Chapter Summaries

Zhou Ning settled into the Su Household's outpost at Little Willow Marsh and tried to secure ingredients and income without drawing the Chen Household's attention. Wang Guanhe and Chen Long suspected he was investigating the ceramic crystal sand hidden beneath the lake, and they ended the chapter watching his movements closely.

• Zhou Ning claimed the outpost's main house and set up defensive and concealing formations while Chen Long and Wang Guanhe investigated his past.
• Wang Guanhe and Chen Long learned that Zhou Ning had escaped Daoist Mu and debated killing him to protect their secret: ceramic crystal sand beneath the lake.
• Zhou Ning asked Wang Guanhe and Chen Long to buy medicinal ingredients for him, while privately treating the arrangement as a way to learn about the area safely.
• Wang Guanhe agreed to help but suspected Zhou Ning was using the errand to investigate the marsh, so he stayed behind to watch him.
• Chen Long returned with a large quantity of herbs, and Zhou Ning began refining pills without suspecting they had been poisoned.
• Wang Guanhe told Chen Long that Zhou Ning had wandered near the island's shore, and Chen Long vowed to keep him under strict watch.

After a year of refining and selling pills, Zhou Ning left Little Willow Marsh for Fortune Star Market to seek Jade Marrow Ganoderma and other opportunities. Chen Long and Wang Guanhe took his departure as a chance to resume their secret digging.

• Chen Long and Wang Guanhe realized Zhou Ning had earned a large profit from selling pills, then decided to resume digging for Ceramic Crystal Sand.
• Zhou Ning assessed his cultivation and preparations for Foundation Establishment, then set out to find Jade Marrow Ganoderma and make connections.
• Chen Long and Wang Guanhe celebrated Zhou Ning’s departure and prepared to sift for their hidden treasure.
• Zhou Ning disguised himself, entered Fortune Star Market, and noticed Zhao Ruoxue flying from the Sun Household residences.
• Zhou Ning went to Hundred Herbs Hall and considered supporting the Bai Household because it was at war with the Su Household.

Zhou Ning attended Qilin Pavilion to trade pills and seek a Foundation Establishment Pill or information about its ingredients. After Black Widow gave him a rare Pill Formula, he recognized a way to refine it and arranged to meet her privately.

• Zhou Ning bought ginseng and other medicinal ingredients from Shopkeeper Bai, who told him about Qilin Pavilion.
• Zhou Ning entered Qilin Pavilion in disguise and found Zhao Ruoxue hosting the gathering and selling rare items.
• Zhou Ning observed Multitalented Man sell his wares, then sold five bottles of Azure Essence Pills and asked for Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients.
• Black Widow asked Zhou Ning about his alchemy skill, and he displayed a Spirit Condensation Pill before she gave him the Thunder-Suppressing Meridian-Fortifying Pill formula.
• Zhou Ning recognized that his frugal alchemy methods could let him refine the rare pill, then sent Black Widow a message asking where they should meet that night.

Zhou Ning traded for a Snow Cherry sapling and negotiated with Black Husband to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill in exchange for Jade Marrow Ganoderma. After returning to Little Willow Marsh, he planted the sapling in Chen Earth, where it began to recover, just as someone approached.

• Zhou Ning traded three bottles of Azure Essence Pills for a Snow Cherry sapling at Fortune Star Market.
• Zhou Ning showed Black Husband his pill-making ability, inspected her high-quality talismans, and agreed to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill for Jade Marrow Ganoderma, with practice ingredients to come in a year.
• Zhou Ning evaded a staged roadside entrapment, then returned to Little Willow Marsh and found Wang Guanhe and Chen Long pretending to swim while secretly panning for ceramic crystal sand.
• Zhou Ning replanted the Snow Cherry sapling in Chen Earth, and it began recovering before he sensed someone approaching his courtyard.

Lin Qing visited Zhou Ning at Little Willow Marsh and learned that he appeared to be doing well, but he lied to Su Wen that Zhou was miserable. Su Junsong decided to pressure Zhou by demanding repayment of his Spirit Stone loan.

