Chapter Summaries

Li Junzi helped Lin Luoyu leave her harsh life behind, brought her into a new courtyard, and taught her to read. Years later, Lin Luoyu overheard a visitor urge Li Junzi to abandon her for the sake of becoming a Great Confucian, and she began to doubt whether studying had been worth it.

• Li Junzi visited Lin Luoyu, accepted a bowl of fish broth, and asked her to show her around Lin Family Ravine.
• Li Junzi hired craftsmen to build a courtyard and invited Lin Luoyu to live there and help tend chickens and vegetables.
• Li Junzi taught Lin Luoyu to read, and Lin Luoyu devoted herself to studying as she grew up in the courtyard.
• A male visitor confronted Li Junzi about giving up her chance to become a Great Confucian for Lin Luoyu, but Li Junzi defended her choice to stay.
• Lin Luoyu overheard their conversation from bed and thought that studying was not all that good either.

Li Junzi taught Lin Luoyu to wield a brush, and Lin Luoyu unexpectedly wrote Violent Wind, revealing her potential to become a Lesser Sage. Seven years later, after advancing to Understanding Principle, Lin Luoyu told Li Junzi she wanted to stop reading and try immortal cultivation, leaving Li Junzi deeply disappointed.

• Li Junzi wrote Clear Wind to calm Lin Luoyu, then taught her how Confucian Scholars used books and understanding to wield a brush.
• Lin Luoyu wrote Violent Wind, unleashing a powerful gust before collapsing asleep, and Li Junzi recognized her potential to become a Lesser Sage.
• Over the next seven years, Lin Luoyu advanced to Understanding Principle while Li Junzi stayed in Lin Family Ravine to teach her.
• Lin Luoyu told Li Junzi she no longer wanted to read and might try immortal cultivation instead.
• Li Junzi urged Lin Luoyu to keep reading until she became a Lesser Sage, but Lin Luoyu felt that her teacher's eyes no longer held her.

Lin Luoyu explained why she had doubted the Confucian path, and Li Junzi supported her choice to pursue immortality, giving her a sheet of paper bearing the characters “Righteousness” before she left for Yuzhou City. Years later, Lin Luoyu returned to Lin Family Ravine with Cui Hao and found Li Junzi alive but distant, leaving her unsure how to approach her teacher.

• Lin Luoyu told Li Junzi that she had considered abandoning study because reason could not reach cultivators, but decided she should continue studying while pursuing immortality.
• Li Junzi encouraged Lin Luoyu to follow her chosen path, wrote “Righteousness” for her, and accepted that she could no longer write “Clear Wind.”
• Lin Luoyu left for Yuzhou City carrying her teacher’s paper, joined an immortal sect, and built a new life among her master and fellow disciples.
• After receiving a letter from Lin Family Ravine, Lin Luoyu returned with Cui Hao and found Li Junzi older and more haggard.
• Lin Luoyu tried to ask Li Junzi how she had been, but Li Junzi responded formally and treated her as a guest when she offered to make tea.

Lin Luoyu returned to Lin Family Ravine with Cui Hao and reunited with her teacher, Li Junzi, while they prepared a meal and discussed recent troubles in the village. Li Junzi asked whether Cui Hao was mute, and Lin Luoyu had not yet answered.

• Li Junzi offered tea and chairs, while Cui Hao sat down, then stood behind Lin Luoyu when she signaled him to show respect.
• Li Junzi suspected Lin Luoyu might be bullying Cui Hao, but Lin Luoyu said he was naturally unruly and Cui Hao vigorously agreed.
• Li Junzi invited Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao to stay for a meal, and Cui Hao silently declined to request any particular food.
• Lin Luoyu followed Li Junzi to the kitchen and learned that villagers had sent a letter after demons and lingering resentment troubled Lin Family Ravine.
• Lin Luoyu explained that she feared Li Junzi had abandoned her after her letters went unanswered, and Li Junzi asked whether Cui Hao was mute.

Cui Hao stayed with Li Junzi while Lin Luoyu went to investigate the evil entities outside Lin Family Ravine. After reading Li Junzi’s writing, he recognized that her Confucian path had encountered a problem and revealed that, despite never entering the Writing Brush Realm, he had advanced directly to the Book Rubbing Realm.

