Chapter Summaries

Lin Mo discovered that his secret Spiritheart Vine could devour resentful energy and named it the Spirit-Devouring Vine, then focused on cultivation and advanced to the fourth layer of qi refining. When Elder Gou arrived to inspect the Spiritheart Vines, he accused Lin Mo of deliberately killing the seeds and demanded severe punishment.

• Lin Mo asked Chen Li to inspect the secret Spiritheart Vine, and Chen Li found that it had no death energy but could attack and devour resentful energy.
• Lin Mo named the plant the Spirit-Devouring Vine and realized it would obey his commands, likely because of its connection to the Treasure Gourd.
• Lin Mo returned Chen Li to the Treasure Gourd and cultivated with spirit items, determined to grow stronger before confronting Gou Fengying.
• Nearly three months passed without Gou Fengying causing trouble, and the Spirit Plant Courtyard disciples began another planting season after their previous crops exceeded quota.
• Lin Mo advanced to the fourth layer of qi refining and lamented his five-element spiritual roots.
• A disciple warned Lin Mo that Elder Gou had arrived to inspect the Spiritheart Vines, accused him of killing the seeds in defiance of orders, and demanded severe punishment.

Gou Fengying used the dead Spiritheart Vine Seeds to target Lin Mo, but Liu Xianzong confessed to destroying them and took the blame. Gou Fengying sentenced Liu Xianzong to six months in Blood Fiend Cave, where Lin Mo arrived and hinted that he had a way to help him.

• Gou Fengying accused Lin Mo of deliberately destroying the Spiritheart Vine Seeds, while the other disciples suspected he had been framed.
• Liu Xianzong confessed to destroying the seeds out of resentment toward Lin Mo and begged the elders to punish him instead.
• Gou Fengying sentenced Liu Xianzong to six months of mining in Blood Fiend Cave, a dangerous mine where many servant disciples had died.
• Liu Xianzong accepted the sentence without betraying Lin Mo, and the other disciples left him behind, believing he was as good as dead.
• Lin Mo found Liu Xianzong and said that his assignment to Blood Fiend Cave meant there was something Liu Xianzong needed to know.

Lin Mo arranged for Chen Li to protect Liu Xianzong in Blood Fiend Cave and warned him to keep cultivating because the spiritheart vines might cause trouble. As Lin Mo returned to the Spirit Plant Courtyard determined to win the upcoming Spirit Plant Grand Competition, Liu Xianzong set out for Blood Fiend Cave.

• Lin Mo revealed that Chen Li could endure the energy in Blood Fiend Cave, then had Chen Li attach himself to Liu Xianzong's Identity Token for protection.
• Lin Mo noted that Gou Fengying's forced entry had damaged the Diamond Wall Formation and its spirit stones, but decided he was not yet strong enough to confront him.
• Lin Mo urged Liu Xianzong to prioritize cultivation and warned that something might go wrong with the spiritheart vines.
• Liu Xianzong explained that the elders had avoided opposing Elder Qiu because of the upcoming Spirit Plant Grand Competition, and encouraged Lin Mo to win its championship.
• Lin Mo vowed to become an Inner Sect Disciple and hurried back to the Spirit Plant Courtyard, while Liu Xianzong packed and left for Blood Fiend Cave.

Liu Xianzong entered the Blood Fiend Cave, where Chen Li protected him from its resentful energy and killing intent. Meanwhile, Lin Mo convinced the Spirit Plant Courtyard elders that the spiritheart vines were suspicious, then asked about the upcoming competition and drew Yuan Jingtu’s accusation that he was trying to cheat.

• A Meltfire Peak disciple warned Liu Xianzong that no punished servant disciple had ever survived the Blood Fiend Cave, but Liu entered anyway.
• At the cave’s bottom, Liu encountered a dying madman, and Chen Li appeared to absorb the surrounding resentful energy and killing intent while Liu cultivated.
• Yuan Jingtu confronted Lin Mo for killing the spiritheart vines, and Lin claimed his special constitution had detected something sinister about them.
• Yuan Jingtu and the other elders decided not to report Gou Fengying without evidence and agreed to tell disciples to watch for abnormalities.
• Lin Mo asked Yuan Jingtu what eighth-grade spirit plants would feature in the competition, and Yuan accused him of trying to cheat.

