Chapter Summaries

Fan Yunsong and Fan Cailing explained the advantages and dangers of different garrison assignments to Chen Shuangbai, who considered how each might suit his cultivation and alchemy. Fan Yunsong then proposed that the five of them work together on Chen Shuangbai’s pill business.

• Chen Shuangbai learned that outer disciple garrison assignments fell under the Abyss Suppression Hall.
• Fan Yunsong described the risks and rewards of garrisoning borderlands, newly expanded territory, or areas recovering from calamities.
• Chen Shuangbai considered how a garrison location could support his water-and-wood Spirit Root and alchemy needs.
• Chen Shuangbai asked why the Fan siblings had come, and Fan Yunsong said he had visited at Yi Chongyue’s request and wanted to discuss something.
• Fan Yunsong noted Chen Shuangbai’s success refining Miasma-Cleansing Pills and Spring-Turning Pills, then proposed that the five of them work together.

Chen Shuangbai agreed to cooperate with Fan Yunsong and the Fan Clan of Jing Valley to produce and sell Jade Spring Five Pills beyond the sect’s markets. After the Fan siblings left, Chen recorded their conversation as a precaution.

• Fan Yunsong proposed that Chen Shuangbai and the Fan siblings cooperate to refine Jade Spring Five Pills and sell surplus pills through the Fan Clan’s trade routes.
• Fan Yunsong explained how the plan would comply with sect rules and said the Fan Clan could open a shop wherever Chen was stationed after he left the mountain.
• Chen Shuangbai accepted the proposal and placed his Law Power imprint on the binding contract, which already bore four other imprints.
• The Fan siblings left Chen Shuangbai’s cave abode after discussing the arrangement.
• Chen Shuangbai returned inside and used a recording jade to preserve his conversation with the Fan siblings.

Chen Shuangbai accepted Fan Yunsong’s medicinal ingredients and Pill Furnace, then met Lu Songting to ask about the outer sect’s water moon jade crystal allotment. Lu Songting pointed out that Chen Shuangbai had recently received a box and asked whether he had already used it.

• Chen Shuangbai suspected Fan Cailing had been sent to assess him as a marriage prospect, but decided he had no interest in joining a powerful lineage through marriage.
• Fan Cailing told Fan Yunsong she was focused on cultivation and did not want to marry, so Fan Yunsong agreed to turn the lineage down for her.
• Fan Yunsong sent Chen Shuangbai a large batch of medicinal ingredients and an Azure Gold Furnace as an advance on their collaboration.
• Chen Shuangbai visited Lu Zhiyuan, who introduced him to his lineage elder, Lu Songting, a jade-robed deacon in the Expenditure Hall.
• Chen Shuangbai asked Lu Songting whether any of the year’s outer sect allotment of water moon jade crystal remained, and Lu Songting asked if he had used up the box delivered to him recently.

Chen Shuangbai persuaded Lu Songting to secure as much water moon jade crystal as possible for his cultivation and upcoming three-year garrison assignment, promising to repay Lu Songting’s favor if he prospered. The deal was approved in principle, with Chen Shuangbai required to pay the merit points upfront while Lu Songting arranged the remaining allocation.

• Chen Shuangbai explained that his water-and-wood Spirit Root and Jade Spring Qi Ingestion Method made water moon jade crystal especially useful to him.
• Lu Songting said the outer sect’s water moon jade crystal quota was tight and obtaining more would require deliberation and maneuvering.
• Chen Shuangbai offered Lu Songting a future return on his kindness if his cultivation or alchemy succeeded.
• Lu Songting agreed to secure as much water moon jade crystal as possible, provided Chen Shuangbai paid the merit points upfront.
• Chen Shuangbai and Lu Zhiyuan left the quiet room, and Chen Shuangbai thanked Lu Zhiyuan for arranging the meeting.

Chen Shuangbai encouraged Lu Zhiyuan to pursue Huang Shanglan while continuing his cultivation and alchemy. He manifested the First Month God and broke through to the Qi Refinement Fourth Layer Late Stage.

• Chen Shuangbai gave Lu Zhiyuan advice on arranging another meeting with Huang Shanglan, and Lu Zhiyuan left eagerly.
• Chen Shuangbai continued cultivating, refining pills, and studying the Listening to the Waves Notes, then decided he would need higher-grade pills to advance his alchemy.
• Chen Shuangbai drew down moonlight and used Water Cloud Pills and primordial Qi to deepen his cultivation.
• Chen Shuangbai condensed the First Month Divine Manifestation, which increased the moonlight he absorbed and cultivated alongside him.
• Chen Shuangbai broke through the Qi Refinement Fourth Layer Middle Stage and reached the Late Stage.

