Chapter Summaries

After reassuring Qin Ming about the Beast Fang Rice harvest, Gu Qingzhao promised to handle the Spirit Feather Sect matter. Qin Ming bought the Blackwind Blade and its accompanying saber technique, then returned to the Secluded Cool Abode to begin studying his new weapon.

• Gu Qingzhao told Qin Ming to focus on harvesting the Beast Fang Rice and said she would address the Spirit Feather Sect matter.
• Qin Ming asked Manager Liao for an offensive magic item suited to a body-refining cultivator and examined several Superior-Grade Magic Items.
• Qin Ming proved able to suppress the Blackwind Blade’s Killing Intent and bought it for 1,080 Spirit Stones with the Blood Ignition Saber Technique included.
• Two demon beast hunters arrived at Juxuan Pavilion seeking to sell the corpses of five or six mid-stage first-rank beasts, and Manager Liao stayed to conduct business.
• Qin Ming returned to the Secluded Cool Abode, tested the Blackwind Blade, and began reading the seven-form Blood Ignition Saber Technique.

Qin Ming struggled to master the Blood Ignition Saber Technique when Chen Zi'ang visited with an offer to attend Elder Zhuang Xiran’s lecture. Qin Ming rejected the invitation, while Chen Zi'ang left frustrated that his plan to lure him out had failed.

• Qin Ming practiced the Blood Ignition Saber Technique for half a month but still could not grasp its first move.
• Chen Zi'ang visited Qin Ming and offered him an entry spot at Elder Zhuang Xiran’s lecture, where Zhuang might choose a personal disciple.
• Qin Ming declined the offer, saying he was too busy with the farming season and unsure he could advance as a Spirit Planter.
• Chen Zi'ang explained that becoming a Tier 2 Spirit Planter required cultivating a Tier 2 Spirit Plant, getting a Tier 2 Spirit Planter’s recommendation, and passing the Flora Mirage Realm trial.
• Qin Ming again refused to consider the opportunity, and Chen Zi'ang left the Secluded Cool Abode.
• Chen Zi'ang cursed Qin Ming on the road, complaining that he had spent days trying to lure him out on Senior Brother Jiang’s instructions.

Qin Ming harvested two Spirit Plants and gained mastery of the "Blood Ignition Saber Technique" before Chen Zi'ang ambushed him with three Spirit Feather Sect cultivators. Qin Ming killed one attacker with a single slash, leaving the remaining three stunned.

• Qin Ming found Affixes for mastery of the "Blood Ignition Saber Technique" and abundant soul force among his Spirit Plants, then harvested them.
• Qin Ming used the mastery-level saber technique Affix and gained decades' worth of comprehension.
• Chen Zi'ang and three Spirit Feather Sect cultivators blocked Qin Ming in the woods and confronted him.
• A Qi Refining Stage Sixth Layer cultivator attacked Qin Ming with a flying sword, but Qin Ming caught and took it.
• Qin Ming used the first form of the "Blood Ignition Saber Technique" to slice through the attacker's defensive artifact and kill him.
• The three surviving cultivators watched in shock after Qin Ming's slash.

Qin Ming defeated Chen Zi'ang and his two companions, using his Blackwind Blade and Withered Blood Poison Vines to kill them and collect their belongings. He erased the evidence and left before the Spirit Feather Sect arrived, but Elder Gu soon discovered traces of the sect's disciples at the scene.

• Chen Zi'ang and his two companions attacked Qin Ming with powerful spells, but Qin Ming emerged unharmed while his Thorn Art vines trapped and killed the two lower-stage cultivators.
• Qin Ming broke through Chen Zi'ang's Golden Shield Talisman, caught him as he tried to flee, and killed him with the Withered Blood Poison Vine.
• Qin Ming collected the three Blood Orbs, magic items, and Storage Bags, then burned the corpses and left the scene.
• Half an incense stick later, Elder Gu arrived on a Spirit Feather Sect dharma vessel and sensed traces of his sect's disciples' mana near the battlefield.

After defeating Chen Zi'ang and three others, Qin Ming counted his spoils and discovered that feeding their Blood Orbs to the Withered Blood Poison Vine had evolved its Affix into Leaf of Spacetime. He strengthened his soul with five Abundant Soul Force Affixes and began considering how to use his time before Elder Zhuang's lecture.

