Chapter Summaries

Ning Fa reviewed the Ning Clan’s recent gains and losses and advised against joining the Four Symbols Merchant Guild until the clan knew more about it. More than two years later, Duanmu forces were locked in a prolonged battle against the Black Spirit Church on the Blood Jade Plateau.

• Ning Zhongjiu gave Ning Fa Ning Zhongyuan’s letter, which reported Ning Nanqing’s Foundation Establishment, a clash with the Wu Family, and the Four Symbols Merchant Guild’s offer to take in the Ning Clan.
• Ning Fa told Ning Zhongjiu that the clan should remain cautious and observe the Four Symbols Merchant Guild before considering its offer, and Ning Zhongjiu agreed to convey his view to Ning Zhongyuan.
• Ning Fa learned that Ning Yuwen had returned to the ninth level of Qi Condensation and was expected to achieve Foundation Establishment within several years.
• Ning Fa prepared to use the army’s three-month rest before the Blood Jade Plateau campaign to refine pills and pursue a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• More than two years later, Duanmu forces had spent two years fighting the Black Spirit Church on the Blood Jade Plateau, where the church defended Blood Jade City with a grand formation and three Golden Core Cultivators.

After the Duanmu Family broke Blood Jade City's formation and captured the city, Duanmu Ling sent Ning Fa to seize A-grade Medicine Garden No. 1 as her contest with Duanmu Pojun intensified. Ning Fa arrived with his team and recognized Xiao Yu among the cultivators inside the garden's defensive formation.

• The Duanmu Family endured two years of heavy losses before shattering Blood Jade City's third-grade grand formation and defeating the defenders.
• Duanmu Ling ordered Ning Fa and three other leaders to capture resource sites, assigning Ning Fa the important A-grade Medicine Garden No. 1.
• Ning Fa's rise to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and his victories over powerful enemies earned him great fame and a place among Duanmu Ling's most valued followers.
• Ning Fa flew toward the medicine garden with Ning Zhongjiu, Cui Hong, Pan Jiao, Cao Xian, Cheng Zhirou, and He Rong.
• The team reached the garden, where cultivators were harvesting herbs behind a fully activated Quasi-Third-grade formation, and Ning Fa recognized Xiao Yu.

Ning Fa negotiated the Zhao Family’s safe withdrawal from the Spirit Medicine Garden and reunited with Xiao Yu, who warned him that the Black Spirit Church had powerful reinforcements. After the Zhao Family departed with an exchange of pills for the garden’s control array disk, Ning Fa prepared for Duanmu Pojun’s approaching forces.

• Ning Fa offered the Zhao Family safe passage if they surrendered the Spirit Medicine Garden, and Xiao Yu persuaded the Third Elder to accept after negotiating for more time to gather spirit herbs.
• The Zhao Family released the garden’s restrictions, and Xiao Yu reunited with Ning Fa after nearly ten years apart.
• Xiao Yu warned Ning Fa that the Black Spirit Church had powerful reinforcements but could not explain more because of an oath.
• Ning Fa gave Xiao Yu cultivation pills and exchanged Peizhi Pills for the Zhao Family’s control array disk before the family left by flying boat.
• Ning Fa reactivated the garden’s grand array as several flying boats raced toward the mountain peak, bringing the confrontation with Duanmu Pojun’s people closer.

Ning Fa defended the B-1 Spirit Medicine Garden against Wu Tianxiang and Duanmu Ze, using a powerful area-wide lightning attack to repel their assault. Duanmu Pojun arrived and demanded the garden, but Ning Fa refused to yield.

• Wu Tianxiang led a larger force to the garden and demanded that Ning Fa hand it over.
• Duanmu Ze offered Ning Fa the B-2 Spirit Medicine Garden in exchange, but Ning Fa refused and challenged them to attack.
• Duanmu Ze ordered an assault, and Ning Fa countered with his Dragon-Breaking Spear and a vast silver lightning storm that injured many attackers.
• Ning Fa renewed the thundercloud above the battlefield, leaving Wu Tianxiang and Duanmu Ze unsure how to overcome him.
• Duanmu Pojun arrived and offered Ning Fa generous compensation to leave, but Ning Fa refused to surrender the garden.

