Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou used the Life-Creating Fortune Pill and his poison-prevention knowledge to hold Daoist Randeng’s interest through the night. Daoist Randeng became eager to learn more, especially about a poison-avoidance method tied to the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique.

• Daoist Randeng tried to end the conversation, but Zhang Xuezhou brought up the Life-Creating Fortune Pill as a possible cure for his injuries.
• Zhang Xuezhou said he had seen Primordial Lord Golden Rosy Clouds use the pill, prompting Daoist Randeng to wonder about its connection to the Great Han Dynasty, the Immortal Court, and the Grand Empress Dowager.
• Daoist Randeng urged Zhang Xuezhou to exchange knowledge about poison prevention, arguing that it could help them oppose the wicked monk with the serpent staff.
• Zhang Xuezhou said one poison-prevention secret concerned a great cultivator skilled at detoxification, whose identity he could not reveal.
• Zhang Xuezhou described another secret as a poison-avoidance method of the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints, making Daoist Randeng eager to obtain it for Rulai.

Zhang Xuezhou and Daoist Randeng exchanged knowledge about using One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints to resist poison. Their discussion turned to medicine gourds, leaving Zhang Xuezhou wondering whether Yi Shuo’s gourd was connected to Laojun’s legendary treasure.

• Daoist Randeng explained that Rulai practiced One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints and described how the art could spread poison across the body to lessen its harm.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Daoist Randeng discussed the art through the night, sharing information and memorizing each other’s explanations.
• Zhang Xuezhou brought up a medicine gourd that could strengthen pills, and Daoist Randeng identified Laojun’s Purple-Gold Medicine Gourd as a renowned example.
• Daoist Randeng said Laojun’s gourd was a Chaos Spirit Root whose medicinal heart enhanced pills, and Zhang Xuezhou wondered whether Yi Shuo’s gourd was the same kind of treasure.

Zhang Xuezhou and Daoist Randeng exchanged teachings on the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints while Rong Tianding handled their camp chores. After the exchange, Daoist Randeng invited Zhang Xuezhou to seek cultivation in the Western Sect, impressed by the talent he saw in the Great Han imperial court.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Daoist Randeng took turns reciting their knowledge of the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints as Rong Tianding listened.
• Daoist Randeng urged Zhang Xuezhou to continue until they had fully explained their teachings, and Zhang agreed to listen while resting.
• Rong Tianding prepared and grilled fish, confident that Zhang Xuezhou would benefit from the exchange.
• After they finished their explanations, Zhang Xuezhou said his mind was muddled, while Daoist Randeng expressed satisfaction with the exchange.
• Daoist Randeng asked about Zhang Xuezhou's sect and invited him to visit West Ox Hezhou for a supreme cultivation method.

Daoist Randeng considered how the Poison Avoidance Art and a Life-Creating Fortune Pill could help Rulai defeat Brahma and claim leadership of the Western Sect. Carrying Rulai’s blood-marked Coffin Lamp, he searched for him and found him roasting a wild boar.

• Daoist Randeng reflected that Rulai could use the Poison Avoidance Art involving the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints to counter Brahma and strengthen his claim to the Western Sect’s leadership.
• Daoist Randeng decided to seek a Life-Creating Fortune Pill from Primordial Lord Golden Rosy Clouds and considered offering the Immortal Court support in exchange for pills.
• Daoist Randeng set out with the Coffin Lamp, calling for Rulai while searching for medicinal herbs and monitoring the vitality of Rulai’s blood mark.
• Daoist Randeng spotted Rulai roasting a whole wild boar about a hundred meters away, though Rulai had not noticed him.

After escaping Daoist Randeng, Zhang Xuezhou recalled the Western Sect’s One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique and considered how difficult it would be to cultivate. He and Rong Tianding reached Shouchun City, where Zhang sought Dong Zhongshu to learn more about the Fortune Technique.

