Chapter Summaries

After Card Fairy warned Wang Yan not to stand beneath a crumbling wall, he reconsidered his growing obsession with killing and treasure and remembered that his true goal was to bring Yun back to life. His enlightenment about the Way of the Self advanced his Heart-Control Art and cultivation, though he stopped short of reaching the Golden Core Stage.

• Card Fairy warned Wang Yan that he should avoid danger, prompting him to reflect on the escalating risks of the war.
• Wang Yan realized that he had become absorbed in killing and collecting spoils, and recalled that he cultivated to bring Yun back to life.
• Wang Yan attained Dao enlightenment and understood the Way of the Self, recovering his original resolve.
• Wang Yan's Heart-Control Art advanced to its fifth level as his technique absorbed the spiritual power of his Spirit Stones and pills.
• Wang Yan emerged from his enlightenment with stronger cultivation, but lamented that he lacked the power to break through to the Golden Core Stage.

Wang Yan reached great completion in the Core Condensation Realm and drew a Divine Artifact Embryo from the Lottery Cube. After agreeing to study formations and runes to make it usable, he learned that Liu Wushuang had visited twice and asked how long he had been in seclusion.

• Wang Yan completed his breakthrough in the Core Condensation Realm, strengthening his magic power and Heart-Control Art.
• Wang Yan bantered with the Card Fairy, who produced the Lottery Cube and let him draw an Immortal Card.
• Wang Yan drew a Divine Artifact Embryo, which the Card Fairy explained was unfinished and lacked its shape, runes, and formations.
• The Card Fairy told Wang Yan he could add temporary runes and formations to operate the embryo, and Wang Yan agreed to study them.
• The Card Fairy told Wang Yan that Liu Wushuang had visited twice, and Wang Yan asked how long he had been in seclusion.

After a month in seclusion, Wang Yan gave Liu Wushuang medicine for his injured arm and learned that the Vanguard Team had been disbanded. He resumed seclusion, but Lin Nation’s sudden offensive soon drew him back into battle as a decisive conflict appeared to be approaching.

• Wang Yan emerged from a month of seclusion, received pills from the Purple Mountain Medicine Sage, and gave them to Liu Wushuang for his injured arm in exchange for a treasure.
• Liu Wushuang told Wang Yan that the war had quieted after the Flame Cloud Lion King arrived, the Vanguard Team had been disbanded, and Ye Shisan, Zhang Qiulin, and Zhang Qiulang had returned to their peaks.
• Wang Yan learned that the Flame Cloud Lion King had not asked about Uncle Lingyunzi, then chose to enter seclusion again after advancing to Core Condensation perfection.
• The Three Great Sects of Lin Nation launched a sudden offensive half a month later, catching the Five Great Sects of Cloud Nation off guard.
• After several days of increasingly fierce attacks, Wang Yan was summoned from seclusion to help defend their positions and faced Lin Nation’s forces from the city wall.

Lin Nation withdrew its army from Cloud Nation after two neighboring nations invaded its rear, forcing the two rivals to negotiate peace. Cloud Nation’s war ended, but other armies still threatened its borders, while Lin Nation took territory from the nations that had attacked it.

• Lin Nation’s cultivator army vanished behind an illusion and retreated after two neighboring nations invaded its homeland.
• Cloud Nation’s sects revealed that they had persuaded the neighboring nations to attack Lin Nation after Cloud Nation rescued its trapped army and Lin Nation’s Dark Cyan Poison Venerable died.
• Cloud Nation sent Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators after Lin Nation’s retreating army while Lin Nation urged neighboring nations to attack Cloud Nation and its allies.
• Lin Nation and Cloud Nation negotiated a treaty and war reparations, ending their conflict before either side could face further losses to other nations.
• Lin Nation seized a third of the territory of the two nations that had invaded it, and both nations were destroyed.

After the war with Lin Nation, Wang Yan returned to Firecloud Divine Mountain while keeping his great-perfection Core Condensation cultivation secret. He continued studying a mysterious treasure chest and reunited with his companions, leaving with another meeting arranged by the two women.

• Wang Yan examined the sealed chest Liu Wushuang had traded him, and Card Fairy identified its Silver Tadpole Script as restriction arrays made by several high-level cultivators.
• Wang Yan concealed his true cultivation with a Disguise Card and continued researching formations while fulfilling patrol duties.
• As Cloud Nation's army withdrew from Lin Nation, Wang Yan was transferred back to Firecloud Divine Mountain and Yellow Cloud Peak.
• Wang Yan met Liu Wushuang, Ye Shisan, Zhang Qiulin, Zhang Qiulang, Wang Lihong, and the others; Liu Wushuang thanked him, and Ye Shisan showed signs of nearing a breakthrough.
• After the gathering, the two women arranged another meeting with Wang Yan, who recalled the encounter dreamily.

