Chapter Summaries

Fang Qianyuan joined Xue Hong’s hunting party to kill the Snake-necked Golden Eagle that had preyed on the Snowman Tribe. After the party’s baited ambush failed to bring the bird down, Fang Qianyuan’s spirit creatures wounded it, allowing the hunters to finish the kill; he then stopped them as they prepared to take the corpse away.

• Fang Qianyuan learned that Xue Mou was Xue Hong’s only son and joined the hunting party using him as bait.
• Xue Mou wandered beside the river while the hunters hid in a grove, and the Snake-necked Golden Eagle swooped down to attack him.
• Xue Hong and the others threw spears at the eagle, but it evaded them and escaped their range.
• Fang Qianyuan sent his Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc to distract the eagle and his Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle to strike it with Azure Thunder Strike.
• Xue Hong and the hunters wounded the eagle with their spears, and it crashed into the clearing and died.
• Fang Qianyuan stopped the hunters as they crossed the river to take the eagle’s corpse and began working on it.

Fang Qianyuan captured the Snake-necked Golden Eagle’s spirit in a portable Crystal-Core Treasure and earned an honorary Warrior title from the Snowman Tribe. After hunting more vicious birds with Xue Hong and fulfilling their agreement, he met with the Chief, who raised the matter of his journey into the mountains.

• Fang Qianyuan used a formation to seal the Snake-necked Golden Eagle’s spirit inside a Crystal-Core Treasure.
• The Snowmen returned to town with the eagle’s corpse, and the Chief and elders honored Fang Qianyuan by naming him a Warrior.
• Fang Qianyuan hunted more vicious birds with Xue Hong and added two plumes to his crown.
• The Chief summoned Fang Qianyuan and brought up his plan to enter the mountains.

Fang Qianyuan secured Xue Hong as his guide into the Sacred Mountain and set out with him to find a place for cultivation. They entered the mountain forests, where demon beasts, spirit monsters, and dangerous storms made flying too risky.

• Fang Qianyuan learned enough of the snowmen's dialect to speak with the Chief, who agreed to let him enter the Sacred Mountain under strict conditions.
• The Chief chose Xue Hong to guide Fang Qianyuan, and Fang gave Xue Hong dried meat to compensate his family for the trip.
• Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong left the town the next day with two enormous village dogs and headed north toward the mountain.
• After traveling more than five hundred li, Fang Qianyuan summoned spirit creatures for the journey but kept them low as they reached dangerous mountain forests.
• Xue Hong warned Fang Qianyuan about the spirit monsters, while Fang avoided flying because of demon birds and storms that could carry travelers into void rifts.

Fang Qianyuan painted the mountain scenery and cultivated his understanding of ice and snow on the Sacred Mountain of the Snow Realm. He successfully concealed his aura from a snow hare, then shared a meal with Xue Hong and asked him to teach him how to roast meat.

• Fang Qianyuan painted the mountain scenery, nourishing the Brush Immortal with ink resonance.
• Fang Qianyuan sensed the Sacred Mountain's wind and ice energies and reflected on how nature taught ancient sages.
• Fang Qianyuan used the Breath-Concealing Art to freeze his aura, and a snow hare mistook him for a rock.
• Fang Qianyuan seized the hare and concluded that he had mastered the concealment method.
• Xue Hong returned from hunting with two hunting dogs, several gray wolves, and an antelope.
• Fang Qianyuan ate Xue Hong's roast meat and asked him to teach him how to prepare it.

Fang Qianyuan developed a new understanding of cultivation by treating it as making use of nature’s resources, then traveled with Xue Hong and grew closer to nature. Their journey ended as a terrifying storm approached and Xue Hong recognized it as the Black Wind Calamity.

• Fang Qianyuan learned about the Snowman Tribe’s local seasonings and explained the Spirit Command Dao to Xue Hong.
• Fang Qianyuan argued that cultivation, shelter, hunting, and cooking all followed the same principle of using nature’s resources, which strengthened his confidence in advancing.
• Fang Qianyuan practiced merging with nature during their journey, sensing the flow of origin energy more clearly.
• Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong fought numerous beasts and yakshas, and Fang Qianyuan stored one yaksha in a portable treasure.
• Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong were caught in a sudden, terrifying snowstorm, and Xue Hong identified it as the approaching Black Wind Calamity.

Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong fled the approaching Black Wind Calamity and sealed themselves inside a cave to survive. From their shelter, Fang Qianyuan watched the storm’s enormous black tornadoes sweep across the distance.

• Xue Hong recognized the signs of a Black Wind Calamity, and he and Fang Qianyuan hurried toward shelter.
• Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong avoided the valley where fleeing animals gathered and found a cave farther downhill.
• Fang Qianyuan collapsed the cave mouth, and Xue Hong reinforced the blockage with rocks.
• Xue Hong killed the animals trapped inside, while Fang Qianyuan lit Heavenfire Stones and inspected the entrance.
• Fang Qianyuan saw black clouds and enormous tornadoes forming outside as the Black Wind Calamity struck.

Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong survived the Black Wind Calamity by sheltering in a cave, then emerged to find the mountains flattened across hundreds of li. Inspired by the power of nature, Fang Qianyuan began painting the disaster.

• The Black Wind Calamity swept mountains, trees, beasts, and debris into the sky while Fang Qianyuan watched from the cave.
• The storm brought down the opposite cliff, burying the cave entrance and trapping Fang Qianyuan, Xue Hong, and Little White inside.
• After the wind stopped, Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong dug their way out and saw that the surrounding landscape had been stripped bare.
• Fang Qianyuan wondered whether ancient spell cultivators had learned their divine abilities from nature, then summoned the brush immortal and painted the calamity.

After completing a painting inspired by the Black Wind Calamity, Fang Qianyuan’s Brush Immortal evolved, and he gained new insight into wind-path cultivation. He decided to pursue another storm to seek a breakthrough, asking Xue Hong to help him find one despite the danger.

• Fang Qianyuan finished his painting and nearly collapsed from exhausting his mental strength.
• Xue Hong recoiled from the painting’s terrifying impression of the Black Wind Calamity.
• The Brush Immortal absorbed the ink resonance from Fang Qianyuan’s insights and advanced from mid-grade to high-grade.
• Fang Qianyuan realized the storm could help him strengthen his wind-path abilities and decided to pursue another natural calamity instead of cultivating in a safe location.
• Fang Qianyuan asked Xue Hong to warn him when another storm gathered, while Xue Hong urged him not to risk his life.

Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong searched for the Black Wind Calamity until Fang sensed one approaching. After sending Xue Hong away and recalling Little White, Fang advanced alone toward the storm.

• Fang Qianyuan and Xue Hong traveled north for days without finding a Black Wind Calamity, and Fang collected a Wildwood Giant Beast's true spirit after they killed it.
• Fang sensed the wind-type origin energy growing stronger and detected an approaching storm in the northwest.
• Xue Hong identified the approaching storm as a Black Wind Calamity and asked Fang whether he would still go; Fang insisted that he had to.
• Fang thanked Xue Hong and told him to flee, then recalled Little White and rode the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc toward the storm.
• Fang recalled the frightened roc, leaped onto a mountain ridge, and ran into the howling gale.

Fang Qianyuan pressed into the Black Wind Calamity, where hidden Wind Blades badly injured him and forced him to sharpen his perception. Under the storm’s pressure, he learned to influence heaven and earth essence, but the calamity intensified and left him facing an even greater threat.

• Fang Qianyuan ran against the mounting storm and realized that its chaotic origin energy formed deadly Wind Blades that could shatter trees.
• A stone hurled by the calamity smashed through Fang Qianyuan’s Ice Shield, severely injuring him, but he used the Wind-Deflecting Art and the Mysterious Treasure Pill to recover and continue.
• Fang Qianyuan’s divine sense grew sharper under pressure, allowing him to perceive the colors and movement of origin energy around him.
• Fang Qianyuan discovered that his thoughts could influence and part the wind, bringing him a step closer to the Earth Rank realm.
• The Black Wind Calamity surged toward Fang Qianyuan, overwhelming his will as more Wind Blades whirled around him and threatened his survival.

Fang Qianyuan risked being swept away by a black dragon tornado to understand the Wind Path and the will of nature, then woke badly injured but recovered with the help of his healing abilities. After eating, he summoned Little White and asked her to carry him to shelter, where he spotted something that stunned him.

