Chapter Summaries

Kang Dabao and Fei Shuhe grew closer as husband and wife, while Kang’s success in Ping and Jin counties heightened tensions between local and capital-region factions. At court, Kuang Liuting revealed he had secured the Great Sun Raw Stone needed for Core Formation and decided to visit Kang in Pingrong County.

• Kang Dabao and Fei Shuhe spent the night together, and Kang resolved to secure the Fei Household’s support and father a legitimate heir with spiritual aptitude.
• Zhu Tong praised Kang Dabao’s work in Ping and Jin counties and ordered his withheld salary to be restored, while Tie Liuyun resented Kang’s growing influence in Tanggu County.
• Tie Xishui and Meng Xuan clashed over the court’s priorities, and officials discussed their difficulty obtaining Great Sun Raw Stone for Kuang Liuting’s Core Formation.
• Acting Sima Gun criticized Tie Liuyun and the Demon Correction Office for failing to pacify the region, prompting Kuang Liuting to arrive and demand to know which county magistrate had earned merit.
• Kuang Liuting revealed a large piece of Great Sun Raw Stone he had obtained in Ye Prefecture and decided to visit Kang Dabao in Pingrong County.

Feng Wan took up the post of Jin County commandant and began purging corrupt officials and local tyrants, while Kang Dabao explained his plans for reforming Pingrong and Jin counties to Kuang Liuting. The chapter ended with Kuang Liuting praising Kang Dabao’s work and urging him to follow him beyond Cloud Horn Prefecture.

• Feng Wan arrived at the White Fruit Township elders' office and killed the corrupt clerks and cultivators gathered there, including Hu Yong and Xue Xi'er.
• The next morning, Xie Er led township soldiers against local tyrants and the Song Household, but a hidden young Daoist killed him and destroyed the household with yellow smoke.
• Feng Wan confronted the fleeing young Daoist, Ou Long, and used a golden arrow to kill him after Duan Anle and Kang Rongquan emerged from hiding.
• Kang Rongquan told Feng Wan he could serve as county commandant but must not see Grandaunt again, and Feng Wan agreed.
• Kang Dabao described his plans for selecting officials, involving respectable Rogue Cultivators, and supporting ordinary people to Kuang Liuting, who praised his efforts and offered to guide him in the realm of Great Wei.

Kang Dabao returned to the prefectural court treasury, claimed a jade ring, a defensive Spirit Artifact, and a valuable pill, then visited Buse to seek advice on cultivating the Glazed Treasure Tree. Buse could not provide the method but offered to introduce someone in Xuanwei City who might help.

• Tie Xishui warmly welcomed Kang Dabao, who found the jade ring still in the treasury and took it as his third ring.
• Kang Dabao selected the Immortal Game Disc, a defensive Spirit Artifact, and a Pine Creek Pill from the treasury.
• Kang Dabao visited Buse, who welcomed him and served him Bright Dew spiritual tea.
• Kang Dabao explained his sect's method for cultivating the Glazed Treasure Tree and asked Buse for guidance.
• Buse said the tree's original cultivator had gone missing, then offered to recommend someone in Xuanwei City whom Kang Dabao's family had known for a long time.

Qi Duoluo returned to the Qi Household and witnessed Chu Yanran refuse to personally help Kang Dabao cultivate a Glazed Treasure Tree, though she gave him a Buddhist plants handbook and asked him to summon Daoist Black Shoes. After hearing his parents disparage him, Qi Duoluo left in anguish, while Daoist Black Shoes decided to meet Chu Yanran about their plans for the Mountain-Viewing cave abode.

• Qi Duoluo arrived home and learned Chu Yanran had come out of seclusion to meet Kang Dabao, then entered the inner courtyard to greet them.
• Kang Dabao asked Chu Yanran to help cultivate a Glazed Treasure Tree, but she gave him a handbook on Buddhist plants instead and praised Zhou Yixiu's cultivation method.
• Chu Yanran asked Kang Dabao to tell Daoist Black Shoes to visit her, and Kang Dabao left the Qi Household after agreeing to pass on the message.
• Qi Duoluo withdrew after overhearing Chu Yanran and Qi Buxiu criticize him, and he blamed Chu Yanran for driving him toward a plan he had discussed at the Mandarin Duck Hall.
• Daoist Black Shoes told Kang Dabao he would meet Chu Yanran because she might be useful for their plans concerning the Mountain-Viewing cave abode, and Kang Dabao set off to deliver the handbook to Zhou Yixiu.

