Chapter Summaries

Zhou Ning learned that the Lei Household had joined Myriad Peace Valley and destroyed the Jade Countenance Sect, deepening the threat to the region while he continued seeking pills and a safe place to cultivate. After refining a rare pill for Black Husband, he watched her escape an ambush by Sun Gui and Zhao Ruoxue, who then confronted him.

• Zhou Ning heard that the Lei Household's head had reached Late Stage Core Formation, destroyed the Jade Countenance Sect, and pledged allegiance to Myriad Peace Valley.
• Zhou Ning considered the danger to the region, recalled his failed efforts against the Su Household, and continued preparing pills and an escape plan.
• Zhou Ning met Black Husband in Fortune Star Market and refined a Thunder-Suppressing Meridian-Continuation Pill in exchange for her Jade Marrow Ganoderma.
• Black Husband escaped Sun Gui and Zhao Ruoxue's ambush using a formation-powered cloak and fled from the market.
• Zhao Ruoxue accused Zhou Ning of being Black Husband's accomplice, and Zhou Ning dropped his disguise and answered her.

Zhou Ning learned why Sun Gui and Zhao Ruoxue were interested in Black Husband’s talismans and returned to Little Willow Marsh, where Guo Changying was waiting to kill him. Guo Changying raised her spear as Zhou Ning approached.

• Zhou Ning told Sun Gui and Zhao Ruoxue that he had only refined pills for Black Husband, then examined her identical Great Water Dragon Talismans and suspected she made them in batches using high-grade materials.
• Sun Gui warned Zhou Ning that his denunciation of the Su Household had suggested suspicion of the Azure Mystic Sect, prompting Zhou Ning to return to Little Willow Marsh and prepare to move if necessary.
• Guo Changying arrived at Zhou Ning’s island and threatened to kill him, but Jia Tingwan kept her outside the formation.
• Guo Changying waited outside, practiced her spear technique against an imagined Zhou Ning, and accepted one of Jia Tingwan’s Snow Cherry Fruits.
• When a streak of spiritual light appeared in the sky, Guo Changying drew the Canglang Spear and shouted for Zhou Ning to prepare to die.

Zhou Ning defeated Guo Changying’s attack and negotiated with her over the Azure Mystic Sect’s demands and the Su Household’s treatment of him. He accepted a settlement that would grant him Little Willow Marsh and sect compensation, and agreed to travel to Cuiwei Lake the next day to sign a spirit contract.

• Guo Changying attacked Zhou Ning at Little Willow Marsh, but he seized her Canglang Spear and dismissed her threat.
• Guo Changying told Zhou Ning that the Azure Mystic Sect wanted him to stop damaging its reputation, and he demanded that Su Yanghao be punished.
• Guo Changying offered Zhou Ning a nominal guest elder position and a future Core Formation spiritual item if he testified to the truth.
• Zhou Ning and Guo Changying negotiated an end to hostilities with the Su Household, which would grant him Little Willow Marsh, spiritual materials, and a second-tier defensive formation.
• Guo Changying arranged for Zhou Ning to travel to Cuiwei Lake the next day to sign a spirit contract, and he invited her to stay for dinner.

Zhou Ning returned to Bamboo Creek Island with Guo Changying and forced the Su Household to sign a spirit contract granting him Little Willow Marsh, a spiritual object, and a formation. After leaving, he clashed with Guo Changying over their past, then returned to the island and refused Xiao Ci’s offer to join Skylark, while Yun Mei assigned Xiao Ci to investigate a child with an earth spirit root.

• Guo Changying announced Zhou Ning’s arrival at Bamboo Creek Island, and the Su Household’s cultivators came to meet them.
• Guo Changying presented the Su Household with a spirit contract, and the household agreed to transfer Little Willow Marsh, provide a spiritual object, and establish a formation for Zhou Ning.
• Zhou Ning argued with Su Lixia about Su Yunjin’s past actions, then left the island with Guo Changying after the contract was signed.
• Zhou Ning offered Guo Changying Snow Cherry Fruits, but they argued over the deaths of their clansmen and his role in killing Daoist Mu.
• When Zhou Ning returned to Bamboo Creek Island, Xiao Ci attacked him and offered him a place in Skylark as an alchemist, but Zhou Ning refused.
• Xiao Ci reported to Yun Mei, who told him to consider Zhou Ning for later recruitment and investigate the Duan Household’s child with an earth spirit root.

