Recaps

Ji Yuan released a wisp of Dragon Qi into his Fish Pond, where an injured carp swallowed it and transformed into an Ice Flood Dragon. After borrowing Merit Points from Dong Qian to obtain an advanced Contract Art, Ji Yuan successfully bound the rapidly growing Flood Dragon and prepared to feed it Ice-Soul Cold Dew.

• On Mist Island, Ji Yuan released the Dragon Qi into his Fish Pond, where a bullied Early First Tier carp swallowed it and triggered the Rainbow Carp Transforming into a Flood Dragon Spirit Effect.
• The carp transformed into an Ice Flood Dragon, avenged itself on the Spirit Fish that had bullied it, repaid a kindness, and ate two of its victims.
• Ji Yuan's basic Contract Art failed, so he went to the Scripture Pavilion and learned that binding a Third-Tier Demon Beast required an advanced art costing 1,200 Merit Points.
• Ji Yuan borrowed a thousand Merit Points from Dong Qian, bought the advanced Contract Art, and returned to find the Ice Flood Dragon had eaten forty or fifty Spirit Fish and advanced to Late First Tier.
• Ji Yuan trapped the Ice Flood Dragon, completed the contract, and watched it coil around his arm before taking out a drop of Ice-Soul Cold Dew to feed it.

Ji Yuan raised his Ice Flood Dragon, reunited with Dong Qian and his fellow cultivators, and learned of turmoil caused by Demonic Cultivators. After Hua Yaoyue promised to help him break through, he heard that Demonic Cultivators had destroyed a Water Dragon Sect Flying Boat returning from North Mountain City.

• Ji Yuan fed the Ice Flood Dragon Ice-Soul Cold Dew and Spirit Pigs, then kept it away from the Fish Pond to protect his Spirit Fish.
• Ji Yuan visited Dong Qian on her newly established Fox Moon Island and promised to help set up its protective Formation.
• Ji Yuan delivered Cultivation Pills to the Iron Hammer Island Lord, who told him Old Master Xu would soon return from duty.
• Feng Zhitáo told Ji Yuan and Hua Yaoyue that Demonic Cultivators were spreading chaos in Joy Palace territory, and Hua Yaoyue taught that people mattered more than the distinction between orthodox and demonic.
• Hua Yaoyue promised to expound the Dao to Ji Yuan in a month to help him break through to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
• Ji Yuan heard that Demonic Cultivators had wiped out a Water Dragon Sect Flying Boat returning from North Mountain City and recognized the city's name.

After learning that Xu Fugui had died in a Demonic Cultivator raid, Ji Yuan grieved with the Iron Hammer Island Lord and focused on growing stronger. He later received a Storage Bag from the Iron Hammer Island Lord, whose recording revealed that he had gone to retrieve Xu Fugui and that his Soul Lamp had gone out.

• Ji Yuan found Xu Fugui’s name on the list of cultivators killed when Demonic Cultivators raided a Flying Boat near North Mountain City.
• Ji Yuan learned that Profound Water True Person and Martial Uncle Qingyu had gone to investigate, then visited the Iron Hammer Island Lord, who vowed to grow stronger and avenge Xu Fugui.
• Ji Yuan collected the Bloodwing Venom Bee’s corpse and set up the Four Directions Water-Moving Formation on Dong Qian’s Fox Moon Island.
• After waiting for Hua Yaoyue to return, Ji Yuan learned that a Qi Refining cultivator had a Storage Bag for him and accepted it on Carefree Island.
• Ji Yuan listened to the Iron Hammer Island Lord’s Voice-Recording Talisman and learned that he had gone to retrieve Xu Fugui and that his Soul Lamp had gone out.

Ji Yuan learned from the Iron Hammer Island Lord’s final message why he had risked his life to seek Xu Fugui’s remains, and accepted the inheritance of his artifact-refining knowledge. After hearing that a Golden Core Demonic Cultivator might have killed them, Ji Yuan was left with grief and a distant goal of revenge, but Hua Yaoyue helped him settle his heart, triggering a breakthrough that left him at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage threshold.

