Chapter Summaries

Lin Changheng defeated Rogue Person Hunshan with his Mist Spreading domain and sword formation, then forced the Nine Seas Merchant Association's three remaining Core Formation attendants to concede by demanding valuable materials. The contest ended with Fang Yuan winning four consecutive matches and securing the Great Shun Merchant Association's trade-route allocation for the next sixty years.

• Lin Changheng shattered Hunshan's baleful-qi attack and battered his black bell with the Myriad Manifestations Origin Sword, then countered Hunshan's puppets, yellow sand, and hidden black stone with layered defenses and his Mist-Scattering Divine Ability.
• Lin Changheng captured Hunshan's two puppet beasts, overwhelmed him with the Cloudsea Sun-Piercing Sword Formation, and killed him before he could finish surrendering.
• Lin Changheng refused to let Fanjiang forfeit without entering the arena, while Feng Yue and White Cloud declined to intervene on Fanjiang's behalf.
• Lin Changheng offered Fanjiang, Lingyunzi, and Shengxiao safe concessions in exchange for materials, and President Chen agreed that the Nine Seas Merchant Association would cover most of the cost.
• Fanjiang, Lingyunzi, and Shengxiao entered the arena and conceded, after which Feng Yue declared Fang Yuan the winner of four consecutive matches and confirmed the trade-route contract for sixty years.

After defeating Rogue Person Hunshan, Lin Changheng collected his treasures and legacies, then left Origin Immortal City for the Yue Kingdom. He found the Demonic Path occupying the region, located Su Shuangjiang, and disguised himself as a Blood Moon Cult disciple before heading toward her.

• Daoist Qingping, frightened by Lin Changheng’s strength, visited him with an Inkcloud Iron gift to beg forgiveness, and Lin Changheng accepted it.
• Lin Changheng examined Rogue Person Hunshan’s Black Stone, Mixed Sand Bell, Puppet Beasts, and cultivation legacies, including the Baleful Return Peak-Transformation Art and several craft inheritances.
• After the Nine Seas Merchant Association gathered his requested five-element spirit materials, Lin Changheng left Origin Immortal City and crossed into the Yue Kingdom, where he found the Demonic Path had taken control of the waterways and market wards.
• Lin Changheng used his Sensing Jade Talisman to locate Su Shuangjiang, then stopped and killed the Blood Moon Cult disciple Li Hun as he passed below.
• Lin Changheng searched Li Hun’s soul, took his identity and Blood Moon Token, and disguised himself with the Illusory Appearance Shift Demonic Art before heading toward the city where Su Shuangjiang was staying.

Lin Changheng sought a safe route into the Righteous Path Alliance’s territory to return the Ancient Five Elements Cultivation Method, eventually entering Azure Light City disguised as a righteous cultivator. After True Person Jiang questioned him about his token, Lin Changheng revealed himself as True Person Fang and subdued Jiang and another concealed False Core Cultivator.

• Lin Changheng learned that the Demonic Path was preparing to besiege Righteousness Immortal City and decided to seek a less-guarded route into allied territory.
• Lin Changheng killed five Ghost Soul Hall cultivators who tried to force him to join the siege, then failed to find a way into Water Origin City.
• Lin Changheng rescued fleeing righteous cultivators near Azure Light City and used True Person Pine Waves’ token to gain their trust.
• Lin Changheng and the group reached Azure Light City, where a righteous False Core Cultivator drove off a demonic pursuer and the defenders inspected the newcomers.
• True Person Jiang questioned Lin Changheng about his identity and token, and Lin Changheng identified himself as Fang Yuan before pinning Jiang and a hidden woman with sword light.

Lin Changheng traveled to Water Origin City to return True Person Liuquan’s borrowed item, reconnected with True Person Pine Waves, and reunited with Su Shuangjiang. Su Shuangjiang revealed that she had another opportunity for core formation, leaving Lin Changheng astonished at the possibility of a Core Formation Spirit Object.

