Chapter Summaries

Gu Yuanqing collected ten divine soul great medicines from the Sanyang Sect and refined seven before their effects waned. Zhuang Hanhai and Baili Jinghong examined his hiding place and speculated that he might have come from the Cultivation World or learned a technique related to the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

• Baili Jinghong gave Gu Yuanqing ten heaven-tier divine soul great medicines, and Gu Yuanqing agreed to wipe the slate clean with the Sanyang Sect while warning its cultivators not to provoke him.
• Gu Yuanqing offered to trade Dao Souls for divine soul great medicines in the future, then used Spatial Arts to leave the Sanyang Sect's residence.
• Gu Yuanqing refined seven divine soul great medicines over a month and kept the remaining three after their diminishing returns made further refining seem wasteful.
• Gu Yuanqing erased the traces of his underground hiding place and flew away, after which Zhuang Hanhai and Baili Jinghong arrived there.
• Baili Jinghong observed that Gu Yuanqing had displayed several Dao Arts at the yin-yang level, and Zhuang Hanhai speculated that he might be connected to the Myriad Manifestations Sect or the Primordial Divine Sect.

Gu Yuanqing returned to the Illusionary Spirit Sect and asked Yi Yunbo to trade three Heaven-Tier Divine Soul Great Medicines for treasures, preferably a defensive formation. Lu Zeyu questioned whether Gu Yuanqing had caused Baili Jinghong to step down from the Sanyang Sect, but Gu Yuanqing said his grievances with the sect were settled for now.

• Lu Zeyu heard that Baili Jinghong planned to relinquish the Sanyang Sect master position and cultivate in seclusion to pursue the Yin-Yang Realm, prompting him to investigate what had happened.
• Gu Yuanqing returned to Dongyuan City and visited the Illusionary Spirit Sect courtyard, where he greeted Yi Yunbo, who had become a heavenly human.
• Gu Yuanqing asked Yi Yunbo to trade three Heaven-Tier Divine Soul Great Medicines for treasures of equivalent value, preferably a mountain-protecting formation.
• Lu Zeyu appeared and asked whether Gu Yuanqing's past conflict with the Sanyang Sect was connected to Baili Jinghong's decision.
• Gu Yuanqing denied involvement and told Lu Zeyu that his grievances with the Sanyang Sect were settled for the time being.

Gu Yuanqing settled at the Boundless River to fish, drawing attention with his ability to catch Earth Tier Dao Souls and the reputation he had earned from his battle with Pei Yutang. Meanwhile, Gongsun Miao and other Illusionary Spirit Sect disciples criticized the sect for supporting Gu, and began discussing what to do about him.

• Lu Zeyu offered Gu Yuanqing an Ancient Fishing Platform, and Yi Yunbo later arranged access to one while advising him about a future auction for a Mountain Protecting Great Formation.
• Gu Yuanqing began fishing at the Boundless River and quickly caught a top-grade Profound Tier water Dao Soul, which he sealed away as too low a tier to be useful.
• Over the following days, Earth Tier Dao Soul auras appeared and vanished near Gu Yuanqing; anglers who approached recognized him and retreated respectfully.
• Anglers identified Gu Yuanqing as the Illusionary Spirit Sect's Guest Elder and recalled his battle with Pei Yutang, prompting Gu Yuanqing to reflect that his reputation was useful.
• At a banquet, Gongsun Miao and other disciples condemned the sect for renting Gu Yuanqing a Fishing Platform and discussed taking action to protect the Illusionary Spirit Sect's interests.

Rumors that Gu Yuanqing had secretly allied with the Sanyang Sect stirred suspicion within the Illusionary Spirit Sect, though Lu Zeyu ended the council debate by affirming trust in him. Gu Yuanqing continued cultivating beside the Boundless River, and a decade later his achievements and the truth about his feud with the Sanyang Sect strengthened his standing in the sect.

