Chapter Summaries

Lin Changheng opened the box Tantai Feiyue had left him and used its Rockmountain Tortoise essence-blood talisman ink to advance his treasure seed. He refined the Earth Escape Art and discovered he could sink five zhang underground and breathe there for thirty breaths.

• Lin Changheng fed his young spirit tortoise and noted that it had reached early first tier after two years.
• Lin Changheng recalled Tantai Feiyue’s visit, their night together, and how she left the wooden box before departing.
• Lin Changheng opened the box and found it full of talisman ink made from Rockmountain Tortoise essence blood.
• Lin Changheng used the ink to raise the Rockmountain Tortoise Treasure Seed to its fifth layer and refine the Earth Escape Art.
• Lin Changheng tested his new Earth Escape Art, sinking five zhang underground and breathing beneath the soil for thirty breaths.

Lin Changheng refined the Rockmountain Tortoise’s essence blood into a treasure seed that could grant him Earth Escape, then continued his studies while his relationship with Tantai Feiyue deepened. When Mo Zhaoli arrived, Mo Zhaoli’s grandfather encouraged the Xu Family to consult Lin Changheng about her welcome, and her reception became a small private gathering.

• Lin Changheng formed a Rockmountain Tortoise treasure seed that could evolve to grant the Earth Escape demonic art.
• Lin Changheng studied the Two-Yi Profound Furnace Secret Record and the Dragon Essence Secret Art while he and Tantai Feiyue spent two nights together; Tantai Feiyue hoped to bear his children, but Lin Changheng prioritized his cultivation.
• Mo Zhaoli arrived two days late, and Mo Zhaoli’s grandfather directed the Xu Family’s senior members to ask Lin Changheng about her preferences.
• Lin Changheng understood Mo Zhaoli’s grandfather’s intention and answered the Xu Family’s questions, prompting them to recognize his importance beyond pill refining.
• The Xu Family changed Mo Zhaoli’s grand welcome banquet to a small private gathering, and Mo Zhaoli greeted her grandfather and Lin Changheng after arriving by Spell Boat.

Mo Zhaoli reunited with Lin Changheng and explained how his perseverance had helped her endure the Purple Pole Sect. As she prepared to venture into the Savage Wastes to earn merits and obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, Lin offered her a loan of three hundred spirit stones.

• After a welcoming feast, Master Mo and Mo Zhaoli spent time together, and three days later Mo Zhaoli visited Lin Changheng.
• Mo Zhaoli told Lin that his refusal to give up had inspired her to overcome hardship in the Purple Pole Sect and pursue foundation establishment.
• Mo Zhaoli explained that she had accepted frontier reclamation missions and planned to hunt demonic beasts in the Savage Wastes for materials and spirit stones.
• After hearing about her plans, Lin offered Mo Zhaoli three hundred spirit stones, and she accepted, promising to repay him.

Lin Changheng lent Mo Zhaoli spirit stones and obtained Mountain-moving Ape essence blood from her, then used it to advance his Earth Escape Art into the Earth Escape Demonic Art. He tested the new art and found he could travel five li underground, leaving him satisfied with its potential for avoiding detection.

• Lin Changheng lent Mo Zhaoli three hundred spirit stones and asked her to help him obtain Demon Beast essence blood.
• Mo Zhaoli gave Lin Changheng more than thirty jade bottles of Mountain-moving Ape essence blood, and they agreed to deduct its value from the loan.
• After Mo Zhaoli left, Lin Changheng absorbed the essence blood and formed a Rockmountain Tortoise True Core.
• Lin Changheng integrated the Earth Escape Demonic Art and found he could descend seven zhang, remain underground for fifty breaths, and travel five li in one go.

Lin Changheng began spirit-seizing a Mountain-Moving Ape treasure seed and reasoned out how the Origin Cauldron selected talents. After Mo Zhaoli departed, Tantai Feiyue visited Lin Changheng and stayed the night.

• Lin Changheng inspected his spiritual roots, studied the Mountain-Moving Ape's traits, and started spirit seizure with its essence blood.
• The Origin Cauldron formed a Mountain-Moving Ape treasure seed with three selectable talents, prompting Lin Changheng to infer that it chose the strongest or most suitable traits.
• Mo Zhaoli told Lin Changheng she would soon leave for her assignment and had accepted the Xu Family's offer of resources in exchange for future goodwill.
• Tantai Feiyue visited Lin Changheng on the evening Mo Zhaoli departed and remained with him until morning.