• Lin Changheng displayed his strength to True Person Jiang and Zhao Sanniang, traded a third-tier spirit plant inheritance for the Greenwood Spirit-Transformation Art, and practiced the concealment spell.
• True Person Jiang brought Lin Changheng a reply from True Person Pine Waves, who said Liuquan was guarding a mineral vein and invited Lin Changheng to Water Origin City.
• Lin Changheng avoided traveling to the mineral vein, carried resources for True Person Jiang, and slipped into Water Origin City when demonic forces left to reinforce the siege of Righteousness Immortal City.
• True Person Pine Waves welcomed Lin Changheng, revealed that Liuquan had helped restore his arm, and accepted the ancient tortoise shell Lin Changheng had borrowed for her.
• Lin Changheng found Su Shuangjiang, offered to help her obtain a Return-to-Truth Pill, and heard her reveal that she had another opportunity for core formation.
• Lin Changheng realized Su Shuangjiang’s opportunity might be a Core Formation Spirit Object and reacted with astonishment when she confirmed it.

Lin Changheng examined Su Shuangjiang’s Core Formation Spirit Object and learned of a cave where it had been found, then used her gathered demon essence blood to advance his water-based arts and strengthen his divine sense. He decided to investigate the cave before leaving the besieged Yue Kingdom with Su Shuangjiang.

• Su Shuangjiang showed Lin Changheng a Core Formation Spirit Object, and his Nether Abyss Icefire reacted to it with a desire to devour it.
• Su Shuangjiang shared a Jade Slip recording the dead cultivator’s memories, revealing the cave where he had found the spirit object and the accompanying icy substances there.
• Su Shuangjiang delivered the Moonlight Crab Demon and Wave-Turning Thorn Puffer essence blood, and Lin Changheng used it to create a supreme Wave-Turning Thorn Puffer True Core and refine Water Control.
• Lin Changheng transformed the Moonlight Crab Demon essence blood, chose Water Repelling, and raised his water spiritual root to thirty strands and his divine sense range to twenty-six li.
• Lin Changheng tested his new Water-Repelling Monster Art in Su Shuangjiang’s pond, then joined her for dinner and offered to take her away from Water Origin City.
• Lin Changheng told Su Shuangjiang to prepare to leave with him while he investigated the cave, and he resolved to go there for the spirit object’s source and the Nether Abyss Icefire’s transformation.

Lin Changheng collected a [Core Formation Spirit Object] and discovered that the companion growths’ essence cores could advance his [Nether Abyss Icefire] into third-tier [Nether Abyss Iceflame]. When he left the cavern, he found the lake surrounded by Demonic Path cultivators hunting the injured Liuquan and began weighing how to protect himself and the treasure site.

• Lin Changheng used the [Water Repelling Demonic Art] and [Water Control Demonic Art] to defeat lake beasts before entering the cavern where the [Core Formation Spirit Object] formed.
• Lin Changheng collected the spiritual object and discovered traces suggesting the cavern had been altered by human hands long ago.
• Lin Changheng found that the companion growths’ essence cores fed the [Nether Abyss Icefire], so he harvested them all and advanced the flame to third-tier low-grade [Nether Abyss Iceflame].
• Liuquan hid beneath the lake after fleeing an injured mid Core Formation demon cultivator, who summoned reinforcements to surround the lake and search for her.
• Lin Changheng emerged to find nearly a thousand Demonic Path cultivators searching beneath a third-tier Encirclement Formation, and confirmed their strongest cultivator was an injured mid Core Formation demon cultivator.

Lin Changheng discovered that True Person Liuquan was the cultivator the demon forces were hunting, and she revealed herself to give him a chance to escape. When she was nearly killed by Fate-Defying True Person, Lin Changheng returned and unleashed his hidden strength, leaving the demonic forces devastated and Fate-Defying True Person facing him alone.

• Lin Changheng prepared concealment and illusion formations, searched the lake for the hidden cultivator, and fled when the demon formation began sweeping the lake with pulses that could expose him.
• Lin Changheng found True Person Liuquan, who explained that she had caused the trouble and offered to draw the demon forces away so he could escape, entrusting him with a black object for Junior Brother Songtao.
• True Person Liuquan attacked the demon forces, killing the white-haired False Core cultivator and wounding the alluring Core Formation cultivator and Fate-Defying True Person with her silver strands and Treasure Talisman.
• Fate-Defying True Person brought out his Blood Lotus and overwhelmed True Person Liuquan, but Lin Changheng intervened with his three-flame blade and drove the Blood Lotus away.
• Lin Changheng's blue-purple flying swords killed the alluring demon cultivator and destroyed two Warships, while a tiger roar and a turtle's cry sounded nearby; Fate-Defying True Person realized Lin Changheng was a formidable opponent.

