Chapter Summaries

Flowing Cloud forced the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King to submit for one year in exchange for sparing its son, granting it a Form Transformation Pill, and eventually returning the cub. In the Lion King's cave, Flowing Cloud consumed half a bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Source and formed a Purple Flame that accelerated his Dou Crystal's absorption of Dou Qi.

• Nameless repeatedly battered the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, and Flowing Cloud stopped him before he could strike again.
• Flowing Cloud threatened the Lion King's son and secured the Lion King's agreement to serve him for one year in return for its son's safety, a Form Transformation Pill, and its eventual freedom.
• Flowing Cloud gave the injured Lion King healing pills, then entered its cave to consume the Companion Purple Crystal Source.
• The purple energy from the source fused with Flowing Cloud's flesh and bones and transformed into a Purple Flame inside his body.
• Flowing Cloud discovered that the Purple Flame increased his Dou Crystal's rotation and absorption of Dou Qi, then confirmed that the change had caused no problems.

After refining the Purple Flame and reaching Two-star Da Dou Shi, Flowing Cloud collected rare treasures from the Magical Beast Mountain Range and set out for Black Rock City. He planned to find the Ice Spirit Cold Spring and continue pursuing his goals, including breaking Hai Bodong’s seal and obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame.

• Flowing Cloud tested the Purple Flame he had refined and confirmed he could summon tangible flames.
• Nameless gave Flowing Cloud a Storage Ring filled with medicinal herbs and magic cores gathered at his command.
• Flowing Cloud reviewed his plans to grow stronger, obtain the three items needed to refine the Taiyin Divine Flame, enlist Hai Bodong’s support, and pursue the Green Lotus Core Flame.
• Flowing Cloud, Nameless, and the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King flew toward Black Rock City so they could take a flying transport to the Tagor Desert.
• Flowing Cloud and Nameless arrived in Black Rock City.

Flowing Cloud arrived in Black Rock City and learned that Black Rock Auction House would hold an auction in three days. He ordered Nameless to make the Li Family submit so he could take control of the auction house, then healed the Young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King with Companion Purple Crystal Source.

• Flowing Cloud entered Black Rock City with the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King disguised as a dog and settled into Rock Joy Tower.
• Flowing Cloud learned that the Li Family ran Black Rock Auction House and that the auction in three days would feature valuable items.
• Flowing Cloud ordered Nameless to make the Li Family submit so he could preside over the auction himself.
• Flowing Cloud released the unconscious Young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and had its father shrink it down.
• Flowing Cloud fed the Young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King Companion Purple Crystal Source, and its injury began to heal.

Nameless subdued the Li Family and forced Li Yuan to agree to submit, then reported back to Flowing Cloud. The next morning, Flowing Cloud reached the Alchemist Guild and shocked its guards by displaying Purple Flame.

• Nameless revealed that he had subdued the Li Family's experts and offered to spare them if Li Yuan submitted to his master.
• Li Yuan agreed to submit, and Nameless warned him not to resist before leaving.
• Nameless reported to Flowing Cloud that the Li Family was ready to be taken over the following night.
• Flowing Cloud went to the Alchemist Guild in Black Rock City and was stopped by its guards, who asked for a letter of introduction.
• Flowing Cloud displayed Purple Flame, and the guards recognized it as Solid Flame and believed he was a Fourth-grade Alchemist.

Flowing Cloud entered the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild to obtain a rank badge, revealing his ability to summon Purple Fire to get past the guards. He learned that he had to pass the First-grade examination before attempting the Second-grade one, then received examination number Nine and entered the testing area.

• Flowing Cloud extinguished his Purple Fire after guards and onlookers mistook it for proof that he was a Fourth-grade Alchemist, and the guards let him into the Guild.
• A woman at the Guild registered Flowing Cloud, sixteen, under his mentor Venerable Xuan Tian, and assured him that his unregistered mentor would not prevent him from earning a badge.
• Flowing Cloud asked to take the Second-grade Alchemist examination, but the woman explained that he first had to pass the First-grade examination.
• The woman completed Flowing Cloud's registration and gave him an armband marked Nine before he entered the examination area alone.

Sixteen-year-old Flowing Cloud took the First-grade Alchemist assessment in Black Rock City, surprising the guild leaders with his purple flames and apparent talent. Fu Kelan ordered an investigation into Flowing Cloud’s teacher, Venerable Xuan Tian.

• Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo warned Flowing Cloud that he was too young to take the Alchemist assessment, but he insisted he could pass.
• Flowing Cloud examined the Qi Gathering Pill prescription and prepared to refine it as the assessment began.
• Flowing Cloud summoned purple flames in his cauldron, causing the hall to fall silent as the Alchemists wondered if they were Heavenly Flames.
• Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo judged Flowing Cloud to be exceptionally talented and discussed how he surpassed their disciples, Lin Fei and Xue Mei.
• Fu Kelan told an Alchemist to ask other guilds to investigate whether Venerable Xuan Tian was an Advanced Alchemist.

Flowing Cloud completed the First-grade Alchemist examination by refining a high-quality Qi Gathering Pill with a Pill Pattern, passing at age sixteen. When Fu Kelan offered him his badge, Flowing Cloud asked to continue with the Second-grade Alchemist examination, leaving Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo stunned.

• Flowing Cloud used the Purple Fire and steady soul control to refine a Qi Gathering Pill.
• Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo examined the other candidates' pills, and only two besides Flowing Cloud had passed.
• Fu Kelan inspected Flowing Cloud's pill and was surprised that he had refined a Qi Gathering Pill.
• Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo discovered a Pill Pattern on Flowing Cloud's pill and declared that he had passed the First-grade Alchemist examination.
• Fu Kelan offered to take Flowing Cloud to collect his badge, but Flowing Cloud asked to continue with the Second-grade Alchemist examination.

Flowing Cloud revealed that he had reached the Dou Shi Realm and applied for the Second-grade Alchemist assessment, astonishing the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild. After he passed, Frank announced that he was the youngest Second-grade Alchemist in over a hundred years and that his Second-grade Pill even had Pill Patterns.

• Flowing Cloud applied for the Second-grade Alchemist assessment, and Fu Kelan warned him that it required both a Second-grade Pill and Dou Shi strength.
• Flowing Cloud displayed his Dou Qi Gauze Robe, proving that he had reached the Dou Shi Realm, and claimed a seventy to eighty percent chance of passing.
• Frank and the elders agreed to let Flowing Cloud take the assessment, and Flowing Cloud asked about the guild's exchange privileges as he prepared to seek an Ice Spirit Cold Spring.
• Flowing Cloud completed the Second-grade Alchemist assessment, and Frank and Ao Tuo emerged praising his ability to refine a Second-grade Pill with Pill Patterns.
• Frank announced that the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild had gained its youngest Second-grade Alchemist in over a hundred years.

Flowing Cloud passed the Alchemist Guild’s Second-grade assessment at sixteen and received the guild’s special robe. After Frank and Ao Tuo questioned him about his teacher and Purple Flame, he asked them to help locate an Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

• Frank and Ao Tuo confirmed that Flowing Cloud had passed the Second-grade assessment, astonishing the alchemists in the hall with his talent.
• Frank presented Flowing Cloud with the special robe and badge for a Second-grade Alchemist, and Flowing Cloud tried it on.
• Frank invited Flowing Cloud to talk privately, where Flowing Cloud refused to reveal details about his teacher, Venerable Xuan Tian.
• Flowing Cloud explained that his Purple Flame came from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, leading Frank and Ao Tuo to suspect his teacher was a Dou Huang expert.
• Flowing Cloud asked Frank and Ao Tuo to find out whether any alchemists possessed an Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

Flowing Cloud sought the Ice Spirit Cold Spring and learned from Ao Tuo that Gute, an eccentric collector in Black Rock City, possessed it. Ao Tuo led her to Gute’s home, warning that obtaining the treasure would likely cost her dearly.

• Flowing Cloud asked Frank and Ao Tuo to help locate the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, but Ao Tuo’s records showed no known owner.
• As Flowing Cloud prepared to leave, Ao Tuo remembered that Gute had mentioned owning the spring.
• Frank and Ao Tuo explained that Gute was a stubborn third-grade alchemist and Pill King Gu He’s older brother, and warned Flowing Cloud not to mention Gu He.
• Flowing Cloud insisted she needed the spring, so Ao Tuo agreed to take her to Gute in Black Rock City.
• Ao Tuo led Flowing Cloud through the city to Gute’s remote home and warned her to prepare to pay a steep price.