• Fang Qianyuan realized that influencing the violent wind was not enough and tried to control the power of heaven and earth.
• A black dragon tornado approached, and Fang Qianyuan charged into it to study how it gathered wind energy.
• Fang Qianyuan sensed the will of nature before losing consciousness, then awoke injured on a barren mountainside after the storm had passed.
• Fang Qianyuan recovered enough to move, ate dry rations, and summoned Little White, who had felt his fear through their Bloodline Link.
• Fang Qianyuan climbed onto Little White's back so she could carry him to shelter, then stared in shock at something ahead.

After the Black Wind Calamity stranded Fang Qianyuan and Little White in the Snow Realm, a snow demon maid invited them to a manor where they met Wanji, daughter of the Snow Realm’s emperor. The chapter ended with Fang Qianyuan introducing himself as a true disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect and realizing the importance of Wanji’s lineage.

• Fang Qianyuan discovered a manor surrounded by a lush hill in the desolate mountain wilderness and approached it with Little White.
• A snow demon maid came out to meet them and invited both to join her mistress.
• The maid led Fang Qianyuan and Little White to Wanji, whose otherworldly beauty astonished Fang Qianyuan.
• Wanji introduced herself as the daughter of the Emperor of the Snow Realm and asked Fang Qianyuan who he was.
• Fang Qianyuan introduced himself as a true disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect and realized Wanji was the Realm Lord’s daughter.

Fang Qianyuan stayed at Wanji’s residence after deliberately entering the Black Wind Calamity to study the storm. When Little White woke him the next day, he discovered the residence was on the shell of a gigantic turtle moving through the Snow Realm.

• Wanji recognized Fang Qianyuan’s growing reputation, learned he had come to advance to Earth Rank, and invited him to stay the night.
• Fang Qianyuan washed, rested, and told Wanji he had entered the Black Wind Calamity deliberately to comprehend the storm.
• Wanji had Yun'er arrange a guest room, where the exhausted Fang Qianyuan fell asleep and recovered overnight.
• Little White urgently led Fang Qianyuan outside, where he noticed the scenery racing past the apparently stationary residence.
• Fang Qianyuan sent the Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle into the sky and discovered the residence stood on the shell of an enormous turtle.

Fang Qianyuan learned that Empress Ji’s residence stood on a colossal Dragon Turtle descended from Baxia, and he accepted her offer to recover there while they discussed the Human Realm. After he improved one of Ji’s paintings, she asked him to become her teacher, but he declined the formal arrangement and agreed to teach her while he stayed.

• Fang Qianyuan heard the Dragon Turtle’s thunderous steps through the Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle and recognized it as a possible descendant of Baxia.
• Empress Ji explained that her people had obtained the Dragon Turtle’s egg in the Water Realm and that it carried her residence north to a new cultivation site.
• Ji invited Fang Qianyuan to stay and recover, and he shared his knowledge of the Human Realm with her.
• Fang Qianyuan mentioned his paintings, and Ji revealed her interest in the Way of Painting by showing him her work.
• Fang Qianyuan added strokes that improved Ji’s painting, and she praised his skill.
• Ji asked Fang Qianyuan to formally become her teacher, but he declined and agreed to exchange painting insights with her.

Fang Qianyuan practiced painting and studied the Black Wind Calamity as he tried to comprehend a divine ability and break through to Earth Rank. After repeated failures, he decided to seek out the calamity again and attempt his breakthrough inside it.

• Fang Qianyuan recuperated at Empress Daughter Wanji’s retreat while teaching her painting and studying the Black Wind Calamity.
• Wanji explained that the Black Wind Calamity disrupted Earth Rank cultivators’ control of heaven and earth essence.
• At a lakeside, Fang Qianyuan summoned a powerful gale, but his spirit essence ran low before he could form the divine ability.
• Fang Qianyuan told Wanji he wanted to become a legendary powerhouse or a Heaven Tier expert rather than settle for a limited breakthrough.
• Fang Qianyuan asked Wanji to help him find the Black Wind Calamity so he could attempt to advance within it.

