Chapter Summaries

Qin Ming, disguised as Long Taoist, defeated Chu Tianhe in a duel and traded the Rainbow Sword back for a Profound Yin Nether Stone. After leaving Azure Sea Peak, he investigated the ore and discovered a mysterious black fruit pit inside.

• Qin Ming overwhelmed Chu Tianhe with a punch, but Nalan Xi blocked the blow before it could seriously injure him, and Chu Tianhe conceded defeat.
• Qin Ming returned the Rainbow Sword to Chu Tianhe in exchange for the Profound Yin Nether Stone, following the Devouring Sky Rat's advice.
• Qin Ming left Azure Sea Peak, and Guan Mo later visited his inn to apologize for his earlier conduct.
• Qin Ming crushed the Profound Yin Nether Stone and found a pitch-black fruit pit radiating Extreme Yin Force inside.

Qin Ming discovered that the black pit was an Abundant Nether Ghost Jujube, whose mature fruit could produce Mystic Wraith Spirit Liquid to aid his Golden Core breakthrough. He also learned that a fragment of a magic treasure refinement method was incomplete, then declined Xue Zhili’s invitation to a Black Market gathering at Fangcun Mountain Market District.

• Qin Ming identified the pit as an Abundant Nether Ghost Jujube and explained that its mature tree could produce Mystic Wraith Spirit Liquid, a material that increased the chance of forming a Golden Core.
• Devouring Sky Rat reported that it had removed the restriction on the Bronze Mirror fragment, revealing half of a profound method for refining a magic treasure embryo.
• Qin Ming stored the jujube pit and considered using his Spirit Plant Seed Treasure affix to refine the spiritually awakened Void Bamboo into an embryo for the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine.
• Qin Ming restored his original appearance and went to Pill Cauldron Pavilion, where he reunited with Xue Zhili and Xu Jing.
• Xue Zhili invited Qin Ming to a large Black Market gathering at Fangcun Mountain Market District, but Qin Ming declined because he had important matters to attend to.

Qin Ming agreed to attend Xue Zhili’s Black Market trade and studied four powerful wood-attribute magic treasures described on a fragment of gauze. He then asked Gu Qingzhao to secretly find the fragment’s missing half, offering two premium pills as a reward.

• Xue Zhili invited Qin Ming to a Black Market trade at Mount Fangcun three days later, and Qin Ming accepted the invitation token.
• Qin Ming bought spirit materials from the Pill Cauldron Pavilion and learned that the Pill Pagoda would recruit disciples in one year.
• While staying at an inn, Qin Ming studied four magic treasures described on the gauze, but found that it lacked their refining methods.
• Qin Ming asked Gu Qingzhao to search secretly for the missing half of the Bronze Mirror fragment and offered her a premium Foundation Establishment Pill and a premium Jade Mystery Pill.

Qin Ming showed Gu Qingzhao a fragment of the Bronze Mirror and then traveled to Mount Fangcun for Xue Zhili’s black market transaction. He arrived at the crowded underground venue and entrusted Xue Zhili with a bottle of Jade Mystery Pills and a Five Elements Vitality Spirit Peach for trading.

• Qin Ming told Gu Qingzhao that Long Taoist had given him the Bronze Mirror fragment as payment for refining pills, and Gu Qingzhao copied its image so her people could search for the other half.
• Three days later, Qin Ming left Azure Sea Immortal City with his spirit beasts in a new Spirit Beast Pouch and rode the Silver-Winged Frost Bee to Fangcun Mountain Market District.
• Qin Ming presented Xue Zhili’s invitation token at the rebuilt Cloudfire Pavilion site and followed a guard into the concealed underground market.
• Xue Zhili welcomed Qin Ming before the assembled cultivators, who crowded around to greet him and ask about his goods.
• Qin Ming handed Xue Zhili a bottle of Jade Mystery Pills and a Five Elements Vitality Spirit Peach to offer for trade.

Qin Ming traded a Jade Mystery Pill for Stone Ape Blood Essence and drew attention at the Black Market. When another cultivator approached to trade, Qin Ming recognized something about him and reacted with alarm.

