Chapter Summaries

Chen Shi'an sent Ba Dashan and Zu Qingyan to Windrise Stronghold while staying in Desolate Suppression City to continue his plans. A month later, the Earth Pill Sect had still not found the missing alchemists, and Chu Tianshu’s rumors threatened Chen Shi'an’s position and his crucial spirit-herb purchasing assignment.

• Chen Shi'an ordered Liu Qingyi and Zhu Neng to take Ba Dashan and Zu Qingyan to Windrise Stronghold, where Iron Bull would try to win them over.
• Chen Shi'an remained in Desolate Suppression City, bought local goods, and continued purchasing spirit herbs at the border.
• After half a month, the Earth Pill Sect discovered the two alchemists were missing, and Gao Tianfang’s citywide search failed to find them.
• A month after their disappearance, the sect arranged for disciples to temporarily take over Zu Qingyan’s and Ba Dashan’s responsibilities, weighing Chu Tianshu against Chen Shi'an for Ba Dashan’s affairs.
• While seeking the position, Chu Tianshu spread rumors about Chen Shi'an, including the true accusation that he had overcharged the sect for spirit herbs and pocketed the difference.
• Chen Shi'an realized that the accusation could cost him both Ba Dashan’s responsibilities and the spirit-herb purchasing assignment he needed to stay connected with Windrise Stronghold.

Chen Shi'an challenged accusations that he had embezzled sect funds and claimed he had become a Level Two Alchemist. Hong Qingliu agreed to test his claim, with the result to determine whether Chen Shi'an was expelled or entrusted with his master's former duties.

• Chen Shi'an entered the Council Hall and demanded an investigation into rumors that he had pocketed money from spirit-herb purchases.
• Elder Liu accused Chen Shi'an of reporting sect prices after buying herbs more cheaply, while admitting the sect had no evidence yet.
• Chen Shi'an accused Liu Quan of accepting Chu Tianshu's bribes and defended his right to question him as a fellow Level Two Alchemist.
• Chen Shi'an wagered that he could refine Level Two pills, and Liu Quan agreed to apologize publicly and pay him three hundred thousand taels if he succeeded.
• Hong Qingliu declared that Chen Shi'an would be expelled if he failed, but would temporarily take over his master's affairs if he passed.
• Hong Qingliu led Chen Shi'an and the senior members to the communal Alchemy Rooms and allowed him three attempts to refine a pill.

Chen Shi'an demonstrated his alchemy skill to the Earth Pill Sect by refining a batch of mid-grade Poison-Averting Pills, disproving Liu Quan's doubts. Hong Qingliu appointed him a sect steward, leaving Chen Shi'an with an unexpected new responsibility.

• Chen Shi'an chose a wood-fired alchemy room and explained that he needed to save money, indirectly challenging Liu Quan's accusations of embezzlement.
• Chen Shi'an refined Poison-Averting Pills while the Earth Pill Sect's senior alchemists watched, impressing them with his precise technique despite not using his azure origin force.
• Chen Shi'an completed the batch successfully and produced fourteen mid-grade Poison-Averting Pills, astonishing the senior members and leaving Liu Quan humiliated.
• Hong Qingliu appointed Chen Shi'an a sect steward and assigned him the duties his master had handled.
• The senior members congratulated Chen Shi'an and sought to build a relationship with the promising young alchemist.

Chen Shi'an secured Liu Quan’s wager and kept responsibility for purchasing spirit herbs while taking over his master’s duties. After advancing to second-grade Mind Master, he summoned Chu Tianshu and Dong Xiaochai to explain the rules he would enforce.

• Chen Shi'an accepted Liu Quan’s apology but required him to pay the 300,000 taels wager within three days.
• Chen Shi'an refused Hong Qingliu’s request to hand off the spirit-herb purchases, saying he could manage both responsibilities.
• Chen Shi'an used three stalks of spirit-nurturing grass and advanced to second-grade Mind Master, doubling his detection range.
• Chen Shi'an reflected on his search for mind-power techniques and his unsuccessful efforts to learn from Abbot Jueming.
• Chen Shi'an summoned Chu Tianshu and Dong Xiaochai, who greeted him as Steward Jing, and began laying out the rules for managing his master’s affairs.