Ning Fa and his allies defended the Spirit Medicine Garden against Duanmu Pojun until Duanmu Kui arrived and ordered the Duanmu forces to withdraw. Feng Jue then revealed that Duanmu Ling had suffered a severe soul injury, leaving Ning Fa to reconsider his plans and turn to Cheng Zhirou as a backup.

• Duanmu Pojun attacked the Spirit Medicine Garden's restriction with his High-grade Spirit Artifacts and pressured Ning Fa in battle.
• Duanmu Pojun transformed with a secret technique as Ning Fa prepared to reveal more of his strength.
• Duanmu Kui arrived with the wounded Feng Jue and ordered Duanmu Pojun to stop fighting because the garden was already occupied by Ling's side.
• Duanmu Pojun withdrew with his allies, while Duanmu Kui promised to recommend that Yi-Class No. 2 Medicine Garden be given to Ling.
• Feng Jue told Ning Fa that Duanmu Ling had suffered a severe divine-soul injury and would need a long recovery.
• Ning Fa realized Duanmu Ling could not support his planned trading firm and glanced at Cheng Zhirou, deciding to use his backup plan.

After the Blood Jade Plateau campaign, Ning Fa traveled to Black Marsh Immortal City for its major auction and to pursue several opportunities. He arrived with plans to meet True Person Zihua, discuss cooperation with Manager Fang, and explore an underground trading fair.

• The Duanmu Family took control of the Blood Jade Plateau and announced a period of reorganization, while Ning Zhongjiu agreed to take Chu Ge back to the family and guide his cultivation.
• Ning Fa and his group departed for Black Marsh Immortal City, where Ning Fa hoped to find a Snow Spirit Fruit for Little Ice.
• After arriving, Ning Fa parted from Cui Hong, Pan Jiao, He Rong, and Cheng Zhirou, arranging to meet Cheng Zhirou at Heavenly Fragrance Tower to pay his respects to True Person Zihua.
• Cao Xian told Ning Fa that Manager Fang wanted to discuss deeper cooperation and offered him a token to enter an Underground Trading Fair; Ning Fa accepted the token.
• A young local offered to guide Ning Fa around Black Marsh Immortal City for half a spirit stone per day.

Ning Fa planned his business in Black Marsh Immortal City, where he intended to seek cultivation resources, rare treasures, and support for a new merchant guild. He also meant to confirm a rumored foundation-repairing spirit treasure and persuade the Wei Family to leave the Xudong Merchant Guild and cooperate with the Ning Clan.

• Ning Fa accepted a young man's offer to show him around Black Marsh Immortal City and considered his cultivation needs during the ride.
• Ning Fa planned to find stronger cultivation pills, ingredients for Second-turn Purple Yuan Powder and the Burning Origin Pill, and a spirit treasure to strengthen his Five Elements Divine Thunder Origin.
• Ning Fa intended to seek puppet materials for his Heavenly Puppet plans and confirm with Manager Fang whether the auction would offer a spirit treasure that could repair the First Elder's foundation.
• Ning Fa recalled that Ning Hongye had regrown his severed arm with Celestial Pivot Limb Regrowth Paste and had resumed cultivation, though more slowly.
• Ning Fa planned to persuade the Wei Family to leave the Xudong Merchant Guild and form a small merchant guild with the Ning Clan, with Duanmu Ling or Cheng Ziyi as possible supporters.

Ning Fa visited True Person Zihua, hoping to secure the Cheng Family’s support, while Cheng Ziyi weighed his growing value to the family. After Ning Fa declined her offer to match him with Cheng Zhirou, Cheng Ziyi proposed taking him as her personal disciple.

• Ning Fa decided to seek True Person Zihua’s protection and planned to ask Wei Shiqin to withdraw her family from the Xudong Merchant Guild.
• Cheng Ziyi told Cheng Zhirou that the Cheng Family’s First Elder had suffered a grave divine soul injury and might have less than twenty years to live.
• Cheng Zhirou described Ning Fa’s rapid cultivation and accomplishments, and Cheng Ziyi considered matching him with her.
• Ning Fa visited Cheng Ziyi and politely declined her proposal that he become Dao Companions with Cheng Zhirou, explaining that he already had two Dao Companions.
• Cheng Ziyi set aside the match and asked Ning Fa to become her personal disciple.

