Recaps

After refining the Bloodbone Titan’s blood essence, Lin Sheng gained a flesh-and-blood affinity talent that let him comprehend the Blackgold Body-Forging Art’s rule trajectories and condense his first blood seal in half a day. He learned that the Iron Bone Boxing Gym was prospering under Yue Hongya’s leadership, while the Heavy Peak Martial Hall remained a threat, and discovered Yue Hongya had condensed her first blood seal in only ten days.

• Lin Sheng finished refining the Bloodbone Titan’s blood essence and gained the intermediate Flesh-and-blood affinity talent without any increase to his attributes.
• Lin Sheng used his new talent to understand the Color-Painting Set and memorize the rule trajectories from the skeleton in the secret chamber.
• Lin Sheng practiced the Blackgold Body-Forging Art and successfully condensed his first blood seal in half a day.
• Ding Le told Lin Sheng that the Iron Bone Boxing Gym was recovering and expanding after Yue Hongya defeated two Annihilation Forces experts and partnered with the Jinmei Chamber of Commerce.
• Ding Le explained that most students took months to condense their first blood seal, while Yue Hongya had done it in ten days.

Lin Sheng discovered that Flesh Affinity made him cultivate the Blackgold Body-Forging Art at an extraordinary pace, then secretly advanced to Combat Master in ten days. After agreeing to join Meng Cheng on an escort mission, he sensed a mysterious presence outside his window and confronted it.

• Lin Sheng deduced that Flesh Affinity explained his rapid progress and resumed cultivating the Blackgold Body-Forging Art.
• Tang Xue'er and Li Suihan became Elite Disciples of the Swift Shadow Martial Hall, and Tang Xue'er told Li Suihan that Li Wei had joined the Iron Bone Boxing Gym as an Official Student.
• Lin Sheng completed all twenty Blood Seals, reached Combat Master, and concealed his breakthrough by suppressing his aura.
• Yue Hongya and Meng Cheng urged Lin Sheng to gain combat experience, and Lin Sheng agreed to accompany Meng Cheng on an escort assignment.
• While cultivating late at night, Lin Sheng detected an unusual presence outside his window and challenged it, prompting a seductive voice to answer.

Nora confronted Lin Sheng in his bedroom, revealed that the Eye of the Dead welcomed intelligent Extradimensional Creatures, and offered to divert investigator Lu Ku in exchange for Lin Sheng finding something for her. Lin Sheng accepted the trade, though Nora had not yet revealed what she wanted him to find.

• Nora entered Lin Sheng's bedroom and warned him that investigator Lu Ku had confirmed an Extradimensional Creature was in Greenwood City.
• Lin Sheng attacked Nora in his transformed state, but she evaded him and weakened him with black mist before he stopped fighting.
• Nora invited Lin Sheng to join the Eye of the Dead and explained that the organization included Extradimensional Creatures and was led by a hybrid, but Lin Sheng refused.
• Nora offered to lure Lu Ku away from Greenwood City if Lin Sheng helped her find something, explaining that his Eye Clan blood would improve the odds of success.
• Lin Sheng asked what Nora wanted and agreed to the trade.

Nora explained the five great wills and the derived rules to Lin Sheng, then revealed her plan to use him to find the Thousand-Eyed Eerie Vine. Three days later, Lin Sheng joined Meng Cheng’s group on a wilderness mission from Greenwood City toward White Tower City.

• Nora explained that the five great wills underlay the rules of the endless void and that the return-to-quiescence will’s kin were destructive creatures targeted by the Bureau of Affairs.
• Nora told Lin Sheng that the Eye of the Dead stole the rule of desolation, then explained how she had discovered him through his unusual aura and mental strength.
• After leaving Lin Sheng, Nora told Xiao Luo that she wanted his help obtaining the Thousand-Eyed Eerie Vine and ordered Xiao Luo to confirm its location in the Rotting Woodland.
• Nora said she would lure Lu Ku away and admitted she could not safely capture Lin Sheng in her current condition, while Xiao Luo reported finding possible traces of the eerie vine.
• Three days later, Lin Sheng departed with Meng Cheng on a pickup convoy, and Meng Cheng warned him to study the map and stay inside the vehicle while crossing corrupted land.