On the way back to the Firecloud Sect, Wang Yan considered inviting the twin cultivators to cultivate with him, then persuaded Card Fairy to consider blocking her view and voice during his cultivation. Before he could ask what she had figured out, a woman addressed him aboard the Flying Boat.

• Wang Yan remembered the twins' kisses and considered inviting them to cultivate with him.
• Wang Yan hesitated because of the secrets he carried and Card Fairy's presence inside him.
• Card Fairy excitedly announced that she had figured something out, startling Wang Yan.
• Wang Yan persuaded Card Fairy that her sudden outbursts could endanger his cultivation and asked her to consider a way to avoid disturbing him.
• A woman called out to Wang Yan before he could ask Card Fairy what she had figured out.

Wang Yan met Lin Juan aboard Yellow Cloud Peak’s Flying Boat, then learned from Card Fairy that Liu Wushuang’s treasure chest was part of a set needed to open an ancient secret realm. After the boat returned to Firecloud Divine Mountain, Wang Yan went to pay his respects to Venerable Gray Three.

• Lin Juan approached Wang Yan, introduced herself as a Yellow Cloud Peak disciple, and hinted that he would later learn her connection to Martial Aunt Lin Xia.
• Card Fairy told Wang Yan that his treasure chest was an ancient treasure tied to a secret realm and that roughly seven or eight matching chests were needed to open it.
• Wang Yan asked Card Fairy to find a way to prevent interruptions, and she agreed while warning that it might require refining another Immortal Card.
• Wang Yan studied the Magic Treasure Immortal Card from a Jade Slip during the Flying Boat’s return to Firecloud Divine Mountain.
• Wang Yan went to Venerable Gray Three and respectfully paid his respects to his master.

Venerable Gray Three proposed that Wang Yan become Lin Juan’s dual cultivation partner, but Wang Yan declined, and his master accepted the decision. Wang Yan then gave Venerable Gray Three three Purple Jade Spirit Pills that could extend his lifespan, leaving his master delighted but suspicious of his secrets.

• Venerable Gray Three told Wang Yan that Lin Xia wanted him to become Lin Juan’s dual cultivation partner because she had reached a bottleneck.
• Wang Yan declined, saying he wanted to focus on cultivation and was not ready for a dual cultivation partner.
• Venerable Gray Three accepted Wang Yan’s refusal and explained that Lin Xia had hoped he could help Lin Juan advance.
• Wang Yan presented Venerable Gray Three with three Purple Jade Spirit Pills, claiming he had obtained them from a Wicked Poison Sect cultivator.
• Venerable Gray Three exchanged pills and treasures for the pills, then watched Wang Yan leave and privately suspected he had many secrets.

After rejecting a proposed partnership with Lin Juan, Wang Yan returned to his Cave Abode and planned to cultivate and prepare for a breakthrough. Lin Juan soon confronted him in person, furious that he had refused her, and demanded that he agree.

• Wang Yan decided he would not accept Lin Juan as a Dual Cultivation Partner, despite Venerable Gray Three’s suggestion, and returned to his Cave Abode after the war paused.
• Wang Yan planned to prepare for his Golden Core Stage breakthrough, refine Immortal Cards, and cultivate in seclusion.
• Wang Yan spent several days gathering materials for an inward-concealment Immortal Card that could block Card Fairy and the Purple Mountain Medicine Sage from prying into his thoughts.
• Lin Juan shouted for Wang Yan outside his Cave Abode, prompting him to come out to avoid drawing more attention.
• Lin Juan demanded to know why Wang Yan had rejected her, and Wang Yan said he considered himself unworthy of her.
• Lin Juan insisted that Wang Yan tell his master he had agreed to the arrangement, while Wang Yan tried to persuade her to reconsider.

Wang Yan refused Lin Juan’s demand to become his Dual Cultivation Partner, and she publicly accused him of being heartless before flying off. Rumors spread through the Firecloud Sect, eventually causing tension between Wang Yan and Zhang Qiulin and Zhang Qiulang.

• Lin Juan confronted Wang Yan at his Cave Abode and demanded that he accept her as his Dual Cultivation Partner, while Wang Yan refused.
• Lin Juan stormed away after calling Wang Yan a heartless bastard, and nearby cultivators concluded that he had wronged her.
• The chapter revealed that Lin Juan’s choice stemmed from Wang Yan’s aura, reputation, and her dissatisfaction with other candidates, while her cultivation art also contributed to her agitation.
• Wang Yan returned to his Cave Abode, regained his calm with the Heart-Control Art, and activated the Restriction Array to avoid further disturbances.
• Cultivators spread increasingly elaborate rumors that Wang Yan had seduced, exploited, or abandoned Lin Juan, including claims that he had taken up with the Mystery Cloud Twin Beauties.
• Wang Yan ignored the gossip and studied Immortal Cards, unaware that the rumors would create tension between him and Zhang Qiulin and Zhang Qiulang.