Sect Leader Kang Dabao confronted Zhou Yixiu about his distraction over Shan Xuerong and ordered her returned, while Shan Sheng decided to take her to the Chongming Sect to apologize. Yuan Jin emerged from seclusion after suppressing another dangerous episode caused by the White Ape Scripture, then received Kang Dabao’s summons and left to meet him.

• Kang Dabao scolded Zhou Yixiu for neglecting the Glazed Treasure Tree matter because of Shan Xuerong and threatened to end the Shan Household’s marriage ties if she did not return within ten days.
• Shan Sheng weighed the risks to his weakened household and decided to take Shan Xuerong to the Chongming Sect to apologize and warn her not to return on her own.
• Yuan Jin survived another dangerous demonic episode while cultivating the White Ape Scripture and resolved to keep its flaws secret rather than start over.
• Yuan Jin received Kang Dabao’s talisman decree after emerging from seclusion and reunited with his sons, Changsheng and Ruyi.
• Yuan Jin reflected that he needed to reach Foundation Establishment for his descendants’ sake, then went to meet Kang Dabao.

Yuan Jin received the Formless Heart Sutra and a Foundation Establishment Pill from Kang Dabao, while Kang Dabao settled a marriage dispute and agreed to lend the Shan Household a Foundation Establishment spiritual object in exchange for repayment within sixty years. As Yuan Jin escorted Shan Sheng out, Bian Yu arrived demanding his wife and child, and Kang Dabao confronted him at Chongming Sect’s gate.

• He Wanying defeated Kang Dabao at board game and persuaded him to let her visit Feng Wan once she broke through.
• Kang Dabao gave Yuan Jin the Formless Heart Sutra and revealed that he had prepared a Foundation Establishment Pill for him.
• Kang Dabao rebuked Shan Sheng over Shan Xuerong’s marriage dispute, and Shan Sheng promised the Shan Household would honor the marriage.
• Kang Dabao agreed to lend Shan Sheng a Five-Pattern Heavy Peak Stone on credit, requiring the Shan Household to return two Foundation Establishment spiritual objects within sixty years or surrender its ancestral lands.
• As Yuan Jin escorted Shan Sheng from Chongming Sect, Bian Yu arrived with a black-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator and demanded his wife and child back.
• Kang Dabao came out with Nanny Sun and challenged Bian Yu for bringing trouble to Chongming Sect.

Sect Leader Kang Da and Nanny Sun fought Bian Wei after he came to reclaim Bian Yu’s wife and children, and both sides revealed powerful artifacts and techniques. The battle reached a standstill, and Shan Sheng called for Bian Wei to stop as the Shan Household cultivators returned with Bian Yu.

• Bian Wei asked Shan Sheng to return Bian Yu’s wife and children, but Kang Da attacked after Shan Sheng hesitated.
• Kang Da used his Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes, Ink Abyss Flag, and Lion Insects against Bian Wei, while Nanny Sun joined the fight with her transformed staff.
• Bian Wei summoned a black tiger spirit and pressed Kang Da, but Kang Da and Nanny Sun damaged his weapons and forced him into the ground.
• Bian Wei emerged in a scaled, monstrous form, declared his name, and renewed his attack with stronger spear Gang Qi.
• Nanny Sun used a single-use bracelet artifact to block Bian Wei’s spear attack as the fighters reached a standstill.
• Shan Household cultivators returned with Bian Yu under guard, and Shan Sheng called out to Bian Wei to stop.

Shan Sheng’s capture of Bian Yu gave Kang Dabao and Bian Wei a chance to negotiate, but Bian Wei failed to secure the return of Zhou Yixiu’s wife and child and left with his descendant. Kang Dabao then warned Zhou Yixiu to keep Shan Xuerong from changing her mind, and ten days later Yuan Ruyi left for Chongming City to prepare for his marriage.

• Shan Sheng held Bian Yu as leverage, and Kang Dabao and Bian Wei agreed to pause their fight and negotiate.
• Bian Wei paid to restore Bian Yu’s original surname, and Shan Sheng released him from the spiritual locks.
• Kang Dabao refused Bian Wei’s demand to reunite Bian Yu with Shan Xuerong and their child, so Bian Wei left with Bian Yu.
• Kang Dabao told Zhou Yixiu that Shan Xuerong could not be allowed to change her mind again, and Zhou agreed to stop her by force if necessary.
• Ten days later, Yuan Ruyi left Little Ring Mountain for Chongming City to prepare for his marriage.

Ye Zhengwen criticized Kang Dabao for driving Bian Wei away instead of stalling for time, and Kang Dabao admitted he had acted rashly. Meanwhile, Daoist Black Shoes and Chu Yanran agreed to ally in Mountain-Viewing Cave, and the chapter ended with Kang Dabao pondering new information about Bian Yu and Bian Wei.

