Recaps

Yang Zhen restored the Ancestral Stele in Hanwu City by inscribing “smells so good,” earning the city lord’s gratitude and securing the Yang Household’s protection. He then struck the distant monk Yuan Zheng with Sun Shadow, and the chapter ended with Yang Zhen noticing his Spirit Root had grown thicker again.

• Yang Zhen’s inscription made the Ancestral Stele shine, unleashing the Heavenly Sound Grand Chant and powerful Literary Talent Qi across Hanwu City.
• Yang Hongye and the Yang Household celebrated Yang Zhen’s success, while Fang Quan and Fang Yang realized their household had lost its chance for revenge.
• The lord of Hanwu City pledged the city lord’s residence to Yang Zhen, who led everyone to the filled-in mountainside spring to confront the monk Yuan Zheng.
• Yang Zhen showed Han Yan’er Sun Shadow’s technique, Sun Shadow Summons Heaven, and sent a blast of righteous Qi toward Yuan Zheng.
• In a distant mountain forest, Yuan Zheng suddenly vomited blood, cursed Yang Zhen for ruining his Earth Treasury scheme, and fled.
• Yang Zhen told the city lord that the meaning of “smells so good” was too profound to explain, then noticed his Spirit Root had grown thicker.

Yang Zhen traveled from Hanwu City to North Isle, where his growing Spirit Root and reputation continued to attract attention. After arriving in Tieling City, he was recognized by a crowd and had to flee without knowing why.

• Yang Zhen noticed his Spirit Root had grown again after carving “True Fragrance” at the Hanwu City lord's residence.
• Han Yan'er invited Yang Zhen to travel with her to North Isle, and they promised to meet at the Spirit Learning Palace.
• Yang Zhen departed that afternoon on a flying boat and reached Tieling City, where he heard people praising Great Master Su's calligraphy.
• When Yang Zhen introduced himself to a youth in the crowd, the youth recognized his name, and the crowd turned against him.
• The Hanwu Guard grabbed Yang Zhen and ran, leaving him confused about why everyone in Tieling City reacted to his name.

Yang Zhen learned that Shameless Cat had provoked Tieling City by insulting Great Master Su, and that the city’s people mistook Yang Zhen for the offender. After Yang Zhen praised Su’s beauty to Xue Zonglin, a bell announced that Su was about to post a notice, and Yang Zhen asked what it was for.

• The Hanwu Guard and Yang Zhen fled a crowd that attacked Yang Zhen, then Yang Zhen sent the guard out to shout “Shameless Cat” and watched the crowd chase him.
• Yang Zhen blamed Shameless Cat for making him a target in Tieling City and asked Xue Zonglin why people hated Yang Zhen.
• Xue Zonglin explained that Yang Zhen had insulted Great Master Su, claiming she was only fit to warm his room and might not qualify to warm his bed.
• Yang Zhen discovered that Great Master Su was a beautiful woman, then praised her as someone whose smiles could topple cities and kingdoms.
• A bell rang, and Xue Zonglin said it was time for Great Master Su to post her notice; Yang Zhen stopped him to ask what the notice was for.

Yang Zhen accompanied Xue Zonglin to watch Master Su’s Literary Brilliance Rankings being posted, where he clashed with Gong Tianque and Gan Bailin. The chapter ended with Yang Zhen confronting Gan Bailin after he insulted them.

• Xue Zonglin brought Yang Zhen to the bell tower and explained Master Su’s rankings and the competition for literary recognition.
• Miss Wei questioned Yang Zhen, and Xue Zonglin introduced him as Yang Kang rather than Yang Zhen.
• Gong Tianque mocked Xue Zonglin and claimed he might make the rankings, reminding him of their agreement that Xue would leave the Pill and Literary Academy if he did.
• Gan Bailin arrived amid rumors about his talent and Tian Rou, then approached Xue Zonglin and insulted him and Yang Zhen.
• Yang Zhen stepped up to Gan Bailin and asked, “Brother, what is your honorable father’s surname?”

