Recaps

Ji Yuan was formally taken as Hua Yaoyue’s disciple and met his senior siblings on her flower-covered island, where he learned about their lineage’s cultivation-concealing formula. Meanwhile, Qiu Qianhai continued using Ji Yuan’s name to terrorize people on Abyss Island.

• Hua Yaoyue arrived at Four Directions Island, accepted Ji Yuan as her disciple, and took him to Young Dragon Island before flying onward to her island.
• Ji Yuan discovered that Feng Zhitáo was his third senior sister and the Fire Phoenix Island Master, whose shop he had visited before.
• Yun Qianzai arrived and introduced himself as Ji Yuan’s second senior brother, offering to teach him formations.
• Hua Yaoyue told Ji Yuan to continue cultivating the Li Family’s Sword Canon and began teaching him the lineage’s Breath-Concealing Formula, which could hide a cultivator’s stage even from Golden Core observers.
• Qiu Qianhai left Heavenly Ruin Island after plundering it and declared that Ji Yuan, an overseas rogue cultivator, had been responsible.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, Ji Yuan visited Hua Yaoyue and his senior siblings, received gifts and advice, then returned to Young Dragon Island to prepare to establish his own island. He left a concealed Foundation Establishment Pill recipe and verses for the next resident before answering Profound Water True Person’s summons.

• Ji Yuan confirmed he had memorized the Breath-Concealing Formula, and Hua Yaoyue asked how he had obtained the Li Family’s Nine Tribulations Sword Canon; he explained that he had saved Li Changhe.
• Ji Yuan presented Hua Yaoyue with three improved jars of Spirit Wine, and she gave him a Communication Talisman and a one-use treasure that could withstand a Middle Golden Core cultivator’s attacks.
• Yun Qianzai offered to set up Second-Tier formations on Ji Yuan’s future island, while Feng Zhitáo gifted him ten Mid-Grade Second-Tier Demon Cores.
• Ji Yuan returned to Young Dragon Island, inspected his home, and left the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe concealed behind a ward for the next resident.
• Ji Yuan carved two lines on the courtyard wall, returned his residence certificate to Young Dragon Hall, and left for the main island after Profound Water True Person summoned him.

Ji Yuan established an island in the Water Dragon Sect and declined to hold an opening ceremony, preferring to cultivate in peace. When he returned to Mist Island, he found it engulfed in black fog and realized something had happened to his home.

• The Profound Water True Person gave Ji Yuan a Foundation Establishment gift, showed him the sect’s island map, and let him choose a location.
• Ji Yuan selected a spiritually rich site in the south, planted the sect’s flag, and watched the grand formation raise an island from the water.
• The Cloud-Sun Island Master and Cold River Island Master suspected Ji Yuan had powerful connections, but their attempts to visit him failed after he concealed the island with an Illusion Formation.
• Ji Yuan rejected a grand island-opening ceremony and celebrated with Feng Zhitáo and Yun Qianzai over a meal before leaving for Mist Island.
• Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island and found it shrouded in black fog and ghostly energy, suspecting that someone had raided his home.

Ji Yuan reclaimed Mist Island by refining the Yin Ghost Banner and regained control of the two Foundation Establishment Yin Ghosts and their upgraded formation. He upgraded the [Formation Room], activated the Stardust Illusion-Killing Formation across the island, and left Big Clam stranded outside it.

• Ji Yuan found Big Clam alive and learned that two recurring attackers had driven it away from Mist Island.
• Ji Yuan recognized the black mist as his uncontrolled Yin Ghost Formation and entered it to retrieve the Yin Ghost Banner.
• Ji Yuan refined the banner, restored control of the formation, and discovered that both Yin Ghosts had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and could regenerate while the banner survived.
• Ji Yuan reclaimed Mist Island, found the [Fish Pond] ruined and his wooden cabin rotted, and confirmed that the upgraded Yin Ghost Formation met the [Formation Room] requirements.
• Ji Yuan upgraded the [Formation Room] and activated the Stardust Illusion-Killing Formation across Mist Island, using its stardust to destroy a boulder.
• Big Clam returned from washing and croaked when it found the newly activated formation blocking the way home.

