Chapter Summaries

After returning to the Jade Spring Sect, Chen Shuangbai learned that his master Yi Chongyue had entered a years-long pill-refining seclusion, leaving him to oversee Deer Deep Waters Peak. Chen Shuangbai then refined a boatload of Water-Aspect Crystal Sand, strengthening his Law Power and considering how much more he would need to advance.

• Yue You, Cui Yu, and Jin Wuyou examined the baleful beast's scale in Jinghua Prefecture and assessed the concealed Sha Qi.
• Chen Shuangbai left Jinghua Prefecture with a boy and a girl bearing Spirit Roots and delivered them to the sect's outer disciples.
• Chen Shuangbai learned that Yi Chongyue was refining important pills and had instructed him to oversee Deer Deep Waters Peak until he emerged.
• Chen Shuangbai returned to his cave abode and spent half a month refining a boatload of Water-Aspect Crystal Sand.
• Chen Shuangbai found that the crystal sand had greatly aided his cultivation and estimated that several dozen boatloads could bring him to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in a few years.

Chen Shuangbai went to Three Yang Peaks to finish awakening the spirit of the flying sword Yao Jie had forged for him. After Chen Shuangbai nourished the sword with his Essence Blood, it awakened its innate spirituality and settled into his hand.

• Du Zifeng told Chen Shuangbai that his flying sword needed his Essence Blood to awaken its spirit and brought him to Three Yang Peaks.
• Chen Shuangbai entered the artifact chamber and thanked Yao Jie for forging the sword.
• Chen Shuangbai dripped his Essence Blood onto the sword blank and infused it with his Law Power.
• The sword revealed its frost-flower patterns, awakened its spirit, and flew around Chen Shuangbai before settling in his palm.

Chen Shuangbai received the newly reforged spirit sword Foot-Long Silk and spent more than a year cultivating and nurturing his treasures. After stabilizing his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he returned to Deer Deep Waters Peak, where Yi Chongyue had just completed refining precious pills.

• Yao Jie gave Chen Shuangbai a Law Artifact scabbard for his reforged spirit sword, and Chen named the sword Foot-Long Silk.
• Chen Shuangbai gave Five-Incense Pills to Yao Jie and Du Zifeng, then agreed to share his Foundation Establishment experience with Du Zifeng.
• Du Zifeng told Yao Jie he planned to enter seclusion and attempt Foundation Establishment, and Yao Jie offered to prepare a ritual array for him.
• Chen Shuangbai returned to Verdant Hills Stream and cultivated with crystal sand and water moon jade crystals while nurturing his Law Treasures and Spirit Artifacts.
• After more than a year, Chen Shuangbai had stabilized his cultivation and returned to Deer Deep Waters Peak, where Yi Chongyue had completed refining precious pills.

Chen Shuangbai discussed his progress in alchemy with Yi Chongyue and learned how a Spirit-Nurturing Pearl might improve the Green Wood Transforming Rain Pill. Their conversation turned to True Person Xu’s effort to establish a sect in Ning Country, which now depended on a contest against the three local sects.

• Chen Shuangbai visited Yi Chongyue, who assessed his cultivation and asked about his alchemy studies.
• Chen Shuangbai explained how he had improved the Mystic Light Illuminating Life Pill formula and described flaws that made the Green Wood Transforming Rain Pill lose effectiveness with repeated use.
• Yi Chongyue suggested that Spirit-Nurturing Pearls from Spirit-Nurturing Clams in the Spirit Gauze Sea could balance the Green Wood Transforming Rain Pill’s ingredients.
• Uncle Zhong summoned Yi Chongyue to the Abyss Suppression Hall, prompting Yi Chongyue to tell Chen Shuangbai that True Person Xu had secured permission to establish a sect on Great Arrival Island, subject to a contest against Ning Country’s three sects.
• Chen Shuangbai asked whether the contest would involve True Person Xu, his disciples, or both.

Chen Shuangbai agreed to help True Person Xu’s effort to found a sect and learned that the Jade Spring Sect would send him to Ning Country with True Person Mei. After the contest, the group would travel to the Jade Wave Immortal Market, where Chen Shuangbai could explore the sea.

• Yi Chongyue invited Chen Shuangbai to travel to the overseas immortal markets, then explained that True Person Xu had requested the Jade Spring Sect’s help with founding a sect.
• Chen Shuangbai agreed to take part and accompanied Yi Chongyue to the Abyss Suppression Hall to meet Luo Tang, True Person Xu’s dao companion.
• Luo Tang inspected Chen Shuangbai and accepted that he was capable of representing the Jade Spring Sect.
• Shi Yubai told Chen Shuangbai that True Person Mei would accompany the disciples, and that the sect would help True Person Xu without pursuing victory at any cost.
• Shi Yubai explained that after the matter in Ning Country, True Person Mei would take Chen Shuangbai to the Jade Wave Immortal Market.

