Chapter Summaries

Zhong Haoran prayed for Xiao Hua to heal Zhong Peihan’s damaged meridians, and Xiao Hua sensed the prayers through his Buddhist heart. After meeting Zhong Haoran, Xiao Hua went with him to Lily Courtyard to examine Zhong Peihan, leaving the possibility of a cure unresolved.

• Zhong Haoran prayed at a mountaintop shrine for Xiao Hua to return with a way to repair Zhong Peihan’s meridians.
• A faint crack appeared among the golden threads in Xiao Hua’s Buddhist flame, and he sensed a strange resonance from Zhongling Mountain Villa.
• Xiao Hua discussed the premonition with Xue Xue and set out toward Zhongling Mountain Villa, then encountered Zhong Haoran.
• Zhong Haoran told Xiao Hua about his prayers and asked whether he could heal Zhong Peihan, so Xiao Hua agreed to assess her condition.
• Xiao Hua and Zhong Haoran arrived at Lily Courtyard, where Zhong Peihan greeted Xiao Hua with respect.

Xiao Hua examined Zhong Peihan’s damaged meridians and recalled the Meridian Nourishing Pill formula, which he believed could heal her within a month. He found the necessary ancient spirit herbs in his space and considered the pill useful for Xue Xue’s future foundation establishment as well.

• Xiao Hua told Zhong Peihan he had no Sky Mending Pills but agreed to examine her injuries.
• Xiao Hua used the Yellow Qi Technique and true essence to examine Zhong Peihan, triggering memories of the Meridian Nourishing Pill and other formulas.
• Xiao Hua told Zhong Haoran he had confidence in treating Zhong Peihan but needed to gather some things first.
• Xiao Hua privately explained his requirements to Zhong Haoran, who reassured Zhong Peihan that Xiao Hua could heal her meridians within a month.
• Xiao Hua realized his space held the herbs needed to refine the Meridian Nourishing Pill, which he thought might also help Xue Xue if problems arose during foundation establishment.

Xiao Hua moved with Xue Xue to a new cave and began refining a Meridian Nourishing Pill while continuing to prepare the Sky Mending Pill. Meanwhile, Zhong Yejing and Zhong Yedong sought the Fei Family’s help against Xiao Hua and were admitted to its Reception Hall.

• Xiao Hua reassured Xue Xue that accompanying her mattered more than advancing his cultivation, then moved them to a new cave and set up the Rabbit Formation.
• Xiao Hua began refining the Meridian Nourishing Pill, whose unfamiliar techniques stirred changes in the spiritual energy around him.
• Zhong Tianyao sent Zhong Yejing and Zhong Yedong to Red Crane Mountain to seek aid from the Fei Family against Xiao Hua.
• Zhong Yedong nearly attacked the Fei Family’s gate guards, but Zhong Yejing stopped him by presenting Zhong Tianyao’s command token.
• Fei Ming and Fei Yulian received Zhong Yejing and Zhong Yedong and escorted them to the Fei Family’s Reception Hall.

Zhong Yejing and Zhong Yedong waited at Feihe Mountain for Fei Siqing and Qin Kai, hoping to enlist their help against Xiao Hua’s attacks on Zhongling Mountain Villa. The two Golden Core family heads arrived after discussing artifact refinement, and Fei Siqing asked what had brought the Zhong Family to them.

• Zhong Yedong grew impatient with Fei Ming and Fei Yulian’s delay, and Fei Yulian rebuked him for his rudeness.
• Zhong Yejing restrained Zhong Yedong, explained that the Zhong Family faced grave difficulties, and offered Fei Ming a storage pouch to hasten their meeting with the seniors.
• Fei Ming and Fei Yulian left the Reception Hall, and Zhong Yejing urged Zhong Yedong to remain calm while they waited.
• Fei Siqing and Qin Kai entered the hall and praised each other’s contributions to a new artifact-refining method.
• Fei Siqing asked Zhong Yejing why the Zhong Family had come, and she explained their predicament and offered the two seniors a storage pouch.

Zhong Yejing and Zhong Yedong failed to persuade Fei Siqing and Qin Kai to help the Zhong Family capture Xiao Hua, and Zhong Tianyao weighed whether the two families had hidden motives. He decided their joint artifact-refinement work meant they were likely uninvolved and planned to invite them, though Zhong Peiyuan remained worried about the Zhong Family’s long-hidden secret.