• Cui Hao chatted with Li Junzi over dinner and agreed to stay behind while Lin Luoyu dealt with the evil entities.
• After dinner, Lin Luoyu left to investigate, and Cui Hao quietly read books from Li Junzi’s shelves.
• Cui Hao asked Li Junzi about Lin Luoyu’s past, then requested to read the book she was writing.
• After studying Li Junzi’s writing, Cui Hao noted its wisdom lacked literary qi or spiritual radiance and asked whether she had encountered a problem.
• Cui Hao told Li Junzi that he had skipped the Writing Brush Realm and entered the Book Rubbing Realm directly.

Cui Hao encouraged Li Junzi to step beyond her books and experience the world so she could resolve the attachment keeping her from writing. After demonstrating his extraordinary Confucian talent, he suggested she visit Yuzhou City and speak with his master, though Li Junzi still sensed something was wrong.

• Cui Hao told Li Junzi he had stopped cultivating Confucianism after reaching the Book-Expanding Realm because he wanted to travel and experience the world.
• Li Junzi admitted that an attachment in her heart kept her from writing, and Cui Hao advised her to step outside her problem and gain more life experience.
• Cui Hao closed his eyes and broke through from the Book-Expanding Realm to the Understanding Principle Realm, leaving Li Junzi stunned.
• Cui Hao suggested that Li Junzi visit Yuzhou City to speak with his master and see Senior Sister's Sect.
• Li Junzi considered his advice but remained uneasy, unable to identify what seemed wrong.

After resolving the evil spirit in Lin Family Ravine, Lin Luoyu brought her teacher, Li Junzi, to the sect, where Cui Hao entertained her with exaggerated stories and introduced her to Chen Baiqing. The group learned that their Master was in a poor mood, and Cui Hao went to ask him about it, warned to choose his words carefully.

• Lin Luoyu declined the villagers' celebration, paid the Village Chief to maintain her teacher's courtyard, and left Lin Family Ravine with Li Junzi.
• Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao guided Li Junzi around the sect, while Cui Hao embellished its history and accomplishments.
• Cui Hao introduced Li Junzi to Chen Baiqing, who welcomed her and said she and Lin Luoyu helped one another.
• Cui Hao asked whether their Master was in the Main Hall, and Chen Baiqing said he seemed troubled and that it might involve the Eldest Senior Sister.
• Chen Baiqing told Cui Hao to think before speaking when he questioned their Master, and he solemnly promised not to disappoint her.

Cui Hao told Chu Xingchen that Li Junzi had arrived and shared what he knew about her state of mind. Chu Xingchen gathered the others to launch a secret plan for his eldest senior sister’s birthday, leaving them to prepare a surprise eight days later.

• Cui Hao approached Chu Xingchen in the Main Hall and tried to find out what was troubling him, then explained that Li Junzi was at the Deep Pool with Chen Baiqing and Lin Luoyu.
• Chu Xingchen went to meet Li Junzi, introduced himself, and ensured their conversation would remain secret with a barrier.
• Chu Xingchen announced the Everlasting Joy Plan to celebrate his eldest senior sister’s birthday in eight days and asked everyone present to help.
• Chu Xingchen assigned Cui Hao to notify Ning Qianqian and warned the group not to leak the plan.
• Lin Luoyu, Chen Baiqing, Cui Hao, and Li Junzi agreed to help, and Chu Xingchen declared the plan officially underway.

Li Yingling noticed that her master and junior siblings had been acting strangely while she considered traveling beyond the Sect. Cui Hao tried to keep her away from the secret plan, but she decided to go to Yuzhou City and visit Luo Yu and Li Junzi.

• Li Yingling found Chen Baiqing absent from the Deep Pool and her master missing from the Main Hall, and wondered why both had become so busy.
• Li Yingling reflected on her wish to travel outside Central Province after her master had asked her to wait in the Sect.
• Cui Hao avoided Li Yingling because he feared she would uncover his master's plan and make him bear the blame.
• Li Yingling stopped Cui Hao and asked whether Luo Yu and Li Junzi were still in Yuzhou City.
• Li Yingling insisted that Cui Hao accompany her to Yuzhou City, and her suspicious gaze unsettled him.

Chu Xingchen prepared Yuzhou City for a celebration while arranging a secret birthday surprise for Li Yingling. When Li Yingling arrived unexpectedly, he sent everyone to follow their contingency plans, and she began suspecting Cui Hao as he struggled to explain the lanterns.