• Qin Ming bought Snake Saliva Grass from Old Monster Jin Rong, then Old Ghost Mu He arrived and sought to claim it for pill refinement.
• Mu He recognized Qin Ming as Master Qin of Wei Kingdom, and Jin Rong apologized after learning of Qin Ming’s reputation as a second-tier superior-grade Spirit Plant and pill-refining master.
• Qin Ming asked for the essence blood of a second-tier perfection demon beast, and Jin Rong offered the wind-attributed blood of a Stone Ape great demon.
• Qin Ming exchanged a Jade Mystery Pill for Jin Rong’s Stone Ape Blood Essence, attracting envious onlookers who recognized the pill.
• A fair-faced middle-aged cultivator approached Qin Ming to ask about trading for more pills, and Qin Ming’s pupils contracted as he looked at him.

Qin Ming recognized the disguised Lin Zixiao at the Black Market and traded with him before bidding against him for the other half of a Bronze Mirror fragment. Qin Ming won the fragment, while the auction’s Five Elements Vitality Spirit Peach drew the attention of the market’s aged cultivators.

• Qin Ming saw through the disguised Lin Zixiao, whose true cultivation was Foundation Establishment Perfection, and traded two jars of Jade Scale Wine for beast essence blood and a demon core.
• Qin Ming attended Xue Zhili’s Black Market auction, where Lin Zixiao joined the bidding for a Bronze Mirror fragment.
• Qin Ming outbid Lin Zixiao with one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and acquired the fragment, confirming it was the other half of his Fragmented Magic Treasure.
• A Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator from the Jin Kingdom won the Jade Mystery Pills for two thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, while Lin Zixiao stopped bidding early.
• Xue Zhili presented the Five Elements Vitality Spirit Peach, which could increase magical power and extend a first-time consumer’s lifespan by thirty years, stirring intense interest among aged cultivators.

Qin Ming sold his wares at the black market auction, drew the attention of numerous Marauder Cultivators, and was ambushed after leaving. He revealed powerful Spirit Beasts and Turtle Puppets to face them.

• Lin Zixiao outbid Old Ghost Mu He and bought the Five Elements Vitality Spirit Peach for twenty-two hundred and fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Qin Ming collected three thousand eight hundred and twenty-five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones from Xue Zhili and left the black market, noticing cultivators had marked him.
• Lin Zixiao offered to travel with Qin Ming, but Qin refused and hurried away.
• More than a dozen Marauder Cultivators pursued Qin Ming and surrounded him in the air, demanding his treasures.
• Qin Ming summoned three enormous figures and two Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Turtle Puppets to confront the Marauder Cultivators.

Qin Ming used his demons and puppets to slaughter the marauder cultivators, then encountered Lin Zixiao and Old Ghost Mu He, who had been pursuing the disguised demonic-path overlord. After Qin Ming exposed Lin Zixiao’s identity, Lin revealed his true appearance and greeted him as an old acquaintance.

• Qin Ming’s demons and puppets ambushed the marauder cultivators, while Qin Ming harvested Blood Orbs from their corpses.
• The Mystic Water Crocodile, Silver-Winged Frost Bee, Devouring Sky Rat, and puppets killed the marauder cultivators, and Qin Ming collected their Storage Bags and erased the traces.
• Lin Zixiao caught up with Qin Ming, followed by Old Ghost Mu He and two Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators.
• Old Ghost Mu He chose to kill Qin Ming and Lin Zixiao, while Qin Ming recognized Lin Zixiao as the disguised demonic-path overlord.
• Lin Zixiao revealed his true appearance and greeted Qin Ming as an old acquaintance.

Lin Zixiao revealed himself as a powerful demonic cultivator and used the Azure Netherworld Demon Fire to kill three Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators. After collecting their Storage Bags, he faced Qin Ming, who summoned an icy-blue flame in response.