Chen Shi'an asserted his authority as a new deacon by confronting Chu Tianshu and Dong Xiaochai over sect rumors and disrespect. He beat Chu Tianshu unconscious and choked Dong Xiaochai, leaving her warned that further defiance would bring the same punishment.

• Chen Shi'an warned Chu Tianshu and Dong Xiaochai to perform their duties carefully and questioned them about rumors that he had embezzled sect funds.
• Chu Tianshu denied knowing who had spread the rumors, then angrily challenged Chen Shi'an's authority and addressed him by name.
• Chen Shi'an slapped Chu Tianshu and kicked him through the courtyard wall, severely injuring him.
• Dong Xiaochai realized Chen Shi'an had reached Second Grade Martial Dao cultivation and warned him that the Chu Family would retaliate.
• Chen Shi'an grabbed Dong Xiaochai by the throat, released her, and warned her not to address him by name again.

Chen Shi'an beat Chu Tianshu for spreading rumors and insulting him, then won Hong Qingliu's backing and learned there was still no news of his missing master and martial uncle. After returning home, he received three hundred thousand taels in banknotes from a disciple of Elder Liu Quan.

• Chen Shi'an told the Law Enforcement Disciples that he had punished Chu Tianshu for spreading rumors, and they rushed the injured man away for treatment.
• Chen Shi'an sent Dong Xiaochai away, sparing her because she was Dong Fengwu's niece.
• Hong Qingliu rebuked Chen Shi'an for acting impulsively but promised the Earth Pill Sect would handle any trouble from the Chu family.
• Chen Shi'an told Hong Qingliu he had become a Second-Rank Martial Artist and asked about Zu Qingyan and Ba Dashan, whose disappearance remained unexplained.
• Hong Qingliu told Chen Shi'an to attend the Sect Meeting in four days.
• A disciple of Elder Liu Quan delivered three hundred thousand taels in banknotes to Chen Shi'an.

Chen Shi'an spent most of his money buying Marrow-Washing Pills and attended the Earth Pill Sect's monthly meeting, where the sect backed him against the Chu family. The meeting then revealed that Elder Zu and Elder Ba were missing and the sect was short on Origin-Replenishing Pills needed to reinforce a secret array beneath Desolate Suppression City.

• Chen Shi'an bought nearly one hundred and eighty Marrow-Washing Pills from the Earth Pill Sect, claiming they were for relatives and friends in Dingzhou.
• Hong Qingliu raised the conflict between Chen Shi'an and Chu Tianshu, and the sect's senior members supported Chen Shi'an and agreed to stand against the Chu family.
• Hong Qingliu announced that Elder Zu and Elder Ba were missing and that the sect needed to deliver one hundred Origin-Replenishing Pills to Desolate Suppression City, though only eighty remained.
• Chen Shi'an learned that the pills replenished Origin Force for martial experts reinforcing an array beneath Desolate Suppression City, which was said to imprison a powerful being.

The Earth Pill Sect debated how to obtain the Origin-Replenishing Pills it owed the Sacred Martial Dynasty and warned its members not to investigate what was sealed beneath Desolate Suppression City. Three days later, the Chu Family arrived in force and demanded that the sect hand over Chen Shi'an for injuring Chu Tianshu.

• Hong Qingliu and the Earth Pill Sect elders decided to buy twenty Origin-Replenishing Pills in Dragon Soaring City to meet their immediate obligation, while arguing over the sect's future dependence on costly purchases.
• Chen Shi'an asked what lay beneath Desolate Suppression City, but Hong Qingliu said he did not know and warned everyone against investigating the Sacred Martial Dynasty's secret.
• Hong Qingliu refused Chen Shi'an's offer to travel to Dragon Soaring City to buy the pills.
• Chu Zhen led more than twenty Ranked Martial Artists from the Chu Family to the Earth Pill Sect, where their arrival prompted a tense standoff with the sect's retainers.
• Chu Zhen told Hong Qingliu that Chu Tianshu had been gravely injured and demanded that the Earth Pill Sect hand over the culprit and explain what had happened.

