Chapter Summaries

Xu Changqing raised his Artifact Refining Skill to Masterful Tier and refined a Supreme-Grade Greenwood Needle with nine Spirit Runes. After days of practicing alchemy and artifact refining, he reunited with Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue, divided their profits, and headed with them to Red Maple Valley Market for New Year's goods.

• Xu Changqing spent 174 years of lifespan to raise his Artifact Refining Skill to Masterful Tier, unlocking powerful refining and repair effects.
• Xu Changqing inspected his Ordinary-Grade Greenwood Needle, then refined a Supreme-Grade Blink Azurewood Needle with nine Spirit Runes and bound it to himself.
• Xu Changqing spent the following days making Foundation Pills and refining Greenwood Needles, producing five more artifacts of varying qualities and rune counts.
• Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue visited Xu Changqing one day before the New Year, remarked that he seemed more mature, and invited him to Red Maple Valley Market.
• Xu Changqing, Hu Bugui, and Zhao Ziyue divided their profits after Li Sancai took his share, then flew to Red Maple Valley Market on Big-Leaf Grass.

Xu Changqing and his companions celebrated the New Year by visiting Red Maple Valley Market, where he learned that Chu Qiu had won his duel with Mo Cha but was too injured to compete. Back at his home, Xu Changqing found Yu Caiqing waiting, and she proposed dual cultivation to speed up an Ice-Water Spirit Root’s mutation.

• Xu Changqing invited Li Sancai to join him, Hu Bugui, and Zhao Ziyue, and Li Sancai eagerly accepted.
• The four friends visited Red Maple Valley Market to buy New Year goods and ran into Zhao Ying, who was with his pregnant Dao companion.
• Hu Bugui told Xu Changqing that Chu Qiu had defeated Mo Cha, but Crane Seven’s serious injuries had also badly injured Chu Qiu, likely keeping him out of the Formal Disciple Grand Competition.
• Xu Changqing parted from Hu Bugui and Li Sancai and returned to his Spirit Fields alone.
• Xu Changqing found Yu Caiqing waiting outside his home, and she explained that strengthening a Fire Spiritual Root could hasten an Ice-Water Spirit Root’s mutation.
• Yu Caiqing suggested dual cultivation, and Xu Changqing repeated the proposal in surprise.

Xu Changqing and Yu Caiqing began a mutually beneficial cultivation arrangement, and he discovered their dual cultivation had increased his Fire Spiritual Power. On New Year's Day, he set out to visit fellow disciples and arrived at Li Sancai's home, where Li Xianglin was already visiting.

• Xu Changqing agreed to become closer friends with Yu Caiqing and help her mutate her Spiritual Root through dual cultivation.
• After Yu Caiqing left for the Alchemy Tower and gave him a hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, Xu Changqing found that his Fire Spiritual Power had increased despite losing his Wood Spiritual Power.
• Xu Changqing prepared breakfast, left a message for Yu Caiqing, and set out to pay New Year's calls with Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice Wine for Li Sancai, Senior Brother Zhang, and Senior Brother Zhu.
• Xu Changqing arrived at Li Sancai's home, gave Li Xianglin a Low-Grade Spirit Stone, and received a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone from Li Sancai as a New Year's gift.

Xu Changqing visited Li Sancai and Zhang Su, receiving an entry talisman to the Advanced Alchemist Nether Spring Herb Garden from Zhang Su. Back at his Spirit Fields, he was reunited with Lin An, who explained that he had spent two years helping a Junior Alchemist grow Spiritual Roots after the Punishment Department caught him over a debt.

