Chapter Summaries

Fang Qing helped Heaven Cauldron refine a Greater Barrier-Breaking Pill and learned enough to improve his own alchemy. He concluded that Patriarch Ruan planned to use the pill to empower Shi Tiexin and confront Black Origin True Person, though he expected the conflict would probably end in a ceasefire.

• Fang Qing practiced controlling puppets, reflected on gaining more time through Qi Refinement cultivation, and received a transmission talisman announcing the pill refinement.
• Heaven Cauldron led Fang Qing, Han Qingfeng, and two other alchemists in refining the Greater Barrier-Breaking Pill at Cold Spring Peak, while Fang Qing studied his techniques.
• After several months, Heaven Cauldron completed one Inferior Quality Greater Barrier-Breaking Pill and immediately delivered it to Patriarch Ruan.
• Fang Qing told Qin Ruxue that Shi Tiexin was the likely candidate to take the pill and control the Tide-Birth Pearl, then estimated the odds of defeating Black Origin True Person and predicted a likely ceasefire.
• Qin Ruxue noted that Lu Qianfan had died mysteriously and suggested that one of the two Core Formation patriarchs might have killed him.

Fang Qing learned that the Heavenly Heart Island ruins would be jointly developed and considered sending Qi Refinement disciples to explore them. In Ancient Shu, he obtained the Profound-Heeding Grotto Spring Scripture, but a powerful demon girl recognized him and called him out of hiding.

• Fang Qing learned that the Azure Sea Sect and Black Origin True Person had signed a Third-Order Spirit Pact to jointly explore the Heavenly Heart Island ruins, and Qin Ruxue was sent there as a formation master.
• Fang Qing considered sending prepared Qi Refinement disciples into the ruins and hiding their gains from the Core Formation cultivators.
• Fang Qing met Xu Hei outside Pu Family Mountain City and learned that Dark Candle Adept had found a Winnowing Basket Water Purple Mansion cultivation technique.
• Dark Candle Adept traded Xu Hei the Profound-Heeding Grotto Spring Scripture and warned that it required Grotto Spring Essence, making it difficult for someone who had already undergone Qi Ingestion to cultivate.
• A Dao Foundation demon girl appeared and demanded that Fang Qing reveal himself, and Dark Candle Adept recognized him as the human cultivator who had advanced from Qi Ingestion to Dao Foundation.

Fang Qing traded Beast-Feeding Pills for Qingling’s Blackwood Ring and Flesh-Hiding Artifact Technique, then sent Xu Hei to attend the Pu Family ancestor’s birthday banquet while he hid nearby. At the banquet, Li Rulong sensed that the gathering was suspicious as the Purple Mansion grand formation activated.

• Fang Qing exchanged two bottles of Second-Order Beast-Feeding Pills with Qingling for a Blackwood Ring and the Flesh-Hiding Artifact Technique.
• Qingling revealed that Fang Qing bore Causality from the Secret Treasury Domain and suspected he had borrowed the Great Sun Esoteric Sect’s fate to reach the Dao Foundation.
• Fang Qing studied his new ring and technique, then ordered Xu Hei to offer birthday wishes at Pu Family Mountain City while he watched from hiding.
• Xu Hei joined the side-gate queue, saw the Zhao Family head humiliated, and was assigned a distant seat among the Rogue Cultivators.
• Li Rulong recognized Pu Lingzhu and grew suspicious when only Dao Foundation cultivators attended the banquet.
• The Purple Mansion grand formation around Pu Family Mountain City began operating at full strength.

At Lord Pu’s birthday feast, Li Rulong learned that Lord Pu had manipulated his path to test the Calendar-Intercalation Method and now sacrificed the guests to transform Ember Tribulation Flame. Lord Pu became a Mid Purple Mansion cultivator and joined the Demon Kings’ attack on Ancient Shu, leaving its Purple Mansion forces facing disaster.

• Lord Pu revealed to Li Rulong that he had arranged events around Li Rulong’s cultivation and used him to test the Calendar-Intercalation Method.
• Lord Pu denounced Cloud-Touching Cliff and began sacrificing the gathered cultivators, while the active Purple Mansion formation trapped them in the mountain city.
• Lord Pu’s Ember Tribulation Flame transformed Pu Lingzhu into a vessel, allowing him to cultivate Profound Yin Silver Flame and advance to Mid Purple Mansion.
• Lord Pu broke through the formation and confronted a female Purple Mansion cultivator, admitting his betrayal and urging the Demon Kings to kill more of Ancient Shu’s cultivators.
• Qingling and the Dark Candle Adept escaped with Xu Hei as Qingling recognized that the attack could weaken Cliff-Top and open the way for the Esoteric Monks and demon tribes to expand.