• Lin Zixiao revealed his demonic nature and dismissed Old Ghost Mu He and the other two cultivators as unworthy opponents.
• Old Ghost Mu He attacked with his Golden Dragon Shears, but Lin Zixiao's Azure Netherworld Demon Fire destroyed the artifact and killed him.
• Lin Zixiao trapped the two remaining cultivators in a formation and killed them with the demonic flames.
• Qin Ming recognized the Azure Netherworld Demon Fire and realized Lin Zixiao had likely strengthened it by refining many cultivators' souls.
• Lin Zixiao collected the three Storage Bags and faced Qin Ming, who summoned an icy-blue flame and asked whether Lin intended to fight.

Qin Ming battled Lin Zixiao, overpowering his demonic fire and breaking the Nine Twists Blood Refinement Grand Formation. Lin Zixiao was wounded by a concealed attack, leaving him exposed to Qin Ming’s gray creature.

• Lin Zixiao recognized Qin Ming’s Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame and questioned how Qin Ming had seen through his disguise before Qin challenged him to fight.
• Qin Ming and Lin Zixiao sent their spirit fires against each other, while Lin Zixiao’s attacks missed and Qin Ming’s black vines forced him to evade.
• Qin Ming used a secret blood rune to empower his Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame, which overwhelmed and began devouring Lin Zixiao’s Azure Netherworld Demon Fire.
• Lin Zixiao released the Nine Twists Blood Refinement Grand Formation, but Qin Ming’s Four-Armed Demonic Ape shattered the illusion and damaged the formation map.
• As Lin Zixiao prepared another secret method, three black earth spikes pierced his abdomen and a gray figure emerged to bite him.

Lin Zixiao’s hidden spirit revealed Qin Ming’s Heavenly Demon Body Refining Art and urged him to flee, but Lin Zixiao transformed and tried to reclaim the Azure Netherworld Demon Fire. Qin Ming defeated him in a clash, and Lin Zixiao escaped while the Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame continued consuming the demon fire.

• Lin Zixiao survived Devouring Sky Rat’s attack, but his trapping array failed against the rat’s innate ability.
• Lin Zixiao’s hidden spirit warned him that Qin Ming had two more powerful Spirit Pets and had nearly perfected the third transformation of the Heavenly Demon Body Refining Art.
• Qin Ming overheard the spirit’s plan to take control of Lin Zixiao and flee, then called Devouring Sky Rat back to his side.
• Lin Zixiao transformed into a towering devil and lunged for the Azure Netherworld Demon Fire, but Qin Ming countered as the Crimson Demonic Ape.
• Qin Ming’s four-armed Crimson Demonic Ape broke one of Lin Zixiao’s arms, and Lin Zixiao abandoned the demon fire and escaped fifty miles away.

Qin Ming's Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame devoured Lin Zixiao's Azure Netherworld Demon Fire and advanced to Tier 3, after which Qin Ming returned to Moon Gazing Island. He rewarded his Spirit Pets and began studying the other half of the Bronze Mirror.

• Lin Zixiao fled near Fangcun Mountain Market District and slaughtered the cultivators who approached, absorbing their souls and regenerating his destroyed arm.
• Qin Ming helped the Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame consume the Azure Netherworld Demon Fire, raising it to Tier 3, then swallowed it to nourish it in his dantian.
• Qin Ming drained Old Ghost Mu He and the other two Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators with Thorn Art, collected their Blood Orbs, and burned away their corpses.
• Qin Ming returned to Moon Gazing Island after taking a winding route and briefly praised Wu Jiang for the growing Spirit Rice.
• Qin Ming gave Spirit Transformation Fruits to the Devouring Sky Rat, the Mystic Water Crocodile, and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee, then began examining the other half of the Bronze Mirror.

Qin Ming learned the Treasure Refinement Art hidden in the Bronze Mirror fragments and discovered the mirror’s history and the location of its Artifact Spirit. He then fed Blood Orbs to the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine until its Spirit Fruits matured and harvested them, revealing new Affixes.

