Chapter Summaries

Xu Changqing crossed into a silent, ancient ruin and discovered a palace hidden beyond a Seven-Colored Water Curtain. After finding a Water Spirit Pearl in the Water Spirit Palace, he followed a powerful current deeper into the ruins and uncovered a jade slip.

• Xu Changqing crossed the stone stele into deathly quiet waters and found an altar inscribed with ancient Celestial Cycle Lock-Dragon Runes.
• Xu Changqing tested the Seven-Colored Water Curtain with large fish before guiding the Demon Dragon Water-Evasion Boat through it.
• Xu Changqing entered the ruined Water Spirit Palace, found a Water Spirit Pearl, and stored it in the Jade-Green Gourd.
• Xu Changqing searched deeper into the palace ruins, protected himself from a fierce current, and uncovered clear water holding a jade slip.

Xu Changqing discovered the Dragon Abyss Water-Spirit Seal hidden in the Water Spirit Palace and moved the entire palace into his Portable Space so he could investigate it safely. He read the seal’s inscription and learned its bestowed name, though its powers remained unknown.

• Xu Changqing retrieved the Nine Transformations of the Wandering Dragon jade slip and moved the bubbling clear water into his Portable Space.
• Xu Changqing searched the Water Spirit Palace’s side halls and found an unusual seal embedded with three Spatial Earth-Origin Fruits.
• Xu Changqing placed his hands on a broken pillar and transported the entire Water Spirit Palace into his Portable Space.
• Xu Changqing picked up the heavy seal and read its inscription, which named it the Dragon Abyss Water-Spirit Seal.

Xu Changqing restored the Water Spirit Palace in his Portable Space and discovered that the stone stele was the Reverse Scale, which revealed a powerful cultivator’s past and the scale’s connection to a Water Spiritual Root opportunity. He left Dragon-Locking Abyss with the treasure, realizing that completing his Five Elements would require finding several such opportunities.

• Xu Changqing found that the Dragon Abyss Water-Spirit Seal required Water Spiritual Power, then used his Wood and Earth Spiritual Roots to rebuild the ruins of Water Spirit Palace in his Portable Space.
• Xu Changqing caught the large fish, left the Portable Space aboard the Demon Dragon Water-Evasion Boat, and searched Dragon-Locking Abyss before departing.
• Xu Changqing suspected the weathered stone stele was the Reverse Scale and activated its hidden patterns with Fire Spiritual Power.
• The stele revealed a massive black scale and showed Xu Changqing blurred images of a cultivator with a towering Dharma Aspect suppressing and killing a black Demon Dragon.
• Xu Changqing put away the Reverse Scale and concluded that he would need at least five similar opportunities to achieve Five-Element Completion.

Xu Changqing encountered a powerful Fish Demon after leaving Dragon-Locking Abyss and hunted it to its cave using the Demon Dragon Water-Evasion Boat. After killing it, he discovered Liquid Water Essence and a Water Spirit Fruit in its lair.

• Xu Changqing spotted an enormous Ocean Sunfish Fish Demon approaching the Demon Dragon Water-Evasion Boat and prepared to fight.
• Xu Changqing fired the boat’s Dragonflame Breath, badly wounding the Fish Demon, then concealed the boat and followed it to its cave.
• Xu Changqing caught the Fish Demon healing beside a shell and killed it with another Dragonflame Breath strike.
• Xu Changqing examined the shell and recognized the pure water inside as Liquid Water Essence.
• Xu Changqing discovered a Water Spirit Fruit growing in a corner of the cave, a valuable ingredient for the Water-Spirit-Root Foundation Establishment Pill.

Xu Changqing returned from Black Dragon Pool with new treasures and learned that Chu Qiu had won the Formal Disciple Grand Competition but suffered contamination of his Water Spirit Root. The chapter ended with Han Su revealing that a Nascent Soul True Lord had protected Mo Cha from punishment.