• Xu Changqing learned from Li Sancai that Li Lingbi was expected to return to the Immortal Sect in the summer after fighting demons with Pei Mo.
• Xu Changqing visited Zhang Su, met his new Dao companion Yun Mo, and gave Zhang Su ten jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice Wine.
• Zhang Su gave Xu Changqing an entry talisman to the Advanced Alchemist Nether Spring Herb Garden because he could not attend.
• Zhang Su told Xu Changqing that Zhao Yingli had become low-key and was seeking shelter after her supporters ran into trouble.
• Xu Changqing returned to his Spirit Fields and recognized Lin An, who said the Punishment Department had made him help a Junior Alchemist grow Spiritual Roots for two years.

Lin An returned after two years away and discovered Xu Changqing had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and acquired three mu of Spirit Fields. Lin An surrendered his own Grade-Two Spirit Fields and signed a Blood Talisman Contract with Xu Changqing, becoming his trusted business runner.

• Xu Changqing welcomed Lin An into his stone house and revealed that he was a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Spirit Farmer with three mu of Spirit Fields, including one gifted by Zhang Su.
• Lin An proposed renting his Grade-Two Spirit Fields to Xu Changqing and using startup funds to sell food and other goods during the Formal Disciple Grand Competition.
• Xu Changqing revealed that he had invented the Secret Barbecue Seasoning, and the two discussed working together.
• Lin An offered to sign a Blood Talisman Contract and then surrendered his Spirit Fields in exchange for Xu Changqing completing their annual task of five thousand jin of Spirit Rice Grain.
• Xu Changqing and Lin An signed the Blood Talisman Contract, leaving Xu Changqing with the field deed and Lin An bound to obey him.

Xu Changqing helped Lin An get settled and visited Zhu Fuxian, where they shared warmed wine and enjoyed the snowy scenery. Zhu Fuxian invited Xu Changqing to an herb garden exchange gathering hosted by Youquan, and Xu Changqing agreed to go.

• Xu Changqing gave Lin An a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone and urged him to settle his affairs after escaping two years of hardship in the Earthfire Zone.
• Xu Changqing visited Zhu Fuxian and saw a black-cloaked person leave after discussing an arrangement with him.
• Zhu Fuxian explained that the visitor was a resident alchemist and brewed tea while he finished preparing medicinal herb seeds.
• Xu Changqing gave Zhu Fuxian ten jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice Wine, and they drank together while watching the snow.
• Zhu Fuxian invited Xu Changqing to an herb garden exchange gathering hosted by Youquan, and Xu Changqing accepted.
• Xu Changqing left in the afternoon, while Zhu Fuxian continued drinking until he fell asleep on the ground.

Xu Changqing shared breakfast and a conversation about the mysterious poison-pill alchemist Youquan with Yu Caiqing. Lin An returned with news of a fourth mu of Spirit Fields and met Yu Caiqing, learning she was another alchemist.

• Xu Changqing served Yu Caiqing Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice Grain porridge and homemade pickles for breakfast.
• Yu Caiqing described Youquan as a mysterious Advanced Alchemist who refined poison pills and warned Xu Changqing not to get too involved with him.
• Lin An returned and told Xu Changqing that Earth Vein disciples would arrive in a few days to develop the fourth mu of Spirit Fields.
• Xu Changqing introduced Lin An to Yu Caiqing and explained that she was his partner and an alchemist in the Earthfire Zone.
• Lin An reacted with surprise to learning that Yu Caiqing was an alchemist and awkwardly said he was not used to life outside yet.

Xu Changqing accompanied Zhu Fuxian to the Nether Spring Herb Garden, a secret gathering where poison alchemists and spirit farmers traded under strict rules. After entering the garden, Xu Changqing learned that a dead tree could be used to refine an Earth Grade Rebirth Pill.

• Xu Changqing met Zhu Fuxian, and the two traveled to the Earthfire Zone aboard Zhu Fuxian’s Azure-Green Shuttle.
• Zhu Fuxian explained that the Nether Spring Herb Garden was a secluded trading gathering for obscure alchemists and spirit farmers.
• Xu Changqing and Zhu Fuxian disguised themselves and used an entry talisman to pass through the poisonous fog into the garden.
• Xu Changqing saw the gathered visitors and unfamiliar poisonous herbs, then admitted he knew little about poisons.
• Zhu Fuxian identified a dead tree as the Tree of Life from Death, an ingredient used to refine the Earth Grade Rebirth Pill.

