Chapter Summaries

Feng Chen destroyed the Anomaly in the Black Mountain Range, opening the path beyond Green Mountain Town, but Li Tianmin died from his wounds. Feng Chen sent the survivors back with orders to keep the hidden route secret while he continued alone.

• Feng Chen confirmed that Lin Qing'er was unharmed and found Zhao Changkong, Zhou Long, and Wu Shan injured after they had protected her from the humanoid monsters.
• Feng Chen determined that Li Tianmin could not be saved, and Li Tianmin died after asking Feng Chen to see the world beyond in his stead.
• Feng Chen told Zhao Changkong to take Li Tianmin's body back while he walked the remaining route alone.
• Feng Chen ordered Zhao Changkong, Zhou Long, and Wu Shan to tell Wang Kun the Anomaly was dead but to keep the path secret and send no one out without his orders.
• Zhao Changkong asked to accompany Feng Chen to Green Mountain County so the three men could help him there.

After defeating the Anomaly, Feng Chen recovered an Anomaly Crystal and continued with Lin Qing'er through the Black Mountain Range. They emerged from the range and headed toward Green Mountain County.

• Feng Chen sent Zhao Changkong, Zhou Long, and Wu Shan back with Li Tianmin's corpse while he and Lin Qing'er stayed behind.
• Feng Chen searched the Anomaly's remains and found a black Anomaly Crystal, which he stored in his Spatial Ring.
• Lin Qing'er helped Feng Chen search the other monster corpses, but they found no more crystals.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er continued along the mountain path until they reached open terrain beyond the Black Mountain Range.
• Feng Chen told Lin Qing'er that Green Mountain County lay ahead, and she welcomed the vast world outside.

Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er left the Black Mountain Range and reached Hearthside Inn, where they rested and heard that Green Mountain County was becoming increasingly unstable. The chapter left them at the inn as martial artists discussed rising mountain anomalies, disappearing Demonic Beasts, and factional conflict in the county seat.

• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er left the Black Mountain Range and followed the road toward Green Mountain County.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er arrived at Hearthside Inn, paid for a room, and settled in for the night.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er ate in the inn's hall while he assessed the martial artists gathered there.
• Travelers told Feng Chen that Demonic Beasts had become scarce and that more people were disappearing in the mountains.
• An old man said major factions were fighting over territory in Green Mountain County, leaving smaller households caught between them.

After reaching an inn in Green Mountain County, Feng Chen tried to fuse the Anomaly Crystal he had taken from the Anomaly he killed. In his Consciousness Space, the Anomaly’s spiritual imprint revealed that it intended to corrupt him and seize his body.

• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er ate dinner at the inn and returned to their room to rest.
• After Lin Qing'er fell asleep, Feng Chen took out the Anomaly Crystal and decided to fuse it, confident in his spiritual strength.
• The crystal’s icy energy pulled Feng Chen’s awareness into his Consciousness Space.
• The slain Anomaly appeared and explained that its spiritual imprint had lured Feng Chen into letting it enter his mind.
• The Anomaly spread black mist through the Consciousness Space and threatened to corrupt Feng Chen and take over his body.

Feng Chen's Destiny Talent devoured the evil thoughts in the Anomaly Crystal, strengthening his spiritual power and perception. That night, he heard someone outside his door, but the thief moved on and robbed other guests at the inn.

• Feng Chen's Attribute Panel appeared in his Consciousness Space and suppressed the middle-aged man's evil thoughts, devouring him and clearing away the black smoke.
• Feng Chen realized the devoured evil thoughts had strengthened his spiritual power, sharpened his perception, and improved his comprehension of the Giant Force Divine Art.
• Feng Chen returned to bed beside Lin Qing'er after washing up and changing into clean inner clothes.
• At midnight, Feng Chen heard quiet footsteps stop outside his door, but the person turned away without entering.
• Guests at the inn discovered their silver and belongings had been stolen, and Lin Qing'er woke and asked Feng Chen what had happened.

Feng Chen refused to let a group of inn guests search his room while Lin Qing'er was dressing. When they threatened him, he embraced his strength and asserted control over his own fate, leaving the crowd fleeing from his Seventh Heaven aura.