Ning Fa secured Cheng Ziyi’s support for the Ning and Wei families’ new merchant guild by offering her Youthful Appearance Pills, while weighing her offer to become his master against Duanmu Hong’s uncertain promise. He then visited Wei Shiqin at her shop in Black Marsh Immortal City, where the chapter left him smiling at her as customers watched her.

• Cheng Ziyi offered to take Ning Fa as her disciple and cited True Person Cang Lei’s cultivation insights, but Ning Fa said Duanmu Ling had promised that Duanmu Hong would take him as a disciple.
• Ning Fa asked Cheng Ziyi to protect the Ning and Wei families’ new merchant guild and offered spirit stones, a share of its profits, and two Youthful Appearance Pills.
• Cheng Ziyi accepted the pills and agreed to support the merchant guild, promote it to other guilds, and consider refining more pills if Ning Fa supplied the ingredients.
• Cheng Ziyi sent a message through a silver bell asking Granny Yan to bring Susu to Black Marsh Immortal City.
• Ning Fa worried that Duanmu Ling’s injuries and Duanmu Hong’s uncertain decision could affect his future, then went to Caiyun Residence and found Wei Shiqin behind the counter.

Ning Fa reunited with Wei Shiqin, secured a Golden Core protector for their families’ merchant-guild partnership, and began arranging the Changfeng Merchant Guild. While exploring Black Marsh Immortal City, he encountered his Dao Companion, Meng Ruoqi, walking with four cultivators, including a man openly pursuing her.

• Ning Fa arrived at Wei Shiqin’s shop and drove off the cultivators seeking her company.
• Ning Fa told Wei Shiqin that True Person Zihua, a Golden Core Cultivator from the Cheng Family, had agreed to protect their families’ venture, and Wei Shiqin kissed him in gratitude.
• Ning Fa and Wei Shiqin became lovers and planned to summon the Ning and Wei families to Black Marsh Immortal City to establish the Changfeng Merchant Guild.
• Ning Fa planned the guild’s ownership shares, giving the Cheng Family thirty percent, the Ning Clan forty-five percent, and the Wei Family twenty-five percent.
• Ning Fa spotted Meng Ruoqi with four cultivators; a scholar-robed cultivator named Senior Brother Xia openly professed his affection for her, but Meng Ruoqi tactfully excused herself to return to her Master.

Meng Ruoqi rejected Xia Mingyang’s advances, but he grabbed her and tried to force her to accept him. Ning Fa arrived, freed her, and countered Xia Mingyang’s attempt to control his mind, leaving the two men on the verge of a fight.

• Feng, Junior Sister Li, and the crimson-robed man urged Meng Ruoqi to choose Xia Mingyang, citing his status and the potential benefit to Martial Aunt Chu.
• Meng Ruoqi refused Xia Mingyang again, but he seized her hand and pressured her while the others sided with him.
• Ning Fa appeared and freed Meng Ruoqi, who clung to his arm; Xia Mingyang’s companions recognized Ning Fa and reacted with unease.
• Xia Mingyang offered Ning Fa rewards to give up Meng Ruoqi, while secretly using the Heart Attraction Technique to influence him.
• Ning Fa resisted the technique, struck back at Xia Mingyang’s divine soul, and kicked toward his abdomen.

Ning Fa retaliated against Xia Mingyang after Xia attacked him with a divine soul technique, then fought him openly in Black Marsh Immortal City. As the battle drew a crowd, Ouyang Tianzong and Xia Xinlan headed over to watch, while Ning Fa’s strength left Xia Mingyang struggling to keep up.

• Ning Fa’s superior divine soul overwhelmed Xia Mingyang’s attack, and he drove Xia to the ground before throwing him into the path of the crimson-robed man’s Fire Snake.
• Ning Fa warned Feng and Li Er Nv that he would remember their actions, while Meng Ruoqi stood by him and Xia Mingyang rose to challenge him again.
• Xia Mingyang refused the crimson-robed man’s help, and an Immortal City Guard leader declared the conflict a sparring match and dispersed the crowd.
• Ouyang Tianzong sensed the fight and led Xia Xinlan toward it, while other Huayu Sect disciples also hurried over to watch.
• Ning Fa punched Xia Mingyang’s blue sword aside and slammed into his scale armor, leaving Xia apprehensive and the crimson-robed man regretful that he had antagonized Ning Fa.

