Chapter Summaries

After Ning Luo drove off Cao Dan, Ye Zhong warned him that Cao Ying would be a formidable rival at the Pill Gathering. Ning Luo emerged from secluded cultivation with stronger Soul Power, and the Heavenly Flame Venerable began explaining the four Soul Realms before the group prepared to leave for Sacred Pill City.

• Cao Dan threatened Ning Luo on behalf of the Cao Family and left, while Ning Luo reassured Xin Lan that he would protect the Ye Family.
• Ye Zhong described Cao Ying’s remarkable alchemy achievements and warned that she would compete with Ning Luo at the Pill Gathering.
• Ning Luo secluded himself in the alchemy chamber for over twenty days, and the Ye Family observed signs of powerful pill-refining energy within.
• Ning Luo emerged from seclusion, and Ye Zhong told him the group would depart for Sacred Pill City the next day.
• The Heavenly Flame Venerable said Ning Luo’s Soul Power had improved and explained that Soul Power had four realms: Mortal, Spirit, Heavenly, and Emperor.

Heavenly Flame Venerable explained how soul realms governed the creation of higher-grade pills, and Ning Luo resolved to seek Soul Techniques in Sacred Pill City. After arriving at the alchemy holy land, Ning Luo learned that he and his companions would need Pill Tower certification to enter the Pill Gathering.

• Heavenly Flame Venerable explained that Grade 8 pills required the Spirit Realm and Grade 9 pills required the Heavenly Realm, while the Emperor Realm was legendary.
• Ning Luo concluded that understanding Soul Techniques and the Spirit Realm would be essential to advancing his alchemy.
• Ning Luo, Xiao Yi Xian, Heavenly Flame Venerable, Xin Lan, and Ye Zhong traveled through spatial passages toward Sacred Pill City.
• After four days, Ning Luo and his group arrived at one of Sacred Pill City's outer spatial plazas and learned that the city had eight such plazas.
• Ye Zhong told Ning Luo and the others to rest before visiting a Pill Tower testing point, explaining that certified Alchemist rank badges were required for the Pill Gathering.

Ning Luo arrived in Sacred Pill City with Ye Zhong’s group and learned that the Dan Family had also come for the Pill Gathering. That night, he sensed Three Thousand Burning Flame in the Pill City Star Region, while the Pill Tower’s watchers suspected a powerful alchemist had been spying on it.

• Ning Luo and Ye Zhong saw the Dan Family’s carriage arrive, then went with Xiao Yi Xian and the others to rest at the Ye Estate.
• Ning Luo spoke with Xiao Yi Xian beneath the stars, and she fell asleep while leaning against a stone stool.
• Ning Luo entered a profound state, used his Soul Power to glimpse Three Thousand Burning Flame sealed in the Pill City Star Region, and found the courtyard transformed with new grass.
• Ning Luo realized his Spiritual Energy had grown denser and believed further experiences of that state could help him reach the Spirit Realm before the Pill Gathering.
• Pill Tower watchers discussed the spying on the Star Region, speculated that the intruder was a Grade 8 Alchemist in the Spirit Realm, and worried that the Soul Hall might target Three Thousand Burning Flame.

Ning Luo accompanied Ye Zhong to the Pill Tower’s rank assessment, where he declared that he would test for a seventh-tier, middle-rank badge. The claim drew disbelief and mockery, but Steward Han agreed to assess him after the other candidates finished.

• Pill Tower leaders discussed Three Thousand Burning Flame’s growing strength, the threat of the Soul Hall, and Yao Chen’s capture.
• Xiao Yi Xian woke in a garden, and Ning Luo greeted her before Ye Zhong arrived to take him to the rank certification area.
• Ning Luo accidentally knocked over a young woman wearing a Dan Family badge, caught her arm, and watched her hurry away after apologizing.
• At the assessment room, the Bai Family’s gray-clothed elder mocked Ye Zhong and questioned Ning Luo’s lack of a rank badge.
• After a Bai Family candidate chose to test for sixth-tier, high rank, Ning Luo requested a seventh-tier, middle-rank assessment.
• Steward Han directed the other candidates to their testing rooms and told Ning Luo to wait for a personal assessment in the Heaven-grade room.

