Chapter Summaries

After the war, Fang Qing collected his Contribution Points and learned that the Five Dragons Society had collapsed, Xu Wusu had been crippled, and Five Dragons Child was focused on Foundation Establishment. Fang Qing visited Xu Wusu, who revealed that the society’s survivors had abandoned him and that Five Dragons Child had offered him no help.

• Fang Qing used Plum Blossom Divination to investigate Azure Sea Sect’s fortunes, his Foundation Establishment opportunity, and the Causality surrounding Zha Zhu, but could not calculate matters beyond his realm.
• At the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs, Fang Qing received Contribution Points for his battle merits and exchanged them for ingredients to make Qi Refining Powder.
• Hua Lian told Fang Qing that Five Dragons Child had nearly enough Contribution Points for a Foundation Establishment Pill, while Xu Wusu had returned with a damaged Dantian Qi Sea and fallen to Early Qi Refinement.
• Fang Qing visited Xu Wusu at Lakeside Manor and found that the injured cultivator had grown old and lost his position in the Five Dragons Society.
• Xu Wusu explained that many members had withdrawn and demanded their contributions back, while Five Dragons Child remained focused on Foundation Establishment and had not helped him.

Fang Qing refined Qi Refining Powder and planned to reach Foundation Establishment after the next True Disciple Grand Competition, while Cui Zhe arrested and killed Hua Lian for spying on the Azure Sea Sect. The chapter ended with Cui Zhe preparing to lead the annihilation of the Hua Family on Flying Fish Island.

• Fang Qing learned that the Azure Sea Sect had given Foundation Establishment Pills to Cui Zhe, Ruan Tianshou, and Five Dragons Child, then divined that Hua Lian and his clan faced death.
• Fang Qing refined Ice-Soul Spirit Water and used it to make Prime Quality Qi Refining Powder, which he expected to help him reach Qi Refining Ninth Layer within four or five years.
• Fang Qing calculated how his cultivation, body refinement, and Spiritual Sense could prepare him for Foundation Establishment, while deciding he still needed a Foundation Establishment Pill and would return to Ancient Shu.
• Hua Lian anticipated using pills from his family to compete for a True Disciple position and eventually obtain Foundation Establishment Pills, but Cui Zhe broke into his cave residence and killed him.
• Cui Zhe reported to Elder Heavenly Punishment, who ordered an Island-Annihilation Order against the Hua Family and offered to watch as Cui Zhe tested his sword against their Foundation Establishment Early Stage ancestor.

Fang Qing failed to break through to the Qi Ingestion Seventh Layer and went to certify as a First-Order High Grade Alchemist, but the sect’s Spirit-Shocking Bell announced a major operation against Flying Fish Island. As the Azure Sea Sect’s warships attacked the Hua Family for colluding with foreign enemies, Fang Qing resolved to head there himself, encouraged by an auspicious divination.

• Fang Qing failed to break through his cultivation bottleneck and decided to pursue First-Order High Grade Alchemist certification instead.
• At the Pill Hall, Fang Qing paid for the required assessment and declined Hua Lingsu’s offer to invite her master, Clouddrift Adept.
• After the Spirit-Shocking Bell rang six times, Fang Qing identified Flying Fish Island as the likely target and divined that profit lay to the southeast.
• Hua Tianfeng and Hua Zong discussed the Hua Family’s dealings with the Zhong Family and their rewards, including Foundation Establishment opportunities and pills.
• The Azure Sea Sect accused the Hua Family of colluding with foreign enemies and sent its Five-Tusk Warships to destroy the island’s formation.
• Cui Zhe watched as the warships’ Restriction-Breaking Thunder Spike tore through the Hua Family’s defenses.

As the Azure Sea Sect attacked the Hua Family on Flying Fish Island, Fang Qing intercepted a fleeing Hua cultivator and took his valuable supplies. Back at the sect, Fang Qing prepared for his First-Order High Grade alchemist assessment, which began at a Second-Order spirit spring.

• Hua Tianfeng ordered Hua Zong to help the family's Foundation Establishment seeds escape, then challenged the Azure Sea Sect as Cui Zhe moved to fight him.
• The Azure Sea Sect's enforcement disciples swept through the Hua Family's cultivators while some Qi Refinement cultivators rushed toward the underground cavern for its Profound Wind Baleful Intent.
• Fang Qing ambushed a fleeing Hua Family cultivator, killed him before he could activate a Second-Order talisman, and took his storage bag, which contained spirit stones, Dragon-Soaring Silk, and an Iceheart Meridian-Guarding Pill.
• Fang Qing examined the Heavenfrost Ice Blade Talisman, decided against pursuing other fleeing Hua Family members, and returned to the Azure Sea Sect.
• Hua Lingsu told Fang Qing that his First-Order High Grade alchemist assessment was scheduled, and half a month later Elder Han led him to the Cold Marrow Spring to begin it.
• Fang Qing chose to refine Qi Refining Powder, Qi-Replenishing Pills, and Origin-Restoring Pills, then put a Qi Refining Flower into the spring.