• Gongsun Miao questioned Gu Yuanqing's loyalty and origins at a sect council, while Yi Yunbo defended him and Lu Zeyu ordered the discussion to end.
• Gu Yuanqing reassured Yi Yunbo that he had only settled his feud with the Sanyang Sect and gave him two Earth Tier Dao Souls suited to his cultivation.
• Gu Yuanqing explained that he wanted Yi Yunbo to advance rather than be delayed helping him, and Yi Yunbo agreed to assist him within the sect's rules.
• Gu Yuanqing settled beside the Boundless River and spent the next decade gathering cultivation resources and catching more than a dozen Heaven Tier Dao Souls.
• Lu Zeyu inferred that rumors about Gu Yuanqing and the Sanyang Sect were true, rebuked Gongsun Miao, and treated Gu Yuanqing with greater respect.

Gu Yuanqing established a hidden mountain residence in the Ancient Realm as a foothold for cultivators from the Floating World. After he returned, the Floating World’s cultivators continued preparing for the World Conflict, which was less than twenty years away.

• Gu Yuanqing spent years cultivating in the Ancient Realm, then traveled to find a site for a mountain protection formation.
• Lu Chen attacked Gu Yuanqing, who sent him flying and left before Lu Chen could find him again.
• Gu Yuanqing reshaped a mountain, built a residence, and established a large protective formation.
• Gu Yuanqing concealed his belongings in the formation and returned to the Floating World.
• Li Chengyi and the other cultivators had advanced, but the approaching World Conflict still left them short of their goals.

Gu Yuanqing taught the cultivation path to the entire Floating World, helping countless cultivators understand their techniques and break through. A year later, he celebrated his hundredth birthday with his descendants, then privately wondered whether Li Miaoxuan was well.

• Gu Yuanqing announced that he would explain cultivation in ten days, and the Great Qian Imperial Court and three great Dao sanctuaries told people they could listen from home.
• Gu Yuanqing taught the principles of successive cultivation realms to listeners across the Floating World over the course of a month, guiding their techniques and helping many break through.
• Gu Yuanqing warned that a world conflict was approaching and said he would expound the Dao again in ten years.
• A year later, Li Chengyi brought his children and grandchildren to North Spring Mountain to celebrate Gu Yuanqing's hundredth birthday.
• After his descendants departed, Gu Yuanqing looked at Li Miaoxuan's portrait and wondered whether she was still well.

Li Miaoxuan agreed to lead Lingxu Sect disciples into the Lower Realm to help confront the Demon Sword Successor, while Gu Yuanqing and his companions encountered their first Cultivation World sect on Cangming Island. Li Shi'an and Ji Dai went to meet the approaching cultivators, leaving the group poised for its first contact with the wider cultivation world.

• Li Miaoxuan's master told her that the Spirit Venerable had ordered the sects to support the Cultivation World against the Demon Sword Successor, and Li Miaoxuan agreed to lead Lingxu Sect's party down.
• Li Miaoxuan's master mentioned that Xiao Yunqi might also descend and urged her to reconsider companionship, but Li Miaoxuan said she already had a husband and son.
• Gu Yuanqing chose to remain focused on his cultivation and sensed that a major change was approaching, though he did not expect it to occur first in the Cultivation World.
• Three Divine Platform Cultivators spotted Cangming Island and suspected it was a newly revealed site of ancient ruins.
• Ji Dai and Li Shi'an noticed the visitors, decided to meet them, and set off after Gu Yuanqing gave no objection.

Li Shi'an and Ji Dai met cultivators from the Cangming Sect and introduced their island as the territory of a secluded Qian Yuan Sect. After Cangming Sect Sect Master Feng Mingzhi sent You Ruihua to investigate, You Ruihua visited the island and invited them to the upcoming Seven Sects of the North Sea Dao Discussion Conference.

• Li Shi'an and Ji Dai met You Ruihua, Gu Chenxuan, and Duan Mingrui, claiming their island belonged to the hidden Qian Yuan Sect.
• You Ruihua returned to Cangming Island and reported the discovery to his Master, Sect Master Feng Mingzhi, who urged caution but allowed him to investigate further.
• Two days later, You Ruihua and Duan Mingrui visited the island, where Li Shi'an hosted them in a courtyard and explained that the sect's disciples were cultivating in a minor secret realm.
• You Ruihua gave Li Shi'an a Water-Avoiding Pearl and asked to meet the sect elders, but Li Shi'an said they were in secluded cultivation.
• You Ruihua told Li Shi'an that the Seven Sects of the North Sea would hold a Dao Discussion Conference on Changmian Island in four months and invited the Qian Yuan Sect to attend.

