Chapter Summaries

He Pingsheng escaped a group of Royal Family disciples after exploring a cavern, then crossed the Golden Dragon Ravine to its end. He found the Golden Dragon’s origin and searched for a way into the Wood Dragon Ravine.

• He Pingsheng reasoned that his lightning power and the Golden Core Stage Yin Baleful Demonic Beast’s limited intelligence explained his victory.
• A commandery princess and five Royal Family disciples confronted He Pingsheng and asked what he had found in the cavern, but he refused to answer and escaped using his speed.
• The commandery princess led her subordinates into the cavern to seek the extreme yin azure gold, which they believed a Golden Core Stage Demonic Beast guarded.
• He Pingsheng traveled for two days and two nights through the Golden Dragon Ravine, intent on reaching the Earth Dragon Ravine to obtain the [Black-and-White Lotus Root].
• At the Golden Dragon Ravine’s end, He Pingsheng found a golden metal-attribute origin surrounded by cultivators, dismissed the value of meditating or cultivating there, and looked for the entrance to the [Wood Dragon Ravine].

He Pingsheng discovered that a formation blocked the routes from Gold Dragon Ravine until the ravine had been open for ten days, so he waited among the other cultivators. Commandery Princess Weichuan approached him about the extreme yin azure gold he had taken and offered to trade, leaving He Pingsheng asking what the material was worth and what it could do.

• He Pingsheng tried to climb past the mountains, but a formation struck him down and sealed the other routes.
• A tall, fat old cultivator explained that each ravine opened only after the previous one had been open for ten days, and he eyed He Pingsheng’s shoes.
• He Pingsheng tried to take the golden dragon of origin with his divine sense but could not move it, then waited as more cultivators arrived.
• Commandery Princess Weichuan and five Imperial Family disciples approached He Pingsheng and asked whether he had taken the extreme yin azure gold from the cavern.
• Commandery Princess Weichuan offered treasures for the material, and He Pingsheng asked her to explain its uses before he considered a trade.

He Pingsheng refused to trade the extreme yin azure gold and revealed his Soul-Nurturing Banner to Commandery Princess Weichuan. She offered a fourth-grade Teleportation Talisman to borrow it for her mother's damaged soul, but He Pingsheng insisted that she consider the risks before returning.

• Commandery Princess Weichuan explained that extreme yin azure gold could improve soul-nurturing magical artifacts, and He Pingsheng decided to keep it for his Soul-Nurturing Banner.
• When Weichuan accused him of driving up the price, He Pingsheng used a talisman to seal them inside a barrier and showed her his supreme-grade banner.
• Weichuan recognized the banner's soul-nurturing function and asked to borrow it for ten years to restore her mother's damaged soul.
• Weichuan offered He Pingsheng a fourth-grade Teleportation Talisman that could transport its user a hundred thousand li in a random direction.
• He Pingsheng refused to accept her mother's soul or lend out his banner without further consideration, and warned Weichuan not to try to seize it.

He Pingsheng agreed to lend Commandery Princess Weichuan his Soul-Nurturing Banner in exchange for a supreme-grade Magical Treasure, accepting a fourth-grade [Teleportation Talisman] as payment. After Weichuan left him a royal map of the Five Dragon Ravines and warned him about the princes competing for the Black-and-White Lotus Root, He Pingsheng studied the secret realm’s layout.

• Commandery Princess Weichuan offered to leave a supreme-grade Magical Treasure as collateral for He Pingsheng’s Soul-Nurturing Banner and gave him a fourth-grade [Teleportation Talisman] as payment.
• Weichuan explained that the talisman could teleport its user in a random direction, including deep underground or into the sky, and He Pingsheng put it away.
• Weichuan gave He Pingsheng the Imperial Family’s map of the Five Dragon Ravines and warned him not to offend the ninth prince or the other princes seeking the Black-and-White Lotus Root.
• Weichuan and her five companions crushed their Life-and-Death Tokens and teleported out of the secret realm.
• He Pingsheng studied the map and learned that the Five Dragon Ravines ran through metal, wood, water, fire, and earth regions, with the Wood Dragon Ravine rich in herbs and valuable treasures.

As the Wood Dragon Ravine opened, the Ninth Prince urged cultivators toward the Sago Palm Divine Tree while He Pingsheng recognized the distraction and followed his map to explore the side valleys. He entered a secluded valley and found vast patches of rare bitter hemp seed, along with other second-grade treasures.

• The Ninth Prince told the cultivators about the Sago Palm Sacred Fruit but concealed the riches in the ravine's branching valleys.
• The formation opened, and the Ninth Prince led a rush toward the Wood Dragon Ravine as cultivators scrambled after him.
• He Pingsheng waited for the crowd to leave, then crossed the mountain and hurried into the ravine to search for treasures.
• He Pingsheng passed more than a dozen branching valleys before entering one where he found abundant second-grade treasures and rare bitter hemp seed.

