Chapter Summaries

Xiao Hua concealed his role in the deaths of four Foundation Establishment cultivators while Yu Chen chose to protect him and seek his friendship. Xiao Hua then studied and refined the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors, awakening the treasure’s flood dragon spirit.

• Yu Chen ordered the City Guards to keep silent about the valley and delay inspecting it, while Xiao Hua returned to check the scene where he had killed Yan Yu.
• Yu Chen explained to Yang Ming that Xiao Hua’s pressure revealed mid Foundation Establishment cultivation and ordered him to discreetly investigate Xiao Hua’s background.
• Xiao Hua realized Yu Chen had seen through his concealed cultivation, then began refining the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors he had obtained from Yan Yu and Liang Yu.
• After several hours of refinement, Xiao Hua used his heart’s blood to awaken the flood dragon’s eyes, and the spirit returned to the scissors’ original form.

Xiao Hua completed the most difficult stage of refining a Ling Lei Pill and told Xue Xue it would be ready in ten days, though she wanted to delay taking it until she felt confident. Yu Chen, the City Guard Captain of Haoming City, then arrived at Xiao Hua’s cave abode to visit and talk.

• Xiao Hua stored the awakened Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors and reflected on the power they might gain when joined with their missing half.
• Xiao Hua stabilized the pill furnace and merged the male and female Thunder Beast phantoms with a black-and-white net and crimson spirit fire.
• Xiao Hua told Xue Xue that the Ling Lei Pill would be completed in ten days, but agreed to let her decide when to take it.
• Xiao Hua sensed Yu Chen outside the cave abode and went to meet him after Xue Xue began cultivating.
• Yu Chen said he had come to make Xiao Hua’s acquaintance and converse, not for any particular matter.

Xiao Hua accepted Yu Chen’s offer of friendship and asked him to find a bone-tempering technique, information about the incomplete Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors, and materials to repair the Town Cloud Seal. Yu Chen delivered the materials, while the other searches remained pending as Xiao Hua prepared to reforge the seal.

• Yu Chen visited Xiao Hua, offered him a body-tempering technique, and explained that his position as Haoming City's City Guard Captain let him investigate matters on Xiao Hua's behalf.
• Xiao Hua told Yu Chen he needed a bone-tempering technique and asked him to watch for news about the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors.
• Xiao Hua gave Yu Chen several spirit herbs more than ten thousand years old, and Yu Chen agreed to gather artifact-refining materials for him.
• After Yu Chen left, Xiao Hua considered how their connection could benefit them both and examined the storage bags of Yan Yu, Liang Yu, and the others.
• Three days later, Yu Chen brought the materials needed to repair the Town Cloud Seal and reported that his inquiries about the bone-tempering technique and Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors were still underway.
• Xiao Hua inspected the materials and studied artifact-refining techniques as he prepared to reforge the Town Cloud Seal.

Xiao Hua completed refining a Ling Lei Pill for Xue Xue, then faced Huo Qilin, who came to see her before returning to Fire Fierce Mountain. Xue Xue came out and reaffirmed that she was Xiao Hua’s wife, leaving Huo Qilin’s pursuit firmly rejected.

• Xiao Hua finished nurturing the Ling Lei Pill and discovered he could refine only one at a time.
• Xue Xue told Xiao Hua she still wanted to accompany him to Qiang He Sea, though crossing Mo Ran Black Forest would be dangerous for her.
• Huo Qilin visited Xiao Hua’s cave residence before leaving for Fire Fierce Mountain because a strange matter had arisen there.
• Xiao Hua refused Huo Qilin’s request to see Xue Xue, and Huo Qilin challenged him when he would not back down.
• Xue Xue joined Xiao Hua and told Huo Qilin she was Xiao Hua’s wife and urged him to give up his hopes of dual cultivation.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue completed the Ling Lei Pill and decided to travel toward the Qiang He Sea in search of an ancient body-tempering method. Yu Chen shared rumors about Setting Sun Island, gave Xiao Hua a sea chart, and told him of a newly discovered but dangerous path through Mo Ran Black Forest.

