Chapter Summaries

Sangji learned that Miaohuo had died and ordered the White Bone Way to pursue Fang Qing, who traveled to Northern Profound Commandery to avoid the expected protection of the Corpse Yin Sect. At Yan Mountain Market, Fang Qing discovered that the invasion had created demand for Chariot Water spiritual items and began negotiating their sale.

• Sangji told Miaoshui that Miaohuo had died and ordered Mia Feng and Qingjing to pursue Fang Qing, with Miao Shan as backup if needed.
• Fang Qing rode north to Northern Profound Commandery, reasoning that avoiding the obvious route toward the Corpse Yin Sect would make him harder to predict.
• At Yan Mountain Market, Fang Qing learned that the Azure Bird Tribe had invaded and that Northern Profound cultivators had been conscripted by the Shangyong Sect.
• Fang Qing entered the Wind-Listening Tower and found it was buying Chariot Water spiritual items in large quantities.
• Elder Mu explained that Chariot Water materials were needed to counter the Azure Bird Tribe’s Net Moon cultivators, and Fang Qing offered a box of sea pearls for sale.

Fang Qing traded Chariot Water spiritual treasures to Jin Ling'er for Dao Foundation-grade Golden Vajra Ghee, then left after refusing her offer to pursue a Purple Mansion flying sword. Jin Ling'er was killed by Li Rulong during an ambush near Yan Mountain Market, while Fang Qing watched from a distance in disguise.

• Fang Qing learned from Elder Mu that Ancient Shu lacked the pills and treasures needed to help Dao Foundation cultivators advance, then left Yan Mountain Market.
• Jin Ling'er revealed that she had followed Fang Qing after hearing he sold Chariot Water spiritual treasures and offered him a chance to locate the flying sword Must Enjoy to the Full.
• Fang Qing rejected the offer but traded several jade boxes of Chariot Water spiritual treasures for Jin Ling'er's Dao Foundation-grade Golden Vajra Ghee.
• Jin Ling'er returned toward Yan Mountain Market and was ambushed by a Net Moon Demon Race assassin, while Li Rulong struck her with a flute note and killed her.
• Fang Qing watched the killing from afar in a changed appearance and Bond Metal Dao Foundation, then left, realizing Li Rulong had joined the Azure Bird Tribe's forces.

Fang Qing refined two Prime Quality Second-Order High Grade Barrier-Breaking Pills and brought Xiang Dahu to Supreme White Island to oversee its affairs. After hearing of a human victory in Ancient Shu, Fang Qing devised a dangerous plan to break through to the Mid Dao Foundation by fighting a sword cultivator at the peak of the Early Dao Foundation.

• Fang Qing used Golden Vajra Ghee to strengthen his body and began refining Second-Order High Grade Barrier-Breaking Pills.
• After several months, Fang Qing refined two Prime Quality pills and arranged for Xiang Dahu to take Ma Xin's place on Supreme White Island.
• Fang Qing entrusted the island's affairs to Xiang Dahu and encouraged him to choose a craft among the Hundred Arts of Immortality.
• At Yan Mountain Market, Fang Qing heard that the Shangyong Sect had won a great victory and that Tian Jinchen had slain seven Demon Generals.
• Fang Qing planned to cultivate the Profound-Heeding Grotto Spring Scripture, convert his magical power to the Heaven-Escaping Sword Art, and seek a sword cultivator for a life-or-death fight to break through to the Mid Dao Foundation.

Fang Qing met Dark Candle Adept at Yan Mountain Market and learned that the demon race’s defeat might be reversed with help from the Western Liang Daughter Kingdom. As a Purple Mansion cultivator’s death sent the market into panic, Silver Bottle and her Bright guests fled south while Fang Qing had already escaped.

• Fang Qing heard rumors about Jin Ling'er and spotted Dark Candle Adept stealing food in Sophora House’s kitchen.
• Fang Qing questioned Dark Candle Adept, who admitted he was gathering intelligence and explained that Rooftop Moon could counter the Chariot Water array.
• Dark Candle Adept warned Fang Qing that Rooftop Moon cultivators could use a divine ability to make a man conceive a girl, and Fang Qing offered to trade Beast-Feeding Pills for Purple Mansion manuals.
• Fang Qing headed south, suspecting that the Western Liang Daughter Kingdom or powerful figures had changed the outcome of his divination.
• Silver Bottle met Bright Son Miaofeng and Bright Consort Qingjing, who were seeking an outer Daoist, and told them about the man’s possible movements through Yan Mountain Market.
• The three detected the death of a Purple Mansion True Person and fled south as Yan Mountain Market’s residents scattered.

