Chapter Summaries

Yue Shuo and Qi Xin visited He Clan Pill Pavilion to learn the market’s prices, where Yue Shuo recognized two surviving robbery cultivators. They returned to their cave abode and decided to stay on the island while Azure Feather watched the men from a distance.

• Qi Xin agreed to help Yue Shuo look for High-Grade pills to trade for the Lightning-Struck Wood.
• Yue Shuo and Qi Xin visited He Clan Pill Pavilion, where Yue Shuo sensed two familiar cultivators who were members of the robbery cultivator trio.
• Qi Xin bought ten bottles of Mid-Grade Grain-Repelling Pills after asking about the pavilion’s prices.
• Yue Shuo told Qi Xin that the two cultivators were the surviving robbery cultivators, and Qi Xin warned him not to panic or leave the island.
• Yue Shuo offered to have Azure Feather watch the two men from afar, and Qi Xin told him not to go out alone.

Qi Xin kept Yue Shuo cautious while they waited to see whether the rogue cultivators would leave Fire Gourd Island, then accompanied him to buy pills and supplies. After Yue Shuo sold talismans for Spirit Stones, Qi Xin proposed selling a larger batch directly to the market lord, and Yue Shuo entrusted him with four hundred Water-Arrow Talismans.

• Qi Xin told Yue Shuo to wait a few days before contacting his family or deciding whether to reveal their identities, and Yue Shuo returned to the cave dwelling to cultivate.
• Yue Shuo tried cultivating without a Spirit Stone, saw his progress increase by six, and asked Qi Xin to accompany him to buy Spirit Pills.
• Qi Xin took Yue Shuo to He Clan Pill Pavilion and around the market, where they bought pills and talisman-crafting materials and sold talismans at several shops.
• Yue Shuo sold one hundred Low-Grade Water-Arrow Talismans for two hundred and twenty Spirit Stones and used them to buy two bottles of Mid-Grade Spirit Pills and one bottle of High-Grade Spirit Pills.
• Qi Xin suggested selling a large quantity of Yue Shuo's talismans directly to the market lord, and Yue Shuo handed him four hundred Water-Arrow Talismans to handle.

Qi Xin met Fire Gourd Island’s master to discuss joining the island and trade, while Yue Shuo recognized his third brother, Yue Tan, accompanying the master. After Qi Xin agreed to take him to see his family, they left the market and reached a nearby residential area, where Yue Shuo saw signs that his family was alive.

• The Fire Gourd Island Master visited Qi Xin and invited him to join the island, then exchanged storage bags with him.
• Yue Shuo recognized the boy accompanying the island master as his third brother, Yue Tan, but Yue Tan did not recognize him.
• Qi Xin gave Yue Shuo Spirit Stones and pills from the trade, and Yue Shuo asked to visit his family.
• Qi Xin agreed, sent a message, and took Yue Shuo out of the market after confirming the suspected rogue cultivators had stayed in the stall district.
• Qi Xin explained Fire Gourd Island’s market prices and tested Yue Shuo’s understanding of why high-grade resources cost more.
• Qi Xin and Yue Shuo reached a residential area, where Yue Shuo saw a woman washing dishes and realized his family was still alive.

Yue Shuo reunited with Madam Su, who mistook his return for a ghost and mourned him before he proved he was alive. He learned that his father, eldest brother, and sister-in-law had gone to sea with a search party, and discovered that his father had once been a cultivator; Yue Shuo ended by asking what level of Qi Refining his father had reached.

• Yue Shuo entered the courtyard and told Madam Su he was hungry, prompting her to drop her wok and rush to embrace him while grieving for her supposedly dead son.
• Madam Su mistook Qi Xin for a ghost and tried to protect Yue Shuo until Yue Shuo used a Fire-Starting Talisman and explained that he was alive.
• Madam Su told Yue Shuo that his father, eldest brother, and sister-in-law had joined a search party looking for him near Yellow Town and the surrounding islands.
• Madam Su explained that Yue Shuo's father had recovered some cultivation with the Island Lord's medicine and had gone out to sea to work off his debt.
• Yue Shuo learned that his father had once been a cultivator and asked what level of Qi Refining he had reached.

