Chapter Summaries

Li Ping'an attracted customers by offering love poems with his pills, quickly sold out, and counted his profits. He left with Jing Yu and Old Ox, then went with Jing Yu to a pleasure house for wine and company.

• Li Ping'an added a free love poem to each pill purchase, drawing a crowd to his stall.
• A customer bought a Qi Manipulation Pill for thirty Spirit Stones and praised the poem Li Ping'an gave him.
• Customers rushed to buy the remaining pills, and Li Ping'an announced that the stall was sold out for the day.
• Li Ping'an counted more than two thousand Spirit Stones and gave Jing Yu seven copper coins as his promised share.
• Li Ping'an and Jing Yu walked through the moonlight to a pleasure house, where Jing Yu ordered wine and girls.

Li Ping'an ate and cultivated at a pleasure house, then was arrested with Jing Yu when constables raided it and both men used each other's names to avoid giving their real ones. While waiting to meet Aliya, Zhao Ling'er, and Pang Jun, they saw a foreign cultivator's tiger attack a passerby, and Jing Yu hinted that trouble was coming.

• Li Ping'an ate his fill at the pleasure house, checked his room for hidden dangers, invited Old Ox inside, and cultivated through the night.
• Constables raided the pleasure house and arrested Li Ping'an and Jing Yu, who each signed the other's name before leaving the yamen.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Jing Yu went to a teahouse to meet Aliya, Zhao Ling'er, and Pang Jun.
• An old cultivator and his followers marched through the street with a huge tiger, which leapt at a passerby.
• Armored guards rescued the passerby and asked the old man to control his spirit pet, but he continued onward with his group.
• Jing Yu told Li Ping'an that a good show was coming.

Li Ping'an reunited with Aliya, Zhao Ling'er, and Pang Jun in the capital, where the city celebrated the Princess’s triumphant return. As they toured the festivities, Aliya recalled that Zhao Ling'er had long admired Li Ping'an.

• An army ambush killed a group of Qi Refining Practitioners with Xuan Crossbows, and guards swiftly cleared away the bodies.
• Li Ping'an welcomed Aliya, Zhao Ling'er, and Pang Jun after several years apart, and Aliya tearfully hugged him and Old Ox.
• Li Ping'an and his companions wandered through the capital’s celebrations, where Zhao Ling'er said she had reached the peak of the first Confucian rank.
• Aliya recalled that Zhao Ling'er secretly liked Li Ping'an and had admired his calligraphy, teaching, cooking, and erhu playing.

Li Ping'an reunited with Liu Yun in Capital City, shared a farewell meal with her, and left after encouraging her as she prepared to become emperor. Half a month later Liu Yun ascended the throne, while Li Ping'an settled into a cave and began seclusion.

• Li Ping'an noticed Zhao Ling'er's feelings but chose to leave them unaddressed, then wandered away from Aliya and Pang Jun while wearing an ox mask.
• Li Ping'an met Liu Yun at the lantern riddles and shared fried rice with her as they talked about their past and future.
• Li Ping'an said goodbye to Liu Yun at dawn and gave her wildflowers, telling her she would be a good emperor.
• Half a month later, Liu Yun ascended the throne after the emperor died in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
• Li Ping'an found a secluded cave, checked that it held no treasure or danger, and began cultivating in seclusion.

Three months after settling into the cave, Li Ping'an continued cultivating cautiously and living with Old Ox. When he heard trouble in the mountains, he used his flying sword to save Jiang Yue Bai, who left to report that the men pursuing her had killed children and sold their corpses to Evil Cultivators.

• Li Ping'an and Old Ox brought a tiger back to their orderly cave, where Li Ping'an scolded Xiao Wu for laying fewer eggs and praised Xiao Liu.
• Li Ping'an continued cultivating with Spirit Stones and chose to delay his breakthrough despite believing his chances of success were high.
• After eating tiger meat and shepherd's purse soup, Li Ping'an rode Old Ox through the mountains and heard footsteps.
• Li Ping'an found Jiang Yue Bai being chased by four martial artists who planned to kill her and strip her.
• Li Ping'an sent Fine Rain from his wine gourd and killed the four men, then Jiang Yue Bai thanked the unseen rescuer and hurried away to report their crimes.

