Chapter Summaries

Fang Qianyuan arrived to meet Gong Yuan and impressed Cang Mountain Academy with his cultivation, generosity, and standing. After he left with the academy group, Shenmen Academy’s Elder of the Heavenly Hall used the encounter to explain what becoming a true disciple could make possible.

• Fang Qianyuan rode into the gathering on White Wolf, and the onlookers recognized that he had reached the tenth transformation.
• Fang Qianyuan greeted Gong Yuan, Lan Mei, and Wu Longjie, then encouraged the new disciples Gong Yuan introduced.
• Fang Qianyuan gave Wu Ming a Blood Essence Gu and presented gifts to the other three new disciples.
• Gong Yuan and the Cang Mountain Academy group left together while Shenmen Academy watched in silence.
• Shenmen Academy’s Elder of the Heavenly Hall explained Fang Qianyuan’s success and urged the disciples to understand the value of becoming true disciples.

Fang Qianyuan agreed to recruit Wu Longjie and four other fellow disciples as retainers under his Wind-Catching Envoy appointment. Just as Gong Yuan departed, Uncle Fu reported that Jiang Yunfeng had been injured.

• Gong Yuan urged Wu Longjie to seek a post under Fang Qianyuan, and Wu Longjie agreed to serve him as a retainer.
• Gong Yuan brought Wu Longjie, Wang Zhong, Lin Ai, Pang Shaojie, and Lu Feiyang to the Jiang Residence to ask Fang Qianyuan to recruit them.
• Fang Qianyuan accepted the five senior brothers as subordinates who would serve in his retinue and later help manage his affairs.
• Gong Yuan left with the men, planning for them to register at Justice Ward after the New Year and then report to Fang Qianyuan.
• Uncle Fu told Fang Qianyuan that Jiang Yunfeng had been injured.

Fang Qianyuan learned that Jiang Yunfeng had been blinded by poison in a battle and returned home for treatment. After physicians confirmed the poison was difficult to remove, Jiang Yunfeng’s wife and daughter arrived at the residence.

• Uncle Fu told Fang Qianyuan that Jiang Yunfeng had been injured by an Earth Rank enemy in the Star Realm and that poison had damaged his eye apertures.
• Fang Qianyuan and Sun Zhuo waited at the Teleportation Array and greeted Jiang Yunfeng when he returned under escort.
• Huang Lingling and Weng Lingong examined Jiang Yunfeng and said he would likely remain blind because the poison in his eye apertures was difficult to eradicate.
• Yu Shixian and the others left after hearing the diagnosis, and Jiang Yunfeng’s wife and daughter arrived with attendants and guards.

Jiang Yunfeng reunited with his family while recovering from injuries that had weakened him and left him blind, and he entrusted his disciples and retainers with protecting the Jiang Clan. He placed his hopes in Fang Qianyuan becoming an Earth Rank Expert and sheltering the clan, leaving Fang Qianyuan newly conscious of the burden ahead.

• Their master's wife gave Sun Zhuo a Spirit-Sealing Treasure containing a Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle, and Fang Qianyuan greeted her and Jiang Jingling.
• Jiang Yunfeng asked Lin Nan and Mo Qiyang to protect his family while he recovered from his injuries.
• Jiang Yunfeng learned that Jiang Lin was managing the family business in Abundance City and told Sun Zhuo and Fang Qianyuan to look after his family.
• Jiang Yunfeng explained that his eye injury and lingering poison could hinder his recovery, cultivation, and advancement, and warned his family not to waste effort seeking a cure.
• Jiang Yunfeng said Fang Qianyuan could protect the Jiang Clan for a century once he became an Earth Rank Expert, leaving Fang Qianyuan feeling the weight of that responsibility.

Fang Qianyuan focused on cultivating and supporting his fellow disciples while his master Jiang Yunfeng recovered from injury. Qi Tian and the others then presented him with a pair of Needle Snake Gu whose abilities matched the endowments he needed.

• Sun Zhuo advised Fang Qianyuan to cultivate diligently and explained how sect power protected cultivators from risks.
• Cang Mountain Academy’s tournament run ended, and Fang Qianyuan arranged for Wu Longjie and the others to join the Heavenly Dao Alliance under his command.
• Qi Tian and the others used extensive resources to refine a Golden Needle Snake Bug and a Silver Needle Snake Bug.
• Qi Tian explained that the paired Gu could boost their host’s vitality, improve their constitution, and transfer essence-blood energy between them.
• Fang Qianyuan realized the Needle Snake Gu possessed all four endowments he had been seeking.

