Chapter Summaries

Fang Qing broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, then used the Whale-Swallows-the-Sea Formula to explore Chariot Water cultivation as an alternative path for forging his Dao Foundation. After receiving Linghu Zhong’s banquet invitation, he joined the sect’s celebrating Foundation Establishment cultivators.

• Fang Qing took a Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill and broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, increasing his mana and Spiritual Sense.
• Fang Qing studied the Whale-Swallows-the-Sea Formula and used the Dao-Born Pearl to raise his Chariot Water cultivation to Qi Ingestion Ninth Layer Great Perfection.
• Fang Qing decided to study pill scriptures and attempt to Equalizing Refine Foundation Establishment Pills while maintaining his mana at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage level.
• Fang Qing received Linghu Zhong’s invitation, left seclusion, and traveled to Linghu Zhong’s waterside pavilion for a banquet.
• Fang Qing found Cui Zhe and other Foundation Establishment cultivators at the gathering as guests praised Linghu Zhong and he modestly discussed his acting Sect Leader title.

Linghu Jin attempted Core Formation and failed, leaving the Azure Sea Sect shaken and Linghu Zhong ready to resign as acting Sect Leader. The chapter ended with Linghu Jin revealing that his apparent decline was a ruse to draw out hidden Sea-Extinguishing Alliance agents.

• Linghu Zhong gained support for formally taking over as Sect Leader, while sect members began suggesting that Myriad Treasures be impeached.
• Linghu Jin began his Core Formation attempt, and Elder Shan attacked his cave dwelling before Ruan Zhixuan killed him and warned others away.
• After three days, the Core Formation attempt ended without a Heavenly Tribulation, and rumors spread that Linghu Jin had failed and had little lifespan remaining.
• Fang Qing visited the disheartened Linghu Zhong, who said he planned to resign as acting Sect Leader after Linghu Jin stepped down.
• Linghu Jin told Linghu Zhong that he intended to spread rumors about his death and a family power struggle to lure out hidden Sea-Extinguishing Alliance agents.

Fang Qing stayed out of the Azure Sea Sect’s political turmoil while refining Second-Order High Grade Foundation Establishment Pills and preparing to turn them into Dao Foundation Pills. He ended with eight pills in hand, while the sect’s secret-realm effort remained stalled and chaos returned to Ba Commandery.

• Fang Qing told Qin Ruxue that Linghu Jin’s rumored decline had been used to expose disloyal disciples, and learned that she had been summoned to Heavenly Heart Island to help build a formation near the secret realm.
• Fang Qing used his Hot-Cold Twin Springs to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, eventually producing batches that included Prime Quality pills.
• The Azure Sea Sect’s unrest subsided, Linghu Jin died quietly, and the sect kept its attempt to breach the secret realm at Heavenly Heart Island secret.
• Fang Qing concluded that the restriction around the secret realm could take decades to weaken and counted eight Foundation Establishment Pills for his Dao Foundation experiments.
• Fang Qing regretted losing the Heavenly Wind Spirit Spring and reflected that the Pu Family’s invasion of Ba Commandery had brought fresh chaos.

After a year in seclusion, Fang Qing forged a [Winnowing Basket Water] Dao Foundation and discovered that the Dao-Born Pearl could dissolve and convert it into other Dao Foundations. He explored several new foundations before resolving to focus on Water Virtue and keep a low profile.

• Fang Qing swallowed three self-refined Dao Foundation Pills and successfully forged the [Winnowing Basket Water] Dao Foundation, Longlasting Sweet Rain.
• Fang Qing tested Longlasting Sweet Rain and found that it healed injuries, purified water, aided movement, and nurtured spirit plants.
• Fang Qing used the Dao-Born Pearl to convert Longlasting Sweet Rain into the [Chariot Water] Dao Foundation, Facing the Abyss.
• Fang Qing converted his mana into [Bond Metal] and gained the Sharp Edge Chapter Dao Foundation, which enhanced flying swords but consumed substantial Origin Qi.
• Fang Qing used the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art to form the [Star Sun] Dao Foundation, Yaolingxuan, and produced Qi Ingestion-grade Lihuo Stones.
• Fang Qing concluded that he should chiefly cultivate Water Virtue and rely on the Dao-Born Pearl to convert other lineages, while keeping a low profile.

