Chapter Summaries

Zhou Xun washed away the Blood Shadow Art mark with Jiang Wanning’s yin essence and broke through to Mid-Stage Core Formation. He left her cave abode to face Crimson Desire Perfected Person Tie Han and Tie Han’s senior brother, who attacked him together.

• Zhou Xun circulated Jiang Wanning’s yin essence through his meridians, removing the Blood Shadow Art mark and advancing to Mid-Stage Core Formation.
• Crimson Desire Perfected Person Tie Han sensed that something had changed and went to investigate Jiang Wanning’s cave abode.
• Zhou Xun and Jiang Wanning emerged from the cave abode, and Tie Han realized Zhou Xun had taken Jiang Wanning’s yin essence.
• Tie Han’s senior brother arrived, and the two men launched attacks at Zhou Xun with demonic flames and an ice cone.

Zhou Xun killed Crimson Desire Perfected Person and the gaunt middle-aged man, then warned Jiang Wanning that Old Devil Jade Dew was likely coming for her. He sent Feng Zhong to help her deal with the remaining demonic cultivators at Emerald Lake Mountain.

• Zhou Xun used the Mystic Thunder Sword to destroy the attackers’ spells, then pursued the fleeing Crimson Desire Perfected Person and gaunt middle-aged man.
• The gaunt middle-aged man struck Crimson Desire Perfected Person to slow him down, but Zhou Xun’s sword killed Crimson Desire Perfected Person and then caught and beheaded the gaunt man.
• An Elder in a black robe sensed something was wrong and hurried west from a cave thirty thousand li east of Emerald Lake Mountain.
• Zhou Xun collected the two men’s corpses and Storage Pouches, while Jiang Wanning marveled at his strength.
• Zhou Xun told Jiang Wanning that Old Devil Jade Dew might be rushing toward them and advised her to relocate, but she worried about the demonic cultivators still at Emerald Lake Mountain.
• Zhou Xun sent Feng Zhong to assist Jiang Wanning, and the Earth Origin Beast congratulated him on reaching Mid-Stage Core Formation.

After Jiang Wanning purged Emerald Lake Mountain of demonic cultivators with the Earth Origin Beast’s help, Zhou Xun prepared to leave for Southern Summer Immortal City. As he departed, Old Devil Jade Dew caught up with him, forcing Zhou Xun to prepare for a confrontation.

• Zhou Xun assigned the Earth Origin Beast, Feng Chong, to assist Jiang Wanning in clearing Emerald Lake Mountain and Emerald Lake Market of demonic cultivators.
• Jiang Wanning completed the purge, and word that the Jiang Clan possessed a Tier 3 Middle-Grade spirit beast deterred nearby cultivators from looting.
• Zhou Xun told Jiang Wanning he was leaving, gave her an Essence Crystallization Pill and an ice awl, then departed on Feng Chong for Southern Summer Immortal City.
• While traveling, Zhou Xun examined his advancing Celestial True Flame Lotus and considered how it might improve his main body's spiritual root aptitude.
• Zhou Xun spotted Old Devil Jade Dew approaching through black mist and prepared a formation, a defensive treasure, and a Fire Dragon Talisman.
• Old Devil Jade Dew stopped a thousand zhang away, sensed Zhou Xun's Mid-Stage Core Formation cultivation, and relaxed.

Zhou Xun fought Old Devil Jade Dew to protect Jiang Wanning, trapping him inside a formation and revealing his Bloodfiend Spawns. As their battle escalated, Zhou Xun summoned four demon spirits and his Earth Origin Beast, while Old Devil Jade Dew brought out a huge skull-covered banner.

• Old Devil Jade Dew demanded that Zhou Xun accompany him to Emerald Lake Mountain, but Zhou Xun refused and attacked with a Tier 3 High-Grade Fire Dragon Talisman.
• Zhou Xun activated the Four Symbols Demon Subduing Grand Formation, trapping himself and Old Devil Jade Dew inside its light curtain.
• Old Devil Jade Dew released three Late-Stage Core Formation Bloodfiend Spawns, and Zhou Xun countered by summoning five of his own.
• Old Devil Jade Dew recognized Zhou Xun's Bloodfiend Combination Technique and accused him of stealing the Blood Refinement Sect's secret inheritance.
• Zhou Xun summoned the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, and Black Tortoise demon spirits alongside his Earth Origin Beast.
• Old Devil Jade Dew brought out a skull-covered black banner and enlarged it to several hundred zhang.

