Chapter Summaries

Xiao Hua was trapped between the short, fat cultivator and the Ice Worm King, then fell frozen into the gorge. He survived by cultivating within the ice, broke free, and discovered the bodies and possessions of people sealed beneath the gorge’s ice.

• Xiao Hua tried to escape the short, fat cultivator’s magic ring while the Ice Worm King pursued him, but the ring and the king’s freezing spiritual energy trapped him in ice.
• The Ice Worm King froze the short, fat cultivator’s ring and chased him from the gorge as Xiao Hua fell toward its bottom.
• Xiao Hua circulated his cultivation method while encased in ice, and the starlight entering him stopped the cold from invading his body and gradually melted the ice.
• Xiao Hua regained his strength, chipped through the ice with the Demon Spear Tip, and finally broke free.
• Xiao Hua found lifelike human bodies sealed beneath the ice and began chiseling at their storage bags and magic artifacts.

Xiao Hua entered the Ice Worm King’s abandoned gorge, collected spirit fruits, and seized the Ice Worm King Egg after killing the cultivator who had come to retrieve it. He escaped Nancai Ping by following Li Xiaowen’s Sound-Linking Talisman and reunited with Fan Daomao outside the gorge.

• Xiao Hua failed to break the ice around the Ice Worm King’s corpse, then flew into the dark gorge after spotting a faint glow and gathered more than a dozen spirit fruits.
• Xiao Hua hid near the glowing egg as a short, fat cultivator arrived and identified it as the Ice Worm King Egg, which he needed for a chance at Foundation Establishment.
• Xiao Hua ambushed and killed the short, fat cultivator, took his storage pouches, and put the egg, an Insect Scripture booklet, and other belongings into his space.
• Xiao Hua followed Li Xiaowen’s Sound-Linking Talisman through the gorges and escaped Nancai Ping without encountering any ice worms.
• Xiao Hua met Fan Daomao outside the gorge, and Fan Daomao was astonished that Xiao Hua had escaped.

Xiao Hua reunited with the other surviving cultivators after escaping Nancai Ping and traded two spirit storage pouches for crafting and refinement texts. The others then asked how he had escaped after both Huanling Sect disciples were frozen in ice.

• Xiao Hua reunited with Fan Daomao, Li Xiaowen, Fu Shu, and Xun Feiyan, and learned that Yong Shang was missing.
• Li Xiaowen explained that the group had fled the ice insect swarm without seeing what happened to Xiao Hua or Yong Shang.
• Xiao Hua revealed that he had found two empty spirit storage pouches, and Xun Feiyan and Li Xiaowen offered refinement and talisman-crafting materials in exchange.
• Xiao Hua traded one pouch each to Xun Feiyan and Li Xiaowen for booklets and a small number of spirit stones.
• Xun Feiyan asked Xiao Hua how he had escaped after both Huanling Sect disciples were frozen in ice pillars.

Xiao Hua concealed that he had refined the powerful Fireball Talismans that helped him escape Nancai Ping, while the group debated whether to return for Yong Shang. After learning Yong Shang had a powerful cultivation technique, the others suggested Xiao Hua might be the best person to search for it.

• Xun Feiyan asked how Xiao Hua had escaped, but Li Xiaowen recognized Xiao Hua's Fireball Talisman and explained its extraordinary power.
• Li Xiaowen said the market credited the Fireball Talismans to the Three Elders of Fire Fierce Mountain, and Xiao Hua gave several of his remaining talismans to the group.
• The group debated whether to wait for Yong Shang or enter Nancai Ping again, fearing he had been frozen inside but reluctant to risk returning.
• Fan Daomao revealed that Yong Shang had recently obtained a powerful cultivation technique, and the group realized it might be trapped with him.
• Fu Shu argued that Xiao Hua should search Nancai Ping because he had escaped before and possessed Fireball Talismans that could destroy the ice insects.

Xiao Hua agreed to search Nancai Ping for Yong Shang’s silk pouch in exchange for a share of the group’s future treasures, then reentered the dangerous valley. He recovered Yong Shang’s corpse and pouch, but discovered a fatal wound that suggested another powerful creature was in Nancai Ping.