Fang Qianyuan implanted a Needle Snake Gu in himself and learned from Jiang Yunfeng how channeling essence-blood could help spirit creatures develop physical bodies. He then implanted a Silver Needle Snake Bug in Little White, whose body began to grow more solid and powerful.

• Fang Qianyuan used a Needle Snake Gu to connect his heart meridian to the Shanzhong acupoint, improving the circulation of his essence-blood and spirit essence.
• Fang Qianyuan reported the effects to Jiang Yunfeng, who explained that essence-blood strengthened spirit creatures by helping them build physical bodies, unlike heaven and earth essence.
• Jiang Yunfeng warned Fang Qianyuan that developing his lifebound spirit creature early would help avoid problems when he advanced to Earth Rank.
• Fang Qianyuan implanted a Silver Needle Snake Bug in Little White, allowing his essence-blood vital energy to flow into her.
• Little White's avatar grew more lustrous and solid as power accumulated within her.

Before leaving his master, Fang Qianyuan considered the growing costs of maintaining his spirit creatures and planned to patrol as a Wind-Catching Envoy. He returned to Justice Ward and announced that he intended to lead an operation against an Unorthodox Path faction, with the Heavenly Dao Alliance helping select a target.

• Before the new year, Fang Qianyuan bonded with the high-grade Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle and reflected on the burdens and expenses of maintaining his spirit creatures.
• Fang Qianyuan told Jiang Yunfeng that he planned to travel, and Jiang Yunfeng urged him to prioritize advancing to Earth Rank.
• Fang Qianyuan returned to Justice Ward with Lin Xiong, Lin Bao, and Fang Ning, where Lin Ziguan and Wu Longjie welcomed him.
• Fang Qianyuan learned that Wu Longjie and the others had completed their ward registration and told them to address him as Junior Brother in private.
• Fang Qianyuan announced his plan to eliminate an Unorthodox Path faction, explaining that the Heavenly Dao Alliance was already helping him choose a target.

Fang Qianyuan discussed the alliance’s available missions with his followers and chose to target the Pine Mountain Bandits. He revealed that his sect suspected the bandits had a rare flying mount, and the group agreed to investigate.

• Fang Qianyuan explained that the alliance had offered missions to kill Han Liming, eliminate the Pine Mountain Bandits, or slay the Ice-Scale Snake Wyrm.
• Chang Yang suggested choosing missions with the greatest rewards, and Fang Qianyuan agreed that the group could consider the benefits when selecting a target.
• Fang Qianyuan chose the Pine Mountain Bandits and explained that the mission was a practical middle-grade assignment.
• Fang Qianyuan revealed that his sect suspected the bandits possessed a flying mount, which was rare and valuable at Human Rank.
• Fang Qianyuan and his followers discussed how flying mounts were bred and trained, then agreed to investigate the rumor at the bandits’ stronghold.

Fang Qianyuan overwhelmed the Pine Mountain Kingdom’s ordinary soldiers and sent his wolf pack charging toward the Royal Palace. The Pine Mountain King remained inside as the attack advanced, while Lin Ziguan and the others continued to surround the city.

• Fang Qianyuan rode Little White through the soldiers’ defenses, freezing and shattering hundreds of them.
• The Pine Mountain King watched from the palace wall as Fang Qianyuan demanded that he surrender or face him.
• Lin Ziguan, Chang Yang, and the others held their positions around the Royal City to prevent the Pine Mountain bandits from escaping.
• The chapter explained how the Pine Mountain King seized a Blessed Land and built a faction that drew the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s attention.
• Fang Qianyuan summoned his gray wolf pack, which broke through the remaining soldiers and charged toward the Royal Palace.

Fang Qianyuan overwhelmed the Pine Mountain King’s forces with his gray wolves and a powerful frost attack, leaving the king’s experts frozen. The Pine Mountain King revealed a flying mount and fled the Royal City.

• Fang Qianyuan’s gray wolves routed the Pine Mountain King’s guards, and the king rallied his remaining experts to fight.
• The Great General returned from battle and joined the Pine Mountain King, Chancellor, and National Preceptor in charging Fang Qianyuan.
• The National Preceptor, Chancellor, and Great General attacked Fang Qianyuan with their spirit creature techniques and strength.
• Fang Qianyuan combined the Wind Blade Frost Sword with the Seven-Kill Style and froze the attackers and those around them.
• The Pine Mountain King escaped toward the outskirts of the Royal City on a great peng.

