Chapter Summaries

Fang Qianyuan subdued the Thunder Civet and discovered that the Mysterious Treasure Pill had transformed his spirit essence, granting him primordial breath that rapidly manifested spirit creatures. He left with the Thunder Civet as his new spirit creature, hoping to guide it away from its former savagery.

• Fang Qianyuan weakened the Thunder Civet through repeated attempts and forced it to choose between submission and death.
• The Thunder Civet entered Fang Qianyuan's spirit sea, where his medicinal power quickly gave it a manifested body.
• Fang Qianyuan realized his spirit essence had changed and suspected he had undergone a third transformation, gaining primordial breath.
• Little White sensed the primordial breath, entered Fang Qianyuan's spirit sea, and eagerly absorbed it.
• Fang Qianyuan summoned the Thunder Civet, welcomed it as his spirit creature, and told it to stop devouring people.

After completing their mission early, Fang Qianyuan and the Wind Pursuit Hall members visited Huaning City’s trading market to pursue a little traveling trade. As Lin Ziguan explained the limits and advantages of their side business, the group began browsing for suitable goods.

• Fang Qianyuan and his companions returned to Huaning City after reporting the demon’s death to the Heavenly Dao Alliance.
• Lin Ziguan explained that Wind Pursuit Hall members could use the time left after early mission completion for personal pursuits, including trading local specialties.
• Fang Qianyuan agreed to visit Huaning City’s trading market with Lin Ziguan and the others.
• Fang Qianyuan compared regional markets, and Lin Ziguan described how transport costs and regional demand shaped trade in treasured materials.
• Lin Ziguan explained that the group’s free travel gave them an advantage, but their duties meant they needed to trade moderately priced, easy-to-store goods.

Fang Qianyuan’s group bought water-hued jadeite to resell, and he offered to fund the Jiachen Team’s future trading. As they left the market, armed guards recognized them and surrounded the group.

• Lin Ziguan negotiated with a shopkeeper and bought fifty pieces of water-hued jadeite for each member of the group.
• Chang Yang estimated that reselling the jadeite could earn each of them several hundred spirit jade.
• Fang Qianyuan offered to lend the Jiachen Team capital for future deals, winning their enthusiasm.
• A group of guards led by two seven-turn Spirit Tamers recognized Fang Qianyuan’s group and ordered their soldiers to surround them.

Fang Qianyuan and his companions were surrounded by City Guard Army soldiers who accused them of stealing jade from the city treasury. After Lin Ziguan revealed Fang’s reputation as the Lord of a Thousand Miles, a young master arrived with Lin Xiaoxiao, and Fang recognized him as a formidable cultivator.

• Lin Ziguan rebuked the City Guard Army soldiers for surrounding the group, but they demanded proof of their Heavenly Dao Alliance affiliation and ordered them to the City Guard Office.
• Fang Qianyuan suspected the soldiers had been sent by the Huaning Lin Clan and told them to move aside.
• The soldiers failed to recognize Fang Qianyuan until Lin Ziguan identified him as Young Master Fang, the Lord of a Thousand Miles, and explained his reputation.
• The City Guard Army leaders hesitated but prepared to continue confronting Fang Qianyuan and his companions.
• A young master arrived with Lin Xiaoxiao, and Fang Qianyuan sensed that the man had profound cultivation and unusual strength.

Fang Qianyuan met Tu Mingshan, the Tu Lineage's celebrated young genius and a potential rival of the Azure Cloud Sect. When Lin Xiaoxiao accused Fang of stealing her spirit creature, the crowd sided with him and dismissed her claim.

• Tu Mingshan arrived and greeted Fang Qianyuan, while Fang recognized him as the Tu Lineage's rising genius and a possible rival.
• Fang recalled the Azure Cloud Sect's plans for him to challenge Tu Mingshan and suppress his growing reputation through an honorable contest.
• Lin Xiaoxiao accused Fang Qianyuan of stealing her spirit creature and demanded that Tu Mingshan teach him a lesson.
• Fang denied the accusation, citing his standing as a reputable sect disciple and Heavenly Dao Alliance squad leader.
• Bystanders doubted Lin Xiaoxiao's accusation because Fang Qianyuan was known for his chivalry.

Fang Qianyuan accompanied Tu Mingshan to the Wind and Cloud Tower to discuss Lin Xiaoxiao’s accusation, while Tu Mingshan and Lin Xiaoxiao traded barbed remarks with him. Fang ended their exchange by suggesting that the greatest classic might be close at hand, leaving the meaning of his words unclear.