Lin Changheng joined True Person Liuquan in fighting Fate-Defying True Person after secretly eliminating the other demon cultivators, then used his hidden techniques and trump cards to kill the Core Formation Middle Stage foe. He collected the spoils and fled with Liuquan toward the Righteous Path Alliance before the battle could draw reinforcements.

• Lin Changheng killed the wounded bewitching female cultivator with his swords and sent Xiao Hei and Little Qing to eliminate the remaining lower-ranking demon cultivators.
• Lin Changheng rescued the exhausted True Person Liuquan, gave her healing pills, and prepared three layers of defense before confronting Fate-Defying True Person.
• Lin Changheng countered Fate-Defying True Person's water dragons with his water arts, Nether Abyss Iceflame, and sword, then escaped the Blood Lotus using fire escape.
• Lin Changheng trapped Fate-Defying True Person in mist and sand, harried him with swords and puppet beasts, restrained him with the River-Calming Pearl, and detonated a three-colored flame bead.
• Lin Changheng finished off the charred Fate-Defying True Person with four sword strikes, collected his storage bag, corpse, and soul, then gathered the battlefield spoils.
• Lin Changheng took True Person Liuquan with him and fled toward the Righteous Path Alliance.

Lin Changheng escorted True Person Liuquan to safety, then traveled to the Reef-Strewn Sea to seize a third-tier spirit vein. At White Bone Mountain, True Person Buried Bones learned that his disciple Fate-Defying True Person had died and lamented the repeated failure to form the Holy Bone Water Pill; Lin Changheng defeated the demon beast occupying the spirit vein’s cave.

• Lin Changheng delivered True Person Liuquan and her black object to a city under Vast Righteousness Sect’s jurisdiction, then left to recover before continuing his journey.
• At White Bone Mountain, a disciple reported that three Core Formation soul tablets had shattered, including Fate-Defying True Person’s, and True Person Buried Bones confirmed his disciple’s death.
• True Person Buried Bones brooded over the Holy Bone Water Pill’s repeated failure and White Bone Mountain’s missing fifth element after a woman from Blood Moon Cult pressed him to consider the True Lord’s proposal.
• Lin Changheng found that a third-tier middle-stage demonic crocodile had occupied the Green-Scaled Frost Flood Dragon’s cave and prepared an ambush using formations, mist, a puppet beast, and a water flood dragon.
• Lin Changheng lured the crocodile into his ambush, trapped it while assembling his sword formation, and killed it with the Sun-Piercing sword attack.

Lin Changheng killed a third-tier middle-stage demon crocodile, harvested its materials, and extracted a third-tier spirit vein with help from Little Qing and Xiao Hei, greatly enriching his Heaven-in-a-Pot Blessed Land. Seven days later, he reached Water Origin City, killed a demon cultivator in front of True Person Blood Ember, and escaped into the city with True Person Pine Waves’s help.

• Lin Changheng harvested the demon crocodile’s hide, demon core, essence blood, and flesh, then found no mate or eggs in its lair.
• Lin Changheng located the spirit vein’s dragon head and, aided by Little Qing and Xiao Hei, extracted the vein and planted it in the Heaven-in-a-Pot Blessed Land.
• The third-tier spirit vein transformed the Blessed Land, expanding its spirit springs and increasing its spiritual energy; Lin Changheng rewarded the two beasts with crocodile meat.
• Seven days later, Lin Changheng approached Water Origin City and killed a squad of demon cultivators before True Person Blood Ember intervened.
• Lin Changheng killed the Foundation Establishment demon cultivator behind Blood Ember despite Blood Ember’s protection, then escaped through the city formation with True Person Pine Waves’s help.
• True Person Pine Waves welcomed Lin Changheng inside the city and praised his skill.

Lin Changheng left the besieged Yue Kingdom with Su Shuangjiang after True Person Pine Waves thanked him with the Five-Qi Turtle Scripture of Returning to the Origin and a Life-Origin Barrier-Breaking Pill. Back in Origin Immortal City, he learned that Lu and Zhao had destroyed and divided the Jinwu Kingdom, and began considering whether to enter seclusion and strengthen himself before the region’s wars spread further.