Chen Shi'an defended his authority to punish Chu Tianshu, while Hong Qingliu rejected the Chu family's demands and expelled Tianshu from the Earth Pill Sect. The Chu family withdrew after Hong Qingliu warned that the sect would meet any further moves, leaving Chen Shi'an grateful for the sect master's support.

• Hong Qingliu revealed that Chu Tianshu had spread rumors and threatened Jing Yuan, and Chu Tianshu tacitly admitted the accusations were true.
• Chu Zhen insisted that Jing Yuan apologize publicly and pay Chu Tianshu compensation, but Chen Shi'an refused to apologize on behalf of the Earth Pill Sect.
• Hong Qingliu sided with Chen Shi'an, declared Chu Tianshu at fault, and expelled him from the Earth Pill Sect.
• Chu Zhen threatened to remember the confrontation and left with Chu Tianshu as both sides' martial retainers prepared to fight.
• Chen Shi'an thanked Hong Qingliu, who praised his prospects as an Alchemist and urged him to keep working toward the fourth level.

Chen Shi'an learned that Dong Fengwu had come to the Earth Pill Sect to see him and feared the Dong Family would retaliate over his treatment of Dong Xiaochai. Dong Fengwu instead said Chen Shi'an had only reprimanded her and advised him to be more mindful.

• Hong Qingliu introduced Chen Shi'an to Elder Zhao Shiqing, who praised his progress in alchemy and martial cultivation.
• A disciple reported that Deputy Commander-in-Chief Dong wanted to see Chen Shi'an, and Hong Qingliu questioned him about Dong Xiaochai.
• Chen Shi'an admitted that he had grabbed Dong Xiaochai by the throat, and Hong Qingliu worried the powerful Dong Family would demand an accounting.
• Hong Qingliu promised not to hand Chen Shi'an over and welcomed Dong Fengwu and Dong Xiaochai into the room.
• Dong Fengwu praised Chen Shi'an's talent, said he had only reprimanded Xiaochai while carrying out his duties, and urged him to be more mindful.

Dong Fengwu informed Hong Qingliu that Desolation beneath Desolate Suppression City was growing stronger, forcing the city to demand twice as many Origin-Replenishing Pills from the Earth Pill Sect. With Elder Zu and Elder Ba missing, Hong Qingliu recognized the sect needed to learn to make the pills itself, and Chen Shi'an encouraged him to pursue Alchemy.

• Dong Fengwu warned Hong Qingliu that the Earth Pill Sect's required delivery of Origin-Replenishing Pills would rise from one hundred to two hundred because Desolation was making the city's underground formation harder to reinforce.
• Dong Fengwu revealed that Desolation fed on humans and was connected to the collapse of the Great Feng Empire, and Hong Qingliu agreed to help prevent it from escaping.
• Dong Fengwu said Elder Zu and Elder Ba were likely no longer in Desolate Suppression City and arranged for Dong Xiaochai to return to the Dong Family until Elder Ba came back.
• Hong Qingliu told Chen Shi'an that the sect had to learn to refine Origin-Replenishing Pills itself because its elders were missing and the required quantity would keep increasing.
• Chen Shi'an reassured Hong Qingliu that his responsibilities, rather than a lack of aptitude, had held back his Alchemy progress.

Chen Shi'an planned to draw the Earth Pill Sect to Windrise Stronghold while using Desolate Suppression City's struggle against Huang to keep the city occupied. He visited White Camel Temple to seek methods involving Mind Power and waited to meet Abbot Reverend Jueming.

• Hong Qingliu urged Chen Shi'an to become a Fourth-Level Alchemist and refine Origin-Replenishing Pills for the Earth Pill Sect, then warned him not to act impulsively.
• Chen Shi'an decided to remain in Desolate Suppression City and plotted to bring the Earth Pill Sect and its pill-refining industry to Windrise Stronghold.
• Chen Shi'an recognized that Huang's growing power would further occupy Desolate Suppression City and give Windrise Stronghold more room to develop.
• Chen Shi'an went to White Camel Temple, donated incense money, and waited in Reverend Jueming's courtyard for the abbot to finish his morning devotions.