• Lin Xiaoxiao angrily berated the bystanders, but Tu Mingshan told her to step back and then invited Fang Qianyuan to explain the matter over tea.
• Fang Qianyuan accepted Tu Mingshan’s invitation despite Lin Ziguan and Chang Yang warning him that it could be dangerous.
• At the Wind and Cloud Tower, Tu Mingshan arranged for Miss Ying'er to perform while the group took their seats.
• Fang Qianyuan asked Miss Ying'er to play the Seven Fairies Dance, and Tu Mingshan questioned why he remained attached to a past performance.
• Lin Xiaoxiao mocked Fang Qianyuan for bringing up the Moonlight Fairy’s birthday banquet, and Fang replied that the greatest classic could be right before their eyes.

Fang Qianyuan explained that the Thunder Civet had been his prey and refused Tu Mingshan's offer to buy it because he had already bonded with it. Tu Mingshan proposed settling the dispute by Spirit Tamer rules, and Fang Qianyuan agreed.

• Tu Mingshan acknowledged that Fang Qianyuan had rightfully hunted the Demon Beast and apologized for misunderstanding him.
• Tu Mingshan offered to pay a high price for the spirit creature that Lin Xiaoxiao wanted.
• Fang Qianyuan refused, explaining that he had already formed a spiritual bond with the Thunder Civet.
• Lin Xiaoxiao berated Fang Qianyuan for refusing to give Tu Mingshan face, but Tu Mingshan stopped her.
• Tu Mingshan asked Fang Qianyuan to lay down terms and settle the dispute according to Spirit Tamer rules, and Fang Qianyuan agreed.

Fang Qianyuan and Tu Mingshan agreed to settle their dispute in a fair fight at the North City Training Ground. Tu Mingshan hoped to test himself against Fang and strengthen his resolve on the path to Earth Rank, and the two prepared to begin their match.

• Fang Qianyuan and Tu Mingshan left the hall with their companions and headed to the North City Training Ground for their agreed contest.
• Chang Yang suspected Tu Mingshan had arranged the challenge to fight Fang Qianyuan before Fang grew stronger, and Fang said he would focus on winning.
• Tu Mingshan told Lin Xiaoxiao that a fair contest would avoid provoking the Azure Cloud Sect as an attack by guards would.
• Tu Mingshan reflected that defeating powerful rivals could strengthen his mindset cultivation and help him advance toward Earth Rank.
• Fang Qianyuan and Tu Mingshan reached the training ground, took their stances, and prepared to exchange blows.

Fang Qianyuan fought Tu Mingshan in a witnessed contest and discovered that Tu’s ancient martial secret art could send formless force through his Ice Shield. The chapter ended with Fang and Little White combining their strength to form a double-layered shield that stopped the penetrating force.

• Fang Qianyuan summoned Little White and noticed that her size, presence, and aura had grown after she absorbed the innate qi in his body.
• Tu Mingshan’s first punch cracked Fang Qianyuan’s Ice Shield and sent formless force into his body, but Fang suppressed it and began recovering.
• Tu Mingshan used the Eight Divine Ape Forms to strike Fang through his Ice Shield, injuring him and forcing him onto the defensive.
• Fang Qianyuan realized that Tu’s formless force depended on penetrating his defenses, so he coordinated with Little White to form a double-layered Ice Shield.
• Tu Mingshan shattered the double-layered Ice Shield, but no formless force passed through it.

Fang Qianyuan endured Tu Mingshan’s Back-Penetrating Form and countered with frost and Little White, but Tu Mingshan broke free of the ice with a sudden burst of terrifying power. The fight remained unresolved as both sides prepared to continue.

• Tu Mingshan used the Back-Penetrating Form to pierce Fang Qianyuan’s defenses and injure his internal organs.
• Fang Qianyuan healed himself with primordial breath and launched Wind Blade Frost Sword while Tu Mingshan’s defenses were weakened.
• Little White bit Tu Mingshan’s arm as Fang Qianyuan’s frost froze him in place.
• The Tu guards moved to attack Fang Qianyuan, while Lin Ziguan and the others stepped forward to confront them.
• Tu Mingshan shattered the ice with a burst of immense power, flung Little White aside, and regained his freedom.

Fang Qianyuan defeated Tu Mingshan and left Huaning City after receiving Tu Mingshan’s warning about the Shadow Division. The Shadow Division called off its current operation, but Butterfly declared that she would personally lead its next attempt to assassinate Fang Qianyuan.