Lin Sheng traveled with Meng Cheng’s convoy toward White Tower City, but a damaged glowstone road forced them to detour through the dangerous Blackwater Ravine. As the convoy crossed the ravine without the expected attacks, Lin Sheng sensed a powerful presence approaching.

• Lin Sheng studied the map Meng Cheng gave him and accepted a new phone as a gift before cultivating during the journey.
• After the Guard Army closed their route due to eerie poison contamination, Meng Cheng chose to take the convoy through Blackwater Ravine despite the danger.
• Xiao Kui explained that Blackwater Ravine’s abandoned road bordered a dangerous region and lay near a contaminated stream frequented by Eerie Beasts.
• During the night, Meng Cheng repeatedly killed attacking Eerie Beasts with his firearm while the convoy continued without losses.
• The convoy entered Blackwater Ravine wearing protective masks, and Lin Sheng perceived the heat and infernal eerie poison coming from the trees and stream.
• As the convoy crossed the ravine without encountering Eerie Beasts, Lin Sheng sensed a powerful, concealed presence rapidly approaching.

Lin Sheng left the convoy to kill a powerful Demon Beast-level Eerie Beast, incorporated it, and tested its talents. A humanoid Void Beast then ambushed him in the mist, survived his counterattack, and was identified as an Infernal Fiend.

• Meng Cheng left the truck to confront an approaching Eerie Beast while Xiao Kui drove the convoy onward.
• Lin Sheng sensed a stronger Eerie Beast approaching and left the truck to intercept it.
• Lin Sheng killed the Infernal-Melt Giant Rhinoceros and incorporated it, gaining its Infernal Aura and Infernal Flame Breath talents.
• Lin Sheng tested the giant rhinoceros's talents, then canceled the incorporation and hurried back toward the convoy.
• A humanoid Eerie Beast ambushed Lin Sheng in the mist, but he struck it and survived its counterattack.
• Lin Sheng identified the attacker as an Infernal Fiend, a humanoid Void Beast.

Lin Sheng fought and assimilated the Purgatory Flame Demon in Blackwater Ravine, barely resisting the purgatory aura that drove it to slaughter. He escaped the danger zone with Meng Cheng, and told him he had encountered a high-level Spirit Beast-level Eerie Beast.

• Lin Sheng assessed the Purgatory Flame Demon’s strength and activated his talents before meeting its charge head-on.
• Lin Sheng wrestled the demon and battered it for more than twenty minutes, enduring severe wounds and its corrosive yellow-red fluid.
• Lin Sheng tore the demon apart and assimilated it, then realized purgatory contamination had nearly overwhelmed his mind.
• Lin Sheng encountered Meng Cheng in the mist, and the two fled Blackwater Ravine to rejoin the convoy.
• Meng Cheng treated Lin Sheng’s injuries and warned him about purgatory toxins, while Lin Sheng claimed he had faced a high-level Spirit Beast-level Eerie Beast.

Lin Sheng reached White Tower City, tested the Purgatory Flame Demon's talents, and resumed cultivating before setting out with the convoy. In Greenwood City, Wan Shan focused on securing Elite Quota places while postponing action against the Iron Bone Martial Hall.

• Meng Cheng explained that the return-to-quiescence will encompassed destructive rules and that Extradimensional Creatures and corrupted cultists could create Danger Zones.
• Lin Sheng entered White Tower City, passed the Guard Army's Wicked Poison test, and found an inn where he tested the Purgatory Demon Body and Purgatory Affinity talents.
• Lin Sheng discovered that Purgatory Demon Body greatly enhanced his attributes and resilience but stirred a violent, bloodthirsty impulse, then prepared to condense Blood Seals.
• Meng Cheng praised Lin Sheng over a meal at the Milo Hotel and encouraged him to keep cultivating so he could eventually lead a team.
• Greenfang and Men Jie Fu left the Heavy Peak Martial Hall after failing to make Wan Shan cover their losses, while Wan Shan and Wan Zhong discussed the Iron Bone Martial Hall and the upcoming Elite Quota.
• Wan Shan said he would wait to avoid jeopardizing the Elite Quota and planned to train Huo'er for a second place after an Association representative arrived in Greenwood City.

Lin Sheng returned to Greenwood City, cultivated another Blood Seal, and discovered that Nora had dealt with two Heavy Peak Martial Hall agents sent to attack him. The next day, he accompanied Nora into the Rotting Woodland to retrieve something and repay his favor to her.