Yang Zhen clashed with Gan Bailin before the Literary Brilliance Rankings were posted, then walked away when Gan Bailin turned his remark about first place into a public challenge. He left with Xue Zonglin, stunning the crowd.

• Yang Zhen insulted and struck Gan Bailin after Gan Bailin provoked him, while Wei'er and Cai'er urged them to wait for the rankings.
• Wei'er posted the rankings, which named Gan Bailin and Tian Rou tied for first; Gan Bailin objected and vowed to question Great Master Su about Tian Rou's work.
• Gan Bailin challenged Yang Zhen to a debate of talent, and Yang Zhen dismissed him as unworthy.
• Gan Bailin told the crowd that Yang Zhen had called first place an empty title, turning them against Yang Zhen and demanding that he prove his talent.
• Yang Zhen laughed, took Xue Zonglin, and walked away; a clear voice called for Young Master Yang to wait.

Yang Zhen ignored Gan Bailin’s mockery and revealed he planned to enter the Forbidden Zone of Life, prompting Miss Yanhua to invite him into the bell tower. The chapter ended with Yanhua revealing that Great Master Su, not she, had taken a fancy to Yang Zhen.

• Yang Zhen started to leave after Gan Bailin mocked him, but Miss Yanhua called him back.
• Xue Zonglin told Yang Zhen that Yanhua was a close friend and teacher to Great Master Su.
• Yang Zhen said he was going to the Forbidden Zone of Life, and Yanhua explained that this was why she understood his indifference to Gan Bailin’s taunts.
• Yanhua invited Yang Zhen into the bell tower, while Xue Zonglin covered for him when he seemed reluctant to accept.
• Yanhua revealed that Great Master Su had taken a fancy to Yang Zhen, shocking the crowd.

Miss Yanhua opened the bell tower to the gathered cultivators, while Great Master Su grew curious about Yang Zhen after hearing Tian Rou praise him and seeing his unusual painting. Great Master Su decided to leave for the Spirit Learning Palace with Tian Rou, lamenting that she might not get to meet Yang Zhen.

• Miss Yanhua announced that Great Master Su had opened the bell tower and would answer visitors’ questions, and Xue Zonglin pulled Yang Zhen inside with the others.
• Yang Zhen explored the bell tower’s extensive collection of books and Literary Talent Qi Inscriptions as Yanhua explained that its library was second only to the Spirit Learning Palace’s on North Isle.
• Great Master Su painted a lotus while Tian Rou praised her, and Su teased Tian Rou about considering Yang Zhen the most talented person.
• Tian Rou defended Yang Zhen and told Great Master Su about his water-tap dragon painting and his disappearance after going out to sea.
• Great Master Su invited Tian Rou to leave the Culture Academy with her for the Spirit Learning Palace and said she hoped to meet Yang Zhen, though she feared she would not get the chance.

Yang Zhen attended the monthly competition at the bell tower disguised as Yang Kang, where Gan Bailin challenged his talent and Great Master Su arrived. Tian Rou revealed Yang Zhen’s identity, and after the crowd turned against him, he insulted everyone and faced a demand to compete with Gan Bailin.

• Yang Zhen asked Xue Zonglin how the monthly competition worked, and Gan Bailin mocked him while questioning Yang Zhen’s reputation.
• Great Master Su arrived and recognized Yang Zhen as Young Master Yang Kang, while Gan Bailin tried to impress her.
• Tian Rou called out to Yang Zhen, exposing his identity and shocking the crowd.
• Yang Zhen greeted Tian Rou and said the Spirit Learning Palace would be easy for her to enter, prompting Gan Bailin to urge the crowd to seize him.
• Yang Zhen declared that everyone present was trash, and Gan Bailin challenged him to compete.

Yang Zhen provoked Tieling City’s literary crowd and stunned them with poems and a sharp exchange on the Dao that summoned a thunderclap. When Gan Bailin challenged him to a painting contest, Yang Zhen claimed painting was his greatest skill.