Chen Shi'an sought Reverend Jueming’s Mind Power cultivation method, but Jueming offered to lend it only in exchange for three Spirit-Nurturing Pills. After Jueming secretly probed his mind, Chen Shi'an left, planning to return when he became a Fourth-Level Alchemist.

• Chen Shi'an asked Reverend Jueming for guidance in cultivating Mind Power, but Jueming warned that pursuing it alongside alchemy would likely leave him successful in neither.
• Jueming refused to share White Camel Temple’s cultivation method with an outsider, and Chen Shi'an learned he would have to leave the Earth Pill Sect to become a lay disciple.
• Chen Shi'an offered to seek Spirit-Nurturing Grass, and Jueming said he would lend him the method if he refined three Spirit-Nurturing Pills from the grass.
• Jueming revealed that he was a fourth-grade great-perfection Mind Master seeking the pills to break through to Fifth-Level, and Chen Shi'an abandoned thoughts of using force.
• Jueming probed Chen Shi'an’s mind, but the Saintly Dao Stele concealed its Mind Power; Chen Shi'an then took his leave and resolved to return after reaching Fourth-Level Alchemist.

Chen Shi'an advanced his alchemy while helping fund Windrise Stronghold's Great City, then decided to provoke the Chu Family after it failed to retaliate. The chapter ended with Gu Feiyang harassing a woman in Desolate Suppression City while bystanders feared his powerful grandfather would shield him.

• Chen Shi'an recovered the Saintly Dao Stele and his Mind Power after leaving White Camel Temple, then stayed alert to mind cultivators.
• Chen Shi'an devoted himself to alchemy, continued buying Spirit Herbs and carrying information to Mo Wuyang, and refused Hong Qingliu's offers to assign someone else to the task.
• Windrise Stronghold built its Great City's walls and defenses with support from refugees, the Fu Family, secret funding from Gu Qingyao and Liu Sanyuan, and income from hunting and mining.
• Chen Shi'an arranged for Liu Qingyi to collect his refined pills, including Marrow-Washing Pills, to support the city's construction and cultivate Martial Dao experts.
• After the Chu Family failed to retaliate and Chu Tianshu avoided him, Chen Shi'an resolved to provoke the family until the conflict grew.
• Gu Feiyang blocked a woman in a red dress on Central Street and harassed her, while passersby explained that his grandfather's influence kept officials from intervening.

Chen Shi'an, disguised as Jing Yuan, stopped Gu Feiyang from molesting a girl and injured him in front of the crowd. That evening, Gu Feiyang returned with Earth Pill Sect elder Gu Yuetian to confront him.

• Gu Feiyang slapped the maid Xiao Huan aside and molested the girl in red while bystanders stayed away.
• Chen Shi'an arrived and kicked Gu Feiyang across the street, forcing him to release the girl and flee.
• The girl thanked Chen Shi'an, and pedestrians praised Jing Yuan's sudden change in character as he returned to the Earth Pill Sect.
• Chen Shi'an practiced in his courtyard until Gu Feiyang arrived at the gate with elder Gu Yuetian.

Chen Shi'an refused Gu Yuetian's demand that he apologize to Gu Feiyang, then defeated Gu Yuetian with a single punch when the elder attacked him. The chapter left Gu Yuetian demanding that Hong Qingliu punish Chen Shi'an, while the sect master promised to investigate.

• Gu Yuetian demanded that Chen Shi'an kneel and apologize to Gu Feiyang, threatening to beat him if he refused.
• Chen Shi'an rejected Gu Yuetian's ultimatum and challenged him to use every trick he had.
• Gu Yuetian attacked Chen Shi'an with his Throat-Severing Slash, but Chen Shi'an evaded it and warned him to stop.
• Hong Qingliu arrived and pleaded with Gu Yuetian to show mercy, but Gu Yuetian attacked again at Gu Feiyang's urging.
• Chen Shi'an struck Gu Yuetian in the chest and sent him flying, astonishing Hong Qingliu and the other sect leaders.
• Gu Yuetian accused Chen Shi'an of violating sect rules, and Hong Qingliu promised to investigate the matter.

