Chapter Summaries

Gu He attacked Han Feng, overwhelmed him with sword qi, and killed him before he could detonate the Sea Heart Flame. Gu He took Han Feng’s Ring as the flames emerged from his body.

• Gu He struck Han Feng from the air and drove him into the ground, leaving him badly injured.
• Han Feng tried to recover and escape, but Gu He formed sword qi and pierced him with it.
• As Han Feng lay dying, he recalled betraying Yao Chen to obtain the Flame Mantra and pleaded with Gu He to spare him in exchange for his Ring.
• Han Feng tried to detonate the Sea Heart Flame’s origin, but Gu He shattered his soul with powerful Soul Power and killed him.
• Gu He removed Han Feng’s Ring before the Sea Heart Flame spread across his body.

Gu He contained ownerless Sea Heart Flame after killing Han Feng and brought it to a hidden cave. He chose to keep Green Lotus Core Flame and planned to devour Sea Heart Flame, suspecting that fusing all twenty-two Heavenly Flames might create Origin Qi.

• Gu He destroyed Han Feng's body and contained Sea Heart Flame in a Green Lotus Seat, which was damaged by the strain.
• Gu He flew more than a hundred li to a hidden cave, sealed it, and removed Sea Heart Flame from the Green Lotus Seat.
• Gu He considered replacing Green Lotus Core Flame with the stronger Sea Heart Flame but decided to keep his familiar flame and devour Sea Heart Flame instead.
• Gu He recalled Tou She Ancient God's twenty-two Heavenly Flames and wondered whether perfectly fusing them could produce Origin Qi.

Gu He devoured and refined the Sea Heart Flame, using its energy to strengthen his cultivation and reach Five-star Dou Zong. He left the ruined cave under the moonlight, with the Green Lotus Core Flame within Naling strengthened to rival the Sea Heart Flame.

• Gu He restored his Dou Qi before enveloping the Sea Heart Flame in layers of Devouring Flame.
• The Sea Heart Flame resisted fiercely, but the Devouring Flame consumed its flame seed and absorbed its energy.
• Gu He gradually drew the Devouring Flame into his body and refined the Sea Heart Flame's energy into his own Dou Qi.
• Gu He broke through to Five-star Dou Zong and continued refining the remaining energy.
• Gu He sensed that the Green Lotus Core Flame within Naling had grown as strong as the Sea Heart Flame, then laughed so hard that the cave shook and cleared its blocked entrance with a gale.

After killing Han Feng and absorbing the Sea Heart Flame, Gu He returned to Gu Ling City and prepared to master his surging Dou Qi and new techniques. He left Liu Jianlin with the Azure Nether Longevity Pill as a test, then entered the magma to begin training.

• Gu He tested his increased strength with a palm strike that crushed a large section of forest, then flew toward Gu Ling City while concealing the pain and unstable Dou Qi caused by his rapid advancement.
• Gu He asked Liu Jianlin whether anyone from the Demonic Flame Valley had come, gave him the Azure Nether Longevity Pill for the Third Elder, and considered promoting him if he resisted the temptation to betray him.
• Gu He entered his hidden underground passage and descended to the magma, where he enlarged his cave dwelling.
• Gu He planned to train the Whirlwind Dragon Step and Profound Gang Spirit Splitting Sword before challenging the Flame Lizard Tribe to improve his combat skills.
• Gu He tried the Whirlwind Dragon Step, but unevenly directed gusts threw him off balance.

Gu He spent five days cultivating the Whirlwind Dragon Step and achieved Minor Mastery, improving his short-range movement. After recovering in his cave, he claimed Han Feng’s Ring and discovered its extensive collection of techniques and pill formulas.

• Gu He followed the wind beneath his feet and concluded that the Whirlwind Dragon Step’s first stage suited short-range movement, while long-distance travel required mastering its second stage.
• Gu He dodged the streams from a giant magma wave without being struck and officially reached Minor Mastery in the Whirlwind Dragon Step.
• Gu He returned to his cave after five days of training and replenished his Dou Qi, noting his improved control and worrying that Old Ghost Demonic might soon threaten Zi Jing.
• Gu He erased Han Feng’s Soul Imprint from the dark blue Ring and placed his own mark on it.
• Gu He searched Han Feng’s Ring and found numerous cultivation techniques, Earth Grade offensive Dou Techniques, and high-grade pill formulas, including a Yi Shi Pill formula.

