Recaps

Liu Yu studied the Azure Yang Art and Divine Preservation Art while Jiang Qiushui prepared to serve as his shopkeeper. He gave her a new cave abode and a defensive artifact, then tasked her with finding premises for their shop; Wu Chang was dismissed after Liu Yu decided he was no longer needed.

• Liu Yu comforted Jiang Qiushui, then returned to studying the Azure Yang Art and Divine Preservation Art as she left his cave abode.
• A day later, Liu Yu led Jiang Qiushui to a new cave abode he excavated near his own and gave her a Black Orb for protection.
• Liu Yu instructed Jiang Qiushui to find suitable shop premises in the sect's Market Ward and manage the shop without disturbing his cultivation.
• Two days later, Liu Yu dismissed Wu Chang after deciding Jiang Qiushui would serve as the shopkeeper.

Liu Yu agreed to take Geng Yuanzhang’s great-grandson, Geng Yunsong, under his protection and let him cultivate on Colorful Lotus Mountain. Geng Yuanzhang departed after arranging a cave abode for the boy, leaving Liu Yu to set expectations for his new charge.

• Liu Yu prepared pills for his future shop while resolving to keep cultivation as his priority and gradually reduce his pill production.
• Geng Yuanzhang visited Liu Yu with Geng Yunsong and asked Liu Yu to let the boy cultivate on Colorful Lotus Mountain, explaining that he had only a year or two left to live.
• Liu Yu accepted responsibility for Geng Yunsong in return for Geng Yuanzhang’s past help and allowed the boy to establish a cave abode at the mountain’s spirit-rich foothills.
• Geng Yuanzhang built the cave abode, entrusted Geng Yunsong to Liu Yu, and departed without saying goodbye to the boy.
• Liu Yu told Geng Yunsong to avoid trouble, cultivate diligently, and honor Geng Yuanzhang’s hopes.

Liu Yu reviewed the Jade Pill Hall’s finances with Jiang Qiushui and instructed her to gather herbs and seeds needed for his pill refining. After spending the night with her, he remained wary of sleeping and exposing himself to an attack.

• Liu Yu left Geng Yun Song at the foot of the mountain after agreeing to answer his cultivation questions every six months.
• Jiang Qiushui reported the Jade Pill Hall’s business and gave Liu Yu eighteen hundred spirit stones in monthly profits.
• Liu Yu gave Jiang Qiushui a list of herbs and seeds to collect, and told her she could hire two carefully vetted workers if needed.
• Liu Yu pulled Jiang Qiushui into his arms and kept her with him for the night.
• Liu Yu sent Jiang Qiushui away afterward and stayed awake to avoid the danger of being attacked in his sleep.

Liu Yu traveled to Jiatai Market ahead of a major auction and explored the surge of new cultivators and goods arriving for the event. After buying unfamiliar spirit herbs and seeds, he returned to the crowded stalls to inspect their wares.

• Liu Yu disguised himself as a young noble and rode to Jiatai Market two days before the auction.
• Liu Yu inspected the auction house and learned that entry required an invitation, two thousand spirit stones or equivalent goods, or qualifying Primordial Yang Sect status.
• Liu Yu toured the market and bought several unfamiliar spirit herbs and seeds from newly arrived cultivators.
• Liu Yu considered the uses of demonic beast materials and the dangers of hunting in the Hengduan Mountain Range.
• Liu Yu returned to the stall area, concealed his cultivation aura, and examined the vendors' goods.

Liu Yu failed to find useful treasures in the Market Ward, then spent two days studying the Azure Yang Art before attending an auction. After paying the entry fee, he took a seat in the hall and waited for the auction to begin.

• Liu Yu searched the Market Ward but found nothing worthwhile, then rented a cultivation residence at the Welcome Immortal Inn for seven days.
• Liu Yu studied the Azure Yang Art and the Divine Preservation Art until an inn attendant reminded him of the auction.
• Liu Yu checked his disguise and went early to the auction, where he qualified for entry by presenting two thousand spirit stones.
• Liu Yu entered the auction hall, chose a seat near the entrance, and waited as more cultivators arrived and noon approached.

Liu Yu attended a large auction hosted by Chi Yunxing, where the bidding began with a Foundation Establishment Pill and continued with a trapping formation. He watched without bidding, waiting for an item better suited to his needs.