• Ji Yuan listened to the Iron Hammer Island Lord explain how Xu Fugui had saved his life, why he went searching for Xu Fugui, and how he left Ji Yuan his artifact-refining tools and teachings.
• Ji Yuan decided not to seek revenge or recover the bodies until he was strong enough, then examined the furnace, hammer, and artifact-refining book the Iron Hammer Island Lord had left him.
• Ji Yuan learned from Profound Water True Person that a Golden Core Demonic Cultivator had attacked the Flying Boat and might have been guarding the son of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
• Ji Yuan returned to cultivating, then went to Hua Yaoyue after she summoned him and told her about Xu Fugui and the Iron Hammer Island Lord’s deaths.
• Hua Yaoyue used the word “Stillness” to calm Ji Yuan’s heart, and the resulting clarity helped him break through, though his aura briefly shifted between Foundation Establishment Early Stage and Middle Stage.
• A familiar voice spoke behind Ji Yuan as he stabilized his cultivation.

Ji Yuan visited Hua Yaoyue, learned more about his fellow disciples, and returned to Mist Island to strengthen his cultivation and raise his spirit beasts. He later visited Bai Piao to ask about Rotfire Yin Locust, but Bai Piao began explaining that he had been forced to change his business.

• Yun Qianzai left Hua Yaoyue's pavilion after she released him, while Feng Zhitáo told Hua Yaoyue she was heading to the West Phoenix Kingdom to recruit disciples.
• Hua Yaoyue reflected on her four disciples and judged Ji Yuan a kindred spirit who might one day become her fellow Daoist.
• Ji Yuan released the Ice Flood Dragon into Cloud-Rain Marsh, fed his Spirit-Devouring Bees, and worked to improve his Divine Sense and cultivation.
• Ji Yuan brought the Ice Flood Dragon back from Cloud-Rain Marsh and traveled to the Water Dragon Sect to seek Bai Piao's help obtaining Rotfire Yin Locust.
• Ji Yuan found Bai Piao's shop filled with spirit plants instead of yin-related goods, and Bai Piao began explaining that he had had no choice but to change what he sold.

Ji Yuan searched for rare cultivation materials and learned to avoid a fraudulent Demon Core Liquid, then welcomed Du Wanyi after she successfully reached Foundation Establishment. The chapter ended with Ji Yuan receiving his second sect assignment, which was to guard a Spirit Vein.

• Ji Yuan bought Bai Piao’s remaining Profound Yin Soil and its cultivation formula, then learned that Rotfire Yin Locust might be found at Ghost-Seeking Escape.
• Ji Yuan nearly bought Demon Core Liquid before Liu Yuan warned him that the shop’s supply would permanently limit beasts to the Early Second Tier.
• Liu Yuan identified the shop’s owner as Xiao Chengyi, and Ji Yuan resolved to seek a chance to retaliate without revealing his plans.
• Du Wanyi told Ji Yuan she had reached Foundation Establishment only after using twelve Foundation Establishment Pills, and thanked him for helping her obtain them.
• Du Wanyi established Taian Island west of Carefree Island, and several months later Ji Yuan received an assignment to guard a Spirit Vein.

Ji Yuan prepared Mist Island and Carefree Island for his assignment guarding the Liancheng Mountain Spirit Vein, then met Liu Yuan on Water Dragon Island. Profound Water True Person sent them to Liancheng Mountain, where they were to follow Senior Sister Soft Hands's arrangements.

• Ji Yuan learned from Liu Yuan that they would be assigned to the profitable Liancheng Mountain Spirit Vein and organized Mist Island for his absence.
• Ji Yuan asked Big Clam to guard Mist Island, left supplies for the Spirit-Devouring Bees, and took his Yin Ghosts and Ice Flood Dragon with him.
• Ji Yuan told Du Wanyi and Dong Qian he would be away; Dong Qian offered to open a shop and sell goods for him.
• Ji Yuan visited Hua Yaoyue, who urged him to use the Wine Cup if he faced an opponent he could not defeat.
• Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan arrived on Water Dragon Island, where they met Xiao Chengyi and Kuzang and received their assignment from Profound Water True Person.
• Profound Water True Person ordered Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan to depart for Liancheng Mountain at once because its defenses were thin.

Ji Yuan traveled to Liancheng Mountain with Liu Yuan to take up the Water Dragon Sect’s post guarding a newly opened Spirit Vein. After meeting the other guards and learning his duties, he entered the mine with Yang Taian for his first inspection.

