Chapter Summaries

True Person Bo told Chen Shuangbai how the Jade Spring Sect’s founder brought the Heavenly River Dao Lineage from the Eastern Splendor Continent, then discussed Chen’s alchemical progress and rewards. Chen became a first-tier Alchemist and received sect treasures, and the chapter ended with Du Zifeng arriving at Deer Deep Waters Peak to pay his respects as a junior.

• True Person Bo explained that the Jade Spring Sect’s founder fled the Eastern Splendor Continent’s calamity and founded the sect after reaching the Celebrated Splendor Land.
• Chen Shuangbai promised to preserve the founder’s instruction to remember the lineage and pass its history to future True Disciples.
• Chen refined twelve Mystic Light Illuminating Life Pills for Yi Chongyue, earning praise as a first-tier Alchemist.
• The Jade Spring Sect rewarded Chen with crystal sand, water moon jade crystal, a jade bell, and a divine cord.
• Chen considered the sect’s suspicions and concluded that it was currently treating him with goodwill and investment.
• Du Zifeng arrived at Deer Deep Waters Peak and bowed to Chen Shuangbai as True Disciple Senior Brother.

Chen Shuangbai welcomed Yao Jie, who had come to forge him a new sword now that he was a True Disciple. He learned that four other disciples had recently reached Foundation Establishment, leaving the sect with five new cultivators and a promising future.

• Chen Shuangbai greeted Yao Jie warmly and thanked him for designing the Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner and contributing its spiritual material.
• Yao Jie told Chen Shuangbai that the sect had ordered him to forge a sword suited to Chen's increased strength and True Disciple status.
• Yi Chongyue named the four other disciples who had reached Foundation Establishment: Yan Heng, Ding Chengyu, Fu Qianlan, and Wei Zheng.
• Yi Chongyue explained that Ding Chengyu and Fu Qianlan achieved Higher Vehicle Foundation Establishment, while Yan Heng and Wei Zheng achieved Middle Vehicle Foundation Establishment.
• Chen Shuangbai reflected that the five new Foundation Establishment cultivators could greatly strengthen the Jade Spring Sect if they survived to reach Golden Core.

Chen Shuangbai arranged for Yao Jie to forge him a new flying sword, then visited Lu Zhiyuan as the Changlin Lu Lineage faced fallout from an illegal trade scheme. Lu Zhiyuan had feared he could not reach Chen, but Chen arrived at his door.

• Chen Shuangbai asked Yao Jie to preserve the spirituality in Cold Spring and Green Parasol while forging a sword attuned to his cultivation, Dao foundation, and temperament.
• Chen Shuangbai invited Du Zifeng to a feast and told Yi Chongyue that making friends across the sect was part of cultivation.
• Lu Zhiyuan worried that a branch of the Changlin Lu Lineage had damaged the lineage’s reputation by slipping prohibited demonic-cultivation materials into a pill shipment.
• Huang Shanglan told Lu Zhiyuan that Chen Shuangbai was in seclusion attempting Foundation Establishment, and Lu Zhiyuan feared the lineage’s standing and opportunities would suffer.
• An attendant announced that Chen Shuangbai had come to see Lu Zhiyuan, who rushed to open the entrance restrictions.

Chen Shuangbai visited Lu Zhiyuan and Huang Shanglan after successfully establishing his foundation, then helped them petition the sect over trouble caused by members of their clan. He sent the petition to the Jade Guarding Hall and asked the Changlin Lu Lineage to support his clan’s entry into the cultivation world.

• Chen Shuangbai emerged from seclusion as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and Lu Zhiyuan and Huang Shanglan congratulated him with a formal salute.
• Chen Shuangbai heard Lu Zhiyuan explain how members of the clan had caused trouble and learned that Lu Zhiyuan and Huang Shanglan had not been involved.
• Chen Shuangbai advised Lu Zhiyuan to write a petition asking that uninvolved members of the Changlin Lu Lineage not be implicated.
• Chen Shuangbai used a White Jade Crane to deliver the petition to the Jade Guarding Hall, relieving Lu Zhiyuan of his anxiety.
• Chen Shuangbai asked the Changlin Lu Lineage to look after his clan, and Lu Zhiyuan promised to help them enter the cultivation world.