Lin Mo learned that the Spirit Plant Grand Competition's final round would feature Purple-Patterned Rice Plant and considered using the opportunity to obtain seeds. After inspecting his Spirit-Devouring Vine, he began practicing the Fireball Art and resolved to explore cultivating methods of all five elements.

• Yuan Jingtu revealed that the competition's final plant would be the middle eighth-grade Purple-Patterned Rice Plant, and Lin Mo was eager to secure seeds.
• Yuan Jingtu advised Lin Mo to practice spells for self-defense, given the Spiritheart Vine affair and trouble from the Tai Sui Gate.
• Lin Mo found that his Spirit-Devouring Vine had grown large, developed sharp poisoned thorns, and produced clear liquid that he collected as a possible antidote.
• Lin Mo returned to his room and practiced the Fireball Art, noticing that his spiritual energy had become predominantly wood-aligned.
• Lin Mo wondered whether to cultivate methods of all five elements, believing the Treasure Gourd might let him overcome the usual limits of specialization.

Lin Mo harvested his mutated spirit plants and visited the Black Market to buy five elemental cultivation methods and a powerful fire spell. After trading his crop for the manuals and spirit liquid, he heard Black-Robed Du ask what he and his master thought of the Tai Sui Gate.

• Lin Mo concluded that spirit plants mutated only once, then harvested his crops and planted another batch.
• Lin Mo went to the Black Market after checking that Qin Sang Sang and Lin Xiaohe were asleep.
• Lin Mo asked Black-Robed Du for five elemental cultivation methods and the Explosive Flame Art.
• Black-Robed Du exchanged the manuals and spell for Lin Mo's mutated fruit and leaves, then gave him two thousand drops of spirit liquid for his remaining contribution points.
• Black-Robed Du asked Lin Mo what he and his master thought of the Tai Sui Gate and whether they wanted to wipe it out.

Lin Mo studied five elemental cultivation methods and the Explosive Flame Art, then advanced to the fifth layer of qi refining with a balanced five-element spiritual qi vortex. As the Spirit Plant Grand Competition was about to begin, Steward Wang summoned him to the Spirit Plant Courtyard, where Elder Yuan and others were waiting.

• Lin Mo avoided Black-Robed Du’s questions about the Tai Sui Gate and returned home without being followed.
• Lin Mo learned five cultivation methods and the Explosive Flame Art, discovering that his meridians could smoothly circulate the different elemental methods.
• Lin Mo worried that his dwindling spirit liquid would run out, then pinned his hopes on winning the upcoming Spirit Plant Grand Competition’s rewards.
• Lin Mo spent the following days cultivating intensely and advanced to the fifth layer of qi refining the day before the competition.
• An outer sect disciple told Lin Mo that Steward Wang had summoned him to the Spirit Plant Courtyard, where Elder Yuan and others had gathered, and Lin Mo hurried over.

Lin Mo learned that the Spirit Plant Grand Competition would become a major gathering of orthodox sects, and Elder Lü offered him a chance to enter the Inner Sect if he excelled. The chapter ended with Lin Mo accepting the challenge and preparing to compete against two veteran spirit-plant cultivators.

• Wang Qiuru introduced Lin Mo to Elder Lü, who believed Lin Mo had a special constitution that benefited spirit plants.
• Elder Lü explained that the Azure Cloud Sect planned to use the competition to demonstrate its strength and contend for the position of Orthodox Leader amid the Tai Sui Gate's attacks.
• Yuan Jingtu warned that the Spirit Plant Courtyard could field only three strong disciples and described the skills of rivals Shen Chunfa and his childhood friend, who was near foundation establishment.
• Elder Lü promised Lin Mo promotion to the Inner Sect and a generous reward if he impressed the audience, and Lin Mo agreed to give the competition his all.