Fang Qing established himself as a Dao Foundation cultivator in Ancient Shu, rescued Old Blind Man, and accepted the Secret Treasury Bone Bowl as a way to gain backing. After examining the bowl, he discovered it contained the Six-Syllable Great Radiance Mantra rather than the next part of the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art.

• Fang Qing used divination and decided he needed backing, then went to Small Chamber Mountain to find Old Blind Man.
• Fang Qing stopped the Wood Family cultivators from attacking Old Blind Man and killed them with his Dao Foundation power.
• Old Blind Man gave Fang Qing a Secret Treasury Bone Bowl, and Fang Qing agreed to take on its Causality.
• Fang Qing and Old Blind Man discussed the changing distinction between orthodox and demonic paths and the conflict in Ba Commandery.
• Fang Qing infused the bowl with [Star Sun] mana and discovered the Six-Syllable Great Radiance Mantra inside.

Fang Qing developed his swordsmanship and sought materials to forge a natal flying sword in Ancient Shu. At Yuanqing Market, Zhao Wufeng of the [Neck Metal] Zhao Family tried to claim a piece of Profound Origin Geng Metal, but Fang Qing refused to yield it.

• At the Secret Treasury Domain’s Ancient Temple, the old monk ordered Sangji to travel to the Land of Ancient Shu and subdue a believer as a Dharma Protector Vajra.
• Fang Qing sensed a foreboding, divined a mixed omen, and concluded that his strength and a flying sword were crucial to surviving in Ancient Shu.
• Fang Qing used a dharma-tool flying sword to master Sword-Moving Thunderclap, but the blade cracked under the force, prompting him to plan for a natal flying sword.
• At Yuanqing Market, Fang Qing traded pills for Profound Origin Geng Metal and learned that the shop lacked the Heavenly Pivot Star Sand he needed.
• Zhao Wufeng of the [Neck Metal] Zhao Family asked Fang Qing to give up the Profound Origin Geng Metal, but Fang Qing put it away and refused.

Fang Qing killed Zhao Wufeng in a Mutual Slaughter duel and gained the duel’s cultivation and sword-forging benefits, then assumed the Fang Shui identity and went to a Dao Foundation gathering at Yuanqing Market. The chapter leaves him arriving among numerous Dao Foundation cultivators while the Zhao Family investigates Zhao Wufeng’s death.

• Zhao Wufeng challenged Fang Qing to a Mutual Slaughter duel, explaining that victory between same-rank sword cultivators brought gains in cultivation, mana, and flying-sword quality.
• Fang Qing killed Zhao Wufeng with Sword-Moving Thunderclap and discovered that the duel’s benefits had raised his Bond Metal mana and linked their flying swords.
• Fang Qing melted Zhao Wufeng’s Azure Edge sword into his damaged flying sword, turning it into a low-grade Spirit Artifact.
• Fang Qing changed his mana and appearance to take on the Fang Shui identity, then returned to Yuanqing Market several days later.
• Zhao Dongshan told Fang Qing that the Zhao Family was investigating a disciple killed near the market and led him to a Dao Foundation exchange gathering.
• Fang Qing entered the teahouse’s third floor and found several Dao Foundation cultivators assembled there.

Fang Qing met the half-demon Li Rulong, who offered three taels of Heavenly Pivot Star Sand in exchange for help killing Zhao Gongming. After Fang Qing declined, someone approached, leaving him trapped in Li Rulong’s scheme.

• Zhao Gongming hosted a gathering where cultivators exchanged information and sought items, and Fang Qing offered pills and materials for Heavenly Pivot Star Sand.
• A black-robed cultivator contacted Fang Qing outside Yuanqing Market and offered him three taels of Heavenly Pivot Star Sand to help kill Zhao Gongming.
• Fang Qing recognized the black-robed cultivator as Li Rulong, who revealed his half-demon form and proposed they work together against the Zhao Family patriarch.
• Li Rulong explained that Lord Pu’s Dao Path had been severed because he refined Ember Tribulation Flame, a flame incompatible with his Tail Fire cultivation.
• Fang Qing prepared to refuse Li Rulong’s offer, but his Spiritual Sense detected someone approaching, and Li Rulong said Fang Qing had no choice but to help.