Chen Shuangbai condensed the First Month Divine Manifestation, which strengthened his healing techniques and accelerated his cultivation while helping him harvest spiritual essence from moonlight. As he prepared to leave the mountain for a three-year assignment, Zhang Yin advised him that reaching the late Qi Refining stage before thirty would require giving up the plan to spend all three years somewhere peaceful.

• Chen Shuangbai condensed the First Month Divine Manifestation and discovered that it enhanced his cultivation, Law Techniques, and Sweet Dew Incantation.
• Chen Shuangbai used the enhanced Sweet Dew Incantation on an orchid, restoring its vitality and giving it a slight chance to develop spiritual awareness.
• Chen Shuangbai consulted an ancient book and concluded that the First Month Divine Manifestation harvested spiritual essence derived from the Great Yin.
• Chen Shuangbai told Zhang Yin that his five-year term was ending and promised to have fellow disciples bring him mortal-world play scripts during his absence.
• Zhang Yin advised Chen Shuangbai to abandon his plan to spend the full three-year assignment in a peaceful place if he wanted to reach the late Qi Refining stage before thirty and qualify for the inner sect.

Chen Shuangbai learned from the Book Spirit how the Jade Spring Sect distinguished ordinary inner disciples from true disciples and what it took to earn a place among the sect’s future leaders. After leaving the book cave, he headed back toward his cave abode but ran into someone who had been looking for him.

• Chen Shuangbai paid merit points to speak privately with the Book Spirit in the book cave.
• The Book Spirit explained that disciples who reached late Qi refining before thirty could advance into the inner sect, but would usually become registered disciples rather than true disciples.
• The Book Spirit described the sect’s hidden strength and explained that true disciples needed talent, good character, merits, and achievements.
• Chen Shuangbai thanked the Book Spirit for his guidance and left the book cave with his path forward clearer.
• As Chen Shuangbai walked down the mountain, someone met him and said they had been looking for him.

Chen Shuangbai accepted an invitation to join Jade Dew Hall after Huang Shanglan told him that Hall Master Yi had recommended him for his pill-refining talent. Huang Shanglan also delivered a talisman decree and a letter from Ding Chengyu, leaving Chen Shuangbai to learn the senior brother’s reasons by reading it at home.

• Huang Shanglan confronted Chen Shuangbai about advising Lu Zhiyuan to court her, then hinted that Lu’s gesture had not been unwelcome.
• Huang Shanglan asked Chen Shuangbai whether he was selling basic pills to save Merit Points before leaving the mountain, and he confirmed it.
• Huang Shanglan offered Chen Shuangbai a Jade Dew Hall token, explaining that Yi Chongyue had strongly recommended him, and Chen Shuangbai accepted.
• Huang Shanglan gave Chen Shuangbai a talisman decree and letter from Ding Chengyu, telling him to read the letter at his residence to learn the reasons.

After receiving Ding Chengyu’s talismanic writ, Chen Shuangbai thanked him with pills and traveled to Flowing Immortal Market to seek access to the original Spring Rain and Flowering Wood Sword Instruction. Ding Chengyu reflected on his strange memories and decision to bet on Chen Shuangbai, while Chen arrived at the market entrance guarded by Flowing Maple cultivators.

• Chen Shuangbai read Ding Chengyu’s letter and learned he could use Ding’s connection to the Lush Foliage Pavilion to view the original sword instruction.
• Chen Shuangbai sent Ding Chengyu five bottles of premium-quality Jade Spring Five Pills with a message of thanks.
• Ding Chengyu recalled memories from a dream in which Chen Shuangbai became awe-inspiring and resolved to keep cultivating as he placed his bet on him.
• Chen Shuangbai traveled out of the Jade Spring Sect toward Flowing Immortal Market, observing the sect’s villages, traffic, and surrounding greenery along the way.
• Chen Shuangbai landed outside Flowing Immortal Market and saw six guards from the Flowing Maple cultivation lineage stationed beneath its archway.

Chen Shuangbai visited Flowing Immortal Market to meet Liu Feng and request the original of the Spring Rain and Flowering Wood Sword Instruction. Liu Feng gave him the jade slip, hoping Chen Shuangbai would carry the sword instruction forward.

• Chen Shuangbai entered Flowing Immortal Market, where the lineage disciples recognized his Jade Spring Sect token and welcomed him.
• Chen Shuangbai crossed the bustling market and went to Liu Feng's secluded residence to ask to see the sword instruction's original.
• Liu Feng verified Chen Shuangbai's identity and recognized the talisman decree as bearing the permission of Senior Qinglin's descendant.
• Liu Feng brought out the original jade slip and offered it to Chen Shuangbai, asking him to preserve and spread the sword instruction.
• Chen Shuangbai hesitated to accept the gift as Liu Feng began explaining why he had left the Lush Foliage Pavilion to become a market master.

