Arc 3Hidden Cultivation and Rising Conflict

Fang Yu advanced through Foundation Establishment, joined Mosquito Immortal City as Lü Bu, and fled after its leaders tried to kill him over formation secrets. He established himself with the Zhuang Household and armed Emperor Wude against Mount Longmen, while Daoist Thousand Insects turned his Golden Core ceremony against the Cloud Spirit Sect.

  • Fang Yu reached Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer, joined Mosquito Immortal City as Lü Bu, and cultivated Red Lotus Karmic Fire.
  • Fang Yu escaped Feng Yi with Moon-Embracing’s sword intent and the Yuanchen Pearl after collecting the true spirits of dead followers.
  • Fang Yu established his Dao Foundation, discovered that Zhang Daochang held Great Peace Village’s spirits in the Human Sovereign Banner, and abandoned a direct confrontation.
  • Fang Yu learned the Lesser Thousand-Needle Nether River Formation while helping Array Master Zong, then killed Jin Guizi when she ambushed him to protect the city’s secrets.
  • Fang Yu sheltered the Zhuang Household as Danyangzi, strengthened its defenses, and defeated Li Xiuyuan’s attempt to test him.
  • Fang Yu reincarnated destined true spirits with Qi Ingestion methods, reached Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer, and completed his third-tier formation.
  • Fang Yu gave Emperor Wude the Ten Thousand Gu Dragon-Devouring Formation and heart fire, and Emperor Wude’s amnesty and tax reductions helped spread the heartfire.
  • Fang Yu warned Zhuang Yun to consolidate the household’s resources, and Daoist Thousand Insects pressured Zhuang Yun into voicing a grievance at his Golden Core ceremony.
Chapters 51–75 Vol. 1 Read

Ch. 51Foundation Establishment

Fang Yu advanced to Foundation Establishment in Cave abode Jia No. 3, using Foundation Establishment Pills and the Yuanchen Pearl’s Primordial Qi to reach the Seventh Layer. He replenished his resources, tested his new Divine Sense, and discovered his lifespan had increased past three hundred years.

  • Fang Yu reinforced the cave abode’s restrictions, then prepared himself and swallowed a Foundation Establishment Pill.
  • Fang Yu passed the Qi and Blood, Law Power, and Divine Sense stages, mastering Divine Sense and entering Foundation Establishment.
  • Fang Yu used more Foundation Establishment Pills and the Yuanchen Pearl’s Primordial Qi to condense seventy-three drops of liquid Law Power, reaching the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer.
  • Fang Yu replenished his Law Power and the Yuanchen Pearl, then learned how Divine Sense differed from his divine thought.
  • Fang Yu sensed that his lifespan had increased by another hundred years, bringing it to more than three hundred years.

Ch. 52Blessing

After three years in seclusion, Fang Yu emerged as a Foundation Establishment cultivator and sought a suitable cultivation method in Mosquito Immortal City. He returned to his courtyard without finding one, where the Liu Household arrived to pay their respects and offer a gift.

  • Fang Yu emerged from cave abode Jia-3, and Deacon Xu congratulated him on reaching Foundation Establishment.
  • Fang Yu encouraged Deacon Xu to attempt a breakthrough, prompting Deacon Xu to resign and enter seclusion.
  • Fang Yu concealed his Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation and used his fortune to guide his search for a cultivation method.
  • Fang Yu visited the Mosquito Immortal Society, rejected its three Fire Spirit Root methods, and bought other supplies.
  • Fang Yu tended his vegetable patch, and the Liu Household arrived to pay their respects to True Person Lü with a generous gift.

Ch. 53Guest Elder

Fang Yu accepted an invitation from Mosquito Immortal City to become a grade-C guest elder, gaining access to a Golden Core-level cultivation method and other benefits. He selected Red Lotus Karmic Fire, whose abundant Law Power could help replenish his Yuanchen Pearl.

  • Fang Yu received gifts and invitations from factions in Mosquito Immortal City and recorded their names in his notebook.
  • Jin Guizi visited Fang Yu on behalf of Qian Chongzi and offered him a grade-C guest elder position with a cave abode, a cultivation method, and an annual stipend.
  • Fang Yu agreed to join Mosquito Immortal City as Lü Bu, accepting the lower grade because his origins could not be verified.
  • Jin Guizi showed Fang Yu several cultivation methods, and he chose Red Lotus Karmic Fire for its Golden Core potential and abundant Law Power.

