Recaps

After Ji Yuan learned he was about to be evicted from Zengtou City, his Building Upgrade Panel appeared and offered a way to improve his small fish pond. He spent his only Low-Grade Spirit Stone to upgrade it, and the pond transformed his Seven-Star Perch into a valuable Early First Tier Coldblood Perch.

• Ji Yuan’s landlord warned him to pay his overdue Immortal Residence Fee or leave Zengtou City, while Huang Laotou suggested borrowing from Lousy Liu at eighty-percent interest.
• Ji Yuan recalled how he had transmigrated into a Second Layer of Qi Refining fisherman whose parents had died, leaving him with only one Low-Grade Spirit Stone and an overdue fee.
• Ji Yuan discovered the Building Upgrade Panel and saw that he could upgrade his household fish pond using his remaining spirit stone.
• Ji Yuan upgraded the fish pond to lv1, gaining faster fry growth and a chance for half-spirit fish to evolve into spirit fish.
• Ji Yuan rushed to the pond after hearing splashing and found that his Seven-Star Perch had become an Early First Tier Coldblood Perch worth at least 15 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Ji Yuan sold the Coldblood Perch for eighteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones and paid two months of overdue rent, easing the threat of eviction. He used his remaining money to buy Half-Spirit Fish and Green-Yellow Chickens, while Huang Laotou began wondering whether he should try fishing in Cloud-Rain Marsh himself.

• Ji Yuan killed the Coldblood Perch, disguised its origin by taking it into Cloud-Rain Marsh, and hid it aboard his boat.
• Ji Yuan told Huang Laotou he was going fishing, then sailed to Zengtou City and sold the Coldblood Perch at the Fish Pen.
• The Water Dragon Sect disciple paid Ji Yuan eighteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and Ji Yuan used six of them to settle two months of rent for Room C-16.
• Ji Yuan decided to invest in his Fish Pond and Chicken Coop, then bought five Half-Spirit Fish and three Green-Yellow Chickens.
• Huang Laotou saw Ji Yuan return with his purchases and considered going into Cloud-Rain Marsh to seek a lucky catch himself.

Ji Yuan upgraded his Chicken Coop, collected three Spirit Eggs, and used them to break through to the Third Layer of Qi Refining. He spent the day practicing the Water Arrow Technique before Huang Laotou arrived with an unexpected question.

• Ji Yuan spent his remaining Spirit Stones upgrading the Chicken Coop to level two, which could produce a little Spirit Soil and briefly control spirit birds.
• The next morning, Ji Yuan found three Spirit Eggs from his Green-Yellow Chickens and absorbed their contents and crushed shells to reach the Third Layer of Qi Refining.
• Ji Yuan stabilized his breakthrough, then practiced the Water Arrow Technique in the backyard.
• Huang Laotou knocked on Ji Yuan's gate and asked whether he wanted a wife.

Ji Yuan rejected a match with Wu Qin because he had no plans to marry, and she married Lin Hu instead. After returning from the wedding feast, Ji Yuan practiced the Water Arrow Technique and brought it to great mastery.

• Huang Laotou introduced Wu Qin to Ji Yuan and Lin Hu as a potential marriage partner.
• Ji Yuan politely declined Wu Qin, and Huang Laotou redirected the match to Lin Hu.
• Wu Qin and Lin Hu agreed to marry, and Lin Youwei invited Ji Yuan to their wedding feast.
• At the feast, Ji Yuan noticed Wu Qin looking at him with regret and resignation, then returned home.
• Unable to sleep, Ji Yuan practiced in his backyard and brought the Water Arrow Technique to great mastery.

Ji Yuan cultivated at home, reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and practiced his techniques while avoiding the dangerous waters of Cloud-Rain Marsh. After several days, another Half-Spirit Fish evolved in his Fish Pond.