• Qin Ming inventoried the four Storage Bags and gained more than four thousand three hundred Spirit Stones’ worth of wealth, while keeping two valuable Spirit Plants for later pill refining.
• Qin Ming fed three Blood Orbs to the Withered Blood Poison Vine, causing it to grow and gain the Leaf of Spacetime Affix, which could accelerate a high-tier Spirit Plant to a hundred years of growth.
• Qin Ming read Elder Zhuang Xiran’s Jade Talisman and learned that its holder could attend Zhuang Xiran’s public Spirit Plant lecture at the Spirit Feather Sect in half a month.
• Qin Ming cultivated the Hundred Treasures Glazed Scripture, then used five Abundant Soul Force Affixes to strengthen his soul four or five times and bring his spiritual sense near the Qi Refining Stage perfection level.
• Qin Ming considered mastering the Blood Ignition Saber Technique over the next ten days before visiting Su Yuqing to try refining mid-grade spirit pills.

Qin Ming visited Juxuan Pavilion to buy Spirit Bamboo Wine and alchemy materials, revealing to Manager Liao that he had become a Low-Grade Alchemist and was attempting mid-grade pills. After warning Qin Ming about the recent killings near the Spirit Fields and identifying the Feng Brothers as his new neighbors, Manager Liao decided to report Qin Ming’s alchemy progress to the Pavilion Master.

• Qin Ming bought two jars of Spirit Bamboo Wine that Manager Liao had reserved for him and ordered ten portions each of Frost Dew Juice, Jade Fire Fluid, and Spirit Bloom Essence.
• Qin Ming told Manager Liao he had become a Low-Grade Alchemist and planned to try refining mid-grade pills, prompting Manager Liao to sell him the materials at half price.
• Manager Liao asked Qin Ming to prioritize Juxuan Pavilion if he had surplus pills to sell, and Qin Ming agreed while cautioning that he could currently refine only low-tier pills.
• Manager Liao warned Qin Ming that four Spirit Feather Sect cultivators had recently been killed in the woods near the Spirit Fields and said the Feng Brothers, two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, had moved in nearby.
• After Qin Ming left, Manager Liao resolved to report his alchemy progress to the Pavilion Master.

Qin Ming struggled to refine Spirit Gathering Pills until Su Yuqing revealed the missing technique, the Yin-Yang Separation Spirit Control Art, and offered to teach it to him. Qin Ming was delighted and surprised by the offer, which came with a strict promise not to pass it on.

• Manager Liao reported Qin Ming's plans to advance to Intermediate Alchemist, and Gu Qingzhao praised him for building goodwill with Qin.
• Qin Ming visited Su Yuqing with Spirit Bamboo Wine and borrowed his Alchemy Room to refine Spirit Gathering Pills.
• Qin Ming failed seven attempts, but Su Yuqing found a semi-finished pill and told him he had made surprising progress.
• Su Yuqing demonstrated his Yin-Yang Separation Spirit Control Art and produced twelve Superior Spirit Gathering Pills.
• Su Yuqing offered to teach Qin Ming the art if he swore never to pass it on, leaving Qin Ming astonished.

Su Yuqing taught Qin Ming the Yin-Yang Separation Spirit Control Art, allowing him to refine Spirit Gathering Pills and become an Intermediate Alchemist. After using the pills to cultivate, Qin Ming broke through to the fifth layer of the Qi Refining Stage and considered expanding his cooperation with Mirror Snow Pavilion.

• Su Yuqing passed the Yin-Yang Separation Spirit Control Art to Qin Ming after securing his promise not to teach it to others.
• Qin Ming used the art to refine Spirit Gathering Pills successfully, earning Su Yuqing's recognition as an Intermediate Alchemist.
• Qin Ming refined another batch of ten Spirit Gathering Pills, including four Superior pills, then drank with Su Yuqing before returning to the Secluded Cool Abode.
• Qin Ming consumed his Superior and common Spirit Gathering Pills while cultivating and broke through to the fifth layer of the Qi Refining Stage.
• Qin Ming considered deepening his cooperation with Mirror Snow Pavilion and planned to visit Juxuan Pavilion to sell Qi Gathering Pills and buy ingredients.