• Yang Zhen taunted the crowd and recited two poems, silencing a young master who had challenged him to a poetry contest.
• Young Master Wei questioned Yang Zhen’s arrogance, but Yang Zhen answered with sayings that left Wei speechless and brought a thunderclap over the bell tower.
• Hundreds gathered outside the bell tower after the thunderclap, while Great Master Su and Tian Rou watched Yang Zhen with admiration.
• Gan Bailin challenged Yang Zhen to compete in painting, and Yang Zhen said painting was what he excelled at most.

Yang Zhen accepted Gan Bailin’s challenge to compete in painting, and Great Master Su offered them access to the bell platform. When she revealed Star Literary Talent Qi, Yang Zhen discovered that it resonated with the Tao Te Ching, and the group departed by flying boat for the contest.

• Yang Zhen claimed painting was his strongest talent, and Gan Bailin challenged him to prove it with a brush.
• Great Master Su proposed that Yang Zhen and Gan Bailin settle their contest on the bell platform, exciting everyone with the chance to comprehend Star Literary Talent Qi.
• Great Master Su showed Yang Zhen Star Literary Talent Qi, which stirred the Tao Te Ching in his Divine Sense and made him realize why Shameless Cat had drawn attention to him.
• Great Master Su said Yang Zhen’s visit would surprise everyone, angering Gan Bailin, who vowed to prove himself the true person chosen by fate.
• Great Master Su led everyone onto a flying boat, and Yang Zhen traded barbs with Gan Bailin as they set out for the bell platform.

Yang Zhen and Gan Bailin arrived at the Cloud Terrace to compete in painting, with the contest expected to help Gan Bailin comprehend Star Literary Talent Qi. Gan Bailin began painting to an impressive display of Literary Talent Qi, while Yang Zhen slowly climbed the terrace and then stood with his eyes closed.

• Yang Zhen learned that painting on the Cloud Terrace revealed a cultivator’s understanding of the Dao of Literary Qi, and he called the process simple, provoking the onlookers.
• Crowds gathered as people speculated that Great Master Su had opened the Cloud Terrace to improve Gan Bailin’s chances of comprehending Star Literary Talent Qi.
• Yang Zhen climbed slowly, sensing Heaven and Earth Embryonic Breathing; Great Master Su recognized what he was doing and told Tian Rou he might not lose to Gan Bailin.
• Gan Bailin reached the worktable first and began painting, sending waves of Literary Talent Qi and inscriptions across the Cloud Terrace.
• Yang Zhen reached his worktable, closed his eyes, and left the watching crowd wondering why he still had not begun painting.

Yang Zhen sat on the Cloud Terrace to comprehend it while Gan Bailin painted a powerful Tiger Roaring in the Mountain Forest Painting. As Gan Bailin’s tiger’s Literary Qi surged toward him, Yang Zhen opened his eyes with a smile, leaving the crowd waiting to see what he would do.

• Yang Zhen sat with his eyes closed and entered a state of accord with Heaven and Earth Embryonic Breathing.
• Gan Bailin outlined a tiger and mountain forest, summoning a howling Gang wind that stirred the crowd and threatened to unsettle Yang Zhen.
• Great Master Su told Tian Rou that Yang Zhen was comprehending the Cloud Terrace and could lose the chance forever if interrupted.
• Tian Rou and Great Master Su worried that Yang Zhen might remain seated and let Gan Bailin claim victory without a contest.
• Gan Bailin’s fierce tiger formed in midair and sent waves of Literary Qi toward Yang Zhen.
• Yang Zhen raised his head, opened his eyes, and said that Gan Bailin did not understand his saunter, making Tian Rou rejoice.

Yang Zhen used Star Literary Talent Qi to defeat Gan Bailin’s tiger painting and then beat Gan Bailin with two figures he formed from inscriptions. After Gan Bailin lost his mind, Great Master Su invited Yang Zhen to her dwelling for a talk.

