Chapter Summaries

Jiang Beiran returned the Lin Family waist tokens and accompanied Lin Shiyun, Lin Yuyan, and Xiao Qi into Wuli Ravine, where Xiao Qi vanished into a Secret Realm. Xiao Qi returned moments later as a Great Profound Master after spending a year cultivating in a cave abode, and he chose to remain in Qi Kingdom and follow Jiang Beiran's instructions.

• Jiang Beiran returned Lin Shiyun's and Lin Yuyan's waist tokens and declined to keep the Lin Family token.
• Jiang Beiran agreed to explore Wuli Ravine with Xiao Qi, who swore loyalty to him before they entered.
• Xiao Qi vanished in Wuli Ravine, then reappeared moments later after a year of cultivation in a cave abode, having advanced from an ordinary person to a Great Profound Master.
• Xiao Qi told Jiang Beiran that a mysterious voice had guided his cultivation and said he could return when fate descended again.
• Jiang Beiran believed Xiao Qi's account, confirmed that the cave abode had cleared the poison from the Five Ganoderma Hundred Flower Pill, and advised him to temper himself.
• Xiao Qi chose to follow Jiang Beiran's advice, and Jiang Beiran asked Lin Yuyan to help him find work with the Lin Family.

Jiang Beiran left Qi Kingdom with Lin Yuyan and Lin Shiyun, enforcing obedience after Lin Shiyun challenged his directions. At camp, his cooking won Lin Shiyun over, though Lin Yuyan remained wary of her aunt’s interest in Jiang Beiran.

• Xiao Qi thanked Jiang Beiran for helping him join the Kuntian Sect, and Jiang Beiran departed.
• Jiang Beiran ordered the group east, then used his Spirit pressure to stop Lin Shiyun from defying his rules.
• Lin Shiyun realized Jiang Beiran was keeping her under guard and became more cautious as the group continued traveling.
• Jiang Beiran cooked Twice-Cooked Pork, and Lin Shiyun eagerly praised and devoured it with rice.
• Lin Yuyan warned Lin Shiyun not to steal bites or eye Jiang Beiran, then Jiang Beiran served spicy chicken to Lin Shiyun.

Jiang Beiran crossed out of Qi Kingdom with Lin Shiyun and Lin Yuyan, then hid underground when a new spiritual vein awakened near the Zhou Kingdom. He completed the Stealthy Zhou Heaven Formation and a protective formation, but the system still did not recognize his hiding place as safe, so he began constructing another formation.

• Jiang Beiran spent a month appeasing Lin Shiyun with food and finally led her and Lin Yuyan out of Qi Kingdom toward Zhou Kingdom.
• When the mountains began shaking, Jiang Beiran chose to hide underground with the two women and learned from Lin Shiyun that a new spiritual vein had awakened.
• Jiang Beiran used nine Dharma Artifacts to complete the Stealthy Zhou Heaven Formation, concealing their underground refuge from the outside world.
• When the system withheld the reward, Jiang Beiran reasoned that they were not safe yet and added the Sky Wind Silver Rain Formation five days later.
• Jiang Beiran found that the system still gave no reward and began working on another formation, while Lin Shiyun asked Lin Yuyan about him and Lin Yuyan refused to explain.

Jiang Beiran completed the triple-layered formation and used its Heavenly Eye to watch Six Nations powerhouses battle above the spiritual vein. When Lin Yuyan’s sealed otherworldly demon went berserk, he subdued her and discovered that wood spiritual energy had stirred it into trying to break free.

• Jiang Beiran finished the Heavenly Eye Formation after another five days, completing his triple-layered formation and receiving a Luck reward.
• Jiang Beiran used the formation to observe a battle between powerful figures aboveground, and Lin Shiyun identified Celestial Master Ye Peifeng, Shenluo Mi Yangrong, and Nine Luminaries King Xuan Zhe among them.
• Lin Yuyan erupted with baleful energy and attacked Jiang Beiran, who realized her body and mind were being controlled.
• Lin Shiyun explained that an unknown otherworldly demon had entered seven-year-old Lin Yuyan and been sealed inside her by her eldest brother.
• Jiang Beiran identified the Nine Qi Azure Heaven Art sealing Lin Yuyan, suppressed her with Spiritual power, and discovered that wood spiritual energy had caused the demon to stir.

