Chapter Summaries

After defeating the Heaven Feather Sect’s forces, Zhou Xun counted the spoils and discovered that Feng Wuji’s Essence Crystallization Pill could provide a Core Formation item for his incarnation. News of Zhou Xun’s victory reached the Cloud Radiance Sect, whose leaders debated drawing him into their ranks.

• Zhou Xun found Feng Wuji’s Essence Crystallization Pill and inventoried the treasures taken from the False Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators, bringing his gains to more than one million Spirit Stones in value.
• Zhou Xun identified the White Mirage Pearl and the Edge of Utmost Sharpness as exceptional treasures and reserved them for his true body.
• After a month in seclusion, Zhou Xun received Shi Wanrong, Fang Tianlun, Wei Qiuxin, and the others, who now revered him for defeating the Heaven Feather Sect’s invading force.
• At the Xu Nation council hall, True Person Yun Yi shared the Cloud Radiance Sect Leader’s report of Zhou Xun’s victory, shocking Maple Moon True One and the other cultivators.
• True Person Jin Hong urged the Cloud Radiance Sect to recruit Zhou Xun, and another cultivator agreed that Zhou Xun’s rogue cultivator background made him likely to accept.

Cloud Radiance Sect leaders debated how to handle Zhou Xun, and True Person Yun Yi ordered a scheme that rewarded and publicly praised Forgetful River Lake while pressuring it to surrender treasure and send reinforcements. Yu Jiuan arrived at Forgetful River Lake with True Person Jin Hong’s message and sent a talisman into its protective formation.

• Maple Moon True One argued that Cloud Radiance Sect should eliminate Zhou Xun and the Forgetful River Lake faction, while True Person Jin Hong defended them for defeating Heaven Feather Sect infiltrators.
• True Person Yun Yi sided with Maple Moon True One’s goal of preventing Zhou Xun from growing stronger, but decided the sect should conceal its role if Zhou Xun were eliminated.
• True Person Yun Yi ordered True Person Jin Hong to arrange a heavy reward, spread praise of Forgetful River Lake, request that Zhou Xun return some recovered treasures, and summon him to reinforce the Golden Ape Valley front.
• Maple Moon True One offered to lead a team to confront Zhou Xun if he refused the summons, and True Person Yun Yi approved.
• True Person Jin Hong sent his disciple Yu Jiuan to deliver a Jade Slip to Zhou Xun, and half a month later Yu Jiuan reached Forgetful River Lake and sent a Message Talisman into its protective formation.

Yu Jiuan delivered Zhou Xun a secret letter from True Person Jin Hong containing True Person Yun Yi’s orders, which revealed the Cloud Radiance Sect’s threat to him. Zhou Xun planned to strengthen Forgetful River Quarter and prepare for conflict, then asked Wei Qiuxin how to respond.

• Yu Jiuan arrived at Forgetful River Lake and respectfully met Zhou Xun, praising his victory over the Heaven Feather Sect cultivators.
• Yu Jiuan delivered True Person Jin Hong’s sealed Jade Slip, and Zhou Xun confirmed it had not been tampered with before reading True Person Yun Yi’s orders.
• After Yu Jiuan left, Zhou Xun resolved to use his rewards to develop Forgetful River Quarter, recruit displaced cultivators, fake a serious injury, and spread word of the Cloud Radiance Sect’s hostility.
• Zhou Xun summoned Wei Qiuxin and warned her that the Cloud Radiance Sect might target Forgetful River Lake; she judged that it could not act openly while the invasion occupied its forces.
• Wei Qiuxin read the Jade Slip, condemned the Cloud Radiance Sect, and pledged to stand with Zhou Xun, who asked her for a way to deal with the threat.

Wei Qiuxin and Zhou Xun prepared to turn Cloud Radiance Sect’s expected pressure into public outrage, and the sect’s envoys arrived at Forgetful River Lake. Zhou Xun publicly rejected them and confronted True Person Feng Yu with the rumors about the sect’s plans, leaving Feng Yu stunned as his messenger returned.