Xu Changqing explored Youquan's poisonous herb trade and found several plants that would soon become supreme grade, including materials he wanted for future pill and artifact refining. After Youquan began the trading, Xu Changqing requested four poisonous plants and declared that he had plenty of spirit stones.

• Zhu Fuxian explained that the poisons on display could be traded for spirit stones, pills, or spiritual plants, and Xu Changqing inspected the damaged Dead Tree.
• Xu Changqing found the Blood-Baleful Yi Wood and considered using it to refine a Blood Gourd.
• Xu Changqing noticed several poisonous plants that would soon become supreme grade as Youquan arrived in a dramatic cloud of black mist and began the trade.
• Xu Changqing requested the Blood-Baleful Yi Wood, Earth Prison Dragon Vine, Azure Wood Rejuvenation Ginseng, and Geng Metal Demon-Breaking Bamboo.
• Youquan asked whether Xu Changqing would pay with spirit stones or trade items, and Xu Changqing said he had quite a family fortune.

Xu Changqing bought four poisonous materials at the Nether Spring Herb Garden and learned that the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm would open after the Formal Disciple Grand Competition, giving him ideas for a new business opportunity. After returning to his Spirit Fields, he found Senior Sister Yu waiting for him in bed.

• Xu Changqing paid 208 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones for Blood-Baleful Yi Wood, Earth Prison Dragon Vine, Azure Wood Rejuvenation Ginseng, and Geng Metal Demon-Breaking Bamboo.
• Youquan revealed that the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm would soon open and that he had refined Yellow Springs Pills for someone on an Immortal Peak.
• Xu Changqing realized that the Secret Realm’s extreme yin environment could create demand for extremely yang goods, and he saw an opportunity to make money.
• Zhu Fuxian warned Xu Changqing that many cultivators had died in the Secret Realm, and Xu Changqing assured him that he would not enter it.
• Xu Changqing returned to his Spirit Fields and found Senior Sister Yu lying on his bed, gazing at him.

Xu Changqing learned that the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm would soon open and planned to profit by making pills, artifacts, and yang-attributed plants. After Yu Caiqing left for the Alchemy Tower, he began refining Blood Gourds, but Lin An arrived with news that Wu Guangman’s Earth Spirit Root team had come to reclaim the fourth spirit field.

• Xu Changqing told Yu Caiqing that the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm would open after the Formal Disciple Grand Competition and planned to sell goods whose prices might rise.
• Yu Caiqing said she would be busy at the Alchemy Tower and could not accompany Xu Changqing for several days.
• Xu Changqing sensed that his Fire Spiritual Power had grown and that his Earth Spirit Root was forming faster than expected.
• Xu Changqing began refining Blood Gourds and hoped to produce a supreme grade spirit artifact.
• Lin An interrupted Xu Changqing’s work to report that Wu Guangman and the Earth Spirit Root disciples had come to reclaim the fourth spirit field.

Xu Changqing hired Wu Guangman and the other Earth Spirit Root disciples to reclaim land in winter, then returned to refining Blood Gourds. After making two identical high-quality grade Blood Gourds with four Spirit Runes each, he raised the workers’ pay and offered to cover their food and drink.

• Wu Guangman and the other Earth Spirit Root disciples came to help Xu Changqing reclaim land, and he entrusted Lin An with overseeing them.
• Xu Changqing gave the workers Fine-Quality Spirit Rice Wine and returned to the artifact-refining room to make a Blood Gourd.
• Xu Changqing refined two Blood Gourds, but both had four Spirit Runes and were otherwise identical despite adjustments to his process.
• Lin An reported that winter conditions made the fieldwork difficult, so Xu Changqing raised the workers’ pay from two to four Low-Grade Spirit Stones per person per day.
• Xu Changqing told Wu Guangman and the others that he would provide their food and drink while they worked.

