Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yang browsed Song Qi's stall and rejected a dubious beast-hide map before inspecting a heavy sword fragment and an unidentified Spirit Plant seed. He suspected the seed was dead and bargained stubbornly, leaving Song Qi furious and the price unresolved.

• Jiang Yang examined Song Qi's stall and declined to buy the beast hide after Song Qi claimed it held a treasure map and asked eight hundred Spirit Stones.
• Jiang Yang picked up a heavy metal fragment, learned it was made from Jade Crossbow White Gold, and apologized after Song Qi explained its value.
• Jiang Yang found an unidentified Spirit Plant seed and noticed it seemed to have no vitality.
• Jiang Yang offered five Spirit Stones for the likely dead seed while Song Qi repeatedly lowered his price, and Song Qi finally protested at Jiang Yang's unyielding haggling.

Jiang Yang bargained with Song Qi for a mysterious Spirit Seed and examined it back at his Cave Abode, where his Magic Power revealed that it was unusually resilient. After setting aside plans to plant it, he took an Essence-Nourishing Pill and began refining its medicinal power.

• Jiang Yang persuaded Song Qi to lower the Spirit Seed's price to eleven Spirit Stones, then bought it.
• Jiang Yang browsed the Ghost Market, bought nothing else, and returned to his Cave Abode.
• Jiang Yang infused the Spirit Seed with Magic Power, which disappeared into it without changing its appearance.
• Jiang Yang decided he could not afford the Spirit Array and Spirit Stones needed to plant the seed, so he put it away.
• Jiang Yang took an Essence-Nourishing Pill and circulated the Dew Essence Consumption Method to refine it.

Jiang Yang used an Essence-Nourishing Pill and the favorable lunar conditions to break through to Mid Qi Refining, then celebrated with a spirit meal. He continued to the Rain Listening Pavilion to work on his service assignment ahead of the inspection.

• Jiang Yang absorbed the Spirit Vigor around him and broke through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage.
• Jiang Yang reflected that his fast progress might be due to the [Lush Peach and Plum] talent and resolved to discreetly test his aptitude.
• Jiang Yang went to the Imperial Food Office and enjoyed Spirit Rice and a Silver Scaled Fish.
• Jiang Yang headed to Dawn Rain Peak and entered the Rain Listening Pavilion to continue his service assignment.
• Jiang Yang heard the clear sound of a Dongxiao inside the pavilion.

Jiang Yang heard Shang Qingzheng play a homesick song on her Pure Tone Nine Shao Flute, whose Spirit Artifact power stirred memories of his former life. Shang Qingzheng explained how far her homeland lay, and Jiang Yang vowed to keep striving toward the heights that might one day let him return to his own home.

• Jiang Yang found Shang Qingzheng playing her jade flute beside their usual meeting place and listened without interrupting.
• The flute’s music brought Jiang Yang’s memories of his previous life rushing back before he regained his composure.
• Shang Qingzheng sang an old song from the Heqiu Snowfield, then explained that the Pure Tone Nine Shao Flute was a Spirit Artifact that could imprint emotions on its listeners.
• Shang Qingzheng told Jiang Yang that her homeland lay far beyond the Zheng Kingdom, making even a return journey difficult for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Jiang Yang urged Shang Qingzheng to aim for the Purple Mansion and declared that he would keep striving rather than give up on his own distant hopes.

Jiang Yang advanced to the middle stage of Qi Refining, and Shang Qingzheng explained why joining a peak and receiving its inheritance mattered for his future. He left resolved to contend for a suitable inheritance, while Shang Qingzheng worried that her warning might burden him.

• Jiang Yang told Shang Qingzheng that he had broken through after cultivating near the Rain Listening Pavilion, and she confirmed he had reached the middle stage of Qi Refining.
• Shang Qingzheng explained the differences between ancient and modern cultivation methods and urged Jiang Yang to join a peak.
• Shang Qingzheng warned that choosing a cultivation method without an inheritance could leave Jiang Yang with a Lower-grade Immortal Foundation and no hope of reaching the Purple Mansion.
• Jiang Yang realized he would need to strive in the Court Examination to protect his path to the Purple Mansion, while Shang Qingzheng regretted possibly raising his hopes.
• Jiang Yang thanked Shang Qingzheng and shared his saying about striving to do good without asking what lay ahead.