Zhou Xun used the Violet Firmament True Thunder Formation to nearly destroy Old Devil Jade Dew’s Myriad Skull Banner, then struck down the injured elder. Jade Dew escaped by transferring his golden core into a Bloodfiend Spawn, leaving Zhou Xun to consider the powerful demonic techniques and the spawn’s origins.

• Old Devil Jade Dew empowered his Myriad Skull Banner with essence blood, increasing the pressure on Zhou Xun’s spirit beasts and demon spirits.
• Zhou Xun unleashed the Violet Firmament True Thunder Formation, annihilating the banner’s skulls and severely injuring Old Devil Jade Dew.
• Zhou Xun stabbed Old Devil Jade Dew through the head and took his Storage Pouch, but the elder’s corpse exploded as Zhou tried to collect it.
• Old Devil Jade Dew’s golden core escaped as black light and entered his Late-Stage Core Formation Bloodfiend Spawn, which broke through its attackers and fled.
• Zhou Xun recognized the escape as a Bloodfiend True Scripture technique and reasoned that Jade Dew’s Bloodfiend Spawn had likely cultivated its way to Late-Stage Core Formation strength.

Zhou Xun warned Jiang Wanning to flee the Chaotic Domain after Old Devil Jade Dew escaped, then planned to return to Song Nation and prepare his true body for Core Formation. After divining that the Dragon Blood Holy Fruit remained guarded in the far north, Zhou Xun delayed pursuing it, erased Jade Dew’s Storage Pouch imprint, and began examining its treasures as Jade Dew vowed revenge.

• Jiang Wanning arrived with two elders, and Zhou Xun told her that Old Devil Jade Dew had escaped and that her lineage should leave the Chaotic Domain.
• Zhou Xun departed on the Earth Origin Beast, recovered his spirit energy, and decided to return to Song Nation to bring his true body to the Chaotic Domain for Core Formation.
• Zhou Xun used his Diviner’s Compass to confirm that the Dragon Blood Holy Fruit remained in the far north, but postponed seeking it until after his true body formed its core.
• Zhou Xun erased the divine sense imprint on Old Devil Jade Dew’s Storage Pouch, while Jade Dew sensed the loss and swore to hunt him down.
• Zhou Xun opened the Storage Pouch, poured out its treasures, and began taking stock of them.

Zhou Xun examined the spoils from Old Devil Jade Dew and found valuable materials and bloodline techniques, including methods for cultivating a Bloodfiend Spawn. He left Song Yiqing in charge while he traveled, and his incarnation arrived in Southern Summer Immortal City to search for materials for a future Natal Treasure.

• Zhou Xun found fourth-rank Soul Nurturing Wood and the Bloodfiend True Scripture among Old Devil Jade Dew's spoils, including Bloodfiend Disintegration, Bloodfiend Substitution, and a method for cultivating a Bloodfiend Spawn to Peak Core Formation.
• Zhou Xun told Song Yiqing that he would be away for one to five years and asked her to manage Forgetful River Lake while he secretly departed.
• Song Yiqing agreed to care for Zhou Xun's spirit beasts and conceal his absence by telling others that he had entered seclusion.
• Zhou Xun spent seven days with Song Yiqing before leaving by concealed flying light for the Teleportation Array at Hundred Savages Mountain.
• Zhou Xun's incarnation reached Southern Summer Immortal City and began visiting merchant associations to look for Lightning Essence Crystal and wood-attributed materials for a Natal Treasure.

Zhou Xun chose to refine an Azure Emperor Seal and bought Clear Spirit Wood before traveling to Luoyuan Immortal City for a Nascent Soul ceremony and lectures. There, a guard befriended him after sensing his formidable Killing Intent, and Niu Chong began explaining how the Heavenly Star Halls were overseen.