• Ye Zhengwen told Kang Dabao that he should have delayed Bian Wei and used the time to seek a safer response, and Kang Dabao conceded that his decision had been poorly considered.
• Daoist Black Shoes accepted Chu Yanran’s offer to ally for Mountain-Viewing Cave and agreed to deal with Yue Lan in exchange for a place, treasures, and her Illusory Gold Sand.
• Kang Dabao complained to Fei Shuhe about Ye Zhengwen’s criticism, but Fei Shuhe defended Ye Zhengwen’s advice before Yuan Jin arrived.
• Yuan Jin told Kang Dabao that Shan Sheng had left and reported that the Shan Household knew nothing of Bian Yu’s or Bian Wei’s origins.
• Kang Dabao rubbed a black-faced, gold-framed token and pondered Yuan Jin’s report.

Kang Dabao met the Fearless Tower agent Hemp Robe to seek information about Bian Wei and learned about the organization’s Merit Points and rare resources. When Hemp Robe offered a Foundation Establishment Pill in exchange for information about Daoist Black Shoes, Kang Dabao reacted with open hostility.

• Fei Shuhe told Kang Dabao that her family had found no firm trace of Bian Wei and suspected he came from another prefecture.
• Kang Dabao visited Ye Zhengwen, learned that he had entered seclusion again, and activated the Fearless Tower token to arrange a meeting.
• Five days later, Kang Dabao met Hemp Robe in the Cold Crow Mountain Range and requested information about Bian Wei’s identity, background, methods, and whereabouts.
• Hemp Robe quoted a price of five thousand Merit Points and explained the Tower’s exchanges, including Foundation Establishment Pills and its Merit Points Hall.
• Hemp Robe offered to exchange information about Daoist Black Shoes for a Foundation Establishment Pill, and Kang Dabao’s eyes turned gold as he glared at her.

The Fearless Tower’s hemp-robed woman reported Kang Dabao’s inquiry about Bian Wei to Old Jiang, who ordered her to return with news that the Tower had found the person Kang sought. At the Spirit Stone vein, Jiang Qing rejected Gun Yuyao’s heartfelt letter, then hurried back to the Chongming Sect after receiving a message from Kang Dabao.

• The hemp-robed woman agreed to investigate Bian Wei for Kang Dabao and promised to report her findings as soon as possible.
• The woman returned to the Fearless Tower’s Cloud Horn Prefecture branch, where Old Jiang revealed that the Tower wanted information on Daoist Black Shoes and Kuang Liuting.
• Old Jiang told the woman to return to Kang Dabao and say the Tower had found the Foundation Establishment cultivator he was seeking, while warning her not to harm him.
• Jiang Qing destroyed Gun Yuyao’s letter and decided not to return her feelings because he would not let romance distract him from his Dao Path.
• Jiang Qing received a message talisman from Kang Dabao, informed Li Mingyuan, and rode White Dew back to the Chongming Sect.

Sect Leader Kang Da learned that the disguised Bian Wei was Wu Cangyun, a wounded Hongyi Sect elder hiding in the Cold Crow Mountain Range, and received his approximate location from Jiang Hongdao. Ten days later, Wu Cangyun tried to flee with Wu Yu, but attackers ambushed them as they neared the mountain range’s edge.

• Jiang Hongdao introduced himself and Yan Qingwei, then offered Kang Da authority over Fearless Tower’s hemp-robed disciples and gray-robed helpers across Cloud Horn Prefecture; Kang declined the position.
• Jiang Hongdao identified Bian Wei as Wu Cangyun, explained his background and injuries, and gave Kang a map marking Wu’s hiding place in the Cold Crow Mountain Range.
• Kang took the map and left to pursue Wu, while Jiang told Yan that Kang might reveal information about Kuang Liuting and predicted that the Two Instruments Sect and Star-Picking Pavilion would face trouble.
• Wu Cangyun recovered in a cave and brooded over his failed attempt to seize the Jade Moon Shan Household, blaming Shan Sheng and vowing revenge on him, Kang Da, and the Chongming Sect.
• Wu Yu brought Wu Cangyun pills and medicine, and Wu Cangyun decided they would return to Ding Prefecture after he refined the pill.
• As Wu Cangyun and Wu Yu tried to leave the Cold Crow Mountain Range, flying attacks struck; Wu Cangyun was horrified, and a black-clad attacker charged Wu Yu, shouting that Wu Yu must repay him for his son’s death.