Zhou Ning welcomed Old Jia, gave him a Spirit Condensation Pill, and watched him break through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining. After completing a powerful golden talisman and having Su Youyou and Su Zundao establish and nourish the formation at Little Willow Marsh, Zhou Ning saw a graceful figure approach the island.

• Zhou Ning invited Old Jia to walk with him, told him that the Su and Chen Households had transferred Little Willow Marsh to him, and gave him a Spirit Condensation Pill.
• Old Jia broke through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining and regained some of his youthful vigor.
• Zhou Ning sealed Law Power into a second-tier spirit jade to complete a Jade-Casting True Gold Talisman and considered selling pills at Zhao Ruoxue's exchange.
• Su Zundao and Su Youyou arrived to establish a formation and nourish the Spirit Vein at Little Willow Marsh.
• Su Zundao explained how the surrounding powers protected Little Willow Marsh from a possible advance by the rebellious Lei Household.
• After Su Zundao and Su Youyou departed, a graceful figure flew toward the island, and Zhou Ning recognized her.

Pharmacist Lan joined Zhou Ning’s household in exchange for a chance to obtain Foundation Establishment materials, then promoted his pills and handled business while he cultivated. Zhou Ning refined Appearance-Preserving Pills to trade for third-tier spirit jade, and the chapter ended with a member of the Ye Household warning him away from a newly discovered second-tier Spirit Vein.

• Pharmacist Lan offered to serve Zhou Ning, and he promised her a main ingredient for Foundation Establishment if she served him for ten years and satisfied him.
• Pharmacist Lan circulated Zhou Ning’s announcement praising the Azure Mystic Sect and advertising his pills at Little Willow Marsh, bringing him customers over the next two months.
• Zhou Ning transplanted the Spring of the Spirit Eye to Little Willow Marsh’s Spirit Vein and learned that a female False Core cultivator of the Zhao Household owned third-tier spirit jade.
• Zhou Ning refined five Appearance-Preserving Pills from rare ingredients, hoping to trade them for the spirit jade.
• Pharmacist Lan sold Zhou Ning’s pills while Jia Tingwan watched, and Zhou Ning scolded a customer who called buying six bottles of Azure Essence Pills big business.
• A member of the Ye Household announced that his household had discovered a second-tier Spirit Vein on Emerald Screen Mountain and warned Zhou Ning not to touch it.

Zhou Ning profited from the rival households’ fight over Emerald Screen Mountain by selling Essence Explosion Pills and treating the wounded, while the Azure Mystic Sect eventually ordered the households to share the mountain. Guo Changying delivered Zhou Ning’s package to Gu Xiangning, but the chapter ended as she arrived at a gathering and demanded to know which woman was Gu Xiangning.

• Ye Qin threatened Zhou Ning over Emerald Screen Mountain, argued with him over True Essence Pill prices, and left after Zhou Ning recorded his insult about feeding the pills to dogs.
• Zhou Ning sent Pharmacist Lan to trade his pill for third-tier spirit jade, and Sun Gui later brought back one piece from True Person Yunxiu of the Zhao Household.
• Sun Gui joined the fight for Emerald Screen Mountain, while Zhou Ning sold Bai Feihao an Essence Explosion Pill and treated the injured cultivators who came to Little Willow Marsh.
• Bai Feihao used Zhou Ning’s pill to overpower Ye Qin in battle, and the rival households spent three months fighting before the Azure Mystic Sect ordered them to share the mine and rent out the cultivation ground.
• Guo Changying delivered Zhou Ning’s Storage Bag to Gu Xiangning, then arrived at Fang Tianyu’s gathering and demanded to know which attendee was Gu Xiangning.

Gu Xiangning received a Foundation Establishment Pill and an Appearance-Preserving Pill from Zhou Ning, then invited him to her celebration after reaching Foundation Establishment. Three years later, Zhou Ning considered whether to attend while managing Little Willow Marsh and suspecting Feng Shi of causing the Fuluo Eel problem.

