Chapter Summaries

After sharing a quiet evening with Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Heng sorted through the Storage Rings he had collected and discovered the system had upgraded with new interfaces and points. He absorbed and fused his cultivation arts into the low-grade Earth Rank Ascension Art, but chose not to learn it yet.

• Xiao Heng and Xiao Yi Xian watched the sunset together and spoke about missing their families, and Xiao Heng silently resolved to keep her alive.
• Xiao Heng opened and sorted thirty-two Storage Rings, finding cultivation arts, combat skills, recipes, pills, magic cores, medicinal ingredients, and other valuables.
• Xiao Heng discovered that the system had upgraded, adding separate interfaces and points for cultivation arts, combat skills, fusion, and Heavenly Dao draws.
• Xiao Heng absorbed lower-ranked cultivation arts and combat skills, along with unwanted herbs and first-tier magic cores, to gain points and Energy Points.
• Xiao Heng fused his cultivation arts into a low-grade Earth Rank art with four attributes and freely switchable Attribute-less Dou Qi, named it the Ascension Art, and declined to learn it immediately.

Xiao Heng fused and upgraded his combat skills, then learned the Ascension Art and spent more than three days adapting his Dou Qi to it. After sharing a meal with Xiao Yi Xian, he discussed their plans to travel and revealed that he was an alchemist, leaving her angry when he teased her about her own prospects.

• Xiao Heng fused his movement, fire, defensive, energy-impact, swordsmanship, and other combat skills, spending his Energy Points and Skill Points on new techniques and upgrades.
• Xiao Heng learned the Ascension Art, opened its meridians, and practiced until he could freely circulate Dou Qi through all five attributes with increased quality.
• Xiao Yi Xian welcomed Xiao Heng after his three-day cultivation and reflected on her Calamity Poison Body and her hope of having a friend.
• Xiao Heng told Xiao Yi Xian that he planned to visit the Tagor Desert and the Alchemist Association, and she said she would leave around the same time.
• Xiao Heng revealed that he was an alchemist, and Xiao Yi Xian angrily returned to ask whether she could learn alchemy.
• Xiao Heng teased Xiao Yi Xian by saying she lacked the talent, so she pinched and kicked him before leaving him to wash the bowls.

Xiao Heng practiced his newly created Earth Grade sword art and tested its first two moves, then ventured into the Monster Mountain Range to find a beast to fight. He discovered his target was a newly advanced fourth-tier Earth Stone Bear, which grabbed his leg while still asleep.

• Xiao Heng drew ten ten-year Kirin Fruits, a Fifth-grade Alchemist inheritance, and a Melting Fire Pill Recipe, then began refining a Kirin Fruit.
• Xiao Heng practiced his sword art, mastered Breath Sever, and formed the nine sword phantoms of Nine Strikes, though the moves consumed most of his Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yi Xian watched Xiao Heng recover, and Xiao Heng persuaded the Blue Eagle to carry him out of the valley with Beast Luring Pills.
• Xiao Heng traveled deeper into the Monster Mountain Range and found an Earth Stone Bear he intended to fight.
• Xiao Heng realized the bear had advanced to the fourth tier and tried to retreat, but the sleeping bear instinctively grabbed his leg.

Xiao Heng was brought before the dying Myriad Beasts Venerable, who offered him an inheritance in exchange for delivering a letter. Xiao Heng accepted him as his master and received the Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture, but the inheritance required him to survive the deadly Myriad Beasts Soul Devouring.

• Bear King stopped Xiao Heng from leaving and led him into the cave, where a Heavenly Flame and the soul of Myriad Beasts Venerable awaited.
• Myriad Beasts Venerable explained that he wanted to pass on his abilities and asked Xiao Heng to deliver a letter, without requiring revenge or formal discipleship.
• Xiao Heng swore to deliver the letter, took Myriad Beasts Venerable as his master, and kowtowed to him.
• Myriad Beasts Venerable transmitted the Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture into Xiao Heng, causing blood to flow from his seven orifices.
• Myriad Beasts Venerable revealed that Xiao Heng had to endure Myriad Beasts Soul Devouring to qualify to cultivate the scripture, or he would die.