Ji Yuan upgraded the Cave Abode, Formation Room, and Wine Cellar, gaining powerful formations and discovering that future upgrades could let him store buildings as a Life-bound Dharma Treasure. After mastering the Breath-Concealing Formula and setting off for the Water Dragon Sect, he received a message before reaching his island.

• Ji Yuan upgraded the Cave Abode to Level Three, gaining the Star-Spiral Cloud Barrier Formation, which worked alongside the Stardust Illusion-Killing Formation to protect Mist Island.
• Ji Yuan discovered the Cave Abode's Wishful Heavenly Grotto effect, which could eventually store his buildings and refine them into a Life-bound Dharma Treasure.
• Ji Yuan upgraded the Wine Cellar, sampled its mood-enhancing Wishful Wine, and decided to save future flasks for Hua Yaoyue.
• Ji Yuan stayed on Mist Island for five more days, mastered the Breath-Concealing Formula, and continued practicing the Water Dragon Technique.
• Ji Yuan deactivated the Stardust Illusion-Killing Formation, left the Star-Spiral Cloud Barrier Formation concealing the island, and flew toward the Water Dragon Sect, where he received a message before reaching his island.

Ji Yuan bought supplies on Fangwu Island, visited Xu Fugui and the Iron Hammer Island Lord, and learned artifact refining to make two Cave Abode Magical Artifacts. He tested them on a deserted island, where the formations carved into one iron house activated and engulfed the island.

• Ji Yuan sold five Demon Cores, bought ice-attribute beast blood, Profound Ice Crystals, Communication Talismans, and materials for drawing talismans.
• Ji Yuan visited Xu Fugui, revealed he had achieved Foundation Establishment, and gave him a gold Communication Talisman before Xu Fugui left for North Mountain City.
• Ji Yuan visited the Iron Hammer Island Lord, learned he had been injured in a furnace explosion, and sparred with him to get his blood and vitality flowing.
• The Iron Hammer Island Lord taught Ji Yuan artifact refining, and together they made two High-Grade Magical Artifact Cave Abodes.
• Ji Yuan went to a deserted island and tested the artifacts; carving a name activated one Cave Abode, while formation patterns activated the other and its formations spread across the island.

Ji Yuan tested his instant-deployment formations, then visited Hua Yaoyue and gave her Wishful Wine that aided her cultivation. She named him her final disciple and promised to help him, and he left for Mist Island hoping to upgrade his Fish Pond.

• Ji Yuan tested the Star-Spiral Cloud Barrier Formation and Stardust Illusion-Killing Formation, then decided to commission more iron houses for them.
• Ji Yuan visited Hua Yaoyue and gave her Wishful Wine, which she said benefited her cultivation.
• Ji Yuan refused Hua Yaoyue's offer of Spirit Stones and promised to brew her two jin of Wishful Wine each month, so she named him her final disciple and offered to help him in the future.
• Feng Zhitáo arrived, learned Ji Yuan was Hua Yaoyue's final disciple, and joined them for a meal while sharing stories about herself and Yun Qianzai.
• Hua Yaoyue privately asked Ji Yuan not to give her wine he had already drunk from, and Ji Yuan left for Mist Island to upgrade his Fish Pond.

Ji Yuan upgraded the [Fish Pond] to Level Three, gaining Ice-Soul Cold Dew and the chance to raise an Ice Flood Dragon, while buying carp-type Spirit Fish after avoiding chaos in Linhua City. He later visited Hua Yaoyue, who explained the Water Dragon Technique, and left with guidance for his cultivation.

