Chapter Summaries

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.

After Lu Wan told Ji Yuan that Qiu Qianhai was hiding near Clearwave Pool, Ji Yuan prepared to find his friend despite the Qin Household’s ambush. He reached Clearwave Pool and heard a familiar voice fighting nearby.

• Lin Hu delivered Lu Wan’s letter to Ji Yuan, who kept its contents secret and learned that the Qin Household had sent three Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivators after Qiu Qianhai.
• Ji Yuan decided to go to Clearwave Pool, reasoning that he could not abandon Qiu Qianhai and might also find Cold Iron Sand there.
• Ji Yuan slaughtered and sold his Spirit Fish, Green-Yellow Chickens, and Spirit Pig because he expected to be away for at least ten days.
• Ji Yuan bought a High-Grade Demon-Subduing Talisman and a High-Grade Iron-Wall Talisman in Zengtou City, then traveled overnight toward Clearwave Pool.
• Ji Yuan reached Clearwave Pool and heard a familiar cultivator mock Old Dog Lin during a fight near several islands.

Ji Yuan rescued Qiu Qianhai by killing Old Dog Lin, then disguised himself as a Qin Household member to escape with Qiu. As they headed toward Qiu’s hideout, Qiu revealed that Xiong Youfu knew its location, so Ji Yuan decided they needed to go elsewhere.

• Ji Yuan surfaced from underwater and killed Old Dog Lin with a concealed Deathbringer Needle and his Whitewater Flying Sword.
• Ji Yuan pretended to be Qin Wei, gave two watching cultivators Spirit Stones, and left with Qiu Qianhai.
• Ji Yuan took Qiu Qianhai’s weapons and gave him Blood Essence to help him recover while they fled from three incoming Qin Household cultivators.
• Qiu Qianhai directed Ji Yuan toward his hideout, then admitted that his friend Xiong Youfu knew where it was.
• Ji Yuan decided they could not go to Qiu Qianhai’s residence and turned aside to find another place to discuss their next move.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai killed Xiong Youfu after discovering he had betrayed Qiu to the Qin Household, then hid on an island in Clearwave Pool instead of fleeing to Blackwater Ward. Qiu revealed that he had sought revenge on the Qin Household by offering himself to its third Young Master, who liked men.

• Ji Yuan chose to flee with Qiu Qianhai, who suggested they head to Blackwater Ward.
• Xiong Youfu arrived, admitted the Qin Household had paid him to betray Qiu, and was killed by Qiu and Ji Yuan.
• A Deathbound Firework launched from Xiong Youfu's body and revealed their location, so the two escaped underwater in the Black Wind Boat.
• Ji Yuan led Qiu in circles around Clearwave Pool before they hid on an uninhabited island and disguised themselves.
• Qiu told Ji Yuan that the Qin Household had killed his family and that he had offered himself to its third Young Master to pursue revenge.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai divided the spoils, settled on a small island in Clearwave Pool, and learned that the Qin Household had arrived searching for them. Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai disguised themselves and followed the Qin Household as it offered rewards for Qiu Qianhai’s capture.

• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai split their loot, with Ji Yuan taking the Cold Iron Sand and Qiu Qianhai receiving Old Dog Lin’s fishing boat and the Cold Iron Spike.
• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai traveled into Clearwave Pool and settled in separate stone houses on a tiny island.
• Qiu Qianhai returned from gathering information and told Ji Yuan that three members of the Qin Household had come to Clearwave Pool.
• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai disguised themselves and went to watch Qin Wei announce rewards for information about the two thieves and for capturing Qiu Qianhai.
• Qin Wei and the two Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivators headed toward the waters where Ji Yuan had killed Old Dog Lin, and Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai followed.

Ji Yuan struggled to gather enough Cold Iron Sand at Clearwave Pool, so he began buying it from other cultivators. Qiu Qianhai returned with a large haul and urged Ji Yuan to follow him underwater to see his “big treasure.”

• After the Qin Household returned to Zengtou City, Qiu Qianhai told Ji Yuan about Cold Iron Sand, the hidden vein beneath Clearwave Pool, and the dangerous caves that sometimes revealed it.
• Qin Wei told Qin Long that he had left people in disguise and paid informants to watch for Qiu Qianhai, while Qin Long insisted they avenge Qin Wei’s third brother.
• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai mined underwater, but Ji Yuan found only half a tael of Cold Iron Sand on his first day and little more afterward.
• Ji Yuan gave up mining and bought half a jin of Cold Iron Sand from cultivators, hoping to collect enough to upgrade the [Fish Pond].
• Qiu Qianhai arrived with at least a jin of Cold Iron Sand, handed it to Ji Yuan, and hurried back to Clearwave Pool to show him his “big treasure.”

