Chapter Summaries

Song Shiwun learned that South Peak True One was protecting White Cloud True One’s disciples and went to Forgetful River Lake to apologize for the Song Family’s attack. South Peak True One confronted him while Xing Huaian vowed to seek justice once he recovered.

• Song Yuanqing brought the long-faced young man to Song Shiwun, who learned that Lu Henghua was South Peak True One and had summoned him to Forgetful River Lake.
• Song Shiwun explained that South Peak True One and White Cloud True One had been close friends, then decided to handle the matter himself.
• After Xing Huaian’s condition stabilized, he thanked Zhou Xun for rescuing him and vowed to reclaim justice from the Song Family.
• Song Shiwun arrived at Lakeheart Island and apologized to South Peak True One, who accused the Song Family of nearly wiping out White Cloud Immortal City’s lineage.
• Song Shiwun admitted the Song Family’s fault and began apologizing to Xing Huaian for the injuries caused by his cultivators.

Song Shiwun apologized to Xing Huaian and Zhou Buqi with valuable treasures, while South Peak True One arranged to take White Cloud True One’s disciples to Zhao Nation to rebuild White Cloud Immortal City. Zhou Xun chose to stay at Forgetful River Lake, where the formation was upgraded with Xing Huaian’s demon soul.

• Song Shiwun bowed to Xing Huaian and Zhou Buqi, apologizing on behalf of the Song family and offering them a Flesh Spirit Pill and a Primal Spirit Fruit.
• Song Shiwun discussed cultivation with the gathered cultivators for several days, easing Xing Huaian’s resentment before departing.
• South Peak True One urged White Cloud True One’s disciples to inherit their teacher’s wish and travel to Zhao Nation to form a True Core and rebuild White Cloud Immortal City.
• Zhou Xun declined to go, choosing instead to remain at Forgetful River Lake and cultivate near its spiritual vein and the ancient ruin in Hundred Savages Mountain.
• South Peak True One offered to improve Zhou Xun’s formation, and Xing Huaian gave him the green snake demon soul for its Demonic Spirit Transformation layer.
• Half a month later, the great formation at Forgetful River Lake had been upgraded.

After seeing South Peak True One and the others off, Zhou Xun refined a Tier 3 Return Origin Grass and prepared to explore an ancient ruin in Hundred Savages Mountain. He reached the newly established market and entered the Demon Hunter Pavilion to investigate the area before venturing onward.

• Zhou Xun saw South Peak True One and the others off, and South Peak True One warned him to study the formations he had taught him.
• Zhou Xun used the Essence Extraction Art to refine a Tier 3 Mid-Grade Return Origin Grass, intending to cultivate it into a Supreme-Grade herb and improve his spiritual roots.
• Zhou Xun told Song Yiqing he would explore the ancient ruin and instructed her to stay at Forgetful River Lake with the Blackscaled Armadillo for protection.
• Zhou Xun arrived at Hundred Savages Mountain, where the Cloud Radiance Sect had established a temporary market after the Beast Tide receded.
• Zhou Xun entered the market and went to the Demon Hunter Pavilion to assess the local situation.

Zhou Xun returned to the ancient ruin in Hundred Savages Mountain, where he fought off two Tier 2 High-Grade demon wolves and used the Thousand Echo Bug to locate the ruin’s restriction. He began breaking it by striking a Spirit Energy node, but the restriction had not yet been opened.

• Zhou Xun bought detailed intelligence on the demon beasts around Hundred Savages Mountain and learned that two Tier 2 Demon Beasts had been seen near the ruin.
• Zhou Xun traveled to the ancient ruin and encountered the two snow-white demon wolves that had been recorded on the map.
• Zhou Xun killed both wolves with his strength and the Gray Sword Talisman Treasure, then processed their materials.
• Zhou Xun sent the Thousand Echo Bug to probe the space before the cliff and revealed the still-undisturbed red restriction.
• Zhou Xun used the Thousand Echo Bug to track the restriction’s Spirit Energy and struck one of its nodes with a Restriction Breaking Awl.