• Chu Xingchen oversaw the lanterns, fireworks, performances, and security preparations, while Chen Baiqing and Lin Luoyu reported that their tasks were progressing.
• Chu Xingchen received word from Cui Hao that Li Yingling was coming, then sent Chen Baiqing to Chanwood Temple and Lin Luoyu to walk around the city with her teacher.
• Chu Xingchen instructed A Nian and Zhao Wanqing to stall Li Yingling and leave if she began asking questions that did not fit the conversation.
• At Yuzhou City's gates, Cui Hao distracted Li Yingling by chatting with a soldier until she entered the city without him.
• Cui Hao hurried after Li Yingling, who asked why the residents were hanging lanterns, and she grew suspicious of him for the second time.

Li Yingling visited Yuzhou City, where Cui Hao and Zhao Wanqing tried to conceal the real purpose of the coming celebration at Chanwood Temple. She returned to the Sect without investigating, but recognized Cui Hao was planning something and told him to attend the celebration quietly with her.

• Cui Hao and Zhao Wanqing told Li Yingling that Yuzhou City was preparing a celebration to pray for blessings and honor Yuankong.
• A Nian distracted Li Yingling with a reminder about urgent Demon-Suppression Bureau business, allowing her and Zhao Wanqing to leave.
• Li Yingling met Li Junzi and Lin Luoyu, listened patiently as Li Junzi recounted stories, and invited Li Junzi to visit the Sect again.
• Li Yingling returned to the Sect with Cui Hao and asked what he planned to do at the Chanwood Temple celebration.
• Li Yingling warned Cui Hao not to cause trouble or disgrace the Immortal Sect, and told him to attend the celebration with her.

Li Yingling learned that the Sect would attend Yuzhou City's celebration together, then joined her fellow disciples to watch the festivities. The chapter ended with her excitedly calling everyone to look at the approaching dragon and lion dances.

• Li Yingling found Chen Baiqing reading at the Deep Pool and shared a cheerful morning with her.
• Chu Xingchen told Li Yingling that Zhao Wanqing had invited the Sect to Yuzhou City's celebration and that he had secured them a viewing spot from Chanwood Temple.
• At night, Chu Xingchen, Li Yingling, Chen Baiqing, and the rest of the Sect gathered in Yuzhou City alongside Ning Qianqian and Ning Kun.
• Li Yingling watched the dragon and lion dance troupes approach, then called to everyone in her Sect to look.

Chu Xingchen and his disciples enjoyed the dragon and lion dance procession and the festive street near Chanwood Temple together. Li Yingling bought a candied-hawthorn stand, had Cui Hao carry it, and led everyone onward with skewers in hand.

• Chu Xingchen joined Li Yingling to watch the procession, joking with her like a close friend.
• Lin Luoyu and Ning Qianqian shared their delight in seeing Chu Xingchen and the others enjoy the gathering, and Cui Hao joined the group.
• Li Yingling led everyone toward the vendor street by Chanwood Temple as performers and vendors filled the area.
• Li Yingling bought an entire candied-hawthorn stand and had Cui Hao carry it.
• Li Yingling gave everyone candied hawthorn, then led the smiling group onward as they raised their skewers and echoed her call.

Li Yingling celebrated her birthday by exploring the lively street with Chu Xingchen and her fellow disciples, then met Qinghe and Xie Lingyu along the way. At Chanwood Temple, she was greeted by her second junior brother, Li Xingtian, who seemed to have been waiting for her.

• Li Yingling admired her new lantern, and Chu Xingchen praised her as they and the other disciples enjoyed the vendors and performances.
• Li Yingling spotted Qinghe and Xie Lingyu eating noodles, and the two joined the group after Qinghe finished her meal.
• Qinghe stuck close to Chen Baiqing and toured the stalls with the group, while Cui Hao lingered at the marriage fortune-telling, painting, and calligraphy stands.
• Li Yingling entered Chanwood Temple and found Li Xingtian waiting by a small doorway in dressed-up clothes.

Li Yingling and her companions gathered at Chanwood Temple for a performance, where Chu Xingchen arranged to take a group picture. He taught them how to pose, ending the chapter by telling everyone to say “cheese.”

• Li Xingtian reunited with Li Yingling and greeted Chu Xingchen, while Cui Hao handed him candied hawthorns.
• Bai Xuanling teased Xie Lingyu and Qinghe before leading everyone into the joined private rooms at Chanwood Temple.
• Yuankong prepared for the performance, and the group drank together as the show began.
• Li Yingling realized the gathering had likely been arranged for her and called Chu Xingchen a cheat.
• Chu Xingchen brought out Image-Recording Pearls, gathered everyone for a group picture, and taught them to pose with a V sign and say “cheese.”