Fang Qing studied Ancient Shu’s cultivation lineages and prepared to strengthen his cultivation while waiting for the Heavenly Heart Island ruins to open. The sect announced an expedition for Qi Refinement disciples, and Fang Qing anticipated the deadly contest ahead.

• Fang Qing watched Xu Hei escape Pu Family Mountain City and learned that Lord Pu’s rebellion would bring trouble to Cloud-Touching Cliff.
• Fang Qing studied the Profound-Heeding Grotto Spring Scripture and concluded that Ancient Shu’s cultivation methods were full of traps.
• Fang Qing examined an Immortal Calendar and speculated about the twenty-eight lineages and the vanished True Lords of Ancient Shu.
• Fang Qing consumed a Water-Origin Pill, then learned from Qin Ruxue’s live feed that the Heavenly Heart Island ruins would open in a little over half a year.
• Fang Qing tested Xiang Dahu’s spells and offered him a guaranteed chance at Foundation Establishment in exchange for lifelong service; Xiang Dahu agreed.
• Qin Ruxue returned and told Fang Qing that the sect had posted a mission to send one hundred disciples into the ruins, where they would face the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance and likely suffer heavy casualties.

Fang Qing equipped five Late Qi Refinement disciples for the secret realm in exchange for rare herbs, then secretly gave Xiang Dahu powerful treasures and instructions. Months later, Qin Ruxue departed with the expedition while Fang Qing stayed behind, reflecting on the risks and his own desire for life-extending treasures and higher cultivation.

• Fang Qing offered Miao Yifan, Li Tianlong, Xiang Dahu, Shu Rou, and Bei Lingshu artifacts, talismans, and pills in exchange for specified Spirit Herbs from the secret realm.
• After the others left, Xiang Dahu returned, accepted Fang Qing's Great Empowerment Precept, and received hidden treasures, a concealment technique, and intelligence about the sect's core team.
• Fang Qing reasoned that Xiang Dahu could survive the secret realm by avoiding direct fights and considered taking over his body if necessary.
• Several months later, Qin Ruxue left Jade Island aboard a Five-Tusk Warship with the disciples while Fang Qing watched from the air.
• Elder Tianding teased Fang Qing about missing Qin Ruxue, and they discussed the expedition's dangers and their hopes of finding pills and life-extending treasures.

Fang Qing fled Ancient Shu after sensing Esoteric monks crossing east, then sent Xu Hei to scout while Qin Ruxue and the sect leaders opened a spatial rift for Qi Refinement disciples to explore. Xiang Dahu was transported beside a powerful beast, but Fang Qing’s Seed Syllable raised him to Foundation Establishment and enabled him to defeat it and discover rare treasures.

• Fang Qing heard that Esoteric monks had crossed east of Cloud-Touching Cliff and returned to Jade Island, deciding to have Xu Hei scout ahead.
• On Heavenly Heart Island, Qin Ruxue completed the formation around a spatial rift, and the sect leaders sent groups of Qi Refinement disciples inside.
• Xiang Dahu landed in a pool beside a Second-Order Four-Armed Crocodile Dragon, which shattered his defensive talisman and struck him.
• Fang Qing’s Seed Syllable empowered Xiang Dahu, elevating him to Foundation Establishment Early Stage with Second-Order Body Refinement.
• Xiang Dahu used his Hundred-Soul Banner and a Mountain-Weight Talisman to kill the Four-Armed Crocodile Dragon.
• Xiang Dahu harvested the beast’s materials and found Third-Order spirit land, Heavy Mystic Crystal, and thousand-year-old spirit herbs.

Xiang Dahu explored the secret realm’s dangerous outer region and entered its hidden heart, where he found an ancient stele and spotted a battle involving Talisman Treasures. Fang Qing watched through the live feed as Xiang Dahu followed his directions toward what appeared to be the secret realm’s central affair.

• A demonic disciple used a Blood Pill to prepare for a temporary pseudo-Foundation Establishment breakthrough, while Azure Sea Sect core disciples tracked the Azure Sea Ancestor’s remains.
• Miao Yifan looted the dead, Li Tianlong was betrayed and killed by a fellow Azure Sea Sect disciple, and Shu Rou emerged from a cave beside a dried corpse.
• Fang Qing told Xiang Dahu to change direction, and more than half a month later Xiang Dahu passed through the mist into the secret realm’s inner region.
• Xiang Dahu searched a weakened cave abode, found a storage Spirit Shell, and uncovered a stele inscribed “Celestial Circuit—Star Palace.”
• Xiang Dahu sensed a fierce battle nearby and saw a black spear clash with a blue ring, recognizing them as Talisman Treasures.