• Fei Siqing and Qin Kai rejected Zhong Yejing and Zhong Yedong’s request for help, and Fei Siqing slapped Zhong Yedong when he spoke out of turn.
• Zhong Yejing and Zhong Yedong returned to Zhongling Mountain Villa, where Zhong Tianyao sent Zhong Yejing to rest and Zhong Yedong went to wait for Xiao Hua at the villa gate.
• Zhong Peiyuan admitted he could no longer judge people’s intentions after years of travel, and Zhong Tianyao acknowledged that he could not tell whether Fei Siqing and Qin Kai harbored ill intentions.
• Zhong Peifu questioned why Zhong Tianyao had sent Zhong Yedong along to test the Fei and Qin families, and Zhong Tianyao explained that their cautious refusal did not rule out hidden motives.
• Zhong Tianyao noted that Qin Kai and Fei Siqing had unusually joined forces to refine an artifact, concluded they were likely occupied with that work, and decided to invite them to help.
• Zhong Peiyuan remained uneasy and began to raise the Zhong Family’s long-concealed secret.

Xiao Hua gave Zhong Haoran the Sky Mending Pill for Zhong Peihan, but the price was that Zhong Haoran could no longer speak or transmit his voice. Zhong Haoran delivered the pill to Zhong Peihan, who began to realize something was wrong with him.

• Zhong Tianyao ordered stronger patrols at Zhongling Mountain Villa and decided Zhong Jing'er would not go to Feihe Mountain for now.
• Zhong Haoran agreed to pay the price for using the Sky Mending Pill so Zhong Peihan could continue cultivating.
• Xiao Hua made Zhong Haoran unable to speak or transmit his voice, then gave him the Sky Mending Pill.
• Zhong Haoran brought the pill to Zhong Peihan, who accepted it but questioned its strange appearance and lack of medicinal fragrance.
• Zhong Peihan noticed Zhong Haoran had not spoken and asked whether he had become mute.

Zhong Peihan took the Sky Mending Pill, restored her meridians, and successfully established her foundation with Xiao Hua's guidance. Meanwhile, Xiao Hua evaded the Zhong family's search after attacks left more than fifty people dead, and Zhong Peihan celebrated with Zhong Haoran, who still would not speak.

• Zhong Peihan swallowed the Sky Mending Pill while Zhong Haoran stood guard, and the pill restored her damaged meridians.
• Xiao Hua's attacks caused chaos throughout Zhongling Mountain Villa, but Zhong Tianyao could not find him, and Zhong Yedong lost sight of a fast-moving black shadow.
• Zhong Yu reported that more than fifty people had been killed or injured, and Zhong Tianyao told the family to count their losses before discussing how to invite Qin Kai and Fei Siqing.
• Zhong Peihan's true qi began condensing, and Zhong Haoran gave her two Foundation Establishment Pills when she had none.
• Xiao Hua carried Zhong Peihan to the mountain peak where Zhong Haoran prayed, and she completed her Foundation Establishment there.
• Zhong Peihan embraced Zhong Haoran and thanked him for helping her meet Xiao Hua and establish her foundation, but she noticed that he still would not speak.

Zhong Haoran returned with Zhong Peihan to Zhongling Mountain Villa after sacrificing his voice so she could establish her foundation, while Xiao Hua reflected on his test of Zhong Peihan and continued cultivating. At the villa, they learned that Xiao Hua was blamed for poisoning more than a hundred people, and Zhong Peihan explained her foundation establishment while Zhong Haoran remained unable to speak.

• Zhong Haoran showed Zhong Peihan a jade slip explaining that he had lost his voice, and she swore a heart oath to keep Xiao Hua's secret.
• Zhong Peihan and Zhong Haoran agreed on explanations for her restored meridians and his silence, then flew back to Zhongling Mountain Villa.
• Xiao Hua appeared after they left, reflected on testing Zhong Peihan and using Earth Crystal Yao Ru on Zhong Haoran, then returned to his cave to cultivate.
• Zhong Peihan and Zhong Haoran learned that Xiao Hua was believed to have poisoned more than a hundred people at Zhongling Mountain Villa.
• Zhong Peihan told Zhong Qingbo that an extraordinary benefactor had restored her meridians and helped her establish her foundation, while explaining that Zhong Haoran could not speak because of Qi Deviation.
• Zhong Qingbo congratulated Zhong Peihan, advised her to stabilize her realm, and told her to leave a Life Spirit Tablet in the ancestral hall.

