Chapter Summaries

After reuniting with Wang Erniu, Zhou Xun helped him arrange a cave abode for his Foundation Establishment breakthrough. The Blackscaled Armadillo successfully advanced to Tier 2, and Song Yiqing gave Zhou Xun an invitation to White Cloud Immortal City's upcoming auction.

• Wang Erniu returned safely to Dan Hai Pavilion and told Zhou Xun how he had escaped the attack on White Cloud encampment.
• Wang Erniu confirmed he had gathered all three strands of heaven-and-earth essence and planned to establish his foundation.
• Zhou Xun used his connections to help Wang Erniu rent Cave Abode Armor Three at a reduced price for his breakthrough.
• After half a month, the Blackscaled Armadillo absorbed the Gold Spirit Pill and successfully advanced to a Tier 2 Spirit Beast.
• Song Yiqing gave Zhou Xun an invitation to White Cloud Immortal City's once-every-ten-years auction, scheduled for just over a month later.

Zhou Xun reviewed the once-in-a-decade auction list and encouraged Wang Erniu to attend after Wang successfully established his foundation as a Sword Cultivator. At the auction's opening, Wang Erniu identified two treasures he wanted but admitted he lacked enough spirit stones.

• Zhou Xun read the auction list and decided the Vajra Five Elements Formation would suit his Forgetful River Lake estate.
• Wang Erniu emerged after a month in seclusion, having successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, and received congratulations from the rental manager.
• Wang Erniu told Zhou Xun of his success, and the two brothers celebrated with spirit wine.
• Zhou Xun urged Wang Erniu to attend the auction and offered to lend him spirit stones if needed.
• A month later, Zhou Xun brought Song Yiqing and Wang Erniu to Azure Ape Hall, where Feng Tingli welcomed them and an attendant led them to private room Armor Seventeen.
• Wang Erniu told Zhou Xun that he wanted the Fusion Spirit Stone and silver essence but lacked enough spirit stones.

Zhou Xun attended White Cloud Immortal City's grand auction with Wang Erniu and Song Yiqing, where the city displayed its strength by selling five Foundation Establishment Pills at record prices. He received a generous bidding discount and credit from the Immortal City, then used the discount to buy a Youth Preserving Pill for Song Yiqing.

• Zhou Xun encouraged Wang Erniu to bid on the Fusion Spirit Stone and decided to buy a Youth Preserving Pill for Song Yiqing.
• Zhou Buqi opened the auction with five Foundation Establishment Pills, which sold for at least seven thousand spirit stones each after Hu Family Head and Yu Laosi drove up the bids.
• Wang Erniu bought the Fusion Spirit Stone for four thousand spirit stones.
• Elder Yu delivered Zhou Xun an offer from the chief steward: Zhou Xun could pay eighty percent of auction prices and borrow up to ten thousand spirit stones interest-free for ten years.
• Zhou Xun won a Tier 2 High-Grade Youth Preserving Pill for four thousand five hundred spirit stones, paying only thirty-six hundred after his discount.

Zhou Xun gave Song Yiqing a Youth Preserving Pill and won the Near Tier 3 Vajra Five Elements Formation at auction to protect his future cultivation abode at Forgetful River Lake. After announcing that he would lease the lake and inviting clients to seek him there for pill refinement, he paid the discounted balance with help from a loan from White Cloud Immortal City.

• Zhou Xun gave Song Yiqing the Youth Preserving Pill and encouraged her to focus on cultivation.
• Zheng Buxiu and Huang Tianqiu competed for the Vajra Five Elements Formation because of their families’ bitter feud.
• Zhou Xun outbid Zheng Buxiu and Huang Tianqiu, then revealed that Forgetful River Lake would become his cultivation abode.
• The chief steward of White Cloud Immortal City warned the bidders to follow auction rules, and Zheng Buxiu stopped contesting the formation.
• Zhou Xun won the formation for sixteen thousand spirit stones and bought it with the Youth Preserving Pill after borrowing the remaining funds from White Cloud Immortal City.

