Chapter Summaries

Ji Yuan led the Liu brothers to the dead cave, where they began mining cold iron sand while he waited for the stone-armored crab to appear. He extinguished their light and unleashed his yin ghost banner as the crab charged from the darkness.

• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai brought Liu Da and Liu Er to the dead cave, where the brothers found the entrance and entered with Ji Yuan.
• Liu Da and Liu Er discovered a rich layer of cold iron sand and began mining while keeping their defensive dharma tools ready.
• The Liu brothers ordered Ji Yuan to stand back, and he waited as they dug deeper into the cave.
• Ji Yuan heard tapping stones, then silently struck Liu Da's precious bead with spiritual light and plunged the cave into darkness.
• Ji Yuan planted his yin ghost banner, and black mist engulfed Liu Da, Liu Er, and the charging stone-armored crab.

Ji Yuan used the Yin Ghost Formation and the Stone-Armored Crab to kill Liu Er and Liu Da, then ambushed and killed the wounded Demon Beast. As he collected the corpses and loot, the Dead Cave began to shake from an apparent earthquake.

• Ji Yuan trapped Liu Da and Liu Er in the Yin Ghost Formation and used the Stone-Armored Crab and Yin Ghosts to disarm and kill Liu Er.
• Liu Da unleashed a Purple Lightning sword that tore a breach in the Formation, but the Stone-Armored Crab wounded him and Ji Yuan finished him with his Dharma Tools.
• Ji Yuan attacked the injured Stone-Armored Crab with the Whitewater Flying Sword and Deathbringer Needle, then secured its corpse after it died.
• Ji Yuan collected the brothers’ Storage Bags and began putting away the Formation before the Dead Cave shook violently as the earth dragon turned over.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai escaped the Earth Dragon Turnover and left Clearwave Pool, but realized they were being followed. They confronted their pursuers on an uninhabited island as two Spirit Vessels surrounded them.

• Ji Yuan escaped the Dead Cave with Qiu Qianhai, and they survived the violent waves by reaching Clearwave Island.
• After the tremors eased, Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai left with their Cold Iron Sand and discovered their disguises had washed away.
• Two cultivators followed them from Clearwave Island, and Ji Yuan sensed the pursuit continued after they left the pool.
• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai landed on an uninhabited island, where Ji Yuan refined the Liu brothers' Storage Bags.
• Two Spirit Vessels rose from the lake and encircled the island, trapping Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai fought the Qin Household cultivators Hu Da and Zhang Kai on the island. Ji Yuan’s formations, talismans, and hidden weapons turned the battle around, and he left Hu Da mortally wounded with an earthen-yellow dharma sword.

• Hu Da and Zhang Kai attacked Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai, and Ji Yuan used thunderstrike talismans to seize the opening advantage while Qiu Qianhai struggled against Zhang Kai.
• Ji Yuan activated the Yin Ghost Formation, concealed Qiu Qianhai, and sent him to ambush Zhang Kai while the yin ghosts occupied Hu Da.
• Ji Yuan used an illusion to misdirect Zhang Kai’s throwing knives, then struck him with a Golden Seal Talisman as Qiu Qianhai kept him occupied.
• Hu Da escaped the formation after wasting two high-grade offensive talismans, while the yin ghosts killed Zhang Kai and Ji Yuan dismissed the formation.
• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai pressed Hu Da with their weapons, and Ji Yuan’s Deathbringer Needle forced Hu Da to spend two defensive talismans before an earthen-yellow dharma sword pierced him.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai killed two Qin Household cultivators and were preparing to leave when Du Wanyi arrived. She sought Ji Yuan out to invite him to join the Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association, and he agreed to hear more.

