Recaps

After awakening to memories of his past life, Lin Changheng realized he was trapped as a struggling pill-refining apprentice with a dangerous deadline approaching. When his recurring loss of essence blood left him helpless, a mysterious bronze cauldron appeared in his sea of consciousness.

• Lin Changheng awakened in a shabby room with memories of his past life and nearly thirty years of this life's experiences.
• He recalled joining the Xu Family as a pill-refining apprentice after other sects and clans rejected his mixed spiritual root and advanced age.
• Lin Changheng realized his twelve-year agreement was nearing its end, and failure to become a ranked alchemist would send him to the deadly Great Reclamation.
• He suspected his recurring loss of essence blood was preventing his cultivation from advancing and undermining his pill refining.
• His essence blood was drained again, but a vast, upright energy swept away his exhaustion and revealed a mysterious bronze cauldron in his sea of consciousness.

Lin Changheng discovered that the little bronze cauldron was the Origin Cauldron and used its treasure seed to refine enhanced comprehension. After experiencing a dramatic boost to his understanding of cultivation, he found that his fire spiritual root had nine strands of spirit resonance.

• Lin Changheng learned that the Origin Cauldron had completed spirit seizure and offered him the innate talents clear heart, bright wisdom, and enhanced comprehension.
• Lin Changheng chose enhanced comprehension, merging the other two treasure seeds into it and refining it into the Gift of insight.
• Lin Changheng found that the Flowing Flame Art had become much easier to understand and believed he could reach mastery within six months.
• Lin Changheng recalled his poor spiritual-root evaluation and used the Spirit-Sensing Technique to discover his fire spiritual root had nine strands of spirit resonance.

Lin Changheng discovered that the Origin Cauldron could turn demon beast essence blood into treasure seeds and began planning to use their talents to advance his alchemy. The next morning, he went to Xu's Elixir Shop, where an elder teased him about another failed batch.

• Lin Changheng realized that refining each tier of treasure seed into himself might improve his spiritual root and studied his pill-refining notes with the Origin Cauldron's Gift of Insight.
• He connected the Origin Cauldron to two failed pills containing fire crow essence blood and formed a Fire Crow Treasure Seed that was beginning its spirit-seizing transformation.
• Lin Changheng learned that the fire crow treasure seed could grant fire control, breath exhalation, or beak strike, and decided fire control would best help him become a ranked alchemist.
• He found that he had only two spirit stones left and decided to seek another way to obtain more demon beast essence blood.
• Lin Changheng hurried to Xu's Elixir Shop the next morning, where an aged voice asked whether he had blown up another furnace.

Lin Changheng watched Master Mo refine pills and learned the techniques behind [Wood Origin Pills] and [Crimson Flame Pills], resolving the problem that had caused his furnace to explode. After Master Mo explained how the Xu Family handled Inferior Pills, Lin Changheng left the Alchemy Chamber with new knowledge and clearer understanding of pill refining.

• Master Mo invited Lin Changheng to watch him refine [Crimson Flame Pills] and explained that Xu Hanzhou had been recalled to the lineage.
• Master Mo taught Lin Changheng to tend the furnace fires and gave him a Jade Slip about refining [Wood Origin Pills] after Lin Changheng swore a Dao Oath.
• Lin Changheng watched Master Mo refine [Crimson Flame Pills], gaining insights that helped him understand how to prevent another furnace explosion.
• Master Mo identified a red pill as an Inferior Pill and explained the difference between Inferior Pills and waste pills.
• Lin Changheng proposed cutting Inferior Pills before selling them as livestock feed, and Master Mo approved his answer.
• Master Mo answered Lin Changheng's questions about pill refining as they left the Alchemy Chamber.

Lin Changheng broke through to the third level of Qi Refining and was assigned to handle inferior and ruined pills for Master Mo. After discovering that the twenty-eight defective [Crimson Flame Pills] could be used by the [Origin Cauldron], he studied how to process them and planned to extract only part of the inferior pills’ essence blood.

