Chapter Summaries

Yan Qingshan and Ziyan gathered precious herbs in the Endless Forest Sea, and he lifted the Amethyst Seal that had restrained her strength. As they headed back to the Inner Academy, Ziyan demanded that he keep making medicine for her, while Yan Qingshan planned to have her and Crimson Serpent gather herbs and trade with magical beast lords.

• Yan Qingshan collected Jade Crystal Honey and rare herbs, planning to use some and trade the rest with magical beasts.
• Yan Qingshan released Ziyan’s Amethyst Seal, and she felt her strength improve as the prepared medicinal herbs took effect.
• Ziyan threatened to complain to Old Man Su unless Yan Qingshan made her medicine three times a day after they returned.
• Yan Qingshan agreed to make medicine for Ziyan if she gathered the herbs, and proposed that she work with Crimson Serpent while trading with friendly magical beast lords.
• Yan Qingshan and Ziyan held hands and set off for the Inner Academy.

Yan Qingshan returned to the Jia Nan Inner Academy with Ziyan and planned to reach the top ten of the Strong Rankings to gain access to origin Heart Fire Body Tempering. Since he did not want to reveal his full strength, he secretly recruited Ziyan to help him carry out a plan.

• Yan Qingshan and Ziyan arrived at the Inner Academy and discussed the upcoming Strong Ranking Competition, where Yan Qingshan had inherited Yang Sheng's thirty-sixth place.
• Ziyan warned Yan Qingshan that reaching the top ten would be difficult because the leading students were powerful veterans, but he explained that the rank could make him an elder candidate and earn him origin Heart Fire.
• Yan Qingshan told Ziyan his secret plan, and she agreed to help in exchange for more meals.
• Ziyan went to the Inner Academy's medicinal ingredient storage to find food while Yan Qingshan returned to his courtyard determined to pursue the top ten.

Yan Qingshan left the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda to join the Azure Mountain Society at the start of the Strong Ranking Competition. Grand Elder Su Qian announced the rules and revealed the lots, leaving the contestants ready for their matches.

• Yan Qingshan reached five-star Dou Ling cultivation, while Xiao Yi Xian advanced to seven-star Da Dou Shi and summoned him to the competition.
• Yan Qingshan and Xiao Yi Xian joined the Azure Mountain Society at Central Plaza, where Liu Qing, Lin Xiuyuan, Lin Yan, Yao Sheng, and other faction members prepared to compete.
• Yan Qingshan spotted powerful Strong Ranking experts, including Qian Mo, as Su Qian and the other elders arrived.
• Su Qian called the Strong Ranking contestants into the arena, where six top-ranked Dou Wangs and Ziyan took their places.
• Su Qian explained that contestants would draw lots to determine their opponents and revealed the cylinder of bamboo slips.

The Strong Ranking Grand Competition began, and Yan Qingshan watched the early matches before facing Deng Yan, a dark-attributed practitioner ranked twenty-eighth. Yan Qingshan quickly defeated Deng Yan and advanced, drawing wary attention from the spectators.

• Wu Kai defeated Yan Hao in the first match, knocking him off the stage after Yan Hao insisted on challenging the stronger Dou Wang.
• The first round continued, with Yao Sheng, Qian Mo, Lin Yan, and Liu Qing taking their turns and earning mixed results.
• Yan Qingshan faced Deng Yan, who opened with a sudden attack using his Soul-Locking Hook.
• Yan Qingshan caught Deng Yan’s claw, pulled him forward, and struck him out of the arena to win and advance.
• Deng Yan recovered on the raised platform and suspected Yan Qingshan used an extraordinary cultivation technique.

Lin Xiuyuan faced Ziyan in the Strong Ranking Competition and conceded after evading her attacks, while the other Azure Mountain Society contestants advanced. That night, Yan Qingshan was cultivating when someone knocked on his door.