Fang Qing advanced to a First-Order upper-grade pill refiner, then witnessed Five Dragons Child fail his Foundation Establishment attempt. While studying a Hua Family ancestor’s journal, Fang Qing connected the Tide-Birth Pearl to his divination and the Azure Sea Sect’s plans for Core Formation.

• Fang Qing refined Qi-Replenishing Pills and Origin-Restoring Pills while hiding his Spiritual Sense, and Elder Han praised his skill before Fang Qing received permission to consult Second-Order pill scriptures and rent a Second-Order Spirit Pool.
• Fang Qing saw Five Dragons Child attempt Foundation Establishment, but the spiritual energy vortex collapsed and Five Dragons Child emerged injured after failing at the Spirit Sense Pass.
• Fang Qing copied the Flesh-Regenerating Bone-Replenishing Pill formula from Hua Family books and read about the cultivation realms and a lost treasure called the Tide-Birth Pearl.
• Fang Qing realized the Tide-Birth Pearl could be refined from a Third-Order Demon Pill through the Outer Core Method, and he wondered whether a peak Third-Order Demon Pill would produce a different effect.

Fang Qing met Dark Candle Adept in Ancient Shu to trade for Great Sun cultivation methods, while learning that Cloud-Touching Cliff’s arrival would intensify the region’s turmoil. He took all three manuals and left, as Dark Candle Adept decided against ambushing him because Fang Qing seemed dangerously powerful.

• Fang Qing prepared his magical artifacts before meeting Dark Candle Adept, wary of the muddled Heavenly Secrets in Ancient Shu.
• Dark Candle Adept told Fang Qing that a figure from Cloud-Touching Cliff had arrived, likely disrupting the conflict between the Pu Family and Black Blight Sect, and hinted that Li Rulong was in danger.
• Dark Candle Adept presented three Great Sun methods: the incomplete Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art, the yin-yang-transforming Rhapsody of Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Union and Great Bliss, and the difficult-to-enter Great Sun True Interpretation.
• Fang Qing took all three manuals and paid Dark Candle Adept with spirit assets and gourds of spirit water.
• A black crow questioned why Dark Candle Adept had not joined an ambush, and Dark Candle Adept said Fang Qing seemed powerful enough to threaten them.

Fang Qing divined the three manuals, chose to cultivate Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art after finding Great Sun True Interpretation incomprehensible, and used Great Sun Violet Qi and the Dao-Born Pearl to raise it to Qi Ingestion Sixth Layer. He then divided the converted Origin Qi among his other techniques, leaving Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art back at the first layer as he considered its power and risks.

• Fang Qing found that Great Sun True Interpretation brought great fortune but was too difficult for him to understand, while Rhapsody of Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Union and Great Bliss brought great misfortune, so he sealed the latter away.
• Fang Qing began practicing Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art and used a strand of Great Sun Violet Qi to enter the Dao and form Great Sun Dharma Power.
• Fang Qing used the Dao-Born Pearl to convert his cultivation into Great Sun Dharma Power, which carried him to Qi Ingestion Fourth Layer.
• Fang Qing converted the cultivation of Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art into Great Sun Dharma Power and reached Qi Ingestion Sixth Layer, noticing that his blood had become golden.
• Fang Qing dispersed the Great Sun Dharma Power and distributed the Origin Qi among Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art, Black Ridge Observation Book, and Water Classic Commentary.

Fang Qing returned to Jade Heaven Market to investigate the flawed cultivation art he had bought and drew Luo Dacheng into an ambush. After overpowering him, Fang Qing used the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art to make Luo Dacheng his disciple and began demanding the Luo Family’s secrets.