Li Shi'an declined the Dao Discussion Assembly as the Qian Yuan Sect drew attention for its secret realm and Spirit Liquid. After visitors stopped arriving, Gu Yuanqing sensed danger as a group led by a powerful cultivator approached North Spring Mountain to seize its resources.

• Li Shi'an hosted You Ruihua and Duan Mingrui, then gave them three drops of spirit spring water as a return gift.
• Feng Mingzhi recognized the gift's power to cleanse meridians and marrow and concluded that the Qian Yuan Sect was strong and likely not part of the Demonic Path.
• Gu Yuanqing studied the Heavenly Dao Scripture and suspected that the Demon Sword Master's divine soul might be hidden in the Underground Cave.
• Li Shi'an declined the Dao Discussion Assembly, but rumors about the Qian Yuan Sect's secret realm and Spirit Liquid drew a month of visitors to North Spring Mountain.
• Gu Yuanqing noticed six cultivators thirty li from North Spring Mountain as their leader resolved to take the secret realm and Spirit Spring for their resources.

Huang Wenzhong led Yellow Wind Island cultivators in a nighttime attack on North Spring Mountain, hoping to seize the Qian Yuan Sect’s Spirit Liquid and secret realm. He Qiyuan gained the upper hand against Li Shi'an, Ji Dai, and Qin Wuya, and Jiang Qifeng joined the fight as Huang continued testing the sect’s strength.

• Huang Wenzhong brought five cultivators to North Spring Mountain, confident that his Heavenly Human Treasure, the Divine Wind Bag, could overcome the Qian Yuan Sect’s experts.
• The attackers found the island apparently empty, and Huang ordered He Qiyuan to lure out its inhabitants.
• He Qiyuan confronted Li Shi'an, who fought back with his Flying Sword after demanding to know why he had come.
• Ji Dai and Qin Wuya joined the battle, but He Qiyuan held the advantage while Li Haotian and Prince Qing stayed below.
• Huang concluded that the Qian Yuan Sect might have invented its elders, then sent Jiang Qifeng to attack as well.

Yellow Wind Island's attackers overwhelmed Li Shi'an and the others, then demanded the Qian Yuan Sect's spirit liquid and Secret Realm. As He Qiyuan attacked Gu Yuanqing, the young master emerged to face him.

• He Qiyuan and Jiang Qifeng joined the assault, and Li Shi'an, Ji Dai, Prince Qing, and Li Haotian were wounded and driven back by Huang Wenzhong's tornado.
• Huang Wenzhong revealed his Void Heaven cultivation and demanded the spirit liquid and Secret Realm, while his men mocked the Qian Yuan Sect.
• Li Shi'an used an Ancient Bell to block He Qiyuan's sword, then he and the others bowed toward North Spring Mountain and called for the young master's help.
• Gu Yuanqing emerged from the mountain, and He Qiyuan sent his sword light stabbing toward him.

Gu Yuanqing effortlessly subdued He Qiyuan and exposed the strength behind Yellow Wind Island’s attempted attack on Qian Yuan Sect. Huang Wenzhong realized Gu Yuanqing was a heavenly human and fled, leaving his subordinates behind.

• Gu Yuanqing incapacitated He Qiyuan with a glance, took his flying sword and soul-bound ruler, and gave both treasures to Li Shi'an.
• Huang Wenzhong challenged Gu Yuanqing’s conduct, but Gu Yuanqing reminded him that Yellow Wind Island had come to murder and plunder.
• Gu Yuanqing’s remark about the wind made Li Shi'an recognize Jiang Qifeng as the source of a previous attack.
• Huang Wenzhong unleashed his Divine Wind Bag, but Gu Yuanqing seized and suppressed it through his mastery of space.
• Huang Wenzhong recognized Gu Yuanqing as a heavenly human and fled, while Jiang Qifeng and the other Yellow Wind Island cultivators escaped on their treasures.

Gu Yuanqing subdued Huang Wenzhong and the other Yellow Wind Island attackers, leaving Li Shi'an and the others to decide their fate. News of Huang Wenzhong’s death stirred the North Sea, while Gu Yuanqing eventually noticed a skilled intruder approaching through the water.

