Chapter Summaries

Shan Heyuan accepted a promotion to instructor at Sword Reverence Academy and settled into his new role while he and Shen Duheng remained wary of the sects watching them. Tong Liangji then visited Shan Heyuan with an invitation from the Supreme Harmony Sect to attend its joint grand competition.

• Huai Liu offered Shan Heyuan the vacant instructor position at Sword Reverence Academy, and Shan Heyuan agreed after discussing it with Shen Duheng.
• Shan Heyuan became an instructor, adjusted to teaching, and bought spirit seeds and materials to grow plants and refine Fertilizer Pills.
• Shan Heyuan continued to sense that the Spirit Jade Palace and the Sword Reverence Sect were watching him and Shen Duheng.
• Tong Liangji visited Shan Heyuan and said the Supreme Harmony Sect's leader had asked whether Shan Heyuan could attend the joint grand competition it was hosting.

Shan Heyuan agreed to return to the Supreme Harmony Sect for its joint tournament and traveled there with Shen Duheng, who planned to investigate the circumstances of Shan Heyuan’s transmigration. After arriving, Shan Heyuan reunited with his old fellow disciples and warmly welcomed Ma Rupei, leaving their conversation focused on Ma Rupei’s progress with the Thousand Expeditions Sword.

• Tong Liangji invited Shan Heyuan to attend the joint tournament in Jingzhishan Town, and Shan agreed to visit the Supreme Harmony Sect for several days.
• Shan Heyuan told Shen Duheng that they could investigate the timing of his transmigration during the visit, and Shen offered to examine the memories of the cultivators who had found him.
• Shan Heyuan arranged five days off, and he and Shen Duheng flew by sword to the Supreme Harmony Sect, where Jiu Mingyue and Qi Yuanbai welcomed them.
• Jiu Mingyue and the other disciples remarked on Shan Heyuan’s rapid cultivation progress as they escorted him to the guest courtyard.
• Shan Heyuan reunited with Ma Rupei, eased his awkwardness with a warm greeting, and asked about his cultivation of the Thousand Expeditions Sword.

Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng investigated the circumstances of Shan Heyuan’s arrival in the cultivation world by viewing the memories of the cultivators who found him. Their evidence suggested Shan Heyuan may have lost his memories and been reincarnated, and they planned to question the person who first discovered him.

• Ma Rupei recounted how he and two other cultivators had found Shan Heyuan unconscious, naked, and without anything that could establish his identity.
• Shen Duheng extracted Ma Rupei’s memory and projected it, revealing that Shan Heyuan’s body had been younger and different from how he remembered it.
• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng viewed Shanyuan and Lin Lixin’s memories but found no further clues, then discussed how Shan Heyuan’s age and body might point to reincarnation.
• Shen Duheng proposed that Shan Heyuan had reincarnated and awakened memories of a previous life, and they decided to find the person who first discovered him.
• Shan Heyuan lay awake wondering about his lost memories, exceptional talent, and possible family background.

Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng investigated how Shan Heyuan had appeared in Jingzhishan Town but found no clues. After hearing about spirit springs at Black She Temple, they decided to explore the site and its unusual Shamanism.

• Shan Heyuan worried that his past and enemies might be difficult to uncover, and Shen Duheng promised to strive to return to the Spirit Transformation Realm within five years.
• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng viewed the memories of the cultivator who found Shan Heyuan and searched the spot where he had been discovered, but found no evidence of how he got there.
• Shan Heyuan spoke with Qi Yuanbai, who said Shan Heyuan's success had raised their peak's standing and that he planned to travel after the competition to seek a breakthrough.
• Shan Heyuan asked Zhong Shuran about high-quality spirit springs, and Zhong Shuran suggested searching Black She Temple, where the Illusionless Tree held sway.
• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng agreed to visit Black She Temple, hoping to find spirit springs and learn more about its unusual Shamanism.

Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng returned to Black She Temple to explore and seek spirit spring water, but the Illusionless Tree blocked their way. When it sensed something familiar in Shan Heyuan's Spiritual Power, its branches argued and fought among themselves, unleashing a disturbing mental assault.

• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng left the Supreme Harmony Sect and flew to Black She Temple after Shan Heyuan declined He Wei's farewell banquet.
• The Illusionless Tree recognized Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng, then exclaimed that Shan Heyuan had not made his Illusionless Tree into a lifebound Law Treasure.
• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng decided to force their way beneath the Illusionless Tree to reach Black She Temple.
• The Illusionless Tree attacked with its branches, and Shen Duheng cut them while Shan Heyuan knocked them aside with his spirit sword.
• The Illusionless Tree sensed a familiar quality in Shan Heyuan's Spiritual Power and its branches argued over whether it resembled a long-dead senior.
• The Illusionless Tree's branches fought one another, scattering fragments and creating a powerful mental assault that Shan Heyuan recognized as Shamanism.

Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng explored the ruined Black She Temple, found its planting grounds barren, and discussed the temple’s mysterious collapse and the cultivation world’s severed connection to the Heavenly Dao. They discovered a Core Formation-grade spirit spring in the living quarters, and Shan Heyuan began making room to collect its water in his Dantian Small World.

• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng entered Black She Temple and identified its primitive symbols as signs of worship of the Primordial Mother Goddess.
• Shan Heyuan found the planting area completely barren, while Shen Duheng sensed Spiritual Power in the living quarters.
• Shen Duheng told Shan Heyuan that Black She Temple’s people had gone mad overnight and explained how the cultivation world had been cut off from the upper realm’s Heavenly Dao.
• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng buried the remains they found and left behind ruined Spirit Artifacts as Shan Heyuan collected Jade Slips and books.
• Shan Heyuan found a well containing Core Formation-grade spirit spring water and drew several buckets with Shen Duheng’s confirmation.
• Shan Heyuan decided to divert more of the spring water into his Dantian Small World and quickly dug a large pit there.

Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng discovered a massive Core Formation-grade Spring Crystal beneath the well at Black She Temple and brought most of it into Shan Heyuan’s Dantian Small World. Shen Duheng then recalled an array method for making an artificial Spirit Spring, giving Shan Heyuan a possible way to create flowing water in his small world.

• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng drained the well and dug through its spirit-soaked mud, uncovering a huge Spring Crystal that fed the water.
• At Shan Heyuan’s request, Shen Duheng left a head-sized piece of Spring Crystal beneath the well and helped remove the rest.
• Shan Heyuan stored the large crystal in Spirit Spring water in his Dantian Small World and admired how its silver light transformed the pool.
• Shen Duheng suggested using an array method he had read about to make an artificial Spirit Spring, and Shan Heyuan asked to see the method.

After returning to Sword Reverence City, Shan Heyuan learned that Dean Huai Liu might become an elder and heard how Sect Master Shen’s failed tribulation had reshaped the academy. As Shen Duheng was away searching for the artificial spirit spring method, Shan Heyuan grew lonely and anxious, then went to tend his ordinary Spirit Plants.

• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng left Black She Temple after finding no other valuable spirit objects and hurried back to Sword Reverence City.
• Shan Heyuan returned to Sword Reverence Academy, reported in, and made up the classes he had missed.
• Jiang Zhi told Shan Heyuan that Dean Huai Liu might become a Sword Reverence Sect elder and explained that the sect’s demand for wound medicine had once drawn Plant Cultivation Department teachers into its service.
• Shan Heyuan became distracted by Shen Duheng’s promised search for the artificial spirit spring method and struggled to prepare his teaching materials.
• Shan Heyuan took time off, returned to his empty home, felt lonely without Shen Duheng, and went outside to tend his Spirit Plants.