• Feng Chen reassured Lin Qing'er that the stolen silver had nothing to do with them, and she fell back asleep.
• A middle-aged guest and the other inn guests demanded to search Feng Chen's room for stolen belongings.
• Feng Chen refused to let them enter, and the middle-aged man threatened him as the crowd prepared to fight.
• Feng Chen realized he no longer wanted to yield to others and unleashed his Body Tempering, Seventh Heaven aura.
• The guests recognized Feng Chen's strength and fled down the corridor.

Feng Chen drove off two members of the Green Mountain Chamber of Commerce, then discovered Shen Yao hiding in his room. Shen Yao said the merchants were pursuing her to take the important object she carried.

• Feng Chen intimidated the burly man and woman from the Green Mountain Chamber of Commerce until they apologized and left.
• Feng Chen told Lin Qing'er that the intruders were gone and reflected on the chamber of commerce's influence.
• Feng Chen heard a faint noise by the window and approached it with his saber while Lin Qing'er stayed behind him.
• Shen Yao emerged from behind the curtain, and Feng Chen demanded to know who she was and why she had entered his room.
• Shen Yao pleaded with Feng Chen not to throw her out and said the Green Mountain Chamber of Commerce wanted to steal the thing she carried.

Shen Yao revealed that the Green Mountain Chamber of Commerce was pursuing her for her inherited pill formulas. Feng Chen became interested in the formulas, while Zhao Tieshan and Wei Hongliu continued searching the inn for her.

• Zhao Tieshan and Wei Hongliu discussed Shen Yao's disappearance and sent their subordinates to search the inn again.
• Feng Chen refused to let Shen Yao go after she had brought trouble to his room.
• Lin Qing'er pressured Shen Yao to reveal what treasure she carried, warning that Feng Chen would eat her if she stayed silent.
• Shen Yao explained that she was the last member of a declining alchemy family and that the Green Mountain Chamber of Commerce wanted her ancestral pill formulas.
• Feng Chen grew interested in obtaining the formulas because he had begun learning alchemy.

Feng Chen used Lin Qing'er’s threatening display to persuade Shen Yao to lend him her family’s pill-formula booklet, then recorded all eight formulas through his talent panel. Shen Yao left believing he could not have memorized them, while Feng Chen reassured Lin Qing'er that he had made a good deal.

• Feng Chen asked Shen Yao to show him her pill formulas, and Lin Qing'er placed her short blade on the table to pressure her.
• Shen Yao handed Feng Chen her family’s worn booklet, which contained eight pill formulas.
• Feng Chen skimmed the booklet, and his talent panel recorded all eight formulas.
• Feng Chen returned the booklet, and Shen Yao left through the window, convinced he had not learned its contents.
• Lin Qing'er asked Feng Chen whether he had really read the formulas, and he assured her that he had before praising her cooperation.

Lin Qing'er explained how she planned to obtain Shen Yao’s pill formulas, while Shen Yao escaped the inn and hid from pursuers. Back at the Black Tiger Gang, Zhao Changkong, Zhou Long, and Wu Shan returned injured with Li Tianmin’s body and reported that Feng Chen had killed the Anomaly.

• Lin Qing'er told Feng Chen she had arranged for Shen Yao to show them the pill formulas, and Feng Chen praised her for helping him shoulder his burdens.
• Shen Yao left her hiding place behind the inn, mocked Feng Chen’s claimed genius, and then hid in the grass when Martial Artists searched for her.
• Zhao Changkong, Zhou Long, and Wu Shan reached the Black Tiger Gang carrying Li Tianmin’s body, then collapsed from their injuries.
• Wang Kun visited the wounded men, and Zhao Changkong assured him that Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er were safe and that Feng Chen had slain the Anomaly.
• Zhao Changkong recounted the battle and Li Tianmin’s death, after which Wang Kun and the injured men resolved to await Feng Chen’s return and follow him beyond Green Mountain Town.

Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er traveled to Green Mountain County and entered the bustling city, where they saw how powerful its guards and residents were compared with Green Mountain Town. They began exploring the city streets, while the Green Mountain Chamber of Commerce's search for someone at their inn the previous night remained unresolved.

• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er left the inn after hearing that the Green Mountain Chamber of Commerce had searched it for someone during the night.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er followed the crowded road toward Green Mountain County, passing farms and orchards along the way.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er reached a hill overlooking Green Mountain County and saw its massive walls, busy gate, and ten Body Tempering, Third Heaven guards.
• Feng Chen reassured Lin Qing'er that they would be safe as long as they avoided trouble, and they entered the city without paying a fee.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er passed through the gate and emerged onto the crowded streets, surrounded by shops, merchants, and Martial Artists.

Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er explored Green Mountain County, learning about its major powers and the Anomaly Suppression Bureau while looking for a place to settle. Feng Chen rented a detached courtyard for three years, and the broker took them to inspect it.

• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er toured the county and saw the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, which handled reports of Anomalies under the county yamen.
• Feng Chen took Lin Qing'er to lunch, where they overheard gossip about Green Mountain County's prominent forces, rising Anomaly dangers, and the Bureau's costly services.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er visited a broker's shop and learned about rental prices in the inner and outer city.
• Feng Chen chose a detached courtyard for fifty taels of silver per year and signed a three-year lease, paying one hundred and fifty taels.
• The broker took Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er to inspect the available courtyards.

Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er rented and cleaned a quiet courtyard in Green Mountain County, then explored the lively night market. The chapter left them browsing Wenyuan Bookshop, where Feng Chen found martial arts manuals far more advanced than those available in Green Mountain Town.

• Feng Chen chose a quiet courtyard in eastern Green Mountain County, signed a lease, and took the keys.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er cleaned and prepared their new home, then settled in for the evening.
• Feng Chen took Lin Qing'er to Liu's Restaurant and afterward showed her the bustling night market, where he bought her a dough figurine.
• Feng Chen spotted Wenyuan Bookshop and brought Lin Qing'er inside to browse its wide selection of books.
• Feng Chen found martial arts manuals reaching Body Tempering Ninth Heaven, though their prices were high.

Feng Chen learned that True Qi Realm manuals were sold at the Treasure Pavilion and bought Lin Qing'er the Clear Water Divine Art. He also selected three books about Green Mountain County and medicine, then returned with Lin Qing'er to their courtyard.

• Feng Chen asked the bookstore clerk about manuals for the True Qi Realm and learned that he would need to visit the Treasure Pavilion.
• Feng Chen chose the Clear Water Divine Art for Lin Qing'er, and she worried about its cost and whether she needed a new manual.
• Feng Chen paid eight thousand taels for the Clear Water Divine Art and selected three additional books about local geography, medicine, and rare herbs.
• Feng Chen reassured Lin Qing'er that the manual was worth the expense, and the two returned to their courtyard beneath the moonlight.

Feng Chen urged Lin Qing'er to switch to the Clear Water Divine Art while her cultivation foundation was still shallow, then cultivated with medicinal herbs and studied a geography of Green Mountain County. He learned about the county’s major factions and the greater number of anomalies nearby, while remaining confident that his enemies had not discovered his arrival.

• Feng Chen explained why Lin Qing'er should switch from the Heavenly Origin Fist to the Clear Water Divine Art, and she agreed.
• After spending time with Lin Qing'er, Feng Chen left her to sleep and went to the kitchen to prepare High-Grade Blood-Qi Medicinal Herbs.
• Feng Chen drank the medicinal broth and practiced the Giant Force Divine Art until midnight, increasing his proficiency and drawing closer to the next heaven.
• Feng Chen read the Miscellaneous Geography of Green Mountain County and learned about its size, population, and strongest factions, including the Azure Dragon Society.
• Feng Chen reviewed the book’s account of local anomalies and learned that the Black Mountain Range and nearby forests contained more kinds of anomalies than the area around Green Mountain Town.

Feng Chen studied books on Anomalies and medicinal herbs, then spent three days learning Green Mountain County and stockpiling cultivation supplies. He strengthened his Giant Force Divine Art and drew close to the Body Tempering, Eighth Heaven.