Lin Changheng traveled with the Xu Family caravan to Azure Spirit Ward, observing how the Liu and Xu families had transformed the surrounding wasteland and established the market. He arrived at the Xu Family Alchemy Shop, where its elderly manager welcomed him as the new chief Pill Master.

• Xu Xulin led Lin Changheng and two young female cultivators on a peaceful journey toward Azure Spirit Ward, while Xu Fugui and Bai Fengxian sent gifts and entrusted Lin with guiding Xu Fugui's seventh son in the future.
• Xu Xulin wondered what had happened to Chen Guqing, and Lin Changheng concealed his knowledge while agreeing that the outlaw's disappearance was fortunate.
• The caravan reached land cultivated with spirit fields, and a Xu clansman explained how the families had used Dustless Valley's spiritual energy and formations to develop it.
• Lin Changheng used the Spirit-Sensing Technique to inspect the development, then parted from the caravan and entered Azure Spirit Ward.
• Lin Changheng restored his true appearance and reached the Xu Family Alchemy Shop, where an elderly voice joyfully greeted him as its chief Pill Master.

Lin Changheng took charge of the Xu Family Alchemy Shop in Azure Spirit Ward and reunited with Shopkeeper Xu Qianyou, whom he had helped return to work. As the shop formally opened, he welcomed local powers and strengthened ties with the Liu Family.

• Lin Changheng greeted Xu Qianyou, learned how the shop operated, and met the assistants who would work under him.
• Xu Qianyou explained that he had been idle since leaving Zichuan Market until Lin Changheng recommended him for the shopkeeper post.
• The Xu Family Alchemy Shop formally opened, and Lin Changheng met local visitors who came to offer congratulations and gifts.
• Liu Fengjie and Liu Qingyao visited; Lin Changheng welcomed them and agreed to call her Qingyao.
• Xu Qianyou told Lin Changheng that Liu Fengjie oversaw cooperation with the Xu Family and that Liu Qingyao was being groomed as a possible successor.

Lin Changheng refined his first superior-grade pill, a Jade Marrow Pill, and then visited the Sun Clan’s newly opened Black Qilin Residence. The chapter left him being personally received by the shop’s staff.

• Lin Changheng received the Xu Family’s support, a superior-grade pill formula and ingredients, and Xu Qi'an as an apprentice.
• Lin Changheng entered seclusion and successfully refined a standard-quality superior-grade first-tier Jade Marrow Pill.
• Xu Qianyou examined the pill, confirmed its quality, and congratulated Lin Changheng before the news was sent to the clan.
• Lin Changheng visited the Sun Clan’s Black Qilin Residence and was recognized as Chief Lin from the Xu Family’s pill shop.
• A voice inside the residence announced that it would attend to Lin Changheng personally.

Lin Changheng visited Shopkeeper Sun’s beast-taming shop to buy demon beast essence blood and learned about the Sun Clan’s exclusive Redcloud Crane. After hearing that the shop had only fifty portions at five low-grade spirit stones each, he decided to buy them all.

• Lin Changheng asked Shopkeeper Sun whether the shop had large quantities of essence blood from turbid baleful bloodlines.
• Shopkeeper Sun explained that the shop had little stock of two kinds, but plenty of Redcloud Crane essence blood exclusive to the Sun Clan.
• Lin Changheng praised the Sun Clan’s beast-taming arts and learned about its other bred beasts, including Azure Flood Dragon Horses.
• Shopkeeper Sun said that mystic spirit bloodline beasts were rarely bred on a large scale but would not reveal why.
• Shopkeeper Sun offered fifty portions of Redcloud Crane essence blood for five low-grade spirit stones each and refused to discount the price.
• Lin Changheng agreed to buy all fifty portions.

Lin Changheng secured a supply of Redcloud Crane essence blood and secretly collected Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox essence blood from the Liu Family’s shop. There, he learned of discounted Green-Eyed Mystic Python essence blood containing Thunderous Baleful Intent Power and examined a sample.

• Lin Changheng arranged for the Black Qilin Residence to reserve and deliver all of its Redcloud Crane essence blood to him.
• Seven days later, Lin Changheng disguised himself and went to the Liu Family’s Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion to collect the Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox essence blood he had requested.
• A young attendant recognized Lin Changheng as a distinguished customer and explained how the shop had learned of his needs from its Desolate Ruins Market branch.
• The attendant offered Lin Changheng Green-Eyed Mystic Python essence blood containing Thunderous Baleful Intent Power at a discounted price.
• Lin Changheng examined a drop of the essence blood, feeling its numbness and seeing purple sparks as he secretly consulted the Origin Cauldron.