• Ji Yuan learned the basic Water Shield technique and spent his first three days cultivating at home.
• Huang Laotou warned Lin Youwei that fishermen had died near northeastern Zengtou City, possibly because of a Late First Tier Spirit Fish.
• Huang Laotou noticed Ji Yuan had reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and Ji Yuan attributed his breakthrough to eating Spirit Eggs.
• Ji Yuan practiced his techniques on a small island near shore while Lin Hu and his wife began fishing in the shallow waters.
• After five more days of cultivation, Ji Yuan woke to a huge splash in the Fish Pond as another Half-Spirit Fish evolved.

Ji Yuan sold a Stonehide Grouper with its stone armor intact and used the proceeds to buy a Thunderstrike Talisman, chickens, and more Half-Spirit Fish. After attracting attention at the Fish Pen, he left quickly, unaware that Huang Laotou watched him with interest.

• Ji Yuan killed the evolved Stonehide Grouper with a water arrow through its eye and carried it to the Fish Pen to sell.
• Lin Youwei and his wife passed Ji Yuan in their Dharma Tool fishing boat as he headed out to cultivate and eat eggs in a reed marsh.
• At the Fish Pen, the attendant praised the grouper’s undamaged stone armor, and Ji Yuan claimed his mysterious master had caught it.
• Ji Yuan sold the Stonehide Grouper for twenty Spirit Stones and hurried away while Huang Laotou watched him closely.
• Ji Yuan bought a middle-grade Thunderstrike Talisman, three Green-Yellow Chickens, and three Half-Spirit Fish.

Ji Yuan learned that his father’s Willow Leaf Boat had ended up with Lousy Liu, but he chose to focus on cultivating rather than confront him. Meanwhile, Huang Laotou told Lousy Liu about Ji Yuan’s growing abilities and heard that a deceased Foundation Establishment High Person’s Immortal Abode had been found on Maple Leaf Island.

• Ji Yuan learned from Huang Laotou that Luo Tong had bought his father Ji Qingyun’s Willow Leaf Boat from Lousy Liu, but he decided not to investigate until he was stronger.
• Huang Laotou met Lousy Liu in Zengtou City and told him that Ji Yuan had sold a flawless Stonehide Grouper and seemed to have a powerful master.
• Lousy Liu suspected Huang Laotou wanted him to kill Ji Yuan, but said he would delay dealing with Ji Yuan until after visiting Maple Leaf Island.
• Lousy Liu revealed that Maple Leaf Island held the Immortal Abode of a deceased Foundation Establishment High Person.
• Huang Laotou left intent on seeking benefits from the Immortal Abode, while Lousy Liu warned him not to tell Ji Yuan more about Ji Qingyun.

Ji Yuan avoided the dangerous scramble for the Foundation Immortal Abode on Maple Leaf Island and focused on cultivation and raising Half-Spirit Fish. After one fish evolved, he was left wondering what his pond might produce next.

• Ji Yuan considered upgrading his Cave Abode or Pigsty, then declined Huang Laotou and Lin Youwei’s invitation to profit from the dead around Maple Leaf Island.
• Lin Youwei and Huang Laotou took their family to Maple Leaf Island, while Ji Yuan stayed home and agreed to watch their house.
• Ji Yuan cultivated until he stabilized at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, mastered his known techniques, and prepared to use Spirit Stones for a breakthrough.
• Ji Yuan learned that battles and casualties had erupted around Maple Leaf Island, including the death of a Ninth Layer Qi Refining cultivator struck by Sword Qi.
• After selling his latest Half-Spirit Fish and buying replacements, Ji Yuan discovered that one fish in his pond had evolved.

Qiu Qianhai sold a Spine Bream and used his Spirit Stones to break through to the Middle Qi Refining Stage, then began building a Pigsty. The chapter ended with Lin Hu returning from Cloud-Rain Marsh and telling Qiu Qianhai that his parents were dead.

• Qiu Qianhai sold the Spine Bream for seventeen Low-Grade Spirit Stones, bringing his total to twenty, and heard an acquaintance describe the deadly chaos on Maple Leaf Island.
• Qiu Qianhai absorbed Spirit Eggs and twelve Spirit Stones, broke through to the Middle Qi Refining Stage, and used two more Spirit Stones to stabilize his cultivation.
• Qiu Qianhai decided to upgrade the Pigsty so he could raise a Spirit Pig, built it beside the Chicken Coop, and bought the required iron and salt.
• Lin Hu and Wu Qin returned on the battered Lin Family blackwood boat, and Lin Hu told Qiu Qianhai that his parents were both dead.

