Recaps

Liu Yu led a patrol through the Yuan Kingdom before settling on Phoenix Mountain, where he spent five years consolidating the Primordial Yang Sect’s rule and cultivating. After completing his seventh Demon Fire Refining Essence and extending his divine sense, he left his cave abode and appeared to be waiting for someone or something.

• Liu Yu set out aboard the Origin Returning Boat with Jiang Qiushui and Leng Yuexin to patrol the Yuan Kingdom and warn its cultivation factions against disorder.
• Liu Yu inspected a small faction, issued its leaders a stern warning, and continued the patrol, which passed without major disturbances.
• Liu Yu reached Phoenix Mountain and claimed Bai Lianhua’s former cave abode, while Jiang Qiushui arranged accommodations and Leng Yuexin organized the defenses.
• Over the next five years, Liu Yu’s jurisdiction remained largely peaceful as the Primordial Yang Sect consolidated its rule and the White Cloud Temple remnants were nearly eliminated.
• Liu Yu completed his seventh Demon Fire Refining Essence and expanded his divine sense to fifteen li, though he noticed Spirit-Nourishing Pills had become less effective.
• Liu Yu left his cultivation room, changed into blue robes, and sat at a cliffside with a book as though waiting for something.

After five years overseeing the Yuan Kingdom, Liu Yu received permission to return to the sect as the region stabilized. He completed the handover and departed for Ancient Gate City with Jiang Qiushui, Leng Yuexin, Yingge, and Yanwu, planning to focus on cultivation and prepare for Golden Core Condensation.

• Liu Yu told Jiang Qiushui and Leng Yuexin that they could return to the sect after handing over their duties the next day.
• Liu Yu visited Little Green, fed the spirit snake, and reflected on its rapid growth and potential.
• Liu Yu gave Yingge and Yanwu permission to visit the Wei Household, but they declined and prepared the cave abode for his departure.
• A fellow disciple arrived, and Jiang Qiushui completed the handover of Liu Yu's jurisdiction, its disciples, and the Origin Returning Boat.
• Liu Yu left Phoenix Mountain aboard the Wind-Evasion Boat with Jiang Qiushui, Leng Yuexin, Yingge, and Yanwu, heading for Ancient Gate City.

Liu Yu returned to the Primordial Yang Sect with Jiang Qiushui, Yan Kai, Leng Yuexin, and two maidservants after completing his assignment. After parting from Leng Yuexin and Yan Kai, he diverted toward his own cultivation grounds and postponed meeting Jiang Qiushui at Colorful Lotus Mountain until the next day, intending to tell her that he had taken Ji Ruyan as a concubine.

• Liu Yu reached Ancient Gate City, where Yan Kai greeted him and offered to travel back to the sect with him.
• Liu Yu and his companions used the Teleportation Formation to return to the Primordial Yang Sect, and Liu Yu helped the maidservants recover from its effects.
• Leng Yuexin and Yan Kai parted from Liu Yu after exchanging promises to stay in touch and help one another.
• Liu Yu took Jiang Qiushui and the two maidservants toward Colorful Lotus Mountain, then decided to put off Jiang Qiushui’s meeting with Ji Ruyan until the next day.
• Liu Yu told Jiang Qiushui to return to her own cave abode while he completed his cultivation, and she grew reluctant and awkward.

Liu Yu returned to Colorful Lotus Mountain, reunited with Ji Ruyan, and introduced her to the maidservants who had accompanied him. The next day, Jiang Qiushui arrived, and Ji Ruyan went out to meet her while Liu Yu watched from inside the cave abode.

• Liu Yu returned to Colorful Lotus Mountain and found that Ji Ruyan had carefully maintained his mountain and cave abode.
• Ji Ruyan joyfully reunited with Liu Yu, and they spent time together before she told him about the years he had been away.
• Liu Yu introduced Yingge and Yanwu to Ji Ruyan as maidservants, and Ji Ruyan cautiously accepted them.
• Liu Yu prepared a cold, damp habitat for Little Green and resumed his daily cultivation.
• Jiang Qiushui arrived at Colorful Lotus Mountain the next day, and Ji Ruyan went out to welcome her while Liu Yu remained inside.