He Pingsheng explored Wood Dragon Ravine, gathering valuable spirit herbs before discovering a rare Essence-Splitting Lightning Fruit tree hidden in a mountain fissure. He raced toward the tree, which held three silver fruits essential for refining Transformation-Breaking Pills.

• He Pingsheng gathered purple ginseng and other spirit herbs, leaving some plants behind, and collected a Red Essence Ginseng with seeds.
• He Pingsheng skipped a valley where someone had already gathered its plants and later entered a river-filled valley aboard the Eight-Treasure Ship.
• He Pingsheng noticed the river’s unnaturally still water and followed it deeper into a shadowy gorge.
• He Pingsheng used his divine sense to discover an Essence-Splitting Lightning Fruit tree bearing three silver fruits in a distant mountain fissure.
• He Pingsheng recognized the tree as a rare source of a main ingredient for Transformation-Breaking Pills and sped toward it aboard the Eight-Treasure Ship.

He Pingsheng tried to seize the essence-splitting lightning fruit but was attacked by a late Golden Core Stage flood dragon guarding the valley. After his spells failed to stop it, he struck it with a Thunder-Splinter Talisman, then prepared a second when the demon survived.

• He Pingsheng flew toward the essence-splitting lightning fruit, but a flood dragon attacked him from beneath the water.
• He Pingsheng used the Heaven-Deficiency Divine Spear to pierce the flood dragon's tail, then discovered it was a late Golden Core Stage demon beast.
• The flood dragon overturned the Eight-Treasure Ship and stripped away He Pingsheng's Seven-Buckle Sharp-Gold Armor's defenses as he dodged its attacks.
• He Pingsheng launched Formless Big Dipper Nails and the Poison Thorn Ice Cone Technique, but the flood dragon endured the attacks and countered with water and poisoned ice.
• He Pingsheng activated a Thunder-Splinter Talisman, but the flood dragon survived the lightning, so he took out another talisman.

He Pingsheng negotiated with the giant flood dragon to take two essence-splitting lightning fruits, learning that the Five Dragon Ravines had been stocked by the Imperial Family. After he collected them, the Ninth Prince arrived and tried to claim the last fruit, but the flood dragon attacked him instead.

• The giant flood dragon spoke to He Pingsheng and offered him two of the three fruits in exchange for leaving one behind.
• The flood dragon explained that the Imperial Family had placed the dragons in the Five Dragon Ravines and told He Pingsheng that a Phoenix Egg might be hidden in the Fire Dragon Ravines.
• He Pingsheng kept the flood dragon under watch as he collected two essence-splitting lightning fruits, then left the final fruit untouched.
• The Ninth Prince arrived, saw that He Pingsheng had taken two fruits, and moved to collect the last one before dealing with him.
• The giant flood dragon burst from the water and struck the Ninth Prince, who landed injured and demanded to know why it had attacked him.

He Pingsheng escaped the Giant Flood Dragon’s attack, but the Ninth Prince demanded one of his fruits and then tried to rob him. He Pingsheng fought back and trapped the Ninth Prince with poisonous thorns, leaving him injured.

• The Giant Flood Dragon struck the Ninth Prince with a water column after he accused He Pingsheng of taking two fruits, then returned beneath the water.
• The Ninth Prince demanded a fruit from He Pingsheng, who refused and cited the Imperial Family elder’s rules about relying on one’s own abilities and methods.
• The Ninth Prince attacked He Pingsheng with his silver spear, then pursued him after activating a third-grade speed talisman and threatened to take his fruits and shoes.
• He Pingsheng turned to fight with the Nine Luminaries Dragon-Slaying Banner and the Poison Thorn Ice Cone Technique, but the Ninth Prince dodged his attacks.
• Poisonous thorns burst from the cliff and pierced the Ninth Prince’s thigh after trapping him.

He Pingsheng defeated the Ninth Prince and negotiated for his treasures after the prince’s ambush failed. The Ninth Prince handed over three Swift-Movement Talismans, but He Pingsheng then demanded the treasure that protected him from poison.

• He Pingsheng approached the apparently unconscious Ninth Prince, who sprang a surprise attack with a flaming saber.
• He Pingsheng defended himself with the Fire Essence Blood-Reflecting Armor and wounded the Ninth Prince with the Soul-Slaying Bell, breaking the pendant that protected him from soul attacks.
• The Ninth Prince warned that killing him would trigger a Royal Family curse, so He Pingsheng invited him aboard the Eight-Treasure Ship to negotiate.
• He Pingsheng rejected the Ninth Prince’s spirit herbs and took his three Swift-Movement Talismans.
• He Pingsheng demanded the Ninth Prince’s poison-warding treasure.