• Fang Qing visited the Nine Rivers Water Pavilion and used the Plum Blossom Divination to confirm that the bookstore obstructed his path to advancing in cultivation.
• The beautiful woman told Luo Dacheng that Fang Qing had previously bought a flawed copy of the Black Ridge Observation Book, and Luo Dacheng realized Fang Qing lacked the verses needed to advance.
• Luo Dacheng lured Fang Qing away from Jade Heaven Market and used hidden features of the Black Ridge Observation Book to hinder his mana.
• Fang Qing revealed his formidable Body Refinement physique, knocked Luo Dacheng down, and claimed to be a monk from the Secret Treasury Domain.
• Luo Dacheng agreed to take refuge in Great Snow Mountain, and Fang Qing empowered him with the Great Sun Precepts, gaining a grip on his life and demanding the Luo Family’s secrets.

After learning that the Heavenly Water Luo Family had exploited and destroyed his mortal kin, Fang Qing ordered Luo Dacheng to remain loyal and discovered that the Dao-Born Pearl let him monitor him across worlds. Meanwhile, Li Rulong prepared for his sword duel with Zhao Wuxu, believing his death was unavoidable and deciding he would face it willingly to protect those close to him.

• Fang Qing learned that the Luo Family had fed on his family's fate, killed some of its descendants, and kept the surviving children as a source of destiny.
• Fang Qing threatened Luo Dacheng with the Donkey-Demon Vajra Speech Karma Curse and ordered him to conceal their encounter while continuing his usual duties.
• Fang Qing used the Dao-Born Pearl to monitor Luo Dacheng remotely, then returned to Jade Island while maintaining sight of Luo Dacheng's secret chamber in Jade Heaven Market.
• Fang Qing realized Omnipresence might let him influence or empower Luo Dacheng across worlds and considered building a new lineage modeled on Great Snow Mountain.
• Luo Dacheng collected blood qi from Li Rulong, who confirmed that his duel with Zhao Wuxu was set for three days later.
• Li Rulong concluded that the Pu Family and Black Blight Sect could not save him and resolved to face death willingly rather than endanger his friends, relatives, and family.

Luo Dacheng met Li Rulong on Fang Qing’s behalf and learned that two Purple Mansion cultivators threatened Li Rulong’s escape. Li Rulong used the Calendar-Intercalation Method to change his cultivation lineage into Net Moon, sacrificing his companions and Guo Tianhong, and faced Zhao Wuxu as a half-demon.

• Fang Qing controlled Luo Dacheng as he met Li Rulong, who explained that the Pu Family Ancestor and the Black Blight Sect Ancestor both wanted him dead.
• Fang Qing realized the Heavenly Water Luo Family might help draw away one of Li Rulong’s enemies and planned to test Great Sun Violet Qi’s importance in the world.
• Li Rulong hosted a banquet, explained the Calendar-Intercalation Method, and revealed that it could change a cultivator’s lineage by imitating Net Moon’s ancient rite.
• Li Rulong killed the generals and cultivators at the banquet, then sacrificed Guo Tianhong to complete the rite and become a half-demon.
• Zhao Wuxu arrived for his duel and recognized that Li Rulong’s Net Moon power countered him.

Li Rulong achieved the Dao Foundation and fled as Fang Qing diverted Lord Pu by exposing a decoy strand of Great Sun Violet Qi through Luo Dacheng. Lord Pu discovered the trap and destroyed the Luo Family, while Fang Qing went into hiding on Jade Island to plan his cultivation.

• Li Rulong completed his breakthrough to the Dao Foundation as Dark Candle Adept celebrated, and a Black Blight Sect Purple Mansion cultivator confronted True Person Sanji while Li Rulong fled.
• Fang Qing controlled Luo Dacheng into presenting a jade bottle containing Great Sun Violet Qi to the Luo Family Patriarch, drawing Lord Pu’s attention to Heavenly Water.
• Lord Pu arrived at the Luo estate, searched the Luo Family Patriarch’s memories, and found that the bottle was empty.
• Fang Qing killed Luo Dacheng remotely, and Lord Pu realized Li Rulong had escaped before burning the Luo Family estate and its cultivators to ashes.
• Fang Qing lost his live broadcast connection and chose to remain on Jade Island, lie low, and work toward advancing through the Qi Refinement Way.

Fang Qing reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, strengthened his body, and prepared to pursue Foundation Establishment while reflecting on Li Rulong’s betrayal and the Heavenly Water Luo Family’s destruction. At Pill Hall, he applied for the Second-Order alchemist examination just as Pill Island’s elders debated their True Disciple candidate.