Chen Shuangbai gave Lu Zhiyuan and Huang Shanglan pills and matching protective rings before returning to celebrate his Foundation Establishment with friends at the Hundred Flavors Pavilion. The banquet began as Chen Shuangbai and Fu Qianlan arrived to find their guests already gathered.

• Chen Shuangbai told Lu Zhiyuan and Huang Shanglan that he planned to visit his family and accepted their offer to prepare gifts for his relatives.
• Chen Shuangbai gave Lu Zhiyuan and Huang Shanglan Mystic Light Illuminating Life Pills to aid their future Foundation Establishment and Golden Rings of One Heart for their protection.
• Three days later, the Hundred Flavors Pavilion decorated for a banquet celebrating True Disciples Chen Shuangbai and Fu Qianlan, while news spread of Chen Shuangbai's Foundation Establishment, Divine Ability, and appointment as a True Disciple.
• Chen Shuangbai arrived at the banquet and found his friends already gathered, then Fu Qianlan arrived and announced that the banquet should begin.

After celebrating with his friends, Chen Shuangbai prepared to return to White Water County as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. His master supplied cultivation methods for the White Water Chen Clan and arranged a Cloud Horse carriage with attendants, and Chen Shuangbai set off after stopping at the outer sect.

• At the feast, He Qi lamented that his friends had advanced beyond him, and Chen Shuangbai urged him to keep cultivating and brew spiritual wine.
• Chen Shuangbai flew to Deer Deep Waters Peak and learned that his master was busy refining a pill.
• Uncle Zhong gave Chen Shuangbai three cultivation methods his master had selected for the White Water Chen Clan.
• Uncle Zhong arranged four attendants and a Cloud Horse carriage for Chen Shuangbai's journey home, and Chen Shuangbai accepted the arrangements.
• The carriage stopped at the outer sect, where Lu Zhiyuan handed Chen Shuangbai several Storage Bags and publicly saw him off.

Chen Shuangbai returned to White Water County after reaching Foundation Establishment and learned that the main Chen household had migrated from the Xu Kingdom. His homecoming banquet proclaimed the Chen Household’s renewed standing, and he ended the night meeting with his grandfather and second uncle.

• During the journey south, Chen Shuangbai asked Su Lan about the cultivation lineages of Ling River Commandery and learned that the main Chen household had migrated from the Xu Kingdom.
• Chen Shuangbai arrived openly in White Water County, where Old Master Chen and the clan welcomed him as their Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• The Chen Household held a grand banquet for Chen Shuangbai, celebrating his return and announcing its renewed prominence to the county.
• After the guests departed, Chen Shuangbai met with Old Master Chen and the current household head, his second uncle Chen Moyan, in the study.

After returning to the White Water Chen Clan as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Chen Shuangbai gave his family cultivation methods and established rules for organizing the clan’s lineages and supporting members with Spirit Roots. The chapter ended with him inspecting two boys chosen as possible adopted heirs to continue his father’s line.

• Chen Shuangbai reviewed the household accounts and advised Chen Moyan to govern with affection and authority.
• Chen Shuangbai presented cultivation methods bestowed by his master and discussed the clan’s child studying at the Spring-Venerating Daoist Academy, Chen Yizhao.
• Chen Shuangbai declared that Chen Yizhao should join the greater branch and that branches without Spirit Root descendants for three generations would become lesser branches.
• Chen Shuangbai said future children with Spirit Roots could be adopted under his father’s name and could not marry out or become live-in sons-in-law.
• Old Master Chen and Chen Moyan selected Chen Mingxuan and Chen Minglang as candidates to continue Chen Shuangbai’s father’s line.
• Chen Shuangbai examined the two boys in the ancestral hall and told them to raise their heads.