Liu Yu formally announced that Ji Ruyan would become his concubine, and reassured Jiang Qiushui that her place and resources would not diminish. After Jiang Qiushui accepted the arrangement and left, Liu Yu returned to his cave abode, where his Sect Token suddenly stirred.

• Liu Yu declared Ji Ruyan his concubine, and Jiang Qiushui promised to treat her as a younger sister and live harmoniously with her.
• After Ji Ruyan returned to her room, Liu Yu asked Jiang Qiushui whether she resented his decision and reassured her that he would not neglect her.
• Jiang Qiushui accepted the arrangement and asked Liu Yu not to forget his old companion when he had someone new.
• Liu Yu gave Jiang Qiushui a bottle of Azure Origin Pills and escorted her out of the cave abode.
• Liu Yu returned to his cave abode and was about to study the Hundred Herbs Pill Book when his Sect Token stirred.

Liu Yu attended the Primordial Yang Sect’s long-delayed distribution of merit points for the war in Yan Kingdom and received fifty-five, enough to qualify for promotion to true disciple and exchange for a Heavenly Dust Pill. The chapter ended after True Person Changfeng finished announcing the awards and invited objections.

• Liu Yu received a Sect Token command to report to the Sect Main Hall and suspected the sect was finally awarding wartime merits.
• Liu Yu arrived at Azure Cloud Peak and considered whether his accomplishments and merit points might earn him true disciple status.
• True Person Changfeng began announcing merit awards, and Liu Yu received fifty-five points.
• Liu Yu noted that Ma Yingjie received seventy points and that Li Buyu received one hundred and ten, enough to exchange for a Golden Core Condensation Pill.
• True Person Changfeng finished recording the awards and invited the cultivators to raise any objections.

After receiving his merit points, Liu Yu cultivated connections and sought his nominal master's backing as he prepared to compete for true disciple status. He returned to Colorful Lotus Mountain, where Ji Ruyan and Jiang Qiushui got along, then considered his need for stronger cultivation pills and the Yan Household's support.

• True Person Changfeng left the hall, and Liu Yu congratulated Li Buyu on her merit points while strengthening their ties.
• Liu Yu befriended Wei Xiaoqin, then traveled to Heaven-Reaching Peak to seek Li Changkong's support for his bid to become a true disciple.
• Li Changkong backed Liu Yu's ambition, and Liu Yu returned to Colorful Lotus Mountain, where Ji Ruyan and Jiang Qiushui greeted him harmoniously.
• Liu Yu declined Jiang Qiushui's suggestion that she move back in, concerned that public gossip could harm his true disciple prospects.
• After cultivating, Liu Yu realized Origin-Rising Pills were losing their effect and decided to seek a late-stage Foundation Establishment pill formula and visit the Yan Household.

Liu Yu sought the Yan Household’s support for his bid to become a true disciple, offering to trade Essence-Nourishing Pills and gaining Elder Yan’s agreement to help. After meeting the sect’s requirements and completing the advancement trial, he waited for the ceremony on Heaven-Reaching Peak.

• Liu Yu visited Yan Hongyu on Green Elegance Peak and discussed trading Essence-Nourishing Pills.
• Liu Yu asked Yan Hongyu to help him contend for a true disciple position, and she agreed to consult Elder Yan.
• Elder Yan agreed to support Liu Yu, and Liu Yu returned to Colorful Lotus Mountain assured of the Yan Household’s backing.
• The Li Household and Yan Household helped Liu Yu meet the requirements for advancement, and the sect issued him a trial assignment.
• Liu Yu completed the trial assignment and waited for the notice to attend his true disciple advancement ceremony on Heaven-Reaching Peak.

Liu Yu attended his promotion ceremony at the Patriarch Hall alongside Wei Xiaoqin, where three Golden Core elders examined them and approved their advancement to true disciples. Wei Xiaoqin began swearing her heart-demon oath, while Liu Yu’s own promotion remained to come.