• Ji Yuan restored the polluted [Fish Pond] and traveled to Linhua City to buy carp-type Spirit Fish, avoiding the aftermath of a Demonic Cultivator attack.
• A shopkeeper sold Ji Yuan fifty-nine carp-type Spirit Fish, but pursuers chased him out of the city, so he fled back to Mist Island.
• Ji Yuan stocked the [Fish Pond] and upgraded it to Level Three; several fish advanced, but none transformed into an Ice Flood Dragon, and the pond began producing Ice-Soul Cold Dew.
• Ji Yuan examined the Level Four [Fish Pond] requirements and learned that its effects could let Flood Dragons transform into dragons.
• Ji Yuan brought wine to Hua Yaoyue on Carefree Island and asked her about the Water Dragon Technique, whose three levels she explained.

Ji Yuan advanced his cultivation and techniques, learned that the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven survivors had returned, and rushed to Young Dragon Island to find out how Du Wanyi had fared. Meanwhile, Feng Yichen remained trapped in his own mind as a voice promised to take over his body and seek revenge on Han Feiyu.

• Ji Yuan named his island Carefree, practiced the Water Dragon Technique and Shadow-Following Technique, and heard that the survivors of the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven were returning.
• The Cloud-Sun Island Master, the Cold River Island Master, and the Orchid Island Master discussed Ji Yuan’s connection to True Person Wangyou and rumors of corruption in Linhua City.
• Ji Yuan sold Dong Qian a One-Pattern Foundation Establishment Pill for 450 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and agreed to look for more pills for her.
• Ji Yuan studied the Li Family’s Sword Canon, planned to forge a Sword Embryo using Cloud-Rain Marsh’s Water Fortune, and began preparing a Corpse-Nurturing Ground on Mist Island.
• After hearing that the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven survivors had returned, Ji Yuan turned his boat toward Young Dragon Island to check on Du Wanyi.
• At Ghost Flood Dragon Lake, a voice tormented Feng Yichen and promised to take over his body and kill Han Feiyu.

Ji Yuan reunited with Du Wanyi after her return from the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven and learned how she had survived, while she discovered that he had reached Foundation Establishment. As Ji Yuan went to meet the Li Family, Han Feiyu became Profound Water True Person’s disciple and secretly kept a black bracelet paired with the treasure he had given his new master.

• Feng Yichen learned that his spiritual root could recover, while the sinister voice planned to restore his cultivation before possessing him.
• Ji Yuan found Du Wanyi alive and learned she had brought back two stalks of millennial illusion spirit grass; he revealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation and offered to refine her pills.
• Du Wanyi told Ji Yuan that Feng Yichen had died in the grotto-heaven, Han Feiyu had survived injured, and the two Cloud-Rain Marsh disciples had not returned.
• Han Feiyu gave Profound Water True Person a white bracelet, was accepted as his disciple, and secretly retained an identical black bracelet.
• Ji Yuan accepted Li Changhe’s invitation to the Li Family, received a Jade Slip from Hua Yaoyue for Li Gang, and learned that Han Feiyu had become the sect master’s disciple.
• Han Feiyu heard the sinister voice explain that the black bracelet was paired with the white one and that Profound Water True Person would unknowingly nourish it.

Ji Yuan visited Li Family Island, where Li Changhe hosted him and Li Gang gave him insights into the Sword Canon in exchange for a message from Hua Yaoyue. Back on Mist Island, Ji Yuan unlocked and upgraded the Mass Burial Ground, discovered it could help Tu Yue advance, and prepared to seek a Foundation Establishment Realm corpse.

• Ji Yuan learned that Han Feiyu had become Profound Water True Person's disciple and accepted Li Changhe's invitation to Li Family Island.
• Li Changhe hosted Ji Yuan at an extravagant feast, and Li Gang gave Ji Yuan a booklet of Sword Canon insights after receiving Hua Yaoyue's Jade Slip.
• Li Changhe gave Ji Yuan a Heaven-Escaping Shuttle Talisman Treasure, and Ji Yuan later reported the visit and gifts to Hua Yaoyue.
• Ji Yuan buried more corpses on Mist Island and unlocked the Mass Burial Ground, whose higher-level effects could create Corpse Puppets and raise their cultivation by consuming corpses.
• Ji Yuan had Tu Yue sleep in a stone coffin at the Mass Burial Ground and saw her complexion improve.
• After a month of studying the Sword Canon, drawing talismans, refining pills, and cultivating, Ji Yuan set out to buy a Foundation Establishment Realm corpse.