After years of seclusion on Supreme White Island, Fang Qing broke through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and strengthened the power of his Outer Core. He obtained a repaired quasi-Third-Order formation from Qin Ruxue and set out to deal with the White Bone Way.

• Fang Qing entrusted Xiang Dahu with managing Supreme White Island, then entered seclusion to cultivate.
• Fang Qing used pills and ancient spirit herbs to advance his body refinement and magic power before taking a Barrier-Breaking Pill.
• Fang Qing forcibly broke through his bottleneck and reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, increasing his Spiritual Sense and the power he could draw from the Tide-Birth Pearl.
• Fang Qing traveled to Jade Island, where Qin Ruxue congratulated him and gave him the Mystic Ice Skyveil Formation and its deployment instructions.
• Fang Qing gave Qin Ruxue a Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill, then left with the formation as insurance before setting out to deal with the White Bone Way.

Fang Qing trapped Sangji in the Mystic Ice Skyveil Formation and overpowered the Perfected Dao Foundation guru in a fierce battle. He pressed the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art against Sangji’s head to convert him, and Sangji realized Fang Qing was a direct disciple of the Temple of the Supreme Source of All Dharmas.

• Sangji discovered Fang Qing’s presence through a fire offering and rushed alone to subdue him in Xituo Commandery.
• Fang Qing used the Mystic Ice Skyveil Formation to trap Sangji and fought off his Maiden Earth Dao Foundation and Brahma artifacts.
• Sangji mistook Fang Qing for a Dharma King’s Duzi and accused another temple of interfering with his destiny.
• Fang Qing battered Sangji with his treasures and the formation until Sangji’s artifacts fell and he was frozen in place.
• Fang Qing pressed the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art to Sangji’s head, and Sangji recognized Fang Qing as a direct disciple of the Temple of the Supreme Source of All Dharmas.

Fang Qing overcame Sangji’s attempt to summon the Lord of the Charnel Forest, converted him, and arranged to pose as one of Sangji’s Mingzi while hiding his identity at Deathless Temple. After learning Sangji’s plans and Esoteric Treasury teachings, Fang Qing prepared to acquire the [Maiden Earth] magical power needed to make the disguise convincing.

• Fang Qing used a spirit talisman and the Dao-Born Pearl to destroy the Lord of the Charnel Forest’s aspect in Sangji’s spiritual sanctum and convert Sangji.
• Fang Qing ordered Sangji to conceal their true relationship and appointed himself to the vacant Miaohuo Bright Son position.
• Sangji proposed delaying his required breakthrough by requesting resources and eventually entering seclusion at Deathless Temple, potentially buying decades for Fang Qing.
• Sangji presented Fang Qing as a subdued Outer Dao practitioner to Wisdom Consort Miao Shui and announced that he would empower him as a Mingzi.
• Sangji taught Fang Qing about his cultivation methods and explained that the disguise required [Maiden Earth] magical power.
• Fang Qing asked Sangji for Bone-Seed Incense, and Sangji produced a portion of seventh-order high-grade qi.

Fang Qing established his Dao Foundation, joined the White Bone Way as Mingzi Fang Shui, and gained control of its resources while Sangji prepared to enter seclusion. The chapter left Fang Qing settled into his new identity in Ancient Shu and ready to cultivate in relative safety.

• Fang Qing studied the Earth Scripture, established his Dao Foundation, and asked Sangji about the cultivation world and the Temple of the Great Sun Wheel.
• Sangji announced that he would enter seclusion and named Fang Shui head of the Five Bright Sons and acting leader of the White Bone Way.
• Miaofeng Bright Son and Bright Consort Qingjing apologized to Fang Qing, who thanked them and asked to see the White Bone Way's storerooms.
• Fang Qing inspected the underground storehouses, claimed Dragon-Elephant Ghee for cultivation, and left Miao Shan in charge of the White Bone Way's daily affairs.
• Miaofeng Bright Son and Bright Consort Qingjing discussed how to handle the Silver Vase girl and considered giving Fang Qing a gift.
• Fang Qing secured his room and reflected that his new identity would let him trade more safely with powerful cultivators.