Lin Mo prepared for the Spirit Plant Grand Competition while discovering that Lin Xiaohe had developed a strange spiritual ability. The competition’s scope expanded when the Sect Master summoned Lin Mo to compete against the Sword Sect and Dragon Hall, whose entrant might possess a wood spirit body.

• Lin Mo gave Qin Sang Sang his Storage Bag to keep safe and told her and Lin Xiaohe to stay home during the seven-day competition.
• Lin Xiaohe shattered a bamboo chopstick into eight pieces with a cool current she felt moving through her body, and Lin Mo suspected she had a special constitution.
• Lin Mo decided to ask Black-Robed Du or Black-Robed Yang about Lin Xiaohe after the competition and cultivated through the night.
• Yuan Jingtu summoned Lin Mo to Sect Master Peak and explained that the competition would include three entrants each from the Sword Sect and Dragon Hall.
• Yuan Jingtu told Lin Mo that Dragon Hall might send a genius disciple with a wood spirit body to compete.

Lin Mo arrived at Sect Master Peak for a competition between the Azure Cloud Sect, Dragon Hall, and the Sword Sect, where the leaders announced a lavish prize for the winner. After learning the reward consisted of precious mid-grade resources, Lin Mo resolved to claim the championship and enter the Inner Sect.

• Yuan Jingtu brought Lin Mo to Sect Master Peak, where disciples from three sects had gathered for a competition.
• Han Kang, Long Shengye, and Miao Yun agreed that the champion would receive promotion to the Inner Sect, a thousand mid-grade spirit stones, and a thousand drops of mid-grade spirit liquid.
• Yuan Jingtu explained how valuable mid-grade resources were and warned Lin Mo that losing the championship would cost the Azure Cloud Sect face.
• Lin Mo became determined to win the championship and claim the rewards.

Lin Mo entered the Spirit Plant Grand Competition and struggled to imitate the other competitors’ technique for purifying and infusing spirit soil. His mysterious aura caused wild grass to sprout from his cauldron, drawing attention and ridicule before a Dragon Hall disciple with a wood spirit body demonstrated a similar talent.

• Han Kang announced the competition, and Long Shengye gave each of the nine competitors a dragon saliva grass seed while Miao Yun provided spirit soil and water.
• Lin Mo handed over his Storage Bags, relieved that he had left his Treasure Gourd with Qin Sang Sang.
• The other competitors infused their soil with spiritual energy, but Lin Mo’s attempts failed and spectators mocked him for not knowing how to rejuvenate spirit soil.
• A wild grass shoot rapidly sprouted in Lin Mo’s cauldron, surprising the judges and onlookers even as some laughed at him.
• A white-robed Dragon Hall disciple stamped on scattered sand and gravel, making wild grass seeds crack open, and Lin Mo recognized his likely wood spirit body.

Lin Mo’s Dragon Saliva Grass grew faster than the other competitors’ plants, while Long Tianyuan’s Wood Spirit Body kept his own plant growing through the night. As the other contestants withdrew, Shen Chengqi began a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment in the middle of the competition.

• Lin Mo planted and watered the Dragon Saliva Grass seeds in his Square Cauldron, then waited while the other competitors cultivated theirs with spiritual energy.
• Lin Mo’s seeds sprouted three lush leaves before Long Tianyuan’s Dragon Saliva Grass had pushed through the soil, and Miao Xiaoyou conceded and withdrew after warning Lin Mo not to underestimate Long Tianyuan.
• Long Tianyuan’s Dragon Saliva Grass continued growing after Lin Mo’s slowed at night, and five other competitors, including Shen Chunfa, withdrew from the competition.
• Shen Chengqi removed his hands from his Square Cauldron, sat down, and began emitting spiritual mist as he attempted to break through to Foundation Establishment.
• Lin Mo recognized that Shen Chengqi was advancing to Foundation Establishment during the competition.

Shen Chengqi broke through to foundation establishment during the Spirit Plant Grand Competition, and Han Kang ruled that he could continue competing. Lin Mo controlled the mysterious aura affecting his Dragon Saliva Grass, determined to keep it just slightly taller than his rivals’ plants.