• Yang Zhen revealed dark-gold Star Literary Talent Qi Inscriptions and formed a martial artist who charged Gan Bailin’s tiger.
• Yang Zhen formed Wu Erlang and Brother Kui, who overwhelmed and destroyed the tiger, prompting him to taunt Gan Bailin.
• Gan Bailin attacked Yang Zhen with True Essence, but the two inscription figures beat him until he could not get up.
• Gan Bailin raved that he was the son of destiny, and the crowd concluded that he had gone mad.
• Great Master Su invited Yang Zhen to her dwelling for a talk, shocking the onlookers.

Yang Zhen accepted Great Master Su’s invitation after teasing her, then answered her questions about the Cloud Terrace and Star Literary Talent Qi. Great Master Su told him that Shameless Cat planned to attend the Spirit Learning Palace’s old palace master’s birthday celebration, giving Yang Zhen a reason to go too.

• Great Master Su invited Yang Zhen to her bedchamber, but he refused until she turned the invitation into a date and he agreed.
• Great Master Su brought Yang Zhen to her home, where she asked whether he had comprehended the Cloud Terrace.
• Great Master Su explained that the Cloud Terrace was a damaged artifact from before the Ancient Era and that its Star Literary Talent Qi came from an ancient figure’s Cultivation Method.
• Yang Zhen answered Great Master Su’s questions about Star Literary Talent Qi, and she bowed to him as both teacher and friend.
• Great Master Su mentioned that Shameless Cat planned to attend the Spirit Learning Palace’s old palace master’s birthday celebration, and Yang Zhen became interested.

Yang Zhen slept for three days as mysterious power and Star Literary Talent Qi tempered his body, then traveled with Great Master Su and Tian Rou to the Spirit Learning Palace. As they arrived at the magnificent sect, an unseen voice challenged Yang Zhen’s boast that no sect could teach him.

• Yang Zhen told Great Master Su he would attend the old palace master's birthday celebration only to find Shameless Cat, then fell asleep for three days.
• While Yang Zhen slept, seven-colored light pulsed near the bell tower, and Great Master Su watched over him as mysterious power coursed through his body.
• Yang Zhen woke to find dark golden inscriptions absorbed into his body and realized Star Literary Talent Qi had tempered him.
• Several days later, Yang Zhen traveled by flying boat with Great Master Su and Tian Rou and marveled at North Isle's mountains and dense spiritual energy.
• The group arrived at the Spirit Learning Palace, and Yang Zhen claimed that even the greatest sects could not teach him.
• An unseen speaker called Yang Zhen's words boastful.

Yang Zhen explored the Spirit Learning Mountain Range as guests gathered for the old palace master's birthday, but learned that he, Su Yunlan, and Tian Rou were not qualified to attend the celebration. He angrily declared he would stay away unless someone invited him.

• Senior Sister Ding revealed herself to Yang Zhen, warned him not to repeat his remarks about the Spirit Learning Palace, and brought him, Su Yunlan, and Tian Rou along to help with preparations.
• Yang Zhen spent two days exploring the Spirit Learning Mountain Range and saw numerous powerful guests arrive for the birthday celebration.
• Yang Zhen and the others watched a Celestial Person Realm expert appear in midair, sigh, and leave the Spirit Learning Palace.
• Su Yunlan and Tian Rou told Yang Zhen they were not qualified to attend the celebration and that their gifts would have to be delivered by disciples.
• Yang Zhen declared that he would not attend unless someone came to invite him.

Yang Zhen searched for a way to make a commotion so the young lady and her companions would know he was at the Spirit Learning Palace. After overhearing that Mo Xueling had arrived and asking about her, he faced a young master who threatened to kill him.

• Yang Zhen refused to attend the birthday celebration and told Su Yunlan and Tian Rou to go without him.
• Yang Zhen followed a furtive young master to the Spirit Learning Palace's restricted kitchen area and eavesdropped on him and Xiao Ling.
• Yang Zhen heard the pair mention the Forbidden Zone of Life, Ink Pool Peak, and Mo Xueling, confirming that the young lady and her companions had arrived.
• Yang Zhen burst into the room and asked the young master about Mo Xueling.
• The young master unleashed his Qi and threatened to kill Yang Zhen, who sighed that killing people was a lot of trouble.