• Rong Tianding asked Zhang Xuezhou whether the Fortune Technique could bring good luck, and Zhang explained how it had helped his exchange with Daoist Randeng.
• Zhang Xuezhou reviewed Daoist Randeng’s teachings on the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique and recognized that mastering it would require extensive cultivation and abundant Spiritual Qi.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding reached Shouchun City just before its gates closed, and Rong Tianding took their timely arrival as a sign of good luck.
• Zhang Xuezhou reflected on the Fortune Technique’s ties to imperial fortune and favored places, then decided to seek answers from Dong Zhongshu.
• Zhang Xuezhou entered Shouchun City and searched for the inn where Dong Zhongshu had stayed more than a year earlier.

Zhang Xuezhou returned to the villa in Western Capital City and joined Song Fengying’s livestream, where his family discussed public interest in giant creatures and Song’s wish to report on them. The conversation turned to Sequence advancement and Ning Que’s lingering illness, which Zhang Xuezhou realized was unusual.

• Zhang Xuezhou woke in the Western Capital City villa and appeared on Song Fengying’s livestream as the actor who played Hou Renying.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that Hou Renying’s defeat by Linghu Chong reflected Linghu Chong’s exceptional ability, then compared it to his own exam ranking against Zuo Teng.
• Zhang Manqian told Zhang Xuezhou that Song Fengying wanted to livestream the giant moths in the Thousand Islands Alliance, but Zhang Xuezhou refused because the creatures were dangerous.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned that Song Fengying had already reached the Third Sequence and heard Ning Que explain that blood serum resources were the main obstacle to Sequence advancement.
• Zhang Xuezhou noticed Ning Que looked ill and realized something was strange when Ning Que asked why the Nine Swords of Dugu could not heal his wounds.

Ning Que sought Zhang Xuezhou’s help for a hand wound and persistent weakness that modern medicine could not explain. Zhang Xuezhou suspected either Professor Luo Hui’s solution or Luo Zhong’s lingering mental power was responsible, and left the question unresolved as he headed to his North Rehe laboratory.

• Ning Que told Zhang Xuezhou that his hand wound had not healed and that he had suffered a fever and lasting weakness after cutting his palm on glass.
• Zhang Xuezhou examined Ning Que’s hand, found no injury through the Supreme Purity True Technique, and contacted Professor Luo Hui about the solution that might have caused the problem.
• Zhang Xuezhou drove to the North Rehe laboratory to work on the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique and prepare to contact Tuer Kelanduo about a Fortune Pill.
• Zhang Manqian suggested Ning Que’s strong mental power might be affecting his body, and Zhang Xuezhou said Luo Zhong’s lingering mental power could be involved.
• Zhang Xuezhou realized Ning Que’s possible struggle with Luo Zhong might resemble his own uncertain connection to the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, and decided to observe what happened.

Zhang Xuezhou reconstructed the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique and began practicing it, discovering that his Law Power made it far less effective than martial artists’ Qi and Blood. He left the chapter laying groundwork for future cultivation as Zhou Yueyan urged him to prepare the vomiting medicine.

• Zhang Xuezhou used a data model to reconstruct and save the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique, identifying weaknesses in Buddha Son Rulai’s cultivation along the way.
• Zhang Xuezhou began practicing the technique at dawn and found that using Law Power produced less than half the results of ordinary cultivation with Qi and Blood.
• Zhang Xuezhou decided to keep laying the groundwork and seek more Spirit Jade in Qinmeng, since the technique could still offer useful bodily protection.
• Zhou Yueyan spotted Zhang Xuezhou sitting with his eyes closed and urged him to hurry up and make the vomiting medicine from the medicinal herbs.

Zhou Yueyan rushed to support Zhang Xuezhou’s efforts to develop a stronger emetic, hoping the work could help the Zhou Household survive its transition after Zhou Xin left. She agreed to fund his experiments with twenty million, despite learning that his estimated success rate was only five percent.