Ning Luo passed the seventh-tier intermediate alchemy assessment, then struck down a Bai Family elder who had mocked him. The Bai Family left in disgrace, while Ye Zhong worried that Bai Ying could threaten the Ye Family in the coming assessment.

• The Bai Family elder insulted the Ye Family, and Ning Luo challenged her before Han Li stopped him from fighting.
• Bai Wei passed the sixth-tier advanced test, and Han Li announced that Ning Luo had perfectly passed the seventh-tier intermediate assessment.
• After the Bai Family elder called Ning Luo trash, Ning Luo knocked her unconscious with a burst of force.
• Han Li let Ning Luo off with a warning, and Bai Wei and the other Bai Family members carried the elder away.
• Ye Zhong and Han Li discussed Bai Ying's talent and the threat he posed to the Ye Family's chances in the Five Great Families' assessment.

Ning Luo prepared for the Alchemist Exchange Fair and attended it with Ye Zhong, Xiao Yi Xian, Heavenly Flame Venerable, and Xin Lan. After making an offer for a Blood Spirit Demonic Fruit, he headed to the top floor to search for a Ten Thousand Year Green Spirit Vine and Snow Bone Ginseng.

• Ning Luo failed to regain the soul-cultivation state he had reached the previous night and decided to attend the Alchemist Exchange Fair.
• Ning Luo spent a day and night refining items before leaving for the fair with Ye Zhong, Xiao Yi Xian, Heavenly Flame Venerable, and Xin Lan.
• On the second floor, Ning Luo offered a seventh-tier mid-grade pill prescription for a Blood Spirit Demonic Fruit, leaving the seller to decide whether to accept.
• Ning Luo and his companions were escorted to the top floor, where he asked for a Ten Thousand Year Green Spirit Vine and Snow Bone Ginseng.
• The yellow-robed attendant led Ning Luo's group to a crowded jade platform displaying rare medicinal ingredients, scrolls, and pills.

Ning Luo visited Yan Lao to trade for Snow Bone Ginseng and discovered an ancient copper sheet that Heavenly Flame Venerable urged him to acquire. When a white-robed young man tried to take it, Ning Luo fought back, and the young man’s Dou Zong guards attacked.

• Yan Lao offered Ning Luo Snow Bone Ginseng for a High-grade Seventh-rank medicinal pill, then demanded the same price for a copper sheet.
• Heavenly Flame Venerable told Ning Luo that the copper sheet bore patterns from ancient times, so Ning Luo tried to trade for it.
• Ning Luo offered Yan Lao a Suxin Pill for the Snow Bone Ginseng, and Yan Lao proposed trading the copper sheet for the Suxin Pill prescription and another ginseng.
• A white-robed young man offered twice Yan Lao’s price for the copper sheet, but Ning Luo refused and struck at him when he pressed his fan against it.
• The white-robed young man counterattacked, and his two eight-star Dou Zong guards lunged at Ning Luo as Xiao Yi Xian and Heavenly Flame Venerable appeared to intervene.

Ning Luo secured a copper piece from a scruffy old man despite Chen Xian’s attempt to buy it, then learned that its patina concealed five grains of Spirit Nurturing Dust. After Heavenly Flame Venerable explained their value, Ning Luo absorbed one grain into his forehead.