• Wei Qiuxin predicted Cloud Radiance Sect would praise, tempt, and then pressure Zhou Xun to leave, and Zhou Xun ordered preparations to recruit attacked Lineage cultivators, use the sect’s rewards to develop Forgetful River Quarter, and spread the warning.
• True Person Feng Yu and an arrogant long-faced young man sailed toward Forgetful River Lake, where the young man dismissed Zhou Xun and the Rogue Cultivators.
• Rogue Cultivators in Forgetful River Quarter recognized the Cloud Radiance Sect ship and voiced anger over the sect targeting Zhou Xun instead of Heaven Feather Sect.
• Zhou Xun emerged from the Mountain Protection Grand Formation and shouted that Forgetful River Lake did not welcome the envoys, shocking True Person Feng Yu and the long-faced young man.
• True Person Feng Yu offered Zhou Xun support, and Zhou Xun told him that rumors accused Forgetful River Lake of offending the upper sect and said the sect intended to move against it.
• True Person Feng Yu froze at Zhou Xun’s words as the young cultivator he had sent to investigate returned.

True Person Feng Yu discovered that the Cloud Radiance Sect’s scheme against Zhou Xun had been exposed, forcing him to deliver rewards instead of carrying it out. True Person Yun An and True Person Yun Yi learned the leak could endanger the Golden Ape Valley front, and Yun Yi went to confront True Person Jin Hong.

• A Cloud Radiance Sect cultivator told True Person Feng Yu that the sect’s plan to pressure Zhou Xun had become widespread, and Feng Yu denied the scheme publicly.
• After learning the plan had leaked, True Person Feng Yu and Yun Yi’s disciple recognized that pursuing it could provoke unrest among the summoned cultivators and trigger a mutiny.
• True Person Feng Yu entered Forgetful River Lake, awarded Zhou Xun two hundred thousand spirit stones on the sect’s behalf, and returned to report what had happened.
• True Person Feng Yu told True Person Yun An that cultivators at Forgetful River Lake had openly repeated Yun Yi’s plan, and Yun An concluded the leak came from within the sect’s Core Formation ranks.
• True Person Yun Yi learned of the leak, then visited True Person Jin Hong, who welcomed him into his cave abode.

True Person Yun Yi yielded authority to True Person Jin Hong to preserve the Cloud Radiance Sect, ending the sect’s efforts to target Zhou Xun. After Zhou Xun’s Return Origin Grass advanced to Tier 3 Supreme-Grade, he prepared to use it to improve his spiritual roots.

• True Person Yun Yi agreed to let True Person Jin Hong decide other matters in the sect, while taking charge of Zhou Xun’s case himself.
• True Person Jin Hong accepted Yun Yi’s offer and agreed to let him handle Zhou Xun.
• The Cloud Radiance Sect stopped pursuing Zhou Xun, and six peaceful months passed.
• Zhou Xun nurtured his Return Origin Grass with spirit herb essence until it advanced to Tier 3 Supreme-Grade and released pure Spiritual Qi that aided his cultivation.
• Zhou Xun shared tea with Song Yiqing, then returned to his cultivation chamber, summoned the Return Origin Grass, and prepared to improve his spiritual roots.

Zhou Xun absorbed the essence of a Tier 3 Top Grade Return Origin Grass and broke through to Foundation Establishment Level 8, with his Wood Spiritual Root reaching Earth Spiritual Root aptitude. After testing his enhanced mana and divine sense, he celebrated his breakthrough with Song Yiqing and noted her progress in cultivation.

• Zhou Xun absorbed the essence of the Return Origin Grass and advanced to Foundation Establishment Level 8 with 130 liquid mana droplets.
• Zhou Xun tested his Spiritual Root Test Disc and found his Wood Spiritual Root sensitivity had reached sixty points, the threshold of an Earth Spiritual Root.
• Zhou Xun tested his strengthened mana against Origin Spirit Iron and concluded it was comparable to an ordinary False Dan cultivator's.
• Zhou Xun extended his divine sense to a range of two thousand zhang, comparable to a True Core cultivator.
• Song Yiqing welcomed Zhou Xun after his breakthrough, and they spent the night together; the next day, Zhou Xun observed that she was nearing Qi Condensation Level 9.

Zhou Xun rewarded Wei Qiuxin for exchanging treasures and used his incarnation to begin refining a Profound Wood Vine. He then started refining the mysterious lotus seed as his Lifebound Spirit Plant, but the process plunged him into a vision of primordial chaos and a giant.

