Chapter Summaries

Liu Yu attended the Primordial Yang Sect’s Disciple-Selection Ceremony, where he reunited with Cui Liang and Qian Zhijin and assessed fellow candidate Zhou Yan. As the ceremony began, two powerful Golden Core cultivators arrived carrying treasures Liu Yu recognized from the battle at the Cold Mist Spirit Stone Mine.

• Liu Yu spent the night studying rare spirit herbs, concealed much of his cultivation, and flew to Heaven-Reaching Peak for the ceremony.
• Liu Yu registered and joined Cui Liang and Qian Zhijin, who discussed the ceremony and Zhou Yan’s strong prospects for winning an elder’s favor.
• Zhuang Ziling announced the ceremony’s start, and Liu Yu joined the sixty-three Foundation Establishment participants in the plaza.
• Two powerful cultivators approached from the south on a Silver-White Flying Sword and a Red Embroidered Tower, which Liu Yu recognized as treasures from Crescent Moon Valley and Snowfall Pavilion.

Cultivators from Snowfall Pavilion and Crescent Moon Valley arrived at the Primordial Yang Sect, and the sect changed its Disciple-Selection Ceremony into a combat tournament. Liu Yu concealed his strength, won his first bout, then deliberately lost his second while expecting Elder Li Changkong to select him.

• True Person Changfeng met True Person Chongxuan and Snowfall Pavilion's Green-Robed Female True Person, then arranged for their Foundation Establishment cultivators to be received by Zhuang Ziling.
• Seven Golden Core elders arrived, including Elder Li Changkong, and announced that disciples would demonstrate their abilities through combat bouts.
• Liu Yu drew lot number twenty-seven and confirmed that he would not fight Qian Zhijin.
• Liu Yu narrowly won his first bout, then fought for more than a quarter of an hour before deliberately suffering defeat in his second.

Liu Yu lost his first match but was selected by True Person Chang Kong as a registered disciple and accepted the position while carefully keeping his distance. Meanwhile, Snowfall Pavilion and Crescent Moon Valley envoys brought grave news about the Yan Kingdom and Southern Yu Kingdom to True Person Changfeng, who decided to consult the Heavenly Wind Ancestor.

• Liu Yu comforted Qian Zhijin after his defeat, and the two watched the Disciple-Selection Ceremony continue as Liu Yu considered the shift toward judging cultivators by combat strength.
• Qian Zhijin advanced through the second round but lost in the third, and the seven Golden Core elders conferred before announcing their chosen disciples.
• True Person Kongxuan selected Xu Donglai and Zhou Yan, then True Person Chang Kong called Liu Yu and carried him toward Heaven-Reaching Peak.
• Snowfall Pavilion's female True Person and True Person Chongxuan told True Person Changfeng that confirmed developments involving the Yan Kingdom and Southern Yu Kingdom threatened upheaval, prompting him to take them to meet the Heavenly Wind Ancestor.
• True Person Chang Kong asked Liu Yu to become his registered disciple, and Liu Yu accepted without kneeling or kowtowing so he could maintain distance from his nominal master.

Liu Yu became Li Changkong’s registered disciple, received an alchemy book, and arranged for Li Changkong’s other disciples to meet him later. After returning to his cave abode and reviewing Jade Pill Hall’s earnings with Jiang Qiushui, he opened his welcoming gift and discovered it contained a Golden Core Condensation Pill formula.

• Liu Yu presented Li Changkong with a five-hundred-year-old spirit ginseng, and Li Changkong accepted him as a registered disciple and gave him an alchemy book.
• Li Changkong explained his disciples’ rules and roster, answered Liu Yu’s cultivation questions, and told him to contact him only for important matters.
• Liu Yu left Heaven-Reaching Peak, returned to his cave abode on Colorful Lotus Mountain, and met Jiang Qiushui.
• Liu Yu reviewed the shop’s earnings and ordered Jiang Qiushui to transfer an alchemist, recruit more staff, and purchase second-tier spirit plants.
• After Jiang Qiushui left, Liu Yu examined Li Changkong’s alchemy book and found a Golden Core Condensation Pill formula.

Liu Yu studied the Hundred Herbs Pill Book, learned the Golden Core Condensation Pill formula, and began gathering its rare ingredients while continuing to cultivate. A year later, he used a Red Flame Pill to break through to Foundation Establishment middle stage, and his divine sense expanded to nine li.

