a backlash when he tried to divine, realizing that its chaotic Heavenly Secrets severely limited his divination.
• Fang Qing considered selling Great Sun Violet Qi to the Heavenly Water Luo Family as a test and planned to disguise himself with the Dao-Born Pearl.
• Fang Qing heard citizens celebrating General Li Rulong's capture of another city and speculated that Li Rulong's cultivation had reached Late Qi Ingestion or higher.

Fang Qing helped the injured Li Yusu seek a way to restore his severed arm while learning more about the Azure Sea Sect’s war with the Zhong Family. After breaking through to First-Order high-grade Body Refinement and awakening Great Vajra Divine Strength, Fang Qing rushed to Red-Scale Lake, where Zhong Family cultivators had attacked the fishery.

• Fang Qing gave Li Yusu healing pills to sell and asked him to seek methods for refining spirit water and poisonous water.
• At a gathering in Zeng Shu’s cave, the cultivators discussed the war and learned that Zhong Lingxiu, an Ice Spirit Root prodigy, had killed three True Disciples.
• Fang Qing broke through to First-Order high-grade Body Refinement and gained the ability to unleash Great Vajra Divine Strength once before needing to replenish it.
• A sound-transmission talisman summoned Fang Qing to Red-Scale Lake, where more than a dozen Zhong Family direct-line cultivators had breached the formation.
• Fang Qing questioned his divination, realizing that its prediction of minor fortune might only mean he could survive the attack.

Zhong Lingxiu led Zhong Family cultivators in attacking the Red-Scale Fishery, and Fang Qing fled before the Azure Wave Formation was destroyed. After killing his pursuer Zhong Wufu, Fang Qing escaped to Ancient Shu, where he found valuable artifacts and a chant for condensing Ice-Soul Spirit Water.

• Zeng Shu and the Azure Sea Sect cultivators raised the Azure Wave Formation, but Zhong Lingxiu’s ice phoenix shattered it and he ordered his followers to kill them all.
• Fang Qing fled Red-Scale Lake, dodged Zhong Wufu’s ice spikes, and used seawater to conceal his approach.
• Fang Qing struck Zhong Wufu with the Demon-Subduing Vajra Pestle and Great Vajra Divine Strength, killing him before he could activate a talisman.
• Fang Qing collected Zhong Wufu’s belongings and rode the Green Leaf Boat to Ancient Shu, while Zhong Lingxiu’s tracking spell failed.
• Fang Qing found high-grade Profound Ice Wheels and a White-Scale Shield, along with a chant for condensing Ice-Soul Spirit Water.

Fang Qing attended a rogue cultivator exchange meet in Ba Commandery, where disputes over cultivation methods revealed the dangers and scarcity of ancient traditions. He sought a Great Sun Tradition method, and the gathering ended with Dark Candle Adept provoking a clash by bringing up the Pu Family ancestor’s rise to power.

• Fang Qing met Dark Candle Adept at a ruined Kitchen Lord Temple, where the Shabby Daoist arrived and established himself as the exchange meet’s organizer and guarantor of safety.
• Old Tian sought a Dao Foundation method for his Household’s [Bond Metal] cultivation, but rejected Dark Candle Adept’s [Net Moon] method after learning it would turn cultivators into Half-Demons.
• A noblewoman called Lady Qi offered Innate Geng Metal in exchange for information about the famous sword Must Enjoy to the Full, then grew angry when a cultivator could not locate it.
• Fang Qing sought a Great Sun Tradition cultivation method and offered pills that enhanced cultivation power as payment.
• Dark Candle Adept challenged the Pu Family cultivator’s contempt for Great Sun methods by recalling how his ancestor had gained power through an ancient cave abode, angering the cultivator and silencing the gathering.

At a tense exchange meeting, Fang Qing learned about cultivation methods, rare spirit waters, and the Shabby Daoist’s apparent interest in him. After divining great misfortune if he traveled through space, Fang Qing headed toward Li Rulong’s army instead, hoping to remain unnoticed.

