Chapter Summaries

Wu Dongchuang told Hong Qingliu that the Chu Family had become a subordinate family of the Wu Family and demanded that the Earth Pill Sect end its feud with them. The sect’s elders argued over whether to keep fighting or make peace, and Hong Qingliu noticed Chen Shi’an as the debate remained unresolved.

• Wu Dongchuang disputed the evidence that the Chu Family had attacked Gu Feiyang and accused Gu Yuetian of killing Chu Tianxing.
• Wu Dongchuang revealed that the Chu Family had submitted to the Wu Family and demanded that Hong Qingliu end the conflict.
• Wu Dongchuang left after warning the Earth Pill Sect against fighting the Chu Family, prompting Gu Yuetian and other elders to protest.
• Hong Qingliu convened the sect’s senior members, who split into opposing camps over whether to fight or make peace.
• After an hour of debate without a decision, Hong Qingliu noticed Chen Shi’an seated at the lowest place in the Council Hall.

Chen Shi'an used the Earth Pill Sect council meeting to blame Gu Yuetian and Gu Feiyang for the crisis and proposed seeking help from Dong Fengwu against the Chu and Wu Families. The sect leaders began considering the idea, while Chen Shi'an privately resolved to kill Gu Yuetian as well as his grandson.

• Hong Qingliu asked Chen Shi'an to offer his opinion, and Chen Shi'an publicly blamed Gu Feiyang and Gu Yuetian for the conflict with the Chu Family.
• Chen Shi'an argued that the Earth Pill Sect should avenge the Chu Family's attack but seek an ally because Wu Dongchuang's intervention made fighting alone dangerous.
• A senior member suggested Dong Fengwu as a potential ally, prompting debate over whether the Earth Pill Sect should seek his support or submit to him.
• Gu Yuetian accused Chen Shi'an of plotting, but Hong Qingliu and the other senior members dismissed the complaint and returned the meeting to the crisis at hand.
• Gu Yuetian fell silent as the sect's senior members turned against him, while Chen Shi'an resolved to send him to join Gu Feiyang in death.

Chen Shi'an proposed that the Earth Pill Sect form an offensive and defensive alliance with the Dong Family to deter the Wu Family. He then questioned whether Wu Dongchuang’s intervention in the war with the Chu Family had been directed by Gao Tianfang, leaving the sect’s leaders alarmed about the Commander-in-Chief’s Residence supplying pills to the Wu Family.

• Chen Shi'an argued that the Earth Pill Sect could use its advantage over the Chu Family to negotiate an alliance with the Dong Family.
• Chen Shi'an suggested the alliance require the Dong Family to defend the Earth Pill Sect if it came under attack, giving the Dong Family grounds to oppose the Wu Family.
• Chen Shi'an warned that Wu Dongchuang might have acted on Gao Tianfang’s wishes rather than solely for himself and the Wu Family.
• Chen Shi'an reasoned that the Wu Family’s willingness to risk losing the Earth Pill Sect’s pill supply suggested it could obtain pills through another channel.
• Chen Shi'an pointed out that the Commander-in-Chief’s Residence received a fluctuating priority allocation of pills, prompting the sect leaders to suspect it could supply the Wu Family.

Chen Shi'an argued that Gao Tianfang was using Dong Fengwu and Wu Dongchuang to preserve the Chu Family and contain the Earth Pill Sect. As the elders debated whether to leave the Sacred Martial Dynasty, Chen Shi'an warned that migration could be intercepted, and someone proposed leaving in smaller groups.

• Chen Shi'an proposed testing his theory by having Hong Qingliu seek an alliance with Dong Fengwu and watching whether Dong Fengwu needed to consult others.
• Chen Shi'an predicted that Dong Fengwu would likely accept an alliance but help preserve the Chu Family and suppress the Earth Pill Sect's anger.
• Gu Yuetian denounced the elders for trusting Jing Yuan and stormed out of the Council Hall.
• Hong Qingliu stopped the elders from proposing a halt to pill supplies, then acknowledged that the sect had to accept the Sacred Martial Dynasty's jurisdiction.
• Several elders urged the Earth Pill Sect to abandon its compound and relocate to Northern Liang or Southern Qing.
• Chen Shi'an warned that the Sacred Martial Dynasty might intercept a mass migration, and someone suggested leaving in smaller groups.