Ning Fa defeated Xia Mingyang after breaking through his Azure Sea Tide Art, then stopped Xia Mingyang from activating a Thunderclap Seed. The chapter ended with Ning Fa recognizing the dangerous orb, while the author’s note explained that the conflict with the Xia Family would shape Ning Fa’s future choices.

• Xia Mingyang trapped Ning Fa in his Azure Sea Tide Art and unleashed hundreds of sword qi attacks, but Ning Fa countered with Silver Thunder Dragons.
• Xia Mingyang used his essence blood to form a massive sword qi strike, and Ning Fa shattered it with the Dragon-Breaking Spear infused with Dark Water Yin Thunder.
• Ning Fa held the silver flood dragon back before it struck Xia Mingyang, establishing his victory in front of the gathered spectators.
• As Ning Fa flew away, Xia Mingyang tried to activate a blue-black orb, but Ning Fa restrained his hand with a Silver Lightning Whip and took the orb.
• Ning Fa recognized the orb as a Thunderclap Seed.

Ning Fa faced Xia Family pressure after defeating Xia Mingyang, but Ji Minxiong and Chu Bingyun intervened before the dispute could become a fight between Golden Core cultivators. Zheng Xuanyan then arrived with another young man, leaving the gathering of powerful figures poised for what came next.

• Xia Xinlan and Ouyang Tianzong tried to stop Ning Fa from punishing Xia Mingyang, but Xia Qin Hu demanded that Ning Fa return the Thunderclap Seed and used his power to pull Ning Fa toward him.
• Ji Minxiong appeared, freed Ning Fa, and defended his right to keep the Thunderclap Seed, then prepared to fight Xia Qin Hu.
• Chu Bingyun arrived with Ling Yue and offered to face Xia Qin Hu, prompting Ji Minxiong to withdraw after secretly communicating with Ning Fa.
• Xia Xinlan told Xia Qin Hu through Spiritual Sense Transmission that the Xia Family was in the wrong, leaving him reluctant to fight Chu Bingyun.
• Zheng Xuanyan arrived with a handsome young man, drawing the crowd's attention to the gathering of Huayu Sect's powerful figures.

Ning Fa and Meng Ruoqi reunited in Green Feather District after Zheng Xuanyan stopped the confrontation with Xia Mingyang and revealed that divination had shown Ning Fa and him had no master-disciple fate. Chu Bingyun offered to protect Ning Fa from the Xia Family, but her old injury worsened, and after leaving with Meng Ruoqi, Ning Fa asked why she had been with Chu Bingyun and Ling Yue.

• Zheng Xuanyan halted the duel between Xia Mingyang and Chu Bingyun’s side, and Xia Jinhu took Xia Mingyang away.
• Zheng Xuanyan told Bai Yeming that divination had warned him against taking Ning Fa as his disciple, while Bai Yeming’s own reading remained undisclosed.
• Fairy Bai Feng brought Ning Fa, Meng Ruoqi, and Ling Yue to Green Feather District, where Chu Bingyun promised to help Ning Fa if the Xia Family targeted him.
• Chu Bingyun coughed blood from an old injury, and Ling Yue blamed True Man Chi Xia for forcing Chu Bingyun to cover their retreat from Blood-Transforming Stronghold.
• Chu Bingyun questioned Ling Yue about her distance from Ning Fa and warned her not to become entangled with Meng Ruoqi over a man.
• Ning Fa and Meng Ruoqi went to their residence, where she apologized for involving him with Xia Mingyang, and Ning Fa asked why she had been walking with Chu Bingyun and Ling Yue.

Ning Fa visited the Ji Family residence at Ji Minxiong’s summons, while reflecting on the notorious Golden Core Cultivator’s violent past. As Ning Fa arrived, a group led by Ji Qingqing came to meet him, leaving him on alert.

• Ning Fa heard Meng Ruoqi explain how Xia Mingyang had pursued her and warned him about Hu Jun’s formidable Six Ren True Fire.
• Ning Fa spent the afternoon with Meng Ruoqi, then went alone to the Ji Family residence at dusk to meet Ji Minxiong.
• Ning Fa recalled Ji Minxiong’s rise through the Ji Family, his killings, his confinement, and his eventual Golden Core breakthrough.
• Ning Fa searched for Ji Minxiong’s residence as a fiery-red flying vessel changed course and approached him.
• Ji Qingqing led more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators out of the vessel and came before Ning Fa.