Ch. 54Lotus

Fang Yu settled into Lotus Cave, cultivated the Red Lotus Karmic Fire for two years, and agreed to join Jin Guizi in mediating a dispute over an ore vein. As he arrived in Mosquito Immortal City for the negotiations, the city activated its formidable mosquito formation and Jin Guizi summoned him to discuss reception arrangements.

  • Jin Guizi gave Fang Yu the token to Lotus Cave, where he settled in and began cultivating the Red Lotus Karmic Fire.
  • After two years, Fang Yu converted all his Law Power into red lotus Law Power and found that increasing its limit would require years of arduous cultivation.
  • Fang Yu received Jin Guizi's invitation to help mediate negotiations over the Autumn Moon Mountain ore vein and agreed after divining minor fortune.
  • Several months later, Fang Yu saw the Thousand-Needle Nether River Formation activate over Mosquito Immortal City and learned that Jin Guizi wanted to discuss reception arrangements.
  • Fang Yu flew to the Harmony of Light Hall to meet Jin Guizi.

Ch. 55Harmony of Light

Fang Yu attended a gathering of Mosquito Immortal City’s guest elders, built connections by revealing his artifact-refining skills, and arranged to discuss a second-tier array for his cave abode. After three days of trading and conversation, Jin Guizi summoned the cultivators to welcome the delegations from the three kingdoms.

  • Fang Yu met Chen Cheng, who introduced him to the other guest elders gathered at Harmony of Light Hall.
  • Fang Yu offered to refine a cultivator’s first-tier superior-grade hide into inner armor and learned how the Spirit Cloud Sect had been driven into peace talks over the Autumn Moon Mountain spirit mine.
  • Fang Yu asked Array Master Zong to set up a second-tier array in his cave abode, and Array Master Zong agreed to discuss the details after the talks.
  • Fang Yu traded a Flowing Flame True Fire Sword at the gathering, drawing more cultivators who wanted him to forge Spirit Artifacts.
  • After three days, Jin Guizi arrived and led the cultivators to welcome the delegations from the three kingdoms.

Ch. 56The Delegation

Fang Yu attended Mosquito Immortal City’s reception for the three nations’ delegations and calculated that the city would gain great fortune from the peace talks. After the banquet, Fairy Miaoyin mistook him for an old friend and asked him to refine a Spirit Artifact.

  • Fang Yu calculated that Mosquito Immortal City would reap great fortune from the peace talks, possibly by gaining a share of the middle-grade Spirit Stone mine.
  • Qian Chongzi welcomed Qin Shaoyang and the Cloud Spirit Sect delegation, which included Liu Sanjie, now known as Fairy Miaoyin.
  • Fang Yu and the guest elders later welcomed the Black Sand Sect and Heavenly Strategy Manor delegations before attending a banquet at the Harmony of Light Hall.
  • The leaders of the three delegations went with Qian Chongzi to negotiate, while Fang Yu left the tense banquet after eating the spiritual fruits.
  • Miaoyin stopped Fang Yu outside the hall, said he resembled an old friend, and asked him, as Fellow Daoist Lü, to refine a Spirit Artifact.

Ch. 57Martial Virtue

Fang Yu finished commissioned Law Artifacts, heard updates on the peace talks, and arranged for Array Master Zong to build a second-tier array. While collecting the Fire of Ten Thousand Households, he learned that Embroidered Tiger had become emperor and continued his journey without divining the new ruler’s fate.

  • Fang Yu refused Fairy Miaoyin’s request to craft a Spirit Artifact at the Cloud Spirit Sect, then learned Qian Chongzi had nearly killed her after she tried to recruit cultivators from Mosquito Immortal City.
  • Fang Yu delivered his commissioned Law Artifacts to Chen Cheng and other Foundation Establishment cultivators, who praised his work and paid their fees.
  • The cultivators told Fang Yu that peace talks remained unresolved and that the Black Sand Sect and Heavenly Strategy Manor had sent Rogue Cultivators to seize Cloud Spirit Sect lands.
  • Chen Cheng told Fang Yu that Array Master Zong could build his second-tier array for a thirty-percent higher fee, requiring Fang Yu to vacate his cave abode for half a year, and Fang Yu agreed.
  • Fang Yu traveled through Anping Prefecture to collect the Fire of Ten Thousand Households and heard that Embroidered Tiger had ascended the throne as emperor.
  • Fang Yu chose not to divine Embroidered Tiger’s fate and continued visiting the prefecture’s commanderies and counties to gather the fire.