Jiang Beiran and Lin Shiyun harnessed the newly awakened wood spiritual vein while Mystic Saints fought aboveground for half a year. After transforming their constitutions, filling spirit stones, and building a jade vat to store the excess energy, Jiang Beiran turned to Lin Shiyun when she asked whether he knew divination.

• Jiang Beiran isolated Lin Yuyan from the wood spiritual energy to suppress the demonic beast sealed inside her, then discussed the danger of the Mystic Saints fighting over the Five Elements spiritual vein.
• Jiang Beiran persuaded Lin Shiyun to share her Earth Rank and Heaven Rank Spirit Stones so he could fill them with wood spiritual energy.
• Over half a year, Jiang Beiran and Lin Shiyun transformed into wood spiritual energy constitutions while he filled the stones and enhanced his treasures; the Mystic Saints' battle continued aboveground.
• Jiang Beiran devised and completed the Geng Plan, assembling low- and Mid-Grade Spirit Stones into a jade vat that absorbed the surrounding wood spiritual energy.
• Lin Shiyun asked whether Jiang Beiran knew divination, and he offered to tell her fortune.

Jiang Beiran used divination to win Lin Shiyun’s worship and persuaded her to seek the Yin-Yang Secret Feather and Imperial Gu, then discovered that wood spiritual energy had awakened a carved game piece. He forged Butterfly Twin Blades to test whether the cave’s energy could help artifacts develop spirits, while Lin Yuyan watched him jealously.

• Jiang Beiran explained Lin Shiyun’s Killing Seal Mutual Generation life pattern, and she bowed to him and promised to obtain the Yin-Yang Secret Feather and Imperial Gu.
• Jiang Beiran played Simulated Jianghu with Lin Shiyun, and the carved Jiang Ziya moved on its own and smiled at her.
• Jiang Beiran suspected that wood spiritual energy and his Spiritual power had awakened Jiang Ziya, and he realized the energy might help Dharma Artifacts develop Artifact Spirits.
• Jiang Beiran used the Wish-Granting Bamboo Slip Cylinder to obtain Immeasurable Nether Stone and forged a pair of Butterfly Twin Blades.
• Lin Shiyun admired Jiang Beiran as he forged, while Lin Yuyan grew jealous but suppressed her baleful aura under his sharp gaze.

Jiang Beiran explored how wood spiritual energy improved weapons and other crafts while waiting for the Mystic Saints’ battle to end. The White Mist Sword awakened an Artifact Spirit and grew powerful enough to fight Lin Shiyun on its own, while Jiang Beiran began making jade slips.

• Jiang Beiran gave Lin Yuyan the White Mist Sword, which awakened intelligence in two weeks, and he later brewed wine, refined pills, and drew talismans using wood spiritual energy.
• Jiang Beiran watched the thirteen Mystic Saints continue fighting, then crushed a Myriad Spirit Fruit and began brewing Spirit Wine.
• Lin Shiyun challenged Lin Yuyan to sword training, but Jiang Beiran stopped them from fighting in earnest.
• Three months later, Jiang Beiran cut a spirit-stone vat in half to begin making jade slips, while Lin Shiyun offered help and he refused.
• Lin Yuyan’s White Mist Sword attacked Lin Shiyun autonomously, displaying its advanced Artifact Spirit and white mist that impaired the senses.
• Jiang Beiran called off the fight and stroked the White Mist Sword, causing Lin Yuyan to react as if she felt the touch herself.

Jiang Beiran completed a Heaven Rank jade slip and used the cave’s abundant wood spiritual energy to craft his finest materials, while Lin Yuyan learned to absorb the energy safely. The chapter left them still trapped as the Mystic Saints continued fighting overhead, and Jiang Beiran passed the time playing Simulated Jianghu with the Lin women.

• Jiang Beiran completed a jade slip from a Heaven Rank Spirit Stone and received a Strength point from the system.
• Jiang Beiran cooked a feast for Lin Shiyun, then helped Lin Yuyan safely absorb pure wood spiritual energy while the demon inside her remained occupied with the White Mist Sword.
• Jiang Beiran refined his remaining top-grade materials, turning the transformed Soul Infant Fruit into separate healing and poisonous pills.
• Jiang Beiran observed that the Mystic Saints were still locked in a stalemate above the wood spirit vein, despite occasionally meeting to discuss matters.
• Jiang Beiran played Simulated Jianghu with Lin Yuyan and Lin Shiyun as the wood spiritual energy made the game’s Jiang Ziya seem increasingly lifelike.