Fang Qing visited Xituo Commandery as a White Bone Way Mingzi and sought a Life Spring Flower from the Zeng Clan. The Zeng Clan surrendered it without bargaining, and Fang Qing exempted them from that year's tribute.

• Fang Qing studied Sangji's inheritance and reflected on the Esoteric Treasury's teachings and its methods of empowerment and reincarnation.
• Fang Qing inspected Xituo Commandery with Miao Shui, who described its resources, families, and dependence on incense offerings.
• Fang Qing visited the Zeng Clan to obtain its Life Spring Flower and watched Miao Shui demand that the family offer him a young woman to serve tea.
• Fang Qing sent the frightened girl away and asked Zeng Qingye for the Life Spring Flower, which the patriarch handed over without requesting an exchange.
• Fang Qing accepted the flower and exempted the Zeng Clan from that year's tribute.

Fang Qing discussed the Zeng Clan’s [Turtle Beak Fire] Dao Foundation, then learned about Water Virtue inheritances and gave Sangji a Purple Mansion spiritual treasure for his own use. He later met Princess Qingling of the Azure Bird Tribe at Deathless Temple, where Li Rulong served as her guard.

• Fang Qing discussed the Zeng Clan’s Stagnant Cloud Smoke and [Turtle Beak Fire] Dao Foundations, and Zeng Qingye explained the inheritance’s unstable fate and its cultivators’ hardships.
• Fang Qing returned to Deathless Temple and asked Sangji to find Water Virtue lineages, learning about the Eastwater White Clan and the Vast Sea Sect.
• Sangji told Fang Qing that the Temple of All Living Beings Without Form would send an Yin-Earth Spirit Jade Wall, but Fang Qing told him to keep it to aid his own attempt to reach Purple Mansion.
• Miao Shui told Fang Qing that a noble guest from the Azure Bird Tribe had arrived, and explained the tribe’s descent from Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s Phoenix.
• Fang Qing met Princess Qingling, the Green Clam Demon General, and saw Li Rulong serving as her guard.

Fang Qing learned that the Azure Bird Tribe’s move south might conceal a great demon’s attempt to attain the Golden Seat, while the beings above the Golden Seat appeared to be growing more active. He resolved to proceed cautiously and wondered who had obtained the Kitchen Lord divinity.

• Green Clam proposed that the Azure Bird Tribe and White Bone Way cooperate, but Fang Qing declined to commit while his master was in seclusion.
• Green Clam told Li Rulong that Sangji might emerge as a Dharma King and that the White Bone Way could eventually have six Purple Mansion cultivators; Qingling asked Li Rulong if he wanted to become one.
• Miao Shui warned Fang Qing that the Azure Bird Tribe’s Purple Mansion Peak great demon might be pursuing the Golden Seat by bringing calamity to the world.
• Sangji suggested the Azure Bird Tribe’s outreach could be a decoy and confirmed that no one had attained the Golden Seat during the Near Antiquity.
• Sangji calculated that Golden Seat attempts had become more frequent, and Fang Qing suspected beings above the Golden Seat were recovering and exerting influence.
• Fang Qing reviewed the world’s history, cautioned himself against trusting divinations or underestimating powerful beings, and wondered who had obtained the Kitchen Lord divinity.

Fang Qing refined a Life Spring Pill, reviewed events on Supreme White Island, and learned that Zhan Hongxiu had become a disciple on Three Origins Island. A jade pendant tied to his old measure on Zhan Hongxiu began glowing as she approached Supreme White Island.

• Fang Qing learned that Qin Ruxue had reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment and considered whether reincarnation could improve her aptitude in another life.
• Fang Qing authorized Xu Hei to trade across Ancient Shu and began refining the Life Spring Flower at the Ice Soul Cold Spring.
• After several months, Fang Qing successfully refined the Life Spring Pill, which could help an early Dao Foundation [Winnowing Basket Water] cultivator break through.
• Xiang Dahu and Bei Lingshu reported that demonic cultivators had probed the island and that the wider conflict had grown more stable.
• Bei Lingshu told Fang Qing that a cultivator named Zhan Hongxiu lived on Three Origins Island and zealously hunted the Jiang Family's remnants.
• Fang Qing's jade pendant began glowing, indicating that Zhan Hongxiu was near Supreme White Island.

Zhan Hongxiu traveled to Supreme White Island to seek a Mystic-Soul Restoration Pill for her injured master, Greenwater Wanderer. Fang Qing agreed to refine it after extracting her valuable possessions, and she remained hopeful that he would save her master.