Yue Shuo visited his mother, learned more about his family's situation, and sent Azure Feather to deliver talismans and a message to his eldest brother. After returning to the market with Qi Xin, he proposed using his teacher's name to buy pills for a trade involving Lightning-Struck Wood.

• Madam Su told Yue Shuo that his father was still recovering from serious injuries and that his father and sister-in-law were cultivators, while warning him about his father's enemies in the Qin Clan.
• Azure Feather alerted Yue Shuo that two rogue cultivators had left the island, and Yue Shuo prepared talismans and defensive spirit talismans for his eldest brother and sent them with the bird.
• Yue Shuo left his mother with a bundle of supplies and promised to visit again at noon the next day.
• Yue Shuo declined Qi Xin's suggestion to go out to sea and search for his family, choosing to wait for Azure Feather's message instead.
• Yue Shuo asked Qi Xin to lend his name so he could buy four bottles of High-Grade Spirit-Gathering Pills with five hundred Spirit Stones for the Lightning-Struck Wood trade.

Yue Shuo weighed how to handle his family’s situation, tested a Mid-Grade Spirit Pill, and made Water-Arrow Talismans while waiting for Qi Xin. He learned that his family had settled on Fire Gourd Island and received the Lightning-Struck Wood and a bottle of Spirit Pills, but noticed that Qi Xin had brought only one bottle.

• Yue Shuo considered his family’s finances and whether he could bring some relatives to Bright Tortoise Isle, then decided to ask them about their plans when they met.
• Yue Shuo refined a Mid-Grade Spirit Pill and discovered that it increased his cultivation while adding Pill Poison.
• Yue Shuo crafted Water-Arrow Talismans and recovered his Divine Sense before Qi Xin returned.
• Azure Feather brought Yue Shuo a letter from his Eldest Brother, who said the family had settled on Fire Gourd Island and invited Yue Shuo to meet them.
• Qi Xin explained that the family was likely near Hemu Island searching for Yue Shuo after the Qin Clan Spirit Fish Farm was damaged, then gave Yue Shuo the Lightning-Struck Wood and one bottle of Spirit Pills.
• Yue Shuo asked Qi Xin why he had brought only one bottle when he had expected four.

Yue Shuo studied the treasure hidden inside the Lightning-Struck Wood and had Azure Feather peck through its nearly unbreakable shell. After cultivating through the night, he woke to find Azure Feather had opened a hole and exposed the treasure.

• Yue Shuo examined the Lightning-Struck Wood with his divine sense and saw a slender, shining object inside, but his Greenwood Sword and Black Wind Cone could not cut through it.
• Yue Shuo had Azure Feather peck at the wood, and the bird’s beak absorbed lightning as it changed and made a small dent.
• Yue Shuo fed Azure Feather Spirit-Gathering Pills, Spirit Rice, and Spirit Stones while refining pills and cultivating himself.
• Yue Shuo wondered whether lightning was tempering Azure Feather and considered testing his own body, but decided to spar with his elder brother instead.
• Yue Shuo cultivated through the night and, when he awoke the next morning, saw the treasure exposed through a hole Azure Feather had pecked open.

Yue Shuo discovered how the Beast-Taming Token affected Azure Feather and considered replacing its control with his own Divine Sense, but waited until he could learn how to undo it safely. He restored his cultivation by consuming High-Grade Spirit Pills, bringing himself close to filling his Qi Refining, Fourth Layer cultivation.

• Yue Shuo found the Lightning-Struck Wood intact inside but noticed Azure Feather had pecked a large hole in it and worried the bird had eaten the wood chips.
• Yue Shuo discovered a Beast-Taming Token imprint in Azure Feather’s head and realized his Divine Sense could potentially replace the token’s control, but he decided to learn how to undo it first.
• Yue Shuo checked his progress and found his cultivation had increased to 5688/8000 while his Pill Poison had fallen by one point.
• Yue Shuo put away the Lightning-Struck Wood, ordered Azure Feather to keep watch, and swallowed a High-Grade Spirit Pill.
• Yue Shuo consumed his remaining nine High-Grade Spirit Pills, raising his cultivation to 7288/8000 and his Pill Poison to 19/36.