• Liu Yu surveyed the gathered cultivators as the auction hall filled and Chi Yunxing appeared to host the sale.
• Chi Yunxing announced the auction rules, including a Golden Core overseer and a ban on leaving before the auction ended.
• The auction opened with a Foundation Establishment Pill, which sold for four thousand one hundred spirit stones while Liu Yu did not bid.
• Chi Yunxing presented the Yi Wood Life-Burial Formation and promoted its trapping and defensive uses.
• Liu Yu considered the later offerings but held back because he had limited spirit stones and wanted a formation focused on defense.

Liu Yu won the Golden Steel Banner at auction and later joined the bidding for a defensive formation. The Wu Earth Bluestone Formation’s price reached twenty-four hundred spirit stones as the chapter ended.

• A Foundation Establishment female cultivator won the Yi Wood Life-Burial Formation for sixteen hundred spirit stones.
• Liu Yu outbid the other contenders and bought the Golden Steel Banner for sixteen hundred spirit stones.
• Liu Yu watched as increasingly valuable pills, artifacts, and talismans were auctioned.
• Chi Yunxing presented the Wu Earth Bluestone Formation, and its price climbed past two thousand spirit stones.
• Liu Yu joined the bidding and offered twenty-four hundred spirit stones for the formation.

Liu Yu won the Wu Earth Bluestone Formation, then watched the auction continue as he ran out of spirit stones. When three cultivation cauldrons were auctioned, he wanted one for its bottleneck-breaking arts but could not afford to bid, and the women were sold to other cultivators.

• Liu Yu won the Wu Earth Bluestone Formation for two thousand six hundred spirit stones and collected it backstage.
• Liu Yu decided not to bid on more treasures unless a suitable cultivation art appeared, while the auction sold rare items and the Black Ice Art.
• Chi Yunxing introduced three qi refining female cultivators as cultivation cauldrons, explaining their skills and the secret arts they had practiced.
• Liu Yu considered bidding to use the cauldrons' energy to aid his cultivation, but his remaining spirit stones were insufficient.
• The three cultivation cauldrons sold for one thousand two hundred, one thousand three hundred, and one thousand three hundred and fifty spirit stones, then went backstage to await collection.

Liu Yu attended the auction in Jiatai Market, where Yan Wukui won the Heavenly Dust Pill, then returned safely to Colorful Lotus Mountain after evading any possible pursuers. Back at his cave abode, Liu Yu studied the jade slip containing instructions for the Wu Earth Bluestone Formation.

• Chi Yunxing presented the Heavenly Dust Pill as the auction’s final treasure, and Liu Yu decided not to bid for it.
• Yan Wukui outbid two cultivators in private rooms and won the Heavenly Dust Pill for sixteen thousand spirit stones.
• After the auction ended, Liu Yu left Jiatai Market and flew away from the Primordial Yang Sect before switching to the Wind-Evasion Boat and restoring his appearance.
• Liu Yu returned to Colorful Lotus Mountain, where Jiang Qiushui and Geng Yunsong remained unaware of his trip.
• Liu Yu examined a jade slip describing how to set up and control the Wu Earth Bluestone Formation.

Liu Yu established the Wu Earth Bluestone Formation around his cave abode, refined the Golden Steel Banner, and began cultivating the Azure Yang Art. After opening the meridian routes for its first three levels, he continued progressing toward the fourth.

• Liu Yu activated the Wu Earth Bluestone Formation and tested its defenses, finding that even his strongest attacks could not break through its regenerative stone barriers.
• Liu Yu carved a warning for visitors, adjusted the formation to create an entrance, and entered his cave abode.
• Liu Yu refined the Golden Steel Banner, then rested before attempting the Azure Yang Art’s delicate meridian-opening process.
• Liu Yu carefully opened the meridians for the first level of the Azure Yang Art, completed two circuits, and rested to recover.
• Liu Yu resumed cultivation and spent ten days opening the meridian routes for the first, second, and third levels.

Liu Yu began cultivating the Foundation Establishment portion of the Azure Yang Art but found that his ordinary aptitude made progress painfully slow, so he used the Immortal Mansion to grow herbs and began refining Essence-Refining Pills. Over the next three years, he improved his cultivation and pursued his studies while managing the Jade Pill Hall and instructing Geng Yunsong.