• Zhan Hongxiu and her junior brother arrived near Supreme White Island, seeking its guardian's help after other alchemists failed to refine the pill their master needed.
• Xiang Dahu escorted Zhan Hongxiu to Fang Qing, who said he could refine the Mystic-Soul Restoration Pill despite only one attempt's worth of ingredients remaining.
• Zhan Hongxiu offered a high-grade spirit stone and thousand-year-old spirit herbs, but Fang Qing demanded more because her master's life was at stake.
• Fang Qing discovered an Ice-Soul Pearl Talisman Treasure in Zhan Hongxiu's belongings and claimed it alongside the spirit stone, herbs, and everything else in her storage pouch.
• Fang Qing promised success, noticed Zhan Hongxiu's hairpin, and left her with Bei Lingshu while privately deciding to take her hidden reserves another time.

Fang Qing refined a Mystic-Soul Restoration Pill for Zhan Hongxiu, kept a second pill for himself, and resumed cultivating toward Foundation Establishment perfection. After Zhan Hongxiu returned to Three Origins Island with the medicine, Fang Qing received word that a Foundation Establishment cultivator had come to visit.

• Fang Qing used the ice soul cold spring to refine a Mystic-Soul Restoration Pill and reflected on the Ice-Soul Pearl Talisman Treasure and his divination abilities.
• Fang Qing gave Zhan Hongxiu and her scholarly junior brother one Mystic-Soul Restoration Pill, then kept a second pill he had refined from the same pool.
• Zhan Hongxiu returned to Three Origins Island with the pill, and Lu Lingfeng and the other disciples prepared to deliver it to Greenwater Wanderer.
• Fang Qing cultivated with the Azure Sea Method, reached fifty-two drops of liquid mana, and considered preparing for Core Formation and its heavenly tribulation.
• Xiang Dahu informed Fang Qing that a Foundation Establishment cultivator had come to visit.

After refining a pill for Greenwater Wanderer, Fang Qing realized his alchemy had drawn the attention of the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance. Months later, Yu Xiang'er came to abduct him for Heavenly Heart Island, but Fang Qing overpowered her and left her fate unresolved.

• Greenwater Wanderer thanked Fang Qing for saving her and offered him a ten-percent silent share in Three Talents Market, but he declined.
• Fang Qing refused visiting-card requests for pills and suspected that revealing his alchemy skills had attracted the Sea-Extinguishing Alliance.
• Yu Xiang'er arrived at Supreme White Island intending to capture Fang Qing and take him to Heavenly Heart Island.
• Fang Qing confronted Yu Xiang'er, used Maiden Earth to swallow her yin souls and Refined Corpses, and evaded the needles from her Heavenly Net Umbrella.
• Fang Qing struck Yu Xiang'er's umbrella with Slay-Break-Wolf, pierced her protective barrier, and placed his hand on her head as golden light shone from his eyes.

Fang Qing learned that the war in the Lesser Vast Sea remained under his watch while the Azure Bird Tribe’s invasion of Ancient Shu drove refugees toward Xituo Commandery. After opening West-Guard Pass to them, he learned that a great demon had killed General Ji Fengchun and received a slightly auspicious hexagram when he considered going to Fang Fortress.

• Fang Qing questioned Yu Xiang'er about Black Origin True Person and the Eastern Sea, identified Zhong Lingxiu as the source of the treasure map that brought Black Origin to the Lesser Vast Sea, and sent Yu Xiang'er back as his spy.
• Fang Qing learned from Miao Shan that the Azure Bird Tribe had taken nine passes and three commanderies, while the conflict was being orchestrated through bargains among powerful factions and had not yet cost a Purple Mansion cultivator.
• Fang Qing went to West-Guard Pass and saw refugees fleeing the invasion; Miao Feng had been charging cultivators spirit items to enter Xituo Commandery.
• Fang Qing ordered West-Guard Pass opened to the refugees, then overheard that a great demon had killed General Ji Fengchun and that Ancient Shu’s cultivators were too weakened to intervene.
• Fang Qing tried to calculate the situation at Fang Fortress, found that Ancient Shu’s muddled Heavenly Secrets blocked him, and received a slightly auspicious hexagram about going there himself.

Fang Qing traveled east through a war-ravaged land to check on the Fang Family, while Fang Jingchun and Fang Yixin prepared to flee Ba Commandery with the Hu Family. Their westbound convoy reached Hu Quan'an, who hinted that he had a task for the Fang family's armed men.