• Qin Ming reunited the Bronze Mirror fragments and had the Devouring Sky Rat remove the restriction from the second piece.
• The Devouring Sky Rat recovered to Tier 2 Perfection and deciphered the restriction in half a day, revealing a sheet of ancient silk.
• Qin Ming learned that the mirror was the Curved Jade Golden Light Mirror, a powerful ancient cultivator’s Natal Magic Treasure, and that its sealed Artifact Spirit was located in Liang Kingdom.
• Qin Ming memorized the Treasure Refinement Art and practiced its Spirit Mark and refinement techniques while planning to investigate the Artifact Spirit during a future trip to Liang Kingdom.
• Qin Ming fed several dozen Blood Orbs to the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, causing its demon flowers to mature into Spirit Fruits.
• Three days later, Qin Ming harvested the Spirit Fruits and saw three blue Affixes and one purple Affix appear in his Sea of Consciousness.

Qin Ming used lifespan and mana affixes, then accelerated and harvested his Spirit Plants, boosting his cultivation and lifespan. After enhancing a Void Bamboo to Tier 3 and becoming a Tier 3 Spirit Plant Grandmaster, he chose the Wood Sovereign Nails as his first natal treasure and began refining them from the bamboo.

• Qin Ming used Abundant Lifespan X5 to increase his lifespan by 250 years and Mana Spring to gain mana equivalent to several years of cultivation.
• The Mystic Water Crocodile and Devouring Sky Rat absorbed the grass-and-wood essence leaking from Qin Ming's cultivation.
• Qin Ming accelerated the Spirit Plants in his grove, harvested their affixes, and used them to increase his lifespan, soul force, and Vital Energy Force.
• Qin Ming used Quality Enhancement on the intelligent Void Bamboo, raising it to Tier 3 and becoming a Tier 3 Spirit Plant Grandmaster.
• Qin Ming chose the Wood Sovereign Nails as his first natal treasure, cut down the Tier 3 Void Spirit Bamboo, and began refining it in his cave abode.

Qin Ming prepared the embryos for a set of Wood Sovereign Nails and traveled to Azure Sea Immortal City to trade for the Tier 3 materials needed to refine them. He obtained the materials from Wei Wuyai and Nalan Xi, then departed after hearing that Demonic Cultivators were active again.

• Qin Ming refined the Tier 3 Void Bamboo into eighty-one Wood Sovereign Nails prototypes and sealed them for later use.
• The Devouring Sky Rat asked to accompany Qin Ming, but he left it behind to farm; after it complained, the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine whipped it back to work.
• Qin Ming met Wei Wuyai and Nalan Xi at Azure Sea Peak and traded Five Elements Vitality Spirit Peaches, Spirit Rest Rice, and Jade Scale Wine for Mystic Gold Divine Sand, Void Earth, and Shadow Stone.
• Qin Ming told the two Golden Core Ancestors that he had successfully planted Threefold Crimson Soulgrass, while concealing that he intended to use the materials to refine a magical treasure.
• Nalan Xi warned Qin Ming that Demonic Cultivators had massacred cultivators at Fangcun Mountain Market District and that the Six Demonic Sects were stirring again.
• After Qin Ming left, Wei Wuyai and Nalan Xi discussed his prospects as a Tier 3 Spirit Plant Grandmaster and regretted that his pseudo-spirit-root talent limited his cultivation.

Qin Ming returned to Moon Gazing Island and spent weeks refining eighty-one Wood Sovereign Nail magic treasure embryos. He planted them inside the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine with the help of his Spirit Plant Seed Treasure Affix, successfully beginning to nurture his first Natal Magic Treasure.

• Qin Ming returned from the Immortal City with the spirit materials and prepared his cave abode for refining the Wood Sovereign Nails.
• Qin Ming used his Tier 3 Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame to refine the materials into eighty-one Wood Sovereign Nail prototypes.
• Qin Ming spent more than half a month inscribing restrictive Spirit Marks and completing the magic treasure embryos.
• Qin Ming brought the embryos to the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine and used his Spirit Plant Seed Treasure Affix to plant all eighty-one inside its trunk.
• The Yin-Yang Mystic Vine began nurturing the Wood Sovereign Nails, completing Qin Ming's Spirit Plant Seed Treasure.

Qin Ming investigated the source of ghostly remains for growing the Abundant Nether Ghost Jujube and learned of a dangerous Demon Cave beneath the former Thousand Leaf Spirit Island. Refining ape-demon blood advanced his third transformation and revealed the Heavenly Demon Body Refining Art’s higher realms, leaving him questioning the Devouring Sky Rat about the technique’s later sections.