Jiang Beiran protected his underground cave from the aftershock of Venerable Wuxiang’s devastating attack, then prepared to leave with Lin Yuyan and Lin Shiyun. Venerable Wuxiang arrived at their meal to discuss urgent business, and another mysterious voice accused him of trying to claim something for himself.

• Jiang Beiran strengthened the Sky Wind Silver Rain Formation with talismans, Spirit Stones, and defensive artifacts as Venerable Wuxiang unleashed a powerful attack above.
• Jiang Beiran used a Heaven Grade Jade Slip to absorb the attack’s aftershock, sparing the cave from the worst of the damage.
• The Mystic Saints argued with Venerable Wuxiang before leaving, while Jiang Beiran realized the Five Elements Spirit Vein had grown weaker.
• Jiang Beiran packed up the cave and cooked a meal for Lin Yuyan and Lin Shiyun before preparing to leave.
• Venerable Wuxiang entered the cave, sampled Jiang Beiran’s food, questioned Lin Shiyun, and said he wanted to discuss business.
• An unseen visitor spoke behind Jiang Beiran, telling Venerable Wuxiang that he had noticed it too and asking whether Wuxiang planned to take it all for himself.

After surviving the Mystic Saints’ battle, Jiang Beiran rejected Venerable Wuxiang’s offer of discipleship and was protected by a mysterious elder who claimed he was family. He left the devastated area with Lin Yuyan, parted from Lin Shiyun, and followed the system’s directions toward the southwest, unsure what awaited him after more than a year away from Sheng Kingdom.

• Venerable Wuxiang transformed into a beautiful woman, discovered Jiang Beiran was only twenty-one and at Qi Refining Fifth Stage, and offered to take him as her disciple.
• Jiang Beiran refused Venerable Wuxiang because he already had a master, and the mysterious elder intervened, claimed Jiang Beiran was one of his family, and secured his release in exchange for a favor.
• Venerable Wuxiang promised to ask Jiang Beiran for help in the future, then left the cave, and the mysterious elder disappeared soon after.
• Jiang Beiran confirmed the danger had passed, took Lin Yuyan and Lin Shiyun out of the formation, and saw that the Mystic Saints’ battle had obliterated the surrounding hills and ground.
• Jiang Beiran sent Lin Shiyun away to attend to her duties, and she gave him a sachet before flying off; he then departed with Lin Yuyan in an Auspicious Cloud.
• Worried about Sheng Kingdom and his position as emperor after more than a year away, Jiang Beiran followed the system’s guidance southwest.

Jiang Beiran returned to Sheng Kingdom and found Feng Province devastated by a deadly plague that infected both commoners and Cultivators. After reuniting with Mu Yao, he learned she had served as emperor during his absence and discovered that Lulin County was the only area to contain the outbreak.

• Jiang Beiran found refugees suffering from a strange plague near Heyi Town and noticed black qi coiling around them.
• Mu Yao arrived as emperor, reassured the refugees, and used Mystic Qi to briefly revive a dying child.
• Jiang Beiran revealed himself to Mu Yao and Kong Qianqian, then heard how Mu Yao had ruled during his absence.
• Mu Yao explained that the plague had spread through much of Feng Province, killed Cultivators as well as commoners, and resisted the measures tried so far.
• Jiang Beiran learned that Lulin County had contained the plague and was Feng Province's only unaffected area.

Jiang Beiran identified the plague as a consequence of the lingering miasma and gave Yin Jianghong a plan to purify it. After returning to the Returning Heart Sect, he reunited with Shi Fenglan, who revealed she had known he was alive.

• Jiang Beiran investigated Shandong County and discovered that tiny particles of the old miasma spread across Sheng Kingdom and gathered around people infected with the plague.
• At a meeting in the Moon-Veiling Sect, leaders of the righteous and demonic paths argued over the plague until Yin Jianghong left in frustration.
• Jiang Beiran told Yin Jianghong that the miasma caused the plague and proposed developing medicine to disinfect towns across Sheng Kingdom.
• Jiang Beiran returned to the Returning Heart Sect and reunited with Xiao Duo and Shi Fenglan at Orchid Pavilion.
• Shi Fenglan reproached Jiang Beiran for being gone so long, then admitted she had known he was alive, prompting him to demand an honest explanation.

