Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “The Trading Begins, Black Bell”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The remaining members of the Cultivators’ Exchange introduce themselves:
  • Hou Feiyi, Yangliu Lay Buddhist, Wang Wenxiu, Xie Yuanwu, Wu Xun and his grandson Wu Xie, Yijie the Monk, and Old Daoist Qian.
• Chen Shaojun presents himself under the alias Kunlun Daoist, claiming to have received guidance from a mysterious master and later from Mr. Qinghe.
• Chen recognizes several people from appraisal visions:
  • Old Daoist Qian is the cultivator connected to the Spirit-Sealing Stone and the cave dwelling of an ancient senior cultivator—the true reason Chen attended the exchange.
  • Wu Xun and Wu Xie are revealed to be skilled tomb raiders whom Chen had encountered indirectly in a previous appraisal vision.
• Once all participants arrive, Zhu Qing formally begins the exchange, prioritizing trading before Dao discussion.
• Various cultivators offer treasures and spells:
  • Zhu Qing sells the mid-grade Dharma artifact Little Vajra Sword to Hou Feiyi for seven thousand taels.
  • Yijie the Monk offers the protective spell Golden Light of the Guardian Dao, but demands a rare Centennial Ice Marrow, which no one possesses.
  • Wang Wenxiu sells the Golden Light Mirror, useful against ghosts and Zombies, to Wu Xie for four thousand taels.
  • Other cultivators trade additional treasures, with Chen purchasing several inexpensive trinkets.
• Wu Xun and Wu Xie present an ancient Black Bell, claiming it is a spiritual-attack Dharma artifact whose power has been weakened by burial and accumulated Killing Intent.
• The other cultivators are skeptical because the bell’s current effect is weak and because tomb raiders are socially looked down upon.
• Chen nevertheless bids for the bell and successfully buys it for five thousand taels, likely because he understands its hidden potential.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun continues concealing his true identity and abilities while carefully observing everyone. His knowledge from appraisal visions gives him an advantage over the other cultivators.
• He becomes visibly relieved when Old Daoist Qian finally appears, confirming that his trip was worthwhile.
• Old Daoist Qian is established as Chen’s primary target because of his connection to the Spirit-Sealing Stone.
• Wu Xun and Wu Xie are characterized as capable but disreputable tomb raiders with expertise in geomancy, tomb location, and related spells.
• Yijie the Monk is portrayed humorously as observing only the precept against lust while freely consuming meat, alcohol, and rich food.
• The exchange participants demonstrate varied personalities and backgrounds, but all are united by their status as Rogue Cultivators without sect inheritance.
• Zhao Heng’s connection to White Cloud Temple gives him elevated status among the others, who are eager to hear his insights.

Significant Themes

• Exchange and mutual benefit: The gathering emphasizes trading resources rather than relying solely on formal sect inheritance.
• Appearance versus hidden value: The Black Bell seems weak and unimpressive, but Chen suspects it possesses greater potential than others realize.
• Knowledge as an advantage: Chen’s appraisal visions allow him to recognize people, objects, and opportunities that others overlook.
• Rogue Cultivator insecurity: The cultivators lack established sect backing, making them cautious, resourceful, and eager to obtain treasures through trade.
• Reputation and prejudice: Wu Xun and Wu Xie’s profession causes others to distrust or look down on them, even though they possess genuine expertise.
• The limits of Dao discussion: Because the cultivators follow different traditions and lack reliable inheritance, they believe exchanging physical treasures is safer and more useful than freely sharing cultivation insights.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi responds warmly to Chen after hearing that their cultivation backgrounds are similar, unaware that Chen has largely borrowed details from Lin’s own story.
• Xie Yuanwu and Old Wu jokingly argue over how to properly drink Zhu Qing’s rare kumquat tea, creating a relaxed and familiar atmosphere.
• Zhu Qing acts as host, welcoming guests, serving tea, and organizing the trading process.
• The cultivators compete for the Little Vajra Sword and Golden Light Mirror, showing differing priorities and financial abilities.
• Yijie’s demand for Centennial Ice Marrow leaves the others helpless, preventing a trade.
• The group tests the Black Bell but remains unimpressed; Wu Xun attempts to defend its potential, while Chen quietly recognizes enough value to purchase it.

Chapter Summary: “Transaction Complete, Spirit-Sealing Stone in Hand”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi offers a Violet Palace Nourishing Jade, a treasure that nourishes the body and soul and can extend one’s lifespan. Chen Shaojun recognizes that it previously helped Lin Qi endure the Killing Intent in his body, but he stops bidding once the price becomes too high. Old Daoist Qian eventually buys it for 7,000 taels of silver.
• Old Daoist Qian then presents a large Spirit-Sealing Stone, claiming it may contain ancient cultivation techniques or magical treasures. He offers it, along with the Evergreen Art, in exchange for a Dao-Foundation Pill, a Barrier-Breaking Pill, or reliable information about obtaining either.
• Zhu Qing and Zhao Heng explain that such pills are extremely rare. Even White Cloud Temple lacks the alchemical resources to produce them, leaving Old Daoist Qian’s request seemingly impossible.
• Just as Qian is about to give up, Chen Shaojun offers a Realm-Breaking Pill, which can significantly improve a cultivator’s chances of advancing to the next realm.
• Zhu Qing examines the pill and confirms its authenticity and effectiveness. The surrounding cultivators—especially those in the Late-Origin Condensation Stage—immediately begin competing for it with massive offers of silver, treasures, formulas, and talismans.
• Old Daoist Qian desperately argues that, due to his advanced age, he deserves priority. Zhu Qing eventually uses his Dao Foundation Stage spiritual pressure to restore order.
• Despite being offered extremely valuable alternatives, Chen Shaojun refuses them because he specifically wants the Spirit-Sealing Stone. He secretly knows that the stone contains something valuable and believes it will greatly increase his strength.
• Chen exchanges the Realm-Breaking Pill for the Spirit-Sealing Stone and a jade slip containing the Evergreen Art. Old Daoist Qian eagerly completes the transaction.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates patience, confidence, and strategic foresight. He appears to be making a risky choice by rejecting more tangible rewards, but his appraisal ability has already revealed the Spirit-Sealing Stone’s true value.
• Old Daoist Qian is shown as desperate but determined. His approaching lifespan limit intensifies his desire to break through to the Dao Foundation Stage, causing him to become highly emotional and protective of the Realm-Breaking Pill.
• Zhu Qing acts as a knowledgeable and authoritative mediator. He verifies the pill’s effects and later suppresses the crowd when the bidding becomes disorderly.
• Zhao Heng reveals the severe resource limitations of White Cloud Temple and attempts to warn Chen about the risks of Spirit-Sealing Stones.
• Lin Qi successfully completes his trade, while his earlier reliance on the Violet Palace Nourishing Jade is further explained.

Significant Themes

• The difficulty of cultivation for rogue cultivators: Without the resources of established Daoist sects, even talented cultivators struggle to obtain breakthrough pills or extend their lives.
• The value of lifespan and advancement: Breaking through to the Dao Foundation Stage could grant Old Daoist Qian another two hundred years of life, making the pill worth far more than ordinary wealth.
• Risk versus hidden value: Spirit-Sealing Stones are compared to gambling stones because they may contain priceless treasures or worthless scraps. Chen Shaojun is willing to accept the risk because he possesses knowledge others lack.
• Knowledge as an advantage: Chen’s appraisal vision allows him to recognize the Spirit-Sealing Stone’s true worth, enabling him to obtain it despite seemingly unfavorable odds.
• Competition for the Dao: The cultivators’ willingness to abandon etiquette and bid recklessly shows that the pursuit of power, longevity, and advancement surpasses concerns about money or social propriety.

Character Interactions

• Chen Shaojun and Lin Qi are connected indirectly through the Violet Palace Nourishing Jade, whose importance Chen already understands.
• Old Daoist Qian appeals to Zhu Qing and Zhao Heng for help, but both explain why their sects cannot provide the pills he needs.
• Chen’s offer immediately changes the atmosphere of the exchange, drawing intense attention from the entire group.
• The Late-Origin Condensation cultivators compete aggressively for Chen’s pill, while Old Daoist Qian pleads with them to yield because of his age.
• Zhu Qing ultimately intervenes to prevent conflict and validates Chen’s Realm-Breaking Pill.
• Zhao Heng warns Chen not to overvalue the uncertain Spirit-Sealing Stone, but Chen calmly follows his own judgment and completes the trade with Old Daoist Qian.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After completing his trade with Old Daoist Qian, Chen Shaojun attempts to buy additional Spirit-Sealing Stones, but Qian refuses, concealing that he still possesses several more.
• Other cultivators continue trading treasures, materials, and magical artifacts at the exchange.
• Chen Shaojun seeks an array to conceal the aura of the Spirit Tea Tree at his estate and protect it from animals and pests.
• He reveals that he knows some alchemy, causing the cultivators to speculate that he may have access to more Realm-Breaking Pills.
• Chen selects Zhu Qing’s Aura-Severing Origin-Locking Array in exchange for spirit pills. The array can conceal spiritual aura, retain Origin Spirit Aura, and provide basic protection.
• Chen’s remaining pills—including Blood-Qi Pills, Qi-Nourishing Pills, Spirit-Nurturing Pills, and Dragon-Tiger Vitality Pills—are quickly purchased by the attendees. He keeps his valuable Spirit-Communing Pills hidden.
• His wealth increases from 53,000 to 107,000 taels of silver, exceeding 100,000 taels. He also obtains all his main objectives: a Spirit-Sealing Stone and a protective concealment array.
• The exchange shifts from trading goods to sharing cultivation techniques and demonstrating spells.
• Hou Feiyi demonstrates advanced control of the Fireball Technique, shaping it into firebirds and fire dragons.
• Yangliu Lay Buddhist demonstrates a concealed, rapid wind-blade technique using her whisk.
• Zhu Qing displays precise spirit control over a small golden sword.
• Zhao Heng initially disappoints the group with basic talisman-making advice, but restores their respect by demonstrating Palm Thunder, a powerful lightning technique.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun becomes more prosperous and influential. His high-quality pills and connection to the Realm-Breaking Pill lead others to regard him as a potentially important alchemist with powerful backing.
• Old Daoist Qian remains cautious and secretive, refusing to reveal his remaining Spirit-Sealing Stones because of the danger of attracting unwanted attention.
• Zhu Qing demonstrates generosity and foresight by trading a useful array to Chen and successfully strengthening their relationship.
• Xie Yuanwu shows strong commercial judgment by buying all of Chen’s Dragon-Tiger Vitality Pills, suggesting that Chen underpriced them.
• Zhao Heng initially appears unimpressive, but his Palm Thunder reveals that he possesses a formidable and valuable technique.
• Wu Xun and Wu Xie, experienced tomb robbers, become especially interested in Thunder Arts because of their effectiveness against ghosts and Zombies.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and opportunity: Chen’s spiritual resources can be converted into enormous financial gains, showing the value of his appraisal rewards and alchemical inheritance.
• Caution and concealment: Both Chen and Old Daoist Qian carefully hide their most valuable possessions to avoid provoking greed or danger.
• Reputation and perceived power: Chen’s claim that he knows alchemy causes others to overestimate his resources and seek his friendship.
• Knowledge as exchange: The gathering’s deeper purpose is not merely commerce but the sharing of techniques, experience, and cultivation insights.
• Practical power over appearances: Zhao Heng’s basic theoretical discussion earns little interest, but his impressive practical demonstration immediately changes the group’s opinion.
• Specialization and technique: Ordinary spells can become extraordinarily powerful through refined control, creative application, and proper use of artifacts.