• Lin Qing and Pharmacist Lan arrived at Little Willow Marsh, where Lin paid respects to Yingying and spoke with Zhou Ning about Jia Tingwan, Xu Qinghou, and Old Jia.
• Zhou Ning claimed he regretted living at Little Willow Marsh, and Lin warned that every choice came with regrets before departing.
• Pharmacist Lan observed that Zhou Ning’s calm appearance and smooth Qi circulation suggested he was doing well.
• After returning to Luyou Island, Lin told Su Wen that Zhou Ning was dispirited and suffering, hoping to keep the Su Household from learning he was well.
• Su Wen reported Lin’s account to Su Junsong, who ordered her to take Zhou’s loan contract to Uncle Su Ru and demand repayment of the thirty-six Spirit Stones.

Zhou Ning repaid his debt to the Su Household, continued advancing his cultivation, and received a letter from Gu Xiangning as he prepared for Foundation Establishment. Meanwhile, Wang Guanhe and Chen Long tried to sell their hidden Ceramic Crystal Sand, but Daoist Mu attacked Wang as he returned to the island.

• Su Ru demanded repayment of Zhou Ning’s debt, and Zhou Ning gathered thirty-six Spirit Stones with loans from Wang Guanhe and Chen Long to repay it.
• Half a year later, Zhou Ning had reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer and read Gu Xiangning’s letter about her plans for Foundation Establishment.
• Zhou Ning decided he could not wait for Gu Xiangning and studied alchemy so he could prepare a pill for Black Husband.
• Wang Guanhe and Chen Long decided to sell their accumulated Ceramic Crystal Sand, and Wang Guanhe went to the Qilin Pavilion while Chen Long stayed behind.
• Daoist Mu appeared behind Wang Guanhe as he returned and sent a small black sword through his shoulder.

Zhou Ning killed Daoist Mu with a powerful golden talisman after Mu attacked Wang Guanhe and Chen Long, but Wang and Chen both died from their wounds. Zhou Ning covered up the deaths, left Little Willow Marsh, and began sorting through Chen Long’s possessions, including the Ceramic Crystal Sand, before turning to Daoist Mu’s Storage Bag.

• Daoist Mu ambushed Wang Guanhe and Chen Long, poisoning Wang and cutting Chen in two after overcoming their defenses.
• Daoist Mu prepared to break into Zhou Ning’s courtyard, but Zhou Ning emerged and killed him with a golden talisman fragment that split through his defenses.
• Wang Guanhe told Zhou Ning about the Ceramic Crystal Sand and asked him to deliver his Storage Bag to a descendant in the Chen Household, then died before finishing a message to the Chen Household Ancestor.
• Zhou Ning burned Daoist Mu’s corpse, removed evidence linking himself to the deaths, and staged the scene to look like Daoist Mu’s surprise attack.
• Zhou Ning left Little Willow Marsh, changed his appearance, bought medicinal ingredients in Fortune Star Market, and rented a concealed courtyard.
• Zhou Ning inspected Chen Long’s possessions, found the Ceramic Crystal Sand, and then reached for Daoist Mu’s Storage Bag to see what it contained.

Zhou Ning searched Daoist Mu’s belongings and found rare ingredients that could help him refine Foundation Establishment Pills, along with powerful talismans and a letter revealing why Daoist Mu had targeted him. After returning to Little Willow Marsh, Zhou Ning secured the area and sent urgent letters to the Su and Chen Households.

• Zhou Ning counted Daoist Mu’s Spirit Stones and examined his talismans, Law Artifacts, pills, herbs, and cultivation inheritance.
• Zhou Ning discovered Jade Marrow Ganoderma and a second-tier fire-attribute Demon Beast core, giving him a chance to refine two batches of Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Zhou Ning read Daoist Mu’s letter and learned that Han Ziyue had mistaken him for an Alchemist while trying to frame the Lei Household; Zhou Ning vowed revenge on Han Ziyue.
• Zhou Ning identified the Myriad Streams Escape Talisman and High Antiquity Invisibility Talisman, then returned to Little Willow Marsh and considered exploring Daoist Mu’s secret realm once he was strong enough.
• Zhou Ning checked the snowy island for overlooked traces, complained that Daoist Mu had attacked Little Willow Marsh, and sent urgent letters to the Su and Chen Households.

Zhou Ning traded Great Moon Sand to True Person Lu for a concealment formation and tools for transplanting a spirit object. He then asked True Person Lu for an identity token and help approaching the He Household.