• Xu Changqing found an angler's corpse, took its spirit-artifact fishing rod and sealed storage pouch, and salvaged the Ocean Sunfish's materials and Demon Core.
• Xu Changqing buried the angler, then hurried to Foundry Peak to learn the result of Chu Qiu and Mo Cha's battle.
• Han Su told Xu Changqing that Chu Qiu had narrowly defeated Mo Cha and taken first place.
• Han Su explained that Mo Cha had contaminated Chu Qiu's Water Spirit Root, preventing him from cultivating or entering the Return-to-Ruins Secret Realm for now.
• Xu Changqing questioned why Mo Cha had not been punished, and Han Su revealed that a Nascent Soul True Lord had intervened to protect him.

Xu Changqing learned that a Nascent Soul True Lord had protected Mo Cha and hurried to Beast Spirit Valley to check on the badly injured Chu Qiu. After Qiu Hong left Chu Qiu’s residence, Xu Changqing entered the bedroom and froze at the sight of him.

• Xu Changqing contacted Hu Bugui, learned Chu Qiu’s injuries were worse than before, and got the location of his residence.
• Xu Changqing asked Han Su to loosen five mu of Spirit Fields, then traveled to Beast Spirit Valley on Big-Leaf Grass.
• At Chu Qiu’s Nest Tree residence, Xu Changqing saw Crane Seven and a black pleasure boat bearing the Qiu Clan’s banner.
• Hu Bugui told Xu Changqing that core disciple Qiu Hong was speaking with Chu Qiu inside.
• Qiu Hong left after urging the injured Chu Qiu to climb Blood-Iron Peak, and Xu Changqing entered the bedroom and froze at the sight of him.

Xu Changqing visited the injured Chu Qiu, who explained why a Nascent Soul True Lord had protected Mo Cha, and gave him Liquid Water Essence as a safeguard. After returning to his spirit fields, Xu Changqing was summoned by the Rong Family to inspect their spirit plants and decided to go after eating.

• Chu Qiu told Xu Changqing that a Nascent Soul True Lord from Dark Nether Peak had intervened to protect Mo Cha.
• Xu Changqing gave Chu Qiu the Liquid Water Essence, and Chu Qiu said he would remember his kindness.
• Xu Changqing returned to his spirit fields, confirmed his animals and pond life were safe, and prepared a meal of fish dishes.
• Rong Fu arrived by flying boat and asked Xu Changqing to inspect problems with the Rong Family's spirit plants on behalf of Young Master Yan.
• Xu Changqing agreed to go after he finished eating.

Xu Changqing traveled with Rong Fu to the Rong Family’s newly reclaimed Spirit Fields, where Rong Yan introduced him to Ji Mingxuan and other Spirit Grain Sect disciples. They gathered to examine a valuable Thousand-Ear Golden-Ray Rice plant whose leaves were covered in bluish-purple patches, and Rong Yan challenged Xu Changqing to diagnose it.

• Xu Changqing finished his chores, then boarded the Flowing Tassel Flying Boat with Rong Fu and flew north to the Rong Family’s Spirit Fields.
• Rong Fu told Xu Changqing that the fields had been relocated after a disaster event struck the previous area.
• Xu Changqing and Rong Fu arrived at the buildings, where the spirit farmers greeted Xu Changqing and Rong Yan welcomed him alongside Huo Wan and several Spirit Grain Sect disciples.
• Rong Yan introduced Ji Mingxuan, the Spirit Grain Sect’s senior disciple, and explained that he had invited Xu Changqing to inspect a Mutated Rice plant.
• Rong Yan led everyone to a Grade-Two Spirit Field and showed them a Thousand-Ear Golden-Ray Rice plant with bluish-purple patches on its leaves.

Xu Changqing identified the obvious ailments and hidden curse afflicting the Rong Family’s Thousand-Ear Golden-Ray Rice, outmaneuvering Rong Yan’s attempt to embarrass him. Rong Yan abandoned the challenge, invited Xu Changqing to stay for a banquet, and gave him the rice.