• Xue Xue rejected Huo Qilin’s farewell confession, and he left dejectedly after she returned to the cave dwelling with Xiao Hua.
• Xiao Hua collected the Ling Lei Pill, which differed from the description in the jade slip, and Xue Xue stored it without taking it yet.
• Xiao Hua and Xue Xue agreed to wait several days before leaving Haoming City so they would not encounter Fire Fierce Mountain’s disciples.
• Yu Chen told Xiao Hua that a Nascent Soul cultivator had heard of an ancient body-tempering method used by an Ancient Remnant Tribe on overseas Setting Sun Island, though its location was unknown.
• Xiao Hua decided to search for Setting Sun Island while traveling with Xue Xue to the Qiang He Sea, and Yu Chen gave him a sea chart.
• Yu Chen explained that a newly discovered route through Mo Ran Black Forest was unstable, and Xiao Hua offered spirit stones to buy its information.

Xiao Hua accepted Yu Chen’s arrangements for a delayed journey to the Meng Kingdom and entered seclusion to cultivate and refine pills. He emerged after more than a year, having experienced a strange vision tied to the Hand of Cause and Effect, while Yu Chen’s travel arrangements and a missed invitation from True Person Miyou awaited him.

• Xiao Hua gave Yu Chen a Lingli Pill in thanks for the sea chart, and Yu Chen warned that arranging passage through Haoming City’s hidden route would take at least half a year.
• Xiao Hua sent Xue Xue to cultivate in the quiet chamber and used the waiting period to refine Earth Crystal Yao Ru, consume pills, and advance his mid Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• Xiao Hua successfully refined Minghua Pills and, while reflecting on his past, comprehended the Hand of Cause and Effect in his space.
• Xue Xue watched as multicolored threads emerged from Xiao Hua and formed a cocoon of light around him during his prolonged seclusion.
• Xiao Hua emerged after more than a year and learned that he had ruined the pills in his furnace and missed a half-year-old message inviting him to return to the Thunder Control Sect with True Person Miyou.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue prepared to travel through the dangerous Mo Ran Black Forest with a group, and learned that Fu Family disciples from Jinhua Mountain would be joining them. At the gathering, Xiao Hua recognized old acquaintances and realized Jinhua Mountain might be searching for Fu He, while two other concealed Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived.

• Xiao Hua agreed with Xue Xue to postpone her Foundation Establishment and travel toward the Qiang He Sea after leaving Haoming City.
• Yu Chen advised Xiao Hua and Xue Xue to cross the Mo Ran Black Forest with a group and told them that Jinhua Mountain disciples would travel in ten days.
• Xiao Hua and Xue Xue arrived at the gathering in Mihuan and learned that the Jinhua Mountain group and two other cultivators had yet to arrive.
• Fu Feng, Liu Yun, and Fu Shan arrived, and Xiao Hua recognized them as old acquaintances from Jinhua Mountain.
• Xiao Hua deduced that Jinhua Mountain was likely searching for Fu He and decided to return the spirit-talisman methods and cultivation techniques he had promised to safeguard.
• Two more concealed cultivators arrived, and Xiao Hua sensed that both were at least Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Xiao Hua led a group through Mo Ran Black Forest, where he drew a Mo Ran away from the others so they could escape safely. Afterward, he learned of two artifact-refining families in southern Meng Kingdom but postponed investigating them to attend to Jinhua Mountain’s affairs.

• Xiao Hua joined Fu Feng and other cultivators at a hidden path into Mo Ran Black Forest, while a cultivator surnamed Qiu left with his companion.
• Xiao Hua and the remaining group crossed the forest, and Xiao Hua stayed behind to lure away a pursuing Mo Ran before escaping by Earth Evasion.
• The three Foundation Establishment cultivators thanked Xiao Hua and apologized for underestimating his cultivation.
• Miao Yan of the Miao family named the Fei Family and Qin Family as renowned artifact refiners in southern Meng Kingdom and offered to guide Xiao Hua to them.
• Xiao Hua declined Miao Yan’s offer and accepted his communication talisman, choosing to attend to his other affairs first.