Yang Zhen and Lu Benwei tried to find a way into the Spirit Learning Palace’s birthday celebration, but a misunderstanding got them recruited to try out for the palace kitchen instead. Sister Nongyu suggested Yang Zhen might become a spirit chef’s assistant, and he realized he knew plenty about spirit cuisine.

• Yang Zhen disarmed the young man, learned that Xiao Ling worked in the Spirit Learning Palace kitchen, and asked whether she could help him enter the birthday celebration.
• Yang Zhen pretended he wanted to meet a lover at the celebration, and Lu Benwei mistook him for a fellow sufferer and offered to help.
• A crowd arrived and ordered Yang Zhen and Lu Benwei to prepare for kitchen tryouts, explaining that Xiao Ling and her older male cousin had recommended them.
• Sister Nongyu warned them to follow the kitchen rules, then said Yang Zhen could become a spirit chef’s assistant if he was diligent and knew about spirit cuisine.
• Yang Zhen realized he knew a great deal about spirit cuisine and looked forward to the opportunity.

Yang Zhen volunteered to assist Hu Tao in the Spirit Learning Palace kitchen assessment, despite her unconventional approach to spiritual cooking. After learning that she planned to invent a dish without a recipe, he took charge and declared that he would show everyone how a true god of cooking worked.

• Sister Nongyu led Yang Zhen and Lu Benwei to an assessment where three Rogue Cultivators prepared spiritual dishes for the Spirit Learning Palace kitchen.
• Yang Zhen encouraged Lu Benwei to participate and claimed he had been a famous god of cooking in his village.
• A Spirit Learning Palace disciple announced that the cooks who passed the assessment would earn admission to the kitchen.
• Lu Benwei warned Yang Zhen that Hu Tao was talented but repeatedly risked failure by inventing new dishes.
• Yang Zhen volunteered to assist Hu Tao after everyone else avoided her, then challenged her plan to cook without a recipe.
• Hu Tao insisted on making her own choices, and Yang Zhen declared that he would demonstrate his cooking skills.

Yang Zhen took over the cooking from Hu Tao and began preparing the dish he claimed could make women offer themselves in marriage. The crowd mocked his chaotic chopping, but Hu Tao carefully memorized his technique as he set the ingredients to simmer.

• Hu Tao laughed at Yang Zhen's claim to be the God of Cookery, then agreed to assist him instead of cooking for the Spirit Learning Palace kitchens.
• Yang Zhen told Hu Tao she had reached a bottleneck in combining spirit ingredients and promised to show her a stroke of fortune.
• Yang Zhen announced he would make a delicacy that made women willingly offer themselves in marriage, drawing ridicule from the crowd.
• Yang Zhen recalled his malatang recipe, chopped spirit ingredients in an apparently careless manner, and put them into an earthenware pot to simmer.
• Hu Tao watched closely and committed Yang Zhen's steps and ingredients to memory while the crowd questioned whether his dish could be eaten.

Yang Zhen made a concentrated spicy sauce base and showed Hu Tao how to dilute it into a hot pot malatang. After tasting the dish, Wanru asked for an insanely spicy order.

• Yang Zhen finished preparing a spicy sauce base, and its aroma drew the crowd toward his clay pot.
• Hu Tao tasted the concentrated sauce, found it far too spicy, and declared it inedible.
• Yang Zhen explained that the sauce needed to be diluted, then had Hu Tao slice meat and spirit ingredients for a hot pot.
• Yang Zhen and Hu Tao cooked and ate the malatang, leaving the onlookers eager to try it.
• Wanru tasted a piece of Gale Sheep meat and asked Yang Zhen for an insanely spicy order.