Chen Shuangbai chose Chen Mingxuan as the eldest branch’s heir and warned him to uphold the family line. After his aunts and visitors from the commandery-city Chen Clan arrived, he confronted their representative over the main household’s intentions.

• Chen Shuangbai selected Chen Mingxuan, who kowtowed to his family’s spirit tablets and was formally adopted as the eldest branch’s heir.
• Chen Shuangbai told Chen Mingxuan to call him big brother and to continue the ancestral flame and honor his elders.
• Chen Shuangbai used Law Power and medicinal pills to care for his grandfather and Chen Moyan.
• Chen Wanru and Chen Wanying returned to the White Water Chen Clan, accompanied by visitors from the commandery-city main household.
• Chen Shuangbai appeared in the main hall, accepted the visitors’ respectful greetings, and asked what the main household meant by its gift of a jade ruyi Law Artifact.

Chen Shuangbai accepted the Prefecture City Chen Clan’s apology but ended its subordinate relationship with the White Water Chen Clan and abolished their tribute arrangement. He then welcomed his two aunts home, though Chen Wanying remained hesitant to stay.

• Chen Wenhe offered support and gifts on behalf of the Prefecture City Chen Clan, admitting its past wrongdoing and asking Old Master Chen for forgiveness.
• Chen Wenhe presented three genuine Life-Extension Pills, and Chen Shuangbai accepted the apology gifts on behalf of the White Water Chen Clan.
• Chen Shuangbai declared the past settled but ended the master-subordinate distinction between the clans and abolished the annual tribute.
• Chen Shuangbai had Su Lan escort Chen Wenhe and Chen Wenli to the guest courtyard.
• Chen Shuangbai invited Chen Wanru and Chen Wanying to stay at home; Chen Wanru agreed, while Chen Wanying hesitated.

Chen Shuangbai received Chen Yizhao and gave him a talisman brush, then refused to meet his younger aunt, Chen Wanying, over her past actions. After spending several more days caring for his grandfather, Chen Shuangbai prepared to leave the mortal world.

• Chen Shuangbai questioned Chen Yizhao about the academy and encouraged him to pursue talismans, giving him a talisman brush.
• Chen Shuangbai discussed his aunts with Old Master Chen and agreed to leave his younger aunt's affairs in his grandfather's hands.
• Chen Wanying repeatedly tried to see Chen Shuangbai, but he sent her the message, “Had you known it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place?”
• Yin Kuangyu tried to curse Su Lan but could not speak, and he urged his mother to leave with him.
• After two more days, Old Master Chen urged Chen Shuangbai to depart, and they parted with pride and reluctance.

Chen Shuangbai left the White Water Chen Clan and traveled to Jinghua Prefecture at Shi Yubai’s request. At the Clear Source Annex, Wu Qingfeng briefed him on increasingly frequent disturbances in the city’s earth veins.

• Chen Shuangbai bid farewell to his grandfather and the White Water Chen Clan, then departed in a Cloud Horse carriage.
• Old Master Chen gave Chen Wanru and Chen Wanying Beauty-Preserving Pills as a token from Chen Shuangbai.
• Chen Shuangbai directed the carriage to Jinghua Prefecture and spent the journey reading a rogue cultivator’s cultivation journal.
• Chen Shuangbai arrived at the Clear Source Annex, where Wu Qingfeng and the outer disciples welcomed him.
• Wu Qingfeng reported that Jinghua Prefecture’s earth-vein activity had grown erratic, with increasingly frequent tremors that alarmed the imperial family and sect cultivators.

Chen Shuangbai examined disturbances in Jinghua Prefecture’s earth veins and prepared to inspect the Four-Direction Mountain-Suppressing Grand Array with the allied sects, while considering the possibility of sabotage. At the Golden Splendor Palace, Jin Wuyu and Chan Master Huiming discussed Chen Shuangbai’s arrival and his invitation to Cui Yu as they prepared for the earth-vein meeting.