Jiang Yang guarded three Jade Bamboo seedlings until Li Zhouying inspected them on the final day of the three-month chore. She rated all three superior grade and asked for his waist token, leaving his next step unclear.

• Jiang Yang killed Bamboo Dusk attacking the Jade Bamboo and spent the night guarding the healthy seedlings.
• Li Zhouying arrived on inspection day and examined all three plants.
• Li Zhouying found the bamboo healthy, jade-colored, and free of pests, rating it superior grade.
• Li Zhouying told Jiang Yang she would remember him and asked him to hand over his waist token.

Jiang Yang received fifty Dao Merit for his service assignment and planned to visit the library for spells before choosing a cultivation path. Shang Qingzheng hurried to meet him at the Rain Listening Pavilion, but arrived to find him gone and the stone table and stools missing.

• Li Zhouying awarded Jiang Yang fifty Dao Merit, including a twenty-point bonus, and advised him not to squander it.
• Jiang Yang compared his reward with ordinary service ratings and decided to use Dao Merit to seek spells at the library.
• Jiang Yang waited for Shang Qingzheng so he could say goodbye before leaving Dawn Rain Peak.
• Shang Qingzheng rushed toward the Rain Listening Pavilion with Little Sixteen but was delayed when a red-clad senior sister stopped to speak with her.
• Shang Qingzheng reached the bamboo grove and found Jiang Yang, the stone table, and the stools gone.

Shang Qingzheng found Jiang Yang in the Jade Bamboo Grove and learned he was leaving after completing his duties. Before they parted, she gave him an Embryonic Immortal Spirit-Guide Talisman so they could keep in touch.

• Little Sixteen led Shang Qingzheng to Jiang Yang, who was returning the stones he had brought to the grove.
• Jiang Yang told Shang Qingzheng that his work was finished and that he had earned a top evaluation and a Dao Merit reward.
• Jiang Yang shared his plans to study spells, cultivate, and pursue the Court Examination in hopes of becoming a True Person's disciple.
• Shang Qingzheng asked Jiang Yang what he thought of her, and he praised her sincerely.
• Shang Qingzheng taught Jiang Yang how to activate the paper crane talisman, which could carry letters between them.

Shang Qingzheng gave Jiang Yang a Spirit Talisman and explained how to use its messaging and tracking functions, then played and sang for him before he left the Bamboo Grove. She watched him go, flustered by his touch and her feelings for him.

• Shang Qingzheng explained that the Spirit Talisman could send messages and track a spiritual signature, and taught Jiang Yang its guiding incantation and range limits.
• Shang Qingzheng prayed with Little Sixteen to ward off calamity, explaining that the spirit cat's prayers might reach the Cat Immortal.
• Shang Qingzheng played the Pure Tone Nine Shao Flute and sang a longing song for Jiang Yang, who praised her music and voice.
• Jiang Yang caught Shang Qingzheng's wrist while trying to reassure her, then released her and apologized when she asked him to let go.
• Jiang Yang said goodbye and left the Bamboo Grove, while Shang Qingzheng watched him go and called him a blockhead under her breath.

Jiang Yang returned from his duties at Dawn Rain Peak and reported them to Zhou Yanwei, earning an upper rating. After hearing that Fang Xu had returned from a well-preserved Cave Abode with a good haul, Jiang Yang decided to visit him and spend some of his Dao Merit.

• Jiang Yang left the bamboo grove and hurried to the General Affairs Office on Morning Rain Peak to register his completed duties.
• Zhou Yanwei examined Jiang Yang's waist token and awarded his assignment an upper rating before returning the token.
• Jiang Yang told Zhou Yanwei that he planned to focus on cultivation and prepare for the year-end Court Examination rather than accept more duties.
• Zhou Yanwei asked whether Fang Xu had approached Jiang Yang and explained that Fang Xu had recently explored a well-preserved Cave Abode and made a modest haul.
• Jiang Yang decided to visit Fang Xu and left the General Affairs Office after saying farewell to Zhou Yanwei.