• Wan Shan ordered Wan Zhong to arrange for men to test Li Wei and cripple him if the chance arose.
• Lin Sheng returned from the escort trip with thirty Blood Seals, then cultivated in seclusion until he formed his thirty-first and examined the changing mark on his chest.
• Two men from the Heavy Peak Martial Hall tried to ambush Lin Sheng, but Nora incapacitated them and told him she had also diverted Lu Ku toward Sea City.
• Nora arranged for Lin Sheng to join her the next day, while Lin Sheng refused her offer to publicly name him her sworn little brother.
• Xiao Luo drove Lin Sheng to the Rotting Woodland, where Nora said he could repay his favor by finding something in its dangerous depths, and Lin Sheng led the way inside.

Lin Sheng and Nora searched the Rotting Forest for the Nine-Eyed Ghost Vine, using Lin Sheng’s Eye Clan blood and mental talent to find it while avoiding powerful Eerie Beasts. They reached the forest’s core, where Lin Sheng detected the vine hiding inside a tumor-covered tree, and Nora exposed it.

• Nora explained that the intelligent Nine-Eyed Ghost Vine could mimic its surroundings and was drawn to the Eye Clan, then recruited Lin Sheng because of his bloodline.
• Lin Sheng used the Thousand-Eyed Nether Lord’s power to sense the vine and drove off a group of Earth Fiend Pythons with his fear devour talent.
• Nora warned Lin Sheng that factions might extract Eye Clan blood, while he continued absorbing mental energy from Eerie Beasts and strengthened his mind.
• Lin Sheng and Nora crossed the Corruption Miasma Barrier and searched the dangerous forest core as Nora’s concealment steadily drained her strength.
• Lin Sheng sensed something watching them and located it inside a tumor-covered tree, where Nora broke open the trunk and confirmed the Nine-Eyed Ghost Vine was hiding there.

Lin Sheng and Nora fought their way out of the Rotting Woodland after Lin Sheng defeated the Nine-Eyed Ghost Vine and a Corrosion Beast awakened. They escaped its pursuit, and Nora explained that the creature was powerful enough to overwhelm the forces of Greenwood City.

• Nora recognized the Nine-Eyed Vines, but realized the Nine-Eyed Ghost Vine was targeting Lin Sheng as the ground collapsed beneath him.
• Lin Sheng transformed with the power of purgatory, killed the giant snake Eerie Beast, and burned the humanoid Nine-Eyed Ghost Vine to ash.
• Nora descended into the cavern and warned Lin Sheng to flee when a terrifying roar came from deep within the woodland.
• Lin Sheng and Nora raced through the Rotting Woodland, and Nora sent an eye-shaped pattern into the mist to suppress the pursuing Corrosion Beast.
• Lin Sheng and Nora escaped the woodland and stopped a hundred li away, where Nora explained how formidable Corrosion Beasts were.

Lin Sheng recovered the Nine-Eyed Wraith Vine and Nora returned to claim it before leaving Greenwood City. Back in the city, Li Suihan became Bai Jiushuang’s disciple, and Lin Sheng learned about her new master while considering his distance from her.

• Nora left Lin Sheng, but returned after sensing the Nine-Eyed Wraith Vine in his hand and took it, thanking him with a kiss on the cheek.
• Xiao Luo arrived to drive Lin Sheng back to Greenwood City and privately wondered about Nora’s lipstick mark on his face.
• Li Suihan became Bai Jiushuang’s disciple at the Swift Shadow Martial Hall, then told Tang Xue’er she would share the news with Li Wei.
• Li Suihan called Lin Sheng with the news, and he congratulated her while keeping their conversation brief because he was not truly Li Wei.
• Lin Sheng asked Xiao Luo about Bai Jiushuang’s strength, learned she was a peak Combat Master, and decided that rank could keep Li Suihan safer; Xiao Luo offered to take him to the martial hall.

Lin Sheng visited the Swift Shadow Martial Hall in a Black Lightning sports car and gave Li Suihan a large sum of money, stunning her and the other students. Zhou Fang, who had mocked Li Suihan and Tang Xue'er moments earlier, apologized and offered his help after realizing Lin Sheng might be connected to the Guard Army.