• Xiao Yi Xian stopped two old men from forcibly taking the copper piece, and Chen Xian introduced himself as a member of the Xuanming Sect.
• Ning Luo refused Chen Xian’s offer, and the scruffy old man returned the copper piece to Ning Luo.
• Xiao Yi Xian threatened the men blocking their way, allowing Ning Luo’s group to leave; Chen Xian ordered Xuan Lao to investigate Ning Luo.
• At Ye Estate, Heavenly Flame Venerable removed the patina and helped Ning Luo refine it into five grains of Spirit Nurturing Dust.
• Heavenly Flame Venerable explained that Spirit Nurturing Dust could strengthen the soul and improve Grade 8 pills, and Ning Luo absorbed one grain.

Ning Luo used the Spirit Nurturing Dust to draw spiritual energy into his soul and discovered that an ancient incantation helped him sense it. After cultivating through the night, he accompanied Ye Zhong and the others to the Five Great Families assessment hall, where many powerful onlookers watched their arrival.

• The Spirit Nurturing Dust infused Ning Luo with spiritual energy before shattering, and an ancient voice left him the words, "At the peak of the soul... seal the heavenly spirit... absorb spirit, forge soul."
• Ning Luo repeated the incantation and sensed spiritual energy in the room, then cultivated through the night to absorb it.
• Ning Luo joined Ye Zhong, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others in leaving the Ye Estate for the Five Great Families assessment.
• Onlookers at the assessment hall mocked the Ye Family's repeated failures and warned that another defeat could cost them their place among the Five Great Families.
• Ye Zhong led Ning Luo and the group into the hall, where Ning Luo noticed many powerful figures watching them.

Ning Luo joined the Five Great Families’ assessment in Sacred Pill City, where he faced the other family representatives and drew attention from Elder Sheng. The assessment began as Elder Sheng revealed a towering crystal-like stele.

• Ning Luo recognized Dan Xuan and Dan Chen among the Dan Family, while Ye Zhong noted Dan Xuan’s exceptional alchemy talent.
• Cao Ying arrived with the Cao Family, greeted Dan Chen, and exchanged words with Dan Xuan; Cao Dan challenged Ning Luo, who did not respond.
• The Five Great Families’ seats moved aside to form an arena, and Elder Sheng called the representatives forward.
• Ning Luo, Dan Xuan, Cao Xiu, Bai Ying, and Qiu Ji introduced themselves to Elder Sheng, while Bai Ying accused Ning Luo of disrespecting the Bai Family.
• Elder Sheng began the assessment and uncovered a transparent, crystal-like stone stele over ten feet tall.

Ning Luo shattered Cao Ying’s Soul Value record in the first part of the Five Great Families assessment, securing first place for the Ye Family. The Soul Manipulation test began as Soul Measurement Beads poured into the hall.

• Qiu Ji scored 707, Bai Ying scored 785, Cao Xiu scored 846, and Dan Xuan scored 903 in the soul measurement test.
• Ning Luo unleashed a Soul Storm and scored 1395, breaking Cao Ying’s record of 976 by more than three hundred points.
• Elder Sheng declared Ning Luo first in soul measurement and announced that two assessments remained.
• Cao Ying said she wanted to see Ning Luo’s result in Soul Manipulation, whose record was her capture of eighty-nine beads.
• Elder Sheng warned the candidates not to spread their Soul Power too widely, then released a rain of Soul Measurement Beads as Ning Luo and the others prepared to catch them.

Ning Luo dominated the Soul Measurement Bead round, then entered the final Soul Power arena test after Cao Ying replaced Cao Xiu as a contestant. Cao Ying’s opening attacks pushed Ning Luo close to the boundary, and he called for another exchange.

• Ning Luo collected ninety-three Soul Measurement Beads, taking first place ahead of Dan Xuan and Cao Xiu.
• Cao Ying asked to replace Cao Xiu in the final test, and Elder Sheng allowed her to enter the arena.
• The five contestants began the Soul Power battle, and Cao Ying formed a soul Phoenix and sent it toward Ning Luo.
• Cao Ying used Soul Profound Seal Palm, and its collision with Ning Luo’s soul fist sent him skidding to within thirty meters of the boundary.
• Ning Luo steadied himself and called for another exchange with Cao Ying.