• Guo Changying delivered Zhou Ning’s Storage Bag to Gu Xiangning, who revealed its Foundation Establishment Pill and swallowed its Appearance-Preserving Pill despite Cheng Min’s jealousy.
• Three years later, Zhou Ning inspected his Jade-Casting True Gold Talismans and lamented how slowly he advanced without a Settling Liquid Pill.
• Zhou Ning learned that Gu Xiangning had reached Foundation Establishment and invited him to her minor celebration, promising him two fine treasures.
• Zhou Ning met Feng Shi, who offered to manage Little Willow Marsh for a fee and complained about its Fuluo Eels; Zhou Ning refused and suspected Feng Shi was behind their arrival.
• After Feng Shi left, Zhou Ning asked Pharmacist Lan about him, and she judged that he harbored hidden schemes.

Zhou Ning learned that Hua Ran had escaped the Sacred Fire Sect’s destruction and that Ye Qin had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. When Ye Qin and another cultivator attacked Hua Ran near Falling Ning Island, Zhou Ning let her enter his formation in exchange for two pieces of third-tier spirit jade, then faced their assault as she asked him to save her injured younger brother.

• Pharmacist Lan reported that the Lei Household’s Boundless Sea Patriarch had destroyed the Sacred Fire Sect, while Hua Ran escaped with her younger brother and the sect’s inheritance.
• Pharmacist Lan also told Zhou Ning that Ye Qin had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and was threatening the Sun Household and the Bai Household.
• Ye Qin and another Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator attacked Hua Ran, and Zhou Ning raised the Three Talents Azure-Guarding Formation to protect Falling Ning Island.
• Zhou Ning agreed to let Hua Ran into the formation in exchange for two pieces of third-tier spirit jade, and he used his Law Artifacts to cover her escape.
• The attackers broke the formation’s outer barrier, but Zhou Ning’s layered formation formed again; after Hua Ran’s younger brother spat blood, Zhou Ning called Pharmacist Lan to treat him.

Pharmacist Lan treated Hua Ran’s injured brother while Ye Qin failed to break Zhou Ning’s formation and fought with Chen Old Ninth. Zhou Ning agreed to shelter Hua Ran until her pursuers left, and she gave him a nine-bend rabbit berry seedling in exchange; Ye Qin still watched from outside the formation.

• Pharmacist Lan examined Hua Ran’s brother, used Soul-Sinking Incense, and began treating his damaged meridians, saying he would recover within three days.
• Ye Qin stopped attacking Zhou Ning’s formation and argued with Elder Xu before trading insults and blows with Chen Old Ninth.
• Hua Ran shared Snow Cherry Fruit with Zhou Ning and Jia Tingwan, then asked to stay until the cultivators outside departed.
• Zhou Ning promised to protect Hua Ran as long as he could, and she offered him a nine-bend rabbit berry seedling.
• Zhou Ning accepted the seedling and chatted with Hua Ran while Ye Qin continued keeping watch outside the formation.

With the Holy Maiden protected on Little Willow Marsh, Zhou Ning sent Pharmacist Lan to Fortune Star Market, where Ye Qin’s men ambushed her. Zhou Ning revealed himself, killed Ye Qin, and ordered Pharmacist Lan back to the island.

• Ye Qin gave up trying to break the formation around Little Willow Marsh, while Chen Old Ninth’s attempt to sneak a Spirit-Binding Rope through it was stopped by Zhou Ning.
• Han Ziyue offered young Demon Beasts in exchange for Hua Ran being let out, but Zhou Ning mocked him by cooking a pheasant until Han Ziyue left in anger.
• Pharmacist Lan volunteered to travel to Fortune Star Market, and Zhou Ning gave her a Storage Bag of pills and a life-saving puppet.
• At Fortune Star Market, Pharmacist Lan collected payment and medicinal ingredients before a burly Foundation Establishment cultivator attacked her on Ye Qin’s orders.
• The Straw Puppet killed the burly man, but Ye Qin trapped it in a bell and moved to capture Pharmacist Lan.
• Zhou Ning appeared and killed Ye Qin with a golden blade, collected the spoils, and told Pharmacist Lan to return to the island.

Zhou Ning returned to Little Willow Marsh after rescuing Pharmacist Lan, who brought him the proceeds and spoils from their recent encounter. After appraising Ye Qin’s valuables and planning his next cultivation steps, Zhou Ning prepared to win Pharmacist Lan’s loyalty, while she arrived at his residence expecting his summons to have a more intimate purpose.