Chen Shi'an defended himself against Gu Yuetian, then explained that Gu Feiyang’s abuses were harming the Earth Pill Sect’s reputation. Later, Chen Shi'an followed Gu Feiyang to the Four Seas Restaurant, knocked him unconscious, and sent him to the Eerie Graveyard, where he was reduced to ashes.

• Chen Shi'an insulted Gu Yuetian, who left with Gu Feiyang after ordering his grandson confined for three days.
• Chen Shi'an told Hong Qingliu that Gu Feiyang had repeatedly oppressed people in Desolate Suppression City, and Hong Qingliu went to the Council Hall with the senior figures to discuss how to pacify Gu Yuetian.
• Gu Yuetian released Gu Feiyang on the second evening, and Gu Feiyang went to the Four Seas Restaurant to drink with two women.
• Chen Shi'an followed Gu Feiyang, entered his private room after he fell asleep, and knocked him unconscious.
• Chen Shi'an took Gu Feiyang’s valuables and sent him into the Eerie Graveyard, where his body became ashes.

Chen Shi'an used the Graveyard Space to refine Gu Feiyang, then assumed his appearance and provoked Chu Tianxing at a gambling house. After slapping Chu Tianxing, he tried to strike him again, but Chu Tianxing dodged.

• The Graveyard Space refined Gu Feiyang, bringing Chen Shi'an's connection to it closer.
• Chen Shi'an used the Hundred Transformations Bone-Shedding Art to take Gu Feiyang's appearance and entered a gambling house pretending to be drunk.
• Chen Shi'an accused the gambling house of cheating and demanded that its manager, Chu Tianxing, kneel and apologize.
• Chen Shi'an revealed himself as Gu Feiyang, grandson of Earth Pill Sect Elder Gu Yuetian, and slapped Chu Tianxing.
• Chu Tianxing restrained his men and said he would seek an explanation from the Earth Pill Sect, then dodged Chen Shi'an's second slap.

Chen Shi'an framed the Chu Family for Gu Feiyang’s disappearance, provoking a feud with the Earth Pill Sect that was halted by Gao Tianfang’s mediation. When Chu Tianxing left home for the Gambling House after the truce, Chen Shi'an watched him from the shadows.

• Chu Tianxing refused to pursue Chen Shi'an after their confrontation and planned to seek redress through his father and the Earth Pill Sect.
• Chen Shi'an staged an apparent attack on Gu Feiyang and spread rumors that the Chu Family had abducted him.
• Gu Yuetian confronted Chu Zhen, and their dispute sparked a feud between the Earth Pill Sect and the Chu Family.
• After ten days of escalating clashes, Gao Tianfang mediated a temporary truce between the two sides.
• Chu Tianxing left the family compound for the Gambling House, unaware that someone was watching him from the shadows.

Chen Shi'an killed Chu Tianxing, triggering an all-out war between the Chu Family and the Earth Pill Sect. As the Chu Family began to falter, Wu Dongchuang visited the Earth Pill Sect to press for unity, but the sect's leaders insisted that the Chu Family was to blame and demanded Gu Yuetian's missing grandson be returned.

• Chen Shi'an ambushed Chu Tianxing outside the Gambling House and killed him and both of his guards.
• Chu Zhen led the Chu Family in an attack on the Earth Pill Sect, but Zhao Shiqing and the other retainers drove them back.
• The Earth Pill Sect and the Chu Family escalated their feud into a month-long war, while Hong Qingliu barred Chen Shi'an from traveling to buy Spirit Herbs.
• Chen Shi'an worried that the Earth Pill Sect would defeat the Chu Family and grow too powerful, while Gao Tianfang sought a compromise to preserve the city's balance.
• Wu Dongchuang arrived at the Earth Pill Sect and urged Hong Qingliu to stop the infighting amid threats facing Desolate Suppression City.
• Hong Qingliu blamed the Chu Family for starting the feud, and Gu Yuetian demanded the return of his missing grandson.