• Liu Yu arrived at Heaven-Reaching Peak and received congratulations from Qian Zhijin and Li Buyu before heading to the Patriarch Hall with Jiang Qiushui and Ji Ruyan.
• Liu Yu met Wei Xiaoqin outside the hall and realized she was also there for a true disciple promotion ceremony.
• True Person Changfeng, Elder Qi Yuntian, and another Golden Core elder appeared, scrutinized Liu Yu and Wei Xiaoqin, and allowed them to enter the hall.
• The elders paid their respects to the past patriarchs, and Elder Qi declared Wei Xiaoqin fit to become a true disciple.
• Wei Xiaoqin bowed before the patriarchs and began swearing a heart-demon oath of loyalty to the sect.

Liu Yu and Wei Xiaoqin completed their ceremonies to become true disciples of the Primordial Yang Sect. Liu Yu’s unconventional Heart-Demon Oath angered Elder Qi, but True Person Changfeng accepted him and gave him his True Disciple Token.

• Wei Xiaoqin swore loyalty to the sect and received her jade True Disciple Token from Elder Qi.
• Elder Qi recounted Liu Yu’s achievements and called him decisive in battle and outstanding in martial accomplishments.
• Liu Yu swore that he would abide by the sect’s rules and remain loyal, but added, “If the sect does not fail me, I will not fail the sect!”
• Elder Qi rebuked Liu Yu, but True Person Changfeng stopped him and praised Liu Yu’s character.
• True Person Changfeng gave Liu Yu his True Disciple Token, and Liu Yu and Wei Xiaoqin left the Patriarch Hall as newly promoted true disciples.

Liu Yu celebrated his promotion to True Disciple by hosting a banquet and publicly taking Ji Ruyan as his first concubine. After spending the night with her, he returned to his Cultivation Room and began considering a body-refining technique.

• Liu Yu and Wei Xiaoqin completed their promotions to True Disciple, which Liu Yu suspected had been expedited through cooperation between the Outer Courtyard faction and the Family Line.
• Liu Yu gathered fellow disciples to celebrate his promotion and used the occasion to strengthen his influence within the sect.
• At the banquet on Colorful Lotus Mountain, Liu Yu announced that Ji Ruyan was his first concubine, and the guests offered congratulations.
• Liu Yu visited Little Green in the Spirit Beast Room, fed it, and sent it back to the Coldwater Pool.
• After the guests departed, Liu Yu spent the night with Ji Ruyan, then returned to his Cultivation Room and considered a body-refining technique.

Liu Yu visited the Primordial Yang Sect’s seventh-floor Scripture Pavilion to find a superior body-refining method, hoping to cultivate essence, qi, and spirit together and improve his golden core. After reviewing numerous texts, he found the powerful Taiyin Body-Refining method and began reading it with excitement.

• Liu Yu reflected that true disciple status might let him access a body-refining method capable of supporting his plan to cultivate essence, qi, and spirit together.
• Liu Yu completed his daily qi- and spirit-refining practice, then traveled to Clear Spring Peak to seek a better cave abode and search the Scripture Pavilion.
• Liu Yu used his true disciple token to enter the seventh floor, where he read Mysteries of Metal Spirit but decided not to spend twenty merit points to obtain it.
• Liu Yu examined several superior body-refining methods, including Thousand Refinements True Art, but none met his hopes for resisting powerful spirit artifacts.
• Liu Yu found Taiyin Body-Refining and learned that its peak second tier could let him withstand a Top-grade Spirit Artifact barehanded for a short time.

Liu Yu chose Astral True Form over the less demanding Taiyin Body-Refining, reasoning that his Immortal Mansion might help him overcome its need for stellar power. After exchanging fifty-two merit points for the first three levels, he went to meet Sect Master Zhuang Ziling about moving to a better spirit mountain.

• Liu Yu discovered Astral True Form, a stellar body-refining method with the potential to reach Spirit Transformation, but learned that its demanding cultivation requirements had left it neglected.
• Liu Yu decided to try Astral True Form first and keep Taiyin Body-Refining as a fallback, planning to test whether the Immortal Mansion could supply the stellar power he needed.
• Liu Yu exchanged fifty-two merit points with Elder Wen for the first three levels of Astral True Form and promised to keep the method secret.
• Liu Yu left Clear Spring Peak and flew to Azure Cloud Peak to arrange a better spirit mountain after becoming a true disciple.
• Liu Yu met Sect Master Zhuang Ziling in a side chamber, where Zhuang Ziling served him spirit tea and asked whether he liked it.

