Chapter Summaries

Fang Qianyuan learned that Miao Shihong wanted to cooperate with him to expand the Lynx-Cat Tribe’s trade between demons and humans. After unlocking Miao Shihong’s sealed scroll with the words “Great Is Qianyuan,” Fang Qianyuan found ancient bird-like script that might be connected to the mysterious writing on the Flying Immortal Records.

• Miao Shihong proposed that Fang Qianyuan work with the Lynx-Cat Tribe on trade between the demon and human races.
• Fang Qianyuan filled the four blank spaces on Miao Shihong’s sealed scroll with “Great Is Qianyuan,” and the scroll opened.
• Fang Qianyuan recognized the scroll’s strange writing as possibly ancient bird script but could not decipher it.
• Fang Qianyuan recalled the unidentified writing on the reverse of the Flying Immortal Records and suspected the scroll might be connected to it.
• Fang Qianyuan rolled up the magical artifact and kept it close, planning to search for ancient texts to decipher the script.

Fang Qianyuan investigated Tao Dong as a possible culprit behind his father's old enemy, but confirmed Tao Dong did not match the description. He then translated the ancient bird script on the scroll and discovered it described the Time-Reversing Transformation of the Demon God Nine Transformations, a divine ability for cultivating a past self.

• Fang Qianyuan returned to the Spirit Taming Sect Headquarters and learned that Ning'er had been collecting local plant seeds and preparing to visit the Market District.
• Fang Qianyuan discovered that Tao Dong, a former guardian elder at the Stellar Origin Training Institute, now served as the Merit Hall's deputy Institute Master.
• Fang Qianyuan arranged to cross paths with Tao Dong and confirmed that the short, plump elder was not the tall, powerfully built enemy described by Fang Hai.
• Fang Qianyuan continued studying bird script and reasoned that translating the scroll might reveal a clue to the enemy's identity.
• Fang Qianyuan translated the scroll's text as the Time-Reversing Transformation of the Demon God Nine Transformations, a divine ability for cultivating a past self.

Fang Qianyuan read the Reverse Time Transformation, a cultivation art that described extending a past body through the River of Time, and the text entered his mind and began changing him. The chapter left him perceiving the River of Time after the Mysterious Treasure Pill’s power triggered a transformation of his primordial spirit.

• Fang Qianyuan translated the bird script and learned that the Demon God Nine Transformations included a method for cultivating a past body across spacetime.
• Fang Qianyuan doubted the art’s claims but continued reading as the bird script appeared to come alive before him.
• The bird-script restriction turned into mysterious light and entered Fang Qianyuan, imprinting the complete cultivation art in his mind.
• Fang Qianyuan’s vital energy stirred, and a mysterious power fused with his primordial spirit as the Mysterious Treasure Pill released warmth.
• Fang Qianyuan found himself perceiving the boundless River of Time and realized he had likely triggered his fifth transformation.

Fang Qianyuan began carefully cultivating the Dao of Time after realizing the Mysterious Treasure Pill had helped him perceive its power, while prioritizing his cultivation and foundations. After advancing to the Third Transformation of Earth Rank, he received a visit from Xiao Yufan, who brought a lead on an Earth Rank spirit creature.

• Fang Qianyuan recovered from exhausting his divine soul and suspected the Mysterious Treasure Pill had enabled him to perceive the Dao of Time.
• Fang Qianyuan traveled through Central Province with Ning'er, Lin Xiong, and Lin Bao while cautiously building his foundations for the Reverse Time Transformation.
• Fang Qianyuan advanced to the Third Transformation of Earth Rank and found that his improved cultivation helped him absorb the power of time.
• Ning'er told Fang Qianyuan that an elder of the city's Xiao Clan had arrived to see him.
• Xiao Yufan told Fang Qianyuan he had found a lead on an Earth Rank spirit creature.