Ch. 58Feng Yi

After collecting seventeen flames of the Fire of Ten Thousand Households, Fang Yu gathered the true spirits of his dead followers to send them to the Dao of Qi Refining. True Person Feng Yi confronted him over his practices, but Moon-Embracing’s sword intent intervened and carried Fang Yu away, leaving Feng Yi to plot against Safe Village and Mount Longhu.

  • Fang Yu collected the true spirits of more than a hundred thousand followers who had died across Anping Prefecture, intending to send them to the Dao of Qi Refining.
  • True Person Feng Yi emerged from the void, questioned Fang Yu about his sect, and accused him of challenging Mount Longmen by practicing True Spirit Deliverance in its territory.
  • Feng Yi compelled Fang Yu to raise the Flowing Flame True Fire Sword to his own neck, but Moon-Embracing’s sword intent appeared as a bright moon and stopped him.
  • Feng Yi blocked Moon-Embracing’s sword intent with a great river, and the clash transformed the surrounding land into a vast marsh as Fang Yu vanished.
  • Feng Yi failed to divine Fang Yu’s whereabouts and suspected Mount Longhu was pursuing the Phoenix Grotto-Heaven; he decided to sacrifice Safe Village to advance the Dragon-Tiger Great Elixir’s refinement and lure Mount Longhu’s disciples.

Ch. 59Nirvana

Fang Yu escaped Feng Yi’s pursuit and traveled to Great Scarlet Heaven, while Moon-Embracing True Person retaliated by sending Tie Feng toward Jingzhou. At Mount Longhu, Zhang Daochang learned that Fang Yu was tied to his trial for attaining the Purple Mansion and set out with three thousand heavenly soldiers, wary of the dossier’s uncertain claims.

  • Fang Yu used a blood escape technique and the Yuanchen Pearl to flee Feng Yi, then traveled to Great Scarlet Heaven when Moon-Embracing True Person began divining his location.
  • Moon-Embracing True Person learned that Feng Yi had targeted Fang Yu, then sent Tie Feng to Jingzhou to pursue a chance at Dragon-Tiger Intent and the Purple Mansion.
  • Zhang Daochang visited Mount Longhu’s Ancestral Masters Hall, where a Heavenly Master identified Fang Yu as part of Zhang Daochang’s destined tribulation and granted him a talisman to command three thousand heavenly soldiers.
  • Zhang Daochang read a dossier linking Fang Yu to Great Peace Village, the Precious Scroll of Essential Techniques for Delivering the World into Peace through Myriad Tribulations, and a suspected Phoenix Nirvana scheme.
  • Zhang Daochang decided to study Fang Yu’s teachings and Great Peace Village before acting, recognizing that Fang Yu’s fate was too mysterious to trust divination or the dossier without verification.

Ch. 60Environment

Fang Yu absorbed the Fire of Ten Thousand Households and advanced his Qi Ingestion cultivation to the seventh layer, but he could not break through to the Dao Foundation Realm in Great Scarlet Heaven. He concluded that he needed to return to the Black-Yellow Realm, then received news that Mosquito Immortal City had secured mining rights and a ten-percent share of the Spirit Stone mine at Autumn Moon Market.

  • Fang Yu returned to his courtyard after escaping True Person Fengyi and reasoned that she had sought him because of the true spirits he collected, not the Fire of Ten Thousand Households.
  • Fang Yu decided he could return to the Dao of Qi Ingestion after waiting three to five years and absorbing the Dao Attainment from the flames he had gathered.
  • Months later, Fang Yu received a Cloud Net Concealment Array from Chen Cheng and agreed to consider a commission to make a Spirit Artifact.
  • Two years later, Fang Yu finished refining all seventeen flames, reached the Qi Ingestion Seventh Layer's great completion, and found he could not advance to the Dao Foundation Realm in Great Scarlet Heaven.
  • Fang Yu received an urgent message saying that the three nations had settled their shares of the mid-grade Spirit Stone mine at Autumn Moon Market and that Mosquito Immortal City had gained mining rights and a ten-percent share.

