Recaps

Dongfang Jin arranged for multiple early-stage cultivators to be raised to defend against Worryfree Valley, and Xu Qingtong was selected to enter the Creation Pool. Xu Qingtong gave Du Siwen Foundation Establishment Pills, then joined her and the other disciples as Fang Tianqi led them toward the pool.

• Dongfang Jin decided that raising several early-stage cultivators would better counter Worryfree Valley than nurturing one late-stage cultivator, and ordered Fang Tianqi to include Xu Qingtong in the Creation Pool arrangements.
• Xu Qingtong turned in his mission and spent all his contribution points on two sets of Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients after Elder Li approved the exchange.
• Gong Chu told Xu Qingtong that he and Du Siwen were to enter the Creation Pool in three days, while he had to wait until a later opportunity because he had not reached the ninth Qi Refining layer.
• Xu Qingtong refined Foundation Establishment Pills and gave Du Siwen three, including a high-grade pill, before they went to the Council Hall.
• Fang Tianqi announced that each selected disciple would receive a Foundation Establishment Pill and must leave the Creation Pool after reaching Foundation Establishment, then led the group toward Gloomwind Valley.

Xu Qingtong entered the Creation Pool and, while appearing to sleep, comprehended the relationship between the five elements and yin and yang. After a prolonged cultivation, he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and reunited with Du Siwen, who had waited for him at the entrance.

• Fang Tianqi opened the forbidden grounds, and the disciples entered the Creation Pool to cultivate.
• Xu Qingtong pretended to sleep while sensing the world, then arranged his five Dao Heart Seeds and formed a spinning black-and-white mass in his dantian.
• Du Siwen broke through to Foundation Establishment and left the pool, while Xu Qingtong remained unaware in his cultivation state.
• Xu Qingtong awoke after an unknown time and absorbed the remaining spiritual qi, refining it until his dantian expanded and he reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
• Xu Qingtong found Du Siwen waiting at the entrance, thanked and embraced her, and agreed to return with her to Swallowtail Peak.

Xu Qingtong achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment after contemplating the five elements in the Creation Pool, and Yu Tiancheng explained why it differed from Human Dao Foundation Establishment. Xu Qingtong easily defeated Du Siwen in a spar, and Yu Tiancheng asked what he planned to do next.

• Xu Qingtong returned to Swallowtail Peak and told Yu Tiancheng that he had established his foundation without taking a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Xu Qingtong explained how he contemplated the five elements before absorbing spiritual qi in the Creation Pool, and Yu Tiancheng identified his breakthrough as Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.
• Yu Tiancheng explained that Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment could lead to immortality, while Human Dao Foundation Establishment made attaining the Great Dao almost impossible.
• Du Siwen sparred with Xu Qingtong, but his Houtu Seal blocked her attacks and his Object-Controlling Art and Star Plucker Sword overwhelmed her defenses.
• Yu Tiancheng said his Life-Bound Treasure would be ready in about a week, then asked Xu Qingtong what he planned to do after reaching Foundation Establishment.

Xu Qingtong prepared to leave the Sect with Du Siwen to gain experience and protect his relatives from Worryfree Valley. After gathering supplies and saying goodbye to Gong Chu, they set out for the mortal world, where Xu Qingtong hoped to visit his maternal uncle and aunt.

• Xu Qingtong asked Yu Tiancheng for permission to leave, and Du Siwen persuaded him to let her join him.
• Yu Tiancheng warned Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen to keep his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment secret and told Xu Qingtong to look after his senior sister.
• Xu Qingtong gave Gong Chu a Storage Bag of useful items before returning to prepare elixirs, artifacts, and Soul-Piercing Nails.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen bought materials with his contribution points, then spent half a month completing their preparations.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen left the Sect and flew northwest as Xu Qingtong told her about his maternal uncle, aunt, and cousin.

Xu Qingtong returned to Houtang Town and found his family grieving amid a wave of unexplained deaths. After healing his uncle, he identified Worryfree Valley as the likely cause and promised to stop the killings.

• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen arrived in desolate Houtang Town, where Chen Ruoling tearfully welcomed him and led him to his uncle.
• Xu Qingtong found Chen Jialiang bedridden, diagnosed his condition, and treated him until he could sit up and recover.
• Chen Jialiang told Xu Qingtong that people had been dying mysteriously in nearby villages and that Huang Yifei and his son had disappeared while investigating.
• Xu Qingtong connected the deaths to Worryfree Valley gathering Yin Souls and recognized Huang Yifei as the man whose family had once been killed by villains.
• Xu Qingtong promised to end the deaths, and Du Siwen introduced herself to Chen Jialiang as Xu Qingtong's senior sister and offered to call him Uncle.

Xu Qingtong reunited with his family and learned that evil cultivators had murdered his cousin Chen Ruoling’s husband and son. He promised to seek revenge and began planning to help Chen Ruoling cultivate, while preparing to investigate the nearby market the next morning.

• Xu Qingtong reassured Chen Jialiang that he understood the deaths were murders by someone using evil methods and promised to prevent further killings.
• Xu Qingtong arranged for Du Siwen to stay in his old room and told Chen Ruoling he would avenge her husband and son, who had been killed by evil cultivators from the Immortal Sect.
• Chen Ruoling asked to learn immortal arts, and Xu Qingtong offered to help transform her constitution despite the danger and pain.
• Xu Qingtong examined Chen Ruoling’s meridians and discovered her unusual affinity for fire spiritual power.
• Xu Qingtong planned to find red-leaf flamegrass at Biluozong Market and devise a safe way for Chen Ruoling to take a Sinew-Building Elixir.
• Xu Qingtong, Du Siwen, and the family shared dinner, with Chen Ruoling warmly filling Du Siwen’s bowl with food.

Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen ambushed Worryfree Valley cultivators approaching town, then Xu Qingtong discovered another group and learned that their Venerable Lord was gathering yin souls to advance his cultivation. As Xu Qingtong prepared to attack the second group with Xiao Qi, Elder Hu sensed his presence.

• Xu Qingtong detected six Worryfree Valley cultivators approaching town and alerted Du Siwen, then they planned an ambush.
• Du Siwen and Xu Qingtong killed the Foundation Establishment cultivator and captured his soul before eliminating the five Qi Refining cultivators with Xiao Qi’s help.
• Xu Qingtong left Du Siwen to clean up and protect his uncle’s household while he flew west to investigate.
• Xu Qingtong overheard Elder Hu and two others discussing the Venerable Lord’s need for yin souls and Elder Hu’s plans to advance to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
• Xu Qingtong coordinated a surprise attack with Xiao Qi, but Elder Hu sensed him and demanded that he come out.

After killing Elder Hu and two other Worryfree Valley cultivators, Xu Qingtong learned that the Venerable Lord was gathering yin souls to break through to late-stage Golden Core. He moved his uncle’s family near Gloomwind Valley and alerted his master, then set out to seek a rare herb at a dangerous Market.

• Xu Qingtong killed Elder Hu with his techniques and defeated the two Qi Refining cultivators who fled, then collected the battlefield’s spoils.
• Xu Qingtong told Du Siwen about Worryfree Valley’s growing strength and its Venerable Lord’s planned breakthrough, and they agreed to move his relatives to safety.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen brought Chen Jialiang’s family to a vacant house in Li Family Village near Gloomwind Valley.
• Xu Qingtong informed Yu Tiancheng that Worryfree Valley was slaughtering mortals for yin souls, and Yu Tiancheng decided to consult Martial Uncle Dongfang about joining forces with the other sects.
• Xu Qingtong searched the Four-Hall for red-leaf flamegrass for a Sinew-Building Elixir, found none, and decided to risk visiting the Market.

Xu Qingtong visited the Market to buy rare materials and supplies, and Zhang Qing gathered everything on his list for forty-two thousand spirit stones. Xu Qingtong also searched Wind Valley Hall for a flying magical artifact, and the assistant returned with another item for him to inspect.