• Tu Mingshan conceded defeat to Fang Qianyuan and let him and his companions leave the training grounds.
• Tu Mingshan sent Tu Yun to give Fang Qianyuan intelligence that the Earth Baleful Gate’s Shadow Division was still plotting against him.
• Fang Qianyuan read the warning and departed Huaning City through the Teleportation Array with his companions.
• Shadow Division members gathered after Fang Qianyuan left and officially suspended their failed operation.
• Butterfly rejected the delay and claimed responsibility for leading the Shadow Division’s next operation against Fang Qianyuan.

After reporting his spar with Tu Mingshan, Fang Qianyuan heard the sect’s plans to build his reputation and advance him to Earth Rank. He then received an assignment to investigate a rogue cultivator who had killed a young master of the Ling Family, and the fugitive’s sudden rise in power gave Fang an idea.

• Fang Qianyuan told the sect about his private spar with Tu Mingshan, prompting Jin Lu to warn him about the risks to the sect’s reputation.
• Fang Qianyuan said he would rather face powerful opponents and grow stronger than avoid defeat, and he declined to publicize his victory.
• Jin Lu described plans to give Fang Qianyuan lucrative assignments, build his connections, and arrange opponents who could help him become renowned and reach Earth Rank.
• The next day, Fang Qianyuan received an assignment to investigate the murder of the Ling Family’s young master by a rogue cultivator in Twin River City.
• Fang Qianyuan read that the fugitive had risen from an unremarkable cultivator to ninth-transformation strength and began forming an idea.

Fang Qianyuan learned that his group’s assignment in Twin River City was to support the Ling Family’s hunt for a murderer, then split his team so Lin Ziguan and Zhou Renxiong could trade goods en route. Meanwhile, Earth Baleful Gate assassin Butterfly prepared to target Fang with her Dreamwalking Art, planning to turn his nearby allies into pawns.

• The steward told Fang Qianyuan that the alliance already had leads on the murderer and that the group’s real purpose in Twin River City was to build ties with the Ling Family.
• Fang Qianyuan sent Lin Ziguan and Zhou Renxiong to trade jadeite and other treasures with ten thousand spirit jade while he led the rest of the team toward Twin River City.
• Earth Baleful Gate’s Shadow Division received word that Fang Qianyuan was heading to Twin River City, and the assassin Butterfly accepted the task of killing him.
• Butterfly explained that brute force had failed against Fang and planned to use her Dream Tapir and Dreamwalking Art to control his companions and attack him.
• Butterfly’s fellow assassins questioned the risks of her plan, but she insisted she would succeed and ordered them to locate Fang’s nearby allies.

Fang Qianyuan joined the Ling Family’s large-scale hunt for a wounded rogue cultivator, while Butterfly and the Shadow Division followed the force with plans to attack after it camped for the night. The Ling Family’s camp settled inside its own encirclement, and Butterfly’s group slipped close without being detected.

• Fang Qianyuan and his companions reached Twin River City and found the Ling Family had assembled more than a hundred hunters, scouts, and informants to pursue the rogue cultivator.
• Elder Ling welcomed Fang Qianyuan and ordered the force to depart after a scout reported that the fugitive was wounded and still fleeing in the mountains.
• The Ling Family’s hunters pursued the target into the mountains as their scouts tracked him, while Fang Qianyuan expected to play little part in the hunt.
• Butterfly and the Shadow Division learned that the hunters had entered the mountains and decided to attack after they made camp for the night.
• Elder Ling’s force entered the encirclement and camped, while Butterfly and the others used a secret art to approach the camp undetected.

Fang Qianyuan discussed team profits with Xie Fei and Chang Yang before a swarm of glowing butterflies put them under a sleep-inducing spell. A flash of lightning briefly broke Fang Qianyuan’s illusion, where he found himself facing masked figures while still trapped in the haze.

• Fang Qianyuan shared roasted meat with Little White and discussed the team’s affairs with Xie Fei and Chang Yang.
• Fang Qianyuan offered the team half the profits from his investment, splitting that share between the two men and a fund for rewards and compensation.
• A swarm of glowing butterflies approached the camp and released mysterious light that made Fang Qianyuan, Xie Fei, and Chang Yang drowsy.
• Fang Qianyuan tried to wake himself with icy spirit essence, but the butterflies’ illusion severed his consciousness from his body.
• A flash of lightning dispersed part of Fang Qianyuan’s mental fog, and he saw masked black-clad figures before realizing he was still trapped in the illusion.