Gu He studied the Profound Gang Spirit Splitting Sword scroll and learned how its sword qi and formations could be cultivated. After nurturing his first strand of sword qi, he formed the first Nine Palaces formation and demonstrated its power by splitting the magma below.

• Gu He opened the scroll and learned that the Profound Gang Venerable had completed six formations and part of a seventh, while believing nine could raise the technique to the Heaven Tier.
• Gu He absorbed the cultivation method and concluded that he would need at least Peak Dou Zun strength to deduce the unfinished formations himself.
• Gu He used the scroll's sword intent to nurture a strand of Profound Gang Sword Qi for three days.
• Gu He formed nine strands of sword qi, arranged them in the Nine Palaces positions, and linked them into the first formation.
• Gu He merged the nine sword qis into a denser attack and carved a gash hundreds of meters wide through the magma.

Gu He mastered the fourth formation of the Profound Gang Spirit Splitting Sword before descending into the lava to hunt the Flame Lizard Tribe for their Fire Beads. When tens of thousands of lizardfolk converged on him, he charged into the swarm with sword qi.

• Gu He fused thirty-six sword qis and blasted the lava, creating a massive eruption that convinced him the technique had reached the power of an ordinary advanced Earth-grade Dou Technique.
• Gu He paused his sword training, reinforced the Soul Imprint in his cave dwelling, and descended more than ten thousand meters into the lava to draw out Flame Lizard Tribe members.
• Gu He killed a group of lizardfolk, but their cries alerted others, and he stayed behind to await the tribe's retaliation despite his unease.
• A Dou Zong-level Flame Lizard Tribe member summoned tens of thousands of lizardfolk, and Gu He swam upward before charging at them with sword qi.

Gu He fought through the Flame Lizard Tribe, killed their leader, and slaughtered thousands of its members. When a terrifying aura and three more Dou Zong Flame Lizardmen approached, he collected nearby corpses and escaped the magma.

• Gu He dodged a volley of magma shells and continued killing Flame Lizardmen, slaying two or three thousand in about ten minutes.
• The Flame Lizardman leader confronted Gu He, but Gu He killed him with a sword qi attack and stored his corpse in his Ring.
• Gu He trapped more than one thousand Flame Lizardmen in the four-formation Profound Gang Spirit Splitting Sword and killed them.
• A powerful aura surged up from below as three Dou Zong Flame Lizardmen approached, so Gu He collected nearby corpses and fled toward the surface.
• Gu He struggled through the magma and emerged after thirty or forty seconds.

Gu He clashed with a Flame Lizardman whose strength rivaled a Dou Zun, then escaped after learning the magma region was called the Divine Graveyard. Beneath the magma, a hidden elderly soul recognized Gu He as a powerful alchemist and regretted that he had not come close enough to ask for help.

• Gu He blocked the Dou Zun Flame Lizardman's Magma Cannon with Soul Power, but the blast hurled him into the rock wall.
• The Flame Lizardman ordered Gu He to leave the Divine Graveyard, and Gu He retreated after the creature began gathering magma for another attack.
• After Gu He left, the Flame Lizardman recalled that a human had wounded his brother decades earlier and vented his anger near a sealed barrier.
• A skeleton inside the barrier produced the illusory figure of an elderly man, who deduced that Gu He was an alchemist with at least Seventh-grade Soul Power.
• The elderly man lamented that Gu He had not approached, since his soul could endure only about a dozen more years without help.

After injuring his soul to block the Dou Zun Lizardman's Magma Cannon, Gu He tried to recover with a Soul Clearing Pill and the Nameless Mantra, but found he could not yet cultivate effectively. He set out to find rare ingredients for soul healing, beginning his search for Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood in a canyon.

• Gu He surfaced, spat blood, and took a Soul Clearing Pill to ease the injuries caused by detonating his Soul Power.
• Gu He examined Qing's information, confirmed Old Ghost Demonic was still in seclusion, and tried to heal his soul by circulating the pill's medicinal power and reciting the Nameless Mantra.
• Gu He failed to cultivate the mantra because depleted Soul Power and distracting thoughts kept him from reaching the required tranquil state.
• Gu He sensed Gu Ling Pavilion and Gu Ling City, assessed Liu Jianlin and the others, and ordered Liu Jianlin to gather soul-healing ingredients from pharmacies.
• Gu He left Gu Ling City and searched a canyon where Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood might grow.

