Chapter Summaries

Yue Shuo reached Qi Refining Level Two while Teacher Qi guarded him, then discovered that Qi Xin had returned badly injured. Qi Xin revealed that the Qin Clan was gone.

• After confirming Teacher Qi's sincerity, Yue Shuo resolved to help him reach Foundation Establishment and recovered his Divine Sense.
• Yue Shuo raised his breakthrough chance to one hundred percent and advanced to Qi Refining Level Two using Spirit Stones.
• Qi Xin appeared in the cave bloodied and exhausted, and Azure Feather attacked him before Yue Shuo recognized him.
• Yue Shuo inspected his updated cultivation panel, then practiced making Tier-One Low-Grade talismans while Qi Xin recovered.
• When Yue Shuo asked who had injured him, Qi Xin said that the Qin Clan was gone.

Yue Shuo learned that the Qin Clan had been destroyed and heard that Zhu Wanping, a combat genius from his sister-in-law’s clan, had likely been killed after a sudden rise in cultivation. Qi Xin’s escape from the battle had derailed their plans to join the Five Suns Sect, leaving them wary of all nearby factions.

• Qi Xin told Yue Shuo that the Qin Clan had fallen in a battle between two Foundation Establishment cultivators, while Tian Wan and Zou Chongying were likely safe through their ties to other factions.
• Qi Xin revealed that the Qin Clan had been confirmed to have killed Zhu Wanping, whom Yue Shuo recognized as a clan uncle of his sister-in-law.
• Qi Xin explained that Zhu Wanping’s rapid rise to Qi Refining Level Seven and his enemies may have made others covet his opportunity and target him.
• Yue Shuo resolved to repay Zhu Wanping or his descendants and avenge him if he learned who was responsible.
• Qi Xin said he had been swept into the battle and fled through the chaos, so he could no longer take Yue Shuo to the Five Suns Sect; he urged Yue Shuo to avoid all nearby factions.

Qi Xin explained the Qin Clan's destruction and warned Yue Shuo to avoid the chaos while recovering from his injuries. They agreed to lie low before seeking refuge for their relatives, and Yue Shuo resumed cultivation while caring for Azure Feather.

• Qi Xin told Yue Shuo that Fire Gourd Island's lord was only at Qi Refining Great Perfection and explained why Foundation Establishment was difficult for minor forces.
• Qi Xin revealed that the Qin Clan had secretly cultivated rare Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients, and warned that its Spirit Planters could be endangered if the herbs were not found.
• Yue Shuo apologized for involving Qi Xin in the Qin Clan's downfall, but Qi Xin reassured him and said his own injury would heal with rest.
• Qi Xin advised Yue Shuo to hide from the turmoil, and Yue Shuo said he had informed his eldest brother and would seek refuge before helping their relatives.
• While Qi Xin recuperated, Yue Shuo cultivated, then shared Spirit Rice and a Grain-Repelling Pill with Azure Feather.

Yue Shuo learned about Azure Feather’s potential to mutate, then cultivated until he reached full cultivation and breakthrough readiness. He began crafting talismans to justify an unusually quick breakthrough, while Qi Xin advised him about consolidating his cultivation and revealed that his injuries had not fully healed.

• Qi Xin explained Spirit Beast grades, feeding, and Azure Feather’s unusual intelligence, suggesting it might mutate.
• Yue Shuo repeatedly cultivated, restored his Divine Sense, and fed Azure Feather until his Cultivation Value reached 1500/1500.
• Yue Shuo raised his Breakthrough Chance to 100% and decided to craft talismans before breaking through so his rapid progress would seem plausible.
• Qi Xin saw Yue Shuo crafting talismans and felt relieved that he had stopped grueling cultivation.
• Yue Shuo asked whether Qi Xin’s injuries had healed, and Qi Xin advised him to consolidate after breakthroughs and warned that later stages could require months or years of closed-door cultivation.