• True Person Pine Waves praised Lin Changheng for defeating True Person Blood Ember and thanked him for rescuing Senior Sister Liuquan.
• True Person Pine Waves gave Lin Changheng the turtle shell containing the Five-Qi Turtle Scripture of Returning to the Origin and a companion Life-Origin Barrier-Breaking Pill.
• Seven days later, True Person Pine Waves distracted True Person Blood Ember while Lin Changheng left Water Origin City with Su Shuangjiang.
• At Origin Immortal City, Lin Changheng heard that Lu and Zhao had jointly conquered and divided the Jinwu Kingdom, reducing the Nine Kingdoms Region to eight kingdoms.
• Lin Changheng asked True Person Dong about Jinwu’s fall and learned that the two kingdoms had seized a secret resource site after infiltrators leaked its location.
• Concerned that war could spread and that strength would be essential, Lin Changheng considered taking the pill and entering extended seclusion.

Lin Changheng spent more than six years in seclusion, advancing to Core Formation Middle Stage and greatly improving his pill flame, divine sense, and sword control while the Origin Cauldron completed its spirit seizure. After learning that the wars had worsened and the Great Shun Merchant Association had found a new source of Nether Void-grade demon beast essence blood, he hurried to the association.

• Lin Changheng inspected his cave residence, endured the Origin Cauldron's scheduled essence-blood extraction, and confirmed that spirit seizure was nearing completion.
• After more than six years of cultivation, Lin Changheng used the Life-Origin Barrier-Breaking Pill to reach Core Formation Middle Stage and transformed his natal pill flame into a stronger third-tier mid-grade flame.
• Lin Changheng tested his improved abilities, extending his divine sense thirty-four li and precisely controlling sixteen rays of sword light, then confirmed that the Origin Cauldron's spirit seizure had reached 1000/1000.
• Lin Changheng tried to use Huang Lingsu's Dragon Roar Body essence blood with the Origin Cauldron, but it did not respond, so he resolved to seek thunder-attribute essence blood for his next mutated spiritual root.
• After consolidating his breakthrough, Lin Changheng learned that Righteousness Immortal City had fallen, the Jin Kingdom was retreating, and the Song Region had sent forces to aid Jin.
• Lin Changheng received word that the Great Shun Merchant Association had located a source of Nether Void-grade demon beast essence blood and immediately flew to meet them.

After emerging from six years of seclusion with a dramatically increased cultivation, Lin Changheng strengthened his ties with the Great Shun Merchant Association, helped Su Shuangjiang prepare to refine Return-to-Truth Pills, and gave her his insights into core formation. Back in his cave abode, he began spirit-seizing Soulweaving Demon Butterfly essence blood and discovered its three innate talents.

• Lin Changheng confirmed that the 130 bottles of Nether Void Essence Blood gathered by True Person Dong included the wood-attribute blood he needed, and asked him to keep collecting it.
• True Person Dong introduced his son Dong Lide as a potential successor to the Great Shun Merchant Association, and Lin Changheng approved of him and gave him valuable gifts.
• Su Shuangjiang brought Lin Changheng the ingredients she had gathered for Return-to-Truth Pills, and he agreed to arrange their refinement after returning to the Song Region.
• Lin Changheng gave Su Shuangjiang his insights into core formation, warned her not to share them, and urged her to use them to form her core.
• Lin Changheng examined the Soulweaving Demon Butterfly's talents—Spirit-Sealing Life Spring, Egg Parasite, and Every Plant a Soldier—and began spirit-seizing its essence blood.

Lin Changheng chose the Soulweaving Demon Butterfly’s Spirit-Sealing Life Spring, gaining a way to preserve souls and influence fully grown demon beasts. After improving his Divine Blood Curse Seal and preparing for new plans, he accepted an invitation to a Core Formation Cultivator trading gathering before setting out for the Golden Swallow Battlefield.