Ch. 61The Imperial Decree

Fang Yu declined to join Jin Guizi's expedition to the Autumn Moon Mountain Spirit Stone mine, choosing the safety of Mosquito Immortal City and his plans in the Dao of Qi Ingestion. After entering that world, he discovered that an imperial decree ordered the extermination of Great Peace Village, and the followers' fortune was rapidly fading.

  • Fang Yu learned from Chen Cheng that Jin Guizi would lead the mining expedition and refused to volunteer despite Chen Cheng's offer to secure him a place.
  • Jin Guizi announced that five Foundation Establishment Early Stage guest elders would accompany her to Autumn Moon Mountain, but Fang Yu suppressed his temptation to go.
  • Fang Yu activated the Gathering Clouds Concealment Formation at Lotus Cave and used the Yuanchen Pearl to travel to the Dao of Qi Ingestion.
  • Fang Yu sensed that the fortune tied to Great Peace Village was nearly extinguished and saw an imperial decree ordering officials to destroy the cult and punish anyone who sheltered it.

Ch. 62The Orthodox Path

Fang Yu advanced his Phoenix Sets the Plains Ablaze Dao Foundation by consuming the Fire of Ten Thousand Households, then chose the Taiyi Profound Gate Orthodox Path and set out to protect the true spirits of Great Peace Village’s followers. In Anjing, he discovered that an imperial preceptor was suppressing the followers’ spirits and searching for him, so he headed toward the Immortal Cultivation Ward.

  • Fang Yu sensed that Emperor Wude had destroyed Great Peace Village and accepted that he could not save its followers.
  • Fang Yu cultivated in a mountain cave, where the lives represented by countless sparks nourished and stabilized his Dao Foundation.
  • Fang Yu chose the Taiyi Profound Gate Orthodox Path and sensed that the followers’ true spirits had gathered in Anjing.
  • Fang Yu reasoned that a cultivator from Mount Longhu was trying to consume the spirits and rode to Anjing to stop them.
  • Fang Yu read an official notice stating that the imperial preceptor had built the Jade Capital Tower and raised the Human Sovereign Banner to suppress the followers’ spirits.
  • Fang Yu suspected that the imperial preceptor had come from Mount Longhu and went with the crowd toward the Immortal Cultivation Ward.

Ch. 63Human Sovereign

Fang Yu tested Zhang Daochang by stirring the true spirits bound in the Human Sovereign Banner, but Zhang suppressed them with heavenly soldiers. Fang Yu left Anjing City and decided he would need to plan carefully before trying to reclaim the spirits.

  • Fang Yu learned at a tea stall that Zhang Daochang had built the Jade Capital Tower and deduced that he belonged to Mount Longhu’s Celestial Master lineage.
  • Fang Yu used the Yuanchen Pearl to stir the true spirits of Great Peace Village into revolt within the Human Sovereign Banner.
  • Zhang Daochang followed the spirits to a deserted mountain, welcomed the chance to confront his unseen enemy, and failed to divine Fang Yu’s location.
  • Zhang Daochang summoned heavenly soldiers from the Human Sovereign Banner, and they suppressed and devoured the rebellious spirits.
  • Fang Yu left the tea stall and concluded that Zhang Daochang’s forces were too strong for him to challenge directly, so he would have to plan how to reclaim the spirits.

Ch. 64Talent

Fang Yu completed a portable Cloud Net Concealment Array, accepted a mission to help Array Master Zong build a grand third-tier array, and finished sending ordinary true spirits to be reincarnated in Great Scarlet Heaven. He left for Autumn Moon Mountain, while planning to use the nine remaining destined spirits for cultivation and future schemes.

  • Fang Yu completed his portable Cloud Net Concealment Array after adding his own alterations and Dao of Qi Ingestion power.
  • Fang Yu learned that Mosquito Immortal City had received its share of the Autumn Moon Mountain Spirit Stone mine and that Jin Guizi was recruiting miners.
  • Fang Yu accepted a mission to help Array Master Zong establish a grand third-tier array at Autumn Moon Mountain Market, hoping to study its array patterns.
  • Fang Yu traveled through Nine Fragrances Town and Chu Kingdom, reincarnating the ordinary true spirits from Great Peace Village into pregnant women.
  • Fang Yu kept the nine destined true spirits for future cultivation and plans, then headed toward Autumn Moon Mountain to meet Array Master Zong.