• Fang Qing assessed his cultivation, his chances of Foundation Establishment, and the protections offered by an Iceheart Meridian-Guarding Pill, but decided to wait for the True Disciple Grand Competition and its Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Fang Qing reviewed Li Rulong’s blood sacrifice and disappearance, concluded that the Heavenly Water Luo Family had been destroyed, and resolved to use disciples as probes in future schemes.
• Fang Qing arrived at Pill Hall and applied to take the Second-Order alchemist examination, stunning the gathered disciples.
• Elder Tianding and the Second-Order alchemists debated whom Pill Island should recommend as a Hundred Arts of Immortality True Disciple, with Gong Susu and Five Dragons Child proposed.
• Qing Wu argued that Five Dragons Child remained eligible despite a failed Foundation Establishment attempt, then revealed that Five Dragons Child had cultivated Spiritual Sense.

Fang Qing took Pill Island’s Second-Order alchemist assessment while the elders debated who should become a True Disciple. After he passed, Pill Island recommended him for the sect’s True Disciple assessment, leaving Five Dragons Child devastated.

• Elder Tianding paused the elders’ debate after learning that Fang Qing had applied for the Second-Order alchemist assessment.
• Fang Qing began refining three kinds of Second-Order pills with Spiritual Sense assisting his technique.
• Gong Susu and Hua Lingsu watched from below as Five Dragons Child feared Fang Qing would take his chance at the True Disciple position.
• Fang Qing passed the Second-Order alchemist assessment and Pill Island recommended him for the sect’s True Disciple assessment.
• Five Dragons Child spat blood after receiving news of Fang Qing’s success.

Fang Qing became an Azure Sea Sect True Disciple and received a Foundation Establishment Pill, while Sect Leader Linghu prepared to relinquish his position and pursue the sect’s plan for unification. Fang Qing returned to his cave abode to cultivate and prepare for Foundation Establishment.

• Sect Leader Linghu approved Fang Qing as a True Disciple and told Linghu Zhong to build relationships with the other disciples.
• Fang Qing ignored congratulatory messages and dismissed an anonymous warning that the sect intended to imprison him for pill refining.
• Qin Ruxue told Fang Qing that her alliance with Five Dragons Child was over unless he achieved Foundation Establishment on his own, and Fang Qing met Linghu Zhong and other True Disciples.
• Sect Leader Linghu led the True Disciples to the Patriarch Hall, where the elders explained their benefits and issued Foundation Establishment Pills to those with enough Contribution Points.
• Fang Qing examined his standard Foundation Establishment Pill, returned to Pill Island, and entered seclusion in his cave abode.

Fang Qing secured his Azure Sea Sect cave abode before crossing to Ancient Shu, where he considered how to pursue a Breath-Nourishing Dao Foundation. At Floating Boat Market, Old Blind Man explained Dao Transformation and revealed that he hoped someone who reached Dao Foundation would take on the Causality he had incurred.

• Fang Qing activated a high-grade Azure-Sky Formation around his cave abode and crossed to Ancient Shu after divining that it was safe.
• Fang Qing weighed saving his Foundation Establishment Pill for a Breath-Nourishing Dao breakthrough and resolved to seek alchemy books and Chariot Water cultivation techniques.
• Fang Qing visited Floating Boat Market and met Old Blind Man, who said Li Rulong had reached Dao Foundation and fled into the Demon Race.
• Old Blind Man warned Fang Qing that failed Breath-Nourishing Dao breakthroughs could cause cultivators to undergo Dao Transformation and nourish Heaven and Earth.
• Old Blind Man revealed that his past in the Secret Treasury Domain had left him with Causality, and he hoped a future Dao Foundation cultivator would bear it for him.

Fang Qing learned more about the Secret Treasury Domain and the world’s declining cultivation, then avoided an ominous lead about an ancient cave estate. He traveled to Three-Water Hollow to check on his surviving Fang Household kin and found the village in ruins, with hungry children waiting for Brother Jing Chun.

• Fang Qing asked the Old Blind Man about the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art and learned that its continuation could be found at Horse-Head Vajra Temple in the Secret Treasury Domain.
• The Old Blind Man explained that the Near-Ancient Calendar began when the last True Lord attained the Dao more than eight thousand years earlier, after which many great powers withdrew into Grotto-Heavens.
• Fang Qing saw Old Tian trying to trade Spirit Grain for cultivation techniques at Floating Boat Market, then heard reports of a dangerous ancient cultivator’s cave estate containing a flying sword and chose not to investigate.
• Fang Qing divined that visiting Three-Water Hollow was auspicious and decided to check on the remaining members of his Fang Household’s Incense line.
• Fang Qing arrived at Three-Water Hollow and found much of the village ruined, while several hungry children waited in the ancestral hall for Brother Jing Chun to return with food.

