Chapter Summaries

After twenty-seven years in the cultivation world, Li Ping successfully reached Foundation Establishment in Windmist Immortal City at past forty. He examined his strengthened magical power, Divine Sense, and lifespan after the breakthrough.

• Li Ping’s Foundation Establishment attempt drew the attention of cultivators in Windmist Immortal City’s Market Ward, and days later the spiritual energy vortex contracted into his courtyard, confirming his success.
• Li Ping recalled how he had transmigrated into a beggar boy’s body, become a sword prodigy under Yan Guike, and learned about cultivation from a white-haired old man.
• Li Ping remembered cultivating as a rogue cultivator, traveling to Windmist Immortal City, and struggling for decades to reach Foundation Establishment.
• Li Ping discovered that his magical power had condensed into a potent liquid droplet, his Divine Sense reached a hundred and fifty zhang, and his lifespan had increased to more than two hundred and forty years.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, Li Ping discovered a purple qi space in his sea of consciousness and an Inheritance Tree that could let him master cultivation crafts by feeding it suitable resources. He left seclusion to return his cave dwelling token and waited after Steward He told him that Meng Qingyi wanted to meet him.

• Li Ping consolidated his Foundation Establishment realm and discovered the purple qi space, its gray island, and the Inheritance Tree.
• Li Ping learned that the tree could help him instantly master recorded cultivation crafts, and that new islands with other abilities would appear when he broke through major realms.
• After ten-odd days, Li Ping left seclusion and returned his cave dwelling token to Steward He, who treated him with new respect as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Steward He told Li Ping that Meng Qingyi had asked to see him and had been notified of his emergence from seclusion, so Li Ping agreed to wait.

Li Ping met Meng Qingyi, a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage disciple of Azure Dragon Mountain who was also a skilled talisman maker. After discussing their craft and the source of his Foundation Establishment Pill, Meng Qingyi began probing his plans, and Li Ping revealed that he remained a rogue cultivator without a Foundation Establishment cultivation method.

• Meng Qingyi arrived at the steward hall, where Li Ping learned she was a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage disciple of Windmist True Person.
• Li Ping and Meng Qingyi exchanged advice about talisman making, and she helped him resolve several difficult problems.
• Meng Qingyi asked how Li Ping had achieved Foundation Establishment without acquiring a pill through an auction, and he said he had bought one on the black market.
• Meng Qingyi asked whether Li Ping planned to join a force, and he admitted that he was a rogue cultivator who still practiced the Golden Sword Art and lacked a Foundation Establishment cultivation method.

Li Ping considered joining the Azure Dragon Mountain Lineage as a Guest Elder, weighing its benefits against a sixty-year service requirement. After deciding to verify the offer before accepting, he returned to the Outer City and revealed his successful Foundation Establishment to his former supporters.

• Meng Qingyi offered Li Ping a Guest Elder position with a free Second-Tier cave abode, a cultivation method, yearly spirit stones, and Immortal City tasks in exchange for sixty years of service.
• Li Ping decided to investigate the offer and promised Meng Qingyi an answer within ten days.
• At a leatherworking shop, Li Ping overheard his former disciple and the disciple’s master discussing the spirit stones the young man had given him over the years.
• Li Ping entered the shop and revealed his Foundation Establishment aura, prompting the old man to address him as Senior while the young man happily called him Elder Brother.

Li Ping recalled founding the Shared Boat Association and reunited with Zhang Tie and Old Lin after reaching Foundation Establishment. At Old Lin’s tanning shop, Li Ping discovered that the Inheritance Tree could grant him advanced tanning skills, but he lacked the spirit stones and materials needed to use it.

• Eighteen years earlier, Li Ping founded the Shared Boat Association so its members could pool resources to help one another reach Foundation Establishment.
• Li Ping recalled how Zhang Tie joined the association and how Old Lin opposed it before accepting that it might benefit his disciple.
• Old Lin apologized to Li Ping for mocking him, and Li Ping reassured him that he had only been joking.
• Li Ping told Zhang Tie that his own Foundation Establishment was only the beginning and that the association’s other members would succeed in time.
• At Old Lin’s tanning shop, Li Ping examined a worn scraping knife and learned that the Inheritance Tree could use it and other costly materials to grant first-tier upper-grade tanning skills.
• Li Ping gave up on becoming an upper-grade Tanner for now because he could not afford the required one hundred spirit stones and materials.

After successfully establishing his foundation, Li Ping returned to talisman making to earn spirit stones and prepare for higher-tier skills. He completed his first first-tier upper-grade talisman, advancing his Talisman Maker rank.