Ning Luo fought Cao Ying in the assessment and unexpectedly copied her Soul Hand Seal, earning the victory. Afterward, Elder Sheng congratulated the Ye Family for preserving its place among the Five Great Families and turned his attention to Ning Luo.

• Cao Ying unleashed a Soul Technique, and Ning Luo used his jade-green flames to understand and imitate her hand seals.
• Ning Luo’s copied Soul Hand Seal struck Cao Ying’s Soul Storm, and Cao Ying declared him the winner after their three strikes.
• Cao Ying teased Ning Luo about stealing her technique and invited him to another private exchange.
• Cao Dan cursed Ning Luo’s luck, while Cao Xiu acknowledged his strength and cautioned that Cao Ying might still defeat him at the Pill Gathering.
• Dan Xuan praised Ning Luo, introduced his shy cousin Dan Chen, and invited him to visit the Pill Academy.
• Elder Sheng congratulated Ye Zhong on preserving the Ye Family’s title among the Five Great Families and asked Ning Luo to confirm his name.

Elder Sheng invited Ning Luo to visit the Pill Tower before the Pill Gathering, where Soul Hall was expected to compete for the Three Thousand Burning Flame. That night, a Soul Hall Dou Zun attacked Ning Luo for his Heavenly Flame and technique, but the Pill Tower intervened, and the attacker escaped after threatening to return.

• Elder Sheng invited Ning Luo to the Pill Tower and revealed that Soul Hall would also participate in the Pill Gathering.
• Ning Luo sensed a visitor in the Ye Estate courtyard and identified the black-robed intruder as someone from Soul Hall.
• The intruder attacked Ning Luo with a deep-blue flame, while Ning Luo fought back with his flames and a jade-green fire lotus.
• Xuan Kongzi's voice broke the Soul Barrier around the courtyard and warned Soul Hall not to cause trouble in Pill Tower territory.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Heavenly Flame Venerable arrived to protect Ning Luo as the black-robed Dou Zun accused the Pill Tower of meddling and threatened to take Ning Luo's Heavenly Flame and technique.
• The black-robed man escaped through twisted space, and Xiao Yi Xian launched a gray streak after him.

After a Soul Hall expert attacked Ning Luo, he learned the Xuanming Sect's location and prepared to retaliate before traveling to the Pill Tower. There, Xuan Kongzi identified the attacker as likely Old Man Mu Gu, and Ning Luo met Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the high-grade Seventh-rank Alchemist Song Qing.

• A Pill Tower expert used a fragment of his consciousness to drive off the Black-Robed Person and invited Ning Luo to the Pill Tower for safety.
• Ning Luo learned that his attacker belonged to the Soul Hall and decided to find and deal with the Xuanming Sect after they had threatened his group.
• Ye Zhong reported that the Xuanming Sect was staying in a manor south of Sacred Pill City's outer district and identified its master's son as Chen Xian.
• Elder Sheng invited Ning Luo to the Pill Tower and offered him the chance to study Cao Ying's Soul Hand Seal technique.
• At the Pill Tower, Xuan Kongzi heard Ning Luo's suspicion that Old Man Mu Gu had attacked him and agreed that the Soul Hall was behind the assault.
• Cao Ying and Dan Chen arrived with Song Qing, who introduced himself to Ning Luo.

Ning Luo learned that the Soul Hall planned to target Three Thousand Burning Flame at the upcoming Pill Gathering, then spent nearly ten days cultivating the Soul Hand Seal. He emerged on the eve of the Pill Gathering having mastered its three seals and sensing that he was close to breaking through to the Spirit Realm.