Fang Qianyuan tried to persuade Wanji to help him face the Black Wind Calamity again so he could advance. He explained that his resolve came from his father’s humble, frustrated ambition, and Wanji was left to consider his reason.

• Wanji warned Fang Qianyuan that facing the Black Wind Calamity again could kill him and refused to help without a convincing reason.
• Fang Qianyuan argued that protecting himself too carefully could cost him the courage to fight with all his strength.
• Wanji praised Fang Qianyuan’s name and assumed his father had chosen it from a learned understanding of its grand meaning.
• Fang Qianyuan recalled that his father, Fang Hai, had been an ordinary Rogue Cultivator who named him after an inscription encountered during an expedition.
• Fang Qianyuan explained that he wanted to pursue his own advancement rather than rely only on his talent and inheritance, then asked Wanji whether she accepted his reason.

Fang Qianyuan and Wanji traveled through the Snow Realm in search of the Black Wind Calamity while discussing its dangers and the realm’s invaders. After the Dragon Turtle grew uneasy, they believed the calamity would arise within a thousand miles, bringing Fang Qianyuan closer to the advancement he sought.

• Wanji agreed to help Fang Qianyuan find the Black Wind Calamity by following the Dragon Turtle’s instincts.
• Fang Qianyuan continued teaching Wanji the Way of Painting as the Dragon Turtle traveled northeast.
• Wanji explained that she patrolled the Sacred Mountain to guard against invaders who damaged spirit veins and harmed the Snow Realm’s inhabitants.
• Wanji told Fang Qianyuan she hoped to visit the Human Realm someday, and Fang Qianyuan invited her to visit.
• Wanji reported that the Dragon Turtle refused to go farther, suggesting a Black Wind Calamity would arise within a thousand miles.

Fang Qianyuan entered the Black Wind Calamity’s central region to force a breakthrough by confronting its full power. Blinded, deafened, and battered by the storm, he discovered the calamity’s core was a spirit of heaven and earth and began a direct confrontation with it.

• After Wanji accurately predicted the calamity’s location, Fang Qianyuan went there alone and waited for it to arrive.
• Fang Qianyuan entered the Black Wind Calamity’s center, intending to withstand its power and understand its true meaning.
• The storm overwhelmed Fang Qianyuan’s Wind-Deflecting Art, burst his eardrums and eyes, and tore through his defenses.
• Amid the storm, Fang Qianyuan sensed strange consciousnesses and discovered a pure spirit surrounded by the Wind Path’s laws.
• Fang Qianyuan recognized the spirit as a Storm Spirit, or Black Wind Spirit, and confronted it through a resonance of hearts.

Fang Qianyuan risked his life to tame the Black Wind Spirit, and Little White helped him overcome and swallow it. He awakened as an Earth Rank cultivator and discovered that he could control Heaven and Earth essence through Little White.

• Fang Qianyuan used the Spirit Communion Formula to battle the Black Wind Spirit, which swallowed his Water Spirit Root and attacked his true spirit.
• Little White revealed her true spirit, helped Fang Qianyuan suppress the Black Wind Spirit, and swallowed it as a gigantic Heavenly Wolf.
• Fang Qianyuan gained control over the black tornado through Little White and used it to tear apart a mountain peak, but the effort exhausted him.
• Fang Qianyuan lost consciousness and awoke at night to find Little White shielding him from the cold.
• Fang Qianyuan sensed spiritual light in the world, released a powerful wind strike, and realized he had advanced to Earth Rank First Transformation.

After reaching Earth Rank, Fang Qianyuan recovered from his ordeal and used his new control over heaven and earth essence to strengthen and enlarge his spirit creatures. He set out to return with Little White after completing the preparations for his advancement.

• Fang Qianyuan realized he had reached Earth Rank and observed how Little White had changed after devouring the black wind spirit.
• Fang Qianyuan recovered overnight, aided by the Mysterious Treasure Pill, and decided to bid Wanji farewell before returning.
• Fang Qianyuan used Earth Rank Manifestation Art to enlarge Little White to more than ten zhang and told her to learn to change her size at will.
• Fang Qianyuan reshaped the incarnations of his other spirit creatures, increasing their size or strengthening their spirit essence.
• Fang Qianyuan finished his preparations near noon, climbed onto Little White's head, and ordered her to set off.