Zhou Xun broke through the hidden entrance to an ancient ruin and cautiously made his way past its restrictions to a palace surrounded by a remnant Tier 4 array. The lizard puppet he sent to test the palace doors was destroyed by a bolt of lightning.

• Zhou Xun shattered the outer restriction, revealed a massive stone gate, and concealed it again with his Heavenly Dipper Illusory Cloud Array.
• Zhou Xun used his strength to push open the heavy gate, then entered the passage with the Thousand Echo Bug scouting ahead.
• Zhou Xun passed through damaged restrictions and reached a plaza enclosed by a remnant Tier 4 array.
• Zhou Xun protected himself with Defense Talismans and sent a Qi Condensation Lizard Puppet toward the palace.
• Zhou Xun had the lizard puppet push the palace doors, and a bolt of lightning struck it into fragments.

Zhou Xun broke through the powerful restrictions guarding an ancient hall and searched its side repositories, only to find them nearly empty. After a fruitless second search, he noticed the great hall’s bluestone wall sounded hollow.

• Zhou Xun used a puppet to trigger the hall’s lightning restriction, then struck its Spirit Energy node with the Formation Breaking Cone and destroyed it.
• Zhou Xun opened the doors with another puppet, blocked a wooden-thorn attack with his defenses and Ape Puppet, and broke the hall’s second restriction.
• Zhou Xun found the Medicine Repository and other side halls mostly looted, recovering only a few second-rank materials and two Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Zhou Xun struck the bluestone wall in frustration, noticed its hollow sound, and tapped it several more times.

Zhou Xun discovered an ancient teleportation array in the ruin and used a five-element set of Spirit Stones to reach a hidden wooden building. Inside, he found a space filled with dense Spiritual Qi and began examining the treasures protected there.

• Zhou Xun found an Azure-Black Token hidden in a bluestone wall, refined it, and used it to open a passage.
• Zhou Xun identified a pentagonal formation as a short-distance Teleportation Array and activated it with five Spirit Stones of different elements.
• Zhou Xun and the Ape Puppet teleported to a limestone cave, where the token opened the door of a small wooden building.
• Zhou Xun entered a strange space centered on a Spiritual Qi spring and found four light-shielded platforms holding glowing objects.
• Zhou Xun sent the Ape Puppet through one light shield, and it retrieved an ancient green Jade Slip.

Zhou Xun collected four rare treasures from the stone platforms, including the One Qi, Three Purities secret art and Celestial Pure Water. He then discovered an ancient, powerful lotus seed at the center of the spirit spring, whose rank remained unknown.

• Zhou Xun read the One Qi, Three Purities secret art and learned it could cultivate one external incarnation that could replace him if he died.
• Zhou Xun used the Ape Puppet to retrieve a Calamity Substitute Puppet, which could block one fatal injury.
• Zhou Xun collected a Lesser Teleportation Talisman that could transport its user several thousand miles.
• Zhou Xun identified the liquid in the jade flask as Celestial Pure Water, which could temper mana and strengthen a cultivator's foundation.
• Zhou Xun approached the spirit spring and saw an emerald-green lotus seed radiating an ancient, primordial aura at its center.

Zhou Xun claimed the mysterious lotus seed from the ruin, then returned to Forgetful River Lake and began refining Celestial Pure Water to strengthen his mana. He was left in seclusion, encouraged by the first drop’s significant effect.

• Zhou Xun used the Ape Puppet to retrieve the jade-green lotus seed from the spirit spring, sealed it in a jade box, and stored it away.
• Zhou Xun left the sealed space, reclaimed the wooden tower’s token, and departed while resolving to return for the spirit spring once he was stronger.
• Seven days later, Zhou Xun returned to Forgetful River Lake, told Song Yiqing he would enter seclusion, and went to his cultivation chamber.
• Zhou Xun swallowed one drop of Celestial Pure Water and refined it with the Spirit Wood True Art to temper the mana in his Dantian.
• After a day, Zhou Xun confirmed that his mana intensity had increased considerably.