Ch. 65The Core

Fang Yu helped Array Master Zong improve and build the foundations for the Lesser Thousand-Needle Nether River Formation, gaining array knowledge and cultivation time in return. More than two years later, Array Master Zong asked Fang Yu to forge the central array foundation after swearing a heart demon oath, and Fang Yu agreed.

  • Fang Yu arrived at Autumn Moon Mountain Market and showed Array Master Zong flaws in the array foundation design, proposing changes that could save materials and increase the formation's power.
  • Fang Yu forged a revised insect-nest array foundation, and Array Master Zong tested it with the city lord's Red-Beaked Mosquito Demons and praised its improved capacity and strength.
  • Array Master Zong promised Fang Yu three contributions for his help, while Fang Yu planned to use the man's trust to learn more about third-tier grand formations.
  • Fang Yu forged array foundations and asked Array Master Zong about array patterns as the formation was built; he also cultivated and improved his Spirit Root to Fire Element Mid-Grade.
  • More than two years later, Array Master Zong asked Fang Yu to forge a redesigned central array foundation, requiring him to swear not to reveal its array patterns; Fang Yu agreed.

Ch. 66Last Words

After completing the formation at Autumn Moon Mountain, Fang Yu investigated reincarnated true spirits in the Great Scarlet Heaven and discovered he could not gather the Fire of Ten Thousand Households there. He returned toward Mosquito Immortal City, where Jin Guizi confronted him with a swarm of demons, revealing that his predicted great fortune had another meaning.

  • Jin Guizi praised Array Master Zong for completing the Lesser Thousand-Needle Nether River Formation, while Zong credited Fang Yu’s help and promised him assignment credit.
  • Fang Yu studied the formation’s patterns and considered replicating it, then calculated that leaving Autumn Moon Mountain would bring great fortune.
  • Fang Yu checked the reincarnated true spirits and found them all to be ordinary mortals without Spirit Roots, but his attempt to kindle the Fire of Ten Thousand Households failed.
  • Fang Yu concluded that he could not cultivate Qi Ingestion Cultivation Methods in the Great Scarlet Heaven and returned toward Mosquito Immortal City.
  • Jin Guizi intercepted Fang Yu outside the city and released countless seven-spotted ladybug demons to surround him.

Ch. 67Controlling Gu

Fang Yu killed Jin Guizi after she tried to silence him for knowing secrets of Mosquito Immortal City’s formation, then escaped with her belongings. At his cave abode, he found a rare Gu-control cultivation method and discovered that the Yuanchen Pearl could remove the imprints on Jin Guizi’s Gu insects; he planned to practice the method and seek a second-tier spiritual land.

  • Jin Guizi explained that she had been ordered to kill Fang Yu because his unknown origins and knowledge of the Lesser Thousand-Needle Nether River Formation threatened Mosquito Immortal City’s secrets.
  • Fang Yu revealed his Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation, and Jin Guizi attacked him with her spirit insects while summoning Qian Chongzi for help.
  • Fang Yu used his Red Lotus Karmic Fire to destroy Jin Guizi’s insects, killed her with the Flowing Flame True Fire Sword, and fled with her corpse.
  • Qian Chongzi arrived, found Jin Guizi dead, and concluded that Fang Yu was a major threat because he knew the spirit patterns of the Autumn Moon Mountain Market formation.
  • Fang Yu searched Jin Guizi’s Storage Bag and found over ten thousand middle-grade Spirit Stones, several treasures, and the Thousand-Thread Gu Control Method, which could increase Divine Sense.
  • Fang Yu used the Yuanchen Pearl to purify the imprints on a Gu insect and planned to learn the method, build the Lesser Thousand-Needle Nether River Formation, and find a second-tier spiritual land.

Ch. 68Danyang

Fang Yu rescued the Zhuang Household from bandit cultivators and took up residence at their ancestral grounds, posing as Danyangzi, an old friend of their late ancestor. He planned to use the valley for quiet cultivation while keeping the Household in place to avoid dealing with the Cloud Spirit Sect.

