Chapter Summaries

Chen Jianghe managed his fishery at Mirror Moon Lake and planned to buy a Spirit-Opening Pill for his turtle, Xiao Hei, while pursuing a cautious path to cultivation. After returning from the harbor, he received a warning from Old Gao not to mine during the fish dormancy period or lend out his Spirit Sand.

• Chen Jianghe caught a large Big Blue Fish, praised Xiao Hei for guarding the fry, and calculated that this year’s harvest could earn enough to buy a Spirit-Opening Pill.
• Chen Jianghe cultivated the Origin Returning True Water Art, then went ashore to dispose of his waste and buy necessities at the harbor market.
• Chen Jianghe returned to his waters and received a letter from Old Gao through a White Egret, paying the messenger with a Big Blue Fish.
• Chen Jianghe read Old Gao’s warning against mining for Spirit Stones during the fish dormancy period and lending out Spirit Sand, then decided to avoid the risks and cultivate steadily.

Chen Jianghe declined temporary work with the Lan Household and spent the fish dormancy period cultivating. A letter from Yu Daniu revealed that the Lan Household had lured fish farmers to their deaths, while Chen Jianghe’s cultivation continued to advance as he awaited the Yun Household’s fish collection.

• Chen Jianghe declined a middle-aged fish farmer’s offer to work for the Lan Household and let a passing young man take the opportunity instead.
• Chen Jianghe spent the fish dormancy period cultivating and made occasional trips to the harbor for necessities.
• Yu Daniu sent Chen Jianghe a letter reporting that the Lan Household had recruited over two hundred fish farmers and killed more than a hundred to steal their wealth.
• Yu Daniu revealed that he had escaped the slaughter because he had returned home to Bixia Town to visit his family.
• Chen Jianghe destroyed the letter, worried about the safety of fish farmers and the Yun Household’s response, then cultivated while waiting for the fish collection in three days.

Chen Jianghe earned eighty-one grains of spirit sand when the Yun Household harvested his large black carp. Yun Bufan praised his skill, prompting Chen Jianghe to resolve to enter the inner waters eventually while keeping his abilities and Xiao Hei’s secret hidden.

• The Yun Household’s fish-collection ship arrived at Chen Jianghe’s area, and its cultivators used the Golden Silk Net to catch the aquatic creatures there.
• Chen Jianghe and the crew hauled aboard 578 large black carp, which weighed 2,081 jin and averaged three jin and six liang each.
• Yun Bufan awarded Chen Jianghe eighty-one grains of spirit sand and praised his fish-raising talent.
• Chen Jianghe considered the ways to enter the inner waters and decided to wait twenty years rather than attract attention with unusually high yields.
• Chen Jianghe rowed toward the harbor to meet Old Gao and Da Niu at the marketplace tavern and attend the year-end fish-farmer assembly.

Chen Jianghe met Old Gao and Yu Daniu at the Welcoming Inn for their annual gathering, where Yu Daniu recounted the Lan Household’s attack on fisher-farmers. After Old Gao suggested visiting the Misty Rain Pavilion, Chen Jianghe returned to his boat to rest and await the year-end assembly.

• Chen Jianghe arrived at Port No. 1 and found Old Gao waiting at the Welcoming Inn.
• Yu Daniu joined Chen Jianghe and Old Gao, and they shared food, wine, and their experiences from the past year.
• Yu Daniu explained that he had escaped the Lan Household’s attack by returning home midway through his temporary work.
• Old Gao analyzed how the Lan Household’s three late-stage qi refiners had overwhelmed the fisher-farmers and heard that the clan had gained at least eight hundred spirit stones.
• Old Gao suggested that Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu visit the Misty Rain Pavilion, but Chen Jianghe returned to his fishing boat to rest.

Chen Jianghe attended the Yun Household’s year-end conference, where Yun Bufan took charge and promoted several fisher-farmers without addressing the Lan Household’s killing of more than a hundred cultivators. Disturbed by the Yun Household’s disregard for junior fisher-farmers, Chen Jianghe planned to buy a Spirit-Opening Pill and return to water area 512.