Ji Yuan bought Foundation Establishment corpses from the Demonic Cultivator Hu Li and learned that demonic forces were preparing an assault on Shangdong. Back on Mist Island, he upgraded the [Mass Burial Ground], which began raising Corpse Puppets and strengthening them with buried corpses.

• Ji Yuan met Hu Li through Zhu Ji, revealed the strength of his Divine Sense, and forced Hu Li to treat him as a senior.
• Hu Li told Ji Yuan that Golden Core cultivators from the Water Dragon Sect, Medicine King Valley, and Joy Palace protected the Immortal Materials Association, and that Demonic Cultivators were preparing to attack Shangdong.
• Hu Li gave Ji Yuan two Foundation Establishment corpses and more than a dozen Peak Qi Refining corpses, then offered his Communication Talisman before fleeing west.
• Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island, buried the corpses, and upgraded the [Mass Burial Ground], which raised a corpse as a Corpse Puppet and gained the ability to strengthen puppets by consuming corpses.
• Ji Yuan used the new ability to raise Tu Yue from the Sixth to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.

Ji Yuan upgraded Tu Yue, learned about the Level Three Mass Burial Ground’s Corpse Yin Demonfire, and spent two months refining Foundation Establishment Pills for Han Feiyu, Du Wanyi, and himself. After visiting old acquaintances and receiving Hua Yaoyue’s extensive guidance on the Azure Billows Nine Tribulations Sword Canon, he returned to Mist Island and felt the water fortune of heaven and earth gathering around him.

• Ji Yuan raised Tu Yue to Peak Qi Refining, named the other Corpse Puppet First One, and discovered that upgrading the Mass Burial Ground would unlock Corpse Yin Demonfire but required many powerful corpses.
• A month later, Ji Yuan met Han Feiyu at Four Directions Island and agreed to refine three batches of Foundation Establishment Pills for him at a discounted price.
• Ji Yuan spent two months refining pills for Han Feiyu, Du Wanyi, and himself, then delivered eleven pills to Han Feiyu.
• Ji Yuan encountered Lu Wan and Junior Sister Huang at the Alchemy Hall, then delivered eight Foundation Establishment Pills to Du Wanyi and traded a One-Pattern pill with Dong Qian.
• At Carefree Island, Ji Yuan met Yun Qianzai, who was preparing to represent the Water Dragon Sect in an exchange with Ganhushan, and asked Hua Yaoyue about the Azure Billows Nine Tribulations Sword Canon.
• After Hua Yaoyue gave him extensive guidance, Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island and felt the water fortune between heaven and earth converge on him.

Ji Yuan completed his first Water Fortune Sword Embryo, then gave the Iron Hammer Island Lord pills that helped him temper an aperture and promised to refine more. After learning Han Feiyu had reached Foundation Establishment, Ji Yuan met him on Carefree Island, where Han invited him to return to Zengtou City.

• Ji Yuan condensed a Water Fortune Sword Embryo, tested it by cutting a High-Grade Magical Artifact shield in half, and returned it to his Dantian to nurture.
• Ji Yuan refined ten Qi-Blood Pills enhanced with Aperture-Tempering Pearl powder and gave one to the Iron Hammer Island Lord, helping him open the Taichong acupoint.
• Ji Yuan revealed that he had achieved Physique Foundation Establishment and gave the Iron Hammer Island Lord nine more pills, accepting thirty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones per pill.
• Ji Yuan learned that Han Feiyu had reached Foundation Establishment and congratulated him; Han planned a grand island-opening ceremony for Soulfall Island.
• Han Feiyu visited Ji Yuan on Carefree Island and asked him to accompany him on a trip back to Zengtou City.

