Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ming explored a pavilion in the Secret Realm, tested the plaza for danger, and collected weapons and ancient items. He found a Yellow Tier High Grade Flying Dou Technique scroll, Azure Peregrine Falcon Wings, and was about to examine it.

• Xiao Ming sent Ling across the White Plaza and had it attack, confirming the plaza’s protective screen posed no danger to people.
• Xiao Ming crossed the plaza, entered the pavilion, and found several high-quality weapons on the first floor, which he stored in his Na Ring.
• Xiao Ming searched the second-floor rooms and found bottles, jars, and two ancient scrolls.
• Xiao Ming discovered that the medicinal pellets had lost their properties, then identified one scroll as the Fire Attribute Profound Tier High Grade Cultivation Method, Spirit Flame Technique.
• Xiao Ming read the other scroll’s title: Yellow Tier High Grade Flying Dou Technique, Azure Peregrine Falcon Wings.

Xiao Ming found a Yellow Tier High Grade Flying Dou Technique but hesitated to cultivate it, hoping to find a stronger one. When powerful intruders reached the pavilion, he hid before they could discover him.

• Xiao Ming found a Yellow Tier High Grade Flying Dou Technique and weighed its limited speed and usefulness against the possibility of finding a stronger technique.
• Xiao Ming put the technique in his Na Ring and headed toward the final floor, but heard intruders approaching from downstairs.
• Xiao Ming hid by silently disappearing near a stairwell window as the intruders climbed up.
• Blood Cloud sensed traces of someone with blood vitality comparable to a Tier 2 Magical Beast, but could no longer detect them.
• The Green-clothed Man saw that the pavilion had already been searched and concluded that someone had visited before them.

Xiao Ming avoided a group of cultivators searching the pavilion and considered ambushing them for its treasures. When a second group arrived and fighting broke out upstairs, he left to search other pavilions while the others battled.

• Blood Cloud wanted to pursue the Green-clothed Man, but Niu San persuaded the group to stay together and search other pavilions instead.
• The Green-clothed Man led the group to the third floor after they finished searching the second.
• Xiao Ming reappeared on the second floor and reflected that the group’s Dou Ling expert could have detected him if he had not concealed his Aura.
• Xiao Ming considered attacking the group for the treasures upstairs, but hid outside when another group rushed into the pavilion.
• After fighting broke out on the third floor, Xiao Ming decided to leave and search other pavilions while the groups fought.

Xiao Ming found a hidden courtyard filled with rare medicinal herbs, including Ice Spirit Flame Grass and an unidentified plant bearing a green fruit. After detecting a faint Soul Fluctuation from the unknown plant, he realized it was likely related to Soul Power and prepared to take it.

• Xiao Ming left the pavilion battle and searched the forest for another treasure site.
• Xiao Ming discovered a farmhouse-style courtyard and found a flower bed filled with rare medicinal herbs.
• Xiao Ming recognized the Ice Spirit Flame Grass but found that he already had the ingredient needed for a Blood Lotus Pill.
• Xiao Ming noticed an unidentified green-fruited plant at the center of the flower bed and detected a faint Soul Fluctuation coming from it.
• Xiao Ming traced the Soul Fluctuation to the plant, concluded it was likely related to Soul Power, and decided to collect it.

Xiao Ming finished collecting the medicinal herbs in the courtyard before a group of seven intruders discovered him and surrounded him. Xu Jian pretended to seek friendship and demanded a share of the herbs, while Xiao Ming secretly planted Ling in the soil and prepared to face them.

• Xiao Ming carefully transplanted the courtyard’s medicinal herbs into Jade Bottles and stored them in his Na Ring.
• Seven people emerged from the forest and spotted Xiao Ming digging up the remaining herbs.
• The Green-clothed Woman rushed at Xiao Ming with her whip, but he dodged and retreated across the flower bed.
• Xiao Ming assessed the group’s strength as its members encircled him, and he recognized Xu Jian and his companions from the Jade Stone Plaza.
• Xu Jian claimed they could be friends and demanded thirty medicinal herbs, while Xiao Ming covertly pressed Ling into the soil.

Xiao Ming defeated Xu Jian and his companions in the secret realm, then found an alchemist’s supplies in a nearby house. After discovering that all the corpses had mysteriously dried up, he left the courtyard and rushed into the forest.