After refining all the Celestial Pure Water, Zhou Xun raised his mana intensity to nearly that of a false Dan cultivator and decided to test whether he could wield magic treasures. He began refining the White Turtle Shield, leaving the story as the process started.

• Zhou Xun refined the Celestial Pure Water over half a year, increasing his mana intensity to about ninety percent of an ordinary false Dan cultivator’s.
• Zhou Xun demonstrated his strengthened spell to Song Yiqing by slicing the peak off a distant stone wall.
• Zhou Xun flew with Song Yiqing on the Azure Light Shuttle, then told her to manage Forgetful River Lake and focus on reaching the peak of Qi Refining.
• Zhou Xun returned to seclusion and chose to refine the White Turtle Shield, avoiding treasures associated with the Cloud Radiance Sect.
• Zhou Xun sent a strand of divine sense into the White Turtle Shield to begin refining it.

Zhou Xun spent a year refining White Cloud True One’s magical treasures, then tested their powers and found the Wood Radiance Gourd exceptionally destructive and the White Turtle Shield especially suited to defense. A letter from Wang Erniu reported the devastation across western Xu Nation and Red Leaf Square’s rebuilding, where the Lin Lineage had survived but the Li Family had been wiped out.

• Zhou Xun refined the White Turtle Shield and the rest of White Cloud True One’s magical treasures, spending much longer on the Wood Radiance Gourd.
• Zhou Xun tested his treasures at Lakeheart Island and found the Wood Radiance Gourd far more powerful than the azure-gold sharp claw, while he preferred the White Turtle Shield’s defense.
• Song Yiqing brought Zhou Xun a letter from Wang Erniu, who described the demon-beast devastation and the destruction of settlements on his journey back to Red Leaf Square.
• Wang Erniu reported that the Lin Lineage had rebuilt Red Leaf Square with its people intact, while every member of the Li Family had perished.
• Zhou Xun concluded that the Lin Lineage could prosper after surviving the Beast Tide with relatively few losses.

Zhou Xun refined superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pills and guided Shi Wanying through her Foundation Establishment breakthrough. A year later, his own cultivation and Return Origin Grass had advanced as he planned for future progress.

• Zhou Xun refined three Foundation Establishment Pills and gave one to Shi Wanying, then prepared Lakeheart Island for her breakthrough.
• Shi Wanying swallowed the superior-grade pill and entered seclusion; a month later, a surge of Spiritual Qi showed that she had succeeded.
• Zhou Xun congratulated Shi Wanying and bestowed a top-grade flying sword mystic tool upon her.
• A year later, Zhou Xun had reached sixty-three years of age, accumulated 110 drops of liquid mana, and expected to reach the eighth level of Foundation Establishment before seventy.
• Zhou Xun's Return Origin Grass reached Tier 3 High-Grade, bringing him closer to raising his aptitude to an Earth Spiritual Root.

Zhou Xun resumed cultivating and honing his talisman skills at his Forgetful River Lake estate before Sun Yuanque brought news that Yan Nation had invaded Xu Nation. Sun Yuanque invited Zhou Xun to Cloud Radiance Sect to refine pills for the coming war, and Zhou Xun asked how the sect knew he was a Tier 2 High-Grade Pill Refiner.

• Zhou Xun focused on body refinement, pill refinement, and talisman crafting after returning from the ancient ruin, advancing his talisman skills to the peak of Tier 2 mid-grade.
• Sun Yuanque visited Zhou Xun, tasted his Stillheart Lotus seeds, and praised his skill in cultivating spirit plants.
• Sun Yuanque told Zhou Xun that the Hundred Thousand Swamps had dried and its miasma had weakened, allowing Heaven Feather Sect to advance into Xu Nation.
• Sun Yuanque explained that Heaven Feather Sect intended to annex Xu Nation after the Beast Tide had weakened it and said its cultivator army was already preparing to advance.
• Sun Yuanque invited Zhou Xun to Cloud Radiance Sect to focus on pill refinement for the coming war, and Zhou Xun asked how the sect learned he was a Tier 2 High-Grade Pill Refiner.