Chen Shuangbai studied the original sword art and sensed its creator Qinglin’s true intention, then welcomed Fu Qianlan and He Qi to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The three shared food and wine with Feiguang, ending the year together at Chen Shuangbai’s cave abode.

• Chen Shuangbai returned to the sect with the original sword art and entered its artistic conception, where he sensed Qinglin’s intent in creating it.
• Chen Shuangbai resolved to develop the sword art and pass it on to future disciples before returning to cultivation.
• Fu Qianlan and He Qi visited Chen Shuangbai on New Year’s Eve with spiritual dishes, spirit wine, and festive decorations.
• Chen Shuangbai, Fu Qianlan, and He Qi set out a New Year’s Eve meal outside the cave abode and toasted the old year and the new.
• Fu Qianlan gave Feiguang a roast mountain boar, and He Qi laughed at the eagle’s greed.

Chen Shuangbai celebrated the New Year with He Qi and Fu Qianlan before preparing to leave the mountains. After years of cultivation, he set out with Feiguang and his newly filled Life-Accepting Gourd, flying toward an unspecified destination within the mountains.

• Chen Shuangbai, He Qi, and Fu Qianlan shared spirit wine and food, then watched fireworks and welcomed the New Year together.
• After He Qi and Fu Qianlan left, Chen Shuangbai returned to cultivating and urged the food-stuffed Feiguang to exercise.
• When the day to leave the mountains arrived, Chen Shuangbai called Feiguang back and admired how much the Snow-Plumed Eagle had grown.
• Chen Shuangbai stored Feiguang in his beast token, closed his cave abode, and retrieved the spirit liquid from his Life-Accepting Gourd.
• After checking his belongings, Chen Shuangbai summoned the Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch and flew toward a place in the mountains.

Chen Shuangbai attended the Jade Spring Sect’s guard-posting assignment ceremony, where Exalted Cultivator Huo announced the rules and presented the available posts. Determined to distinguish himself and gain the sect’s attention, Chen Shuangbai chose the perilous Wind Howling Ford.

• Chen Shuangbai met Fu Qianlan and He Qi among the gathered disciples on Morning Cloud Peak.
• Exalted Cultivator Huo arrived with a grand display, welcomed the disciples, and healed them with a rain of spiritual energy.
• The old Daoist introduced Exalted Cultivator Huo as the deputy hall master of the Abyss Suppression Hall, overseeing three-year guard-posting assignments.
• Exalted Cultivator Huo gave each disciple a bamboo token listing the posts and warned that dissatisfied disciples could request admission to Yin Wind Cave.
• Chen Shuangbai searched the postings and selected Wind Howling Ford, hoping to prove his potential and attract the sect’s attention.

The new disciples departed the Jade Spring Sect for their assigned posts, and Chen Shuangbai received a wood-aspect flying sword from Du Zifeng before leaving. He tested the Green Parasol Tree Sword aboard He Qi’s flying boat as the three friends traveled toward their hometowns.

• Fu Qianlan chose White River Town, He Qi chose Black Stone Mine, and Chen Shuangbai chose the dangerous Wind Howling Ford.
• Exalted Cultivator Huo gave the departing disciples talismans and cultivation materials, then sent them off on a rainbow bridge.
• Chen Shuangbai, Fu Qianlan, and He Qi saw Deacon Tian leading new boys and girls up the mountain before leaving the sect together.
• Du Zifeng delivered Chen Shuangbai the Green Parasol Tree Sword and a scabbard for the Cold Spring Sword, explaining that he had exchanged the locust tree heart for a parasol tree heart.
• Chen Shuangbai tested the Green Parasol Tree Sword aboard He Qi’s flying boat and recognized how its wood aspect complemented the Cold Spring Sword’s water aspect.

After parting from Fu Qianlan and He Qi, Chen Shuangbai returned to White Water County and made a spectacular display of his cultivation to assert the White Water Chen Clan’s presence. He left the townspeople in awe and brought his former attendant Chen Zhuang aboard his flying artifact as he headed for the Chen family residence.

• He Qi, Fu Qianlan, and Chen Shuangbai parted ways, with Fu Qianlan flying home on her sword and Chen Shuangbai heading toward White Water County with Feiguang.
• Fu Qianlan ignored an aged female voice that criticized her concern for her friends and continued toward home.
• Chen Shuangbai decided to make a grand entrance to counter the main family’s attempt to seize his branch family’s ancestral property and deter a rival clan.
• Chen Shuangbai sent Feiguang circling over the county town while he descended on the Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch, causing townspeople to kneel and hail him as an immortal.
• Chen Shuangbai recognized his former attendant Chen Zhuang, lifted him onto the flying cloud, and invited him to return home with him.