• Lin Changheng replenished his essence blood and used a spirit stone to cultivate until he broke through to the third level of Qi Refining.
• Three days later, Master Mo asked Lin Changheng to take over Xu Hanzhou’s task of processing inferior and ruined pills and gave him two boxes of pills and an old instruction booklet.
• Lin Changheng found twenty-eight [Crimson Flame Pills] among the pills and confirmed that the [Origin Cauldron] reacted to them.
• Lin Changheng learned that ruined pills had to be burned to ash, while inferior pills had to be neutralized and prepared for sale.
• Lin Changheng decided to absorb the essence blood from ruined pills but extract only part of it from inferior pills to avoid suspicion.

Lin Changheng secretly extracted essence blood from inferior pills, advancing his Fire Crow Treasure Seed while carefully destroying the evidence. He delivered the processed pills to the Li Family and completed his task for Master Mo, leaving him eager to obtain more defective pills.

• Lin Changheng extracted essence blood from eight ruined pills, destroyed their remains, then treated and drained the twenty remaining inferior pills, raising Spirit Seizure to 10/100.
• Lin Changheng planned to finish learning how to refine Crimson Flame Pills and eventually use the Fire Crow Treasure Seed's Fire Control to become an alchemist.
• Lin Changheng delivered the inferior pills to the Li Family Spiritual Meat Shop and asked the butcher about buying essence blood, but learned that the shop's supply was reserved for other businesses.
• Lin Changheng gave Master Mo the sale proceeds and the booklet on processing defective pills, then offered to take on more work while privately hoping for more ruined and inferior Wood Origin Pills.

Lin Changheng completed the transformation of his first-tier Fire Crow treasure seed by refining the Fire Control talent, gaining control over ordinary flames and an enhancement to fire-element spells. He began testing the ability and discovered that it made his Fireball Technique form faster and burn more fiercely.

• Lin Changheng benefited from Master Mo’s increased pill-refining workload, which raised the number of failed and inferior pills and accelerated the Fire Crow seed’s spirit seizure to 100/100.
• Lin Changheng chose Fire Control from the three available Demon Race innate talents and refined it into his first-tier Fire Crow treasure seed.
• Lin Changheng tested his new ability in the Alchemy Chamber and found that he could control lingering flames and nearby fire spiritual power.
• Lin Changheng returned to his D-Class Cave Abode and used Fire Control on his Fireball Technique, forming the spell in under two breaths and making its flames swell and crackle.

Lin Changheng tested the Fireball Technique enhanced by [Fire-Control Foreign Method], discovered his fire spiritual root had reached ten strands, and met his neighbor Su Shuangjiang after the spell’s noise drew her over. The chapter ended with him planning to obtain more [Blood-Replenishing Pills] before the [origin treasure seed] drained his essence blood again.

• Lin Changheng tested his enhanced Fireball Technique, found it far faster and more powerful, and considered using a mid-flight acceleration to catch enemies off guard.
• Lin Changheng used [Spirit-Sensing Technique] and discovered his fire spiritual root had reached ten strands, one short of a low-grade spiritual root.
• Su Shuangjiang came to check on Lin Changheng after hearing the blast, and he invited her in after noticing a faint scent of blood on her.
• Su Shuangjiang left puzzled by Lin Changheng’s changed demeanor and the strength of his spell despite his early Qi Refining cultivation.
• Lin Changheng realized the [origin treasure seed] would drain his essence blood in three days and resolved to obtain more [Blood-Replenishing Pills].

Lin Changheng assessed the slow progress of his treasure seeds and decided to focus on nurturing new seeds while returning to pill refining. He used all six remaining sets of [Crimson Flame Pills] ingredients and began refining them in the Alchemy Chamber.