• Du Wanyi gave Ji Yuan a Spirit Artifact magical robe, and he accepted it while avoiding discussion of her feelings for him.
• Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan traveled south for eighteen days, met Danchengzi at Liancheng Mountain, and entered the Formation with their sect tokens.
• Ji Yuan met Soft Hands, Yang Taian, and Yun Miao at the Water Dragon Sect camp, then learned the guards’ duties and settled into his lodgings.
• Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan explored the area, saw Joy Palace’s encampment, and learned that Lady Meiru had arrived as its False Core Cultivator.
• Soft Hands assigned Ji Yuan to enter the mine with Yang Taian, and the two passed the miners’ inspection before heading underground.

Ji Yuan explored the Spirit Vein, tried and failed to claim part of it through his Panel, and avoided Zhiyun and Yang Taian’s attempts to draw him closer. After half a year of routine patrols, Yang Taian died inside the Spirit Vein.

• Ji Yuan entered the Spirit Vein with Yang Taian, learned that cultivators secretly cultivated there, and observed the representatives from Medicine King Valley and Joy Palace.
• Ji Yuan went deeper into the mine, tested whether he could claim the Spirit Vein through his Panel, and failed to activate its structure.
• Zhiyun found Ji Yuan in the mine, but he told her he had a Dao companion and used the Shadow-Following Technique to leave.
• Ji Yuan tricked Yang Taian into leaving the guard post, then noticed a strange aura near Xuanweizi and Danxia before resuming his watch.
• Ji Yuan spent four days cultivating and again failed to activate the [Spirit Vein], then returned to the surface with the miners without incident.
• Ji Yuan swapped patrol shifts to work with Liu Yuan, and half a year later Yang Taian died inside the Spirit Vein.

After Yang Taian was killed by mutated Spirit Crystal Beasts in the Liancheng Mountain Spirit Vein, Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island with Hua Yaoyue. There, he discovered that the Bee Queen had advanced to the Second Tier, potentially allowing the Beehive to reach Level Two.

• Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan learned that Yang Taian had died mysteriously, and Soft Hands, Lady Meiru, and Guizhen investigated the Spirit Vein together.
• Soft Hands and the others found and killed two mutated Peak Second Tier Spirit Crystal Beasts that could devour human Divine Souls, confirming that they had killed Yang Taian.
• After the Spirit Vein was searched and mining resumed, Chen Moxin arrived to replace Yang Taian, while Hua Yaoyue visited Ji Yuan and agreed to look for Rotfire Yin Locust.
• Hua Yaoyue took Ji Yuan back to the Water Dragon Sect in three days, and Ji Yuan secretly continued south to Mist Island.
• Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island, released the Ice Flood Dragon, and learned that the Bee Queen had advanced to the Second Tier and the swarm had grown to over twelve thousand bees.

Ji Yuan upgraded the Beehive to Level Two, gathered his island’s harvest, and learned that the regional war remained delayed. After failing to upgrade the Chicken Coop with the small piece of Rotfire Yin Locust Hua Yaoyue found, he decided to travel to the Ghost-Seeking Escape to find more and make contact with Demonic Cultivators, then secured leave from Profound Water True Person.

• Ji Yuan upgraded the Beehive, strengthening the Spirit-Devouring Bees and increasing their reproduction, then saw that Level Three required a Third-Tier Bee Queen and a swarm of eighty thousand.
• Ji Yuan collected Mist Island’s harvest, sold his stored pills and talismans, and learned from Du Wanyi and Li Changhe that the Orthodox-Demonic War was unlikely to begin for another ten or twenty years.
• Hua Yaoyue gave Ji Yuan a small piece of Rotfire Yin Locust, but his attempt to use it on a Chicken Coop failed because there was not enough wood to meet the upgrade requirements.
• Ji Yuan decided to seek Rotfire Yin Locust and other resources in the Ghost-Seeking Escape, while also making contact with Demonic Cultivators before the war.
• Ji Yuan asked Profound Water True Person for leave, and Profound Water True Person agreed to have Feng Zhitáo cover Ji Yuan’s assignment at Liancheng Mountain.

