Chapter Summaries

At the Mite'er Auction House, Mr. Yao had Master Guni appraise Jiang Lin’s Young Qilin Fire Pattern Blade, which earned high praise and a generous purchase offer. Mr. Yao agreed to sell ten low-tier weapons directly and submitted Jiang Lin’s Purple Cloud Sword for appraisal and auction, while Jiang Lin looked forward to seeing the auction’s materials.

• Mr. Yao brought Jiang Lin to the Mite'er Auction House, where a staff member introduced them to Master Guni for an appraisal.
• Master Guni tested the Fire Pattern Blade, praised its craftsmanship and unusual flame ability, and offered 4,500 Gold Coins each for ten weapons.
• Jiang Lin agreed with Mr. Yao’s suggestion to stay for the auction and look for useful materials.
• Mr. Yao handed Master Guni the Sword Box and arranged to sell the ten low-tier Dou Artifacts directly while consigning the Yellow-grade intermediate Purple Cloud Sword for auction.

Mr. Yao took Jiang Lin shopping in Wutan City, trusting his instincts to choose a mysterious rusty iron piece, then brought him to the Mite'er Auction House to observe the formal auction. The auction had just begun when Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er arrived and recognized them.

• Mr. Yao bargained with a stall vendor for a Magic Core and several rusty iron pieces, then left with Jiang Lin.
• Mr. Yao gave Jiang Lin one of the iron pieces and urged him to trust his instincts before they headed to the auction.
• Mr. Yao and Jiang Lin entered the crowded auction hall without disguises and watched Ya Fei introduce the first items.
• Jiang Lin wondered about the Forging Fire Art's purpose after seeing a Yellow-grade intermediate cultivation technique auctioned.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er sat beside Jiang Lin, and Xiao Xun'er greeted him with a smile.

Jiang Lin attended an auction with Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er, and Mr. Yao, where Mr. Yao bought a Sea Beast Magic Core Fossil. Jiang Lin teased Xiao Yan about his fire-attributed Dou Qi, while Mr. Yao privately suspected that both Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er were extraordinary.

• Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan joined Jiang Lin and Mr. Yao at the auction, and Xiao Yan awkwardly realized Jiang Lin was the person whose item he had given away earlier.
• Ya Fei presented a Sea Beast Magic Core Fossil said to contain the remains of a fifth-tier beast's core, and bidders began competing for it.
• Jiang Lin showed interest in studying the fossil, so Mr. Yao bid on it while Xiao Yan warned that such fossils were usually worthless.
• Jiang Lin guessed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi was fire-attributed, then joked that Xiao Yan's name had given it away.
• Mr. Yao won the fossil for nine thousand gold coins and privately reflected that Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er seemed to provoke a strong resistance in Jiang Lin.

At the auction, the Purple Cloud Sword forged by Young Qilin drew fierce bidding, and Jiang Lin began to realize his weapon-forging methods differed from those of traditional Artifact Forgers. When Ya Fei announced a Third-grade Pill Recipe as the final item, Jiang Lin understood that he could forge without Dou Artifact blueprints because he had mastered material properties.

• Ya Fei demonstrated the Purple Cloud Sword's ability to pierce Dou Qi protection, astonishing the auction crowd.
• Bidders drove the Purple Cloud Sword's price to thirty thousand Gold Coins, while Jiang Lin and Xiao Yan discussed its value and Xiao Xun'er suspected Jiang Lin was Young Qilin.
• Jiang Lin reflected on how his research-based forging methods differed from traditional Artifact Forging and considered how easily he could produce weapons.
• Ya Fei revealed that Young Qilin had also supplied ten Yellow-grade low-tier Dou Artifacts for sale.
• Ya Fei announced a Third-grade Pill Recipe as the final auction item, and Jiang Lin realized he did not need Dou Artifact blueprints because he understood material properties.

After the auction, Jiang Lin and Mr. Yao returned to their inn with the Magic Core Fossil, and Jiang Lin examined it and a rusty iron fragment using his unusual Spiritual Sense. Jiang Lin fell asleep with the fragment against his forehead, and the chapter ended with him waking the next morning with an inflamed forehead.

• Mr. Yao asked Ya Fei about Storage Rings, and she explained that they were rare and expensive.
• Mr. Yao led Jiang Lin away from the auction house and advised him to avoid drawing attention when he lacked strength.
• Jiang Lin studied the Magic Core Fossil and recalled that Xiao Xun'er appeared like a pale golden flaming lotus while Xiao Yan seemed like a dim crimson spark.
• Jiang Lin examined the rusty iron fragment, then placed it against his forehead before falling asleep.
• Mr. Yao meditated through the night, and Jiang Lin woke the next morning with an inflamed forehead.

