Chapter Summaries

Li Yu returned to Haо City and attended class at the Great Evolution Academy, where Su Wen introduced him to the Metaverse Arena. Li Yu created an Arena account and learned that its abilities could eventually influence a cultivator’s real body, but he had not yet begun fighting.

• Li Yu worried that Mount Lao Sword Sect experts might discover the Lesser Clarity sword had passed him taiqing sword intent, and Qin Jian explained the twelve taiqing sword intents.
• Zhao Qian arranged for Li Yu to stay in a secure Haо City courtyard, with Yuan Hao under house arrest next door.
• Li Yu attended class after missing two months, and Su Wen decided to unlock the Arena so he could practice combat.
• Su Wen explained Arena defenders, virtual currency, and innate abilities, and Li Yu became eager to earn Star Coins and learn more.
• Li Yu created an Arena account as Taiyi Zhenren and inspected its options before Su Wen explained that skins were purely cosmetic.

Li Yu learned how the Galaxy Alliance’s Metaverse Arena and cultivation system worked from Su Wen, testing his spirit roots and asking about cultivation techniques and realms. He left class eager to continue learning, while Meng Wanzhu and Su Wen recognized his enthusiasm.

• Li Yu entered the Arena, was instantly defeated by a powerful opponent, then won against four other opponents and learned about its shop, spirit-root tests, and daily attack limits.
• Su Wen explained how spirit-root grades worked and described ways to improve them through Arena rewards, surgery, or ancient cultivation methods.
• Su Wen taught Li Yu about the Galaxy Alliance’s sixteen cultivation realms and explained how Illumination prepared the body for Foundation Establishment.
• Li Yu asked Su Wen questions about adapting his body to Taiyi True Explanation and changing his cultivation path before Foundation Establishment.
• Meng Wanzhu found Li Yu still asking questions after class and sent him away so he could organize more questions for the next lesson.

Li Yu cultivated the Purple Glow Art until he formed his second drop of heartblood essence, then filmed a video opening Ying Ruomu and Ying Feiyun’s storage bags to attract followers. After barely winning an arena match, he asked Su Wen to examine the sword art he had obtained from an awakened Spirit Sword.

• Li Yu formed his second drop of heartblood essence, stabilizing his Whirling Illumination realm and restoring his true essence limit to the eighth level of Qi Refining.
• Li Yu filmed himself opening Ying Ruomu’s storage bag and found spirit stones, pills, and a Supreme Spirit Pearl.
• Li Yu opened Ying Feiyun’s storage bag, gaining more spirit stones, the Golden Light Sword Thunder Art, and fragments of a blue-green eggshell.
• Li Yu uploaded the edited video, cultivated, and barely defeated a heavily armored body cultivator in the metaverse arena.
• Li Yu told Su Wen that he had awakened a Spirit Sword and obtained a sword art, then asked him to examine it.

Li Yu’s question about the Taiqing Mystic Sect's Formless Sword Qi led Su Wen to test the sword art, whose formation exploded and nearly harmed Li Yu. Su Wen concluded that the art was a heavenly-tier cultivation method because its power exceeded the control of Thousand Mechanisms Evolution.

• Su Wen praised Li Yu for asking questions and began studying the Taiqing Mystic Sect's Formless Sword Qi.
• Su Wen manifested twelve avatars and formed a sphere of swords, which split apart and erupted into dangerous colored radiance.
• Su Wen activated the classroom's emergency protection and sent his avatars to intercept the radiance, but they were destroyed along with the sword formation.
• Meng Wanzhu rushed into the classroom, found Li Yu safe, and heard Su Wen say he would write a report about the incident.
• Su Wen explained that the sword art's formation had exceeded his control and concluded that it was a heavenly-tier cultivation method.

Li Yu and Su Wen discussed the limits of Thousand Mechanisms Evolution and the mysteries of the Taiqing Mystic Sect's Formless Sword Qi, including its possible connection to the Taiqing Divine Sword. After Su Wen refused to explain how Li Yu could use a sword intent to establish his foundation, Li Yu said he had reconsidered Su Wen's proposal to document his cultivation, and Su Wen asked him to message privately after class.

