Recaps

Ji Yuan broke through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement after three days of secluded cultivation, then paid Lin Hu’s overdue Immortal Residence Fee when Pang Zhiyuan threatened to expel him. Lin Hu promised to quit gambling and left for Cloud-Rain Marsh, while Ji Yuan returned home.

• Ji Yuan consumed seven Spirit Eggs and used forty-four Spirit Stones to break through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement, then stabilized his cultivation with the remaining stones.
• After gathering twenty-one Spirit Eggs, Ji Yuan encountered Pang Zhiyuan collecting Lin Hu’s overdue Immortal Residence Fee.
• Pang Zhiyuan demanded that Lin Hu pay the outstanding fee immediately or leave Zengtou City, and Deng Yunliang refused to lend him Spirit Stones.
• Remembering the old friendship between their families, Ji Yuan paid Lin Hu’s two-Stone shortfall and urged him to stop gambling.
• Lin Hu promised Ji Yuan he would never gamble again, bowed to him, and poled his boat toward Cloud-Rain Marsh.

Deng Yunliang plotted to kill Ji Yuan and hired two Fourth Layer Qi Refining gamblers to ambush him. Ji Yuan killed the attackers and Deng Yunliang, erased the evidence, then found Lin Hu and Wu Qin away from home.

• Deng Yunliang feared Ji Yuan's strength, decided to kill him for his possessions, and recruited two gamblers to help.
• Ji Yuan left home to buy supplies, but a Bronze Nail ambushed him as he locked his gate.
• Ji Yuan defended himself with his Dharma Tools and techniques, killing both attackers and Deng Yunliang.
• Ji Yuan collected the gamblers' meager possessions and used Corpse-Melting Water to erase the traces.
• Ji Yuan knocked at Lin Hu's door, but no one answered, and he suspected Wu Qin had taken the Spirit Vessel out.

After resolving the aftermath of Deng Yunliang’s death, Ji Yuan resumed quiet cultivation while Lin Hu and Wu Qin advanced to the Third Layer of Qi Refining. Three months later, Ji Yuan acquired Centennial Parasol Wood in Zengtou City, bringing him closer to building his first Level 2 structure.

• Ji Yuan exchanged Deng Yunliang’s Bronze Nail artifact for Spirit Stones and learned that Lu Wan had refused Wu Wenbin’s proposal for her to become his son’s daughter-in-law.
• Lin Hu repaid Ji Yuan, then revealed that he had found Jade Lotus Root and sold it for thirty Spirit Stones; he and Wu Qin both advanced to the Third Layer of Qi Refining.
• A family of three moved into Deng Yunliang’s former courtyard, while Ji Yuan continued his secluded cultivation and talisman practice.
• Three months later, Ji Yuan bought Centennial Parasol Wood from Sister Wang for twenty Spirit Stones after gathering Cold Iron Sand and searching unsuccessfully for Rotbone Flower.
• Ji Yuan returned home with enough wood to build a Chicken Coop, expecting his first Level 2 structure to appear.

Ji Yuan expanded his lakeside residence and upgraded the Chicken Coop to Level Two, gaining the ability to produce Spirit Soil while hiding its unusual signs. The Level Three requirements revealed a future bird king and daily Tri-color Spirit Eggs, but Ji Yuan was left pondering the eggs.

• Ji Yuan gave Wen Ling'er osmanthus cakes and returned to his courtyard.
• Ji Yuan inspected his expanded two-courtyard home, with a Fish Pond in front and the chicken coop and pigsty in back.
• Ji Yuan made a new chicken coop from Centennial Parasol Wood and spent fifty Spirit Stones to upgrade it to Level Two.
• Ji Yuan discovered he could turn off the coop’s omen effect, concealing its glow and the chickens’ spiritual claw patterns.
• Ji Yuan checked the Level Three requirements and saw that the coop would produce a Tri-color Spirit Egg daily and hatch a bird king, but would require Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation and Rotfirefly Yin Locust Wood.

