Chapter Summaries

Liu Ling defeated the Six-Colored Pill Lightning and won the Pill Gathering after his spiritual pill overpowered the other contestants’ pills. As the crowd celebrated, he thought of Gu He, who had already learned of his victory and smiled from afar.

• Liu Ling destroyed the Six-Colored Pill Lightning with a palm strike and endured four more bolts until the thunderclouds dispersed.
• Xuan Kong Zi asked the remaining contestants to present their pills, revealing five Eighth-Grade Pills with varying degrees of spirituality.
• Liu Ling’s pill transformed into a golden dragon and subdued the other spiritual pills.
• Xuan Kong Zi declared Liu Ling the Pill Gathering champion, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
• Qing Lin celebrated Liu Ling’s victory while Liu Ling wondered whether Gu He knew about it.
• Gu He, in the Nine-Colored Realm behind the Misty Cloud Sect, smiled after Old Man Mu Gu informed him that Liu Ling had won.

Gu He learned that Liu Ling had won the Pill Gathering and canceled his plan to seize Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire, confident in his growing force of Battle Saints and Liu Ling’s ability to claim the flame. At the ceremony, Liu Ling received the champion’s rewards and learned that the top ten would enter the Star Domain in two days to compete for Three Thousand Burning Flame.

• Gu He learned of Liu Ling’s victory and abandoned his plan to use Old Man Mu Gu to seize Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire.
• Gu He surveyed two hundred Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan Battle Saints, led by Xuan Feng, whose combined strength could rival a Nine-Star Battle Saint.
• Xuan Kong Zi announced Liu Ling as Pill Gathering champion and named him a candidate for a future Pill Tower giant, a position Liu Ling did not intend to pursue.
• Liu Ling received an ancient soul cultivation method and stored it without intending to cultivate it.
• Xuan Kong Zi announced that the Pill Gathering’s top ten would enter the Star Domain in two days to try to subdue Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Liu Ling left the plaza and rejoined Qing Lin and his companions.

Liu Ling and the other top ten Pill Gathering contestants entered the Star Domain under Qiu Ling’s supervision to face Three Thousand Burning Flame. Inside, Liu Ling sensed the flame’s presence and began examining the desolate space as Old Man Mu Gu watched him.

• Liu Ling left the plaza with Qing Lin and the others, while Elder Yao decided to wait until Mu Gu left Sacred Pill City before confronting him.
• Two days later, Xuan Kong Zi opened a spatial gate, and Qiu Ling led Liu Ling, Mu Gu, and the other top ten contestants into the Star Domain.
• Xuan Kong Zi, Tian Lei Zi, and Xuan Yi arranged for experts to guard Sacred Pill City and respond if trouble arose.
• Liu Ling and the others emerged into the Star Domain, where the heat made Liu Ling’s Green Lotus Core Flame react and confirmed that Three Thousand Burning Flame was nearby.
• Liu Ling examined the desolate Star Domain and sensed the Star Power that sustained Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire.

Liu Ling and the others reached Three Thousand Burning Flame in the Star Domain and saw its enormous sealed dragon form. Qiu Ling called for Liu Ling to try subduing it first, but Mu Gu persuaded several contestants to demand that the lowest-ranked go first.

• Qiu Ling led the group through the Star Domain, warning them about dangerous spatial rifts and ordering them to stay together.
• The rising heat signaled their approach, and the group saw Three Thousand Burning Flame coiled in the void, wrapped in violet-black flames.
• Qiu Ling explained that the flame was sealed and instructed the contestants to approach it gently without waking it.
• Qiu Ling invited Pill Gathering champion Liu Ling to try first, but Mu Gu objected and proposed that the lowest-ranked contestants go first.
• Several contestants, including Song Qing, supported Mu Gu’s proposal, leaving the order of attempts disputed.

The Pill Gathering contestants tried and failed to subdue Three Thousand Burning Flame, until Old Man Mu Gu broke the seal on its forehead. The dragon awakened and unleashed its flames, though the glowing runes still bound it.

• Qiu Ling allowed the contestants to try in reverse rank order, but the tenth-ranked contestant and those who followed all failed, including Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Old Monster Qing Hua.
• Old Man Mu Gu took his turn while Qiu Ling watched him closely, but he also appeared to fail.
• After Qiu Ling called on Liu Ling, Old Man Mu Gu used hand seals to make the uncovered forehead scale react, then blasted it apart.
• Three Thousand Burning Flame opened its eyes, roared, and sent its purple-black flames surging as the runes across its body glowed and restrained it.

Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire fought the Pill Tower’s seal while Old Man Mu Gu and other Soul Hall members tried to seize it. The Heavenly Flame began breaking free, leaving Liu Ling ready to exploit the chaos and attempt to subdue it.

• Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire awakened and burned against its black-line restraints as Qiu Ling attacked Old Man Mu Gu and ordered Cao Ying and Dan Chen to summon the chairman.
• Old Man Mu Gu and a sinister middle-aged Soul Hall member revealed that more Soul Hall agents had infiltrated the Pill Gathering, while Liu Ling decided to wait for the Heavenly Flame to weaken.
• The three Pill Tower giants reinforced the seal with their power, but Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire unleashed pitch-black droplets that melted the runes.
• Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Song Qing feared the Heavenly Flame would escape, while Liu Ling saw its possible escape as a chance to subdue it.
• Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire laughed at Xuan Kong Zi and spun through the void until a sharp cracking sound signaled that the seal was breaking.

Three Thousand Burning Flame broke free of its seal but refused to honor its agreement with Old Man Mu Gu, triggering a fight. Mu Gu summoned three Soul Hall Dou Zuns, and the four formed a barrier that cut off the flame’s Star Power as it launched a counterattack.

• Three Thousand Burning Flame broke the runes sealing its scales, and Qiu Ling and Old Man Mu Gu paused their battle to watch.
• Three Thousand Burning Flame rejected Mu Gu’s demand to fulfill their agreement and attacked him, prompting Mu Gu to summon three black-robed Dou Zuns with a Spatial Jade Slip.
• Qiu Ling asked Liu Ling to help Pill Tower, and Liu Ling agreed not to let Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire threaten innocent lives.
• Mu Gu and the three Soul Hall experts formed the Myriad Soul Devouring Spirit Formation, spreading black mist that cut off Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire’s access to Star Power.
• Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire fired a pillar of purple-black flame at the formation, and the Soul Hall experts answered with clanking chains.

Old Man Mu Gu and the other three Soul Hall experts struggled to subdue Three Thousand Burning Flame, whose flames broke their chains and injured them. They summoned their Lifebound Soul Locks and finally pierced through and bound the dragon, leaving its fate unresolved.

• Old Man Mu Gu and the other three Soul Hall experts used black chains and suicidal souls to weaken and restrain Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Three Thousand Burning Flame broke the chains with a flame storm, burning the black mist and scorching all four experts’ hands.
• Old Man Mu Gu ordered the others to summon their Lifebound Soul Locks, despite the danger of damaging the soul-linked weapons.
• Qiu Ling explained the risks of the Lifebound Soul Locks to Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the others while Liu Ling remained calm.
• Old Man Mu Gu and the other three formed the Lifebound Soul Lock Formation, piercing through the flame storm and binding Three Thousand Burning Flame.

Old Man Mu Gu and three others restrained the Three Thousand Burning Flame, but it released its Origin Fire and struck him down. As Soul Hall Dou Zuns and Old Monster Qing Hua contested the fire dragon, the Three Thousand Burning Flame broke through a chain attack and launched itself at a Soul Hall Dou Zun.

• Old Man Mu Gu weakened the Three Thousand Burning Flame while the other three held it with chains, then withdrew to take its Lifebound Fire.
• The Three Thousand Burning Flame released its Origin Fire, which struck Old Man Mu Gu and sent him flying.
• Old Man Mu Gu urged the others to capture the Origin Fire as Liu Ling waited and Old Monster Qing Hua rushed toward it.
• A black-clothed Soul Hall Dou Zun intercepted Old Monster Qing Hua while two others moved to seize the Origin Fire.
• The Three Thousand Burning Flame shattered a chain python and emerged from the void, charging at a black-clothed Dou Zun's heart.

The Soul Hall Venerables fought Three Thousand Burning Flame as Mu Gu’s actions devastated the Star Domain and delayed the three chairmen from entering. With the flame absorbing Star Power to recover, Liu Ling stepped in to stop it and began fighting it with his Heavenly Flame.

• The black-clothed Soul Hall Venerable and his companion attacked Three Thousand Burning Flame, but its origin fire badly injured them.
• Qiu Ling charged the wounded Soul Hall Venerables while Liu Ling got permission from Qiu Ling to subdue Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Mu Gu suddenly exploded, killing one injured Soul Hall Venerable, wounding Qiu Ling, and severely damaging Three Thousand Burning Flame’s origin fire.
• The blast nearly shattered the Star Domain, delaying the three chairmen, while Three Thousand Burning Flame absorbed Star Power and began recovering.
• Liu Ling confronted Three Thousand Burning Flame with his Heavenly Flame, and its tail clashed with his flaming fist.