Qin Ming sold his newly refined pills to Juxuan Pavilion, and Gu Qingzhao invited him to become a guest elder after learning of his alchemy skills and connection to Alchemist Su. Qin Ming declined the position but agreed to continue their existing business relationship.

• Qin Ming returned to Juxuan Pavilion after reaching the Qi Refining Stage fifth layer and confirmed to Manager Liao that he had refined mid-grade pills.
• Manager Liao told Qin Ming that Gu Qingzhao wanted to meet him, and he brought Qin Ming to her private room.
• Qin Ming showed Gu Qingzhao two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills and one bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills, which she bought at prices above the market rate.
• Qin Ming said Alchemist Su had guided him in refining Spirit Gathering Pills, prompting Gu Qingzhao to invite him to become a guest elder.
• Qin Ming declined the position because he preferred his freedom but promised to keep selling his pills and Spirit Rice at Juxuan Pavilion.

Qin Ming bought a high-speed Spirit Light Shuttle for his upcoming trip to the Spirit Feather Sect's branch in Cloud Wasteland Marsh. Back at his courtyard, he met Alchemist Yan and learned that several other skilled independent cultivators had moved in nearby, leaving him wary of drawing attention.

• Gu Qingzhao accepted Qin Ming's refusal to become a guest elder and arranged for Manager Liao to provide his spiritual materials.
• Qin Ming bought the Spirit Light Shuttle from Manager Liao for 1,200 Spirit Stones.
• Qin Ming met his new neighbor, Alchemist Yan, and learned they were both Mid-Grade Alchemists, though he kept his own status secret.
• Alchemist Yan introduced Qin Ming to the skilled independent cultivators living nearby and proposed a neighborhood exchange gathering.
• Qin Ming agreed to attend the gathering in one month, then returned to his courtyard and resolved to keep a lower profile.

Qin Ming traveled to the Spirit Feather Sect to attend Elder Zhuang Xiran’s lecture and learned that the upcoming Flora Mirage Realm trial could offer a chance to obtain the Essence of Myriad Woods. As Zhuang began his lecture, five masked cultivators watched the sect from a distance and discussed prioritizing an unspecified important matter.

• Qin Ming flew on his Spirit Light Shuttle to Cloud Mang Mountain and entered the Spirit Feather Sect’s Wuzhen Hall with his Jade Talisman.
• A lean independent cultivator told Qin Ming and the others that Zhuang Xiran’s lecture might be intended to find candidates for the Flora Mirage Realm trial and the Essence of Myriad Woods.
• Qin Ming reflected that his goal was to pass the trial and advance to a Tier 2 Spirit Planter, while remaining unsure whether Zhuang would favor him.
• Zhuang Xiran arrived at Wuzhen Hall, released a Foundation Establishment Realm aura, and asked the gathered Spirit Planters what a Spirit Planter was.
• Five masked, black-robed cultivators watched the sect from a mountain hollow, and their leader told them to handle their important matter first.

Qin Ming attended Elder Zhuang Xiran’s Spirit Plant lecture, where Jiang Kun questioned him about the disappearance of Chen Zi'ang and four other cultivators. After Jiang Kun decided to keep watching Qin Ming, the evening lecture began and was interrupted by an earthshaking boom outside.

• Elder Zhuang Xiran called on Qin Ming, who described the Spirit Plant Dao as farming, and then explained how cultivation farming differed from mortal agriculture.
• Qin Ming spotted Jiang Kun in the hall and worried that he suspected him of killing Chen Zi'ang and the four cultivators.
• Elder Zhuang Xiran delivered a daylong lecture and announced an evening session and an assessment for middle-grade Spirit Planters and above.
• Jiang Kun confronted Qin Ming about Chen Zi'ang’s death, but Qin Ming denied knowing what happened and claimed Gu Qingzhao had given him the Jade Talisman.
• Jiang Kun told his follower to watch Qin Ming and wait until Elder Zhuang’s business was finished before deciding what to do.
• During Elder Zhuang Xiran’s evening lecture, an earthshaking boom erupted outside and startled the cultivators.

Five masked bandits breached Spirit Feather Sect’s formation and looted Elder Zhuang Xiran’s herb garden, prompting a pursuit. The Buddha Mask bandit discovered that the Seven-Colored Soul Cleansing Lotus had led Zhuang to their hideout and went out to confront him.