Xiang Dahu ambushed and defeated Linghu Qiuye after stealing the Azure Sea Ancestor’s treasures, including the Tide-Birth Pearl and a Cosmic Star Map. As the secret realm’s deadline passed, cultivators emerged to be searched, and Xiang Dahu safely handed over his modest-looking spoils to Ruan Zhixuan.

• Senior Brother Ruan used the Sea-Calming Ring against a demonic Pseudo-Foundation Establishment cultivator, but the Spirit-Devouring Demonic Flame killed him and the demonic cultivator entered Void-Step Hall.
• Linghu Qiuye emerged from concealment and killed the demonic cultivator with a hammer and an Azure Small Sword Talisman Treasure, then wept over his fallen companions.
• Xiang Dahu struck Linghu Qiuye unconscious, sealed his magical power, and stole three Talisman Treasures, two ancient magical treasures, the Tide-Birth Pearl, and the Cosmic Star Map.
• Fang Qing told Xiang Dahu to withdraw with their gains, and Linghu Qiuye later woke to find his treasures missing.
• On Heavenly Heart Island, Qin Ruxue and another formation master opened the Bronze Underground Palace as cultivators returned and had their belongings searched.
• Xiang Dahu emerged and handed Ruan Zhixuan a storage bag containing ordinary-looking tools, ores, and Spirit Herbs, passing the inspection.

After returning from the secret realm, Fang Qing learned about a Five-Elements Fruit Tree and privately traded with the surviving disciples for their spoils. Xiang Dahu brought back a trove of treasures, leaving Fang Qing with resources that could smooth his path toward Foundation Establishment Perfection.

• Linghu Qiuye escaped as the spatial rift collapsed, and Ruan Zhixuan refused Black Origin True Person's demand to inspect his gains before leading her disciples away.
• Fang Qing reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage mana limit and considered using a meridian-strengthening pill to force his next bottleneck.
• Qin Ruxue told Fang Qing that disciples had found a Five-Elements Fruit Tree and that the secret realm might reopen in sixty years.
• Miao Yifan traded Fang Qing one Origin-Tempering Flower, while Bei Lingshu exchanged several old spirit herbs for Sweet Rain Springwater and asked about harming fellow disciples.
• Xiang Dahu gave Fang Qing a Blackwood Ring filled with treasures, and Fang Qing rewarded him with Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Fang Qing examined the returned talisman treasures, spirit herbs, ores, wood, and demon-beast materials, recognizing their value for pills, magical treasures, and puppets.

Fang Qing refined the Tide-Birth Pearl and Azure Sea Ancestor’s artifacts, gaining access to Core Formation-level mana and valuable cultivation secrets. After leaving seclusion, he received Heaven Cauldron’s invitation to refine pills and considered seeking an appointment as guardian of Supreme White Island.

• Fang Qing examined Azure Sea Ancestor’s Heaven-Shielding Curtain, All-Heaven Star Palace map, two artifacts, and Tide-Birth Pearl, then refined the pearl into an Outer Core that supplied Core Formation-level mana.
• Fang Qing studied the complete Azure Sea Method and Azure Sea Ancestor’s insights, estimating that the secret techniques and a Golden Core Pill could give him a nine-in-ten chance of reaching Core Formation.
• Fang Qing completed the Tide-Birth Pearl’s refinement and initially refined the Sea-Calming Pearl and jade flute, then stored all three artifacts in his Dantian Qi Sea.
• Fang Qing left seclusion and learned from Qin Ruxue that Heaven Cauldron had invited him to refine pills.
• Fang Qing decided to visit Heaven Cauldron and considered seeking a posting as guardian of Supreme White Island.

Fang Qing secured support from Elder Tianding and Linghu Zhong to become guardian of Supreme White Island, where he hoped to use its Third-Order Spirit Spring to improve his alchemy. After the sect appointed him, he prepared to refine Foundation Establishment Pills for the Linghu Family before taking up his post.

• Elder Tianding revealed that Miao Yifan had offered him the Longevity Fruit, and Fang Qing let the matter go after receiving a promise of one Longevity Pill.
• Fang Qing asked Elder Tianding to support his appointment as guardian of Supreme White Island, revealing that he had reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• Fang Qing offered to refine three Prime Quality Foundation Establishment Pills for the Linghu Family and told Linghu Zhong he wanted the island's Third-Order Spirit Spring.
• Linghu Zhong warned Fang Qing that renewed war with Black Origin True Person might soon erupt, but promised to recommend him to Cui Zhe.
• Several months later, Fang Qing and Elder Tianding successfully refined Longevity Pills, and Fang Qing received his appointment decree from Sect Leader Shi.
• Fang Qing accepted a Longevity Pill and planned to refine Foundation Establishment Pills for the Linghu Family using the Third-Order Spirit Spring.