  • Bandit cultivators breached the Zhuang Household’s formation, and Zhuang Yun prepared to hold them off so the surviving descendants could escape.
  • Fang Yu arrived as Danyangzi and burned the bandit cultivators to ash, allowing some early-stage cultivators to flee and spread word of his strength.
  • Zhuang Yun suspected Fang Yu wanted the ancestral grounds, but Fang Yu claimed the late Zhuang ancestor had once saved his life and offered to protect the Household.
  • Zhuang Yun begged Fang Yu to stay, and Fang Yu agreed to remain until another Foundation Establishment cultivator could secure the Household’s foundation.
  • Fang Yu settled in Cold Mountain Valley and privately resolved to use the Zhuang Household as cover so he could avoid obligations to the Cloud Spirit Sect.

Ch. 69Bounty

Fang Yu strengthened the Zhuang Household’s defenses and funded its recovery while warning off the Li Household’s attempt to test him. After defeating Li Xiuyuan without killing him, Fang Yu hoped the display would secure him time to cultivate and pursue the Dao of Qi Ingestion.

  • Fang Yu repaired and upgraded the Zhuang Household’s Five Directions Raging Fire Array, then gave Zhuang Yun its secondary control and a thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones to restore the household’s businesses and buy spiritual materials.
  • Fang Yu refused the Li Household’s invitation to Green Bamboo Mountain and told Zhuang Yun that anyone with business could visit Old Cold Mountain, while warning that challengers would not return.
  • Fang Yu built a separate second-tier Cloud Net Concealment Array at Cold Mountain Valley and linked it to the mountain’s earth veins, while avoiding its use because it could reveal his identity as Lü Bu.
  • Li Xiuyuan arrived to test Fang Yu, but Fang Yu’s apparent Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation frightened him, and Fang Yu’s fireballs cracked Li Xiuyuan’s life-bound Spirit Artifact.
  • Fang Yu let Li Xiuyuan flee after teaching him a lesson, expecting the Li Household and other clans to think twice before challenging the Zhuang Household.

Ch. 70Mustering the Troops

Fang Yu arranged for Zhao Heming, a reincarnated true spirit, to cultivate the Azure Splendor Deliverance method and began sending other true spirits to reincarnate. He planned to use them as pawns in the dangerous Dao of Qi Ingestion while concealing his involvement.

  • An infant who remembered dying in his previous life was born to Squire Zhao and named Zhao Heming, and his past-life memories became distinct from his new identity.
  • At his first-birthday selection, Zhao Heming chose a book, hoping to study and eventually overthrow Emperor Wude.
  • The book revealed a primer that taught Zhao Heming to read, then showed him the Azure Yang Troop-Mustering Register and its Azure Splendor Deliverance cultivation method.
  • Zhao Heming gathered solar essence under the morning sun as Fang Yu watched and confirmed that the Hairy Head Sun destiny suited the method.
  • Fang Yu used the Yuanchen Pearl and Phoenix Sets the Plains Ablaze to maintain a concealed connection to Zhao Heming, then sought families for more true spirits to reincarnate.
  • Fang Yu sent true spirits into new lives, where they obtained unaltered Qi Ingestion methods, and resolved to recover any who died if he could.

Ch. 71True Dragon

Two years later, Fang Yu left to resume Qi Refining but intervened in a battle after recognizing Tie Feng, the disciple who had once tried to sacrifice him. He discovered that Tie Feng was with Qiu Xuanlong, a Mount Longmen core disciple pursuing a Water Virtue path, and withdrew as the fortress burned.

  • Fang Yu saw elite soldiers preparing to attack a fortress and continued on, reflecting on the private conflicts spreading after Emperor Wude unified the realm.
  • Fang Yu recognized Tie Feng among the fighters and used Phoenix Sets the Plains Ablaze to empower the outnumbered soldiers and turn the battle against the fortress defenders.
  • Qiu Xuanlong appeared and attacked the flame soldiers with his black dragon sword, prompting Fang Yu to divine his identity and flee rather than risk confronting him.
  • Tie Feng and Qiu Xuanlong killed the flame soldiers, but Tie Feng's rain talisman intensified the Fire of Ten Thousand Households and left the fortress ablaze.
  • Qiu Xuanlong identified the fire as a Phoenix Mountain technique and said the hidden cultivator likely supported the Embroidered Tiger; he welcomed the strengthening opposition as a step toward his own rise to the Purple Mansion realm.

Ch. 72Fool

Fang Yu advanced his cultivation and prepared a disposable formation to ambush Tie Feng, while discovering that one of the reincarnated true spirits had died after foolishly revealing himself. He concealed his fortune and headed for Anjing, ready to put his plan into motion.