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai used Qiu Qianhai’s glowing finger bone to find Cold Iron Sand, gathering enough for Ji Yuan to upgrade the [Fish Pond]. After Ji Yuan chose the upgrade, the Panel showed [Fish Pond] at Level Two and revealed the requirements for Level Three.

• Qiu Qianhai led Ji Yuan underwater and used a finger bone that glowed near Cold Iron Sand to guide their digging.
• Qiu Qianhai showed Ji Yuan how the finger bone’s aquamarine glow brightened beside Cold Iron Sand and explained that it helped him locate the ore.
• The next day, Qiu Qianhai and Ji Yuan collected three pounds of Cold Iron Sand, and Ji Yuan gave Qiu Qianhai the extra pound after keeping what he needed.
• Ji Yuan agreed to stay and keep mining with Qiu Qianhai, then selected the [Fish Pond] upgrade on the Panel.
• The Panel raised [Fish Pond] to Level Two and displayed the Spirit Effect and upgrade requirements for Level Three.

Ji Yuan discovered the Fish Pond’s second Spirit Effect, which could rarely turn carp-type Spirit Fish into Ice Flood Dragon Hatchlings, and collected the daily resources from makeshift Fish Pond and Pigsty buildings. The next day, he and Qiu Qianhai gathered Cold Iron Sand and went to sell it on Clearwave Island, where Ji Yuan’s cultivation made the local cultivators treat him deferentially.

• Ji Yuan read the Level Three Fish Pond’s effects and learned that carp-type Spirit Fish could rarely mutate into Ice Flood Dragon Hatchlings.
• Ji Yuan created a small Level Two Fish Pond and collected its daily Waterbloom Dew, then used a paper sign to obtain Blood Essence from the Pigsty effect.
• Ji Yuan followed Qiu Qianhai into the water, and the two gathered about three and a half pounds of Cold Iron Sand.
• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai went separately to Clearwave Island to sell the sand, and Ji Yuan’s Sixth Layer of Qi Refining aura drew wary attention and friendly greetings.
• Qiu Qianhai left the Water Dragon Sect’s shop followed by two cultivators, but they did not pursue him as Ji Yuan waited nearby.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai planned to stockpile Cold Iron Sand before selling it elsewhere, unaware that raider cultivators were plotting to rob them and seize their Dead Cave. The Liu brothers set out to find the newcomers, while two mysterious figures beneath Clearwave Pool confirmed they had found a Dead Cave.

• Ji Yuan suggested that he and Qiu Qianhai stop selling Cold Iron Sand on Clearwave Island for a few days, and they agreed to keep mining before selling in Jingde Ward.
• Sun Dazhi and Deng Lang discussed robbing the two miners, then Deng Lang secretly approached the Clearwave Twin Heroes for help.
• Deng Lang told Liu Da and Liu Er that the miners likely had a Dead Cave, and the brothers decided to find the miners and force them to reveal its location.
• After Deng Lang left, Liu Da and Liu Er resolved to cut him out of the plan and take the Dead Cave for themselves.
• Beneath Clearwave Pool, one of two pitch-black figures told the other that there was definitely a Dead Cave there.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai uncovered and blasted open a Dead Cave, but Qiu Qianhai emerged pursued by a powerful stone crab. Ji Yuan pulled him onto the Black Wind Boat and urged them to flee.

• Qiu Qianhai used the Mysterious Finger Bone to confirm that a Dead Cave lay behind a slope of fallen rocks.
• Ji Yuan used the Heartguard Mirror to blast open an entrance, then let Qiu Qianhai enter while he kept watch.
• After waiting, Ji Yuan sensed trouble inside the cave and saw Qiu Qianhai flee from an enormous stone crab.
• Ji Yuan slowed the crab with his Whitewater Flying Sword and struck its vulnerable spots with Water Drop Finger.
• Ji Yuan grabbed Qiu Qianhai, threw him onto the Black Wind Boat, and shouted for them to run.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai escaped the Dead Cave with a large haul of Cold Iron Sand, but the Clearwave Twin Heroes confronted them after learning of the cave. Ji Yuan negotiated a partnership to share its riches and prepared to lead the Liu brothers there.

• Qiu Qianhai described finding a Mid-First Rank Stone-Armored Crab in the Dead Cave and shared half his Cold Iron Sand with Ji Yuan.
• Ji Yuan advised Qiu Qianhai to avoid Blackwater Ward and focus on breaking through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining while Ji Yuan planned to return to Zengtou City.
• As Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai returned to their island, Liu Da and Liu Er trapped them between two Spirit Vessels and invited them to talk.
• Liu Da revealed that Deng Lang had told them about the Dead Cave, and Ji Yuan agreed to guide the brothers there in exchange for a share of the Cold Iron Sand.
• Ji Yuan demanded the right to kill Deng Lang and proposed that the four men be called the Clearwave Four Heroes; the Liu brothers agreed, and Qiu Qianhai urged them to set out.