Ji Yuan discovered Spirit Soil in his Chicken Coop, accepted an invitation to dinner from Wen Lin, and learned where to seek the Rotbone Flower. After buying a protective Dharma Tool, he went to Shop No. A-18 in search of the rare ingredient.

• Ji Yuan collected a qian of Spirit Soil from his Level Two Chicken Coop and kept it for a future Spirit Field.
• Wen Lin invited Ji Yuan and Lin Hu to dinner, where Ji Yuan asked about Rotbone Flower and learned that Shop No. A-18 might know where to find it.
• Ji Yuan saved Spirit Stones and bought the Dragon Armor Shield, adding protection to his collection of Dharma Tools.
• As the cold weather kept Lin Hu from sailing, Ji Yuan visited Shop No. A-18 on the third day of the twelfth month.

Ji Yuan visited the secretive Shop No. A-18 to obtain materials for upgrading his [Fish Pond] and [Pigsty], but learned that the Water Dragon Sect was dangerously monopolizing Cold Iron Sand. He paid a deposit for the rare Rotbone Flowers and stopped searching for Cold Iron Sand; ten days later, someone arrived at a mist-shrouded island to tell Old Ghost that a buyer was seeking the flowers.

• Ji Yuan encountered Wu Yan leaving one of Shop No. A-18's curtained compartments, and Wu Yan was surprised that Ji Yuan knew of the hidden shop.
• Ji Yuan asked a black-robed cultivator for five catties of Cold Iron Sand and four Rotbone Flowers.
• The black-robed cultivator warned Ji Yuan that the Water Dragon Sect was buying up Cold Iron Sand and might kill anyone who competed with it.
• Ji Yuan paid ten Spirit Stones as a deposit for the Rotbone Flowers, which the shop promised to pursue and report on next month.
• Ji Yuan stopped collecting Cold Iron Sand and turned away two cultivators who asked about it.
• Ten days later, a person in a Flying Boat arrived above a black-mist-covered island and told Old Ghost that someone was seeking Rotbone Flowers.

Ji Yuan bought a Red-Crowned Chicken and used the Chicken Coop to tame it, gaining a source of potent comb blood. The chapter left him waiting for another blood draw while his neighbors took note of the spirit bird.

• Old Ghost agreed to meet the buyer seeking Rotbone Flowers, and the long-bearded man carried his meeting location away.
• Ji Yuan bought a male Red-Crowned Chicken from the chicken cultivator for seventeen Spirit Stones after the requested hen could not be found.
• Ji Yuan released the Red-Crowned Chicken into the Chicken Coop, where it became the flock’s leader and intimidated the Green-Yellow Chickens.
• Zhao Yuechan and Wen Lin recognized the rooster’s call and decided to interact normally with Ji Yuan for now.
• Ji Yuan drew a bottle of yang-rich comb blood from the rooster and kept it as protection against yin creatures.

Ji Yuan accepted a meeting on Sophora Island to barter for a Rotbone Flower and spent nearly all his Spirit Stones preparing for the encounter. After testing his new equipment and reaching peak condition, he set out across Cloud-Rain Marsh toward the meeting place.

• At Shop No. A-18, Ji Yuan accepted the address for a December 6th meeting on Sophora Island to discuss trading for the Rotbone Flower.
• Ji Yuan met Lu Wan near the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and she urged him to leave because she feared the Wu Family was watching her.
• Ji Yuan spent nearly all his Spirit Stones on two powerful talismans, a Dark Earth Robe, healing pills, and the Mid-Grade Whitewater Flying Sword.
• Ji Yuan tested his new equipment, cultivated for three days, and prepared to travel to Sophora Island in the shallow waters of Cloud-Rain Marsh.
• Ji Yuan secured his Red-Crowned Chicken in the Chicken Coop, then departed by Spirit Vessel while Lin Hu and his wife watched.

Ji Yuan met Wei Caishan on Sophora Island, where she offered him a Rotbone Flower in exchange for killing the Ghost Island Master. Distrusting her story, he followed her and discovered a trap involving a black-robed man who claimed they were fellow disciples.