Liu Yu reconciled with Zhuang Ziling long enough to claim Rosycloud Mountain, a superior-grade spirit mountain, as his new residence. After arriving with his companions and followers, he ordered its extravagant palace torn down and invited Jiang Qiushui and Ji Ruyan to build their own cave abodes there.

• Liu Yu praised Zhuang Ziling’s tea and reached a cordial understanding with him despite their past conflict.
• Liu Yu selected Rosycloud Mountain from the sect’s available spirit mountains, and Zhuang Ziling obtained the required approval and gave him its token and formation banner.
• Liu Yu returned to Colorful Lotus Mountain to prepare a move, planning to transfer his mature spirit plants and belongings.
• Liu Yu arrived at Rosycloud Mountain with Jiang Qiushui, Ji Ruyan, Wu Chang, and his other followers, while Jiang Qiushui handled the handover from the disciples working there.
• Liu Yu disliked the mountain’s ornate palace and ordered it replaced with a simple courtyard residence, telling Jiang Qiushui and Ji Ruyan they could each build a cave abode on the mountain.

After rebuilding his residence on Rosycloud Mountain and securing it with two formations, Liu Yu studied the Astral True Form and began cultivating its Myriad Stars stage. He opened the Shenque acupoint, but its light remained faint as the starlight feeding his cultivation began to thin.

• Liu Yu collected the formation components from the demolished palace while Jiang Qiushui and Ji Ruyan oversaw the rebuilding of his residence.
• After inspecting the finished residence, Liu Yu installed the Azure Nether Blackwind Formation and the Forest Sea Reincarnation Formation around it.
• Liu Yu copied the Astral True Form into a booklet and spent seven days comprehending its first layer, the Myriad Stars stage.
• Liu Yu spread Coldstar Liquid over his body and used the starlight entering through the Cultivation Room's skylight to cultivate the Astral True Form.
• Liu Yu opened his Shenque acupoint and began filling it with stellar power, but the gathering blue motes gradually grew sparse and dim.

Liu Yu completed his first Astral True Form session, practiced Meteor Fist, and arranged for a sturdier cultivation room while Rosycloud Mountain’s affairs settled into place. A month later, he received a box that could store stellar power and granted Wu Chang’s request to bring his son to cultivate on the mountain, leaving Liu Yu reflecting on the passing years.

• Liu Yu finished tempering his body with Coldstar Liquid, then practiced Meteor Fist hard enough to damage the cultivation room and tear his clothes.
• Liu Yu resumed Qi Refining and Divine Preservation cultivation, kept a low profile, and left Jiang Qiushui to organize Rosycloud Mountain’s affairs.
• Liu Yu closed the Jade Pill Hall and had a sturdier obsidian cultivation room built while ordering his subordinates to continue searching for a way to store stellar power.
• One month later, Wu Chang presented Liu Yu with a black box that could absorb starlight and store stellar power for two days.
• Wu Chang asked Liu Yu to let his twelve-year-old son cultivate on Rosycloud Mountain, and Liu Yu agreed after noticing Wu Chang’s age and declining vitality.

Liu Yu used the Immortal Mansion to fill a black box with pure stellar power, named it the Star-Absorbing Box, and discovered that the silver origin could produce lunar yin power. After recovering from the mental exhaustion caused by wielding the Mansion’s authority, he advanced his Astral True Form and Meteor Fist while Jiang Qiushui and Ji Ruyan opened two Jade Pill Hall branches on Rosycloud Mountain.

• Liu Yu entered the Immortal Mansion with the black box, filled it with pure stellar power, and named it the Star-Absorbing Box.
• Liu Yu used the Mansion’s authority to make the silver origin produce wisps of lunar yin power, then dispersed them because his fragile primordial spirit could not withstand them.
• Liu Yu returned to his body, slept for a day and a night to recover from mental exhaustion, and resumed cultivation.
• Liu Yu cultivated the Astral True Form with Coldstar Liquid and pure stellar power, lighting two stars in a month and bringing a third halfway to completion.
• Liu Yu advanced his Meteor Fist and, together with the Flash Spirit Art, became capable of handling Qi Refining Cultivators through his physical strength alone.
• Jiang Qiushui and Ji Ruyan put Rosycloud Mountain’s affairs in order and opened two second-tier-pills branches of Jade Pill Hall, one managed by each woman.