• Su Wen explained that Thousand Mechanisms Evolution could not combine the twelve opposing sword intents into a formation, and speculated that a supreme sword or sword heart was needed to control them.
• Li Yu told Su Wen about the Taiqing Divine Sword and the Mount Lao Sword Sect legends, but neither could determine whether the sword or the sword art came first.
• Su Wen and Li Yu compared the legends of immortals, ascension, and the Heavenly Emperor in their respective worlds.
• Su Wen judged that the Formless Sword Qi's ultimate sword formation could rival the strongest formations in Thousand Mechanisms Evolution, making Li Yu reluctant to abandon it.
• Li Yu asked whether his half sword intent could help him establish his foundation, but Su Wen refused to teach him a method the Galaxy Alliance considered cheating.
• Li Yu told Su Wen that he had reconsidered letting him document his cultivation with the True Supreme Unity Interpretation, and Su Wen asked him to send a private message after class.

Li Yu learned how to incorporate the half-strand of Taiqing Sword Intent into his cultivation without advancing to Foundation Establishment. Su Wen helped him form the Heaven and Earth Yi Light Six Directions Sword Formation, but Li Yu’s first attempt killed his Arena avatar and left him recovering from the pain.

• Su Wen warned Li Yu that using the Sword Intent to reach Foundation Establishment could destabilize his foundation, then agreed that Li Yu could forge a sword heart without advancing realms.
• Su Wen demonstrated how he used the Heaven and Earth Six Directions Sword Formation to contain Sword Intent, and explained that Li Yu needed to find a compatible method within the Taiyi True Explanation.
• Su Wen merged the formation into Li Yu’s Yi Light Condensing Edge, creating the Heaven and Earth Yi Light Six Directions Sword Formation.
• Li Yu tried the new technique after Su Wen increased his avatar’s spiritual sense and true essence, but the formation ground him down and ejected him from the custom room.
• Su Wen soothed Li Yu’s post-death agony, and Li Yu asked him to give warning before his next death.

Li Yu followed a demanding cultivation routine while studying how to integrate Taiqing Sword Intent with Yi Light Condensing Edge. He ended the day by supporting Xue Feng’s livestream, but his order for purple jade polished rice was canceled because it could not be delivered to his region.

• Su Wen left the Arena after urging Li Yu to cultivate diligently and raise his Whirling Illumination level.
• Li Yu refined Great Sun Ascendant Purple Qi in Hao City, then continued practicing the Taiyi True Explanation and Taiqing Sword Intent as part of his daily schedule.
• Li Yu reviewed Su Wen’s lesson and carefully tested combining Taiqing Sword Intent with Yi Light Condensing Edge, stopping when he could go no further.
• Li Yu checked his Galaxy Platform account and found that his video had passed review, gained more views, and received a one-star-coin tip.
• Li Yu watched Xue Feng’s livestream and tried to buy purple jade polished rice, but the order was canceled because delivery was unavailable in his region.

Li Yu learned that Golden Crow Fried Rice might aid his cultivation and went to the inn’s dining hall, where Yuan Hao questioned how he had reached the Qi Refinement Tenth Layer. The chapter left Li Yu safe from Yuan Hao’s hostility but aware of the old feud between Hongyang Peak and Taiyi Peak.

• Li Yu learned that golden crow rice could help cultivate the Purple Glow Art and went to the Setting Sun Terrace to order Golden Crow Fried Rice.
• Yuan Hao invited Li Yu to eat with him and asked about Li Yu’s background and sudden advancement to the Qi Refinement Tenth Layer.
• Li Yu claimed that a True Disciple from Taiyi Peak had given him the cultivation method, provoking Yuan Hao’s killing intent.
• The woman in the colorful skirt and Innkeeper Hao stopped Yuan Hao from acting against Li Yu.
• Yuan Hao explained that his Hongyang Peak lineage regarded Taiyi Peak as an enemy because its head had been a disciple of True Lord Fragrance.

Li Yu discovered that Golden Crow Spirit Rice helped him cultivate the Violet Collateral Sky Meridians ahead of time, but he still needed a way to gather Great Sun Ascendant Purple Qi for his cultivation. Su Wen taught him an Essence-Gathering Spirit-Storage Formation, and Li Yu successfully built one before Su Wen identified his small earth-yellow sword as its needed focal point.