Zhong Haoran returned to Zhongling Mountain Villa mute and faced ridicule while believing Zhong Peihan would seek him out and that Xiao Hua was innocent. After reaching Foundation Establishment, Zhong Peihan visited him, but her new status and changed feelings made their reunion awkward and brief.

• Zhong Haoran returned to his house and endured other disciples mocking his muteness and his connection to Zhong Peihan.
• The elder who examined Zhong Haoran could not discover Xiao Hua's restrictive technique, and Zhong Haoran remained unable to defend Xiao Hua against the rumors.
• Zhong Peihan emerged from seclusion with a stable Foundation Establishment realm, but the disciples' praise distracted her from visiting Zhong Haoran until nightfall.
• When Zhong Peihan asked about Zhong Haoran, the disciples mocked his condition and warned her that associating with him could damage her standing.
• Zhong Peihan visited Zhong Haoran and told him the Sky Mending Pill had repaired and strengthened her meridians, while keeping her Heart Oath secret.
• Zhong Peihan briefly embraced Zhong Haoran, felt their closeness had changed, and left without setting a time for another visit.

Xiao Hua went to Zhongling Mountain Villa intending to negotiate with Zhong Tianyao, but Zhong Tianyao accused him of killing more than a hundred members of the Zhong family and prepared to fight. The chapter ended as Zhong Tianyao challenged Xiao Hua to stay and face his vengeance.

• Xiao Hua decided to visit Zhongling Mountain Villa again and told Xue Xue he hoped to make peace with Zhong Tianyao.
• Xue Xue said she might be nearing Foundation Establishment, and Xiao Hua gave her a Sky Mending Pill before leaving.
• Xiao Hua sensed unease near Zhongling Mountain Villa but flew over it and called out to Zhong Tianyao.
• Zhong Tianyao quieted the panicked Zhong family disciples and confronted Xiao Hua in the air.
• Xiao Hua tried to explain that he had come to negotiate, but Zhong Tianyao accused him of killing more than a hundred Zhong family members and summoned a deer-antler-shaped magic artifact.

Xiao Hua was ambushed by Zhong Tianyao, Qin Kai, and Fei Siqing, three Golden Core cultivators who tried to trap and kill him at Zhongling Mountain Villa. He resisted their combined attacks with his treasures, techniques, and Phoenix Dharma Body, but the fight continued as Fei Siqing joined the assault.

• Xiao Hua denied killing members of the Zhong family and countered Zhong Tianyao’s attack with the Sleeve Universe and Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors.
• Zhong Haoran tried to rise and defend Xiao Hua, but Zhong Peiyuan restrained him.
• Xiao Hua tried to flee and discovered that Qin Kai and Fei Siqing had joined Zhong Tianyao to block his escape with their Golden Core pressures.
• Xiao Hua used his Phoenix Dharma Body and Heaven Concealing Sea Crossing Technique to break through the pressure, then defended himself against Zhong Tianyao and Qin Kai’s Wind Fire Blades with an Earth Shield and Samadhi True Fire.
• Zhong Tianyao sent deer-antler phantoms at Xiao Hua, while Fei Siqing attacked him from behind with a blazing pearl.
• Xiao Hua’s Phoenix Dharma Body disrupted the three cultivators’ pressure and lunged at Zhong Tianyao with its claws.

Xiao Hua struggled against Zhong Tianyao, Qin Kai, and Fei Siqing, but their attacks and a fire blanket shut down his escape routes. As the chapter ended, Xiao Hua broke free and Little Yellow flew at Zhong Tianyao with poisoned claws.

• Xiao Hua used the Town Cloud Seal and Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors to counter the Blazing Pearl and Zhong Tianyao’s antlers, but the exchanges injured him and sent him falling.
• Qin Kai questioned whether Xiao Hua was truly a Foundation Establishment cultivator, while Zhong Tianyao insisted he would not let Xiao Hua leave the Zhong Family.
• Xiao Hua tried to escape with Earth Escape, but Fei Siqing spread a fire blanket beneath him that blocked his divine sense and resisted the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors.
• Fei Siqing’s fire blanket engulfed Xiao Hua, but Xiao Hua surged out through the flames and released Little Yellow and the Divine Strength Centipede.
• Little Yellow flew toward Zhong Tianyao with poisonous claws, making Zhong Tianyao suspect it was tied to the deaths of his family’s disciples.