After hiding from Jiang Yue Bai and disposing of four corpses, Li Ping'an spent more than a month preparing to advance his Mud Pellet. He succeeded with surprising ease, increasing its progress from 30% to 35%, but had used up his Spirit Stones and needed to find more.

• After Jiang Yue Bai left, Li Ping'an searched the four corpses, took their few belongings, and had Old Ox bury them while he burned their clothes.
• Li Ping'an sealed himself in the cave and spent more than a month cultivating, using over two thousand Spirit Stones to prepare for advancing his Mud Pellet.
• Li Ping'an delayed his breakthrough after bad weather and repeatedly used Old Ox's hairs to decide whether the day was suitable.
• After checking that the area was safe, Li Ping'an asked Old Ox to guard him and began his breakthrough.
• Li Ping'an emerged shortly afterward, having advanced his Mud Pellet from 30% to 35%, and realized he had exhausted his Spirit Stones.

Li Ping'an left his mountain retreat and set out for Dragon-Tiger Mountain after earning Spirit Stones by sharing information about Qin Shi. On the way, he took shelter at an abandoned post station with a group of young travelers, where their conversation was interrupted by a strange gust of wind.

• Li Ping'an read the group chat about Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s mountain-opening ceremony and told Happy Big Boy what he knew about Qin Shi.
• Happy Big Boy sent Li Ping'an more than three hundred Spirit Stones through resonating Great Dao Runes Fragments.
• Li Ping'an decided to visit Dragon-Tiger Mountain, packed his belongings, and left his cave with Old Ox.
• Li Ping'an traveled along the mountain path and stopped at an abandoned post station where several young men and women were resting.
• Chu Yun and the others asked Li Ping'an about his blindness and his travels, and a gust of wind swept through the post station with a sobbing sound.

Li Ping'an shared noodles with a group of young travelers at an abandoned post station, where a statue revealed a powerful figure who tried to recruit Chu Yun into cultivation. Li Ping'an stepped in to protect the travelers, and the figure’s overwhelming pressure forced them to their knees before Li Ping'an intervened.

• Li Ping'an cooked noodles at the post station and accepted Chu Yun and her companions’ invitation to travel with them through the rain.
• A voice from a statue announced itself, and the travelers met a blue-smoke figure who claimed to be an Immortal.
• The figure praised Chu Yun’s innate aptitude and urged her to follow him into cultivation, persuading her and the others with promises of youth and longevity.
• Li Ping'an interrupted the figure’s recruitment and asked him to spare the kindhearted travelers.
• The figure angrily unleashed his pressure, forcing the travelers to their knees, and Li Ping'an stepped in front of them and told them to get up.

Li Ping'an exposed and killed a weasel spirit posing as an Immortal, then slipped away from Chu Yun and the others. He continued toward Dragon-Tiger Mountain with Old Ox and reunited with the old Daoist who had given him the Sword-Nurturing Gourd.

• Li Ping'an broke the weasel spirit's pressure and cut it down when it attacked the group.
• Chu Yun and the others realized the supposed Immortal was a monster, but Li Ping'an vanished after distracting them.
• Li Ping'an roasted and ate the weasel spirit's meat, then set out for Dragon-Tiger Mountain with Old Ox.
• An old Daoist tried to examine a beautiful woman's body, was slapped, and complained about people's complicated hearts.
• Li Ping'an greeted the old Daoist, recognizing him from their meeting at Yumen Pass.

Li Ping'an visited Dragon-Tiger Mountain with the old Daoist and reunited with Qin Shi, who showed him the mountain’s sacred White Jade Capital. The tower’s power intrigued Li Ping'an, but his unease kept him at a distance as the old Daoist urged him closer.

• The old Daoist made Li Ping'an pay for their food after pretending he had forgotten his money.
• Li Ping'an met Qin Shi on Dragon-Tiger Mountain and learned that the old Daoist had taught him only one fist technique, which Qin Shi had practiced diligently.
• Qin Shi showed Li Ping'an White Jade Capital and explained that it could suppress Arts and was said to await someone destined for it.
• Li Ping'an sensed that the tower might have been prepared for him, but stayed near the stone stele because he feared something would happen.
• The old Daoist arrived and assured Li Ping'an that nothing could go wrong with him there.

Li Ping'an accidentally triggered the White Jade Capital, which rose from Dragon-Tiger Mountain and entered his consciousness as a treasure he could summon. Five days later, he left the ruined mountain with the White Jade Capital in his possession and wondered where to find more Spirit Stones.