After completing the Concealment Card, Wang Yan emerged from seclusion and was confronted by cultivators challenging him over Lin Juan. He refused their challenges and escaped from the group, leaving them stunned by his speed.

• Wang Yan finished the Concealment Card and tested it, briefly hiding the Card Fairy from his awareness.
• Wang Yan asked the Card Fairy for the remaining materials needed to make the Ancient Treasure Refining Card and left his Cave Abode to find them.
• Li Xiao confronted Wang Yan and issued a challenge, claiming he wanted justice for Lin Juan.
• Several other cultivators arrived and issued similar challenges, hoping to defeat Wang Yan and gain Lin Juan’s favor and the Lin Household’s support.
• Wang Yan burned the written challenges, refused to fight within the sect, and flew away using his Clearwind Light Wings.
• The cultivators failed to catch Wang Yan and remarked on his astonishing escape speed.

After refining and testing the Concealment Card, Wang Yan left seclusion to gather materials for the Ancient Treasure Refining Card and was confronted by cultivators seeking to challenge him over Lin Juan. He refused their challenges and escaped, leaving the would-be challengers behind.

• Wang Yan completed the Concealment Card and tested how it concealed Card Fairy from him.
• Wang Yan asked Card Fairy for the remaining materials needed to refine the Ancient Treasure Refining Card and left his Cave Abode to find them.
• Li Xiao confronted Wang Yan and issued a challenge, claiming he would win justice for Lin Juan; other cultivators soon arrived with similar challenges.
• Wang Yan burned the challenge letters and refused to fight the cultivators on the Divine Mountain's grounds.
• After the cultivators insulted him, Wang Yan used his Clearwind Light Wings to escape, leaving them unable to catch up.

Wang Yan tried to visit Zhang Qiulin and Zhang Qiulang at Mystery Cloud Peak, but rumors about him made the guards and disciples treat him with suspicion. After receiving a message from the two women, he encountered Li Xiao and agreed to his duel challenge.

• Wang Yan flew toward Mystery Cloud Peak, intending to invite Zhang Qiulin and Zhang Qiulang to his Cave Abode Secret Realm Pagoda.
• A disciple at the peak entrance refused to help Wang Yan because of the rumors about him, but accepted Spirit-Nurturing Pills in exchange for checking on the two women.
• The disciple returned with a Voice Transmission Talisman from Zhang Qiulin and Zhang Qiulang, and Wang Yan left after reading their message.
• Li Xiao intercepted Wang Yan and challenged him to a duel, and Wang Yan accepted.

Wang Yan accepted Li Xiao’s duel to stop the rumors damaging his relationships with Linlang and another woman. At the Dueling Arena, Wang Yan destroyed Li Xiao’s opening vine attack, and Li Xiao countered with two whip treasures that formed a giant python.

• News of Wang Yan accepting Li Xiao’s challenge spread across Yellow Cloud Peak, drawing a large crowd to the Dueling Arena.
• Wang Yan realized that rumors about him and Lin Juan had also caused Linlang and another woman to distance themselves, and he suspected her suitors were spreading them.
• Li Xiao signed the duel agreement and loudly accused Wang Yan of wronging Senior Sister Lin Juan, while Wang Yan signed and warned him not to regret the challenge.
• Li Xiao covered himself in wooden armor and sent vines bursting from the ground to surround Wang Yan.
• Wang Yan used the Fire Fist Spell Card to burn Li Xiao’s vines to ashes.
• Li Xiao summoned two green-rune whips that transformed into the phantom of a giant python.

Wang Yan forced Li Xiao to swear a heart demon blood oath never to spread rumors about him or appear before him again, then publicly invited anyone with grievances over Lin Juan to challenge him. After Huang Mang accepted, Wang Yan defeated him in less than five breaths, leaving him trapped in the Restriction Array.

• Wang Yan threatened to strip Li Xiao naked unless he swore a public heart demon blood oath, and Li Xiao agreed, admitting defeat and promising to keep away from Wang Yan.
• Wang Yan released Li Xiao, who recalled his treasures and fled by Flying Escape as the cultivators discussed Wang Yan's strength.
• Wang Yan declared that he had never wronged Senior Sister Lin Juan and challenged anyone with grievances to face him on the Dueling Platform.
• After the gathered cultivators hesitated, Huang Mang descended and challenged Wang Yan, claiming he could not stand Wang Yan's conduct.
• Wang Yan warned Huang Mang that he might cripple him, then blasted him into the Restriction Array in less than five breaths.