• Gu Yuanqing overwhelmed Huang Wenzhong, Jiang Qifeng, and the other attackers, then sealed their divine souls and true essence.
• Li Shi'an and the others chose to kill the Yellow Wind Island men, while Huang Wenzhong regretted attacking the Qian Yuan Sect.
• More than ten days later, Yellow Wind Island’s powerful members and Huang Wenzhong’s relatives vanished, prompting rumors that he had been killed.
• The North Sea learned that Huang Wenzhong had died during a raid on Qian Yuan Island, and sects debated whether the Qian Yuan Sect possessed a powerful expert.
• Feng Mingzhi discussed the rumors with Qin Zichuan and decided the Qian Yuan Sect should stay on guard near Cangming Island.
• Gu Yuanqing detected a middle-stage void heaven cultivator sneaking toward him through the water.

Jiang Hongyun discovered a strange heartbeat beneath Qian Yuan Island and was thrown thousands of li away by Gu Yuanqing. He warned Feng Mingzhi against joining the Seven Sects of the North Sea in questioning the Qian Yuan Sect, and they decided to refuse while indirectly warning Palace Master Zou.

• Jiang Hongyun explored the waters beneath Qian Yuan Island, but Gu Yuanqing trapped him and hurled him back near Cangming Island.
• Jiang Hongyun learned that Palace Master Zou wanted the Seven Sects of the North Sea to jointly question the Qian Yuan Sect over Huang Wenzhong and Yellow Wind Island.
• Feng Mingzhi explained that a relative of Huang Wenzhong had asked the sects to seek justice, and said Cangming Sect should investigate what happened.
• Jiang Hongyun recounted his encounter with Gu Yuanqing and urged Feng Mingzhi not to oppose the Qian Yuan Sect.
• Feng Mingzhi believed Jiang Hongyun and agreed that Cangming Sect should refuse Palace Master Zou's proposal and send him an indirect warning.

The Seven Sects of the North Sea gathered forces to confront the Qian Yuan Sect over Yellow Wind Island’s missing master, while the Cangming Sect stayed away. Gu Yuanqing summoned Li Chengyi to watch the confrontation, and they prepared to go meet the assembled sects.

• Zou Zhixing learned that the Cangming Sect would not join the expedition and said Feng Mingzhi would owe the others an explanation.
• Six great ships carrying cultivators from the other North Sea sects gathered, and Meng Tingfeng hosted their leaders aboard the Purple Qi Palace’s ship.
• A young cultivator from Yellow Wind Island pleaded for justice over Huang Wenzhong’s disappearance, and the assembled leaders agreed to demand answers from the Qian Yuan Sect.
• Feng Mingzhi worried that the Cangming Sect was abandoning the others, but Jiang Hongyun said the sects were using Yellow Wind Island’s loss to test the Qian Yuan Sect’s strength.
• Gu Yuanqing summoned Li Chengyi to watch the confrontation and set out with him to meet the six gathered factions.

The six North Sea sects approached North Spring Mountain, where Gu Yuanqing agreed to let Li Chengyi test himself against their cultivators and Li Chengyi accepted the title of Qian Yuan Sect Master. As Zou Zhixing led the fleet toward Qian Yuan Island, he revealed that he hoped the Hidden World Sect might help him reach the Heavenly Human realm before his remaining lifespan ran out.

• Gu Yuanqing told Li Shi'an and the others that the six sects were approaching with seven Void Heaven Cultivators and instructed them to watch rather than fight.
• Li Chengyi asked to battle the Cultivation World's cultivators, and Gu Yuanqing agreed to intervene only if his life was in danger.
• Li Shi'an, Li Haotian, and Gu Yuanqing persuaded Li Chengyi to accept the title of Qian Yuan Sect Master, despite his plans to eventually leave for the Spirit Realm.
• Zou Zhixing asked Meng Tingfeng about Qian Yuan Island and its absence from historical maps as the six Tower Ships sailed toward it.
• Zou Zhixing recalled that he remained at Void Heaven peak, had fewer than fifty years to live, and viewed the Qian Yuan Sect as a possible path to becoming a Heavenly Human.

