Chapter Summaries

After True Lord Qingchen judged Chen Shuangbai ready to break through to Golden Core, Chen entered seclusion in Parasol Tree Valley beneath the Jade Parasol Tree. As moonlight gathered around him, the winter-frost-colored light in his Dantian began to grow and resonate.

• True Lord Qingchen praised Chen Shuangbai's original insights and told him his cultivation and accumulation were sufficient to enter Golden Core seclusion.
• Chen Shuangbai sent letters to Yi Chongyue, Changming of Jade Screen Peak, Feiguang, and his sect friends to announce his seclusion.
• Fang Xiao left Parasol Tree Valley under the sect master's decree, and Chen Shuangbai sealed the valley's formations.
• Chen Shuangbai meditated beneath the Jade Parasol Tree as the Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method and the True Illumination Cavern Abyss Five Qi Art circulated in harmony.
• Moonlight descended over the valley, and the winter-frost-colored light in Chen Shuangbai's Dantian grew as it resonated with the Jade Parasol Tree.

After the Jade Spring Sect became Jing Kingdom’s national sect, cultivation lineages flocked to submit and the sect expanded its provincial estates. True Lord Qingchen dealt with the two surviving Golden Core captives from the Spirit-Seeking Sect, while True Person Mei learned that he had sent them away and expected the sect’s own younger cultivators to fill the need for guardians.

• The Yin Household proclaimed the Jade Spring Sect Jing Kingdom’s national sect and honored True Lord Qingchen, True Person Bo, and True Person Mei with titles.
• Cultivation lineages brought gifts and youths to Sunken Jade Valley to submit, while the Jade Spring Sect continued building subsidiary estates across the provinces and raised stipends for its members.
• True Lord Qingchen told Jin Chuyan and Wang Yi that the other leaders of their households had been killed and asked what fate they wanted.
• Jin Chuyan and Wang Yi pleaded to submit their households to the Jade Spring Sect, but True Lord Qingchen rejected the idea of letting the remnants regain their former standing.
• True Person Mei asked whether True Lord Qingchen had sent the two captives away, and he said the sect would rely on its own rising Golden Core candidates to guard its estates.

True Lord Qingchen and True Person Mei discussed Chen Shuangbai’s prospects for forming a high-grade Golden Core and the uncertain future of the Empty Sword Sect. Old True Person He later told Qingchen that the Empty Sword Sect would relocate overseas and hand its Yang Province headquarters to the Jade Spring Sect.

• True Person Mei and True Lord Qingchen judged that Chen Shuangbai was likely to form an upper-grade Golden Core, with a chance of achieving a first-grade core.
• True Person Mei told True Lord Qingchen that Old True Person He planned to visit to discuss the future of the Empty Sword Sect.
• True Lord Qingchen urged True Person Mei to enter seclusion and reach the middle Golden Core stage before emerging.
• Old True Person He visited True Lord Qingchen and announced that the Empty Sword Sect would move overseas with its thousands of disciples to fight demons and establish new foundations.
• Old True Person He offered the Empty Sword Sect’s Yang Province headquarters to the Jade Spring Sect, and True Lord Qingchen considered the relocation a good outcome for both sects.

The Empty Sword Sect relocated to an archipelago in the Spirit Gauze Sea after Old True Person He slew its Golden Core sea beast, leaving the Jade Spring Sect as the only sect in the Jing Kingdom. Meanwhile, Chen Shuangbai cultivated beneath the Jade Parasol Tree until his four Moon Lord Divine Manifestations formed, and he began undergoing a powerful transformation.

• Old True Person He announced the Empty Sword Sect's departure, then chose an archipelago in the Spirit Gauze Sea and killed the Middle Golden Core Stage sea beast that occupied it.
• The Jade Spring Sect and True Person Shi helped the Empty Sword Sect move its foundations and supplies to the new island over more than three months.
• Old True Person He thanked True Lord Qingchen with sword-cultivation notes and a sword-refining Secret Method, and promised to shelter Jade Spring Sect disciples who came to sea for training.
• After months of cultivation beneath the Jade Parasol Tree, Chen Shuangbai formed the Twelfth Month Divine Manifestation, completing the four seasonal Moon Lord manifestations in his Dantian.
• Chen Shuangbai's Law Power began rotating and gathering a hint of gold as the four Moon Lords appeared before him and sent rays of moonlight into his body.