• Lin Xiuyuan entered the arena and discovered his opponent was the powerful Ziyan.
• Lin Xiuyuan dodged Ziyan’s attacks with his movement techniques and Coiling Snake Hand until he ran out of Dou Qi and conceded.
• Ziyan angrily cursed Lin Xiuyuan, while Yan Qingshan warned him that she would likely keep pursuing him.
• The remaining Azure Mountain Society contestants advanced, and the first day of the Strong Ranking Competition ended.
• Yan Qingshan cultivated in his courtyard that night, then opened his eyes when someone knocked with a distinctive three-knock pattern.

Ziyan went to Wang Mang’s residence to vent her anger and challenged him, defeating the Strong Ranking’s number one with a strike to a weakness Yan Qingshan had identified. She then attacked Muyun and chased after the other Strong Ranking experts who had gathered, leaving them fleeing in panic.

• Ziyan confronted Wang Mang at his residence and challenged him because she was in a bad mood and did not accept him as the Strong Ranking’s number one.
• Wang Mang fought back with his metal-attribute Dou Qi, but Ziyan overwhelmed him with her strength and struck his Shanzhong acupoint, leaving him unable to continue.
• Wang Mang asked how she had discovered his weakness, while Ziyan concealed that Yan Qingshan had told her about it.
• Muyun mocked Wang Mang, so Ziyan punched him and sent him crashing through part of a wall.
• Ziyan spread her Dou Qi wings and chased the other experts who had arrived, causing them to flee.

Ziyan went on a rampage after learning her opponent had forfeited, injuring many Strong Ranking experts before Grand Elder Su Qian stopped her. The next day, the Strong Ranking Competition continued with Lin Xiuyuan gone and Ziyan assigned a match after Wu Fu withdrew.

• Ziyan attacked Wang Mang and Muyun, then returned to beat up the Strong Ranking experts who had gathered to watch.
• Grand Elder Su Qian arrived and ordered Ziyan to stop; she left after taunting the crowd.
• Lin Xiuyuan avoided retaliation by taking a long-term assignment outside the Inner Academy, while Yan Qingshan warned the Azure Mountain Society to stay alert.
• Su Qian announced that Wu Fu had withdrawn from the second round and that twelve battles would be held.
• Su Qian changed the arrangements so Ziyan would fight instead of receiving a free win.

Yan Qingshan won his second-round Strong Ranking match and caught Grand Elder Su Qian’s attention as a possible Heart Fire contender. Later, Lin Yan faced Muyun, who targeted him because of his connection to Lin Xiuyuan, and Lin Yan tried to retreat after their first clash.

• Yan Qingshan drew number eleven and defeated an eight-star Fire Attribute Dou Ling by ensnaring him in layers of sword threads.
• Grand Elder Su Qian considered whether Yan Qingshan deserved a chance to compete for the Heart Fire, but decided to let the matchups be drawn at random.
• Yan Qingshan watched as the other Azure Mountain Society contestants lost their second-round matches, including Liu Qing, who faced a peak Dou Ling.
• Lin Yan drew Muyun, the second-ranked Strong Ranking contestant, and Yan Qingshan warned him to test his opponent rather than fight recklessly.
• Muyun attacked Lin Yan because he knew Lin Xiuyuan, and Lin Yan used his strongest Dou Technique before retreating toward the edge of the stage.

Lin Yan lost his match to Muyun after Yan Qingshan’s shout helped him escape a ruthless attack, and Yan Qingshan openly challenged Muyun afterward. Ziyan later revealed she had ambushed Muyun, and the next day’s competition began with someone interrupting Grand Elder Su Qian.

