Chapter Summaries

Ji Yuan prepared to leave Mist Island to obtain the Millennium Green Hui Grass and asked Wen Lin for details about the enemies he wanted to kill. Wen Lin revealed that he was Yue Lin, an illegitimate son of the Yue Household, and began explaining how his mother was killed.

• Ji Yuan fed Big Clam the Second-Order Demon Core and shared Demon Beast meat with him while they recovered and cultivated over several months.
• Ji Yuan decided to seek the Millennium Green Hui Grass before the Water Dragon Sect Selection and left Tu Yue and Big Clam to guard Mist Island.
• Ji Yuan visited the Wen Household to ask Wen Lin about the Green Orchid Grass and the matter he had promised to explain.
• Wen Lin revealed that his real name was Yue Lin and that he was an illegitimate son of the Yue Household of Spirit Mountain Market.
• Yue Lin said his father's principal wife, Wang Shan, had killed his mother, then explained that his grand-uncle Yue Zhu had raised Wang Shan's cultivation and had become involved with her.

Ji Yuan set out to avenge Wen Lin’s family by killing Wang Shan and Yue Zhu, while the third target, Zhou Qingfa, remained at the front lines. He returned to Zengtou City with the first two targets’ heads and delivered them to Wen Lin, then flew back to Mist Island.

• Wen Lin told Ji Yuan that Yue Zhu had enabled Wang Shan’s role in his mother’s death and named Yue Zhu and Zhou Qingfa as his remaining targets.
• Ji Yuan left that night for Spirit Mountain Market and arranged with the Water Dragon Sect cultivator on duty to avoid trouble over killing Yue Zhu.
• Ji Yuan attacked Yue Zhu’s residence, killed Wang Shan as she tried to flee, and slew Yue Zhu with talismans and his Explosive Charge technique.
• Ji Yuan took the Millennium Green Hui Grass from Yue Zhu’s Storage Bag, collected both heads, and destroyed the bodies.
• Ji Yuan returned to Zengtou City and gave the heads to Wen Lin, who wept with Zhao Yuechan and bowed to him; Ji Yuan then returned to Mist Island.

Ji Yuan spent the months on Mist Island cultivating and preparing a New Year feast, then fled when two powerful cultivators began fighting nearby. A wounded Foundation Establishment Cultivator named Li Changhe asked him for healing pills, and Ji Yuan demanded proof that Li belonged to the Water Dragon Sect rather than being the Demonic Cultivator.

• Ji Yuan sorted Yue Zhu and Wang Shan's Storage Bags, gaining Spirit Stones, artifacts, medicinal materials, pill recipes, and an Illusion Talisman art.
• Ji Yuan learned that the Water Dragon Sect had taken over Clearwave Pool and reduced the purchase price of Cold Iron Sand in Cloud-Rain Marsh.
• Ji Yuan celebrated New Year's Eve on Mist Island with Big Clam and Tu Yue, sharing a feast made from Spirit Fish and Demon Beasts.
• A tremendous battle shook the sky, so Ji Yuan put Tu Yue away, sent Big Clam into the lake, and hid on an unnamed island.
• Li Changhe contacted Ji Yuan, claiming to be a badly injured Water Dragon Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator who needed healing pills.
• Ji Yuan considered having Big Clam attack Li Changhe for his treasures, then rejected the risk and asked Li Changhe to prove his identity.

Ji Yuan saved the gravely injured Water Dragon Sect cultivator Li Changhe, who rewarded him with a token to join the sect and several valuable gifts. After Li Changhe recovered, Ji Yuan left before the sect’s search party arrived, carrying a one-use Talisman Treasure that could help him escape a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

• Ji Yuan found Li Changhe dying on a shore and used Qi-Blood Pills, blood essence, and other cultivation pills to stabilize his injuries.
• Ji Yuan moved Li Changhe to an uninhabited island and stayed for ten days until Li Changhe regained consciousness.
• Li Changhe explained that he had been hunting demonic cultivators for the Water Dragon Sect, then gave Ji Yuan an Ascension Token and a golden communication talisman.
• Li Changhe promised to help Ji Yuan after he joined the sect and offered to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill recipe for him.
• When the Water Dragon Sect’s search party approached, Ji Yuan chose to leave, and Li Changhe gave him a one-use Talisman Treasure called the Heaven-Escaping Shuttle.