• Li Ping'an and the old Daoist approached the White Jade Capital, causing the stone stele to shatter and Dragon-Tiger Mountain to collapse.
• The White Jade Capital pursued Li Ping'an, shrank, and entered his consciousness as a Tower.
• Five days later, Li Ping'an learned that the White Jade Capital could suppress cultivators' Arts nearby, but would return to his consciousness if he went too far away.
• Li Ping'an left his Spirit Stones with the old Daoist as an apology and went down the mountain, while Qin Shi began clearing rubble to rebuild Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
• Li Ping'an admired the White Jade Capital's power and walked along the road with Old Ox, wondering where to find Spirit Stones next.

Two years later, Li Ping'an ambushed and killed Li Sanlang and his men, then claimed a reward for the wanted cultivators at Shushan. He returned to his cottage with Old Ox and prepared to cultivate under guard.

• Li Ping'an used White Jade Capital to suppress Li Sanlang and the Bearded Man's arts, crushing them before he killed the surviving men with the Fusang Saber.
• Li Ping'an collected the group's valuables and heads, then retrieved White Jade Capital and felt his strength drain as the pagoda returned to his sea of consciousness.
• At Shushan's Sword-Swapping Pavilion, Xiaodao thanked Li Ping'an for bringing Li Sanlang to justice and gave him his reward.
• Li Ping'an returned to his thatched cottage, secured the cellar with traps, and asked Old Ox to stand guard while he went inside.
• Old Ox agreed to protect Li Ping'an after he promised to give him beef jerky.

Li Ping'an’s cultivation in Shushan succeeded, dramatically improving his strength, though it destroyed much of his hut. As Shushan’s disciples prepared to travel for training, a young man summoned Li Ping'an outside after he finished a meal, leaving their meeting ahead.

• Li Ping'an performed a wine ritual before cultivating, and his breakthrough caused explosions that wrecked his hut and sent Old Ox flying.
• Li Ping'an checked his improved stats and realized that cultivating in Shushan had greatly strengthened him.
• Li Ping'an decided he needed to find a new place to live and joked with Old Ox about keeping a low profile instead of buying beef jerky.
• Shushan prepared its disciples for a five-year training journey, and some hired guards for dangerous excursions.
• At Shushan’s communal dining hall, a young man approached Li Ping'an and told him to meet outside when he had finished eating.
• Li Ping'an finished his meal, took his bamboo staff, and went outside.

Li Ping'an defeated Liu Yunwu in a fight on the martial arts platform, then met Qin Miaomiao, who asked him to accompany her to the Southern Border in search of Snake Desire Fruit. When he refused her offer of a thousand Spirit Stones, Qin Miaomiao declared that she was willing, leaving Li Ping'an unsure what she meant.

• Liu Yunwu introduced himself and challenged Li Ping'an on behalf of Shushan's retainers.
• Li Ping'an knocked Liu Yunwu off the platform with a single blow and left.
• Qin Miaomiao visited Li Ping'an and asked him to accompany her to the Witchcraft Gu Land in the Southern Border to seek Snake Desire Fruit.
• Li Ping'an said Qin Miaomiao's offer of one thousand Spirit Stones was too low and told her to ask someone else.
• Qin Miaomiao said she was willing, and Li Ping'an asked what she meant.

Qin Miaomiao hired Li Ping'an to help her find the Snake Desire Fruit, and the two agreed he would receive half of it as payment. After arriving late to the Shushan trial, Li Ping'an and Old Ox joined the flying boat to the Witchcraft Gu Land, where Qin Miaomiao traveled with Situ Lei and remained wary of her new retainer.

• Qin Miaomiao offered Li Ping'an half the Snake Desire Fruit in addition to his payment, and he accepted the deal.
• At the Shushan trial gathering, the Sect Master forgot his prepared speech and rambled before the disciples chose their destinations.
• Situ Lei offered Qin Miaomiao the help of his family retainer, Liu Yidao, when Li Ping'an failed to appear.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox hurried onto the departing flying boat, and Li Ping'an explained that climbing Main Peak had delayed them.
• Two days into the journey, Situ Lei promised to help Qin Miaomiao and warned her to be careful around retainers like Li Ping'an.