• Li Xiaowen and the others promised Xiao Hua a share of their future treasures if he retrieved Yong Shang’s silk pouch, and Xiao Hua agreed to go.
• Xiao Hua flew back into Nancai Ping, gathered spirit herbs, and found that the Ice Worm King Egg had not harmed the plants in his space.
• Xiao Hua heard strange cries from deep in the valley and spotted a body slumped over a mountainside tree.
• Xiao Hua recognized the body as Yong Shang and found a hole in his chest where his heart was missing, with no sign that ice worms had killed him.
• Xiao Hua took Yong Shang’s storage bag and silk pouch, returned to Li Xiaowen and the others, and showed them the pouches.
• Xun Feiyan asked where Xiao Hua had found Yong Shang’s body, while Xiao Hua pointed out the strange chest wound.

After Yong Shang was found dead with his heart removed, Li Xiaowen led the group away from Nancai Ping and suspected a powerful demon beast, Devil Cultivator, or Ghost Cultivator had killed him. As the group continued toward dangerous Yulian Mountain, Xiao Hua secretly searched Yong Shang's possessions and discovered rare pills, including a Foundation Establishment Pill.

• Li Xiaowen and the others fled after realizing Yong Shang's death might signal a nearby, powerful threat.
• Li Xiaowen confronted Xiao Hua about his unusually fast flight, and Xiao Hua claimed he knew a movement technique.
• Li Xiaowen told Xiao Hua that a demon beast, Devil Cultivator, or Ghost Cultivator might have killed Yong Shang and eaten his heart.
• The group rested, discussed the danger ahead, and set out for Yulian Mountain, which Li Xiaowen said was five days away.
• That night, Xiao Hua secretly examined Yong Shang's possessions and found a gold-foil sheet and an unfamiliar incantation booklet.
• Xiao Hua discovered four bottles of Marrow Cleansing Pills and a Foundation Establishment Pill among Yong Shang's belongings.

Xiao Hua cultivated with Yong Shang’s Marrow Cleansing Pills while traveling toward Yulian Mountain, then joined his companions at the Fengzhu trading fair to replenish supplies and seek pills that could raise his cultivation. He received a Communication Talisman from Feng Jifu to arrange a contact after the fair.

• Xiao Hua refined four Marrow Cleansing Pills overnight and improved his cultivation, then continued flying toward Yulian Mountain with Li Xiaowen and the others.
• After four days of travel, Xiao Hua and his companions learned that a trading fair would be held nearby and diverted to Fengzhu.
• Li Xiaowen paid the entrance fee for the group, and the companions split up to search the valley for supplies.
• Xiao Hua asked Feng Jifu about cultivation-enhancing pills and gave him a middle-grade spirit stone for information.
• Feng Jifu handed Xiao Hua a Communication Talisman and said he would help him make contact once his duties were finished.

Xiao Hua bought artifact-refining materials at the Feng Family's market and discovered that a heavy black rod fit the demonic spearhead he owned. He then met Feng Jifu, who explained that the medicinal pills Xiao Hua sought were available in unusually large quantities, but their sellers had demanding terms.

• Xiao Hua bought most of a stall's artifact-refining materials for seventy-eight mid-grade spirit stones from a stuttering cultivator.
• Xiao Hua lifted the black rod the cultivator used for strength training and took it after the cultivator offered it to whoever could lift it.
• Xiao Hua found that the rod's broken end fit the demonic spearhead and wondered whether he needed to learn artifact refinement to restore the incomplete weapon.
• Xiao Hua contacted Feng Jifu near the valley entrance and asked how their arrangement had gone.
• Feng Jifu told Xiao Hua that the Rogue Cultivators had brought many medicinal pills, but their demands were unusually harsh.

Xiao Hua bought a large batch of pills from a disguised cultivator and learned that the seller had five pill formulas. Unable to pay the requested price in spirit stones, Xiao Hua offered a valuable storage pouch in exchange, and the seller began inspecting it.