• Ji Yuan traveled to Sophora Island and met Wei Caishan, who offered him a Rotbone Flower as a deposit for a request.
• Wei Caishan asked Ji Yuan to kill the Ghost Island Master of Black Mist Island, claiming he had murdered her parents.
• Ji Yuan refused to risk his life for the flowers and left, then concealed himself and watched Wei Caishan depart.
• Ji Yuan followed Wei Caishan north and saw her circle back as a black-robed man appeared with an offer of more Rotbone Flowers.
• Ji Yuan summoned the Whitewater Flying Sword and readied Water Arrow Talismans as the black-robed man called them fellow disciples.

Ji Yuan pretended to be the Ghost Island Master's fellow disciple, but their attempted deception turned into a fight over the lake. After the Ghost Island Master trapped Ji Yuan in black mist underwater, Ji Yuan burst back through the surface.

• Ji Yuan accepted the Ghost Island Master's claim that they were the last members of a sect and recognized him as his junior brother, then guessed that he was the Ghost Island Master.
• The Ghost Island Master invited Ji Yuan to Black Mist Island, but Ji Yuan refused and tried to lure him into visiting instead.
• When the Ghost Island Master raised black mist and demanded sect manuals, Ji Yuan attacked with Water Arrow Talismans, killing Wei Caishan and driving the Ghost Island Master back.
• Ji Yuan struck the Ghost Island Master with his Whitewater Flying Sword, but the Ghost Island Master countered with a black banner and its ghost-head shadows.
• The Ghost Island Master chased Ji Yuan into the lake and spread black mist across the water, but Ji Yuan used water arrows to propel himself back to the surface.

Ji Yuan broke Ghost Island Master’s formation and defeated him with blood-coated attacks, a Demon-Subduing Talisman, and the Deathbringer Needle. After fleeing and checking that no one followed, he opened Ghost Island Master’s Storage Bag and realized he had gained a huge haul.

• Ji Yuan used Red-Crowned Chicken Blood to cut through Ghost Island Master’s black-mist formation and escaped its boundaries with a Water-Escape Talisman.
• Ji Yuan attacked Ghost Island Master with a Demon-Subduing Talisman and his bloodstained Whitewater Flying Sword, then pierced him with the Deathbringer Needle and beheaded him.
• Ji Yuan burned Ghost Island Master’s body, collected his Dharma Tools and Storage Bag, and recovered Wei Caishan’s Spirit Vessel and Jade Box before destroying her corpse.
• Two Late Qi Refining cultivators investigated the battle site while other cultivators fled after sensing its lingering aura.
• Ji Yuan spent a day evading pursuit and restoring his spiritual power, then opened Ghost Island Master’s Storage Bag and found a valuable haul.

Ji Yuan searched the Ghost Island Master’s Storage Bag and discovered Rotbone Flowers, Spirit Stones, and an incomplete inheritance from the Yin Ghost Sect. He inspected his new Magical Artifacts and learned the abilities of the Black Wind Boat before turning to the Yin Ghost Banner.

• Ji Yuan found eighteen Rotbone Flowers, over a hundred Spirit Stones, pills, and talismans in the Storage Bag.
• Ji Yuan read the inheritance Jade Slip and learned about the Yin Ghost Sect, its Yin Ghost Formation, and how to cultivate Rotbone Flowers.
• Ji Yuan concluded that the Jade Slip was incomplete and chose not to risk using Rotbone Flowers to improve his cultivation.
• Ji Yuan tested a black skull-carved ring, which briefly formed the character for “yin,” then put it away.
• Ji Yuan inspected the damaged Skeleton Token and ritual robe, and decided to sell them and Wei Caishan’s Spirit Vessel.
• Ji Yuan refined the Mid-Grade Black Wind Boat, then took out the Yin Ghost Banner to examine it.

After killing the Ghost Island Master, Ji Yuan claimed the Yin Ghost Banner and returned to Zengtou City with treasures from Black Mist Island. He upgraded the Pigsty to Lv2 and saw a clump of Blood Essence appear, but had not yet examined the new effects.