• Shen Chengqi completed his breakthrough to foundation establishment, prompting the Azure Cloud Sect disciples to wonder whether he could remain in the competition.
• Han Kang, Long Shengye, and Miao Yun discussed Shen Chengqi’s eligibility, and Han Kang ruled that his breakthrough did not violate the competition’s rules.
• Han Kang shifted the elders’ attention to a plan to capture the entire Tai Sui Gate, while Cloud Crane High Person hoped Lin Mo would succeed.
• Shen Chengqi used his wood-attributed spiritual liquid to grow his Dragon Saliva Grass until it matched Long Tianyuan’s.
• Lin Mo used the Turtle Breath Art to restrain his mysterious aura, then let a tiny wisp out so his Dragon Saliva Grass would stay just taller than the others.

Lin Mo won the first spirit-plant contest by growing Dragon Saliva Grass taller than Long Tianyuan's, earning the plant as his reward. The next morning, Miao Yun began the second round, challenging the disciples to heal damaged spirit seeds, and Lin Mo recognized his seed as a Fire Spirit Fruit.

• Lin Mo's Dragon Saliva Grass surpassed Long Tianyuan's, giving the Azure Cloud Sect the first-round victory.
• Han Kang awarded Lin Mo the Dragon Saliva Grass, and Yuan Jingtu stored it for him.
• Long Tianyuan warned Lin Mo that his wood spirit body made him exceptionally skilled at healing spirit plants.
• Lin Mo, Long Tianyuan, and Shen Chengqi cultivated overnight to recover their spiritual energy.
• Miao Yun began the second round by giving each disciple a damaged spirit seed to save.
• Lin Mo recognized the spirit seed in his palm as a Fire Spirit Fruit.

Lin Mo revived the damaged Fire Spirit Fruit seed so completely that it sprouted, winning the second contest for the Azure Cloud Sect. Han Kang offered him a reward, and Lin Mo asked to visit the Inner Sect Scripture Pavilion and choose a spirit-plant cultivation manual.

• Long Tianyuan and Shen Chengqi restored the vitality of their Fire Spirit Fruit seeds, while Lin Mo secretly used his blood and mysterious aura to make his seed sprout.
• Lin Mo activated the Turtle Breath Art to conceal his aura and stop the seed from growing further.
• Lin Mo displayed his sprouted seed, astonishing the gathered sect leaders and disciples, and Han Kang declared the Azure Cloud Sect the winner of the second contest.
• Han Kang offered Lin Mo a reward, and Lin Mo requested permission to choose a spirit-plant cultivation manual from the Inner Sect Scripture Pavilion.
• Han Kang assigned Lü Di to take Lin Mo to the Scripture Pavilion after the competition, and Lü Di asked how many manuals Lin Mo could select.

After Lin Mo earned a generous Scripture Pavilion reward, Shen Chengqi withdrew from the final round and urged him to win respect for the Spirit Plant Courtyard. Lin Mo resolved to win decisively, and the chapter ended as the final contest began with eighth-rank Purple-Patterned Rice Plants.

• Han Kang rewarded Lin Mo with permission to choose two Scripture Pavilion volumes, including one without restrictions.
• Gou Fengying grew wary of Lin Mo’s rising influence and quietly sought out inner sect disciples, many of them from Spirit Beast Peak.
• Shen Chengqi withdrew from the third contest and entrusted Lin Mo with winning respect for the Spirit Plant Courtyard.
• Lin Mo decided to win the final contest decisively and show the sect that spirit plant farmers could become pillars of the Azure Cloud Sect.
• Han Kang announced that Lin Mo and Long Tianyuan would cultivate eighth-rank Purple-Patterned Rice Plants for three days, and Long Tianyuan challenged Lin Mo to face his full strength.

Lin Mo outpaced Long Tianyuan in cultivating a Purple-Patterned Rice Plant and won the round, leaving the Spirit Plant Grand Competition with two days remaining. Miao Yun and Han Kang chose to wait and see whether Lin Mo could surprise them again.

