Chapter Summaries

Liu Yu sold seven bottles of Essence-Refining Pills to Yan Hongyu and kept his distance from Yan Qun'er, then prepared to join the expedition to Cold Mist Camp. Three days later, he arrived at the City Lord's Mansion gathering point and waited for the other cultivators.

• Liu Yu sold Yan Hongyu seven bottles of Essence-Refining Pills for twenty-eight Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and asked her about cultivation.
• Yan Qun'er wanted Yan Hongyu to keep Liu Yu from leaving, but Yan Hongyu advised her not to rush and explained that the Yan Household needed good relations with an alchemist like him.
• Liu Yu returned to his cave abode and deliberately maintained his distance from Yan Qun'er, wary that her affection could turn into resentment.
• Liu Yu continued his usual cultivation and judged that his existing preparations and treasures were sufficient for the coming expedition.
• Three days later, Liu Yu arrived at the City Lord's Mansion gathering point, where he sat apart from the early arrivals and waited.

Liu Yu and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators boarded Elder Yan’s Square-Hole Copper Coin Treasure and flew toward the Cold Mist Forest. They arrived above a vast area scarred by earlier battles.

• Liu Yu declined Yan Hongyu’s offer to introduce him to fellow disciples, while Yan Hongyu and Yan Qun'er mingled with the other cultivators.
• A massive Square-Hole Copper Coin Treasure appeared above the City Lord’s Mansion, and Liu Yu recognized the formidable power of a complete Treasure.
• Elder Yan ordered all the Qing Province allied forces to board the Treasure, and the cultivators obeyed.
• Elder Yan counted the assembled cultivators, raised a Protective Shield around the Treasure, and flew toward the Cold Mist Forest.
• The Treasure reached the Cold Mist Forest, where Liu Yu saw a broad area of uprooted trees and ground marked by cultivator battles.

Liu Yu and the other cultivators arrived at the Primordial Yang Sect’s camp in Cold Mist Camp, where Elder Yan summoned the Qing Province Allied Army. As the other factions’ Golden Core leaders arrived with their enormous treasures, Liu Yu identified which sects they likely represented.

• Elder Yan brought Liu Yu and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators to the Primordial Yang Sect camp on his Square-Hole Copper Coin treasure.
• Elder Yan ordered a cultivator to summon the Qing Province Allied Army, and more than a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators and thousands of Qi Refining cultivators assembled.
• Four other Golden Core treasures arrived: a flying sword, an Eight Trigrams Mirror, an embroidered tower, and a dragon carriage.
• Liu Yu guessed that the treasures belonged to the Crescent Moon Valley, Void Clarity School, Snowfall Pavilion, and Hehuan Sect, respectively.

The Primordial Yang Sect and Crescent Moon Valley met to coordinate their approach to the Cold Mist Spirit Stone Mine, then joined the other three great sects there. The Golden Core elders argued over the mine as their forces waited, and the chapter ended before their negotiations were resolved.

• Elder Yan and Elder Zhou met Crescent Moon Valley's True Person Chongxuan and another Golden Core cultivator, then discussed an alliance behind a soundproofing barrier.
• The Primordial Yang Sect and Crescent Moon Valley marched to the mine, where cultivators from all five great sects gathered amid mutual hostility.
• Liu Yu observed Snowfall Pavilion's large force and the Primordial Yang Sect's prominent cultivators, including Zhou Zhuofeng and Zhao Wuji.
• The Golden Core cultivators took positions above the mine and argued for hours while the lower-ranking cultivators held their formations.

The Five Great Sects formally ended the war and divided the Cold Mist Spirit Stone Mine, then assigned cultivators to guard it. Elder Yan selected seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Yan Hongyu and Yan Qun'er, while Elder Zhou remained in charge of the mine.