• Chen Jianghe met Yu Daniu and Old Gao at Port No. 1 and listened as fisher-farmers discussed the Lan Household’s massacre and stolen spirit stones.
• Yun Bufan presided over the conference, and Chen Jianghe learned that he was the gifted nineteen-year-old son of the Yun Household head.
• Yun Bufan announced three promotions to senior fisher-farmer and praised Chen Jianghe’s improved fish-farming skills without giving him a tangible reward.
• Yun Bufan ended the conference without mentioning the Lan Household’s victims, leaving Chen Jianghe troubled by the Yun Household’s indifference.
• Chen Jianghe resolved to buy a Spirit-Opening Pill and hurry back to water area 512, which he considered safer.

Chen Jianghe bought a Spirit-Opening Pill for Xiao Hei at the trading fair, paying extra because he used spirit sand instead of a spirit stone. As he prepared to return to his waters, Wang Kui tried to borrow spirit sand from him, and Chen Jianghe refused despite Wang Kui’s escalating pressure.

• Chen Jianghe counted his savings and decided he could spend one spirit stone on a Spirit-Opening Pill while preserving enough for next year’s expenses.
• Chen Jianghe visited the trading fair and bought a Spirit-Opening Pill from a Mid Qi Refining Stage woman for one hundred and five grains of spirit sand.
• The woman suggested that Chen Jianghe also buy a Spirit-Nurturing Pill so his pet could become a spirit beast, but he left without buying one.
• Chen Jianghe bought daily necessities and headed back to his boat, where Wang Kui stopped him and asked to borrow spirit sand for pills.
• Chen Jianghe refused Wang Kui’s requests, knowing that Wang Kui had a history of borrowing without repaying, and Wang Kui angrily accused him of insulting him.

After the new year, Chen Jianghe gave Xiao Hei a Spirit-Awakening Pill and promised him a Qi-Nourishing Pill if he raised large black carp over the next five years. Xiao Hei eagerly accepted the bargain, and Chen Jianghe planned to benefit from the tortoise’s eventual cultivation.

• Chen Jianghe returned to Five-One-Two Waters and refused to give Wang Kui spirit sand, relying on Mirror Moon Lake’s rules to protect himself.
• Seven days later, Chen Jianghe turned seventeen as the Yun Household delivered fry and new fisher-farmers arrived in the outer waters.
• After releasing the black carp fry, Chen Jianghe swam into the lake and summoned Xiao Hei once fishing boats had become scarce.
• Chen Jianghe fed Xiao Hei a Spirit-Awakening Pill and explained that its effects would take two to three months to appear.
• Chen Jianghe promised Xiao Hei a Qi-Nourishing Pill if it raised black carp as large as the previous year’s, and Xiao Hei responded excitedly.

Over three years, Chen Jianghe improved his cultivation, raised fish, and saved 280 grains of spirit sand while Xiao Hei neared becoming a spirit beast. He decided to buy a Qi-Nourishing Pill for himself and went to Port No. 1, uncertain whether Old Gao and Yu Daniu would attend their annual meeting.

• Chen Jianghe learned the Water Arrow Technique and raised three batches of big blue fish, saving 280 grains of spirit sand after expenses.
• Xiao Hei awakened spiritual intelligence and grew close to becoming a spirit beast, so Chen Jianghe hid it from the Yun Household's steward.
• Chen Jianghe decided to buy a Qi-Nourishing Pill for his own breakthrough rather than give it to Xiao Hei.
• Chen Jianghe learned that Yu Daniu had lent Wang Kui spirit sand repeatedly, lost fifty grains, and been abused after refusing another loan.
• Chen Jianghe arrived at the Welcoming Inn in Port No. 1 and wondered whether Old Gao and Yu Daniu would come to their annual meeting.