After Lin Hu recounted how Huang Laotou betrayed his group during the fighting on Maple Leaf Island, Ji Yuan resolved to avoid dangerous adventures and upgraded his pigsty. He left Zengtou City with a spirit pig from Luo Tong, who also promised to return Ji Yuan’s father’s Willow Leaf Boat when Ji Yuan reached the Middle Qi Refining Stage.

• Lin Hu told Ji Yuan that Taian Ward and Jingde Ward had joined forces against Zengtou City’s cultivators, and Huang Laotou had thrown Lin Hu back onto his parents’ boat to save himself.
• Lin Hu said his parents held off a bandit cultivator so he could escape, and he did not know whether Huang Laotou had survived.
• Ji Yuan considered how dangerous cultivation was and decided to focus on farming rather than risk venturing out.
• Ji Yuan upgraded his pigsty to Level Two, which would produce half a tael of Blood Essence each day.
• Ji Yuan sold three Spirit Eggs in Zengtou City and visited Luo Tong, who gave him a spirit pig without accepting payment.
• Luo Tong told Ji Yuan he had bought his father’s Willow Leaf Boat and would return it when Ji Yuan reached the Middle Qi Refining Stage.

Ji Yuan raised his new Spirit Pig, brought Spirit Eggs to Luo Tong, and bought the first layer of the Water Drop Finger technique. In Zengtou City, he spotted a familiar, bloodstained Spirit Vessel called the Mantis Boat.

• Ji Yuan accepted Spirit Pig meat from Luo Tong and returned home to cook a hearty meal.
• Ji Yuan raised the Spirit Pig in his [Pigsty], where it grew to over a hundred pounds in seven days.
• Ji Yuan sold a Coldblood Perch, gave Luo Tong six Spirit Eggs, and went to Hundred Treasures Pavilion to seek an offensive technique.
• Ji Yuan paid ten Spirit Stones for the first layer of the Water Drop Finger and learned its memory from a jade slip.
• Ji Yuan noticed a damaged, bloodstained Mantis Boat at a roadside stall, and its long-faced owner began praising it.

Ji Yuan endured the painful effects of Body Tempering by eating an entire Spirit Pig, which strengthened him and let him use Water Drop Finger without pain. After selling a Spirit Fish in Zengtou City, he heard that the Water Dragon Sect had claimed the Foundation Immortal Abode’s rewards and that Lin Youwei and his wife had died for nothing.

• Ji Yuan inspected Feng Yidao’s Spirit Vessel wares but left without buying anything, then told Lin Hu that Huang Laotou’s vessel was being sold.
• Ji Yuan prepaid the Immortal Residence Fee and practiced Water Drop Finger, but set the technique aside until he could undergo Body Tempering.
• Ji Yuan killed and butchered his Spirit Pig, then endured intense pain and expelled filth as Body Tempering took effect.
• Ji Yuan ate the Spirit Pig over several days, gaining strength and learning to cast Water Drop Finger painlessly.
• Ji Yuan sold a Spirit Fish for eighteen Spirit Stones and heard that a Water Dragon Sect Foundation Establishment High Person had taken every benefit from the Foundation Immortal Abode at Maple Leaf Island, where Lin Youwei and his wife had died.

After recovering from his injuries, Lousy Liu paid Qiu Qianhai to lure Ji Yuan to Crouching Tortoise Island so he could kill him. Qiu Qianhai visited Ji Yuan the next morning and revealed Lousy Liu’s plan, proposing that they join forces to kill Lousy Liu instead.