Fang Qianyuan learned that the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul would be auctioned in Han City and arranged for the Xiao Clan to help him secure it. As the auction approached, a rumor that a powerful sect elder wanted the creature stirred controversy among Universal Trade Association elders.

• Xiao Yufan told Fang Qianyuan that the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul was a mutated high-grade Earth Rank soul beast captured after it devoured a fallen dark demon’s true spirit.
• Fang Qianyuan decided to obtain the soul beast despite its expected price of nearly three million spirit jade, and Xiao Yufan offered to help him bid and arrange financing.
• At the end of July, merchants and cultivators gathered in Han City for an auction featuring several valuable Earth Rank spirit creatures, including the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul.
• A rumor spread through Han City that a powerful, high-ranking sect elder intended to claim the soul beast and had the wealth and prestige to do so.
• Cao Yu, Meng Wenchun, and Lu Zhengping discussed the rumor at the Universal Trade Association’s Han City branch, with Cao Yu blaming the Xiao Clan and Meng Wenchun questioning how the association should respond.

The Universal Trade Association debated whether to protect its auction profits or accommodate Fang Qianyuan, ultimately deciding to follow the rules. Fang Qianyuan then entrusted the bidding to the Xiao Clan, accepting that he would owe them a favor.

• Lu Zhengping told the elders that Fang Qianyuan, rather than the Xiao Clan, wanted the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul, and they debated whether his future goodwill justified lost profits.
• Cao Yu argued that the Universal Trade Association should ignore Fang Qianyuan’s request and use its allies to raise the bidding price, while Lu Zhengping urged the elders to make a concession.
• The elders called for a vote after Cao Yu challenged Lu Zhengping to personally cover the lost profits.
• Xiao Yufan told Fang Qianyuan that the Universal Trade Association had approved a three-million-spirit-jade credit limit but would hold the auction under its usual rules.
• Fang Qianyuan declined to attend the auction and asked Xiao Yufan to arrange for the Xiao Clan to bid on his behalf, accepting that he would owe the clan a favor.

Xiao Teng and Xiao Yu delivered the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul to Fang Qianyuan, who quickly subdued the Earth Rank spirit creature. He welcomed the young Xiao Clan disciples as peers after receiving their congratulations.

• Xiao Teng won the auction for the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul on behalf of the Xiao Clan, then revealed that the spirit creature was intended for Fang Qianyuan.
• Xiao Teng and Xiao Yu collected the creature and brought it to Fang Qianyuan's manor under the escort of Earth Rank Warriors.
• Fang Qianyuan used the Spirit Communion Art to draw the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul into his body and subdued it with ease.
• Fang Qianyuan told Xiao Teng and Xiao Yu that they could treat one another as peers rather than addressing him formally.

Fang Qianyuan cultivated his newly acquired Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul while the Xiao Clan tried to build ties with him through its young talents and marriage prospects. By the Mid-Autumn Festival, he had learned to use its Dark Ice Mystic Beam, but he remained dissatisfied with his ability to integrate and master its powers.

• Fang Qianyuan spoke with Xiao Teng and Xiao Yu, but Xiao Yufan recognized that their Human Rank experience left them unable to connect with Fang Qianyuan's Earth Rank concerns.
• Xiao Teng resolved to strive for Earth Rank, while Xiao Yufan proposed introducing the clan's young women to Fang Qianyuan to strengthen ties through a possible marriage.
• The Xiao Clan arranged gatherings with its young women, but Fang Qianyuan remained formal and cautious, leaving the elders worried their effort to build a younger-generation connection had failed.
• Fang Qianyuan demonstrated the Dark Ice Mystic Beam, and Little White shattered the tree it had frozen as Xiao Teng and the others watched in admiration.
• By the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Fang Qianyuan had begun using the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul's abilities, but he judged his Dark Ice Mystic Beam difficult to master and not yet fully integrated.

