Chapter Summaries

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.

At the old palace master's birthday celebration, Hua Youyue chatted with Yang Zhen, while Ning Wuque regained his resolve after advice from Third Lotus Seat. The old palace master proposed an alliance to stabilize the Forbidden Zone of Life, and Ning Wuque interrupted to suggest that the guests present their gifts first, giving Yang Zhen a suspicious smile.

• Third Lotus Seat warned Ning Wuque not to underestimate others and urged him to act boldly, reminding him that North Maiden Academy stood behind him.
• Hua Youyue visited Yang Zhen, who joked about his cooking and declared that he could make even the heavens roll back up; the gathering's guests briefly saw turbulent air overhead.
• Hua Youyue returned to Mo Xueling, and the old palace master arrived with Spirit Learning Palace experts.
• Yang Zhen sensed the old palace master's terrifying power and learned from Hu Tao that she had survived twenty-three heavenly tribulations.
• The old palace master proposed forming an alliance to stabilize the Forbidden Zone of Life and let young people train there.
• Ning Wuque praised the old palace master's concern for the younger generation, suggested presenting birthday gifts before discussing the alliance, and smiled pointedly at Yang Zhen.

At the old palace master's birthday gathering, the Rogue Cultivators agreed that whoever presented the gift she liked would represent them in the alliance. Their gifts failed to impress her, and Ning Wuque turned the attention toward Yang Dingtian, provoking Hua Youyue.

• The factions discussed forming an alliance, and Hua Youyue argued that Rogue Cultivators should have a seat in it.
• The Rogue Cultivators proposed choosing their leader by whoever offered the old palace master the most pleasing birthday gift, and she agreed to judge.
• Yang Zhen complained about Ning Wuque's hostility while Hu Tao questioned him about Hua Youyue.
• A Tribulation Transcendence Realm Rogue Cultivator presented an ancient-looking tablet, but the old palace master said its markings were recent and unremarkable.
• After several more gifts failed to please her, Mo Xueling urged Ning Wuque to present his gift, and he asked whether Yang Dingtian would offer one too.
• Hua Youyue trembled and glared coldly at Ning Wuque.

Hua Youyue and Mo Xueling defended Yang Zhen against Ning Wuque’s disdain, prompting Ning Wuque to challenge him by presenting the old palace master with a Half-Mountain Painting. After revealing that the painting was damaged, Ning Wuque pointed to Yang Zhen as someone who might offer an even better gift, leaving the crowd stunned.

• Hua Youyue told Ning Wuque that she wanted only to avoid falling too far behind Yang Zhen, and Mo Xueling warned him not to underestimate Yang Zhen.
• Ning Wuque announced that he had a gift for the old palace master and revealed the Half-Mountain Painting, an ancient treasure that could form mountains to attack enemies.
• Yang Zhen noticed that the Half-Mountain Painting was damaged, and the old palace master confirmed that it was only half of the original painting.
• The old palace master praised Ning Wuque’s thoughtful gift, but Ning Wuque suggested that Yang Zhen might have an even better present.
• Ning Wuque looked toward Yang Zhen, who glanced around as though he did not realize he was the person being discussed.

Yang Zhen was summoned to the stage after Ning Wuque revealed that he had won the favor of Hua Youyue and Mo Xueling, and the crowd wondered how a kitchen cook in the Void Refinement Realm could measure up to Ning Wuque. Though Palace Master Liu offered Yang Zhen a graceful way out, Yang Zhen declared that he had a gift and mocked Ning Wuque, leaving the confrontation poised to escalate.

• Ning Wuque's revelation that Yang Zhen had won the favor of both spirit maidens shocked the birthday gathering, and Palace Master Liu learned Yang Zhen worked in the Spirit Learning Palace kitchens.
• Palace Master Liu invited Yang Zhen onto the stage, while Hu Tao warned him that Ning Wuque was targeting him; Yang Zhen replied that he was up to no good too.
• Yang Zhen accepted the invitation despite the crowd's doubts, while Hua Youyue and Mo Xueling showed confidence that he would not lose face.
• Palace Master Liu welcomed Yang Zhen as one of the Spirit Learning Palace's own and said he did not need to present a birthday gift.
• Yang Zhen insisted he had a gift and mocked people who offered junk, prompting the crowd's shock and Ning Wuque's delighted reaction.

Yang Zhen accepted the challenge to present a better birthday gift than Ning Wuque’s Half-Mountain Painting and wrote an inscription in front of the gathering. The chapter ended with the crowd recoiling at the vulgar words he had written.