After saving several cultivators from the Mo Ran, Xiao Hua learned that Fu Feng and the others from Jinhua Mountain were traveling to White Bamboo Mountain and warned them that powerful pursuers might be interested in them. He followed their route with Xue Xue, hoping to find Fu He, and months later they reached the southern Meng Kingdom.

• Xiao Hua collected communication talismans from cultivators of the Immortal Music Sect and Cheng Ye Sect, then accepted thanks from Fu Feng, Liu, and Fu Shan of Jinhua Mountain.
• Fu Feng and Liu discussed whether a Foundation Establishment cultivator pursuing them could be Qiu Mingwei, and decided to continue south toward White Bamboo Mountain rather than return through the Mo Ran Black Forest.
• Fu Feng revealed that Jinhua Mountain had a more important purpose in the Meng Kingdom than finding Fu Zhu, Fu Chu, and Fu He, while Liu urged him to rely on the family head’s Foundation Establishment contacts if needed.
• Xiao Hua listened from nearby and was relieved when Fu Feng’s group continued south, then told Xue Xue that he had a history with Jinhua Mountain.
• Several months later, Xiao Hua and Xue Xue traveled across the southern Meng Kingdom toward a distant mountain range.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue traveled toward White Bamboo Mountain while discussing Fu He and Xue Xue’s cultivation. Xiao Hua noticed signs of severe drought and led Xue Xue to a lonely shack, where he saw something that left him heartbroken.

• Xiao Hua and Xue Xue flew ahead toward White Bamboo Mountain to find Fu He, while wondering why the two suspected Foundation Establishment cultivators had not appeared.
• Xue Xue told Xiao Hua she wanted to strengthen her meridians before Foundation Establishment, and she spoke of confronting Fu He over Fu Yan’s fate.
• Xiao Hua noticed that the grassland was barren despite the midsummer season and pointed out that its cattle, sheep, and herdsmen were gone.
• Xiao Hua led Xue Xue to parched terraced fields and a lonely grass shack, where a small plot held only a few weak shoots.
• Xiao Hua looked inside the shack and felt his heart twist in pain.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue found a starving infant and his grandfather, Fan Nong, and used spirit dates to revive them. After discovering that Madam Qian had eaten her son Qian Er to feed her dying mother, Xiao Hua faced her accusations that cultivators ignored the starving villagers of Fan Manor.

• Xiao Hua and Xue Xue found the emaciated Ying'er and his grandfather, Fan Nong, beside a thatched shed.
• Xue Xue offered dried spirit dates, and Xiao Hua helped Fan Nong feed small pieces to himself and Ying'er.
• Fan Nong identified himself and Ying'er, then began explaining the poverty in Fan Manor at the mountain's foot.
• Xiao Hua sensed trouble in the village, rescued an infant, and brought back the unconscious Madam Qian.
• Madam Qian said she was not human, and Fan Nong explained that Qian Er had likely been eaten to feed his mother.
• Xiao Hua apologized for misjudging Madam Qian, who accused cultivators of neglecting the starving people of Fan Manor.

Xiao Hua was shaken by the famine and resolved to save the starving mortals, though he could not help everyone at once. After meditating, he produced a great pile of rice stalks for Fan Nong’s family and set out to find more food.

• Madam Qian described the suffering in Fan Manor, and Xiao Hua vowed to save as many people as he could.
• Xue Xue offered to stay and guard the starving villagers while Xiao Hua sought food, but Xiao Hua instead took Fan Nong to rescue the most endangered elders and infants with Spirit Dates.
• Xiao Hua returned after saving several people and struggled to find a way to nourish the fields or feed everyone.
• Madam Qian and Fan Nong begged Xiao Hua to save the infant and his mother, while Xiao Hua meditated for several hours.
• Xiao Hua produced a huge pile of rice stalks, gave it to the family to eat, and said he would go search for more food.