Chen Shuangbai, Fu Qianlan, and Wei Zheng discussed the Three Sects of Ning Country and the contest that True Person Xu had arranged with their direct disciples. As their flying boat traveled toward Ning Country, Chen Shuangbai wondered what True Person Xu had offered to secure True Person Mei’s support and prepared to do his best.

• Chen Shuangbai and Fu Qianlan talked with Wei Zheng aboard the flying boat as they traveled with True Person Mei to Ning Country.
• Fu Qianlan and Wei Zheng explained the strengths and history of Spirit Taming Valley, Blazing Sun Mountain, and Azure Wave Cave, including the rumor of a surviving Nascent Soul demon beast.
• Fu Qianlan recounted how True Person Xu rose from being a fisherman to a Golden Core cultivator after finding a cultivation art in a Jade Slip.
• Chen Shuangbai considered True Person Xu’s struggles and wondered what precious offer had persuaded the sect to send True Person Mei.
• Wei Zheng told Chen Shuangbai that the Three Sects would send their best direct disciples to compete, and Chen Shuangbai said he would do his best.

Jade Spring Sect’s disciples arrived at Fallen Star Reef for the contest between the sects and met the cultivators gathering there. Chen Shuangbai saw that Zhao Shiyong had also reached Foundation Establishment as Profound Firmament Sect arrived.

• The flying boat landed at Fallen Star Reef, where cultivators were preparing the contest grounds and formation.
• True Person Mei met True Person Xu, who led her and the Jade Spring Sect disciples to the seats of honor.
• Chen Shuangbai greeted Zhang Xian, who was surprised that he had advanced from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment.
• Profound Firmament Sect arrived aboard its Dragon-Riding Pavilion, carried by a huge scaled flying beast.
• Chen Shuangbai recognized Zhao Shiyong among the arriving Foundation Establishment cultivators and saw that he had advanced as well.

The Jade Spring Sect and Profound Firmament Sect sent Golden Core cultivators to support True Person Xu, prompting Ning Country’s three sects to assess their intentions. Two days later, the six Golden Core True Persons gathered above the Fallen Star Reef arena as the magical duel was about to begin.

• True Person Yuchen and True Person Mei arrived with Golden Core cultivators from the Jade Spring Sect and Profound Firmament Sect, bringing their side’s Golden Core count to three.
• Zhao Shiyong greeted Chen Shuangbai, and Chen introduced Wei Zheng and Fu Qianlan to him.
• True Person Guizhen, True Person Wang, and True Person Tong arrived as the Golden Core cultivators of Ning Country’s three sects.
• True Person Guizhen probed the visitors’ intentions, and True Person Yuchen affirmed their support for True Person Xu’s plan to establish a sect.
• Chen Shuangbai, Fu Qianlan, and Wei Zheng kept the Qi Refining disciples from wandering while they waited two days for the duel.
• Six Golden Core True Persons descended over the Fallen Star Reef arena as the gathered cultivators watched.

Six Golden Core cultivators gathered at Xu Zhi’s sect-establishment ceremony before three matches between the sects’ prodigies began. As Chen Shuangbai prepared to fight, Fu Qianlan’s hidden senior remarked that she could not discern his secret and urged Fu Qianlan to investigate a changed ocean region for a rumored opportunity.

• True Person Xu asked the gathered Golden Core cultivators to begin, and True Person Guizhen called for the fighters to stop once the outcome was clear.
• Xu Zhi announced three matches between the prodigies, and the six Golden Core cultivators raised a barrier around the arena.
• Wei Zheng urged Chen Shuangbai not to lose, while Fu Qianlan joked that losing would cost them their claim to being prodigies.
• Fu Qianlan’s remnant-soul senior said she could not perceive Chen Shuangbai’s secret and claimed Fu Qianlan had a strong chance of reaching Nascent Soul.
• The senior told Fu Qianlan to investigate the surrounding ocean for a shifted fortuitous opportunity, and Fu Qianlan agreed as two Foundation Establishment cultivators entered the arena.

Zhang Xian and Wang Ning fought in the arena, trading water-based techniques until Zhang Xian unleashed the Azure Wave Ruler’s power to break through her defenses. Wang Ning was forced outside the arena, leaving Zhang Xian the victor.