Gu Yuanqing transformed Qian Yuan Island into a fitting sect residence and prepared its defenses before the Seven Sects of the North Sea arrived. Li Chengyi faced their leaders as Qian Yuan Sect’s divine platform realm sect master and was confronted over the disappearance of Huang Wenzhong.

• Gu Yuanqing raised grand halls, courtyards, paths, and simple formations across the Island, then promised to teach the disciples how to refine the protective array.
• The ships of the Seven Sects of the North Sea approached, and Gu Yuanqing examined their Tower Ships’ shared array formation designs.
• Li Chengyi led Li Shi'an, Ji Dai, and the others to welcome the visitors and invite them ashore.
• When the visitors protested that Qian Yuan Sect had sent no Void Heaven Cultivator, Li Shi'an identified Li Chengyi as their sect master, startling the assembled cultivators.
• Huang Wenzhong’s son demanded an explanation for his father’s disappearance, and Li Chengyi replied that a band of villains had attacked the sect and been slain by an elder.

Li Chengyi faced the North Sea sects as they challenged the Qian Yuan Sect over Huang Wenzhong’s death, with Yue Sheng proposing a soul search and Zou Zhixing demanding a fight. Feng Mingzhi arrived to urge peace, but the other sect leaders rejected his intervention, and Jiang Hongyun joined him uneasily.

• A Divine Platform Cultivator from Yellow Wind Island accused the Qian Yuan Sect of murdering Huang Wenzhong and framing him, while Li Chengyi defended his account of the killing.
• Huo Huai'an questioned the Qian Yuan Sect’s witnesses and pressed Li Chengyi to resolve the dispute, but Li Chengyi saw that the other sects were testing his sect’s strength.
• Yue Sheng offered to use Divine Intent Island’s Soul Searching Technique on a Qian Yuan Sect witness, but Li Chengyi refused his proposal.
• Zou Zhixing demanded an explanation and sent Meng Tingfeng to test Li Chengyi’s abilities.
• Feng Mingzhi arrived and asked the gathered cultivators to settle the matter peacefully, but Yue Sheng and Huo Huai'an accused him of siding with the Qian Yuan Sect.
• Jiang Hongyun emerged from the water beside Feng Mingzhi and complained that the other sects would not appreciate his attempt to help.

Feng Mingzhi tried to warn the North Sea sects away from Qian Yuan Island, but Gu Yuanqing revealed himself and had Li Chengyi fight their challengers. After Li Chengyi defeated Meng Tingfeng, Gu Yuanqing forced Yue Heng into a second duel and promised to spare him if he defeated Li Chengyi.

• Feng Mingzhi bowed toward Qian Yuan Island and begged the unseen senior to spare the North Sea cultivators, while the other sect leaders questioned him.
• Gu Yuanqing ordered Li Chengyi to fight Meng Tingfeng, and Li Chengyi gained the upper hand with his flying sword.
• Li Chengyi struck Meng Tingfeng down and gravely injured his Divine Soul, leaving him unconscious.
• Gu Yuanqing pulled Yue Heng into the sky and injured Yue Sheng when he tried to intervene.
• Li Chengyi fought Yue Heng but could not penetrate his Void Heaven Domain, so Gu Yuanqing offered to spare Yue Heng if he defeated his son.

Li Chengyi fought Yue Heng, relying on his Divine Soul protection and Dharma Treasures to overcome attacks from a higher realm. After Gu Yuanqing revealed his strength and Yue Heng was captured, he asked the North Sea cultivators how he should deal with them.

• Yue Heng's Divine Intent Island techniques failed to affect Li Chengyi, whose Divine Soul was protected by a pearl left by Li Miaoxuan.
• Yue Heng shifted to using his superior cultivation and void heaven domain, but Li Chengyi held his ground with his understanding of the Great Dao and his Dharma Treasures.
• Huo Huai'an and Zou Zhixing discussed escaping and appealing to the Northming Immortal Sect, while the other cultivators feared Gu Yuanqing's strength.
• Yue Heng increased his power, but Li Chengyi trapped him with the Hun Tian Rope and Sky Burning Tower.
• Gu Yuanqing stopped Yue Sheng from rescuing Yue Heng with a glance, and Li Chengyi admitted that he could not win by his own strength alone.
• Gu Yuanqing appeared beside Li Chengyi and asked the North Sea cultivators how he should deal with them.