Chapter Summaries

Lin Changheng bound and tested Yan Mingyi’s completed Hundred-Grievance Blood Corpse, then absorbed Torch Yin Vine Matriarch essence blood and gained the sixth divine ability true intent, Candle Gaze. He returned to Floating Life Immortal City, where he learned Azure Mist Rogue Person had entered seclusion and realized Bai Hengwan had advanced to the middle stage of Core Formation.

• Yan Mingyi showed Lin Changheng the completed Hundred-Grievance Blood Corpse and explained its origins and control method.
• Lin Changheng secured the chamber with two formations, bound the blood corpse, and tested its powerful threads, resilience, and physical strength.
• Lin Changheng absorbed Torch Yin Vine Matriarch essence blood, formed treasure seeds, and witnessed a vision that revealed the Candle Gaze divine ability true intent.
• Lin Changheng left the Xu Family after giving Yan Mingyi materials for third-tier puppets and returned to Floating Life Immortal City amid rumors about Azure Mist Rogue Person’s seclusion.
• Lin Changheng recognized that Bai Hengwan had reached the middle stage of Core Formation and suspected she had formed a golden core.

Lin Changheng visited Bai Hengwan on Feather Immortal Island, offered support as she took charge of Floating Life Immortal City, and launched a special Return-to-Truth Pill crowdfunding arrangement. After testing his improved Wind Escape Technique, he joined Boy Zhengwang and Daoist True Heart on a journey to Extreme Mountain Immortal City, where he planned to trade for wind-attribute Blazing Origin essence blood.

• Lin Changheng visited Bai Hengwan, reassured her about the pressure of overseeing the Immortal City, and accepted a restricted Jade Box that Azure Mist Rogue Person had left for him.
• Lin Changheng arranged two Return-to-Truth Pill crowdfunding slots that exchanged ingredients directly for pills, and the applicants completed the arrangement in less than a month.
• Lin Changheng kept his cultivation and Pill Dao advances secret, practiced Wind Escape Technique Essentials, and learned that True Disciple Wu was helping Bai Hengwan govern the Immortal City.
• Lin Changheng discovered he could not open the Jade Box's third-tier superior-grade restrictions, then received an invitation from Grand Elder Zhengwang to discuss the essence blood trade.
• Lin Changheng tested Wind Escape Technique and found it made him faster while using less magical power, then met True Person True Heart at the Azure Rosy Clouds Temple.
• Lin Changheng agreed to travel with Boy Zhengwang and Daoist True Heart to Extreme Mountain Immortal City, where the Extreme South Palace would host a gathering and the seller of the essence blood would be present.

Lin Changheng left the Treasure Boat to rescue Xiao Donglin, learning of the Extreme South Palace’s political control and the Illusion-Breaking True Lord’s old injuries along the way. He saved Xiao Donglin from True Person Fu and killed Fu with one sword strike, reuniting with Yun Zhi as she stood by in shock.

• Lin Changheng rode with Boy Zhengwang toward Extreme Mountain Immortal City and heard how the Extreme South Palace’s hall masters held power, suppressed outsiders, and concealed the truth about the Illusion-Breaking True Lord’s duel with a Nascent Soul cultivator.
• Lin Changheng sensed that Xiao Donglin was badly injured nearby, left the Treasure Boat, and sped toward him while Boy Zhengwang wondered at his extraordinary escape speed.
• Xiao Donglin fled True Person Fu of the Azure Firmament Sect, who pursued him over a stolen treasure and summoned the Ten-Thousand-Sword Yun Family to block his escape.
• Yun Zhi confronted True Person Fu but hesitated to defy the Azure Firmament Sect, and Lin Changheng arrived in time to pull Xiao Donglin from Fu’s grasp.
• True Person Fu accused Yun Zhi and the Yun Family of collusion, so Lin Changheng killed him with a single flying-sword strike and took his bonded sword.
• Yun Zhi recognized Lin Changheng as Brother Li, while Xiao Donglin rejoiced at being rescued by his lord.

Lin Changheng killed Azure Firmament Sect Grand Elder True Person Qingwu, secretly stored his body and soul, and learned that Xiao Donglin had found valuable Gilded Mystic Fire Jade while fleeing Qingwu. The sect issued a sweeping bounty for the killer, while Lin Changheng arrived in Extreme Mountain Immortal City and learned that Zhu Fugui was recovering with his wife's family.