Zhou Xun declined to bid on the Snow Spirit Water and refused Zheng Tianxiu’s offer for his Near Tier 3 Formation, then prepared to take possession of his Forgetful River Lake dojo. Meanwhile, White Cloud True One sought pill refiners to help make an Essence Crystallization Pill, and Zhou Buqi recommended Zhou Xun for the task.

• A False Core cultivator won the Snow Spirit Water for thirty-four thousand spirit stones, and the Gray Sword Talisman Treasure sold for twelve thousand.
• Zhou Xun gave Song Yiqing a Youth Preserving Pill, then returned to Red Leaf Square with Wang Erniu after ordering a spiritual herb from the Lin Family Head.
• Zheng Tianxiu offered to buy Zhou Xun’s Vajra Five Elements Formation, but Zhou Xun refused and noticed the man’s hostile look as he left.
• After three months passed, Zhou Xun’s day to take possession of his Forgetful River Lake dojo arrived.
• White Cloud True One told Yufeng True One, Zhou Buqi, and Xing Huaian that he needed three Tier 2 High-Grade pill refiners to help refine an Essence Crystallization Pill.
• Zhou Buqi recommended Zhou Xun, and White Cloud True One tasked him with ensuring Zhou Xun reached Tier 2 High-Grade within twenty years.

Zhou Xun prepared to leave Golden Springs Lane for his Forgetful River Lake dojo and recruited White Spirit Fairy, whose spirit-fish expertise suited his needs. When Zhou Buqi arrived, Zhou Xun explained that he wanted to hire her and asked the chief manager to let her go.

• Zhou Xun said farewell to his neighbors and invited cultivators skilled in raising spirit fish to join his dojo.
• White Spirit Fairy offered her services and showed Zhou Xun a Jade Slip containing a spirit-fish cultivation inheritance.
• Zhou Xun accepted White Spirit Fairy, but the Cold-Faced Middle-Aged Man warned that hiring Joyful Union Pavilion's top courtesan could offend Zhou Buqi.
• Zhou Buqi arrived, and Zhou Xun explained why he needed White Spirit Fairy for the Forgetful River Lake dojo.

Zhou Xun left White Cloud Immortal City for the Forgetful River Lake cultivation grounds with Zhou Buqi, Song Yiqing, and White Spirit Fairy, receiving an unexpected promotion and expanded territory from the Immortal City. Zheng Tianxiu learned of Zhou Xun’s departure and followed him, while the party reached Lakeheart Island to take over the grounds.

• Zhou Buqi promoted Zhou Xun to upper-grade honored guest, gifted him his cave dwelling, and expanded his Forgetful River Lake cultivation grounds from three hundred li to one thousand li.
• Zhou Xun departed through the eastern gate with Zhou Buqi, Song Yiqing, and White Spirit Fairy as Golden Springs Lane’s residents watched them leave.
• A Zheng Lineage scout reported Zhou Xun’s departure to Zheng Tianxiu and warned him that Zhou Buqi was traveling with the group.
• Zheng Tianxiu decided to follow Zhou Xun and wait for a chance to act when Zhou Buqi was no longer nearby.
• Three days later, Zhou Xun’s party reached Lakeheart Island, where Mo Yishu greeted Zhou Buqi and Zhou Xun before handing over the cultivation grounds.

Zhou Xun took control of the Forgetful River Lake estate and learned that White Cloud True One wanted him to advance to Tier 2 High-Grade Pill Refiner to assist with a Tier 3 pill. As he inspected the estate and planned its fishery, he noticed an elderly spirit farmer while Zheng Tianxiu arrived at the lake behind him.

• Mo Yishu handed Zhou Xun the estate records and offered him spirit herb seedlings and young Silver Scale Spirit Fish, and Zhou Xun gifted him a Vein Protection Pill in return.
• Zhou Buqi told Zhou Xun that White Cloud True One needed his help refining a Tier 3 pill and promised Immortal City support if he reached Tier 2 High-Grade within twenty years; Zhou Xun agreed.
• Zhou Xun established the Vajra Five Elements Formation, settled Song Yiqing and Wei Qiuxin on the islands, and began reorganizing the estate.
• Zhou Xun put Wei Qiuxin in charge of the fishery, and she proposed raising Crimson Spirit Dragonfish for their spiritual benefits and high value.
• While inspecting the spirit fields, Zhou Xun noticed an elderly spirit farmer, while Zheng Tianxiu arrived at Forgetful River Lake after following him from a distance.