• Li Ping told Zhang Tie to notify the other Shared Boat Association members of his success and asked Old Lin to keep the association secret.
• Li Ping bought first-tier upper-grade talisman paper from Old Lin and resolved to practice until he could make upper-grade talismans.
• Old Lin praised Li Ping for honoring his oath to help the Shared Boat Association and told Zhang Tie that the group might help him establish his foundation one day.
• Li Ping attempted to make an Azure Thunder Talisman, failed once when the paper caught fire, then successfully completed one.
• Li Ping saw the Inheritance Tree branch grow and received the rank of first-tier upper-grade Talisman Maker.

Li Ping discovered that the Inheritance Tree guaranteed his success at drawing talismans within his attained skill level, then sold his Azure Thunder Talismans for spirit stones. As he headed out of the city to buy stronger magical artifacts, two hostile foundation establishment cultivators blocked him.

• After a night of work, Li Ping realized the Inheritance Tree kept his talisman-making skill permanently at its peak and gave him a hundred-percent success rate for First-Tier Upper-Grade talismans and below.
• Li Ping sold thirteen Azure Thunder Talismans to Miao Rou at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion for seventy spirit stones.
• Li Ping considered using his profits to buy second-tier magical artifacts because he felt vulnerable against cultivators of his own stage.
• At the city gate, a bearded foundation establishment middle stage cultivator confronted Li Ping, while a frail scholar at the early stage stood behind him with hostile intent.

Li Ping was confronted by Azure Dragon Mountain cultivators who had been ordered to bring him to Dai Sangyu, a senior disciple furious after seeing his information. Meng Qingyi confirmed their identities and escorted him toward Azure Dragon Mountain, leaving Li Ping unsure why Dai Sangyu wanted to see him.

• Li Ping resisted Senior Brother Xiong and Junior Brother Ye's demand to come with them, suspecting they might be impostors despite their claim to be from Azure Dragon Mountain.
• Meng Qingyi arrived, confirmed the two cultivators' identities, and explained that they had come at the request of another senior sister.
• After Meng Qingyi explained the situation, Li Ping followed her, Senior Brother Xiong, and Junior Brother Ye toward Azure Dragon Mountain.
• Meng Qingyi told Li Ping that her Thirteenth Senior Sister, Dai Sangyu, had flown into a rage after seeing the information submitted with Li Ping's retainer application.
• Li Ping said he had never met Dai Sangyu and wondered what had provoked her, while Meng Qingyi reassured him that she would be fair once they cleared up the misunderstanding.

Li Ping was brought before Dai Sangyu, a sword cultivator investigating the Foundation Establishment Pill he had bought on the black market. After questioning him and finding no suspicious reaction from her flying sword, Dai Sangyu let him go, leaving him waiting in a courtyard on Azure Dragon Mountain.

• Meng Qingyi led Li Ping into the palace where Dai Sangyu threatened him with a flying sword.
• Dai Sangyu asked Li Ping where he had obtained his Foundation Establishment Pill and questioned him about its seller, Lin Yue, and his background.
• Li Ping explained that he had bought the pill from a seller whose identity was concealed, and Dai Sangyu's sword showed no reaction to his answers.
• Dai Sangyu ended the interrogation and allowed Li Ping to leave.
• An attendant took Li Ping to a courtyard to wait for Meng Qingyi, and Li Ping began meditating while wondering who Lin Yue was.

Meng Qingyi explained why Senior Sister Dai had questioned Li Ping: Lin Yue, her prized disciple, had been abducted and ruined, and her stolen Foundation Establishment Pill had ended up with him. Li Ping suspected the attack was meant to hinder Senior Sister Dai’s attempt at core formation and decided to reject the Azure Dragon Mountain Lineage’s guest elder position, but Meng Qingyi apologized about the appointment before he could speak.

• Meng Qingyi told Li Ping that Senior Sister Dai had summoned him because Lin Yue had been abducted, tortured, and robbed of the Foundation Establishment Pill she had been given.
• Li Ping suspected Senior Sister Dai had used her flying sword to judge whether he was telling the truth, and resolved to avoid her because he had too many secrets.
• Li Ping and Meng Qingyi agreed that Lin Yue’s abductor deserved death, while both recognized that Li Ping had benefited from the stolen pill without knowing its origin.
• Meng Qingyi explained that Lin Yue’s ordeal had damaged Senior Sister Dai’s state of mind and threatened her chance to attempt core formation.
• Li Ping suspected a rival force had targeted the Azure Dragon Mountain Lineage and decided to reject its guest elder position, but Meng Qingyi began apologizing about the appointment first.

After Meng Qingyi refused to let Li Ping join the Immortal City, she offered to help him with future problems. Li Ping asked for an old talisman brush, and Meng Qingyi gave him the second-tier mid-grade Purple Phoenix, which the Inheritance Tree could use to grant him mastery of second-tier mid-grade talisman crafting.

• Meng Qingyi told Li Ping he could not join the Immortal City but offered to help him in the future.
• Li Ping thanked Meng Qingyi for her guidance and showed her an Azure Thunder Talisman he had drawn.
• Meng Qingyi examined Li Ping's talisman and pointed out problems with his brushwork.
• Li Ping asked Meng Qingyi if she had an old talisman brush he could buy.
• Meng Qingyi gave Li Ping her worn second-tier mid-grade Purple Phoenix brush for free.
• Li Ping saw that the Inheritance Tree could use the brush as nourishment to grant him mastery of second-tier mid-grade talisman crafting.

Dai Sangyu ordered Meng Qingyi to spread word that Li Ping had been rejected so he could serve as bait for the person who harmed Yue'er, while privately vowing to get justice after reaching Core Formation. Li Ping left Azure Dragon Mountain weighing the dangers and the value of his new talisman brush, then visited Green Bamboo general store to pursue the resources he needed.

• Dai Sangyu told Meng Qingyi to spread word that Li Ping had been rejected by the immortal city and explained why.
• Meng Qingyi questioned using Li Ping as bait, but left after Dai Sangyu asked whether they had any other leads.
• Dai Sangyu privately blamed herself for Yue'er's fate and vowed to seek justice once she reached Core Formation.
• Li Ping considered his lost chance at a cultivation method and cave abode, his possible feud with Dai Sangyu, and the cost of mastering second-tier mid-grade talisman-making.
• Li Ping entered Green Bamboo general store in Misty Glow Lane, where a dark-skinned young man recognized him and called him Big Brother.

Li Ping visited Gu Musheng’s shop after reaching Foundation Establishment and exchanged Azure Thunder Talismans for talisman supplies. A letter from Daoist Ji revealed that Yan Guike was near death and wished to see Li Ping before he died, while Daoist Ji also had a favor to discuss in person.

• Li Ping gave Gu Musheng two Azure Thunder Talismans to sell in exchange for first-tier upper-grade talisman ink and paper.
• Gu Musheng offered Li Ping extra supplies as a congratulatory gift, but Li Ping accepted only a portion.
• Gu Musheng told Li Ping that a letter from the Jiang Kingdom had arrived during his seclusion and handed him its warded box.
• Li Ping opened the box with the agreed key and read Daoist Ji’s letter requesting that he return to see his dying master, Yan Guike.
• Daoist Ji also said he had a favor to ask Li Ping and would explain it when Li Ping returned.

After learning that Yan Guike was bedridden and nearing the end of his life, Li Ping decided to return to the Jiang Kingdom before the year ended. He sold talismans to buy two second-tier magic artifacts, preparing to travel safely back to his old home.

• Li Ping remembered that Yan Guike and Daoist Ji were both nearing the ends of their lives and resolved to see his master again.
• Li Ping delayed his journey to gather supplies and obtain a second-tier magic artifact for protection.
• Li Ping brought more than a hundred first-tier upper-grade Spirit Talismans to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion and sold them to Miao Rou.
• Miao Rou offered Li Ping four spirit stones per talisman and granted him a five-percent discount on future purchases.
• Li Ping spent the proceeds on two second-tier lower-grade magic artifacts, one offensive and one defensive.

Li Ping recounted how the six other members of the Shared Boat Association had joined and what they brought to the group. After reaching foundation establishment, he announced that the association would stop recruiting, setting his interests against those of the six members who still needed support.

• Li Ping described the association's rules for accepting members and listed the ages, cultivation levels, roots, and professions of its seven members.
• Cheng Yao, Qi Hanmo, and Teng Feng joined through introductions from Gu Musheng or Zhang Tie, and Li Ping and his allies helped them find work.
• Bai Qing joined as a rogue cultivator, though Li Ping later learned that the Bai Family had acknowledged him as a lineage cultivator.
• At the banquet, Li Ping thanked the others for helping him reach foundation establishment and announced that the association would no longer recruit new members.
• Li Ping's decision conflicted with the six members' interests because new recruits could help them gather spirit stones for their own foundation establishment attempts.

Li Ping settled the Shared Boat Association’s membership at seven and guided its members in cultivation before visiting the Bai Family Ancestor at Bai Qing’s request. The Bai Family Ancestor thanked Li Ping for caring for Bai Qing, then began to tell him about rumors circulating in Immortal City.

• Li Ping explained that his Foundation Establishment contributions made recruiting more members unnecessary, and the seven sworn siblings agreed to keep the association’s membership fixed.
• The seven shared information and plans, and Li Ping personally answered their cultivation questions before the banquet ended at daybreak.
• After the others left, Bai Qing told Li Ping that the Bai Family Ancestor wanted to meet him, and Li Ping agreed to visit.
• Li Ping met the elderly Bai Family Ancestor at the Bai Family’s base in Immortal City and spoke with him alone after Bai Qing and the other cultivators withdrew.
• The Bai Family Ancestor thanked Li Ping for looking after Bai Qing, then said rumors about Li Ping had been circulating in Immortal City.

Li Ping learned that the Azure Dragon Mountain Lineage had publicly rejected him from the Immortal City, damaging his reputation and exposing his identity as the buyer of a Foundation Establishment Pill. Fearing that he might be caught in a conflict between Core Formation forces, he abandoned his plan to leave the city and visit his dying master, Yan Guike.

• The Bo Family Ancestor invited Li Ping to become a Guest Elder of the Bai Family and told him the Azure Dragon Mountain Lineage had publicized its rejection of his Immortal City application.
• Li Ping realized the news made cultivators distrust him and could expose him to hostility from the Azure Dragon Mountain Lineage.
• Li Ping suspected Fairy Dai was using him as bait to draw out the mysterious seller of the Foundation Establishment Pill, but doubted the seller would take the bait.
• Fearing he could be killed if a battle between Core Formation forces broke out outside the Immortal City, Li Ping decided not to travel to the Jiang Kingdom to see his dying master, Yan Guike.

Li Ping saw through the Talisman Alliance’s attempt to recruit him and accepted its gift while refusing membership. He promised to stop selling talismans at low prices, then set out to buy materials for making second-tier mid-grade talismans.

• Li Ping concluded that the Talisman Alliance wanted to protect its profits after his bulk sales disrupted the talisman market.
• Li Ping learned that Meng Qingyi had declined the Talisman Alliance’s invitation and accepted Han Xingyan’s Silver Wolf Brush while refusing to join.
• Li Ping promised Han Xingyan that he would support the alliance’s interests and would not sell spirit talismans cheaply again.
• After Han Xingyan left, Li Ping considered how accepting the gift and settling matters through negotiation helped shape his reputation.
• Li Ping headed to the inner city to buy second-tier mid-grade talisman ink and spiritwood.

Li Ping sought second-tier mid-grade spiritwood at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, but Miao Rou offered it only if he escorted a shipment to the Chi Kingdom. Suspecting the trip could be a trap, he refused and left with talisman ink, still determined to remain in the Immortal City.

• Li Ping learned that Miao Rou could sell him second-tier mid-grade talisman ink but had no authority to sell the Pavilion's spiritwood.
• Miao Rou offered to sell Li Ping spiritwood at its purchase price if he escorted a shipment back to the Chi Kingdom.
• Li Ping suspected the offer might lure him out of the Immortal City and decided not to travel until the danger surrounding Dai Sangyu and Lin Yue was resolved.
• Li Ping refused the escort job, paid 300 spirit stones for the talisman ink, and left the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

Protector Yan plotted to lure Li Ping outside the Immortal City so he could capture and interrogate him about Dai Sangyu. Unable to find second-tier spiritwood at a reasonable price, Li Ping put his plans on hold and asked Gu Musheng to help locate some.

• Miao Rou told Protector Yan that Li Ping had refused to leave the Immortal City, and Protector Yan ordered her to find a way to lure him outside without exposing herself.
• Protector Yan revealed that he wanted to capture Li Ping and search his soul because his spiritual intuition warned that Dai Sangyu might still achieve Core Formation.
• Li Ping failed to find second-tier spiritwood at an affordable price and decided to wait a month or two before considering paying the inflated prices.
• Li Ping planned to sell his two second-tier magic artifacts if he needed extra spirit stones to buy spiritwood and nourish the Inheritance Tree.
• Li Ping asked Gu Musheng to seek out second-tier spiritwood and have Cheng Yao and the others watch for it as well.