• Liu Yu switched to the Foundation Establishment portion of the Azure Yang Art, then sent Jiang Qiushui to search for the last herbs needed for Essence-Refining Pills.
• Jiang Qiushui delivered the herbs and the Jade Pill Hall's earnings, and Liu Yu rewarded her with half a bottle of Jade Spirit Pills.
• Liu Yu used the Immortal Mansion to grow fifty sets of Essence-Refining Pill herbs and refined thirty-one pills, including sixteen normal pills and fifteen inferior ones.
• Liu Yu began taking one Essence-Refining Pill each day while studying techniques, practicing spells, refining pills, and familiarizing himself with his magical artifacts.
• Jiang Qiushui and Sun Ju reported on the shop, while Liu Yu instructed Geng Yunsong once every six months; three years passed.

Three years later, Liu Yu mastered the Azure Yang Demonic Flame and strengthened it by absorbing the flame stored in the Bronze Lamp. After receiving a summons to the Primordial Yang Sect’s Main Hall for deliberations about the worsening war, he prepared his defenses and headed to Azure Cloud Peak.

• Liu Yu achieved initial mastery of the Azure Yang Demonic Flame after two years of cultivation.
• Liu Yu merged the Bronze Lamp’s flame into his own, increasing its power and exhausting the lamp.
• Liu Yu studied the Divine Preservation Art while continuing to improve his divine sense.
• Liu Yu received the Primordial Yang Sect’s order to attend deliberations and learned that the war had intensified and many Foundation Establishment cultivators had died.
• Liu Yu gathered his magical artifacts and defensive treasures, left Colorful Lotus Mountain, and arrived at Azure Cloud Peak.

Liu Yu joined seven other Foundation Establishment cultivators ordered to reinforce the sect’s depleted front lines, despite attempts by some to avoid the assignment. As he prepared to leave in three days, he reunited with Yan Qun'er, who was delighted to see him.

• Liu Yu arrived at the great hall and recognized Yan Qun'er among the waiting cultivators.
• Zhuang Ziling announced that the Golden Core elders had ordered eight Foundation Establishment cultivators to reinforce the front lines after several disciples died.
• Cui Liang and another cultivator tried to avoid the deployment, but Zhuang Ziling told them to appeal directly to the elders, and they fell silent.
• Zhuang Ziling ordered the group to gather at the General Affairs Hall on Clear Spring Peak in three days with two hundred disciples, and assigned Junior Brother Ma the Origin Returning Boat.
• Yan Qun'er called out to Liu Yu as they left the hall, and they walked together while catching up on their lives.

As his departure on a sect mission approached, Liu Yu settled affairs at the Jade Pill Hall and prepared the people under his care for his absence. Three days later, he finished his preparations and was ready to leave.

• Liu Yu said goodbye to Yan Qun'er and returned to Colorful Lotus Mountain, while Yan Qun'er felt disappointed by their reunion.
• Liu Yu summoned Geng Yunsong, answered his cultivation questions, and gave him two bottles of Pure Spirit Pills before leaving for several years.
• Jiang Qiushui brought the Jade Pill Hall's earnings to Liu Yu, who told her to manage the hall, collect spirit plant seeds, and keep a low profile during his absence.
• Liu Yu instructed Jiang Qiushui and Sun Ju on the Jade Pill Hall's affairs, then spent the remaining days cultivating and studying the Divine Preservation Art.

Liu Yu joined the Foundation Establishment stewards at Clear Spring Peak to oversee two hundred Qi Refining disciples preparing for a mission. After the brocade-robed steward verified the disciples’ identities and summoned the Origin Returning Boat, he ordered them to board in teams.

• Liu Yu left his cave abode and flew to Clear Spring Peak, where he greeted the other Foundation Establishment cultivators and exchanged a private divine sense message with Yan Qun'er.
• Liu Yu concealed his improving cultivation, while the gathered stewards formed separate groups along factional lines and Senior Brother Xu openly snubbed the brocade-robed steward.
• Cui Liang ordered the Qi Refining disciples to form orderly teams of ten as they gathered below the General Affairs Hall.
• The brocade-robed steward verified the identities of all two hundred disciples to prevent anyone from sending a substitute.
• The brocade-robed steward expanded the red Origin Returning Boat into a huge vessel and ordered the disciples to board in teams.

Liu Yu traveled north aboard the Origin Returning Boat, studying cultivation arts and taking his turn controlling the vessel. As he watched the landscape pass, Yan Qun'er joined him at the bow and warned him to put his safety first.