Ao Tuo brought Flowing Cloud through Gute’s trap-filled building to visit the alchemist, then warned Gute that he could expose the contents of his treasure room. Seeing Gute’s collection of rare fourth- and fifth-grade treasures, Flowing Cloud began plotting to steal them and sell them.

• Ao Tuo swept Gute’s itching poison powder back into his room, and he led Flowing Cloud through the building’s traps.
• Ao Tuo kicked through Gute’s reinforced steel door after Gute mocked him from inside.
• Ao Tuo threatened to publish a list of everything in Gute’s treasure room, and Gute backed down.
• Flowing Cloud entered the treasure room, saw its rare alchemy ingredients, and began planning to take them for himself.

Flowing Cloud tried to trade Companion Purple Crystal Source for Gute’s Ice Spirit Cold Spring, but Gute refused to accept the bottle’s value. The chapter ended with Gute claiming the deal might fail.

• Gute denied having Ice Spirit Cold Spring, but Flowing Cloud and Ao Tuo knew he was lying.
• Ao Tuo left Flowing Cloud alone with Gute and sealed the room with a rising wooden door.
• Flowing Cloud offered a bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Source, and Gute tested it before identifying it in an old book.
• Gute argued that the Purple Crystal Source had limited value, but Flowing Cloud called out his attempt to drive up the price and said he would walk away if Gute refused.
• Gute told Flowing Cloud that the deal might have to fail.

Flowing Cloud traded Companion Purple Crystal Source with Gute for the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, which he needed to prepare for refining the Taiyin Divine Flame. Afterward, Ao Tuo invited him to the City Lord's Mansion banquet, where Flowing Cloud agreed to attend.

• Flowing Cloud pretended to leave until Gute agreed to trade the Ice Spirit Cold Spring for his Companion Purple Crystal Source.
• Gute retrieved the Ice Spirit Cold Spring from a hidden vault and showed Flowing Cloud its freezing effects.
• Flowing Cloud used Purple Flame to protect his hand, inspected the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, and stored it away.
• Flowing Cloud thanked Gute and left, then confirmed to Ao Tuo that he had obtained the treasure.
• Ao Tuo invited Flowing Cloud to the City Lord's Mansion banquet and arranged to meet him at the Alchemist Guild the next afternoon.

After securing the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, Flowing Cloud imprisoned the Young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King to ensure its father remained obedient and began pursuing the Third-grade Alchemist rank. That night, he and Nameless forced the Li Family to submit to Flowing Cloud as their master.

• Flowing Cloud placed the Young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King in his System Space and warned the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King that he would only see his son if he performed well.
• Nameless brought Flowing Cloud a new Medicine Cauldron, and Flowing Cloud began refining Third-grade Pills.
• Li Yuan and the Li Family elders discussed their unwillingness to submit to Nameless, but feared resisting would destroy their family.
• Flowing Cloud entered the Li Family's main hall in disguise and declared himself their master, while Nameless stood behind him.
• Nameless's overwhelming pressure forced the Li Family members to their knees, and Li Yuan and the elders pledged their loyalty to Flowing Cloud.

Flowing Cloud took control of the Li Family and ordered them to hold the Black Rock Auction as scheduled, promising to supply impressive items himself. After he revealed the treasures, Li Yuan and Li Yan recognized a Purple Spirit Crystal, while Flowing Cloud claimed it was nothing special; the other items had yet to be examined.

• Li Yuan and the Li Family acknowledged Flowing Cloud as their master, and he warned them to follow his orders.
• Flowing Cloud reviewed the auction list, rejected all but its final two items, and insisted that the auction proceed as scheduled and attract all of Black Rock City.
• Flowing Cloud promised to provide the auction items and told Li Yuan to publicize the event.
• Flowing Cloud produced a pile of treasures, and Li Yuan asked Li Yan to identify a purple crystal.
• Li Yan identified the crystal as a Purple Spirit Crystal, and Flowing Cloud dismissed it as nothing special.

Flowing Cloud showed the Li Family higher-ups a collection of valuable treasures for their auction, including a Sixth-tier Magical Beast Egg and a Purple Crystal Winged Lion King cub. The chapter ended with Li Yuan disappointed that the cub would be auctioned rather than kept for the Li Family.