Character Interactions

• Chen and Old Daoist Qian maintain a polite but guarded relationship during their negotiations.
• Chen’s revelation about alchemy changes how nearly everyone—including Zhu Qing, Zhao Heng, and Qian—views him.
• Zhu Qing and Chen establish a mutually beneficial exchange involving pills and the protective array.
• The cultivators compete to trade with Chen, partly because they want his pills and partly because they hope to cultivate a relationship with a promising alchemist.
• The group evaluates each participant’s demonstrations, becoming impressed by Hou Feiyi, Yangliu Lay Buddhist, and Zhu Qing while initially judging Zhao Heng harshly.
• Zhao Heng’s Palm Thunder restores his standing, while Wu Xun and Wu Xie recognize its particular value for their dangerous encounters with supernatural creatures.

Chapter Summary: “Teaching the Dao, a Private Meeting”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the cultivation exchange gathering, the rogue cultivators take turns sharing their techniques, experiences, and insights.
• Zhao Heng demonstrates a powerful Thunder Art. Chen Shaojun is impressed and envious, since he has mastered many spells but not the Thunder Arts. Wu Xun shamelessly asks to learn it, but Zhao Heng refuses because it is a secret inheritance of White Cloud Temple and restricted to disciples.
• Wang Wenxiu showcases a sword technique she created by combining her family’s inherited swordsmanship with the Lightness Technique. Her style is agile, unpredictable, and highly effective in close combat.
• Wu Xun and Wu Xie share their knowledge of feng shui formations and practical methods for dealing with ghosts. Their experience, gained through tomb raiding, proves especially valuable because powerful ghosts and Ghost Kings are common outside Shengjing City.
• Other rogue cultivators also contribute their own hard-earned knowledge. Since they lack sects or teachers, the gathering provides a rare opportunity for mutual instruction and exchange.
• Chen Shaojun eventually teaches the group a portion of the Earth Escape method from the Five Elements Escape Art. Though he deliberately withholds his more profound abilities, his explanation still astonishes the others because Earth Escape is a difficult, high-grade technique usually transmitted by major sects.
• The cultivators grow more respectful of Chen Shaojun and speculate that “Kunlun Daoist” must come from an extraordinary sect or background. His disguises and concealment techniques successfully protect his true identity.
• The gathering ends late at night, with everyone agreeing to meet again in one month.
• Afterward, Chen Shaojun secretly meets Old Daoist Qian at Four Directions Bridge, a quiet and strategically located place near government and military facilities.
• Old Daoist Qian asks whether Chen Shaojun possesses more Realm-Breaking Pills. Because of his declining vitality and age, he fears that one pill will not be enough to help him break through to the Dao Foundation Stage.
• Chen Shaojun asks whether Qian has more Spirit-Sealing Stones. Qian implies that he can acquire more, while Chen explains that he currently has no Realm-Breaking Pills but may be able to obtain another in the future through his mysterious appraisal rewards.
• Though disappointed by the uncertainty and worried that delay will reduce his chances of advancement, Old Daoist Qian agrees to wait and continue the potential exchange.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: His broad knowledge and mastery of numerous spells become increasingly apparent, though he continues to maintain a low profile. His teaching of Earth Escape strengthens the others’ belief that he has a powerful sect background. He also shows practical ambition by seeking more Spirit-Sealing Stones to accelerate his cultivation.
• Wu Xun: His bold and shameless personality is emphasized when he immediately tries to buy instruction in the Thunder Art. His tomb-raiding experience, however, also makes him a useful source of practical knowledge.
• Wang Wenxiu: She demonstrates creativity and independence by developing her own distinctive sword technique from inherited arts and personal innovation.
• Old Daoist Qian: His desperation becomes clear. Aging, declining qi and blood, and the difficulty of breaking through motivate him to seek additional Realm-Breaking Pills. He is willing to pursue a private trade with Chen despite the uncertainty.
• The rogue cultivators: Their mutual respect and willingness to share knowledge reveal their resourcefulness and the importance of cooperation among practitioners without sect support.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge-sharing among outsiders: The gathering highlights how rogue cultivators compensate for their lack of formal inheritance through cooperation and collective experience.
• Secrecy and self-preservation: Chen carefully limits what he reveals, concealing both his identity and the full extent of his abilities.
• Practical experience versus formal techniques: Wu Xun and Wu Xie’s methods for surviving encounters with ghosts are valued as highly as formal cultivation arts because they can save lives in dangerous situations.
• The pursuit of advancement: Old Daoist Qian’s desire for more Realm-Breaking Pills reflects the anxiety surrounding age, declining vitality, and the struggle to reach a higher realm.
• Trust and transactional relationships: The private meeting between Chen and Qian shows how cultivators build relationships through mutually beneficial exchanges while remaining cautious about what they promise.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Shaojun and Zhao Heng: Chen admires Zhao Heng’s Thunder Art but respects the refusal to reveal a sect secret.
• Wu Xun and Zhao Heng: Wu Xun’s attempt to purchase the Thunder Art is bluntly rejected, reinforcing the boundaries between public discussion and protected inheritance.
• Wu Xun, Wu Xie, and the gathering: Their shared experience earns the attention and respect of the other cultivators despite their teachings being less formally sophisticated.
• Chen Shaojun and the gathering: Chen’s restrained lesson on Earth Escape impresses the group and elevates their opinion of him.
• Chen Shaojun and Old Daoist Qian: Their private negotiation reveals a mutually beneficial but uncertain relationship: Qian needs Realm-Breaking Pills, while Chen needs Spirit-Sealing Stones. Both remain cautious while hoping to continue trading.

Chapter Summary: “Fox Borrowing the Tiger’s Might Shows Its Power”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Daoist Qian probes Chen Shaojun about his background, cultivation, and mastery of Earth Escape, claiming he is merely envious.
• Chen immediately senses something suspicious. Qian’s excessive questioning is improper for strangers, so Chen gives vague answers and attempts to leave.
• Qian reveals that he is interested not only in Realm-Breaking Pills but also in Chen’s wealth. Yijie the Monk then appears, confirming that the two have conspired to rob him.
• The pair explains that they are rogue cultivators burdened by enormous cultivation expenses, using poverty as justification for targeting Chen. Yijie has also prepared a Soundproof Formation, while the metal bridge prevents Chen from escaping through Earth Escape.
• Qian attacks with a bronze-ring treasure, while Yijie launches a tornado of wind blades.
• Chen reveals his true aura, using Fox Borrowing the Tiger’s Might to imitate the presence of a Late Dao Foundation Stage expert. He immobilizes Qian’s bronze ring with the Treasure-Fixing Divine Light.
• A red-clothed female ghost appears at Chen’s side and destroys Yijie’s wind blades.
• Qian and Yijie are terrified upon realizing they have targeted someone vastly stronger than themselves. Both immediately abandon resistance and beg for mercy, each attempting to blame the other for the robbery.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun/Kunlun: Demonstrates exceptional caution, composure, and strategic intelligence. Rather than being caught off guard, he had recognized the danger and deliberately allowed the pair to reveal their intentions. His use of Fox Borrowing the Tiger’s Might shows his ability to exploit psychological intimidation without exposing his actual cultivation.
• Old Daoist Qian: Revealed as manipulative, greedy, and experienced in targeting wealthy cultivators. Despite presenting himself as an unfortunate, humble rogue cultivator, he quickly resorts to violence and abandons his dignity once faced with superior strength.
• Yijie the Monk: Portrayed as opportunistic and self-preserving. Although he justifies the robbery through the hardships of rogue cultivation, he immediately betrays Qian and shifts the blame when threatened.
• The red-clothed woman: Acts as Chen’s powerful supernatural protector, effortlessly neutralizing Yijie’s attack and reinforcing the overwhelming disparity between Chen and his opponents.