Ji Yuan left Mist Island after Hua Yaoyue advised him to balance hiding with fighting, then traveled to Great Love City to prepare for entering Ghost-Seeking Enclosure. There, he sought contacts among its factions and confronted a concealed Demonic Cultivator while posing as Qiu Qianhai.

• Hua Yaoyue told Ji Yuan that real combat was necessary to learn how to use his methods, and revealed that she had once hidden away before dying.
• Ji Yuan prepared a Demonic Cultivator identity with demonic Spirit Artifacts, his Yin Ghost Formation, Spirit-Devouring Bees, and the Ice Flood Dragon, then left Mist Island.
• After traveling south and gathering information in Great Love City, Ji Yuan learned that Ghost-Seeking Enclosure held four Foundation Establishment factions and many Rogue Cultivators.
• Ji Yuan visited Wu Yunbo's tavern, said Bai Piao had sent him, and asked how to contact the factions in Ghost-Seeking Enclosure.
• Ji Yuan sensed someone in the tavern's back room and challenged the black-robed, masked figure, introducing himself as Demonic Cultivator Qiu Qianhai.

Ji Yuan met Deng Pinghai and learned that the Great Love Sect planned to attack Ghost-Seeking Escape, while he weighed whether to join or wait until the fighting ended to obtain rotfire yin locust. The chapter also revealed the Great Love Sect’s desperate ties to Joy Palace and ended with Ji Yuan leading an assault on Heaven-Slaying Hall overseas.

• Ji Yuan introduced himself to Deng Pinghai, learned he belonged to the Great Love Sect, and heard that the sect planned to fight into Ghost-Seeking Escape within a few months.
• Wu Yunbo explained that the Great Love Sect had eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators and that Joy Palace had seized Great Love City after Great Love True Person died.
• Ji Yuan returned to his lodgings and considered waiting until the battle ended before seeking rotfire yin locust from the victors.
• Mourning Eccentric and Qian Xin discussed how Joy Palace was driving the Great Love Sect toward Ghost-Seeking Escape, and Qian Xin advised recruiting Ji Yuan by making him think they were from Joy Palace.
• Ji Yuan rallied hundreds of cultivators on Heartless Island to attack Heaven-Slaying Hall, then charged into the battle while arguing with the sinister voice of his master.

Ji Yuan negotiated with Deng Pinghai and joined the Great Love Sect in exchange for Rotfire Yin Locust Wood, intending to gain combat experience while avoiding danger. He learned that the sect planned to attack the Divine Vulture Palace and asked Qian Xin to protect him in the coming fight.

• Ji Yuan met Deng Pinghai and bargained for Rotfire Yin Locust Wood as the price of joining the Great Love Sect.
• Deng Pinghai offered Ji Yuan two pounds of Rotfire Yin Locust Wood immediately and promised three more after the battle, and Ji Yuan accepted.
• Ji Yuan met the Great Love Sect members, including its sect master Mourning Eccentric, Lu Ping, Ye Zhiqiu, Deng Pinghai, and Qian Xin.
• Ji Yuan asked Qian Xin which faction the Great Love Sect planned to attack, and Qian Xin revealed their target was the Divine Vulture Palace.
• Qian Xin explained that three Great Love Sect members inside the Ghost-Seeking Enclosure were secretly members of the Divine Vulture Palace, and Ji Yuan asked the others to protect him during the fight.

Ji Yuan upgraded his Wine Cellar, tested Peerless Wine, and learned about the deadly Nine-Nether Lifeburn Brew. He joined the Great Love Sect’s fighters as they prepared to attack Divine Vulture Palace and left with them for battle.

• Ji Yuan found that two and a half pounds of Rotfire Yin Locust could not upgrade his Chicken Coop, then bought Frostclear and Body-Burning Water to meet the Wine Cellar’s requirements.
• Ji Yuan upgraded his Wine Cellar to Level Three, obtained Peerless Wine, and tested its spell-boosting effect, duration, and cooldown.
• Ji Yuan inspected the Level Four Wine Cellar’s effects and learned that Nine-Nether Lifeburn Brew could burn fifty years of lifespan to raise cultivation by one major realm temporarily.
• Mourning Eccentric told the assembled cultivators to gather outside the eastern city gate the next morning, and Qian Xin gave them plans and assigned opponents for the attack on Divine Vulture Palace.
• Ji Yuan objected to being assigned to fight the stronger Yin Boy, but Qian Xin told him to hold out until Lu Ping could assist him.
• Ji Yuan stayed with the others and left for Divine Vulture Palace when the hour of the tiger arrived.