• Xu Jian and his companions attacked Xiao Ming, but he swiftly subdued the white-haired man and crushed him to death.
• Xiao Ming demanded the survivors’ Na Rings, while Ling killed Xu Jian and the others as they tried to flee.
• Xiao Ming collected the Na Rings and found a Sixth Rank Medicinal Pill and Grade Two and Grade Three Pill Formulas in the house.
• Xiao Ming noticed that every corpse had dried up and quickly left the courtyard for the dense forest.

Xiao Ming followed the Beast Flame’s disturbance to the mountain-range center, where powerful experts attacked a trembling pillar of light. The pillar shattered, releasing over a hundred light clusters and revealing a Black Passage.

• Xiao Ming found another battlefield strewn with blood-drained corpses and burned them with Ethereal Blue Flame.
• The Ethereal Blue Flame and the Beast Fire Origins reacted toward the central mountain’s trembling pillar of light, so Xiao Ming decided to investigate.
• Xiao Ming followed four travelers to the summit and hid nearby as Tie Wu, Su Mei, Yuan Yi, the Yao Clan Three Brothers, and other experts attacked the pillar.
• The pillar of light shattered, exposing over a hundred floating light clusters and a Black Passage.
• The released light clusters shot in all directions.

As the experts and forest ambushers fought over the escaping treasures, a blood-red creature emerged from the Secret Realm Passage and began devouring the Blood Qi of the dead. Xiao Ming and the other survivors faced a rapidly strengthening threat as the creature’s aura approached the Dou Huang Peak.

• Tie Wu captured several fleeing light clusters, including a Sixth Rank Wind-Agility Pill, the Ghostly Shadow Steps Dou Skill, and a Sixth-Tier Magical Beast Core, while other experts seized treasures too.
• Xiao Ming watched a four-man group rush for a light cluster and get killed by hidden attackers, then decided he could not compete for it and should leave.
• A Blood Red Giant Hand emerged from the Secret Realm Passage but withdrew when it could not fit through, and a two-meter Blood Red Figure stepped out instead.
• The Blood Red Figure roared and drew Blood Qi from corpses in the forest into its mouth, rapidly increasing its strength as the treasure fight stopped.
• Yuan Yi, Su Mei, and the other experts saw the figure’s aura nearing the Dou Huang Peak and cried out for someone to stop it.

Xiao Ming discovered that the Blood Shadow marked everyone caught in its blood qi, then learned from a scroll how to remove the mark and entered the Secret Realm Passage to investigate its source. Su Mei, Tie Wu, and the others continued fighting Blood Shadow as several people also went through the passage.

• Su Mei, Tie Wu, and the others attacked Blood Shadow, but its dispersed blood mist released a wave that marked everyone it touched.
• Xiao Ming discovered the blood-red energy inside him, while Yuan Yi, Tie Wu, and the other experts decided to fight Blood Shadow rather than risk letting it follow them.
• Blood Shadow returned from the passage with its body restored, injured Yao Eldest, and fought the assembled experts without falling behind.
• Xiao Ming read the scroll titled “Blood Qi Condensing Shadow Sect Protecting Great Formation,” learned how to remove Blood Shadow’s mark, and cleared it from his body.
• Xiao Ming concluded that something else in the passage had stirred his Beast Flame and went inside while Su Mei and the others fought Blood Shadow; several people had already entered.

Xiao Ming entered the dark, blood-stinking Secret Realm and discovered a Blood Shadow with a flame in its chest. He identified it as a seedling of the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, apparently formed over time by the sect’s Blood Qi Condensing Shadow Formation.

• Xiao Ming entered the Secret Realm and saw a newly appeared Blood Shadow kill the people around him.
• Xiao Ming realized the Blood Shadow ignored him because he had removed the Blood Red Mark from his body.
• Xiao Ming noticed a faint flame inside the Blood Shadow and suspected it was the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
• Xiao Ming sent his Peach Blossom Flame into the Blood Shadow, where the chest flame absorbed it.
• Xiao Ming concluded that the formation’s use of Magical Beast bloodlines and souls had created the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame Seed.

Xiao Ming prepared to devour the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame despite the danger and the powerful experts waiting outside the Secret Realm. After taking the Blood Lotus Pill and using Ling as a substitute for other protective preparations, he reached toward the flame inside Blood Shadow.

