Chapter Summaries

Lin Changheng settled into his new courtyard and reflected on how his spirit-seizing treasures had developed, discovering that the Wooden Puppet Fox Treasure Seed had reached its limit. He considered seeking a connection with the Liu Family while preparing to meet a young woman recommended by Xu Xuzhong.

• Lin Changheng moved into his new courtyard at the Cloud Gazing Dojo and found that his second-stage Earth Escape Art let him travel farther and remain underground longer.
• Lin Changheng considered Princess Tantai’s growing standing in the clan and the close, mutually beneficial relationship between them.
• Lin Changheng advanced the Wooden Puppet Fox Treasure Seed to its third and final stage, gaining Finger Regeneration, then concluded that its potential was far below that of his other treasure seeds.
• Lin Changheng accumulated the Earthfire Lizard Treasure Seed and Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox Treasure Seed by buying essence blood from Shopkeeper Liu, but the latter had reached only 37 out of 100.
• Lin Changheng hoped the Liu Family’s upcoming visit to the Xu Family would help him establish a connection, and planned to meet a young woman recommended by Xu Xuzhong.

Lin Changheng met Xu Hanyi after Xu Xuzhong arranged a matchmaking meeting, but he had no intention of taking a Dao companion and used his Pill Dao ambitions to refuse the proposal. Xu Xuzhong was left wondering whether Lin Changheng was not interested in women.

• Lin Changheng considered prioritizing the growth of his fire spiritual root to improve his cultivation prospects.
• Xu Xuzhong invited Lin Changheng to meet Xu Hanyi at the Wind and Rain Pavilion.
• Lin Changheng and Xu Hanyi chatted pleasantly after Xu Xuzhong and the maid left them alone.
• Xu Xuzhong urged Lin Changheng to marry Xu Hanyi, citing the clan’s support and the benefits of the match.
• Lin Changheng used his goal of advancing in the Pill Dao to deflect Xu Xuzhong’s persuasion, leaving him to wonder if Lin Changheng was not interested in women.

Lin Changheng met Tantai Feiyue on his way to the Hundred Refinements Hall, where their teasing conversation briefly turned into an awkward exchange of vows. He then began refining Blazing Breath Pills, hoping their Flame-Tailed Golden Mouse essence blood would help him find a needed turbid baleful bloodline.

• Lin Changheng and Tantai Feiyue exchanged earnest assurances of friendship, then grew embarrassed when their words sounded like a lovers’ vow.
• Tantai Feiyue hurried away after claiming she had meant her dedication to the talisman Dao.
• Lin Changheng began refining the Xu Family’s Blazing Breath Pills because their ingredients included Flame-Tailed Golden Mouse essence blood.
• After six hours, Lin Changheng left Xu Liucai to tend the furnace and instructed him to summon Xu Liuhui for another batch later that day.
• Lin Changheng went to meditate while preparing to refine two batches with their pill formula hand seals timed apart.

Lin Changheng completed two batches of mid-grade pills and planned to seek more essence blood as part of his Pill Dao studies. Tantai Feiyue gave him one hundred bottles of Rockmountain Tortoise essence blood, leaving him astonished at how she had obtained so much.

• Lin Changheng reflected on his pill-refining progress, his wealth, and his plans to meet the Liu Family after finishing two batches of mid-grade pills.
• Lin Changheng completed the batches and sealed ten pills in a jade box.
• Lin Changheng visited Tantai Feiyue to ask about talisman ink made from Rockmountain Tortoise Essence Blood.
• Tantai Feiyue showed Lin Changheng fifteen bottles of talisman ink and one hundred bottles of Rockmountain Tortoise essence blood.
• Lin Changheng realized the essence blood could advance his rockmountain tortoise treasure seed to the third tier and asked Tantai Feiyue if she had found a Rockmountain Tortoise nest.

Tantai Feiyue told Lin Changheng she had accepted the Xu Family’s support in exchange for closer cooperation, while Lin declined her invitation to join the clan. Lin refined a Rockmountain Tortoise Treasure Seed and improved his Earth Escape Art; later, Xu Fugui shared a rumor that the Liu and Xu Families might open a Market Ward in the newly reclaimed lands.

• Tantai Feiyue explained her agreement with the Xu Family and revealed she had requested Rockmountain Tortoise essence blood; Lin Changheng offered her spirit stones, which she refused.
• Tantai Feiyue asked Lin Changheng whether he would stay with the Xu Family, and he said no.
• Lin Changheng refined the Rockmountain Tortoise Treasure Seed, gained clearer Earth Escape Art, and discovered that the seed could continue developing beyond its third layer.
• Lin Changheng tested his improved Earth Escape Art and found he could travel roughly a hundred and fifty zhang underground before being forced to surface.
• At a banquet for the Liu Family envoy, Xu Fugui told Lin Changheng a rumor that Dustless Valley might become a hub for a Market Ward in the newly reclaimed Savage Wastes.

