Chapter Summaries

At the Shen Family's Spirit Testing Ceremony, Shen Yun awaited the test that would determine his cultivation prospects. Shen Qingruo revealed a Water-Wood Dual Spirit Root, while Shen Yun's own result remained unknown.

• Shen Yun, a reincarnated youth known for his precocious wisdom, attended the ceremony with Shen Qiu and Shen Qingruo.
• The Third Elder began testing the children, and most were found to have no spirit roots or inferior Four- and Five-Attribute Spirit Roots.
• Shen Kuangtao tested as having a Gold-Water-Earth Three-Attribute Spirit Root and received the Third Elder's praise.
• Shen Qingruo placed her hand on the Spirit Sensing Stone, which blazed with blue and green light.
• The Third Elder announced that Shen Qingruo had a Water-Wood Dual Spirit Root.

Shen Yun received a Gold-Fire-Wood Three-Attribute Spirit Root, while Shen Qiu unexpectedly revealed a Gold-Fire Dual Spirit Root and attracted the Lightning Vein's interest. After the ceremony assigned cultivation resources according to aptitude, Shen Yun and Shen Qingruo headed to the Scripture Pavilion.

• Shen Yun tested with a Gold-Fire-Wood Three-Attribute Spirit Root and accepted the result calmly despite the crowd's disappointment.
• Shen Qiu stumbled onto the platform and unexpectedly revealed a Gold-Fire Dual Spirit Root, changing the crowd's attitude toward him.
• Shen Fan invited Shen Qiu to cultivate in the Lightning Vein, and Shen Qiu asked for time to consider the offer.
• Shen Qiu returned to the crowd with newfound confidence, while Shen Yun noticed his changing attitude and uncomfortable attention toward Shen Qingruo.
• The Third Elder announced monthly cultivation resources based on Spirit Root aptitude and instructed the cultivators to choose three Cultivation Methods.
• Shen Qiu resolved to surpass Shen Yun, while Shen Yun and Shen Qingruo left for the Scripture Pavilion.

After discovering that he could comprehend cultivation methods almost instantly, Shen Yun used them to enter the First Layer of Qi Refining and rapidly strengthen and balance his Spiritual Power. He stopped short of a breakthrough to the Second Layer and planned to attend the Fifth Elder’s lecture the next day.

• At the Scripture Pavilion, Shen Yun selected Golden Edge Art, Blazing Fire Cultivation Method, and Green Wood Cultivation Method, then hurried home after finding each one easy to understand.
• Mister Fang told Elder Ming that Shen Yun had exceptionally powerful spirit and could readily comprehend Qi Refining methods.
• At home, Shen Yun circulated Golden Edge Art and broke through to the First Layer of Qi Refining in about a quarter of an hour.
• Shen Yun expanded his sea of qi to the size of a bucket, then stopped before advancing to the Second Layer to avoid destabilizing his foundation.
• Shen Yun cultivated all three methods until his Metal, Fire, and Wood Spiritual Power were balanced, and he learned he could replenish it in twenty breaths.
• After Shen Pingsheng called him to dinner, Shen Yun stopped cultivating and decided to learn more at the Fifth Elder’s lecture the next day.

Shen Yun received two thousand Spirit Stones from his father and attended a lecture on Cultivation Methods, where Shen Qiu’s rapid progress drew admiration. Shen Yun concealed his own extraordinary comprehension, while Shen Qiu resolved to prove himself at the upcoming cultivation test.

• Shen Pingsheng gave Shen Yun a new Cosmic Bag containing two thousand Spirit Stones, and Shen Yun asked how to earn more.
• Shen Pingsheng suggested Talisman Masters and Alchemists as profitable paths, and Shen Yun decided to look for Immortal Dao Skills at the Market.
• At the Lecture Hall, Shen Qiu announced that he had reached Entry with his Cultivation Method in one night and earned the Fifth Elder’s praise.
• The Fifth Elder explained the four stages of Cultivation Methods and said reaching Minor Achievement required filling the qi sea within fifteen minutes.
• Shen Yun realized his own comprehension far exceeded the standard but decided to reveal only enough talent to gain resources.
• Shen Qiu offered to advise Shen Yun and invited Shen Qingruo to study with him, but both declined and left together; Shen Qiu vowed to prove himself at next month’s test.