Chen Jianghe waited for Yu Daniu and Old Gao at the Welcoming Inn, where they reconciled and Old Gao introduced his granddaughter, Gao Peiyao. Chen Jianghe realized the mortal girl had a four-element false spiritual root and was likely meant to inherit Old Gao’s cultivation mantle, and Old Gao asked the two men to look after her.

• Chen Jianghe waited as Yu Daniu hesitated outside the Welcoming Inn, then welcomed him into their private room.
• Yu Daniu apologized for arguing with Old Gao at their previous gathering and worried that Old Gao would not come.
• Old Gao arrived, and he and Yu Daniu forgave each other.
• Old Gao introduced Gao Peiyao as his granddaughter, and Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu welcomed her to their meal.
• Chen Jianghe learned that Gao Peiyao had a four-element false spiritual root and suspected Old Gao had found her as his successor.
• Old Gao asked Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu to look after Gao Peiyao.

Chen Jianghe bought and took a Qi-Nourishing Pill, advancing to the second layer of Qi Refining after four hours of cultivation. He reflected on the limits of his mixed spiritual root but remained hopeful about his future and continued refining the pill’s remaining power.

• Chen Jianghe saw Wang Kui borrowing spirit sand from a young man but kept quiet and entered the cultivators' market.
• Chen Jianghe met Old Gao and Gao Peiyao, then guessed Old Gao was introducing her to the harbor and helping her begin cultivation.
• Chen Jianghe bought a Qi-Nourishing Pill from the pill-stall woman, who advised him that a Qi-Guiding Pill could also help him break through.
• Chen Jianghe swallowed the Qi-Nourishing Pill and circulated the Origin Returning True Water Art for four hours, reaching Qi Refining, second layer.
• Chen Jianghe considered the slow progress of cultivators with five-element mixed spiritual roots, took hope from his longer lifespan and Xiao Hei's coming advancement, and continued refining the pill's remaining power.

Chen Jianghe listened as Old Gao recounted how greed and a mining accident damaged his Dantian and ruined his cultivation prospects. Old Gao left him a spirit stone and asked him to look after Xiaoyao, while Chen Jianghe resolved to stay in Mirror Moon Lake until he reached the Late Qi Refining Stage.

• Chen Jianghe reflected on the Qi-Nourishing Pill’s effects and decided Xiaohei’s care would take priority over buying another pill.
• Old Gao visited Chen Jianghe’s cabin and spoke about his youthful ambition to reach Foundation Establishment.
• Old Gao explained that greed during a deep-shaft mining trip led to a fight that damaged his Dantian and left him unable to advance beyond the Fourth Level of Qi Refining.
• Chen Jianghe thanked Old Gao for sharing his experience and resolved not to leave Mirror Moon Lake before reaching the Late Qi Refining Stage.
• Old Gao gave Chen Jianghe one spirit stone and asked him to look after Xiaoyao if he could.

Chen Jianghe refused to take Old Gao’s spirit stone, then helped Gao Peiyao after Old Gao died and warned her against risky work. Another year passed as Chen Jianghe continued cultivating in the outer waters, where scarce spiritual energy left him needing pills to advance.

• Chen Jianghe attended the fish farmers’ assembly, learned Yun Bufan was returning to Heart of the Lake Island to cultivate, and saw that Yu Daniu had reached the second level of Qi Refining.
• Half a year later, Gao Peiyao told Chen Jianghe that Old Gao had died, and Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu met her at Port No. 2 to give Old Gao a water burial.
• Gao Peiyao offered Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu one of Old Gao’s five spirit stones; Chen Jianghe declined and warned her against taking temporary work at Misty Rain Pavilion.
• At a later gathering, Chen Jianghe realized Yu Daniu had also refused Gao Peiyao’s offer to share the inherited spirit stones.
• Another year passed, and Chen Jianghe concluded that the sparse spiritual energy in the outer waters would leave him needing at least five more years to reach the third level of Qi Refining without Qi-Nourishing Pills.