• Chen Shuangbai studied Jinghua Prefecture’s earth-vein chart and concluded that the grand array needed to be checked and restarted.
• Wu Qingfeng warned Chen Shuangbai that the Spirit-Seeking Sect and Great Buddha Temple were growing close and backing rival princes, but Chen Shuangbai dismissed the political turmoil as minor.
• Chen Shuangbai learned that Cui Yu of the Empty Sword Sect had arrived and sent an invitation to discuss the matter.
• At the Golden Splendor Palace, Jin Wuyu welcomed Chan Master Huiming and hosted him amid luxurious surroundings.
• Chan Master Huiming told Jin Wuyu that Chen Shuangbai had arrived and invited Cui Yu to join the next day’s earth-vein discussion.

Chen Shuangbai, Cui Yu, and Jin Wuyu gathered at the River-Gazing Pavilion for the three sects’ meeting, where Jin Wuyu explained why he had arranged an extra seat for Great Buddha Temple’s Huiming. The meeting turned to repairing the grand formation and stabilizing the troubled earth veins, and Jin Wuyu asked whether the other sects accepted Huiming’s invitation.

• Jin Wuyu told Huiming that the Spirit-Seeking Sect would bring him into the River-Gazing Pavilion for the meeting.
• Chen Shuangbai arrived at the pavilion with Su Lan and Wu Qingfeng, and the other two sects arrived soon after.
• Cui Yu and Jin Wuyu exchanged greetings with Chen Shuangbai before the three took their seats, leaving one chair vacant.
• Cui Yu asked about the extra seat, and Jin Wuyu admitted that he had arranged it for Huiming of the Great Buddha Temple.
• Jin Wuyu explained that the grand formation needed a Gilded Stone Heart to repair damage caused by upheaval in the earth veins, and that Huiming had agreed to obtain one.
• Jin Wuyu asked Chen Shuangbai and Cui Yu whether they agreed to include Huiming in the repair discussions.

Chen Shuangbai challenged Jin Wuyu’s attempt to bring the Great Buddha Temple into the repair of the Four-Direction Mountain-Suppressing Grand Array and exposed the Spirit-Seeking Sect’s past opposition to protecting Jinghua. Jin Wuyu attacked Chen Shuangbai, but Chen told Cui Yu not to intervene.

• Huiming arrived with a gilded stone heart, and Jin Wuyu welcomed him as though the Great Buddha Temple had agreed to help repair the grand array.
• Chen Shuangbai stopped Huiming from taking a seat and questioned Jin Wuyu about the sects’ contributions and control of the array keys.
• Jin Wuyu accused Chen Shuangbai of disregarding Jinghua’s commoners, but Chen defended the Jade Spring Sect’s record and warned the Great Buddha Temple not to meddle in the array.
• Chen Shuangbai reminded Jin Wuyu that the Spirit-Seeking Sect had once dismissed mortal deaths and that Jin Wuyu’s ancestor had tried to extract Jinghua’s earth vein; Cui Yu confirmed the story.
• Jin Wuyu and Cui Yu released their spiritual pressure, and Jin Wuyu attacked Chen Shuangbai with golden strikes as Chen told Cui Yu to stay back.

Chen Shuangbai revealed the [Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner] and overwhelmed Jin Wuyu in their fight. He seized Jin Wuyu by the neck and threatened him with a black light at his brow, leaving Jin Wuyu afraid to move.

• Chen Shuangbai used the [Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner] to freeze Jin Wuyu's golden bell and suppress the cultivators' Law Power.
• Jin Wuyu wielded a dark-gold mace and attacked Chen Shuangbai, while Cui Yu prevented Chan Master Huiming from intervening.
• Jin Wuyu concealed his presence and tried to ambush Chen Shuangbai with the [Meridian-Sealing Law-Severing Needles], but Chen Shuangbai evaded the attack.
• Chen Shuangbai appeared beside Jin Wuyu, bypassed his defenses, and lifted him by the neck as Jin Wuyu's artifacts failed to land a hit.
• Chen Shuangbai warned Jin Wuyu that he would blow his head apart if he moved again, and Jin Wuyu froze in fear.