Significant Themes

• Appearances versus reality: Chen appears to be a Mid-Origin Condensation Stage cultivator but is able to project the aura of a Late Dao Foundation Stage expert, while Qian and Yijie’s respectable identities conceal criminal intentions.
• Cunning over brute force: Chen wins through preparation, observation, and psychological pressure rather than simply revealing his true capabilities.
• Greed and moral hypocrisy: Qian and Yijie invoke the hardships of rogue cultivators to excuse robbery, but their actions are driven primarily by greed.
• The dangers of underestimating others: The pair mistakes Chen’s apparent weakness for genuine vulnerability and pays the price for judging him too quickly.
• Survival and betrayal: Once danger appears, the conspirators abandon their partnership and sacrifice each other to save themselves.

Character Interactions

• Qian’s intrusive questioning makes Chen wary, creating an immediate contrast between Qian’s false friendliness and Chen’s guarded responses.
• Qian and Yijie coordinate their ambush, revealing their prior familiarity with such robberies.
• Chen calmly challenges their assumptions about the danger of attacking him in a heavily guarded location, exposing his confidence.
• During the confrontation, Chen’s overwhelming display of power reverses the power dynamic completely.
• Qian and Yijie both plead for mercy, but instead of standing together, they accuse one another—especially Yijie, who claims Qian manipulated him into participating.

Chapter Summary: “Taking Stock of the Spoils”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The two rogue cultivators realize they have no chance of escaping Chen Shaojun. His apparent Late Dao Foundation cultivation, combined with the Treasure-Fixing Divine Light and the Red-Clad Female Ghost, convinces them that he is vastly stronger than they are.
• They abandon resistance and betray one another while begging for mercy. Chen remains unmoved, having already decided they must die after their attempt to attack him.
• Chen kills both men with his Fourth-Grade One-Yang Finger, piercing their heads with golden beams. The dying cultivators are confused that he uses martial arts rather than Daoist spells.
• He carefully eliminates all evidence of the battle:
  • Strips both bodies of their possessions.
  • Burns their corpses with Fireball Techniques.
  • Uses the Three-Soul Separation Technique to prevent their souls from being summoned.
  • Cleans the area with Purification and Dust-Cleansing Techniques.
  • Removes the soundproof formation flags.
  • Escapes underground with the Five Elements Escape Art to avoid pursuit.
• After safely returning to White-Stem Mountain Manor, Chen inventories his gains from both ordinary transactions and the two slain cultivators.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates growing confidence, tactical intelligence, and ruthlessness. He successfully uses deception—especially “Fox Borrowing the Tiger’s Might”—to make enemies overestimate his cultivation.
• He remains cautious and methodical after the battle, showing strong awareness of the dangers of leaving clues or allowing enemies to track him.
• Although capable in Daoist techniques, Chen recognizes that his martial arts are currently more practical in direct combat. He feels some dissatisfaction that he cannot yet fight with the grand style of a powerful Daoist master.
• His growing wealth and collection of magical artifacts reflect his increasing power and resources, while his awareness of cultivation expenses keeps him realistic about his financial needs.
• Old Daoist Qian and Yijie the Monk are revealed as experienced but morally dubious rogue cultivators who valued survival and self-preservation. Their desperation and mutual betrayal contrast sharply with Chen’s composure.

Significant Themes

• Perception versus reality: Chen wins partly because his opponents misinterpret his abilities. His techniques and summoned ghost create the impression of overwhelming cultivation, even though his actual methods are more limited.
• Pragmatism and survival: Chen prioritizes reliable, efficient methods over appearances, choosing the One-Yang Finger because it is direct and effective.
• Caution and preparation: The thorough cleanup of the battlefield emphasizes the importance of avoiding retaliation, pursuit, and the discovery of one’s secrets.
• The value of wealth and resources: Money, spirit stones, magical artifacts, talismans, and cultivation manuals are all essential to advancement. Even a large fortune is insufficient for a cultivator’s long-term needs.
• The consequences of betrayal: The two attackers’ decision to target Chen leads directly to their deaths, reinforcing the chapter’s warning that greed and misjudgment can be fatal.

Character Interactions

• The two defeated cultivators turn on each other while pleading with Chen, each attempting to shift blame and secure his mercy.
• Chen listens calmly but refuses to be manipulated, reminding them that their fate was determined when they chose to attack him.
• His interaction with the dead is practical rather than emotional: he removes their possessions, destroys their bodies and souls, and erases traces of the encounter.
• While examining the spoils, Chen mentally evaluates the equipment and cultivation resources, especially the magical artifacts and Spirit Stones. He notices that Old Daoist Qian’s expected Spirit-Sealing Stones are missing, suggesting they were hidden elsewhere rather than carried into the confrontation.

Spoils Acquired

• Chen’s total wealth rises to approximately 142,000 taels of silver.
• Other gains include:
  • A Black Bell
  • A Spirit-Sealing Stone
  • A Jade Slip Eye containing the Evergreen Art
  • Talismans, spirit pills, and other cultivation goods
  • Thirteen Spirit Stones
  • Several magical artifacts, including a monk’s staff, wooden fish, prayer beads, golden gourd, ring, and small knife
  • Three Jade Slip Eyes containing cultivation techniques
• The chapter ends as Chen begins appraising the magical artifacts with his Spirit Eye Technique, aware that their accumulated Killing Intent makes them dangerous and difficult to identify.

Chapter Summary: “Fortune Talisman”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun begins appraising two magical artifacts: Old Daoist Qian’s Radiant Light Ring and Yijie the Monk’s Buddhist staff.
• Using the Spirit Eye Technique, he determines that the main obstacles are not Killing Intent but the powerful spiritual imprints deliberately left by the artifacts’ owners.
• With his advanced spiritual power and the Baleful Severing Ruler, Chen Shaojun destroys Old Daoist Qian’s imprint and successfully completes the ring’s appraisal.
• The appraisal visions reveal the truth behind Qian Ming’s cultivation:
  • He failed to cultivate successfully at the Dao Academy.
  • He later encountered Evergreen Daoist and murdered him with the help of armed escorts rather than becoming his disciple.
  • Qian Ming stole Evergreen Daoist’s Evergreen Art and Radiant Light Ring, beginning his own cultivation through murder and theft.
  • He eventually became a Rogue Cultivator and partnered with Yijie the Monk to prey on other Rogue Cultivators.
  • The pair killed several people, including Mr. Qinghe, one of the founders of the Cultivators’ Exchange, approximately two months earlier.
• Chen Shaojun realizes that Qian Ming and Yijie targeted him because his letter of introduction from the supposedly living Mr. Qinghe could expose their crime.
• The appraisal also reveals the location of the five remaining Spirit-Sealing Stones and a hidden treasury containing Qian Ming’s accumulated wealth, calligraphy, paintings, books, and other treasures.
• The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror ranks the Radiant Light Ring as a Mid-Grade Treasure and rewards Chen Shaojun with a Fortune Talisman.
• Chen Shaojun decides to save the talisman for appraising higher-ranked treasures, believing its luck-enhancing effects will produce better rewards and perhaps increase his chances of obtaining valuable Merit Golden Light.
• He then begins appraising Yijie’s Buddhist staff, another Mid-Grade magical artifact.
• The staff contains both Yijie’s spiritual imprint and a separate, powerful martial will. Chen Shaojun withstands and destroys both after a more difficult struggle.
• The appraisal vision reveals the staff’s history, beginning with Jia Ren, a former martial monk of the destroyed Great Buddha Temple, and continuing through his disciple Jin De, who later became Yijie’s master.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: Demonstrates overwhelming spiritual and martial strength, easily overcoming attacks from the magical artifacts. He becomes more confident and strategic, especially regarding the use of the Fortune Talisman and the retrieval of the Spirit-Sealing Stones.
• Old Daoist Qian/Qian Ming: His fabricated story of receiving cultivation guidance from a wandering Daoist is exposed. In reality, he was driven by envy and desperation, murdered Evergreen Daoist, and built his cultivation career through robbery and assassination.
• Yijie the Monk: His partnership with Qian Ming is shown to be part of a broader pattern of targeting Rogue Cultivators. His artifact also carries an inherited martial legacy through his master’s lineage.
• Evergreen Daoist: Revealed to have been an innocent Rogue Cultivator who refused to take Qian Ming as a disciple and was later killed for his cultivation method and treasures.
• Jia Ren and Jin De: Their histories establish the Buddhist staff’s succession through a weakened but enduring martial-monastic tradition.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus deception: Appraisal exposes the gap between Qian Ming’s self-serving account and the brutal truth of his past.
• Greed and moral corruption: Qian Ming’s desire for cultivation transforms frustration into murder, showing how ambition can lead to crime and betrayal.
• Inheritance and legacy: The ring carries Qian Ming’s personal imprint, while the Buddhist staff embodies a lineage passed from Jia Ren to Jin De and eventually Yijie.
• Strength and preparation: Chen Shaojun’s success comes from combining spiritual cultivation, martial power, careful divination, and technical appraisal skill.
• Fortune and opportunity: The Fortune Talisman symbolizes the role of luck in cultivation, though Chen Shaojun intends to use it deliberately to improve future opportunities rather than for ordinary worldly benefits.

Character Interactions

• Qian Ming once begged Evergreen Daoist to teach him, but after being rejected, he attacked and killed him with the assistance of caravan escorts.
• Qian Ming and Yijie formed an alliance based on their shared Rogue Cultivator backgrounds and lack of resources, becoming partners in killing and plundering others.
• Their murder of Mr. Qinghe creates the hidden tension behind their encounter with Chen Shaojun at the Cultivators’ Exchange.
• Chen Shaojun’s confrontation with the artifacts is effectively a battle against the lingering wills of Qian Ming and Yijie.
• The Buddhist staff’s history connects Yijie to a multigenerational teacher-student chain beginning with the fallen Great Buddha Temple.