Fang Qing and Li Rulong fought Zhao Gongming, who blamed them for Zhao Wufeng’s death, and killed him after Fang Qing used a powerful Firebird Talisman. Fang Qing received the promised Heavenly Pivot Star Sand and Zhao Gongming’s flying sword, then left Ancient Shu to avoid further danger and refine his weapon.

• Zhao Gongming recognized Li Rulong and tried to delay Fang Qing and Li Rulong until allied cultivators arrived.
• Li Rulong used his Softening Hardness Dao Foundation to counter Zhao Gongming’s sword arts, while Fang Qing joined the fight to lower Zhao Gongming’s guard.
• Fang Qing activated a Second-Order High Grade Firebird Talisman, badly wounding Zhao Gongming and shattering his golden aura defense.
• Li Rulong pierced Zhao Gongming’s brow with his emerald flying sword, killing him and avenging his grievance against the Zhao Family.
• Li Rulong gave Fang Qing his share of the spoils, including the Heavenly Pivot Star Sand and Zhao Gongming’s golden flying sword.
• Fang Qing divined that staying in Ancient Shu carried some misfortune, so he left to hide and refine his bonded flying sword.

Fang Qing forged the First-Turn Life-Bound Flying Sword Slay-Break-Wolf and strengthened his Water-Method Alchemy. After divining that a Third-Order-or-lower danger was approaching Azure Sea Sect, he urged Qin Ruxue to return to the sect.

• Fang Qing refined a First-Turn flying sword from rare materials, named it Slay-Break-Wolf, and tested its formidable sword light.
• Fang Qing considered seeking Core Formation resources in the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm and the Heavenly Heart Island secret realm.
• Fang Qing found that his Winnowing Basket Water Dao Foundation had raised his alchemy to Second-Order High Grade and began planning to gather materials for a Barrier-Breaking Pill.
• Fang Qing divined that danger was approaching Azure Sea Sect, though the sect would remain safe, and messaged Qin Ruxue to return.

Fang Qing learned that a demonic Core Formation cultivator and the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance had attacked Heavenly Heart Island, killing Azure Sea Sect elders and destroying its defenses. As the sect prepared for further danger, news arrived that Senior Brother Heaven Cauldron had been gravely wounded in a surprise attack.

• Qin Ruxue returned to Dark Jade Cave with fabricated injuries, and Fang Qing told her to recuperate without trying to warn the sect.
• A demonic Core Formation cultivator attacked Heavenly Heart Island with the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance, broke through its grand formation, and killed Elder Myriad Treasures and other Azure Sea Sect cultivators.
• Fang Qing answered the urgent summons to Vast Sea Hall, where Shi Tiexin ordered the sect to lock down the island and raise its defenses.
• Shi Tiexin reported that Heavenly Heart Island had fallen in a single night and that Senior Brothers Myriad Treasures and Profound Formation had died in battle.
• Fang Qing suspected that news of the secret realm had drawn the outsider Core Formation cultivator to the Lesser Vast Sea.
• Shi Tiexin received word that Senior Brother Heaven Cauldron had been gravely injured in a Sea-Extinguishing Alliance ambush.

Fang Qing was summoned to help the Azure Sea Sect refine a Greater Barrier-Breaking Pill, but Elder Tianding’s severe injuries left the task beyond his ability. Fang Qing then used his healing spirit water to aid Tianding and unexpectedly received the Pill Hall token and an alchemy inheritance.

• Ruan Zhixuan reported that she had fought Black Origin True Person to a draw, while Fang Qing returned to Dark Jade Cave and tested his Longlasting Sweet Rain spirit-water technique on his herbs.
• Shi Tiexin escorted Fang Qing to Heaven Cauldron Cave Abode, where Elder Tianding recommended him to refine a pill after being too badly injured to do so himself.
• Ruan Zhixuan learned that Fang Qing could only refine Second-Order Mid Grade pills and abandoned her plan to make a Third-Order Greater Barrier-Breaking Pill.
• Elder Tianding entrusted Fang Qing with the affairs of Pill Island and drank Fang Qing’s healing spirit water, which helped nourish his damaged foundation.
• Fang Qing gave Tianding four more bottles of spirit water and received the Heaven Cauldron Alchemy Canon and the token making him master of Pill Hall.

Fang Qing took over Pill Hall’s affairs as Acting Hall Master, gathered medicinal ingredients, and appointed Han Qingfeng Deputy Hall Master. He then inspected Heaven Cauldron’s Third-Order Spirit Spring and planned to use it for alchemy and further study.