• Xuan Kongzi warned Ning Luo, Cao Ying, and Song Qing that the Soul Hall might seize Three Thousand Burning Flame or break its seal, and asked them to stop it.
• Xuan Kongzi gave Ning Luo a scroll containing the Soul Hand Seal, which Ning Luo accepted before returning to his residence.
• Cao Ying invited Ning Luo to talk, but he declined; Song Qing then privately viewed Ning Luo as a potential obstacle.
• Ning Luo secluded himself for nearly ten days to study the Soul Hand Seal, mastering its three seals and sensing a barrier to the Spirit Realm.
• Ning Luo emerged from seclusion and told Xiao Yi Xian he had no interest in Cao Ying, after learning that Xiao Yi Xian had turned Cao Ying away while he cultivated.

Ning Luo prepared for the Pill Gathering, which began with a selection round in the Soul Illusion Realm. After learning that the champion would earn a chance to become a Pill Tower giant candidate and receive an ancient Soul Power cultivation method, Ning Luo entered the illusion checkpoint and began sensing his surroundings.

• Ye Zhong gave Ning Luo the medicinal ingredients needed for two attempts and warned that many famous alchemists had come for the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• The next morning, Ning Luo set out with Xiao Yi Xian and the others for the Pill Gathering in the Inner Domain.
• Xuan Kongzi announced the selection process and the champion's rewards, then sent contestants of the fifth tier and above into the Soul Illusion Realm.
• Xuan Kongzi and the other Pill Tower leaders discussed the veteran contestants and wondered how far Ning Luo would go.
• Ning Luo entered the dark-gray illusion space, stayed still, and spread his Soul Power to sense the disturbances around him.

Ning Luo crossed the illusion trial, confronted Chen Xian before entering the Pill Realm, and learned that he had to gather three rare medicinal ingredients to pass the selection. The chapter left him facing a giant python that attacked an Alchemist as several contestants arrived.

• Ning Luo resisted illusions of people dear to him and reached the spatial passage to the Pill Realm.
• Ning Luo encountered Cao Ying and Song Qing, then warned Chen Xian that he would kill him in the Pill Realm.
• Ning Luo accepted an item from the turtle-riding old man and entered the Pill Realm, where he received a list requiring Dragon Heart Nine Leaf Ganoderma, Demon Blood Spirit Fruit Paste, and Ascension Grass.
• Nearly a dozen contestants arrived on the desolate plain, and a giant python burst from the ground to attack one of the Alchemists.

Ning Luo took a thousand-year Earth Yellow Essence, then unearthed Earth Core Jade Mother containing Earth Core Soul Marrow. When Huang Yi emerged to claim a share, Ning Luo sent his Heavenly Demon Puppet to attack him, and the puppet shattered Huang Yi’s flaming cauldron.

• A burly man pulled the thousand-year Earth Yellow Essence from the pit, but Ning Luo seized it and drove him away.
• Ning Luo dug beneath the Earth Yellow Essence and found Earth Core Jade Mother and a hollow containing Earth Core Soul Marrow.
• Huang Yi emerged from hiding and objected to Ning Luo taking the treasures for himself.
• Ning Luo sent the Heavenly Demon Puppet after Huang Yi, who defended himself with Cauldron Transformation Covers the Sky.
• The Heavenly Demon Puppet smashed Huang Yi’s flaming cauldron in their clash.

Ning Luo defeated Huang Yi and traveled to the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range, where he encountered Chen Xian and narrowly avoided an immediate fight when Song Qing and Cao Ying intervened. Chen Xian’s grudge against Ning Luo remained unresolved.

• Ning Luo used the Heavenly Demon Puppet to defeat Huang Yi, who fled after learning Ning Luo’s name and vowed revenge in Sacred Pill City.
• Ning Luo stored the puppet and headed for the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range, drawn by the region’s dense energy and his search for what he needed.
• Ning Luo found a group gathered outside the mountain range and recognized Song Qing, then saw Chen Xian arrive with two elderly guards.
• Chen Xian ordered his guards to kill Ning Luo, and Ning Luo prepared to fight with emerald-green flames.
• Song Qing and Cao Ying appeared and interrupted the confrontation; Chen Xian acknowledged that he had a grievance with Ning Luo.