• Palace Master Liu agreed to let Yang Zhen and Ning Wuque settle their dispute, while the old palace master praised Yang Zhen’s malatang.
• Ning Wuque challenged Yang Zhen to present a gift connected to Literary Qi, and the Third Lotus Seat pressed him to create a Literary Talent Qi treasure himself.
• Yang Zhen denounced Ning Wuque and the Third Lotus Seat, then declared that he would demonstrate true mastery of the literary and martial arts.
• Yang Zhen wrote eight characters in one swift motion, and Ning Wuque read them aloud as “Catch a toad and squeeze the piss out of it?”
• The crowd was shocked that Yang Zhen had offered such vulgar words as a birthday gift to the old palace master.

Yang Zhen revealed that his seemingly vulgar calligraphy actually said “A splendid future, carrying the past forward and opening the way ahead,” humiliating Ning Wuque and the Third Lotus Seat. When Ning Wuque challenged whether the words could match his Half-Mountain Painting, Yang Zhen unleashed a dazzling wave of Star Literary Talent Qi, leaving the contest unresolved.

• Yang Zhen asked the Third Lotus Seat to identify his eight characters, and the Third Lotus Seat insisted they meant “Grab a toad and squeeze the piss out of it.”
• Yang Zhen’s characters blazed with Literary Talent Qi, prompting the old palace master to recognize their true meaning and praise their calligraphy and message.
• The crowd realized Ning Wuque and the Third Lotus Seat had misread the characters, and they laughed at the pair’s humiliation.
• Ning Wuque argued that Yang Zhen’s calligraphy could not defeat his Half-Mountain Painting, and Yang Zhen responded by unleashing a vast display of Star Literary Talent Qi.

At the old palace master's birthday celebration, Yang Zhen tried to refine a treasure from eight characters using Star Literary Talent Qi. He unexpectedly transformed the Qi into catchy song lyrics that drew the crowd into reading and moving to their rhythm.

• Yang Zhen shattered the eight characters into specks of Star Literary Talent Qi as he attempted his unconventional treasure-refining method.
• Yang Zhen touched the Tao Te Ching in his spiritual sense space, received a beam of dark cyan light, and realized he could proceed with his idea.
• Yang Zhen summoned the Star Literary Talent Qi inscriptions, leaving Palace Master Liu and Elder Huo unable to identify what he was doing.
• Yang Zhen shaped the Qi into song lyrics, and the crowd began reading and swaying along despite their alarm.
• Shameless Cat beat the tabletop to the rhythm and praised Yang Zhen, while Flirtatious Chicken bobbed along.

Yang Zhen successfully refined a Literary Talent Qi secret treasure from ordinary paper, creating calligraphy that could help Spirit Learning Palace disciples condense their Literary Hearts. The old palace master gave him the honor of naming it, and Yang Zhen called it “The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style,” adding that people had to sing while comprehending it.

• Yang Zhen stopped the crowd from singing and dancing, then restored the lyrics to the calligraphy’s original eight characters.
• Elder Huo recognized that the celestial phenomenon meant Yang Dingtian had successfully gathered the might of a Literary Talent Qi secret treasure.
• Yang Zhen condensed the Star Literary Talent Qi Inscriptions, caught the finished calligraphy, and gave it to Elder Huo.
• Yang Zhen told the old palace master that the Saint-grade calligraphy could help newly initiated disciples condense their Literary Hearts.
• The old palace master asked Yang Zhen to name the inheritance secret treasure, and he named it “The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style.”
• Yang Zhen explained that people had to sing while comprehending the secret treasure.

Yang Zhen gave the Spirit Learning Palace a calligraphy treasure that could help disciples condense Literary Hearts, but required them to sing an embarrassing song. After refusing an invitation to join the palace, he claimed the Rogue Cultivator representative position and faced Ning Wuque’s challenge to test his strength.

• Yang Zhen explained that disciples had to sing “The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style” to comprehend his calligraphy, and the old palace master praised the gift.
• The old palace master invited Yang Zhen to join the Spirit Learning Palace, but he declined, prompting her to offer him a future position as a teaching elder.
• Yang Zhen asked whether the agreement to let the best gift-giver lead the Rogue Cultivators still stood, and the crowd hesitated over his low cultivation.
• Ning Wuque objected to Yang Zhen becoming leader and asked permission to test his strength in a fight.
• Yang Zhen asked Ning Wuque if he was sure he wanted to fight him.

Ning Wuque challenged Yang Zhen, but Yang Zhen insisted on fighting him and claimed he could break through first. Yang Zhen reached the Spirit Wandering Realm in moments, and Ning Wuque launched an attack that met a huge foot coming toward his face.

• Ning Wuque challenged Yang Zhen to prove he was qualified to lead, and Yang Zhen eagerly accepted.
• Hua Youyue offered to fight Ning Wuque in Yang Zhen's place, but Yang Zhen called her a little girl and sent her back, saying he was close to the Spirit Wandering Realm.
• Ning Wuque mocked Yang Zhen for not having broken through, so Yang Zhen sat down to cultivate and promised to finish in half an incense stick.
• Yang Zhen stood up moments later with the presence of a Spirit Wandering Realm cultivator, shocking the crowd.
• Ning Wuque erupted with power and sent a Literary Talent Qi Inscription longsword at Yang Zhen, only to see a huge sole rushing toward his face.