• Su Ru questioned Zhou Ning about Daoist Mu's attack, reprimanded him for abandoning his post, and withheld his stipend for three years while Chen Kexing mocked him.
• Six months later, Zhou Ning passed Black Husband's pill-refining test and arranged to refine pills again in two years in exchange for a Jade Marrow Ganoderma.
• After the Realm-Breaking Jade charged, Zhou Ning crossed to the Land of Wei and encountered True Person Lu, who was angry that the Withered Wood Earth Marrow Heart was gone.
• Zhou Ning gave True Person Lu Thousand-year Earth Spirit Milk and Great Moon Sand, receiving a concealment formation disc and three items for moving and storing a spirit object.
• Zhou Ning asked True Person Lu for an identity token and assistance in going to the He Household to request something.

Zhou Ning reached the He Household, collected an incomplete pill-refining inheritance, and hired Shen Huaizhen to make a metal-and-fire Dharma robe from the Ni Marsh Python skin. As Shen Huaizhen worked, Zhou Ning practiced Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, but distant fighting interrupted him.

• True Person Lu gave Zhou Ning the Xinsi Golden Scripture’s Foundation Establishment experience, then secretly considered stealing his treasures before True Person Huajing stopped him on the way to Gazing Immortal Port.
• Ji Wumian awoke as a newborn in the mortal district, but his consciousness began to fade before he could carry out his ambitions.
• The He Household’s ancestor recognized the Xinsi Golden Scripture and sent He Haiming to meet Zhou Ning, who exchanged his cultivation experience for an incomplete pill-refining inheritance.
• Zhou Ning met Shen Huaizhen, praised his work, and paid him to refine the python skin into a metal-and-fire Dharma robe.
• While Shen Huaizhen worked inside an illusory cloth bag, Zhou Ning practiced Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils by removing an eye, then heard fighting nearby.

Zhou Ning obtained the Profound Fire Dharma Robe before Ziwan killed him, forcing him to escape into the Realm-Breaking Jade's space. After three years of seclusion, he refined three Foundation Establishment Pills and prepared to leave for Cuiwei Lake to establish his Immortal Foundation.

• Shen Huaizhen completed Zhou Ning's Profound Fire Dharma Robe while fighting two artifact refiners from Hundred Creations Mountain for ten days.
• Ziwan attacked Zhou Ning, but he escaped into the Realm-Breaking Jade's space as she mistakenly believed she had killed him; Shen Huaizhen demanded seven Spirit Stones from her for Zhou Ning's unpaid balance.
• The Wu Household's ancestor realized his scheme had caused Ziwan to attack Zhou Ning, while the Purple Mansion cultivators mocked him for provoking a powerful lineage.
• Zhou Ning spent three years in seclusion and prepared to refine Foundation Establishment Pills after Black Husband's pill-making plans were delayed.
• Zhou Ning refined three Foundation Establishment Pills and decided to set out for Cuiwei Lake the next day to establish his Immortal Foundation.

After six years away, Zhou Ning forged the [Que Flowing Fire] Immortal Foundation, took the Spring of the Spirit Eye, and learned where his friends and enemies were. He began striking back at those who had hunted and humiliated him, leaving Chen Kexing kneeling in the marsh after a crushing defeat.

• Zhou Ning left Little Willow Marsh, evaded the cultivators waiting to ambush him, and returned to Cuiwei Lake after years of seclusion.
• Zhou Ning swallowed a Foundation Establishment Pill, forged the [Que Flowing Fire] Immortal Foundation, and used the Mountain-Moving Talisman to move the Spring of the Spirit Eye into the Jade Space.
• Zhou Ning questioned Su Changhe, learned that Jia Tingwan and Old Jia were in the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range and that Scholar Xu had defected, then set out to find his friends and confront the Su Household.
• Zhou Ning returned to Little Willow Marsh, killed Chen Hao and Chen Le after they attacked him with a killing formation, and waited for the Chen Household to respond.
• Chen Kexing arrived on a Gale Eagle, but Zhou Ning cut the eagle's wing, struck Chen Kexing into the marsh, and forced him to kneel and surrender his Storage Bag.