• Dark Candle Adept accepted Fang Qing’s deposit and promised to search for the Great Sun Cultivation Method.
• The Shabby Daoist explained how fate affected cultivation methods, while the Pu cultivator said lower Third-Order True Qi could prevent cultivators from reaching Dao Foundation; Dark Candle Adept named Heaven-One Generates Water as a possible remedy.
• Dark Candle Adept revealed his post guarding the Langhuan Library at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, and the Pu cultivator became wary of him.
• After the meeting, the Shabby Daoist asked Fang Qing to deliver a letter inviting Li Rulong to the gathering, and Fang Qing agreed.
• Fang Qing’s Plum Blossom Divination showed great misfortune if he traveled through space, so he went to find Li Rulong’s army instead.

Fang Qing delivered a mysterious letter to Li Rulong, who realized the truth about the Rebel Army’s manipulation and feared for Guo Tianhong’s safety. After cautiously returning to Jade Island, Fang Qing divined that the war was being fought to stop the Azure Sea Sect’s Horned Serpent from reaching Third-Order, and that Zha Zhu might be intended as a sacrifice to aid its breakthrough.

• Luo Dacheng pressured Li Rulong to attack Sanmu City and slaughter a hundred thousand people for blood qi, but Li threatened him with the Army-Settling Sword and ordered him out.
• Fang Qing gave Li Rulong a letter from the Shabby Daoist, and Li thanked him before asking him to look after Guo Tianhong if anything happened to him.
• Fang Qing left the area and repeatedly used Plum Blossom Divination before safely activating his traversal and returning to Jade Island months later.
• Fang Qing divined that the Azure Sea Sect’s Second-Order peak Horned Serpent was about to advance to Third-Order, prompting the war against the sect.
• Fang Qing realized Hua Lian had leaked the secret and suspected Zha Zhu might be devoured by the Horned Serpent to improve its chances of surviving its breakthrough.

Fang Qing returned to the Azure Sea Sect after calculating that the Horned Serpent would soon cross its tribulation, and he presented himself as a loyal disciple ready to serve. The sect’s leaders prepared for the secret event scheduled for the next day, while Fang Qing went back to Cold Spring Peak and chose to rest before it.

• Fang Qing recovered from exhausting his Spiritual Sense and concluded that the Horned Serpent’s tribulation was near and the Azure Sea Sect faced little immediate danger.
• Fang Qing returned to the sect, claimed he had killed Zhong Wufu while defending the Red-Scale Fishery, and revealed his Late Qi Refinement cultivation to the law-enforcement cultivators.
• Elder Heavenly Punishment questioned Fang Qing, accepted his account, and told him to rest before seeking a mission the next day.
• Sect Leader Linghu told Elder Heavenly Punishment that the Horned Serpent’s tribulation would occur the next day and ordered preparations to protect key locations.
• Fang Qing returned to Cold Spring Peak, studied a pill formula, and went to sleep rather than risk missing the Horned Serpent’s tribulation.

Fang Qing witnessed the Azure Sea Sect’s Sea-Mixing Flood Serpent attempt to cross its Core Formation tribulation while Zhong Xuanli and Yuyao intervened. After the serpent died at the sixth lightning bolt, Ruan Zhixuan and Sect Leader Linghu secretly planned to refine its Demon Pill into an Outer Core and prepare to deal with the Zhong Family and Heavenly Heart Chain Islands.

• Fang Qing emerged from his cave as the Sea-Mixing Flood Serpent began its tribulation under the protection of Ruan Zhixuan and the Seven Profound Azurewave Formation.
• The serpent evolved into a Third-Order Sea-Mixing Flood Serpent, but Zhong Xuanli attacked the formation while Yuyao arrived and added pressure.
• The serpent died beneath the sixth lightning bolt, and Zhong Xuanli departed after learning its tribulation had failed.
• Ruan Zhixuan took the serpent’s Third-Order Demon Pill and secretly agreed with Sect Leader Linghu to refine it into an Outer Core called the Tide-Birth Pearl.
• Ruan Zhixuan warned Sect Leader Linghu to keep the Outer Core secret, while he told the arriving elders that the spirit beast had perished and declared the war over.