Yang Zhen kicked Ning Wuque in the face, then copied the Azure Lotus Sword Instruction and unleashed a crowd of shadow copies against him. The chapter ended as the copies charged Ning Wuque to beat him up.

• Yang Zhen rushed Ning Wuque and kicked him in the face, leaving a filthy shoe print and vegetable leaf on him.
• Yang Zhen joked about the slop on his shoe, provoking Ning Wuque into summoning the Azure Lotus Sword Instruction.
• Yang Zhen watched Ning Wuque's sword technique and said he would try it himself.
• Yang Zhen formed countless lifelike copies of himself with spiritual soul power and sent them charging at Ning Wuque.

Yang Zhen defeated Ning Wuque with a startling Shadow Clone technique that concealed his real body and signs of life. When Third Lotus Seat attacked him in anger, Yang Zhen stood his ground, and the Rogue Cultivator who had given him a stone slab intervened.

• Yang Zhen overwhelmed Ning Wuque with countless Shadow Clones, leaving the gathered Tribulation Transcendence Realm experts astonished by his skill and cultivation.
• Palace Master Liu and Elder Huo realized Yang Zhen had hidden his real body and concealed its signs of life among the clones.
• Third Lotus Seat charged into the clones and found Ning Wuque badly beaten, while Yang Zhen calmly asked whether he qualified to be the representative.
• Third Lotus Seat released a crushing wave of force at Yang Zhen, who resisted and walked toward him despite the pressure.
• The Rogue Cultivator who had given Yang Zhen a stone slab stood up and challenged Third Lotus Seat for bullying a young Spirit Wandering Realm cultivator.

Old Man Yao, the Rogue Cultivators, Palace Master Liu, Hua Youyue, and Mo Xueling rallied around Yang Zhen as Third Lotus Seat tried to confront him. Yang Zhen taunted Third Lotus Seat from behind his protectors until the furious elder accidentally broke the tense silence with a thunderous fart.

• Old Man Yao and the Rogue Cultivators stepped between Third Lotus Seat and Yang Zhen, warning the North Maiden Academy elder not to attack.
• Palace Master Liu, Hua Youyue, and Mo Xueling each openly sided with Yang Zhen, leaving Third Lotus Seat surrounded by potential opponents.
• Third Lotus Seat challenged Yang Zhen to face him, and Yang Zhen repeatedly hopped out from behind his protectors and back again while taunting him.
• Yang Zhen bragged about fearing neither heaven nor earth, then dared Third Lotus Seat to choose a duel or group brawl while he stayed behind Palace Master Liu.
• Third Lotus Seat nearly lost his temper completely, swallowed back blood, and let out a fart that silenced the birthday celebration.

Yang Zhen mocked Third Lotus Seat after he farted, then fled when Third Lotus Seat triggered a Forcibly Descending Heavenly Tribulation. As the crowd escaped the lightning, Third Lotus Seat pursued Yang Zhen, who threatened to detonate the heavenly lightning.

• Third Lotus Seat became furious after Yang Zhen mocked him, and terrifying heavenly might gathered in the sky.
• Yang Zhen fled as lightning struck Third Lotus Seat, leaving him charred and smoking.
• Palace Master Liu identified the lightning as a Forcibly Descending Heavenly Tribulation, and the crowd rushed to escape its range.
• Yang Zhen explained that Third Lotus Seat had suppressed his realm to delay his tribulation, which could now descend without warning.
• Third Lotus Seat chased Yang Zhen through the fleeing crowd, and Yang Zhen warned him to stop or face the detonation of his heavenly lightning.

Yang Zhen tried to face Third Lotus Seat’s forcibly summoned heavenly tribulation alone, but Hua Youyue warned that his charge would trigger a second tribulation. He realized the danger too late and crashed into the tribulation’s center, while the crowd discovered that Yang Dingtian was actually Yang Zhen.

• Yang Zhen stopped the fleeing cultivators and urged them to retreat, claiming he would bear the tribulation alone; his Buddha image convinced them to leave him to it.
• Third Lotus Seat reached Yang Zhen beneath the raging tribulation, and three lightning bolts struck Third Lotus Seat as he taunted his opponent.
• Yang Zhen charged toward the tribulation despite Hua Youyue’s warning that joining it would create a deadly tribulation triggered by two people.
• Yang Zhen realized the danger but could not stop himself from crashing into the tribulation’s center.
• Hua Youyue’s call of “Yang Zhen” made the crowd realize that Yang Dingtian was Yang Zhen.