• Lin Changheng compared the Soulweaving Demon Butterfly’s three talents and chose Spirit-Sealing Life Spring for soul preservation, enemy control, and safer access to mature demon beast essence blood.
• Lin Changheng used more than a hundred bottles of essence blood to complete spirit seizure, refined Spirit-Sealing Life Spring into himself, and watched it form a jade-green spring in his dantian.
• Lin Changheng learned how to seize a soul with the life spring, reviewed his curse seals, and discovered that the Zheng Family grand elder from Golden Flame Valley had died.
• Lin Changheng spent seven days improving the Divine Blood Curse Seal with Ice-Fire Taiji Flame, producing a concealed seal that could help him control mid or Late Core Formation targets.
• Lin Changheng considered traveling to the Golden Swallow Battlefield for pill sales and lightning-aspected essence blood, but accepted True Person Feng Yue’s invitation to a Core Formation Cultivator trading gathering in half a month.
• Lin Changheng began preparing trade goods, including his remaining premium Lifespan-Extending Pill, premium Foundation Establishment Pills, and premium Youth-Preserving Pills.

Lin Changheng completed and tested a second-tier Lifespan-Extending Pill formula before attending a Core Formation cultivator trade gathering disguised as Fang Yuan. After silencing several cultivators who probed him with divine sense, he noticed a medicinal root on the trading platform that could be valuable to his Glorious Life Divine Ability.

• Lin Changheng sent the Great Shun Merchant Association a list of ingredients for his second-tier Lifespan-Extending Pills, then refined three premium pills after correcting an error in his formula.
• Senior Fenggu, True Person Tuohai, True Person Qingyun, Dragon Granny, and other Core Formation cultivators arrived at the Radiant Mist District gathering, where Feng Yue waited for Fang Yuan.
• Lin Changheng arrived as Fang Yuan, and True Person Tuohai mocked him for being late.
• When several cultivators scrutinized him with divine sense, Lin Changheng struck back with overwhelming force, leaving them injured and frightening the Late Core Formation cultivators.
• Feng Yue began the voluntary trading gathering, and early-stage Core Formation cultivators offered materials and treasures in turn.
• A female cultivator in blue cloth robes presented a desire-cleansing demon vine root, and Lin Changheng immediately recognized its value.

At the trading gathering, Lin Changheng exchanged two premium Lifespan-Extending Pills for a root of the Desire-Cleansing Demon Vine and a token from Fire Sacred Mountain. He then offered premium pills in search of rare essence blood and escape techniques, arranging possible follow-up trades as the gathering continued.

• True Person Guanyun revealed a genuine Desire-Cleansing Demon Vine root, and Lay Buddhist Fenggu recognized her as a relative of True Person Qixia, easing suspicions about how she obtained it.
• True Person Guanyun sought a premium Lifespan-Extending Pill in exchange for the root, while True Person Tuohai tried to persuade Lay Buddhist Fenggu to trade for it and was refused.
• Lin Changheng offered two premium Lifespan-Extending Pills, outbid a gaunt Core Formation middle-stage cultivator, and received the vine root and a Fire Sacred Mountain token from True Person Guanyun.
• Lin Changheng took the platform and offered premium Foundation Establishment Pills, Youth-Preserving Pills, and a Lifespan-Extending Pill in exchange for blazing-origin demon beast essence blood, sources of nether void essence blood, and escape techniques.
• Several cultivators contacted Lin Changheng about possible trades, and he agreed to inspect offered techniques and discuss a claimed source of nether void essence blood after the gathering.

Lin Changheng used a trading gathering to secure rare escape arts, blazing origin essence blood, and Rootless Spirit Dew, while arranging future sources of nether void essence blood. He traded his remaining premium Lifespan-Extending Pill to Dragon Granny for her essence blood and goodwill, leaving True Person Qingluo curious about him after Dragon Granny warned her to keep her distance.

• Lin Changheng let Lay Buddhist Fenggu, Dragon Granny, and True Person Qingyun compete for a premium Lifespan-Extending Pill, ultimately trading it to Fenggu for the Wind Escape Technique Essentials, thunder-attribute blazing origin essence blood, and a source of nether void essence blood.
• Lin Changheng exchanged his other pills for the five human elemental escape arts and Rootless Spirit Dew, while he secured additional leads on sources of nether void essence blood.
• Lin Changheng noticed True Person Tuohai trade Lay Buddhist Fenggu a mysterious treasure for the Bloodbone Valley Ear, then invited Dragon Granny to meet him that evening.
• Lin Changheng arranged recurring deliveries of nether void essence blood with a cultivator from the Zhao Kingdom and received information from True Person Feng Yue about Azure Thunder Demon Rocs.
• Lin Changheng traded his remaining premium Lifespan-Extending Pill to Dragon Granny for fifteen drops of metal- and earth-attribute blazing origin essence blood.
• Dragon Granny explained Lin Changheng's tactics and unusual abilities to True Person Qingluo, warned her to stay away from him, and left Qingluo more curious about him.