Liu Ling subdued Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire and swallowed it to refine it, while Xuan Kong Zi arrived and drove off the remaining Soul Hall Venerables. The chapter ended as Three Thousand Burning Flame began swelling and erupted with purple-black flames.

• Liu Ling overwhelmed Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire, mounted it, and battered it until it weakened.
• Liu Ling swallowed Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire, and Qiu Ling and the others continued fighting the remaining Soul Hall Venerables.
• Liu Ling remained unharmed as he began refining Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire, prompting the Soul Hall Venerables to try to stop him.
• Xuan Kong Zi appeared, killed one Soul Hall Venerable with a punch, and forced another to escape through a spatial fissure.
• Three Thousand Burning Flame swelled and began erupting, alarming Xuan Kong Zi and the others.

Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire erupted across the Star Domain while Liu Ling tried to refine its source flame. Xuan Kong Zi and the others escaped and sealed the Star Domain’s gate, leaving them to reinforce the seal before the flames could destroy Sacred Pill City.

• Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire expanded and erupted, filling the Star Domain with purple-black flames as Liu Ling continued trying to refine its source flame.
• Xuan Kong Zi ordered Qiu Ling to take Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Song Qing, and the others to safety, then left after Old Monster Qing Hua urged him to go.
• Xuan Kong Zi hurled two Soul Hall experts into the flames, where they were burned to ashes.
• Xuan Kong Zi emerged from the Star Domain and ordered Xuan Yi and Tian Lei Zi to close its gate as flames surged through it.
• Xuan Kong Zi warned Xuan Yi and Tian Lei Zi that they needed to reinforce the seal to prevent the Star Domain’s flames from destroying Sacred Pill City.

Liu Ling spent days refining Three Thousand Burning Flame, erasing its consciousness and absorbing its power while the sealed Star Domain grew increasingly dangerous. As people outside feared he had died, a blue-black fire dragon formed from his flames and began devouring the Star Domain’s purple-black fire.

• Liu Ling intensified his refinement of Three Thousand Burning Flame and erased its consciousness after two or three days.
• Qing Lin brought Liu Rulong to the Pill Tower and demanded that the Star Domain be opened; Xuan Kong Zi entered but fled within minutes because of the heat.
• Liu Ling continued refining Three Thousand Burning Flame for another eight days as people outside gradually lost hope that he had survived.
• Blue-black flames seeped from Liu Ling and tempered his body while he sat motionless in the Star Domain.
• Liu Ling’s flames formed a giant fire dragon resembling Three Thousand Burning Flame’s former true body, and it roared before devouring pillars of purple-black fire.

Liu Ling fused Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire with the Green Lotus Core Flame, creating Three Thousand Green Lotus Fire and advancing to nine-star Dou Zun. As he left the Star Domain, the Pill Tower prepared for a possible eruption, but Qing Lin trusted that he was safe.

• Liu Ling absorbed the remaining flames and awakened with his new Heavenly Flame, which he named Three Thousand Green Lotus Fire.
• Liu Ling's strength surged from peak six-star Dou Zun to nine-star Dou Zun after he fused the two Heavenly Flames.
• Gu He had previously visited the Star Domain after Qing Lin used the Void Jade Talisman and confirmed that Liu Ling was safely subduing the flame.
• Liu Ling headed for the Star Domain's exit as its seal began to strain and its space grew violently distorted.
• Xuan Kong Zi ordered the Pill Tower's experts to protect Sacred Pill City and joined Xuan Yi and Tian Lei Zi to reinforce the seal.
• Liu Rulong asked Qing Lin whether they should retreat, but she said the Star Domain was safe and told him to wait.

Liu Ling emerged unharmed from the Star Domain after subduing the Three Thousand Burning Flame and reaching Nine-star Dou Zun, then accepted Xuan Kong Zi’s invitation to stay at the Pill Tower. The next morning, Qing Lin told him the Xuanming Sect had come seeking revenge over Dan Chen’s death.

• Qing Lin reassured Liu Rulong and the others that Liu Ling was safe inside the Star Domain, and they waited as Xuan Kong Zi and the other two prepared for trouble.
• Liu Ling stepped through a spatial crack, revealed the blue-black fire dragon of the subdued Three Thousand Burning Flame, and astonished Xuan Kong Zi and the others with his Nine-star Dou Zun strength.
• Qing Lin told Liu Ling that Gu He had entered the Star Domain and assured her that he was safe, and Liu Ling reflected on how much he owed his master.
• Liu Ling brought Qing Lin, Liu Rulong, and the others to the Pill Tower after agreeing to Xuan Kong Zi’s invitation, while Yao Chen left Pill City with Xiao Yan for Starfall Pavilion.
• The next morning, Qing Lin told Liu Ling that the Xuanming Sect had come seeking revenge, and Liu Ling questioned why they blamed him for Dan Chen’s death.