• Liu Yu read the Hundred Herbs Pill Book, memorized the Golden Core Condensation Pill formula, and learned that Hundred Herbs True Cultivator had left the Soul-Cleansing Pill formula unfinished.
• Liu Yu sent Voice-Transmitting Talismans instructing Jiang Qiushui and his other subordinates to collect the rare spirit herbs needed for Golden Core Condensation Pills.
• Liu Yu continued cultivating with Spirit-Nourishing Pills and the Divine Preservation Art, steadily increasing his divine sense and restoring the magical power he had spent.
• After a year, Liu Yu prepared carefully and swallowed a Red Flame Pill to overcome the barrier between Foundation Establishment early and middle stage.
• Liu Yu broke through to Foundation Establishment middle stage, refined an Essence-Nourishing Pill, and expanded his divine sense to nine li.

After reaching middle Foundation Establishment, Liu Yu assessed his increased strength and decided to visit Golden Star Market Ward to purge accumulated pill toxin and seek stronger spirit artifacts. He checked on Jade Pill Hall and its earnings, then left to attend an auction.

• Liu Yu consolidated his new cultivation for half a month and recognized that his stronger Divine Sense and deeper magical power made him capable of facing late Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Liu Yu decided to seek treasures that could purge pill toxin and buy a Top-grade Spirit Artifact, then concealed his cultivation and traveled to Golden Star Market Ward.
• Liu Yu visited Jade Pill Hall and asked Jiang Qiushui about the shop’s earnings and her progress collecting rare spirit grasses and herbs.
• Jiang Qiushui reported seven thousand spirit stones in earnings after expenses and said she had collected only a small portion of the rare herbs Liu Yu wanted.
• Liu Yu counted the shop’s funds and supplies, praised Jiang Qiushui, and left to attend an auction in search of a suitable Top-grade Spirit Artifact.

Liu Yu devised a plan to have Qi Refining disciples collect rare spirit herb seeds from the Blood-Colored Secret Realm and disguised himself to attend Golden Star Auction House. The auction continued as he bought several useful items and the bidding began on a Top-grade Spirit Artifact.

• Liu Yu decided to recruit capable Qi Refining disciples to secretly bring spirit herb seeds out of the Blood-Colored Secret Realm.
• Liu Yu disguised himself as a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator and entered Golden Star Auction House using an unnamed invitation.
• Liu Yu placed a tentative bid on the Nether Yin Needles, but another bidder won them for twenty-two hundred spirit stones.
• Liu Yu won several second-tier spirit herbs and a Dark-Destroying Firefall Spirit Talisman for seven hundred spirit stones.
• Wang Biqin introduced the Top-grade Spirit Artifact Molten Fire Saber and opened bidding at forty-eight hundred spirit stones.

Liu Yu won the top-grade Molten Fire Saber at the Golden Star Auction House for eight thousand spirit stones and began refining it after returning to the Jade Pill Hall. He planned to remain in the Golden Star Market Ward to seek a defensive spirit artifact and items that could remove pill toxins.

• Liu Yu outbid Qin Qing, the Fairy Red Lotus, and won the Molten Fire Saber for eight thousand spirit stones.
• Liu Yu collected the saber from the auction house and declined the maid's advances before continuing to watch the auction.
• After the auction ended, Liu Yu left the Golden Star Auction House and considered seeking a defensive spirit artifact and spiritual items that could remove pill toxins.
• Liu Yu toured the Market Ward, changed back to his original appearance in a secluded alley, and returned to the Jade Pill Hall.
• Liu Yu cleansed the Molten Fire Saber of foreign magical power and inscribed his divine sense imprint upon it.

Liu Yu attended a Foundation Establishment cultivator exchange gathering while searching for a Detoxifying Spirit Item and a top-grade defensive artifact. He left his request for a substance that could purge pill toxin as the gathering continued, while the black-robed cultivator’s attempt to acquire rare spirit mulberry leaves remained unresolved.