Li Ping'an traveled to Witchcraft Gu Land with Old Ox, earning the attention of Shushan’s disciples when his erhu playing disrupted their Visualization. After three days, the group arrived at the dangerous region, where Li Ping'an surprised Elder Qingfeng by admitting he could not fly.

• Li Ping'an brewed medicinal ingredients and studied prescriptions with Old Ox as they traveled aboard the Flying Boat.
• Elder Qingfeng asked Li Ping'an to play the erhu, and its mournful music caused several disciples, including Situ Lei and Qin Miaomiao, to leave their Visualization; Lin Xue also stopped after Qingfeng intervened.
• Li Ping'an’s erhu skill improved, and he put the instrument away before continuing to study his medicinal broth with Old Ox.
• Three days later, the group reached Witchcraft Gu Land, and Elder Qingfeng warned them to beware of poisons and Gu Insects.
• As the disciples flew away on their swords, Li Ping'an climbed onto Old Ox, and Elder Qingfeng was bewildered when Li Ping'an said he was not a Qi Refining Practitioner.

Li Ping'an and the others traveled through the Witchcraft Gu Land, where they encountered Poison Beasts and reached the Mind-Seizing Ground. Situ Lei entered it confidently, but its effects transformed him into a strange, scuttling creature.

• Li Ping'an gathered plants, insects, and other materials as the group traveled through the forest.
• Lin Xue killed a tiger-like beast with a scorpion tail, and Li Ping'an took its corpse after she gave it to him.
• The group reached the Mind-Seizing Ground, and Qin Miaomiao relayed Situ Lei’s concerns that Li Ping'an might be affected by it.
• Li Ping'an entered the Mind-Seizing Ground and showed that he was unharmed, while other disciples steadied themselves before proceeding.
• Situ Lei hurried into the passage to impress Qin Miaomiao, then arched and twisted on the ground, scuttling and howling.

Li Ping'an saved Situ Lei from a giant python and its hidden offspring, changing Situ Lei’s opinion of him as the group continued through Witchcraft Gu Land. That night, Qingfeng sensed that two disciples had run into trouble.

• Li Ping'an revived Situ Lei after he had been knocked unconscious, and Liu Yidao concealed what had happened from him.
• Li Ping'an spotted a giant python and killed it before it could attack Situ Lei.
• A second snake sprang from the dead python, and Li Ping'an beheaded it just before it reached Situ Lei.
• Situ Lei thanked Li Ping'an over drinks, and Li Ping'an, Old Ox, Qin Miaomiao, and Situ Lei spent the night around the fire.
• Qingfeng sensed through his Divine Sense that two disciples had run into trouble.

Li Ping'an and Old Ox left Qin Miaomiao and Situ Lei to search for Star Spirit Grass, but they came upon Lin Xue surrounded by enemies. After a Wizard’s poisonous insect wounded her, Li Ping'an intervened and attacked the Wizard.

• Elder Qingfeng hurried to rescue another disciple in danger, while the rest of Li Ping'an’s group traveled without major incident.
• Qin Miaomiao and her companions found that the Snake Desire Fruit had already been picked, and Li Ping'an departed without collecting the rest of his payment.
• Old Ox identified a place where Star Spirit Grass might grow, and Li Ping'an hurried there with him.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox spotted Lin Xue fighting a group of attackers, led by a Wizard seeking revenge against Shushan.
• The Wizard’s insect bit Lin Xue and poisoned her, so Li Ping'an rushed from hiding and charged at the Wizard with a punch.

Li Ping'an killed the Wizard with help from Old Ox, then treated Lin Xue after she was poisoned. Lin Xue woke in a cave, learned Li Ping'an had taken her Star Spirit Grass as payment, and resolved to repay him.

• Li Ping'an summoned the White Jade Capital to distract the Wizard, used Old Ox to interrupt him, and killed him with a slash to the throat.
• Li Ping'an found Lin Xue collapsing from poison and sealed her Qi and Blood with Silver Needles before giving her an Antidote Pill.
• Li Ping'an persuaded Old Ox to help suck the poison from Lin Xue's shoulder, then bandaged her wounds and left her in a cave.
• Lin Xue woke, recalled the attack, and found a note saying Li Ping'an had taken her Star Spirit Grass as payment for saving her.
• Lin Xue noticed her carefully bandaged wounds and the signs that someone had sucked out the poison, then vowed to repay Li Ping'an's kindness.