• The eight Foundation Establishment cultivators assigned the disciples to rooms aboard the Origin Returning Boat and agreed to take turns piloting it.
• Liu Yu settled into an upper-level room and studied the Foundation Establishment portion of the Divine Preservation Art rather than cultivating in the unstable setting.
• Liu Yu, Cui Liang, and another Outer Courtyard Faction member privately agreed with Senior Brother Xu and his companion to watch out for one another and share intelligence at the front lines.
• After five days, Cui Liang gave Liu Yu the control token and a storage bag, and Liu Yu took his turn steering the boat.
• Liu Yu adjusted the boat's course, admired the mountains and rivers below, and reflected on the freedom of cultivation.
• Yan Qun'er joined Liu Yu at the bow and told him that, whatever happened, he should put his safety first.

Liu Yu and the other Primordial Yang Sect disciples arrived at Moonwatch Immortal Fate City, the sect’s key frontier stronghold, after a twenty-day journey. They were welcomed by Jiang Bing, who said their arrival would ease the burden on the city’s defenders.

• Yan Qun'er told Liu Yu that her aunt had arranged for her to gain experience on the front lines, where an ancestor would be stationed.
• Liu Yu spent the journey studying his cultivation method and learned that Zhuang Shilong shared a lineage with Sect Master Zhuang Ziling.
• The Origin Returning Boat reached Moonwatch Immortal Fate City, and Liu Yu observed its fortified walls, busy gates, and groups of cultivators returning from hunts.
• Zhuang Shilong put away the boat after the disciples disembarked, and Jiang Bing arrived to welcome them to the city.

Liu Yu and the Primordial Yang Sect cultivators arrived at Moonwatch Immortal Fate City, where they registered and received cave abodes while awaiting a meeting with the city’s Golden Core elders. After resting and completing his cultivation, Liu Yu set out to explore the city and learned about its districts and strict entry fees.

• Jiang Bing welcomed the arriving Primordial Yang Sect cultivators and led them through Moonwatch City to the City Lord's Residence.
• Wu Yuhan told the Foundation Establishment cultivators that the elders were busy and arranged cave abodes for them until their meeting in three days.
• Liu Yu entered his assigned courtyard, found its spiritual energy richer than his cave abode on Colorful Lotus Mountain, and slept after the journey.
• Liu Yu woke refreshed, took an Essence-Refining Pill, and completed his daily cultivation with the Azure Yang Art.
• Liu Yu explored Moonwatch City and learned that its south held lodging, its west housed rogue cultivators and stalls, and its guarded north faced the Hehuan Sect.

Liu Yu surveyed the East Market in Moonwatch City, learning that Foundation Establishment pills were scarce while gathering most of the spirit grasses he needed. Concerned that his current abilities could not threaten a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, he visited Many Treasures Pavilion to seek a powerful weapon or treasure.

• Liu Yu asked Pill Fragrance Tower and other shops about Foundation Establishment pills, learning that supplies were limited and prices were high.
• Liu Yu bought spirit grass seeds and collected nearly half the ingredients needed for Azure Origin Pills and Essence-Nourishing Pills.
• Liu Yu reviewed the limits of his Profound Departure Sword, Azure Yang Demonic Flame, and Spirit-Shocking Thorn, and decided he needed a trump card against late-stage cultivators.
• Liu Yu checked that no one was following him and entered Many Treasures Pavilion, where Manager Jia Fu received him.
• Liu Yu told Jia Fu he wanted a Talisman Treasure or Heavenly Thunder Pearl capable of threatening a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator.

Liu Yu bought two powerful talisman treasures from the Many Treasures Pavilion and earned Jia Fu’s goodwill and a silver token. Three days later, he went to the City Lord’s Mansion with other Primordial Yang Sect disciples to meet two Golden Core elders and receive their assignments.

• Liu Yu bought the Snow Silk Needle Talisman Treasure and the Vajra Halberd Talisman Treasure from Jia Fu, paying twenty-four thousand three hundred spirit stones.
• Jia Fu gave Liu Yu a thousand-spirit-stone discount and a silver Many Treasures Token, which granted honored-guest treatment and a five-percent discount.
• Liu Yu returned to his cave abode, secured the talisman treasures in his Storage Bag, and resumed studying the Divine Preservation Art.
• After three days, Liu Yu went to the City Lord’s Mansion and waited with Cui Liang and the other disciples to meet the Golden Core elders.
• Wu Yuhan led the eight disciples to a pavilion, where they found two elderly men playing chess.

Liu Yu and the other Primordial Yang Sect disciples met Elders Yan and Zhou, who explained the rules and alliances in the Spirit Stone Mine War and asked the newcomers to describe their abilities. Liu Yu presented himself as a weak combatant with some pill-refining skill, leaving his assignment undecided.

