Chapter Summaries

Shen He took Zhao Ting to the Inner Pavilion after discovering his metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root, while Xu Yang led Chen Xun, Yu Zheng, and the others to Servant Disciple Peak. The newcomers learned the sect’s hierarchy and the ranks of servant disciples as they began their registration.

• Shen He hurried Zhao Ting to the Inner Pavilion and ordered Xu Yang to take Chen Xun, Yu Zheng, and the others to Servant Disciple Peak.
• Xu Yang revealed that Zhao Ting had a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root and would live on Heaven Mystic Peak as one of the sect’s fifteen purple-robed disciples.
• Xu Yang explained the roles of Human Mystic Peak, Earth Profound Peak, and Heaven Mystic Peak, leaving Yu Zheng and the others humbled by the gap between their status and Zhao Ting’s.
• Xu Yang led the newcomers up Servant Disciple Peak, where servant disciples bowed to him and watched the group closely.
• Xu Yang explained that the lowest-ranked servant disciples lived halfway up the mountain, while higher-ranked disciples lived farther up and could become outer disciples by advancing beyond the third level of Qi Refinement.

Xu Yang discovered that Chen Xun had wandered away after the new disciples were registered, and he explained to Qian Laifu that Chen Xun was Zhao Ting’s friend and needed a place to stay and a sweeping job. Chen Xun ran noisily through the training grounds, where angry servant disciples surrounded him.

• Xu Yang registered Yu Zheng and the other three boys with Qian Laifu, who gave them robes, supplies, and the first volume of the Heavenly Dao Art.
• After the four boys left for their lodgings, Xu Yang realized Chen Xun was missing and told Qian Laifu to find him a sweeping job and somewhere to stay.
• Xu Yang revealed that Zhao Ting had a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root and that Chen Xun was his friend from the mortal world, shocking Qian Laifu.
• Chen Xun wandered into the training grounds, somersaulted, and ran around happily, disturbing the cultivating disciples.
• Several angry servant disciples surrounded Chen Xun after seeing him make a commotion.

Chen Xun disrupted the servant disciples’ training ground and demanded they apologize, prompting Xu Yang to intervene. After Xu Yang explained that Chen Xun was not quite right in the head, the disciples apologized, and Xu Yang dragged Chen Xun away.

• Chen Xun disturbed the servant disciples at the training ground and demanded that they apologize to him.
• The disciples moved to beat Chen Xun, but Xu Yang arrived and stopped them.
• Xu Yang told Chen Xun to come with him, but Chen Xun refused to leave until the disciples apologized.
• After hearing the disciples’ account, Xu Yang asked them to apologize and explained that Chen Xun was not quite right in the head.
• The disciples apologized, and Xu Yang pulled Chen Xun out of the training ground.

Chen Xun was assigned a remote hut and a mountain path to sweep after arriving at the Heavenly Dao Sect. Meanwhile, Zhao Ting was praised by the elders for his metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root, and the sect master Nangong Yao arrived, unknowingly sharing a past encounter with Chen Xun.

• Xu Yang brought Chen Xun to Deacon Qian Laifu, who assigned him a thatched hut on the western side of Servant Disciple Peak and the path from halfway down to its foot to sweep.
• A disciple led Chen Xun to the hut and showed him the dining hall and his assigned area, but Chen Xun stayed inside and skipped dinner.
• Chen Xun read his blank book, then went to sleep hugging his wooden sword.
• At the inner pavilion, the elders praised Zhao Ting's metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root and anticipated competing to take him as a direct disciple.
• Nangong Yao arrived at the inner pavilion as the sect master, and he was revealed as the man who had once encountered Chen Xun at Little River Peak.

Nangong Yao promoted Shen He for recruiting Zhao Ting, a disciple with a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root. The elders competed to take Zhao Ting as their disciple, and he chose Fourth Elder Chu Ningshang.

• Nangong Yao praised Shen He for recruiting Zhao Ting and offered him the vacant inner sect elder position at Earth Profound Peak.
• Shen He accepted the promotion, and Liu Yunjian reminded him to cultivate diligently to meet the elders' standing requirements.
• Nangong Yao welcomed Zhao Ting to the Heavenly Dao Sect, and Jiang Bailu and Chu Ningshang asked to take him as their disciple.
• Nangong Yao let Zhao Ting choose his own master, and the elders competed by offering him gifts, resources, and instruction.
• Zhao Ting thanked the elders and chose Chu Ningshang as his master.

Zhao Ting chose Chu Ningshang as his master and was named the Heavenly Dao Sect’s fifteenth Purple-Robed Disciple. The next morning, Chen Xun ate the servant disciples’ entire breakfast supply, leaving the dining hall unable to explain the shortage to Qian Laifu.