Liu Ling confronted the Xuanming Sect after its leader, Chen Tiannan, accused him of helping cause Chen Xian’s death and demanded his life. The dispute escalated when Heavenly Nether Sect disciple Yi Chen backed Chen Tiannan, and Liu Rulong arrived with Mercenary Guild elders.

• Liu Ling learned that Chen Tiannan had brought nearly a hundred Xuanming Sect members to demand revenge for Chen Xian’s death.
• Qiu Ling confronted Chen Tiannan outside the Pill Tower and refused to hand Liu Ling over.
• Chen Tiannan called Liu Ling an indirect culprit and said he had come to make him accompany Chen Xian in death.
• Yi Chen of the Heavenly Nether Sect stepped forward and argued that the Xuanming Sect had the right to seek revenge.
• Liu Rulong arrived with several dozen Mercenary Guild elders and challenged Yi Chen for standing against Liu Ling.

Liu Rulong and the Mercenary Guild elders confronted Yi Chen and Xuanming Sect over their threats against Liu Ling. Liu Ling appeared and killed Chen Tiannan instantly, leaving Yi Chen and the others too frightened to answer his challenge.

• Liu Rulong arrived with the Mercenary Guild elders and rebuked Yi Chen for invoking Heavenly Nether Sect.
• Yi Chen insisted Chen Tiannan had a right to avenge his son, while Qiu Ling warned that Chen Tiannan had blamed the wrong person for Chen Xian's death.
• Yi Chen invoked Heavenly Nether Sect's influence, and Qiu Ling withdrew from the dispute.
• Chen Tiannan challenged Liu Ling to fight and declared that surviving one incense stick against him would settle their grudge.
• Liu Ling killed Chen Tiannan with a wave of spatial energy, then asked whether anyone else from Xuanming Sect wanted revenge.

After killing Chen Tiannan, Liu Ling intimidated Yi Chen and the Xuanming Sect into retreating, then left Pill City for the Northern Region with his companions. Xuan Kong Zi and the other Pill Tower elders watched him go, impressed by his alchemy and power.

• Liu Ling killed Chen Tiannan and challenged the Xuanming Sect members to seek revenge if they dared.
• Yi Chen apologized and denied inciting Chen Tiannan, and Liu Ling withdrew the pressure before Yi Chen led the survivors away.
• Liu Ling called Qing Lin, Liu Rulong, and the others to leave Pill City for the Northern Region.
• Xuan Kong Zi, Tian Lei Zi, and Xuan Yi watched Liu Ling depart and praised his alchemy, wondering who had taught him.

Xuan Kong Zi, Tian Lei Zi, and Xuan Yi discussed Liu Ling, Yao Chen, and Mu Gu after the Pill Gathering. Xuan Yi and Tian Lei Zi decided to visit Starfall Pavilion while Xuan Kong Zi remained to guard the Pill Tower.

• Xuan Kong Zi said Liu Ling's talent could flourish even under a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, and Tian Lei Zi questioned how such a master could nurture a genius.
• Tian Lei Zi, Xuan Yi, and Xuan Kong Zi discussed Yao Chen's departure and Xiao Yan's early elimination from the Pill Gathering.
• Xuan Yi wondered why Mu Gu had self-destructed in the Star Domain, and Tian Lei Zi condemned him as Soul Hall's lackey.
• Xuan Kong Zi said Yao Chen had grown more focused on his new disciple, and Tian Lei Zi suggested that they visit Starfall Pavilion.
• Xuan Kong Zi stayed behind to guard the Pill Tower, while Xuan Yi and Tian Lei Zi agreed to visit Starfall Pavilion and return if summoned.

Liu Ling celebrated the Mercenary Guild’s return and announced plans to expand into the Central Plains. Back in the Nine-Colored Realm, Gu He welcomed Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue home and strengthened them by passing on cultivation.

• Liu Ling announced to the Mercenary Guild elders that they would expand into the Central Plains, and they enthusiastically supported him.
• Nalan Yanran, Han Yue, and Han Xue returned to the Nine-Colored Realm and told Gu He and Yun Yun about their difficult training journeys.
• Gu He reassured the three disciples and passed cultivation to Nalan Yanran, raising her from Four-star Dou Zong to Nine-star Dou Zong.
• Gu He passed cultivation to Han Yue and Han Xue, bringing Han Yue to Nine-star Dou Zong and Han Xue to Three-Star Battle King.