• Muyun restrained Lin Yan and attacked him, but Lin Yan retreated from the arena after Yan Qingshan called out to him, and Grand Elder Su Qian declared Muyun the winner.
• Yan Qingshan traded insults with Muyun, escalating their conflict as Muyun left with powerful associates gathering around him.
• Ziyan visited Yan Qingshan late at night and said she had ambushed Muyun, knocked him out, and buried him; Yan Qingshan checked her for injuries and gave her a jade bottle.
• Yan Qingshan met the Azure Mountain Society members the following morning and went to the central plaza for the third day of the competition.
• As Grand Elder Su Qian prepared to begin the matches, an unidentified person interrupted him, drawing the assembled crowd’s attention.

Yan Qingshan challenged Muyun to settle their conflict in the Strong Ranking Competition, and Grand Elder Su Qian approved the match. Yan Qingshan surprised Muyun with his speed and Azure Jade Thunder Bamboo, but Muyun brought out his Dou Qi Wings, only for Yan Qingshan to reveal wings of his own and take to the air.

• Yan Qingshan challenged Muyun, and Muyun accepted after offering to lose if he could not withstand a hundred moves.
• Grand Elder Su Qian approved the match, and the spectators discussed whether Yan Qingshan could last against the Dou Wang.
• Muyun attacked with his poisoned folding fan, but Yan Qingshan evaded him and struck his abdomen with Thunderbolt Steps.
• Yan Qingshan used his Azure Jade Thunder Bamboo and Explosive Thunder Flash to press Muyun, who defended and unleashed his full strength.
• Muyun manifested Dou Qi Wings, but Yan Qingshan revealed solid purple wings and rose into the air above him.

Yan Qingshan used his Flying Dou Skill, tricks, and paralytic poison to overcome Muyun despite Muyun’s higher cultivation. After defeating him and clearing the Black Water Domain with pink flames, Yan Qingshan declared Muyun’s loss.

• Muyun recognized Yan Qingshan’s Flying Dou Skill, but Yan Qingshan’s speed let him evade Muyun’s attacks and keep him off balance.
• Yan Qingshan tricked Muyun with Ventriloquism, wounded him with his bamboo sword, and dragged him into the platform’s edge before they separated.
• Muyun unleashed the Black Water Domain and tried to pin Yan Qingshan down in a direct clash, but Yan Qingshan’s Dou Qi held its ground.
• Yan Qingshan revealed that his earlier wound had poisoned Muyun with a paralytic poison, then disrupted Muyun’s Dou Qi with a counting trick and struck him across the arena.
• Muyun was burned by the Black Water Domain, and Yan Qingshan used pink flames to clear the black water before declaring that Muyun had lost.

Yan Qingshan defeated Muyun by exploiting a weakness he had carefully studied, then struck a pact in which Muyun promised to yield his Inner Academy resources after graduation and avoid the Azure Mountain Society. After Su Qian confirmed the victory, Yan returned to his companions and introduced Ziyan to the society, while telling Xiao Yi Xian that Ziyan would live with them.

• Yan Qingshan explained how he had found the troughs in Muyun’s water-attributed Dou Qi and revealed that he had researched the weaknesses of several Dou Wang students.
• Muyun accused Ziyan of helping Yan, while Wang Mang realized that Ziyan’s earlier punch had tested his own weakness.
• Muyun offered to concede and keep his distance from the Azure Mountain Society, then promised to hand over his Inner Academy foundations and resources after graduating in exchange for Yan’s analysis.
• Muyun publicly conceded and left the Central Plaza, and Grand Elder Su Qian declared Yan Qingshan the winner while warning him to focus on improving his strength.
• Ziyan rushed to congratulate Yan, who introduced her to the Azure Mountain Society members as Senior Ziyan.
• Yan told Xiao Yi Xian that Ziyan would live with them and asked her to look after Ziyan’s disorganized daily life.

Yan Qingshan recruited Wang Mang to help establish a Jia Nan Academy foothold in the Black Corner Region, then led the Strong Ranking’s top ten into the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda for Heart Fire Body Tempering. The chapter left Yan Qingshan enduring the painful transformation as the Heart Fire burned within him.