• Xu Changqing diagnosed Spirit-Eroding Fungus and Inverted-Vein Worms on the Thousand-Ear Golden-Ray Rice, matching Ji Mingxuan’s findings.
• Ji Mingxuan pointed out the rice’s low temperature and weak spiritual energy as a possible third problem, prompting the crowd to question Xu Changqing’s skill.
• Xu Changqing explained that those symptoms were common, then revealed that the rice concealed a third problem without naming the Cold-Yin Spirit-Locking Curse.
• Rong Yan stopped Xu Changqing from explaining the curse, praised him, and treated him as an honored guest to prevent the Rong Family’s secret from being exposed.
• Xu Changqing tried to leave, but Rong Yan invited him to the banquet and gave him the Thousand-Ear Golden-Ray Rice.

Rong Yan hosted Xu Changqing, Ji Mingxuan, and the Spirit Grain Sect disciples at a lavish banquet, where he served Return-to-Origin Spirit Mushroom Soup and made peace with Xu. After dinner, Rong Yan admitted that he now understood why Xu was the Spirit Fields' Cultivation Envoy and believed no one else deserved the position.

• Rong Yan welcomed his guests with an extravagant feast and unveiled Return-to-Origin Spirit Mushroom Soup, a valuable Spirit Cuisine that could harmonize spiritual power and repair damaged meridians.
• Xu Changqing recognized the soup as the dish he regularly made for Wangwang and Cluck-Cluck.
• Rong Yan served Huo Wan first and Xu second, then apologized for their earlier misunderstandings; Xu accepted his apology and helped the banquet grow warm and cheerful.
• Ji Mingxuan gave Xu a Communication Talisman and invited him to visit the Spirit Grain Sect to exchange spirit-plant techniques.
• After the guests had eaten, Rong Yan thanked Xu for helping him avoid losing face and admitted that he had been unconvinced about Xu's appointment but now believed Xu alone deserved to be Cultivation Envoy.

Xu Changqing investigated a Mutated Rice plant and found signs that a disaster might threaten the Rong Family’s newly reclaimed fields. He brought the evidence to Flower Elder and urged him to take the possibility seriously.

• Xu Changqing and Rong Yan removed the Cold-Yin Spirit-Locking Curse from the Thousand-Ear Golden-Ray Rice, revealing Spirit-Eroding Fungus and Inverted-Vein Worms still afflicting it.
• Xu Changqing found Inverted-Vein Worm eggs beneath the field and told Rong Yan to stop planting there and seal away all harvested Spirit Rice.
• Xu Changqing inspected nearby Spirit Fields, found several with nutrient-poor Black Soil, and warned their farmers to stay vigilant.
• Xu Changqing flew to Flat-Top Mountain despite the rules and showed the Mutated Rice to Flower Elder.
• Xu Changqing explained his findings and insisted that even a small chance of disaster had to be taken seriously.

Xu Changqing and Flower Elder investigated abnormal nutrient loss in the Rong Family’s newly reclaimed Spirit Fields and found that the affected area was larger than expected. Their search led them to the pit where Thousand-Ear Golden-Ray Rice had grown, and Flower Elder’s root emerged covered in bluish-purple spots and insect eggs.

• Flower Elder took Xu Changqing underground to the Rong Family’s newly reclaimed area after agreeing to investigate the suspected disaster.
• Xu Changqing led Flower Elder to the affected Spirit Fields, where Flower Elder found that nearby fields had different Black Soil nutrient levels despite being reclaimed and cultivated together.
• Xu Changqing and Flower Elder inspected more fields and discovered that over ten mu were affected, including fields that only appeared to be normal.
• Xu Changqing led Flower Elder to the field where Thousand-Ear Golden-Ray Rice had grown, while Rong Fu watched the site and went to notify Rong Yan.
• Flower Elder probed the uncovered pit and pulled out a root covered in bluish-purple spots and insect eggs.

Xu Changqing identified a Vein-Erosion Disaster threatening the Spirit Fields and traced it to damage on the thirty-eighth level of the Earth Vein. Flower Elder brought him and Rong Yan to meet Grain Lord, whose appearance left Xu Changqing stunned.