• Lousy Liu learned that Qiu Qianhai was Ji Yuan’s friend and offered him Spirit Stones to help kill Ji Yuan.
• Qiu Qianhai demanded an extra three Spirit Stones and negotiated a half share of the spoils before agreeing to lure Ji Yuan to Crouching Tortoise Island.
• Ji Yuan practiced Water Drop Finger until he could use it repeatedly without pain.
• Qiu Qianhai visited Ji Yuan, recalled how Ji Yuan had saved him after a storm, and told him Lousy Liu wanted him dead.
• Qiu Qianhai proposed that he and Ji Yuan join hands to kill Lousy Liu.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai realized Lousy Liu had lured them to Crouching Tortoise Island and prepared to kill them, so they decided to strike first. After buying protective and offensive supplies, they arrived at the island, where Lousy Liu greeted them with a sneer.

• Qiu Qianhai told Ji Yuan that Lousy Liu was waiting in ambush on Crouching Tortoise Island, and said he would rather kill Lousy Liu than betray his only friend.
• Ji Yuan warned Qiu Qianhai that Lousy Liu was likely using himself as bait to target them both, but Qiu Qianhai urged him to fight before Lousy Liu recovered.
• Ji Yuan agreed to go and bought a Golden Body Talisman, a Hundred-Herb Pill, Water Ball Talismans, and Itch-Poison Liquid.
• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai traveled to Crouching Tortoise Island aboard Qiu Qianhai's Spirit Vessel.
• Lousy Liu watched the vessel approach and mocked Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai's brotherly loyalty.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai attacked Lousy Liu on Crouching Tortoise Island, where Wu Laochuan emerged to fight Qiu Qianhai. Ji Yuan killed Lousy Liu with Purple Lightning and then confronted Wu Laochuan.

• Lousy Liu revealed that he had anticipated Qiu Qianhai and Ji Yuan joining forces, and Ji Yuan ambushed him with water balls.
• Wu Laochuan emerged from the Reed Marsh, so Qiu Qianhai engaged him while Ji Yuan fought Lousy Liu.
• Ji Yuan deflected Lousy Liu’s Blackgold Blade and pressured him with Water Drop Finger attacks, but Lousy Liu tripped him and struck him with water arrows.
• Ji Yuan used his Golden Body Talisman to survive the hit, while Lousy Liu realized Ji Yuan had poisoned him and swallowed a Detoxification Pill.
• Ji Yuan struck Lousy Liu with Purple Lightning, killing him, then aimed water arrows at Wu Laochuan and demanded his surrender.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai killed Wu Laochuan and Lousy Liu, and Lousy Liu revealed that Old Man Huang had helped arrange the murder of Ji Yuan’s parents. They fled to a reed marsh to divide the spoils, where Ji Yuan found an Object Manipulation Technique among Wu Laochuan’s possessions.

• Wu Laochuan pretended to surrender, but Ji Yuan struck him with Water Drop Finger before his Embroidery Needle could kill Ji Yuan.
• Qiu Qianhai blasted Wu Laochuan’s head, and Ji Yuan discovered that Lousy Liu was still barely alive.
• Lousy Liu told Ji Yuan that Old Man Huang had helped lure Ji Yuan’s parents to their deaths, and Ji Yuan killed him with Water Drop Finger.
• Qiu Qianhai dissolved both corpses with Corpse-Melting Water, and he and Ji Yuan took the Dharma Tools and fled by Spirit Vessel.
• In a reed marsh, Qiu Qianhai and Ji Yuan divided the two men’s possessions, and Ji Yuan found a jade slip engraved with Object Manipulation Technique.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai divided the spoils from their fight, then planned for the Qin Household’s likely retaliation. Qiu Qianhai left to take responsibility for Lousy Liu’s death, while Ji Yuan returned home with new equipment and reflected on how resources had secured his victory.

• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai split the Spirit Stones, pills, talismans, Storage Bags, and Dharma Tools, with Ji Yuan taking the Embroidery Needle and Wu Laochuan’s Spirit Vessel.
• Qiu Qianhai warned that the Qin Household would investigate Lousy Liu’s death and said he would take responsibility before leaving Zengtou City.
• Ji Yuan gave Qiu Qianhai pills, talismans, and ten Spirit Stones, and they agreed to meet again on Autumn Rain Island and eventually destroy the Qin Household together.
• Qiu Qianhai departed, and Ji Yuan refined Wu Laochuan’s Spirit Vessel into a White Boat before returning home.
• Ji Yuan reviewed how his resources had decided the battle and turned his attention to upgrading his Cave Abode.