• Liu Yu completed his initial refinement of the Molten Fire Saber, then continued cultivating and spent three months searching auctions and gatherings for useful items.
• Liu Yu disguised himself and went to old Daoist Pine’s exchange gathering at the Wind and Rain Tower, where he noticed a black-robed cultivator carrying spirit beast bags.
• Old Daoist Pine opened the gathering by offering a Second-Tier Upper-Grade fire-element Demon Beast core, which Liu Yu declined to bid on.
• The black-robed cultivator offered the top-grade defensive magical artifact Purple Origin Pearl for Second-Tier Upper-Grade spirit mulberry leaves or information about spirit mulberry trees.
• The black-robed cultivator received a discreet Divine Sense voice transmission and put away the Purple Origin Pearl, while Liu Yu could not tell who had contacted him.
• When his turn came, Liu Yu asked for a spiritual substance capable of purging pill toxin accumulated during the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Liu Yu sought a detoxifying spirit item and learned that Daoist Pine possessed a formula for Canglang Spirit Water, which could remove pill toxin and improve aptitude. Pine offered the formula and information about the rare Starlit Fruit in return for Liu Yu's help killing a powerful Demon Beast, and their negotiation was interrupted by the arrival of the black-robed cultivator.

• Liu Yu offered three exceptional top-grade magical artifacts at the exchange in return for a detoxifying spirit item, but no one had one to trade.
• Daoist Pine secretly invited Liu Yu to meet him at the Wind and Rain Tower after the exchange, and Liu Yu accepted while remaining suspicious of his motives.
• Daoist Pine revealed that he had half a formula for Canglang Spirit Water and offered to provide the full formula and the location of the Starlit Fruit if Liu Yu helped him kill a powerful Demon Beast guarding a core-forming spirit item.
• Liu Yu questioned whether he had to help personally and suggested hiring another Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, but Pine refused to answer.
• The black-robed cultivator from the exchange arrived as Liu Yu and Pine discussed the proposed bargain.

Liu Yu accepted Old Daoist Pine’s invitation to help obtain the Canglang Spirit Water formula and prepared an escape talisman before joining Pine and Cang Lan on an expedition. After they entered the Golden Star Branch Range, Pine revealed that their target was a Peak Second Tier Netherworld Spirit Snake guarding a spirit item in a Coldwater Pool 480 li from the entrance.

• Liu Yu decided the Canglang Spirit Water formula was worth the expedition and bought an Earth-Digging Talisman for a rapid escape.
• Liu Yu met Old Daoist Pine and Cang Lan at the Wind and Rain Tower, where the three briefly disclosed their weapons and abilities before setting out.
• Liu Yu, Pine, and Cang Lan traveled to the Golden Star Branch Range, paid the entrance fee, and entered through the guarded passage.
• Liu Yu stopped the group and asked Pine to reveal the target’s location and threat before they ventured farther into the mountains.
• Old Daoist Pine told Liu Yu and Cang Lan that a Peak Second Tier Netherworld Spirit Snake guarded the spirit item in a Coldwater Pool 480 li from the entrance, and Liu Yu frowned at the danger.

Liu Yu, Old Daoist Pine, and Cang Lan traveled deep into the Golden Star Branch Range to hunt the Netherworld Spirit Snake, with Liu Yu remaining suspicious of Pine’s motives. After they baited the beast with a Purple Marsh Frog carcass, the snake emerged from Black Snake Pool, leaving the hunt about to begin.

• Old Daoist Pine explained that he had prepared bait and a Binding Formation to lure the Netherworld Spirit Snake from its pool and trap it.
• Liu Yu, Old Daoist Pine, and Cang Lan journeyed through the range, avoiding stronger Demon Beasts and wary cultivators as they advanced.
• Old Daoist Pine led the group to Black Snake Pool, where Liu Yu prepared his defensive artifact and kept his divine sense alert.
• Old Daoist Pine placed nine formation disks west of the pool and set a Purple Marsh Frog carcass at the formation’s center as bait.
• Liu Yu concealed himself and questioned Pine’s intentions while the three waited for four hours.
• The Netherworld Spirit Snake surfaced from the pale-green pool, revealing its immense gray-black body and blue markings.

Liu Yu, Cang Lan, and old Daoist Pine killed the Netherworld Spirit Snake guarding the Coldwater Pool, then searched its ice cavern for Pine’s Core Formation spiritual treasure. They found a Mystic Origin Ice Crystal embedded in the cavern wall.