He Pingsheng forced the Ninth Prince to surrender his poison-repelling pearl and leave him alone in the Secret Realm. After enhancing the pearl overnight, He Pingsheng obtained two supreme-grade treasures that could repel poison and counter other dangerous forces.

• He Pingsheng threatened to use the Soul-Slaying Bell on the Ninth Prince, who feared that his Spirit Curse might not activate if he became a living corpse.
• The Ninth Prince agreed not to oppose He Pingsheng or reveal their encounter, then handed over his Poison-Repelling Pearl.
• He Pingsheng examined the pearl, let the Ninth Prince take a Divine Sense-restoring pill, and watched him depart after asking why the Demon Beast had attacked only him.
• He Pingsheng placed the pearl and three third-grade talismans in the Treasure-Gathering Basin, then spent the night restoring his Divine Sense and repairing his armor.
• By morning, the pearl had become a Heavenly Poison-Repelling Pearl and a Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl, both supreme-grade Magical Treasures.

He Pingsheng reached the end of Wood Dragon Ravine, where cultivators tested their Daoist laws against a divine tree to obtain Sago Palm Sacred Fruits. After learning about the fruits and discovering that he and the Ninth Prince both had five-element spiritual roots, he watched Su Zhenzhen obtain two middle-grade fruits.

• He Pingsheng found an unharvested branch valley and collected second-grade spirit herbs and several dozen Heavenly Origin Fruits before reaching the end of Wood Dragon Ravine.
• He Pingsheng joined the cultivators gathered around the divine tree while waiting for the formation to Water Dragon Ravine to open.
• The Ninth Prince told He Pingsheng that he had obtained three low-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruits and explained that cultivators with wood spiritual roots could gain wood-attribute Daoist laws from them.
• He Pingsheng revealed that he also had a five-element spiritual root, and the Ninth Prince proposed that they become sworn brothers.
• Su Zhenzhen validated her Daoist law against the tree and received two middle-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruits.

He Pingsheng obtained two supreme-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruits from the Sago Palm Divine Tree, drawing attention from the Ninth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince. After the Thirteenth Prince offered to trade two high-grade fruits for one supreme-grade fruit, He Pingsheng asked for a day to decide and kicked away a subordinate who threatened him.

• He Pingsheng learned that the Wood Dragon was the only dragon in the Five Dragon Ravines that could be touched, then approached the Sago Palm Divine Tree.
• He Pingsheng channeled his wood attribute spiritual power into the tree, which surrounded him with a green protective barrier and dropped two supreme-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruits.
• The Ninth Prince threatened the crowd to protect He Pingsheng, who collected the fruits and returned to sit beside him.
• The Thirteenth Prince offered two high-grade fruits in exchange for one of He Pingsheng's supreme-grade fruits, and He Pingsheng asked for until the next morning to decide.
• A subordinate of the Thirteenth Prince threatened He Pingsheng, who kicked him into the crowd.

He Pingsheng killed two of the Thirteenth Prince’s servants after they attacked him, demonstrating the power of his armor and spear. The Thirteenth Prince stayed composed, while the Ninth Prince warned He Pingsheng that he had made an enemy; He Pingsheng then asked the Ninth Prince to lend him a low-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruit.

• He Pingsheng struck the Thirteenth Prince’s first servant and warned him not to attack, but the servant charged with a flying sword.
• He Pingsheng’s armor shield absorbed the servant’s attack, and He Pingsheng kicked him into the ground.
• When the second servant joined the fight, He Pingsheng blocked both attacks, used Divine Sense Nails, and pierced both servants with one spear.
• The Thirteenth Prince dismissed the dead servants as blind dogs, while the Ninth Prince warned He Pingsheng that he had offended him.
• He Pingsheng asked the Ninth Prince why he feared the Thirteenth Prince, and then requested a low-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruit.

He Pingsheng tested whether his Treasure-Gathering Basin could enhance a low-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruit, then traded a supreme-grade fruit to the Thirteenth Prince. He revealed another fruit was still available for trade, leaving the Thirteenth Prince and the crowd convinced he was only trying to save face.

• He Pingsheng borrowed the Ninth Prince's low-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruit and tested it in his Treasure-Gathering Basin, while discovering his enhanced Meteor Talismans lasted fifteen days.
• He Pingsheng began refining the Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl, completing four of its twelve restrictions overnight.
• He Pingsheng learned the Sago Palm Sacred Fruit was likely fourth grade and returned the borrowed fruit to the Ninth Prince.
• He Pingsheng traded a supreme-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruit to the Thirteenth Prince, who claimed the exchange proved He Pingsheng had yielded to him.
• After the Thirteenth Prince left, He Pingsheng offered another supreme-grade Sago Palm Sacred Fruit for two high-grade ones, prompting disbelief from the Ninth Prince and scorn from the Thirteenth Prince.