• Lin Changheng killed True Person Qingwu, stored his remains and soul in the Heaven-in-a-Pot Blessed Land, and took Yun Zhi and Xiao Donglin to a secluded pavilion.
• Yun Zhi reasoned that Xiao Donglin's encounter with Qingwu likely involved another valuable object, and Lin Changheng promised to keep her and the Yun Family clear of the fallout.
• Xiao Donglin revealed that he had found Gilded Mystic Fire Jade in a hidden cave, and Lin Changheng rewarded him with elixirs and other valuables before sending him away to recover.
• Azure Firmament Sect discovered Qingwu's death, failed to trace his remains, and issued a Criminal Pursuit Order offering a major bounty for the suspected killer.
• Lin Changheng reached Extreme Mountain Immortal City under his Pill Master Lin identity and learned that Zhu Fugui had been injured by Tribulation Cultivators and was recuperating with his wife's family.

Lin Changheng arrived at Extreme Mountain and, with Boy Zhengwang’s help, traded pill-refining services for wind-attribute essence blood from True Person Shou Xuan. As Boy Zhengwang escorted him to meet True Person Qi about the Jin campaign, Lin Changheng absorbed the blood and completed his Wind-Splitting Falcon transformation, gaining Blue-Eyed Insight.

• Lin Changheng introduced himself at Extreme Mountain’s gate as Ten Thousand Longevity, and the guards recognized his reputation as a renowned Pill Master.
• Boy Zhengwang welcomed Lin Changheng and brought him to meet True Person Shou Xuan of Yellow Maple Cliff, where they discussed a trade for Blazing Origin-grade wind-attribute essence blood.
• Lin Changheng agreed to refine Return-to-Truth Pills for Shou Xuan’s sect in exchange for seven drops of essence blood.
• Boy Zhengwang explained that True Person Qi oversaw the deployment of high-level fighters to Jin and could offer willing craft masters safer rear assignments and resource subsidies.
• Lin Changheng absorbed five drops of essence blood, completed the Wind-Splitting Falcon transformation, and gained the Blue-Eyed Insight demonic art as he continued toward True Person Qi.

Lin Changheng met True Person Qi Yue and considered joining the Song Region’s war effort as a Pill Dao master, while secretly strengthening his techniques and preparing his flames for battle. After the Extreme Mountain Assembly ended, Fairy Qu visited him at night but left abruptly when he mentioned Young Master Shi, leaving her purpose unclear.

• True Person Qi Yue invited Lin Changheng to accompany the expedition as a pill master and showed him the safety arrangements and resource subsidies; Lin Changheng decided to consider the offer and protect his interests.
• Lin Changheng inspected his guest courtyard, explored the enhanced sight granted by the [Blue-Eyed Insight Demonic Art], and raised the [Dark Radiance Mystic Flame] to third-tier superior grade before forming a flame pearl with his other flames.
• After the Extreme Mountain Assembly ended, Lin Changheng observed Yun Zhi, Sun Yiming, True Person Cloud Crane, and Purple Thunder True Person among the departing cultivators, and noted that Purple Thunder True Person seemed to detect his gaze.
• Fairy Qu visited Lin Changheng late at night, and they talked over tea without her explaining her purpose.
• When Lin Changheng mentioned Young Master Shi, Fairy Qu’s expression changed and she quickly took her leave, prompting Lin Changheng to wonder why she had come.

Lin Changheng learned that Song cultivators would aid Jin against Yan while Yue’s Demonic Path had defeated the Righteous Path Alliance and might turn south. He also heard that Moon-Embracing True Person was tied to a powerful family and possibly engaged to True Person Haoyang, while Little Qing reached the peak of the second tier and neared a breakthrough.