• Lin Changheng estimated that his [Origin Treasure Seed] would take years to mature and reasoned that improving his spiritual root could speed up his cultivation.
• Lin Changheng decided to focus on the [Fire Crow Treasure Seed] and other new seeds, then resolved to try pill refining again.
• Lin Changheng visited the Xu Family Alchemy Shop and asked Xu Qianyou for all six remaining sets of pill ingredients.
• Xu Qianyou gave Lin Changheng six sets of ingredients for refining [Crimson Flame Pills], and Lin Changheng entered the Alchemy Chamber.
• Lin Changheng heated the furnace, purified and refined the medicines, and prepared to proceed with liquefaction and blending.

Lin Changheng successfully refined a first-tier pill and reported his breakthrough to Master Mo, who required him to demonstrate his skill before confirming his alchemist status. The next morning, Lin Changheng failed his first test batch but successfully refined the second, presenting the pill to Master Mo.

• Lin Changheng refined one low-grade first-tier pill after working from morning until dusk.
• Xu Qianyou discovered Lin Changheng's success, congratulated him, and brought him to report the news to Master Mo.
• Master Mo agreed to recognize Lin Changheng as an alchemist if he succeeded in one of three test batches the following morning.
• Lin Changheng's first test batch failed after he blended the ingredients too hastily and misordered his Pill Formula Hand Seals.
• Lin Changheng refined a pill successfully in the second test batch and presented it to Master Mo.

Lin Changheng became a recognized alchemist and learned that Zichuan Market would soon be abandoned, while the Xu Family assigned him pill-refining quotas and two apprentices. After a month, Master Mo entrusted him with failed pills and defective [Wood Origin Pills], giving Lin Changheng an unexpected chance to profit from them.

• Master Mo confirmed Lin Changheng's alchemist status and told him the factions would withdraw from Zichuan Market in six months.
• The Xu Family assigned Lin Changheng ten monthly batches of [Crimson Flame Pills], preserved his apprentice benefits, and sent Xu Liucai and Xu Liuli to assist him.
• Lin Changheng planned to report a success rate of about sixty percent, conceal some extra pills, and chose Xu Liucai as his assistant.
• After a month, Lin Changheng finished refining pills and took responsibility for handling the failed pills himself.
• Master Mo gave Lin Changheng defective [Wood Origin Pills] as well, and Lin eagerly accepted the unexpected windfall.

Lin Changheng finished extracting Greenwood Snake essence blood from defective Wood Origin Pills and advanced the Greenwood Snake Treasure Seed’s Spirit Seizure. After reviewing his pills and finances, he returned home and found someone waiting at his door.

• Master Mo gave Lin Changheng eight boxes of defective Wood Origin Pills, three boxes of Crimson Flame Pills, and a one-cubic-unit Storage Bag.
• Lin Changheng extracted the Greenwood Snake essence blood from the final batch of pills, bringing the Greenwood Snake Treasure Seed’s Spirit Seizure to 79/100.
• Lin Changheng chose Poison Transformation as the Greenwood Snake Treasure Seed talent he planned to incorporate after Spirit Seizure was complete.
• Lin Changheng reviewed his spirit stones and pill supplies and considered how to improve his chances of refining premium Crimson Flame Pills.
• Lin Changheng arrived home and saw a slender figure standing outside, knocking on his door.

Su Shuangjiang visited Lin Changheng to congratulate him on becoming an alchemist, and the two arranged a discreet sale of his [Crimson Flame Pills]. After she swore not to reveal their source, Lin Changheng asked whether she often encountered fire crows while hunting demons.

• Su Shuangjiang visited Lin Changheng, congratulated him on becoming an alchemist, and offered him a gift basket.
• Lin Changheng accepted Su Shuangjiang’s gift and offered to help her with elixirs while avoiding risky matters.
• Su Shuangjiang explained that rogue cultivators wanted affordable pills ahead of the Great Reclamation and asked to buy Lin Changheng’s [Crimson Flame Pills].
• Lin Changheng sold Su Shuangjiang fifteen [Crimson Flame Pills] at seventy percent of the market price and asked her to keep their source secret.
• Su Shuangjiang swore a Dao oath, paid Lin Changheng twenty-one spirit stones, and chatted with him over tea.
• Lin Changheng asked Su Shuangjiang whether she often encountered fire crows while hunting demons.