Xiao Hua realized that Qin Kai and Fei Siqing had been targeting Zhong Tianyao and the Zhong Family’s ancient artifact-refining art, not simply fighting him. After the Nether Bat poisoned Zhong Tianyao and Fei Siqing trapped Xiao Hua in a fire blanket, Xiao Hua used his spirit fire to break free and attack Fei Siqing.

• Xiao Hua recognized that Qin Kai’s Nether Bat was attacking Zhong Tianyao, while Fei Siqing kept trying to burn him with the fire blanket.
• The Nether Bat bit Zhong Tianyao, who realized Qin Kai and Fei Siqing had killed the Zhong Family members and plotted to steal the family’s ancient artifact-refining art.
• Qin Kai explained that he and Fei Siqing had lured Zhong Tianyao into a trap to obtain the art and establish their families as a cultivation sect.
• As Fei Siqing drew the fire blanket toward himself, Xiao Hua used spirit fire to burn through it and wrap Fei Siqing in flames.
• Fei Siqing’s protective radiance shattered, and he realized Xiao Hua’s spirit fire was not Samadhi True Fire.

Xiao Hua defeated Fei Siqing, forced Qin Kai to flee, and saved Zhongling Mountain Villa. After Zhong Tianyao gave him the gold foil, Xiao Hua returned the Qian Mo secret stones and flew away.

• Little Yellow swallowed Fei Siqing’s Golden Core, and Xiao Hua’s Phoenix Dharma Body, Little Yellow, and Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors drove Qin Kai into retreat.
• Qin Kai fled Zhongling Mountain Villa while Xiao Hua stayed behind, collected his treasures, and checked on Zhong Tianyao.
• Zhong Yejing thanked Xiao Hua, and Zhong Peiyuan and Zhong Peifu apologized for their earlier offense.
• Zhong Tianyao gave Xiao Hua two sheets of gold foil, but Xiao Hua returned the Qian Mo secret stones and left.

Xiao Hua weighed Zhong Haoran’s plea against his grudge with Zhong Tianyao, then agreed to treat the poisoned Family Head under two conditions. After giving Zhong Tianyao an antidote and learning how a misunderstanding had turned the Zhong Family against him, Xiao Hua offered to help repair their inherited magical artifact and heard how Hu Guanqiu had seized their materials.

• Zhong Haoran broke his silence to plead for Zhong Tianyao, and the Zhong Family members knelt and begged Xiao Hua to save their Family Head.
• Xiao Hua agreed to help if the Zhong Family accepted two conditions, gave Zhong Tianyao an antidote, and had him taken to an inner room.
• Xiao Hua listened as Zhong Yejing explained why Zhong Tianyao had suspected him, and he let go of his grudge after realizing their conflict had stemmed from a misunderstanding.
• Xiao Hua offered to use his own materials to help repair the Zhong Family’s inherited magical artifact.
• Zhong Peifu told Xiao Hua that Hu Guanqiu of Changbai Sect had threatened the Zhong Family and taken the rare materials they had spent generations gathering.

Xiao Hua secured the Zhong family’s help distributing rice seeds to the people near Yun City and gained permission to inspect the ancient artifact-refining method beneath their ancestral hall. After Zhong Tianyao reported that Xiao Hua’s antidote had removed much of the Nether Bat Poison, Xiao Hua warned that the poison could seep into the soul.

• Zhong Peifu explained why the Zhong family had feared killing Hu Guanqiu, whose master was the powerful Nascent Soul cultivator True Person Jinglü.
• Xiao Hua gave Zhong Peifu a storage bag of rice seeds and asked the Zhong family to distribute them among the common people near Yun City.
• Zhong Tianyao arrived recovering from the Nether Bat Poison, thanked Xiao Hua, and allowed him to inspect the ancient artifact-refining method beneath the ancestral hall.
• Zhong Peifu told Zhong Tianyao that Xiao Hua had also offered to provide materials and help the family refine magical artifacts.
• Zhong Tianyao arranged for the family’s secular disciples to distribute the seeds, and Zhong Yejing left to organize the work.
• Zhong Tianyao said Xiao Hua’s antidote had removed more than half the poison, but Xiao Hua warned that the remaining Nether Bat Poison could seep into the soul.