Wang Yan defeated a fifth challenger and drove off the disciples trying to use others to wear him down over the rumors. Just as he prepared to leave, Zhu Qian, one of the Main Peak’s three great disciples and Lin Juan’s close friend, challenged him, leaving their confrontation about to begin.

• Wang Yan defeated another cultivator and froze him with blue light, while spectators began praising Wang Yan and questioning the rumors about him and Lin Juan.
• Wang Yan recognized that his opponents were sending others to exhaust his magic power, and the challengers refused to fight unless they received large rewards.
• Wang Yan warned the disciples not to spread rumors and prepared to leave when nobody else stepped forward.
• Zhu Qian arrived, challenged Wang Yan, and said Lin Juan’s business was her business.

Wang Yan’s victory over Zhu Qian became famous across Firecloud Divine Mountain, while Lin Juan emerged from seclusion after a dangerous breakthrough. As Lin Juan and Zhu Qian discussed Wang Yan’s strength, he took advantage of the commotion to leave the mountain.

• Disciples across Firecloud Divine Mountain spread news of Wang Yan defeating Zhu Qian, and recordings of their battle convinced many who doubted the reports.
• Lin Juan watched the recording of the battle before Zhu Qian visited her and noticed she had broken through.
• Lin Juan explained that she had risked a dangerous method to force her breakthrough after struggling with inner demons and refusing proposed dual cultivation partners.
• Zhu Qian admitted that Wang Yan had overwhelmed her and that his true strength and abilities remained unclear, while she and Lin Juan teased each other about him.
• Wang Yan piloted his Flying Boat away from Firecloud Divine Mountain, using the uproar as an opportunity to leave.

After defeating Zhu Qian, Wang Yan left Firecloud Divine Mountain to avoid the sect’s elders and cultivate in seclusion at Moon-Embracing Purple Mountain. Meanwhile, Wang Ziling learned of Wang Yan’s rapid progress and vowed revenge.

• Wang Yan’s victory over Zhu Qian attracted attention from Firecloud Sect elders and prompted the Main Peak to demand his transfer.
• Wang Yan told Venerable Gray Three that he wanted to leave the mountain to overcome a cultivation bottleneck, and Venerable Gray Three agreed to let him go while keeping him attached to Yellow Cloud Peak.
• Wang Yan planned to cultivate at Moon-Embracing Purple Mountain, where he could avoid exposing his rapid progress toward the Golden Core Stage.
• Aboard his Flying Boat, Wang Yan distracted the Card Fairy from her complaints by asking for advice about his Ancient Treasure Refinement Card.
• In the Wicked Poison Sect’s territory, Wang Ziling received news of Wang Yan’s progress and swore to make him pay.

The Treasure-Seeking True Person discovered ancient ruins deep in the Taiwu Mountains just as a vast purple Treasure Mountain erupted from the ground. Before he could approach it, Wang Yan announced that he had finally escaped from inside.

• The Treasure-Seeking True Person found ancient ruins in the mist-shrouded Taiwu Mountains and suspected they were connected to the rumored rare treasure.
• The ruins began shaking, collapsing, and splitting apart as purple light surged from the ground.
• A gigantic purple Treasure Mountain rose from the fissure and stopped in midair.
• Wang Yan shouted from within the Treasure Mountain that he had finally escaped, shocking the Treasure-Seeking True Person.

Wang Yan invited Treasure-Seeking True Person into his mountain and learned that only a little over a hundred years had passed outside while he was trapped. The chapter then recounted Wang Yan’s rise to major attainment in the Nascent Soul Realm and his decades-long search for Immortal Card Artifacts and materials to repair his dantian.

• Wang Yan opened the mountain’s restriction array and invited Treasure-Seeking True Person inside to talk.
• Treasure-Seeking True Person met the youthful Wang Yan, could not discern his cultivation, and spent ten or twelve hours speaking with him.
• After Treasure-Seeking True Person departed, Wang Yan expressed surprise that only a little over a hundred years had passed, and Card Fairy confirmed it.
• The chapter recounted how Wang Yan left Firecloud Divine Mountain, broke through to the Golden Core Stage, and learned to refine several Immortal Cards.
• Wang Yan traveled across the Thirty-Two Kingdoms Continent, seeking the remaining Immortal Card Artifacts and materials to repair Wang Ziling’s damage to his dantian.