Lin Changheng arranged for Su Shuangjiang to help source fire crow essence blood and sell his elixirs, then bought protective talismans at Mystic Talisman Hall. He returned to the Xu Family Alchemy Shop and received a letter.

• Su Shuangjiang identified fire crow essence blood as an ingredient for [Crimson Flame Pills], and Lin Changheng claimed he needed it for pill refining.
• Lin Changheng decided Su Shuangjiang could help him sell elixirs discreetly and obtain essence blood for his [Fire Crow Treasure Seed].
• Lin Changheng inspected Su Shuangjiang’s gift of two spirit stones and two talismans, then resolved to buy more protection before the Market Ward grew chaotic.
• Lin Changheng disguised himself and bought a low-grade [Frost Talisman], a low-grade [Wooden Vine Talisman], a mid-grade [Wind-Riding Talisman], and a mid-grade [Golden Light Talisman] at Mystic Talisman Hall.
• Lin Changheng returned to the Xu Family Alchemy Shop, where an attendant told him that a letter had arrived.

Lin Changheng received Mo Zhaoli’s letter, learned that the Purple Pole Sect might offer Foundation Establishment Pills to forces that earned merit in its Great Reclamation, and replied to preserve their friendship. Four months later, Su Shuangjiang brought him another batch of fire crow essence blood and asked about buying Crimson Flame Pills.

• Master Mo gave Lin Changheng a letter from Mo Zhaoli, who congratulated him on becoming a ranked alchemist and described her progress in the Purple Pole Sect.
• Mo Zhaoli warned Lin Changheng that the Purple Pole Sect’s Great Reclamation might be dangerous and that five Foundation Establishment Pills were rumored to be rewards for meritorious forces.
• Lin Changheng wrote Mo Zhaoli a reply, sharing news of his life and expressing his wish to keep their friendship strong.
• Four months later, Su Shuangjiang visited Lin Changheng with twenty-two bottles of fire crow essence blood, including blood from adults and juveniles.
• Su Shuangjiang asked Lin Changheng whether he still had Crimson Flame Pills and suggested raising their price because demand had increased.

Lin Changheng sold his accumulated Crimson Flame Pills to Su Shuangjiang and used fire crow essence blood to refine his Fire Crow Treasure Seed. The refinement advanced his fire spiritual root to a low-grade spiritual root, while a new treasure seed began forming from the remaining essence blood.

• Lin Changheng sold Su Shuangjiang fifty Crimson Flame Pills and asked her to find large quantities of Greenwood Snake or other demon-beast essence blood.
• Lin Changheng counted his earnings from several sales and realized he had amassed more than a hundred and fifty spirit stones.
• Lin Changheng reviewed the Greenwood Snake Treasure Seed's poison-transformation ability and found that he could refine away low-grade toxins and absorb their spiritual power.
• Lin Changheng absorbed fire crow essence blood and refined the Fire Crow Treasure Seed, gaining the Fire-Control Foreign Method: Spirit Agility.
• Lin Changheng discovered that his fire spiritual root had reached eleven strands of spirit resonance, transforming it into a low-grade spiritual root.

Lin Changheng improved his fire-control skills, refined his first premium Crimson Flame Pill, and began quietly building a supply to accelerate his cultivation. As Zichuan Market’s powers withdrew and the Frontier Reclamation levy went into full collection, rumors spread about the market’s changing circumstances and the dangers and opportunities of the coming expeditions.

• Lin Changheng discovered that his proficient Flowing Flame Art made cultivation more efficient, then demonstrated a greatly empowered Fireball Technique that startled Su Shuangjiang.
• Lin Changheng sent Xu Liucai away and tested Spirit Agility while refining pills, producing a premium Crimson Flame Pill among the five pills from the furnace.
• Lin Changheng realized premium pills could increase his cultivation speed and decided to accumulate them without revealing his achievement.
• Lin Changheng observed that shops in Zichuan Market were scaling back and the Wang Family was reducing its patrols as rumors grew louder.
• The Wang Family began collecting the Frontier Reclamation levy, while cultivators faced a choice between joining an expedition and paying the tax.