Chen Shuangbai condensed the supreme-grade Lunar Rites Golden Core beneath the Jade Parasol Tree, producing a heaven-and-earth phenomenon that illuminated Sunken Jade Valley through the night. He emerged to congratulations from the Jade Spring Sect, and the sect proclaimed his achievement throughout the Jing Kingdom.

• Chen Shuangbai’s Golden Core formation created a moonlit phenomenon above Parasol Tree Valley, and True Lord Qingchen shielded Sunken Jade Valley with five-colored radiance.
• The phenomenon faded at dawn as the four Moon Lord Divine Manifestations returned to Chen Shuangbai’s Dantian, leaving him with the supreme-grade Lunar Rites Golden Core and greatly enhanced Divine Sense.
• Chen Shuangbai thanked the Jade Parasol Tree for aiding his breakthrough, then opened the valley’s formations and greeted True Lord Qingchen, Yi Chongyue, and his friends and disciples.
• Chen Shuangbai told True Lord Qingchen that his core was supreme-grade, prompting the gathered Jade Spring Sect cultivators to celebrate.
• The Jade Spring Sect rang the golden bell and jade chime nine times and proclaimed Chen Shuangbai’s achievement throughout the Jing Kingdom.

Jade Spring Sect celebrated Chen Shuangbai’s supreme-grade Golden Core, and True Lord Qingchen announced a grand ceremony to be held seven days later. Chen Shuangbai agreed to attend, learned that Qingchen was impressed by the three Divine Abilities he had gained, and went to see Yi Chongyue.

• Jade Spring Sect held a lavish celebration in Sunken Jade Valley, where Chen Shuangbai and True Lord Qingchen toasted the gathered disciples.
• True Lord Qingchen told Chen Shuangbai that invitations had gone out for a grand Golden Core ceremony and that he was to remain in the sect until it took place.
• Chen Shuangbai accepted the ceremony arrangements after Qingchen explained its importance to the Jade Spring Sect and its allies.
• Chen Shuangbai told Qingchen that his supreme-grade Golden Core had granted him three Divine Abilities, and Qingchen sent him out of the Myriad Phenomena Hall.
• Chen Shuangbai arrived at Deer Deep Waters Peak, where Tang Yu welcomed him and led him to see Yi Chongyue.

Chen Shuangbai studied three Dao books and his newly gained Divine Abilities before returning to Sunken Jade Valley for his Golden Core ceremony. There, True Lord Qingchen introduced him to Old Man Fish Pillow of the Flower Washing Sword Sect.

• Chen Shuangbai received three Dao books from True Lord Qingchen, including cultivation notes and techniques for a Dharma Body and capturing and suppressing foes.
• Chen Shuangbai reviewed his existing and newly gained Divine Abilities, then began stabilizing his Golden Core realm and cultivating by moonlight.
• Chen Shuangbai brought Chen Fuguang and Chen Yazhen to Sunken Jade Valley, where the sect had prepared an elaborate Golden Core ceremony.
• Chen Shuangbai greeted his fellow disciples as they congratulated him and called him Dao Child.
• True Lord Qingchen introduced Old Man Fish Pillow of the Flower Washing Sword Sect to Chen Shuangbai, who greeted him as senior martial uncle.

Chen Shuangbai’s Golden Core ceremony drew guests from many sects, including two Nascent Soul True Lords, and he celebrated among friends and fellow disciples. Fu Qianlan and Ding Chengyu reflected on his extraordinary progress as the festivities continued.

• Old Man Fish Pillow and True Lord Bai congratulated Chen Shuangbai on behalf of their sects, and True Lord Qingchen led them to the main hall.
• Guests arrived from across the region, and True Lord Qingchen announced that Chen Shuangbai’s Golden Core ceremony had begun as spirit lamps lit the valley.
• Chen Shuangbai toasted the visiting representatives and later celebrated with his friends and fellow disciples.
• Fu Qianlan congratulated Chen Shuangbai, while Aunt Yuan admitted inwardly that she had misjudged him and promised Fu Qianlan that she could form an upper-three-grade core.
• Ding Chengyu watched Chen Shuangbai and felt him gradually overlap with the celebrated sword immortal from his memories.