Xiao Heng survived Myriad Beasts Venerable’s trial by fighting the beasts in a mental space, gaining greater sword proficiency and a stronger aura of slaughter in his Sword Intent. Myriad Beasts Venerable gave him his inheritance and began helping him refine the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame, leaving Xiao Heng to swallow its Flame Seed.

• Xiao Heng fought endless Magical Beasts in the mental space, using his sword techniques until he defeated the final three and absorbed their traces of soul and will.
• Xiao Heng awoke, accepted Myriad Beasts Venerable as his teacher, and received a Storage Ring containing the Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture and a letter and token for Hua Luoyu of the Flower Sect.
• Myriad Beasts Venerable refused Xiao Heng’s offer of Star Moon Grass, explaining that his origin was exhausted, and promised to help refine the Heavenly Flame before he died.
• Xiao Heng swallowed the Spirit Gathering Ring and agreed to preserve the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame’s intelligence when he refined it.
• Myriad Beasts Venerable freed the flame from his control, sent Bear One and Bear Two to guard outside, protected Xiao Heng with Soul Power, and ordered him to swallow the Flame Seed.

Xiao Heng swallowed and refined the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame with Myriad Beasts Venerable’s help, then watched his master disappear. He gained Bear One and Bear Two’s loyalty and returned toward the valley to reunite with Xiao Yi Xian.

• Xiao Heng swallowed the Flame Seed and endured twelve cycles of burning as he refined the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame, which entered his Spirit Gathering Ring and strengthened him.
• Myriad Beasts Venerable exhausted his remaining strength helping Xiao Heng, then disappeared along with the white bones on the stone platform.
• Bear One and Bear Two pledged to serve Xiao Heng, and he accepted them before leaving to return to his companion.
• Xiao Heng met the Blue Eagle near the outer region and flew back toward the valley on its back, testing his strengthened body and newly dominant fire attribute.
• Xiao Heng arrived at the valley, where Xiao Yi Xian saw his reflective bald head and nearly burst out laughing.

After refining the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame, Xiao Heng stabilized his strength and trained against Bear Two, while his playful teasing with Xiao Yi Xian continued. He returned to the valley and began refining medicine with his new Heavenly Flame.

• Xiao Yi Xian teased Xiao Heng about his bald head and smooth skin, then tricked him into thinking she would let him touch her before fleeing to her room.
• Xiao Heng rested after the Heavenly Flame raised him to a Three-star Dou Master, then spent several days stabilizing his Dou Qi.
• Xiao Heng sparred with Bear Two but failed to break through his defenses, and Bear One caught him when Bear Two knocked him flying.
• Bear One urged Xiao Heng to cultivate, and Xiao Heng restored his Dou Qi while reflecting on how the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame had strengthened and reshaped it.
• Xiao Heng flew back to the valley, briefly spoke with Xiao Yi Xian, and began refining medicine with the Five-Oracle Cauldron and his crimson flame.

Xiao Heng practiced pill refinement with the Heavenly Flames, successfully making several pills as he worked toward improving his alchemy. After deciding to delay fusing his Heavenly Flames and pursue his plans for the coming months, he took Xiao Yi Xian out of the valley and carried her through the Monster Mountain Range toward Bear One and Bear Two.

• Xiao Heng refined many second-grade pills and several third-grade pills while honing his Dou Techniques against Bear One and Bear Two.
• Xiao Heng successfully refined an Ice Heart Pill, a Pulse Protecting Pill, and a Cold Ginseng Pill, overcoming a failed first attempt at the Cold Ginseng Pill.
• Xiao Heng decided to postpone absorbing and fusing the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame and the White Lotus Fire while he focused on mastering his cultivation and improving his alchemy.
• Xiao Yi Xian asked Xiao Heng to take her out of the valley, and he agreed on the condition that she stay close because the area held high-level Magical Beasts.
• When Xiao Yi Xian struggled to keep up on foot, Xiao Heng carried her in his arms with his Purple Cloud Wings and continued toward Bear One and Bear Two.

