Chapter Summaries

Lin Changheng uncovered Cui Jianshui and Gu Qiusheng’s plan to incapacitate him and force him to refine pills, then turned their trap against them and killed Gu Qiusheng. After searching the bandit cultivator’s soul, Lin learned their paths had crossed before and discovered Gu Qiusheng had also bid against him at an auction.

• Lin Changheng overheard that Cui Jianshui was Gu Qiusheng’s Dao companion and learned they planned to use a gu parasite to weaken him before capturing him.
• Cui Jianshui attacked Lin Changheng, but he resisted her strike and knocked her unconscious; Gu Qiusheng’s magic artifacts also failed to harm him.
• Lin Changheng evaded Gu Qiusheng’s five flying blades, seized him, and broke his neck before burning the bodies and clearing away evidence.
• Lin Changheng searched Gu Qiusheng’s soul and learned that Gu had belonged to the bandit group Lin killed near Floating Life Immortal City and had later competed with him for a second-tier Pill Dao inheritance.

After killing Gu Qiusheng and Cui Jianshui, Lin Changheng inventoried their treasures, gained a powerful set of mother-and-child blades and other useful items, and stayed cautious about the windfall. He later offered to refine healing pills for Puppet Master Yan, leaving the neighbors’ friendship strengthened.

• Lin Changheng examined Cui Jianshui’s inferior Foundation Establishment Pill and Gu Qiusheng’s azure spirit milk, then kept both for his own use.
• Lin Changheng claimed Gu Qiusheng’s formation, Flowing Shadow Secret Art, Spell Boat, and Mystic Mother-and-Son Blades, and quickly refined the blades for himself.
• Lin Changheng sorted the remaining spoils, destroyed suspicious items, and decided to wait three to five years before selling the rest.
• Lin Changheng accepted an invitation to dine at Puppet Master Yan’s home and saw that Yan’s health had worsened.
• Lin Changheng offered to refine Spirit Essence Rejuvenation Pills for Puppet Master Yan, and Yan Mingyi and her grandfather thanked him.

Lin Changheng reassured Puppet Master Yan and Yan Mingyi that Yan could safely take a second-tier Spirit Essence Rejuvenation Pill. After Cook Zeng delivered 121 portions of Azure Wave Spirit Turtle essence blood and invited Lin Changheng to join the Huang Household branch as an attendant, Lin declined and turned his attention to the essence blood.

• Yan Mingyi worried that Puppet Master Yan could not withstand a second-tier Spirit Essence Rejuvenation Pill, and Lin Changheng reassured them with the example of Qi Refining cultivators taking Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Cook Zeng congratulated Lin Changheng, delivered 121 portions of Azure Wave Spirit Turtle essence blood, and accepted payment at a discounted price.
• Cook Zeng explained that he had married into the Huang Household of Spirit Vault Mountain and that his branch faced a loss of influence as its only Foundation Establishment cultivator grew frail.
• Cook Zeng invited Lin Changheng to become an attendant for the branch, but Lin refused and offered to prioritize its pill orders instead.
• Lin Changheng learned that Cook Zeng's branch faced internal conflict and resolved to keep his distance before taking out the essence blood.

Lin Changheng gained another eight years of lifespan and continued seeking a suitable second-tier cultivation art while advancing his alchemy, formations, and body tempering. Huang Linglin and Cook Zeng offered him a no-obligation position as an Attendant of the Huang Household, and Lin Changheng asked whether their ancestor could provide an Upper-Grade Second-Tier fire-element cultivation art; the chapter ended with him awaiting their answer.

• Lin Changheng refined a second-level Jade Wave Spirit Turtle treasure seed, gained eight years of lifespan, and brought his total lifespan to 278 years.
• Lin Changheng searched for a suitable second-tier cultivation art, refined commissioned elixirs, studied formations, and continued tempering his body with second-tier materials.
• Cook Zeng visited Lin Changheng with his cultivation partner, Huang Linglin, who offered him an Attendant position with no duties and resources from the Huang Household.
• Huang Linglin said the Huang Household's ancestor would grant Lin Changheng one reasonable request as a joining gift.
• Lin Changheng asked for an Upper-Grade Second-Tier fire-element cultivation art, and Huang Linglin and Cook Zeng left to consult their ancestor before responding.

Lin Changheng accepted the Huang Household’s Jade Void Radiant Scripture and moved to a second-tier cave abode to cultivate it, choosing its defensive strengths despite its slow progress. As his cultivation produced crimson true essence, the Redcloud Mystic Flame consumed it and grew stronger.