At a Xu Family banquet welcoming Liu Family representatives, Lin Changheng sought demonic beast essence blood for his pill-refining experiments. Xu Fugui backed his request and suggested asking the Liu Family for help.

• Xu Fugui speculated that the Xu and Liu Families might be planning to open a Market Ward together.
• Lin Changheng and Xu Fugui greeted Xu Qianzhan and his daughter Xu Xuying, and Xu Qianzhan praised Lin and welcomed his friendship.
• Xu Fugui told Lin that Xu Qianzhan had earned his fearsome reputation by killing a stronger Chen Family cultivator and explained why he had chosen Xu Fugui as his son-in-law.
• The Xu Family head welcomed three Liu Family representatives, and the families discussed cooperation during a banquet.
• Lin told his table that he needed demonic beast essence blood to test a promising pill-refining insight, and Xu Fugui proposed obtaining some from the Liu Family.

Lin Changheng maneuvered the Xu Family High Council into supporting a request to obtain essence blood from the Liu Family, while carefully protecting the people helping him. Two days later, Xu Hanji told him the Liu Family had agreed to the purchase and wanted to meet him to learn what kind of essence blood he needed.

• At the banquet, Lin Changheng prompted the senior members to support his proposal, and Xu Xuzhong promised to present it to the family head after the banquet.
• On the walk back, Xu Fugui offered to help Lin Changheng, and Lin Changheng revealed that Xu Xuzhong had helped plan the maneuver.
• Lin Changheng refused Xu Fugui's offer to ask his father-in-law for help, saying they would do what they could and accept the outcome.
• Two days later, Xu Hanji visited Lin Changheng and told him the Xu Family had secured the Liu Family's agreement to provide essence blood.
• Xu Hanji said the Liu Family wanted to meet Lin Changheng and ask what kind of essence blood he needed.

Lin Changheng met Liu Family representatives to discuss Demon Beast essence blood and chose blood from a [Lantern Grass Spirit] to advance his [Greenwood Snake Treasure Seed]. The Liu Family young woman explained that the Lantern Grass Spirit was a plant transformed into a mountain and marsh spirit, and Lin Changheng asked how such spirits’ bloodline grades were distinguished.

• Xu Hanji told Lin Changheng that the Liu Family wanted to meet him, and he promised to discuss only essence blood out of loyalty to the Xu Family.
• Lin Changheng met the hemp-robed elder and young woman from the Liu Family, who praised his pill-refining talent and invited him to visit their family.
• The hemp-robed elder offered Lin Changheng three kinds of essence blood, and Lin Changheng chose the [Lantern Grass Spirit] blood from the [turbid baleful bloodline].
• Lin Changheng asked how many [Lantern Grass Spirits] the Liu Family raised, prompting the young woman to explain that they were mountain and marsh spirits.
• Lin Changheng learned that plants could become mountain and marsh spirits after encountering a rare spiritual influence of heaven and earth, then asked how their bloodline grades were distinguished.

Lin Changheng learned about the Liu Family’s [Lantern Grass Spirits] and secured a five-year contract to buy their essence blood. He used the blood to transform his Greenwood Snake Treasure Seed into a supreme true core, gaining the ability to purge impurities and neutralize poison.

• The Liu Family explained how [Lantern Grass Spirits] produced essence blood and offered Lin Changheng about two hundred portions a year under a five-year agreement.
• Lin Changheng accepted the contract, bought thirty-two bottles of essence blood, and declined the Liu Family’s attempt to recruit him.
• Lin Changheng used the essence blood to complete his transformation into the [Greenwood Snake True Core · Supreme] and acquired the [Poison-Transforming Demonic Art].
• The transformation expelled foul toxins and impurities from Lin Changheng’s body, leaving him refreshed and apparently resistant to first-tier poisons.
• Lin Changheng used the art to dissolve poisonous smoke and neutralize the toxins in a failed [Water Fungus Pill].

Lin Changheng used the Lantern Grass Spirit’s essence blood to form a treasure seed with the lifespan-extension talent and planned to complete its spirit seizure. A year and a half later, the Xu Family gained a Foundation Establishment Pill and developed a market ward with the Liu Family, but robber cultivators terrorized the area and one survivor identified a scythe-wielding attacker as a Chen Family Remnant.

• Lin Changheng used the Poison-Transforming Demonic Art to purge poison and affect things outside himself.
• Lin Changheng spirit-seized the Lantern Grass Spirit’s essence blood and discovered its treasure seed offered lifespan extension, agelessness, and spirit gathering.
• The Purple Pole Sect awarded the Xu Family an additional Foundation Establishment Pill in recognition of its contributions to the Great Reclamation.
• The Xu Family and Liu Family began building a market ward around Dustless Valley and offered discounts and shop ownership to attract cultivators and businesses.
• Robber cultivators repeatedly attacked near the Xu Family, and a surviving clansman identified a scythe-wielding attacker as a Chen Family Remnant.