After acquiring the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul, Fang Qianyuan planned to study darkness and Wind Evasion techniques to help him fuse its powers with his own. At the Mid-Autumn celebration, he met the Universal Trade Association’s delegation, and their tense introduction was interrupted by the arrival of Hall Master Miao.

• Fang Qianyuan accepted Xiao Teng’s suggestion to begin fusing simpler abilities and asked to study texts on darkness and Wind Evasion.
• Fang Qianyuan agreed to attend the city’s Mid-Autumn moon-viewing celebration.
• At the celebration, Fang Qianyuan sat among honored guests while younger cultivators watched him with admiration and complicated feelings.
• Cao Yu saw Fang Qianyuan, felt jealousy over his youth and prospects, then approached and introduced the Universal Trade Association’s delegation.
• Fang Qianyuan’s expression cooled when he learned Cao Yu’s group represented the merchant association, and Hall Master Miao appeared to scold Cao Yu for not giving Fang the Dark Demon Ice Nether Soul for free.

Miao Wang offered to pay the Xiao Clan 2.4 million spirit jade for Fang Qianyuan’s Demon-Ice Nether Soul, astonishing the gathering with his wealth and authority. Xiao Yufan called the treasure a gift, but Fang Qianyuan insisted he would settle the bill after returning to the Southern Wilds.

• Xiao Yufan told Fang Qianyuan that Miao Wang was a powerful trade envoy whose influence extended to the Demon God Palace.
• Miao Wang arrived at the Mid-Autumn Gathering and announced that he would pay Fang Qianyuan’s bill.
• Miao Wang’s attendant presented Xiao Yufan with a Sacred Cat Merchant Association promissory note for 2.4 million spirit jade.
• Xiao Yufan declined the payment and said the Xiao Clan had given Fang Qianyuan the Demon-Ice Nether Soul as a gift.
• Fang Qianyuan thanked Miao Wang and Xiao Yufan but said he would pay for the treasure after returning to the Southern Wilds.

Fang Qianyuan learned that Miao Wang sought his help in furthering the Sacred Cat Merchant Association’s plans. Miao Wang revealed that the association aimed to unite and elevate the Cat Clan, and proposed a lasting partnership with Fang Qianyuan.

• Fang Qianyuan refused Miao Wang’s lavish gift, and Miao Wang asked to meet with him later about a favor.
• Xiao Yufan explained that Miao Wang was vying with Cao Yu for control of the local Sacred Cat Merchant Association branch.
• Fang Qianyuan agreed to meet Miao Wang privately after the gathering and went to Miao Wang’s residence that night.
• Miao Wang revealed that he belonged to the Oil-Cat Tribe and that the association president was Miao Shihong, the awakened sage of the Lynx-Cat Tribe.
• Miao Wang told Fang Qianyuan that the Cat Clan sought to unite and rise, then asked him to help and offered a long-term business partnership.

Fang Qianyuan agreed to become an attendant elder protecting the Cat Clan and help the Sacred Cat Merchant Association expand into the Southern Wilds. He then asked the Cat Clan to manage his private assets, leaving Miao Wang hesitating over the condition.

• Fang Qianyuan and Miao Wang agreed that Fang would help connect the Cat Clan with his sect, while staying out of any plot against Helmsman Cao.
• Miao Wang revealed that the Cat Clan aimed to expand the Sacred Cat Merchant Association and eventually unify the Universal Trade Association into a vast commercial network.
• Miao Wang offered Fang a paid position as an attendant elder to shelter the Cat Clan and protect its interests, and Fang accepted.
• Fang asked Miao Wang to have the Cat Clan’s best people manage his private assets, and Miao Wang hesitated.

Fang Qianyuan secured the Cat Clan’s agreement to send people and resources to develop the Southern Wilds under his control, then caught and released an Earth Baleful Gate spy. The chapter ended with messengers delivering an urgent confidential letter from Sect Master Yu Shixian.