Shen Yun visited the Shen Family Market with Shen Qingruo and bought materials to learn talisman-making from his former neighbor Shen Zhong. After advancing to the Qi Refining Second Layer, he quickly mastered the basics and made a Mid-grade Fireball Talisman on his first try.

• Shen Qingruo accompanied Shen Yun to the market, where she hurried him past the Spirit Pavilion and reminded him not to imitate her father's visits to the Immortal Music House.
• Shen Yun met Shen Zhong at the Spirit Talisman Tower and bought talisman-making materials for six hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.
• Shen Zhong told Elder Wang that Shen Yun was determined to become a Talisman Master, while Elder Wang predicted he would give up within a month.
• Shen Yun treated Shen Qingruo to a meal at Tianxiang Tower and refused her offer to lend him Spirit Stones.
• Shen Yun broke through to the Qi Refining Second Layer, studied the Compendium of Basic Talismans, and produced a Mid-grade Fireball Talisman on his first attempt.

Shen Yun continued cultivating in secret and revealed his strength when Shen Qiu and Shen Kuangtao confronted him at the Scripture Pavilion. After Shen Yun drove them off, Mister Fang gave him a Black Jade Slip and told him to return after understanding it.

• Shen Qiu broke through to the Qi Refining First Layer, gathered Shen Family disciples around him, and went with Shen Kuangtao to confront Shen Yun about Qingruo.
• At the Scripture Pavilion, Mister Fang sensed Shen Yun's growing spirit and discovered that he had reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer while concealing his cultivation with the perfected Qi Concealment Technique.
• Shen Kuangtao tried to strike Shen Yun, but Shen Yun's spiritual power sent him tumbling down the steps.
• Shen Qiu challenged Shen Yun to fight at the month's disciple test, but Shen Yun ignored him and Shen Qiu left with Shen Kuangtao.
• Mister Fang gave Shen Yun a Black Jade Slip and told him to return after he understood it.

Shen Yun studied the Black Jade Slip, awakened Divine Sense, and used it to refine high-grade talismans with ease. Meanwhile, Shen Qingruo ran away to stay with him after arguing with her parents, who planned to send her to the Main Branch to cultivate.

• After Shen Yun left, Mister Fang said he found him interesting, while Elder Ming wondered what made the young man so extraordinary.
• Shen Yun studied the Black Jade Slip and comprehended fragments of its Five Elements Dao method, awakening Divine Sense and opening a sea of consciousness.
• Shen Yun used his new Divine Sense to refine a High-grade Water Shield Talisman and spent the night making more talismans.
• Shen Qingruo arrived at Shen Yun's home and said she had run away from home, so he offered her an empty room and took her to the Market.
• Shen Qingling confronted Shen An over Qingruo's disappearance, and they agreed to send their daughter to the Main Branch to cultivate that year.

Shen Yun sold a collection of fine talismans, earned spirit stones, and bought gifts for Shen Qingruo before visiting Shen An. He learned that Shen Qingruo’s family planned to send her to cultivate at the Main Branch, and agreed to persuade her to go.

• Shen Yun sold sixty Mid-grade Talismans and forty High-grade Talismans at the Spirit Talisman Tower for two thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, while Zhang Tian tried to take over the transaction.
• The Old Shopkeeper appraised the talismans, and Shen Zhong received the commission for the sale.
• Shen Yun bought Spirit Wine and gifts, then gave Shen Qingruo a protective Peace Buckle.
• Shen Yun visited Shen An and said Shen Qingruo’s mood had improved and that he would bring her back in a couple of days.
• Shen An told Shen Yun that Shen Qingruo had fallen out with Shen Qingling because she did not want to leave Falling Cloud Peak for the Main Branch, and Shen Yun agreed to persuade her.
• After Shen Yun left, Shen An praised his composure and potential to Shen Qingling.

