Chapter Summaries

Lu Qing kept the mysterious golden object he had found hidden while cultivators across Nether Province fought over treasures that emerged during Mountain Rush. After a bloody night, he decided to remain in the province and consider learning an Aura-Gazing Technique as new garrison rules were announced.

• Lu Qing kept the glowing object in his Storage Ring and cultivated through the night rather than risk revealing it.
• Pillars of light appeared across Nether Province, drawing cultivators into treasure hunts and violent clashes between rival clans.
• The Huang Clan ambushed the Zhou Clan as three factions raced to claim a treasure when its pillar of light vanished.
• At dawn, Lu Qing saw blood-colored clouds above the battle sites and decided to stay in Nether Province while the disturbance continued.
• Lu Qing considered exchanging for an Aura-Gazing Technique, then heard a garrison announcement prohibiting fighting within the city and large-scale attacks near spirit veins.

Lu Qing learned that Nether Province used a Mountains and Rivers Formation to enforce its No-Fly Order and planned to wait three days before traveling to Southern Province for his mission. While exploring the crowded city, he spotted a young woman staging a fake sale to bury her father, a ruse he immediately saw through.

• Lu Qing discovered that the Mountains and Rivers Formation exposed anyone who violated the No-Fly Order and confirmed that he had broken no rules the previous night.
• Lu Qing decided to wait three days for the turmoil to subside before traveling to Southern Province to investigate an Earth Vein.
• Lu Qing ate breakfast while watching cultivators return to pay the flying fee, including members of the previous night's failed vanguard.
• Lu Qing learned that visitors worried the formation would trap them, while the old storyteller argued that they had come for the Treasure Basin's treasures.
• Lu Qing saw a young woman selling herself for 300 Spirit Stones to bury her father and recognized that the supposedly dead old man was feigning death with the Tortoise Breath Method.

Lu Qing witnessed Zhou Shenlong rescue a young woman, then learned the Zhou Clan had been poisoned and exterminated overnight. After the Shen Family canceled Zhou Shenlong’s engagement, Lu Qing left Yu City as black-clad men gathered to question who had killed the Zhou Clan.

• Zhou Shenlong offered Spirit Stones to help a young woman bury her father, and Lu Qing suspected he was a Son of Providence.
• Lu Qing used the Concealment Art to change his appearance and left the crowd.
• Lu Qing heard that the Zhou Clan had been poisoned to death, with Zhou Shenlong the sole survivor.
• The Shen Family canceled Zhou Shenlong’s marriage to Shen Qingyun, and Lu Qing left Yu City to avoid the coming turmoil.
• Black-clad men gathered in a hidden cave and disputed who had attacked the Zhou Clan.

Lu Qing discovered a demonic cultivator hideout concealed in the mountains and dismantled its Blood-Transforming Formation. He confronted the Divine Soul hidden in a clay jar, which was plotting to infiltrate the Profound Heaven Dao Academy.

• Demonic cultivators argued over who had attacked the Zhou Clan before their leader ordered them to send someone out.
• Lu Qing encountered a black-clad demonic cultivator, killed him, and realized a small demonic stronghold lay nearby.
• Lu Qing examined the hidden formation and recognized it as a crippled Blood-Transforming Formation that drained cultivators and stole their lifespan.
• Lu Qing found the formation's eye and sent Spiritual Power crashing into the mountain to destroy it.
• A Divine Soul in a clay jar revealed its plan to reincarnate, change its appearance, and infiltrate the Profound Heaven Dao Academy before realizing someone had overheard it.

Lu Qing destroyed Yin Mozi, a demonic cultivator hiding in a jar, and discovered a Blood-Transforming Formation in the mountains outside Yu City. After he reported it, Senior White Crane arrived and removed the formation while restoring the surrounding landscape.

• Lu Qing destroyed the jar-bound Yin Mozi and read a jade slip revealing that he was a former Golden Core cultivator from Water Province.
• Lu Qing searched the mountain caves, collected their contents, and reported the Blood-Transforming Formation near Yu City to his sect.
• Song Wen replied and sent Senior White Crane to investigate the formation.
• Senior White Crane told Lu Qing to move away, swallowed the mountain range, and restored it without the formation.

Lu Qing received a Long Feather from Senior White Crane, which contained a portable little grotto-heaven, and collected his mission rewards. He sold the demonic cultivators’ artifacts at a Myriad Treasures Trading Association and continued on his way.