Xiao Heng trained with Bear Two while Xiao Yi Xian grew closer to Bear One and learned about the bears’ past. Over three months, Xiao Heng continued training and refining pills, while Xiao Yi Xian mostly stayed in the valley.

• Xiao Heng sparred with Bear Two, using Mountain Breaking Strike and Breath Sever to send him flying before they continued fighting until Xiao Heng exhausted his Dou Qi.
• Bear One told Xiao Yi Xian that his mother had been killed by other Magical Beasts and that he now wanted to protect Bear Two.
• Bear One discussed the bears’ cultivation and estimated that Xiao Heng could reach Dou Emperor before turning thirty, delighting Xiao Yi Xian.
• After returning to the valley, Xiao Heng and Xiao Yi Xian teased each other, and Xiao Heng went to cultivate while Xiao Yi Xian returned to her room.
• Xiao Heng spent his days fighting Bear Two and his nights refining pills, while Xiao Yi Xian remained in the valley or occasionally visited the bears with him; three months passed.

Xiao Heng refined the Amethyst Crystal Pill, consolidated his Fourth-grade Alchemist rank, and advanced to Five-Star Dou Shi. He then revealed that he knew about Xiao Yi Xian's Calamity Poison Body and promised to help cure it, leaving her reassured that she was not alone.

• Xiao Heng refined the Amethyst Crystal Pill four times, succeeding three times and confirming his Fourth-grade Alchemist rank.
• Xiao Heng consumed the best Amethyst Crystal Pill and broke through to Five-Star Dou Shi.
• Xiao Heng noticed medicinal powder on Xiao Yi Xian's lips and told her he had long known about her Calamity Poison Body.
• Xiao Heng assured Xiao Yi Xian that he would not leave and promised to help cure her condition once he obtained the necessary materials.
• Xiao Heng gave Xiao Yi Xian a medicinal pill, teased her affectionately, and returned to cultivating.

Xiao Heng reforged his weapons and prepared a new sword and scabbard. After Bear Two sensed the Purple Spirit Crystals could help him advance, Xiao Heng refined them and Bear One’s Thick Earth Ganoderma, triggering Bear Two’s breakthrough to the fifth tier.

• Xiao Heng fused his weapons into the Earth Grade Low Immortal Slaying Sword, upgraded its scabbard, and forged three sets of clothes.
• Bear Two smelled Xiao Heng and became excited when he saw the Purple Spirit Crystals, which Xiao Heng gave him.
• Bear Two sensed the crystals could help him break through, and Bear One offered his remaining Thick Earth Ganoderma.
• Xiao Heng purified the crystals and refined the ganoderma, then Bear Two swallowed the resulting medicines and began his breakthrough.
• Xiao Heng rushed Xiao Yi Xian out of range of the breakthrough’s energy, while Bear One stood guard and Xiao Heng watched near the cave entrance.

Bear Two completed his breakthrough while Bear One protected him, and Xiao Heng later began absorbing the White Lotus Fire in a secluded cave. Xiao Heng seized its Flame Seed, but the fire ravaged his body as Xiao Yi Xian waited outside, worried for his survival.

• Bear One killed two fourth-tier magical beasts that approached Bear Two, forcing a fifth-tier tiger-shaped beast and the other creatures to retreat.
• Bear Two completed his breakthrough and thanked Xiao Heng, while Bear One and Bear Two promised to help Xiao Heng in return.
• Xiao Heng told Xiao Yi Xian he expected to leave in about a month, then prepared to absorb the White Lotus Fire in a cave.
• Xiao Heng released the White Lotus Fire's seal, endured its flames, seized its Flame Seed, and swallowed it.
• Xiao Heng used pills and Dou Qi to guide the Flame Seed through his meridians as the fire burned inside him, while Xiao Yi Xian waited anxiously outside.