• Zhou Xun selected the Azure Emperor Seal because it could grow stronger alongside his Lifebound Spirit Plant, the strange lotus seed.
• He bought Tier 3 High-Grade Clear Spirit Wood for one hundred and seventy thousand spirit stones, hoping it would help the seal suppress evil influences.
• At Southern Summer Immortal City's Heavenly Star Hall, Zhou Xun learned that crowds were traveling to Luoyuan Immortal City for Thunder Prison True Person's Nascent Soul Ceremony and lectures by Nascent Soul True Lords.
• Zhou Xun traveled with Niu Chong under the assumed name Ning Zhuo, and Shi Feng invited him to visit after sensing his extraordinary Killing Intent.
• After Zhou Xun left, Shi Feng told Xu Zhen that Ning Zhuo's Killing Intent surpassed that of Li Feiyu and rivaled Thunder Prison True Lord's; Niu Chong then began explaining the Heavenly Star Hall's overseers.

Zhou Xun learned why Thunder Prison True Lord’s Nascent Soul celebration had drawn cultivators from across the region and decided to stay in Luoyuan Immortal City for the festivities and its markets. At Treasures Pavilion, he bought its Lightning Crystal in bulk and asked about higher-tier spiritwood and demon cores.

• Niu Chong told Zhou Xun that Thunder Prison True Lord had exceptional lightning aptitude, formed an Immortal Golden Core, and recently advanced to Nascent Soul.
• Niu Chong explained that Thunder Prison True Lord would personally expound the Dao, and Zhou Xun decided to remain in Luoyuan Immortal City to attend and seek materials for the Azure Emperor Seal.
• Zhou Xun and Niu Chong entered Treasures Pavilion, where the shopkeeper offered to show Zhou Xun lightning treasures, spiritwood, and demon cores.
• Zhou Xun agreed to buy all 120 jin of the pavilion’s Lightning Crystal for 3.5 million spirit stones.
• The shopkeeper listed the pavilion’s Tier 3 spiritwood and revealed that its storehouse also held two sections of Tier 4 spiritwood, which caught Zhou Xun’s interest.

Zhou Xun bought Jade Heartwood and Soulshock Wood in Luoyuan Immortal City, then attended exchange meets while searching for the remaining materials needed to refine the Azure Emperor Seal. Three days before Thunder Prison True Lord’s celebration, he was walking to another exchange meet when a procession caused a commotion behind him.

• Zhou Xun purchased Tier 4 Lower Grade Jade Heartwood and Soulshock Wood, verified their properties, and paid five million five hundred thousand spirit stones along with the thunder crystals he had ordered.
• Zhou Xun searched other shops, bought a Tier 3 Lower Grade earth-element demon core, rented a Tier 3 Lower Grade cave dwelling, and received an invitation to an exchange meet.
• Zhou Xun attended the exchange meet and offered two hundred thousand spirit stones for a Tier 3 water-element demon core, which he obtained from a female cultivator in a blue palace dress.
• Zhou Xun spent the following days cultivating and attending exchange meets but found no suitable materials for the Azure Emperor Seal.
• With three days left before Thunder Prison True Lord’s celebration, Zhou Xun was walking along the main street when a procession approached and a commotion broke out behind him.

After seeing Perfected Lord Yu Xuan leave Luoyuan Immortal City, Zhou Xun abandoned his plans to stay and traveled through the Teleportation Array to Central Continent. The Spiritual Qi there nearly triggered his Core Formation, and he realized his incarnation might form an Immortal Golden Core; as he flew toward his incarnation, he sensed a battle nearby.

• Zhou Xun saw Perfected Lord Yu Xuan ride past his incarnation and decided to leave for Central Continent before Yu Xuan returned.
• Zhou Xun left Luoyuan Immortal City and reached the Teleportation Array at Hundred Savages Mountain after two days of travel.
• Zhou Xun activated the Teleportation Array and arrived in Central Continent, where the local Spiritual Qi made his Dantian surge toward a breakthrough.
• Zhou Xun suppressed the brewing Core Formation to avoid exposing the Teleportation Array and attracting the Spirit Mastery Sect's attention.
• Zhou Xun left the hidden chamber and flew toward his incarnation, then concealed himself after sensing a battle a thousand li beyond the Spirit Mastery Sect's mountain gate.

Zhou Xun learned that the Spirit Mastery Sect’s secret Dragon Transformation Pool could purify spirit beast bloodlines, and he seized a disciple who knew its secrets. After reuniting with his incarnation near the Zheng–Song border, he left the Dragon Transformation Pool as a valuable opportunity for his spirit beasts.

