Chapter Summaries

Jiang Beiran learned about Gu Liangren while discussing Shi Fenglan’s family, then heard Shen Tianhua’s account of his failed effort to gather the ancient-text fragments. He refused to help until Shen Tianhua showed genuine sincerity, and later encouraged Liu Weining to train as a Jade Refiner.

• Lu Yangyu told Jiang Beiran how Shi Yan had crossed into foreign territory to avenge his wounded wife, then explained that Gu Liangren was renowned for never making an inaccurate divination.
• Jiang Beiran asked Lu Yangyu how to find Gu Liangren, and Lu Yangyu suggested asking the Clan Saint.
• Shen Tianhua told Jiang Beiran that the holders of the other ancient-text fragments had rejected cooperation and nearly killed him, so Jiang Beiran concluded that he would have to seize the fragments.
• Jiang Beiran questioned why Shen Tianhua had not sought the Shi Family’s help, then left when Shen Tianhua could not explain what sincere offer he intended to make.
• At Hengya Pavilion, Jiang Beiran asked Liu Weining to practice his jade-potential methods and learned that she wanted to become a high-grade Jade Refiner so she could rub more jade.
• Gao Lanwen came to bring Liu Weining to class, but then told Jiang Beiran that Liu Weining could play with the Honghu Jade a little longer.

Jiang Beiran continued screening potential subordinates in the Mystic Market, accepted Ni Guanyu after learning about his ambitions, and learned that Shi Yutong had information about Sun-Slaying Glaze. The chapter ended with him refusing to teach Shi Yutong divination and trying to leave despite her news.

• Jiang Beiran left Gao Lanwen to meet a young man who offered her a gift, then went to the Mystic Market to assess people on his list.
• Jiang Beiran encouraged Fang Bin to keep working rather than take him in as a subordinate, then returned home and accepted Shi Jiamu's apology.
• Shi Fenglan revealed that Jiang Beiran would soon return to the Sheng Kingdom, and Shi Jiamu pressed her for details about his departure.
• Jiang Beiran questioned Ni Guanyu about his dream, offered to help him pursue it, and concluded that Ni Guanyu had passed the system's screening.
• Jiang Beiran avoided a woman asking for help, then tried to leave when Shi Yutong approached him with news about Sun-Slaying Glaze.
• Shi Yutong said she wanted to learn divination from Jiang Beiran, but he refused to teach her and told her to keep the news to herself.

Jiang Beiran received a lead from Shi Yutong that Sun-Slaying Glaze was in Tan Kingdom’s Yun Province, then visited Taiyi Pavilion to hear Shen Tianhua’s offer of ancient books and learned his secret method for finding them was tomb raiding. The chapter left Jiang Beiran beginning to uncover the people and methods behind the search for ancient relics.

• Shi Yutong left Jiang Beiran a letter saying Sun-Slaying Glaze was in Tan Kingdom’s Yun Province, Renwu Prefecture.
• Jiang Beiran asked Shi Jiamu about Shi Yutong and learned she could foresee danger and might join the Shi family’s Hunting Squad.
• Jiang Beiran went to Taiyi Pavilion to meet Lu Yangyu and Shen Tianhua instead of seeking out Shi Yutong.
• Shen Tianhua offered Jiang Beiran eight ancient bamboo slips and explained that he found ancient books through a secret art.
• Jiang Beiran recognized Shen Tianhua’s methods as tomb raiding, and Shen Tianhua called the practice Dragon-Seeking Gold-Touching.

Jiang Beiran learned about Shen Tianhua’s tomb-raiding trade and agreed to help him recover an ancient text fragment in exchange for the secrets recorded in Gannan Whispers. After arranging a meeting with a ghost cultivator, Jiang Beiran told Shi Jiamu he planned to return to Sheng Kingdom and left for Taiyi Pavilion.

• Jiang Beiran traded his help recovering Shen Tianhua’s stolen ancient text fragment for Shen Tianhua’s booklet, Gannan Whispers, and learned about the dangers and rules of tomb raiding.
• Shen Tianhua explained that he had discovered a large, newly excavated tomb and that his rivals had not yet told their sects about it.
• Lu Yangyu revealed that he had arranged for Jiang Beiran to meet a ghost cultivator the following day.
• After Jiang Beiran left, Shen Tianhua asked Lu Yangyu whether he should rely on Jiang Beiran, and Lu Yangyu described him as both the least readable and most reliable person he knew.
• Jiang Beiran declined Shi Jiamu’s request to return to Sheng Kingdom with him, then went to Taiyi Pavilion the next morning.