Ji Yuan joined the assault on the Divine Vulture Palace, where he stalled Yin Boy while the battle turned against the Great Love Sect’s side. Qian Xin revealed himself as the Thousand-Heart Blood Fiend, and Ji Yuan sensed that the Ice Flood Dragon had advanced to the Second Tier.

• Ji Yuan traveled with Qian Xin, Ye Zhiqiu, and the others through the Ghost-Seeking Escape to the Divine Vulture Palace.
• Mourning Eccentric attacked the palace, fought its Palace Master, and drew him away while the group waited for the sect’s Formation to break.
• Qian Xin led the assault, and Ji Yuan lured Yin Boy away from the main battle and fought him with his Yin Ghost, Human-Skin Puppet, and other techniques.
• A Divine Vulture Palace cultivator killed two Great Love Sect traitors, leaving the Great Love Sect’s forces in a losing position.
• Qian Xin tore off his human skin and revealed the Thousand-Heart Blood Fiend, while Ji Yuan sensed a change in his Spirit Beast Bag and suspected the Ice Flood Dragon had advanced to the Second Tier.

Ji Yuan killed Yin Boy and joined the Great Love Sect’s battle against the Divine Vulture Palace, which ended with the Palace Master defeated and a sudden Yin-Eroding Wind killing Lu Ping. After Mourning Eccentric gave Ji Yuan two pounds of Rotfire Yin Locust Wood, the Blood Demon threatened to eat Ye Zhiqiu.

• Ji Yuan discovered that the Ice Flood Dragon had advanced to an Early Second Tier Demon Beast as the Thousand-Heart Blood Fiend began slaughtering Divine Vulture Palace cultivators.
• Ji Yuan saw through Yin Boy’s ambush, unleashed his hidden strength, killed him with the Vast Blue Sword Embryo, and took his corpse and belongings.
• Ji Yuan helped Deng Pinghai drive back an old woman, and Mourning Eccentric and the Blood Fiend defeated the Palace Master of the Divine Vulture Palace.
• The Yin-Eroding Wind struck the mountain, killing Lu Ping and causing the old woman to fall into an Earth-Binding Spirit’s territory, where she died.
• Mourning Eccentric gave Ji Yuan two pounds of Rotfire Yin Locust Wood after Ye Zhiqiu reminded him of his promise, and the Blood Demon threatened to eat Ye Zhiqiu.

After escaping the Divine Vulture Palace, Ji Yuan followed Ma Xingkong, a fellow Yin Ghost Sect inheritor, and agreed to restore their sect together. When Ma Xingkong tried to seize his inheritance, Ji Yuan killed him with a Talisman Treasure and Heavenly Thunder Pellet, then escaped the pursuing Thousand-Heart Blood Fiend.

• The Thousand-Heart Blood Fiend turned on Mourning Eccentric while Ye Zhiqiu, Deng Pinghai, and Ji Yuan fled the Divine Vulture Palace.
• Ji Yuan met Ma Xingkong, who claimed to be a Yin Ghost Sect inheritor, and followed him north to a Mountain Ravine.
• Ji Yuan and Ma Xingkong agreed to rebuild the Yin Ghost Sect, but Ma Xingkong demanded Ji Yuan hand over his inheritance.
• Ma Xingkong attacked with his Soul Banner, and Ji Yuan trapped him with the Thousandfold Chains before killing him with a Heavenly Thunder Pellet.
• Ji Yuan found Ma Xingkong's Storage Bag and fled aboard the Heaven-Escaping Shuttle as the Thousand-Heart Blood Fiend arrived and vowed to kill Qiu Qianhai.

After escaping Ghost-Seeking Hollow, Ji Yuan searched Ma Xingkong's Storage Bag and uncovered the missing Yin Ghost Sect inheritance. He acquired the Ten Thousand Souls Banner method and the upper portion of the Nine-Gate Soul-Calming Scripture, then prepared to return to his sect.