• Ji Yuan killed Hu Da with a concealed Earth Sword Talisman, then searched the bodies with Qiu Qianhai and destroyed the corpses.
• Du Wanyi arrived in a Flying Boat, revealed that she had witnessed the fight, and asked Ji Yuan to speak with her on a nearby island.
• Du Wanyi told Ji Yuan she knew he was Ji Yuan despite his false name, and explained that she had come with a promising opportunity.
• Du Wanyi described how ordinary cultivators without talent or backing could be exploited within the Water Dragon Sect.
• Du Wanyi introduced the Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association, and Ji Yuan asked her to explain it further.

Ji Yuan joined the Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Society after Du Wanyi explained its loose pledges and benefits, including a one-use protective token. He set off to prepare for his breakthrough to late Qi Refining and met Qiu Qianhai to divide their haul.

• Du Wanyi explained the Mutual Aid Society’s pledges, monthly gatherings, and protection for members, and told Ji Yuan that Qin Old Blind Man led a rival Cloud-Rain Marsh Alliance.
• Ji Yuan agreed to join the Mutual Aid Society, received its protective jade token, and arranged to postpone his introductory gathering until after his breakthrough.
• Du Wanyi left, and Ji Yuan headed toward Jingde Ward to sort through his loot and prepare for late Qi Refining.
• Ji Yuan found Qiu Qianhai in the reeds, and Qiu Qianhai proposed splitting the Qin Household’s storage bags while leaving the Liu brothers’ bags and remaining cold iron sand to Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai divided the spoils from the Qin Household men and the Liu brothers, uncovering powerful Magical Artifacts, Water Thunder Pellets, and a large cache of Cold Iron Sand. After setting off with their gains, they arrived at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Jingde Ward to sell more of their loot.

• Qiu Qianhai refused a share of the Qin Household men's valuables, and he and Ji Yuan divided their remaining Magical Artifacts, Talismans, Cultivation Pills, and Spirit Stones.
• Ji Yuan found that the Liu brothers' Water-Splitting Stingers combined into the High-Grade Water-Splitting Dragon Lance, while their shields became his new defensive Magical Artifacts.
• Ji Yuan discovered two Water Thunder Pellets in Liu Er's Storage Bag, but Qiu Qianhai refused one, so Ji Yuan kept both and gave Qiu Qianhai other items instead.
• Ji Yuan gathered the Cold Iron Sand from the Liu brothers' bags with his own, bringing his total to forty-one jin, while Qiu Qianhai declined his share.
• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai reached the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Jingde Ward to sell their spoils.

Ji Yuan sold his spoils in Jingde Ward, exchanged Spirit Stones to prepare for a breakthrough, and arranged to cultivate with Qiu Qianhai while they guarded each other. Meanwhile, Qin Wei investigated the missing Liu brothers and Qin Household cultivators, then angered Du Wanyi by questioning her about Ji Yuan.

• Ji Yuan sold Dharma Tools, Talismans, Cultivation Pills, and the damaged Stone-Armored Crab corpse, bringing his Spirit Stones to 504.
• Ji Yuan exchanged 408 Low-Grade Spirit Stones for four Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and decided to keep his Cold Iron Sand for now.
• Ji Yuan proposed that he and Qiu Qianhai rent a courtyard in Jingde Ward and guard each other while they pursued their breakthroughs, and Qiu Qianhai agreed.
• Qin Wei learned that Hu Da and the other Qin Household cultivator had followed Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai, while the Clearwave Twin Heroes were also missing.
• Qin Wei visited Du Wanyi to ask whether she knew the man in Ji Yuan's portrait, but she rebuked him and ordered him to leave.

Ji Yuan secluded himself in a Jingde Ward courtyard and used Middle-Grade Spirit Stones to break through to Late Qi Refining while Qiu Qianhai stood guard. Meanwhile, the Qin Household decided to let Ji Yuan go and revealed that its plans against Qiu Qianhai might be tied to an old inheritance and Eldest Brother’s death; the chapter ended with Ji Yuan’s breakthrough.