Shan Heyuan studied a Cultivation Method for making an artificial spirit spring, but his attempts in his Dantian Small World repeatedly failed and injured him. After losing thirty-six top-grade water Spirit Stones, he wondered whether he should abandon the plan, while Shen Duheng urged him not to give up.

• Shan Heyuan tended his Spirit Plants and waited beneath a newly lit lamp for Shen Duheng to return.
• Shen Duheng gave Shan Heyuan a Jade Slip containing a Cultivation Method, and Shan Heyuan recognized its runes as related to the Spirit Gathering Formation.
• Shan Heyuan practiced carving the runes for several days, improving his jade talismans, but found he could not accurately reproduce them with Divine Sense in his Dantian Small World.
• Shan Heyuan's first attempt exploded eighteen top-grade water Spirit Stones, destabilized his Dantian Small World, and damaged his meridians, so Shen Duheng gave him medicine.
• Shan Heyuan tried again and lost another eighteen top-grade water Spirit Stones without creating the artificial spirit spring.
• Shan Heyuan proposed giving up before he used all his stones, but Shen Duheng told him not to run away from the challenge.

Shan Heyuan continued failing to make an artificial spirit spring, so he persuaded Shen Duheng to enter his Dantian Small World and help with the runes. Shen Duheng entered safely and found the space comfortable, leaving them poised to begin their experiment.

• Shan Heyuan failed to make an artificial spirit spring but refined Fertilizer Pills for the Sword Reverence Sect and received more cultivation resources.
• After blowing up another eighteen top-grade Spirit Stones, Shan Heyuan realized his rune talent was poor and asked Shen Duheng to help complete the artificial spirit spring.
• Shen Duheng agreed to enter Shan Heyuan's Dantian Small World, and they prepared protective formations before the attempt.
• Shan Heyuan drew Shen Duheng into his Dantian, where Shen Duheng found abundant Spiritual Power and complete Heavenly Dao rules.

Shen Duheng studied Shan Heyuan’s Golden Core and used the insight to break through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. He explained that the breakthrough came from mastering a move in the Sword Reverence Sect’s core sword technique, “Questioning the Sword.”

• Shan Heyuan lowered his Golden Core so Shen Duheng could examine its complete Principles.
• Shen Duheng meditated beneath the Golden Core, and Shan Heyuan provided supreme-grade Spirit Stones as Shen Duheng advanced from the Nascent Soul Early Stage to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.
• Shan Heyuan felt the force of Shen Duheng’s cultivation and reflected on his past, his losses, and the gulf between cultivators.
• Shen Duheng told Shan Heyuan that the Golden Core’s Principles helped him master the sword move “Seeing the World,” causing his breakthrough.
• Shen Duheng explained that “Seeing the World” belonged to “Questioning the Sword,” the Sword Reverence Sect’s core technique, which had grown from twenty-four forms to fifty-two over generations.

Shen Duheng tried to create an artificial spirit spring in Shan Heyuan’s Dantian Small World, but their first attempt exploded. After adjusting the runes to account for the small world’s denser Spiritual Power, Shen Duheng completed a second array, and its spring water began rising in grade.

• Shen Duheng told Shan Heyuan about the final two moves of the sword technique and agreed to demonstrate his new move later.
• Shen Duheng’s first attempt to build an artificial spirit spring exploded, injuring him and disrupting Shan Heyuan’s Dantian Small World.
• Shen Duheng identified the cause of the failure and explained how the runes needed adjustment for the small world’s Spiritual Power and Heavenly Dao Principles.
• Shan Heyuan restored his Dantian Small World, and Shen Duheng successfully built the adjusted rune array and placed the Spring Crystal inside.
• Shan Heyuan poured water into the springhead, and its grade rose rapidly to Core Formation grade as water Spiritual Power continued to seep in.

Shan Heyuan created an artificial spirit spring that promised to advance his cultivation, then realized he was in love with Shen Duheng. Shen Duheng confessed that he loved Shan Heyuan too, and Shan Heyuan asked for time alone to think.

• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng watched the artificial spring begin to form, and Shan Heyuan expected it to help him reach the Core Formation Late Stage.
• Shen Duheng reinforced the seals on the Realm Spirit while Shan Heyuan considered returning it to the West Jing Secret Realm once he was strong enough.
• Shan Heyuan accidentally let Shen Duheng fall onto him, then became flustered by their close contact and recognized his feelings for him.
• Shen Duheng caught Shan Heyuan's hand and said they should worry about mutual willingness, then confessed he was in love with him.
• Shan Heyuan admitted he had never considered Shen Duheng's feelings and asked for quiet time, while Shen Duheng left the room smiling.

Shan Heyuan realized Shen Duheng loved him, and the two began their relationship. After celebrating with friends, Shan Heyuan’s artificial spirit spring reached Nascent Soul grade.

• Shan Heyuan happily messaged Shen Duheng after realizing they shared feelings, and Shen Duheng asked him not to call him Brother Shen.
• Shan Heyuan watched Shen Duheng practice swordsmanship, then learned Shen Duheng had grown up without companions because Ji Li feared they might expose his impersonations.
• Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng went out for breakfast together before Shan Heyuan attended classes at Sword Reverence Academy.
• Jiang Zhi and Li Jian teased Shan Heyuan about his relationship with Shen Duheng, and Shan Heyuan admitted they both had feelings for each other.
• Shan Heyuan, Jiang Zhi, and Li Jian went to Cloud Accord Pavilion to celebrate, and less than two days later his artificial spirit spring reached Nascent Soul grade.

Shan Heyuan reached Late Core Formation and began refining high-grade Fertilizer Pills with Shen Duheng guarding him. After the first batch yielded only thirty-five pills, Shan Heyuan adjusted his technique for the second batch and refined with greater skill.

• Jiang Zhi and Li Jian teased Shan Heyuan about his rapid cultivation, and Shan Heyuan let them spread the rumor that he and Shen Duheng had practiced Dual Cultivation.
• Shan Heyuan decided to auction his Fertilizer Pills for supreme-grade Spirit Stones and rented a Nascent Soul-grade pill room from the Sword Reverence Sect.
• Shen Duheng stood guard while Shan Heyuan used Pu Core Fire and Nascent Soul-grade spirit spring water to refine his first batch.
• The spirit fire evaporated more than half of the pill liquid, but Shan Heyuan salvaged the rest and produced thirty-five Fertilizer Pills.
• Shan Heyuan reflected on the process and began a second batch with a more relaxed technique, unaware that he had developed his own masterful method.

Shan Heyuan finished refining Fertilizer Pills and held an impromptu auction in Sword Reverence City, where his pills sold for a large profit. After settling the auction payments, he prepared to go to work.

• Shan Heyuan refined two successful batches of Fertilizer Pills, producing 138 pills, and left the pill-refining chamber with Shen Duheng.
• Cultivators crowded around Shan Heyuan to ask about buying his pills and offering seeds, so he arranged an auction with the Jade Capital Auction House.
• Appraisers judged the Fertilizer Pills to be superior Late Core Formation pills containing the breath of Breathing Earth and useful for Spirit Plants below the Spirit Transformation level.
• Cultivators bid on twelve lots of ten pills, and the final lot sold for thirty-three Top-Grade Spirit Stones, bringing Shan Heyuan 249 Top-Grade Spirit Stones in total.
• Shan Heyuan paid the auction house its commission and the appraisers their fees, then planned to go to work after daybreak.

Shan Heyuan met Bi Jinying, steward to Lord South Star Ji Chunqiu, who asked him to travel to Floating Boat City and tend a failing farm of Clear Source Grass. Shan Heyuan hesitated because of his teaching duties and the farm’s size, but Lord South Star’s offer of seventy-two varieties of Nascent Soul-grade seeds tempted him.