• Xu Qingtong traveled safely to the Market and went to Wind Valley Hall to ask for red-leaf flamegrass.
• Zhang Qing recognized Xu Qingtong as a Gloomwind Valley senior and agreed to search the Market for the rare materials he wanted.
• While waiting, Xu Qingtong asked the assistant about flying magical artifacts and examined several items in Jade Boxes.
• Zhang Qing returned with everything on Xu Qingtong's list and quoted a price of forty-two thousand spirit stones.
• Xu Qingtong asked to see more flying artifacts, and the assistant brought him a jade case.

Xu Qingtong bought an Ink Cloud Shuttle, a Little Four Symbols Formation, and two Desperate Escape Talismans before flying to Li Family Village. He checked on his recovered uncle and warned him to stay indoors because the outside was dangerous.

• Xu Qingtong examined the Ink Cloud Shuttle and Little Four Symbols Formation at the shop while waiting for Zhang Qing to return.
• Zhang Qing sold Xu Qingtong the shuttle, formation, and the shop’s two Desperate Escape Talismans for a total of forty-three thousand spirit stones.
• Xu Qingtong activated the Ink Cloud Shuttle and flew southwest to Li Family Village.
• Xu Qingtong found Chen Jialiang practicing a fist technique and told him to avoid going outside while it was unsafe.

Xu Qingtong set up the Little Four Symbols Formation to protect his uncle’s home and made identity pendants so his family could enter and leave. After returning to Gloomwind Valley with Du Siwen, he was summoned by his master, Yu Tiancheng, for an important matter.

• Xu Qingtong installed the Little Four Symbols Formation and proved its strength when Du Siwen’s attacks failed to break through.
• Xu Qingtong made identity pendants for Chen Ruoling, Du Siwen, and his uncle’s family, and left spirit stones to power the formation.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen shared a meal with his uncle’s family before departing for the Sect on the Ink Cloud Shuttle.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen arrived at Swallowtail Peak, where Yu Tiancheng summoned them to meet him about an important matter.

Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen prepared a team for the operation against Worryfree Valley, then traveled to Gaoqi Town to begin their assigned advance. The chapter left them settled in town, where Xu Qingtong asked Du Siwen about two of their teammates’ abilities.

• Yu Tiancheng told Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen that the three sects would send teams to eradicate evil cultivators outside Worryfree Valley, and ordered them to serve together.
• Xu Qingtong refined Soul-Piercing Nails and elixirs while Du Siwen recruited six Qi Refining disciples, including Gong Chu, Huang Yiqing, and Chen Qian.
• Xu Qingtong distributed supplies and assigned the disciples roles, including collecting souls, trapping Qi Refining enemies, and using Soul-Piercing Nails.
• Yu Tiancheng instructed Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen to reach Gaoqi Town and advance northeast, warning them to avoid confronting Foundation Establishment late stage opponents directly.
• Xu Qingtong flew with Du Siwen and the six disciples to Gaoqi Town, found an unoccupied residence, and asked Du Siwen about Lei Wei and Lü Chengbin.

Xu Qingtong split the disciples into two squads to search for black-clad enemies and led a successful ambush against a Foundation Establishment cultivator and four Qi Refining disciples. After the squads regrouped in a village, Chen Qian sensed that something was wrong, leaving the danger unresolved.

• Xu Qingtong divided the eight disciples into two groups, pairing stronger and weaker fighters while keeping the squads within range of his divine sense.
• Xu Qingtong ambushed five black-clad men, using his techniques and magical seals to kill their Foundation Establishment leader and immobilize the four Qi Refining disciples.
• Chen Qian captured the enemies' souls as Lü Chengbin and Ding Jiayue finished off the four remaining men.
• Du Siwen arrived after the battle, and the disciples continued their search before entering a village to rest.
• Xu Qingtong sensed that something was amiss in the village, and Chen Qian warned him that something was wrong.

Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen resisted a poison attack and uncovered Lü Chengbin as a spy from Worryfree Valley. They defeated Lü Chengbin and wounded Tian Zongfei, but his Yin Soul escaped, and Xu Qingtong hurried to help the poisoned disciples recover.

• Xu Qingtong used scale flower grass to neutralize the poison in himself and secretly gave a leaf to Du Siwen, while their companions collapsed.
• Tian Zongfei arrived with Lü Chengbin, revealed their scheme, and sent Lü to finish off the Qi Refining disciples while he attacked Du Siwen.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen fought back; Du deflected Tian Zongfei's Flying Sword, and Xu shattered his shield, forcing him to abandon his body and flee as a Yin Soul.
• Xu Qingtong froze Lü Chengbin with the Xuanming Seal, and Du Siwen killed him before Xu captured his soul in the Soul Refining Pot.
• Xu Qingtong told Du Siwen that Tian Zongfei had escaped and gave her scale flower grass leaves to treat the poisoned disciples.

After helping his companions purge the poison, Xu Qingtong scouted the nearby groups and urged them to rest until daylight. He found Zhuang Shengren’s group fleeing three powerful enemies and secretly joined their attempt to turn the fight around.

• Du Siwen and Xu Qingtong fed Scale Flower Grass to their poisoned companions, who recovered and purged the remaining poison.
• Xu Qingtong left to scout, met Guo Tianyu, and proposed that the groups rest and reinforce their patrols until daybreak.
• Xu Qingtong found Zhuang Shengren and his group fleeing three black-clothed cultivators, with Elder Li Yiping pursued behind them.
• Xu Qingtong concealed himself and told Zhuang Shengren to join forces with Li Yiping while he ambushed an enemy.
• Zhuang Shengren and Li Yiping stopped to face their pursuers, and Li Yiping opened the fight with a sword slash.

Xu Qingtong helped Li Yiping kill a Worryfree Valley cultivator, then chased Zhang Fusheng and had Xiao Qi capture him. The chapter ended with Xu Qingtong ordering Xiao Qi to peck Zhang Fusheng after he tried to bargain for his life.

• Xu Qingtong ambushed the Worryfree Valley middle stage cultivator with Soul-Piercing Nails, a Divine Sense Thorn, and an Illusionary Shadow Clasp, allowing Li Yiping to kill him.
• Xu Qingtong collected the cultivator's soul while Zhang Fusheng fled, then told Li Yiping to help Zhuang Shengren and pursued Zhang Fusheng.
• Xu Qingtong sent Xiao Qi after Zhang Fusheng, and the bird kept him occupied until Xu Qingtong caught up and struck him with a Divine Sense Thorn.
• Xiao Qi seized Zhang Fusheng by the head, and Xu Qingtong asked how he had achieved such speed.
• When Zhang Fusheng offered to reveal his secrets in exchange for his life, Xu Qingtong ordered Xiao Qi to peck him without damaging his soul.

Xu Qingtong killed Zhang Fusheng, acquired his Shadowless Evasion Technique and Wind-Treading Boots, and reunited with Zhuang Shengren and Li Yiping after helping them defeat Worryfree Valley cultivators. He learned the technique and patrolled the area, leaving Zhuang Shengren impressed by his speed and strength.

• Xu Qingtong used the Illusionary Shadow Clasp to make Zhang Fusheng hand over the Shadowless Evasion Technique and Wind-Treading Boots, then ordered Xiao Qi to kill him.
• Xu Qingtong reunited with Zhuang Shengren and Li Yiping, accepted Zhuang Shengren's apology, and discussed waiting until dawn to advance on Worryfree Valley.
• Xu Qingtong returned to Du Siwen, told her what had happened, and split up with her to patrol in opposite directions.
• Xu Qingtong learned the Shadowless Evasion Technique and refined the Wind-Treading Boots, greatly increasing his speed.
• Xu Qingtong quickly reached Zhuang Shengren while patrolling, and Zhuang Shengren resolved to cultivate closer ties with him.