Ji Yuan and Han Feiyu returned to Zengtou City as Foundation Establishment cultivators, where Ji Yuan reunited with Lin Hu and learned that Wen Ling'er likely had a Wind Spiritual Root. After returning to the Water Dragon Sect, Ji Yuan went to ask Hua Yaoyue what she knew about Wen Ling'er.

• Ji Yuan and Han Feiyu flew to Zengtou City, where Water Dragon Sect disciples recognized their Foundation Establishment cultivation and welcomed them as martial uncles.
• Ji Yuan visited Lin Hu, met his daughter Lin Qiaoruo, gave her a protective bracelet, and learned that Lin Hu had become a Talisman Master after selling the supplies Ji Yuan had once given him.
• Lin Hu told Ji Yuan that Wen Ling'er and her family had disappeared after her Spiritual Root test, and that Wen Ling'er likely had a Wind Spiritual Root.
• Ji Yuan left Lin Hu cultivation pills and talisman materials, visited Luo Tong and the chicken cultivator, then returned north with Han Feiyu.
• Lin Hu decided to spread a rumor that Ji Yuan had once cultivated at his home so he could sell the house for more and move his family into the market.
• Back at Carefree Island, Ji Yuan went to ask Hua Yaoyue whether she knew anything about Wen Ling'er's possible Variant Spiritual Root.

Ji Yuan learned that Hua Yaoyue could not find Wen Ling'er and suspected she was with the Water Dragon Sect's Supreme Elder, then accepted a posting in Linhua City. After months of easy duty and shopping at auctions, he returned to Mist Island and unlocked a Level 1 Beehive.

• Ji Yuan asked Hua Yaoyue about Wen Ling'er's suspected Variant Spiritual Root, but she knew only of a Heavenly Spirit Root recruit and promised to investigate.
• Profound Water True Person assigned Ji Yuan to Linhua City, where he declined the city lord position and was paired with Wu Nanchun and Liu Yuan.
• Wu Nanchun became Linhua City's lord, assigned Liu Yuan to its defenses, and left Ji Yuan with little work to do.
• Ji Yuan attended nearby auctions during his posting, sold Foundation Establishment Pills, and bought new tools and a Peak-Grade Spirit Artifact.
• Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island, visited the forest near the Mass Burial Ground, and saw that his Spirit-Devouring Bee hive had unlocked the [Beehive: lv1] structure.

Ji Yuan learned that Island Master Qinghan had returned to Linhua City and watched Wu Nanchun leave to pursue him, unaware she was being drawn into a trap. Demonic cultivators then attacked the city, and Ji Yuan faced three opponents as Liu Yuan fought elsewhere.

• Ji Yuan reviewed the Level Two Beehive’s requirements, fed his Spirit-Devouring Bees, collected Tu Yue’s harvest, delivered wine to Carefree Island, and returned to Linhua City.
• Wu Nanchun told Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan that Island Master Qinghan had gone to Jadewave Pool, then left to confront him, while the two men took charge of the city.
• Island Master Qinghan met with six demonic cultivators beneath the Pear Blossom River and coordinated an attack timed to exploit Wu Nanchun’s absence.
• Demonic cultivators struck Linhua City at night, blasting a gap in the eastern wall and setting fires across the city; Liu Yuan sent word to the sect and entered the fight.
• Ji Yuan alerted Hua Yaoyue, Sect Master Profound Water True Person, Li Changhe, and Feng Zhitáo, then faced three Foundation Establishment Early Stage demonic cultivators, including Hu Li.

Ji Yuan was trapped by Hu Li and two other Demonic Cultivators, but turned their ambush around with his formations and killed two of them. Hu Li escaped with a Heaven-Escaping Shuttle, and Ji Yuan headed toward Liu Yuan’s ongoing battle while claiming a sect elder was coming.