Fang Qianyuan faced Butterfly and the Shadow Division within a dreamscape, where they used Firefly Butterflies to cast Spirit Formation Borrowing Art. Thunder Civet shattered the formation with lightning, leaving Butterfly and the other attackers injured.

• Fang Qianyuan summoned Thunder Civet to confront Butterfly's enormous Dream Tapir in the dreamscape.
• Butterfly ordered the Shadow Division members to follow their plan, and they summoned Firefly Butterflies to surround Fang Qianyuan.
• Fang Qianyuan recognized their formation as Spirit Formation Borrowing Art and realized it was wielding power approaching half-step Earth Rank.
• Thunder Civet unleashed lightning that destroyed large groups of Firefly Butterflies and broke the formation.
• Butterfly screamed and bled beneath her mask as the other Shadow Division members lost control of the formation and spat blood.

Fang Qianyuan used the Thunder Civet to break the Shadow Division’s dreamscape and disrupt their attacks. He then unleashed lightning to free the people in camp who had been turned against him.

• Fang Qianyuan’s Thunder Civet attacked the Shadow Division through their divine souls, breaking the dreamscape and waking him.
• Fang Qianyuan recognized the stronger attackers as members of the Earth Baleful Gate’s Shadow Division, while Butterfly prepared another technique.
• Xie Fei and Chang Yang attacked Fang Qianyuan, and bewitched figures from the camp joined them as the Shadow Division concealed itself in black mist.
• Fang Qianyuan used Borrowing Art, Drawing Thunder into the Soul, sending lightning through the crowd and jolting the bewitched people awake.

Fang Qianyuan and the Ling Family survived a dreamscape attack by the Earth Baleful Gate's Shadow Division, then continued their search for the hunted rogue cultivator. Scouts eventually captured the Ninth Transformation Spirit Tamer, and Elder Ling ordered him bound and taken away.

• Fang Qianyuan used the Thunder Civet and Drawing Thunder into the Soul to break the dreamscape and wake everyone, while Butterfly and her people escaped.
• Fang Qianyuan told Elder Ling that the attackers belonged to the Earth Baleful Gate's Shadow Division, and Elder Ling agreed to stay vigilant without diverting his forces to pursue them.
• Fang Qianyuan reflected on how organizations could overwhelm lone cultivators and reaffirmed his decision to join the Azure Cloud Sect, while wondering how Ye Tianming was faring.
• A communications Spirit Tamer announced that scouts had captured their quarry on a nearby hill.
• Elder Ling confirmed the captive's identity and ordered the Ling Family Guards to bind and take away the wounded Ninth Transformation Spirit Tamer.

After the Ling Family captured the criminal, Fang Qianyuan attended their victory banquet and considered how status, cultivation, and income supported one another. Back at Justice Ward, he heard that his jadeite trade remained difficult but his subordinates had found several rare materials he wanted.

• Fang Qianyuan attended the Ling Family's victory banquet, met Ling Yunlong, and accepted thanks for helping capture the criminal.
• Fang Qianyuan reflected that he needed to develop his standing and cultivation together, then asked Ling Yunlong about ways to earn money.
• Ling Yunlong explained that merchant associations controlled trade and that other businesses offered too little profit to justify the effort.
• Fang Qianyuan returned to Justice Ward, reported the latest attempt on his life, and asked the sect to investigate.
• Lin Ziguan and Zhou Renxiong reported that they had sold only a small portion of the jadeite, but had bought three heavenly wind essence fragments and two heavenly frost essence fragments for Fang Qianyuan.

Fang Qianyuan weighed the limits of his combat methods as Jin Lu brought news about the Dream Elder and the sect’s upcoming tournament. After declining to attend, Fang Qianyuan received the tournament results while on assignment and learned Cang Mountain Academy had reached the final thirty-two through Wu Longjie.

• Fang Qianyuan decided to focus on his strongest combat techniques rather than spend time mastering illusion arts.
• Jin Lu told Fang Qianyuan that the Dream Dao users he had reported were likely subordinates of the Dream Elder, an aging tenth-transformation expert of the Earth Baleful Gate.
• Jin Lu warned that the Demon Alliance might still try to assassinate Fang Qianyuan, then invited him to attend the Sect Grand Tournament as its former champion.
• Fang Qianyuan declined the invitation, expecting the alliance to assign him another mission soon.
• While on assignment, Fang Qianyuan learned Zhou Tong of Shenmen Academy had won the tournament and Wu Longjie of Cang Mountain Academy had reached the final thirty-two.