• Liu Yu, Cang Lan, and old Daoist Pine ambushed the Netherworld Spirit Snake as it approached the Purple Marsh Frog’s corpse and attacked it with vines, artifacts, and Flying-Fire Glowworms.
• Cang Lan released more Flying-Fire Glowworms while Liu Yu and old Daoist Pine intensified their attacks, eventually killing the snake.
• Liu Yu burned the snake’s body with his Azure Yang Demonic Flame, gained five degrees of fuel, and gave its surviving venomous fangs to Cang Lan and old Daoist Pine.
• Old Daoist Pine led the group into the Coldwater Pool, where they found an ice cavern filled with the remains of the snake’s prey.
• Old Daoist Pine recognized a Mystic Origin Ice Crystal embedded in the ice at the deepest part of the cavern.

Liu Yu, the old Daoist Pine, and Cang Lan obtained the Cang Lan Spirit Water formula and agreed to hunt the Red-Eyed Stone Apes for the ingredients growing on the darkstar tree. Their ambush killed one ape, but the remaining beasts attacked, and Liu Yu was still fighting one of them when the chapter ended.

• The old Daoist Pine extracted the mystic origin ice crystal and gave Liu Yu the two hides containing the Cang Lan Spirit Water formula.
• The old Daoist Pine revealed that the Starlit Fruit and starlit spirit mulberry grew on a darkstar tree guarded by Red-Eyed Stone Apes, and the three agreed to hunt them and divide the spoils.
• Liu Yu, the old Daoist Pine, and Cang Lan took one Netherworld Spirit Snake egg each and traveled to the forest containing the darkstar tree.
• The three ambushed a tier-two low-grade Red-Eyed Stone Ape, killing it with their flying swords and alerting the other three second-tier apes.
• The ape king charged Liu Yu, who held it off while the old Daoist Pine and Cang Lan dealt with the other apes; Liu Yu attacked a tier-two low-grade ape with his magical artifacts and Gleaming Gold Bow.

Liu Yu, Cang Lan, and old Daoist Pine defeated the Red-Eyed Stone Apes, collected the Darkstar Spirit Tree’s fruit and Spirit Mulberry, and set out to leave. Liu Yu detected old Daoist Pine’s hidden ambush and exposed it, leaving the three cultivators on the brink of confrontation.

• Liu Yu killed a tier-two low-grade stone ape while Cang Lan and old Daoist Pine fought the other apes.
• Liu Yu’s attacks devastated the Red-Eyed Stone Ape troop, but the Ape King ordered the survivors to retreat rather than fight to the death.
• Cang Lan and Liu Yu rejected old Daoist Pine’s suggestion to pursue the troop, and old Daoist Pine collected the dead Demon Beasts.
• Liu Yu collected all six Starlit Fruits while Cang Lan and old Daoist Pine gathered their own objectives from the Darkstar Spirit Tree.
• Liu Yu detected concealed figures ahead and hurled fireballs into the forest, revealing the auras of old Daoist Pine’s hidden ambushers.

Liu Yu and Cang Lan joined forces against Pine and his three accomplices after discovering their ambush. Liu Yu killed Pine with a Spirit-Shocking Thorn and the Molten Fire Saber, then turned his attention toward the survivors as Cang Lan grew wary of him.

• Liu Yu persuaded Cang Lan to hold off Pine’s three approaching accomplices while he fought Pine.
• Liu Yu attacked Pine with the Profound Departure Sword and Azure Flood Dragon Halberd, while Cang Lan sent Flying-Fire Glowworms and White Spirit Butterflies against the other cultivators.
• Liu Yu struck Pine with three Spirit-Shocking Thorns and unleashed the Molten Fire Saber, breaking through Pine’s defenses and killing him.
• Liu Yu burned Pine’s corpse with the Azure Yang Demonic Flame and collected his spirit artifacts, magical artifact, and Storage Bag.
• Cang Lan recalled his spirit insects, freed Pine’s three accomplices, and regarded Liu Yu with wariness after seeing his hidden strength.

After killing Old Daoist Pine, Liu Yu fled the arrival of the Golden Core-level Heavenfrost Eagle and escaped underground using an Earth-Digging Talisman. He reached the outskirts of the Golden Star Branch Range safely, but encountered two groups of Qi Refining cultivators, one chasing the other, near the entrance.