• Xiao Ming decided to devour the Heavenly Flame inside the Secret Realm rather than risk carrying it past the experts outside.
• Xiao Ming prepared the Blood Lotus Pill, two healing pills, and cold-attributed herbs and treasures, planning for Ling to extract their cold properties.
• Xiao Ming swallowed the Blood Lotus Pill, which formed a protective Blood-Colored Cuticle Layer around his body.
• Blood Shadow opened a hole in his chest to reveal the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, and Xiao Ming reached for it.

Xiao Ming extracted the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame’s Flame Seed from Blood Shadow and swallowed it, relying on Ling’s Cold Attribute energy to protect his meridians while Ling devoured the scattered flames. After the flame was absorbed, Xiao Ming broke through to Seven Star Great Dou Shi.

• Xiao Ming plunged his protected hand into the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and pulled out its Flame Seed, causing the remaining flame to retreat into the seed and Blood Shadow to heal.
• Xiao Ming summoned Ling to devour Cold Attribute medicinal ingredients, then swallowed the Flame Seed and endured the flames spreading through his meridians.
• Xiao Ming called Ling into his body to coat his meridians and bones with cold energy, protecting them from the Heavenly Flame’s heat.
• Ling devoured the scattered red flames throughout Xiao Ming’s meridians and returned to his Qi Cyclone to refine the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
• Two hours later, Xiao Ming broke through to Seven Star Great Dou Shi with stable Dou Qi.

Xiao Ming left the Secret Realm with the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame refined and looted Na Rings from corpses, then fought his way back toward Jia Nan Academy. Several days later, he reached Peace Town, where his return to the academy was within reach.

• Xiao Ming tested the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, collected Na Rings from desiccated corpses, and left the Secret Realm Passage.
• Back at the Jade Stone Plaza, Xiao Ming found Blood Shadow draining a Dou Wang expert’s corpse and realized Su Mei and the others had fought a costly battle.
• After leaving the Secret Realm, Xiao Ming killed robbers, including two Dou Ling experts, using the Three Flame Ethereal Seal and continued toward Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Ming reached the road outside Peace Town and decided to sort through his many Na Rings after returning to the academy.
• Xiao Ming entered Peace Town, passing people gathered by the Undead Tree and marveling at corpses of Dou Emperors and Dou Wangs.

Xiao Ming returned to Jia Nan Academy after training alone in the Black Corner Region and reunited with Yin Ling at Peace Town. Back in his room, he sorted the spoils from his storage rings and decided to save valuable items for later use or for the Xiao Family.

• Xiao Ming entered Peace Town, where Yin Ling's Enforcement Team required travelers to report their identities and swallow pills that detected murderous intent.
• Yin Ling recognized Xiao Ming, questioned him about his month away, and learned that he had trained alone in the Black Corner Region.
• Xiao Ming returned to Jia Nan Academy late that night and began sorting the spoils he had collected in forty-seven storage rings.
• Xiao Ming found more than thirteen million gold coins and valuable cultivation methods and Dou Skills, including a lightning-attribute set he chose to save for the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Ming found the Flying Dou Technique Azure Peregrine Falcon Wings and stored it alongside his other Flying Dou Technique scroll, deciding to wait for a better technique from the Academy's Library Pavilion.

Xiao Ming returned from the Black Corner Region and told Elder Huo about his rapid breakthrough and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame he had obtained. Elder Huo scolded him for taking such risks, then Xiao Ming asked him to identify a strange medicinal herb.

• Xiao Ming woke at Jia Nan Academy and went to Elder Huo's residence.
• Elder Huo mistook Xiao Ming for a messenger until Xiao Ming spoke, then checked that his disciple was unharmed.
• Elder Huo confronted Xiao Ming for secretly venturing into the Black Corner Region and warned him not to leave again before coming of age or reaching Dou Ling.
• Xiao Ming revealed that he had reached Seven Star Great Dou Shi and obtained the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, which Elder Huo recognized as the twenty-second-ranked Heavenly Flame.
• Elder Huo warned Xiao Ming against risking his life for a Heavenly Flame and mentioned that Hu Jia had visited looking for him.
• Xiao Ming asked Elder Huo to identify a strange medicinal herb he had brought back.