Xiao Hua brought food to Fan Manor and learned that the drought had devastated the region after the Yun Lan Sect refused to help the starving villagers. He set out for the sect to investigate its rain-summoning treasure, wary of its formidable talismans and late Foundation Establishment leader.

• Xiao Hua returned to Fan Manor with grain and dairy cows, then told Xue Xue that starvation had spread throughout the area around Yu City.
• Fan Yunxiao explained that years of worsening weather had left Fan Manor without rain, and that the Yun Lan Sect had refused to help without spirit stones.
• Xiao Hua decided to visit the Yun Lan Sect, take its Cloud Rain Summoning treasure, and bring rain to the people.
• Xue Xue stayed behind at Fan Manor as Xiao Hua flew toward the sect.
• Xiao Hua learned that the small Yun Lan Sect was led by late Foundation Establishment cultivator Yun Tengyu and was known for powerful spirit talismans, making a direct confrontation risky.

Xiao Hua visited the declining Yun Lan Sect to meet its Sect Leader, Yun Tengyu, and discovered its ancient restrictions and a strange archway resembling one at Cloud Mist Mountain. He entered a vast hall with Yun Qinglie, leaving the purpose of his visit and the archway’s significance unresolved.

• Xiao Hua learned that the Yun Lan Sect relied on Rain Condensing Talismans and would likely resist giving up its Cloud-Gathering and Rain-Making Technique.
• Xiao Hua arrived at Qingyun Mountain, where Yun Lan Sect disciples sent word to Sect Leader Yun Tengyu.
• Yun Qinglie greeted Xiao Hua and led him inside after Xiao Hua said he had a private matter to discuss with the Sect Leader.
• Xiao Hua noticed that the mountain’s restrictions were dilapidated and that its Rain Dew archway resembled one at Cloud Mist Mountain.
• Xiao Hua passed beneath the archway and was startled to find a huge hall that had not appeared so imposing from outside.

Xiao Hua went to Yun Lan Sect to obtain Rain Condensing Talismans for drought-stricken farmers, but Sect Leader Yun Tengyu demanded an exorbitant price. Yun Tengyu offered to sell the talisman-refining method, then tried to intimidate Xiao Hua after he exposed his spirit stones, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Xiao Hua asked Yun Tengyu to provide Rain Condensing Talismans to relieve Fan Manor's drought, but Yun Tengyu refused to help without payment.
• Xiao Hua agreed to buy one hundred talismans, and Yun Tengyu demanded one superior-grade spirit stone for each.
• Yun Tengyu offered to sell Xiao Hua the method for refining Rain Condensing Talismans in exchange for a large sum and a heart oath not to share it.
• Xiao Hua accepted the deal and began to untie his storage bag, prompting Yun Tengyu to threaten him and release his late Foundation Establishment pressure.
• Xiao Hua laughed and released his own pressure against Yun Tengyu's.

Xiao Hua fought Yun Tengyu and the Yun Lan Sect cultivators in their great hall, using Samadhi True Fire and the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors to counter their attacks. Yun Tengyu trapped him in the True Water Formation, but Xiao Hua protected himself with a Rabbit Formation and remained unharmed.

• Yun Tengyu attacked Xiao Hua with hailstones, but Xiao Hua blocked them with Samadhi True Fire and set Rabbit Formation talismans on the ground.
• Yun Tengyu, Yun Qinglian, and two other cultivators launched their magic treasures and implements at Xiao Hua, breaking apart his fire wall.
• Xiao Hua used the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors to split two of the implements and crack another, then damaged Yun Tengyu's lotus-leaf treasure.
• Yun Tengyu activated the True Water Formation, whose raindrops shattered Xiao Hua's fire wall.
• Xiao Hua activated the Rabbit Formation, whose radiance withstood the True Water Formation's attacks.