• Li Yu packed up the Golden Crow Fried Rice after tasting it, and Yuan Hao remarked that he wished Li Yu belonged to another lineage.
• Li Yu refined the rice’s Pure Yang Purple Qi with the Purple Glow Art and realized it had let him begin cultivating the Violet Collateral Sky Meridians ahead of time.
• Li Yu cultivated Great Sun Ascendant Purple Qi at dawn and decided to ask Su Wen how to modify the Purple Glow Art.
• Su Wen taught Li Yu about the Essence-Gathering Spirit-Storage Formation and offered to show him its simplest version so he could gather and store purple qi.
• After three days of study, Li Yu successfully set up a working formation in the practical classroom.
• Su Wen pointed to Li Yu’s small earth-yellow sword as the object needed to serve as the formation’s focal point.

Li Yu learned to set up the Essence-Gathering Spirit-Storage Formation and used it to gather great sun ascendant purple qi for rapid cultivation. The next morning, he found his second drop of heart’s blood half condensed and believed he could soon attempt the opening of light.

• Su Wen taught Li Yu how earth-aspected spiritual objects could anchor formations and demonstrated the Essence-Gathering Spirit-Storage Formation using the Yellow Sand Sword.
• Li Yu arranged the Yellow Sand Sword and eight Spirit Stones, successfully activated the formation, and fine-tuned it to gather great sun ascendant purple qi.
• Hao Sheng told the innkeeper to protect Li Yu and Yuan Hao until Old Ghost Huang arrived to investigate the Lesser Hao Subformation’s strange fluctuations.
• Li Yu returned to his room, found purple qi gathered in the formation, and practiced the Purple Glow Art after eating Golden Crow Fried Rice.
• The next morning, Li Yu discovered that his second drop of heart’s blood was half condensed and expected to soon attempt the opening of light.

Li Yu refined his second drop of heart's blood and sought a way to store the excess purple qi, but the Enforcement Hall's investigation into the incident involving Ying Ruomu soon caught up with him. The chapter left him entering a private room with Zhao Qian, the investigators, and a towering, unfamiliar old man.

• Li Yu replaced the depleted spirit stones in his formation and asked Su Wen how to store the purple qi it collected.
• Su Wen recommended refining a vessel for storing spiritual energy, and Li Yu decided to commission a copper or pottery vessel.
• At the Setting Sun Terrace, Li Yu met Yuan Hao and two unfamiliar cultivators, including Enforcement Hall agent Shen Yan.
• Li Yu refused to answer Shen Yan's questions until Steward Zhao verified his identity, then heard Zhao Qian summon him upstairs.
• Li Yu entered the private room and recognized the imposing old man's appearance, his heart pounding.

Li Yu helped Huang Shu expose Yuan Hao's possible connection to the White Lotus Church, then accepted Zhao Qian's offer to become his nominal disciple and help manage the Zhao Kingdom Branch. After Zhao Qian left, Li Yu used his new status to put the Setting Sun Terrace bill on the sect's account and ordered food to go.

• Li Yu suggested Yuan Hao might be connected to remnants of the White Lotus Church, and Huang Shu took Yuan Hao away for a soul search.
• Zhao Qian offered Li Yu a nominal discipleship and a role helping clean up the Zhao Kingdom Branch, and Li Yu accepted.
• Zhao Qian gave Li Yu a jade slip with refining instructions and two subsidiary yellow sand swords as a welcoming gift.
• Li Yu learned that Zhao Qian and Huang Shu had left the Setting Sun Terrace bill unpaid and told Proprietor Hao to charge it to the sect's account.
• Li Yu ordered ten portions of Golden Crow fried rice on the same bill, impressing Proprietor Hao with his confidence.

Li Yu learned the rudiments of the Yellow Sand Obscures the Sun Sword Formation after crafting a Purple Qi Flask and refining two Yellow Sand Swords. At the Five Lotus Sect branch, Cao Yi mistook Li Yu’s importance for something greater than his newly revealed status as Zhao Qian’s disciple and brought him upstairs to meet Zhao Qian and the waiting cultivators.

• Li Yu ruined twenty-three wine flasks before successfully creating the Purple Qi Flask and drawing the formation’s purple qi into it.
• Li Yu read Zhao Qian’s jade slip, refined both Yellow Sand Swords, and practiced the rudimentary Yellow Sand Obscures the Sun Sword Formation.
• Li Yu arrived at the Five Lotus Sect branch, where Xiong Meng was surprised by his unmasked appearance.
• Cao Yi noticed Li Yu’s Yellow Sand Sword, warmly led him upstairs to meet Zhao Qian and the other waiting cultivators, and left Xiong Meng wondering who Li Yu was.