• On the way to the Swift Shadow Martial Hall, Lin Sheng asked Xiao Luo whether she had brought money.
• Qian Xinxin and Zhou Fang taunted Li Suihan and Tang Xue'er about their prospects and resources, prompting Tang Xue'er to defend her friend.
• A Black Lightning sports car arrived at the martial hall, and Lin Sheng stepped out, shocking Li Suihan, Tang Xue'er, Zhou Fang, and Qian Xinxin.
• Lin Sheng gave Li Suihan a bag containing roughly three or four hundred thousand Star Coins, then left in the car.
• Zhou Fang slapped Qian Xinxin for nearly implicating him, then apologized to Li Suihan and Tang Xue'er and offered them his assistance.

Lin Sheng advanced to Second-Tier Combat Master and discovered that the Blood-Red Vortex Mark strengthened his origin astral force beyond what other Combat Masters could produce. Yue Hongya identified his power as rare blood-refined origin gang and explained that it was a special talent recorded in the Iron Bone Martial Hall's history.

• Lin Sheng spent ten days cultivating in seclusion and broke through to Second-Tier Combat Master.
• Lin Sheng tested his origin astral force and found that it dealt far more damage than expected.
• Lin Sheng compared his power with other Combat Masters and suspected the Blood-Red Vortex Mark was responsible for its unusual strength.
• Lin Sheng searched the Iron Bone Biographies and learned that the First-Generation Hall Master had possessed a rare blood core talent.
• Yue Hongya and Meng Cheng tested Lin Sheng's power, and Yue Hongya recognized it as blood-refined origin gang.
• Yue Hongya explained that blood-refined origin gang was exceptionally rare and that Lin Sheng's strength was above average.

Yue Hongya explained the levels and origins of special Origin Astral Force, then urged Lin Sheng to compete for an Elite Quota and enter the Heavy Peak Martial Hall’s tournament. Lin Sheng agreed and began preparing to develop more power and conceal his abilities, while Nora endured a painful ordeal in a Quiet Room.

• Yue Hongya described the Blood Draw, Blood Flow, and Blood Spring levels of Blood-Refined Origin Gang and said special Origin Astral Force usually depended on innate affinity.
• Yue Hongya told Lin Sheng she would secure him an Elite Quota nomination, and he agreed after learning about the Fighting Association’s resources and Transcendent Cultivation Arts.
• Yue Hongya announced that the Iron Bone Martial Hall would attend Heavy Peak Martial Hall’s tournament in twenty days, and Lin Sheng agreed to compete.
• After Lin Sheng left, Yue Hongya resolved to pay whatever was necessary for his Elite Quota, while Meng Cheng offered to seek funds from his family.
• Lin Sheng considered ways to develop another special Origin Astral Force and acquire concealment methods, messaged Nora, and resumed condensing Blood Seals.
• Nora writhed in agony in an underground Quiet Room as she chewed the remaining Deep Crimson Vine.

Wan Huo became a seventeen-year-old Combat Master with special yuan gang, while Heavy Peak Martial Hall prepared for the fighting tournament and planned to confront Lin Sheng there. After seven days of cultivation, Lin Sheng reached the Second-Tier Master realm, received concealment methods from Nora, and learned that inferno-oriented cultivation methods carried a severe risk of corruption.

• Wan Huo demonstrated his heavy mountain origin astral force, and Wan Shan praised his breakthrough while instructing him to train and learn a secret technique for the tournament.
• Wan Zhong reported that two resident martial masters sent to investigate Lin Sheng had disappeared, so Wan Shan decided to wait for the tournament rather than send more fighters.
• After seven days, Lin Sheng finished cultivating four blood seals and assessed that his progress toward becoming a Third-Tier Master would take at most two months.
• Nora visited Lin Sheng, gave him three concealment methods, and warned him that inferno-oriented cultivation methods could corrupt practitioners and transform them into demonic beasts.
• Nora agreed to look for an inferno cultivation method but warned Lin Sheng away from the black market, then explained the benefits and dangers of the Fighting Association's elite quota.

Lin Sheng studied concealment arts while the Fighting Association commissioners arrived in Greenwood City to select candidates for an elite quota. Carly tested Lin Sheng's special yuan gang and promised Iron Bone Boxing Gym fair consideration in the upcoming tournament.