Yue Shuo used the supplies Qi Xin gave him to practice talisman crafting, quickly mastering the Water-Arrow Talisman. After drawing a Flawless Talisman, he entered Enlightenment and advanced to Qi Refining Level Three, leaving Qi Xin astonished.

• Qi Xin gave Yue Shuo two thousand sheets of First-Grade Blank Talisman Paper and several bottles of Talisman Ink.
• Yue Shuo chose to practice the Water-Arrow Talisman, finding it easier to draw than other First-Grade Lower-Grade Spirit Talismans.
• Yue Shuo raised his Water-Arrow Talisman proficiency from Beginner to Minor Achievement through days of relentless practice.
• Qi Xin watched Yue Shuo's diligence and became more motivated to heal his injuries.
• Yue Shuo drew a Flawless Talisman, then entered Enlightenment as spiritual energy gathered around him.
• Yue Shuo emerged from Enlightenment at Qi Refining Level Three, stunning Qi Xin.

Yue Shuo reached Qi Refining Level Three and discovered that he could alter his cultivation panel by focusing his intent. Qi Xin attributed Yue Shuo’s breakthrough to his Talisman Dao talent and began explaining spiritual root quality and special constitutions.

• Yue Shuo broke through to Qi Refining Level Three and noticed that some of his panel stats had changed in ways that seemed to reflect his preferences.
• Yue Shuo focused his intent on the panel and changed his cultivation display to 3000/5000, though the effort consumed thirty points of Divine Sense.
• Yue Shuo cultivated in the spiritual energy drawn by a Premium Talisman and gained five cultivation points before the talisman stopped absorbing energy.
• Yue Shuo told Qi Xin he had reached Qi Refining Level Three, and Qi Xin credited the breakthrough to enlightenment after Yue Shuo completed a flawless talisman.
• Qi Xin explained that cultivation speed depended on more than the number of Spiritual Roots, then began discussing spiritual root quality and special constitutions.

Qi Xin explained the ranks of Spiritual Roots and described distant cultivation powers as Yue Shuo considered where he could pursue a safer path to longevity. The chapter ended with Qi Xin introducing the Scarlet Feather Sect as a possible destination and noting its strong Lineage factions.

• Qi Xin explained that Spiritual Roots varied in quality and that major sects also valued temperament and comprehension when choosing disciples.
• Yue Shuo asked about great powers, and Qi Xin told him about the Profound Cloud Sect in Cloud Prefecture and its Dao Academies.
• Qi Xin described the Sea Dragon Sect’s destruction after the Outer Sea’s Sea God Hall retaliated with beast tides, leaving no human Nascent Soul power in the Eastern Sea Region.
• Qi Xin explained that he had considered the Scarlet Feather Sect on Bright Tortoise Isle, a Golden Core power with three Golden Core cultivators.
• Yue Shuo asked about the Scarlet Feather Sect, and Qi Xin said it accepted disciples only on Bright Tortoise Isle and had powerful Lineage factions.

Yue Shuo and Qi Xin planned to travel to Bright Tortoise Isle by way of Fire Gourd Island, where they would seek sea transport and a higher-tier cultivation method. After Qi Xin gave Yue Shuo an advancement reward, Yue Shuo began consolidating his cultivation and training toward Qi Refining, Fourth Layer.

• Yue Shuo asked Qi Xin about nearby Golden Core powers, and Qi Xin explained that the nearest sect was the Five Suns Sect while Bright Tortoise Isle lay far from the Qin Clan.
• Qi Xin told Yue Shuo that long-distance sea travel required a safe vessel, and they agreed to visit Bright Tortoise Isle while investigating opportunities along the way.
• Qi Xin explained that Rogue Cultivators were gathering on Fire Gourd Island and that its growing market could attract more sea vessels.
• Yue Shuo and Qi Xin decided to search for a five-element cultivation method at the markets on Fire Gourd Island and Bright Tortoise Isle.
• Qi Xin gave Yue Shuo one hundred Spirit Stones as an advancement reward and urged him to consolidate his cultivation.
• Yue Shuo chose cultivation over Talisman Crafting and practiced for several hours until the Spirit Stones in his hands turned to powder.