Chen Jianghe collected his wages and learned that the Yun Household's Foundation Establishment Ancestor had been gravely injured in an ambush and was nearing the end of his life. He left the Welcoming Inn understanding that the Yun Household's decline could threaten everyone who depended on Mirror Moon Lake.

• Chen Jianghe received ninety-seven grains of spirit sand and decided he would buy Xiao Hei a Qi-Nourishing Pill as promised.
• Chen Jianghe told Xiao Hei to remain hidden in the lake until he returned, then rowed to Port No. 1 and found the fish farmers and mortals worried.
• Chen Jianghe met Gao Peiyao and Yu Daniu at the Welcoming Inn and learned Gao Peiyao had reached the second layer of Qi Refining in two years.
• Gao Peiyao told Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu that the Yun Household's Foundation Establishment Ancestor had been ambushed after winning a Foundation Establishment Pill at auction and was gravely injured.
• Chen Jianghe realized that the Yun Household's possible collapse could put its livelihood and survival at risk, as it had an enemy faction that was also a foundation establishment immortal clan.

Gao Peiyao proposed that she, Chen Jianghe, and Yu Daniu form a mutual aid alliance amid the Yun Household’s upheaval. Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu agreed to discuss the alliance, and when they met again three days later, Gao Peiyao was waiting with another young Yun Household fishing farmer.

• Gao Peiyao proposed changing the trio’s information-sharing agreement into a mutual aid alliance and invited Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu to consider it.
• Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu discussed the proposal aboard the 512 Fishing Boat and agreed that an alliance could help them survive upheaval and benefit from Gao Peiyao’s talent.
• Chen Jianghe visited Gao Peiyao aboard the 511 Fishing Boat, returned the spirit stone Old Gao had lent him, and signaled his support for an alliance.
• Three days later, Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu returned to the Welcoming Inn, where Gao Peiyao introduced them to a young Yun Household fishing farmer.

Gao Peiyao formed the Mutual Aid Alliance with Zhou Miaoyun, Chen Jianghe, and Yu Daniu to help one another pursue the late Qi Refining stage. The four members agreed to the alliance’s core principle and four requirements, then swore Heart Demon Oaths to uphold them.

• Gao Peiyao introduced Zhou Miaoyun, a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator and low-grade talisman master, to Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu, who accepted her into the alliance.
• Zhou Miaoyun joined because she hoped to improve her talisman skills and saw potential in Gao Peiyao.
• Gao Peiyao proposed that members help whoever first reached the sixth level of Qi Refining obtain a Calamity-Breaking Pill, then help one another reach the late stage.
• Gao Peiyao set four requirements for yearly gatherings and trade, mutual support during crises, paid help from stronger members, and approval by at least three members for new recruits.
• Gao Peiyao, Zhou Miaoyun, Chen Jianghe, and Yu Daniu each swore a Heart Demon Oath to follow the alliance’s rules.

At a gathering of the newly formed alliance, Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao described their plans, while Chen Jianghe considered his future and learned that a spirit beast collar would be needed to reveal Xiao Hei safely. Yu Daniu agreed to try talisman-making under Zhou Miaoyun’s terms, and Gao Peiyao offered Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu loans of two spirit stones each.

• Zhou Miaoyun, Chen Jianghe, Yu Daniu, and Gao Peiyao agreed to take turns hosting their gatherings and set a provisional food budget.
• Zhou Miaoyun explained that she hoped to become a talisman master, while Gao Peiyao planned to cultivate toward becoming a Yun Household guest retainer.
• Chen Jianghe said he hoped to become a Senior Fisher-Farmer within fifteen years, and Zhou Miaoyun told him a spirit beast collar costing twenty spirit stones could help him raise a water-element spirit beast.
• When Yu Daniu struggled to name a future plan, Zhou Miaoyun offered him talisman-making instruction in exchange for half the proceeds from his talismans for thirty years if he proved talented.
• Yu Daniu accepted Zhou Miaoyun’s offer, and Gao Peiyao lent Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu two spirit stones each.