At the Jade Spring celebration, Chen Shuangbai received a high-grade Law Treasure and the Daoist name Xuhong. After the guests departed, he headed to Mystic Pool Peak to try to treat Wei Zheng’s injuries.

• True Lord Qingchen gave Chen Shuangbai the high-grade Law Treasure Azure Sea Hanging Rainbow Dragon-Binding Ring, which recognized him after he roughly refined it.
• True Lord Qingchen named Chen Shuangbai Xuhong before the gathered guests, who congratulated him on forming a supreme-grade core.
• Chen Shuangbai entertained the guests as the Jade Spring Dao Child until the celebration ended and the guests departed.
• After handling sect affairs, Chen Shuangbai found True Lord Qingchen’s note directing him to look before his eyes and realized he should try to help Wei Zheng himself.
• Chen Shuangbai left for Mystic Pool Peak to see whether he could treat Wei Zheng’s injuries.

Chen Shuangbai used his Golden Core power and treasured materials to heal Wei Zheng’s damaged Dantian, then returned to Jade Screen Peak to guide his disciples and refine pills. He prepared medicine for Wei Zheng and Fang Xiao, along with a batch to send to Gao Hao, who had risen close to becoming the Gao Clan’s young master.

• Chen Shuangbai repaired Wei Zheng’s Dantian with the [Moistening Virtue True Seal], parasol tree leaves, and treasured tree sap, and Wei Zheng immediately celebrated his recovery by practicing punches.
• Chen Shuangbai visited his two Chen Clan juniors, checked their studies, rewarded them with Azure Flower Pills, and corrected their cultivation.
• Chen Shuangbai returned to Jade Screen Peak to stabilize his Golden Core realm, refine his Law Treasures, and practice orthodox arts and Divine Abilities.
• Yan Nanlai advanced to become a third-tier Alchemist, while Yi Chongyue worked harder to catch up and Gongye Chun was pleased to have successors.
• Chen Shuangbai refined [Green Wood Transforming Rain Pills] for Wei Zheng and two batches of [Mystic Light Illuminating Life Pills], one for Fang Xiao and one to send to Gao Hao.
• Gao Hao sent a caravan carrying rare congratulatory gifts and a handwritten letter after Chen Shuangbai formed his Golden Core.

Chen Shuangbai received Gao Hao’s congratulatory gifts and promised to visit the Jade Wave Immortal Market when his cultivation stabilized. Hoping to improve his artifact-forging skills, he traveled with Feiguang and his two disciples to the Great Thunder Mountain Branch, where Shi Zhang welcomed him.

• Chen Shuangbai read Gao Hao’s letter and sent back a message saying he might visit the Jade Wave Immortal Market once his cultivation realm had stabilized.
• Chen Shuangbai rewarded Changming with several treasures and planned to forge artifacts for Feiguang and his disciples.
• After Fu Qianlan suggested visiting the sect’s Artifact Forging Hall, Chen Shuangbai set out for the Great Thunder Mountain Branch with Feiguang and his two disciples.
• Shi Zhang welcomed Chen Shuangbai at the branch, and Chen Shuangbai explained that he wanted to study artifact forging and make Spirit Artifacts for his spirit beasts.
• Shi Zhang invited Chen Shuangbai to stay as long as he wished and offered to accommodate him.

Chen Shuangbai visited the dispirited Yao Jie on Great Thunder Mountain, gave him Du Zifeng’s final words, and watched him leave to seek Du’s son. After returning, Chen Shuangbai crafted new artifacts for Feiguang, Gray Ball, Chen Fuguang, and Chen Yazhen, leaving his disciples delighted with their rings.

• Chen Shuangbai let Feiguang temper his demonic body in the thunderstorms atop Great Thunder Mountain while he and his other disciple studied artifact refinement.
• Chen Shuangbai visited Yao Jie and gave him a copy of Du Zifeng’s recorded words, moving Yao Jie to tears.
• Yao Jie told Chen Shuangbai that Du Zifeng had a son and left the mountain to find the child and give himself something to hold on to.
• Chen Shuangbai explained to Chen Fuguang that failure could take away cultivation and life, but not the roads people walked, the people they met, or the choices they made.
• Chen Shuangbai refined the Azure Sky Wind-Controlling Crown for Feiguang and the Earth-Stabilizing Pearl for Gray Ball.
• Chen Shuangbai gave Chen Fuguang the Golden Rosy Cloud Ring and Chen Yazhen the Azure Wave Ring, and both disciples thanked him.