Zhou Ning defeated Chen Kexing at Little Willow Marsh and left him alive, while Chen Old Ninth planned to use the marsh to fuel a conflict between Zhou Ning and the Su Household. At Fortune Star Market, Zhou Ning found Jia Tingwan being mistreated by Alchemist Tang and intervened.

• Zhou Ning wounded Chen Kexing, took his Storage Bag, and spared his life rather than risk making the Chen Household a second enemy.
• Chen Old Ninth refused to avenge Chen Kexing directly and decided to transfer Little Willow Marsh to Zhou Ning, hoping to provoke a fight with the Su Household before the Chen Household attacked.
• Zhou Ning traveled to Fortune Star Market to find Old Jia and Jia Tingwan and make clear the danger of remaining tied to the Su Household.
• Alchemist Tang boasted of helping Jia Tingwan's grandfather, then scolded Jia for serving her a large bowl of rice and pressed her with her Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivation.
• Zhou Ning's voice rang over the market, asking Alchemist Tang whether she was a pig.

Zhou Ning revealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation, rescued Jia Tingwan from Alchemist Tang, and challenged Sun Gui to a spar before taking Jia back to Little Willow Marsh. After accepting the Chen Household’s deed to the island, he resolved to destroy the Su Household.

• Zhou Ning subdued Alchemist Tang, secured compensation for Jia Tingwan, and invited her to leave with him.
• Zhao Ruoxue and Sun Gui arrived, and Zhou Ning sparred with Sun Gui, impressing him with his fire techniques before conceding.
• Zhou Ning gave Jia Tingwan a Spirit Condensation Pill, and she agreed to accompany him to Little Willow Marsh.
• Chen Kexing presented Zhou Ning with a spiritual deed granting him Little Willow Marsh, and Zhou Ning removed the True Fire from Chen’s severed wrist.
• After returning to his new home, Zhou Ning resolved to wipe out the Su Household.

Zhou Ning arrived at Stream Mountain and publicly declared that he would break with the Su Household before joining the Bai Household’s attack. He killed Nie Yi, drove Su Lixia back toward the formation, and destroyed Su Ru with a Mystic Thunder Orb; the chapter left Zhou Ning confronting the remaining cultivators after his victory.

• Su Lixia and Nie Yi learned that the Bai Household had approached Stream Mountain, then flew out to face Bai Feihao and Bai Yi.
• Zhou Ning arrived, displayed his grievances against the Su Household, and announced that he would campaign against them and reclaim justice.
• Zhou Ning used his fiery eye and sword techniques to overwhelm Nie Yi and Su Lixia, while Bai Feihao broke free to attack Su Lixia.
• Nie Yi rushed to protect Su Lixia and was cut in half by Zhou Ning’s fire blade; Su Ru arrived, and Su Lixia fled toward the formation.
• Su Ru charged Zhou Ning with a Mystic Thunder Orb but was burned and blasted to ashes; Zhou Ning then challenged Bai Feihao, Han Ziyue, and the others to respond to his victory.

Zhou Ning forced Han Ziyue to hand over Nie Yi’s Storage Bag and shared the spoils with the Bai Household cultivators after the battle at Stream Mountain. Han Ziyue left to alert his clan and allies, while news of Su Ru and Nie Yi’s deaths reached Su Junsong.

• Zhou Ning revealed the Azure Centipede Vine, pressed Han Ziyue about Nie Yi’s Storage Bag, and confirmed that he had killed Daoist Mu.
• Han Ziyue handed over Nie Yi’s Storage Bag after Zhou Ning refused to back down.
• Zhou Ning divided Spirit Stones among Bai Yi, Han Ziyue, and Bai Feihao, then accepted a Bai Household discount token and asked about the Su Household.
• Han Ziyue left to report Zhou Ning’s strength to his ancestor and notify three allied households, while Bai Feihao spread word about Zhou Ning to other cultivators.
• A spirit pigeon brought Su Junsong news that Su Ru and Nie Yi had died at Stream Mountain.

Su Junsong learned that Zhou Ning had killed two Su Household Foundation Establishment cultivators, while Su Wen realized the clan might punish her for her past treatment of him. At a secret meeting, the Su elders decided not to risk confronting Zhou Ning directly and planned to use his public accusations against the Azure Mystic Sect to turn the sect against him.