Chen Jianghe considered Gao Peiyao’s generous loan and decided to spend his spirit stones on Qi-Nourishing Pills for himself and Xiao Hei. As rumors spread that the Bai Household had killed the Yun Household’s eldest master and stolen its ancestor’s Foundation Establishment Pill, the Yun Household Flying Boat headed toward Linyun Mine, leaving the cultivators fearing war.

• Chen Jianghe reflected on Gao Peiyao lending him and Yu Daniu four spirit stones and resolved to spend his funds on Qi-Nourishing Pills.
• Chen Jianghe calculated that taking two Qi-Nourishing Pills over two years could help him reach the Qi Refining third layer.
• Chen Jianghe went to the cultivator market before the Fisher-Farmer Conference and heard rumors that the Bai Household had killed the Yun Household’s eldest master and ambushed its ancestor.
• A thousand-foot Yun Household Flying Boat crossed the market toward Linyun Mine, convincing onlookers that the eldest master had died and that war between the Yun and Bai Households might begin.

With rumors of the Yun Household’s crisis unsettling the fisher-farmers, Chen Jianghe refined a Qi-Nourishing Pill and prepared for the Fisher-Farmer Conference. Yun Bufan’s appearance reassured the crowd, though Chen Jianghe still needed the Yun Household to survive its troubles so he could continue cultivating safely.

• Chen Jianghe returned to his fishing boat after buying two Qi-Nourishing Pills and worried that unrest might drive fisher-farmers to leave the Yun Household.
• Chen Jianghe refined most of a pill’s medicinal power, bringing him closer to the third layer of Qi Refining.
• About a thousand fisher-farmers and guest retainers gathered for the Fisher-Farmer Conference, leaving the Outer Waters steward unsure how to address them.
• Yun Bufan arrived, and the steward resumed presiding over the conference as attendees discussed Yun Bufan’s talent and the Yun Household’s prospects.
• Zhou Miaoyun, Chen Jianghe, Yu Daniu, and Gao Peiyao listened to the rumors, while Chen Jianghe recognized that Yun Bufan’s presence had helped calm the crowd.

Chen Jianghe fed Xiao Hei a Qi-Nourishing Pill and saw signs that the turtle was nearing spirit-beast status, while considering how to increase his income and cultivation. He resolved to wait until reaching mid Qi Refining before trying Spirit Talisman Drawing.

• Chen Jianghe returned to his aquaculture waters and worried that his limited spirit sand could not cover the pills he needed to advance.
• Chen Jianghe fed Xiao Hei a Qi-Nourishing Pill, and the turtle showed stronger spiritual energy and growing intelligence.
• Chen Jianghe speculated that the Spirit-Turtle Mark might let him communicate mind-to-mind with Xiao Hei once it became a spirit beast.
• Chen Jianghe weighed the long wait before promotion to senior fisher-farmer and rejected the prospect of becoming a Yun Household live-in son-in-law.
• Chen Jianghe decided to try Spirit Talisman Drawing after reaching mid Qi Refining, keeping his current resources focused on cultivation.

Chen Jianghe learned that the Lan Household had nearly been wiped out after killing Yun Household descendants, then witnessed a violent attack on Mirror Moon Lake's Port No. 2 and hid underwater for five days. After surfacing, he sent letters to his allies to find out what had happened during the attack.

• Chen Jianghe read Gao Peiyao's letter about the Bai Household's open war against the Yun Household and the Lan Household's slaughter of Yun descendants.
• Chen Jianghe reasoned that a surviving ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator from the Lan Household could keep attacking the Yun Household while its injured Foundation Establishment Ancestor could not pursue him safely.
• A powerful cultivator attacked Port No. 2 with fire and black iron chains, killing dozens of cultivators as Chen Jianghe rowed away and hid on the lakebed.
• Chen Jianghe remained underwater for five days, then surfaced to find Port No. 2 quiet and smoking; he suspected a Lan Household remnant had attacked it.
• Chen Jianghe sent identical letters to Zhou Miaoyun, Gao Peiyao, and Yu Daniu, asking what had happened during the attack.