Jiang Beiran followed Lu Yangyu toward a ghost cultivator’s residence, but delayed their first attempt so he could avoid dangerous system prompts and build a closer relationship with Lu Yangyu over wine and grilled skewers. The next day they reached a Ju-Yin Formation, where Jiang Beiran sensed its power and encountered three ghosts plotting to frighten Lu Yangyu.

• Jiang Beiran chose a detour after system options appeared, then called off the visit when the prompts made traveling through the wilderness too dangerous.
• Jiang Beiran and Lu Yangyu camped, shared Bone-Changing Brew and grilled skewers, and discussed Lu Yangyu’s eight years with the Shi Family and his goal of becoming an eighth-grade Formation Master.
• Jiang Beiran and Lu Yangyu reached the ghost cultivator’s valley the next morning, and Jiang Beiran identified its Ju-Yin Formation.
• Jiang Beiran learned that the ghost cultivator had helped create the formation and possessed an Extreme Yin Physique, then entered the formation and felt its effects weaken his defenses.
• Three ghosts floated overhead and planned to scare Lu Yangyu as Jiang Beiran explored the formation.

Jiang Beiran and Lu Yangyu reached Tang Jingran’s hut, where Jiang Beiran learned that she raised ghosts and could answer questions about ghost cultivation for a fee. After paying her, he began asking about ghost cultivation and how someone who could see ghosts might become a ghost cultivator.

• Two ghost boys tried to attack Lu Yangyu, but Jiang Beiran secretly stopped them, then punished the older boy when he gathered strange energy to attack.
• Lu Yangyu led Jiang Beiran to Tang Jingran’s sinister hut, where Tang Jingran agreed to meet them and Lu Yangyu quickly went outside.
• Jiang Beiran recognized a red-eyed ghost clinging to Tang Jingran and warned it, then knocked it to the ceiling and floor when it tried to attack him.
• Tang Jingran agreed to answer Jiang Beiran’s questions for fifty Yellow Rank High Grade Spirit Stones, explaining that she could make all kinds of Dharma Artifacts and that not everyone could become a ghost cultivator.
• Tang Jingran said that someone who could see ghosts could become a ghost cultivator, but charged five Profound Grade Low Rank Spirit Stones to explain how; Jiang Beiran paid so he could learn for Mo Xia.

Jiang Beiran learned about Ghost Cultivators and their four kinds of qi from Tang Jingran, then strengthened her Ju-Yin Formation in exchange for cultivation manuals. After returning to the Shi Family, he resumed recruiting followers, but the system rejected every promising candidate he checked.

• Jiang Beiran questioned Tang Jingran about Ghost Cultivation, learning how ghosts were subdued and possessed and what effects Yin Qi, Malice Qi, Hostility Qi, and Mad Qi had.
• Jiang Beiran agreed to strengthen Tang Jingran’s Ju-Yin Formation in exchange for instruction in the four kinds of qi, and she promised to teach him and later gave him four basic cultivation manuals.
• Jiang Beiran reinforced the formation while Lu Yangyu watched, then left with him and concluded that Ghost Cultivation could help him grow stronger without affecting his Qi Refining Fifth Stage.
• Jiang Beiran and Lu Yangyu returned to the Shi Family after a dangerous three-day journey, where Shen Tianhua asked when the person who would help him would arrive.
• Jiang Beiran went back to Mystic Market to recruit followers, but the system filtered out every promising candidate he had noted.

Jiang Beiran secured Shi Weiyi’s support for sending promising mystic arts talents to major associations to train and strengthen Linglong Workshop. On his way to Qi Kingdom, he intervened when bailiffs attacked a woman trying to sell herself to bury her family, and the chapter left her kneeling beside five covered corpses after the crowd dispersed.

• Jiang Beiran proposed sending eight selected talents to major Mystic Arts Associations, and Shi Weiyi agreed to help arrange their entry.
• Jiang Beiran left the Shi Family for Qi Kingdom, intending to retrieve the Yin-Yang Secret Feather from Lin Shiyun and handle another matter.
• Jiang Beiran passed through a village devastated by plague and continued on foot toward a border town.
• At the town entrance, Jiang Beiran saw bailiffs harassing a woman who was selling herself to bury her family and used gusts of wind to knock one bailiff down twice.
• The bailiffs fled after realizing a cultivator was helping the woman, and she returned to kneel before the five corpses with her sign reading “Sell Myself to Bury My Whole Family.”