On the carriage leaving Qingshan Town, Jiang Lin recovered from the inflammation caused by absorbing the inherited knowledge in a rusty iron fragment. He studied the incomplete Magic Core Crystallization Armor blueprint and found ideas that could guide his future Dou Artifact research.

• Mr. Yao treated Jiang Lin's fever with medicinal herbs and a medicinal soup as they left the city.
• Jiang Lin realized the rusty fragment had transmitted an incomplete Profound Grade High-Level blueprint into his mind, weakening him by consuming his Soul Power.
• Jiang Lin learned that the blueprint required powerful Soul Power and Fire-Gold Dou Qi to unlock, and that he had absorbed its knowledge without knowing how to control his Soul Power.
• Jiang Lin recognized that the incomplete blueprint's ideas about Magic Core energy and Purified Magic Core Dou Qi could inspire his research into Mysterious-grade Dou Artifacts.
• Jiang Lin concluded that the blueprint's design philosophy mattered more than its missing details and could be applied to other Dou Artifacts.

After returning to Qingshan Town, Jiang Lin learned that he must defeat the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King before Mr. Yao could give him his mother’s letter. He trained with his greatsword and broke through to the seventh stage of Dou Qi.

• Jiang Lin and Mr. Yao traveled back to Qingshan Town after briefly meeting the Lionheart Mercenary Group and Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
• Mr. Yao told Jiang Lin that his mother had left him a letter, Warm Jade, and a cultivation book, and that he could receive the letter only after defeating the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
• Jiang Lin joked that he might defeat Mr. Yao instead, then declared he would challenge the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King in three to five years.
• Jiang Lin practiced his Dou Techniques and modified them into Diamond Gravity Slash, cutting an armored training dummy in two.
• Jiang Lin sensed new Dou Qi in his Dantian and reached the seventh stage.

Jiang Lin organized fragmented Artifact Forging knowledge and used a Magic Core Fossil to explore how Magic Core Dou Qi might be refined for human use. He pieced together a lost inheritance sentence that linked alchemy and weapon forging.

• Jiang Lin recovered from forging and cultivated the Forging Fire Art, reflecting on its effects and possible higher-level versions.
• He spent three days organizing fragmented Dou Artifact inheritance knowledge into written concepts.
• Jiang Lin polished a Magic Core Fossil and studied an ancient Artifact Forger's idea of using materials to make Magic Core Dou Qi controllable.
• A flash of inspiration connected fragments of alchemy and weapon-refining knowledge into the sentence: “Danqizi: A cook who couldn't make pills wasn't a good Artifact Forger!”

Jiang Lin refined a Sea Demon Beast Magic Core into a Dou Crystal Prototype and spent a year researching how to make it usable as an external source of dou qi. A year later, he entered the Monster Mountain Range alone to investigate a reported Second-Order Magical Beast, but a clue suggested the information might be false.

• Jiang Lin polished the Sea Demon Beast Magic Core into a pale-blue Dou Crystal Prototype and studied how Dou Crystals stored and restored dou qi.
• Jiang Lin resolved to research the materials needed to create a functional Dou Crystal isolation layer and spent his spare time testing materials.
• Jiang Lin spent a year developing his Dou Crystal knowledge and considered adding a valve when available materials could not allow one-way dou qi flow.
• Jiang Lin secretly left the Myriad Medicine Hall at night and traveled alone into the Monster Mountain Range to investigate a reported Second-Order Magical Beast.
• Jiang Lin examined a stone shard and suspected the report was false because its scent did not match an unfamiliar Magical Beast.

Jiang Lin fought two Howling Moon Wind Wolves in the Monster Mountain Range at night and killed them with his Flame Sword, though one wolf’s Moon Blade struck his chest and knocked the sword away. He discovered two blue-and-white puppies nearby, and the next morning Xiao Yi Xian admired the puppy-fur shoes.

• Jiang Lin wondered who had lured him into the Monster Mountain Range before a Howling Moon Wind Wolf attacked him.
• A second Howling Moon Wind Wolf joined the fight, and Jiang Lin maneuvered to avoid being caught between them.
• Jiang Lin charged one wolf and struck it with his Flame Burst Armor-Slaying Sword, badly wounding it.
• Jiang Lin killed the other wolf with a fiery slash, but its Moon Blade hit his chest and sent his sword into a crevice.
• Jiang Lin found two blue-and-white puppies beside the crevice, and Xiao Yi Xian exclaimed over the Puppy Cotton Shoes the next morning.