Shen Yun visited Mister Fang at the Scripture Pavilion and received a Jade Token after saying he had understood the lesson in one day. Shen Qingruo left with First Elder Shen Linfeng to cultivate at the Main Branch, while Shen Yun returned to cultivation and was reminded that Cousin Qianluo would arrive next month.

• Shen Yun and Shen Qingruo went to the Scripture Pavilion, where Shen Yun told Mister Fang he had understood the lesson in one day and received a Jade Token.
• Mister Fang declined Shen Linfeng's request to take Shen Qingruo as his disciple, and Shen Linfeng decided to teach her himself.
• Shen Linfeng arrived at Shen Yun's home to take Shen Qingruo to the Main Branch, and Shen Yun encouraged her to follow her own path.
• Shen Qingruo agreed to leave with Shen Linfeng, and Shen Yun watched them depart before Shen Pingsheng comforted him.
• Shen Pingsheng told Shen Yun that Cousin Qianluo would arrive next month, and Shen Yun returned to his room to cultivate.

The Shen Family youths took their cultivation test, and Shen Qiu chose to join the Lightning Vein after impressing everyone with his near-second-layer cultivation. Shen Yun then entered the formation and revealed cultivation close to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, stunning the entire square.

• Shen Kuangtao persuaded Shen Qiu to join the Lightning Vein, and Shen Qiu agreed after the test.
• The Fifth Elder began testing the Shen Family youths with a spirit-testing formation as Shen Kuangtao and others watched.
• Shen Qiu's cultivation registered just below the Qi Refining Second Layer, and he accepted invitations from the Lightning Vein while rejecting Shen Feiyan's offer to join the Wind Vein.
• Shen Qiu said he wanted to see Shen Yun's result, while Shen Kuangtao and Shen Qingshu spoke disparagingly about Shen Yun.
• Shen Yun entered the formation, and his cultivation pillar rose past the second and third layers before stopping just short of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

Shen Yun revealed his rapid cultivation progress, joined the Wind Vein on the condition that it protect Shen Qingruo, and refused an offer to move to the Main Branch. Meanwhile, the Shen Family elders decided that Shen Qingruo had to place in the top five at the next Family Grand Competition to become the First Sequence.

• Shen Yun stepped out of the formation at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, stunning the crowd and humiliating Shen Qiu.
• Shen Feiyan invited Shen Yun to join the Wind Vein, and he agreed after asking her to look after Shen Qingruo.
• Shen Yun thanked Shen An for his offer to recommend him to the Main Branch but chose to remain at Falling Cloud Peak.
• Shen Qingshu returned with Shen Qiu to the Lightning Vein, while an unnoticed wisp of black cloud-smoke entered Shen Qiu's body.
• At a family assembly on Misty Peak, Shen Leiyuan and the elders ruled that Shen Qingruo must place in the top five at the next Family Grand Competition to become the Shen Family's First Sequence.

Shen Yun reunited with Lin Qianluo and accompanied her around the Market, where the Third Prince revealed his affection for her. When they returned to the Shen Family amid heightened security over suspected spies, the Third Prince attacked two guards who tried to inspect Lin Qianluo’s ring, and Shen Li arrived to face him.

• Shen Yun stabilized his cultivation at the peak of the sixth layer and learned to briefly merge fire- and wood-attributed spiritual power.
• Shen Yun met Lin Qianluo in the Market, where she told him their families were considering arranging a marriage between them; the Third Prince followed them and confessed his feelings for her.
• Shen Yun learned that rumors about Shen Changkong’s declining lifespan had stirred other forces to probe the Shen Family, and guards were inspecting people for a thief at Misty Peak.
• Shen Kuangtao and Shen Qingshu stopped Shen Yun’s group for inspection and tried to check Lin Qianluo’s spatial ring.
• The Third Prince struck Shen Kuangtao and Shen Qingshu down when Shen Kuangtao reached for Lin Qianluo’s ring, and Shen Li arrived with the Guard Team surrounding them.

Shen Li resolved the confrontation between Zhou Ziyou and the Shen Family by punishing Shen Kuangtao and sending him to the Gengjin Ore Vein for three years. Meanwhile, Shen Qiu learned from Azure Venerable that he possessed the Nine Nether Spirit Body and began cultivating a path he hoped would let him defeat Shen Yun at the Family Grand Competition.