• Fang Qing saw starving refugees and dead along the road as he headed toward Fang Fortress.
• Fang Yixin told Fang Jingchun that the demon army was advancing and that the Hu Family planned to flee west; they discussed the Fang Family's secret cultivation manual and hidden stores of true essence.
• Fang Jingchun decided the Fang Family should escort the Hu Family, while splitting the family into branches to improve their chances of survival.
• Fang Yixin asked his wife to arrange for the Fang Family to travel with her relatives, and she warned that the Esoteric Treasury Monks might demand strong young men in Xituo Commandery.
• Several days later, the convoy traveled west, and Hu Quan'an told Fang Jingchun that he needed the Fang family's martial guards for something ahead.

Fang Yixin helped Hu Quan'an explore a hidden cave abode, where Hu Quan'an claimed a valuable Qi Ingestion Dharma Artifact and discovered the Fang Family's Earth-Origin Tempering qi. Hu Quan'an unexpectedly chose to refine it for the Fang Family, while Fang Qing watched and noted the strange profundity of Hu Quan'an's Yaolingxuan Dao Foundation.

• Fang Yixin recruited ten men and led them with Hu Quan'an to a concealed cave abode.
• Ma San shattered into rubble while pushing the stone door, and Hu Quan'an killed a fleeing man before Old Chen safely opened the entrance.
• Hu Quan'an found a Cloudcrag Sect cultivator's remains and took a Qi Ingestion Dharma Artifact, books, and spiritual herbs.
• Fang Yixin told Hu Quan'an that he wanted help for Wuchen and Wujiu, and Hu Quan'an acknowledged that cultivating them would require a breath of True Steam.
• Fang Jingchun realized Hu Quan'an had discovered the family's hidden Earth-Origin Tempering qi, but Hu Quan'an offered to refine it for them and support both families.
• Fang Qing watched Hu Quan'an meditate under the Heaven-Shielding Curtain and recognized the unusual profundity of his Yaolingxuan Dao Foundation.

Fang Qing encountered a Qi Ingestion cultivator carrying the Jun Heaven Pot, a Luo Family heirloom that could transport water veins, but returned it after divining that it might be bait. Elsewhere, True Person Sanji offered the youth with a divination ability a chance to enter Grand Yellow Heaven, and the youth agreed to help in exchange for several treasures and Stomach Earth destiny.

• Fang Qing left Ba Commandery after subtly influencing Hu Quan'an to support the Fang Family, then traveled onward on the Fire Raksha Bowl.
• Fang Qing stopped a group of Qi Ingestion cultivators pursuing a man with a Dao Foundation spirit artifact and examined the jade pot he carried.
• The cultivator explained that the Jun Heaven Pot had belonged to the Heavenly Water Luo Family before passing through the Kui'an Luo Clan, and Fang Qing returned it after divining an inauspicious omen.
• True Person Sanji met a youthful diviner on a black cliff and asked whether he had found enough children of destiny to open an East Sea Blessed Land.
• Sanji revealed that he sought help entering Grand Yellow Heaven, and the youth agreed after demanding several Purple Mansion spiritual treasures and a rich share of Stomach Earth destiny.

Fang Yixin and Hu Quan'an crossed into Xituo Commandery and sought a place for their families to settle, while Fang Qing reviewed reports from the commandery and learned that they had become tenant farmers under the Zeng Clan. Fang Qing resolved to keep a discreet eye on them, troubled by a sense that misfortune was approaching.

• Fang Yixin became a Qi Ingestion cultivator on the journey, and he and Fang Jingchun shared their cultivation art with the Hu Family as the two families agreed to cooperate.
• Fang Yixin and Hu Quan'an paid the White Bone Way’s checkpoint tax with spirit grass and passed West-Guard Pass, where they learned a Mingzi was stationed.
• Hu Quan'an explained that he hoped to rent spirit land through an old connection with the Zeng Clan, though the arrangement could demand steep rent and dangerous service.
• Fang Qing asked Sangji to contact Black Spring Temple about refining a Winnowing Basket Water Dao Foundation Spirit Artifact, and Sangji agreed to observe the Azure Bird Tribe’s great demon attaining Gold to buy Fang Qing more time.
• Fang Qing read a report stating that the Zeng Clan had taken in the Hu, Lu, Fang, and Le families as Qi Ingestion tenant farmers, and he decided to watch over them.