• The Twilight Years Rules forced Zhou Xin to leave for Qinmeng, while Zhou Na left with him, leaving the Zhou Household with ten years to find a powerful successor.
• Zhou Yueyan hurried to Zhang Xuezhou after hearing that the Zhang Household was buying medicinal ingredients in bulk.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained that he was trying to compound a more powerful emetic and that each attempt cost about two million.
• Zhou Yueyan offered to back him with twenty million, and Zhang Xuezhou immediately asked her to buy that much in medicinal ingredients.
• Zhang Xuezhou estimated a five percent chance of success, leaving Zhou Yueyan worried that the investment could become a bottomless pit.

Professor Luo Hui tried to conceal Luo Zhong’s death from Luo Tianming while using delays and communications interference to protect himself. He enlisted Luo Gaogao’s help, but Luo Tianming’s potential to extend his life left Luo Hui uncertain about his future.

• Professor Luo Hui treated Ning Que with saline while claiming the toxin was harmless, then lied to Zhang Xuezhou about its nature.
• Luo Hui considered turning to Luo Gaogao for support, since Gaogao had earned resources and no longer depended entirely on Luo Tianming.
• When Luo Tianming called, Luo Hui faked a communications failure and asked Luo Gaogao to disrupt signals around Twilight Years Mansion.
• Luo Hui planned to keep Luo Tianming isolated until Zhou Rihui and the others could grow stronger, but worried Luo Tianming might gain a longer life or reach the seventh sequence.

Zhang Xuezhou spent eight days and Zhou Yueyan’s funds developing potent Spirit-Forging Pills, but failed to create a Fortune Pill. He learned where Zhou Xin might be found in Qinmeng and prepared to pursue further testing and materials.

• Zhang Xuezhou used the strange insects’ Demon Cores to make potent Spirit-Forging Pills that restored most of his Law Power but did not qualify as Fortune Pills.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Zhou Yueyan that the ingredients had cost twenty-two million and that he had exhausted his supply of Demon Cores without achieving the desired formula.
• Zhou Yueyan refused to test the pills on Changkong Luo but told Zhang Xuezhou that Zhou Xin might appear at Huli Port on the eighth of each month.
• Zhang Xuezhou planned to contact Tuer Kelanduo and travel to Qinmeng for further testing, while acknowledging that the pills could not support Divine Ability Realm cultivators.
• Zhou Yueyan questioned Zhang Xuezhou’s real purpose for spending so much on the vomiting medicine and seeking Zhou Xin in Qinmeng.

Zhou Yueyan realized that Zhang Xuezhou had taught Ning Que fictional ancient cultivation methods that were improving his combat ability and healing. She concluded that the emetics Zhang Xuezhou had been making served a deeper purpose, though she had not yet uncovered what it was.

• Zhou Yueyan left Zhang Xuezhou’s laboratory after learning that he expected to recover in about two months.
• On her way back to Western Capital City, Zhou Yueyan read Ning Que’s messages asking about Zhang Xuezhou, his reward, the cultivation methods, and more medicinal paste.
• Zhou Yueyan looked up The Smiling, Proud Wanderer and recognized the Sunflower Manual and Nine Swords of Dugu as methods from the novel.
• Ning Que told Zhou Yueyan that he had reached the second level of both methods and believed the next level might help heal internal injuries.
• Zhou Yueyan reconsidered Ning Que’s success in the Sequence Contest and recalled Zhou Xin’s warnings about ancient martial arts.
• Zhou Yueyan recognized the methods’ potential and finally understood the true purpose behind Zhang Xuezhou’s emetics.

Zhou Yueyan recognized that Ning Que’s healing ability came from the Divine Striking Technique and suspected Zhang Xuezhou could use it to treat Zhou Rihui’s internal injuries. She sent Zhou Rihui to seek Zhang Xuezhou’s help and considered how dependent the Zhou Household had become on him.