Lin Changheng broke through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining and saw his Origin Cauldron treasures greatly improve his cultivation, pill-making, and lifespan. His allotted lifespan rose to 123 years, giving him more time to pursue Foundation Establishment.

• The Xu Family confirmed that surviving Chen Family members and other unknown forces were behind the attacks, so its High Council warned the clan to travel cautiously.
• Lin Changheng used the Spirit Gathering Array and a premium Blazing Breath Pill to break through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining at age forty-one.
• Lin Changheng’s Triple Origin Treasure Seed reached eleven spirit seizures, and its Penetrating Wisdom treasure helped him advance the Lihuo Night-Illuminating Art and improve his pill-making.
• Lin Changheng refined the Lantern Grass Spirit’s Lifespan extension talent, which slowed the decline of his blood and vitality and added five years to his lifespan.
• Lin Changheng sensed that his allotted lifespan had increased from roughly 118 years to 123 years.

Lin Changheng advanced his fire-seizing abilities and attended the full-month celebration for Xu Fugui’s twins with Tantai Feiyue. Their conversation about mortal children left Tantai Feiyue impressed, while Bai Fengxian suspected something was developing between them.

• Lin Changheng reflected on his improved fire spiritual root and planned to seek more fire-type Turbid Baleful Bloodline essence blood to gain the eleven spirit resonances he still needed.
• Three days later, Lin Changheng and Tantai Feiyue arrived at Xu Fugui’s celebration for his tenth and eleventh children, twins with low-grade spiritual roots.
• Xu Sanyuan welcomed Lin Changheng and Tantai Feiyue, who gave greeting gifts to him and Xu Sishi and Xu Wufang.
• Tantai Feiyue wondered whether children without spiritual roots suffered when their siblings cultivated, and Lin Changheng suggested that a peaceful mortal life with one’s parents could also be a happiness.
• Bai Fengxian greeted Lin Changheng and Tantai Feiyue, then secretly winked and gestured as if teasing Lin Changheng about their closeness.

At Xu Fugui’s banquet, Lin Changheng brought Tantai Feiyue and Xu Hanji together, prompting each woman to wonder about his closeness with the other. After the gathering, Lin Changheng inferred that Tantai Feiyue was nearing the fifth layer of Qi Refining and had also practiced Aura Concealment Technique.

• Xu Fugui welcomed Lin Changheng and Tantai Feiyue to his banquet, where Tantai Feiyue thanked Lin Changheng for arranging their connection.
• Lin Changheng teased Tantai Feiyue by asking whether she wanted him to pledge himself to her, making her blush and scold him.
• Xu Hanji arrived on behalf of the Xu Family head, and Xu Fugui led her to Lin Changheng’s table to introduce her to his friends.
• Xu Hanji and Tantai Feiyue exchanged watchful, polite smiles as each noticed the other’s closeness to Lin Changheng.
• After the banquet, Lin Changheng and Tantai Feiyue walked together, and he guessed that she was nearing the fifth layer of Qi Refining and had practiced Aura Concealment Technique.

Lin Changheng encouraged Tantai Feiyue to keep pursuing cultivation and agreed to continue supplying her with pills in exchange for premium talismans. Three days later, he helped Lü Bailian with pill-making problems and noticed that his former fellow apprentice Xu Hanzhou resented his success.

• Lin Changheng reassured Tantai Feiyue that she was not alone in pursuing the immortal path, inspiring her to keep fighting despite her spiritual root’s limitations.
• Lin Changheng offered Tantai Feiyue pills in exchange for her continued effort to produce mid-grade first-tier premium talismans.
• Three days later, Lü Bailian sought Lin Changheng’s advice on mid-grade pill-making, and Lin resolved the questions that had troubled him for years.
• Lin Changheng recognized Lü Bailian’s apprentice as Xu Hanzhou, his former coworker, and realized Xu’s gaze held jealousy and malice.
• Lin Changheng recalled that Xu blamed him and the Xu Family for his own stalled progress, and resolved not to show mercy if Xu became a threat.

Xu Fugui traced the campaign that spread Lin Changheng’s fame to Xu Hanzhou, then helped bring about Xu Hanzhou’s death during a crackdown on rogue cultivators. Lin Changheng joined a caravan to the Desolate Ruins Market, where he learned an auction would feature a Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure.