Ji Yuan studied his new techniques and tested his Dharma Tools before going to Zengtou City to buy supplies for upgrading his Cave Abode. After reuniting with Lu Wan and learning that Qiu Qianhai was being hunted, Ji Yuan returned home, prepared the materials, and upgraded the Cave Abode to Level One.

• Ji Yuan learned the basics of the Object Manipulation Technique and tested the Embroidery Needle, naming it the Deathbringer Needle, and the Blackgold Blade.
• Ji Yuan went to Zengtou City and heard fishermen say Qiu Qianhai had killed Lousy Liu.
• Lu Wan warned Ji Yuan to stay away from Qiu Qianhai because the Qin Household wanted him dead, and Ji Yuan declined her offer of Talismans.
• Ji Yuan bought glutinous rice and a young Spirit Pig, then returned home and repaired the Cave Abode's roof.
• Ji Yuan upgraded the Cave Abode, which became cleaner and began repairing its walls as the surrounding spiritual energy grew denser.

Ji Yuan upgraded his Cave Abode, learned that Huang Laotou had died, and met his new neighbor, Deng Yunliang. He mastered the Object Manipulation Technique and harvested two advanced Half-Spirit Fish, while Wu Qin raised suspicions about Deng Yunliang’s habits.

• Ji Yuan upgraded his Cave Abode, gaining stronger spirit energy and a soundproofing barrier, then continued his chores and cultivation.
• Water Dragon Sect cultivators reclaimed Huang Laotou’s home after confirming his death, and Wu Qin told Ji Yuan that Lin Hu had gone out on the boat.
• Deng Yunliang arrived as Ji Yuan’s new neighbor and introduced himself as a Rogue Cultivator from the Yu Kingdom.
• Ji Yuan mastered the Object Manipulation Technique and planned to use the Deathbringer Needle for sneak attacks and the Blackgold Blade as a feint.
• Wu Qin told Ji Yuan that Deng Yunliang rarely went fishing and often traveled to Zengtou City, but Ji Yuan showed little interest.
• Ji Yuan harvested two Half-Spirit Fish that had advanced, while the remaining fish were nearly ready to harvest.

Ji Yuan planned to upgrade his Fish Pond for steady income, but a shortage of Cold Iron Sand blocked the plan. After returning from Zengtou City, he reconsidered the Building Upgrade Panel’s possibilities and wondered whether he could use it to create an Alchemy Room or Artifact Refining Room.

• Ji Yuan calculated that his fish sales could cover the Fish Pond’s upgrade cost and planned to ask about Cold Iron Sand in Zengtou City.
• At dawn, Ji Yuan met Deng Yunliang, then sold his fish at the Fish Pen for 44 Spirit Stones while revealing his Middle Qi Refining Stage aura.
• At the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Ji Yuan learned Cold Iron Sand was scarce, cost 15 Spirit Stones per jin, and might be found near Clearwave Pool.
• Ji Yuan bought eight Half-Spirit Fish and set aside plans to upgrade either the Fish Pond or Pigsty because their required materials were unavailable or too costly.
• Ji Yuan considered whether the Building Upgrade Panel could create new buildings such as an Alchemy Room or Artifact Refining Room.

Ji Yuan decided to learn talisman-making and unlocked the Talisman Room, then bought supplies and visited Lame Li for Corpse-Melting Water. Lame Li revealed he was Qiu Qianhai’s maternal uncle and asked Ji Yuan to tell Qiu Qianhai that he agreed.

