Chapter Summaries

After the Exotic Stone killed the fox demon, Ancestor Yu helped the Yang Family drive off the remaining beasts and found that Yang Guanfeng had broken through to the Sixth Level of Qi Gathering. The Yang Family buried its dead and secured its place on Little Pine Mountain, while the beast tide devastated other settlements, including White Stone Town.

• Ancestor Yu rescued Yang Lingqing and Yang Linghu, learned that Chen Yang had killed the fox demon, and helped drive the remaining beasts away from the Yang Family.
• Ancestor Yu found the injured Yang Guanfeng in the deep mountains and discovered that he had advanced to the Sixth Level of Qi Gathering.
• Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu organized the cleanup and buried the 484 people who had died in the beast tide.
• Yang Guanfeng honored the dead with the survivors, and the Yang Family hosted the people who had endured the calamity.
• The beast tide destroyed the villages and devastated White Stone Town, where a green flying sword and two talismans eventually killed the invading beasts.
• Wang Xiong survived the attack on White Stone Town, but his son Wang Weiyang died and the Wang Family was destroyed.

Yang Guanfeng negotiated with White Stone Town’s new chief, Gao Hui, for the Yang Family to help rebuild the town in exchange for a future sect recommendation. The chapter left the family preparing to sell its Demon Beast corpses to the Dynasty at seventy percent of market price, a deal Yang Lingqing explained would still be profitable after transport costs and risks.

• Gao Hui visited the Yang Family and discovered that Yang Guanfeng had advanced to the Sixth Level of Qi Gathering.
• Yang Guanfeng agreed to help rebuild White Stone Town in exchange for Gao Hui recommending one Yang Family descendant to the Myriad Transformation Sect in ten years.
• The Yang Family agreed to send two hundred laborers under Elder Yu and cover half the rebuilding expenses.
• Gao Hui offered to have the Dynasty buy the family’s Demon Beast corpses for seventy percent of market price, and Yang Guanfeng accepted.
• Yang Lingqing explained to Yang Linghu that selling through the market would incur enough travel costs and risks to make the Dynasty’s offer worthwhile.

The Yang Family honored Chen Yang as an intelligent spirit stone and used the Blood Burning Spirit Sacrifice Technique to repay him for saving them. The ritual strengthened Chen Yang and connected him to the five cultivators, and Yang Lingqing prepared to test the new method of communication.

• Yang Guanfeng and the others bowed to Chen Yang and concluded that he had guided events and chosen the Yang Family.
• The five cultivators offered drops of their precious essence blood through the Blood Burning Spirit Sacrifice Technique, and Chen Yang absorbed the resulting crimson spiritual energy.
• Yang Guanfeng warned that the spirit stone could bring disaster if discovered, and the family swore a blood oath to keep it secret.
• Chen Yang gained spiritual power, a smoother flow of energy, and a view of five soul fires that let him monitor the Yang Family cultivators.
• Chen Yang discovered he could communicate directly through his new connections, and Yang Lingqing prepared to try the method he had taught her.

Yang Lingqing, Yang Lingrui, and Yang Linghu performed the Blood Burning Spirit Sacrifice, strengthening Chen Yang’s spiritual awareness and earning the family his approval to raise the Forbidden Ground’s spiritual energy. After Yang Lingrui broke through to the Third Level of Qi Gathering, the Dynasty’s corpse-buying party arrived at the Yang Family compound.

• Yang Lingqing, Yang Lingrui, and Yang Linghu bowed to Chen Yang, whose spiritual awareness expanded as he absorbed their soul force.
• Chen Yang approved the Yang Family’s request and increased the spiritual energy in the Forbidden Ground fivefold, while Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu planned its expansion and defenses.
• Yang Lingrui entered seclusion and broke through to the Third Level of Qi Gathering, giving Chen Yang a pearl containing spiritual power and Yang Lingrui’s cultivation memories.
• Yang Lingrui returned to the Council Hall, where Elder Yu concealed his true cultivation so outsiders would see him as a Second Level of Qi Gathering cultivator.
• He Shenglai and another Dynasty cultivator arrived at the Yang Family compound to buy the Demon Beast corpses.