• Huang Linglin told Lin Changheng that the Huang Household patriarch had approved giving him the Jade Void Radiant Scripture, provided he did not pass it on, and Lin Changheng agreed to become an attendant without visiting the lineage.
• Lin Changheng publicly endorsed the Hundred Herbs Shop and guided Junior Brother Cheng, helping the shop’s business and his own reputation grow.
• Lin Changheng delivered pills to Puppet Master Yan and told Yan Mingyi and her grandfather that he was moving to an outer lake cave abode, then gave them his new address.
• Two years later, Lin Changheng had reached Proficient in the Jade Void Radiant Scripture and continued cultivating in Outer Lake Cave Abode No. 98.
• Lin Changheng’s cultivation produced crimson true essence, which the Redcloud Mystic Flame consumed, causing the flame to grow stronger.

Lin Changheng strengthened his talents, flame, and lifespan while learning about Huang Lingsu’s rare constitution and receiving Tantai Feiyue’s request to visit before her foundation-establishment attempt. He left his cave abode to return to her.

• Lin Changheng discovered that the Jade Void Radiant Scripture could strengthen his Redcloud Mystic Flame and patiently accepted his slow cultivation progress.
• Lin Changheng tended his revived treasure plants, impressed upon elixir clients the value of keeping medicinal roots, and assimilated the ninth Origin Treasure Seed to gain Desire Restraint.
• Lin Changheng learned that Huang Lingsu’s Dragon’s Cry Constitution caused her yin and yang energies to clash, threatening her cultivation and life.
• Lin Changheng used two hundred portions of Azure Wave Spirit Turtle essence blood to gain two treasure-seed layers and extend his lifespan by sixteen years.
• Tantai Feiyue wrote to Lin Changheng hoping he would visit before her attempt at foundation establishment, and he decided to return to see her.
• Lin Changheng settled his affairs, gave instructions about preserving his essence blood, and departed aboard his Spell Boat.

Lin Changheng revisited Zichuan Market and returned to the Xu Family, where he reunited with Tantai Feiyue. After spending time together, he examined her condition and preparation for Foundation Establishment, and his expression turned troubled.

• Lin Changheng arrived at Zichuan Market, visited his old alchemy shop and abandoned courtyard, then flew away after reflecting on his past there.
• Lin Changheng crossed the Blackwater River after the ferryman recognized him and welcomed him back to the Xu Family.
• Lin Changheng found his old courtyard at the Cloud Gazing Dojo preserved and met Tantai Feiyue, Xu Xujun, and Xu Xuheng.
• Lin Changheng and Tantai Feiyue embraced and privately reunited while Xu Xujun and Xu Xuheng left them alone.
• Lin Changheng asked about Tantai Feiyue's preparations for Foundation Establishment and examined her foundation, then furrowed his brow.

Lin Changheng used the Poison-Transforming Demonic Art to cleanse Tantai Feiyue of pill toxins, improving her prospects for Foundation Establishment, then reunited with Xu Fugui and learned of the Xu Family’s conflict with the Qiu and Yun Families. He left Xu Xuheng and Xu Xujun with advice to press their advantage against the beleaguered Qiu Family.

• Lin Changheng examined Tantai Feiyue’s cultivation and used the Poison-Transforming Demonic Art with her Qi-Mobilizing and Blood-Circulating Method to remove pill toxins, raising her Foundation Establishment chances.
• Lin Changheng reunited with Xu Fugui, gave him pills to ease the harm from lost vital essence, and carried him by escape light to visit Old Bai’s grave on Green Mountain.
• Lin Changheng attended the Xu Family’s banquet and learned that Xu Qianhuan and Xu Qianzhan had died, while Xu Hanwu was away seeking a Foundation Establishment opportunity.
• Xu Xuheng and Xu Xujun told Lin Changheng that the Yun Family was intervening in the Xu Family’s campaign against the weakened Qiu Family, dividing the Xu Family’s leadership.
• Lin Changheng recalled a hostile Foundation Establishment cultivator watching the Xu Family and advised Xu Xuheng and Xu Xujun, “Press on with your remaining valor and pursue the cornered foe.”

Lin Changheng accepted the Xu Family’s gift of Demon Beast Essence Blood and agreed to guide Xu Qianyan in the Pill Dao. The Xu Family resolved to cultivate their relationship with Lin Changheng, while he examined the gift and found more than 420 bottles of [Mountain-Moving Ape] Essence Blood.