• Boy Zhengwang told Lin Changheng that Azure Firmament Sect had been assigned to hold the front in Jin, and that Jin’s factions were trading guarded resources to support the war.
• Boy Zhengwang explained that the Yu imperial family had been forced to surrender power after the six sects exposed its alleged betrayal, while Liang Kingdom sheltered Yue’s defeated Righteous Path Alliance along its border.
• Lin Changheng and Boy Zhengwang concluded that Yue’s Demonic Path might eventually march south toward Song, though the Extreme Mountain Assembly had only ordered the region to watch the situation.
• Boy Zhengwang revealed that Moon-Embracing True Person was a descendant of True Person Cangxing and was rumored to be betrothed to True Person Haoyang; he speculated that she might seek Lin Changheng’s help, but Lin refused to become involved.
• Little Qing roared as it reached the peak of the second tier and began approaching a breakthrough, while Xiao Hei resolved to work harder at cultivation.
• Lin Changheng decided to prepare aids for Little Qing’s breakthrough and warned that if Moon-Embracing True Person tried to use him as a shield, he would protect himself with ruthless measures.

Lin Changheng prepared to trade pill-refining slots at the upcoming gathering, then attended the Dao Discussion Gathering with Boy Zhengwang. After agreeing to negotiate a Dust-Descending Pill commission from Purple Thunder True Person in exchange for the roots of a Nascent Soul-Nurturing Herb, Lin Changheng saw Moon-Embracing True Person and True Person Haoyang arrive.

• Boy Zhengwang pledged that he would personally help Lin Changheng if he ever needed it, and Lin Changheng warned that he would deal harshly with the Five Great Hall Masters if they provoked him.
• Lin Changheng ruled out trading sensitive items and Premium Lifespan-Extending Pills, then decided to offer limited pill-refining slots and prioritized seeking Nether Void and Blazing Origin essence blood.
• Lin Changheng and Boy Zhengwang arrived at the Dao Discussion Gathering, where cultivators recognized Lin Changheng as a highly capable Pill Master and Yun Zhi thanked him for helping her form a true core.
• Boy Zhengwang revealed that Purple Thunder True Person wanted Lin Changheng to refine a Dust-Descending Pill, and Lin Changheng asked to trade the service for the roots of Purple Thunder True Person's Five-Element Nascent Soul-Nurturing Herb.
• True Person Qi arrived with Moon-Embracing True Person and True Person Haoyang, whose sharp, condescending gaze settled on Lin Changheng.

At the Extreme Mountain Dao Discussion Gathering, Lin Changheng learned from the assembled cultivators and traded two craft legacies for five drops of Blazing Origin-grade essence blood. As the gathering continued amid worsening news from Jin Territory, Young Master Shi took the stage with a pill formula.

• True Person Qi greeted Lin Changheng warmly, and the gathered cultivators noticed Young Master Shi’s hostility and subsequent change of manner.
• Han Shuang, Purple Thunder True Person, and other cultivators shared their cultivation insights, while True Person Qi received urgent news that Song Region’s vanguard reinforcements in Jin Territory had suffered heavy losses.
• True Person Qi moved the trading gathering forward, and Lin Changheng offered craft legacies and spirit materials in exchange for essence blood and spirit-beast pill formulas.
• True Person Qi traded five drops of Blazing Origin-grade essence blood for Lin Changheng’s two craft legacies, letting Lin complete a key requirement for his Mystic Fire Furnace Otherworldly Art.
• Lin Changheng reconsidered his pill-refining plans and decided to seek customers in Jin Territory as well as Song Region.
• Young Master Shi took the stage and presented a pill formula.

Lin Changheng ignored Young Master Shi’s risky offer of an incomplete spirit-beast pill formula, agreed to accompany the army into Jin under terms that preserved his freedom, and received a warning about Moon-Embracing True Person and True Person Haoyang. After delivering a secret message and transforming his cultivation foundation with Blazing Origin essence blood, he arrived at Luokun Mountain to visit Gao Dingtian’s lineage and Zhu Fugui.