• Ji Yuan rented a courtyard in Jingde Ward and began breaking through after Qiu Qianhai urged him to advance first.
• Ji Yuan absorbed Low-Grade and Middle-Grade Spirit Stones while Qiu Qianhai guarded the courtyard.
• Yao Jingfeng and Du Wanyi discussed recruiting Ji Yuan into the Mutual Aid Society and considered how to handle his conflict with the Qin Household.
• Qin Long concluded that Ji Yuan was too powerful to target and said Qin Old Blind Man would deal with Qiu Qianhai personally.
• He Laosan told Qin Long that the decision might be connected to an old inheritance and Eldest Brother’s death.
• After half a month, Qiu Qianhai sensed Ji Yuan had broken through to Late Qi Refining.

Ji Yuan stabilized his cultivation at Late Qi Refining and tested his Dharma Tools while considering what equipment to upgrade. Qiu Qianhai emerged from a dangerous breakthrough attempt at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining and revealed that he was burning his lifespan with another art; a knock at the courtyard gate interrupted them.

• Ji Yuan finished stabilizing his Late Qi Refining cultivation after exhausting his Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, and Qiu Qianhai welcomed him as a friend before jokingly bowing to him as a senior.
• Ji Yuan tested his Dharma Tools, judged several of them inadequate for his new cultivation, and decided he would need to upgrade his equipment.
• Ji Yuan sensed blood qi and a fierce heartbeat from Qiu Qianhai's room but left him to cultivate, then practiced talismans and techniques for several days.
• Qiu Qianhai emerged pale after coughing up blood, with his cultivation stabilized at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, and admitted he was burning his lifespan to advance faster.
• Ji Yuan offered to help Qiu Qianhai, and a knock sounded at the courtyard gate.

Ji Yuan returned to Zengtou City after reaching the Late Qi Refining Stage, while Qiu Qianhai set off alone to settle his own affairs at Clearwave Pool. Back home, Ji Yuan resumed cultivating and planned to strengthen his livelihood and develop in peace.

• Ji Yuan and Qiu Qianhai left Jingde Ward after Ji Yuan suspected Xiao Hong had come to probe their identities.
• Qiu Qianhai planned to return to Clearwave Pool to kill Deng Lang, and Ji Yuan promised to help if the Qin Household pursued him.
• Qiu Qianhai departed for Autumn Rain Island, while Ji Yuan continued toward Zengtou City and removed his disguise.
• Ji Yuan returned to his neighbors, where Zhao Yuechan recognized his breakthrough and Wen Ling'er happily accepted a toy from him.
• Ji Yuan restored his home and harvested resources from his backyard, then planned to sell supplies and resume raising spirit creatures.

Ji Yuan returned to Zengtou City, learned about recent developments, and revealed his late Qi Refining cultivation to Xu Fugui. Xu Fugui brought out the gift he had promised Ji Yuan, but the chapter ended before revealing what it was.

• Lin Hu visited Ji Yuan, shared news from Zengtou City, and told him he was going to become a father.
• Lin Hu reported that Qiu Qianhai had killed two Qin Household cultivators and that Wu Yan had reached late Qi Refining.
• Wen Lin and Zhao Yuechan decided to spend the next three years building their friendship with Ji Yuan before asking for his help.
• Ji Yuan went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to check prices for high-grade magical artifacts and found Xu Fugui there.
• Ji Yuan revealed that he had reached late Qi Refining, and Xu Fugui took out the gift he had promised him.

Ji Yuan received a high-grade magical artifact from Xu Fugui to help him practice Layered Mirror, then went to buy an upper-grade flying boat. After Xu Fugui urged Old Huang to show him something beyond the standard models, Old Huang revealed a striking purple-black vessel.