• Xu Changqing explained that the Spirit-Eroding Fungus and Hundred-Year Vein-Reversing Worm Mother together signaled a Vein-Erosion Disaster targeting Mutated Spirit Plants.
• Flower Elder confirmed the danger and connected it to an Earth Qi overflow that had crushed the Spirit Vein on the thirty-eighth level a year earlier.
• Flower Elder decided Grain Lord must negotiate with the Earth Vein and took Xu Changqing and Rong Yan underground to meet him.
• Grain Lord emerged from a bamboo hut holding Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice Wine, and Xu Changqing recognized him as Senior Brother Zhu.

Zhu Fuxian arrived with Xu Changqing and Rong Yan to investigate damage to the Spirit Fields caused by Mysterious Yellow Qi from the Earth Vein. The Earth Vein Abyss Lord, Shi Yuan, confirmed the Qi had crushed a Spirit Vein, and Zhu Fuxian warned that the resulting threats could cause an earth-grade disaster.

• Flower Elder and Rong Yan greeted Zhu Fuxian, and Xu Changqing gave him more Spirit Rice Wine.
• Flower Elder explained how Mysterious Yellow Qi had damaged an underground Spirit Vein and later affected the Rong Family's Spirit Fields.
• Zhu Fuxian took Xu Changqing and Rong Yan to the Earth Vein using a Jade-Green Rice Ear, alarming the Spirit Farmers with his arrival.
• Yang Zhenyue greeted Zhu Fuxian, who demanded to speak with the Earth Vein Abyss Lord, Shi Yuan.
• Shi Yuan confirmed that Mysterious Yellow Qi had crushed a Spirit Vein, and Zhu Fuxian warned that a Spirit-Eroding Fungus King and a Hundred-Year Vein-Reversing Worm Mother could trigger an earth-grade disaster.

Shi Yuan and Zhu Fuxian negotiated over the damage caused by the Earth Vein, then inspected the ruined underground Spirit Vein. After the groups split up to search for the Vein-Reversing Worm Mother, Shi Yuan privately revealed that Xuan Yuan’s underground had grown increasingly restless.

• Yang Zhenyue said he had sealed the thirty-eighth Earth Vein level, but Rong Yan reported immense losses to the Spirit Fields.
• Zhu Fuxian demanded the Spirit-Eroding Fungus King and the Hundred-Year Vein-Reversing Worm Mother, and Shi Yuan agreed to hand them over and provide compensation.
• Shi Yuan removed Yang Zhenyue’s seal and inspected the ruined Spirit Vein, confirming that its route passed beneath the Spirit Fields.
• Shi Yuan said he would search the Earth Vein with Yang Zhenyue while Zhu Fuxian returned to the Spirit Fields with Xu Changqing and Rong Yan.
• Yang Zhenyue questioned why the Vein-Reversing Worm Mother had been drawn to a Spirit Vein with no spiritual energy, and Shi Yuan privately said he had recently needed to suppress the things below twice in five years.

Zhu Fuxian and Xu Changqing investigated the disaster in the Rong Family’s Spirit Fields and suspected someone had caused it deliberately. Rong Yan revealed that an elder named Rong Long had chosen the site before leaving to travel, leaving the two suspicious of his involvement.

• Zhu Fuxian sent Huo Wan and the Spirit Grain Sect members away, then told Xu Changqing and Rong Yan they would drink while waiting for the Earth Vein Abyss Lord, Shi Yuan.
• Zhu Fuxian explained that the underground Spirit Vein had dried up and could not have attracted the Hundred-Year Vein-Reversing Worm Mother naturally, suggesting someone had caused the disaster.
• Xu Changqing recounted how Rong Yan had summoned him after someone plotted against him, and Zhu Fuxian concluded that the culprit was likely someone within the Rong Family.
• While drinking, Rong Yan said Advanced Formation Master Rong Long had selected the Spirit Fields because the terrain and feng shui seemed unlikely to suffer disasters.
• Rong Yan revealed Rong Long was a Human-Grade Golden Core elder who had left to travel, and Xu Changqing asked whether he was an insect tamer; Rong Yan was surprised that Xu Changqing knew.