• The Devouring Sky Rat told Qin Ming that the ruins beneath Thousand Leaf Spirit Island might contain ghosts and spiritual entities, and Qin Ming decided to strengthen himself before investigating.
• Qin Ming refined Stone Ape great demon blood, triggering a vision of a Mountain Giant Ape destroying an immense Human Race Immortal City and granting him a wisp of fist intent.
• Qin Ming refined Giant Mi Azure Ape blood and deepened his understanding of the fist intent, approaching completion of the third transformation and the True Extremity Body.
• The Devouring Sky Rat explained that completing the transformation could lead to Vital Energy Core Formation, a realm equivalent to or stronger than the Human Race Golden Core Stage.
• Qin Ming challenged the Devouring Sky Rat about its knowledge of the Heavenly Demon Body Refining Art, and the rat claimed its clan had passed down some information and suggested the Azure-Faced Poisonous Flood Dragon might possess the later sections.

Qin Ming traveled to Thousand Leaf Island to find ghost creature corpses and pursue the Mystic Wraith Spirit Liquid, while reflecting on the importance of forming a high-grade Golden Core. After the Devouring Sky Rat revealed a hidden Demon Cave, five Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived, including someone Qin Ming recognized.

• Qin Ming set out for Thousand Leaf Island with his three Spirit Pets and resolved to obtain the Mystic Wraith Spirit Liquid.
• Qin Ming considered the risks and benefits of forming a Golden Core and the value of securing resources for a higher-grade core.
• Qin Ming reached the ruined Thousand Leaf Island and followed the Devouring Sky Rat to a desolate island in the southwest.
• The Devouring Sky Rat revealed the hidden entrance to a Demon Cave, which Qin Ming's divine sense had failed to detect.
• Qin Ming and the Devouring Sky Rat concealed themselves when five Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived, and Qin Ming recognized one of them.

Mo Lingwei led Yuan Feng and other Myriad Souls Valley Demonic Cultivators into the Demon Cave to seek the Blood Bone Demon Lord's inheritance and the Celestial Corpse Pearl. As the group fought a powerful Black Iron Zombie, Mo Lingwei betrayed Yuan Feng, but Qin Ming and the Devouring Sky Rat watched from hiding as the battle remained unresolved.

• Qin Ming recognized Mo Lingwei and Old Mo arriving with three Demonic Cultivators, who entered the Demon Cave after she revealed its hidden entrance.
• Qin Ming followed Mo Lingwei's group into a cavern where they fought a second-order late stage Black Iron Zombie among ghosts and corpses.
• Yuan Feng demanded to know why Mo Lingwei had failed to warn them about the powerful zombie, and she claimed it had grown stronger since her previous visit.
• Mo Lingwei used the Celestial Corpse Pearl to empower the Black Iron Zombie, then struck Yuan Feng with her Spirit Sword and severed his arm.
• Yuan Feng survived the attack with the protection of inner armor, while Qin Ming and the Devouring Sky Rat watched from hiding as the zombie threatened everyone in the cavern.

Mo Lingwei fought Yuan Feng and his summoned Nether Abyss Demon until Long Taoist arrived and Qin Ming revealed his overwhelming strength. Qin Ming killed the demon, collected its core and corpse, then began searching Yuan Feng’s soul.

• Mo Lingwei controlled the Black Iron Zombie against Yuan Feng, who summoned a Nether Abyss Demon with a blood-sacrifice secret art.
• The Nether Abyss Demon struck down the Black Iron Zombie and Old Mo, while two Myriad Souls Valley disciples fled and were killed by Qin Ming and the Devouring Sky Rat.
• Qin Ming transformed into Long Taoist and entered the cave, where Mo Lingwei recognized him as Senior Long.
• Long Taoist caught the Nether Abyss Demon’s attack, crushed its fist, and then beat it to death with his bare hands.
• Qin Ming stored the demon’s core and corpse, then used a cruel soul-searching art on Yuan Feng.