• Zhao Ting chose Chu Ningshang, and Nangong Yao announced that Zhao Ting would be appointed a Purple-Robed Disciple in five days.
• Chen Xun arrived early at the dining hall while Qian Laifu addressed the servant disciples on the training grounds.
• Chen Xun devoured a barrel of porridge and all the steamed buns and pickled vegetables before leaving the dining hall.
• Hundreds of servant disciples arrived to find breakfast gone and argued with the disciples responsible for serving it.
• Qian Laifu questioned the dining hall workers, and one serving disciple blamed the shortage on Chen Xun, though the other disciples doubted the story.

Qian Laifu investigated the missing breakfast in the dining hall and brought Chen Xun in as a suspect. Chen Xun’s usual head-bobbing was mistaken for a denial, leaving the serving disciple furious as the investigation turned against the dining hall.

• The disciples disputed the dining hall’s claim that Chen Xun had something to do with the missing food, and Qian Laifu ordered more breakfast cooked and Chen Xun summoned.
• Zhao Ting told Chen Xun he had become the Fourth Elder’s disciple and offered to ask his master to examine him; Chen Xun stopped him from touching the wooden sword on his back.
• A servant disciple brought Chen Xun to the dining hall, where Qian Laifu asked whether he had seen the porridge and buns on the counter.
• Chen Xun bobbed his head, and the disciples took it as a denial; Qian Laifu accused the dining hall staff of trying to frame him, prompting the serving disciple to shout, “Chen Xun, you heartless bastard!!!”

Chen Xun’s enormous appetite was revealed, clearing the dining hall disciples of blame and earning him more food at each meal. As the Heavenly Dao Sect held a lavish investiture for a new Purple-Robed Disciple, the servant disciples were barred from attending and remained on their mountain.

• Chen Xun admitted he had eaten the missing breakfast, but Qian Laifu refused to believe he could have consumed food meant for hundreds and deducted contribution points from the dining hall disciples.
• At lunch, the servant disciples watched Chen Xun eat enough for dozens, so Qian Laifu returned the deducted points and ordered the dining hall to prepare extra food.
• Chen Xun continued eating, sleeping, and sweeping the mountain paths as news spread that the Heavenly Dao Sect would invest a newcomer with a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root as a Purple-Robed Disciple.
• Representatives from other sects and factions arrived for the ceremony at Heaven Mystic Peak, while servant disciples were forbidden to descend Servant Disciple Peak.
• The servant disciples lamented that they could not attend the ceremony, and Qian Laifu appeared to send them back to work before thinking of Zhao Ting and Chen Xun.

Chen Xun climbed Heaven Mystic Peak after knocking out its guards and interrupted Zhao Ting’s Purple-Robe Investiture Ceremony by complaining about the noise. The ceremony stopped as the assembled sects and disciples recognized Chen Xun, leaving Zhao Ting terrified.

• Chen Xun rushed down Servant Disciple Peak, knocked out the two guards at Heaven Mystic Peak, and climbed toward the Martial Arena while reading his wordless book.
• Nangong Yao arrived with Zhao Ting, and the sect began Zhao Ting’s Purple-Robe Investiture Ceremony before visiting factions and Heavenly Dao Sect disciples.
• Liu Yunjian invested Zhao Ting as the sect’s fifteenth purple-robed disciple and presented him with a robe, identity token, cultivation art, and sword.
• Nangong Yao announced that Zhao Ting would acknowledge Chu Ningshang as his master.
• Chen Xun shouted that the ceremony was too noisy, stopping the drums and drawing everyone’s attention; Zhao Ting recognized him and turned pale with terror.

Chen Xun disrupted Zhao Ting's investiture ceremony, prompting the Heavenly Dao Sect to nearly punish him before Sect Master Nangong Yao intervened. The ceremony resumed, while Nangong Yao recognized Chen Xun as the senior he had met before and resolved to seize the chance to meet him again.

• Chen Xun turned to leave the ceremony, but Liu Yunjian confronted Xu Ansong for allowing him onto Heaven Mystic Peak.
• Xu Ansong ordered an outer sect steward to execute Chen Xun, and Zhao Ting pleaded for his friend to be spared.
• Zhao Ting explained that Chen Xun was his friend from the mortal world, while Shen He admitted he had brought Chen Xun into the sect without authorization.
• Nangong Yao ended the matter and stopped Liu Yunjian from having Chen Xun seized as Chen Xun left the mountain.
• The investiture ceremony resumed, and Nangong Yao recognized Chen Xun as the senior he had met atop Little River Peak and resolved to approach him.