• Long Tianyuan used his Wood Spirit Rebirth Technique while Lin Mo infused his grain with five-element spiritual energy and the gourd spirit spring's aura, making it sprout first.
• Long Tianyuan cut his wrist and used his wood spirit blood essence to accelerate his plant, but his growth slowed as he exhausted himself while Lin Mo's plant kept growing steadily.
• By nightfall, Lin Mo's rice plant had grown taller than Long Tianyuan's, and Miao Yun declared Lin Mo the winner of the round.
• Long Shengye took the exhausted Long Tianyuan back to the honored guests' quarters and left the competition grounds.
• Miao Yun suggested waiting out the remaining two days, and Han Kang agreed to see how far Lin Mo could go.

Lin Mo won the Spirit Plant Grand Competition after his Purple-Patterned Rice Plant produced grain heads in three days, astonishing the assembled sect leaders and disciples. He received the promised rewards and learned that his promotion to inner sect disciple would arrive within three days, while Lü Di pointed him toward the Scripture Pavilion to choose his Spirit Plant Secret Manual.

• After Long Tianyuan withdrew, Lin Mo tended the Purple-Patterned Rice Plant in his Square Cauldron while the Azure Cloud disciples waited for the competition’s result.
• Three days later, Lin Mo’s Purple-Patterned Rice Plant bore nearly ripe grain heads, astonishing Long Shengye, Miao Yun, and the gathered sect members.
• Han Kang declared Lin Mo the champion and gave him two Storage Bags containing his original bag and the promised spirit stones and spirit liquid.
• Lin Mo recognized Erhu and Zhou Ge among the departing crowd and guessed that Zhou Ge had helped uncover Li Yibo’s wrongdoing.
• Yuan Jingtu and Lü Di told Lin Mo that his inner sect promotion order would arrive within three days, and Lü Di showed him the Scripture Pavilion where he could choose a Spirit Plant Secret Manual.

Lin Mo entered the Scripture Pavilion with Lü Di to choose a spirit plant manual and a combat spell, hoping to strengthen himself and improve Spirit Plant Peak’s standing. After selecting the Spirit Plant Nurturing Heart Canon, he followed Lü Di to the sixth floor, where they encountered a red-robed young man claiming the Fire Cloud Secret Canon and warning Lü Di not to interfere.

• Lü Di told Lin Mo that Spirit Plant Peak had only one remaining inner sect elder, and that Lu had entered death seclusion five years earlier and was likely dead.
• Lü Di explained that Spirit Plant Peak had little influence and could only endure Gou Fengying’s repeated troublemaking, while promising to find Lin Mo a quiet courtyard and manageable spirit plant assignments.
• Lin Mo vowed to secure resources and a better life for Spirit Plant Peak after entering the Inner Sect.
• Lü Di escorted Lin Mo into the Scripture Pavilion, where Lin Mo chose the Spirit Plant Nurturing Heart Canon and asked for a combat spell suited to his five-spirit root.
• On the sixth floor, a young man in fiery-red Daoist robes confronted Lü Di, saying he was studying the Fire Cloud Secret Canon and warning that Lü Di would be held responsible if he delayed the young man’s cultivation.

Lin Mo and Lü Di were blocked from choosing a spell manual by Ding Yan, a powerful War Hall disciple acting on Gou Fengying’s behalf. After Lin Mo returned to Spirit Plant Courtyard and was welcomed by its disciples, Yuan Jingtu learned of the trouble and decided to confront Spirit Beast Peak.

• Ding Yan threatened Lü Di with spirit insects and a flaming sword, then refused to let Lin Mo choose a manual until his study session ended.
• Lü Di explained that Ding Yan was likely acting on Gou Fengying’s orders and admitted he feared provoking the War Hall.
• Lin Mo vowed that Gou Fengying would not be left unchallenged, then returned with Lü Di to Spirit Plant Courtyard.
• Qin Sang Sang, Lin Xiaohe, Wang Qiuru, Yuan Jingtu, Cui Zhong, and Elder Zhu welcomed Lin Mo after his competition victory.
• Yuan Jingtu noticed Lü Di’s warning gesture, asked whether Gou Fengying had troubled Lin Mo again, and proposed going to Spirit Beast Peak to demand justice.