Jiang Beiran helped Xia Lingdang arrange a proper funeral for her family after the system gave him a Heaven Rank option to help her to the end. He then met Lin Yuyan in Qi Kingdom, inspected a potential base, and discovered that the Honghu Jade was being overwhelmed by the Malice Qi inside her.

• Jiang Beiran chose to help Xia Lingdang, bought her as a maidservant, and arranged a funeral hall and coffins for her plague-stricken family.
• Xia Lingdang prepared her family for burial, and Jiang Beiran left, promising to return in seven days.
• Jiang Beiran entered the Mu private room at a border-town teahouse, completed a system quest, and summoned Lin Yuyan with a paper crane.
• Lin Yuyan reported that she had prepared several estates in Qi Kingdom, and Jiang Beiran chose one as his future base in the Six Kingdoms.
• Jiang Beiran examined Lin Yuyan's Honghu Jade and found its righteous qi tainted by her powerful Malice Qi.
• When Lin Yuyan removed the jade, the White Mist Sword flew out to rub against Jiang Beiran before returning to its scabbard at her request.

Jiang Beiran learned that the Honghu Jade had awakened new powers in Lin Yuyan, allowing her to wield both Malice Qi and Haoran Righteous Qi alongside Wood Spirit Qi. After examining her and finding no injuries, he warned her to keep her unusual constitution secret, then left her to settle into a room at the estate.

• Jiang Beiran grilled skewers for Lin Yuyan, refused to let her drink wine, and asked how the jade pendant had affected her.
• Lin Yuyan explained that the Honghu Jade had suppressed the Malice Qi inside her and let her use its power without removing it completely.
• Lin Yuyan demonstrated her Malice Qi and newly awakened Haoran Righteous Qi, and Jiang Beiran realized she had gained abilities suited to fighting ghosts.
• Jiang Beiran examined Lin Yuyan with golden needles and found that Malice Qi, Haoran Righteous Qi, and Wood Spirit Qi coexisted in her body without causing hidden injuries.
• Jiang Beiran warned Lin Yuyan to conceal her unusual constitution, then told her to sleep; Lin Yuyan chose a room across from the flower bed and imagined sharing a home with him.

Jiang Beiran received the Yin-Yang Secret Feather from Lin Shiyun and learned that it could link two people, letting them share cultivation, moves, and Mystic Qi. The chapter ended with him learning that the treasure needed to recharge inside its Dark Star Box after each use.

• Lin Yuyan imagined a family life with Jiang Beiran while watching him cook breakfast, then accepted the True Origin Heavenly Steel Art and secretly kept one of his bowls and chopsticks.
• Jiang Beiran met Xiao Qi and Lin Shiyun at Shangpin Pavilion, where Xiao Qi gave him Tumi Fragrance wine and a map of Blessed Lands and Grotto-Heavens in Ning Province.
• Lin Shiyun presented Jiang Beiran with the Yin-Yang Secret Feather, stored in a Dark Star Box made by a ninth-grade Artifact Refiner and an eighth-grade Mysterious Rune Master.
• Lin Shiyun explained that the Yin-Yang Secret Feather linked two people so they could share cultivation, moves, and Mystic Qi, and might eventually make them of one mind.
• Jiang Beiran learned that Lin Shiyun’s elder brother had given her the treasure after she helped him find a Blessed Land and Grotto-Heaven, and that the Dark Star Box recharged the feather with the power of heaven and earth after each use.

Jiang Beiran sent Xiao Qi to Tong Kingdom to assist Shen Tianhua in retrieving Ancient Book Fragments, using the dangerous mission to test Xiao Qi’s potential. Xiao Qi accepted the task and learned Jiang Beiran’s strategy, while Shen Tianhua still hesitated to join Jiang Beiran’s camp.