Yue Shuo used High-Grade Spirit Pills to fill his cultivation and broke through again, while Qi Xin resolved to learn more about Yue Shuo’s unusual aptitude and help him find a master. During the breakthrough, Yue Shuo discovered he could deliberately flush Pill Poison from his meridians.

• Yue Shuo asked Qi Xin to buy High-Grade Spirit Pills, and Qi Xin gave him two bottles while promising to support his cultivation resources until he reached Qi Refining, Late Stage.
• Yue Shuo consumed the pills, filled his cultivation, and repeatedly circulated his method while pouring Divine Sense and Spell Power into the treasure inside the Lightning-Struck Wood.
• After his breakthrough chance reached one hundred percent, Yue Shuo began advancing with Azure Feather standing guard, and Qi Xin sensed the breakthrough from the outer hall.
• Qi Xin wondered whether Yue Shuo had an extraordinary physique and resolved to seek more knowledge; he also planned to take Yue Shuo with Fang Tong to find a master after Yue Shuo spent time with his family.
• As Yue Shuo advanced, he deliberately directed his Spell Power to scour Pill Poison from his meridians, and nearly half of it seeped out through his skin.

After reaching Qi Refining, Fifth Layer, Yue Shuo decided to return to the Yue Family on Fire Gourd Island, and Qi Xin chose to accompany him. They agreed on what story to tell outsiders and discussed whether Yue Shuo would remain on the island with his family.

• Yue Shuo advanced to Qi Refining, Fifth Layer and considered buying High-Grade Spirit Pills to reach the next layer.
• Yue Shuo told Qi Xin he was returning home, and Qi Xin examined his cultivation before Yue Shuo concealed it as Qi Refining Level Two.
• Yue Shuo decided he did not need to disguise himself or hide his return from the Yue Family, while Qi Xin insisted on accompanying him for safety.
• Qi Xin and Yue Shuo agreed to tell outsiders that a talisman master surnamed Wei had saved Yue Shuo, and to tell the Yue Family the truth about Qi Xin's help.
• Yue Shuo said he would continue studying away from home under Qi Xin's arrangements, and they set out for the Yue Family, where everyone was waiting.

Yue Shuo returned home with his teacher, Qi Xin, and reunited with his family, who welcomed him while worrying about the talismans he had given them. After meeting the family, Yue Shuo spoke privately with Yue Tan, who revealed that his master advised him not to rely too heavily on pills for cultivation.

• Madam Su and the Yue family waited anxiously for Yue Shuo, concerned that he had given away many valuable talismans.
• Yue Tan welcomed Yue Shuo home, and Yue Shuo introduced his teacher, Talisman Master Wei, to his family.
• Qi Xin revealed that his real name was Qi Xin and that he had previously served as a talisman master in the Qin Clan; Yue Gu and his wife thanked him for arranging their escort to Fire Gourd Island.
• Yue Shuo followed Yue Tan to another room, where he noticed that his family had arranged it to resemble his old room.
• Yue Shuo activated a Soundproof Talisman, and Yue Tan explained that his alchemist master discouraged him from using too many pills to raise his cultivation.

Yue Shuo learned that Yue Tan had studied cultivation to find a way to cure his innate weakness, and heard how their family had been captured by pirates before Yue Tan became Qi Xin’s apprentice. Meanwhile, Yue Qingxiao asked Qi Xin to take Yue Tan along to Bright Tortoise Isle, leaving Qi Xin considering the request.

• Yue Tan explained bottlenecks and revealed that he had studied cultivation with Yue Qingxiao from the age of six in hopes of curing Yue Shuo.
• Yue Shuo gave Yue Tan stacks of Foundational Talismans, and Yue Tan told him their father had planned to take him to the Yue Family to cultivate and seek spiritual treasures for Yue Shuo.
• Yue Tan recounted how pirates captured the family, how Qi Xin took him as an apprentice after discovering his Spiritual Root, and how Qi Xin helped Yue Qingxiao regain his cultivation.
• Yue Qingxiao asked Qi Xin to bring Yue Tan with him to Bright Tortoise Isle, and Qi Xin frowned at the request.