• Wu Yuhan introduced Liu Yu and the others to Elder Yan and Elder Zhou, and Liu Yu felt their powerful auras but saw no sign that they had detected his Immortal Mansion.
• Elder Zhou welcomed the disciples and promised merit-based rewards, while the group declared its loyalty to the sect.
• Elder Yan explained that Golden Core and higher cultivators were barred from the Spirit Stone Mine conflict and that the Primordial Yang Sect had allied with Crescent Moon Valley against the Void Clarity School, the Hehuan Sect, and the Drifting Snow Tower.
• Senior Brother Xu volunteered for the main camp, and the other disciples described their strengths and preferences, with Cui Liang claiming his combat ability was ordinary.
• Liu Yu told the elders that he had established his Foundation three years earlier, was learning to refine Essence-Refining Pills, and ranked near the bottom in combat strength.

Liu Yu was assigned to guard the Bing Character Six Herb Garden instead of joining the forces sent to the Spirit Stone Mine. He led ten Qi Refining disciples from Moonwatch City and arrived at the remote swamp where the garden stood.

• Elder Yan and Elder Fang sent Senior Brother Xu, Cui Liang, and three others to the Spirit Stone Mine camp, assigned Liu Yu to guard the Bing Character Six Herb Garden, and kept Yan Qun'er and Zhuang Shilong in Moonwatch City.
• Elder Yan gave Liu Yu an appointment scroll and ordered him to reach the herb garden by the next day for a five-year posting.
• Liu Yu collected ten Qi Refining disciples from the city lord's residence and led them out of Moonwatch City.
• Liu Yu flew at the rear of the group, keeping pace with the Qi Refining disciples as they traveled north toward the garden.
• After twelve hours of travel and several breaks, Liu Yu and the disciples reached the herb garden, which stood in a foul-smelling swamp.

Liu Yu located the hidden Bing-Character No. 6 Spirit Herb Garden and met Yan Hongyu again, confirming his assignment to help defend it. Yan Hongyu verified his credentials and welcomed him inside, where he saw the vast underground garden and its valuable spirit herbs.

• Liu Yu used the Heavenly Eye Art to find the hidden entrance to the spirit herb garden and formed an icy path across the marsh for his group.
• Liu Yu opened the illusion formation and sent a Voice-Transmitting Talisman inside before waiting for a response.
• Yan Hongyu emerged with two Inner Disciples, recognized Liu Yu, and checked his Black Scroll to verify his identity.
• Yan Hongyu welcomed Liu Yu and led him and the ten Qi Refining Period disciples into the garden.
• Liu Yu saw the enormous underground space, its dense spiritual energy, and the many spirit herbs growing in its fields.

Liu Yu arrived at Bing Six Herb Garden, settled into his new residence, and joined Yan Hongyu's guard group. After meeting the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, he began cultivating and refining his magical power with an Essence-Refining Pill.

• Yan Hongyu showed Liu Yu the Spirit Herb Garden's buildings and gave him a token to control his cave abode's protective formation.
• Yan Hongyu asked Liu Yu to join her guard group, and he agreed to build ties with the Yan Household.
• Yan Hongyu introduced Liu Yu to the garden's other Foundation Establishment cultivators, and he was assigned to her group with Ding Hui and Cao Mengyu.
• Liu Yu returned to his cave abode, strengthened its formation with two Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and swallowed an Essence-Refining Pill to cultivate the Azure Yang Art.

Liu Yu used the Azure Yang Demonic Flame to temper his magical power, expelling impurities but losing some of his cultivation, while remaining unable to remove the pill toxin accumulated in his body. After fourteen days, he went to take up his surface-defense duty and noticed that Cao Mengyu seemed to have detected a subtle change in his cultivation aura.

• Liu Yu endured the Azure Yang Demonic Flame tempering his magical power, which became purer as impurities and some of his cultivation were expelled.
• Liu Yu acknowledged that the tempering could not remove the pill toxin in his body and decided to seek a solution later.
• After fourteen days of cultivation, Liu Yu washed and changed, then studied the Foundation Establishment section of the Divine Preservation Art.
• Liu Yu left his cave abode the next day and joined Yan Hongyu, Ding Hui, and Cao Mengyu at the Spirit Herb Garden entrance for his surface-defense duty.
• Liu Yu realized that Cao Mengyu had noticed subtle changes in his cultivation aura that Yan Hongyu had missed.