• Lin Changheng warned Xu Xuheng and Xu Xujun about a watching presence, and he refused to help them lure out and kill the Qiu Family’s old Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Xu Xujun and Xu Xuheng offered Lin Changheng a Jade Box filled with Demon Beast Essence Blood, including [Mountain-Moving Ape] Essence Blood collected after Mo Zhaoli told them about his needs.
• Lin Changheng accepted the gift and agreed to exchange Pill Dao insights with Xu Qianyan, whose Pill Dao had stalled at superior-grade first-tier.
• After Lin Changheng left, Xu Xuheng, Xu Xujun, and Xu Qianyan agreed to prioritize befriending him because he might eventually refine [Foundation Establishment Pills].
• Lin Changheng returned to his lodgings, set up the [Flowing Clouds Veil the Moon Formation], and examined the Essence Blood, counting more than 420 bottles of [Mountain-Moving Ape] Essence Blood.

Lin Changheng refined Mountain-Moving Ape essence blood, gained the Mighty Strength Otherworldly Art, and witnessed the Dao Fruit of the Mountain-Bearing Divine Ability. He also acquired a Breath-Concealing Otherworldly Art, guided Xu Qianyan through a successful pill refinement, and planned for Tantai Feiyue’s Foundation Establishment in two months.

• Lin Changheng refined the Mountain-Moving Ape treasure seed to its fifth layer, gained powerful strength, and saw the golden giant ape whose Dao Fruit offered the true intent of the Mountain-Bearing Divine Ability.
• Lin Changheng refined Jade-Horned Snake essence blood, chose Breath Concealment, and tested the new art by moving unseen among wild animals.
• Lin Changheng returned to the Xu Family and watched Xu Qianyan refine a Blood Ginseng Mystic Essence Pill, correcting problems that threatened to ruin the batch.
• Xu Qianyan completed a standard-quality second-tier pill after seven days and thanked Lin Changheng for guiding him.
• Lin Changheng told the Xu Family to prioritize collecting demon beast essence blood and estimated that Tantai Feiyue could begin Foundation Establishment in two months at Brilliant Sun Valley.

Lin Changheng learned that his use of the Glorious Life Divine Ability had helped Tantai Feiyue overcome a major obstacle and achieve Foundation Establishment. After informing the Xu Family and receiving its second-tier pill dao inheritance, he visited Mo Zhaoli at the Purple Pole Sect, where she presented him with demon beast essence blood.

• Tantai Feiyue told Lin Changheng that flecks of green light had caused the Mountain of Essence to collapse during her Foundation Establishment attempt, and Lin Changheng realized his Glorious Life Divine Ability had helped her.
• Lin Changheng told the Xu Family that Tantai Feiyue had succeeded and would return after consolidating her cultivation; Xu Xujun gave him the family's low-grade second-tier pill dao inheritance.
• Lin Changheng examined the inheritance while traveling and decided to visit Mo Zhaoli at the Purple Pole Sect to ask whether she had collected demon beast essence blood.
• Mo Zhaoli welcomed Lin Changheng at Jade Tide Peak, discussed his recent visit to the Xu Family, and brought out a batch of essence blood for him.

Lin Changheng returned to Floating Life Immortal City after avoiding a conflict with Senior Brother Feng, then spent three years cultivating and preparing for his next advancement. At sixty-six, he broke through to Foundation Establishment second layer and emerged from seclusion to find his Black-Armored Earth Turtle begging a puppet for pills.

• Mo Zhaoli gave Lin Changheng Mountain-Moving Ape and Red-Eyed Fire essence blood, then escorted him through the sect market ward, where Senior Brother Feng tried to needle him.
• Mo Zhaoli left with Lin Changheng, and he decided not to pursue or kill Senior Brother Feng because the risk of suspicion and retaliation from Feng's False Core master was too great.
• After returning to Floating Life Immortal City, Lin Changheng secluded himself, used the Mountain-Moving Ape essence blood to complete Spirit Seizure, and spent three years refining pills and cultivating.
• At the city's grand auction, Lin Changheng won a second-tier low-grade Pill Dao inheritance, a Jiao Blood Fruit, and a second-tier low-grade formation inheritance, then quickly returned to his cave abode.
• At age sixty-six, Lin Changheng broke through from Foundation Establishment first layer to second layer after more than six years of cultivation.
• Lin Changheng left his cultivation chamber and saw the larger Black-Armored Earth Turtle begging a silver-white puppet for pills.

After emerging from seclusion, Lin Changheng advanced his cultivation, extended his lifespan beyond three hundred years, and tended his spirit plants while continuing to temper his body. Cook Zeng then asked him to refine Foundation Establishment Pills for the Huang Household, and Lin Changheng agreed to prioritize the batch once they supplied the ingredients.