Xu Changqing discovered that his Thunderfire Spiritual Root’s flames restrained the Blood Gourd and switched to Mind-Confounding Illusory Flame to refine a supreme grade Blood-Absorbing Gourd. After engraving its seven talismans and claiming it, he left Lin An to receive visitors while he rested.

• After three refinements produced Blood Gourds with four spirit runes each, Xu Changqing realized his flames might be suppressing their yin-evil attributes.
• Xu Changqing refined another Blood Gourd with Mind-Confounding Illusory Flame, producing one with seven spirit runes.
• Xu Changqing engraved seven talismans and completed the supreme grade Blood-Absorbing Gourd, whose runes formed a cycle of devouring, refinement, and feedback.
• Xu Changqing imprinted the Blood-Absorbing Gourd with his blood and Spiritual Sense, then decided to keep it hidden to avoid misunderstandings.
• Xu Changqing told Lin An he would rest during the day, asked him to receive Wu Guangman and the others, and instructed him to build a house.

Xu Changqing woke after a long rest and completed the Blazing Sun Finger, then used his lifespan to raise it to max level. He tested its heat on the snow outside and stopped himself from aiming it at the suspicious Poplar Tree.

• Wu Guangman and the others finished reclaiming the fourth mu of Grade-Two Spirit Field, collected their spirit stones, and left without disturbing Xu Changqing.
• Xu Changqing woke at night, saw that the field had been reclaimed and Lin An's earthen house had been built, then studied the Blazing Sun Finger from bed.
• Xu Changqing used nine years of lifespan to restore the incomplete Blazing Sun Finger and another twelve years to raise it to max level.
• Xu Changqing inspected the spell's new effects and discovered that its Rainbow-Forming Finger Force could penetrate the defenses of an Early Golden Core Stage cultivator.
• Xu Changqing climbed onto the roof and tested the Gold-Melting Finger on the snow, then refrained from striking the Poplar Tree.

Xu Changqing tested his Max-Level Blazing Sun Finger, then invited Lin An to breakfast and arranged supplies for his four mu of Grade-Two Spirit Fields. Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue arrived with surprise at his expanded farm, and Xu Changqing introduced them to Lin An before discussing manure and rainfall for the fields.

• Xu Changqing tested his Max-Level Blazing Sun Finger and saw it bore through several stones and into the ground.
• Xu Changqing cleared snow and trash, prepared breakfast, and invited Lin An to eat; Lin An gave him a Communication Talisman.
• Xu Changqing contacted Hu Bugui for Spirit Beast Manure and Zhao Ziyue to arrange rain for his four mu of Spirit Fields.
• Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue came to see Xu Changqing's fourth plot of Grade-Two Spirit Fields and marveled at its size.
• Xu Changqing introduced Lin An, and Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue recognized him as the former debtor of several hundred jin of Spirit Rice Grain.
• Xu Changqing told Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue that Lin An's fields would require more manure and rain, and Hu Bugui promised to supply them.

Xu Changqing arranged for Bai Ling'er to help irrigate his expanded Spirit Fields and prepared a lavish meal while Zhao Ziyue and Hu Bugui worked. Bai Ling'er arrived at noon and began by eating instead of casting the Minor Cloud-Rain Art.

• Zhao Ziyue said irrigating all four mu of Spirit Fields exceeded his daily capacity, so Xu Changqing agreed to find another Water Spirit Root.
• Xu Changqing contacted Bai Ling'er, who agreed to come from Water-Control Pavilion at noon to cast the Minor Cloud-Rain Art.
• Hu Bugui unloaded manure, Zhao Ziyue irrigated three mu of Spirit Fields, and Xu Changqing explained the remaining plots and their crops to Lin An.
• Xu Changqing prepared six Spirit Cuisine dishes as he continued developing his cooking skills.
• Bai Ling'er arrived on a Flying Paper Crane and, despite needing to irrigate the final mu, began by eating.