• Ye Zhiqiu heard a voice from the swamp, feared the Blood Demon had caught up with Qiu Qianhai, and fled without helping him.
• Ji Yuan used the Heaven-Escaping Shuttle to travel north, recovered his spiritual energy, and established a concealed cave abode to inspect Ma Xingkong's Storage Bag.
• Ji Yuan found a Giant Deer Sword Talisman Treasure and refined Ma Xingkong's Thousand-Soul Banner, but initially failed to find the Yin Ghost Sect inheritance.
• Ji Yuan discovered that a hidden compartment in Ma Xingkong's belt contained two Jade Slips and a skull ring that fused with the ring left by the Ghost Island Master.
• Ji Yuan learned how to refine the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and read the upper portion of the Nine-Gate Soul-Calming Scripture, which taught the Soul-Calming Bell to protect his Divine Soul.
• Ji Yuan realized the Soul-Calming Bell could help defend him against the Mutant Crystal Beast and decided to return to his sect to cultivate and upgrade the [Chicken Coop].

Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island, tested the Yin Ghost Sect Ring, and upgraded his Chicken Coop to level four, gaining a Tri-color Spirit Egg that refined his spiritual power. After assessing the Ice Flood Dragon’s strength and tending to his island, he began searching Yin Boy’s Storage Bag and found several Spirit Artifacts and a promising secret art.

• Ji Yuan released the Ice Flood Dragon, which fought Big Clam at Cloud-Rain Marsh and proved strong enough to injure the late second-tier beast.
• Ji Yuan tested the Yin Ghost Sect Ring on Second One and himself, discovering it concealed cultivation and projected a sinister, intimidating aura.
• Ji Yuan used rotfire yin locust wood and fifty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones to upgrade the Chicken Coop, then ate a Tri-color Spirit Egg that slightly condensed his spiritual power.
• Ji Yuan inspected the level-four Chicken Coop’s effects, gave the injured Ice Flood Dragon and Big Clam supplies, and tended to the bees, banners, puppets, and island structures.
• Ji Yuan searched Yin Boy’s Storage Bag, refined the Seven-Baleful Infant-Crying Bell, examined Yin Boy’s flying artifact and damaged robe, and found a promising secret art.

Ji Yuan sorted through Yin Boy and Senior Brother Ma’s belongings, began cultivating the Nine-Gate Soul-Calming Scripture, and visited Hua Yaoyue with Peerless Wine. After learning about Golden Core grades and rare Soul Cultivation Techniques, he shocked Hua Yaoyue by revealing that he had one and asking her to examine it.

• Ji Yuan rejected the Human-Skin Puppet art, buried Yin Boy’s Demonic Dao materials, and claimed valuable items from Senior Brother Ma’s Storage Bag, including Wind Sophora, the Inverted Golden-Ear Cauldron, and another Heavenly Thunder Pellet.
• Ji Yuan mastered the beginning of the Nine-Gate Soul-Calming Scripture, resumed drawing talismans and refining pills, and later brought Wishful Wine and Peerless Wine to Hua Yaoyue.
• Ji Yuan found that Dong Qian and Du Wanyi were both away on missions, then visited Hua Yaoyue, who told him to relieve Feng Zhitáo at the mines and warned that she would soon be away helping Feng Zhitáo break through.
• Hua Yaoyue drank Peerless Wine and discovered that it briefly increased her strength; Ji Yuan gave her his remaining supply in exchange for answers to his questions.
• Hua Yaoyue explained that Golden Cores could be ordinary, Blood, or Violet, and described how rare Golden Core and Soul Cultivation Techniques were.
• Ji Yuan presented Hua Yaoyue with a Jade Slip containing a Soul Cultivation Technique and asked her to examine it.

Ji Yuan gave Hua Yaoyue the first half of the Nine-Gate Soul-Calming Scripture and learned that the coming Orthodox-Demonic War could threaten even Nascent Soul cultivators. After reaching Liancheng Mountain and secretly cultivating deep in its Spirit Vein, he heard footsteps nearby just as he was about to meditate again.