Jiang Beiran returned to the sect, learned that Shi Fenglan had secretly marked him with her family’s mystic seal, and reunited with Lu Bogui and Lu Yinlong. The chapter left him hearing that a cure for Sheng Kingdom’s plague had appeared after Demon Lord Yin went out briefly.

• Shi Fenglan admitted that she had secretly placed a family mystic seal on Jiang Beiran, which explained why a Mystic Saint had recognized him as a clansman, and she offered to show him an Earth-Hidden True Crystal.
• Jiang Beiran went to see Lu Bogui, who welcomed him back and told him that many people, including several female disciples, had searched for him.
• Jiang Beiran offered Lu Bogui rare Spirit Pills made with pure wood spiritual energy, but Lu Bogui refused them as too precious.
• Jiang Beiran visited Lu Yinlong and learned that Sheng Kingdom had found a solution to its plague after Demon Lord Yin went out briefly.

Jiang Beiran returned to Sheng Kingdom after more than a year away and learned that Gu Qinghuan’s training had filled his self-barrier with fire spiritual energy. After reviewing the kingdom’s troubles and meeting Su Xiuyu, he left the Liang Kingdom’s uncertain invasion threat unresolved.

• Jiang Beiran directly told Lu Yinlong to admit he had guessed Jiang Beiran’s idea, and Lu Yinlong praised his work before Jiang Beiran departed.
• Jiang Beiran found that Gu Qinghuan had become muscular and reached Mystic Spirit, while his long-term training and Zhurong Tea had filled the self-barrier with fire spiritual energy.
• Gu Qinghuan gave Jiang Beiran collected treasures and reported Liang Kingdom’s alliance plans, unrest between Sheng Kingdom’s provinces, and the growth of its underground black markets.
• Jiang Beiran inspected the treasures, went to the imperial palace, and summoned Su Xiuyu, who had reached ninth-stage Mystic Spirit.
• Su Xiuyu explained that Liang Kingdom’s sect masters had delayed an invasion while arguing over spoils and who would lead the attack, leaving their plans uncertain.

Jiang Beiran discovered that Lanruo Temple was exploiting plague-stricken refugees with fraudulent Sin-Cleansing Decrees and dangerous bloodletting. He exposed the monks’ scheme by infecting them with the plague and forced Zhiming to confess to the people, while the scheme’s unseen instigator remained unknown.

• Su Xiuyu received Jiang Beiran’s three strategies for Liang Kingdom and fled after Jiang warned him not to consider conquering Sheng Kingdom while Jiang was present.
• Jiang Beiran listened to Deng Xianghan play the zither, then left the palace to investigate how to contain the plague.
• Jiang Beiran traced a strong smell of human blood to Lanruo Temple, where monks sold Sin-Cleansing Decrees and bled refugees while claiming the ritual would cure their illness.
• Jiang Beiran used a Spirit Flea to infect Zhiyuan with the plague and forced Zhiming to bleed him, exposing the monks’ fraudulent claims to the refugees.
• Jiang Beiran infected Zhikong as well, and Zhiming begged for mercy and agreed to explain the monks’ crimes to the common people.

Jiang Beiran exposed the fake monks at Lanruo Temple, assigned Wu Qingce to deal with the monks and refugees, and returned to the Returning Heart Sect to catch up on letters. After Li Fucheng’s message prompted him to travel to Liang Kingdom, Jiang Beiran welcomed Mo Xia back for a game of chess.

• Jiang Beiran exposed the conmen at Lanruo Temple, sent a message by Ying Bee Bird, and decided he would need to travel beyond Sheng Kingdom to keep advancing.
• Wu Qingce arrived at ninth-rank Mystic Spirit, and Jiang Beiran tasked him with handling the fake monks, finding their counterparts across the kingdom, and settling the refugees in Lulin County.
• Jiang Beiran returned to the Returning Heart Sect and read Li Fucheng’s letters describing his growing influence in Liang Kingdom and a major matter he wanted to discuss.
• Jiang Beiran chose to tell Li Fucheng to stay put and await orders, then learned Li Fucheng was eager for his visit to Liang Kingdom.
• Mo Xia visited Jiang Beiran late at night and asked to play chess; Jiang Beiran checked his cultivation and invited him inside.