• Shen Li recognized Zhou Ziyou as Great Zhou's Third Prince, and Shen Yun explained that Shen Kuangtao had attacked him over a personal grievance.
• Shen Li sentenced Shen Kuangtao to three years of mining and docked Shen Qingshu's salary for one year; Lin Qianluo accepted the resolution and asked Zhou Ziyou not to trouble Shen Yun.
• After the confrontation ended, the Shen Family members recognized Shen Yun's formidable connections and resolved not to provoke him.
• At Misty Peak, Shen Qiu spoke with Azure Venerable, who identified Shen Yun as a likely spirit-body wielder and revealed that Shen Qiu possessed the Nine Nether Spirit Body.
• Shen Qiu agreed to incur a karmic debt so Azure Venerable could guide him in cultivating two layers of spiritual energy, then vowed to defeat Shen Yun at the Family Grand Competition.

Shen Yun hosted Lin Qianluo and Zhou Ziyou, then traveled to Tianwei Mountain and accepted Fang Tianyi as his master. Fang Tianyi taught him the Five Elements Outer Law and revealed a path toward the legendary Five Qi Towards Primordial Realm, while Shen Yun carried an unconscious Female Thief down the mountain.

• Lin Qianluo and Zhou Ziyou shared a meal with Shen Yun, and Zhou offered him a place in the Dragon Blood Pool next year.
• Shen Yun gave Lin Qianluo and Zhou Ziyou fifty High-Grade Talismans before they left Falling Cloud Peak for Great Zhou.
• On the way to visit Mister Fang, Shen Yun knocked out a wounded Female Thief who had threatened him with a blade.
• Mister Fang brought Shen Yun to Tianwei Peak, identified him as a Heavenly Insight Person, and asked him to become his disciple.
• Shen Yun accepted Fang Tianyi as his master and received the Five Elements Outer Law, which could help him cultivate all five kinds of Five Elements Mana.
• Fang Tianyi vanished as the Female Thief began to wake, so Shen Yun knocked her unconscious again and carried her down the mountain.

Shen Yun captured Su Yu'er, the daughter of the Su Family Patriarch, and the misunderstanding led to warmer relations between the Su and Shen Families. After advancing to the Eighth Level of Qi Refining, Shen Yun arrived at the Family Grand Competition as it began.

• Shen Yun handed the unconscious Female Thief to Shen Li, who recognized her as Su Yu'er and took her to Misty Peak.
• Su Yu healed Su Yu'er, and the Second Elder apologized for injuring her; Su Yu accepted and agreed to deepen cooperation with the Shen Family.
• Su Yu'er learned Shen Yun had knocked her out and resolved to remember him.
• Over the next half year, Shen Yun cultivated the Five Elements Power and broke through to the Eighth Level of Qi Refining.
• Shen Yun left his home and saw the Shen Family youths gathering for the Family Grand Competition.

The Shen Family Grand Competition began amid great anticipation, with Shen Feng, Shen Li, Shen Hong, Shen Qingkong, Shen Qingruo, and Shen Yun drawing attention. Shen Qiu prepared to prove himself after secretly gaining fused Gold-Fire Spiritual Power, while Shen Yun and Shen Qingruo reunited at the arena; the chapter ended as the competition was announced to begin.

• Crowds discussed the leading contestants, including Shen Feng’s breakthrough to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining and Shen Qingruo’s rise to the Fourth Layer.
• Shen Qiu recalled how Azure Venerable had helped him fuse Gold-Fire Spiritual Power and resolved to overcome his past humiliation.
• Shen Yun arrived at the Martial Arts Arena and reunited with Shen Qingruo, and they exchanged that they were both doing well.
• Shen Leiyuan welcomed the Su Family Patriarch and Su Yu'er, then announced the competition’s rewards.
• Shen Leiyuan declared the Shen Family Grand Competition open.