• Lin Sheng chose the Phantom Image Breath-Concealment Method from three secret arts and planned to cultivate it alongside condensing blood seals.
• Wan Shan hosted commissioners Su Mingquan, Bai Hong, and Carly at Heavy Peak Martial Hall, where they agreed to use a Martial Combat Tournament to assess candidates for the elite quota.
• Wan Huo demonstrated his special yuan gang to the commissioners, impressing them with his talent.
• Carly and Su Mingquan visited the ailing Old Monster Tie at Iron Bone Boxing Gym, and Su Mingquan left after seeing that he was near death.
• Yue Hongya offered Carly a Domain Energy Resonance Elixir and explained that Iron Bone Boxing Gym hoped to secure an elite quota for a new disciple.
• Carly tested Lin Sheng, who appeared under the name Li Wei, confirmed that he had middle-grade special yuan gang, and promised to treat Iron Bone Boxing Gym fairly if he performed well in the tournament.

Lin Sheng met Nora at the Gloam Club to collect two Inferno cultivation methods, but she was in a strange state and drained much of his vital blood. After recovering, he studied the methods, chose the Purgatory Body-Burning Fist Manual, and hoped it would help him condense Special Yuan Gang.

• Lin Sheng finished mastering the Phantom Image Breath-Concealment Method and reached fifty-three Blood Seals, leaving him seven short of becoming a Third Tier Combat Master.
• Lin Sheng went to the Gloam Club, where Nora gave him an encrypted USB drive containing two Inferno cultivation methods and asked to borrow some of his vital blood.
• Nora clung to Lin Sheng and drained his vital blood for an hour before he left with the USB drive.
• Nora woke later and realized Li Wei had been there, then considered how his vital blood might help her cultivate through the Withered Bone Congealed Stillness stage.
• Lin Sheng replenished his vital blood with Nutritional Potions, compared the two methods, and chose the Purgatory Body-Burning Fist Manual.

The Martial Combat Tournament opened in Greenwood City, drawing the city’s major factions and offering large prizes. As Li Suihan endured Qian Xinxin’s taunts, Yue Hongya prepared Jelas for his event and wondered when their youngest junior brother would arrive; Li Wei appeared at the plaza entrance.

• Tang Xue'er and Li Suihan watched the gathered factions, and Bai Jiushuang introduced Yue Hongya as the Iron Bone Boxing Gym’s young hall master.
• Qian Xinxin insulted Li Wei in front of Li Suihan, while Zhou Fang left with her after deciding Li Wei was unremarkable.
• Yue Hongya told Jelas to compete for the peak master elite quota and learned that Li Wei was still expected to arrive late.
• Wan Shan opened the tournament and announced eight million Star Coins and Transcendent Potions among its rewards.
• Meng Cheng worried about the Heavy Peak Martial Hall’s ties to the Guard Army, then spotted Li Wei arriving at the plaza entrance.

Lin Sheng attended the tournament and watched the Fighter matches while concealing his presence and cultivating. The final bout ended with a young settlement fighter using origin astral force to defeat Yuan Kai, revealing an unexpectedly powerful contender.

• Lin Sheng took his seat beside Yue Hongya, drawing attention from the martial halls and unsettling Qian Xinxin when she realized he was a core disciple and Li Suihan’s brother.
• The Fighter tournament began, and Lin Sheng watched briefly before turning his attention to condensing blood seals; two hours later, only Yuan Kai and a young girl from an outside settlement remained.
• Yue Hongya said she had already sent someone to recruit the girl, whose eighth-rank strength had carried her past several ninth-rank Fighters.
• Yuan Kai hardened his body like black rock and charged the girl, confident that her blades could not hurt him.
• The girl’s blades flashed with origin astral force, opening two deep gashes across Yuan Kai’s chest and dropping him to the ground.

Mangya defeated Yuan Kai in the Fighter competition, revealing a rare talent that earned her an elite quota spot. Jelas lost to Wan Zhong in the peak Master final, and Lin Sheng entered the ring for the Master competition.

• Mangya defeated Yuan Kai with her special yuan gang, and the Fighting Association officials agreed to give her an elite quota spot.
• Jelas beat Shak in the peak Master competition, while Wan Zhong quickly defeated his first opponent.
• Jelas fought Wan Zhong in the final and lost, though he injured Wan Zhong before falling from the ring.
• The host announced Wan Zhong as the peak Master competition's victor and called the Master contestants to enter.
• Lin Sheng's senior disciples encouraged him before he walked toward the ring.