Jiang Yang traveled across Dew-Covered Lake toward the Ancestral Court to visit the Library Pavilion, sharing a seat with Dan Ruo along the way. After the lake’s scenery stirred his spirit sense, Dan Ruo mistook him for an alchemist’s apprentice, and he clarified that he was going to read Daoist texts.

• Jiang Yang left Morning Rain Peak and traveled to Cold Creek to board a boat across Dew-Covered Lake.
• Jiang Yang paid one Spirit Stone to board and found Dan Ruo offering him the only nearby seat on the crowded third floor.
• Jiang Yang introduced himself to Dan Ruo, who said she was from Rain Marsh Peak.
• Jiang Yang gazed across the vast lake, felt his sea of consciousness clear, and sensed his spirit sense grow slightly stronger.
• Dan Ruo asked which alchemist Jiang Yang studied under, and he explained that he was heading to the Ancestral Court to read Daoist texts.

Jiang Yang arrived at the Library Pavilion after traveling by boat, reflecting on his strengthened Spirit Sense and his interest in medicine refinement. He entered the ancient repository and approached its elderly steward to ask about the rules.

• Jiang Yang and Dan Ruo parted ways when the treasure boat reached Pill Spring Island.
• After the boat continued across the lake, Jiang Yang examined his Spirit Sense and found that its range and strength had increased.
• Jiang Yang disembarked, identified the Library Pavilion's location, and made his way there.
• Jiang Yang entered the Library Pavilion and saw rows of books protected by restrictions.
• Jiang Yang approached the white-haired steward and began to ask him a question.

Jiang Yang browsed the Library Pavilion, learned why he should avoid choosing a lower-grade cultivation method without a proper lineage, and gathered records about the surrounding world. He discovered a damaged fifth-grade scripture but left it unredeemed, recognizing that it was incomplete and costly.

• Jiang Yang asked the pavilion elder how to choose Cultivation Arts and Spells, and the elder explained the borrowing rules and restricted him to the first floor.
• Jiang Yang examined lower-grade Cultivation Arts and realized that many could lead to an Immortal Foundation with no reliable continuation of the inheritance.
• Jiang Yang avoided taking a lower-grade method and instead copied geographical records and miscellaneous accounts for five Dao Merit.
• Jiang Yang found a damaged Ninefold Clear Avenue Scripture, learned that it was a fifth-grade method costing ninety-five Dao Merit, and concluded that it was incomplete.

Jiang Yang studied the Ninefold Clear Avenue Scripture and learned that its missing Qi-Gathering Formula made it unusable for foundation establishment. He then browsed combat techniques in the Library Pavilion and chose a sword art, leaving himself to select other spells later.

• Jiang Yang read about the Ninefold Clear Avenue Scripture's powerful Immortal Foundation and discovered that its Qi-Gathering Formula was missing.
• Jiang Yang reviewed what was required for foundation establishment, including gathering Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy suited to a cultivation method.
• Jiang Yang browsed shelves of offensive, defensive, and movement Spells, planning to choose techniques he could master with his limited Dao Merit.
• Jiang Yang found shelves of weapon arts and decided that weapons could be practical for close-range fights among Qi Refining cultivators.
• Jiang Yang chose a sword art from the Library Pavilion's Jade Slips.

Jiang Yang chose a Sword Art, a movement art, and a defensive shield art at the Library Pavilion, then returned to his cave abode on Morning Rain Peak. After a long day of studying cultivation arts, he fell asleep as soon as he lay down.

• Jiang Yang copied the third-grade Cave-Origin One-Qi Sword Art and exchanged Dao Merit for a movement art and a defensive art.
• Jiang Yang studied Wind-Folding Returning Shadow and Clear-Wave Mystic Shield aboard the boat, noting that clear-wave origin water could strengthen the shield.
• Jiang Yang considered asking around Chuanwu Market for clear-wave spirit water and thought briefly of Dan Ruo, whom he had seen earlier.
• Jiang Yang got off at the boat's final stop, admired the mist over Cold Creek, and hurried back to his cave abode on Morning Rain Peak.
• Jiang Yang lay down to rest and fell asleep from exhaustion.