Chen Shuangbai returned to the Chen residence and discovered his grandfather had been slowly poisoned. He saved Chen Yizhao, then exposed the third branch’s guilt and killed Chen Bingwen’s wife as the family remained trapped beneath his power.

• Chen Shuangbai arrived at the Chen residence and reunited with Chen Yizhao, who collapsed as they greeted each other.
• Chen Shuangbai examined Chen Yizhao and discovered poison in his internal organs, then used pills and Law Power to draw it out and begin restoring him.
• Chen Shuangbai ordered Chen Zhuang to seal the residence and prevent anyone from leaving.
• Chen Shuangbai bound Chen Bingwen and his wife with a water chain and beheaded Chen Bingwen’s wife.
• Chen Moyan accused Chen Bingwen of poisoning Chen Yizhao after Chen Shuangbai’s scrutiny revealed the third branch’s guilt.

After recovering from the poisoning, Old Master Chen confronted the third branch and punished them for conspiring with the Meng Household. He placed Chen Moyan in charge of household affairs, leaving Chen Shuangbai and his grandfather alone in the main hall.

• Old Master Chen awoke feeling better after Chen Shuangbai gave him a Spring-Turning Pill, and the two discussed the clan's affairs.
• Chen Shuangbai gathered the clan members in the main hall and had the third branch kneel with thorn branches on their backs.
• Old Master Chen questioned Chen Bingwen, who confessed that the Meng Household had persuaded him to poison his father in exchange for help gaining control of the Chen family's properties.
• Old Master Chen ordered Chen Bingwen's legs broken and mute medicine forced down his throat, then banished the third branch to the family's estates and Ancient Village.
• Old Master Chen appointed Chen Moyan to oversee household affairs, dismissed everyone else, and remained in the hall with Chen Shuangbai.

Chen Shuangbai comforted Old Master Chen and discussed the Meng Household’s role in the Chen family’s decline. Fearing his return, the Meng Household decided to seek help from Rogue Person Withered Wood to drive him away.

• Old Master Chen dismissed Uncle Li and Chen Zhuang, then confided in Chen Shuangbai about the painful family dispute.
• Chen Shuangbai told Old Master Chen that he could stay only three or four days before guarding Wind Howling Ford for the sect.
• Chen Shuangbai asked about confronting the Meng Household and the main clan, while Old Master Chen cautioned him not to overreach in mortal affairs.
• Meng Huaiyuan and Meng Huaide panicked over Chen Shuangbai’s return and the evidence linking the Meng Household to its schemes against the Chen Household.
• Old Madam Meng urged her family to enlist Rogue Person Withered Wood and ordered Meng Huaiyuan to send three times their usual gifts and her jade ruyi to his third disciple.

Chen Shuangbai refused to meet the Meng Household’s leaders when they came to beg forgiveness, leaving their fate uncertain as the county magistrate expected their household to fall. He also considered the Jingxuan Chen Clan’s past attempts to pressure his family and warned them not to make trouble.

• Old Madam Meng ordered Meng Huaiyuan and Meng Huaide to bring valuable property to the Chen Household and beg Old Master Chen’s forgiveness, blaming the deceased Chen the Third and his wife.
• Chen Shuangbai learned about the Chen Household’s affairs from Uncle Li, gave him pills and talismans, and promised to support any of Li Yuan’s children who had a Spirit Root.
• Chen Shuangbai found the county’s turbid Qi unsuitable for cultivation and relied on Spirit Stones instead.
• Chen Shuangbai declined to meet the Meng Household’s eldest and second masters, who returned home after being turned away.
• The county magistrate concluded that the Meng Household was likely finished, while Chen Shuangbai reflected on the Jingxuan Chen Clan’s history and warned them not to provoke him.

Chen Shuangbai learned the Meng Household had enlisted Rogue Person Withered Wood, a rogue cultivator, to mediate their conflict, then flew out to confront him. After rejecting the Meng Household’s offers and judging Withered Wood’s strength, Chen Shuangbai challenged him to a fight.

• Old Master Chen told Chen Shuangbai that the Meng Household had sought help from Rogue Person Withered Wood, a middle-stage Qi refining cultivator in the prefectural city.
• Chen Shuangbai told Old Master Chen to stay home and activate a talisman if needed, then flew southeast toward the Meng Household.
• Chen Shuangbai intercepted Rogue Person Withered Wood outside White Water County and asked whether he had come on the Meng Household’s behalf.
• Rogue Person Withered Wood offered the Meng Household’s estate and businesses in exchange for mercy, but Chen Shuangbai silently assessed his cultivation and refused to accept the offer.
• Rogue Person Withered Wood prepared his Law Artifact as Chen Shuangbai’s pressure unsettled him, and Chen Shuangbai mocked him as an old dog wagging his tongue in Jade Spring territory.