• Feng Jifu told Xiao Hua that the seller required one buyer to purchase all the pills and refused to transact at the Feng Family's trading fair.
• Xiao Hua agreed to buy the pills if the price was acceptable, but insisted that the deal remain at the fair.
• The disguised cultivator sold Xiao Hua ten Qi Nurturing Pills, thirty Marrow Cleansing Pills, and fifty Qingyi Pills for 450 mid-grade spirit stones.
• Xiao Hua asked the cultivator about pill formulas, and the cultivator revealed he had five and demanded four supreme-grade spirit stones for them.
• Xiao Hua offered a special storage pouch instead of spirit stones, and the cultivator examined it to judge its value.

Xiao Hua traded a storage pouch for five pill-formula booklets, then realized the Feng Family might pursue him for them. As he left the market with Li Xiaowen and the others, Feng Family disciples intercepted the group and accused him of theft, forcing everyone to flee.

• Xiao Hua exchanged a storage pouch for five booklets and realized the Feng Family might target him because of the pill formulas.
• Xiao Hua met Li Xiaowen and the others at the valley entrance, and they left the market together.
• Two Feng Family disciples caught up with the group and demanded that Xiao Hua return with them over an alleged theft.
• Li Xiaowen urged Xiao Hua to return the stolen item, but Xiao Hua denied taking anything from the Feng Family.
• When Feng Jifu arrived and the Feng Family disciples moved to surround them, Li Xiaowen and the others fled in different directions while Xiao Hua flew away separately.

Xiao Hua ambushed and killed two Feng Family sixth-layer Qi Cultivation disciples and Feng Jifu, then set off to find Li Xiaowen and the others. The others regrouped near Yulian Mountain and wondered what Xiao Hua had obtained that made the Feng Family pursue him so relentlessly.

• Xiao Hua lured the two Feng Family disciples into a storm of top-grade Fireball Talismans, then struck one with his demonic spearhead despite being wounded by an Ice Spike Talisman.
• Xiao Hua used Binding Talismans mixed into exploding Fireball Talismans to trap the second disciple and kill him with the spearhead.
• Feng Jifu arrived, and Xiao Hua killed him before taking the three men's storage bags and destroying their corpses.
• Li Xiaowen, Fan Daomao, Fu Shu, and Xun Feiyan fled in separate directions, then regrouped near Yulian Mountain.
• Fan Daomao blamed Xiao Hua for bringing trouble upon them, while Xun Feiyan wondered what treasure he had obtained to provoke the Feng Family.

Xiao Hua returned after escaping the Feng Family cultivators, leaving Li Xiaowen and the others astonished by his speed and strength. As they traveled toward Yulian Mountain, Xiao Hua grew more confident that his abilities and resources would let him advance without fearing the Hundred Herbs Sect.

• Li Xiaowen, Fu Shu, Xun Feiyan, and Fan Daomao worried about Xiao Hua and the silk pouches after fleeing the Feng Family, then spotted a fast-moving figure heading toward Yulian Mountain.
• Li Xiaowen sent a Sound-Linking Talisman, and the group recognized the returning figure as Xiao Hua and went to meet him.
• Xiao Hua claimed he had reasoned with the Feng Family and convinced them to apologize and return home, leaving the group unsure what had really happened.
• Xiao Hua apologized for not giving Li Xiaowen the silk pouches earlier, and the group hurried toward Yulian Mountain with Xiao Hua flying in front.
• Xiao Hua reflected on his growing knowledge, pills, strength, and confidence, deciding he no longer needed to fear the Hundred Herbs Sect.

Xiao Hua discovered valuable alchemy manuals and Feng Family materials among his spoils, then studied basic spells while traveling with Li Xiaowen and the others toward Yulian Mountain. The group planned to enter the fog-covered mountain together the next day, while Xiao Hua continued rapidly improving his cultivation.