• Five bandits used a High-Grade Formation Breaking Talisman to break into Spirit Feather Sect and steal the Seven-Colored Soul Cleansing Lotus and other spirit plants.
• Qin Ming learned that the bandits had defeated a Foundation Establishment elder, then left for Qingyang Market while Spirit Feather Sect sent disciples after the thieves.
• The bandits hid in an underground cave, where the Buddha Mask bandit told the others to leave Cloud Wasteland Marsh and lie low.
• Zhuang Xiran found the bandits’ hideout, sent a Message Talisman to the sect, and bombarded the marshland with spells.
• The Buddha Mask bandit suspected the lotus bore a special mark, ordered the other four to escape, and rose to confront Zhuang Xiran.

Jiang Minshan joined Elder Zhuang in battle against the Buddha Masked cultivator while Qin Ming fled toward Qingyang Market. After encountering the wounded Jiang Kun, Qin Ming killed him, harvested his belongings and Blood Orb, and escaped as four cultivators approached.

• Jiang Minshan rushed to support Elder Zhuang, and the two fought the Buddha Masked cultivator above the swamp.
• Qin Ming hurried toward Qingyang Market and encountered Jiang Kun, who was badly wounded and fleeing pursuers.
• Qin Ming attacked Jiang Kun, who used protective treasures and a talisman to escape, but Qin Ming caught up with him on the Spirit Light Shuttle.
• Qin Ming overcame Jiang Kun's defenses, severed his leg, and killed him with a slash to the neck.
• Qin Ming took Jiang Kun's Dharma Sword, Storage Bag, and Blood Orb, destroyed the corpse, and fled when four cultivators approached.

After killing Jiang Kun, Qin Ming returned to Qingyang Market, secured his spoils, and resumed cultivating his poison vine and spirit fields. News of the bandits’ raid on the Spirit Feather Sect spread, leaving Qingyang Market’s cultivators furious at Goldcloud Valley’s bounty.

• Four black-robed cultivators arrived at the battlefield after Qin Ming left, and a Spirit Feather Sect elder pursued them after finding Jiang Kun’s burned remains.
• Qin Ming examined Jiang Kun’s Storage Bag, claimed the Azure Nether Sword and its sword art, and found the Marrow Cleansing Pill, spirit stones, and a spent talisman treasure.
• Qin Ming fed Jiang Kun’s Blood Orb to the Withered Blood Poison Vine, increasing its maturity, then hung his Four-Winged Frost Bees’ hive on the vine.
• Qin Ming tended his Spirit Fields, watered the crops with the Greater Spirit Rain Technique, and suspected the Beast Fang Rice might reach supreme grade.
• Qingyang Market heard that two Spirit Feather Sect elders had failed to defeat the Buddha Mask bandit, and cultivators condemned Goldcloud Valley for offering only one Foundation Establishment Pill as a bounty.

Qin Ming attended a small exchange meet with neighboring cultivators, where Lin Zixiao impressed everyone by trading a powerful formation. The gathering was left focused on a mysterious chessboard that Huang Xishan identified as a possible Yin-Yang Reversal Illusion Formation.

• Goldcloud Valley and the Spirit Feather Sect issued a higher-tier Bounty Order seeking the bandits who raided the Spirit Feather Sect's medicinal garden.
• Alchemist Yan invited Qin Ming to an exchange meet, where Qin Ming met the Feng Brothers, Huang Xishan, and Lin Zixiao.
• Alchemist Yan offered Gen Snow Pills and Spirit Gathering Pills, and the Feng Brothers bought both bottles.
• Feng Yuan offered a late first-rank Mystic Water Crocodile's Demon Core and claws, which the Feng Brothers traded to Lin Zixiao for a Minor Blazing Fire Formation.
• Lin Zixiao presented a chessboard covered with black and white pieces, and Huang Xishan wondered if it was the long-lost Yin-Yang Reversal Illusion Formation.

Qin Ming acquired a powerful formation, continued cultivating and farming for another year, and earned recognition for producing supreme-grade crops. As he prepared to advance as a Spirit Planter, Su Yuqing announced that he was leaving the Cloud Marsh Great Wilderness and said goodbye to Qin Ming.