• Miao Wang reported that Miao Shihong would accept Fang Qianyuan’s terms, provided Fang treated the Cat Clan’s people well and kept the agreement confidential.
• Fang Qianyuan wrote a confidential letter of recommendation and arranged for Yuan Shan to receive the Cat Clan’s future delegation and resources.
• After Miao Wang departed, Little White caught a spy who admitted that Helmsman Cao had hired the Earth Baleful Gate to monitor Fang Qianyuan.
• Fang Qianyuan let the spy go and dismissed Cao Yu’s attempt to track his movements.
• Messengers from the sect arrived with an urgent confidential letter bearing Sect Master Yu Shixian’s seal.

Fang Qianyuan returned to Azure Cloud Sect Headquarters after an urgent summons and learned that his master, Jiang Yunfeng, had died in battle. He accepted responsibility for overseeing Jiang Yunfeng’s funeral arrangements, estate, and visitors.

• Fang Qianyuan received the sect master’s urgent summons and secretly traveled back to the sect Headquarters.
• Fang Qianyuan left Xiao Yufan and returned through a Teleportation Array under a false identity.
• Yu Shixian and two elders told Fang Qianyuan that Jiang Yunfeng had fallen in battle after being surrounded by eighteen Demon Generals.
• Fang Qianyuan asked what had happened and learned that Jiang Yunfeng had been overwhelmed while fighting in the Star Realm.
• Yu Shixian assigned Fang Qianyuan to oversee Jiang Yunfeng’s funeral arrangements, estate, and guests, and Fang Qianyuan agreed.

Fang Qianyuan helped Jiang Yunfeng’s family and clan through the mourning period, managed the estate and funeral, and reassured them that he would uphold his master’s legacy. As he escorted several guests to Abundance City for the main funeral, he sensed someone watching and attacked the hidden observer.

• Fang Qianyuan paid respects to Jiang Yunfeng and promised the grieving Jiang Clan that he would support them and arrange a grand burial.
• Fang Qianyuan and Sun Zhuo helped oversee the funeral and estate, placing most useful resources in the Jiang Clan treasury and sealing Fang Qianyuan’s inherited treasures with the sect as custodian.
• Fang Qianyuan learned that his Master’s Wife planned for Jiang Jingling to marry Sun Zhuo, and Sun Zhuo accepted the arrangement, though the wedding would wait at least three years.
• Fang Qianyuan personally received the Moonlight Fairy, the Silver Fairy, Wen Qingfei, the Feather Fairy, Su Yingxue, and the Ink Fairy, Lin Qiao, as they arrived for the funeral in Abundance City.
• Fang Qianyuan sensed someone secretly watching them and struck at the hidden observer with a Wind Claw.

Fang Qianyuan and Moonlight Fairy’s group were ambushed by three earth-rank warriors, but Fang and Little White swiftly struck back. The attackers escaped through earth evasion, leaving Fang confident that one of them had been gravely wounded by his Dark Demon Claw.

• Fang Qianyuan detected hidden enemies and attacked the woods, forcing three monstrous warriors to reveal themselves.
• The Snake Person announced that the warriors had come to kill Fang Qianyuan and triggered bone spikes beneath him.
• Fang Qianyuan wounded the Snake Person with Dark Demon Claw while Little White blocked the centaur’s arrows and froze the woods.
• Fang Qianyuan’s Wind Claw cut the insect-like warrior in half, but the warriors escaped using earth evasion.
• Fang Qianyuan told Moonlight Fairy that the wounded warrior would suffer from his black wind will, and the Immortal Maidens regarded him with renewed respect.

After Fang Qianyuan reached Abundance City, the Cloaked Man reviewed his battle against the four Warriors and praised his skill. Examining the Snake Person’s wound exposed a powerful force of will that froze and damaged the Cloaked Man before the Snake Person died.