He Shenglai suspected the Yang Family was hiding a secret and forced his way into its Forbidden Ground despite the family’s objections. He discovered only a Four-leaf Spirit-Nesting Grass and mocked their alarm, while Gao Hui recognized the plant as the source of the family’s unusual progress.

• Gao Hui told He Shenglai that the Yang Family had a talented child and two Sixth Level of Qi Gathering cultivators, prompting He to suspect they were hiding a secret.
• Yang Guanfeng welcomed He Shenglai, who inspected the Demon Beast corpses and paid the Yang Family one hundred and thirty Spirit Crystals.
• He Shenglai demanded to inspect the Yang Family Forbidden Ground, and Yang Guanfeng reluctantly led him there despite Gao Hui’s objection.
• He Shenglai ordered Yang Guanfeng to open the formation protecting the rear courtyard, threatening the family with his Seventh Level of Qi Gathering pressure.
• Gao Hui recognized the Four-leaf Spirit-Nesting Grass inside, while He Shenglai laughed and dismissed it as a Qi Gathering-level plant.

The Yang Family deceived He Shenglai and Gao Hui with a staged explanation for their cultivation, then discussed how to spend their Spirit Crystals and strengthen the family. Yang Linghu broke through to the Second Level of Qi Gathering, and Chen Yang discovered that Linghu was close to advancing his Brute Force Art to its third level.

• Yang Lingrui, Yang Guanfeng, and Elder Yu convinced He Shenglai that the family’s cultivation progress came from Four-leaf Spirit-Nesting Grass, and He Shenglai paid them thirty Spirit Crystals to settle the matter.
• After He Shenglai and Gao Hui left, Yang Guanfeng explained how the family had staged the deception and arranged for Yang Linghu and Yang Lingqing to hide in Little Pine Mountain.
• The five Yang Family cultivators agreed to prioritize a protective formation, storage items, and a library of basic cultivation arts, and Yang Guanfeng sent Elder Yu to invite Liu Zihao.
• Yang Linghu broke through to the Second Level of Qi Gathering after a month of cultivation, and Chen Yang absorbed the spiritual energy from the resulting precious pearl.
• Chen Yang realized Yang Linghu was close to mastering the third level of the Brute Force Art, while Yang Linghu, Yang Lingrui, and Yang Lingqing returned to cultivation.

Gao Hui apologized to Yang Guanfeng and brought him Wang Xiong’s offer of the Wang Family’s shops and mineral deposits. Yang Guanfeng agreed to claim the contested deposit within three to five months and accepted Sun-Seeking Water from Gao Hui.

• Gao Hui apologized to Yang Guanfeng for He Shenglai’s actions in the Yang Family Forbidden Ground, and Yang Guanfeng forgave him.
• Gao Hui explained that Wang Xiong had entered his service and offered the Wang Family’s shops and mineral deposits to Yang Guanfeng in a letter.
• Yang Guanfeng learned that the Zhang Family of Sanglu Valley was eyeing the Wang Family’s border deposit and had four Qi Gathering cultivators, including its Sixth Level patriarch.
• Yang Guanfeng agreed that the Yang Family would take the deposit and said he would resolve the matter in three to five months.
• Gao Hui gave Yang Guanfeng Sun-Seeking Water as thanks and an apology, and Yang Guanfeng accepted it.

The Yang Family strengthened its defenses and acquired supplies before a letter revealed that the Zhang Family had sent people to White Stone Town. As Yang Guanfeng set out with Yang Lingrui and Yang Linghu, Yang Lingqing presided over the family council for the first time as its future leader.

• Liu Zihao accepted the remaining payment, set up the Pine Forest Thick Earth Array, and reinforced the Cloud Mountain Mist Array around the Yang Family Forbidden Ground.
• Elder Yu gave the three children storage pouches and brought back basic sorcery books and two Qi Gathering cultivation techniques, leaving the family with only twenty Spirit Crystals.
• Yang Lingrui delivered Gao Hui's letter saying the Zhang Family had sent people, and Yang Guanfeng left with Yang Lingrui and Yang Linghu to confront them.
• Elder Yu asked Yang Lingqing if she wanted to go with them, but she stayed behind to take charge of the council meeting.
• Yang Lingqing appeared before the assembled Yang Family members, received their greeting as an Immortal Master, and ordered them to rise and begin the council.