Lin Changheng bought wood-element Mystic Spirit Essence Blood and reflected on his dwindling spirit stones and the scarcity of demon beasts. He caught up with Jin Geng about a formation inheritance and the formations he might need, then secluded himself with the essence blood.

• Lin Changheng purchased the Mystic Spirit Essence Blood after bargaining down its price, then changed back into his original appearance.
• Lin Changheng considered his expenses, his remaining spirit stones, and the dwindling supply of Mystic Spirit Demon Beasts.
• Shopkeeper Jin told Lin Changheng that his clan had not yet decided whether to share a formation inheritance, and Lin Changheng advised him not to quarrel with the elders.
• Lin Changheng learned that Jin Geng might soon be able to craft a superior-grade formation and said he might ask him for a set.
• Lin Changheng returned to his room, activated the isolation formation, and gazed at the crimson essence blood on the table.

Lin Changheng completed the transformation of his Lantern Grass Spirit Dao Fruit, gained the [Glorious Life] divine ability true intent, and discovered it could restore withered plants at a heavy cost in magical power. He also integrated a Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox talent before an attendant reported that someone from his clan had arrived.

• Lin Changheng absorbed the demon beast essence blood and completed his fifth-stage Lantern Grass Spirit Treasure Seed transformation, integrating the [Glorious Life] divine ability true intent.
• Lin Changheng’s lifespan increased by thirty years, and he used [Glorious Life] to revive a withered spirit grass, expending much of his magical power.
• Lin Changheng examined the [Thunderous Baleful Intent], decided he could not control or refine it yet, and sealed it away for future use.
• Lin Changheng integrated the Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox’s [Illusory Appearance Shift] talent and obtained [Illusory Appearance Shift Otherworldly Art · True Ascension].
• An attendant told Lin Changheng that someone from his clan had arrived.

Lin Changheng passed the assessment to become a High-Grade Pill Master and gained a place among the Xu Family’s upper ranks. After receiving two hundred portions of Redcloud Crane essence blood, he began Spirit Seizure and was startled by one of the talents that appeared.

• Lin Changheng destroyed the revived spirit plant before meeting Xu Qianyan and the Xu Family witnesses.
• Xu Qianyan oversaw Lin Changheng’s pill assessment, and after five days announced that Lin had become a High-Grade Pill Master.
• Xu Qianyou hosted a banquet where Xu Qianyan celebrated the family’s new High-Grade Pill Master.
• Over the following half year, Lin Changheng exchanged letters with Tantai Jiyue, while the Xu Family gave him access to its upper ranks and confidential reports.
• The Sun Clan delivered the third batch of Redcloud Crane essence blood, bringing Lin Changheng’s total to two hundred portions.
• Lin Changheng began Spirit Seizure with the Origin Cauldron and abruptly reacted to one of the three talents that appeared.

Lin Changheng refined the Redcloud Crane’s Redcloud Demon Flame talent, gaining a portable exotic flame that synergized with his fire abilities. Still short on spirit stones as he prepared for Foundation Establishment, he decided to disguise himself and sell accumulated stolen goods.

• Lin Changheng chose Redcloud Demon Flame over the Redcloud Crane’s other talents and refined it into himself.
• He discovered the flame seed in his Dantian and used it to form a powerful fireball, contained by his Fire-Repelling ability.
• Lin Changheng recognized that the flame could advance and that his existing fire talents and abilities could strengthen and control it.
• He continued refining pills while seeking to increase his superior-grade output and build reserves for Demon Beast essence blood and Foundation Establishment resources.
• Lin Changheng decided to disguise himself and visit an artifact shop in the market ward to sell his accumulated stolen goods.

Lin Changheng failed to sell a superior-grade defensive magic artifact at an acceptable price and followed a broker to a secret shop inside the Market Ward. After seeing its concealed underground auction, he went to ask about consigning his artifact, leaving its sale unresolved.

• Lin Changheng rejected several low offers for his nearly new defensive magic artifact at shops in the Market Ward.
• A scholar-looking cultivator approached Lin Changheng and revealed that he worked for a secret shop that bought and auctioned goods.
• Lin Changheng followed the scholar to a hidden entrance, where Granny Wu admitted him to the secret shop.
• Granny Wu led Lin Changheng through a secret passage to an underground chamber where masked cultivators were holding an auction.
• Lin Changheng entered the consignment room after another customer left and was asked whether he knew the consignment rules.