• Xu Fugui told Lin Changheng that Xu Hanzhou had used Pill Master Lü’s connections to spread his name, and Xu Fugui promised to handle the matter.
• Xu Qianzhan led a successful operation against rogue cultivators, and Xu Hanzhou was listed among the casualties.
• Xu Fugui escorted Xu Hanzhou’s ashes home and secured permission to scatter them into the Blackwater River, while Lin Changheng watched from the crowd.
• Lin Changheng arranged passage to the Desolate Ruins Market with Xu Xulin and found the Veil Hat female cultivator aboard the caravan.
• Xu Xulin revealed that a large auction at the Desolate Ruins Market would include a Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure.

Lin Changheng arrived at the crowded Desolate Ruins Market and visited the Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion to look for a promising spirit beast. Shopkeeper Liu Fengxiu revealed that the shop had acquired a mystic spirit bloodline beast egg.

• Lin Changheng entered the Desolate Ruins Market, rented an expensive room, and checked that no one was following him.
• Lin Changheng visited the Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion and considered the shop’s expanded selection of spirit beasts.
• Liu Fengxiu introduced several beasts, but Lin Changheng asked whether the shop had any with a mystic spirit bloodline.
• Liu Fengxiu led Lin Changheng upstairs and brought out a spirit beast egg from a pouch.

Lin Changheng examined a poisoned Black-Armored Earth Turtle egg and negotiated its price with Shopkeeper Liu Fengxiu. After buying it for 140 low-grade spirit stones, he asked whether the shop stocked books about demon beasts and spirit beasts.

• Shopkeeper Liu Fengxiu explained that the Black-Armored Earth Turtle egg had been poisoned in its mother’s womb, weakening its vitality and limiting its potential to the late first tier.
• Lin Changheng sensed the egg’s weak vitality and, interested despite its defect, proposed buying it to breed with a turtle in his lineage.
• Lin Changheng and Shopkeeper Liu haggled over the egg’s price and settled on 140 low-grade spirit stones.
• Lin Changheng paid for the egg and received a turtle-raising jade slip and a Beast-Taming Plaque, then realized he had no spirit beast bag.
• Shopkeeper Liu offered to sell Lin Changheng a spirit beast bag, and Lin Changheng asked whether the shop carried reference books on demon beasts and spirit beasts.

Lin Changheng bought a poisoned turtle egg and a restricted bestiary, then used his Poison-Transforming Demonic Art to stabilize the egg. After studying the bestiary, he decided to pursue spirit seizure of the Flame-Tailed Golden Mouse and secure access to defective pills; a day later, he returned to the Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion in disguise.

• Lin Changheng bought a turtle egg, a Beast-Taming Jade Token, and two Jade Slips from the Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion.
• Lin Changheng examined the poisoned egg and used the Poison-Transforming Demonic Art to stabilize it, estimating three or four more treatments would clear the poison.
• Lin Changheng read the Record of Savage Wastes Monsters and Spirit Beasts and found its entries useful but incomplete.
• Lin Changheng learned the Flame-Tailed Golden Mouse had metal- and fire-attribute monster arts, including Limb Hardening, Flame-Tail Wave, and Spirit-Sense Tracking.
• Lin Changheng decided to perform spirit seizure on the Flame-Tailed Golden Mouse and negotiate with a Pill Master for the task of disposing of defective pills.
• Lin Changheng changed his appearance and returned to the Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion a day later.

Lin Changheng bought Earthfire Lizard and Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox essence blood, cultivated new abilities, and prepared a layered disguise before heading to a black market outside Desolate Ruins Market. He arrived at the valley where the black market was said to be held.

• Lin Changheng bought all the shop’s Earthfire Lizard and Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox essence blood and asked Shopkeeper Liu Fengxiu to source other kinds of turbid baleful essence blood.
• Lin Changheng learned that a black market would open at noon the next day in a valley five li outside Desolate Ruins Market, and decided to attend.
• Lin Changheng completed spirit seizure on Earthfire Lizard essence blood, cultivated the Fire-Repelling Art, and advanced the Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox Treasure Seed to its first tier.
• Lin Changheng used the Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox ability to change his body and appearance, then added a Human-Skin Mask, a black robe, and a conical hat to conceal himself further.
• Lin Changheng traveled to the red valley where the black market was to be held.

Lin Changheng searched a concealed valley black market for earthfire lizard essence blood and bought several portions from different stalls. After he left, three cultivators followed him with greed and malice.

• Lin Changheng paid the entrance fee and entered the hidden black market, where he found a wide range of goods but no trustworthy knowledge texts.
• Lin Changheng asked a stallholder for earthfire lizard and turbid baleful essence blood, but the man only had Gold Mountain Ape essence blood.
• Lin Changheng found the Red-Robed Elder selling genuine earthfire lizard essence blood and bought twenty portions for sixteen spirit stones.
• The Red-Robed Elder sent Lin Changheng a message inviting him to return in three days, but Lin Changheng left and bought another ten portions at a different stall.
• Three figures left the black market after Lin Changheng and followed him, watching him with greed and malice.