• Su Junsong received reports that Zhou Ning had reached Foundation Establishment and killed Su Ru and Nie Yi, and Su Wen reacted with disbelief before urging her brother to kill Zhou Ning and seize his opportunity.
• Su Junsong sent Su Wen away and flew to Long Mountain Island, leaving her to fear punishment for having claimed credit for Zhou Ning's rise as an Alchemist.
• At the Su Household's hidden third-tier Spirit Vein, Su Lixia recounted Zhou Ning and Han Ziyue's attack, while Su Zundao cautioned against underestimating Zhou Ning or sending Su Yuanye after him.
• Su Junsong proposed publicizing Zhou Ning's accusations about the Azure Mystic Sect's entrance selection so the sect would deal with him, and Su Zundao assigned him the task.
• Su Junsong warned that the Su Household should pull back its front lines and protect its members, but then learned another spirit pigeon had arrived.

Zhou Ning confronted Su Baoqing at the Laiqiu Herb Garden and destroyed its formation with his Gang-Splitting Thunderfire Awl. After Zhou Ning fatally wounded Su Baoqing, Lin Qing struck the killing blow and offered Su Baoqing’s Storage Bag to Zhou Ning.

• Su Baoqing mocked Lin Qing and ordered him to activate the garden’s formation when Zhou Ning appeared outside.
• Zhou Ning demanded that Su Baoqing surrender the spirit herbs, but Su Baoqing insulted him and refused.
• Zhou Ning used the Gang-Splitting Thunderfire Awl to shatter the garden’s formation, then disrupted Su Baoqing’s weapons with the Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils.
• Zhou Ning’s fire blade cut through Su Baoqing’s chest, leaving him fatally wounded.
• Lin Qing smashed Su Baoqing’s head with an armored puppet and presented Su Baoqing’s Storage Bag to Zhou Ning.

After killing Su Baoqing and taking the medicine garden’s spirit herbs, Zhou Ning became the subject of news that he had slain three Su Household Foundation Establishment cultivators. Xu Qinghou and Li Ji learned of Zhou Ning’s rise, while Yuan Dahu revealed he might have a chance to reach Foundation Establishment; at the Azure Mystic Sect, Chang Zhaoyang left after receiving a message about the sect’s prestige and Su Yanghao.

• Lin Qing guided Zhou Ning through the medicine garden, where Zhou Ning took the True Essence Fruit Tree and many spirit herbs before leaving.
• One month later, Xu Qinghou and Li Ji met Yuan Dahu in Lanling City after years of fleeing and losing companions.
• Yuan Dahu gave Xu Qinghou news that Zhou Ning had reached Foundation Establishment and killed three Su Household Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Yuan Dahu shielded the tavern with a formation plate and asked Xu Qinghou and Li Ji whether they would believe he had a fortuitous chance to reach Foundation Establishment.
• At the Azure Mystic Sect, Guo Changying led disciples through martial training as True Person Chang lectured through a Dharma projection.
• Chang Zhaoyang received a message from Linghu about the sect’s prestige and Su Yanghao, then vanished from the training hall.

Azure Mystic Sect leaders decided to send Guo Changying to reason with Zhou Ning rather than kill him, while debating reports of a hidden Spirit Vein on Long Mountain Island. Guo Changying instead confronted Su Yanghao over his role in her clan’s destruction and ordered him to seal himself on the mountain for twenty years.

• Sect Master Linghu told Chang Zhaoyang, Mu Wanzhe, and the Peak Master of Azure Luan that Zhou Ning had exposed his rejection by the sect and killed three Su Household cultivators.
• The leaders agreed that Chang Zhaoyang’s Peace and Harmony Hall would send a disciple to speak with Zhou Ning, and they discussed Zhou Ning’s claims about the Su Household’s Spirit Vein and Su Changshuo.
• Chang Zhaoyang assigned Guo Changying to contact Zhou Ning, but she angrily vowed to kill him because he had killed her clansmen.
• Guo Changying confronted Su Yanghao and ordered him to seal himself on the mountain for twenty years over his past role in her household’s destruction.
• Su Yanghao accepted the order, while Mu Liqi grew angry that it would keep him from leaving the mountain.