Fang Qing took over as guardian of Supreme White Island and used its Ice Soul Cold Spring to refine Foundation Establishment Pills and complete the Grotto Spring Essence required for a new cultivation method. He formed a Wind-Approaching Foundation, gained powerful wind escape abilities, and left himself better prepared for the coming war.

• Fang Qing arrived at Supreme White Island, accepted the handover from Senior Brother Yuan, and met island cultivators Bei Lingshu and Ma Xin.
• Bei Lingshu showed Fang Qing the island’s formation, medicinal field, and facilities, and told him that Miao Yifan had failed his Foundation Establishment attempt.
• Fang Qing inspected the Ice Soul Cold Spring and, a month later, refined two Prime Quality Foundation Establishment Pills and one fine-grade pill.
• Fang Qing gathered the last of the Grotto Spring Essence and used it to cultivate the Profound-Heeding Grotto Spring Scripture, forming a Wind-Approaching Foundation.
• Fang Qing mastered the third layer of Shadowless Wind Escape and gained insight into its Core Formation-level fourth layer.

Miaohuo Bright Son used a fire offering on Small Chamber Mountain to locate Fang Qing, while Fang Qing cultivated the second sequence of the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art and watched the Lesser Vast Sea’s tensions rise. The Azure Sea Sect went to war with the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance again, leaving Supreme White Island’s supply route under threat.

• Miaohuo Bright Son sacrificed Old Blind Man’s family in a fire offering and used the ritual to reveal an image of Fang Qing.
• Fang Qing discussed Three Origins Island’s uncertain loyalty with Bei Lingshu and Ma Xin, including the families’ plans to raise the Longevity Tortoise to Second-Order High Grade.
• After Xu Hei found the Mule-Faced Vajra Prajna Sequence, Fang Qing began cultivating it beside the Ice Soul Cold Spring and delayed investigating the Esoteric Sect seller.
• Six months later, Ma Xin and Bei Lingshu told Fang Qing that the Azure Sea Sect had gone to war with the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance again and that transport ships were being harassed.
• Fang Qing suspected the Lu Family and Jiang Family might support the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance and ordered everyone to secure Supreme White Island.

The Jiang Family committed itself to the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance and prepared for the possibility of defeat, while Jiang Ziyan sought to seize the Zhan family’s tortoise-raising technique. Fang Qing intervened after catching her attacking Zhan Qinggen and Zhan Hongxiu, leaving Jiang Ziyan disarmed and her dantian sealed.

• Jiang Zidu revealed that he had already attacked an Azure Sea Sect warship and said the Jiang Family would soon receive supplies from Wei Yuanfeng.
• The Jiang Family patriarch privately sent Jiang Ziyan to take disciples and resources away under assumed names in case the family lost the war.
• Jiang Ziyan learned that Zhan Qinggen and Zhan Hongxiu had quickly raised their Longevity Tortoise and decided to capture them for their raising technique.
• Jiang Ziyan trapped Zhan Qinggen and Zhan Hongxiu in a formation, incapacitated them, and demanded their secret technique.
• Fang Qing appeared, rejected Jiang Ziyan’s attempt to seduce him, severed her hand, sealed her dantian, and struck down Manager Zhang.

Fang Qing tortured Jiang Ziyan, took the Tortoise-Crane Longevity Formula from Zhan Qinggen, and secretly marked Zhan Hongxiu before driving them away. He then exposed the Jiang and Lu Families’ abuses at Three Talents Market, killed Lu Tianyuan with one sword strike, and faced the arriving family leaders as the market descended into chaos.

• Fang Qing revived Zhan Qinggen, Zhan Hongxiu, and their Longevity Tortoise, then demanded Zhan Qinggen’s secret tortoise-rearing technique as payment for their lives.
• Zhan Qinggen handed over the Tortoise-Crane Longevity Formula, and Fang Qing discovered that Zhan Hongxiu had a Yi Wood spiritual constitution and secretly marked her for tracking.
• Fang Qing sent Zhan Qinggen and Zhan Hongxiu away, then publicly accused the Jiang and Lu Families of exploiting visiting cultivators and showed Jiang Ziyan’s corpse.
• Lu Tianyuan activated the market’s Water-Origin Formation, but Fang Qing killed him with one sword strike.
• Rogue Cultivators rioted through Three Talents Market, and the Lu and Jiang Family Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived to confront Fang Qing.