Chen Shuangbai gave Chen Fuguang and Chen Yazhen new cultivation methods, then curbed their dangerously rapid progress and considered finding them a steadier caretaker. He traveled to Wu Province to stop the Transformation Sect’s corpse ghouls, destroying them in moments and earning the stationed cultivators’ gratitude.

• Chen Shuangbai used the Great Yin Dao Fruit to create cultivation methods tailored to Chen Fuguang and Chen Yazhen, whose cultivation quickly advanced to the Third Layer of Qi Refinement.
• Chen Shuangbai suppressed the disciples’ excessive Yang Qi and Yin Qi after their rapid cultivation injured them, then inscribed prayers to the Moon God on their paired rings.
• Chen Shuangbai decided he needed a steady, older caretaker to look after his disciples and manage his affairs.
• True Lord Qingchen sent Chen Shuangbai to Wu Province to support Shi Yan against the Transformation Sect’s corpse ghouls.
• Chen Shuangbai unleashed emerald light that healed the cultivators and wiped out the corpse ghouls, prompting them to hail him as True Person Xuhong.

At Hengzhang City, Chen Shuangbai strengthened the Jade Spring Sect’s defenses and supported its fighters with the Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner while Shi Yan struggled with envy and fear. The Transformation Sect learned that Chen Shuangbai had arrived, and two crow servants reported the news to He Chong at Black Miasma Ridge.

• Chen Shuangbai questioned Shi Yan about the Heart-Eroding Stronghold’s ties to the Transformation Sect and the enemy’s intentions, but Shi Yan offered only a cautious assessment.
• Chen Shuangbai left battlefield command to Huo Min while remaining in Hengzhang City to bolster morale and guard against enemy Golden Core cultivators.
• Chen Shuangbai raised the Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner, which healed and empowered Jade Spring Sect cultivators and helped them cultivate.
• Shi Yan watched the banner with envy, lamenting that he lacked a suitable spirit artifact or Law Treasure.
• Two crow servants appeared before He Chong at Black Miasma Ridge and reported that the Jade Spring Sect’s Dao Child had arrived.

He Chong, seeking revenge on Chen Shuangbai, ordered the Transformation Sect’s forces to march on the Jing Kingdom. Chen Shuangbai led the Jade Spring Sect’s response, and the armies began battling at the border.

• He Chong recalled how Chen Shuangbai had wounded his soul years ago and declared that he would kill him with the Law Treasure bestowed by the Transformation Sect’s sect master.
• He Chong sent the insect beasts, corpse ghouls, and Transformation Sect warships toward the Jing Kingdom.
• Chen Shuangbai spotted the approaching horde near Hengzhang City and ordered Huo Min and Li Changfeng to organize the battle while Shi Yan guarded the city.
• Chen Shuangbai went to the front lines, warning Shi Yan that the Heart-Eroding Stronghold’s inheritance could conceal dangerous measures.
• The armies clashed at the border, where Jade Spring Sect warships and spell cultivators cut down waves of corpse ghouls and insect beasts, but more kept advancing.

Chen Shuangbai used the Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner to strengthen the Jade Spring Sect and devastate the enemy warships before confronting He Chong. After stopping He Chong’s attacks and damaging his ghost knives with Sword Essence, Chen Shuangbai faced He Chong’s Ten Thousand Souls Devour the Heavens.

• Chen Shuangbai activated the Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner, empowering Jade Spring Sect cultivators and raining deadly frost stars on the enemy warships.
• He Chong appeared on a throne of bones and launched bone spikes at Chen Shuangbai, who suspended and froze them with the banner.
• He Chong attacked with nine evil ghost flying knives, but Chen Shuangbai’s Frost Osmanthus Sword Essence knocked them down and damaged their spiritual sentience.
• Chen Shuangbai taunted He Chong and formed his Sword Essence into a silver-white longsword.
• He Chong unleashed a lake of shadow and countless Yin souls, assaulting cultivators with their screams, then invoked Ten Thousand Souls Devour the Heavens.