• Lin Changheng saw that the Black-Armored Earth Turtle had grown stronger and watched Yan Mingyi’s puppet feed it an elixir.
• Lin Changheng cared for his rare spirit plants, including the Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus and Vermilion Beauty Fruit Grass, and accelerated the growth of his other medicinal plants.
• Lin Changheng refined the Jade Wave Spirit Turtle Treasure Seed, increasing his lifespan to three hundred and one years and unlocking its transformation stage.
• Lin Changheng continued absorbing the Jiao Blood Fruit’s medicinal power through body tempering and expected to reach the fifth level of the Evergreen Azurewood Body within a year.
• Cook Zeng visited Lin Changheng and requested that he refine Foundation Establishment Pills for the Huang Household; Lin Changheng agreed to give the batch priority once they provided the ingredients.

Lin Changheng negotiated with Cook Zeng for help obtaining demon beast essence blood while promising to search for a missing Foundation Establishment Pill ingredient. After mastering the Divided Mind treasure seed, Lin Changheng used the extra time to refine pills and cultivate, then asked Deng Changsheng to recruit someone with a main ingredient for another Foundation Establishment Pill batch.

• Cook Zeng told Lin Changheng that the Huang Household had gathered two main ingredients for a Foundation Establishment Pill but still needed nine-leaf violet cinnabar fungus within two or three years, and Lin Changheng agreed to help search.
• Lin Changheng asked Cook Zeng to collect essence blood from demon beasts of the turbid baleful intent, mystic spirit, or higher levels, and Cook Zeng agreed to help.
• Lin Changheng refined premium second-tier low-grade pills and used his Divided Mind ability to cultivate while monitoring the furnace, avoiding tasks that risked conflicting flows of magical power.
• Lin Changheng recalled that the Origin Cauldron had granted him Divided Mind at the tenth treasure-seed layer, allowing him to perform unrelated mental and practical tasks in parallel.
• Lin Changheng promised Deng Changsheng free Foundation Establishment Pill refining if he obtained a main ingredient, then asked him to spread word that Lin Changheng was pooling resources for another batch.

Lin Changheng secured the ingredients for the Huang Household’s Foundation Establishment Pill batch and received Poisonfire Savage Bull essence blood as payment. After beginning spirit seizure, he assimilated fire poison and raised his fire spiritual root’s spirit resonance to forty.

• Deng Changsheng told Lin Changheng that his friend had been confined after exposing his demon beast essence blood dealings.
• Two rogue cultivators asked Lin Changheng to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, but he told them they still needed nine-leaf violet cinnabar fungus.
• A disguised woman named Yun offered a fifty-year-old stalk of nine-leaf violet cinnabar fungus, and Lin Changheng agreed to refine a shared batch at the standard fee.
• Cook Zeng brought Lin Changheng more than two hundred portions of Poisonfire Savage Bull essence blood and arranged for pill refining to begin two months later.
• Lin Changheng used spirit seizure on the essence blood, assimilated the Fire-Poison Otherworldly Art, and increased his fire spiritual root’s spirit resonance to forty.

Yan Mingyi sought Lin Changheng’s help after her grandfather, Puppet Master Yan, died, and Lin discovered that the old man had completed nearly all of a second-tier puppet before his breakthrough killed him. Lin accepted Puppet Master Yan’s bequest to shelter Yan Mingyi in exchange for the puppet and a future inheritance, and the chapter ended as the scheduled day to refine Foundation Establishment Pills arrived.

• Yan Mingyi told Lin Changheng that her grandfather had died, and he accompanied her home to investigate.
• Lin Changheng determined that Puppet Master Yan had died from overwhelming emotion after stabilizing his old injuries, and Yan Mingyi found a nearly completed second-tier puppet in her grandfather’s Storage Bag.
• Yan Mingyi read Puppet Master Yan’s Jade Slip, which entrusted her to Lin Changheng and promised him the puppet and an Upper-Grade Second-Tier Puppet Dao inheritance.
• Lin Changheng accepted the arrangement, helped Yan Mingyi with the funeral, and brought her to live at his abode.
• Yan Mingyi settled in, cleaned the abode, and prepared Spirit Cuisine for Lin Changheng and the Black-Armored Earth Turtle.
• The scheduled day for refining the Foundation Establishment Pills arrived.

Lin Changheng refined a Premium Foundation Establishment Pill, earning the Huang Household’s gratitude and sending his reputation across Floating Life Immortal City. After securing more demon beast essence blood and advancing his Poisonfire Savage Bull Treasure Seed, he stayed home to prepare for a body-refinement breakthrough while visitors flooded him with gifts.