Chen Shuangbai subdued Jin Wuyu and proceeded with Cui Yu to open the Four-Direction Mountain-Suppressing Grand Array. The four sects’ keys activated the entrance, and Chen Shuangbai descended into the vortex after ordering Wu Qingfeng to guard it.

• Chen Shuangbai sealed Jin Wuyu’s cultivation and drove him and Chan Master Huiming away.
• Chen Shuangbai told Jin Wuyu’s group that the grand array would be repaired at noon the next day, then discussed the temporary seal and the Spirit-Seeking Sect with Cui Yu.
• Chen Shuangbai, Cui Yu, and Jin Wuyu gathered at Jinling Lake and placed the Black Tortoise, Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird Tokens into the water.
• The four tokens opened the grand array’s entrance, revealing a vortex filled with ancient power and four-colored light.
• Chen Shuangbai ordered Wu Qingfeng to guard the entrance and kill anyone who approached, then rode into the vortex.

Chen Shuangbai, Cui Yu, and Jin Wuyu repaired the great formation suppressing the earth vein beneath Jinghua Prefecture. Before they left, Jin Wuyu secretly investigated a Sha hollow and discovered that it had nurtured an unknown Sha beast.

• Chen Shuangbai, Cui Yu, and Jin Wuyu used spiritual materials and their formation keys to restore the four divine beast statues and quiet the trembling earth vein.
• Chen Shuangbai spotted a wisp of Sha Qi beneath the formation, and Cui Yu judged it harmless.
• Jin Wuyu secretly probed underground, found a Sha hollow, and hoped to claim it for his cultivation.
• Jin Wuyu sent his Divine Sense into the hollow and suffered an invisible attack that left him bleeding from his orifices.
• Jin Wuyu warned Chen Shuangbai and Cui Yu that the hollow had nurtured an unknown Sha beast, not ordinary Earth Sha.

Jin Wuyu confirmed that a Golden Core-level Sha Beast had once lived beneath Jinghua Prefecture, damaged the grand array, and then departed. Chen Shuangbai’s Martial Uncle Shi Yubai and Martial Aunt Ren Zisu arrived to investigate, but they needed a Law Treasure to inspect the Sha Lair beneath the array.

• Jin Wuyu identified a scale as belonging to a Golden Core-level Sha Beast and confirmed that the beast had already left after consuming Earth Qi and causing the grand array’s flaw.
• Cui Yu and Chen Shuangbai repaired the array, returned to the surface, and reported the threat to their sects.
• Chen Shuangbai stopped Wu Qingfeng from sending spirit pigeons and used a crane whistle to dispatch an Evil Hunting Hall disciple with the report.
• Shi Yubai and Ren Zisu arrived at the Clear Source Separate Residence, and Chen Shuangbai explained what had happened beneath Jinghua Prefecture.
• Shi Yubai proposed inspecting the Sha Lair and revealed that the sect had provided a Law Treasure for the task.

Shi Yubai used the Plain Proclamation Truth-Illuminating Mirror to reveal a Sha Beast’s scale beneath the earth vein, and Ren Zisu confirmed that it carried Dragon Qi. After Ren Zisu sealed the scale, Yue You of the Empty Sword Sect arrived.

• Shi Yubai showed Chen Shuangbai the Plain Proclamation Truth-Illuminating Mirror and used it to reveal a trace of something drawing from the earth vein.
• Shi Yubai drew a scale from underground, and Ren Zisu judged from its power that it belonged to a Golden Core Sha Beast.
• Ren Zisu detected Dragon Qi in the scale and sealed its Sha Qi with Shaman Incantations.
• Shi Yubai noticed Sword Essence approaching, and Wu Qingfeng brought Yue You of the Empty Sword Sect into the building.