• Bi Jinying introduced himself as Lord South Star Ji Chunqiu’s steward and invited Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng to discuss a favor at the Star-Picking Pavilion.
• Bi Jinying asked Shan Heyuan to tend a large Clear Source Grass farm in Floating Boat City after local growers failed to improve it.
• Shan Heyuan examined the farm’s records and images, found widespread problems with the plants and soil, and said the farm would be difficult to restore.
• Bi Jinying offered Lord South Star’s Nascent Soul-grade flying boat to take Shan Heyuan to the city in two hours.
• Bi Jinying offered seventy-two varieties of Nascent Soul-grade seeds as payment if Shan Heyuan raised the Clear Source Grass to average quality, and Shan Heyuan was tempted by the list.

Shan Heyuan traveled with Shen Duheng to Lord South Star’s farm to inspect its Clear Source Grass and consider taking on the job. He identified how poor seed sourcing, late planting, rushed transplanting, pests, and insufficient soil preparation had damaged the crop.

• Shan Heyuan agreed to visit Lord South Star’s farm after Bi Jinying mentioned that his master knew Dean Guo, and he arranged three days of leave.
• Shan Heyuan traded his remaining Fertilizer Pills to fellow instructors before setting off with Shen Duheng the next morning.
• On the flying boat, Shen Duheng told Shan Heyuan that Lord South Star was backed by the Deng Household and advised him not to offend him.
• At the farm, Shan Heyuan admired the setting and told Shen Duheng he would like to retire somewhere similar with him.
• Shan Heyuan examined the Clear Source Grass and identified its poor roots and shoots as signs of planting problems.
• Bi Jinying explained that seeds from Ze Province had arrived late and the seedlings had been rushed into the field; Shan Heyuan diagnosed weak seedlings, disease, yellow bugs, and inadequate soil preparation and fertilizer.

Shan Heyuan examined the failing Clear Source Grass and recommended replacing the crop, but Bi Jinying asked him to find a way to save it. When Shi Mian arrived with his own treatment plan, Shan Heyuan challenged him to a trial on separate plots of land.

• Shan Heyuan judged the Clear Source Grass's soil too poor and advised Bi Jinying to sell the crop and replant, but agreed to spend a day seeking a way to save it.
• Shan Heyuan spotted the renowned planting master Shi Mian at a neighboring guest house and hurried to inspect the fields again with Shen Duheng.
• Shi Mian arrived with a crowd, examined the grass, and proposed mixing spiritual liquid; one of his disciples laughed when Shan Heyuan suggested a similar approach.
• After the supervisor favored Shi Mian's team, Bi Jinying proposed giving both masters separate plots to test their methods.
• Shan Heyuan accepted and offered to begin with a fifty-mu plot, promising to withdraw if his skills proved insufficient.

Shan Heyuan began treating the Clear Source Grass while competing with the experienced Shi Mian, but learned that Shi Mian’s team had achieved even faster growth by using their own Spiritual Power to make spirit liquid. Shan Heyuan struggled to find a way to catch up without exhausting himself or revealing the Breathing Earth’s presence.

• Shi Mian and Shan Heyuan each took fifty mu of poorly growing Clear Source Grass to tend, and Shan Heyuan worried about the contest’s effect on his reputation.
• Shan Heyuan extended his leave to ten days and began treating his field with spirit liquid and Spring Breeze Turns to Rain, producing striking growth in a single day.
• Bi Jinying showed Shan Heyuan an image stone revealing that Shi Mian’s team had used their own Spiritual Power to irrigate their field, bringing its grass up to the growth of ninety-year-old plants.
• Shan Heyuan realized he could not match Shi Mian’s method with his own strength and could not safely rely on the Breathing Earth’s presence.
• Shan Heyuan tossed and turned that night, fearing that Shi Mian would beat him if the contest continued this way.