• Fang Qianyuan arranged for the Moonlight Fairy to stay at a secluded guest residence in Abundance City.
• The four defeated Warriors emerged from underground and showed the Cloaked Man a recording of their battle with Fang Qianyuan.
• The Cloaked Man replayed the fight, admired Fang Qianyuan’s techniques, and recognized him as that person’s disciple.
• The Cloaked Man examined the Snake Person’s wound, and a dark force of will escaped and froze his arm.
• The Cloaked Man overcame the dark force, but the Snake Person’s wound reopened and killed him.

Fang Qianyuan attended Jiang Yunfeng’s funeral and worried that unknown attackers might threaten the Jiang Clan of Abundance City. Lin Qiao revealed that her presence was tied to a past relationship between their masters, leaving Fang Qianyuan surprised and unsure why it mattered.

• Jiang Lin, Sun Zhuo, Fang Qianyuan, and the mourners carried Jiang Yunfeng’s coffin to the burial grounds, where his clothing and belongings were interred in a Clothing Mound.
• Fang Qianyuan reflected on the risks his connection to the Jiang Clan of Abundance City could bring and resolved to follow the sect’s rules for protecting them.
• Lin Qiao found Fang Qianyuan brooding, and he told her he feared the unknown Warriors who had attacked them might also target the Jiang Clan of Abundance City.
• Fang Qianyuan explained that his Dark Demon Claw should deter the attackers, while Lin Qiao admired the technique without understanding its details.
• Fang Qianyuan questioned why Lin Qiao had stayed, and she whispered that their masters had once shared a romantic entanglement.
• Fang Qianyuan suggested that the past relationship need not affect the present, and Lin Qiao angrily told him it was not that simple.

After Jiang Yunfeng's death, Fang Qianyuan learned that Moonlight Fairy had come seeking protection from an obsessive suitor and consulted Master’s Wife before deciding how to help. As he weighed his responsibilities, the Merchant Association arrived to demand repayment of a loan secured against the Jiang Clan's ruined Medicinal Garden.

• Fang Qianyuan and Sun Zhuo discussed how Jiang Yunfeng's death had left the Jiang Clan's allies less reliable and the clan exposed to new threats.
• Sun Zhuo explained that Moonlight Fairy sought refuge from an Unorthodox Path expert who had renewed his attempt to force her into marriage after Jiang Yunfeng's death.
• Sun Zhuo warned Fang Qianyuan to consult Master’s Wife because intervening could imply that the Jiang Clan recognized Moonlight Fairy as Jiang Yunfeng's woman.
• Master’s Wife cautioned Fang Qianyuan that Moonlight Fairy's past relationship with Jiang Yunfeng might have been only a rumor, but said he could help within his abilities because of their families' longstanding ties.
• A servant told Fang Qianyuan that the Merchant Association had come to demand full repayment of Jiang Yunfeng's ten-million loan or the Medicinal Garden pledged as collateral.
• Fang Qianyuan sent the steward and servant to notify Brother Lin and the clan elders, then suspected the Merchant Association was testing the Jiang Clan now that the funeral was over.

Fang Qianyuan managed the growing fallout from the Jiang Clan’s decline, defending Sun Zhuo’s position while accepting that the clan had to adjust to losing Jiang Yunfeng’s protection. He then accompanied Moonlight Fairy to Flowing Cloud Grotto to confront the Unorthodox Path expert who had pressured her.

• Fang Qianyuan persuaded the Merchant Association to grant the Jiang Clan more time to repay its debt, though the clan’s influence in Abundance City continued to weaken.
• The sect prepared to reclaim Jiang Yunfeng’s residence and rumors threatened Sun Zhuo’s prospects at the Merit Hall.
• Fang Qianyuan and Sun Zhuo concluded that the setbacks reflected changing circumstances rather than a coordinated plot.
• Fang Qianyuan decided to focus on his master’s immediate family, support reasonable sect arrangements, and defend Sun Zhuo’s current position.
• Fang Qianyuan took leave and accompanied Moonlight Fairy to Flowing Cloud Grotto to meet the Unorthodox Path expert who had pressured her.