Jiang Qing killed Wu Yu, and Sect Leader Kang Da and his allies fought Wu Cangyun until he shattered his spear and unleashed a powerful body-refining technique. Wu Cangyun fled into the Cold Crow Mountain Range, where five Hongyi Sect cultivators joined him and turned the fight against the Chongming Sect; reinforcements from the sect were on their way as the chapter ended.

• Wu Yu fled from Yuan Jin, but Jiang Qing used the White Dew Sword to kill him, and Wu Cangyun sent a message talisman before attacking Sect Leader Kang Da.
• Sect Leader Kang Da and Wu Cangyun fought while Jiang Qing battled Wu Cangyun's black tiger spirit, and Lion Insects broke through Wu Cangyun's armor.
• Wu Cangyun tried to attack Yuan Jin, but Jiang Qing blocked him and Kang Da drove him back until Wu Cangyun's black-flame spear shattered.
• Wu Cangyun dispersed his cultivation to strengthen his body, but Kang Da struck him down; Wu Cangyun then fled deeper into the Cold Crow Mountain Range as Kang Da and Jiang Qing pursued.
• Nanny Sun and five Hongyi Sect cultivators arrived, surrounding the Chongming Sect fighters, and Mo Wen joined the battle as the odds turned against them.
• Yuan Jin returned to the Chongming Sect and rallied its forces, while a familiar streak of sword light sped toward the battlefield.

Kang Dabao and his allies fought to survive against Hongyi Sect cultivators until Daoist Black Shoes and Core Master Xue Wu arrived, shifting the battle. Xue Wu held the advantage over Daoist Black Shoes, but the battlefield remained unsettled as outside observers watched.

• Kang Dabao snapped a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s flying sword and badly wounded him, but Hongyi Sect’s coordinated attacks kept Kang’s allies under pressure.
• Kang Dabao used the Ink Abyss Flag to wound the coarse-bearded cultivator with Third-Tier Cloud Python venom, while the phoenix-hairpin woman nearly killed Nanny Sun and Jiang Qing.
• Daoist Black Shoes arrived after several Hongyi Sect heads fell from the sky, then broke the phoenix-hairpin woman’s artifact and defeated her before green feathers forced him to stop.
• Core Master Xue Wu arrived and confronted Daoist Black Shoes, while Wu Cangyun recognized his master and returned to the fight.
• The coarse-bearded cultivator died when the venom spread through his body, and the short-jacketed cultivator retreated to fight Kang Dabao from a distance.
• Xue Wu remained confident he could kill Daoist Black Shoes, unaware that important figures outside the battlefield were watching.

Yue Feng and Deng Baichuan gathered patrolmen to join the effort to rescue Kang Dabao, while Kang and Daoist Black Shoes fought the Hongyi Sect. Kang Dabao’s Thunder Swallow Rune destroyed False Core cultivator Xue Wu, and the surviving Hongyi Sect members surrendered as Kuang Liuting faced Li Yun.

• Yue Feng challenged Deng Baichuan’s plan, then warned the patrolmen of the danger and offered them a chance to withdraw.
• Shao Meng chose to go, and roughly half the patrolmen stepped forward; Deng Baichuan and Yue Feng killed those who refused, then Deng promised rewards to those who fought and returned.
• Daoist Black Shoes struggled against Xue Wu while Kang Dabao killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator and charged at Xue Wu to protect his martial uncle.
• Kang Dabao’s Thunder Swallow Rune appeared and unleashed a flock of lightning birds that destroyed Xue Wu.
• Wu Cangyun surrendered, and the remaining Hongyi Sect members laid down their weapons.
• Kuang Liuting withdrew his gaze from the battlefield as Li Yun invited him to talk.

Li Yun tried to negotiate with Kuang Liuting, who demanded that the Hongyi Sect surrender all of Ding Prefecture and threatened to report its alleged crimes. After the fighting, the Chongming Sect thanked its rescuers, mourned its dead, and Kang Dabao agreed to Gui Xiang’s request to end their feud, while an unseen observer watched Gui Xiang depart with Yue Feng.

• Li Yun offered Kuang Liuting concessions in Cloud Horn and Jingnan Prefectures, but Kuang demanded all of Ding Prefecture and threatened to accuse the Hongyi Sect before Xie Yi.
• Li Yun erupted in anger as Kuang invoked his agreement with the Star-Picking Pavilion and challenged him to a fight to the death.
• Nanny Sun thanked the rescuers, while Yue Feng resolved to befriend Kang Dabao and Gui Xiang privately considered fleeing the Chongming Sect’s growing power.
• Fei Shuhe organized a banquet and thoughtful gifts for the rescuers as the Chongming Sect honored them and grieved for Yuan Ruyi and He Yuanbing.
• Gui Xiang apologized to Kang Dabao and asked to end their feud; Kang agreed, and Yue Feng took Gui Xiang away to report to the Yue Household head.