• Yan Qingshan offered Wang Mang a cultivation scroll in exchange for helping establish a force in the Black Corner Region, and Wang Mang agreed to work with him for three years.
• Yan Qingshan’s Azure Mountain Society grew into the Inner Academy’s strongest faction and partnered with the Medicine Gang to dominate the herb and pill trade.
• Grand Elder Su Qian led the top ten Strong Ranking students into the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda and warned them not to stray or look around.
• Su Qian and two elders drew out Heart Fire energy and instructed the students to absorb it for body tempering.
• Yan Qingshan absorbed the Heart Fire and endured its intense internal heat as his body and mind began to transform.

Yan Qingshan endured Heart Flame body tempering as several participants failed, while his body and Dou Qi grew more condensed. In the Black Corner Region, Wang Mang offered the Yao Clan Three Brothers a way to join a powerful faction through Beast King Valley, hinting at its connection to Azure King City.

• Yan Qingshan endured three days of Heart Flame tempering, while three participants failed and were removed from the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda.
• Wang Mang received the three-star Dou Wang Yao Clan Three Brothers at Azure King City's City Lord's Manor.
• Yao Da explained that the brothers wanted refuge from the Golden-Silver Emperors, who had driven them from other factions.
• Wang Mang said Azure King City could not openly protect them but suggested they join Beast King Valley.
• Wang Mang connected Azure King City's pill supply to large quantities of medicinal herbs, and the Yao Clan Three Brothers realized Beast King Valley might be the source.

Yan Qingshan gathered the Yao Clan Three Brothers at Beast King Valley and explained how his alliance of the academy, Azure King City, and magical beasts had grown. He tasked them with using a Heavenly Flame aura and a rare Flying Dou Skill to provoke the Black Corner Region’s factions into conflict, and they accepted for the promised reward.

• Wang Mang brought the Yao Clan Three Brothers into Beast King Valley, where they saw the powerful magical beasts and met Yan Qingshan.
• Yan Qingshan described how Azure King City, Jia Nan Academy, and Beast King Valley traded pills and medicinal ingredients, supported by pills that enhanced magical beasts’ intelligence.
• Yan Qingshan told the brothers that the Black Corner Region’s settled balance threatened Jia Nan Academy’s interests and that he wanted them to spark a war among its factions.
• Yan Qingshan gave the brothers a Heavenly Flame aura, a Profound-tier Mid-grade Flying Dou Skill, and a plan to incite the Eight Gates Sect, Maple City, Black Emperor Sect, and Demonic Flame Valley.
• The Yao Clan Three Brothers accepted the dangerous mission in exchange for three Dou Spirit Pills and the Flying Dou Skill.

Rumors that the Yao Clan Three Brothers possessed a Heavenly Flame drew powerful factions across the Black Corner Region into pursuit. Outside Black Emperor City, Mo Ya offered them protection as guest elders of the Black Emperor Sect while the Golden-Silver Elders contested his claim.

• News spread that the Yao Clan Three Brothers had obtained an ancient legacy, a way to craft Flying Dou Skills, and a Heavenly Flame, prompting Han Feng and other factions to pursue them.
• The disguised Yao Clan Three Brothers encountered the Golden-Silver Elders and a group of greedy pursuers in a mountain forest.
• The Yao Clan Three Brothers crushed the attackers, then faced a storm of arrows as more factions closed in.
• Mo Ya and Black Emperor Sect chief alchemist Qi Shan arrived, and Qi Shan confirmed that Yao Da carried something related to a Heavenly Flame.
• Mo Ya offered the Yao Clan Three Brothers guest-elder positions and Black Emperor Sect protection, while the Golden-Silver Elders challenged his interference.

The Yao Clan Three Brothers revealed that their jade token held clues to a Heavenly Flame and split it among themselves to escape, drawing Han Feng, Fang Yan, Mo Tianxing, and other Black Corner Region powers into a chase. The rival factions gathered with fragments in hand, and the chapter ended as the Demonic Flame Valley elders fused their flames into a powerful gray-brown fire.