Chen Shi'an persuaded the Earth Pill Sect’s leaders to consider relocating to the Desolate Ruins after Gao Tianfang’s machinations and the Dong Family alliance left them unwilling to stay in Desolate Suppression City. As the leaders debated their destination, Hong Qingliu gave Chen Shi'an an important task, while urging him to protect his life and become a great Alchemist.

• Chen Shi'an argued that the Earth Pill Sect should seek a home where it could control its own destiny and suggested the Desolate Ruins’ resources and independence as advantages.
• Hong Qingliu decided to visit the Dong Family to determine whether Gao Tianfang was manipulating the Chu Family’s affairs.
• Dong Fengwu agreed to an alliance with the Earth Pill Sect, proposing conditions aimed at preserving the Chu Family and suppressing the sect’s hatred.
• The Earth Pill Sect’s leaders resolved to leave Desolate Suppression City but argued over whether to go to Northern Liang, Southern Qing, or the Desolate Ruins; more than half considered the Desolate Ruins.
• Hong Qingliu asked Chen Shi'an to stay behind and told him he had an important task, then urged him to protect his life and become a great Alchemist.

Hong Qingliu ordered Chen Shi'an to scout the Desolate Ruins for a place to relocate the Earth Pill Sect before it had to deliver a hundred Origin-Replenishing Pills to Desolate Suppression City. Chen Shi'an warned that Gu Yuetian might betray the sect to rescue Gu Feiyang and seize power, leaving Hong Qingliu visibly alarmed.

• Hong Qingliu tasked Chen Shi'an with finding a suitable relocation site in the Desolate Ruins before the sect's pills were due in about half a month.
• Chen Shi'an agreed to depart early the next morning but objected to being accompanied by Zhao Shiqing, and Hong Qingliu insisted Zhao would go with him for protection.
• Chen Shi'an urged Hong Qingliu to keep the relocation secret and raised doubts about Gu Yuetian's loyalty.
• Chen Shi'an argued that Gu Yuetian might tell Gao Tianfang about the relocation in exchange for a chance to rescue Gu Feiyang and become the sect's new Sect Master.
• Hong Qingliu's expression changed as he considered Chen Shi'an's warning.

Chen Shi'an secretly impersonated Gu Yuetian and manipulated Hong Qingliu’s guards into believing Gu Yuetian was trying to reveal the Earth Pill Sect’s relocation plan. The Sect Master and senior members debated whether to arrest Gu Yuetian, but Hong Qingliu still hesitated without solid evidence.

• Chen Shi'an urged Hong Qingliu to act against Gu Yuetian, but Hong Qingliu refused to punish him without evidence.
• Chen Shi'an disguised himself as Gu Yuetian, left the sect, and led the two guards sent by Hong Qingliu toward the Commander-in-Chief's Residence.
• Chen Shi'an evaded the guards in a dark alley, then reappeared near the Commander-in-Chief's Residence and fled when they showed themselves.
• The guards returned to the sect, and the burly man reported to Hong Qingliu that Gu Yuetian had tried to reach Gao Tianfang.
• Earth Pill Sect elders urged Hong Qingliu to arrest Gu Yuetian before he revealed the relocation plan, but Hong Qingliu remained concerned about acting without proof.

After Chen Shi'an’s warning led Hong Qingliu to arrest Gu Yuetian and his followers, Chen Shi'an set out with Zhao Shiqing to find a new site for the Earth Pill Sect in the Desolate Ruins. He led Zhao Shiqing through a tiring search while keeping his true destination and his awareness of Mo Wuyang hidden.