Yue Qingxiao considered how to move his family off Lesser Desolate Island and find a way to reconnect with his lineage, while Qi Xin offered to help them leave Fire Gourd Island together. The chapter ended with Yue Qingxiao accepting Qi Xin’s support and expressing his gratitude.

• Yue Qingxiao regretted asking Qi Xin to take his third son to Bright Tortoise Isle and weighed the family’s need to leave Lesser Desolate Island.
• Qi Xin invited Yue Qingxiao’s family to travel with his group and explained that moving them together would be safer and easier than leaving them behind.
• Yue Qingxiao said he wanted to repay his debt to the Lord of Fire Gourd Island before departing.
• Qi Xin told Yue Qingxiao not to worry about the debt and offered to speak on the family’s behalf if they chose to leave Fire Gourd Island.
• Yue Qingxiao bowed to Qi Xin and thanked him for his help.

Yue Shuo reunited with his family and learned that Yue Qingxiao had planned to send Third back to the Yue Family. After the women left, Yue Shuo raised the idea of taking Third to cultivate at a great sect and sealed the family’s private discussion with a Soundproofing Talisman.

• Qi Xin agreed to speak with the Island Lord on the Yue Family’s behalf in several days, with a late-stage cultivator accompanying him.
• Qi Xin left Yue Shuo with his family for the night and gave him a Voice-Transmission Talisman and several Defensive Talismans.
• Yue Shuo spoke with his brothers and learned more about cultivation before asking Yue Qingxiao where he had planned to take Third.
• Yue Qingxiao said he planned to take Third back to the Yue Family, while Madam Su initially mistook his words for a threat to send Third away.
• Yue Shuo proposed taking Third to cultivate at a great sect, then placed a Soundproofing Talisman so the four Yue men could speak privately.

Yue Qingxiao explained his sons’ past and why he had not arranged a marriage for Yue Shuo, who said he would take Yue Tan with him to cultivate. Yue Tan agreed and revealed that he was bullied at his master’s residence, while Yue Qingxiao disclosed that Tan’er had a Fire-Element Single Spirit Root.

• Yue Qingxiao told Yue Gu and Yue Shuo about the dangers he had faced and explained that Yue Shuo’s health had made him avoid arranging a marriage for him.
• Yue Shuo said Teacher Qi would agree to let him take Yue Tan along, and Yue Tan accepted the offer after describing how others at his master’s residence bullied and excluded him.
• Yue Gu and Yue Shuo became angry on Yue Tan’s behalf, while Yue Tan said he could sense ill intentions and avoid trouble.
• Yue Qingxiao told his sons not to spread the news that Yue Tan possessed a Fire-Element Single Spirit Root.

Yue Shuo examined his brothers to compare their Spiritual Roots and discovered he could use his Divine Sense and Spell Power to form a panel inside Yue Gu. The panel revealed Yue Gu had a hidden Lightning Spirit Root, leaving Yue Shuo with the possibility that he could inspect more of his family’s cultivation secrets.

• Yue Qingxiao explained that Spiritual Root tests could be distorted with Spirit Pearls and that legendary treasures could grant Acquired Spirit Roots.
• Yue Tan told Yue Shuo that his master had found he had Three-Element Spirit Roots, including a strong Fire Spirit Root.
• Yue Shuo asked Yue Tan and Yue Gu to let him examine their bodies, while Yue Qingxiao watched the brothers.
• Yue Shuo’s Divine Sense and Spell Power began forming a panel as he examined Yue Gu, consuming much of his strength.
• Yue Shuo completed the panel and discovered that Yue Gu had a Hidden Lightning Spirit Root rated 7.

Yue Shuo discovered that Yue Gu had a hidden Thunder Spirit Root and helped his eldest brother begin cultivating. Yue Gu successfully drew in spirit energy and formed his first wisp of Spell Power.