Zhou Xun discovered Zheng Tianxiu hiding among the spirit farmers and lured him away from Lakeheart Island to confront him. Zheng Tianxiu fell for Zhou Xun’s Bewilderment Talisman, leaving him facing a massive fist.

• Zheng Tianxiu disguised himself as a spirit farmer and waited near Lakeheart Island for Zhou Xun to leave the protection of his formation.
• After a month of waiting, Zheng Tianxiu encountered Zhou Xun in the spirit fields, and both recognized each other.
• Zhou Xun flew toward an uninhabited area of Forgetful River Lake, and Zheng Tianxiu pursued him, believing he had an easy chance to attack.
• Zhou Xun pretended to beg for mercy while secretly activating a Bewilderment Talisman, making Zheng Tianxiu see him kneel and offer his Storage Pouch.
• Zheng Tianxiu realized the illusion had deceived him just as a massive fist rushed toward him.

Zhou Xun killed Zheng Tianxiu and returned to a peaceful life at Forgetful River Lake, while Wei Qiuxin witnessed the fight and resolved to follow him. Three months later, Old Taoist Chuyun arrived early to collect pills, reporting a sharp rise in sales of pills and other treasures across White Cloud Immortal City.

• Zhou Xun killed Zheng Tianxiu with a single punch, took his Storage Pouch, and flew toward Lakeheart Island while Wei Qiuxin watched from beneath the lake.
• Wei Qiuxin realized Zhou Xun had defeated Zheng Tianxiu and secretly resolved to devote herself to following him.
• Zhou Xun inventoried Zheng Tianxiu's treasures, sent letters to Lin Xueying, Wang Erniu, and the Song Family, and settled into a peaceful life at Forgetful River Lake.
• Three months later, Old Taoist Chuyun visited Zhou Xun at Stillheart Pavilion ahead of schedule to collect pills.
• Old Taoist Chuyun told Zhou Xun that Dan Hai Pavilion's pill sales had nearly doubled and that sales of other treasures had also risen, pushing up the prices of spirit materials and herbs.

Zhou Xun absorbed the Violet Crystal Spirit Mushroom and, with the aid of a superlative Azure Spirit Pill, broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage at age thirty-nine. Alarmed that his rapid progress might expose his hidden aptitude to White Cloud True One, he weighed ways to conceal it but rejected both options he considered.

• Zhou Xun ordered Old Taoist Chuyun to monitor White Cloud Immortal City and set pill prices as he saw fit, then refined spirit herbs for him to take back.
• After preparing himself, Zhou Xun absorbed the Violet Crystal Spirit Mushroom, and its essence triggered a surge in his cultivation.
• Zhou Xun reached thirty-nine drops of mystic force, swallowed Zhou Buqi's Azure Spirit Pill, and broke through to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment.
• Zhou Xun calculated that his improved spiritual root sensitivity could let him reach Foundation Establishment Peak unusually young and possibly form a Dan before one hundred.
• Fearing White Cloud True One would investigate his suspicious cultivation speed, Zhou Xun rejected relying on aura-concealing Mystic Gestures and also rejected halting cultivation for twenty years.

Zhou Xun used the Thousand Illusions Mask to hide his true cultivation realm and found that his Wood Spiritual Root affinity had risen to 50 points. After stabilizing at Foundation Establishment Level Four, he advanced to a Tier 2 mid-grade talisman master, leaving him with greater strength and three Lightning Strike Talismans.

• Zhou Xun rejected plans to flee Xu Nation and realized he could use the Thousand Illusions Mask to disguise his realm as his own.
• Zhou Xun tested his spiritual root and found his Wood Spiritual Root affinity had increased to 50 points.
• Zhou Xun tested the Fire Cloud Sword and his divine sense, finding his strength comparable to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator.
• Zhou Xun stabilized his cultivation at Foundation Establishment Level Four and successfully drew his first Tier 2 mid-grade Lightning Strike Talisman.
• Zhou Xun used five sheets of talisman paper to produce three Lightning Strike Talismans, and a year passed.