• Fang Qing considered Sweet-Rain Water’s potential to heal hidden injuries to a cultivator’s foundation and reflected on the strength of Ancient Shu sword cultivators.
• Fang Qing used Elder Tianding’s bronze token to enter Pill Hall’s medicinal warehouse and took ingredients for Barrier-Breaking Pills and other medicines.
• Fang Qing sat in Heaven Cauldron’s seat and, after hearing Han Qingfeng outline Pill Hall’s duties and shortages, appointed him Deputy Hall Master.
• Fang Qing opened Cold Spring Peak’s formation, examined Heaven Cauldron’s Third-Order Spirit Spring, and considered improving its grade with his water-method cultivation.
• Fang Qing decided to use the rare opportunity to refine a batch of pills.

Fang Qing chose Xiang Dahu as a servant and weighed the growing conflict between the Azure Sea Sect and the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance. As pressure mounted on him to produce Foundation Establishment Pills, he decided to keep his alchemy performance modest and considered stepping down from his position.

• Qin Ruxue told Fang Qing that she had found two disciples to visit him and discussed Black Origin True Person's occupation of Heavenly Heart Island.
• Fang Qing dismissed Zha Hongye and took Xiang Dahu into his service, assigning him to tend the spirit fields while he observed his work.
• The Sea-Extinguishing Alliance and the Azure Sea Sect fought across the Lesser Vast Sea, while Fang Qing studied alchemy texts in Pill Hall.
• Han Qingfeng told Fang Qing that Dragon Transformation Pool had supplied extra Demon Cores, putting pressure on Pill Hall to produce more Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Fang Qing concluded that he would make a token effort at alchemy and avoid drawing further burdens upon himself.

Fang Qing oversaw the collective refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills, producing enough Prime Quality pills for the True Disciple selection before stepping down as acting Pill Hall master after Heaven Cauldron recovered. He returned to private cultivation and considered his next goals while watching Xiang Dahu’s loyalty.

• Xiang Dahu defended Fang Qing’s reputation when a disciple criticized his pill-refinement skills at Cold Spring Peak.
• Fang Qing directed the collective refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills and produced twenty-nine pills, including twenty-six Prime Quality pills and three Inferior Quality pills.
• Fang Qing gave the pills to Shi Tiexin, then withdrew to Dark Jade Cave while unfavorable remarks about him spread after the True Disciple Grand Competition.
• Heaven Cauldron visited Fang Qing after recovering his cultivation, and Fang Qing returned the bronze command token and relinquished the acting hall master position.
• Fang Qing offered to recommend Xiang Dahu to Heaven Cauldron, but Xiang Dahu begged to remain with him, so Fang Qing chose to wait before rewarding him.
• Fang Qing reviewed the rewards he had acquired, including the Golden Core Pill formula and materials for the Barrier-Breaking Pill, and postponed gathering Golden Core Pill ingredients.

Fang Qing learned that the war had made travel dangerous and that the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance had placed a bounty on him, but he disguised himself as Fang Jin and set out for Three Origins Island to seek a Jade Radiance Branch. On the way, he rescued Wei Gutong’s group by killing a demonic Foundation Establishment cultivator, then left Wei Gutong wondering who the powerful sword cultivator was.

• Fang Qing learned that Cui Zhe had been severely wounded in an ambush by Lu Qianfan and that Gong Susu, Hua Lingsu, and Zha Hongye had died.
• Qin Ruxue told Fang Qing that the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance had placed both of them on its Black List and that the Lingbei Zhou Family planned to auction a Jade Radiance Branch on Three Origins Island.
• Fang Qing used the Mirage Pearl and Disguise Technique to take on the identity of Fang Jin, then secretly left the Azure Sea Sect to attend the black-market auction.
• While traveling to Three Origins Island, Fang Qing spotted Wei Gutong and other Azure Sea Sect disciples fleeing a demonic Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Fang Qing used his verbal-advantage spell to make the pursuer hesitate, then killed him with Slay-Break-Wolf and took his storage pouch.
• Wei Gutong thanked Fang Qing and wondered whether the mysterious sword cultivator was a late-stage Great Cultivator or even a Core Formation ancestor.