Yang Lingqing took charge of the Yang Family’s affairs, reorganizing the riverbanks and ordering a count of eligible children for cultivation selection. After the meeting, she asked her father whether he had ever been proud of her, and Yang Feiyun tearfully told her she had always been his pride.

• Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei reported the Yang Family’s recovery and the influx of refugees to Yang Lingqing.
• Yang Lingqing used earth spellcraft before the assembled clans, then ordered latecomers to settle on the South Bank and Clan Soldiers to guard the bridges.
• Yang Lingqing ordered Yang Xiaolei to count children aged ten to fourteen among the North Bank clans, and told him that Yang Linghu had succeeded in cultivation.
• Yang Feiyun advised Yang Lingqing to observe and listen while serving the ancestor, and she urged him to take care of his health.
• Yang Lingqing asked whether Yang Feiyun had been proud of her when she was taken to the Forbidden Ground, and he tearfully assured her that she had always been his most precious and proud daughter.

The Zhang and Yang Families disputed ownership of a White Stone mine, and their patriarchs agreed to settle the matter with a contest between their juniors. Yang Lingrui and Zhang Yao began their match, which remained undecided as Yang Lingrui sent a fast wind attack at Zhang Yao.

• Zhang Tianqi arrived at the former Wang Family mine with Zhang Yao and Zhang Chen and ordered laborers to begin extracting ore.
• Yang Guanfeng arrived with Yang Lingrui and Yang Linghu, claimed the mine had been traded to the Yang Family, and challenged Zhang Tianqi's claim.
• Zhang Tianqi and Yang Guanfeng tested each other's strength, then agreed that their juniors would spar to decide the mine's ownership.
• Zhang Tianqi chose Zhang Yao to fight, while Yang Guanfeng sent Yang Lingrui forward.
• Zhang Yao used fire arts against Yang Lingrui, who countered with wind arts and launched three fast gusts at him.

Yang Lingrui defeated Zhang Yao by overwhelming his fire pillar with Gale Winds, securing the mineral deposit for the Yang Family. The family began mining the site, while Yang Linghu took charge of guarding it and received a gift from Yang Guanfeng.

• Yang Lingrui kept attacking Zhang Yao’s fire pillar until it grew beyond Zhang Yao’s control, and Zhang Tianqi intervened to prevent Zhang Yao from being badly injured.
• Yang Guanfeng declared the mineral deposit’s ownership settled, and Zhang Tianqi led the Zhang Family away.
• On the way back to Sanglu Valley, Zhang Tianqi told Zhang Yao that the Yang Family’s cultivation technique was extraordinary and that they would revisit the dispute after opening a nearby cave dwelling.
• Three days later, the Yang Family’s mining team arrived, and Yang Linghu stayed behind to guard the deposit.
• Yang Guanfeng visited Yang Linghu that night and left a small bottle, which Yang Linghu recognized as a gift from Yang Lingrui.

After his consciousness strengthened, Chen Yang examined Yang Lingrui and Yang Lingqing and discovered he could perceive their Qi Meridians in detail. He repaired an obstruction in Yang Lingqing’s left shoulder, and the Yang Family learned that completing the treatment would require four more sessions and considerable recovery time.

• Yang Guanfeng discussed the North Bank clans’ roster of fifty-five children with Yang Lingqing and Yang Lingrui, explaining that cultivation aptitude was extremely rare among ordinary families.
• After Ling Rui and Lingqing returned to cultivate, Chen Yang woke from a prolonged slumber and realized his consciousness had become more solid.
• Chen Yang tested his consciousness on Yang Lingrui and Yang Lingqing, and the two sensed him before recognizing that the Immortal Venerable Spirit Stone was inspecting them.
• Chen Yang examined both cultivators’ Qi Meridians and found an obstruction in Yang Lingqing’s left shoulder.
• Chen Yang used his spiritual power to widen the damaged Qi Meridian, allowing Yang Lingqing’s spiritual energy to flow more smoothly.
• Yang Lingqing told Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu that Chen Yang needed a month of rest after each treatment and four more sessions to fully repair her Qi Meridian, prompting them to promise to nourish him.