Yang Zhen’s hot pot malatang sparked a chaotic feast, impressed the Spirit Learning Palace disciples, and earned him an offer to become the kitchen’s head chef. As he considered whether the job would let him attend the birthday celebration, Shameless Cat suddenly appeared.

• Liang Wanru made the hot pot intensely spicy, and the Spirit Learning Palace disciples argued over whether to dilute it while devouring the food.
• The crowd around the kitchen joined the feast, and Yang Zhen explained that hot pot preserved the spirit ingredients’ flavor and Primordial Qi.
• Hu Tao praised Yang Zhen’s cooking and offered to become his dao companion so they could build a malatang business together, but Yang Zhen turned her down because she was too young.
• Liang Wanru offered Yang Zhen the head chef position for three thousand crystal stones a month, with Hu Tao as his assistant.
• Yang Zhen wondered whether the position would let him attend the birthday celebration, then spotted Shameless Cat sneaking through the kitchen.

Yang Zhen became a head chef in the Spirit Learning Palace kitchen and learned that Shameless Cat and the others planned to investigate a disturbance in the Forbidden Zone of Life. At the birthday gathering, Yang Zhen encountered Su Yunlan, Tian Rou, and Senior Sister Ding, whose sudden interest in his new name left him facing an unexpected question.

• Yang Zhen met Shameless Cat in the kitchen, learned that he and the others were honored guests, and heard that roars had been reported from the Forbidden Zone of Life.
• Yang Zhen refused to join the planned investigation, returned to cooking, and spent the next two days serving food to the women at the Spirit Learning Palace.
• Wanru hurried Yang Zhen to the birthday gathering, where he prepared the arrangements as the palace master had requested hotpot.
• Yang Zhen met Su Yunlan, Tian Rou, and Senior Sister Ding at the gathering and told them he was now called Yang Dingtian and worked as a head chef.
• Senior Sister Ding asked Yang Zhen eagerly to repeat his new name.

Yang Zhen revealed to Su Yunlan, Tian Rou, and Senior Sister Ding that he was the spirit chef Yang Dingtian, then attended the Spirit Learning Palace birthday celebration and reunited with Hua Youyue. The celebration drew a crowd of powerful cultivators, and the North Maiden Academy’s successors arrived to an awe-struck reception.

• Senior Sister Ding recognized Yang Zhen as the inventor of Dingtian malatang, and Su Yunlan and Tian Rou asked him to treat them to malatang and noodles.
• The Spirit-Cleansing Bell rang, and Senior Sister Ding reminded Yang Zhen to do his job at the approaching birthday celebration.
• Yang Zhen saw Hua Youyue arrive and noticed her presence had grown strikingly ethereal; she sensed him in the crowd, and they exchanged a smile and a wink.
• Hua Youyue sat with Mo Xueling and the disciples of Ink Pool Peak as thousands of guests gathered at the celebration.
• The North Maiden Academy’s successors arrived on flying swords, and the gathered cultivators marveled at their status and power.

At the old palace master's birthday celebration, Yang Zhen joked with Hu Tao about making stinky tofu before the North Maiden Academy arrived. When Ning Wuque tried to greet Hua Youyue, she instead went to Yang Zhen and asked to try his mala tang, leaving Ning Wuque curious about the cook's background.

• Hu Tao explained that the North Maiden Academy's disciples were renowned for their Literary Talent Qi, while Yang Zhen boasted about his cooking and teased her about making stinky tofu.
• Hu Tao warned Yang Zhen not to cause trouble at the celebration and threatened to hide him away with her as his dao companion; Yang Zhen claimed his cultivation method required him to remain a virgin.
• Ning Wuque approached Hua Youyue, but she barely acknowledged him and looked toward Yang Zhen, who complained that Ning Wuque was blocking his view of her.
• The Flirtatious Chicken called Ning Wuque "Dumb Wuque," and Hua Youyue crossed the crowd to ask Yang Zhen to let her try his mala tang.
• Ning Wuque asked Mo Xueling about Yang Zhen, and she told him that Yang Zhen was the head chef of the Spirit Learning Palace's kitchen.