Li Yu joined Zhao Qian at the Zhao Kingdom Branch as his disciple and was put in charge of coordinating its response to Yuan Hao’s alleged crimes. Zhao Qing then sought to become the new steward, but Zhao Qian rebuked her for failing to build support or restrain Yuan Hao.

• Cao Yi showed Li Yu the Branch offices, where Zhao Qian was reviewing Yuan Hao’s accounts and documents with the department heads.
• Zhao Qian seated Li Yu beside him and told the Branch staff to bring specific matters to Li Yu and cooperate with the Enforcement Hall’s investigation.
• The Branch’s department heads introduced themselves, and Li Yu learned that Yuan Hao and four other Foundation Establishment cultivators had been taken away for trial.
• Zhao Qian condemned the Branch’s corruption and assigned Li Yu to help restore discipline before dismissing the staff.
• Zhao Qing stayed behind and asked Zhao Qian to appoint her as the new steward, but he criticized her for failing to gather allies or keep Yuan Hao in check.

Zhao Qian explained why he had taken Li Yu as a disciple and examined Li Yu’s cultivation after asking about his path to the tenth layer of Qi Refinement. He accepted Li Yu’s account, gave him Essence Restoration Pills, and promised to find him a complete Taiyi Scripture and help him pursue Foundation Establishment.

• Zhao Qian berated Zhao Qing and considered how Li Yu could help him bring the Zhao Kingdom Branch under his control.
• Zhao Qian recalled his former disciples and explained why Zhao Qing could not manage the Branch without help.
• Zhao Qian asked what cultivation method Li Yu practiced, and Li Yu said he had failed Foundation Establishment, lost three layers of cultivation, and recovered to the eighth layer while strengthening his spiritual sense.
• Zhao Qian examined Li Yu and confirmed that he was at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement, while noticing signs that he practiced the Purple Cloud Art.
• Zhao Qian gave Li Yu Essence Restoration Pills and promised to obtain a complete Taiyi Scripture and a Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure if Li Yu reached the twelfth layer.
• Li Yu accepted the pills and decided to help Zhao Qian straighten out the Zhao Kingdom Branch.

Li Yu began investigating Yuan Hao’s network at the Zhao Kingdom Branch and secured Xiong Meng as his assistant. He ended the chapter by sending her to tell Shi Sang that his rent in Cuckoo Dove Village would rise to twenty-five spirit stones a month.

• Zhao Qian ordered Li Yu and Zhao Qing to cooperate and assigned Li Yu to investigate Yuan Hao’s records and remaining accomplices.
• Zhao Qing refused to arrange housing for Li Yu in Haо City, explaining that he would need to submit rental documents to receive the allowance.
• Li Yu asked Cao Yi to assign Xiong Meng to help him, and Cao Yi agreed, leaving the paperwork for Zhao Qing’s office.
• Cao Yi introduced Xiong Meng to Li Yu as his new assistant, and she eagerly accepted the assignment.
• Li Yu questioned Xiong Meng about relationships among the Branch’s departments and used her answers to organize Yuan Hao’s records.
• Li Yu sent Xiong Meng to tell Shi Sang that his monthly rent would increase to twenty-five spirit stones because he had been promoted.

Li Yu returned to Cuckoo Dove Village, helped Jin Ling cultivate, and questioned Lu Dan about the Heavenly Change Sect’s rebellion. Lu Dan revealed that the sect was testing whether Emperor Tianwu had died, and a thunderclap sounded as Li Yu nearly dropped his cup.

• Li Yu took a Restoration Pill and cultivated at the Branch, then learned Xiong Meng had waited outside his office to report that she had carried out his orders.
• Li Yu spoke with Cao Yi about the documents and arranged for Xiong Meng to get a workstation, then told her to go home.
• Li Yu returned to Cuckoo Dove Village, met Jin Ling, cleared the remaining slaughtering metal qi from her lungs, and had her cultivate the Purple Glow Art.
• Li Yu shared wine and Golden Crow Fried Rice with Lu Dan, then asked why the Heavenly Change Sect dared to rebel against Immortal Zhou.
• Lu Dan said Emperor Tianwu had not appeared at court for twenty years and might have died during a heavenly tribulation, making the Heavenly Change Sect a pawn testing Immortal Zhou’s response.
• Li Yu nearly dropped his wine cup as a thunderclap rang overhead.