• Ji Yuan refined the Yin Ghost Banner, discovered that two Yin Ghosts remained inside it, and tested the formation before storing the banner away.
• He traveled underwater in the Black Wind Boat, caught a Coldblood Perch, and went to Black Mist Island to collect Rotbone Flowers, seeds, and Yin Ghost materials.
• After five days away, Ji Yuan returned home, reassured Lin Hu, and found the courtyard unchanged.
• Ji Yuan collected the Spirit Eggs and Spirit Soil, carved Filth-Expelling Runes on the Pigsty, and upgraded it to Lv2.
• A clump of Blood Essence appeared inside the upgraded Pigsty as Ji Yuan prepared to inspect its effects.

After defeating the Ghost Island Master, Ji Yuan examined the Level Three Pigsty’s rewards and reflected on the need for stronger combat techniques. Yao Jingfeng and Du Wanyi discussed the island’s fall, while Ji Yuan sold his spoils at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and asked about the second layer of Water Drop Finger.

• Ji Yuan stored the Blood Essence, reviewed the Level Three Pigsty’s Jade-Grease and Aperture-Tempering Pearl effects, and decided he needed more offensive methods.
• Yao Jingfeng told Du Wanyi that the Ghost Island Master was dead and that a Fifth Layer Qi Refining cultivator from Zengtou City had likely killed him; they agreed to wait before approaching Ji Yuan.
• Ji Yuan collected his Spirit Egg and Blood Essence, sold a Coldblood Perch for eighteen Spirit Stones, and then sold two Spirit Vessels and the Ghost Island Master’s damaged Dharma robe and Skeleton Token at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
• Ji Yuan asked the white-haired cultivator at the technique section whether the Pavilion had the second layer of Water Drop Finger, and the cultivator recognized him.

Ji Yuan demonstrated his Water Drop Finger and Body Refining to Xu Fugui, who sold him two layers of the technique and gifted him the Surging Waves Sword Art. After buying talismans, Ji Yuan left to practice and considered creating a Dao Comprehension Chamber to improve his understanding.

• Ji Yuan demonstrated several Water Drop Finger attacks to Xu Fugui, breaking through his Water Shields before the old man's enchanted robe stopped the final strike.
• Xu Fugui judged Ji Yuan to have reached minor accomplishment in Body Refining and offered to introduce him to his Foundation Establishment master if Ji Yuan joined the Water Dragon Sect.
• Ji Yuan bought the second and third layers of the Water Drop Finger for thirty-five Spirit Stones.
• Xu Fugui gave Ji Yuan the Surging Waves Sword Art for free, explaining its three layers and learning that his name was Xu Fugui.
• Ji Yuan bought High-Grade Talismans on his way home and considered making a Dao Comprehension Chamber to aid his studies.

Ji Yuan upgraded the Dao Comprehension Chamber, then spent weeks cultivating and improving his spells and talisman skills. On New Year’s Eve, feeling lonely as he watched the fireworks, he finally gained entry into the Surging Waves Sword Art.

• Ji Yuan upgraded the Dao Comprehension Chamber to level two, gaining a stronger comprehension bonus and an extra boost when facing bottlenecks.
• Ji Yuan focused on cultivation, using Spirit-Gathering Pills and his new income from Spirit Eggs, chicken blood, and other livestock.
• Ji Yuan comprehended the second layer of Water Drop Finger and tested its Stone-Piercing technique in a Reed Marsh.
• Ji Yuan accidentally crossed into the Middle-Grade Talisman level by drawing a Golden Body Talisman.
• On New Year’s Eve, Ji Yuan watched fireworks, felt lonely, and sent the Whitewater Flying Sword forth, gaining entry into the Surging Waves Sword Art.

Ji Yuan mastered the entry level of the Whitewater Flying Sword art, celebrated the New Year, and broke through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining. He decided against joining the Water Dragon Sect for now, but prepared to attend its selection and see Lu Wan off.