Fang Qianyuan pursued the fleeing Pine Mountain King with the Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle and killed him by bringing down his Great Peng. Back in the Royal City, the surviving Pine Mountain Kingdom leaders surrendered and began offering information about the bandit king’s wealth.

• Fang Qianyuan sent the Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle after the Pine Mountain King while Little White and the wolf group attacked the three Tenth Transformation experts.
• The Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle evaded the Pine Mountain King’s attacks and tore open the Great Peng’s belly with an Azure Thunder Strike.
• The Great Peng crashed to the ground, killing the Pine Mountain King, and Lin Ziguan, Wu Longjie, and Wang Zhong rushed toward the crash site.
• The Chancellor and National Preceptor surrendered with more than thirty Spirit Tamers, while the Great General died frozen in an ice sculpture.
• Fang Qianyuan offered to spare the survivors if they answered his questions, but they talked over one another about the bandit king’s treasure and consort, prompting him to tell them to be quiet.

Fang Qianyuan learned that the Pine Mountain Kingdom bred Splitfeather Rocs, a rare flying-mount variant, and ordered the Chancellor and National Preceptor to manage the enterprise for him. He then learned of a Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc the Pine Mountain King had been raising and considered it a fitting mount for himself.

• Fang Qianyuan questioned the Pine Mountain Kingdom’s officials and asked the Chancellor to summon a Splitfeather Roc.
• Chang Yang recognized the roc as related to the Lightfeather Roc, and the Chancellor explained that special breeding made it suitable for carrying riders.
• The Chancellor and National Preceptor offered their expertise, and Fang Qianyuan ordered them to stay in office and manage the roc enterprise under the new king.
• The Chancellor and National Preceptor revealed that the Pine Mountain King had bred a Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc outside the city and intended to use it as his own mount.

Fang Qianyuan visited the Peng Aviary and subdued the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc that had been raised as a mount for the Pine Mountain King. After several days, he transformed it into his spirit creature and flew on its back for the first time.

• Fang Qianyuan learned that the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc was a rare king among Splitfeather Rocs with a trace of Golden-Winged Great Peng bloodline.
• Fang Qianyuan and his companions entered the Peng Aviary, where laborers prepared to feed the roc a freshly slaughtered tiger.
• Fang Qianyuan leaped onto the roc and froze it into submission with his Tenth Transformation strength.
• Fang Qianyuan told the steward that the roc now belonged to him because the Pine Mountain King had been put to death.
• Fang Qianyuan mastered the roc's habits, completed Spirit Rebirth, and transformed it into his spirit creature.
• Fang Qianyuan rode the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc into the sky and laughed as he experienced flight.

Fang Qianyuan tested the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc in flight, briefly breaking the sound barrier with the Wind-Deflecting Art before returning safely. He spent the following days practicing flight and learning to manage its risks.

• Fang Qianyuan rode the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc a hundred zhang into the air and adjusted to the fierce wind.
• Fang Qianyuan used the Wind-Deflecting Art to reduce wind resistance, helping the roc briefly break the sound barrier.
• Fang Qianyuan ordered the exhausted roc to turn back and glide to the courtyard residence.
• Fang Qianyuan reflected on the dangers of flying and the Pine Mountain King's death after an aerial attack.
• Fang Qianyuan practiced flying and the Wind-Deflecting Art over the following days, following the sect's safety advice.

Fang Qianyuan secured a share in a flying-mount breeding enterprise instead of taking spirit mine profits, then rode a Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc toward a teleportation city to learn its capabilities. He discovered that it could travel over six thousand li a day and wield Wind Evasion, revealing its potential in coordinated aerial combat.

• Fang Qianyuan traded his share of the Pine Mountain Kingdom’s spirit mine profits for a stake in the flying-mount enterprise and a yearly dividend of at least one trained mount.
• Fang Qianyuan promised Lin Ziguan and the others discounted or gifted flying mounts for diligent service, then settled the property’s transfer and dividend terms with the sect’s stewards.
• Fang Qianyuan rode the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc alone toward a city with a Teleportation Array so they could grow accustomed to each other.
• Fang Qianyuan estimated that the roc could fly nearly fifteen hundred li per flight and cover more than six thousand li in a day while carrying one rider.
• Fang Qianyuan discovered that the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc possessed the innate gift of Wind Evasion, which let it control astral gales and turn them into blades.

Fang Qianyuan returned to Justice Ward after training his Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc and learned that rumors portraying him as a ruthless bully had damaged his reputation among rogue cultivators. Jin Lu suspected rival Righteous Path factions were trying to sabotage Fang’s bid to become the Righteous Path’s Top Young Expert, though they had no proof.