Xiao Heng fused the White Lotus Fire with the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame to create the Crimson Lotus Beast Fire, which tempered his body and raised him to six-star Dou Shi. As he trained in the valley, he learned Bear Two would accompany him when he left the Monster Mountain Range, while Bear One stayed behind.

• Xiao Heng guided the White Lotus Fire into the Spirit Gathering Ring, where it began fighting the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame.
• Xiao Heng spent two Heavenly Dao Points to fuse the Exotic Flames, creating a vermilion lotus-shaped flame he named the Crimson Lotus Beast Fire.
• The new flame tempered Xiao Heng's body, and he reached six-star Dou Shi before emerging from the cave to reassure Xiao Yi Xian.
• Xiao Heng and Xiao Yi Xian shared a meal, and Xiao Heng promised to wash the dishes every day.
• Xiao Heng asked Bear One and Bear Two whether they would leave the Monster Mountain Range with him; Bear One decided Bear Two would go while he stayed behind.
• Xiao Heng sparred with Bear One, who proved far more difficult to fight than Bear Two.

Xiao Heng said goodbye to Xiao Yi Xian, leaving her a Storage Ring and a Dou Technique before setting out with Bear Two. They reached Black Rock City after a difficult journey, while Xiao Yi Xian also prepared to leave with Xiao Lan.

• Xiao Yi Xian asked Xiao Heng to stay alive, and he made the same promise to her as they watched the stars together.
• Xiao Heng left before dawn with Bear Two, and Xiao Yi Xian found his farewell letter and a Storage Ring containing pills and the Myriad Leaf Flying Flower Flow scroll.
• Xiao Yi Xian said goodbye to Xiao Heng and set out with Xiao Lan.
• Xiao Heng and Bear Two traveled through the wilderness, with Xiao Heng hiding that he was lost and Bear Two repeatedly running out of water.
• Bear Two frightened two guards at the gates of Black Rock City, and Xiao Heng explained that the bear was his beast pet before they entered the city.

Xiao Heng explored Black Rock City with Bear Two and went to the Alchemist Guild to take its assessment. After Master Otto helped him enter, Xiao Heng began the examination by entering Room Three.

• Xiao Heng took Bear Two sightseeing and bought him food while an elderly alchemist recognized Xiao Heng's fire-element aura.
• The old man, later identified as Master Otto, advised Xiao Heng that the Guild held examinations every day.
• Xiao Heng left Bear Two with gold coins and went to the Alchemist Guild, where guards initially stopped him for lacking a letter of introduction.
• Otto let Xiao Heng enter, and a young woman registered him under the name Xiao Heng, age twenty-five, with Guigu Zi as his mentor.
• The Guild began the assessment, and Xiao Heng entered Room Three to refine a pill using the provided recipe and ingredients.

Xiao Heng passed the First-grade Alchemist assessment by quickly refining a pill with a Pill Pattern, then began the Second-grade assessment. As Otto and the old man watched through a one-way wall, Xiao Heng extracted and began merging the ingredients for a Blood-Generating Pill.

• Xiao Heng used the Five-Oracle Cauldron and Heavenly Flames to refine a Recovery Pill with ease.
• Otto admired Xiao Heng's fire-element aura and considered taking him as a disciple, while the old man encouraged him to wait and see.
• Xiao Heng presented his pill, and Otto and the old man confirmed it bore a Pill Pattern and passed the First-grade assessment.
• Xiao Heng revealed he had reached the Dou Shi realm and requested the Second-grade assessment, which Otto agreed to administer.
• The old man gave Xiao Heng the Blood-Generating Pill recipe and ingredients, then watched him through a one-way wall with Otto.
• Xiao Heng tossed all the ingredients into the cauldron, extracted them successfully, and began merging the medicinal liquids as Otto realized he was highly experienced.