Ning Fa met with Ji Minxiong, who revealed why he had killed Ouyang Sheng and Duanmu Zheng before asking Ning Fa to retrieve something from the Illusory Thunder Cave. Ji Minxiong brought out two powerful but unusual puppets, and the chapter ended before he revealed what Ning Fa would retrieve.

• Ning Fa arrived in Black Marsh Immortal City and encountered Ji Qingqing, who invited him to visit her after he met with Ji Minxiong.
• Ji Minxiong told Ning Fa that Ouyang Sheng had stolen his friend’s Dao Companion, and that he had later killed Ouyang Sheng and Duanmu Zheng on Flying Immortal Island.
• Ji Minxiong asked Ning Fa to enter the Illusory Thunder Cave in the Thunderflame Sea and retrieve an unnamed item, saying Ning Fa’s Lightning Spiritual Root made him suited for the task.
• Ji Minxiong summoned a powerful black tiger puppet and a damaged black hawk puppet to assist Ning Fa.

Ning Fa accepted Ji Minxiong’s request to accompany him to Illusory Thunder Cave in exchange for two powerful puppets, then refused Ji Qingqing’s offer to join her despite the dangers of losing Duanmu Ling’s support. As Xia Mingyang’s allies began avoiding him, two Golden Core elders offered to take him as a disciple, leaving him weighing his options.

• Ji Minxiong offered Ning Fa two combat-capable puppets as payment for helping him at Illusory Thunder Cave, and Ning Fa agreed to await his departure message.
• Ji Qingqing urged Ning Fa to join her and promised to persuade Ji Jinqiu to take him as a disciple, but Ning Fa said he would wait for Duanmu Ling.
• Ji Qingqing warned Ning Fa that Duanmu Ling might remain unconscious for years and that the Duanmu, Xia, and He factions could bring him trouble.
• After Ning Fa’s conflict with Xia Mingyang, sect disciples canceled their invitations to meet him to avoid attracting Xia Mingyang’s hostility.
• Sun Lide and Gan Ping each invited Ning Fa to become their disciple and offered him support and sect benefits, leaving him uncertain which path to choose.

Ning Fa weighed his need for a Golden Core master against his loyalty to Duanmu Ling, then confronted He Shaoan over the Wei Family and learned Duanmu Hong might choose Chen Jing instead of him. After Duanmu Hong offered only registered-disciple status for ten years, Ning Fa left believing they would not become master and disciple.

• Ning Fa decided to visit Duanmu Hong after weighing the benefits of taking a Golden Core master against his ties to Duanmu Ling.
• He Shaoan asked Ning Fa to abandon the Wei Family in exchange for support, but Ning Fa refused and destroyed the Jade Slip He Shaoan left behind.
• Ning Fa met Feng Jue, who told him Duanmu Ling's injuries remained severe and Duanmu Pojun was urging Duanmu Hong to accept Chen Jing as his disciple.
• Feng Jue advised Ning Fa to meet Duanmu Hong and not let loyalty prevent him from choosing another master if necessary.
• Duanmu Hong admitted he was considering Ning Fa and Chen Jing, then offered Ning Fa registered-disciple status for ten years with compensation.
• Ning Fa rejected the proposal inwardly and left Duanmu Hong's residence convinced they would not become master and disciple.

Ning Fa weighed his options for choosing a master and sought help assessing the Xia Family before meeting Fang Lin of the Zhilán Merchant Guild. Fang Lin offered him guest-alchemist status in exchange for joining the guild, with an eight-hundred-year-old Xuan Shen Ginseng available at cost; Ning Fa reviewed the terms but had not yet agreed.

• Ning Fa considered Elder Wan He and other potential masters after concluding Duanmu Hong was unlikely to accept him.
• Cao Xian warned Ning Fa that the Xia Family might retaliate and agreed to gather information on its Foundation Establishment members.
• Ning Fa met Fang Lin at Immortal Ganoderma Tower and asked about a spiritual item capable of repairing a damaged foundation.
• Fang Lin revealed that the guild had acquired an eight-hundred-year-old Xuan Shen Ginseng, but planned to sell it at auction rather than directly.
• Fang Lin offered Ning Fa a guest-alchemist position that would let him buy the ginseng at cost, and Ning Fa examined the guild's benefits and requirements.