• Qin Ming outbid the other cultivators for Lin Zixiao's Yin-Yang Reversal Illusion Formation with an offer of two thousand Spirit Stones, then traded fifty jin of Beast Fang Rice at the exchange meet.
• Over the next year, Qin Ming cultivated and farmed while Goldcloud Valley and the Spirit Feather Sect hunted the bandits; his Golden Spirit Rice harvests yielded new Affixes.
• Elder Gu and Du Haifu inspected Qin Ming's supreme-grade Beast Fang Rice, announced that his tax would be reduced to thirty-five percent, and praised his near-qualification as a High-Grade Spirit Planter.
• Du Haifu harvested and weighed Qin Ming's Beast Fang Rice, leaving him with eight hundred and thirty-two jin after the tax.
• Su Yuqing harvested the mature Spirit Herbs, gave Qin Ming his share, and revealed that he planned to leave through Qingyang Market's teleportation formation after asking Qin Ming to fulfill his promise.

Qin Ming said farewell to Su Yuqing, who entrusted him with Divine Essence Fruit seeds, then sold a harvest of Supreme-Grade Beast Fang Rice to Mirror Snow Pavilion for twelve thousand Spirit Stones. He received the pavilion’s Yellow-Rank Snow Token and set off with Gu Qingzhao and Manager Liao to take his High-Grade Spirit Planter advancement assessment.

• Su Yuqing gave Qin Ming five Divine Essence Fruit seeds to plant and a map for finding him, and Qin Ming agreed to send him three fruits after they ripened.
• Qin Ming gave Su Yuqing one hundred jin of Supreme-Grade Beast Fang Rice, and Su Yuqing departed after telling him he could take over his house in the Shantytown.
• Qin Ming brought six hundred jin of Supreme-Grade Beast Fang Rice to Juxuan Pavilion, where Gu Qingzhao bought it for twelve thousand Spirit Stones.
• Gu Qingzhao gave Qin Ming a Yellow-Rank Snow Token, granting him benefits and access to Mirror Snow Pavilion’s resources and intelligence.
• Qin Ming left for the Hall of Affairs to take his High-Grade Spirit Planter assessment, accompanied by Gu Qingzhao and Manager Liao.

Qin Ming took the High-Grade Spirit Planter examination after refusing Elder Zhuang Xiran’s offer to become his closed-door disciple. He revived the dying Golden Sun Tree with his Rebirth Spirit Seed Affix and passed, leaving Gu Qingzhao and Manager Liao to learn of his advancement.

• Inner Sect elders discussed Qin Ming’s talent and planned to test his loyalty to the Spirit Feather Sect; Elder Zhuang Xiran offered to take him as a closed-door disciple.
• Qin Ming declined Elder Zhuang’s offer and was assigned to revive a dying Golden Sun Tree within half a month.
• Elder Zhuang and the other elders expected Qin Ming to fail, while Gu Qingzhao waited anxiously for news of the examination.
• After gathering spirit materials and waiting until the tenth day, Qin Ming used the Rebirth Spirit Seed Affix to restore the Golden Sun Tree’s vitality.
• Elder Zhuang announced that Qin Ming had passed the examination and advanced to High-Grade Spirit Planter.

Qin Ming officially advanced to High-Grade Spirit Planter, earning congratulations and gifts from Gu Qingzhao, Manager Liao, Alchemist Yan, and his neighbors. Back at the Secluded Cool Abode, he reflected that he was close to becoming a Tier 2 Spirit Planter.

• Qin Ming lit the third leaf on his Spirit Planter identity plaque and became a High-Grade Spirit Planter.
• Qin Ming renewed Su Yuqing's room lease, then left the Hall of Affairs as the elders discussed the challenge of growing Tier 2 Spirit Plants.
• Gu Qingzhao and Manager Liao celebrated Qin Ming's advancement at Juxuan Pavilion, where Alchemist Yan learned that Qin Ming was also an Intermediate Alchemist.
• Alchemist Yan invited the neighbors to the banquet, and Huang Xishan, the Feng Brothers, and Lin Zixiao congratulated Qin Ming and gave him gifts.
• Qin Ming returned to the Secluded Cool Abode and thought that he was only one step away from becoming a Tier 2 Spirit Planter.