Liu Yu allowed Wu Chang’s son, Wu Cheng'en, to cultivate on Rosycloud Mountain, then continued his cautious cultivation as twenty-four years passed and the Jade Pill Hall prospered. After learning that the Golden Core Condensation Pill ingredients were complete and Li Buyu had entered seclusion, Liu Yu traveled west to seek the secret realm containing the three-origin fruit, arriving at West Sand Market Ward with its opening a year away.

• Wu Chang brought Wu Cheng'en to meet Liu Yu, who gave the boy a middle-grade magical artifact and permission to establish a cave abode on Rosycloud Mountain.
• Liu Yu cultivated the Astral True Form, practiced combat techniques, and maintained his daily training in body cultivation, qi refining, and spirit refinement.
• Jiang Qiushui reported that the final herb for the Golden Core Condensation Pill had been obtained, while Li Buyu and several others began attempting to break through to the Golden Core realm.
• Twenty-four years passed as Liu Yu cultivated peacefully and Ji Ruyan managed the Jade Pill Hall.
• Liu Yu traveled to the western region in pursuit of the secret realm containing the three-origin fruit and arrived at West Sand Market Ward, where the secret realm was due to open in a year.

Liu Yu traveled alone to the Western Sands to investigate the secret realm that held the three-origin fruit, confident in his strength and careful to conceal his identity. Near the West Sand Market Ward, four evil cultivators ambushed him, and he recognized their leader, Madam Rouge, as the chapter ended with the confrontation poised to turn violent.

• Liu Yu replenished his magic power in the desert and reflected on how his cultivation across qi refining, spirit refinement, and body cultivation had made him exceptionally powerful.
• Liu Yu boarded the Wind-Evasion Boat, changed his appearance, suppressed his cultivation, and traveled toward the West Sand Market Ward posing as a Foundation Establishment body cultivator.
• Four Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounded Liu Yu's boat at night and forced him to land in the desert.
• The four cultivators demanded Liu Yu's Storage Bag, while their leader, Madam Rouge, tried to bewitch him.
• Liu Yu rejected the demand and recognized the group as notorious Western Sands bandits led by Madam Rouge.

Liu Yu ambushed Madam Rouge’s group and killed their fat male companion with his Astral True Form and Meteor Fist. After defending against the survivors’ attacks, he prepared to use his full strength, but sensed something near West Sand Market Ward and held back as both sides faced off.

• Liu Yu used the Flash Spirit Art to close in on the fat cultivator and struck him with the Meteor Fist, overpowering his black bone sword.
• Liu Yu battered through the fat cultivator’s attacks and killed him with a punch to the head.
• Liu Yu deflected two magical artifacts and blocked Madam Rouge’s white spirit flames with a silver barrier.
• Madam Rouge and her two remaining companions hesitated and exchanged voice transmissions, considering retreat after seeing Liu Yu’s strength.
• Liu Yu decided to reveal his full strength and capture an opponent for Soul Searching, but sensed something near West Sand Market Ward and paused.
• Liu Yu and the three survivors maintained their distance in an uneasy standoff as the battlefield sand settled.

Liu Yu watched Madam Rouge escape and met Tang Tianbao after Tang and his companions defeated her two subordinates. He earned Tang’s trust and agreed to travel with him and his companions to the West Sand Market Ward.

• Madam Rouge fled when Tang Tianbao and his companions arrived, while Liu Yu stayed behind to avoid revealing his strength.
• Tang Tianbao and his companions killed Madam Rouge’s two slower subordinates, then returned to meet Liu Yu.
• Liu Yu introduced himself as Hong Hao, praised Tang Tianbao, and gave him a bottle of Essence-Nourishing Pills in thanks.
• Tang Tianbao introduced Uncle Yang and Zhou Ziwen, then invited Liu Yu to travel with them to the West Sand Market Ward.
• Liu Yu accepted, burned the dead cultivator’s corpse, claimed his storage bag, and set off with the three cultivators while keeping his distance.