Lin Changheng heard that a delivery convoy had been massacred near the Market Ward and urged the Xu Family to prepare for the approaching Great Reclamation. After the lineage arranged a joint withdrawal plan, he reunited with Xu Fugui at the alchemy shop and learned about his friend’s family and cultivation.

• Lin Changheng overheard shopkeepers discuss the looted Ge Family convoy and decided to warn Master Mo about the danger outside the Market Ward.
• The Xu Family joined several allied Qi Refining lineages to plan a shared withdrawal and sent cultivators ahead to move supplies and spirit stones.
• Lin Changheng avoided learning the withdrawal plan’s details so he would not be implicated if anything went wrong.
• Xu Fugui reunited with Lin Changheng at the Xu Family Alchemy Shop and told him that he had reached the Qi Refining fifth layer.
• Xu Fugui credited the Dragon Essence Secret Art and rewards for his middle-grade-rooted fifth son, after six children had included two with spiritual roots.

Lin Changheng strengthened his ties with the Xu Family and continued refining pills while waiting to become a registered guest elder. Su Shuangjiang brought him essence blood from Rockmountain Tortoises, leaving him curious whether it would suit his needs.

• Master Mo hosted Xu Qianhuan, Xu Xulian, and Xu Fugui, who reassured Lin Changheng and the other shop cultivators that the Xu Family would protect them during their withdrawal.
• Lin Changheng shared a farewell meal with Xu Fugui, who revealed that Tantai Feiyue had become a ranked talisman master and would soon take the Xu Family's assessment.
• After the Xu cultivators departed, Lin Changheng continued refining Crimson Flame Pills and studied the Wood Origin Pill formula while waiting for access to its materials.
• Lin Changheng bought Savage Boar meat from Li Changchang and considered the potential value of befriending him and his sixth-layer Qi Refining brother.
• Su Shuangjiang visited Lin Changheng, exchanged fifteen standard pills for spirit stones, and gave him essence blood from Fire Crows and Rockmountain Tortoises she had hunted.

Lin Changheng bought Rockmountain Tortoise essence blood and discovered its treasure seed could grant Earth Escape and lifespan extension, deciding to prioritize survival. He then joined Su Shuangjiang to investigate the black market’s new location in the shantytown.

• Lin Changheng bought Su Shuangjiang’s Fire Crow and Rockmountain Tortoise essence blood and asked about affordable low-grade Dharma Artifacts.
• Su Shuangjiang told Lin Changheng that the black market might move into the shantytown, and he warned her that Zichuan Market would be abandoned.
• Lin Changheng absorbed Fire Crow essence blood, then used Rockmountain Tortoise essence blood to form a treasure seed with Earth Escape, Shield Formation, and lifespan extension.
• Lin Changheng decided to pursue Earth Escape first because staying alive mattered more than extending his lifespan.
• After Su Shuangjiang confirmed the black market rumor, she and Lin Changheng disguised themselves and entered the crowded shantytown, then separated to look around.

Lin Changheng bought and refined a used [Wasp Blade] at the black market, then returned safely with Su Shuangjiang. Later, cultivators from the clan arrived at the Xu Family Alchemy Shop, and the group prepared to depart at noon.

• Lin Changheng bargained a stallholder down to forty Spirit Stones for the used flying blade Dharma Artifact, which the stallholder called the [Wasp Blade].
• Lin Changheng and Su Shuangjiang left the Market Ward without encountering anyone following them, and Su Shuangjiang teased him for acting like a robber cultivator.
• Lin Changheng refined the [Wasp Blade] and practiced controlling it, learning to send it swiftly in and out of his Storage Bag.
• An eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator and three Mid-Qi Refining cultivators arrived at the Xu Family Alchemy Shop from the clan.
• Master Mo summoned Lin Changheng and Shopkeeper Xu Qianyou, and the seven decided to leave at noon.