• Yue Shuo saw that Yue Gu possessed a Thunder Spirit Root with a value of 7, while Yue Qingxiao sensed that Yue Shuo had reached the middle stage of Qi Refining.
• Yue Shuo told Yue Qingxiao that Yue Gu had a Hidden Spirit Root, and Yue Qingxiao suggested that Yue Gu try an Attribute-less Cultivation Method.
• Yue Shuo gave Yue Qingxiao seven First-Tier cultivation methods he had copied, and Yue Qingxiao handed the Origin Return Art to Yue Gu.
• Yue Shuo helped Yue Gu prepare Spirit-Drawing Incense, Spirit Stones, and Spirit Rice, while Yue Tan and Yue Qingxiao explained that the rice would take time to refine.
• Yue Gu meditated, drew in spirit energy, formed his first wisp of Spell Power, and hugged Yue Shuo in excitement.

Yue Gu discovered that he had a Thunder Variant Spirit Root, prompting Yue Shuo’s family to wonder whether their mother also had one. As Yue Tan avoided hostility on Fire Gourd Island, Yue Shuo helped him prepare to cultivate safely before the family left.

• Yue Gu completed Spirit Induction and revealed a Thunder Variant Spirit Root, while Yue Shuo noticed traces of lightning tempering his Spell Power.
• Yue Tan wondered whether their mother had a Spiritual Root, so Yue Shuo suggested that she try cultivating the Origin Return Art, and Yue Qingxiao went to find her.
• Yue Shuo copied the Origin Return Art for Yue Gu, explained its slow pace and benefits, and returned some Spirit-Drawing Incense for their mother to use.
• Yue Tan told Yue Shuo that he had taken leave because rogue cultivators and hostile apprentices made Fire Gourd Island unsafe, and he planned to avoid a fight until he could grow stronger.
• Yue Shuo gave Yue Tan Qi-Concealing Talismans and Spirit Stones, while encouraging him to study alchemy and become self-reliant.

Yue Shuo encouraged his mother to cultivate and discussed the family’s future with Yue Qingxiao, learning that his father had planned to take them across a hundred thousand sea miles to join the Yue Family in Sea Prefecture. Yue Shuo angrily challenged the reckless plan, leaving their disagreement unresolved.

• Yue Shuo watched Yue Tan cultivate and noticed that his younger brother progressed faster than Yue Gu had.
• Yue Shuo gave Yue Qingxiao the remaining Spirit-Drawing Incense and urged Madam Su to practice meditation and cultivation.
• Yue Shuo used a Soundproof Talisman to ask Yue Qingxiao about Teacher Qi’s proposal to move the family to Bright Tortoise Isle and the Scarlet Feather Sect.
• Yue Qingxiao put the decision about moving in Yue Shuo’s hands, and Yue Shuo explained his arrangements while learning about the Yue Family and its feud with the Qin Clan.
• Yue Shuo learned that Yue Qingxiao had intended to take the family to Sea Prefecture to enter the Yue Family’s genealogy, and he angrily questioned how his father expected to make the dangerous journey.

Yue Shuo discovered that his father, Yue Qingxiao, had reached half-step Foundation Establishment and questioned him about his cultivation skills and experience. After learning about Yue Qingxiao’s injury, debts, and recovery needs, Yue Shuo considered prioritizing Alchemy.

• Yue Qingxiao recognized Yue Shuo’s spiritual pressure as half-step Foundation Establishment and, shaken, explained why he had wanted to take Yue Shuo’s younger brother to the big island.
• Yue Shuo agreed to wait for his teacher and abandon the idea of renting a fishing boat because the sea had become unsafe.
• Yue Shuo questioned Yue Qingxiao about his knowledge of cultivation arts and learned several techniques and spells, including that the Illusory Breath Technique and Lesser Divine Expansion Art existed.
• Yue Qingxiao told Yue Shuo that recovering to Qi Refining, Sixth Layer required spiritual food, while reaching Qi Refining Level Seven required a First-Tier top-grade Life Essence Pill or a Second-Tier life-element spiritual item.
• Yue Shuo considered whether to spend his time improving his Alchemy skill so he could make Spirit-Gathering Pills.