• Han Feng arrived outside Black Emperor City and offered the Yao Clan Three Brothers Dou Spirit Pills for their Heavenly Flame map and clues.
• Mo Ya sent word to his father, Mo Tianxing, while Fang Yan arrived with Demonic Flame Valley forces to pursue the brothers.
• Yao Da split the jade token into three pieces, and the brothers fled in separate directions as the assembled experts gave chase.
• Han Feng captured Yao Da's fragment and revealed his Sea Heart Flame, while Fang Yan and Mo Tianxing obtained the other fragments from Yao Er and Yao San.
• The factions gathered in opposing groups, and Fang Yan joined his Second and Third Elders in fusing their pale-gray flames into a gray-brown fire.

Han Feng, Mo Tianxing, and Fang Yan set aside their conflict to follow the combined Route Map to a magma lake in search of a Heavenly Flame. Deep beneath the mountain, the group discovered a green lotus that Qi Shan identified as the Green Lotus Core Flame.

• Han Feng admired Demonic Flame Valley's Flame Manipulation Art and proposed that the three factions combine their jade fragments and explore the Route Map together.
• Mo Tianxing, Fang Yan, and Han Feng agreed to cooperate, and their groups used the combined Route Map to locate a mountain north of the Black Corner Region.
• The experts broke open the mountain summit and descended through the vent into the magma lake.
• The group traveled deeper through the magma for about an hour as the heat and Dou Qi consumption increased.
• Han Xian wondered whether a glowing green lotus was the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Qi Shan identified it as the nineteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame.

The factions rushed to seize the Green Lotus Core Flame, but its crimson guardian beast fled with the lotus and a blazing spark triggered a battle. Han Feng overwhelmed Fang Yan and his allies, captured their Starry Sky Fire Phoenix, and was about to claim it when the Green Lotus Core Flame unleashed a terrifying surge that sent everyone fleeing upward.

• The crimson guardian beast stirred the magma, coiled around the green lotus, and fled with it after a spark of flame erupted.
• Han Feng, Qi Shan, and other faction leaders recognized the spark as a Heavenly Flame and began fighting over it; Mo Tianxing was engaged by the Golden-Silver Elders.
• Fang Yan attacked Han Feng with his Transformed Flame, but Han Feng’s Sea Heart Flame net destroyed the flame bird and injured Fang Yan.
• Fang Yan and the other two Demonic Flame Valley elders joined their Transformed Flame into the Starry Sky Fire Phoenix and sent it against Han Feng.
• Han Feng trapped the Starry Sky Fire Phoenix in a lake-blue fire sphere and claimed the Transformed Flame, but the Green Lotus Core Flame suddenly emitted a terrifying fluctuation that made everyone rush upward.

Yan Qingshan set off an eruption to throw the Black Corner Region into chaos, then raided the Black Emperor Sect’s treasury and took the Bodhi Transforming Saliva and a mysterious magical beast corpse. He left for Maple City, where an unknown attacker broke into Han Feng’s manor and exposed his meditation chamber.

• Yan Qingshan triggered a volcanic explosion, then rode with Ziyan on the Gale Sky Falcon toward Black Emperor City.
• Yan Qingshan posed as a messenger in the Black Emperor Pavilion, injured Elder Yu, and poisoned the gathered elders while claiming the Soul Hall had joined Demonic Flame Valley and Maple City against the Black Emperor Sect.
• Yan Qingshan and Ziyan entered the Black Emperor Sect’s treasury and seized the Bodhi Transforming Saliva, a magical beast corpse that Ziyan found, and the other treasures.
• Yan Qingshan and Ziyan escaped Black Emperor City on the Gale Sky Falcon while the Black Emperor Sect remained in chaos.
• An unknown attacker defeated the guards at Han Feng’s manor in Maple City and exposed the Medicine Emperor’s meditation chamber as Han Beng protested.