• Ji Yuan tested the sword art’s “Entangling Waves” effect, celebrated his progress with a meal, and drew a Middle-Grade Talisman.
• Ji Yuan exchanged New Year’s greetings with Lin Hu, Wen Lin’s family, Luo Tong, and Xu Fugui, then showed Xu Fugui that he had mastered the sword art’s entry level.
• Ji Yuan visited the Lu Household but found its gates shut, then returned home and began studying the Yin Ghost Formation.
• After more than ten days of cultivation, Ji Yuan absorbed six Spirit Stones and reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining.
• Ji Yuan considered the Water Dragon Sect’s selection but chose to remain independent, then prepared to watch the selection and see Lu Wan off.

Ji Yuan attended the Water Dragon Sect’s selection in Zengtou City, where Late Qi Refining cultivators set off to compete and children began Spiritual Root testing. He watched as a child was rejected for having a Four-Spirit Root, while he considered his plans to join the sect and settle a grudge with the Qin Household.

• Ji Yuan took Lin Hu and Wu Qin to the selection on his Black Wind Boat, which Lin Hu recognized as a Mid-Grade Spirit Vessel.
• Ji Yuan heard that Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, and Qin Long were among the cultivators expected to compete, and planned to wait until he reached Peak Qi Refining before confronting the Qin Household.
• A Foundation Establishment female cultivator appeared above the grounds, and a Water Dragon Sect cultivator led the Late Qi Refining participants into Cloud-Rain Marsh.
• Ji Yuan spotted Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, Qin Long, Zhu Longhu, and an unfamiliar cultivator among those departing.
• Spiritual Root testing began, and the Water Dragon Sect cultivator rejected Zhang Tie for having a Four-Spirit Root.

Ji Yuan witnessed a child reveal a Heavenly Spirit Root at the Water Dragon Sect’s testing event, then went to watch the talisman trials and worried about Lu Wan’s absence. Wu Wenbin confronted Ji Yuan about being Lu Wan’s friend, and Ji Yuan was assigned a talisman test despite coming only to observe.

• Ji Yuan watched Zhang Tie receive a Four-Spirit Root and saw a dark-skinned child identified as having a Heavenly Spirit Root.
• Wen Lin and his family discussed Spiritual Roots with Ji Yuan before the Heavenly Spirit Root child and his parents were taken away by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
• Ji Yuan went to the talisman area, noticed Lu Wan was absent, and watched the participants fail to meet the entry requirement.
• Wu Yan and Wu Wenbin arrived, and Wu Wenbin asked Ji Yuan whether he was Lu Wan’s friend.
• The Water Dragon Sect cultivator gave Ji Yuan a Wooden Token and assigned him position ten, where Ji Yuan saw his [Talisman Room: lv1] ability.

Ji Yuan took the Water Dragon Sect’s assessment, which required drawing the difficult Skylight Talisman, while Wu Wenbin watched his disciples compete. The chapter ended with Ji Yuan succeeding on his first attempt after Mei Chen passed the test.

• The Water Dragon Sect announced that candidates had to draw the Middle First Tier Skylight Talisman, and Ji Yuan used his Wooden Token to silence outside distractions.
• Wu Yan succeeded on his first attempt, while Wu Wenbin revealed that he had taught his disciples the Skylight Talisman in advance.
• Wu Yan failed repeatedly and finished with only two successes, while Mei Chen drew three Skylight Talismans and qualified to join the Water Dragon Sect.
• Ji Yuan began drawing after Mei Chen left and succeeded with his first Skylight Talisman.

Ji Yuan surprised the Water Dragon Sect examiners by drawing two Skylight Talismans successfully, then deliberately failed the rest to avoid joining the sect immediately. After the selection ended, he encountered the injured Lu Wan and quietly gave her half a tael of Blood Essence.

• Ji Yuan completed two Skylight Talismans in a row, convincing Wu Wenbin and Hong Xiuwen that he had exceptional talent.
• Ji Yuan deactivated the [Talisman Room]'s assistance and failed the remaining talismans, so he could decline to join the Water Dragon Sect for now.
• Hong Xiuwen gave Ji Yuan a Communication Talisman and invited him to seek him out later, while Wu Wenbin offered to welcome him at the Wu Family.
• Han Feiyu and Dong Qian returned from the selection as successful Water Dragon Sect recruits, while the injured Qin Long left on his Flying Boat.
• Ji Yuan spotted the injured Lu Wan in the crowd and silently handed her half a tael of Blood Essence before leaving.