Yang Guanfeng and Yang Lingqing tested children brought to the Yang Family estate for cultivation aptitude. Zhao Qi qualified, and Wu Tong was allowed to be tested despite being over the age limit; her results left Yang Guanfeng and Yang Lingqing considering her unusual meridians.

• Yang Guanfeng finished recovering with help from Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu, then went with Yang Lingqing to meet the assembled clan children.
• Yang Feiyun allowed Wu San and his fifteen-year-old daughter Wu Tong to join the tests despite the age limit, and Yang Lingqing agreed to include her.
• Yang Guanfeng found that Zhao Qi had all twelve Qi Meridians intact, while the other fifty-four children tested before Wu Tong lacked cultivation aptitude.
• Yang Guanfeng tested Wu Tong and found spiritual power could pass through her body only with great difficulty, then asked Yang Lingqing to examine her.
• Yang Lingqing confirmed that spiritual power had made it through Wu Tong's meridians, though with extreme difficulty.

Wu Tong and Zhao Qi were chosen to cultivate for the Yang Family, and their families received generous rewards. Taken to the Forbidden Ground, the children began studying cultivation methods as Yang Guanfeng, Elder Yu, and Chen Yang watched over them.

• Yang Guanfeng took Wu Tong and Zhao Qi away after they passed the aptitude test, while Yang Feiyun rewarded the villagers and granted their families additional benefits.
• Old Wu San gave up his rewards and stayed with the Yang Family as the steward of a side residence.
• News of the selections and rewards spread, prompting villagers to seek the Yang Family's favor and North Bank families to plan for more children.
• Elder Yu gave Wu Tong and Zhao Qi cultivation methods and instructed them in their introductory sections.
• Wu Tong and Zhao Qi began practicing while Yang Guanfeng, Elder Yu, and Chen Yang observed, and Yang Guanfeng asked Elder Yu to monitor their character.

Zhao Qi and Wu Tong trained in the Circulating Qi Induction Art, but Wu Tong struggled to draw in spiritual energy because her Qi Meridian entrances were unusually narrow. When she nearly gave up after another failed attempt, Chen Yang secretly widened one entrance and helped her begin cultivating.

• Zhao Qi and Wu Tong began practicing the Circulating Qi Induction Art and persisted through exhausting daily training.
• After a month, Zhao Qi drew his first wisp of spiritual energy into his body, while Wu Tong made no progress.
• Another month later, Zhao Qi had opened his first Qi Meridian, but Wu Tong still failed at the final step despite repeated efforts.
• Wu Tong continued practicing alone, collapsed after her eleventh circulation, and wept over her family and her lack of progress.
• Chen Yang used his spiritual power to widen an entrance to Wu Tong's Qi Meridian, allowing spiritual energy to enter without further guidance.
• Elder Yu realized Chen Yang had helped Wu Tong and bowed to thank him.

As the Yang Family enjoyed a year of growth, Yang Lingqing learned that wandering bandits had entered the region amid the war between Tiger Chasing and Tianyou. Zhao Qi returned from dealing with a bandit group and revealed that its leaders had cultivation, raising concerns about a more dangerous threat.

• Wu Tong successfully drew qi into her body, and Elder Yu praised her for opening her Dao Path.
• The Yang Family prospered for a year as White Stone Town recovered, Zhao Qi Condensed Qi Mansion, and the younger cultivators advanced.
• Yang Lingqing ordered patrols and precautions after reports of wandering bandits, then explained that the war between Tiger Chasing and Tianyou had drawn bandits into the Eastern Region.
• Zhao Qi reported that he had killed twenty-six bandits and brought back two leaders whose awakened Qi Meridians suggested they had a cultivation method.
• Yang Lingqing sent Zhao Qi to report the discovery to the Ancestors while she remained to guard Yang Lingrui during his breakthrough; Chen Yang sensed that Yang Linghu was safe and anticipated nourishment from Yang Lingrui's progress.