Jiang Lin learned that Myriad Medicine had found a spy and returned to his courtyard to work on completing his Black Knight armor. With the shoes still missing, he planned to give them a speed-enhancing tag.

• Xiao Yi Xian accepted Jiang Lin’s fluffy dog slippers, and he watched her leave while thinking about the Magical Beasts they had come from.
• Mr. Yao told Jiang Lin that Myriad Medicine had found the spy and arranged an expedition into the mountains, while concealing Jiang Lin’s role in killing the wolves.
• Jiang Lin inferred that the people behind the trap had a Da Dou Shi and left Mr. Yao’s loft without pressing him for details.
• Mr. Yao ordered Uncle Fu to tell the Mercenary Groups that he had killed the two Second-Order Howling Moon Wind Wolves at Star Moon Mountain.
• Jiang Lin examined his black-gray Black Knight armor and began preparing its final component, shoes intended to increase his speed.

Jiang Lin studied Dou Technique Models so he could forge Spiritual Artifacts with special traits, despite finding the research painstaking. His work had deepened his understanding of Dou Techniques beyond that of their creators.

• Jiang Lin explained the difference between Mortal Artifacts and Spiritual Artifacts and noted that his own Spiritual-grade forging remained unstable.
• Jiang Lin reviewed his collection of Magic Cores and Dou Technique Manuals in the Myriad Medicine House forging room.
• Jiang Lin used the Light Wind Steps meridian diagram as a reference while trying to reconstruct its energy model for use in Dou Artifacts.
• Jiang Lin explained why he conserved Dou Qi in battle and limited the Magic Cores embedded in his armor.
• Jiang Lin struggled to reproduce the subtle resistance patterns in Light Wind Steps and lamented the lack of reliable blueprints.
• Jiang Lin's rapid, extensive research into Dou Technique Models had given him an understanding of Dou Techniques that surpassed their creators'.

Jiang Lin refined his Dou Technique research while events in Qingshan Town exposed a spy in Myriad Medicine Hall. After discussing the aftermath with Xiao Yi Xian, he planned another trip to Wutan City to hunt for bargains.

• Jiang Lin studied Dou Technique models, improved their flaws, and considered designing faster boots with wings.
• Xiao Yi Xian treated mercenaries at Myriad Medicine Hall as they discussed Mr. Yao’s victory over magical beasts and Jiang Lin’s popular Dou Artifacts.
• Mu She killed a Myriad Medicine Hall spy who had been planted in his mercenary group, and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group later apologized to Myriad Medicine Hall.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Jiang Lin about the spy’s death and the ensuing events in Qingshan Town.
• Jiang Lin explained why he had not kept the wolf cubs, then told Xiao Yi Xian he was heading to Wutan City to look for bargains.

Jiang Lin anticipated an ambush on the road to Wutan City and moved through the forest alongside Uncle Fu’s carriage. He attacked the assassins waiting in a gorge, injuring several and killing one before the fight continued.

• Jiang Lin changed into his Black Armored Warrior gear and followed Uncle Fu’s carriage through the forest.
• Uncle Fu cautiously approached the gorge, where a black-robed captain and nine other assassins waited to attack the carriage.
• The black-robed captain ordered the assassins to leave few traces and keep survivors, then signaled them to proceed when the carriage entered the gorge.
• Jiang Lin hurled Magic Core Bombs at the assassins, burning the eyes of three men and sending the others scrambling for cover.
• A burly black figure darted through the shadows, and a spiral steel needle pierced one assassin’s head, killing him.

Jiang Lin used his weapons and Spiritual Sense to defeat the black-robed assassins, then fought and killed their captain, Li Yan. Before dying, Li Yan warned him that the enemy had ties to Mu She, and Jiang Lin left after covering his tracks.

• Jiang Lin shot two fleeing assassins with the Magic Core Firearm while tracking the others from the darkness.
• Li Yan led the remaining assassins in a charge, but Jiang Lin's Magic Core Bombs disrupted the Dou Qi of the men following him.
• Jiang Lin defeated Li Yan in close combat, resisting his attacks and knocking him back with an Explosive Flame Fist.
• Li Yan warned Jiang Lin that the enemy had ties to Mu She before Jiang Lin killed him with his greatsword.
• Jiang Lin finished off the remaining assassins, cleaned up the traces of the Dou Artifacts, and left the corpses for magical beasts.

Jiang Lin learned that the Fierce Beast Mercenary Group had joined forces with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, while Mr. Yao’s declining strength meant he could not be counted on. After deciding to wait a year before dealing with his enemies, Jiang Lin visited Wutan City and heard that Xiao Yan’s cultivation had regressed, then went to the Xiao Family Mansion.