Ji Yuan returned to Zengtou City after receiving Li Changhe’s Talisman Treasure and learned that the Water Dragon Sect Selection was still ten days away. Old Master Xu warned him that this year’s Late Qi Refining candidates could not use talismans, pills, or other external aids, and began advising him on life in the sect.

• Li Changhe gave Ji Yuan the Talisman Treasure: Heaven-Escaping Shuttle and told him to seek him out after joining the Water Dragon Sect.
• Ji Yuan hid the Talisman Treasure, returned to Zengtou City, and learned from Wu Qin that the Selection would begin in ten days.
• Ji Yuan visited Xu Fugui at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and gave him a gift of Cultivation Pills, talismans, and Blood Essence.
• Xu Fugui told Ji Yuan that the Water Dragon Sect planned to recruit fewer people this year and that Late Qi Refining candidates could not use talismans, Cultivation Pills, Water Thunder Pellets, or other external aids in combat.
• Xu Fugui told Ji Yuan to find him at House 78 in District B of Young Dragon Island after joining the sect, then began explaining what to expect there.

Ji Yuan learned that the Water Dragon Sect’s selection would require candidates to defeat Demon Beasts without relying on talismans or Cultivation Pills, and he warned Du Wanyi before returning to Mist Island to check on his home. With the selection approaching, Ji Yuan returned to Zengtou City and prepared until the day finally arrived.

• Xu Fugui explained that sect members had to obey the rules and earn one hundred Merit Points each year, which Ji Yuan planned to satisfy by submitting talismans rather than taking missions.
• Ji Yuan told Du Wanyi about the selection’s new rules, and she acknowledged that the changes would make recruitment much more difficult.
• Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island and found that Big Clam had eaten most of his Spirit Chickens and several Spirit Pigs, then instructed it to guard the island.
• Ji Yuan returned to Zengtou City and spent the remaining days preparing for the selection.
• Ji Yuan awoke from meditation on the day of the Water Dragon Sect Selection.

Ji Yuan left his lakeside home for the Water Dragon Sect Selection, leaving Lin Hu a small gift before joining Du Kang as Zengtou City's two candidates. A Foundation Establishment cultivator announced that the beast fight would forbid talismans, pills, and Formations, but both men chose to proceed and were sent to Mountain Rain Island.

• Ji Yuan found the Wen Household and Lin Family waiting outside, then left a Storage Bag containing talismans and Cultivation Pills at Lin Hu's home.
• Ji Yuan said farewell to his cottage and flew to the Fish Pen in Zengtou City, where he met Du Kang and saw Lin Hu's family among the crowd.
• A young Foundation Establishment cultivator announced that candidates could use only Dharma Tools and techniques during the beast fight, and that they could withdraw before reaching Mountain Rain Island.
• Du Kang asked whether candidates could surrender and, despite the danger, decided to take part; Ji Yuan also chose to proceed rather than wait another three years.
• The Foundation Establishment cultivator sent Ji Yuan and Du Kang with a Water Dragon Sect disciple toward Mountain Rain Island, then declared the Selection underway.

Ji Yuan joined the Water Dragon Sect’s Sui Selection on Mountain Rain Island and prepared to fight a demon beast in the first group. In Zengtou City, Wen Ling'er’s test revealed a faint azure spiritual root, and Jiang Lin whisked her family and the testing disciple away before the result could be announced.

• Ji Yuan arrived at Mountain Rain Island with Du Kang, met Du Wanyi, and learned that cultivators could no longer use outside aids during the selection.
• Yun Shangping explained that surrendering would bring rescue, then assigned the participants to groups by drawing lots; Ji Yuan drew Group A, Du Wanyi drew Group D, and Du Kang drew Group B.
• Ji Yuan entered the arena, declined Sang Zhongyuan’s proposed contest, and readied his Hundred-Fish Shield and Greenfly Flying Sword as demon beasts were dropped into the arenas.
• At the spiritual root testing area in Zengtou City, Wen Ling'er’s orb glowed a faint azure, prompting the testing cultivator to summon Jiang Lin for help identifying her aptitude.
• Jiang Lin enclosed the testing area in a formation and sent a message; a pale blue streak arrived, and Wen Lin's family and the testing disciple disappeared when the mist cleared.
• Lin Hu and Wu Qin realized what had happened and quietly left the fish pens with their daughter, Lin Chengruo.