• Young Master Shi offered a spirit-beast breakthrough pill formula with missing ingredients in exchange for a Dao oath, but Lin Changheng refused to pursue the wager despite its potential to help Xiao Hei and Little Qing reach the third tier.
• True Person Cloud Crane invited Lin Changheng to visit the Purple Pole Sect, while Boy Zhengwang went to negotiate with Purple Thunder True Person on Lin Changheng’s behalf.
• Lin Changheng agreed to enter Jin with the army in two years after True Person Qiyue accepted his conditions for exchanging supplies and refusing or leaving pill-refining assignments; Qiyue also warned him to avoid Moon-Embracing True Person and True Person Haoyang.
• Lin Changheng used a Great Shun Top-Level Token to order a merchant association manager to tell Fairy Su to arrive in Extreme Mountain Immortal City in one year with the resources.
• Lin Changheng absorbed Blazing Origin essence blood, transforming his volcanic foundation into the Mystic Fire Furnace Demonic Art and strengthening his divine sense.
• Lin Changheng reached Luokun Mountain, learned that Gao Dingtian and Gao Dingshan had died, and asked to see Gao Jingshu and Zhu Fugui.

Lin Changheng visited the Gao Household, discovered that Zhu Fugui’s dantian injury had ended his hopes of core formation, and learned that the Flowing Stone Merchant Guild’s leader likely arranged the attack that stole Zhu’s Return-to-Truth Pill. After Lin Changheng promised to restore Zhu’s dantian and sought information about the guild leader, Gao Jingshu identified a beneficial mutation in Lin’s White Jade Spider Demon and proposed breeding it to develop nether void grade spiders.

• Lin Changheng reunited with Gao Jingshu and learned that the Gao Household had grown steadily while Zhu Fugui’s dantian injury left his cultivation declining.
• Lin Changheng examined Zhu Fugui’s dantian and explained that he could repair its circulation but could not restore Zhu’s chance to achieve core formation.
• Zhu Fugui revealed that his Return-to-Truth Pill had been stolen in a suspicious attack and that he was hiding from the Flowing Stone Merchant Guild’s leader, whom he suspected of arranging it.
• Lin Changheng agreed to refine pills for Zhu Fugui, requested detailed information about the guild leader, and implied he would make him pay for taking the pill.
• Lin Changheng drank with Gao Jingshu, who examined his strongest White Jade Spider Demon and identified a beneficial bloodline mutation that could lead to nether void grade offspring.
• Lin Changheng left the mutated spider demon with Gao Jingshu so she could breed it with her clan’s similarly mutated spider demon.

Lin Changheng killed the Flowing Stone Merchant Guild president after discovering he had arranged Zhu Fugui’s attempted murder, then seized the guild’s spirit materials and artifact-refining legacies. He offered Zhu Fugui a risky path to form a Baleful Core, and Zhu Fugui pledged himself to Lin Changheng in exchange for the complete method.

• Lin Changheng used nether abyss iceflame and dark radiance mystic flame to slip through the guild president’s third-tier formation, then subdued and soul-searched him.
• Lin Changheng confirmed that the president had ordered Zhu Fugui’s murder to obtain his Return-to-Truth Pill, killed him, and erased all traces of his presence.
• Lin Changheng took the president’s Storage Bag, recovering the inferior Return-to-Truth Pill, pooled pill ingredients, and several artifact-refining inheritances.
• While cultivating, Lin Changheng decided Zhu Fugui could become his hidden agent in the Flowing Stone Merchant Guild if he could form a Baleful Core.
• Lin Changheng gave Gao Jingshu the inferior Return-to-Truth Pill and offered Zhu Fugui the risky Dark Nether Baleful Art, which carried a forty percent chance of success.
• Zhu Fugui accepted the art, swore to serve Lin Changheng as his lord, and received the complete legacy and Baleful Qi Gathering Pills.

Lin Changheng secured Zhu Fugui’s loyalty and tasked him with taking control of the Flowing Stone Merchant Guild, then visited the Xue Family and Jade Belt Lake to collect resources and support allies. After spending a year and a half with the Xu Family, Xiao Bai died peacefully, and Lin Changheng decided to venture into the Savage Wastes to bring [Candle Gaze] into being.

• Lin Changheng instructed Zhu Fugui to cultivate the [Dark Nether Baleful Art], take control of the Flowing Stone Merchant Guild, and gather five-element materials.
• Lin Changheng visited the Xue Family, collected its remaining [earth vein sunflame crystal cores], gave the family craft legacies, and heard the Zheng Family Patriarch offer to seek flame-essence materials.
• Lin Changheng collected third-tier Mystic Origin Spirit Loam from Xu Maoling, learned why Xu had left his former sect, and left a sword mark that Xu could use to promote his spirit soil and plants.
• Lin Changheng stayed with the Xu Family for nearly a year and a half, witnessed Xiao Bai’s peaceful death, and met the injured pair of [Golden-Crowned Cranes].
• After learning about the Savage Wastes from the returning Xu Family team, Lin Changheng decided to travel there and bring [Candle Gaze] into being.