Chapter Summary: Wish Talisman, Water-Dropping Stone-Piercing Technique

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun uncovers the history of the Zen staff through his treasure-appraisal vision.
• The staff’s origins are tied to the Great Buddha Temple and its former abbot, Jia Ren. It later passed through the hands of the Buddhist cultivator Yijie and his senior brother.
• Yijie’s senior brother escaped the temple’s destruction as a child, eventually cultivated to the Dao Foundation Stage, and avenged the temple by killing Ming Yuan, the disciple who had betrayed it. He died soon afterward from his wounds, leaving the Zen staff and his legacy to Yijie.
• The Zen staff is revealed to be both a martial weapon and a cultivation aid, carrying the spiritual imprints and martial will-aura of several powerful Buddhist practitioners.
• Chen reflects on the hidden strength of the Great Buddha Sect and wonders about the even greater Buddhist-Daoist sect, Inch Mountain.
• The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror ranks the Zen staff as a High-Grade Treasure and rewards Chen with a Wish Talisman.
• Chen learns that the talisman cannot fulfill impossible desires, but can reliably help accomplish reasonable goals, such as gaining wealth, success, or a specific useful reward.
• He decides to reserve it for a difficult future appraisal, hoping to obtain the Divine Unsealing Technique, an advanced skill crucial for appraising higher-level treasures.
• Chen then appraises four low-grade magic artifacts: a wooden fish, prayer beads, a golden gourd, and a small knife.
• Their rewards are Basic Talisman Drawing, Water-Dropping Stone-Piercing Technique, Tenfold Enhancement Fruit, and Unforgettable Memory.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun becomes increasingly aware of the immense depth and power of the major Buddhist and Daoist sects. His curiosity and ambition grow as he realizes how little he knows about the world’s strongest forces.
• He also becomes more strategic and cautious. Rather than immediately using the Wish Talisman, he plans to save it for a high-value appraisal and a specific goal: obtaining the Divine Unsealing Technique.
• Chen gains the beginnings of knowledge in talisman-making and acquires another offensive spell, though he recognizes its practical limitations.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and revenge: Ming Yuan’s betrayal destroys the temple, while the senior brother’s hatred drives him to seek revenge even after decades of cultivation.
• Legacy and authority: The Zen staff symbolizes the abbot’s authority and carries the accumulated spiritual and martial legacies of its former wielders.
• Hidden power and incomplete knowledge: Chen realizes that the forces he has glimpsed through appraisals represent only a fraction of the true strength of the world’s great sects.
• Desire versus delusion: The Wish Talisman can fulfill realistic desires but cannot grant impossible fantasies, emphasizing the difference between achievable ambition and empty wishful thinking.
• Preparation and prudence: Chen’s decision to save the talisman for the right treasure shows his growing ability to plan carefully rather than waste powerful resources.

Character Interactions

• Jin De and Ming Yuan: Their master-disciple relationship collapses when Jin De discovers Ming Yuan’s marriage and family. Jin De threatens to cripple and expel him, prompting Ming Yuan to betray the temple.
• Ming Yuan and Yijie’s senior brother: The senior brother eventually confronts Ming Yuan, avenges the destroyed temple, and takes back the Zen staff.
• The senior brother and Yijie: After avenging their past, the senior brother entrusts the Zen staff and the temple’s remaining legacy to Yijie before dying.
• Chen and the historical figures: Through the appraisal vision, Chen indirectly reconstructs the relationships, betrayals, and succession surrounding the Zen staff, deepening his understanding of Buddhist history.

Chapter Summary: “Tenfold Enhancement, Cat Demon Appears”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun tests the Water-Dropping Stone-Piercing Technique, a progressive spell whose power increases with every successive droplet. Although the first drops are weak and fall slowly, hundreds or thousands of accumulated drops can eventually pierce metal, split stone, and overwhelm powerful enemies.
• He examines the Tenfold Enhancement Fruit, learning that it can increase the effectiveness of cultivation, work, martial arts, and spells by up to ten times. Its greatest value is in combat, where it could allow him to defeat opponents far stronger than himself.
• Chen Shaojun discovers that the fruit has a fixed upper limit. As his own strength rises into higher realms, its enhancement will eventually become less useful.
• He reviews several other appraisal rewards:
  • The Buddhist Body Tempering Technique and Great Compassion Heart Sutra, both powerful but irrelevant to his current cultivation.
  • The Buddhist Heart-Burning Art, comparable to the Evergreen Art but possessing a fiery rather than nourishing nature.
  • Three jade slips containing the Ice Rain Technique, Petrification Technique, and another version of the Evergreen Art.
• The complete Evergreen Art reveals that Old Daoist Qian gave Chen Shaojun a deliberately incomplete and dangerous version, one that would eventually cripple cultivators. Chen becomes furious after realizing Qian had deceived multiple victims.
• The Water-Dropping Technique finishes its attack, drilling completely through the large boulder. Chen compares it with his One-Yang Finger, which only blasts a shallow hole into the same stone, demonstrating the spell’s exceptional penetrating power.
• The sound of a cat draws Chen’s attention. He sees a huge white cat fleeing into the forest and detects its aura with the Spirit Eye Technique.
• Chen confirms that the estate’s rumored Cat Demon has appeared. He estimates that it is roughly equivalent to an Eighth- or Ninth-Layer Qi Sea Realm Martial Warrior, perhaps slightly stronger than Mingyue, the two-tailed fox demon.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun continues expanding his magical knowledge and carefully evaluates the strengths and limitations of his new treasures. His growing confidence is evident: instead of fearing the Cat Demon, he calmly assesses its power and feels relieved that it is within his ability to handle.
• His anger toward Old Daoist Qian deepens after uncovering the deliberate flaws in the Evergreen Art. Chen recognizes Qian not merely as a dishonest person but as someone who intentionally endangered and ruined others.
• Chen demonstrates increasing tactical awareness by comparing different techniques, testing their destructive capabilities, and considering how the Tenfold Enhancement Fruit could help him fight across realms.

Significant Themes

• Accumulation and delayed power: The Water-Dropping Technique symbolizes how seemingly weak forces can become overwhelming through persistence and accumulation.
• Power with limitations: The Tenfold Enhancement Fruit is extremely useful but bounded by a fixed threshold, emphasizing that every treasure has conditions and weaknesses.
• Knowledge versus deception: Chen’s study of different cultivation methods contrasts with Old Daoist Qian’s manipulation and deliberate concealment of the true Evergreen Art.
• Growing confidence: Chen’s improved strength and understanding allow him to confront supernatural threats with calculation rather than fear.
• Moral consequences of exploitation: Qian’s corrupted teachings reveal the danger of abusing cultivation knowledge and deceiving weaker practitioners.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen interacts primarily with the techniques, treasures, and cultivation manuals he has acquired, analyzing their effects and comparing them with his existing abilities.
• His implied conflict with the deceased Old Daoist Qian becomes more personal when he learns that Qian intentionally passed on a flawed cultivation method.
• The appearance of the Cat Demon creates a new potential confrontation. Though the demon flees after being startled by Chen’s One-Yang Finger, Chen now knows its approximate strength and is prepared to deal with it.

Chapter Summary: Unlocking the Third Spirit-Sealing Stone, Qi Sea Realm, Seventh Stage

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun returns home after another encounter with the Cat Demon and checks that his Spirit Tea Tree has not been harmed.
• To protect the tree from poisonous insects and wild beasts, he sets up and activates an Aura-Severing Origin-Locking Array, using three Spirit Stones as its energy source. The formation conceals the tree’s spiritual aura and restricts entry except through the proper array routes.
• After watering the tree, Chen Shaojun spends the night cultivating the Sitting-in-Oblivion Scripture and Tai Shang Perception Scripture.
• The next day, business at the pawnshop is unusually slow because the recent Treasure Fair has reduced the number of treasures being submitted. Chen appraises only three items before becoming idle.
• He decides to unlock the larger Spirit-Sealing Stone obtained from Wu Xun and Wu Xie, hoping it will raise his cultivation from the Qi Sea Realm’s Sixth Stage to the Ninth Stage and bring him closer to the Innate Realm.
• Using the Spirit Eye Technique, Chen observes the stone’s countless spiritual energies, including extremely powerful auras such as Chaos Aura, all held within dense black sealing chains.
• His divination reveals an equal mixture of fortune and misfortune, with misfortune appearing first but ultimately turning into blessing. Despite the danger, Chen proceeds after making extensive preparations, summoning the Red-Clad Female Ghost and preparing pills, talismans, and the Baleful Severing Ruler.
• Through the Divine Gaze Technique and the Creation Heart Scripture, he begins absorbing and transforming the stone’s mixed spiritual energy into Creation True Qi.
• The energy quickly causes his cultivation to surge. He unexpectedly breaks through from the Qi Sea Realm, Sixth Stage to the Seventh Stage, opening one of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians without encountering a bottleneck.
• Encouraged by the success and noticing that much spiritual energy remains, Chen continues absorbing the stone’s power and begins attacking the next extraordinary meridian.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun becomes increasingly cautious and methodical. Although eager for rapid advancement, he does not act recklessly: he protects his Spirit Tea Tree, constructs a defensive formation, consults divination, and prepares multiple defensive measures before unlocking the stone.
• His confidence in his abilities has grown considerably. He recognizes the danger of the larger Spirit-Sealing Stone but trusts his stronger spiritual power and accumulated techniques.
• His ambition also intensifies. He is no longer satisfied with merely steady progress and actively seeks to reach the Ninth Stage and eventually the Innate Realm so that he can properly wield his many powerful martial arts.
• His breakthrough demonstrates that his cultivation talent and the Creation Heart Scripture allow him to overcome obstacles that normally hinder other martial artists.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus risk: Chen’s success depends not only on strength but also on careful preparation, defensive planning, and divination.
• Rapid cultivation and extraordinary talent: The Spirit-Sealing Stone provides a shortcut that allows Chen to advance far faster than ordinary martial artists.
• Power and limitation: Although Chen possesses numerous peerless techniques, his insufficient true qi restricts their full potential, motivating his pursuit of higher cultivation.
• Fortune emerging from danger: The divination’s prediction—that misfortune will come first but eventually turn into blessing—is reflected in Chen’s risky decision and unexpectedly smooth breakthrough.
• Protection and concealment: The array surrounding the Spirit Tea Tree highlights Chen’s growing need to safeguard valuable resources and hide spiritual treasures from outside threats.