The Fifth Elder’s excessive Spiritual Pressure nearly eliminated the contestants, leaving Shen Yun and Shen Qingruo unharmed as the first round ended. Shen Yun attracted the attention of Shen Wude, a powerful cultivator hiding his strength, before the eight survivors drew lots for the second round.

• The Fifth Elder began the first round by subjecting the contestants to Spiritual Pressure, while Su Yu and Shen Leiyuan discussed the cultivation levels needed to reach the Golden Core Realm.
• Shen Qiu endured the pressure and grew jealous as Shen Yun and Shen Qingruo chatted together; the Fifth Elder then directed increasingly strong pressure at Shen Yun.
• Shen Yun shielded Shen Qingruo with his Divine Sense, but the Fifth Elder unleashed his full pressure, knocking down nearly every contestant and leaving Shen Yun and Shen Qingruo unharmed.
• Su Yu'er recognized Shen Yun as the person who had knocked her out twice, while the Fifth Elder realized Shen Qingruo could still reach the First Sequence.
• Shen Wude asked Shen Yun to sell him a Foundation Establishment Pill if Shen Yun took first place, and Shen Yun sensed that Wude was concealing powerful cultivation.
• The Fifth Elder announced the second-round matchups after eight contestants remained, with Shen Qiu set to face Shen Hong first.

Shen Qiu defeated Shen Hong despite their two-level cultivation gap, using fused spiritual power and ruthless dirty tactics, but the fight left his left kidney badly damaged. Shen Li then entered the arena to face Shen Yun, whom Shen Wude recognized as an unusually formidable young fighter.

• The spectators mocked Shen Qiu's disheveled appearance, and he left the stage briefly to clean himself up before facing Shen Hong.
• Shen Qiu used the Light Body Technique to evade Shen Hong's sword attacks, then met his Geng Metal Sword Qi with his fused Gold-Fire Spiritual Power.
• Shen Qiu pressed Shen Hong with dirty attacks and reckless blows until Shen Hong surrendered, giving Shen Qiu an unexpected victory.
• The Fourth Elder treated Shen Qiu and warned him that part of his left kidney had necrotized, deepening his resentment toward Shen Hong.
• The Fifth Elder announced Shen Li versus Shen Yun, and Shen Wude realized Shen Yun was hiding exceptional strength as the pair prepared to fight.

Shen Yun overwhelmed Shen Li with superior movement and swordsmanship, revealing mastery of Li Fire Sword Intent and winning the match. As the elders reacted to his hidden talent, Shen Feng faced the notorious market swindler Shen Wude, though Shen Yun doubted Shen Feng could defeat him easily.

• Shen Yun evaded Shen Li's attacks and drove him back with Roaming Cloud Steps and powerful spiritual force.
• Shen Yun matched Shen Li's Li Fire Sword Qi with more refined sword techniques and knocked away his Flying Sword, prompting Shen Li to concede.
• The elders recognized Shen Yun's Li Fire Sword Intent at Major Achievement, and the First Elder received praise for supposedly having spotted his talent years earlier.
• The Fifth Elder announced Shen Feng's match against Shen Wude, whom spectators accused of swindling them at the Market.
• Shen Feng entered the arena as the crowd urged him to teach Shen Wude a lesson, but Shen Yun warned Shen Qingruo that Shen Feng might not be able to handle him.

Shen Qingruo defeated Shen Qingkong in a prolonged spell battle, securing her place among the Shen Family’s First Sequence. Shen Qiu then stepped onto the arena to face Shen Yun, and the long-awaited match began.

• Shen Feng overwhelmed Shen Wude with fire attacks, but Shen Wude remained unharmed and admitted defeat; Shen Yun recognized that Shen Wude possessed a wind spirit root.
• Shen Qingruo asked Shen Qingkong not to hold back, and the two began their final match using water, wood, and earth techniques.
• Shen Qingruo’s spell control and endurance let her gain the advantage, and Shen Qingkong surrendered after exhausting his spiritual power.
• Shen Yun gave Shen Qingruo a Qi Replenishing Pill, while the Fifth Elder urged her off the platform for the next round.
• Shen Qiu stepped onto the arena to face Shen Yun, and the two stood opposite each other as the wind rose between the platforms.