Xiao Ming showed Elder Huo a rare green soul fruit, which Elder Huo identified as a herb that could strengthen soul power. Xiao Ming kept it for himself after Elder Huo refused to take it, and left with the Green Soul Pill formula.

• Xiao Ming showed Elder Huo the mysterious herb he had found in the Secret Realm Alchemist Courtyard.
• Elder Huo identified it as a green soul fruit and explained that it could strengthen soul power, while a Green Soul Pill made from it could potentially raise Xiao Ming's soul realm to Mortal Realm Perfection.
• Elder Huo offered to have a grade six alchemist refine the fruit, but advised Xiao Ming to use it directly because pill refining was risky.
• Xiao Ming offered the fruit to Elder Huo, but Elder Huo refused and urged Xiao Ming to keep it for his own advancement.
• Xiao Ming decided to use the fruit directly and asked to see the Green Soul Pill formula, which Elder Huo gave him.
• Xiao Ming stored the fruit and formula in his Na Ring, chatted with Elder Huo, and left an hour later.

Xiao Ming headed to the Inner Academy Selection Competition with Xiao Shan, supporting his cousin and entrusting him with gifts for the Xiao Family. They arrived at the competition square, where the selection was about to begin.

• Xiao Ming visited Instructor Ge Hu, who welcomed him back and urged him to prepare for the next day's competition.
• On the way to the competition, Xiao Ming reunited with Xiao Shan, who said he was too weak to compete and planned to stay at Jia Nan Academy by repeating a year.
• Xiao Ming gave Xiao Shan a Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill to use after reaching Dou Shi, and Xiao Shan accepted it gratefully.
• Xiao Ming gave Xiao Shan a Na Ring of items for the Xiao Family and asked him to deliver it to the Clan Leader and elders.
• Xiao Ming and Xiao Shan walked through the crowds and reached the square where the Inner Academy Selection Competition was being held.

Xiao Ming and Xiao Shan joined their classmates at Jia Nan Academy’s packed Inner Academy Selection Competition, where Xiao Ming’s rapid advancement impressed the academy’s elders. After the competition began and forty matches passed, Xiao Ming was called to fight Feng Bing.

• Xiao Ming and Xiao Shan found Instructor Ge Hu and their classmates in the crowded stands before the competition began.
• Xiao Ming saw Elder Huo and the other elders, who noticed that he had reached Seven Star Great Dou Shi and praised his talent.
• The referee announced the competition rules and opened the event with Cao Wei facing Zhao Yuzhen.
• Forty matches concluded, and the referee called Xiao Ming of Mysterious Rank Class Eight to face Feng Bing of Mysterious Rank Class Two.

Xiao Ming faced Feng Bing in the forty-first match of the academy competition and proved overwhelmingly stronger than the senior student. After Feng Bing conceded, Xiao Ming was declared the winner.

• Ge Hu warned Xiao Ming that Feng Bing was a nine-star Dou Shi with Ice Attribute Dou Qi and a troublesome Mysterious Ice Palm, while Xiao Shan and their classmates cheered him on.
• Xiao Ming entered the arena to loud cheers, and Hu Jia decided she would seek him out after the match.
• Feng Bing attacked Xiao Ming with Stacked Ice Palm, but Xiao Ming stopped the blow with his bare hand and showed no discomfort from the cold.
• Xiao Ming urged Feng Bing to use his strongest technique, and Feng Bing unleashed Mysterious Yin Palm in a final attack.
• Xiao Ming met Feng Bing's strike with a powerful blow that shattered the arena stones and sent Feng Bing flying; Feng Bing stood and conceded, and the referee declared Xiao Ming the winner.

After defeating Feng Bing, Xiao Ming spent the first day of the Inner Academy Selection Competition watching matches and talking with Hu Jia, who was saddened that he would soon leave the Outer Academy. That night, a system prompt offered Xiao Ming a Life Simulation.

• Elder Huo praised Xiao Ming's talent after other elders marveled at his strength and physical body.
• Xiao Ming returned to his class and found Hu Jia waiting in his seat, then watched the competition beside her.
• Hu Jia told Xiao Ming she would enter the Inner Academy someday, and he agreed despite expecting to graduate before she arrived.
• Xiao Ming watched the day's matches, assessed the competitors, and concluded none posed a threat to him.
• Xiao Ming read an ancient scroll at night and received a prompt asking whether to begin a Life Simulation.