Liu Yu entered the West Sand Market Ward with Tang Tianbao, collected bounties with him, and learned about the Western Sands over a meal. Their lively conversation ended abruptly when a song about war and national sorrow enraged Tang Tianbao.

• Liu Yu and Tang Tianbao passed through the West Sand Market Ward and went to its Bounty Office.
• Tang Tianbao presented proof of several slain Foundation Establishment evil cultivators and collected nearly four thousand spirit stones in bounties.
• After Zhou Ziwen and Uncle Yang departed, Tang Tianbao invited Liu Yu to dine at the Delicacy Pavilion and discuss the Western Sands.
• Tang Tianbao probed Liu Yu's background, and Liu Yu revealed that he had some experience in pill refining.
• Tang Tianbao arranged singing and dancing, but he slammed his cup down and shouted when a performer sang about war and the country's troubles.

Liu Yu joined Tang Tianbao’s Bright Light Society while investigating Tang’s possible connection to the Sacred Fire Cult. As he left a gathering of Western Sands cultivators, a mysterious bell tolled seven times across the West Sand Market Ward.

• Tang Tianbao reacted sharply to a mournful song, then resumed dining with Liu Yu and shared information about the Western Sand Land.
• Liu Yu suspected Tang Tianbao might have ties to the Sacred Fire Cult and decided to stay close to his group while waiting for the secret realm to open.
• Zhou Ziwen brought Liu Yu to meet about thirty local foundation establishment cultivators, where Tang Tianbao introduced him as a body cultivator and second-tier alchemist.
• Liu Yu traded Essence-Nourishing Pills for a body-refining item and learned the cultivators belonged to Tang Tianbao’s Bright Light Society.
• Tang Tianbao invited Liu Yu to join the society, and Liu Yu accepted before leaving with Feng for a drink.
• Seven solemn bell tolls rang across the West Sand Market Ward, bringing its bustle to a sudden halt.

Liu Yu watched the Divine Sand Sect prepare to publicly execute Shi Renjie, a Golden Core cultivator and remnant of the Sacred Fire Cult. Before his execution, Shi Renjie revealed that the cult’s secret realm would open next year, then gave his final words for the sake of light.

• Liu Yu joined the crowd at the execution plaza and learned that the condemned prisoner was Golden Core cultivator Shi Renjie, while True Person Yellow Sand oversaw the proceedings.
• Liu Yu noticed the Bright Light Society members reacting strangely to Shi Renjie, and Tang Tianbao and Uncle Yang tried to calm the visibly distressed Zhou Ziwen.
• True Person Yellow Sand offered to spare Shi Renjie if he revealed information about the Sacred Fire Cult and its secret realm, but Shi Renjie initially refused.
• Shi Renjie announced that the Holy Fire Secret Realm lay somewhere in the Western Sand Land and would open on the second day of the second month next year, stirring the crowd into an uproar.
• True Person Yellow Sand silenced the plaza, declared Shi Renjie’s crimes, and asked for his last words; Shi Renjie recited his vow and ended with “for the sake of light.”

Liu Yu watched Shi Renjie’s execution, then joined an ambush on Divine Sand Sect cultivators escorting Shi Renjie’s remains back to the sect. The attack left Jiang Lesheng and five other survivors surrounded, and Jiang Lesheng recognized Tang Tianbao among their assailants.

• True Person Yellow Sand had Shi Renjie beheaded, extracted his golden core, and sealed it in a jade vial.
• Liu Yu observed Tang Tianbao, Uncle Yang, and Zhou Ziwen’s reactions, then returned to the inn and continued cultivating while waiting for events to unfold.
• Seven days later, Jiang Lesheng led six Divine Sand Sect cultivators west from the market ward with Shi Renjie’s remains and spiritual items.
• Nine attackers burst from beneath the desert sand and ambushed the Divine Sand Sect group after Jiang Lesheng’s party lowered its guard.
• Liu Yu killed one Divine Sand Sect cultivator with a punch, while the surviving sect cultivators regrouped under attack.
• Jiang Lesheng recognized Tang Tianbao among the attackers.