• Wei Qiuxin reported that she had exchanged treasures for forty thousand spirit stones, including one High-Grade Spirit Stone, and Zhou Xun praised her efforts.
• Zhou Xun rewarded Wei Qiuxin with two Tier 2 High-Grade Talismans and entrusted her with another fifty thousand spirit stones’ worth of treasures to sell.
• Zhou Xun’s incarnation began refining a Tier 3 Mid-Grade Profound Wood Vine, which Zhou Xun expected to cultivate into a Tier 3 Top Grade herb over three years.
• Zhou Xun chose the mysterious lotus seed from Hundred Savages Mountain as his Lifebound Spirit Plant and began refining it with his blood essence.
• Zhou Xun experienced a vision of primordial chaos and a majestic giant before breaking free and finding the scene strangely familiar.

Zhou Xun mastered Wood Escape through his lotus-seed Lifebound Spirit Plant, then began testing how to nurture it. While he returned to a quiet routine, a disguised cultivator entered Forgetful River Quarter without Zhou Xun's knowledge.

• Zhou Xun discovered that he could command the lotus seed as easily as his own body and successfully cultivated Wood Escape after three attempts.
• Zhou Xun tested Wood Escape, moving a hundred zhang in a flash and merging into a Renwater Pear tree for about ten breaths before being forced out.
• Zhou Xun fed the lotus seed essence from a Tier 2 mid-grade spirit herb, but it showed no visible change.
• Another ten days later, Zhou Xun's avatar refined the Profound Wood Vine into a Lifebound Spirit Plant, and Zhou Xun resumed his quiet routine.
• A disguised middle-aged man entered Forgetful River Quarter, concealed his true cultivation, and rented a shop.

Zhou Xun reviewed his cultivation inheritances, began studying Puppet Art, and refined his first puppet before tending to his Bloodfiend Spawns. Three years later, he learned that Jinsong had reached the peak of Qi Condensation and had come to pay his respects.

• Zhou Xun assessed his inheritances and decided to prioritize pill refinement, with talismans and array formations as secondary pursuits while also exploring Puppet Art and divination.
• Zhou Xun refined a Goldspirit Rat puppet and became a first-grade low-grade Puppet Master.
• Zhou Xun visited the Corpse Nurturing Ground and fed blood essence to the five Bloodfiend Spawns, strengthening his connection to them.
• Three years passed, and Zhou Xun's liquid spiritual power reached one hundred and thirty-nine drops as he continued cultivating and drawing talismans.
• Zhou Xun received a message that Jinsong had reached the peak of Qi Condensation and had come to pay his respects.

Zhou Xun gave Zhou Jinsong a premium-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and prepared ideal conditions for his disciple to attempt Foundation Establishment. He then completed a Bloodfiend Pouch and tested the five fully nurtured Bloodfiend Spawn, finding that they coordinated into a formidable formation.

• Zhou Xun learned that Zhou Jinsong had reached the peak of Qi Refinement after recovering from a pill-refining backlash, and instructed him to focus on breaking through to Foundation Establishment.
• Zhou Xun gave Zhou Jinsong a premium-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and arranged a cave abode with Tier 2 Peak Grade Spiritual Qi for his seclusion.
• Zhou Jinsong and Shi Wanying inspected the pill, recognized its exceptional quality, and Zhou Jinsong resolved to succeed in his breakthrough.
• Zhou Xun refined a Bloodfiend Pouch from the hide of Demon King Huyu and flew to the Corpse Nurturing Ground.
• Zhou Xun summoned the five completed Bloodfiend Spawn and tested their power and coordination, confirming that they could form a combined formation.

Zhou Xun tested his five Bloodfiend Spawns against his lightning-cultivator avatar and found they could rival a True Core combatant. Meanwhile, Zhou Jinsong successfully broke through to Foundation Establishment, and Zhou Xun reassured the anxious Shi Wanrong.

• Zhou Xun had his five Bloodfiend Spawns battle his avatar in a remote canyon, where they eventually overwhelmed the avatar's lightning defenses.
• Zhou Xun concluded that the Bloodfiend Spawns gave him another True Core-level combatant and returned to Forgetful River Lake with his avatar.
• Zhou Xun and his avatar cultivated in the chamber beneath the lake, dividing their study of cultivation arts and talisman crafting.
• Zhou Jinsong consumed his premium-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and began his breakthrough while Zhou Xun, Song Yiqing, and Shi Wanrong waited outside.
• Zhou Xun sensed the orderly Spiritual Qi vortex and confirmed to Shi Wanrong that Zhou Jinsong had succeeded and was consolidating his cultivation.