Lin Changheng entered the Endless Savage Wastes to collect wild spirit veins and hunt a Wood-Armored Dragon Lizard for its manifested true intent. After adding spirit veins to his Heaven-in-a-Pot Blessed Land, he found the lizard recovering from a breakthrough and launched an attack with his newly condensed Threefold Treasure Flame Pearl.

• Lin Changheng prepared for the expedition, tended the Xu Family women, and entered the Savage Wastes.
• Lin Changheng extracted three wild spirit veins and placed them in his Heaven-in-a-Pot Blessed Land, bringing its total to nine veins across four attributes.
• Lin Changheng fought off swarms of demon sparrows and searched for the Wood-Armored Dragon Lizard using a tracking treasure and a fragment of its armor.
• Lin Changheng found the lizard newly advanced to the late third tier and injured from its breakthrough, then set up formations around its cave.
• Lin Changheng condensed the Threefold Treasure Flame Pearl as the lizard detected him and attacked with its Wooden Qi Prison.
• Lin Changheng broke free of the Wooden Qi Prison and hurled the completed flame pearl at the charging Wood-Armored Dragon Lizard.

Lin Changheng killed the late-third-tier Wood-Armored Dragon Lizard, collected its essence blood, and discovered a tainted third-tier superior-grade wood spirit vein he chose to revisit later. After recovering, he transformed the beast’s essence blood and began refining the true essence of the Candle Gaze Divine Ability into himself.

• Lin Changheng used the Threefold Treasure Flame Pearl, sword attacks, earth wyrms, formations, and close-range strikes to wear down and kill the Wood-Armored Dragon Lizard.
• Lin Changheng collected fourteen drops of the lizard’s essence blood and harvested its valuable materials before discovering a powerful wood spirit vein tainted by demon power; he decided to return for it another day.
• Lin Changheng found a safe cave, recovered his strength, and used five drops of the lizard’s essence blood to complete the transformation of the Torch Yin Vine Matriarch Dao Fruit.
• Lin Changheng experienced the Candle Gaze’s power to pierce illusion and reveal truth, then chose to refine its true essence into himself.

Lin Changheng awakened the full power of his [Turbid Sight], severed a hidden heavenly-secrets lock, and perfected his Six-Colored Divine Light. At the [Purple Pole Sect], he learned that Mo Zhaoli was alive and unharmed and received a jade ring that could help track her condition and direction.

• Lin Changheng used his transformed eyes to perceive and sever a heavenly-secrets thread attached to him, while the unseen figure who had planted it was injured by the backlash.
• Lin Changheng fused his visual techniques into the perfected Six-Colored Divine Light, which let him inspect spiritual energy, formations, demon beasts, and cultivators across fifty li.
• Lin Changheng traveled to [Purple Pole Mountain] and met True Person Xuanji and Mo Zhaoli's master, recalling his long separation from Mo Zhaoli.
• True Person Xuanji told Lin Changheng that the sect's treasure could read Mo Zhaoli's condition across great distances and confirmed that she was alive, stable, and uninjured.
• True Person Xuanji gave Lin Changheng a jade ring and Mo Zhaoli's Soul Lamp so he could monitor her safety and learn her approximate direction.

Lin Changheng used a jade ring and Mo Zhaoli’s Soul Lamp to determine that she was far to the east, then agreed to secretly refine the Purple Pole Sect’s False Nascent Soul Pills. After leaving the sect, he met Ye Qingwu, heard how she had changed her life, and enlisted her to gather intelligence and search for items; meanwhile, the sect’s leaders prepared for High Person Purple Pole’s attempt to reach Nascent Soul.