• Pharmacist Lan reported her sales and handed Zhou Ning the Storage Bags, and he praised her before telling her to come to his room that night.
• Zhou Ning appraised the bandit’s and Ye Qin’s spoils, finding Spirit Stones, valuable Law Artifacts, a Talisman Treasure, Jade Marrow Ganoderma, Thought Dust Flowers, and a sealed chest he chose not to open.
• Zhou Ning reflected on the cost of a second-tier Pill Furnace, his plans to gather materials and advance his cultivation, and his hope of obtaining the rest of the Xinsi Golden Scripture.
• Pharmacist Lan agonized over Zhou Ning’s summons, then dressed herself and went to his residence, believing she might need to submit to him to secure her future.
• Zhou Ning used the Flowing Light Concealing Shadow Instruction to reveal a transformed, striking appearance, and Pharmacist Lan asked whether he was Senior Zhou.

Zhou Ning gave Pharmacist Lan a Foundation Establishment Pill, and she successfully advanced to Foundation Establishment. An envoy from the Azure Mystic Sect then escorted Hua Ran away and urged Zhou Ning to support Zhang Family Fort, while Zhou Ning privately prepared to flee if the fort fell; the chapter ended with Sun Gui arriving badly beaten.

• Zhou Ning questioned Pharmacist Lan about her motives, accepted her service for thirty years, and gave her a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Two months later, Pharmacist Lan successfully established her Foundation and received congratulations from nearby cultivators and Hua Ran.
• Yan Pingjie arrived as an Azure Mystic Sect envoy to escort Hua Ran home and urged Zhou Ning to support Zhang Family Fort against the Lei Household.
• Hua Ran said goodbye to Zhou Ning and left Little Willow Marsh with her younger brother, while Zhou Ning lamented losing his chance to obtain the Spirit Illumination Scripture.
• Sun Gui arrived on a flying boat with a swollen, bruised face, and Zhou Ning asked if he had fallen while walking.

Sun Gui visited Zhou Ning after Black Husband beat him, while Chen Old Ninth tried to pressure Zhou Ning into sending support to the Zhang Family Fort. Zhou Ning sent Pharmacist Lan to aid True Person Zhang Wan and equipped her with supplies and protective treasures before she departed.

• Pharmacist Lan used a painful Fuluo Eel blood ointment to heal Sun Gui, who told Zhou Ning that Black Husband had trapped him and slapped him eighteen times.
• Chen Old Ninth questioned Zhou Ning about Ye Qin’s disappearance, then demanded that Zhou Ning send a Foundation Establishment cultivator to the Zhang Family Fort.
• Zhou Ning rebuked Chen Old Ninth over the missing relief supplies, and Sun Gui warned him that exposing the clans’ corruption could bring trouble.
• Zhou Ning decided Pharmacist Lan would deliver supplies and a letter to True Person Zhang Wan, then return after discussing a possible trade.
• Zhou Ning gave Pharmacist Lan resources, a disguised Straw Puppet, a Jade-Casting True Gold Talisman, and a spatial belt before she left for the Zhang Family Fort.

Zhou Ning refined a Thunder-Suppressing Meridian-Continuation Pill for Black Husband in exchange for innate copper stone, then asked her to study a sealed black box. Meanwhile, Pharmacist Lan visited Fortune Star Market and confronted the people who had mocked her recent Foundation Establishment, leaving Su Wen bitterly resentful.

• Zhou Ning sent Jia Tingwan to catch a sheep stealing spirit willow leaves, then sensed Black Husband approaching Falling Ning Island.
• Black Husband asked Zhou Ning to refine a Thunder-Suppressing Meridian-Continuation Pill, and they agreed on innate copper stone as payment.
• Zhou Ning refined the pill for Black Husband, who promised to return in three years, and asked her to study the restriction on his black box.
• Zhou Ning invited Black Husband to eat grilled lamb with him and Jia Tingwan while she began examining the box.
• Pharmacist Lan stopped at Fortune Star Market and entered the Clear Night Pavilion, where Alchemist Tang had mocked her as Zhou Ning’s concubine.
• Pharmacist Lan recited a deliberately poor poem and flew away amid the gathering’s flattery, while Su Wen seethed over how much their fortunes had changed.