• Fang Qianyuan watched the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc hunt a deer with Raging Wind Slash, then rested with his spirit creatures and considered his limited influence over birds.
• Fang Qianyuan returned to Justice Ward, where Lin Ziguan, Jin Lu, and a steward from the Discipline Institute awaited him with worried expressions.
• Jin Lu told Fang Qianyuan that rumors accused him of using trickery and force to bully rogue cultivators in the Pine Mountain Kingdom.
• Fang Qianyuan recognized that someone was smearing him, and Jin Lu suspected their Righteous Path allies were behind the rumors.
• Jin Lu explained that Fang’s growing strength and reputation threatened rivals competing for the title of the Righteous Path’s Top Young Expert.

Fang Qianyuan defended his actions in the Pine Mountain Kingdom to Steward Lin, and the Azure Cloud Sect mobilized to counter the smear campaign. The sect traced the campaign to the Rong Household, whose young lord Rong Shaohua was competing for recognition as a top righteous-path talent.

• Fang Qianyuan told Steward Lin that he had followed righteous-path rules while suppressing bandits, reported his spoils, and spared most who surrendered.
• Steward Lin and Jin Lu assured Fang Qianyuan that the sect would defend his reputation, and the Azure Cloud Sect spread counterclaims through its network.
• Two Azure Cloud Sect spies monitored rumor-spreaders in a Pine Mountain Kingdom tavern and identified a suspicious man steering the conversation.
• Azure Cloud Sect operatives raided a secluded estate, captured members of the Rong Household, and seized evidence that they had printed leaflets and paid people to spread rumors.
• Fang Qianyuan learned that the Rong Household was the main mastermind, and Jin Lu explained that its young lord, Rong Shaohua, was a rival talent seeking fame as the Star of the Righteous Path.

Fang Qianyuan learned that the Azure Cloud Sect had countered the Rong Household’s smear campaign by exposing a scandal involving its members and other local elites. The Rong Household punished Rong Anping but decided to continue backing Shaohua in the contest for the Righteous Path’s Top Young Expert.

• Jin Lu explained that the sect had captured people from a Rong branch estate and could use them to negotiate an end to the smears against Fang Qianyuan.
• The Azure Cloud Sect diverted public attention by spreading rumors that a Universal Trade Association manager’s mistress had entertained association leaders and local Righteous Path experts.
• Old Master Rong ordered guards to administer the household punishment to Rong Anping for disgracing the clan.
• Old Master Rong warned the clan to protect its legacy, and Rong Jingping took over the meeting to discuss the Azure Cloud Sect.
• Rong Jingping urged the Rong Household to stick to its plan and help Shaohua reach the summit, and the clan agreed to press ahead.

Rong Shaohua advanced his control of heaven and earth essence while cultivating toward earth rank. Rong Sanbao delivered the clan elders’ order for him to emerge from seclusion and suppress a genius from the Azure Cloud Sect, whom Rong Shaohua intended to use as a stepping stone.

• Rong Sanbao returned to Rong Shaohua’s residence after gathering news from the clan council hall.
• Rong Sanbao witnessed Rong Shaohua finish cultivating and congratulated him on advancing his divine cultivation.
• Rong Shaohua reflected that controlling heaven and earth essence was the path to earth rank, though the lost traditions of cultivation made it difficult.
• Rong Sanbao told Rong Shaohua that the clan elders wanted him to emerge from seclusion and suppress a genius from the Azure Cloud Sect, adding that he should act without restraint.
• Rong Shaohua accepted the order and said he would use the genius as a stepping stone in his cultivation.

Fang Qianyuan reflected on his spirit-taming cultivation and tried to sense and control heaven and earth essence on his own. After several days of effort, he managed to draw in a tiny strand, and Lin Ziguan and Xie Fei witnessed the resulting display of power.

• Fang Qianyuan and Jin Lu discussed the sect’s response to the Rong Household and the settled public opinion war.
• Fang Qianyuan considered how Little White and the Water Spirit Root had helped him understand wind, frost, and heaven and earth essence.
• Fang Qianyuan tried to use divine abilities without relying on spirit creatures and sensed the immense pressure of heaven and earth essence.
• After several days of practice, Fang Qianyuan gained control of a tiny strand of heaven and earth essence and drew it into his body.
• Lin Ziguan and Xie Fei entered with a briefing sheet, saw white mist swirling around Fang Qianyuan, and hurried back out in awe.