Zhou Xun negotiated a pill-refining contract with Sun Yuanque on behalf of the Cloud Radiance Sect while refusing to join the sect for now. After agreeing to refine five batches of Tier 2 High-Grade pills monthly, Zhou Xun sold Sun Yuanque a large supply of pills and prepared for their future partnership.

• Sun Yuanque offered Zhou Xun support for advancement and Core Formation if he joined the Cloud Radiance Sect, but Zhou Xun postponed the decision until after Heaven Feather Sect's invasion was repelled.
• Sun Yuanque asked Zhou Xun to refine ten batches of Tier 2 High-Grade pills each month, but Zhou Xun negotiated the amount down to five batches and required materials for eight batches.
• Zhou Xun and Sun Yuanque agreed that the Cloud Radiance Sect would pay Zhou Xun ten thousand spirit stones annually and that Sun Yuanque would deliver materials and collect pills every three months.
• Sun Yuanque offered to buy Zhou Xun's healing and qi recovery pills at fifty percent above market price, and Zhou Xun sold him pills worth thirty thousand spirit stones.
• Sun Yuanque departed and planned to bring pill recipes and materials to Forgetful River Lake the following month.

Zhou Xun sent Wei Qiuxin to stockpile valuable materials ahead of the Heaven Feather Sect's planned invasion of Xu Nation, while Cloud Radiance Sect arranged a pill-refining partnership with him. Sun Yuanque then returned to Forgetful River Lake with Lin Xueying, whose reunion with Zhou Xun revealed their lifelong bond.

• Zhou Xun told Wei Qiuxin that the swamp barrier had vanished and ordered her to buy as many valuable materials as possible before war drove prices up.
• Sun Yuanque reported to True Person Jin Hong that Zhou Xun had agreed to refine five batches of pills monthly but was still considering joining the Cloud Radiance Sect.
• True Person Jin Hong approved the terms and arranged for Sun Yuanque to collect ingredients for thirty batches of pill refinement.
• Sun Yuanque traveled back to Forgetful River Lake with Lin Xueying and brought her to meet Zhou Xun.
• Lin Xueying called Zhou Xun her beloved and explained that they had known each other since childhood and had pledged themselves to one another, shocking Sun Yuanque.

Sun Yuanque congratulated Zhou Xun and Lin Xueying, commissioned pills, and bought Zhou Xun’s stock before leaving. Lin Xueying met Song Yiqing and welcomed her warmly, then reunited with Zhou Xun; the chapter ended as Lin Xueying explained that Maple Moon True One had emerged from seclusion.

• Sun Yuanque congratulated Zhou Xun and Lin Xueying on their relationship and delivered herbs for Zhou Xun to refine pills.
• Zhou Xun sold Sun Yuanque healing and qi-restoring pills worth around ten thousand spirit stones, and Sun Yuanque left.
• Lin Xueying met Song Yiqing, gave her a defensive Jadeite Bracelet, and invited her to talk together.
• Zhou Xun and Lin Xueying spent the night together, then discussed serious matters the next morning.
• Lin Xueying told Zhou Xun that Maple Moon True One had emerged from seclusion, stirring his interest.

With Heaven Feather Sect invading Xu Nation, Lin Xueying prepared to join Cloud Radiance Sect’s defenders at Golden Fate Valley, while Zhou Xun equipped her with treasures and medicine to keep her safe. Maple Moon True One insisted that her disciple serve the sect alongside the other cultivators as they headed toward the front.