• Hu Li lured Ji Yuan into the Thirty-Six Dense-Smoke Formation, where Ji Yuan defended himself against its attacks and the three Demonic Cultivators’ secret arts.
• Ji Yuan erased the black-robed cultivator’s Divine Sense mark, avoided the short man’s tombstone attack with a Substitute Clay Figure, and trapped all three enemies in his Star-Spiral Cloud Barrier Formation and Stardust Illusion-Killing Formation.
• Ji Yuan’s formations overwhelmed the Thirty-Six Dense-Smoke Formation, and he fought the short man and black-robed cultivator while Hu Li tried to escape.
• Hu Li used a Heaven-Escaping Shuttle Talisman Treasure to flee, while Ji Yuan killed the black-robed cultivator and mortally wounded the short man with his formations, talismans, and Frostfall.
• Ji Yuan dismissed his formations, rose toward the battle where Liu Yuan was fighting, and shouted that a sect elder was coming without moving to help.

Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan survived the Demonic Dao attack on Linhua City, while Wu Nanchun returned gravely wounded after killing the traitorous Island Master Qinghan. After Ji Yuan returned to Carefree Island and reviewed the battle, Feng Zhitáo and Yun Qianzai took him to meet Hua Yaoyue.

• Ji Yuan scared off three demonic cultivators with a warning, then pretended to be badly injured as he and Liu Yuan regrouped after the fight.
• Hua Yaoyue briefly checked on Ji Yuan and told him to come back and see her, while Profound Water True Person arrived and promised to deal with the attack.
• Wu Nanchun returned with Island Master Qinghan's corpse and collapsed after reporting that she had killed the sect traitor.
• Profound Water True Person learned that Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan had sent for help three incense sticks earlier, then sent them back to their islands to recover and report any clues.
• Ji Yuan returned to Carefree Island, reviewed his battle and hid his recovery from Feng Zhitáo and Yun Qianzai, who arrived to take him to Hua Yaoyue.

Ji Yuan learned from Hua Yaoyue that the Demonic Dao was searching for Dragon Qi left by a slain True Dragon beneath the Pear Blossom River, and that its invasion might soon endanger all of Shangdong. After sorting through the Demonic Cultivators’ spoils, he decided to seek Yun Qianzai’s help mastering Formations.

• Hua Yaoyue warned Ji Yuan, Feng Zhitáo, and Yun Qianzai that the Demonic Dao was preparing a more coordinated invasion and urged them to grow stronger.
• Ji Yuan returned alone to Carefree Island, and Hua Yaoyue revealed that a Golden Core True Person might have intercepted his Communication Talisman.
• Hua Yaoyue told Ji Yuan that the Water Dragon Sect stood where a True Dragon had died and that the Demonic Dao sought Dragon Qi beneath the Pear Blossom River; she advised him to condense his second Sword Embryo there with caution.
• Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island, buried the Demonic Cultivators’ corpses, and examined their belongings, including a cursed Straw Effigy and a compass likely used to search for Dragon Qi.
• Ji Yuan realized he needed help with Second-Tier Formations and decided to visit Yun Qianzai with a suitable gift.

Ji Yuan visited Yun Qianzai, trading grandiose lines of poetry for instruction in formations. After a month, Ji Yuan became a Second-Tier Formation Master and gave Yun Qianzai another line, leaving him overwhelmed.

• Ji Yuan collected his pay from Profound Water True Person and learned from Liu Yuan that the sect paid more than the standard rate.
• Feng Xiuxiu, Hu Li, and Tu Lin discussed their failed mission and Hu Li's plan to seek out an important figure in the north; Feng Xiuxiu decided to go with him while Tu Lin chose to hide.
• Ji Yuan arrived at Celestial Pivot Island, entered Yun Qianzai's Second-Tier Formation, and lured him away from showing it off with a boastful line of verse.
• Ji Yuan gave Yun Qianzai another grandiose line and asked for help advancing as a Formation Master, prompting Yun Qianzai to teach him.
• After a month of study, Ji Yuan became a Second-Tier Formation Master and gave Yun Qianzai a final line that left him stunned.

Ji Yuan developed Carefree Island, continued cultivating and gathering Foundation Establishment Pills, and helped Dong Qian obtain a Two-Pattern Foundation Establishment Pill. After entering secluded cultivation, Dong Qian successfully reached foundation establishment.