Zhou Xun advanced his Wood Spiritual Root by refining the essence of the Profound Wood Vine, then continued cultivating until Song Yiqing summoned him to Lakeheart Island. There, he found Little Gold wrapped in a water sphere as it attempted to break through to Tier 2.

• Zhou Jinsong emerged from seclusion after reaching Foundation Establishment, paid his respects to Zhou Xun, and received his teacher's encouragement and cultivation advice.
• Zhou Xun's incarnation used a Tier 2 Top Grade Azure Sky Blossom to advance the Profound Wood Vine to Tier 3 Top Grade.
• Zhou Xun extracted the Profound Wood Vine's essence and raised his Wood Spiritual Root sensitivity to sixty-one points, then prepared a Purple Luo Flower as a new Lifebound Spirit Plant.
• Three months later, Zhou Xun condensed his one hundred and thirty-ninth drop of liquid magic power and began condensing the one hundred and fortieth.
• Song Yiqing told Zhou Xun that Little Gold had awakened after nine years of sleep and begun attempting to break through to Tier 2.
• Zhou Xun rushed to Lakeheart Island and saw Little Gold enclosed in an azure-gold water sphere floating over the lake.

Zhou Xun helped the Azure Golden Dragon Carp break through to Tier 2 mid-grade, where it awakened the Size Alteration divine ability, and he prepared Fire Spirit Pills for the Crimson Fire Luan’s coming advancement. After half a year of cultivation, Zhou Xun received a request for an audience from Lin Xiuyin and went to meet her.

• Zhou Xun used Forgetful River Lake’s grand formation to draw in Spiritual Qi and help the Dragon Carp break through to Tier 2 mid-grade.
• The Dragon Carp awakened the Size Alteration divine ability, and Zhou Xun gave it a Tier 2 Spirit Nourishment Pill.
• Song Yiqing told Zhou Xun that the Crimson Fire Luan had reached the peak of Tier 1, so Zhou Xun decided to refine Fire Spirit Pills for its breakthrough.
• Zhou Xun refined three Fire Spirit Pills, including one premium-quality pill, then returned to cultivating beneath the lake.
• Half a year later, Song Yiqing told Zhou Xun that Lin Xiuyin had requested an audience, and Zhou Xun went to the reception hall.

Lin Xiuyin joined Forgetful River Lake, received a Foundation Establishment Pill, and successfully advanced to Foundation Establishment Early Stage. Meanwhile, a disguised cultivator secretly sent information from Qin Trading Company before welcoming a well-born young man into a private room.

• Lin Xiuyin asked Zhou Xun to let her join Forgetful River Lake, and he accepted after learning Wang Erniu and the Lin family approved.
• Lin Xiuyin bought a Foundation Establishment Pill from Zhou Xun, who invited her to prepare for her breakthrough on Lakeheart Island.
• A month later, Lin Xiuyin successfully reached Foundation Establishment Early Stage and became Wei Qiuxin's deputy at Forgetful River Quarter.
• A disguised middle-aged man engraved a message in a secret chamber beneath Qin Trading Company, then turned a potted plant to signal someone.
• A young man in embroidered robes entered the company, and the middle-aged man personally escorted him to a private room.

Zhou Xun cultivated the Spirit Plants on Lakeheart Island with the Ningshun Sutra and read letters from Wang Erniu and Lin Xueying. Wang Erniu reported that the Heaven Feather Sect had slowed its attacks on Golden Ape Valley, and Zhou Xun learned the sect had withdrawn its First Elder to pursue a breakthrough to Late-Stage Core Formation.

• Zhou Xun used Spirit Herb Essence to cultivate his Spirit Plants, raising several to Tier 2 and nurturing a newly planted Bitter Apricot.
• Song Yiqing brought Zhou Xun letters from Wang Erniu and Lin Xueying and brewed Spirit Mist Tea as Zhou Xun read them.
• Wang Erniu reported that Lin Xiuyin had joined Forgetful River Lake and that he had become a renowned sword cultivator in Golden Ape Valley after killing nearly twenty Heaven Feather Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Wang Erniu wrote that the Heaven Feather Sect had reduced its attacks, while Xu Nation's leaders held their defensive positions rather than risking a counteroffensive.
• Zhou Xun learned that the Heaven Feather Sect's First Elder had returned to Yan Nation to seek a breakthrough after Feng Wuji's death, leaving the sect at a disadvantage in Core Formation combat strength.