• Ning Que used the Divine Striking Technique to heal a wound, and Zhou Yueyan identified the ancient technique.
• Zhou Yueyan offered to tell Zhou Rihui about a possible treatment for his internal injuries if he paid her twenty million.
• Zhou Yueyan reasoned that Zhang Xuezhou might be able to treat Zhou Rihui and urged him to go see Zhang before he left for Qinmeng.
• Zhou Rihui agreed to seek treatment, and Zhou Yueyan told him to take four hundred portions of blood serum culture medium as payment.
• Ning Que asked to go with Zhou Rihui to the institute, and Zhou Yueyan agreed to help him get a permit.
• After Zhou Rihui left, Zhou Yueyan wondered about Zhang Xuezhou’s abilities and concluded that he was irreplaceable to the Zhou Household.

Zhang Xuezhou practiced the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique while waiting for Ren Anran to persuade Tuer Kelanduo. Zhou Rihui arrived seeking treatment after sparring with Zhang Manqian, and Ning Que watched to see how effective Zhang Xuezhou’s healing method was.

• Zhang Xuezhou continued practicing the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Technique and waited for Ren Anran to persuade Tuer Kelanduo before his trip to Qinmeng.
• Zhou Rihui arrived at the B13 Research Institute seeking treatment, while Zhang Manqian stood beside him with bruises from their sparring match.
• Zhang Xuezhou recognized that Zhou Rihui wanted to see the treatment work on Zhang Manqian before trusting it for himself.
• Zhang Xuezhou entered the institute and found Ning Que waiting for him while still recovering from physical weakness.
• Ning Que watched Zhang Xuezhou closely, hoping to judge whether his healing method could help him.

At the B13 Research Institute, Zhang Xuezhou used the Supreme Purity True Technique to heal Zhang Manqian and disguised the method as a blessing from the Tuer God. Zhou Rihui then offered four hundred portions of culture medium for treatment, while Zhang Manqian studied his formidable physique and resolved to improve her own fighting techniques.

• Zhang Xuezhou healed Zhang Manqian with the Supreme Purity True Technique, and Ning Que grew wary of the technique’s concealed nature and the rarity of his own cultivation knowledge.
• Zhou Rihui questioned Zhang Xuezhou about his prayers, and Zhang Xuezhou claimed his healing powers came from blessings bestowed by the Tuer God in the Thousand Islands Alliance.
• Zhou Rihui offered Zhang Xuezhou four hundred portions of culture medium for treatment, and Zhang Xuezhou accepted the reagent before asking him to lie down.
• Zhang Manqian observed Zhou Rihui’s exceptional physique and recognized how far his genes and fighting techniques surpassed her own.
• Zhang Manqian made Zhou Rihui a goal to pursue and considered adapting her Gene Fighting Techniques to better suit her strengths.

Zhang Xuezhou struggled to examine Zhou Rihui’s hidden injuries with silver needles while Zhou Rihui screamed and resisted treatment. Watching Zhang Xuezhou work, Ning Que discovered he could recognize flaws in the casting and quietly offered his observations.

• Zhang Xuezhou used silver needles and the Supreme Purity True Technique to examine Zhou Rihui, whose tough body resisted the treatment and whose pain made him uncooperative.
• Zhang Xuezhou identified about thirteen hidden injuries, possibly caused by Zhou Rihui’s Gene Fighting Technique, and warned that ordinary treatment would have difficulty healing him.
• Zhang Xuezhou continued treating Zhou Rihui for the culture medium he had brought, while Zhang Manqian and Ning Que studied his body.
• Ning Que noticed that his understanding of combat and techniques had sharpened, allowing him to distinguish Zhang Xuezhou’s feints from real moves and sense flaws in his abilities.
• Ning Que finally asked Zhang Xuezhou about the flaws he had noticed, and Zhang Xuezhou recognized his keen perception and raised his estimation of him.

Zhou Rihui’s treatment by Zhang Xuezhou restored part of his strength and brought him closer to advancing to the Sixth Sequence. Zhang Xuezhou saw Zhou Rihui’s need for continued treatment as a chance to form an alliance with the Zhou Household, though Zhang Manqian remained unsure they would accept one.