Ji Yuan and Du Wanyi passed the Water Dragon Sect’s selection after surviving demon-wolf trials, and the new disciples began their journey to the sect. As Yun Shangping called Ji Yuan over privately, Ji Yuan’s arrival at the Water Dragon Sect remained just ahead.

• Lin Hu and Wu Qin discovered the Storage Bag Ji Yuan had left behind, with talismans and cultivation pills meant to help their family, and resolved to keep Lin Qiaoruo’s rare spiritual root secret.
• Wen Lin agreed to bring Wen Ling'er into the Water Dragon Sect after Ye Hong revealed that she had a variant wind spiritual root.
• Ji Yuan swiftly killed an Earth-Rending Demon Wolf with his flying sword, Water-Splitting Dragon Lance, and Explosive Charge, earning a Water Dragon Sect token from Yun Shangping.
• Du Wanyi borrowed Ji Yuan’s Bronze Armor, defeated her demon wolf despite being injured, and joined the other successful candidates as a new sect disciple.
• Yun Shangping took the seven successful cultivators north aboard a tower ship, gave them sect supplies and information, and recorded their names, cultivation levels, and spiritual roots.
• After Ji Yuan registered, Yun Shangping praised his name and called him over.

Ji Yuan used Li Changhe’s Ascension Token to avoid being sent to the front lines at Liancheng Mountain, where Sang Zhongyuan and Chu Jingtong were assigned instead. He and the other new disciples reached Young Dragon Island, where they were to collect their Cave Abode number plates.

• Yun Shangping praised Ji Yuan’s strength and told him to follow Gu Liben on a confidential assignment, but Ji Yuan showed them Li Changhe’s Ascension Token.
• Yun Shangping and Gu Liben recognized the token, learned Li Changhe had given it to Ji Yuan, and agreed not to send him to Liancheng Mountain.
• Yun Shangping assigned Sang Zhongyuan and Chu Jingtong to bolster the Water Dragon Sect’s presence at Liancheng Mountain, where Medicine King Valley’s involvement made fighting unlikely.
• Fang Jie learned about the situation at Liancheng Mountain after revealing that Liu Yuan was his cousin.
• Yun Shangping brought the new disciples to Young Dragon Island and told them to collect their Cave Abode number plates at Young Dragon Hall.
• Ji Yuan arrived on Young Dragon Island in the sect-issued Scarlet Firmament Boat, wearing the standard robe over his Bronze Armor.

Ji Yuan and Du Wanyi arrived at Young Dragon Island, collected neighboring Cave Abode tokens, and settled into their new residences. Ji Yuan discovered leftover medicinal ingredients and mysterious writing carved into the wall of his courtyard.

• Fang Jie insulted a long-faced disciple who mocked the newcomers from Cloud-Rain Marsh, then claimed his elder brother was an island lord.
• Ji Yuan and Du Wanyi collected Cave Abode tokens D-18 and D-20 after requesting nearby residences.
• Fang Jie suggested seeking easy work in the sect's halls, while Du Wanyi said she would explore the possibility and ask after Yao Jingfeng.
• Ji Yuan and Du Wanyi found their residences at opposite ends of Zone D, and Ji Yuan entered D-18 alone.
• Ji Yuan found unused medicinal ingredients in his residence and discovered writing carved into a wall in the rear courtyard.

Ji Yuan found a predecessor’s alchemical notes and used them to refine his first Pure Void Pills, becoming an upper first-tier alchemist and setting his sights on second-tier alchemy. Meanwhile, Sang Zhongyuan and Chu Jingtong reconsidered Ji Yuan’s influence and planned to thank him when they returned to the Water Dragon Sect.

