Jiang Fan, now possessing a mysterious transparent Spirit Root, goes to the Detection Tower for a test. His test causes the crystal ruler to overflow, creating a phenomenon mistaken for a legendary Ninth Grade Spirit Root. The commotion is immense, and the credit is mistakenly given to Lu Zheng, Wang Yingfeng's ambitious nephew who was testing in an adjacent chamber. Lu Zheng is lauded as a prodigy, receiving gifts and admiration, while Jiang Fan is mocked. The Xu family, especially Wang Yingfeng, is ecstatic, believing their fortunes have changed. However, when a Deputy Pavilion Master from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion arrives to verify the miracle, Lu Zheng's true Spirit Root is revealed to be a mere Third Grade, shattering the illusion and plunging the Xu family into chaos and debt. This event exposes the family's greed and sets the stage for Jiang Fan's quiet, powerful rise.

To meet a crippling dowry demand from Wang Yingfeng, Jiang Fan leverages his newly discovered talent as a Soul Master, a gift inherited from his father. He begins refining and selling Top Grade Qi Cultivation Liquid through the Chen family, secretly becoming their mysterious benefactor. This allows him to amass a fortune and publicly humiliate the Qin family, who had sided with Lu Zheng. In a pivotal confrontation, Jiang Fan not only defeats Lu Zheng in a duel but also reveals his cultivation has soared to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation. He then produces a priceless Beauty-Restore Pill as his true dowry, shocking the entire city. His success is a direct slap to Wang Yingfeng and Lu Zheng, who are further disgraced when Lu Zheng is revealed to have sold patrol maps to the evil Blood Bat Palace.

Jiang Fan joins a city-wide manhunt for the remnants of the Blood Bat Palace, donning the mask of the "Number One Shadow Guard." He demonstrates terrifying combat prowess, killing a Foundation Establishment Sub-Altar Master and earning the city lord's respect. During this time, he meets Liu Qingxian, the proud daughter of the Green Cloud Sect Master, who is searching for the rumored Ninth Grade Spirit Root prodigy. Jiang Fan's performance in a Spirit Pond cultivation session, where he breaks through three layers in one hour, convinces her he is the one. He also saves Xu Youran from a demonic cultivator and rescues the Chen family patriarch from the brink of death, further cementing his reputation as a mysterious and powerful figure. His identity as the Shadow Guard remains a secret, creating a powerful alter ego.

Jiang Fan enters the Green Cloud Sect, where he is initially scorned due to a false report of having no Spirit Root. He quickly proves his worth by defeating a senior disciple with ease and is fought over by multiple peak masters. He chooses to become the personal disciple of the Sect Master, Liu Wuchen, who is also the father of Liu Qingxian. Given a seemingly impossible task to harvest Wolf Head Honey, Jiang Fan uses his superior alchemy skills to create a potent sedative, single-handedly subduing the hive and completing the task. This success, along with his growing power, makes him a target of envy, but he stands firm. The story ends with Jiang Fan being challenged by a Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer prodigy, setting up a major conflict that will test his true strength and the nature of his mysterious Spirit Root.