After Chen Xun disrupted the ceremony, the Heavenly Dao Sect’s leaders chose not to pursue the incident, while news of his actions terrified Steward Qian. Nangong Yao went to Servant Disciple Peak to see Chen Xun and arrived just as Qian Laifu recognized him as the Sect Master.

• Xu Ansong ordered the two mountain guards who had fallen asleep to be bound and taken away.
• Nangong Yao told Liu Yunjian and the other elders to leave the incident at Heaven Mystic Peak alone.
• Qian Laifu ordered two servant disciples to bring Chen Xun from his hut after hearing about the disturbance.
• Nangong Yao met the disciples carrying Chen Xun and followed them to the pavilion.
• Qian Laifu began scolding Chen Xun, then recognized Nangong Yao as the Sect Master and dropped to his knees.
• The two servant disciples realized who Nangong Yao was and knelt in terror.

Nangong Yao visited Servant Disciple Peak and treated Chen Xun as a revered senior, leaving Qian Laifu terrified of having offended him. Chen Xun refused to leave his thatched hut, and Qian Laifu resolved to attend to him carefully.

• Nangong Yao interrupted Qian Laifu and asked Chen Xun how he wanted the steward dealt with, revealing his respect for Chen Xun.
• Chen Xun said he was tired, so Nangong Yao asked Qian Laifu to show him Chen Xun's quarters.
• Nangong Yao saw Chen Xun's thatched hut and invited him to stay on Heavenly Dao Peak, but Chen Xun went inside and fell asleep.
• Nangong Yao left after Chen Xun ignored his invitation, telling Qian Laifu that Chen Xun was playing in the mortal world rather than truly being a mortal.
• Qian Laifu concluded that Chen Xun was a great figure in seclusion and resolved to serve him attentively.

Zhao Ting brought Chen Xun to Chu Ningshang for an examination, but she discovered that he was a powerful cultivator and tried to stop him from leaving. Nangong Yao identified Chen Xun as Senior Chen and warned Chu Ningshang not to obstruct him, leaving her stunned.

• Chen Xun refused Qian Laifu's offers of better lodging and continued sweeping until Zhao Ting took him to see his master.
• Chu Ningshang examined Chen Xun's wrist, sensed his extraordinary power, and suspected he had infiltrated the Heavenly Dao Sect under false pretenses.
• Chen Xun ignored Chu Ningshang and walked out of the Punishment Hall while reading his wordless book.
• Chu Ningshang sent a Spirit-Binding Lock after Chen Xun, but it shattered before reaching him and injured her.
• Chu Ningshang reported Chen Xun to Nangong Yao, who told her to let Senior Chen do as he pleased and not obstruct him.

During Chen Xun’s first year at the Heavenly Dao Sect, he continued living as a mortal while Sect Master Nangong Yao secretly visited him for guidance and Zhao Ting rapidly advanced in cultivation. The chapter ended with Nangong Yao catching all nine Core Elders secretly following him to Servant Disciple Peak.

• Chu Ningshang asked Zhao Ting how he had met Chen Xun, then suggested Chen Xun might not be an ordinary person.
• Qian Laifu looked after Chen Xun, while Zhao Ting’s friendship with him became known among the disciples.
• Zhao Ting drew spiritual energy into his body in half a day, reached the third level of qi refinement in ten days, and established his foundation in a hundred days.
• Nangong Yao repeatedly visited Chen Xun, treated his ramblings as instruction, and began calling him Teacher.
• By the end of the year, Zhao Ting had reached the middle stage of foundation establishment while some Servant Disciples left the sect.
• Nangong Yao caught Liu Yunjian and the other eight Core Elders hiding near the path and accused them of following him.

Nangong Yao explained to the Core Elders why he frequently visited Servant Disciple Peak and revealed that Senior Chen was the extraordinary master who had spared Liu Yunjian at Zhao Ting’s investiture. The elders left with new awe for Senior Chen, while Nangong Yao warned them not to disturb him.

• Liu Yunjian admitted that the elders had gathered to investigate Nangong Yao’s frequent visits to Servant Disciple Peak.
• Nangong Yao said he visited to pay his respects to an esteemed master and hinted that the man was the mortal who had caused a disturbance at Zhao Ting’s investiture.
• The elders realized Senior Chen was that man, and Liu Yunjian panicked over having spoken disrespectfully to him.
• Nangong Yao reassured Liu Yunjian that ignorance carried no guilt and promised to take him to apologize to Senior Chen.
• Chu Ningshang explained that Zhao Ting had met Senior Chen by chance before joining the sect.
• Nangong Yao described meeting Senior Chen in the mountains and said the master’s disappearance surpassed the abilities of Nascent Soul cultivators and even Spirit Transformation True Lords.