Fang Qing rescued several young Fang descendants from the ruined ancestral hall, arranged a new home for them, and left Fang Jingchun a hidden cultivation inheritance. After searching markets for advanced texts and treasures, he broke through to the Qi Ingestion Eighth Layer and began considering the proper position of Water Virtue.

• Fang Qing met Fang Jingchun and two younger Fang descendants in the ruined ancestral hall, gave them martial teachings and supplies, and took them to live near a prosperous city.
• Fang Qing secretly left Fang Jingchun a [Winnowing Basket Water] cultivation method, Qi-Gathering Formula essentials, and a record of the Fang Family's enemies.
• Fang Qing searched markets for Dao Foundation cultivation methods and alchemy texts but found that such knowledge and [Winnowing Basket Water] treasures were scarce.
• Fang Qing felt his [Winnowing Basket Water] mana flowing smoothly, swallowed Qi Refining Powder, and advanced to the Qi Ingestion Eighth Layer.
• Fang Qing reflected on the water cycle among the four waters and wondered whether Water Virtue had a proper position between Zhen and Bi.

Fang Qing used a black-market exchange meeting to draw out Cultivator Bandits while gathering information about the Misty-Wave Blessed Land. After ambushing the attackers, he learned the dwarf elder was Xu Hei and confronted Bai Ling over her connection to the Harmonious Bliss Sect.

• Fang Qing attended an exchange meeting in the forest and offered valuable Qi Ingestion spiritual items in return for information about Dao Foundation-grade Chariot Water Gong methods and Winnowing Basket Water spiritual items.
• Cultivators discussed a sword cultivator's cave estate near Floating Boat Market and rumors that it could lead to Misty-Wave Adept's Blessed Land.
• Fang Qing left the meeting on his Green Leaf Boat, lured the Cultivator Bandits after him, and killed several with three Firecloud Talismans.
• The wounded dwarf elder, Xu Hei, identified Murong Jiu as the mastermind and tried to ambush Fang Qing, who crushed Xu Hei with a single slap.
• Bai Ling revealed that she cultivated Room Sun through a Gong method passed down from the Harmonious Bliss Sect, and Fang Qing struck at her.

Fang Qing forced Xu Hei to become his disciple and sent him to trade Spirit Assets and gather intelligence before returning to the Azure Sea Sect. At Linghu Zhong’s Foundation Establishment gathering, Fang Qing learned that the sect was preparing for war against the Heavenly Heart Chain Islands.

• Xu Hei told Fang Qing that he had learned the Yin Origin Dao-Extracting Formula from the Corpse Yin Sect, and Fang Qing demanded to see its Dao scripture.
• Fang Qing used the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art to convert Xu Hei, cursed him to keep Fang Qing’s identity secret, and ordered him to trade Spirit Assets and gather intelligence.
• Fang Qing returned to his cave abode on Jade Island, learned that Linghu Zhong had achieved Foundation Establishment, and brought him a Second-Order pill as a gift.
• At Linghu Zhong’s gathering, Fang Qing heard that Qin Ruxue had failed her Foundation Establishment attempt and the Five Dragons Child had failed as well.
• Linghu Zhong told the gathered Qi Refinement disciples that the Azure Sea Sect was preparing for war against the Heavenly Heart Chain Islands and advised them to seek trusted teammates for the coming missions.

Fang Qing refused to join the Azure Sea Sect’s wars and spent three years cultivating until he reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer Great Perfection, preparing to attempt Foundation Establishment. As the war continued against the Great White Zhong Clan and its demon ally, Qin Ruxue also returned to the sect to attempt Foundation Establishment, while Fang Qing rented a Third-Order cave abode for his own breakthrough.

• Qin Ruxue asked Fang Qing to fund a Second-Order Heavenly Heart Origin-Restoring Pill, and he agreed in hopes of benefiting from her formation skills.
• Fang Qing rejected battlefield invitations, entered seclusion, and focused on raising both his Qi Refinement and Qi Ingestion cultivation.
• The Azure Sea Sect destroyed the Heavenly Heart Chain Islands after its leader Linghu Jin secretly achieved Core Formation, then fought the Zhong Family and its Third-Order demon ally.
• After three years, Fang Qing reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer Great Perfection and concluded that Foundation Establishment was needed to expand his cultivation capacity.
• Qin Ruxue earned battle merit by killing a Second-Order demon beast, obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill, and began seclusion to attempt Foundation Establishment.
• Fang Qing rented the Jia-Shen Third-Order cave abode and announced that he was preparing for Foundation Establishment.