• Hong Qingliu ordered Gu Yuetian, his trusted followers, and his disciples arrested after learning Gu Yuetian had secretly returned to his residence.
• Chen Shi'an watched the arrests, then cultivated the Great Evolution Saintly Art; the next morning, Hong Qingliu confirmed Gu Yuetian’s attempted betrayal and credited Chen Shi'an with helping avert the crisis.
• Hong Qingliu sent Chen Shi'an to find a relocation site in the Desolate Ruins, with Zhao Shiqing assigned only to protect him and half the credit or all the blame resting on Chen Shi'an.
• Chen Shi'an and Zhao Shiqing traveled beyond the Sacred Martial Dynasty’s border, and Zhao Shiqing killed refugees and demon beasts that threatened them.
• After crossing more than five hundred li, Chen Shi'an pretended to search the mountain forests for a suitable site, exhausting Zhao Shiqing while concealing that he already had a destination in mind.

Chen Shi'an persuaded Zhao Shiqing to let him scout the Desolate Ruins alone, then met Mo Wuyang in a valley and stopped him from plotting to kill Zhao. Chen Shi'an hinted at a way to get Mo Wuyang a filling meal by taking advantage of Zhao's strength, but had not yet explained his plan.

• Chen Shi'an convinced Zhao Shiqing that he could search the mountains within twenty li alone while Zhao rested nearby.
• Chen Shi'an left camp and entered a valley, where Mo Wuyang leaped onto his shoulder.
• Mo Wuyang suggested killing Zhao Shiqing so he could absorb the Fifth-Rank elder's power, but Chen Shi'an refused because the Earth Pill Sect might abandon its move to the Desolate Ruins.
• Mo Wuyang complained that he had not had a proper meal, and Chen Shi'an offered to help him find one.
• Chen Shi'an warned that hunting Demon Beasts could alert Zhao, then suggested using the nearby Fifth-Rank expert instead.

Chen Shi'an and Mo Wuyang arranged for Zhao Shiqing to fight stronger demon beasts so Mo Wuyang could feed without hunting and Chen Shi'an could secretly cultivate. On their eighth day in the Desolate Ruins, they prepared to lure a fifth-level Purple-Scaled Python toward Zhao Shiqing, with Chen Shi'an planning to gauge its strength first.

• Chen Shi'an told Mo Wuyang to locate third- and fourth-level demon beast lairs so Zhao Shiqing could kill the beasts while Mo Wuyang fed on them.
• Over the next two days, Zhao Shiqing killed four fourth-level and eight third-level demon beasts, keeping every demon core for himself while Mo Wuyang ate his fill.
• On their eighth day in the Desolate Ruins, Chen Shi'an left Zhao Shiqing meditating and met Mo Wuyang, who had prepared to lure out a Purple-Scaled Python.
• Chen Shi'an decided to help lure out the fifth-level beast and test its strength before choosing how to lead it to Zhao Shiqing.

Chen Shi'an ambushed and badly injured the Purple-Scaled Python, then led it to Zhao Shiqing and forced him to fight it. Zhao Shiqing eventually killed the python, but ended the battle wounded and exhausted.

• Chen Shi'an sent Mo Wuyang to lure the Purple-Scaled Python from its lair while he hid in ambush.
• Chen Shi'an struck the python with Leveling Mountain and nine rapid saber slashes, breaking bones in its tail before fleeing.
• Chen Shi'an led the injured python nearly thirty li to Zhao Shiqing and hid behind him as it attacked.
• Chen Shi'an taunted the python and praised Zhao Shiqing while the two fought across the mountain.
• After an hour-long battle, Zhao Shiqing slew the Purple-Scaled Python but was left covered in wounds and exhausted.

After Zhao Shiqing was left exhausted by his battle with the Purple-Scaled Python, an Iron Hook Spider wounded him and chased him into the woods. Chen Shi'an returned to face the spider while Zhao Shiqing watched, hoping he could buy time to recover.

• Zhao Shiqing prepared to take the Purple-Scaled Python's Demon Core, but an Iron Hook Spider appeared and attacked him while he was badly wounded.
• Zhao Shiqing fled after the Iron Hook Spider pierced him, while Chen Shi'an emerged from hiding, took the Python's Demon Core, and told Mo Wuyang to eat the carcass and clean up.
• The Iron Hook Spider cornered Zhao Shiqing in a grove, and Zhao Shiqing called for Jing Yuan before Chen Shi'an arrived.
• Chen Shi'an pretended to fear the spider, then promised to hold it off as Zhao Shiqing swallowed a medicinal pill and watched their first clash begin.