Character Interactions

• Chen has no direct conversation with other characters in the chapter, but his actions are shaped by earlier encounters with the Cat Demon and the acquisition of the Spirit-Sealing Stone and black bell from Wu Xun and Wu Xie.
• He summons the Red-Clad Female Ghost as a protective ally during the dangerous unlocking process.
• His interaction with the Spirit-Sealing Stone is effectively a struggle between his spiritual power and the stone’s powerful sealing chains, culminating in the rapid release and absorption of its contained energies.

Chapter Summary:

Unsealing Successful, Alchemy Cauldron

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun absorbs the remaining mixed spiritual energy from the Spirit-Sealing Stone while cultivating the Creation Heart Scripture.
• His cultivation advances to the Peak of the Seventh Stage of the Qi Sea Realm after opening four of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. However, he fails to reach the Eighth or Ninth Layer because his high-quality Creation True Qi requires an enormous amount of spiritual energy.
• His strength nevertheless increases significantly. He can now casually use a Third-Grade One-Yang Finger and may be capable of unleashing a Second-Grade version at full power.
• Once the Spirit-Sealing Stone is emptied, its powerful restrictive force activates, manifesting as black iron chains that attack Chen Shaojun.
• His mental barrier is quickly shattered. Before he can rely on his talismans or fully counterattack with the Baleful Severing Ruler, the Red-Clad Female Ghost sacrifices herself to block the chains.
• Chen Shaojun destroys the weakened chains and disperses the remaining restrictions. The female ghost’s cultivation falls from a Vengeful Ghost to a weak Yin Soul.
• She asks Chen Shaojun to help her reincarnate and cultivate again, but he admits he currently lacks the ability to accomplish this. He sends her back into the Ghost-Repelling Talisman, while privately resolving to help her if he gains the necessary power later.
• After successfully unsealing the stone, Chen Shaojun removes the remaining powder and retrieves a small gray Alchemy Cauldron.
• The cauldron is identified as an Upper-Grade Dharma Artifact, superior to his previous cauldron. However, it contains a powerful remnant mental imprint, large amounts of Pill Poison, and Poisonous Baleful Intent.
• Divination produces a “Misfortune” result, warning Chen Shaojun that his current mental strength is insufficient to safely appraise the cauldron.
• He concludes that the Divine Unsealing Technique would make treasure appraisal far easier than the Divine Gaze Technique and decides to seek it as soon as possible.
• He turns his attention to a mysterious Black Bell purchased from Wu Xun and Wu Xie. Because it contains dense Killing Intent, he hopes appraising it will improve his Wish Talisman enough to obtain the Divine Unsealing Technique.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: His martial strength and mental power continue to grow, but he recognizes the limits imposed by his current cultivation and techniques. He becomes more cautious after nearly being overwhelmed by the Spirit-Sealing Stone’s restrictions and acknowledges the need to acquire the Divine Unsealing Technique.
• Red-Clad Female Ghost: Demonstrates loyalty and gratitude by taking the attack meant for Chen Shaojun. Her sacrifice severely weakens her, but it also deepens her bond with him. Her desire for reincarnation introduces a goal Chen Shaojun may pursue in the future.
• Chen Shaojun’s attitude toward the ghost: Although initially treating her as a protective measure, he is genuinely moved by her sacrifice and feels responsible for helping her if he eventually becomes capable.

Significant Themes

• Growth through hardship: Chen Shaojun’s cultivation improves substantially, but every advance reveals greater challenges and higher requirements.
• The limits of power: Even with powerful talismans, mental techniques, and treasures, Chen Shaojun cannot yet overcome every obstacle—particularly reincarnation and the dangerous Alchemy Cauldron.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: The female ghost’s willingness to suffer for Chen Shaojun highlights the value of loyalty and creates an emotional counterpoint to the chapter’s cultivation progression.
• Fortune intertwined with misfortune: Chen Shaojun gains a valuable cauldron from the Spirit-Sealing Stone, but the unsealing process nearly overwhelms him and leaves him with new complications.
• Knowledge and technique over raw strength: The chapter emphasizes that the Divine Unsealing Technique is fundamentally more effective than the Divine Gaze Technique, making specialized knowledge crucial to advancement.

Character Interactions

• Chen Shaojun and the Red-Clad Female Ghost share the chapter’s central interaction. She protects him from the black chains, and he offers to fulfill another wish in return.
• Her request for reincarnation exposes the limits of Chen Shaojun’s current abilities and creates an unresolved promise between them.
• Chen Shaojun’s later focus on the Black Bell shows his strategic response to the failed cauldron appraisal: rather than risk another dangerous attempt, he seeks a path toward obtaining the Divine Unsealing Technique.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun examines the Black Bell and discovers that it was originally a golden Dharma Artifact. Its dark appearance comes from an immense layer of accumulated Killing Intent.
• Using the Divination Art, he confirms that appraising the bell is auspicious, then begins eroding the Killing Intent with the Divine Gaze Technique.
• The bell’s Killing Intent proves extraordinarily powerful, forcing Chen Shaojun to interrupt the appraisal twice with the Baleful Severing Ruler. Each strike severs away a large portion of the hostile energy.
• Ghostly figures hidden within the Killing Intent attack him, but his powerful martial blood and qi incinerate them before they can cause harm.
• After a third assault, Chen Shaojun completely purges the bell of its Killing Intent and reveals its true golden form.
• The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror shows the bell’s history:
  • It once belonged to Situ Jun, son of the failed Myriad-Manifestation King.
  • Situ Jun’s master, Daoist Wang Jian, buried him in a dangerous mausoleum after his death.
  • The bell remained there for over a thousand years, absorbing Killing Intent and attracting wandering ghosts.
  • Tomb raiders Wu Xun and Wu Xie later retrieved it but abandoned their exploration of the more dangerous sections of the mausoleum.
• Chen Shaojun learns that the Wu family possesses a vast collection of treasures gathered from tombs and considers purchasing artifacts from them for future appraisals.
• He uses a Wish Talisman to request the Divine Unsealing Technique.
• The bell is identified as the Soul-Suppressing Bell, an Upper-Grade Dharma Artifact of the Lower Spirit Rank, capable of attacking an enemy’s soul and spirit.
• The appraisal reward is revealed to be the Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique, fulfilling Chen Shaojun’s carefully planned objective.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun demonstrates increased confidence and strategic thinking. He carefully prepares for the dangerous appraisal, relying on divination, restorative pills, spiritual cultivation, and the Baleful Severing Ruler.
• His martial cultivation proves especially useful against supernatural threats, as his intense blood and qi destroy the bell’s Yin Souls.
• His desire to obtain the Divine Unsealing Technique shows his growing ambition to master advanced treasure-unsealing abilities.
• After learning about the Wu family’s treasure vault, Chen Shaojun begins considering a possible business relationship with them.

Significant Themes

• Persistence and preparation: Chen Shaojun succeeds because he plans around the bell’s dangers and methodically restores his strength between attempts.
• The relationship between martial and Daoist power: Blood and qi provide an effective defense against ghosts, while spiritual techniques are needed to dismantle the Killing Intent.
• The lingering influence of history: The bell carries the marks of its former owner, the mausoleum, and centuries of supernatural accumulation.
• Hidden value and restoration: Removing the Killing Intent reveals the bell’s true rank and dramatically increases its usefulness and market value.
• Ambition and opportunity: Chen Shaojun sees both the bell and the Wu family’s treasures as resources that can advance his cultivation and appraisal career.

Character Interactions

• Chen Shaojun directly confronts the ghostly spirits within the bell, destroying them with his blood and qi.
• The historical scenes connect Situ Jun with his father Situ Yu and his master Daoist Wang Jian, whose loyalty leads him to preserve and bury his disciple.
• Wu Xun and Wu Xie are revealed as the tomb raiders who recovered the bell, linking their family’s treasure-hunting background to Chen Shaojun’s future plans.
• Chen Shaojun’s interaction with the Wish Talisman reflects his reliance on supernatural forces to obtain the technique he most urgently needs.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Shaojun receives the Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique as an appraisal reward. It is more versatile than the Divine Unsealing Technique he knew: it can decompose not only Killing Intent and spiritual auras, but also spells, restrictions, and formations.
• Although he instantly understands the technique perfectly, his mental power does not improve automatically; it must still be strengthened through cultivation and repeated use.
• Before appraising the dangerous Alchemy Cauldron, Chen cautiously uses divination. The result has changed from inauspicious to auspicious, confirming that his appraisal ability has improved.
• He uses the new technique to dismantle the cauldron’s Pill Baleful Intent and Pill Poison. The process is far easier and consumes only about thirty percent of his mental power—over three times more efficient than using the Divine Gaze Technique.
• With the hazards removed, the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror reveals the cauldron’s history. It has had eleven owners. Chen’s attention settles on its seventh and eighth owners, who were master and disciple: Xu Zhen, head of the Xu Lineage, and Zhang Peng, his chosen heir. The chapter begins explaining that Xu Zhen had difficulty finding an heir within his family because few descendants had Daoist aptitude or talent for alchemy.