• Uncle Fu explained that a mysterious Artifact Forger was targeting Jiang Lin and that Mr. Yao was certain someone in the Fierce Beast Mercenary Group had conspired with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.
• Uncle Fu revealed that Mr. Yao’s Dou Qi was fading because of severe injuries and Mysterious Poison, and Jiang Lin decided to leave matters alone for now and resolve them in a year.
• Jiang Lin went to Wutan City’s Magical Beast Market in disguise, bought a beast skin scroll, and heard rumors that Xiao Yan’s cultivation had regressed.
• Jiang Lin reached the Xiao Family gates, reflecting on the burden of killing for the first time and feeling prepared for the possibility of being killed.

Jiang Lin visited Xiao Yan after hearing about his loss of cultivation and discovered that something around Xiao Yan’s chest was absorbing his Dou Qi. He left Xiao Yan with a dagger and advice about the ring, while Xiao Yan was left to decide whether to remove it or risk filling it.

• Jiang Lin met Xiao Yan in the Xiao Family courtyard and examined the flow of Dou Qi gathering toward Xiao Yan’s chest.
• Xiao Xun'er arrived after Ling Ying warned her that Jiang Lin had come, then left the two men alone at Jiang Lin’s request.
• Jiang Lin placed a Black Blade Dagger on the stone table and gave it to Xiao Yan as a protective Dou Artifact.
• Jiang Lin told Xiao Yan that the object absorbing his Dou Qi might contain a great opportunity, and that Xiao Yan could either remove it or gamble on filling it.
• Xiao Yan watched Jiang Lin leave with the dagger in hand and wished he had been given armor instead.

Xiao Xun'er learned that Jiang Lin had advanced from Dou Qi Stage One to a Two-star Dou Practitioner in two years and considered whether to help him. Meanwhile, Jiang Lin studied the beast-skin scroll and discovered it contained the Mystic Armor Puppet Technique.

• Ling Ying told Xiao Xun'er that Jiang Lin was a Two-star Dou Practitioner and compared his cultivation with Xiao Yan's.
• Xiao Xun'er recalled that Xiao Yan's early Dou Qi had helped her fuse with the Golden Emperor Blazing Heaven Flame.
• Ling Ying reported that Jiang Lin's carriage had been attacked and that he had not forged the Black Blade he gave Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Xun'er decided that Ling Ying should help Jiang Lin if their paths crossed, while Ling Ying said help was unnecessary for now.
• Jiang Lin sent his spiritual power into the beast-skin scroll and learned that it contained the Profound-grade low-level secret skill Mystic Armor Puppet Technique.

Jiang Lin learned the Profound-grade low-level Mystic Armor Puppet Technique and realized the strange beast hide he had found could serve as the Soul-Containing Parchment needed to make a puppet. He began planning to use Dou Master Mu She and Great Dou Master Rock Tiger as future puppet upgrades while secretly dealing with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

• Jiang Lin absorbed the Mystic Armor Puppet Technique from the beast-hide scroll, which became blank afterward.
• He learned that the technique could refine recently deceased cultivators into puppets and required Soul-Containing Parchment for its control talismans.
• Jiang Lin recognized the mysterious beast hide as Soul-Containing Parchment capable of making the two talismans needed for one puppet.
• He reflected on his dealings with Xiao Yan and decided the Black Armored Greatsword Knight could be replaced by a puppet.
• Jiang Lin planned to quietly eliminate the Wolf Head Mercenary Group within a year and investigate the Artifact Forger behind them.

Jiang Lin returned to Qingshan Town, secretly moved materials to Peach Blossom Valley, and learned that Mu She and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group were involved in a plot against him. As Jiang Lin considered how to respond, Xiao Yi Xian brought word that Mr. Yao wanted him to meet Commander Han.

• Jiang Lin returned to Qingshan Town and gave Xiao Yi Xian the sweets he had bought in Wutan City.
• Jiang Lin secretly went to Peach Blossom Valley, cleared ground, and hid materials for crafting the Mystic Armor Puppet.
• Jiang Lin overheard Mu She tell Mu Li that the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had accepted a mission from Master Pei Suo and would deliver magical beast materials to the Fierce Beast Mercenary Group.
• Jiang Lin weighed the dangers of the Wolf Head and Fierce Beast Mercenary Groups and began forming a plan to counter them.
• Jiang Lin moved valuable materials to Peach Blossom Valley and began forging Dou Artifact shoes before Xiao Yi Xian told him that Mr. Yao wanted him to meet Commander Han.