Chen Shi'an killed the Iron Hook Spider with ease and gave its demon core to the injured Zhao Shiqing. After the Purple-Scaled Python's body had mysteriously vanished, Chen Shi'an left Zhao Shiqing in a secluded valley to heal while he searched the Desolate Ruins alone for a place to relocate the sect.

• Chen Shi'an killed the Iron Hook Spider with a sudden punch and a flurry of attacks, astonishing Zhao Shiqing.
• Chen Shi'an offered the Iron Hook Spider's demon core to Zhao Shiqing, who accepted it after acknowledging Chen Shi'an's help.
• Zhao Shiqing hurried back to claim the Purple-Scaled Python's fifth-level demon core, but found its body gone.
• Chen Shi'an suggested a demon beast had eaten the Purple-Scaled Python, then helped Zhao Shiqing reach a secluded valley to recover.
• Chen Shi'an told Zhao Shiqing he would search the Desolate Ruins alone for a place to relocate the sect, and Zhao Shiqing reluctantly agreed.

Chen Shi'an disguised himself as a burly man and robbed the injured Zhao Shiqing of his valuables and demon cores. After sending Mo Wuyang to fetch Liu Qingyi, Chen Shi'an prepared to cultivate in a secluded gorge.

• A burly man entered the valley and attacked Zhao Shiqing, badly injuring him with a single punch.
• The burly man demanded Zhao Shiqing's belongings, and Zhao Shiqing handed over his pills, money, silver, and demon cores.
• The burly man left the valley and transformed into Chen Shi'an, who counted the stolen goods and demon cores.
• Mo Wuyang tried to get the demon cores, but Chen Shi'an stored them away and explained that he needed some for his plans.
• Chen Shi'an hid in a secluded gorge and told Mo Wuyang to bring Liu Qingyi to him while he cultivated.

Chen Shi'an advanced his cultivation and mastered River Severing before meeting Liu Qingyi and hearing updates on the Windrise Stronghold’s plans and Fang Ming’s attempts to exploit his connections. He ordered his subordinates to imprison Fang Ming if he kept pestering them and to contain Fang Ruyu if she intervened, while forcing the authorities to help resolve the situation.

• After three days of cultivation, Chen Shi'an refined the Demon Cores, reached Fourth Grade Middle Stage, and used River Severing to cut through the gorge’s stream.
• Liu Qingyi arrived with Mo Wuyang, and Chen Shi'an gave her his spare pills after praising her progress to Third-Grade Early Stage.
• Liu Qingyi reported that Zu Qingyan and Ba Dashan were wavering in captivity, while Liu Mu and two others were searching for Huang Dao.
• Chen Shi'an told Liu Qingyi to have Gu Qingyao keep Liu Mu and the others under close surveillance.
• Liu Qingyi revealed that Fang Ming was seeking help from Pi Hou, Du Gang, Zhu Neng, and Iron Bull to expand his business, so Chen Shi'an ordered them to imprison him if he persisted.
• Chen Shi'an instructed Liu Qingyi to involve City Lord Xiang, Commander Qian, and Ye Zhengxiong if Fang Ruyu intervened, and to keep Fang Ruyu under house arrest until she gave birth if necessary.

Chen Shi'an presented the Earth Pill Sect with two possible relocation sites, favoring Red Maple Valley despite its proximity to Windrise Stronghold. The sect's senior members debated the risks, and the meeting ended with Chen Shi'an recommending Red Maple Valley.

• Chen Shi'an met the recovering Zhao Shiqing and brought him back to the Earth Pill Sect.
• Hong Qingliu convened an emergency meeting where Chen Shi'an described the demon-infested Ten-Thousand Pine Forest and the resource-rich Red Maple Valley.
• The senior members debated whether Red Maple Valley's proximity to Windrise Stronghold made it too risky, while Zhao Shiqing could not offer an informed opinion because he had not scouted either site.
• Hong Qingliu asked Chen Shi'an to state his view, and Chen Shi'an recommended choosing Red Maple Valley.