Chu Xingchen and his companions gathered to celebrate Li Yingling’s birthday, ending the evening with a grand fireworks display at Chanwood Temple. Li Yingling thanked everyone and happily cried as they shared the moment.

• Chu Xingchen took a group picture of his companions and gave an Image-Recording Pearl to Xie Lingyu so Qinghe could see it later.
• Chu Xingchen told Li Yingling that everyone had prepared a present for her, then led the group to a scenic platform on Chanwood Temple’s Back Mountain.
• Chu Xingchen activated a talisman that set off fireworks over Yuzhou City.
• Chu Xingchen wished Li Yingling a happy birthday and recalled how she used to envy children who could watch fireworks.
• Li Yingling thanked Chu Xingchen and everyone, then laughed and cried while the group celebrated with her.

Chu Xingchen persuaded Bai Xuanling to give him a Give Me Face Token to help protect his eldest disciple as she traveled. He told Chen Baiqing that the eldest senior sister would leave soon, and supported her choice to seek experience elsewhere.

• Chu Xingchen flatteringly asked Bai Xuanling for another Give Me Face Token, explaining that his eldest disciple would soon travel.
• Bai Xuanling gave Chu Xingchen a token and wished his eldest disciple a safe journey, then learned she planned to visit Dongsheng Shenzhou rather than Central Province.
• Bai Xuanling demanded the token back, but Chu Xingchen insisted it could still be useful before she left.
• Chen Baiqing asked whether the eldest senior sister was really leaving, and Chu Xingchen said he supported her decision to go soon.
• Chu Xingchen comforted Chen Baiqing by saying parting could lead to a better reunion, and Chen Baiqing vowed she would never leave him.

Li Yingling left the Sect to pursue her own Immortal Path, and Chu Xingchen spoke with Li Junzi about her Confucian cultivation and the book she wanted to write. Li Junzi later departed to read that book, leaving the Sect quieter once more.

• Chu Xingchen and the disciples saw Li Yingling off, and she departed in a streak of rainbow light.
• Three days later, Chu Xingchen welcomed Li Junzi and discussed her Confucian path and her hopes of writing a book of her own.
• Li Junzi said she had regained her ability to write after attending Li Yingling's birthday celebration, and Chu Xingchen encouraged her to follow her own path.
• On the fifth day after Li Yingling left, Li Xingtian set out for Central Province.
• More than two months later, Li Junzi said farewell and left to read the book within her heart.

Seven months after Li Yingling left, Chu Xingchen decided to travel to Central Province with Chen Baiqing and his other disciples, while Xie Lingyu prepared to break through to Nascent Soul at the Heavenly Derivation Sect. Bai Xuanling received word that Chu Xingchen had finally arrived, just in time.

• Cui Hao reached Foundation Establishment without using a pill, while Chen Baiqing neared Golden Core and Li Yingling sent Chu Xingchen cheerful letters from her travels.
• Chu Xingchen realized Chen Baiqing had felt overlooked when he took his other disciples on outings, so he invited her to travel with him and promised to take Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu somewhere as well.
• Chu Xingchen chose Central Province as their destination and joked that Cui Hao needed to learn a lesson through setbacks.
• At the Heavenly Derivation Sect, Qinghe tried to copy Chen Baiqing's tea-making technique, but Bai Xuanling said her tea was no good.
• Bai Xuanling watched over Xie Lingyu as she prepared for her third day of attempting to break through to Nascent Soul, then received a talisman announcing Chu Xingchen's arrival.

Chu Xingchen and his companions arrived at the Heavenly Derivation Sect, where Qinghe met them and led them through its outer array. Seeing the sect's fully powered Mountain-Guarding Grand Array left Chu Xingchen and Cui Hao awed by the scale of the Eighteen Immortal Sects.

• Qinghe complained to herself about Granny Bai's unfair treatment and unpaid work as she headed to meet the guests.
• At the Heavenly Derivation Sect's reception hall, Chu Xingchen, Chen Baiqing, Lin Luoyu, and Cui Hao waited while a disciple handled the necessary procedures.
• Qinghe arrived, recognized Chu Xingchen's group, and was pushed away when she tried to hug Chen Baiqing.
• Chu Xingchen asked whether Bai Xuanling was in the sect, and Qinghe confirmed it before offering to take the group inside.
• Qinghe led them through the outer illusion array and explained that the Heavenly Derivation Sect's Mountain-Guarding Grand Array ran at full power to retain its spirit veins.
• Cui Hao marveled at the array, and Qinghe repeated Granny Bai's explanation that the outer array made the sect look poor.