Yang Linghu realized that the bandit raids were being steered toward the Yang Family’s mine and evacuated the miners while preparing to face the threat alone. Zhang Chen had arranged the raids with Liao Feng and his brothers so he could destroy the mine’s defenders and claim the property.

• Yang Linghu killed another bandit group and noticed that the five groups’ trails all led south toward the mine from Sanglu Valley.
• Yang Linghu ordered the ore and laborers sent home within three days, then told the Clan Soldiers to leave with them and gave their captain a letter for Lingqing.
• Zhang Chen feasted with Liao Feng and his two sworn brothers, urging them to carry out the plan they had prepared.
• Zhang Chen had redirected bandits toward the mine and supplied Liao Feng’s group, hoping they would kill the Yang Family defenders so he could take the mine and earn credit for suppressing bandits.

Yang Linghu watched Scarface and the effeminate man find the Yang Family mine abandoned, then discovered Zhang Chen and Liao Feng were working with the bandits. After killing the effeminate man, Yang Linghu was cornered by Zhang Chen and Liao Feng, and their battle began.

• Scarface and the effeminate man led more than fifty men to the mine, where they found the Yang Family had evacuated and removed all the ore.
• Yang Linghu observed from a nearby hill as Zhang Chen and Liao Feng joined Scarface and the effeminate man, confirming his suspicion that the Zhang Family was allied with the bandits.
• Yang Linghu tried to retreat, but Zhang Chen's jade pendant exposed him, and the effeminate man and Scarface charged him.
• Yang Linghu revealed his Second Level of Qi Gathering cultivation and killed the effeminate man with one punch, then fled as Zhang Chen and Liao Feng pursued him.
• Zhang Chen and Liao Feng used Wind Walking Talismans to intercept Yang Linghu, and the three began fighting.
• Yang Linghu fought while retreating, using Liao Feng as a shield against Zhang Chen's fire techniques and recognizing that Liao Feng was weaker than him.

Yang Linghu fought Zhang Chen and Liao Feng, then fled Zhang Chen’s pursuit and lured him into a stone forest. After breaking through Zhang Chen’s jade barrier, Yang Linghu was struck by a sudden dizziness and blasted away by Zhang Chen.

• Yang Linghu’s Brute Force Art let him hold his own against Zhang Chen and Liao Feng until Zhang Chen attacked them both with fireballs, badly injuring Liao Feng and Yang Linghu.
• Yang Linghu used the unconscious Liao Feng as a shield, then fled toward White Stone Town as Zhang Chen pursued him with the aid of a precious jade that replenished his spiritual power.
• Scarface found the wounded Liao Feng, mourned over him, and carried him away to seek help.
• After three hours of pursuit, Yang Linghu entered a stone forest and ambushed Zhang Chen, but Zhang Chen’s jade barrier stopped his first punch.
• Yang Linghu used the stone pillars and boulders to create an opening, then struck Zhang Chen’s barrier until it cracked and finally broke under his attacks.
• Just as Yang Linghu moved to punch Zhang Chen’s head, he became dizzy, and Zhang Chen counterattacked with several firebolts that sent him flying.

Yang Linghu delayed Zhang Chen by giving him a false cultivation technique, but Zhang Chen attacked him anyway. Yang Lingrui arrived in time to kill Zhang Chen and save Yang Linghu, and the two followed the traces of Liao Feng's corpse to a mountain cave.

• Yang Linghu offered to write down the Yang Family's cultivation technique to keep Zhang Chen from killing him, and secretly gave him a false version while waiting for help.
• After reading the technique, Zhang Chen claimed he would spare Yang Linghu, then attacked him and revealed that his precious jade's protection had recovered.
• Zhang Chen sent Yang Linghu flying and prepared to finish him, but Yang Lingrui arrived and used the Gale Wind to break through Zhang Chen's barrier, sever his arm, and kill him.
• Yang Lingrui treated Yang Linghu, who learned that Immortal Venerable Spirit Stone had warned his brother of the danger and that bandits had attacked the Clan Soldiers carrying his message.
• After recovering some spiritual power, Yang Linghu and Yang Lingrui followed the traces from the earlier battle and found their way to a mountain cave.