• Feng Chen learned that the Anomaly Suppression Bureau handled Anomaly incidents and required a special assessment for recruits.
• Feng Chen memorized information on more than a hundred medicinal herbs and returned to bed beside Lin Qing'er.
• Feng Chen explored Green Mountain County and bought one thousand portions of High-Grade Blood-Qi Medicinal Herbs from its six herb shops for fifty thousand taels of silver.
• Feng Chen learned that the Green Mountain Chamber of Commerce, the City Lord's Manor, and the Iron Sword Sect each had True Qi Realm Martial Artists, unlike second-rate forces such as the Azure Dragon Society.
• Feng Chen cultivated the Giant Force Divine Art, gained proficiency through his Destiny Talent, and neared a breakthrough to the Body Tempering, Eighth Heaven.

Feng Chen visited Green Mountain County’s Martial Artist Market, eager to find rare goods, but learned that the real trade fair would begin in three days. He returned to wandering the unusually crowded streets, struck by how many Martial Artists lived in the county.

• Feng Chen showed off the strength of his cultivated breath, then joined Lin Qing'er for lunch after teasing her and delaying the meal.
• Lin Qing'er described how smoothly she had switched to the Clear Water Divine Art and stabilized at Body Tempering, First Heaven.
• After Lin Qing'er fell asleep, Feng Chen left for Green Mountain County’s monthly Martial Artist Market.
• Feng Chen inspected stalls and recognized that vendors were passing off ordinary goods as Anomaly Crystals, pills, cultivation methods, and Demonic Beast materials.
• Feng Chen paid a stall owner for information and learned that the real trade fair would begin in three days; the current stalls were only a warm-up.
• Feng Chen wandered through the busy streets and noticed that most of the crowd were Martial Artists.

Feng Chen learned that the Anomaly Suppression Bureau was recruiting after suffering heavy losses, but chose to focus on cultivating rather than joining. At the bureau, its director postponed a request to rescue Green Mountain Town because his subordinates resisted sending their depleted forces there.

• Feng Chen read the recruitment notice and heard rogue cultivators discuss the danger and rewards of joining the Anomaly Suppression Bureau.
• Feng Chen decided not to enlist and returned home to simmer medicinal herbs and cultivate with the Giant Force Divine Art.
• The bureau director told five subordinates that three squads had been crippled and at least forty men had died, while requests for help continued to mount.
• The director asked who would go to Green Mountain Town, whose routes had been sealed by anomalies, but his subordinates argued that the bureau should prioritize the county town.
• The director shelved the Green Mountain Town mission until new recruits arrived and warned his subordinates to monitor urgent cases.

Feng Chen broke through to Body Tempering, Eighth Heaven after consuming large quantities of Blood-Qi Medicinal Herbs, and planned to buy more at the Martial Artist Market to reach the Ninth Heaven. He told Lin Qing'er about his breakthrough and took her inside to assess her cultivation of the Clear Water Divine Art.

• Feng Chen advanced to Body Tempering, Eighth Heaven and gained new insights into controlling his increased strength.
• Feng Chen checked his resources and calculated that he could afford enough Blood-Qi Medicinal Herbs to pursue the Ninth Heaven.
• Feng Chen decided to visit the Martial Artist Market on its opening day to buy herbs and look for other treasures.
• Feng Chen found Lin Qing'er waiting beneath the locust tree and told her that he had broken through.
• Feng Chen swept Lin Qing'er into his arms and carried her into a nearby room to see how far she had cultivated the Clear Water Divine Art.

Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er visited the martial artist trading bazaar to find useful cultivation supplies. They encountered a rare spiritual herb being offered through competitive bidding, and Feng Chen noticed a masked martial artist whose cultivation he could not discern.

• Feng Chen checked Lin Qing'er's progress and praised her diligent cultivation before the two spent the evening together.
• Lin Qing'er prepared breakfast, and Feng Chen and she donned bamboo hats before setting out for the trading bazaar.
• Feng Chen and Lin Qing'er explored the crowded bazaar, looking for medicinal herbs, pills, and rare items.
• Feng Chen spotted a crowd around a fragrant dark-purple spiritual herb and noticed a masked martial artist whose realm seemed higher than his own.
• The stall owner claimed the herb could cleanse the marrow and improve one's constitution, set a starting price of twelve thousand taels, and invited the crowd to bid or offer a trade.