Xu Qingtong led his group northeast to search for Worryfree Valley cultivators hiding near Zhangdian Town, splitting up with Du Siwen. He and Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian defeated several cultivators and reached Wasteland Village, where Xu Qingtong sensed signs of life in a seemingly abandoned courtyard.

• Xu Qingtong released the innocent souls from Zhang Fusheng's Soul Refining Pot and gave the cultivator souls in his own pot to Xiao Qi.
• After resting, Xu Qingtong split the seven travelers into two teams, sending Du Siwen with Fourth Senior Brother, Lei Wei, and Huang Yiqing while he continued with Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian.
• Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian defeated two Worryfree Valley cultivators in the woods, and Xu Qingtong gave Ding Jiayue instructions for refining her Soul Refining Pot.
• Xu Qingtong kept a ninth-layer cultivator occupied while Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian killed him and his two seventh-layer companions.
• The three reached Wasteland Village, where Xu Qingtong detected signs of life inside a dilapidated courtyard at the village's eastern edge.

Xu Qingtong, Ding Jiayue, and Chen Qian ambushed a group of Worryfree Valley cultivators near a village and killed them without fighting among the villagers. After they divided the spoils, they set out for Zhangdian Town to meet Senior Sister Du and the others.

• Xu Qingtong identified five evil cultivators in an abandoned courtyard and arranged with Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian to lure them toward an ambush.
• Xu Qingtong killed the foundation establishment middle stage cultivator with hidden weapons, ice magic, and the Rushou Seal, then collected his soul and buried his body.
• Xu Qingtong used his divine sense to drive the four remaining cultivators out of the village toward the grove, where Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian ambushed them.
• Ding Jiayue and Chen Qian killed the four fleeing cultivators and collected their Storage Bags, which Xu Qingtong told them to keep.
• After cleaning up the scene, Xu Qingtong and the two women headed for Zhangdian Town to meet Senior Sister Du and the others.

Xu Qingtong rushed to find Du Siwen and discovered her party trapped by Worryfree Valley cultivators in the Nirvana Imprisonment-Killing Formation. After defeating the attackers and learning how to find the formation’s setup method, he learned that Elder Wang and five others remained in Zhangdian Town.

• Xu Qingtong waited outside Zhangdian Town for Du Siwen’s party, then set off to look for them when they failed to arrive.
• Xu Qingtong found Du Siwen and her three companions besieged inside a formation by five Worryfree Valley cultivators.
• Xu Qingtong defeated the Foundation Establishment cultivator, captured his soul, and bound the four Qi Refining disciples.
• Xu Qingtong killed two disciples while questioning them, then found the Nirvana Imprisonment-Killing Formation’s setup method in a Jade Slip from the cultivator surnamed Yang.
• One surviving disciple told Xu Qingtong that Elder Wang and five others were still in Zhangdian Town, and Xu Qingtong killed the disciple who answered more slowly.

Xu Qingtong rescued Du Siwen and her companions from an ambush, then found the Worryfree Valley cultivators hiding in an underground chamber in Zhangdian Town. The group lured Wang Kunhai and his disciples out, but Du Siwen struggled against his treasure-befouling Black Skull.

• Xu Qingtong killed the last trapped Worryfree Valley disciple after the man offered only the secret that their sect master was having an affair with Elder Hu’s wife.
• Du Siwen admitted that her rash pursuit of credit had led her group into an ambush, and she and the others meditated to recover while Xu Qingtong kept watch.
• Xu Qingtong searched Zhangdian Town and discovered signs of a concealed underground chamber beneath a pavilion in a large mansion.
• Xu Qingtong and Du Siwen planned to lure the hidden cultivators out, with Du Siwen, Gong Chu, and Ding Jiayue waiting in the front courtyard while Xu Qingtong hid nearby and Lei Wei and Huang Yiqing guarded the perimeter.
• Wang Kunhai arrived with five Qi Refining Disciples and surrounded Du Siwen’s group, declaring his identity as a Worryfree Valley elder and demanding their surrender.
• Du Siwen attacked Wang Kunhai with her Water-Fire Heaven-Shaking Halberd, but his Black Skull clamped onto the weapon and began weakening it, so she fired Soul-Piercing Nails at him.