• Liu Yu learned that the mine shares were set at twenty-six percent for Snowfall Pavilion, seventeen percent each for Crescent Moon Valley and Void Clarity School, and twenty percent each for Primordial Yang Sect and Hehuan Sect.
• Elder Yan and Elder Zhou announced that the war in the Chu Kingdom's Cultivation World was over, and the surviving forces received no celebration as they mourned their losses.
• Elder Yan told the Primordial Yang Sect cultivators that Elder Zhou would oversee the mine alongside seven Foundation Establishment cultivators and one hundred Qi Refining disciples.
• Many Foundation Establishment cultivators volunteered for the lucrative mine assignment, but Elder Yan silenced them and selected seven, including Yan Hongyu and Yan Qun'er.
• Liu Yu was not selected, and he considered that a mine posting would have let him secretly transfer spirit stones into his Immortal Mansion.
• Elder Yan entrusted the mine's affairs to Elder Zhou as the sects' garrisons assembled.

After the war ended, the sects assigned cultivators to guard the Cold Mist Spirit Stone Mine and sent the Qing Province Allied Army back to Moonwatch City. The Elders Council gave the allied cultivators three months to remain in the city while the situation stabilized, leaving Liu Yu closer to the end of his assignment there.

• Elder Yan agreed to station Zhou Quan at the Cold Mist Spirit Stone Mine, then departed as cultivators from the Five Great Sects began leaving.
• Zhao Wuji and Zhou Zhuofeng organized the Qing Province Allied Army’s return to Moonwatch City, with Foundation Establishment cultivators escorting the group.
• Liu Yu traveled with the allied army for nearly two days before the cultivators reached Moonwatch City and received a summons to the City Lord’s Mansion.
• Liu Yu discussed the dangerous fighting at Cold Mist Camp with Cui Liang and promised to sell him Essence-Refining Pills at a discounted price.
• Elder Yan and Elder Sun addressed the Foundation Establishment cultivators, explained the aftermath arrangements, and set a three-month timeframe before the allied army would be disbanded.

After returning to Moonwatch City, Liu Yu visited the Merit Hall to spend the points he had earned on missions. He exchanged them for a Red Flame Pill and left the hall, while Li Changxiu’s curiosity about him hinted at his connection to Yan Qun’er.

• Liu Yu returned to his cave abode, cultivated, and then headed to the City Lord’s Mansion to exchange his mission merit points.
• Liu Yu joined the queue at the Merit Hall and waited until he could inspect the Foundation Establishment exchange list.
• Li Changxiu greeted Liu Yu as Junior Brother and privately compared him with the cultivator her friend Yan Qun’er could not forget.
• Liu Yu examined the available treasures, decided his points were insufficient for a Purpleheart Barrier-Breaking Pill, and chose a Red Flame Pill suited to his Azure Yang Art.
• Li Changxiu deducted Liu Yu’s merit points and gave him the Red Flame Pill, which he inspected before leaving.

Liu Yu wrapped up his affairs in Moonwatch City and returned to the Primordial Yang Sect after the mine situation stabilized. He arrived at Azure Terrace Peak with Cui Liang and other cultivators, though the teleportation left him dizzy and nauseated.

• Liu Yu abandoned his thought of stealing Li Changxiu's Storage Ring after sensing powerful auras near the Merit Hall.
• During the next three months, Liu Yu traded Essence-Refining Pills at a Wu Household gathering, gaining rare spiritual herbs and five thousand spirit stones.
• Liu Yu left farewell Voice-Transmitting Talismans for Yan Hongyu and Yan Qun'er, then returned his cave abode token to Wu Yuhan.
• Liu Yu and Cui Liang decided to travel back together, and Cui Liang reluctantly paid two hundred spirit stones to use the teleportation formation.
• Liu Yu and four other cultivators teleported from Moonwatch City to Azure Terrace Peak, where Liu Yu suffered dizziness and nausea.

After returning to the Primordial Yang Sect, Liu Yu confronted Sect Master Zhuang Ziling with a veiled reminder of his resentment over being sent to the front lines, then went to inspect the Jade Pill Hall. He learned that Jiang Qiushui was entertaining a guest and waited for her upstairs.