• Ji Yuan found a worn book of alchemical insights in the cave abode and studied its guidance on upper first-tier alchemy.
• Ji Yuan practiced the Core-Condensing Hand Seal and successfully refined two Pure Void Pills, becoming an upper first-tier alchemist.
• Ji Yuan realized he could pursue second-tier alchemy and eventually learn to refine Foundation Establishment Pills by upgrading his Alchemy Room.
• Sang Zhongyuan cursed Ji Yuan for getting them sent to the Water Dragon Sect encampment, but Chu Jingtong argued that the Foundation Establishment High Persons had been responsible.
• Chu Jingtong urged Sang Zhongyuan to survive, gather benefits, and sincerely thank Ji Yuan when they returned, since Ji Yuan’s powerful backing could benefit them.

Ji Yuan learned the complete Foundation Establishment Pill recipe from Du Wanyi and realized his Spirit Field could produce one of its rare main ingredients. After Du Wanyi left, he spotted a child emerging from the neighboring courtyard.

• Ji Yuan reviewed his wealth and decided to buy the rare ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills rather than risk gathering them himself.
• Du Wanyi told Ji Yuan that the Mutual Aid Society's upper association would meet on Landscape Island in ten days and that Yao Jingfeng was alive but badly injured.
• Du Wanyi gave Ji Yuan the complete Foundation Establishment Pill recipe, which she had found in her house on Young Dragon Island.
• Ji Yuan recognized that his Spirit Field could yield millennial illusion spirit grass and resolved to upgrade it after seeing the requirements.
• Du Wanyi left for the night, and Ji Yuan saw a child emerge from Courtyard Nineteen next door.

Ji Yuan explored the Water Dragon Sect, gathered the materials to upgrade his Spirit Field, and learned how costly Foundation Establishment would be. He upgraded the field to level three and harvested two Millennial Illusion Spirit Grass stalks, then turned to check what a level four field could do.

• Ji Yuan met his neighbors Pi Fangzhi and Tang Ran, who traded insults before separately apologizing to him.
• Ji Yuan explored the Water Dragon Sect and bought demon cores, Sky-Flying Locust corpses, and Profound Yin Soil on the Island of All Things.
• Ji Yuan learned that Foundation Establishment Pills were scarce and expensive, while Millennial Illusion Spirit Grass could sell for 150 middle-grade spirit stones per stalk.
• Ji Yuan used his gathered materials to upgrade his Spirit Field to level three, which could produce one mature Millennial Illusion Spirit Grass stalk each year.
• Ji Yuan harvested the grass, triggering the Spirit Field's double-crop effect and receiving two stalks, then prepared to inspect the level four effects.

Ji Yuan discovered his Spirit Farm’s Elixir Creation effect and attended the Water Dragon Sect’s gathering, where he heard that Foundation Establishment Pills were being offered for military merit at Liancheng Mountain. He declined to go to the front lines, learned of the formidable Feng Yichen, and the gathering ended with an offer of unofficial news about the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven.

• Ji Yuan saw that his Spirit Farm could produce a Dan Yuan Fruit once every ten years and harvested two Millennial Illusion Spirit Grass plants, which he decided not to sell yet.
• Ji Yuan and Du Wanyi traveled to Landscape Island for the Water Dragon Sect gathering and met Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, and Liu Cangke.
• Han Feiyu announced that the sect was offering three Foundation Establishment Pills as rewards for military merit at Liancheng Mountain.
• Han Feiyu urged Ji Yuan to join the expedition, but Ji Yuan refused, and Du Wanyi also declined to go.
• Dong Qian told Ji Yuan that Feng Yichen, a False Spiritual Root cultivator, had killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator head-on.
• An unnamed speaker silenced the gathering by offering unofficial news about the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven.

Ji Yuan learned that the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven would open in three years and reunited with Lu Wan, who shared her regret over her parents’ deaths and said she had dealt with the Qin Household. After she parted from him, Ji Yuan spent time with Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, and Du Wanyi, then went with them to Thousand Mechanisms Island to look for tasks.

• Ge Yang told the gathering that the Nine Nether Grotto-Heaven was rumored to open in three years, and Ji Yuan listened while considering whether to enter.
• Lu Wan met Ji Yuan at the pavilion, spoke about her parents’ deaths and her refusal to marry Wu Yan, and told him she had dealt with the Qin Household.
• Lu Wan said she had become a Talisman Hall disciple and offered to help Ji Yuan before she left to see her master.
• Ji Yuan joined Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, and Du Wanyi on Landscape Island, where they discussed the grotto-heaven and agreed to share useful news.
• Dong Qian suggested visiting Thousand Mechanisms Island for overlooked tasks, and Ji Yuan went there with the others.