• Xiao Hua slowed down after Li Xiaowen called out and learned he had been leading the group in the wrong direction.
• Xiao Hua examined five pill manuals and realized that two taught alchemy, then stored them in his space rather than giving them to the Feng Family.
• Xiao Hua sorted the Feng Family disciples’ belongings and found basic spells, the Palm Thunder spell, and a map marking Feng Family restrictions and Secret Chambers.
• Xiao Hua studied the basic-spell booklet during the journey as the group approached Yulian Mountain and agreed to enter it together the next day.
• Xiao Hua refined five Marrow Cleansing Pills overnight, prompting Li Xiaowen and Fan Daomao to praise his rapid cultivation progress.

Xiao Hua and the others arrived at Yulian Mountain, where Fan Daomao explained its Mist Beasts, Xilian Grass, spiritual sense cultivation, and body cultivators. They entered the dense fog with Fan Daomao waiting outside, and Xiao Hua found and dug up a stalk of Xilian Grass, prompting Xun Feiyan to react with alarm.

• Xiao Hua joked that the mist-shrouded Yulian Mountain looked like a huge piece of cotton candy, nearly causing Xun Feiyan to lose his balance.
• Fan Daomao told Xiao Hua about Xilian Grass and described spiritual sense cultivation and two theories about the origins of body cultivation.
• Li Xiaowen gave everyone Sound-Link Talismans, and after Xiao Hua and Xun Feiyan argued for having someone wait outside, Fan Daomao stayed behind with the master talisman.
• Xiao Hua followed Li Xiaowen and the others into Yulian Mountain, where thick, foul-smelling fog sharply limited their vision.
• Xiao Hua spotted Xilian Grass, dug it up, and heard Xun Feiyan ask in alarm why it was growing there.

Xiao Hua and the others discovered Xilian Grass and realized they might be near a Mist Beast, but their silk pouches could not be opened until Fu Shu’s pouch directed them toward Yunxi Marsh. As they tried to leave, they found themselves trapped inside a Mist Beast that was draining their true qi, and Xiao Hua flew toward the depths of Yulian Mountain in a desperate attempt to escape.

• Li Xiaowen recognized Xiao Hua’s Xilian Grass as food favored by Mist Beasts, and the group found that none of their silk pouches could be opened.
• Fu Shu explained that Mist Beasts could devour cultivators, and Xiao Hua sensed a faint thread of divine sense before Fu Shu’s pouch began glowing.
• Fu Shu’s pouch delivered Qing Fengmin’s instructions to go to Yunxi Marsh, and the group started back without using a communication talisman.
• Xiao Hua noticed the mist had grown silent and the ground felt like cotton, while Xun Feiyan’s communication talisman spun in place instead of flying away.
• Fu Shu led the group into the air as a Mist Beast drained their true qi, but Xiao Hua could not catch up to Fu Shu despite flying faster.
• Xiao Hua stopped, took out the demonic spear tip, and flew toward the depths of Yulian Mountain as his true qi and spiritual power rapidly dwindled.

Xiao Hua and the others struggled to escape the Mist Beast’s cloud enclosure in Yulian Mountain, where Fu Shu was swallowed and Li Xiaowen and Xun Feiyan barely made it out. Xiao Hua escaped through his rapidly increasing cultivation and flight speed, then joined the survivors outside the mist to recover.

• Xiao Hua rapidly refined Marrow Cleansing Pills to replace his draining true qi, while Li Xiaowen, Fu Shu, and Xun Feiyan also tried to sustain their flight inside the mist.
• After exhausting his pills and failing to activate his talismans, Fu Shu fell onto the mist and was swallowed.
• Xiao Hua’s cultivation and flying speed increased until he pierced through the mist enclosure, then followed his Sound-Link Talisman back out.
• Li Xiaowen and Xun Feiyan escaped from different points and immediately began recovering their exhausted magic power, while Fan Daomao waited outside.
• Xiao Hua emerged and learned that Fu Shu had not returned; he told Fan Daomao that Fu Shu had likely fallen and admitted he could not rescue him.
• Xiao Hua began regulating his breath after feeling his vital energy and blood surge.