• Xu Fugui gave Ji Yuan an Ancient Bronze Mirror and explained that it could help him practice Layered Mirror.
• Xu Fugui identified Ji Yuan's Heartguard Mirror and the Ancient Bronze Mirror as imitations of a Dharma treasure, and Ji Yuan asked about Hong Xiuwen's communication talisman.
• Ji Yuan visited the Dharma tool section and asked Old Huang about upper-grade flying boats.
• Old Huang introduced three standard boats, and Ji Yuan favored the Trace-Vanishing Boat for its concealment abilities.
• Xu Fugui asked Old Huang whether he had a custom-forged boat, so Old Huang brought out a dark purple-black shuttle-shaped vessel.

Ji Yuan traded his Black Wind Boat and several shields to buy the fast Thunder Falcon Boat and the High-Grade Hundred-Fish Shield. He tested the boat outside Zengtou City and flew toward another market to buy Cold Iron Sand and exchange for a High-Grade flying sword.

• Old Huang sold Ji Yuan the Thunder Falcon Boat for one hundred Spirit Stones, accepting the Black Wind Boat and fifty-five Spirit Stones in payment.
• Ji Yuan traded the Gold-Iron Shield, Vinewood Shield, and Dragon Armor Shield, then paid seven Spirit Stones for the Hundred-Fish Shield.
• Old Huang and Xu Fugui praised Ji Yuan’s prospects after he left their shop.
• Ji Yuan summoned the Thunder Falcon Boat outside Zengtou City and activated its Thunder Falcon Essence to fly at great speed.
• Ji Yuan headed to another market to buy Cold Iron Sand and exchange it for a High-Grade flying sword.

After upgrading his magical artifacts and expanding his fish pond and chicken coop, Ji Yuan was approached by Shopkeeper Wu, who said the Water Dragon Sect’s rising demand had driven up Blood Essence prices. The chapter ended with Ji Yuan asking what a liang of Blood Essence was worth.

• Ji Yuan practiced Layered Mirror with the Blurred Mirror but still could not master its final Water Arrow Technique move.
• Ji Yuan sold and replaced several artifacts in Taian Ward, then returned to his cottage with six High-Grade Magical Artifacts.
• Ji Yuan bought ten Early First Tier herbivorous Spirit Fish, ten Half-Spirit Fish, three Red-Crowned hens, and another Spirit Pig for his courtyard.
• Ji Yuan drew blood from his Red-Crowned rooster and waited for Du Wanyi to contact him about the Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association.
• Shopkeeper Wu visited Ji Yuan and explained that the Water Dragon Sect’s increased demand had raised Blood Essence prices; Ji Yuan asked the current price per liang.

Ji Yuan sold his blood essence at a higher price, then welcomed Du Wanyi and Yao Jingfeng, who invited him to form a cohort bond ahead of joining the Water Dragon Sect. After agreeing, he upgraded his spirit field to level one and saw its next upgrade requirements.

• Ji Yuan sold six taels of blood essence to Shopkeeper Wu for 150 spirit stones and wondered whether the Water Dragon Sect's increased demand meant fighting had begun.
• Du Wanyi and Yao Jingfeng visited Ji Yuan and invited him to a gathering at A-18 Shop the following day to welcome him and Wu Yan to late Qi Refining.
• Du Wanyi and Yao Jingfeng proposed that Ji Yuan form a cohort bond with them and Luo Tian before they sought to join the Water Dragon Sect together, and Ji Yuan agreed.
• Ji Yuan burned an uninhabited island to gather plant ash, added five low-grade spirit stones to his spirit field, and upgraded it to level one.

Ji Yuan tested whether his Spirit Origin could create a separate Medicine Field, then turned to cultivation. At a Mutual Aid Society gathering hosted by Wu Wenbin and Wu Yan, Luo Tian arrived asking about someone called Fourth, and the man himself appeared at the door.