• Ji Yuan chose talisman-making as his first cultivation art and discovered that labeling a room “Talisman Room” unlocked a Panel upgrade condition.
• Ji Yuan bought a talisman manual, paper, ink, and a brush in Zengtou City, spending most of his Spirit Stones.
• Ji Yuan visited Room Xu-9 and gained entry to Lame Li’s home by mentioning Qiu Qianhai.
• Lame Li sold Ji Yuan four bottles of Corpse-Melting Water and revealed that he was Qiu Qianhai’s maternal uncle.
• Lame Li asked Ji Yuan to tell Qiu Qianhai that he agreed.

Ji Yuan tried to make a Calming Talisman but failed repeatedly at the Spirit Awakening step, so he decided to ask Lu Wan for help. After learning she was at Wu Wenbin’s residence, he went there and was told she was practicing Middle-Grade Talismans and being considered for next year’s Water Dragon Sect selection.

• Wu Qin told Ji Yuan that Lin Hu had gone to Zengtou City with Deng Yunliang and feared they were up to something bad, but Ji Yuan declined to interfere.
• Ji Yuan studied talisman drawing and burned ten sheets while repeatedly failing to complete the Spirit Awakening step.
• Ji Yuan decided to ask Lu Wan for help and learned from Lu Song that she was at Master Wu’s residence.
• Ji Yuan went to the Wu Residence, where a disciple welcomed him after he said Lu Wan was his sister.
• The disciple told Ji Yuan that Lu Wan was attempting Middle-Grade Talismans and that Wu Wenbin planned for her to enter next year’s Water Dragon Sect selection.

Ji Yuan visited Lu Wan and learned how to awaken a Calming Talisman by infusing it with spiritual energy by hand. After returning home, he upgraded his Talisman Room to Level 1 and saw the requirements for Level 2.

• Ji Yuan visited Lu Wan at the Wu Residence to ask about a problem with drawing Talismans, where he met Wu Yan.
• Wu Yan infused spiritual energy into Ji Yuan’s Calming Talisman, helping Ji Yuan realize that Spirit Awakening required his hand rather than a talisman brush.
• Lu Wan explained that a talisman brush concentrated spiritual power on one point and could not awaken an entire sheet of Talisman Paper effectively.
• Ji Yuan hurried home after the panel refreshed, then upgraded his Talisman Room to Level 1 and checked the requirements for Level 2.
• After Ji Yuan left, Wu Yan asked Lu Wan how she was related to him, and Lu Wan tentatively called Ji Yuan a boy from next door.

Ji Yuan made thirty-two Water-Repelling Talismans through days of intense practice, improving his spiritual control and physique. Before leaving for Zengtou City, he learned that Deng Yunliang had become a gambling addict and refused to lend him Spirit Stones.

• Ji Yuan saw that upgrading the Talisman Room required costly materials and resolved to focus on First-Tier talismans.
• Ji Yuan practiced drawing Water-Repelling Talismans, using Spirit Eggs and Spirit Pig meat to sustain himself.
• Ji Yuan used up his talisman paper and produced thirty-two Water-Repelling Talismans, while gaining greater precision with spiritual energy and a tougher physique.
• Ji Yuan overheard Lin Hu and Wu Qin arguing after Lin Hu lost money gambling with Deng Yunliang.
• Deng Yunliang asked Ji Yuan for three Spirit Stones to pay his Immortal Residence Fee, but Ji Yuan refused and warned him off with his cultivation aura before departing for Zengtou City.

Ji Yuan sold his Water-Repelling Talismans to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and earned enough Spirit Stones to consider advancing his cultivation. After leaving Zengtou City, he decided to prioritize breaking through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement over upgrading his buildings.

• Ji Yuan sold his thirty-two Water-Repelling Talismans to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for sixty Spirit Stones, and Senior Brother Liu praised his talent for drawing talismans.
• Wu Yan and Lu Wan encountered Ji Yuan, and Wu Yan offered to have his father examine Ji Yuan’s aptitude, which Ji Yuan resolved to avoid.
• Wu Yan and Lu Wan examined one of Ji Yuan’s talismans and recognized his unusually high success rate for a beginner.
• Ji Yuan counted his savings and found he had ninety-eight Spirit Stones.
• Ji Yuan considered upgrading buildings but decided to use his Spirit Stones to break through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement.