Chapter Summaries

Zhou Qing rented a second-tier low-grade cave abode in Azure Moon Immortal City and focused on advancing his alchemy while avoiding unnecessary commitments. After learning that the Azure Moon Pool could improve spiritual root aptitude, he decided to try to secure a slot when it opened in two years.

• Zhou Qing rented a second-tier low-grade cave abode for eight months and left Dachun with his parents to protect the Zhou Family.
• Zhou Qing reflected on his alchemy progress and decided not to join Azure Moon Immortal City's Pill Hall in reality.
• Zhou Qing went to buy medicinal ingredients and overheard cultivators discussing the Azure Moon Pool's upcoming opening.
• Zhou Qing gathered information that the Azure Moon Pool could slightly improve spiritual root aptitude, but only once per cultivator.
• Zhou Qing learned the pool would open again in two years and decided to seek a slot in a simulation.

Zhou Qing studied the Azure Moon Pool and realized its first-use benefit could improve his spiritual root aptitude once in every simulation. As he waited for the pool to open, he advanced toward second-tier alchemist mastery and explored beast taming and Formation Path Inheritances.

• Zhou Qing concluded that repeated simulations could let him use the Azure Moon Pool to raise his aptitude toward a high-grade spiritual root.
• Zhou Qing gathered information about the Azure Moon Pool, learning that its ten places were auctioned and usually went to Foundation Establishment or Qi Refining cultivators.
• Zhou Qing finished studying a second-tier Alchemy Path Inheritance and sensed he was close to becoming a second-tier alchemist.
• Zhou Qing studied second-tier beast taming methods, then turned to the more difficult Formation Path inheritance.
• Half a year passed as Zhou Qing continued his studies.

Zhou Qing spent six months refining pills and studying several cultivation skills while waiting for his simulations to refresh. When the third simulation became available, he chose his transmigration as the initial anchor point and began from the current anchor point.

• Zhou Qing refined pills with spiritual charcoal and assessed his progress toward becoming a Second Tier Alchemist.
• Zhou Qing reflected on his low-grade Beast Taming and Talisman skills and continued studying formation arts.
• After twenty days, Zhou Qing's simulation count refreshed and he discovered the new option to select an initial anchor point.
• Zhou Qing set his initial anchor point to the moment he transmigrated into the world.
• Zhou Qing chose to begin the simulation from the current anchor point.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, Zhou Qing sold his stored pills, bought supplies, and rented a cave abode with earthfire in Azure Moon Immortal City. He cultivated, wrote to his family, and practiced refining second-tier pills until he became a Second Tier Alchemist.

• Zhou Qing disguised himself and returned to Azure Moon Immortal City, where he sold his mid-grade and high-grade pills and bought second-tier pills, herbs, and materials.
• Zhou Qing rented a second-tier cave abode with earthfire and began cultivating with pills, but realized that advancing would be slow without improving his spiritual root at the Azure Moon Pool.
• Zhou Qing wrote to the Zhou Family to ask about his relatives and Dachun and to test the security of the letter-delivery channels.
• Zhou Qing attempted to refine second-tier pills, but his first batch exploded inside the furnace despite his quick intervention.
• Zhou Qing continued practicing for three months and successfully refined a batch of second-tier pills, becoming a Second Tier Alchemist.

Zhou Qing became a Second Tier Alchemist and went to Azure Moon Immortal City's Pill Hall to join, hoping to gain its backing and prepare to compete for an Azure Moon Pool slot. After passing the alchemy test and an identity check, he was offered the position of guest alchemist.

• Zhou Qing successfully refined his first batch of Second-Tier Pills and recognized that his new rank could support his Foundation Establishment expenses.
• Zhou Qing consolidated his alchemy skills, then traveled to the Pill Hall in Azure Moon Immortal City's central district to seek membership.
• Zhou Qing, using the alias Wang Lin, passed the Pill Hall's test by refining a batch of Second-Tier Pills.
• Elder Wu questioned Wang Lin about his background and checked his mana signature against the wanted list.
• Elder Wu cleared Wang Lin and offered him the position of guest alchemist, with the benefits and status that came with it.

As a Pill Hall Guest Elder, Zhou Qing settled into his new Pill Tower and strengthened his ties with Zhao Kan. He prepared to bid for a Jade Moon Pool slot, but had only eighteen thousand spirit stones and hoped it would be enough.

• Elder Wu showed Alchemist Wang his new three-story Pill Tower in the Inner City District, and Wang adjusted its earthfire and settled in.
• In his second year as a guest elder, Wang met Zhao Kan and exchanged alchemy insights with him before buying spirit herbs and materials.
• Wang returned to the Pill Tower and spent the night with his maids, Chunhua and Qiuyue, who struggled with the experience.
• Wang considered the upcoming Jade Moon Pool auction and worried that his eighteen thousand spirit stones might not cover the winning bid.

Wang failed to afford an auctioned Azure Moon Pool spot, but learned that Pill Hall guest elders could apply for one and secured approval through Elder Wu. After bathing in the pool, Wang’s spiritual root improved from low-grade to middle-grade.

• Wang attended Azure Moon Immortal City's Medium Auction with Alchemist Zhao Kan but could not afford any of the Azure Moon Pool spots.
• Zhao Kan told Wang that Pill Hall guest elders could apply for a spot without paying, and Wang sought details from Elder Wu after the auction.
• In the third year, Wang became a low-grade formation master, condensed his seventeenth drop of Liquid Mountain Sea Magic Power, and received approval for his application.
• Wang entered the Azure Moon Pool and spent several days immersed in its emerald liquid.
• Wang emerged with improved spiritual perception and spiritual energy refinement, and his spiritual root had reached middle-grade.

Zhou Qing rejoiced after the Azure Moon Pool raised his spiritual root to middle-grade, realizing he could inherit the improvement in future simulations. Over the following years, he built his reputation and developed other skills before advancing to the second level of Foundation Establishment.

• Zhou Qing realized that inheriting his cultivation and other intrinsic traits would let him keep his middle-grade spiritual root, while negative effects such as drug resistance would be erased.
• Zhou Qing considered the future value of acquiring a Dark Demon Eagle and returned from the Azure Moon Pool to begin cultivating with his improved spiritual root.
• Zhou Qing received a letter from the Zhou Family confirming that they were safe and that Dachun had been cultivating in the mountains.
• At twenty years old, Zhou Qing sensed a bottleneck in pill refinement and began studying other skills while continuing to make pills.
• Zhou Qing gained a good reputation among cultivators, reached middle-grade in talisman arts and beast taming, and cultivated to the peak of the first Foundation Establishment level.
• At twenty-five years old, Zhou Qing attempted a breakthrough and reached the second level of Foundation Establishment.

After advancing to the second level of foundation establishment, you prepared for the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm and traveled to Black Mountain Market District to secure the Dark Demon Eagle Egg. At the auction, you outbid Ruan Hu for a Black Wind Eagle egg after recognizing him as the cultivator who would later obtain it.

• You purchased five high-grade magic tools and several dozen second-tier talismans before leaving Azure Moon Immortal City for Black Mountain Market District.
• You disguised yourself as an old man in a straw rain cape, rented a cave abode, and met Ouyang Yun, the Ouyang Family member assigned to welcome you.
• At the auction, you spotted Ruan Hu, a Qi Refining Stage disciple of Beast Taming Mountain, and recognized him from your knowledge of the future.
• When Ruan Hu bid for a Black Wind Eagle egg, you raised the price until he withdrew, then secured the egg for one hundred and ninety spirit stones.
• Ouyang Yun congratulated you as the Black Wind Eagle egg was delivered to your private box.

After winning the Black Wind Eagle egg, you ambushed Ruan Hu and stole his belongings, then returned to Black Mountain Market District under your Pill Hall Guest Elder identity. The chapter ended with the market lord, Ouyang Shen, personally coming to greet you.

• You watched Ruan Hu leave the auction and followed him out of Black Mountain Market District.
• You used a Divine Sense Attack to knock Ruan Hu unconscious, searched him, and took his Storage Bag and Spirit Pet Bag.
• You left Ruan Hu alive with his Beast Taming Token, buried his bags separately, and waited nearby as he woke and fled.
• You wandered outside the market for over half a month, removed your Straw-Cloaked Old Man disguise, and reentered as a Pill Hall Guest Elder.
• Ouyang Shen came to greet you in person after your arrival stirred the market.

Wang bought a Black Wind Eagle egg in Black Mountain Market District to conceal the origin of the egg he had taken from Ruan Hu, then recruited You Rou to manage a trade association and prepare for the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm. After six months of nourishing the stolen egg with magical power, it began to hatch.

• Wang met Ouyang Shen and later toured Black Mountain Market District’s shops with Ouyang Xin, buying spirit beast eggs to establish a plausible origin for his future Dark Demon Eagle.
• Wang secretly nourished the Black Wind Eagle egg he had taken from Ruan Hu, sensing that it craved his magical power unusually strongly.
• Wang summoned You Rou and offered her a role managing a trade association between Black Mountain Market District and Azure Moon Immortal City, along with the possibility of a Foundation Establishment opportunity.
• You Rou agreed to join Wang after her spirit contract with the Pill Alliance leader expired, and Wang signed a new spirit contract with her before returning to Azure Moon Immortal City.
• After half a year of nourishment, cracks appeared in the Black Wind Eagle egg, and a black eagle's head emerged.

Zhou Qing discovered that Dachun had vanished inside Secluded Mountain, possibly after entering a secret realm, and kept checking that he was alive while continuing his cultivation. You Rou visited him in Azure Moon Immortal City to report on the Trade Association, whose success she credited to his guidance.

• Zhou Qing found that Dachun was alive but unreachable somewhere inside Secluded Mountain, which seemed to be covered by a natural grand array.
• Zhou Qing suspected Dachun had entered a secret realm and decided to watch Secluded Mountain in future simulations.
• Zhou Qing returned to the Immortal City, checked Dachun’s life through his blood essence each month, and continued cultivating and improving his pill-refining and talisman skills.
• You Rou arrived in Azure Moon Immortal City to report the Trade Association’s affairs and deliver its profits.
• You Rou reflected that Zhou Qing’s timely advice had helped the Trade Association seize opportunities and become profitable before she met him in the Pill Tower.

You reviewed the Trade Association’s profits and forces, kept track of Ye Feng, and continued strengthening your skills and allies. After advancing to the third layer of Foundation Establishment, you looked ahead to the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm opening the following year.

• You Rou reported that the Trade Association had earned nearly ten thousand spirit stones in net profit and now had forty-eight trusted core members and 183 peripheral members.
• You Rou told you that Ye Feng was apprenticed to Alchemist Yun and showed no unusual changes, so you gave her pills to aid a breakthrough.
• You continued studying the Talisman Path and named your rapidly growing Dark Demon Eagle Little Black, while making its unusual presence known to potential future buyers.
• You reached the peak of the second Foundation Establishment layer and began preparing for a breakthrough.
• You advanced smoothly to the third Foundation Establishment layer and anticipated making a fortune when the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm opened the following year.

Zhou Qing prepared to suppress Blood-Sea True Person and traveled to Black Mountain Market District as the Seamount Secret Realm neared its opening. After deducing that Ouyang Shen had failed to break through, Zhou Qing watched the realm open for the third time in his simulations.

• Zhou Qing gathered dozens of Sealing Talismans and used Dachun's blood essence to confirm that Dachun was still alive in Gloom Mountain.
• Zhou Qing traveled to Black Mountain Market District under the pretext of inspecting the Azure Origin Trade Association's operations.
• You Rou told Zhou Qing that the Ouyang Family had closed the cave abode lodgings while adjusting the market's formation.
• Zhou Qing deduced that Ouyang Shen was attempting to break through to late-stage Foundation Establishment and had likely failed in his previous simulations.
• Two months later, Zhou Qing sensed the Seamount Secret Realm open again.

The president of the Azure Origin Trade Association arrived at the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm and chose to let cultivators explore while demanding half their gains. The association enforced the order under the president’s Foundation Establishment pressure as the cultivators protested.

• After You Rou reported the secret realm’s emergence, the president gathered the Azure Origin Trade Association’s cultivators and traveled to the entrance.
• The president examined the spatial passage and decided not to enter the secret realm, wary of its dangers and the Mountain Sea Sect Master’s formation skills.
• The president ordered the association to guard the exit and collect fifty percent of each cultivator’s gains, while allowing Ye Feng to enter and search for the Mountain Sea Ring.
• You Rou arranged for some association cultivators to explore and the rest to guard the exit, provoking angry protests from Qi Refining cultivators.
• An elderly cultivator warned his grandson to stay quiet and pointed out the president hovering above them with Foundation Establishment spiritual pressure.

You opened the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm to cultivators and prepared the Azure Origin Trade Association to profit from their exploration, while hoping Ye Feng would eventually enter and retrieve the Mountain Sea Ring. As valuable spoils began returning from the realm, You Rou brought you a Magic Treasure Embryo found by a middle Qi Condensation rogue cultivator and asked how to handle him.

• You established an outpost beside the secret realm to sell exploration supplies and collect a share of cultivators’ gains.
• You considered how your changes might affect Ye Feng’s decision to enter the secret realm, but resolved to pursue the simulation’s definite opportunities.
• After more than ten days, the first cultivators returned injured, and You Rou gave you the association’s spoils, including rare ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills and third-tier spirit wood.
• You Rou later showed you a Magic Treasure Embryo found by a middle Qi Condensation rogue cultivator and asked how he should be dealt with.

You paid a cultivator fairly for a Magic Treasure Embryo to build your reputation, then waited for Ye Feng to emerge from the Secret Realm. When Ye Feng appeared with severe injuries and valuable gains, you attacked him from behind and knocked him unconscious.

• You gave the middle-aged cultivator two thousand spirit stones for his Magic Treasure Embryo, and he spread word of your fair dealing among the cultivators outside the Secret Realm.
• You watched Ye Feng arrive, learn the Azure Origin Trade Association's rules, and enter the Secret Realm.
• You waited twenty-two days while association cultivators explored the Secret Realm and recovered valuable items, including a Third-Tier Youth-Preserving Pill.
• You went to the place where Ye Feng had emerged in the previous simulation and waited for him to appear.
• Ye Feng emerged badly injured but exhilarated by his gains, and you pressed your hand against his head, knocking him unconscious.

After capturing Ye Feng, you secured the Mountain Sea Ring and discovered that Ye Feng possessed a dormant water spirit treasure body. You searched his memories and learned how he found the ring in the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm, then stopped at the revelation of a broken divine statue that shocked you.

• You sealed the Mountain Sea Ring in a Third-Tier Sealing Jade Box and carried the unconscious Ye Feng to a secluded cave.
• You examined Ye Feng and found that his deep-blue bones indicated a dormant water spirit treasure body.
• You considered selling Ye Feng through Biyue Immortal City's Black Market, then used the Soul Search Art to inspect his memories.
• You learned that Ye Feng had begun cultivating after killing an injured cultivator and taking his cultivation manual.
• You saw in Ye Feng's memories how he found magical artifacts, spiritual herbs, and Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients in the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm before taking the Mountain Sea Ring from a Shattered Divine Statue.
• You paused the memories at the image of the statue and reacted with shock.

You sent four Azure Origin Trade Association cultivators into the Mountain-Sea Secret Realm to retrieve a shattered divine statue. After they returned with it, you found a jade stone in its hand containing the Mountain Sea Sect’s complete Mountain Sea Art, including its Core Formation chapter.

• You decided to retrieve the shattered divine statue from Ye Feng’s memories and left him guarded in the secluded cave.
• You Rou gathered four trusted Late Qi Condensation Period cultivators, and you gave them directions and talismans to retrieve the statue safely.
• You waited outside the Secret Realm while the four Trade Association cultivators went inside.
• Several days later, the four cultivators returned with the statue and the unused talismans in their Storage Bags.
• You removed a crystalline jade stone from the statue’s half-clenched hand and discovered it contained the complete Mountain Sea Art, including the Core Formation chapter.

Zhou Qing obtained the Mountain Sea Sect’s legacies and learned how the Blood-Sea True Person had been sealed, then used the secret realm’s exploration to amass great wealth. By age forty-six, he had reached the Foundation Establishment third-layer peak but was unable to break through to the fourth layer.

• Zhou Qing learned from the Mountain Sea Sect Master’s records that the master had sealed the Blood-Sea True Person’s soul essence in the Mountain Sea Ring after destroying his body and Golden Core.
• Zhou Qing and Gu Zhuo arranged for their subordinates to explore the secret realm while Foundation Establishment cultivators collected half of the rogue cultivators’ gains.
• Zhou Qing secretly sent Ye Feng to the Trade Association’s outpost in the Black Mountain Market District after erasing the relevant memories.
• After the secret realm was mostly depleted, Zhou Qing returned to Azure Moon Immortal City and counted nearly three hundred thousand spirit stones in earnings.
• Zhou Qing practiced the Mountain Sea Sect’s secret arts and advanced his Formation Path skills, but his cultivation stalled at the Foundation Establishment third-layer peak.
• At age forty-six, Zhou Qing recognized that he had hit the bottleneck between the Foundation Establishment early and middle stages.