Character development

• Chen remains cautious despite his newfound confidence: he still follows his usual safety checks before handling the cauldron.
• His confidence grows as he sees the practical impact of the new technique, while he recognizes that its power depends on the limits of his mental strength.

Character interactions

• The key relationship introduced through the cauldron’s history is between Xu Zhen and Zhang Peng. Xu Zhen chose Zhang Peng from outside his lineage as a disciple and heir because his own descendants were poorly suited to cultivation and alchemy.

Significant themes

• Power and danger: Valuable treasures are protected by deadly forces, and the strong are best equipped to claim them.
• Skill versus raw power: Chen’s mental strength has not increased, but a more effective technique lets him achieve far more with it.
• Caution and preparation: Confidence does not replace careful assessment.
• Talent and succession: Xu Zhen’s search for an heir highlights the rarity of combining cultivation aptitude with specialized alchemical skill.

Chapter Summary: “Dao-Foundation Pill Formula”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter reveals the history of the Xu Lineage’s succession from the outsider alchemist Zhang Peng.
• Zhang Peng becomes Xu Zhen’s disciple and quickly rises to become a renowned second-grade alchemist. His talent brings fame to the Xu Lineage but also causes resentment because he is not a Xu descendant and refuses to marry into the family.
• After Xu Zhen suffers a severe meridian injury while refining pills for a Golden Core cultivator, he becomes increasingly suspicious and threatened by Zhang Peng’s growing influence.
• When a powerful organization commissions the Xu Lineage to refine Dao-Foundation Pills, Xu Zhen is forced to rely on Zhang Peng because of his injury. During the process, he discovers that Zhang Peng has secretly learned the valuable Dao-Foundation Pill Formula.
• Immediately after the pill is successfully refined, Xu Zhen attacks Zhang Peng to prevent the formula and the family’s future from falling entirely into his hands. Zhang Peng, who appears to have anticipated the betrayal, counterattacks. Both are fatally wounded.
• Although they leave the alchemy room appearing to be on friendly terms, Xu Zhen dies soon afterward. Zhang Peng becomes the head of the Xu Lineage, changes his surname to Xu, and takes the name Xu Peng.
• Over the next thirty years, the Zhang surname gradually replaces the Xu surname as the dominant branch of the family.
• Chen Shaojun’s appraisal vision then reveals that the entire alchemy family is destroyed about a century later during a conflict between two great sects, and Mount Wanheng never regains its former prosperity.
• The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror ranks the item as Spirit Rank, Low Grade and rewards Chen Shaojun with the Dao-Foundation Pill Formula.
• Chen recognizes the formula’s immense value but acknowledges that refining the pills will be difficult because of the rare ingredients, demanding spirit fire, suitable alchemy facilities, and high costs.
• He reviews his gains: advancement from the sixth to seventh stage of the Qi Sea Realm, an alchemy cauldron, a Soul-Suppressing Bell, the Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique, and the Dao-Foundation Pill Formula.
• The chapter ends when Shopkeeper Liu, the second appraiser Dai Ming, and several attendants knock on Chen Shaojun’s door. They were concerned after hearing a terrifying howl from his appraisal room. Chen realizes the cry came from the Red-Clad Female Ghost when she shielded him from the lightning attack during the Spirit-Sealing Stone’s unsealing.

Character Developments

• Xu Zhen: His pride, fear of losing control, and concern for the Xu family’s legacy gradually turn into paranoia. Though he values Zhang Peng as a disciple, he ultimately prioritizes preserving the Xu surname and attempts to kill him.
• Zhang Peng/Xu Peng: He develops from a gifted outsider into a powerful, independent alchemist capable of secretly mastering the Dao-Foundation Pill Formula. His preparedness for Xu Zhen’s betrayal shows his caution and ambition. By accepting the Xu surname, he avoids the stigma of killing his master while ensuring his own bloodline eventually dominates the family.
• Chen Shaojun: He gains greater confidence and satisfaction from his recent progress. Although tempted by the value of the Dao-Foundation Pill Formula, he remains practical and does not rush to gather the necessary resources. His appraisal continues to reveal both treasures and the rise and fall of entire powers.
• Red-Clad Female Ghost: Her actions demonstrate loyalty and willingness to protect Chen Shaojun, as she takes the full force of a lightning strike meant to harm him.

Significant Themes

• Family inheritance versus individual talent: The conflict centers on whether the Xu Lineage’s future should be preserved through bloodline or through Zhang Peng’s superior ability.
• Jealousy and insecurity: Xu Zhen’s resentment grows because Zhang Peng’s achievements threaten his authority and the Xu family’s identity.
• The dangers of power struggles: Both master and disciple sacrifice their lives over control of a formula and the family name, even though the family is eventually destroyed by forces far greater than either of them.
• Impermanence: The Xu-Zhang struggle, once viewed as crucial, becomes insignificant in the face of the later sect conflict that wipes out Mount Wanheng’s major powers.
• The value and limitations of knowledge: The Dao-Foundation Pill Formula is an heirloom-level treasure, but possessing it does not guarantee lasting prosperity or survival.
• Pragmatism and restraint: Chen understands the formula’s value but recognizes that attempting to refine the pills immediately would be unrealistic.

Character Interactions

• Xu Zhen and Zhang Peng: Their master-disciple relationship shifts from pride and mutual reliance to suspicion, resentment, and betrayal. Despite their final confrontation, they publicly maintain the appearance of harmony until Xu Zhen’s death.
• Chen Shaojun and the Red-Clad Female Ghost: Her intervention during the unsealing shows a protective bond, with her enduring severe pain to save him.
• Chen Shaojun and Shopkeeper Liu: Shopkeeper Liu expresses concern after hearing the ghost’s cry, while Chen conceals the true cause and reassures him that nothing is wrong.
• Shopkeeper Liu and Dai Ming: Both participate in checking on Chen, suggesting that the pawnshop staff respect or worry about him after the alarming incident.

Chapter Summary: “Burial Heaven Pit, Ten-Thousand-Treasure Grotto”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Chen Shaojun’s alarming scream during a treasure appraisal, Shopkeeper Liu and Second Appraiser Dai Ming cautiously check on him. Chen dismisses the incident as a minor scare, and neither presses for details.
• Shopkeeper Liu mentions that Xu Hongtao has been missing for two days. Chen denies knowing anything about him, concealing his involvement in Xu’s disappearance.
• The Red-Clad Cult is also investigating Wang Xinyuan’s disappearance and brings in a powerful Daoist to search for clues. However, Chen’s use of the Three-Soul Separation Technique successfully confuses their investigation and prevents them from discovering the truth.
• Because the recent Treasure Fair depleted the pawnshop’s inventory, Shopkeeper Liu plans to travel to Burial Heaven Pit to acquire more treasures.
• Burial Heaven Pit is a vast, terrifying forbidden land filled with Netherworld qi. Its continual expansion forces buried objects and artifacts to the surface, leading to its alternate name, the Ten-Thousand-Treasure Grotto.
• The site has become one of the Great Zhou Dynasty’s largest black-market trading centers, where countless treasures—many of questionable or illicit origins—are bought and sold.
• Shopkeeper Liu invites Chen to accompany him as the pawnshop’s appraiser. Chief Appraiser Qin Wenshan is in seclusion, while Dai Ming cannot travel because his concubine is about to give birth.
• Chen initially hesitates because of the dangers outside Shengjing, but Shopkeeper Liu offers him one-tenth of the profits from the treasures purchased. He also assures Chen that they will travel with a protected caravan from the Mo Clan Trading House.
• Chen accepts the invitation, realizing that the Ten-Thousand-Treasure Grotto will provide an enormous number of treasures for him to appraise and a valuable opportunity to increase his strength.
• With ten days before departure, Chen plans to use the five remaining Spirit-Sealing Stones hidden by Old Daoist Qian to advance from the Peak of the Seventh Stage of the Qi Sea Realm toward the Ninth Layer.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun remains cautious, calculating, and skilled at concealing his secrets. He easily lies about Xu Hongtao and relies on the Three-Soul Separation Technique to evade the Red-Clad Cult.
• Chen’s growing confidence in his appraisal abilities makes him more willing to leave the relative safety of Shengjing. His desire for power and treasure gradually outweighs his fear of the dangers beyond the city.
• He becomes increasingly focused on long-term cultivation, hoping to gather enough Merit Golden Light to reach ten or even a hundred years of arcane cultivation.
• Shopkeeper Liu grows more dependent on Chen, recognizing his exceptional appraisal talent. He takes the initiative to recruit Chen for the upcoming buying expedition and attempts to persuade him with profit-sharing and security guarantees.
• Dai Ming avoids the expedition because of his family responsibilities, specifically his concubine’s impending childbirth.
• Qin Wenshan remains absent while attempting to break through to the Appraisal Grandmaster realm.
• Xu Hongtao and Wang Xinyuan remain missing, with their disappearances creating different levels of concern among the pawnshop and the Red-Clad Cult.

Significant Themes

• Power versus vulnerability: Chen’s abilities are growing rapidly, but his fear of the world’s hidden dangers reminds him that he is still far from secure.
• The pursuit of strength: Chen sees treasure appraisal as more than employment; it is his primary path to cultivation, Merit Golden Light, and survival.
• Danger concealed beneath opportunity: The Ten-Thousand-Treasure Grotto offers immense wealth and cultivation resources, but it is also a forbidden land connected to hell and filled with deadly supernatural hazards.
• Secrecy and deception: Chen survives by hiding his actions, misleading investigators, and carefully managing what others know about him.
• Commerce and exploitation: The pawnshop’s true profits come from purchasing treasures cheaply, identifying their value, and reselling them at a premium. The black market surrounding Burial Heaven Pit further emphasizes the connection between wealth, danger, and moral ambiguity.
• Preparation before advancement: Chen recognizes that the upcoming journey could be fatal if he remains too weak, motivating him to cultivate as much as possible before departure.