Lin Changheng left Zichuan Market with the Xu Family caravan, hiding his Storage Bag and taking precautions on the journey. Just as the group neared the Xu Family grounds, attackers ambushed them, killing Xu Ruolan and throwing the travelers into chaos.

• Lin Changheng disguised his belongings as a humble bundle before leaving Zichuan Market with Master Mo, Shopkeeper Xu Qianyou, and the Xu Family group.
• Xu Qianhuan led the twelve travelers on Dragon Horses toward the Xu Family grounds, while Lin Changheng looked back at the Market Ward and then focused on the road ahead.
• After more than four days of uneventful travel, Xu Qianhuan warned the group to stay alert as they approached their destination.
• Attackers hidden in the woods unleashed coordinated spells against the caravan, and Xu Qianhuan and the other cultivators raised barriers to defend the group.
• An Ice Edge killed Xu Ruolan, while a frightened assistant fell from his horse and broke his leg.
• Lin Changheng ducked beneath his horse and used a Golden Shield Talisman to protect himself; Master Mo passed him a Water Curtain Talisman as the ambush continued.

Xu Qianhuan and the Xu Family fought off an ambush by masked cultivators while Lin Changheng revealed his skill and killed one of the attackers. The battle remained unsettled as a Dharma Boat sped toward them from the Blackwater River.

• Xu Qianhuan killed two hidden attackers with his Flying Sword before nine masked cultivators launched an ambush.
• The burly bandit leader and a flanking attacker pressured Xu Qianhuan, while Master Mo joined the fight against the bandits threatening the Xu Family's mid-stage cultivators.
• A bandit chased Lin Changheng, who killed him with a guided Fireball Technique after knocking his Dharma Artifact aside with a Flying Knife.
• Lin Changheng returned to help Shopkeeper Xu Qianyou, freezing one bandit with a Frost Talisman so Xu Qianyou could sever his arm.
• A Dharma Boat appeared, speeding toward the battlefield from the Blackwater River.

The Xu Family repelled a raid by rogue cultivators, and Lin Changheng was rewarded for killing one of them. After returning to the family settlement, Lin Changheng learned the identity of Xu Hanji, the Patriarch’s daughter.

• Xu Xuheng arrived on a Dharma Boat and drove the rogue cultivators into the mountains, while one wounded attacker died from his bronze mirror’s beam.
• Xu Qianyou revealed that Lin Changheng had killed a rogue cultivator and helped wound another, and Xu Xuheng awarded him the attacker’s spoils.
• Lin Changheng learned that the Xu Family had suffered minor losses and that the surviving rogue cultivators’ identities and motives were unknown.
• Lin Changheng returned to the Xu Family settlement and reunited with Xu Fugui.
• Xu Fugui identified the approaching young woman as Xu Hanji, the Patriarch’s daughter.

Lin Changheng examined his spoils from the battle and decided to sell most of them while keeping useful tools. After demonstrating his pill-refining ability to the Xu Family, he became a Registered Guest Elder and earned access to mid-grade resources while being exempted from frontline reclamation work.

• Lin Changheng recovered his mana, inspected the Storage Bag and damaged hammer artifact, and decided to sell his valuables and trade the hammer for a defensive artifact.
• A Xu Family member summoned Lin Changheng to the Alchemy Chamber, where Xu Qianyan and Master Mo awaited him.
• Lin Changheng saw Tantai Feiyue emerge after apparently passing an assessment to become a ranked Talisman Master, and they exchanged greetings.
• Lin Changheng completed a pill-refining assessment, and Xu Qianyan appointed him a Registered Guest Elder of the Xu Family.
• Xu Qianyan offered Lin Changheng access to mid-grade resources through exchange and exempted him from frontline duty during the Great Reclamation.