• Lin Changheng used the jade ring to sense Mo Zhaoli’s aura through her Soul Lamp and traced her location far to the east, possibly near the Boundless Sea.
• True Person Xuanji asked Lin Changheng to secretly refine False Nascent Soul Pills, and he agreed after receiving the pill formula and ingredients.
• High Person Purple Pole and True Person Xuanyun learned that Lin Changheng had successfully made all six pills, then discussed using them to advance the sect’s plans while High Person Purple Pole pursued Nascent Soul Formation.
• Lin Changheng met Ye Qingwu at a spirit wine tower, heard that she had turned toward her family and younger cultivators, and offered her elixirs in exchange for intelligence on the Purple Pole Sect and help finding listed items.
• After Ye Qingwu drank herself into a stupor, Lin Changheng left two bottles of elixirs by her bed, activated the room’s protections, and departed into the night.

Lin Changheng returned to Extreme Mountain Immortal City, delivered a premium Return-to-Truth Pill and gathered resources from Su Shuangjiang, and learned that Moon-Embracing True Person was set to marry Young Master Shi. After eavesdropping on news about the Song Region’s growing threats, he advanced his Spirit-Sealing Life Spring Otherworldly Art and gained two additional soul-sealing slots.

• Lin Changheng returned to the heavily fortified Extreme Mountain Immortal City and learned that Floating Life Immortal City would aid the war by sending specialist masters instead of frontline cultivators.
• Lin Changheng met Su Shuangjiang, gave her a premium Return-to-Truth Pill for her planned core formation, and received five-element materials and demon-beast essence blood from her.
• Lin Changheng and Su Shuangjiang celebrated at the Star-Plucking Pavilion, where Lin Changheng secretly overheard that Moon-Embracing True Person and Young Master Shi had agreed to marry.
• Lin Changheng remembered his grudges against Young Master Shi and Moon-Embracing True Person, then stayed in Su Shuangjiang’s cave abode for the night.
• Lin Changheng absorbed Soulweaving Demon Butterfly essence blood, formed second- and third-level treasure seeds, and expanded his Spirit-Sealing Life Spring to three soul-sealing slots.

Lin Changheng refined the Dark Underworld Demon Wolf’s Gold Skin talent and layered it with his other metal-based arts, greatly strengthening his defenses at the cost of rapidly draining refined metal qi. He then guarded Su Shuangjiang as she began forming her core, driving off a probing Core Formation cultivator with his powerful divine sense.

• Lin Changheng examined the Dark Underworld Demon Wolf treasure seeds and chose Gold Skin over Metal Separation and Golden Shadow, then refined the talent into a defensive otherworldly art.
• Lin Changheng tested the Gold-Skin Otherworldly Art against his sword and natal pill flame, then discovered he could layer it with the Limb-Hardening Demonic Art and Gold-Devouring Demonic Art for much stronger protection.
• Su Shuangjiang told Lin Changheng she planned to form her core in three days, and he agreed to stand guard while she prepared in seclusion.
• As Su Shuangjiang began forming her core, Lin Changheng judged that she was likely to achieve a middle-tier true core, with a chance of an upper-tier one.
• True Person Cloud Crane tried to probe the spiritual energy cloud but Lin Changheng’s divine sense overwhelmed and warned him off, prompting him to take a wide detour toward Extreme Mountain.

Lin Changheng watched Su Shuangjiang successfully form her core, gave her a treasure artifact, and prepared to join the Song Region’s expedition to Jin. After securing a promise of Nascent Soul-related herb rootlets in exchange for refining pills, he departed with the assembled army, whose journey into Jin officially began.

• Lin Changheng’s aura frightened True Person Cloud Crane into taking a detour, prompting rumors about the identity and strength of the person forming a core nearby.
• Lin Changheng planned to seek a thunder spiritual root, fire-attribute nether void essence blood, and wartime treasures in Jin as Su Shuangjiang’s core-formation aura swept through the residence.
• Su Shuangjiang emerged after successfully forming her core, and Lin Changheng gifted her the Green Jade Hairpin treasure artifact and advised her on stabilizing her cultivation and refining a natal treasure artifact.
• Lin Changheng left for Extreme Mountain, met Boy Zhengwang and Purple Thunder True Person, and agreed to refine Dust-Descending Pills in exchange for the rootlets of the Five-Element Nascent Soul-Nurturing Herb.
• True Person Qi addressed the assembled Song Region forces, and Lin Changheng departed with the army as it began its journey into Jin.