Character Interactions

• Chen reassures Shopkeeper Liu and Dai Ming after the mysterious scream, maintaining a calm façade.
• Shopkeeper Liu questions Chen about Xu Hongtao but accepts his denial without suspicion.
• Liu and Chen discuss the pawnshop’s shortage of treasures, which leads Liu to reveal his plan to visit the Ten-Thousand-Treasure Grotto.
• Liu praises Chen’s appraisal talent and offers him a share of the expedition’s profits, while also promising protection through the Mo Clan caravan.
• Chen weighs his fear of traveling against his curiosity and ambition before accepting Liu’s invitation.
• Chen’s thoughts afterward show that he views the journey as both a dangerous test and an ideal opportunity to gather treasures, earn appraisal rewards, and strengthen himself.

Chapter Summary: “Why Do I Look So Shifty-Eyed?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun reflects on the insecurity caused by his rapidly increasing cultivation. Although he has repeatedly tempered his foundation, his mental state has not fully caught up with his physical power.
• He recognizes that this weakness can only be overcome through time, repeated combat, and gaining confidence in his own strength.
• After leaving the Lin Clan Pawnshop, Chen Shaojun goes to retrieve the five Spirit-Sealing Stones hidden by Old Daoist Qian.
• He arrives at an abandoned courtyard that once belonged to Old Daoist Qian’s deceased son and daughter-in-law. The courtyard is protected by the Soul-Bewildering Formation, which has trapped and killed trespassers.
• By examining the gate’s lock, Chen learns the courtyard’s history and earns five points of Merit Golden Light, bringing his total to thirty-one.
• A suspicious elderly neighbor mistakes Chen for a burglar or lookout and warns him about the courtyard’s “haunted house” reputation. Chen leaves temporarily, then secretly enters over the wall.
• Inside the formation, Chen encounters ghosts and discovers a hidden route leading to an underground cellar. Using the Nightglow Technique, he finds Old Daoist Qian’s stored treasures.
• The cellar contains five powerful Spirit-Sealing Stones, magical artifacts, talismans, medicinal materials, cultivation supplies, books, artwork, and valuable gold and silver.
• Chen places all five Spirit-Sealing Stones into his Storage Ring, securing an important resource for his future advancement.

Character Developments

• Chen Shaojun: Demonstrates greater self-awareness regarding the gap between his cultivation and mental state. He remains cautious and methodical, using appraisal knowledge to safely bypass the formation and locate the hidden treasury. His confidence and resources increase after successfully claiming the stones.
• Old Daoist Qian: Is revealed to have been highly cautious and ruthless in protecting his possessions. He created a deadly formation, spread or encouraged rumors about the courtyard being haunted, and hid his treasures in an elaborate underground cellar.
• The elderly neighbor: Appears suspicious but ultimately well-intentioned. His warnings show that he is concerned about preventing others from entering the dangerous courtyard.

Significant Themes

• Mental state versus physical power: Rapid cultivation can leave a practitioner psychologically unprepared to control or trust their own strength.
• Accumulation and experience: True confidence must be built through time, battle, and practical experience rather than external treasures alone.
• Caution and preparation: Old Daoist Qian’s defenses and Chen Shaojun’s careful approach emphasize the dangers of cultivation and the importance of planning.
• Hidden histories and buried consequences: The abandoned courtyard’s dead residents, trapped thieves, and lingering ghosts reveal how the past continues to shape the present.
• Fortune and opportunity: Chen’s ability to uncover Old Daoist Qian’s hidden wealth gives him a major advantage and reinforces the value of appraisal abilities.

Character Interactions

• Chen interacts briefly with the elderly neighbor, who accuses him of behaving suspiciously and warns him against entering the courtyard. Chen responds humorously, denying that he looks “shifty-eyed and rat-faced,” but avoids revealing his true intentions.
• Chen’s main interaction is with Old Daoist Qian’s legacy: he navigates the formation, confronts the ghosts indirectly, and claims the treasures Qian left behind.

Chapter Summary: “A Small Goal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun appraises four low-grade magical artifacts:
  • A Peachwood Sword
  • A Soul-Calming Bell
  • A silver dagger
  • A talisman brush
• The appraisal visions reveal the tragic origins of these artifacts:
  • The Peachwood Sword and talisman brush belonged to a young Quanzhen Sect Daoist and talisman expert who was ambushed and killed by Old Daoist Qian.
  • The Soul-Calming Bell and silver dagger belonged to Mr. Qinghe, a generous and well-connected cultivator who was killed when Old Daoist Qian and the monk Yi Jie joined forces against him.
• After appraising the artifacts, Chen receives four rewards:

Snow Mountain Command Art

Daoist Medical Talisman Canon

Bone-Choking Water Art

Five-Thunder Fire Art

• Chen examines the uses of each technique:
  • The Snow Mountain Command Art protects against fire, treats burns, and can perform seemingly miraculous feats.
  • The Daoist Medical Talisman Canon provides healing talismans for illnesses, injuries, epidemics, and other conditions.
  • The Bone-Choking Water Art can dissolve fish bones in a person’s throat but can also horrifyingly dissolve all the bones in an enemy’s body.
  • The Five-Thunder Fire Art is a powerful offensive thunder technique activated through the fingers.
• Chen briefly tests the Five-Thunder Fire Art but suppresses it to avoid damaging the cellar.
• He gathers the Quanzhen Daoist’s talisman-making materials, including paper, beast blood, bottles, and jars. Combined with his existing talisman-drawing ability and the newly acquired medical canon, these supplies will allow him to craft useful healing talismans.
• Chen counts the gold, silver, and monetary notes stored in the cellar. His total wealth reaches 144,300 taels of silver.
• Converting the sum according to his rough estimate of the world’s currency, Chen realizes his fortune is equivalent to approximately 143 million yuan, fulfilling his former-life dream of becoming a wealthy man.
• He stores the precious metals in his Storage Ring but must abandon the chests and numerous valuable paintings, calligraphy works, and antiques because the ring has limited space.
• Before leaving, Chen realizes there may still be another way to benefit from the cellar.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun becomes significantly more powerful and versatile through the acquisition of several spells, especially the Five-Thunder Fire Art and the Daoist Medical Talisman Canon.
• His medical abilities expand beyond conventional treatment, giving him reliable healing methods even in places without medicine or equipment.
• He demonstrates moral restraint and awareness of karmic consequences. Although he learns the extremely cruel Bone-Choking Water Art, he resolves not to use it on ordinary living enemies except in extreme circumstances.
• Chen’s growing wealth brings him personal satisfaction because it fulfills a long-standing desire from his previous life, though his priorities have shifted toward cultivation and survival.
• His practical and resourceful nature is shown by his efforts to collect the talisman materials and maximize the value of the hidden treasures despite the Storage Ring’s limitations.

Significant Themes

• Power and responsibility: The same spell can be benevolent or cruel depending on how it is used, emphasizing that morality lies with the practitioner.
• The danger of cultivators: Daoist techniques can be subtle, difficult to defend against, and terrifyingly destructive, explaining why ordinary people and martial artists fear provoking cultivators.
• Accumulation and value: Time increases the worth of certain objects, particularly antiques, paintings, and calligraphy, while knowledge and magical tools likewise become more valuable when placed in capable hands.
• Fulfillment of past desires: Chen’s sudden wealth represents the realization of a dream from his former life, even though his new circumstances have changed his ambitions.
• Practical survival: Healing arts, talisman-making supplies, storage capacity, and financial resources are all treated as essential forms of security.

Character Interactions

• The chapter contains few direct present-time interactions, focusing instead on Chen’s appraisal visions and reflections.
• Through the artifacts’ histories, Chen learns about the relationships and conflicts among:
  • The Quanzhen Daoist and his killer, Old Daoist Qian
  • Mr. Qinghe and the cultivators he befriended
  • Old Daoist Qian and monk Yi Jie, who cooperated to kill Mr. Qinghe
• Chen’s internal dialogue reveals his cautious attitude toward power and his determination to use dangerous techniques responsibly.

Chapter Summary: Guangling Melody, Exquisite Chess Game, Detailed Explanation of the Analects, Comprehension

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun remains in the treasure vault to appraise books, calligraphy, and paintings, knowing each appraisal may produce valuable rewards—especially Merit Golden Light.
• He begins by appraising ten items: five Confucian books and five copybooks written by the obscure scholars Mr. Zhuoyue and Hermit Chasing Clouds.
• Using the Spirit Eye Technique, Divination Art, and Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique, he removes the relatively mild Killing Intent contaminating the objects and restores their physical condition.
• The treasures are judged to be low-grade, with the best reaching only the Lower Dharma Grade, but the appraisal rewards are unusually diverse:
  • Mastery of Musical Scores
  • The Three Essential Elements of Novels
  • Mastery of Prose and Argumentative Essays
  • Spirit-Communing Pills and Qi-Nourishing Pills
  • Three points of Merit Golden Light
  • The solution to the Exquisite Chess Game
  • The musical score of Guangling Melody
  • Detailed Explanation of the Analects
• Chen reflects on the practical and historical value of famous people’s calligraphy, observing that reputation can make even mediocre works priceless.
• He gains a profound understanding of the Analects after reading its detailed explanation. The book disappears afterward, but its insights permanently improve his wisdom and comprehension.
• After appraising another ten books, Chen gains additional pills, skills, and two more points of Merit Golden Light, raising his total from thirty-four to thirty-six.
• He calculates that these thirty-six points can provide 360 days of Arcane Cultivation—approximately one additional year.
• Since his current cultivation is about three years, equivalent to the Early Dao Foundation Stage, this extra year could bring him close to or into the Middle Dao Foundation Stage and significantly strengthen his combat ability.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun’s patience and strategic thinking are emphasized. He does not rush to leave the vault, instead maximizing the opportunity to gain rewards and accumulate Merit Golden Light.
• His appreciation skills and spiritual techniques continue to demonstrate his competence, allowing him to safely cleanse contaminated treasures.
• His understanding of cultural treasures becomes more sophisticated. He recognizes that the value of art depends not only on artistic quality but also on the fame and accomplishments of its creator.
• The Detailed Explanation of the Analects produces a genuine intellectual and spiritual transformation. Chen’s comprehension, wisdom, and grasp of worldly principles deepen, even though his physical strength does not immediately increase.
• His past hardships as a failed worker and aspiring novelist reveal his pragmatic, self-deprecating personality. The reward related to novel writing reminds him of his previous struggles.
• He becomes increasingly confident about his future strength, realizing that further cultivation may give him a decisive advantage over opponents at the same level.