Xu Changqing hosted a meal that amazed his friends, then revealed plans to profit from an upcoming Secret Realm. The chapter left him asking whether Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue knew about roasted goods.

• Xu Changqing served a lavish meal, and Bai Ling'er devoured the dishes faster than everyone else.
• After dinner, Bai Ling'er headed for the Spirit Fields to cast the Minor Cloud-Rain Art, but Xu Changqing redirected her to the fourth mu because Zhao Ziyue had already watered the first three.
• Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue said they planned to enter the Formal Disciple Grand Competition, while Xu Changqing said he preferred making money to fighting.
• Xu Changqing told Hu Bugui, Zhao Ziyue, and Lin An that the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm would open after the competition, then asked if they knew about roasted goods.

Xu Changqing planned to stockpile yang-attributed goods for the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm, but his group lacked the funds to invest heavily. He gained Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue’s support, sought a partnership with Bai Ling’er’s father, and asked Yu Caiqing for more capital.

• Xu Changqing proposed stockpiling spirit plants, pills, talismans, and spirit artifacts needed to enter the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm.
• Hu Bugui, Zhao Ziyue, and Lin An revealed they had little money, while Xu Changqing claimed he could contribute five hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue offered to sell their possessions and invest alongside Xu Changqing, and he was pleased by their loyalty.
• Bai Ling'er returned, and Xu Changqing told her he wanted to discuss working with her father, Bai Xiaotian.
• Xu Changqing told Yu Caiqing he needed more money for his plan, and she said she would invest if he proved how hard he could work.

On the Beginning of Spring, Xu Changqing planted all four of his Spirit Fields and absorbed the surging Wood Qi Tide with the help of powerful pills, wine, and the Companion Green Lotus. Lin An advanced to Middle Qi Refining, while Xu Changqing continued absorbing Wood Qi inside a dense shroud that left Lin An stunned.

• Xu Changqing and Lin An met on their way to the Spirit Fields, and Xu Changqing gave Lin An Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice Wine to help him absorb spiritual qi.
• Xu Changqing planted Spirit Rice and vegetables in his first field, Mutated Rice in his second, and Yang-Pole Medicinal Materials in his third and fourth fields.
• As the Spiritual Qi Tide erupted at dawn, Lin An drank the rice wine and circulated the Evergreen Formula while Xu Changqing used a Supreme-Grade Foundation Pill, Supreme-Grade Yellow Rice Wine, the Green Lotus Creation Art, and his Companion Green Lotus to absorb Wood Qi.
• Xu Changqing's Wood Spiritual Power surged past his Fire Spiritual Power as the Wood Qi Tide poured into him.
• Lin An's nine threads of spiritual power merged into one, advancing him to Middle Qi Refining.
• Lin An turned to share his news and saw Xu Changqing hidden inside a thick wall of dense Wood Qi.

Xu Changqing cultivated Wood Qi, noticed unusual growth around himself and Fortress, and then received a visit from Li Sancai and Li Chun. He declined the Formal Disciple Grand Competition but agreed to assess new outer sect disciples, leaving his spring seedlings in the care of another Formal Disciple.

• Xu Changqing cultivated from morning until afternoon, causing emerald weeds to grow around him and tender shoots to sprout from Fortress.
• Xu Changqing noticed Lin An's improved cultivation and invited him to dinner.
• Li Sancai and Li Chun arrived, and Li Chun explained that Flower Elder had recommended Xu Changqing to assess incoming outer sect disciples.
• Xu Changqing declined to join the Formal Disciple Grand Competition because he preferred farming.
• After Li Chun clarified that another Formal Disciple would manage the Outer Spirit Fields, Xu Changqing agreed to conduct the assessments.