• Hua Yaoyue confirmed that Ji Yuan's Nine-Gate Soul-Calming Scripture was a rare Soul Cultivation Technique, promised to repay her debt to him, and warned that even Nascent Soul cultivators could be slain in the coming Orthodox-Demonic War.
• Ji Yuan traveled to Liancheng Mountain, where Feng Zhitáo handed over her duties before returning to prepare for her breakthrough, and Liu Yuan reported that the Mutant Crystal Beast had not reappeared.
• Ji Yuan built another Chicken Coop to obtain a daily Tri-color Spirit Egg and spent several days cultivating before returning to the mine with Liu Yuan.
• Ji Yuan used the Shadow-Following Technique and Black Mist Dispersal to travel deeper into the Spirit Vein, where he found High-Grade Spirit Stones and cultivated for eight days.
• As Ji Yuan was about to meditate again, he heard footsteps in the Spirit Vein and extended his Divine Sense.

Ji Yuan learned that Xuanweizi and Danxia were secretly stealing from the Spirit Vein, then killed them while disguised as a terrifying Demonic Cultivator. He used their living thread-like tool to break part of the Spirit Vein free from its Formation, revealing that he could claim it as a [Spirit Vein: Lv1 (Upgradeable)].

• Zhiyun told Ji Yuan that Xuanweizi and Danxia were devouring the Spirit Vein, but Ji Yuan fled, and the pair killed her.
• Xuanweizi and Danxia tracked Ji Yuan through the Spirit Vein, while Ji Yuan hid beneath a burial shroud and prepared to ambush them.
• Ji Yuan disguised himself as a powerful Demonic Cultivator, killed Xuanweizi with Yin Ghosts and a flying sword, then killed Danxia after she revealed the location of their secret mine.
• Ji Yuan found the living black thread in Xuanweizi's Storage Bag and used it to pierce the Formation protecting the stolen section of the Spirit Vein.
• A notification appeared before Ji Yuan: [Spirit Vein: Lv1 (Upgradeable)].

Ji Yuan activated and upgraded his Spirit Vein, then secretly removed most of its Spirit Stones while preparing to report Xuanweizi and Danxia’s deaths to the Water Dragon Sect. After Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan left the mine, Soft Hands took them away as Lady Meiru and Guizhen began trying to learn what had happened.

• Ji Yuan upgraded his Spirit Vein to level two and discovered it produced Spirit Stones each day.
• Ji Yuan decided to report the Spirit Vein theft and the deaths, but secretly removed most of the stones and took some from Xuanweizi and Danxia’s Storage Bags.
• Ji Yuan told Liu Yuan that Zhiyun was dead, that he had killed Xuanweizi and Danxia, and that they had stolen Spirit Stones from the vein.
• Ji Yuan asked Liu Yuan to have Soft Hands summon the Water Dragon Sect’s sect master and Li Gang without alerting Lady Meiru or Guizhen.
• When Xuanweizi failed to return, Danchengzi led the miners out, and Soft Hands took Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan away after Lady Meiru and Guizhen confronted them.
• Danchengzi told Lady Meiru and Guizhen what he knew, and they hurried to notify their sects.

After Ji Yuan exposed Xuanweizi and Danxia for devouring the Spirit Vein, Golden Core elders from the sects investigated the mine and replaced its guards. Ji Yuan returned to the Water Dragon Sect with Profound Water True Person and Many-Treasure True Person, keeping his role in the affair secret.

• Soft Hands urged Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan to remain in camp until reinforcements arrived, while Guizhen challenged them and was driven away.
• Profound Water True Person and Many-Treasure True Person arrived, and Ji Yuan told them how Xuanweizi and Danxia had stolen from the Spirit Vein and handed over their Storage Bags and the black-threaded object.
• Profound Water True Person warned the gathered elders and cultivators to conceal Ji Yuan's involvement, then led them to inspect the mine.
• Guizhen and Lady Meiru cited the Three-Sect Pact to challenge the elders' entry, but Divine Void True Person arrived and forced Guizhen aside.
• Li Changhe thanked Ji Yuan and shared Li Family locations suitable for forming Sword Embryos, while the Golden Core elders inspected the mine.
• Dan Yangzi joined the elders, who ordered the Spirit Vein's guards replaced, and Ji Yuan returned to the sect with Profound Water True Person and Many-Treasure True Person.