Significant Themes

• Accumulation and perseverance: Small amounts of Merit Golden Light gradually become a major resource, showing how repeated effort can produce immense results.
• The power of knowledge: The Analects does not directly increase combat strength but improves Chen’s wisdom and comprehension, suggesting that intellectual growth is as valuable as cultivation.
• Fame and value: The chapter explores how historical reputation can transform ordinary art into priceless cultural treasure.
• Cultural mastery as power: Music, chess, literature, and classical learning are treated as extraordinary skills that can enhance Chen’s abilities and social influence.
• The contrast between worldly hardship and supernatural opportunity: Chen’s memories of poverty and failed career attempts contrast with his current ability to obtain rare knowledge and power through appraisal.
• Preparation for future conflict: The increase in Arcane Cultivation is framed as a turning point that will greatly improve Chen’s offensive spells and battle prospects.

Character Interactions

• There are no direct conversations with other characters in this chapter.
• Chen reflects on Mr. Zhuoyue, Hermit Chasing Clouds, the Hermit of Tea Mountain, and the Shengde Emperor, using them to discuss how reputation affects the value of calligraphy and paintings.
• He also considers potential future interactions with chess masters at chess halls or the Imperial Academy, imagining himself challenging or impressing renowned players.
• His thoughts about Zhu Qing, a temple priest at the Early Dao Foundation Stage, establish a future comparison and suggest that Chen’s growing cultivation may soon give him a clear advantage.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun spends all 36 points of Merit Golden Light, increasing his Arcane Cultivation from three to four years. His spells become easier to cast and somewhat more powerful.
• Encouraged by his improved strength, he begins appraising large numbers of books, calligraphy pieces, and paintings using the Spirit Eye Technique, Divination Art, and Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique.
• He first appraises twenty treasures, receiving:
  • 11 points of Merit Golden Light
  • The Confucian classic

Book of Songs Explained

• The ability

Teaching the Way and Imparting Knowledge

• Teaching the Way and Imparting Knowledge allows students to learn in roughly one-fifth of the normal time. Chen recognizes its usefulness but considers it inferior to the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror, whose rewards directly implant knowledge.
• Chen then attempts thirty consecutive appraisals, pushing his spiritual ability to its current limit. The process severely drains his spiritual power and exposes him to thirty separate streams of historical scenes from the treasures.
• After enduring the mental strain, he receives:
  • 21 additional points of Merit Golden Light, bringing his total to 32
  • Two more Confucian texts: Great Learning Explained and

Doctrine of the Mean Explained

• The Confucian classics increase his wisdom, comprehension, and mental perception, potentially helping him understand the Heaven-Earth Bridge and break through to the Innate Realm.
• Exhausted, Chen restores his spiritual power with the Sitting-in-Oblivion Scripture. After half an hour, he discovers that his spiritual range has expanded from four zhang to four zhang and seven chi.
• He deduces that repeatedly using the perfected Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique stimulates and strengthens his spiritual power.
• This discovery gives him a possible new method for rapid spiritual growth. He also wonders whether his stored Spirit-Communing Pills can further increase his spiritual power and begins experimenting.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun’s cultivation and confidence grow significantly. His Arcane Cultivation reaches four years, and he becomes increasingly ambitious about exploiting his treasure-appraisal resources.
• He demonstrates greater strategic judgment by testing the maximum number of treasures he can appraise safely rather than recklessly exceeding his limits.
• His enhanced wisdom and comprehension make his thinking faster and more insightful. He is able to connect the use of the perfected unsealing technique with the improvement of his spiritual power.
• Chen becomes more conscious of the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror’s extraordinary and possibly unknowable origins, while also recognizing the financial danger of using Money Opens All Doors to investigate it.

Significant Themes

• Growth through disciplined risk: Chen advances by pushing his abilities, but the chapter emphasizes that excessive effort can cause spiritual backlash.
• Knowledge as power: Confucian classics improve Chen’s wisdom and may help him overcome major cultivation barriers, showing that intellectual growth is directly connected to martial and spiritual progress.
• Limits and adaptation: Thirty treasures are established as Chen’s current appraisal limit, encouraging him to strengthen himself before attempting more.
• Accumulation and resource management: Merit Golden Light, treasure rewards, spiritual power, and wealth are all treated as resources that must be carefully used.
• Mystery and overwhelming power: The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror remains an enigmatic artifact whose capabilities far exceed Chen’s understanding.

Character Interactions

• There are no direct interactions with other characters in this chapter.
• Chen’s only meaningful “interaction” is with the treasures, the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror, and the cultivation techniques and abilities he uses. His internal reasoning about teaching future disciples also hints at possible relationships and plans for the future.

Chapter Summary: Zhou Mubai’s Painting and the Previous Crown Prince’s Letter

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Shaojun takes a Spirit-Communing Pill, entering a heightened mental state in which his thoughts, senses, and comprehension become extraordinarily sharp.
• He realizes that the pill effectively accelerates the circulation of the perfected Myriad Spirits Unsealing Technique, allowing his spiritual power to grow rapidly.
• After consuming many more pills, his spiritual range expands from five zhang to approximately twenty zhang—about sixty-seven meters.
• His strengthened spiritual power allows him to:
  • Observe people, spirits, and events throughout the surrounding area.
  • Ignore the courtyard’s Soul-Bewildering Formation.
  • Move a hundred-jin stone pedestal from a distance using spiritual force.
  • Approach sword flight, which requires exceptionally powerful spiritual energy.
• Chen resumes appraising the calligraphy and paintings stored in the cellar. With his enhanced spiritual power, he simultaneously appraises thirty treasures without being overwhelmed by the resulting visions.
• Two particularly valuable items are discovered:
  1. An early painting by Zhou Mubai, later known as the Saint of Painting.
  2. A family letter written by the previous crown prince to the crown princess.
• The letter mentions the crown prince’s fifth younger brother, who is revealed to be the current Shengde Emperor.
• Chen recalls the historical struggle known as the Five Dragons Contending for the Throne. The previous crown prince was once the leading candidate but died after the third prince murdered their father and elder brother. His death ultimately enabled the Shengde Emperor to claim the throne legitimately.
• The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror rewards Chen with Spirit-Communing Pills, Merit Golden Light, explanations of the Book of Changes and Mencius, and various skills related to the traditional four arts.
• Just as he finishes accepting the rewards, Chen suddenly notices something unexpected, setting up the next development.

Character Development

• Chen Shaojun gains a major increase in spiritual strength and control. His spiritual range and practical abilities now surpass those of most Dao Foundation Stage cultivators and even the experienced Treasure Unsealer Wang Xinyuan.
• His enhanced perception demonstrates that he is progressing beyond ordinary treasure appraisal toward more advanced mystical abilities, particularly sword flight and direct interference with the physical world.
• Chen also becomes more confident and efficient. Rather than appraising treasures individually, he can now process dozens at once with little mental strain.
• Zhou Mubai is introduced through his early artwork. Although the painting is technically immature, it already displays the unusual spirituality that foreshadowed his later fame.
• The previous crown prince, later honored as Prince Shengming, is characterized indirectly as a respected and legitimate royal figure whose death helped establish the Shengde Emperor’s claim to the throne.
• The Shengde Emperor is given additional historical context: his rise to power depended partly on the crown prince’s death and the political legitimacy that followed.

Significant Themes

• The relationship between spiritual power and mastery: Chen’s increased spiritual strength improves not only his appraisal abilities but also his perception, combat potential, cultivation, and ability to manipulate reality.
• Hidden value and future greatness: Zhou Mubai’s imperfect early painting contains the spiritual quality that later makes him a legendary artist, emphasizing that greatness may be visible before technical mastery is complete.
• History beneath ordinary objects: The crown prince’s personal letter transforms an apparently mundane family document into a relic connected to a major dynastic succession struggle.
• The instability of political power: The emperor’s legitimacy and position are shown to be tied to murder, sacrifice, and the accidental consequences of the crown prince’s death.
• Accumulation and preparation: Chen’s rewards—spiritual pills, Merit Golden Light, classical knowledge, and artistic skills—gradually build a broad foundation for his future cultivation and abilities.

Character Interactions

• Chen interacts primarily with the treasures and the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror, using his techniques to uncover their origins and hidden value.
• The previous crown prince’s letter reveals his family relationship with the crown princess and hints at his connection with his younger brother, the future Shengde Emperor.
• Zhou Mubai’s artistic development is linked to his teacher, the Confucian scholar Xu Mingsi. Though Zhou eventually surpasses his teacher, the painting shows the early stage of that progression.
• The chapter also recalls the rivalry among the imperial princes during the Five Dragons Contending for the Throne, especially the political relationship between the previous crown prince, the murderous third prince, and the future emperor.