• Li Yuan and Li Yan identified the treasures as high-grade techniques, rare medicines, and a Fifth-tier Demonic Core, shocking the Li Family higher-ups.
• Li Yan could not identify the Magical Beast Egg, so Li Yuan asked Flowing Cloud about it.
• Flowing Cloud revealed that the egg belonged to a Sixth-tier Iron Winged Giant Eagle, exciting the Li Family with the prospect of owning a powerful beast.
• Flowing Cloud summoned a sleeping Young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and said it would be auctioned alongside the egg.
• Li Yan recognized the cub as a Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, and Li Yuan regretted that Flowing Cloud would not sell it privately to the Li Family.

Flowing Cloud gave Li Yuan two bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source to serve as the auction’s finale items, and Li Yan explained their rarity and value. Li Yuan vowed to promote the auction throughout Black Rock City within two days, with the Li Family’s future depending on its success.

• Flowing Cloud rejected the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King cub as the finale and gave Li Yuan two bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source instead.
• Li Yan identified the Companion Purple Crystal Source and explained that it was a rare, invaluable treasure for fire-attributed cultivators.
• Flowing Cloud ordered Li Yuan to make the auction known throughout Black Rock City and promised him an Earth Tier Cultivation Technique if he succeeded.
• After Flowing Cloud left with Nameless, Li Yan eagerly examined the Companion Purple Crystal Source while Li Yuan warned him to handle it carefully.
• Li Yuan told the Li Family higher-ups that they had two days to spread news of the auction and that the family’s future depended on its success.

News that the Li Family would auction rare treasures stirred Black Rock City, drawing the attention of its powerful factions. Unaware of the commotion, Flowing Cloud successfully became a Third-grade Alchemist and left for the City Lord’s Mansion Banquet.

• Ao Tuo told Fu Kelan that the Black Rock Auction would offer Illusion Heart Grass, giving Fu Kelan hope of refining the Spirit Soul Pill.
• Commander Xiao confirmed the auction news to City Lord Yu Guang, who ordered the City Lord’s Mansion to gather funds and buy the Sixth-tier Magical Beast Egg or cub.
• The Li Family’s announcement prompted Black Rock City’s major factions to make preparations for the auction.
• Flowing Cloud refined a crimson pill and entered the realm of a Third-grade Alchemist.
• Flowing Cloud prepared to attend the City Lord’s Mansion Banquet, honoring his promise to Ao Tuo.

Flowing Cloud joined Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo on the way to the City Lord's Mansion, where they discussed the unusually valuable Black Rock Auction and the Alchemist Guild. Fu Kelan invited Flowing Cloud to compete in the Alchemist Convention in the Imperial Capital in three years, and Flowing Cloud agreed to consider attending.

• Flowing Cloud arrived at the Alchemist Guild, and Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo greeted him before the three headed to the City Lord's Mansion.
• Ao Tuo told Flowing Cloud that the Black Rock Auction would feature rare items, including fifth-grade spirit medicine and Sixth-tier Magical Beasts.
• Ao Tuo offered Flowing Cloud a friendly connection to the Alchemist Guild, and Flowing Cloud accepted.
• Fu Kelan invited Flowing Cloud to attend the Alchemist Convention in the Imperial Capital in three years, and Flowing Cloud agreed to come if he had time.
• Flowing Cloud, Fu Kelan, and Ao Tuo continued discussing the convention as they arrived outside the City Lord's Mansion.

The City Lord's Mansion held a lavish banquet for Feilin's coming-of-age ceremony, where guests discussed the upcoming auction and the Li Family's mysterious treasures. Yu Guang welcomed Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo, then met Flowing Cloud, whose Second-grade Alchemist badge astonished him; the two masters said they could not have taught such a genius.

• Young men at the banquet discussed Feilin's talent, her requirement that a suitor surpass her in alchemy, and the Li Family's upcoming auction.
• Guests learned that Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo had arrived and speculated that Ao Tuo came for his disciple Feilin.
• Yu Guang personally welcomed Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo and invited them to the seats of honor.
• Fu Kelan and Ao Tuo warmly invited Flowing Cloud to sit with them, prompting Yu Guang to notice his Second-grade Alchemist badge.
• Yu Guang asked whether Flowing Cloud was the masters' prized disciple, and both masters said they could not teach a genius like him.