• Zhang Xian opened the duel by using his jade ruler to summon water-aspect Yin Thunder against Wang Ning.
• Wang Ning blocked the lightning with her ribbon Spirit Artifact and counterattacked with water blades and Jasper Mystic Needles.
• Wang Ning pressured Zhang Xian with a rain of mystic needles and her ribbon’s powerful strikes, forcing him to evade.
• Zhang Xian enlarged the Azure Wave Ruler and released tidal force that disrupted Wang Ning’s techniques.
• Wang Ning used her precious orb to block Zhang Xian’s final attack, but the resulting blast drove her outside the arena and gave Zhang Xian the victory.

Chen Shuangbai faced Mo Li of the Spirit Taming Sect in the second bout and defeated him with a single sword strike. The Jade Spring Sect’s victory left Chen Shuangbai standing untouched as Mo Li lay defeated on the arena floor.

• Zhang Xian returned to True Person Xu after winning his bout, and True Person Xu praised him before sending him to recover.
• True Person Mei told Chen Shuangbai to do his best before the second bout began.
• Mo Li released his Jade Shadow Snake at Chen Shuangbai, who detected it and destroyed it with Sword Qi.
• Mo Li transformed into a Crimson Lightning Demon Ape and charged at Chen Shuangbai.
• Chen Shuangbai drew his sword and struck Mo Li down with a single frost-blue slash, then thanked him for yielding.

Chen Shuangbai’s sword victory secured True Person Xu’s claim to Great Arrival Island and cleared the way for him to establish a sect. The gathering moved to the island, where construction began and True Person Xu hosted a banquet to thank the Jade Spring Sect and Profound Firmament Sect.

• Chen Shuangbai defeated Mo Li with one sword, and True Person Mei warned True Person Guizhen not to interfere with the Jade Spring Sect’s True Disciple.
• Zhao Shiyong defeated Blazing Sun Mountain’s disciple, completing the three matches and confirming True Person Xu’s victory.
• True Person Xu thanked his allies and promised the three Ning Country sects that his new sect would help protect the rivers from sea beasts.
• True Person Xu and the others traveled to Great Arrival Island, where Chen Shuangbai saw the Zhang clan leading construction and transporting supplies.
• True Person Xu invited True Person Mei and True Person Yuchen to discuss important matters, then hosted a three-day banquet for the two sects’ disciples.

Chen Shuangbai and the other disciples attended a banquet where Zhang Xian gave them Jade Wave Immortal Market tokens and praised Chen’s swordsmanship. The next morning, Chen finished cultivating and joined Wei Zheng and Fu Qianlan in the main hall, where True Person Xu greeted them as the three Golden Core cultivators met.

• Zhang Xian served the Foundation Establishment guests profound ice cod sashimi and hosted a lively banquet.
• Zhang Xian gave Chen Shuangbai and the others Jade Wave tokens of credence, explaining that his master held shops and guest-elder positions in two immortal markets.
• Zhao Shiyong praised Chen Shuangbai’s swordsmanship, and a female cultivator asked whether he was close to comprehending Sword Essence.
• Chen Shuangbai cultivated through the night and reflected that the sea suited water arts.
• Chen Shuangbai, Wei Zheng, and Fu Qianlan went to the main hall, where True Person Xu welcomed them.

After the five disciples left the meeting on Great Arrival Island, Chen Shuangbai set out alone with Feiguang to explore the surrounding waters and head for Jade Wave Immortal Market. While resting on a secluded island with Feiguang and Gray Ball, he sensed a battle to the northeast.

• True Person Xu gave the five disciples Storage Bags, and True Person Yuchen and True Person Mei allowed their juniors to make their own plans while the elders discussed important matters.
• Zhao Shiyong and his junior sister left, Wei Zheng flew off on a beast, and Fu Qianlan departed using Sword Escape Technique.
• Chen Shuangbai summoned Feiguang, inspected the chart in his Storage Bag, and chose to travel to Jade Wave Immortal Market.
• Chen Shuangbai and Feiguang fought sea Demon Beasts on the way, then rested on a secluded island with Gray Ball.
• Chen Shuangbai sensed spiritual light and Law Power fluctuations from a fight far to the northeast.

Chen Shuangbai concealed a clam spirit from the maritime cultivators chasing it, then stopped them from burning down the island where he was resting. After learning they served the Bai Household and had pursued the clam over its pearls, he ordered them to leave.

• Chen Shuangbai spotted maritime cultivators pursuing a wounded blue clam spirit and hid the island with his Mirage Illusory Scene technique.
• The clam spirit hid in a stream while the pursuers searched the island and then set it ablaze to smoke it out.
• Chen Shuangbai summoned rain to extinguish the fire and appeared before the cultivators, who recognized him as an exalted Foundation Establishment cultivator and knelt.
• The bushy-bearded leader admitted that their young master had coveted the clam spirit's pearls and identified their group as members of the Bai Household of Five Yellow Island.
• Chen Shuangbai cut off the leader's boast about the young master and ordered the cultivators to leave.