Lin Changheng revived a fourth-tier desire-cleansing demon vine root with his Glorious Life Divine Ability, then returned to the Xu Family and learned it faced a Purple Pole Sect conscription. He promised to protect the family, revealed that his cultivation had advanced again, and learned Yan Mingyi had completed the Hundred-Grievance Blood Corpse.

• Lin Changheng reviewed his new sources of nether void essence blood, pill ingredients, and plans to advance his Pill Dao before reviving the desire-cleansing demon vine root at the cost of four years of lifespan.
• Lin Changheng planted the revived root in his heaven-in-a-pot blessed land and decided to obtain richer spirit soil from Xu Maoling.
• Lin Changheng left Origin Immortal City for the Song Region after arranging supplies and business matters with True Person Dong and the Great Shun Merchant Association.
• Xu Hanji convened the Xu Family elders to discuss the Purple Pole Sect's conscription, and Xu Zonghuan volunteered to lead the family warriors to the front.
• Tantai Feiyue proposed seeking an exemption through donations, while Xu Hanji rejected asking Lin Changheng to intervene until he appeared and promised to protect the Xu Family.
• Lin Changheng reunited with Xu Hanji, Tantai Feiyue, and Yan Mingyi, revealed his latest cultivation advance, and learned that Yan Mingyi had completed the Hundred-Grievance Blood Corpse.

Lin Changheng advanced to a third-tier mid-grade Pill Dao Grandmaster, gained lifespan, and gave the women premium pills. A Purple Pole Sect envoy then threatened the Xu Family with crushing conscription quotas, and Lin Changheng recognized him as an old enemy, leaving him ready to settle their grudges.

• Lin Changheng refined twelve premium Lifespan-Extending Pills and gained twenty years of lifespan from a second-tier pill.
• Lin Changheng emerged from seclusion with three premium Dust-Descending Pills, refined third-tier mid-grade pills, and advanced to a third-tier mid-grade Pill Dao Grandmaster.
• Xu Hanji gave Lin Changheng the Mystic Fire Rhinoceros essence blood, and Lin Changheng asked the women to map spirit veins in the Endless Savage Wastes before gifting them premium pills.
• Xu Hanji and Tantai Feiyue received a message that Purple Pole Sect envoys had arrived, and Lin Changheng concealed his aura and accompanied them to Flying Cloud Hall.
• Elder Gu pressured the Xu Family to triple its foundation-establishment conscription quota and double its qi-refining quota, then left after threatening Xu Hanji.
• Xu Bazheng recognized Elder Gu as the man who had forced her and Xu Yongzhen to flee, and Lin Changheng resolved to settle his old and new grievances with him.

Lin Changheng stopped the Purple Pole Sect’s extortionate conscription of the Xu Family by defeating its envoys, controlling the False Core cultivator Gu, and forcing him to arrange an exemption. After rewarding Cook Zeng and Huang Lingsu with pills and a path to extend Cook Zeng’s life, Lin Changheng went with Yan Mingyi to inspect her finished Hundred-Grievance Blood Corpse.

• Purple Pole Sect cultivators plotted to extort the Xu Family, while Gu dismissed the threat posed by True Person Ten Thousand Longevity.
• Lin Changheng ambushed the Spirit Boat, killed three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and used Little Qing to defeat Gu.
• Lin Changheng planted his curse seal in Gu, used the Spirit-Sealing Life Spring to compel his submission, and ordered him to exempt the Xu Family and blame the deaths on the Demonic Path.
• Lin Changheng inspected the Mystic Fire Rhinoceros Treasure Seed and returned to Flying Cloud Valley, where Huang Lingsu presented Torch Yin Vine Matriarch essence blood.
• Lin Changheng gave Cook Zeng and Huang Lingsu Lifespan-Extending Pills and gave Cook Zeng the Dark Nether Baleful Art, prompting them to swear loyalty to him.
• After a banquet, Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi descended into the emerald pool to inspect the completed Hundred-Grievance Blood Corpse.