• Zhou Xun worried that Maple Moon True One might seek revenge now that she had emerged from seclusion, but resolved that he could defend himself with the formation at Forgetful River Lake.
• Lin Xueying told Zhou Xun that Cloud Radiance Sect’s elders and cultivators were gathering at Golden Fate Valley to stop Heaven Feather Sect, and that she had to join them.
• Zhou Xun gave Lin Xueying an escape talisman, healing elixirs, Qi Recovery Pills, a Qi Burst Pill, and powerful talismans, urging her to use them carefully.
• Maple Moon True One led Cloud Radiance Sect cultivators toward Golden Fate Valley as True Person Jin Hong questioned why Lin Xueying had to go to the front.
• Maple Moon True One said Lin Xueying had to serve Cloud Radiance Sect before serving as her disciple and should set an example during the invasion.

True Person Jin Hong planned to recruit Zhou Xun into Cloud Radiance Sect and arrange his marriage to Maple Moon True One’s disciple, while Maple Moon True One secretly resolved to kill him. As Heaven Feather Sect’s invasion triggered a conscription across Xu Nation, Zhou Xun strengthened his techniques and received a visit from Fang Tianlun and Fairy Moonbright.

• True Person Jin Hong praised Zhou Xun’s alchemy and abilities, then proposed that Zhou Xun marry Maple Moon True One’s disciple; Maple Moon True One agreed outwardly but decided Zhou Xun could not be allowed to live.
• Lin Xueying left Forgetful River Lake to hurry to Golden Ape Valley after Heaven Feather Sect invaded.
• Zhou Xun cultivated the Blood Ignition Art to major mastery, considered other Bloodfiend Sutra techniques, and prepared to use the Bloodfiend Spike as a trump card.
• Song Yiqing delivered Wang Erniu’s letter reporting Cloud Radiance Sect’s conscription order and Wang Erniu and Lin Zhenyun’s departure for Golden Fate Valley with the Red Leaf Square cultivators.
• Fang Tianlun and Fairy Moonbright arrived at Stillheart Pavilion with two children, and the pair bowed respectfully to Zhou Xun.

Fang Tianlun and Fairy Moonbright asked Zhou Xun to help them avoid being separated from their children by Cloud Radiance Sect’s conscription. Sun Yuanque revealed that a True Core cultivator had protected Forgetful River Lake from conscription and agreed to let Fang Tianlun and his wife remain on Five Willow Mountain, while Zhou Xun offered extra pills to settle the matter with the senior brother who had targeted Fang Tianlun.

• Fang Tianlun and Fairy Moonbright asked Zhou Xun to mediate after both were conscripted, leaving their children alone on Five Willow Mountain.
• Zhou Xun learned from Wei Qiuxin that no one from Forgetful River Lake had been conscripted and suspected Sun Yuanque had arranged it.
• Sun Yuanque told Zhou Xun that a True Core cultivator had intervened to protect Forgetful River Lake.
• Sun Yuanque explained that a senior brother had targeted Fang Tianlun because of an old grudge, then agreed to let Fang Tianlun and his wife remain on Five Willow Mountain while accepting the sect’s tasks.
• Zhou Xun delivered fifteen batches of pills to Sun Yuanque and offered extra pills to help resolve the grudge against Fang Tianlun.

Xu Nation and Heaven Feather Sect assembled their forces around Golden Fate Valley, and Xu Nation launched a major attack despite Heaven Feather Sect’s disciplined formations. The chapter ended as both sides’ Core Formation cultivators raced toward their opponents, with four True Core cultivators on each side.

• Sun Yuanque realized Zhou Xun had included a personal benefit in the arrangements and resolved to befriend him.
• Xu Nation and Feng Nation gathered more than a hundred thousand cultivators near Golden Fate Valley, while Heaven Feather Sect built fortified camps nearby.
• Wang Erniu led interception squads through the Hundred Thousand Swamps, disrupting Heaven Feather Sect’s reinforcements and destroying flying vessels.
• Wu Zongdao, who had escaped through the drying swamps and joined Heaven Feather Sect, supported its decision to march out and fight Xu Nation.
• True Person Yun Yi ordered Xu Nation’s forces to divide into squads and attack Heaven Feather Sect’s formations as both sides’ Core Formation cultivators charged toward one another.