Chen Shuangbai captured an injured clam spirit hiding on his island and discovered that its treasure pearl contained abundant Great Yin power, which the [Great Yin Dao Fruit] began absorbing. He demanded to know where the pearl came from, and the clam spirit admitted it had stolen it from its princess.

• Chen Shuangbai sent the bearded man and his group away, then dispelled the island’s illusion and ordered the hidden clam spirit to emerge.
• The clam spirit revealed that it came from Treasure Light Cave at Blue Coral Reef and claimed human cultivators had hunted it for its pearl.
• Chen Shuangbai spotted a hidden treasure pearl, seized it, and froze the clam spirit when it tried to move.
• The [Great Yin Dao Fruit] began drawing moonlight power from the pearl, and Chen Shuangbai kept it close so the absorption could continue.
• Chen Shuangbai demanded to know where the treasure pearl came from, and the clam spirit confessed it had stolen it from its princess.

Chen Shuangbai killed a clam spirit that had stolen a treasure from Precious Jade Cave, then continued toward the Jade Wave Immortal Market while training Feiguang. Feiguang fought an Iron-Spined Venomous Dragonfish, with Chen Shuangbai using the Turning Heart Ruyi Cord to prevent the beast from escaping.

• Chen Shuangbai learned that the clam spirit had stolen its mistress’s treasure and killed it rather than risk trouble with Precious Jade Cave.
• Chen Shuangbai left the island with Gray Ball and Feiguang as cultivators from the Bai Household returned and searched for them.
• Chen Shuangbai traveled toward the Jade Wave Immortal Market and used encounters with sea Demon Beasts to temper Feiguang.
• Feiguang battled an Iron-Spined Venomous Dragonfish, dodging its attacks and wearing down its strength with its speed and intelligence.
• Chen Shuangbai trapped the fleeing dragonfish inside a ring formed by the Turning Heart Ruyi Cord.

Chen Shuangbai and Feiguang killed an Iron-Spined Venomous Dragonfish, then met Gao Hao, the young master of the Jade Wave Immortal Market, who invited him aboard his concealed flying boat. Gao Hao bought the fish’s scales and explained that pearl beads were the currency used across the seas.

• Chen Shuangbai used the Turning Heart Ruyi Cord to trap the Iron-Spined Venomous Dragonfish, and Feiguang killed it and retrieved its Demon Core and stomach pouch.
• Chen Shuangbai collected the dragonfish’s black scales and called out the person who had been watching him.
• Gao Hao appeared aboard a concealed flying boat, introduced himself as the grandson of True Person Haoguang, and invited Chen Shuangbai aboard.
• Chen Shuangbai and Gao Hao chatted and grew friendly as they traveled toward the Jade Wave Immortal Market.
• Gao Hao offered to buy the dragonfish’s scales, and he explained that pearl beads were a currency accepted throughout the seas.

Chen Shuangbai sold demon materials for shell pearls and learned that Gao Hao wanted his help in the Gao Household’s Pearl-Seeking Contest. Chen agreed in exchange for mystic origin heavy water and Gao Hao’s support, and they arrived at the Jade Wave Immortal Market.

• Chen Shuangbai exchanged a demon’s core and stomach sac for bags of shell pearls, then enjoyed spirit wine with Gao Hao.
• Gao Hao explained that the Gao Household’s Pearl-Seeking Contest let eligible descendants compete to find valuable pearls in a secret realm and gain greater support from the Lineage.
• Gao Hao asked Chen Shuangbai to help him win the contest and offered him a portion of mystic origin heavy water if they succeeded.
• Gao Hao raised his offer to include his own portion of mystic origin heavy water and cover Chen Shuangbai’s expenses while providing access to his market contacts.
• Chen Shuangbai accepted Gao Hao’s offer, and the two arrived at the bustling Jade Wave Immortal Market.

Chen Shuangbai arrived at the Jade Wave Immortal Market as Gao Hao’s honored guest and settled into the Immortal-Retaining Courtyard. He asked the Gao Clan to appraise his pills, and Steward Liu grew excited after learning how valuable one of them was.

• Gao Hao welcomed Chen Shuangbai to the market and arranged for him to stay at the Immortal-Retaining Courtyard.
• Steward Liu escorted Chen Shuangbai through the bustling market and explained how the seafaring cultivators had built their prosperity.
• Chen Shuangbai learned that the Jade Spring Sect had no presence in the market and decided to have his pills appraised for shell pearls.
• Steward Liu summoned an Alchemist, who judged Chen Shuangbai’s pills to be high quality and praised the Mystic Light Illuminating Life Pill’s benefits for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Steward Liu ordered the appraisal kept secret and wondered whether Gao Hao had found a treasure.