Xiao Hua stabilized his sudden cultivation gains after escaping Yulian Mountain, while the survivors mourned Fu Shu and set out for Yunxi Marsh. As they traveled, Xiao Hua questioned Tiangqi’s deadly treasure hunt and wondered where its final destination lay, but the group had no answers.

• Xiao Hua realized that refining more than thirty Marrow Cleansing Pills had raised him to the late stage of the Qi Cultivation second layer, then slowly stabilized his cultivation overnight.
• Li Xiaowen and Xun Feiyan emerged from meditation with improved cultivation, and they discussed how they had escaped Yulian Mountain while Fu Shu remained dead.
• Fan Daomao confirmed that Fu Shu’s silk pouch had opened, revealing Yunxi Marsh as their next destination, and the four survivors departed toward it.
• Xiao Hua privately suspected Tiangqi’s journey might be designed to eliminate weaker Rogue Cultivators and questioned its motives.
• Xiao Hua asked whether the route and dangerous locations could reveal the final destination, but Li Xiaowen, Fan Daomao, and Xun Feiyan had no useful clues and said similar places held beasts beyond their ability to face.

Li Xiaowen and the others reached Yunxi Marsh while searching for a place to open their silk pouches, but they spotted a valuable Rainbow Bloom before any pouch reacted. Xiao Hua hurried after Li Xiaowen and Xun Feiyan to claim it, arriving just as they reached the bloom.

• The group traveled through days of rain and arrived at Yunxi Marsh after the downpour stopped.
• Li Xiaowen and the others entered the misty marsh to search for a suitable place to open their silk pouches.
• Xun Feiyan spotted a Rainbow Bloom, and Li Xiaowen and Xun Feiyan rushed toward it.
• Fan Daomao told Xiao Hua that Rainbow Bloom was the primary ingredient for Radiant Illumination Pills and offered to explain its handling for a share of the benefits.
• Xiao Hua activated his Flying Talisman and sped toward the bloom, but Li Xiaowen and Xun Feiyan reached it first.

Li Xiaowen, Xun Feiyan, and Fan Daomao tried to seize the Fire Flame Sect’s Rainbow Bloom, while Xiao Hua refused to join them. The young sect cultivator’s struggle was interrupted by the arrival of another enemy, and Xiao Hua fled as the danger escalated.

• A young Fire Flame Sect cultivator blocked Li Xiaowen, Xun Feiyan, and Xiao Hua from approaching the Rainbow Bloom and revealed that his two senior brothers had lured away its guardian.
• Fan Daomao rushed toward the herb and urged Li Xiaowen and Xun Feiyan to kill the young cultivator, prompting them to attack him with talismans.
• Xun Feiyan called on Xiao Hua to help, but Xiao Hua refused to take part in seizing the sect’s herb and watched from the sidelines.
• Li Xiaowen and Xun Feiyan wounded the young cultivator, whose powerful fire attack nearly overwhelmed them before his injuries stopped it.
• Fan Daomao screamed from the swamp as an enraged voice threatened the intruders, and Xiao Hua immediately flew away.

Xiao Hua fled after sensing Lin Xiaonan’s eighth-layer Qi Cultivation and reflected on the danger and divisions among Heaven Forsaken’s Rogue Cultivators. While hiding from a shadow in the mist, he was discovered by another cultivator and prepared to act.

• Xiao Hua, Li Xiaowen, and Xun Feiyan fled in separate directions when Lin Xiaonan’s powerful mana emerged from the mist.
• Lin Xiaonan and Xue Hong discussed the fleeing cultivators, and Cloud Fei returned with the Rainbow Bloom; the three Fire Flame Sect disciples then flew west.
• Xiao Hua escaped pursuit, questioned his confidence and Heaven Forsaken’s infighting, and wondered about the Radiant Illumination Pill.
• Xiao Hua spotted a shadow approaching through the mist, hid beside a boulder, and startled the creatures there into croaking.
• An unseen cultivator called out and cast a Light Illumination Spell, and Xiao Hua suddenly remembered something as he faced discovery.