Gu He searched the Inner Academy for Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood and found none, then encountered a strange little girl eating his grilled meat. He recognized her as the thousand-year-old fake loli and began questioning her.

• Gu He searched eight locations across the Black Corner Region for medicinal herbs that could heal soul injuries but found nothing.
• Gu He opened a small door through a Space Seal and entered Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, using a map to seek a canyon that might contain Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood.
• Gu He searched the canyon, found no Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood, and returned to his grill.
• Gu He found a purple-haired little girl eating his meat, snatched it away, and argued with her over who owned it.
• Gu He gave the meat back and asked the little girl why she was alone and where her parents were.

Gu He persuaded the little girl to help him find medicinal herbs by promising to protect her, then named her Zi Yan. After they ate, Zi Yan led him toward the Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood.

• The little girl told Gu He that she had eaten a strange herb and feared she would never grow up, so he advised her to gather energy and advance.
• Gu He offered to help Zi Yan defeat dangerous magical beasts if she helped him find herbs to heal his soul injuries.
• Zi Yan recognized the location of the Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood and agreed to take Gu He there after their meal.
• Gu He gave the little girl the name Zi Yan, and she thanked him by offering him a metallic-looking medicinal herb.
• After they finished eating and cleaned up the valley, Zi Yan formed Dou Qi Wings and flew off with Gu He following her.

Gu He and Zi Yan found the Azure Wood Dragon Snake guarding the valley, and Gu He subdued it after a brief struggle. Zi Yan’s powerful bloodline and strength forced the injured snake to submit to her alone, leaving it unwilling to serve Gu He.

• Zi Yan led Gu He to a deep valley and warned him that a powerful Magical Beast was inside.
• Gu He lured the Azure Wood Dragon Snake out of the valley, restrained it, and dragged it to the mountaintop.
• Gu He beat the snake until it was badly injured, then left it with Zi Yan to tame while he searched for the medicinal herb.
• The Azure Wood Dragon Snake sensed Zi Yan’s superior bloodline and lowered its attitude toward her.
• Zi Yan punched the snake for insulting her, and it agreed to submit to her while refusing to serve Gu He.

Gu He found and harvested the unusually old Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood from the Azure Wood Dragon Snake’s cave, giving him what he needed to heal his soul injury before settling accounts with Demonic Flame Valley. As he and Zi Yan left on the snake’s back, he began teaching her swordsmanship.

• Gu He entered the Azure Wood Dragon Snake’s cave and found a seventeen- or eighteen-hundred-year-old Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood growing beneath an opening to the mountaintop.
• Gu He carefully dug up the Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood intact, stored it in a jade box, and planned to heal his soul injury before confronting Demonic Flame Valley.
• Gu He found Zi Yan sitting on the obedient Azure Wood Dragon Snake, gave the injured beast a healing pill, and asked it to take them to the nearest Space Seal barrier.
• Zi Yan told Gu He she had subdued the snake by beating it, prompting him to decide to teach her swordsmanship instead of letting her rely on her fists.
• Gu He handed Zi Yan a longsword, and she produced a faint sword aura with her first slash before agreeing to study swordsmanship with him.

Gu He escaped the Inner Academy with Zi Yan and the Azure Wood Dragon Snake, then prepared to refine medicinal liquid to heal his soul injury. He began refining the rare Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood, leaving the process underway in a secluded cave.

• Gu He tore open the Space Seal and sent Zi Yan and the Azure Wood Dragon Snake through before escaping as Su Qian approached.
• Su Qian sensed that the intruder was a powerful Dou Zong and returned to the Inner Academy to consult its elders rather than pursue him.
• Gu He, Zi Yan, and the Azure Wood Dragon Snake found a remote cave, where Gu He asked Zi Yan to guard him while he treated his soul injury.
• Gu He steadied himself, prepared the Medicine Cauldron, and refined the supplementary ingredients into medicinal essence.
• Gu He placed the Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood in the cauldron, and Azure Flame heated it until cracks formed and its scent began to soothe his soul.

Gu He refined the Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood into medicinal liquid, healed his soul injuries, and used the remaining energy to cultivate his Soul Power. After the liquid ran out, he continued absorbing Spiritual Energy with the Devouring Flame while a pulsing sensation persisted between his brows.