• Hua Yaoyue buried Yun Qianzai after he boasted that Heavenly Pivot had come before heaven itself, then learned from Feng Zhitáo that Ji Yuan had been teaching him Formations.
• Ji Yuan delivered Cultivation Pills to the Iron Hammer Island Lord, improved his Formation skills, developed Carefree Island, and gained a young Corpse Puppet to help with the work.
• Dong Qian visited Ji Yuan and asked him to obtain a Two-Pattern Foundation Establishment Pill for her attempt at foundation establishment.
• Ji Yuan gave Dong Qian the pill two months later, and she entered secluded cultivation on Four Directions Island.
• Dong Qian emerged in April of the following year and successfully reached foundation establishment.

Dong Qian celebrated her Foundation Establishment with Ji Yuan, while Du Wanyi prepared to attempt her own breakthrough. Ji Yuan traveled to the Pear Blossom River to forge a second Sword Embryo, but his cultivation was interrupted when two intruders revealed they had found a secret about a True Dragon beneath the river.

• Dong Qian told Ji Yuan she had reached Foundation Establishment using only three pills and asked him to keep it secret.
• Han Feiyu invited Ji Yuan to visit after hearing Dong Qian had advanced, while Du Wanyi announced she would enter seclusion to attempt Foundation Establishment.
• Ji Yuan gave Du Wanyi two additional Foundation Establishment Pills and suspected Dong Qian had a special advantage in pill refining.
• Ji Yuan traveled to the Pear Blossom River, set up a Formation in a misty swamp, and began forging a second Sword Embryo from Water Fortune.
• Ji Yuan sensed a faint thread of Dragon Fortune in his second Sword Embryo, then stopped absorbing Water Fortune when reddish blood qi made his temper volatile.
• Ji Yuan discovered an old Ninth Layer Qi Refining cultivator and a young Sixth Layer Qi Refining cultivator inside his Formation, where the young man claimed he had found a secret text saying a True Dragon lay beneath the Pear Blossom River.

Ji Yuan watched Shui Kai and Shui Yan plot to replace Family Head Shui Cang, then followed the conspiracy as the clan elders prepared an ambush. Shui Cang returned with a powerful bone bracelet that defeated the elders’ attack, and he confronted Shui Kai about digging up the ancestral graves.

• Shui Kai bargained with Shui Yan for the young master’s resources and support for Shui Huo to become family head in exchange for the secret text.
• Shui Yan and Shui Huo persuaded the clan elders to overthrow Shui Cang while Ji Yuan secretly observed them and kept watch for the secret text.
• Shui Cang returned from a trading trip, and the elders lured him to the Clan Elders’ Hall for an ambush.
• Shui Cang’s bone bracelet conjured a seemingly golden defense that withstood the elders’ attacks, and the elders killed the one who defected back to his side.
• Shui Cang turned toward Shui Kai and asked whether he had noticed how easily the ancestral graves were dug up.

Ji Yuan uncovered the Water Family’s secret about a trapped strand of Dragon Qi, killed the Azure Mist Hermit, and claimed it from beneath Pear Blossom River. After returning to the Water Dragon Sect, he wondered whether a real True Dragon was also hidden in the river and began considering how to use the Dragon Qi.

• Ji Yuan learned that Shui Cang had traded the Water Family’s secret text to the Azure Mist Hermit, while Shui Kai carried a copy describing a True Dragon beneath Pear Blossom River.
• Ji Yuan followed Shui Kai’s directions to the ancestral grave, killed the Azure Mist Hermit when he attacked, and found the grave’s hidden underwater entrance.
• Ji Yuan recognized and destroyed the Blood-Congealing Baleful Refinement Formation, then trapped the escaping Dragon Qi in a spirit-jade bottle.
• Ji Yuan found Shui Cang and his family gone from Water Household Manor, retrieved his Cave Abode, and left for the Water Dragon Sect.
• Ji Yuan glimpsed a huge dark shape with lantern-sized eyes beneath Pear Blossom River, hurried north, and later began planning how to use the Dragon Qi.