After defeating Mo Xia at Go, Jiang Beiran woke to a ghost attack and learned that a ghost-raiser had sent the female ghost to deter him from investigating Lanruo Temple. He followed her to her master, Tian Ge, and captured him, leaving Tian Ge pinned and unable to hide his secrets.

• Jiang Beiran praised Mo Xia’s wedge, turned it into a trap, and beat him at Go before they played through the night.
• A female ghost tried to frighten and attack Jiang Beiran, but he subdued her with Spiritual power while Qingqing explained she had followed him to protect him.
• Jiang Beiran learned Qingqing and her little brother had been killed by the conmen at Lanruo Temple, and the female ghost admitted her master had sent her to scare him away from the matter.
• Jiang Beiran forced the female ghost to lead him to her master, promising to free her after confronting him.
• Jiang Beiran stormed the thatched cottage, seized Tian Ge, and broke his bones when he resisted.
• Jiang Beiran confronted Tian Ge about raising ghosts and noticed the cottage reeked of human blood.

Jiang Beiran interrogated Tian Ge and learned how to capture, mark, and nurture ghosts, discovering that Tian Ge’s ghost arts were a crude version of abilities Jiang Beiran already possessed. After questioning him, Jiang Beiran killed Tian Ge for murdering thousands of refugees, while Qingqing hoped he would eventually raise her as a ghost.

• Jiang Beiran broke Tian Ge’s resolve with a Snake Gu Pill and learned that Tian Ge had discovered ghost-raising arts in a Secret Realm at Baofang Courtyard in Jifeng County, Shilin Prefecture.
• Tian Ge explained that ghosts could be subdued with Soul Power and nurtured with Baleful Qi, Mad Qi, Resentment Qi, Yin Qi, and Malice Qi.
• Jiang Beiran recognized Tian Ge’s Soul Power Mark as a weaker version of a Spiritual Power mark, replaced the mark on the old ghost, and questioned Tian Ge about identifying ghosts’ aptitude.
• Jiang Beiran used hypnotic incense to keep Tian Ge answering questions until night, then let him sleep; Qingqing asked Jiang Beiran to raise her, but he told her to wait.
• After Tian Ge woke the following night, Jiang Beiran dismissed his plea for mercy and killed him for murdering thousands of refugees.

Jiang Beiran tried to awaken Gu Qinghuan and Wu Qingce’s Soul Power so one of them could guard Tian Ge’s corpse, but both attempts failed. He sent Wu Qingce to find Mo Xia, then learned the chess-playing disciple had been taken to the Back Mountain after offending other disciples.

• The female ghost celebrated Tian Ge’s death, and Jiang Beiran placed a Soul Mark on her to prevent her from harming people again.
• Jiang Beiran learned that ghosts could appear at different times after death and realized Tian Ge would eventually become a dangerous malicious ghost.
• Jiang Beiran attempted to awaken Gu Qinghuan’s Soul Power, but the strain made him collapse and vomit, so Jiang Beiran stopped and dismissed him to recover.
• Jiang Beiran’s attempt to awaken Wu Qingce’s Soul Power failed even faster, and he sent Wu Qingce to fetch Mo Xia from Blue Heart Hall.
• Wu Qingce learned that Mo Xia had been dragged to the Back Mountain after bluntly criticizing several senior brothers during a chess game, and he asked Cui Weiqi to lead him there.

Wu Qingce rescued Mo Xia from two senior brothers who were beating him, then brought him to Jiang Beiran. Jiang Beiran recruited Mo Xia to learn the Ghost Controlling Technique, awakened his powerful Soul Power, and began teaching him to see and control ghosts.

• Wu Qingce defeated the two disciples who had injured Mo Xia and gave him a whistle to call for help.
• Wu Qingce took Mo Xia to Jiang Beiran, who explained the events involving Tian Ge, Lanruo Temple, and a ghost.
• Jiang Beiran offered to teach Mo Xia the Ghost Controlling Technique, and Mo Xia agreed in exchange for more chances to play Go with him.
• Jiang Beiran awakened Mo Xia's exceptionally powerful Soul Power after an extended effort.
• Mo Xia saw Qingqing and Female Ghost for the first time, and Jiang Beiran drove Female Ghost away after she frightened him.
• Jiang Beiran began instructing Mo Xia in nurturing and controlling ghosts.