• Zhou Xun overheard a Spirit Mastery Sect disciple attacking his Junior Sister over her Dragon Transformation Pool slot and learned that the pool could restore spirit beast bloodlines.
• Zhou Xun used a Tier 3 Low-Grade Bewilderment Talisman to incapacitate the pair, then carried off the young man.
• Zhou Xun questioned the young man, who revealed that the Dragon Transformation Pool could raise bloodlines and opened once every thirty years with six slots.
• Zhou Xun considered the pool’s potential benefits for his Azure Golden Dragon Carp, Blackscaled Armadillo, and Song Yiqing’s Crimson Fire Luan, then knocked the young man unconscious again.
• Zhou Xun reunited with his incarnation at the Zheng Nation–Song Nation border on the day of Thunder Prison True Lord’s Nascent Soul celebration.

Zhou Xun returned to the Chaotic Domain with his incarnation, Wang Lin, and chose Thousand Eagle Ridge as the site for his Core Formation. After renting a Tier 3 High-Grade cave abode, he bought a report on recent events and discovered that all three major incidents involved Li Feiyu.

• Zhou Xun avoided Perfected Lord Yu Xuan, traveled through Southern Summer Immortal City, and returned to the Chaotic Domain.
• Zhou Xun and Wang Lin arrived at Thousand Eagle Market, where Liu Huang welcomed them and offered a guide.
• Zhou Xun rented a Tier 3 High-Grade cave abode for one year and went to Wind Collection Pavilion for news.
• Zhou Xun read a report on the Chaotic Domain's recent events and learned that Li Feiyu was connected to all three major incidents.
• Zhou Xun learned that Li Feiyu had slain a Tier 3 High-Grade Lightning Flood Dragon raised by the Dao Island Sect.

Zhou Xun prepared to form his core after learning of a new secret realm and strengthening his spiritual root to Heaven Spiritual Root level. After taking an Essence Crystallization Pill, he began Core Formation, drawing Spiritual Qi into an enormous vortex as his liquid Mystic Force started condensing into a Dan.

• Zhou Xun learned that he was wanted by the Dao Island Sect and Blood Refinement Sect, and that a secret realm would open north of Primal Chaos Immortal City within half a year.
• Zhou Xun returned to his cave abode, bought spirit herbs, set up the Icefire Heavy Cloud Formation, and studied Core Formation insights for half a month.
• Zhou Xun used the Celestial True Flame Lotus to raise his spiritual root sensitivity to eighty points, reaching the Heaven Spiritual Root level.
• Zhou Xun began losing control as a breakthrough sensation arose, so he swallowed his strengthened Essence Crystallization Pill and started Core Formation.
• Zhou Xun passed the vitality and blood and Mystic Force barriers, then drew in Spiritual Qi as a vortex above his cave abode expanded to a thousand zhang and liquid Mystic Force began condensing into a Dan.

After raising his Spiritual Root to the Heaven Spiritual Root, Zhou Xun began forming his core in seclusion. The phenomenon drew attention across Thousand Eagle Market, where four Core Formation cultivators wagered on the quality of the core he would condense.

• Zhou Xun used the Celestial True Flame Lotus to raise his Wood Spiritual Root affinity to eighty points, reaching the Heaven Spiritual Root.
• Zhou Xun swallowed an enhanced Essence Crystallization Pill and began forming his core with the Spirit Wood True Art.
• A Spiritual Qi vortex gathered above Zhou Xun's cave abode, and its pressure alerted cultivators throughout Thousand Eagle Market.
• The middle-aged steward and his son recognized Zhou Xun's cave abode as the source of the Core Formation phenomenon.
• Senior Brother Liao, Junior Brother Cao, Brother Wu, True Person Wan, and Perfected Person Sanchuan wagered on Zhou Xun's core quality, with Sanchuan predicting a High-Grade core.

Zhou Xun continued forming his core in Thousand Eagle Square, while the gathered cultivators watched the Spiritual Qi phenomenon reveal the quality of his achievement. By the sixth day, the phenomenon signaled that he was condensing a Superior True Core, leaving the crowd stunned.