Xiao Hua confronted Yun Tengyu for the Rain Condensing Talisman method, but Yun Tengyu activated the Yun Lan Sect’s ancient Green Python Formation and swallowed him in its Green Seal Script. Trapped inside and unable to move freely, Xiao Hua struggled against a force that began tearing his body apart.

• Xiao Hua broke through Yun Tengyu’s ice attack and demanded the Rain Condensing Talisman method, then attacked him to avenge the people who died at Fan Manor.
• Yun Tengyu revealed a skeletal hand and activated the Green Python Formation with Green Seal Script, drawing Xiao Hua into the platform despite his attempts to escape.
• Yun Tengyu’s use of the formation aged him and drained his strength, so he ordered the others to conceal what happened and claimed Xiao Hua’s dropped scissors and talismans.
• Inside the Green Python, Xiao Hua found his true essence immobilized and his divine sense confined, while a powerful force tore at his body through his protective armor.

Xiao Hua used the Eye of Delusion Breaking and his soul threads to survive the green light’s tearing force, comprehending thirty-six more green seal characters. He discovered an enormous cave containing a carved character for “rain” and realized it might hold another treasure.

• Xiao Hua extended his soul threads through the green seal characters, but the green light continued tearing at his body.
• When Xiao Hua opened the Eye of Delusion Breaking, it drew in his divine sense and fired a silver-gray beam that shattered the green seal character attacking him, ending the tearing force.
• Xiao Hua used his soul threads to arrange the scattered characters and absorbed thirty-six of them, bringing his total to thirty-nine.
• Xiao Hua examined the vast cave and recognized the enormous green seal character carved into its wall as “rain.”
• As Xiao Hua prepared to leave, he sensed he had overlooked something and reached toward the carved character with his soul threads.

Xiao Hua deciphered the ancient green seal script and learned the Cloud-Gathering and Rain-Making Technique, then killed Yun Tengyu and searched his soul. Disguised as Yun Tengyu, Xiao Hua returned to Yun Lan Sect, gave its disciples spirit stones, and appointed Yun Qingyu as the next Sect Leader.

• Xiao Hua understood that the green seal script described the Cloud-Gathering and Rain-Making Technique, though he still could not produce its talismanic syllables as a cultivator.
• Xiao Hua ambushed Yun Tengyu when he returned to the cave, killed him, and searched his soul before sending it on to transcendence.
• Xiao Hua took spirit stones, copied Yun Tengyu’s jade slips, collected the Cloud-Rain Talismans, and added the hand bone to the skeleton in his space.
• Xiao Hua destroyed Yun Tengyu’s corpse, disguised himself as him, and returned to Yun Lan Sect’s main hall.
• Xiao Hua convinced Yun Qinglian and the other disciples that Yun Tengyu had exhausted his lifespan, gave them spirit stones, and appointed Yun Qingyu as Sect Leader.

Xiao Hua left the Yun Lan Sect after giving its disciples final instructions, then brought rain to Fan Manor and found that his help might produce golden threads in his Buddhist fire. He learned that some rice seeds he had provided had not germinated, and Fan Yunxiao began explaining that the crops’ usual growing cycle had changed.

• Xiao Hua told Yun Qingyu to make Rain Condensing Talismans for drought-stricken people and sent Yun Qinglian and Yun Qingfeng to help the Fu family of Jinhua Mountain.
• Xiao Hua staged his departure from the Yun Lan Sect, then shed Yun Tengyu’s robe and headed toward Fan Manor.
• Xiao Hua found Fan Yunxiao and the Fan clan planting rice, gave them rain with Rain Condensing Talismans, and noticed more golden threads inside his Buddhist fire.
• Fan Yunxiao thanked Xiao Hua and asked for more rice seeds after discovering that some of the seeds Xiao Hua had provided had not germinated.
• Fan Yunxiao explained that the Fan Manor’s rice had always followed a regular growing cycle, but that the pattern had now changed.