• Lin Shiyun told Jiang Beiran that her investigation into the Imperial Gu had not found anything, and Jiang Beiran instructed her to continue searching.
• Jiang Beiran asked Xiao Qi to prepare for a trip to Tong Kingdom, while Lin Yuyan struggled to learn the True Origin Heavenly Steel Art and received a book about cultivating Malice Qi.
• After Xiao Qi advanced to the peak of Profound King, Jiang Beiran took him to Tong Kingdom and disguised him before meeting Shen Tianhua.
• Jiang Beiran assigned Xiao Qi to help Shen Tianhua retrieve the Ancient Book Fragments and protect him, but Shen Tianhua asked for more time to decide whether to join Jiang Beiran’s camp.
• Jiang Beiran explained that Xiao Qi’s core strategy should be to obtain what he wanted while avoiding conflict as much as possible.

Jiang Beiran helped Shi Weiyi arrange placements for Mystic Market disciples and began treating the Sage’s Golden Phoenix Ghost Orchid, whose roots had been damaged by Yin Qi. After briefing the disciples, Jiang Beiran kept eight system-selected people behind and hinted that they would receive greater opportunities than the others.

• Jiang Beiran visited Shi Weiyi, recognized that the Golden Phoenix Ghost Orchid’s roots were afflicted, and promised to treat it.
• Shi Weiyi showed Jiang Beiran the placements he had arranged for the Mystic Market disciples, and Jiang Beiran approved the distribution among Mystic Arts Associations across several countries.
• Shi Weiyi told Jiang Beiran that the Clan Leader knew of the plan and expected it to succeed, and Jiang Beiran agreed to explain the arrangements to the disciples himself.
• Jiang Beiran found that Yin Qi had entangled the orchid’s roots and tended it until it could absorb spiritual energy again, promising to return the next day.
• Jiang Beiran briefed the Mystic Market disciples on their opportunities and urged them to excel at their new associations.
• After the other disciples left, Jiang Beiran told the eight system-selected people, including Ji Zishi, that they would have more responsibilities and greater rewards.

Jiang Beiran earned the Shi Family’s trust, received a powerful defensive treasure, and took charge of the Mystic Market. After arranging Xia Lingdang’s family burial, he accepted the system’s prompt to bring her along, though he feared the trouble her fate might bring.

• Jiang Beiran gave eight talented individuals talisman paper and told them to seek help from the Shi Family or contact him privately.
• Jiang Beiran cured Shi Weiyi’s Golden Phoenix Ghost Orchid, and Shi Weiyi rewarded him with the White Moon Mystic Bracelet and full access to the Mystic Market.
• Jiang Beiran studied the Mystic Market’s materials, then returned to the Qi Kingdom with Lin Yuyan and checked the growing self-barrier at their residence.
• Jiang Beiran arranged Xia Lingdang’s family funeral, and Xia Lingdang declared that she belonged to him.
• Jiang Beiran chose the system option to keep Xia Lingdang by his side, gained a perception point, and took her toward the residence by carriage.

Jiang Beiran brought Xia Lingdang back to the Returning Heart Sect and decided to have her join Water Mirror Hall so she could learn cultivation. After arriving at Orchid Pavilion, he asked Shi Fenglan to arrange a test of Xia Lingdang’s talent.

• Jiang Beiran avoided entering his residence, took Xia Lingdang to a restaurant, and insisted that she eat her fill.
• Shi Fenglan arrived, and Jiang Beiran bought Xia Lingdang new clothes before taking both of them back to Sheng Kingdom in the Flying Mansion.
• Jiang Beiran decided Xia Lingdang should join the Returning Heart Sect and learn cultivation, and Shi Fenglan agreed to bring her into Water Mirror Hall.
• Jiang Beiran brought Xia Lingdang through the sect gates and led her to Orchid Pavilion, where he asked Shi Fenglan to arrange a cultivation talent test.
• Shi Fenglan summoned Yu Manwen, who greeted Jiang Beiran at Orchid Pavilion.

Jiang Beiran brought Xia Lingdang to Returning Heart Sect and accompanied her through an aptitude test, where she struggled to sense spiritual energy. After leaving her to continue practicing, he took her to his Self-Boundary, checked on Gu Qinghuan, and inspected the Golden Crow Tripod.

• Jiang Beiran asked Yu Manwen to admit Xia Lingdang to Water Mirror Hall, then chose to accompany her through the entrance test when the system presented him with options.
• Xia Lingdang spent three hours failing to sense spiritual energy and broke down in tears, so Jiang Beiran questioned her about what she had felt and concluded that her talent might be unusually poor.
• Jiang Beiran ended the test for the day and took Xia Lingdang to his residence after she said she wanted to stay by his side rather than live in the manor.
• Jiang Beiran brought Xia Lingdang into his Self-Boundary, where Gu Qinghuan greeted them and Jiang Beiran assessed the boundary's fire spiritual energy.
• Jiang Beiran inspected the Golden Crow Tripod, found that Gu Qinghuan had nourished it well, and praised him.