After Lu Wan was injured and lost her chance to enter the Water Dragon Sect selection, Ji Yuan felt powerless to help her. The Wu Family decided to avoid provoking Ji Yuan while continuing to target Lu Wan, and Ji Yuan turned to studying formations to strengthen himself.

• On the way home, Ji Yuan worried about Lu Wan and recalled that his cultivation was not strong enough to challenge the Wu Family.
• Lin Hu and Wu Qin decided to have a child, hoping their descendant might possess a Heavenly Spirit Root.
• Wu Wenbin warned Wu Yan that Ji Yuan was protected by Water Dragon Sect cultivators and ordered him to send Ji Yuan a generous gift rather than make an enemy of him.
• Wu Wenbin told Wu Yan that Qin Old Blind Man had promised to protect Lu Wan for three years in exchange for her drawing talismans, but Wu Yan planned to keep tormenting her family.
• After returning home, Ji Yuan checked his buildings, entered the Dao Comprehension Chamber, and began studying formations so he could complete the Yin Ghost Formation.

Ji Yuan nurtured his Yin Ghosts, struggled to complete their formation, and learned that Lu Song had been killed amid the Wu Family conflict. Two months later, he finished the Yin Ghost Formation, while Lu Wan departed determined to meet him again at the Water Dragon Sect.

• Ji Yuan fed Celestial Kui Blood to his two Yin Ghosts and began modifying their formation, but could not find a workable place for Spirit Stone slots.
• Wu Yan visited Ji Yuan with a generous gift, which Ji Yuan refused.
• Lin Hu told Ji Yuan that Lu Song had been killed while fishing, and Ji Yuan learned that Lu Wan's family had moved away.
• The Qin Household offered Lu Wan protection and declared the conflict with the Wu Family over.
• Lu Wan visited Ji Yuan in mourning to repay the Blood Essence money, and they agreed to meet again at the Water Dragon Sect.
• After two months of work in the Dao Comprehension Chamber, Ji Yuan completed the Yin Ghost Formation with five Spirit Stone slots.

Ji Yuan tested his repaired Yin Ghost Formation, then was ambushed by Hu Fang, who mistook him for a Demonic Cultivator. After Du Kang and Hu Fang left, Ji Yuan carefully returned to Zengtou City, where he found a seashell beside his courtyard gate.

• Ji Yuan tested his Yin Ghost Formation on a barren island and found it could threaten an ordinary Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator.
• A female cultivator ambushed Ji Yuan, but he used the formation to defend himself and explained that he had taken it from a Demonic Cultivator he killed.
• Hu Fang accepted Ji Yuan's explanation, introduced herself, and called Du Kang out from beneath the water.
• Du Kang recognized the formation as the one once owned by Ghost Island Master and discussed recruiting Ji Yuan to help their Association.
• Ji Yuan circled Cloud-Rain Marsh for two days before returning to Zengtou City, where he noticed a Seashell beside his gate.

Ji Yuan returned to Autumn Rain Island to meet Qiu Qianhai but found signs of a recent battle and no trace of him. After searching the marsh and asking around Zengtou City, Ji Yuan learned only that Qiu Qianhai had reportedly been seen in Cloud-Rain Marsh, and the chapter ended with Lin Hu bringing Ji Yuan a letter from Lu Wan.

• Ji Yuan found a seashell at his doorstep, went to Autumn Rain Island, and discovered fresh signs of a fight but no sign of Qiu Qianhai.
• Ji Yuan searched around the island and underwater, then kept watch overnight before returning to Zengtou City.
• Ji Yuan told Lame Li about the battle traces, and Lame Li went to ask around while warning Ji Yuan not to draw attention to himself.
• After three days, Lame Li reported that someone had seen Qiu Qianhai in Cloud-Rain Marsh, but Ji Yuan found no further details when he asked around.
• Ji Yuan saw Lu Wan in the city, and that night Lin Hu brought him a letter from her.