Jiang Yang studied the Clear-Wave Mystic Shield and struggled through repeated failures before casting it successfully and testing its defense. He wondered how his progress compared with other cultivators, though he had no one nearby to ask.

• Jiang Yang woke near noon after exhausting his Spirit Sense the previous day and decided to study the spell arts he had acquired.
• Jiang Yang set aside the sword art because he lacked a suitable sword and chose to practice the Clear-Wave Mystic Shield.
• Jiang Yang failed repeatedly while learning the complex spell, suffering aching meridians from Magic Power backlash.
• Jiang Yang finally condensed a translucent mystic shield and found that it withstood his Finger-Sword Awakening of Insects without breaking.
• Jiang Yang dispersed the shield, reflected on the spell’s difficulty, and guessed that his learning speed was average.

Shang Qingzheng, missing Jiang Yang after their separation, wrote him a carefully worded letter and sent it by Spirit Crane. Jiang Yang, absorbed in practicing spells, received it and realized he had forgotten his promise to write to her.

• Shang Qingzheng complained that Jiang Yang had not written and decided to send him a letter herself.
• Shang Qingzheng drafted and revised her message, then sent it to Jiang Yang with a Spirit Crane talisman.
• Jiang Yang practiced Wind-Folding Returning Shadow and Clear-Wave Mystic Shield, alternating between them as the shield spell’s backlash forced him to rest.
• Jiang Yang received Shang Qingzheng’s Spirit Crane, remembered his promise, and returned to his Cave Abode to read her letter.

Jiang Yang happily read Shang Qingzheng’s letter and wrote her a detailed reply, then sent it by Spirit Crane. He went to Rain Marsh Peak to visit Zhou Yanwei and called to him outside his Cave Abode.

• Jiang Yang read Shang Qingzheng’s letter several times and smiled at her affectionate request for a swift reply.
• Jiang Yang wrote Shang Qingzheng a long letter describing his recent experiences and cultivation, then sent it away with a Spirit Crane.
• Jiang Yang decided to visit Zhou Yanwei on the monthly rest day to return the guidance Zhou had given him.
• Jiang Yang climbed Rain Marsh Peak, found Zhou Yanwei’s Cave Abode, and called out to him from the platform.

Jiang Yang visited Zhou Yanwei’s well-appointed Cave Abode and learned that wealth had helped him secure it. Zhou Yanwei served Jiang Yang Xiang Mountain Timely Rain, whose effects on Spirit Sense left Jiang Yang wondering why his senior brother had offered such a valuable tea.

• Zhou Yanwei welcomed Jiang Yang into his Cave Abode and showed him its empty Spirit Insect Chamber and Spirit Puppet Chamber.
• Zhou Yanwei explained that Cave Abodes on Rain Marsh Peak varied in quality and hinted that his family wealth had helped him obtain his residence.
• Zhou Yanwei summoned a misty apparition to serve Jiang Yang Xiang Mountain Timely Rain.
• Jiang Yang drank the tea and felt its coolness stir his Sea of Consciousness and Spirit Sense.
• Zhou Yanwei explained that the tea came from the Spirit Root Dewglow Four Seasons Spring and could steady the soul and strengthen Spirit Sense.
• Jiang Yang grew uneasy about accepting the valuable tea and questioned Zhou Yanwei’s reason for offering it.

Jiang Yang visited Zhou Yanwei, drank Spirit Tea, and learned about the unusual Spirit Summoning and Command spell. He asked where to obtain a Sword Weapon for practicing his sword manual, and Zhou Yanwei began explaining how to get one.

• Zhou Yanwei explained that Rain Xiang Mountain disciples could obtain ten-year Spirit Tea and that its strongest effects came from drinking it once.
• Zhou Yanwei described Spirit Summoning and Command, a high-grade spell whose summoned Spirit General's strength depended on heavenly destiny rather than cultivation.
• Jiang Yang declined Zhou Yanwei's offer to help him exchange for the spell, and the two chatted over tea.
• Jiang Yang asked Zhou Yanwei where he could buy or have a sturdy mundane Sword Weapon made so he could practice his sword manual.
• Zhou Yanwei discussed the strength and rare talent of Sword Cultivators, admitted he regretted not becoming one, and began explaining how Jiang Yang could obtain a Sword Weapon.