Zhou Xun improved his spiritual root and cultivated talismans while Wei Qiuxin reported successfully raising Crimson Spirit Dragonfish and received a Spirit Gathering Pill as a reward. After Wei Qiuxin broke through to Qi Condensation Seventh Level, Zhou Xun continued refining spirit herbs, then sensed a surge of mana on Lakeheart Island and went to investigate.

• Zhou Xun raised his spiritual root to fifty-one points and spent a year nurturing ten talismans.
• Song Yiqing brought Wei Qiuxin to meet Zhou Xun, and Wei Qiuxin reported that her Crimson Spirit Dragonfish had reached Tier 1 Low-Grade.
• Zhou Xun rewarded Wei Qiuxin with a Spirit Gathering Pill and promised that raising the fish to Tier 2 could earn her a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Wei Qiuxin broke through to Qi Condensation Seventh Level, and Zhou Xun gave her a bottle of Dan suitable for Late-Stage Qi Condensation cultivators.
• Zhou Xun refined two Near Tier-3 spirit herbs into Lifebound Spirit Plants and planned to raise them to Tier 3 Low-Grade before absorbing them.
• After sensing a surge of mana on Lakeheart Island, Zhou Xun went to investigate and arrived at a cliff.

Zhou Xun watched Crimson Fire grow, learned of Lin Xueying’s progress, and advanced his body refinement before deciding to leave Forgetful River Lake to seek rare cultivation resources. He headed for Feng Nation, where three Core Formation powers held influence.

• Zhou Xun told Song Yiqing that Crimson Fire’s Azure Luan bloodline would let it reach high-grade Rank One within ten years, making it able to carry her.
• Song Yiqing delivered Lin Xueying’s letter, which said she was guarding a secret realm and had reached the fourth level of Foundation Establishment; Zhou Xun sent a reply.
• Zhou Xun reached the fifth level of the Hundred Meridian Body Refining Art and found that even a high-grade magic artifact could not injure his body.
• Over the following years, Zhou Xun nurtured talismans and raised his spirit root sensitivity to fifty-five points, but his supply of spirit herbs and body-refinement materials ran out.
• Zhou Xun decided to seek rare resources under the guise of a False Dan cultivator, gave Song Yiqing instructions, and flew toward Feng Nation.
• The chapter introduced Feng Nation’s three Core Formation powers and noted that Profound Cloud Sect had two True Core cultivators, including the Middle Stage Supreme Elder Xuan Yunzi.

Zhou Xun arrived at Fengyuan City, where his Core Formation status let him bypass the airspace restriction and enter without paying. After exploring the city’s main street, he agreed to let Wen Siyue guide him as he sought opportunities to sell his treasures.

• Zhou Xun flew past Fengyuan City’s airspace restriction, inspiring the young Xin Buyu, who later became a True Core cultivator.
• At the city gates, Wenren Qing registered Zhou Xun and gave him a passage token without charging a fee.
• Zhou Xun entered the prosperous city and recognized a Hundred Treasures Pavilion among its many shops.
• Wen Siyue approached Zhou Xun and offered to guide him around Fengyuan City in exchange for a small reward.
• Zhou Xun accepted Wen Siyue’s offer.

Zhou Xun visited Hundred Delights Pavilion in Fengyuan City, sold a large collection of treasures, and asked about rare materials for cultivation. He learned that a Core Formation cultivator exchange gathering would be held there in two months, where he might find what he needed.

• Wen Siyue introduced Zhou Xun to Fengyuan City's major factions, shops, and West Square, then guided him to Hundred Delights Pavilion.
• Zhou Xun brought Wen Siyue into the pavilion and let her choose any treasure from the first floor.
• Shopkeeper Huang Yu inspected Zhou Xun's nearly hundred mystic tools, demon beast materials, and talismans, then offered him 37,000 spirit stones, which Zhou Xun accepted.
• Huang Yu told Zhou Xun that the pavilion had no rare spirit herbs or Dragon's Roar Crystal, but said a Core Formation cultivator exchange gathering would take place there in two months.
• Zhou Xun asked about attending the gathering, and Huang Yu offered to report him to his master and asked for Zhou Xun's name.