Xu Changqing and Zhu Fuxian descended into a depleted Spirit Vein to investigate the Hundred-Year Vein-Reversing Worm Mother. They found an enormous infestation and followed its traces toward a swarm of dangerous adult worms.

• Xu Changqing woke Rong Yan after Earth Qi gathered outside, and they joined Zhu Fuxian, Yang Zhenyue, and Shi Yuan at a pit full of Inverted-Vein Worm eggs and larvae.
• Yang Zhenyue and Shi Yuan reported finding countless eggs and traces of the Vein-Reversing Worm Mother underground.
• Zhu Fuxian led Xu Changqing, Rong Yan, Yang Zhenyue, and Shi Yuan deep into the depleted Spirit Vein, where they saw the larvae-ravaged roots and crimson, worm-filled cavern.
• Zhu Fuxian explained how the Hundred-Year Vein-Reversing Worm Mother produced vast numbers of egg sacs as it aged.
• Yang Zhenyue led the group toward the traces, and they encountered a swarm of venomous winged Inverted-Vein Adults.

Xu Changqing and Rong Yan fought a swarm of Inverted-Vein Adults as the group explored deeper into the passage. They reached the trail of the Vein-Reversing Worm Mother, marked by crushed rock, dark-red mucus, and scale fragments.

• Zhu Fuxian sent Xu Changqing and Rong Yan to practice against the Inverted-Vein Adults while the others stood by.
• Rong Yan used his spirit artifacts to injure and confuse the swarm, and Xu Changqing helped kill the remaining insects with Black Iron Vine.
• Zhu Fuxian told them the insects' wings and scales could be collected, but Xu Changqing postponed gathering them until after they dealt with the Vein-Reversing Worm Mother.
• The five continued deeper, fighting more Inverted-Vein Adults along the way.
• The group found a crushed trail coated in dark-red mucus, with deep indentations, black-red scale fragments, and scrape marks on the rock.

Xu Changqing and the others followed signs of the Vein-Reversing Worm Mother into the Dragon-Transformation Cave, where they found its nest draining the Spirit Vein. Zhu Fuxian and his allies prepared to confront the Hundred-Year Vein-Reversing Worm Mother as the nest was revealed.

• Xu Changqing confirmed that the traces belonged to the Vein-Reversing Worm Mother, and Zhu Fuxian warned that the group should leave the fighting to him and the others.
• Yang Zhenyue led the way, crushing swarms of adult worms with Earth Qi as the group advanced deeper underground.
• The group reached the Dragon-Transformation Cave and saw that its dragon-scale patterns and Spirit Vein had been ruined by the worms.
• Xu Changqing discovered the Vein-Reversing Worm Mother's enormous nest, which was rooted into the cave and still drawing from the depleted Spirit Vein.
• After Zhu Fuxian said they would handle the Hundred-Year Vein-Reversing Worm Mother, Shi Yuan dissolved its nest and exposed the Matriarch, its larvae, and its adult worm swarms.

After Zhu Fuxian destroyed the Vein-Reversing Worms, the survivors recognized their rare Inverted-Vein Dragon-Transforming Broodmother and rewarded Xu Changqing for discovering the infestation. Xu Changqing received a technique to tame it and a ring capable of storing living creatures, leaving him equipped to begin the contract.

• Zhu Fuxian identified the Insect Matriarch as a rare Dragon-Transforming Mother Worm, and Xu Changqing realized its transformation made it exceptionally valuable.
• Zhu Fuxian used the Jade-Green Rice Ear to drain the other Vein-Reversing Worms, frightening the broodmother into curling up.
• Zhu Fuxian gave Xu Changqing the Myriad Insect Secret Record: Reverse-Spirit Chapter so he could learn to contract the broodmother.
• Xu Changqing discovered that his Spirit Beast Pouch could not hold the broodmother, so Zhu Fuxian prompted Shi Yuan to provide a Square-Inch Ring.
• Shi Yuan gave Xu Changqing the ring as a reward from the Earth Vein, and it adjusted itself to fit his finger.