During Chen Xun’s third year in the Heavenly Dao Sect, war between Northern Mystic’s righteous and devil paths left the sect’s disciples missing and presumed captured. Nangong Yao confronted the elders with the scale of their losses, while Jiang Bailu demanded action to save Su Jingyao.

• Nangong Yao and the core elders came to respect Chen Xun’s teachings, and Liu Yunjian and the others began addressing him as Teacher.
• Zhao Ting reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment and kept visiting Chen Xun after leaving seclusion, prompting Chu Ningshang to scold him for his overfamiliar conduct.
• The devil sects’ abduction of righteous disciples sparked war, but the righteous sects failed to defeat their united opponents and imposed bans on disciples leaving their sects.
• The Heavenly Dao Sect counted 215 outer disciples, 24 inner disciples, and one purple-robed disciple among the missing; Jiang Bailu urged Nangong Yao to rescue his disciple Su Jingyao.
• Nangong Yao rebuked Jiang Bailu for focusing on Su Jingyao and reminded him that all the missing disciples mattered to the sect.

With the Heavenly Dao Sect running short on resources, Nangong Yao ordered an expedition led by Wang Tianfu and Zhou Tong, and agreed to let Zhao Ting join for experience. Zhao Ting eagerly set out and diverted to Servant Disciple Peak to visit Chen Xun.

• Liu Yunjian warned Nangong Yao that the sect's resources might run out within two months, while Liu Xuan Yin and Jiang Bailu urged him to lift the ban on leaving.
• Nangong Yao refused to lift the ban and ordered Wang Tianfu and Zhou Tong to lead disciples and elders from Human Mystic Peak and Earth Profound Peak on an expedition.
• Chu Ningshang asked Nangong Yao to let her disciple Zhao Ting join the expedition so he could gain experience, and Nangong Yao approved.
• Wang Tianfu and Zhou Tong left to organize the expedition, and Chu Ningshang told Zhao Ting about his assignment.
• Zhao Ting eagerly flew toward the sect gates, then changed course to visit Chen Xun at Servant Disciple Peak.

Chen Xun briefly regained his clarity as his three-year term neared its end, while Zhao Ting joined an expedition against the demonic cultivators. Five days later, Chen Xun’s clarity returned, and Nangong Yao recognized the master he had once admired.

• Zhao Ting visited the sleeping Chen Xun, confided that Senior Sister Su had been abducted by demonic cultivators, and left wine before departing for the sect gates.
• Chen Xun awoke with unusual clarity and noted that five more days remained until another three years passed, before his crazed grin returned.
• Wang Tianfu and Zhou Tong led Zhao Ting, Shen He, and the disciples aboard the Sky Boat to confront the demonic threat.
• Elder You held back the concealed demonic cultivators, reasoning that the Heavenly Dao Sect’s group would return and offer a better opportunity to attack.
• Five days later, Nangong Yao visited Chen Xun and was delighted to see him calm and warm again, then accepted a cup of wine from him.

After discussing the Demonic Sect’s threat with Nangong Yao, Chen Xun left his mountain retreat to explore Heavenly Dao Sect’s territory. He approached a group of demonic cultivators in hiding, who mistook him for an unsuspecting mortal, and stopped just outside their concealment formation.

• Nangong Yao told Chen Xun that demonic cultivators had abducted disciples, and Chen Xun urged the righteous sects to unite against them.
• Nangong Yao invited Chen Xun to move to Heavenly Dao Peak, but Chen Xun declined and went out to sweep the mountain path.
• Chen Xun finished sweeping, left the sect, and began exploring its vast territory.
• You Sha and the other demonic cultivators spotted Chen Xun and debated whether he was bait or an easy source of human blood.
• Chen Xun walked toward the concealed demonic cultivators and stopped just outside their formation.

Chen Xun exposed a concealment formation, then his wooden sword killed the demonic cultivators who had tried to lure him in. At a cultivation market, he met a wine seller who gifted him a flask of Hundred Flavors of the Mortal World and offered his friendship.

• Chen Xun spoke to the demonic cultivators hiding behind a concealment formation, revealing that he could see them.
• Chen Xun shattered the formation with a touch, and You Sha and the other demonic cultivators knelt in terror, believing he was a Spirit Transformation Stage senior.
• As Chen Xun walked away, his wooden sword flew out and beheaded hundreds of demonic cultivators before returning to its sheath.
• Chen Xun entered a cultivation market, where his uncovered face drew startled looks from disguised cultivators.
• Chen Xun recognized the quality of a masked stallholder's wine, and the cultivator gifted him a flask of Hundred Flavors of the Mortal World and offered friendship.