Lin Changheng sold three magic artifacts at auction for about six hundred and fifty spirit stones. Before he left, bidding began on a withered root said to come from a Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus, and Lin Changheng unexpectedly bid seventy spirit stones.

• Lin Changheng consigned a superior-grade Golden Seal and two worn mid-grade magic artifacts, and the appraiser approved them for auction.
• Bidders bought the Golden Seal for five hundred and thirty spirit stones, while the two other artifacts sold for less than two hundred combined.
• Lin Changheng collected roughly six hundred and fifty spirit stones and was about to leave when an auctioned Jade Box drew the crowd's attention.
• Cultivators identified its Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus root as long dead and questioned its value, though bidding reached fifty-five spirit stones.
• As the host prepared to close the auction, Lin Changheng bid seventy spirit stones for the withered root.

Lin Changheng discovered that reviving the second-tier Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus required sacrificing a year of lifespan, then accelerated its growth with magical power and concealed it using protective formations. The chapter left him sensing that his origin treasure seed was advancing to the fifth level in spirit seizure.

• Lin Changheng won the withered roots of the Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus at auction and planted them in spirit soil.
• After seven days of experiments, Lin Changheng found that his Glorious Life divine ability could revive second-tier roots only by consuming lifespan, and he sacrificed one year to restore the fungus.
• Lin Changheng discovered that magical power could accelerate the revived fungus's growth, then bought the Two-Yi Dust Array and Luoqu Array from Jin Geng to protect and conceal it.
• Lin Changheng felt his essence blood being drawn out and realized that his origin treasure seed was advancing to the fifth level in spirit seizure.

Lin Changheng incorporated Source-Peering into the Origin Treasure Seed and discovered it could advance beyond the fifth tier by enhancing another talent. Two years after arriving at Azure Spirit Ward, he was preparing for Foundation Establishment when Xu Qi'an brought news that Bai-he had fallen in the Savage Wastes.

• Lin Changheng incorporated Heaven-Gifted Enhanced Comprehension · Source-Peering, which helped him perceive solutions to obstacles in the superior-grade pill Dao.
• After his fifth-tier treasure seed completed Spirit Seizure, Lin Changheng learned he could choose another human Innate Talent and selected Clear Heart.
• Lin Changheng’s fire spiritual root reached thirty strands, and he began accumulating progress toward a Clear Heart treasure seed without losing his prior progress.
• The Xu Family agreed to publicize Lin Changheng’s advancement to High-Grade Pill Master and rewarded him with the superior-grade body-tempering technique Evergreen Azurewood Body.
• After two years at Azure Spirit Ward, Lin Changheng emerged from the Pill Room and Xu Qi'an told him that Bai-he had fallen in the Savage Wastes.

Lin Changheng returned to the Xu lineage to honor his promise to bury Bai Fengxian, and learned that the Qiu Family of Flying Cloud Valley had seized the resource site where Bai died. The chapter left Lin Changheng aware that the Qiu Family was the prime suspect in his old friend’s death.

• Lin Changheng left the Market Ward to return to the lineage after learning Bai Fengxian had died, leaving his growing violet cinnabar fungus and formations behind.
• On the journey, Lin Changheng met Xu Liuli and her husband, who learned of his standing as the Xu Family’s chief Pill Master before they parted at the riverbank.
• At Bai Fengxian’s home, Lin Changheng paid his respects and discussed the funeral and support for Bai’s wives and children with Xu Fugui.
• Xu Fugui told Lin Changheng that Bai’s death appeared to involve both a Demon Beast attack and cultivators, and that the Qiu Family had seized the resource site afterward.
• Lin Changheng identified the Qiu Family as the prime suspect in Bai Fengxian’s death.

Lin Changheng and Xu Fugui mourned Bai Fengxian while the Xu Family debated whether to confront the Qiu Family or keep developing in silence. After returning to Cloud Gazing Dojo, Lin Changheng reunited with Tantai Feiyue and saw the Black-Armored Earth Turtle she had cared for.

• The Xu Family High Council divided between Xu Qianzhan and Xu Fugui’s support for war and a moderate faction’s preference for continued development, while Lin Changheng stayed out of the decision.
• Lin Changheng and Xu Fugui buried Bai Fengxian’s belongings in a cenotaph on a mountain and drank Spirit Wine beside his grave.
• Lin Changheng returned to his courtyard at Cloud Gazing Dojo, where Tantai Feiyue arrived and reunited with him.
• The next day, Lin Changheng followed Tantai Feiyue to see the Black-Armored Earth Turtle, cleaned it with two Cleansing Spells, and praised her care.