• Senior White Crane gave Lu Qing a Long Feather after explaining that the sect had issued his reward for finding the formation.
• Lu Qing discovered that the Long Feather contained a small grotto-heaven where he could store treasures and grow spiritual plants.
• Lu Qing counted his mission rewards: ten thousand contribution points, ten thousand spirit stones, a Water Dragon Cleansing Pill, and a chance to cultivate in a grotto-heaven.
• Lu Qing found only five thousand spirit stones among the demonic cultivators’ belongings and decided to sell their artifacts.
• Lu Qing sold the artifacts at a Myriad Treasures Trading Association for contribution points, then cleansed his flying boat.

After the Zhou Clan’s destruction, Zhou Shenlong found a new goal when an old beggar told him to seek the Profound Heaven Dao Academy. Meanwhile, Jiang Baiwen hunted down the Demon Race members responsible for manipulating the Zhou Clan’s destruction and killed them with his Blazing Fire Sword.

• Grieving the destruction of his Lineage, Zhou Shenlong asked how he could cultivate and take revenge.
• An old beggar told Zhou Shenlong that the Profound Heaven Dao Academy was a place of Immortals, inspiring him to seek a master there.
• Two Demon Race members in borrowed human bodies discussed their failed search for an object and planned to target someone else.
• Jiang Baiwen confronted the Demon Race members, who abandoned their fleshly shells and tried to flee to the Demon Domain.
• Jiang Baiwen killed both Demon Race members with his Blazing Fire Sword, and cultivators remarked that he had grown stronger.

Lu Qing reached Southern Province after witnessing a Golden Core cultivator kill two Demon Race scouts, while Song Wen and the White Crane learned that the scouts had infiltrated Nether Province using a changed Form-Mimicking Embryo Technique. After resting and cultivating in a rented cave dwelling, Lu Qing prepared to inspect a golden treasure and discovered it had changed shape.

• Lu Qing left Yu City, sensed demon aura around Jiang Baiwen’s sword strike, and wondered why Demon Race members had entered Nether Province.
• The White Crane reported that it had found no source for the Fate Formation, and Song Wen received Jiang Baiwen’s letter about two Demon Race scouts in Nether Province.
• Song Wen learned that the scouts’ changed Form-Mimicking Embryo Technique had deceived the Mountains and Rivers Formation, then planned to report the breach and have the formation moved.
• Lu Qing reached Southern Province, rented a cave dwelling, and set up three layers of defensive formations.
• Lu Qing cultivated until his spiritual power rose, then found that the golden treasure had changed shape.

Lu Qing examined a golden object and discovered it was a mirror-like pebble bearing a simple image of a sea-side sacrifice, though he found no use for it. After leaving seclusion in Southern Province, he survived repeated attacks by local bandit cultivators, changed his appearance to blend in, and headed toward Evil Mountain.

• Lu Qing tested the smooth mirror-stone with the Wooden Fish Bell, a spell, and his divine sense, which caused a line-drawn sacrificial scene to appear on its surface.
• Lu Qing decided the pebble seemed useless and considered it no better than a disposable defensive object.
• Lu Qing learned that Southern Province's markets were rife with robbery and killing because criminals could flee into the Southern Sea.
• Lu Qing killed several waves of cultivators who tried to ambush him, including a Purple Mansion cultivator who fled after sensing his aura.
• Lu Qing changed his appearance and gloomy aura to match local customs, then left Little Sea Market for Evil Mountain.

Lu Qing arrived at Evil Mountain Market and investigated a Fire Demon that had been draining the local spiritual energy. He killed it and destroyed its gourd, but suspected that similar objects might be spreading beyond the market, leaving the matter for Elder Song Wen to review.

• Lu Qing presented his token to the Evil Mountain resident guard, Du Qi, who explained that a Fire Demon had arrived months earlier and begun drawing spiritual energy from Evil Mountain.
• Lu Qing used his divine sight to locate the Fire Demon deep within the mountain and heard it boast about seeking a breakthrough into the Violet Palace realm.
• Lu Qing smashed the Fire Demon's soul with one palm, seized its purple gourd, and crushed the object.
• Lu Qing scattered the gourd fragments and concealed the earth qi, expecting the area to return to normal.
• Lu Qing suspected the gourd had helped the Fire Demon absorb earth qi and worried that similar objects were spreading beyond the market.
• Elder Song Wen reviewed the matter after Lu Qing reported it.

Lu Qing resolved the threat at Evil Mountain, reported the earth-vein problem to the Dao Academy, and continued toward the South Sea. At Little Cloud Dojo, Song Wen struck at hidden enemies who escaped, while Elder Liu moved to pursue them.