Fang Qing killed the Lu Family ancestor, then revealed his Core Formation-level power to defeat Wei Yuanfeng and Jiang Zidu. He killed the Ten-Thousand Beasts Tortoise and considered keeping its unusual Demon Core for a future trade with Zhan Hongxiu.

• Fang Qing killed Lu Wanqing, destroyed the Lu Family ancestor's demon token, and pierced the ancestor's heart with Slay-Break-Wolf.
• Fang Qing followed Jiang Zidu into the deep sea, where Wei Yuanfeng appeared and confirmed the Jiang Family's ties to the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance.
• Fang Qing switched to the Azure Sea Method and used the Sea-Transforming Pearl to kill Wei Yuanfeng, while Jiang Zidu mistook him for Shi Tiexin.
• Fang Qing killed Jiang Zidu with his jade flute, then pursued and killed the fleeing Longevity Tortoise with sound-wave attacks.
• Fang Qing extracted the Ten-Thousand Beasts Tortoise's smooth Demon Core and considered trading it with Zhan Hongxiu.

After killing the Longevity Tortoise, Fang Qing looted the Jiang and Lu families and uncovered demonic cultivation techniques that could help him develop an alter ego. Later, he learned that a sword cultivator had supposedly destroyed the families and vanished with the tortoise, and he sent Bei Lingshu to investigate.

• Fang Qing returned to Three Origins Island, broke the Jiang Family’s protective array, looted its ruins, and then pillaged the Lu Family.
• Back at Supreme White Island, Fang Qing found the complete Shadowless Wind Escape among his spoils and judged most of the other loot unimpressive.
• Fang Qing examined Wei Yuanfeng’s belongings and discovered the Black Profound Scripture, studying its demonic techniques and memorizing the Soul-Severing Soul Search.
• Ma Xin and Bei Lingshu reported that an unknown sword cultivator had slain three Lu Family Foundation Establishment cultivators and disappeared into the deep sea with the Jiang Family Patriarch and the Longevity Tortoise.
• Fang Qing dismissed the danger of the investigation and assigned Bei Lingshu to visit Three Origins Island.

Fang Qing assessed the Azure Sea Sect’s stalemate with the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance and prepared to deal with Master Sangji’s White Bone Way in Ancient Shu. Disguised as Longlasting Sweet Rain, he met Xu Hei, learned about Miaohuo Bright Son’s habits, and began planning to strike at him while gathering intelligence.

• Fang Qing cultivated, reviewed the sect’s letters, and concluded that both sides were dragging out their war after heavy losses.
• Fang Qing studied Xu Hei’s intelligence about the esoteric monks and identified Master Sangji and the White Bone Way as the central threat in Ancient Shu.
• Fang Qing decided to maintain his disguise, target Miaohuo Bright Son, and gather more information rather than flee Ancient Shu.
• Fang Qing transformed into Longlasting Sweet Rain and met Xu Hei, who had concealed himself in a swamp using a Maiden Earth technique.
• Xu Hei warned Fang Qing that Master Sangji seemed to cultivate Maiden Earth and reported that Miaohuo regularly visited a tavern to drink.
• Fang Qing praised Xu Hei, gave him pills, and learned that Xu Hei was close to Qi Ingestion Perfection.

Fang Qing lured Miaohuo Bright Son into a trap, poisoned and defeated him, then searched his mind for information about the Secret Treasury Domain. He learned that Sangji was a powerful preceptor and decided to leave Ba Commandery before Miaohuo's death brought danger.

• Xu Hei met Miaohuo Bright Son at a restaurant and tried to buy the third sequence of the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art, but Miaohuo demanded to see the person behind him.
• Fang Qing arrived, resisted Miaohuo's summons, and fled the city with Xu Hei as Miaohuo pursued him using the Fire Raksha Bowl.
• Fang Qing's poison weakened Miaohuo, and Fang Qing used the Hundred-Soul Banner, a Golden Origin Heavenly Sword Talisman, and the Great Vajra Divine Strength to subdue and seal him.
• Fang Qing and Xu Hei took Miaohuo to a nearby temporary immortal cave, where Fang Qing shattered his sea of consciousness and searched his memories.
• Fang Qing learned that Miaohuo lacked the third sequence, that Sangji was a near-Purple Mansion true disciple with five bright sons, and that the Secret Treasury Domain and Corpse Yin Sect were rivals.
• Fang Qing concluded that he should leave Ba Commandery because Sangji would soon learn of Miaohuo's death.