Fang Qing explored Three Talents Market and entered a black market auction, where he considered several items, including a wind-based escape art. The auction was about to begin, with powerful cultivators arriving and the Jade Radiance Branch among the later lots.

• Fang Qing examined the Baleful Blood Art and other spoils, then concluded that the demonic cultivator he had killed had possessed ordinary techniques.
• Fang Qing visited Three Talents Market, bought several Second-Order Spirit Herbs, and spent several days at Red Sleeve Pavilion.
• Fang Qing arrived at the auction and passed guards who refused entry to a grandfather and granddaughter without a token.
• Fang Qing entered a private room and reviewed the catalogue, noting the Jade Radiance Branch, a Prime Quality Foundation Establishment Pill, and the Shadowless Wind Escape inheritance.
• Fang Qing sensed a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator with a powerful demonic aura arrive at the venue as the auction prepared to begin.

Fang Qing won the Shadowless Wind Escape secret art and Jade Radiance Branch at the auction, drawing the attention of Lu Qianfan and Zhou Mingjing, who planned to kill him afterward. The auction then reached its climactic sale of a Prime Quality Foundation Establishment Pill.

• Jiang Ziyan struggled to sell a Second-Order Longevity Tortoise egg until the grandfather and granddaughter pair bid five hundred spirit stones for it.
• Fang Qing outbid Master Yuan Pill and Howling Wind Fortress for the Shadowless Wind Escape secret art, paying four thousand one hundred spirit stones.
• Fang Qing also won the Jade Radiance Branch after Master Yuan Pill stopped bidding at four thousand spirit stones.
• Lu Qianfan ordered Zhou Mingjing to help him kill the unfamiliar cultivator from Human Room Seven after the auction, and Zhou Mingjing revealed that his Fragrance-Seeking Insects could track the Jade Radiance Branch's scent.
• Jiang Ziyan began the final auction, offering a Prime Quality Foundation Establishment Pill with a starting price of five thousand spirit stones.

Fang Qing won the auction’s Foundation Establishment Pill bidding aftermath and discovered that the Jade Radiance Branch had been tampered with to track him. He lured his pursuers into the open and began fighting Zhou Mingjing and Lu Qianfan, leaving Lu stunned by Fang Qing’s swordsmanship.

• Foundation Establishment Cultivators bid nearly ten thousand spirit stones for the Foundation Establishment Pill, and a cultivator in the Heaven-class private room won it.
• After leaving the auction, Fang Qing used Plum Blossom Divination to foresee Cultivator Bandits and suspected that one of his purchases had been tampered with.
• Fang Qing passed a grandfather and granddaughter as Cultivator Bandits chased them, then drew away the pursuers aboard a Second-Order spirit boat.
• Lu Qianfan and Zhou Mingjing caught up with Fang Qing using a Second-Order bird Puppet and other Puppets, and Fang Qing identified Zhou Mingjing as the Zhou Family cultivator who had tampered with the Jade Radiance Branch.
• Fang Qing destroyed two wolf Puppets and killed Zhou Mingjing with a single sword strike after Zhou’s Silver Mirror Spirit Artifact was fooled by a mana decoy.
• Lu Qianfan mistook Fang Qing for a Foundation Establishment Late Stage great sword cultivator, and Fang Qing prepared to kill him.

After killing Lu Qianfan, Fang Qing returned to Azure Sea Sect and learned that the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance had worsened the conflict and Heaven Cauldron planned to refine a Third-Order pill. He began studying the Shadowless Wind Escape and puppet arts, then used an Ice Soul Coldheart to strengthen his Spiritual Sense.

• Fang Qing searched Zhou Mingjing and Lu Qianfan's storage bags, found the tracking insects, and acquired the Puppet True Scripture and Thousand-Heart Puppet Control Secret Art.
• Several months later, Fang Qing returned to Azure Sea Sect, where Xiang Dahu told him the sect had suffered losses and Heaven Cauldron had left a letter about refining a Third-Order Greater Barrier-Breaking Pill.
• Fang Qing resumed seclusion and used [Winnowing Basket Water] to practice the first layer of Shadowless Wind Escape, then connected its wind affinity with [Net Moon] and the idea of Wind of Ji, Rain of Bi.
• Fang Qing began learning the Thousand-Heart Puppet Control Secret Art and struggled to divide his attention, so he refined a Second-Order Ice Soul Coldheart to strengthen his Spiritual Sense.