After He Yuanbing’s death, Zhou Yixiu killed Zhou Wei and Shan Xuerong, whom he believed could not be allowed to live because of their Wu Household bloodline, then mourned them. Several days later, Fei Nanying and Gun Shilu discussed Kang Dabao’s battle at Cold Crow Mountain and the looming conflict with the Hongyi Sect, while Sima Fei prepared for the Mountain-Viewing cave abode to open.

• At He Yuanbing’s funeral, Kang Dabao arrived and asked why Zhou Yixiu was absent, but Fei Shuhe persuaded him to trust Zhou Yixiu and stay.
• Zhou Yixiu and Shan Xuerong discussed sending Zhou Wei away from the Chongming Sect, and Zhou Yixiu accused her of never trusting him.
• Zhou Yixiu used poison to kill Zhou Wei and Shan Xuerong, then enclosed their bodies among the Plain Snow Stamen and mourned them.
• Several days later, Fei Nanying and Gun Shilu heard Deng Baichuan describe the battle at Cold Crow Mountain and praised Kang Dabao’s achievement with the Thunder Swallow Rune.
• Gun Shilu worried that Kuang Liuting would move against the Hongyi Sect, while Sima Fei considered preparing Kang Dabao for the Mountain-Viewing cave abode.

Yan Qingwei reported that Gui Xiang had sold Lin Binghui’s belongings and warned Kang Dabao about threats surrounding the Mountain-Viewing Cave. Three years later, the Chongming Sect had grown stronger and its new year’s Immortal Ascension Assembly was about to begin.

• Yan Qingwei told Kang Dabao that Gui Xiang had sold Lin Binghui’s golden melon Law Artifact and other Lin Household items, then warned him about Tie Liuyun and the Yuan Household’s interest in Mountain-Viewing Cave.
• Yan Qingwei learned from Jiang Hongdao that the Fearless Tower considered Kang Dabao valuable and might want to recruit him, while Jiang speculated that she could be used to win him over.
• Three years passed, and the Chongming Sect’s disciples pursued cultivation and new roles: Yuan Jin and Pei Yi prepared to strengthen their foundations, Ye Zhengwen entered life-or-death seclusion, and Duan Anle advanced in the hundred arts.
• The Chongming Sect expanded its influence and developed its disciples, trade, and spirit-raising work, while Kang Dabao considered future opportunities for Zhang Le and Ye Yaoling.
• The Chongming Sect prepared to hold its new year’s Immortal Ascension Assembly.

The Chongming Sect held its Immortal Ascension Assembly, testing candidates with a Heart-Questioning Formation while Sect Leader Kang Da’s son, Kang Changyi, was revealed to have a Dual Spirit Root. The assembly was ending as Kang Da arrived to review the selection results.

• Xiu Ming brought two Xiu Household candidates to Little Ring Mountain, where the Chongming Sect held its assembly and prepared its final selection.
• Wei Gu activated the Heart-Questioning Formation, and Pei Que recorded how the thirty candidates endured the trial.
• Keke, a mute girl from Chongming City with a Triple Spirit Root, remained in the formation for twenty-eight breaths, and Duan Anle ordered a reward for the silk shop owner who had raised her.
• Fei Shuhe celebrated after learning Kang Changyi had a Dual Spirit Root, and Huo Ying thanked her for promising to seek him a prestigious marriage match.
• Kang Da reached Little Ring Mountain as the assembly concluded, received the registers from Duan Anle and the other disciples, and began tallying the results.

Kang Dabao reviewed the Immortal Ascension Assembly’s candidates and finalized new rules for Chongming Sect’s disciples, appointments, and advancement. He promoted Han Xundao and granted Sun Fu and Niu Kuang the right to choose disciples, then received a message talisman from Xuanwei City.

• Kang Dabao rejected Shan Jiong from the Jade Moon Shan Household because his character was poor and he failed the Heart-Questioning Formation, while accepting Qi Ke for her rare triple spirit root and strong performance.
• Kang Dabao approved forty-one new disciples for the Nurturing Qilin Hall under Ye Yaoling and appointed Han Xundao as her deputy instructor.
• Kang Dabao’s new regulations established outer, inner, and True Disciple ranks, with advancement paths, stipends, duties, and appointments tied to cultivation, skill, and merit.
• Duan Anle worried that Han Xundao had already grown arrogant, but he accepted Kang Dabao’s decision to promote him.
• Kang Dabao authorized Sun Fu and Niu Kuang to choose juniors to inherit their teachings, then received a dark-blue message talisman from Xuanwei City.