Wu Qingce captured Gou Gaoming and hurried back to meet Jiang Beiran, who had returned to the Self-Boundary and begun experimenting with alchemy. Jiang Beiran welcomed Wu Qingce, planned to help him reach the Profound King realm, and tested Xia Lingdang’s cultivation, leaving him concerned about her aptitude.

• Wu Qingce broke through Gou Gaoming’s formation, defeated four Profound Kings, and forced Gou Gaoming to surrender before rushing away.
• Jiang Beiran refined Zhiyuan Pills successfully but ruined several furnaces of higher-grade pills and stopped for the day.
• Wu Qingce greeted Jiang Beiran, who praised his decision to remain at the Mystic Spirit realm and promised to help him break through within two days.
• Gu Qinghuan reported that Qu Yangze remained inside his cocoon, and Jiang Beiran said he would inspect him the next day.
• Jiang Beiran had Xia Lingdang practice in the Self-Boundary, and she sensed spiritual energy, but he judged her cultivation talent to be poor.

Jiang Beiran helped Xia Lingdang begin cultivating and brought her to visit Mo Xia, whose rapid progress had been aided by an unusually powerful ghost. The ghost’s abilities intrigued Jiang Beiran, who stayed to watch it play chess with Mo Xia.

• Jiang Beiran told Wu Qingce to prepare for a breakthrough to Profound King and learned that Gu Qinghuan had cultivated the True Origin Heavenly Steel Art to its seventh stage.
• Jiang Beiran guided Xia Lingdang in drawing spiritual energy into her body, and she condensed her first tiny clump of Mystic Qi after two hours.
• Jiang Beiran and Xia Lingdang entered the swamp, where more than a hundred ghosts had gathered, and Jiang Beiran subdued several restless ones.
• Mo Xia revealed that a silent ghost had helped him advance from Mystic Master to Mystic Spirit by teaching him cultivation insights and a new cultivation method.
• Jiang Beiran told Mo Xia to continue his chess game with the ghost and watched, intrigued by the ghost’s unusual powers.

Jiang Beiran watched Crane-Robed Ghost defeat Mo Xia in Go, then asked Mo Xia to demonstrate the cultivation method he had learned from him. Mo Xia revealed a scroll technique that could absorb and seal incoming Mystic Qi techniques, though he did not know its limits.

• Crane-Robed Ghost outmaneuvered Mo Xia with a trap-laden sequence, and Mo Xia admitted defeat.
• The old man encouraged Mo Xia, while Crane-Robed Ghost silently invited him to begin another game.
• Mo Xia told Ghost Senior that Jiang Beiran had arrived and left the hut with his Senior Brother.
• Jiang Beiran asked Mo Xia to demonstrate the cultivation method he had learned from Ghost Senior.
• Mo Xia formed a scroll from cobalt-blue Mystic Qi and explained that it could absorb and seal incoming techniques for later use.

Jiang Beiran gave Mo Xia four Ghost Cultivator manuals and played a fierce Go match with the Crane-Robed Ghost, winning and leaving Mo Xia in the ghost’s care. He then took Xia Lingdang onto an auspicious cloud and flew toward the Returning Heart Sect.

• Jiang Beiran learned that ghosts had gathered in the swamp in increasing numbers since the Crane-Robed Ghost arrived, then gave Mo Xia four Ghost Cultivator manuals and warned him not to reveal the arts casually.
• Mo Xia and Xia Lingdang awkwardly greeted each other before Jiang Beiran invited the Crane-Robed Ghost to play Go and let Mo Xia place the ghost’s stones.
• Jiang Beiran and the Crane-Robed Ghost fought a close, fast-paced game, and Jiang Beiran’s decisive move secured his victory.
• The Crane-Robed Ghost eagerly asked for another game, but Jiang Beiran declined and left Mo Xia in his care, telling Mo Xia to balance Go with cultivation.
• Jiang Beiran taught Xia Lingdang to maintain her Mystic Qi while riding an auspicious cloud, then flew with her toward the Returning Heart Sect.