• Zhou Rihui tested his recovered strength and found that his breathing endurance had increased by four seconds after Zhang Xuezhou treated six areas of his body.
• Zhou Rihui decided to continue treatment and wondered whether the Thousand Islands Alliance’s healing abilities came from the Tur People’s beliefs.
• Zhang Manqian worried that successfully treating Zhou Rihui could expose Zhang Xuezhou to danger from Sequence experts seeking his healing ability.
• Zhang Xuezhou argued that the Zhou Household might offer goodwill because Zhou Yueyan and Zhou Rihui both had long-term reasons to rely on him.
• Zhang Manqian questioned whether the powerful Zhou Household would ally with the much weaker Zhang Household.

Zhang Xuezhou reflected on Luo Zhong’s death and his own growing prospects, then agreed to leave for Qinmeng immediately after Ren Anran found Tuer Kelanduo. Ren Anran wanted Kelanduo sent away quickly because she had taken something from the Zuo Household, though Zhang Xuezhou did not yet know what it was.

• Zhang Xuezhou continued supporting Ning Que’s cultivation without directing his training, while accepting that Luo Zhong’s death had ended their chance to obtain the complete Mental Strengthening Chapter.
• Zhang Xuezhou considered his growing status and potential alliance with the Zhou Household after treating Zhou Rihui with the Supreme Purity True Technique.
• Ren Anran called Zhang Xuezhou to say she had found Kelanduo and asked whether they could leave for Qinmeng at once.
• Ren Anran explained that Kelanduo had taken something from the Zuo Household, so she wanted to send her away as soon as possible.
• Zhang Xuezhou agreed to depart immediately and called Wang Li to prepare for the trip to find Zhou Xin.

Zhang Xuezhou, Ren Anran, and Tuer Kelanduo traveled toward Qinmeng while debating whether to get involved in Kalanduo’s conflict with a vicious insect. On the Airbus, Ren Anran revealed that Tuer Kelanduo had manipulated Zuo Jin into giving her a giant bird vicious beast extract, leaving the Zuo Household with a costly loss.

• Wang Li questioned whether the small Qinmeng team was prepared for the trip, and Tuer Kelanduo complained that they were being pulled into trouble despite her having gained nothing from years of acting as a puppet.
• Zhang Xuezhou warned that Kalanduo should leave the country if she would not listen to her mother, then pretended he would abandon her rather than risk getting people killed.
• Ren Anran explained that Tuer Kelanduo’s Divine Spirit Aura could influence Wang Li and potentially other teammates, so Zhang Xuezhou suggested splitting up before they agreed to cooperate and discuss matters aboard the Airbus.
• Tuer Kelanduo removed her disguise, and the group boarded the long-distance Airbus for Qinmeng.
• Ren Anran told Zhang Xuezhou that Tuer Kelanduo had tricked Zuo Jin into handing over the giant bird vicious beast extract Zuo Lianguang had left with him.

Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran discussed the power of high-level Sequence Holders, the Mental Strengthening Chapter, and plans to develop safer medicines. As they traveled toward the Aomeijia Alliance, Tuer Kelanduo worried that the vicious insects threatening the Tuer Clan were outpacing her ambitions and plans.

• Zhang Xuezhou realized weak Sequence Holders were vulnerable to mental control and that power in the world rested with elite Sequence Holders.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran suspected that Luo Tianming used the Mental Strengthening Chapter as leverage over Zuo Lianguang and other Twilight Years Mansion figures.
• Ren Anran said Ren Yisheng was considering revisions to the sixth chapter of Mental Strengthening, while Zhang Xuezhou discussed developing the Heavenly God General Medicine and a safer oral alternative.
• Tuer Kelanduo questioned Wang Li about their destination and reflected on the secrets and Ferocious Beast extract she had obtained.
• Tuer Kelanduo worried that the vicious insects in Tuer District threatened the Tuer Clan and left too little time for her plans to advance.