Xu Qingtong killed Wang Kunhai but discovered a black butterfly mark on his forehead that might let Worryfree Valley track him. He sent Du Siwen and the others away to regroup with their allies, then stayed behind to watch for danger and prepared a Life-Risking Jade Talisman.

• Xu Qingtong ambushed and killed Wang Kunhai after defeating his disciples, but a black butterfly emerged from Wang Kunhai's corpse and marked his forehead.
• Xu Qingtong suspected the mark was a tracking technique, and Du Siwen warned that Wang Kunshan might already know Wang Kunhai had died.
• Xu Qingtong gave Du Siwen a jade slip and sent her and the other disciples to rejoin their parties while he stayed behind.
• Xu Qingtong collected and burned the corpses, watched toward Worryfree Valley, then used his essence blood to activate a Life-Risking Jade Talisman.
• Soon after the others left, Xu Qingtong's expression changed and he sprang to his feet.

Xu Qingtong fled north from Wang Kunshan, who pursued him across the desert until he used a Desperate Escape Talisman to escape at the cost of nearly sixty years of his lifespan. He awoke stranded in the Great Marsh Sea, and just as he planned to wait for dawn, a sea demon arrived.

• Xu Qingtong sensed a powerful newcomer, sent a warning, and fled north using Shadowless Escape and his Wind-Treading Boots.
• Wang Kunshan identified Xu Qingtong and chased him, while Xu Qingtong used the Ink Cloud Shuttle to try to stay ahead.
• As Wang Kunshan closed in near the sea, Xu Qingtong activated the Desperate Escape Talisman and vanished beyond the range of the Butterfly Tracking Mark.
• Wang Kunshan failed to locate Xu Qingtong and returned to Worryfree Valley, fearing the Venerable Lord's reaction if anything happened to the sect.
• Xu Qingtong emerged over the Great Marsh Sea, lost nearly sixty years of his lifespan, and regained consciousness in the water.
• Xu Qingtong brought out the Ink Cloud Shuttle and planned to wait for dawn, but a sea demon appeared and disrupted his plan.

Xu Qingtong fled a pursuing Yan Yao and took refuge on a deserted island, where he discovered a map linking the island to Old Dong’s sea chart. Unable to return to the mainland and hindered by the island’s weak spiritual qi, he decided to explore the mapped Red Moon Island.

• Xu Qingtong evaded the Yan Yao’s attacks and eventually escaped its pursuit after nearly an hour of flight.
• Xu Qingtong landed on a deserted island, rested, and carved out a simple cave abode.
• Xu Qingtong examined the spoils from the evil cultivators and found the Yin Nether Soul Refining Art and a detailed island map.
• Xu Qingtong compared the map with Old Dong’s Sea Voyage Map and identified the crescent-shaped island as Red Moon Island.
• Xu Qingtong decided to travel to Red Moon Island to investigate its secrets.

Xu Qingtong traveled from his small island to Huangqiao Island, recording the islands he passed and reflecting on his separation from Dongfang Hui. After Xiao Qi warned him of a Feizhu ambush, Xu Qingtong was caught in the beast’s webs despite using Crimson Flame Talismans.

• Xu Qingtong used Old Dong’s sea chart to locate his position, recorded the surrounding islands, and flew toward Huangqiao Island.
• Xu Qingtong explored Huangqiao Island and was struck by loneliness as he thought of Dongfang Hui.
• Xu Qingtong called out Xiao Qi, learned it was nearing the third tier, and fed it pure soul energy from the Soul Refining Pot.
• Xiao Qi detected a Feizhu burrowing beneath Xu Qingtong and warned him just in time for him to escape its ambush.
• Xu Qingtong summoned the Houtu Seal and dodged the Feizhu’s webs, but his Crimson Flame Talismans failed to burn them and the webs trapped him.