• After Old Daoist Pine died, Cang Lan and the Bearded Man's companions tentatively joined forces, but Liu Yu prepared to attack them for their possessions.
• A Golden Core-level Heavenfrost Eagle appeared, and Liu Yu, Cang Lan, the Bearded Man, and the two women fled in different directions.
• The Heavenfrost Eagle pursued and killed the Bearded Man, then turned toward the two women while Liu Yu and Cang Lan continued escaping.
• Liu Yu used Golden Wind Dispersal Talismans against two tier-two Demon Beasts, then activated an Earth-Digging Talisman to escape the Heavenfrost Eagle's divine-sense lock.
• Liu Yu traveled underground toward the mountain range's outskirts, emerged safely, and headed for the entrance.
• Near the entrance, Liu Yu saw two groups of Qi Refining cultivators, one pursuing the other, and the pursued group headed toward him.

Liu Yu killed five evil cultivators who pursued Ji Ruyan and Ji Rukun after Ji Ruyan revealed she possessed the jade-passing phoenix marrow physique. He placed a Primordial Spirit Restriction on her and arranged for her to cultivate beside him until she reached Foundation Establishment and willingly transferred her Spirit-Communing Qi.

• Ji Ruyan and Ji Rukun fled to Liu Yu for protection, and Ji Ruyan secretly told him about her constitution.
• Liu Yu killed the five evil cultivators with his Azure Yang Demonic Flame and confirmed Ji Ruyan's jade-passing phoenix marrow physique.
• Liu Yu demanded Ji Ruyan's Spirit-Communing Qi in exchange for saving her and promised to provide resources for her Foundation Establishment.
• Ji Ruyan accepted Liu Yu's terms, and he placed a Primordial Spirit Restriction on her.
• Liu Yu let Ji Ruyan and Ji Rukun keep the evil cultivators' possessions and told them to return with him to Golden Star Market Ward.

Liu Yu brought Ji Ruyan back to the Golden Star Market Ward, revealed his true identity, and took her to the Jade Pill Hall as his maidservant. After warning Jiang Qiushui not to harm her, he examined Old Daoist Pine’s belongings and found the mystic origin ice crystal.

• Ji Ruyan gave the evil cultivators’ belongings to Ji Rukun, and Liu Yu took her back to the Golden Star Market Ward.
• Liu Yu gave Ji Ruyan a Yin Thunder Pearl to settle her ties to the Ji Family, then left Ji Rukun behind as they departed.
• In a secluded alley, Liu Yu revealed his true appearance and told Ji Ruyan that his name was Liu Yu and that he belonged to the Primordial Yang Sect.
• Liu Yu brought Ji Ruyan to the Jade Pill Hall, introduced her to Jiang Qiushui as his maidservant, and warned Jiang Qiushui not to harm her.
• Liu Yu instructed Jiang Qiushui to give Ji Ruyan a room and three bottles of Jade Spirit Pills, then opened Old Daoist Pine’s Storage Bag and found the mystic origin ice crystal.

Liu Yu sorted through Old Daoist Pine's belongings and secured the spiritual herbs needed for Canglang Spirit Water, then returned to the Primordial Yang Sect with Ji Ruyan. He settled Ji Ruyan at Colorful Lotus Mountain and, exhausted from his recent battles and long journey, finally fell asleep.

• Liu Yu found the Mystic Origin Ice Crystal, the herbs for Canglang Spirit Water, and other spoils in Old Daoist Pine's Storage Bag, then kept the useful items and gave four Top-grade Magical Artifacts to Jiang Qiushui to sell.
• Liu Yu reassured Jiang Qiushui about her place in his life and explained that he wanted her and Ji Ruyan to get along before leaving the Jade Pill Hall.
• Liu Yu registered Ji Ruyan as his maidservant at the General Affairs Hall, then brought her to his cave abode on Colorful Lotus Mountain.
• Liu Yu learned that Ji Ruyan was thirty-one, had three spiritual roots, and had reached the eighth layer of qi refining, then gave her a Top-grade Magical Artifact, pills, and cultivation guidance.
• Liu Yu gave Ji Ruyan a formation token and rules for staying at the cave abode, and she chose a room previously used by Jiang Qiushui.
• Liu Yu washed, changed, and fell asleep after more than a month without rest and a series of battles, including his escape from the Heavenfrost Eagle.