Yue Shuo used Spirit Stones to rapidly advance his cultivation and reached Qi Refining, Fourth Layer after another Enlightenment breakthrough. Qi Xin gave him two spell jade slips and proposed traveling to Bright Tortoise Isle, but was stunned when Yue Shuo demonstrated the Object-Control Technique before he could explain it.

• Yue Shuo discovered that Spirit Stones increased his cultivation efficiency and spent nearly six days cultivating until his Qi Refining, Third Layer cultivation bar was full.
• Yue Shuo raised his breakthrough chance to one hundred percent, then crafted talismans until a Flawless Talisman accompanied another Enlightenment breakthrough.
• Qi Xin supplied Spirit Stones to steady the breakthrough, and Yue Shuo advanced to Qi Refining, Fourth Layer with his attributes increased by twenty percent.
• Yue Shuo asked Qi Xin to teach him the Object-Control Technique and Wind Control, and Qi Xin handed him two jade slips.
• Qi Xin suggested they set out for Bright Tortoise Isle and began warning Yue Shuo that the Object-Control Technique was difficult, but Yue Shuo made a Spirit Pearl circle around him.

Yue Shuo quickly learned to refine and control Qi Xin’s Greenwood Sword, impressing his teacher with his talent and powerful Divine Sense. Qi Xin decided they should seek out sword arts and leave for Fire Gourd Island, where they disguised themselves before setting out.

• Qi Xin gave Yue Shuo a Greenwood Sword and explained how its Wood Spirit Root helped him control it.
• Yue Shuo refined the sword quickly and practiced flying it, while noting how Spell Power and Divine Sense were consumed and restored.
• Qi Xin explained the limits of the Object-Control Technique and considered finding Yue Shuo sword arts, recognizing that he needed a more capable teacher.
• Yue Shuo asked when they would go to Fire Gourd Island, and Qi Xin agreed to investigate the market and seek treatment for his injuries.
• Qi Xin and Yue Shuo used Form-Illusion Talismans to disguise themselves before leaving the cave.

Qi Xin and Yue Shuo traveled by magical boat while Qi Xin taught Yue Shuo about artifacts, and Yue Shuo discovered his Greenwood Sword’s control range reached about one hundred meters. Their attempt to avoid a group of pursuers failed when Qin Zhi drew them into the conflict, leaving Qi Xin with a storage bag as the group scattered.

• Qi Xin and Yue Shuo disguised themselves, concealed their auras, and set out by magical boat after Qi Xin checked that the coast was clear.
• Qi Xin explained how passenger artifacts worked and taught Yue Shuo about their spell-power consumption.
• Yue Shuo tested his Greenwood Sword and discovered that he could control it from as far as one hundred meters away.
• Qi Xin spotted two injured Qin Clan members pursued by three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators and tried to steer clear of them.
• Qin Zhi called Qi Xin his clansman, and a pursuer sent up a water column that halted the boat as Qin Zhi threw Qi Xin a storage bag and urged everyone to flee separately.

Qi Xin and Yue Shuo fled from bandit cultivators after Qi Xin exposed Qin Zhi’s attempt to shift the danger onto them. When a pursuer caught up, Yue Shuo entered the sea as planned while Qi Xin fought above, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Qi Xin attacked Qin Zhi and his companion, exposing their thrown storage pouch as a scheme to divert the bandits, and slowed their escape with talismans.
• The bandits overwhelmed Qin Zhi and his companion, then one pursuer chased Qi Xin and Yue Shuo.
• Qi Xin told Yue Shuo to jump into the sea, turn invisible, and stay near their route while Qi Xin confronted the pursuer.
• Qi Xin shouted for Yue Shuo to jump and launched talismans at the pursuer as Yue Shuo entered the water unseen.
• Yue Shuo watched from underwater as the pursuer emerged unharmed inside a giant black turtle shell and asked Qi Xin if he had finished throwing talismans.