He Pingsheng traded valuable Sago Palm Sacred Fruits for lower-grade ones, then used the time before the next ravine opened to refine his treasure pearl. He teamed up with Su Zhenzhen and entered the Water Dragon Ravine, where she kept pace with his rapid climb.

• He Pingsheng traded two middle-grade fruits for a supreme-grade fruit, then exchanged high-grade fruits for middle-grade ones and turned eight middle-grade fruits into twenty-seven low-grade fruits.
• Su Zhenzhen recognized He Pingsheng by his scent, traded with him, and asked to join him in the next secret realm.
• He Pingsheng refined nine of the twelve restrictions on the Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl over six days.
• Su Zhenzhen convinced He Pingsheng to let her follow him into the Water Dragon Ravine when its entrance opened.
• He Pingsheng climbed the mountain at speed, and Su Zhenzhen managed to keep nearly pace with him.

He Pingsheng and Su Zhenzhen entered Water Dragon Ravine and discussed the rare Ice Soul Pill, which Su Zhenzhen needed for a poisoned friend. They reached the frozen lake where the ravine’s treasures lay beneath the ice, but the water was dangerously cold.

• He Pingsheng and Su Zhenzhen descended into Water Dragon Ravine, where Su Zhenzhen explained that she had a single wood spiritual root and mentioned the treasures in the final Earth Dragon Ravine.
• Su Zhenzhen told He Pingsheng about the Ice Soul Pill, and he examined its formula and learned it was made by soaking ice-attribute ingredients rather than heating them.
• Su Zhenzhen said her friend needed an Ice Soul Pill to counter poison from fire-attribute laws, but He Pingsheng admitted he had never refined one.
• He Pingsheng and Su Zhenzhen reached the lake at the center of Water Dragon Ravine and saw the towering ice pillar known as the water dragon.
• He Pingsheng explained that ten-thousand-year ice marrow and ice-origin jiazi dew formed beneath the frozen lake, whose bitter cold could defeat an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in half an incense stick.

He Pingsheng tested how close he could approach Water Dragon and used a Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl to resist its ice laws. He and Su Zhenzhen then bored through the ice and dived into the freezing water, where He Pingsheng saw her figure clearly.

• A cultivator bored through the ice with a flaming flying sword and jumped into the water, while the hole quickly began freezing over.
• Immortal Maiden Hongtong used her earth spirit root to approach within a hundred feet of Water Dragon, but could go no farther.
• The Ninth Prince told He Pingsheng that the ten-thousand-year ice marrow grew from Water Dragon and required getting within thirty feet to obtain.
• He Pingsheng reached seventy feet from Water Dragon, then used his Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl to ease the pressure before retreating.
• The Ninth Prince failed to pass the hundred-foot mark, and Su Zhenzhen agreed to follow He Pingsheng underwater without his protection.
• He Pingsheng bored a hole through the ice and dived in, followed by Su Zhenzhen; the opening froze shut, and he saw her figure underwater.

He Pingsheng entered the water dragon’s frigid depths and collected Ice Source Sexagenary Dew, but he could not reach the ten-thousand-year ice marrow. He left to refine the Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl and planned to return with only nine days remaining.

• He Pingsheng and Su Zhenzhen swam toward the submerged water dragon, but the cold and pressure stopped Su Zhenzhen before she reached it.
• He Pingsheng used the Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl to enter the ten-zhang range and collected a bottle of Ice Source Sexagenary Dew.
• He Pingsheng advanced to within four zhang of the ice pillar, where an invisible barrier prevented him from reaching the ten-thousand-year ice marrow.
• He Pingsheng tried to use the Nine Luminaries Dragon-Slaying Banner to cut the ice marrow, but the barrier stopped it and the cold began freezing the spirit artifact.
• He Pingsheng left to refine the Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl, while Su Zhenzhen was disappointed that he had not obtained what she needed.

He Pingsheng returned to the frozen lake, refined the Poison-Repelling Five Elements Treasure Pearl further, and then descended again to the Water Dragon Pillar. He collected twenty-three pieces of ten-thousand-year ice marrow and left the underwater harvest with his next steps unresolved.

• Su Zhenzhen rejected the Thirteenth Prince Liang Zhiyan, saying she was married and had a Dao Companion.
• He Pingsheng spent eight days refining two more layers of the treasure pearl, bringing its total to eleven.
• Su Zhenzhen asked He Pingsheng for a chance to trade for ice marrow, and he said they could discuss it if he obtained any.
• He Pingsheng used the treasure pearl to reach within thirty feet of the Water Dragon Pillar and collected two bottles of ice-origin jiazi dew.
• He Pingsheng snapped off twenty-three pieces of ten-thousand-year ice marrow and stored them in a jade box.