• Lu Qing stored the shattered gourd fragments, inspected Evil Mountain, and returned to the market to tell Du Qi the danger had passed.
• Lu Qing attended Du Qi’s small auction, watched the cultivators trade their goods, and left the region the next day.
• At Little Cloud Dojo, White Crane and Song Wen discussed Lu Qing’s report and the spreading problems with the earth veins.
• Song Wen struck hidden figures with a great seal, but a black banner disrupted the attack and let many of them flee.
• Elder Liu used an array seal to pursue the fleeing figures as they scattered across the Profound Heaven Domain.

Lu Qing cultivated near the Southern Sea, broke through to the eighth realm of the Purple Mansion, and traded with a Waterfolk sea merchant for spiritual plant seeds. He set course back to the Dao Academy, intending to visit Elder Song Wen and check on the plants on Spirit Leaf Island.

• Lu Qing realized he could study the dragon race’s innate ability to command wind and rain at Myriad Dragon Lake and decided it was time to break through.
• Lu Qing easily reached the eighth realm of the Purple Mansion after several days of cultivation.
• Lu Qing turned his boat toward the Dao Academy and thought about his plants on Spirit Leaf Island and Elder Song Wen’s reply.
• Lu Qing encountered a Waterfolk sea merchant trading with ships and asked whether it had spiritual plant seeds.
• The sea merchant showed Lu Qing dozens of varieties, and Lu Qing bought two seeds of each, including the Southern Sea’s rare Star Tree.

After trading with a Waterfolk merchant, Lu Qing acquired Southern Sea spirit seeds and considered how to cultivate the rare, domineering Profound Cloud Blood Dragon. He returned toward Central Province and explored the Longfeather Pocket Space, deciding to reserve the Blood Dragon for a separate site on Spirit Leaf Island.

• Lu Qing reflected on Waterfolk cultivation after the sea merchant completed their transaction and departed.
• Lu Qing examined the Southern Sea spirit seeds and focused on the seventh-grade Profound Cloud Blood Dragon, whose presence would kill any other Spirit Plant growing nearby.
• Lu Qing decided the Blood Dragon needed an isolated Spirit Field and considered using the Longfeather Pocket Space for cultivation.
• Lu Qing departed the Southern Province for Central Province and entered the pocket space with his Divine Soul.
• Lu Qing carved out Spirit Fields beside a lake but decided not to plant the Blood Dragon there, preserving the pocket space for other uses.

Lu Qing returned to the Dao Academy after planting a Star Tree and other spirit plants, then reported the fire demon matter and the gourd fragments to Elder Song Wen. Song Wen concealed the gourd’s significance and privately arranged an additional reward, while he and a white crane considered its connection to the Southern Sea.

• Lu Qing planted one Star Tree seed in the spirit field and arranged the other spirit plants before leaving the space.
• After detouring around dangerous regions, Lu Qing returned to the Dao Academy and went to Little Cloud Dojo to meet Elder Song Wen.
• Lu Qing recounted the fire demon matter and showed Song Wen the gourd fragments he had collected.
• Song Wen told Lu Qing to describe the gourd’s power as the fire demon’s innate divine ability and privately added a reward to Lu Qing’s mission.
• After Lu Qing left, Song Wen and the white crane discussed how the gourd might have come from the strange Southern Sea.
• Lu Qing left Little Cloud Dojo and headed for the crowded Mission Hall.

Lu Qing turned in three missions at the Mission Hall, collected a Water Dragon Cleansing Pill, and headed to Myriad Dragon Lake to use it while investigating the true dragon beneath the water. He arrived as disciples gathered to fish and watched the lake, finding no sign of the Corpse Dragon’s presence.

• Lu Qing noticed Inner Academy disciples at the Mission Hall and wondered why so little was known about their activities, but decided to wait until he reached the Golden Core realm for answers.
• Lu Qing submitted three missions, including one involving a Moon-Eating Demon King, and received his rewards, including a Water Dragon Cleansing Pill.
• Lu Qing visited the Spirit Plant Academy to buy seeds and accept several missions, then set out for Myriad Dragon Lake.
• Lu Qing learned that White Crane Boy had gone east to see Dragonfish Tidewatch and would not return for over a month.
• Lu Qing arrived at Myriad Dragon Lake, saw disciples fishing and Chen Yuyi tossing Dragonheart Fruits into the water, and focused on the lake to seek the true dragon.