Qi Xin stalled the bandit leader while Yue Shuo hid beneath the sea and prepared an ambush. Yue Shuo’s layered water attacks shattered the bandit’s defenses, and an azure streak struck him as he fled.

• Qi Xin kept the bandit leader occupied with spirit talismans while Yue Shuo descended into the sea and concealed himself nearby.
• Yue Shuo discovered his Divine Sense could perceive the cultivators’ Spiritual Awareness without being detected by it.
• Yue Shuo sent the Greenwood Sword toward the bandit, then unleashed Thousand Waves Slash to batter his defensive barrier.
• Yue Shuo’s water arrows, a rising attack from below, and a golden gleam broke the bandit’s barrier as he tried to escape with an Escape Talisman.
• The bandit fled nearly a hundred meters, but an azure streak swept past him from beyond the battle zone.

Yue Shuo killed one of the three robbery cultivator brothers and escaped with Qi Xin, who was recovering from his injuries. They returned to their rock cave and discussed how to avoid being targeted again, while the other two brothers searched the site and planned to look for their eldest brother on the way to Fire Gourd Island.

• Yue Shuo emerged from the sea after killing the eldest robbery cultivator and collected the man's belongings while checking that Qi Xin was safe.
• Yue Shuo sensed malice approaching and used the Thousand Waves Formula to propel himself and Qi Xin away from the two remaining robbery cultivators.
• Yue Shuo piloted a Magical Artifact boat back to the rock cave, where he and Qi Xin activated the formation and made further preparations.
• Yue Shuo reasoned that the robbery cultivators had attacked because they looked weak and suggested using talismans to make their aura seem stronger.
• Qi Xin gave Yue Shuo the spoils from the dead cultivator, and the two surviving robbery cultivators searched the battle site before deciding to head toward Fire Gourd Island.

Qi Xin and Yue Shuo prepared to continue toward Fire Gourd Island, discussing talismans and Yue Shuo’s unusual affinity for water. Qi Xin began making High-Grade Spirit Talismans while explaining Spiritual Awareness and Divine Sense.

• Qi Xin realized he needed to replenish his High-Grade Spirit Talismans before facing the enemies pursuing them.
• Yue Shuo planned to make Water-Arrow Talismans and reasoned that he could explain the strength he had displayed in battle as enlightenment and mastery of his cultivation art.
• Qi Xin questioned Yue Shuo about his cultivation and water-element affinity, and Yue Shuo noticed that his Water Spirit Root had reached seven points.
• Qi Xin suggested Yue Shuo might have a Water Spirit Body, and they agreed to travel without making firm plans.
• Qi Xin warned Yue Shuo to deal with items taken from enemies because Foundation Establishment cultivators could leave Divine Sense marks on objects.
• Qi Xin explained the different uses of Spiritual Awareness and Divine Sense, then began drawing a High-Grade Spirit Talisman.

Qi Xin taught Yue Shuo about spirit talismans and Magical Artifact formation patterns while they recovered their Divine Sense and Spell Power through meditation. Yue Shuo then practiced drawing Water-Arrow Talismans, producing one Flawless Talisman among his successes.

• Qi Xin explained that secret arts were difficult to turn into talismans and gave Yue Shuo two high-grade Golden Light Slash spirit talismans.
• Qi Xin examined Yue Shuo's damaged Black Wind Cone, explained its formation patterns, and meditated to recover his energy.
• Yue Shuo learned to use an energy-saving state of Divine Sense and restored it through meditation, though his cultivation and technique proficiency did not increase.
• After nearly two hours, Qi Xin resumed crafting talismans, succeeding three times in twelve attempts while Yue Shuo watched.
• Yue Shuo drew forty-nine Water-Arrow Talismans, succeeding fifteen times and producing one Flawless Talisman on his final attempt.