Zhou Xun learned that Heaven Feather Sect’s First Elder had withdrawn, leaving Cloud Radiance Sect free to target him, while the sect’s elders planned to lure him away from his protective formation. True Person Maple Moon took on the task and returned to find Lin Xueying newly advanced to the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, revealing her interest in Lin Xueying’s Water Moon Spiritual Body.

• Zhou Xun read Wang Erniu’s and Lin Xueying’s reports about Heaven Feather Sect’s defensive stance and the disappearance of its First Elder, then considered advancing his incarnation to Core Formation to deter Cloud Radiance Sect.
• At Golden Ape Valley, True Person Yun Yi, True Person Jin Hong, and True Person Maple Moon discussed killing Zhou Xun and agreed that they needed to draw him outside his mountain formation.
• True Person Maple Moon proposed intercepting and altering Lin Xueying’s letters to lure Zhou Xun out, and True Person Yun Yi gave her a third-rank escape talisman.
• True Person Maple Moon returned to her cave residence, where Lin Xueying told her she had broken through to the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment.
• True Person Maple Moon reflected on Lin Xueying’s Water Moon Spiritual Body and imagined that her disciple might become the Eastern Wasteland’s first Nascent Soul cultivator in several thousand years.

Maple Moon True One recognized Lin Xueying’s hidden Water Moon Spiritual Body and ordered her to cultivate in seclusion, then tried to use her to arrange a marriage alliance with Zhou Xun. Lin Xueying refused, but Maple Moon True One took her letter to Zhou Xun and brought it to True Person Yun Yi in exchange for a Tier 3 Suppression Talisman.

• Maple Moon True One gave Lin Xueying an Azure Sky Pill and ordered her to remain in seclusion until she reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
• Maple Moon True One proposed that Lin Xueying write Zhou Xun a personal letter so she could negotiate their marriage alliance, but Lin Xueying suspected the sect intended to target Forgetful River Lake and refused.
• Maple Moon True One forbade Lin Xueying from leaving seclusion, stole the letter she had written to Zhou Xun, and activated the cave abode’s restrictions.
• Lin Xueying discovered she could not escape and feared for Zhou Xun’s safety, resolving not to live on if he died.
• Maple Moon True One took Lin Xueying’s letter to True Person Yun Yi, who welcomed her after she said she had obtained it and asked for the Tier 3 Suppression Talisman.

Maple Moon True One used a Tier 3 Suppression Talisman to alter Lin Xueying’s sealed letter, inviting Zhou Xun to Seeking Sky Mountain. After the Crimson Fire Luan broke through to Tier 2, Zhou Xun read the letter and set out north with his avatar.

• True Person Yun Yi gave Maple Moon True One a Tier 3 Suppression Talisman, which she used to change Lin Xueying’s letter without disturbing its seal.
• Maple Moon True One sent the altered letter to Forgetful River Lake, inviting Zhou Xun to meet at Seeking Sky Mountain.
• Zhou Xun and Song Yiqing guarded the Crimson Fire Luan as it absorbed Spiritual Qi and successfully advanced to Tier 2.
• Zhou Xun rode the Crimson Fire Luan with Song Yiqing and returned to Lakeheart Island, where Song Yiqing gave him letters from Uncle Erniu and Lin Xueying.
• After reading the letters, Zhou Xun took his avatar and flew north toward Seeking Sky Mountain.

Zhou Xun traveled toward Seeking Sky Mountain, prepared for danger, while Maple Moon True One lay in wait to ambush him. When she revealed herself and attacked, Zhou Xun recognized her trap and prepared to fight with his avatar coming to support him.

• Zhou Xun brought his powerful avatar and other treasures along as he traveled toward Seeking Sky Mountain.
• Maple Moon True One reached the mountain and waited along the route from Forgetful River Lake, intending to kill Zhou Xun and obtain Lin Xueying's body.
• Zhou Xun sent his avatar to wait on a slope five hundred li from Seeking Sky Mountain while his true body continued onward.
• Maple Moon True One spotted Zhou Xun, revealed herself, and summoned her Natal Treasure, the Fire Cloud Pagoda.
• Zhou Xun realized Lin Xueying's letter had been written under Maple Moon True One's coercion and called his avatar toward him.
• Zhou Xun used the lotus seed in his Dantian to cast the Azure Wood Spirit Shield as Maple Moon True One's True Core-level pressure bore down on him.