  • Fang Yu considered the coming conflict and prepared to breed more Gu insects for a formation that could kill Tie Feng.
  • Zhuang Ling delivered collected spiritual materials to Fang Yu, who rewarded her and accepted her offer to attend to him.
  • Three years later, Fang Yu reached the Eighth Layer of Foundation Establishment and discovered that Wang Jing had died after claiming to be the General of Great Peace at age four.
  • Fang Yu reflected on choosing suitable reincarnation starting points and inspected the completed third-tier Lesser Thousand-Needle Nether River Formation.
  • Fang Yu gathered native Gu insects into the formation, concealed his cultivation and fate with the Yuanchen Pearl, and flew toward Anjing.

Ch. 73The Great Medicine

Fang Yu met Emperor Wude in secret and offered him a formation and heart fire to help him resist the Dragon-Tiger Great Elixir scheme. Emperor Wude accepted the gifts and decided to hold a grand court assembly and grant an amnesty throughout the realm.

  • Emperor Wude questioned Fang Yu about the mountain’s decree, but Fang Yu explained that he had come to offer him a chance to escape his fate as medicine for a true dragon.
  • Fang Yu gave Emperor Wude the Ten Thousand Gu Dragon-Devouring Formation and heart fire, urging him to oppose Mount Longmen and rally the people’s strength.
  • Emperor Wude resisted Fang Yu’s attempt to influence him, then agreed to give him the Dragon-Tiger Great Elixir ritual and accepted Fang Yu’s offer of future help.
  • Emperor Wude recalled how Mount Longmen’s decrees had weakened the realm and how Zhang Daochang had told him his hope lay with Great Peace Village.
  • After the eunuch returned with the buns, Emperor Wude ordered a grand court assembly in three days and announced an amnesty throughout the realm.

Ch. 74Eight Desolations

Fang Yu studied the Eight Desolations Spirit-Illuminating Scripture and watched Embroidered Tiger’s reforms spread his heartfire among the people of An Kingdom. After learning that Qian Chongzi had reached the Golden Core realm, Fang Yu warned the Zhuang Household to withdraw its assets and disciples before a predicted war began.

  • Fang Yu examined the Eight Desolations Spirit-Illuminating Scripture, judged its cultivation flaws and requirements, and set it aside as a possible reference for the future.
  • Embroidered Tiger granted an amnesty, cleared Safe Village’s name, and reduced taxes, helping Fang Yu’s heartfire spread to more than ten million people.
  • After more than two years, Zhuang Yun delivered an invitation to Qian Chongzi’s Golden Core ceremony and asked whether Zhuang Xian could attend in his place.
  • Fang Yu ordered Zhuang Yun to sell the Zhuang Household’s properties, bring its resources home, and summon its scattered disciples, predicting Mosquito Immortal City would soon attack the Cloud Spirit Sect.

Ch. 75The Grand Ceremony

Zhuang Yun sold the Zhuang Household’s remaining shop in Mosquito Immortal City, sent its spiritual materials back to Old Cold Mountain, and attended Daoist Thousand Insects’ Golden Core ceremony. The banquet turned into a public confrontation with the Cloud Spirit Sect as Daoist Thousand Insects pressured the Chu Kingdom’s Lineages to accuse it of oppression, and Zhuang Yun joined them to protect his household.

  • Zhuang Yun ordered the shopkeeper to sell the Zhuang Household’s centrally located shop, then used the proceeds to buy spiritual materials and sent them to Zhuang Xian with instructions to succeed him if he did not return.
  • Zhuang Yun presented the Zhuang Clan’s gift at Daoist Thousand Insects’ Golden Core ceremony and took his seat among the Chu Kingdom’s Lineages.
  • Daoist Thousand Insects arrived at dusk, and the ceremony continued with a banquet, performances, and Spirit Cuisine.
  • Old Man Luo interrupted the banquet and accused the Cloud Spirit Sect of seizing his spiritual fields and driving him out.
  • Daoist Thousand Insects used his Golden Core pressure to confront the Cloud Spirit Sect envoy and invite the Chu Kingdom’s Lineages to report their grievances.
  • Zhuang Yun, unable to withstand the pressure and fearing for his life, cried out for Daoist Thousand Insects to stand up for the Zhuang Household.
Arc 3 of 10
Arc 3 of 10