• Liu Yu and Cui Liang returned to the Primordial Yang Sect and reported to Zhuang Ziling, who updated their assignments and contribution credits.
• Liu Yu privately resolved to repay Zhuang Ziling for helping send him to the dangerous front lines, while Zhuang Ziling believed the grievance was minor and tried to smooth things over.
• Liu Yu parted ways with Cui Liang and traveled to Benevolence Market Ward to inspect the Jade Pill Hall.
• Sun Ju recognized Liu Yu and told him that Jiang Qiushui was entertaining an honored guest on the second floor.
• Liu Yu instructed Sun Ju to summon Jiang Qiushui, then went to his room on the third floor and began brewing spirit tea.

After nearly twenty years apart, Liu Yu reunited with Jiang Qiushui, heard about the Jade Pill Hall’s affairs, and brought her back to Colorful Lotus Mountain. After their intimate reunion, he noted that her cultivation had reached the peak of qi refining.

• Jiang Qiushui visited Liu Yu at the Jade Pill Hall, and he welcomed her with spirit tea before asking about the shop’s operations and problems.
• Jiang Qiushui reported on the Jade Pill Hall and arranged for its staff before Liu Yu took her to Colorful Lotus Mountain on the Mother-and-Son Soul-Chasing Blades.
• Jiang Qiushui returned to her cave abode to change while Liu Yu cleaned and prepared his own cave abode.
• Jiang Qiushui arrived in a purple dress, and Liu Yu closed the formation and carried her to the bedroom.
• Afterward, Liu Yu observed that Jiang Qiushui had reached the peak of qi refining.

Liu Yu offered Jiang Qiushui a Foundation Establishment Pill on credit in exchange for letting him plant a Primordial Spirit Restriction, then explained how she should prepare to establish her foundation. After Jiang Qiushui left to make preparations, Liu Yu resumed cultivating and contacted Geng Yunsong.

• Liu Yu offered Jiang Qiushui a Foundation Establishment Pill for three thousand five hundred spirit stones on credit and required her to accept a Primordial Spirit Restriction.
• Jiang Qiushui agreed, and Liu Yu planted the restriction in her primordial spirit before giving her the pill.
• Liu Yu taught Jiang Qiushui the details of foundation establishment and advised her to prepare thoroughly before attempting it.
• Jiang Qiushui agreed to establish her foundation at Liu Yu's cave abode after preparing, while Sun Ju took over the Jade Pill Hall's affairs.
• Liu Yu resumed his cultivation, then sent a Voice-Transmitting Talisman and contacted Geng Yunsong by divine sense.

Liu Yu resumed guiding Geng Yunsong, whose false spiritual roots had left him stuck at the sixth layer of qi refining despite years of support. He offered to answer Geng Yunsong’s cultivation questions and resume their six-month guidance sessions, while intending to provide no extra resources.

• Liu Yu reflected that Geng Yunsong’s poor aptitude had slowed his cultivation and that he was unlikely to reach the peak of qi refining before sixty.
• Geng Yunsong arrived at Liu Yu’s cave abode and recalled how his grandfather’s death had left him isolated and vulnerable to threats from other disciples.
• Liu Yu challenged Geng Yunsong about his slow progress, and Geng Yunsong explained that he had cultivated diligently but was limited by his false spiritual roots.
• Liu Yu offered to answer Geng Yunsong’s questions and said their guidance sessions would resume every six months.
• Geng Yunsong described the difficulties he had encountered since reaching the sixth layer of qi refining.

Liu Yu answered Geng Yunsong’s cultivation questions and then summoned Wu Chang to investigate Du Jingshan, who had tampered with Liu Yu’s magic weapon years earlier. After sending Wu Chang away, Liu Yu considered his cultivation, sect, business, old grudges, and body-refining plans.