• Yan Mingyi welcomed Fellow Daoist Yun and Cook Zeng with two Huang Household Foundation Establishment cultivators to Lin Changheng’s residence.
• Lin Changheng refined three Foundation Establishment Pills, including a Premium Pill, and distributed them to the waiting cultivators.
• The Huang Household praised Cook Zeng for recruiting Lin Changheng, while the cultivators paid Lin Changheng and left with their pills.
• Cook Zeng delivered about three hundred portions of Poisonfire Savage Bull essence blood, which Lin Changheng used to advance his Spirit Seizure and fire spiritual root.
• Lin Changheng learned that Yan Mingyi’s father had died and comforted her before retreating to his secret chamber.
• News of the Premium Foundation Establishment Pill spread through the Immortal City, bringing Lin Changheng fame, visitors, and over five thousand spirit stones in gifts.

Lin Changheng broke through to mid-second-tier body tempering, bought a second-tier pill furnace, and commissioned a fast flying sword from Artifact Master Guo. After exchanging news with Mo Zhaoli, Tantai Feiyue, and Xu Fugui, he waited for Mo Zhaoli to arrive, and the chapter ended as she reached his cave residence.

• Lin Changheng absorbed the remaining power of the Jiao Blood Fruit and advanced the Evergreen Azurewood Body to its fifth level, making his bones as hard as azure jade.
• Lin Changheng bought a Nine-Python Flame-Swallowing Furnace and arranged for Artifact Master Guo to forge him a low-grade spirit flying sword focused on extreme speed.
• Lin Changheng agreed to refine a Realm-Breaking Pill for Artifact Master Guo's eldest son after the required formula and ingredients were gathered.
• Lin Changheng welcomed Mo Zhaoli's planned visit despite the possibility that Senior Brother Feng would accompany her, and learned from letters that Tantai Feiyue and Xu Fugui's family fortunes had improved.
• Three months later, Mo Zhaoli arrived at Lin Changheng's cave residence, where Yan Mingyi greeted her.

Lin Changheng received earth-element Mystic Spirit Essence Blood from Mo Zhaoli and transformed the Mountain-Moving Ape Treasure Seed, gaining the true intent of the Shouldering Mountains divine ability. As Mo Zhaoli reported setbacks in the Purple Pole Sect’s campaign against a hidden Demon Sect, Lin Changheng learned that the sect planned to reinforce its forces and monitor the Demon Cultivators.

• Mo Zhaoli visited Lin Changheng, learned about Yan Mingyi’s grandfather and her stay with him, and asked Lin Changheng to refine pills for her.
• Mo Zhaoli gave Lin Changheng Red-Eyed Fire essence blood and dark-yellow Mystic Spirit Essence Blood, which he used to transform the Mountain-Moving Ape Dao Fruit and integrate the true intent of the Shouldering Mountains divine ability.
• Mo Zhaoli told Lin Changheng that the Purple Pole Sect had dispatched seven Foundation Establishment cultivators to exterminate Demon Cultivators posing as rogue cultivators.
• A month later, Mo Zhaoli returned for healing pills and explained that two mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators had injured two sect cultivators during a failed surprise attack.
• Mo Zhaoli told Lin Changheng that the Purple Pole Sect would send stronger cultivators and take turns monitoring the Demon Cultivators’ movements.

Lin Changheng secretly killed Senior Brother Feng, a Purple Pole Sect cultivator, and destroyed the evidence before returning to Floating Life Immortal City under a new identity. Mo Zhaoli later told him that Senior Brother Feng’s master, Uncle-Master Qi, had swept through the Demon Cultivators and that the mission had counted as completed.

• Lin Changheng followed Senior Brother Feng out of the city while concealed, then ambushed and killed him with the transformed power of his Fire-Control Divine Ability and Redcloud Mystic Flame.
• Lin Changheng looted Senior Brother Feng’s belongings, destroyed the body and evidence, and burned the Purple Pole Sect’s marked concealment artifact after determining he could not safely use it.
• Lin Changheng returned to the city under a new identity and resumed his cover as a cultivator in seclusion refining pills; Yan Mingyi told him that Mo Zhaoli had visited while he was away.
• Mo Zhaoli came to collect her elixirs and said Uncle-Master Qi had arrived and swiftly defeated the Demon Cultivators, completing the mission for the seven cultivators.
• Mo Zhaoli privately revealed a secret about Uncle-Master Qi and warned Lin Changheng not to tell anyone.