Xiao Heng passed the Alchemist Guild’s assessment by refining a pill, earning recognition as a Second-grade Alchemist. After receiving his guild robe and registering, he asked Frank to help obtain a long list of medicinal ingredients, including rare materials the branch might not be able to find.

• Xiao Heng completed his pill and passed the assessment, impressing Otto and Suo Ke with his skill.
• Suo Ke presented Xiao Heng with the special robes of a Second-grade Alchemist, while Otto tried to learn about Xiao Heng’s master.
• Frank arrived, confirmed Xiao Heng’s registration with the guild, and explained the benefits of membership.
• Xiao Heng gave Frank a list of needed medicinal ingredients and offered gold, cards, and Storage Rings in payment.
• Frank noticed the list included many high-grade ingredients and told the attendant to do his utmost to gather them.

Xiao Heng stayed in Black Rock City while Frank and Otto arranged the medicinal ingredients he needed, and he spent his time with Bear Two enjoying the human world. After two days of Bear Two exploring and eating his fill, the story left Xiao Heng still waiting for the ingredients, while his Alchemist robe had deterred mercenaries who targeted Bear Two.

• Frank and Otto persuaded Xiao Heng to remain in Black Rock City until most of his medicinal ingredients had been gathered, and Xiao Heng agreed to rest rather than sightsee.
• After Xiao Heng left the Alchemist Guild, Frank asked Otto about Xiao Heng's background and alchemy, and Otto recounted what he had observed.
• Xiao Heng returned to the inn and found Bear Two eating an enormous feast; he joined the bear, and they ate until the inn ran out of ingredients.
• Bear Two wished he could share the food with Bear One, and Xiao Heng explained that they could bring food back when they returned, since it would spoil if carried too soon.
• Xiao Heng agreed to explore the lively streets with Bear Two, who spent the next two days eagerly discovering the human world.
• Mercenaries targeted Bear Two, but Xiao Heng's Alchemist robe frightened them away.

Xiao Heng received medicinal ingredients from Frank, heard about the Alchemist Grand Meeting in the Imperial Capital, and left Black Rock City with Bear Two. On the road, he killed Li Cheng and his bandits after they tried to rob him, then continued toward the next town with Bear Two.

• Frank brought his silver-haired disciple Xue Mei to meet Xiao Heng, and she questioned him about his age and alchemy skills.
• Frank gave Xiao Heng the medicinal ingredients he had requested and invited him to visit him and Otto at the Alchemist Grand Meeting in the Imperial Capital in two years.
• Xiao Heng left Black Rock City with Bear Two and traveled onward, using the blazing sun to cultivate his fire-attributed Dou Qi.
• Li Cheng and more than a dozen bandits ambushed Xiao Heng, but Bear Two's speech revealed that he was a high-level magical beast.
• Xiao Heng used Flame Kill to incinerate the bandits, took Li Cheng's Storage Ring, and had the System absorb its Xuan Rank Dou Technique scroll.
• Xiao Heng and Bear Two continued toward the next town, where Bear Two hoped to find good food.

Xiao Heng arrived in Desert City with Bear Two, intending to meet Hai Bodong and challenge him to a fight. After settling into an inn and buying supplies, he prepared a Dou Ling Experience Card for the next day’s battle.

• Xiao Heng entered Desert City with Bear Two and hired Fatty Li to guide them to an inn and, the next day, to a map shop run by a bad-tempered old man.
• Fatty Li took Xiao Heng and Bear Two to the finest inn in the city, which belonged to the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Xiao Heng booked two medium-grade rooms and ordered every dish on the menu for Bear Two.
• Xiao Heng went out alone to buy supplies while Bear Two stayed behind to wait for food.
• Xiao Heng used the Dou Ling Experience Card in preparation for challenging Hai Bodong the next day and decided not to pursue the Green Lotus Core Flame.