• Liu Yu gave Geng Yunsong guidance on his Qi Refining questions, but judged him too ordinary and inflexible to advance far.
• Liu Yu summoned Wu Chang and recalled how Du Jingshan had tampered with his Mother-and-Son Soul-Chasing Blades more than twenty years earlier.
• Wu Chang agreed to investigate Du Jingshan in exchange for spirit stones and Liu Yu’s foundation establishment insights, and swore a heart-demon oath to keep the matter secret.
• Liu Yu reviewed his plans to advance his cultivation, attend the Disciple-Selection Ceremony, expand his pill business, settle old grudges, and find a body-refining technique.

Liu Yu let Jiang Qiushui begin her Foundation Establishment attempt, then met Wu Chang at the Wind and Moon Pavilion, where Wu Chang reported what he had learned about Du Jingshan and the Du Household. Liu Yu considered the information about Du Jingshan’s regular journey to his lineage and left the pavilion after paying for their meal.

• Jiang Qiushui told Liu Yu she was ready to attempt Foundation Establishment, and he allowed her to begin seclusion in a room in his cave abode.
• Liu Yu received Wu Chang’s invitation and traveled to the Wind and Moon Pavilion on Clear Spring Peak.
• Wu Chang welcomed Liu Yu and shared his investigation into Du Jingshan, the Du Household, and Du Jingshan’s upcoming trip back to his lineage.
• Liu Yu noted that Du Jingshan would travel in roughly two months along a route that could not easily be avoided.
• Liu Yu paid for the meal and told Wu Chang to save his spirit stones for Foundation Establishment preparations.

Liu Yu secured Wu Chang’s loyalty and returned to cultivate, while Du Jingshan escorted eight Du Household youths toward the Primordial Yang Sect. Liu Yu ambushed their flying boat at Skyline Gorge, and Du Jingshan escaped the first attacks as the boat was split apart with the youths still aboard.

• Liu Yu paid Wu Chang the remaining spirit stones and gave him a Jade Slip, then agreed to consider employing him and told him to visit Colorful Lotus Mountain in six months.
• Liu Yu returned to his Cave Abode, checked on Jiang Qiushui’s seclusion, and began refining an Azure Origin Pill.
• Du Jingshan took eight young members of the Du Household toward the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and warned them to obey the Primordial Yang Sect’s rules.
• Du Jingshan guided the yellow flying boat through Skyline Gorge despite the danger of evil cultivators lying in wait.
• Liu Yu, disguised in yellow robes, ambushed the flying boat with two high-grade spirit artifacts and the Azure Flame Web.
• Du Jingshan used a red talisman to escape the attacks, but the Azure Flood Dragon Halberd and Profound Departure Sword split apart the flying boat with the eight youths aboard.

Liu Yu killed Du Jingshan’s eight young companions and revealed that he had come to settle their old grievance over the Mother-and-Son Soul-Chasing Blades. Their battle reached a stalemate, but Du Jingshan’s talisman treasure began to weaken, so he used talismans to cover his retreat and fled.

• Liu Yu’s Azure Flame Web destroyed the flying boat and burned all eight young cultivators to ash as Du Jingshan watched helplessly.
• Liu Yu showed Du Jingshan the Mother-and-Son Soul-Chasing Blades, prompting Du Jingshan to recognize him as the cultivator he had wronged twenty years earlier.
• Du Jingshan and Liu Yu activated their talisman treasures and began exchanging attacks.
• Liu Yu pressed Du Jingshan with his spirit artifacts and Azure Yang Demonic Flame, but Du Jingshan blocked the attacks with his artifacts and a water-element talisman.
• After a quarter of an hour, Du Jingshan’s short-sword talisman treasure began to run out of power, so he hurled three talismans at Liu Yu’s attacks and fled on a red flying sword.

Liu Yu pursued Du Jingshan and killed him with the Azure Yang Demonic Flame after overcoming his artifacts and defenses. After extinguishing the fire that had consumed a mortal village, Liu Yu found a dying pregnant woman who entrusted him with her newborn.