• Perfected Person Sanchuan and the others discussed inviting Zhou Xun to join the Thousand Eagle Society after his core formation.
• Zhou Xun endured the physical trial, formed a solid core, and continued refining and compressing it beyond Low-Grade True Core quality.
• When the phenomenon lasted five days, cultivators sent Message Talismans to Zhou Xun, and the blue-robed man won the Windrider Roc egg from the young man.
• Zhou Xun continued polishing his core through the sixth day, astonishing cultivators across Thousand Eagle Square.
• The crowd realized Zhou Xun was condensing a Superior True Core, and the blue-robed man reacted in shock.

Zhou Xun’s breakthrough phenomenon lasted through the ninth day, and the Spiritual Qi supplied by Perfected Person Sanchuan helped him continue cultivating. His Lifebound Spirit Plant sprouted and nourished his inner core, which transformed into a flawless, radiant Golden Core bearing the lotus seed’s image.

• Perfected Person Sanchuan gave the treasures back to the other cultivators and watched Zhou Xun’s phenomenon, hoping to recruit him for the Thousand Eagle Society.
• When the phenomenon lasted seven days, Perfected Person Sanchuan activated Thousand Eagle Square’s Mountain Protection Grand Formation to send stored Spiritual Qi toward Zhou Xun’s cave abode.
• Zhou Xun sensed the added Spiritual Qi and recognized Perfected Person Sanchuan’s gesture as an effort to befriend him.
• On the ninth day, Zhou Xun entered a state of enlightenment, and his Lifebound Spirit Plant absorbed a strange energy and sprouted.
• The sprouted lotus seed nourished Zhou Xun’s inner core, which transformed into a flawless Golden Core inscribed with Dao runes and the image of the lotus seed.

Zhou Xun awakened after forming an Immortal Golden Core and discovered that his lotus seed had granted him powerful recovery and more than twelve hundred years of lifespan. News of his achievement spread from Thousand Eagle Square, drawing envoys and hopeful followers as factions competed to court him.

• Zhou Xun discovered his Immortal Golden Core and found that the lotus seed gave him rapid healing and extended his lifespan beyond twelve hundred years.
• Perfected Person Sanchuan decided to send Zhou Xun a letter of goodwill, while the White-Haired Old Man explained why sects would compete to recruit an Immortal Golden Core cultivator.
• People at Thousand Eagle Square crowded outside Zhou Xun's cave abode, hoping to serve him or become his disciple.
• Factions gathered information about Zhou Xun by seeking out the city gate steward, his son, and the residence steward.
• Nearby lineage and faction leaders hurried to Thousand Eagle Square to pay their respects and spread news of Zhou Xun to powerful sects.

After forming an Immortal Golden Core, Zhou Xun tested his new strength and found that his divine sense and spiritual power rivaled those of an ordinary Late-Stage Core Formation cultivator. He received congratulations and a recruitment offer from the Phantom Spirit Sect, but his future plans remained unsettled.

• Zhou Xun measured his divine sense at six thousand seven hundred zhang and tested his spiritual power by piercing a thick piece of third-rank spirit iron.
• Zhou Xun gathered the congratulatory messages sent by cultivators and factions, then invited Wan Xiaoshan and the Thousand Eagle Society to meet him.
• Perfected Person Sanchuan and the others gave Zhou Xun gifts, including a rare Bikong Pill, and shared advice about Early-Stage Core Formation cultivation.
• Perfected Person Sanchuan offered to recruit Zhou Xun into the Phantom Spirit Sect, revealing that his father was one of its Supreme Elders.

Zhou Xun rejected Perfected Person Sanchuan’s recruitment and left Thousand Eagle Market, then set out for the northern border to pursue the Dragon Blood Holy Fruit. Along the way, he mastered the Wood Escape Art and began cultivating the Spirit Wood Boundary.

• Zhou Xun delayed his decision on Perfected Person Sanchuan’s offer, then packed his belongings and left his cave residence without joining a faction.
• Zhou Xun silenced the crowd gathered outside with his Core Formation pressure, gave the youth who had guided him a premium Foundation Establishment Pill, and departed Thousand Eagle Market.
• Zhou Xun used his Diviner’s Compass to confirm that the person connected to the Dragon Blood Holy Fruit was still at the northern border of the Chaotic Domain, then changed course to head there.
• During the journey, Zhou Xun practiced the Spirit Wood True Art and mastered the Wood Escape Art, which let him travel hundreds of miles in an instant.
• Ten days later, Zhou Xun began cultivating the Spirit Wood Boundary in an uninhabited valley.