Chen Shuangbai countered He Chong’s vengeful souls and unleashed his Azure Abyss Sky-Hanging Water-Covering Dharma Body. He Chong’s devilish mirror struggled against Chen Shuangbai’s Fallen Toad Light, leaving him pale and alarmed.

• He Chong sent vengeful souls at Chen Shuangbai, who used Yin Lightning, Xun wind, and frost to destroy most of them.
• He Chong secretly sent hidden shadows toward Chen Shuangbai, but Chen Shuangbai saw through them and summoned Clouds and Water Share the Same Sky.
• Chen Shuangbai manifested the Azure Abyss Sky-Hanging Water-Covering Dharma Body, whose attacks devastated the Transformation Sect’s forces and terrain.
• Chen Shuangbai used Fallen Toad Light to block He Chong’s escape routes, and He Chong countered with a devilish treasured mirror.
• The mirror’s purplish-black radiance could not withstand Fallen Toad Light, and He Chong watched it being driven back as his Golden Core Law Power drained.

Chen Shuangbai battled He Chong and the primordial spirit of the [Profound Nether Gloom Light Mirror], revealing that he could wield another high-grade Law Treasure. He Chong fled toward the Xu Kingdom as Chen Shuangbai prepared a strange scarlet attack.

• He Chong called on Nether Gloom Elder, who emerged from the [Profound Nether Gloom Light Mirror] and helped him break free of the [Fallen Toad Light].
• Nether Gloom Elder entangled Chen Shuangbai's Azure Nether Dharma Body with ghost hands and tried to recruit him into the Transformation Sect.
• Chen Shuangbai used the [Azure Sea Hanging Rainbow Dragon-Binding Ring] to strike the [Profound Nether Gloom Light Mirror], injuring He Chong and damaging the mirror.
• He Chong released nine curved sabers and fled toward the Xu Kingdom while the gold-and-jade ring pursued the mirror.
• Chen Shuangbai formed a Law Seal and summoned a strange scarlet hook as He Chong continued to flee.

Chen Shuangbai defeated He Chong at Black Miasma Ridge, secured the Jade Spring Sect’s position in Wu Province, and returned to the sect after True Person Mei took over Hengzhang City. True Person Mei had advanced to the middle Golden Core stage and told Chen Shuangbai that True Lord Qingchen had other arrangements for him.

• Chen Shuangbai struck He Chong’s soul with the [Moon Comet Star-Swallowing Dire Incantation], forcing him to flee, while the [Dark Nether Gloomy Light Mirror] escaped damaged and the [Azure Sea Hanging Rainbow Dragon-Binding Ring] returned to him.
• Chen Shuangbai led the Jade Spring Sect’s disciples in clearing Black Miasma Ridge of insect beasts, corpse ghosts, and deviant cultivators, then burned away the poisonous miasma with moon-white flames.
• Chen Shuangbai returned to Hengzhang City, where the Jade Spring Sect’s support drew more cultivators to its defense; the city remained free of major attacks for several months.
• A year later, True Lord Qingchen transferred Chen Shuangbai from Hengzhang City, and True Person Mei replaced him as guardian after advancing to the middle Golden Core stage.
• True Person Mei praised Chen Shuangbai’s service and warned that the Transformation Sect might send its sect master next, then told him to return to the sect for True Lord Qingchen’s arrangements.
• Chen Shuangbai bid farewell to True Person Mei and flew toward Sunken Jade Valley.

After returning from Wu Province, Chen Shuangbai reunited with his family and disciples, then settled on Jade Screen Peak to cultivate and refine his techniques. He developed new incense formulas and named the first one [Mountain Stream Autumn].

• Chen Shuangbai reported his year in Wu Province to True Lord Qingchen, who sent him away without giving him further instructions.
• Chen Shuangbai visited Yi Chongyue and gave his master a volume of cultivation insights and notes to help him advance.
• Chen Shuangbai checked his disciples' progress and praised Changming for helping them grow more confident, while Changming asked for a higher stipend.
• Chen Shuangbai returned to Jade Screen Peak, practiced his spells, and placed [Foot-Long Silk] in the Moon-Sacrificing Formation for tempering.
• Chen Shuangbai used herbs from the medicinal garden to develop three incense formulas and named the first, made with pine needles, cypress seeds, and spikenard, [Mountain Stream Autumn].