• Liu Yu chased Du Jingshan from Skyline Gorge, used a Fire Dragon Technique to frighten him, and continued attacking as Du Jingshan fled and begged for mercy.
• Du Jingshan tried to contain the Azure Yang Demonic Flame with the Golden Little Bowl, but the flame destroyed the bowl and two more Top-grade Magical Artifacts.
• Liu Yu struck Du Jingshan with three Spirit-Shocking Thorns, disrupted his focus, and burned him to ashes with the Azure Yang Demonic Flame.
• Liu Yu collected Du Jingshan's Storage Bag and the fallen artifacts, then flew back while replenishing his magical power.
• Liu Yu found a mortal village devastated by the Fire Dragon Technique and extinguished the flames with Cloud and Rain Spells.
• A dying pregnant woman handed Liu Yu her living newborn before she died.

After defeating Du Jingshan, Liu Yu saved the newborn whose mother had asked him for help, then left the child beside an official road and returned to the Primordial Yang Sect. He examined the spoils from the battle and began a cautious working relationship with Wu Chang, leaving the story with Liu Yu testing his new subordinate’s loyalty.

• Liu Yu used wood-attribute spiritual power to stabilize and strengthen the newborn, cleaned and wrapped him, then left him beside an official road without giving him a name.
• Liu Yu returned to Rosy Cloud Mountain and assessed the spoils from Du Jingshan and eight Qi Refining cultivators, keeping valuable artifacts and pills while setting aside other resources for sale.
• Liu Yu decided not to pursue the Du Household further unless it came after him, then resumed cultivation and studied the Green Bamboo Alchemy Classic.
• Wu Chang accepted Liu Yu’s offer to serve him, and Liu Yu gave him Spirit-Fusing Water while warning him to obey his orders.
• Liu Yu learned that Wu Chang planned to attempt Foundation Establishment in half a year and gave him resources worth nearly two thousand spirit stones to sell as a test.

Liu Yu watched Jiang Qiushui establish her foundation, rewarded her with a Top-grade Magical Artifact, and planned to put her in charge of a larger Jade Pill Hall. A message from Yan Hongyu then revealed that the Yan Household had arranged for Elder Li Changkong to consider Liu Yu as a disciple, leaving Liu Yu to weigh the consequences of joining a rival faction.

• Liu Yu learned that Wu Chang had converted the Du Household's resources into 5,800 spirit stones and ordered him to search for a site for a larger Jade Pill Hall.
• After half a year in seclusion, Jiang Qiushui emerged with Foundation Establishment cultivation, and Liu Yu congratulated her and gave her a silver hairpin Magical Artifact.
• Liu Yu advised Jiang Qiushui on her new cultivation realm and planned for her to manage the new Jade Pill Hall after she settled her affairs and consolidated her cultivation.
• Yan Hongyu sent Liu Yu a message saying the Yan Household had secured Elder Li Changkong's interest and that Liu Yu could become a Registered Disciple by attending the Disciple-Selection Ceremony.
• Liu Yu realized that becoming Elder Li's disciple could make the Outer Courtyard faction regard him as a traitor and could affect his future in the sect.

Liu Yu reaffirmed his decision to align with the Yan Household and spent three years strengthening his cultivation and expanding his pill business. After reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, he considered whether his growing ties to the Family Line would affect his friendship with Yan Kai.

• Liu Yu decided that accepting the Yan Household’s support meant he had to protect his reputation and continue drawing closer to the Family Line.
• Over three years, Liu Yu reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage and completed his third Demon Fire Refining Essence.
• Liu Yu opened a second Jade Pill Hall in Golden Star Market Ward, purchasing fifty years of shop rights and putting Jiang Qiushui in charge.
• Wu Chang failed his Foundation Establishment attempt and stopped cultivating, while Liu Yu encouraged him to remain in the sect and serve him.
• Yan Kai successfully reached Foundation Establishment, and Liu Yu offered him discounted Essence-Refining Pills to strengthen their relationship.
• Liu Yu wondered whether Yan Kai’s closeness to him would endure after Liu Yu joined the Li Household’s Family Line.