Yue Shuo and Qi Xin spent two days meditating and crafting spirit talismans, while Yue Shuo advanced his Talisman Crafting skill to Peak First-Tier and refined the Black Wind Cone. After using the last of their materials, they left the rock cave and cautiously resumed their journey.

• Yue Shuo and Qi Xin alternated between meditation and crafting talismans, trading some of their completed talismans.
• Yue Shuo chose to stay two more days to craft talismans and remain wary of the surviving bandit cultivators.
• Yue Shuo advanced his Talisman Crafting skill to Peak First-Tier and saved the Enlightenment opportunity from his advancement.
• Yue Shuo crafted two more Flawless Water-Arrow Talismans, then refined the Black Wind Cone until he could control it freely.
• Qi Xin gave Yue Shuo the last five sheets of blank talisman paper, and the two finished their preparations.
• Azure Feather scouted more than ten miles ahead before Yue Shuo and Qi Xin left the rock cave and continued their journey.

Yue Shuo and Qi Xin traveled toward Fire Gourd Island, discussing sea travel risks, ship cabins, and the high cost of Foundation Establishment Pills. They reached the bustling island, where a local cultivator welcomed Qi Xin and offered to guide them.

• Yue Shuo and Qi Xin continued their journey aboard a slower but easier-to-pilot Flying Magical Artifact while Yue Shuo slowly refined the High-Grade Flying Artifact.
• Yue Shuo questioned Qi Xin about avoiding their route, and Qi Xin explained the dangers of Sea Beasts, long-distance voyages, and traveling without a cabin.
• Qi Xin told Yue Shuo that a private cabin cost around two thousand Spirit Stones and that Foundation Establishment Pills could fetch over ten thousand Spirit Stones at auction.
• Yue Shuo and Qi Xin approached Fire Gourd Island in disguise, with Qi Xin showing Qi Refining Level Nine and Yue Shuo concealing his cultivation at Qi Refining Level Two.
• Qi Xin explained that a Fire Vein beneath Fire Gourd Island could provide flames for Alchemy and Artifact Refining.
• After they landed at the island's plaza, a middle-aged cultivator welcomed Qi Xin and offered to act as their guide.

Yue Shuo and Qi Xin rented a cave dwelling on Fire Gourd Island and explored the market, where Qi Xin taught him about safety, spiritual veins, and cultivation knowledge. They entered a talisman shop to trade and learn about island prices, while Yue Shuo planned to buy gifts for his eldest brother and sister-in-law.

• Qi Xin hired a middle-aged guide and rented a rudimentary cave dwelling for a month.
• Qi Xin set up a formation in the cave dwelling, gave Yue Shuo an array token, and warned him to inspect rented lodgings and beware of wilderness spiritual veins.
• Qi Xin led Yue Shuo to explore the market, explaining that its formation gathered spiritual energy and provided defense.
• Yue Shuo decided to buy gifts for his eldest brother and sister-in-law before meeting them.
• Qi Xin took Yue Shuo into a talisman shop and asked the shopkeeper about business and prices on the island.

Yue Shuo explored Fire Gourd Island’s market with Qi Xin and learned how cultivators bought and sold goods. His unusual Divine Sense detected a bright glow from a piece of Lightning-Struck Wood, and he questioned Qi Xin’s judgment that its asking price was too high.

• Qi Xin bought blank talisman paper and other inexpensive goods, then took Yue Shuo to the street stalls.
• Qi Xin explained that cultivators generally trusted reputable shops more than stalls, where goods could be inferior or risky to buy.
• Yue Shuo used his Divine Sense to inspect items and noticed hidden features in several stall goods, but found nothing he wanted.
• Yue Shuo’s Divine Sense flashed brightly over a section of High-Grade First-Tier Lightning-Struck Wood, which its stall owner would trade only for costly pills.
• Qi Xin rejected the asking price as too high, but Yue Shuo asked whether the wood cost only five hundred Spirit Stones.