Lu Qing watched four True Dragons emerge from Myriad Dragon Lake and used the rain to witness their divine abilities. He began comprehending Call the Wind and Summon the Rain as the Azure Dragon demonstrated it.

• Lu Qing avoided the lake as the True Dragon’s cry churned the Spiritual Power of those nearby.
• The lake’s waves sent spirit fish raining from the sky, and Lu Qing used the Wooden Fish Bell to catch them.
• Four True Dragons appeared atop horned Flood Dragons, revealing the source of Myriad Dragon Lake.
• The True Dragons rose into storm clouds and summoned a sea of lightning and rain.
• Lu Qing let the rain touch him and witnessed visions of True Dragon combat before the Azure Dragon demonstrated Call the Wind and Summon the Rain.

Lu Qing witnessed the True Dragon's rain at Myriad Dragon Lake and gained an initial understanding of Call the Wind and Summon the Rain. He left with his gains hidden, while the elders discussed the threat emerging in Nether Province.

• Lu Qing realized that Call the Wind and Summon the Rain meant becoming one with nature, and the True Dragon's rain helped him glimpse how to begin learning it.
• Disciples gathered at Myriad Dragon Lake, where one man discovered that someone had stolen his spirit fish and others offered incense in hopes of gaining the True Dragon's favor.
• Lu Qing concealed his insight and his spirit fish, then left by a different route after noticing elders watching from the clouds.
• The elders confirmed that the Corpse Dragon posed no threat at Myriad Dragon Lake and debated Elder Yu's long-running pill furnace.
• The elders discussed their lack of leads in Nether Province and warned that the Demon Domain and the Demon Race could threaten their territory.

The elders discussed the Nether Province formation flaw and learned that Lu Qing had uncovered crucial clues, while several regretted not recruiting him themselves. Lu Qing returned to Spirit Leaf Island, found his spirit plants thriving and bearing fruit, prepared for White Crane Boy’s return, and began refining his insights into Call the Wind and Summon the Rain.

• The elders discussed the Nether Province formation flaw, the demons and demonic cultivators, and the Blood-Transforming Formation now held by Elder Song Wen.
• The elders praised Lu Qing for discovering clues and learned that Senior Brother Li had taken an interest in him; Mo Youyu claimed credit for bringing him to the sect.
• Lu Qing traveled back to Spirit Leaf Island by sea and found his Purple Moon Fruits and Dragonheart Fruits had ripened in his absence.
• Lu Qing harvested the fruits, put spirit fish in the pond, and prepared spirit fruits and clear tea for White Crane Boy’s expected return.
• Lu Qing set aside thoughts of lightning techniques and entered seclusion to refine his insights into Call the Wind and Summon the Rain.

Lu Qing used the Water Dragon Cleansing Pill to enter the doorway of Call the Wind and Summon the Rain, then reflected on his cultivation and the tribulations ahead. After nearly a year passed, he remembered that he still needed to exchange for the Aura-Gazing Technique and left his cultivation chamber.

• Lu Qing swallowed the Water Dragon Cleansing Pill and practiced until he entered the doorway of Call the Wind and Summon the Rain.
• Lu Qing replenished his depleted spiritual power and recognized signs that it was becoming innate as he advanced through the Purple Mansion Realm.
• Lu Qing calculated that nearly a year had passed and considered how the Golden Core tribulations might involve his blood ties and past family bonds.
• Lu Qing resumed practicing the Great Concealment Art and wondered whether mastering it could reveal another divine ability.
• Lu Qing remembered the Aura-Gazing Technique, opened the cultivation chamber, and decided to exchange for the method.

Lu Qing returned from seclusion, welcomed White Crane Boy, and used his improved Call the Wind and Summon the Rain technique to nourish his spirit plants. After inspecting the thriving plants, he noticed that the cultivation method section in his token’s grand library had expanded.

• Lu Qing received White Crane Boy’s message, opened Spirit Leaf Island’s gates for him, and told him that the Clear Tea Leaf had grown luxuriantly.
• Lu Qing shared Lunar Fish with White Crane Boy, who caught several from the pond, and they ate grilled and stewed fish together.
• Lu Qing cast Call the Wind and Summon the Rain, producing thunder and spirit rain with far more spiritual energy than before.
• Lu Qing inspected his spirit fields and found the Southern Sea plants and Profound Cloud Blood Dragon growing vigorously.
• Lu Qing entered the grand library within his token and discovered that its cultivation method section had expanded.