• Gu He finished purifying the Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood slurry and combined it with the other medicinal essences to make jade-green liquid.
• Gu He drank the medicinal liquid, rapidly healing his soul injuries and causing his Soul Power pressure to spread across the mountain range.
• Zi Yan refused the Azure Wood Dragon Snake's suggestion to leave the cave entrance, and both endured Gu He's growing soul pressure.
• Gu He absorbed the liquid's remaining energy and surrounding Spiritual Energy while reciting the Nameless Mantra, nurturing a pulsing sensation within his soul.
• Gu He discovered the medicinal liquid was depleted, then continued using the Devouring Flame to seize Spiritual Energy as the pulse between his brows slowed.

After recovering from his soul injury, Gu He left seclusion with a Soul Embryo and brought Zi Yan to Gu Ling City, where she explored the human world. At Gu Ling Pavilion, he promoted two elders and announced that he would leave the Black Corner Region, worrying the other elders about the pavilion’s security.

• Gu He emerged from the cave after healing and explained that Zi Yan’s Ancient Race bloodline had protected her from the pressure that exhausted the Azure Wood Dragon Snake.
• Gu He, Zi Yan, and the Azure Wood Dragon Snake traveled to Gu Ling City, where Gu He calmed residents by displaying his Dou Zong aura.
• Gu He had attendants take the Azure Wood Dragon Snake to Heart Lake Island, then bought Zi Yan white clothes and showed her around the city.
• Gu He met with the elders at Gu Ling Pavilion and promoted Liu Jianlin and Yao Da to deputy pavilion masters.
• Gu He announced that he would leave the Black Corner Region, prompting concern among the elders about the pavilion’s safety.

Gu He secured Gu Ling Pavilion’s defenses before traveling with Zi Yan to Demonic Flame Valley to rescue his Magical Beast friend, Zi Jing. After locating Zi Jing in an underground prison, he left Zi Yan outside and prepared to enter the valley alone.

• Gu He arranged for the Azure Wood Dragon Snake to protect Gu Ling City for ten years in exchange for a Shaping Pill, and asked Liu Jianlin to show Zi Yan around the city.
• Gu He and Zi Yan flew to Demonic Flame Valley, where Gu He used Qing’s information and his Soul Power to search for Zi Jing.
• Gu He found Zi Jing’s aura in an underground prison and warned Zi Yan to wait outside because the valley held several Dou Emperor experts and Old Ghost Demonic.
• Zi Yan agreed to wait for Gu He and asked him to defeat Old Ghost Demonic, rescue Zi Jing, and return safely.

Gu He rescued Zi Jing from Demonic Flame Valley’s dungeon and brought her to safety outside the valley with Zi Yan. He then returned alone to confront Old Ghost Demonic and avenge her.

• Gu He teased Zi Yan with candy, then promised to make medicinal pills taste sweet so she could grow faster.
• Gu He entered the dungeon, killed its guards, freed the badly injured Zi Jing, and gave her a Primal Bone-Shaping Pill.
• Zi Jing urged Gu He to flee, but he reassured her that he was a Dou Zong Five-star and stronger than Demonic Flame Valley’s master.
• Gu He used spiritual pressure to knock out the dungeon’s prisoners and took Zi Jing outside the valley.
• Gu He left Zi Jing with Zi Yan and returned to Demonic Flame Valley to seek a chance to attack Old Ghost Demonic.

Gu He infiltrated Old Ghost Demonic’s secluded cultivation site and ambushed him before he could stabilize his Dou Zong Seven-star realm. After a devastating clash destroyed the mountain and lava lake, Gu He pursued the wounded Peak Dou Emperor who had guarded the site.

• Gu He burrowed through the mountain into the lava lake, concealed his route, and sensed Old Ghost Demonic inside the spatially sealed Heart Lake Island.
• Gu He formed thirty-six streams of sword qi into an array, prompting Old Ghost Demonic to appear and attack him with a crystalline palm imprint.
• Gu He’s sword qi shattered the palm imprint, pierced Old Ghost Demonic’s Blood Cold Extreme Freeze Heaven, and detonated in a massive energy storm that destroyed the lava lake and mountain.
• Gu He spotted the wounded Peak Dou Emperor fleeing and sent sword qi after him, but the old man dodged the attacks with an eerie movement technique and resisted some with his arms.