Xiao Hua entered the Zhong family's hidden underground palace, cured Zhong Tianyao's Nether Bat Poison, and studied the family’s ancient oracle bone script. Recognizing the words “Artifact Refining Under Heaven” on the damaged stone walls, he recalled the full text from his memories and returned to studying artifact refinement.

• Xiao Hua brought Xue Xue to Zhongling Mountain Villa, where Zhong Tianyao and the others apologized to her before leading them into the Zhong family's ancestral hall.
• Zhong Tianyao used a magic artifact and Zhong Peifu's formulas to reveal a vast underground palace beneath the ancestral hall.
• Xiao Hua treated Zhong Tianyao with Green Python venom while reading the family's jade slip, mastering its oracle bone script as he cured the poison over nine days.
• Zhong Tianyao led Xiao Hua to the ruined stone walls bearing the ancient artifact-refining art, and Xiao Hua sat down after recognizing something on them.
• Xiao Hua recalled the contents of “Artifact Refining Under Heaven” over fifteen days, then continued studying artifact refinement while Xue Xue remained with him in the palace.

Xiao Hua mastered the Five Elements artifact refining techniques and discovered they included the formula for a Great Universe Shifting Token. After Xue Xue delivered the Zhong family’s materials list, Xiao Hua agreed to help repair their magical artifact, and Zhong Peifu planned to obtain the remaining materials at a Bidding Convention.

• Xiao Hua spent several dozen days studying Artifact Refining Under Heaven and found that its Five Elements techniques complemented his previous knowledge.
• Xiao Hua recognized that the compendium included a formula for forging a Great Universe Shifting Token, which could help him repair his damaged token.
• Xue Xue gave Xiao Hua the Zhong family’s list of materials needed to repair their magical artifact.
• Xiao Hua saw that he already had the six rarest materials on the list and told Zhong Peifu he lacked the rest.
• Zhong Peifu said his third brother had gone to a Bidding Convention in Haicheng City, where they could seek the remaining materials.

Xiao Hua learned from Zhong Peifu about Qiang He Sea, its dangerous depths, and the overseas islands’ restrictions on hunting sea beasts. He left the underground study to begin practicing artifact refinement at the Zhong family’s grounds, where Zhong Tianyao showed him the prepared tools and sealed earthfire.

• Xiao Hua asked Zhong Peifu about Haicheng City, Qiang He Sea, and the overseas islands, and Zhong Peifu described the sea’s dangers and the islands’ trading and hunting rules.
• Xiao Hua decided not to pursue more questions and asked Zhong Peifu to arrange a quiet room for Xue Xue while he went to practice artifact refinement.
• Zhong Peifu used a magical artifact to bring Xiao Hua and Xue Xue back to the dilapidated ancestral hall, where Zhong Tianyao greeted Xiao Hua.
• Xue Xue went with Zhong Peifu to find a quiet room, while Xiao Hua followed Zhong Tianyao to the artifact-refining area beneath Zhongling Mountain Villa.
• Zhong Tianyao showed Xiao Hua the tools he had gathered for artifact refinement and explained that a hidden earthfire there remained sealed by restrictive techniques.

Xiao Hua repaired the restrictions around Zhongling Mountain Villa’s earth fire and then used his Lingmou Zhu Fire to restore the Town Cloud Seal. He successfully repaired much of the damaged magical treasure, while Zhong Tianyao recognized it as familiar.

• Xiao Hua offered to inspect the restrictions above the earth fire, and Zhong Tianyao led him to the site before leaving the work in his hands.
• Xiao Hua removed the old restrictions, installed new ones, and refined a controlling artifact tablet for Zhong Tianyao.
• Xiao Hua prepared to repair the Town Cloud Seal after Zhong Peiyuan returned with materials for the Zhong family's ancestral artifact.
• Xiao Hua spent several dozen days refining the Town Cloud Seal in a quiet chamber while Zhong Tianyao repeatedly checked on him.
• The Town Cloud Seal emerged with restored power, and Xiao Hua explained that he had repaired much of it but could not fully restore it without its refining method.
• Zhong Tianyao congratulated Xiao Hua and said the magical treasure looked familiar to him.