• Ji Yuan reviewed his level-two Spirit Field’s effects and concluded that medicinal herbs counted as crops, so he did not need a separate Medicine Field.
• Wu Wenbin and Wu Yan prepared A-18 Shop for the Mutual Aid Society gathering, and Wu Yan asked how many cultivators would attend.
• Du Kang, Hu Fang, Zhu Shen, Qin Long, and He Laosan arrived and greeted the Wu family.
• Yao Jingfeng and Du Wanyi arrived, and Yao confirmed that Luo Tian was coming.
• Luo Tian entered and asked which person was Fourth, while Wu Wenbin realized that someone besides Wu Yan had reached late Qi Refining.
• Du Wanyi pointed to the doorway, where a tall man in blue appeared as the person Luo Tian had asked about.

Ji Yuan attended the Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association gathering, where the other cultivators learned of rising tensions with Joy Palace and welcomed him as a new disciple. After the main gathering ended, Luo Tian invited Ji Yuan and the others to a smaller meeting.

• Ji Yuan arrived late after Old Master Xu stopped him on the way and gave him pointers on Layered Mirror.
• Wu Yan and the other cultivators were surprised that Ji Yuan had reached late Qi Refining, and Wu Wenbin praised him while recounting his connection to Senior Brother Hong.
• Yao Jingfeng announced that Wu Yan and Ji Yuan had joined the Mutual Aid Association, and the group discussed increased Water Dragon Sect activity and friction with Joy Palace.
• Ji Yuan asked for clear spirit jade to upgrade his Cave Abode, and Du Wanyi offered to give him some.
• The cultivators exchanged news about Shangdong's Six Great Immortal Sects and a third-order demon beast before splitting into smaller groups.
• Luo Tian invited Ji Yuan and the others to their own small gathering.

Ji Yuan met his new sworn siblings, exchanged welcome gifts with them, and learned what each could contribute to their small circle. They agreed that all four would work toward Foundation Establishment, and the chapter ended as Yao Jingfeng began discussing their plan.

• Yao Jingfeng introduced himself, Du Wanyi, and Luo Tian to Ji Yuan, who accepted them as his elder siblings.
• Du Wanyi gave Ji Yuan eight pieces of Clear Spirit Jade, while Yao Jingfeng and Luo Tian gave him thirty Spirit Stones and a Water Thunder Pellet.
• Yao Jingfeng explained that their circle aimed to help all four members reach Foundation Establishment, and Ji Yuan revealed that he could cultivate half a tael of Blood Essence every three days.
• Luo Tian revealed that he could make Water Thunder Pellets, Du Wanyi said she could locate nearby treasures once a day, and Yao Jingfeng demonstrated his spell for stealing items carried openly.
• Du Wanyi explained how their skills had complemented one another and welcomed Ji Yuan's help, after which Yao Jingfeng began discussing Foundation Establishment.

Ji Yuan learned how difficult Foundation Establishment would be for cultivators with False Spiritual Roots, then upgraded his Cave Abode to Level Two and discovered the Level Three Star-Spiral Cloud Barrier Formation. Meanwhile, Qin Old Blind Man decided to hunt for Qiu Qianhai himself, seeking something he urgently wanted.

• Yao Jingfeng told Ji Yuan, Luo Tian, and Du Wanyi that False Spiritual Root cultivators had needed five to eleven Foundation Establishment Pills, and the group agreed to focus on building strength before joining the Water Dragon Sect.
• The four discussed sharing information and resources, exchanged their locations, and parted ways after Ji Yuan learned more about their activities and cultivation lives.
• Ji Yuan used River-Suppressing Sand, Clear Spirit Jade, and Spirit Stones to upgrade his Cave Abode to Level Two, then saw that Level Three would grant the Star-Spiral Cloud Barrier Formation.
• Lin Hu and his wife visited Ji Yuan to congratulate him, and he told them they could continue as before.
• Qin Long and He Laosan warned Qin Old Blind Man that Ji Yuan had joined forces with Yao Jingfeng, Luo Tian, and Du Wanyi, prompting him to set out secretly to find Qiu Qianhai and obtain something he wanted.