Ji Yuan learned how Thousand Mechanisms Hall’s missions and Merit Points worked, then visited Xu Fugui to ask about his sword art and Li Changhe. After explaining the risks of the sect’s factional politics, Xu Fugui offered to take Ji Yuan to meet his master.

• Han Feiyu explained the mission grades and warned Ji Yuan about dangerous assignments and rival disciples.
• Ji Yuan submitted ten Upper First Tier talismans to meet his Merit Points quota, then returned to his cave abode and successfully refined an Upper-Grade Spirit-Gathering Pill.
• Ji Yuan visited Xu Fugui, who told him he needed Peak Qi Refining to unleash all nine waves of the Surging Waves Sword Art.
• Ji Yuan showed Xu Fugui the Ascension Token and explained that he had saved Li Changhe, so Xu Fugui warned him that Li Changhe’s family belonged to the First Elder’s faction.
• Ji Yuan decided to keep a measured distance from Li Changhe and seek his help when preparing for Foundation Establishment.
• Xu Fugui invited Ji Yuan to meet his master.

Ji Yuan met Xu Fugui’s master, the Iron Hammer Island Lord, who recognized Ji Yuan’s exceptional physique and offered to help him reach body refining completion. The chapter left Ji Yuan facing an intense training regimen at the forge, beginning with the Iron Hammer Island Lord swinging a hammer at his forehead.

• Xu Fugui brought Ji Yuan to meet his master, the Iron Hammer Island Lord, at his island.
• The Iron Hammer Island Lord recognized Ji Yuan’s body-tempering talent but said he was not qualified to take Ji Yuan as a disciple.
• The Iron Hammer Island Lord identified Ji Yuan’s failure to use his full strength as the reason he had not reached body refining completion.
• The Iron Hammer Island Lord invited Ji Yuan to stay for ten days and said he would help him break through by teaching him to hammer an iron ingot down to palm size.
• The Iron Hammer Island Lord threw Ji Yuan a heavy hammer and then swung his own hammer toward Ji Yuan’s forehead.

Ji Yuan completed Body Refining under the Iron Hammer Island Lord’s brutal training, then returned to Mist Island after buying ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills. There, he found Big Clam being dragged underwater by a venomous snake and attacked it to save him.

• Ji Yuan learned the Iron Hammer Island Lord’s hammer technique and endured days of forced ironworking until he reached Body Refining Completion.
• Ji Yuan fought the Iron Hammer Island Lord in a contest of strength, then learned that tempering all 361 apertures could lead to a Diamond-like Body.
• Ji Yuan returned to Young Dragon Island, bought two sets of supplementary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills, and flew back toward Mist Island in his upgraded Thunder Falcon Boat.
• Ji Yuan searched Mist Island for Big Clam and heard a battle cry coming from the mist.
• Ji Yuan found a venomous snake dragging the injured Big Clam underwater and struck it with a Water Blade attack, allowing Big Clam to escape onto shore.

Ji Yuan defeated the giant serpent that had nearly killed Big Clam, brought the injured creature back to Mist Island, and resumed developing his home and cultivating. After more than a month of slow progress, he considered exploring the effects of the Panel’s [Kitchen] and [Formation Room].

• Ji Yuan struck the wounded serpent with Thunderstorm Talismans and Explosive Charges, then severed its body with a sword talisman.
• The serpent’s severed head lunged at Ji Yuan, but Big Clam caught and swallowed it before Ji Yuan returned to the island.
• Ji Yuan collected the serpent’s demon core and other valuable materials, fed Big Clam blood essence and a pig’s head, and took it home to recover.
• Ji Yuan released Tu Yue to restore Mist Island, harvested the grown spirit fish, replenished the livestock, and planted spirit wheat in an expanded [Spirit Field].
• Ji Yuan cultivated and refined pills for more than a month while Big Clam healed, then considered developing the [Kitchen] and [Formation Room].