Chen Shi'an persuaded the Earth Pill Sect’s senior members that Windrise Stronghold could become a partner and that Red Maple Valley was a suitable place to relocate. Hong Qingliu approved the move and outlined a plan to evacuate a fifth of the sect within three days, while concealing their departure behind a large Firefly Grass purchase.

• Chen Shi'an argued that the Earth Pill Sect and Windrise Stronghold could cooperate because they needed each other and shared Desolate Suppression City as an enemy.
• Chen Shi'an described Windrise Stronghold’s expanding city and its defenses, while an elder and Hong Qingliu confirmed reports of heavy weapons reaching the Desolate Ruins.
• Hong Qingliu decided that the sect would relocate to Red Maple Valley before the deadline for handing over the Origin-Replenishing Pills.
• Hong Qingliu said the sect would take fewer than one-fifth of its people, leaving behind those entangled with the powers in Desolate Suppression City.
• Hong Qingliu planned to announce a purchase of Firefly Grass at triple the usual price to draw people toward the border and create openings for the sect’s small groups to cross.
• Hong Qingliu revealed that he had already secretly bought most of the city’s Firefly Grass.

The Earth Pill Sect secretly relocated its loyal members to the Desolate Ruins, while Chen Shi'an persuaded Hong Qingliu to authorize Gu Yuetian’s release as a potential threat. Chen Shi'an unlocked Gu Yuetian’s cell, leaving his intentions unclear.

• Hong Qingliu spread word that the Earth Pill Sect was buying firefly grass at triple the price, drawing people into the Desolate Ruins and helping the sect’s loyal members cross the border unnoticed.
• By the third day, most of the chosen members had reached the Desolate Ruins, and Hong Qingliu prepared to leave Desolate Suppression City with Zhao Shiqing.
• Chen Shi'an warned Hong Qingliu that Gu Yuetian might reveal their destination to Gao Tianfang, then received a token to deal with him.
• Zhao Shiqing cautioned Hong Qingliu that Jing Yuan’s talent and decisiveness could make him dangerous, but Hong Qingliu believed his greed for money would keep him controllable.
• Chen Shi'an entered Gu Yuetian’s cell, argued with him about his imprisonment, and said he had come on Hong Qingliu’s orders to release him.

Chen Shi'an freed Gu Yuetian from his cage, then confronted him at his residence to learn where he had hidden his wealth. After Gu Yuetian revealed his secret vault, Chen Shi'an took everything and sent him to the Graveyard Space, where he was reduced to ashes and reunited with Gu Feiyang.

• Chen Shi'an released Gu Yuetian from the cage and escorted him back to his residence.
• Chen Shi'an choked Gu Yuetian and demanded to know where he had hidden his pills and silver, then used Gu Feiyang to persuade him to cooperate.
• Gu Yuetian revealed a hidden chamber filled with silver, jewels, pills, and pill formulas.
• Chen Shi'an used his Storage Ring to take all the treasure, then knocked Gu Yuetian unconscious and sent him into the Graveyard Space.
• Gu Yuetian turned to ashes, and the gravestones absorbed his blood as he went to reunite with Gu Feiyang.

Chen Shi'an returned to Desolate Suppression City with the Origin-Replenishing Pills to keep Gao Tianfang from suspecting the Earth Pill Sect’s relocation. After delivering them to the Commander-in-Chief’s Residence, he was stopped by Dong Fengwu.

• Chen Shi'an, Hong Qingliu, and Zhao Shiqing felt the tremors grow stronger and concluded that Desolation was attacking the underground formation.
• Hong Qingliu gave Chen Shi'an the Origin-Replenishing Pills and sent him back to Desolate Suppression City while he and Zhao Shiqing continued toward Red Maple Valley.
• Chen Shi'an found the city sealed, but Zheng Bimeng let him through the gate.
• Chen Shi'an presented the pills to Gao Tianfang, who accepted them and thanked Hong Qingliu.
• As Chen Shi'an prepared to leave, Dong Fengwu stopped him.