Zhou Xun rewarded Wen Siyue for her honest service by teaching her talisman making, then attended a Core Formation-level exchange meet in Fengyuan City. The gathering began with several False Core cultivators and True Core cultivator Xuan Qingzi arriving, as Zhou Xun hoped to trade for rare materials.

• Zhou Xun bought three hundred and seventy Mid-Grade Spirit Stones’ worth of goods, and Wen Siyue refused to choose a treasure as her reward.
• After failing to find the puppets, spirit herbs, and metals he needed, Zhou Xun settled at an inn and gave Wen Siyue a Tier 2 Low-Grade talisman inheritance, a Talisman Brush, paper, and ink.
• During the next two months, Zhou Xun taught Wen Siyue, who learned to draw the simplest Clean Garment Talisman.
• Zhou Xun went to the Hundred Delights Pavilion’s exchange meet and met Venerable Wen Yang, Qin Fang, and Song Zhimeng.
• Xuan Qingzi arrived, and the cultivators greeted the True Core cultivator.

Zhou Xun attended a cultivators’ exchange meeting in Fengyuan City, where he bought four Tier 2 high-grade spirit herbs from Qin Fang. The meeting continued with an elderly puppet master offering his creations while seeking Mu Yuan Ginseng to support his plan to refine quasi-Tier 3 puppets.

• Venerable Wen Yang opened the exchange meeting and sold Profound Iron Essence and other spiritual materials to the assembled cultivators.
• Qin Fang offered four Tier 2 high-grade spirit plants, while the other cultivators showed no interest and questioned his modest offerings.
• Zhou Xun bought Qin Fang’s four spirit plants for twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones, intending to raise his spiritual root sensitivity.
• The red-robed Elder surnamed Hu offered seventeen Tier 2 mid-grade puppets and two Tier 2 high-grade puppets, asking for Mu Yuan Ginseng for the stronger pair.
• Elder Hu revealed that a recent breakthrough in his craft had inspired him to sell the puppets and gather materials for refining quasi-Tier 3 puppets.

Zhou Xun traded his Golden Radiance Stone for Mu Ya Crystal and learned more about Feng Nation while negotiating with Elder Hu over his quasi-Tier 3 Mu Yuan Ginseng. The chapter left them discussing Fengyuan’s ghost mist, which periodically threatened the nation.

• Elder Hu refused to trade his Tier 2 top-grade puppet for a Longevity Pill but offered to forge puppets in exchange for life-extending treasures.
• Zhou Xun exchanged his Golden Radiance Stone for Mu Ya Crystal and spirit stones, then benefited from discussions of cultivation methods at the gathering.
• Zhou Xun met Elder Hu privately, confirmed he possessed quasi-Tier 3 Mu Yuan Ginseng, and delayed negotiating while gathering information about Feng Nation.
• Elder Hu told Zhou Xun that Fengyuan contained powerful Demon Kings and that ghost mist emerged roughly once every hundred years, forcing Feng Nation’s cultivators to defend against it.

Zhou Xun traded the Mu Yuan Ginseng to Elder Hu for a quasi-Tier 3 puppet and several other puppets, then escaped Fengyuan City and returned to Forgetful River Lake. After reuniting with Song Yiqing and checking on the Crimson Fire Luan, he refined his new puppets.

• Zhou Xun rejected Elder Hu's offers of Tier 2 peak-grade puppets until Hu offered a quasi-Tier 3 puppet along with two Tier 2 peak-grade and four Tier 2 mid-grade puppets for the Mu Yuan Ginseng.
• Zhou Xun and Elder Hu completed the exchange, and Hu explained how to power the quasi-Tier 3 puppet.
• Zhou Xun left Fengyuan City, checked for tracking marks, changed his appearance and route, and flew to Forgetful River Lake in Xu Nation.
• Song Yiqing welcomed Zhou Xun home, and the two spent the night together.
• Zhou Xun checked on the Crimson Fire Luan, whose aura had grown stronger, then refined his newly acquired puppets over several days.