Wan Huo and Lin Sheng dominated their opening matches in the Master division, while Lin Sheng learned that his next tournament challenge might be more dangerous than expected. The chapter ended with Rorick gravely injured after Wan Huo defeated him brutally.

• Wan Shan told Wan Zhong that the last elite quota slot was reserved for Wan Huo, then planned to pair Wan Huo with the wilderness girl who had already secured a slot.
• Lin Sheng defeated Lokov of the Three Mountains Gang in seconds, revealing his strength as a second-tier Master with special origin gang.
• Tang Xue'er cheered for Lin Sheng before hastily insisting to Swift Shadow Martial Hall students that she remained loyal to their hall.
• Lin Sheng defeated a second-tier Master from the Greenfang Gang, while Rorick won his own match and promised to treat Lin Sheng to dinner.
• Wan Huo crushed Rorick in a brutal match, leaving him motionless and badly injured as Lin Sheng watched from the arena.

Wan Huo brutally injured Rorick and provoked Lin Sheng before they became the tournament’s final contestants. As Wan Huo vowed to cripple Lin Sheng with a Yuan Gang Secret Art, Lin Sheng entered the platform to face him.

• Wan Huo defeated Rorick with deliberate, severe injuries, leaving him unconscious and likely to need six months to recover.
• Yue Hongya confronted Wan Shan over Wan Huo’s actions, but officials dismissed her protest and she returned to her seat.
• Wan Huo provoked Lin Sheng, who stayed calm and turned away to rest rather than respond.
• The remaining matches ended with Wan Huo and Lin Sheng as the last contestants, while officials discussed their special Yuan Gang and Wan Huo’s secret art.
• Wan Huo promised Wan Shan and Wan Zhong that he would use the secret art to cripple Lin Sheng, then challenged him on the platform.
• Lin Sheng reassured Yue Hongya, Meng Cheng, and Jelas before leaping onto the platform to face Wan Huo.

Lin Sheng faced Wan Huo in the master tournament final and revealed overwhelming strength after surviving Wan Huo’s Yuan Gang Secret Art. He left Wan Huo nearly destroyed and stopped Wan Shan’s charge by holding up his disciple’s blood-soaked head.

• Wan Huo activated a fully mastered Yuan Gang Secret Art and charged Lin Sheng with a barrage of attacks.
• Lin Sheng endured Wan Huo’s assault without moving, then enlarged into a towering crimson form and knocked Wan Huo into the arena barrier with one blow.
• Wan Huo attacked again in a frenzy, but his arms shattered when they struck Lin Sheng’s body.
• Lin Sheng struck Wan Huo from above, crumbling his body until only his head and neck remained.
• Wan Shan broke through the protective barrier and lunged at Lin Sheng, but stopped when Lin Sheng held up Wan Huo’s head.
• Lin Sheng apologized to Wan Shan for not expecting Wan Huo to be so fragile.

Lin Sheng won the Master division final by unleashing the power stored in his blood-red mark, earning the tournament’s final elite quota and drawing the Heavy Peak Martial Hall’s hostility. Back at the Iron Bone Main Hall, Yue Hongya mistook the mark’s effects for a physical mutation talent, while Lin Sheng resolved to grow stronger and keep the stored energy as a trump card.

• Lin Sheng defeated Wan Huo, and Wan Shan threatened him but stopped when Lin Sheng held Wan Huo’s life in his hands; Su Mingquan and Zhou Ye intervened, and Lin Sheng released Wan Huo to the Heavy Peak Martial Hall.
• The referee announced Li Wei of the Iron Bone Boxing Gym as the Master division champion, and Su Mingquan provisionally awarded him the final elite quota despite Bai Hong’s objections.
• Lin Sheng and the Iron Bone Martial Hall group left the tournament as spectators celebrated, while Mangya watched them depart.
• At the Iron Bone Main Hall, Lin Sheng said his sudden strength came from a force released during cultivation; Yue Hongya examined his blood-red mark and identified it as a likely physical mutation talent that could overdraw his body.
• Yue Hongya warned Lin Sheng to stay inside the main hall until the commissioners took him away, then arranged a celebration for his victory.
• Alone in his room, Lin Sheng considered killing Wan Huo but rejected the risk, resolved to increase his strength, and recognized the vortex mark as a growing reserve of power.