Chapter Summaries

Jiang Lin delivered the Sixth-tier Mysterious Artifact Autumn Maple to Yuan Yi for the Black Seal Auction and planned to attend as a prospective trader. While waiting for the auction, Jiang Lin explained to Lu Protector why he intended to visit Jia Nan Academy, and the third day arrived.

• Yuan Yi worried that the Black Seal Auction's promised Sixth-tier Profound Weapon had not arrived as elite Dou Emperors gathered in Black Seal City.
• Jiang Lin arrived with Lu Protector and gave Yuan Yi Autumn Maple, saying he would trade it at the auction for an offer that interested him.
• Yuan Yi announced that the auction would begin in three days after Jiang Lin and Lu Protector left.
• Jiang Lin asked Lu Protector for a Soul Hall token and explained that he planned to visit Jia Nan Academy to exchange artifact-forging knowledge.
• Lu Protector watched Jiang Lin catalog rare materials while they waited, and Jiang Lin set out with him on the third day to see the Black Corner Region's Dou Emperors.

Jiang Lin arrived at the Black Seal Auction and took the best-positioned VIP room, which was usually reserved for Medicine Emperor Han Feng. As Han Feng sensed the strange presence next door, Jiang Lin considered using Xiao Yan to test an experimental external Dou Qi Furnace armor.

• Jiang Lin entered the Black Seal Auction through the VIP passage with Lu Protector and was greeted by Yuan Yi.
• Yuan Yi gave Jiang Lin the auction house’s best private room, drawing the attention of Han Feng in the neighboring room.
• Jiang Lin sensed Han Feng’s Sea Heart Flame, while Han Feng detected an unfamiliar aura and suspected a Soul Hall Dou Zong was nearby.
• Jiang Lin reflected on how his perfected Dou Qi Furnace and spiritual concealment strengthened his combat ability.
• Jiang Lin planned to make external Dou Qi Furnace armor for Xiao Yan to test, envisioning a new kind of artifact such as a fantasy mecha.

Jiang Lin recognized the auction’s Void Original Fluid as the second material he needed for a Source Crystal and outbid Han Feng for it. Han Feng withdrew after learning Jiang Lin wanted it for artifact refining, leaving Jiang Lin poised to acquire the material.

• Yuan Yi promised to test the Mysterious Artifact: Autumn Maple carefully and secure a good price for Jiang Lin.
• Jiang Lin reviewed the auction list, noticed the Sea Heart Flame and a Golden Ironclad Dragon egg, and searched for useful refining materials.
• The Black Seal host presented the unfamiliar Void Original Fluid, and Jiang Lin recognized it as a material he needed.
• Han Feng bid four hundred thousand gold coins for the Void Original Fluid, but Jiang Lin raised the bid to five hundred thousand.
• Han Feng asked Jiang Lin why he wanted the liquid, then withdrew after Jiang Lin said he needed it for artifact refining.

Jiang Lin recognized the repaired Heavenly Flame Wings, a flying artifact he had forged, as the Black Seal Auction’s finale. Yuan Yi explained that the Blood Sect and others had fought over an outsider’s possessions, leaving Jiang Lin to wonder how Xiao Yan had lost the wings.

• Jiang Lin bought Void Original Fluid and took little interest in the auction’s later items, while he and Han Feng took turns bidding on valuable materials.
• The Black Seal host presented a repaired pair of Four-leaf Feather Sheath Wings as the auction’s finale, and Jiang Lin recognized them as his Heavenly Flame Wings.
• Jiang Lin asked Yuan Yi how the wings had reached the auction, but Yuan Yi declined to disclose the seller’s identity.
• Yuan Yi said an outsider had clashed with the Blood Sect’s young master over their treasures, and that many people had later tried to seize the outsider’s possessions.
• Jiang Lin realized the outsider was Xiao Yan and wondered how he had lost his personal Flying Dou Artifact.

Jiang Lin reflected on the valuable items Xiao Yan carried and the spread of his Feather Sheath Wings techniques. At the Black Mark Auction House, Jia Nan Academy vice president Hu Qian competed with Han Feng for a repaired Heavenly Flame Wings Flying Dou Artifact, while the Black Corner Region’s factions hesitated to challenge the Jia Ma Artifact Refining Guild because of its ties to the Soul Hall.

• Jiang Lin concluded that Xiao Yan’s Mysterious Flame Xuan Heavy Cannon and other treasures had made him a target for powerful forces.
• Jiang Lin considered how his Feather Sheath Wings techniques had spread across the Western Domain and how his advanced versions could upgrade his Flying Dou Artifact.
• Han Feng auctioned off the repaired fourth-grade Heavenly Flame Wings, prompting intense bidding among the Black Corner Region’s forces.
• Hu Jia urged her grandfather, Hu Qian, to stop bidding because the price had grown too high, while Hu Qian continued competing with Han Feng.
• Han Feng challenged Hu Qian to commission a Flying Dou Artifact from the Jia Ma Empire, but the region’s factions avoided confronting the guild after learning of its connection to the Soul Hall.

At the Black Seal auction, Hu Qian and Hu Jia gave up on bidding for Young Qilin’s Heavenly Flame Wings and focused on the finale, the Sixth-tier Profound Weapon Autumn Maple. Yuan Yi demonstrated the fire-element saber’s power, leaving the crowd eager to obtain it.

• Hu Qian let Han Feng buy the secondhand Heavenly Flame Wings, while Hu Jia admired Young Qilin and asked why he had not joined Jia Nan Academy.
• Hu Qian warned Hu Jia not to discuss the terrifying destruction in the Jia Ma Empire and said they would try to acquire Autumn Maple.
• Yuan Yi introduced Autumn Maple as the auction’s finale and drew the long, fire-element saber from its case.
• Yuan Yi demonstrated Autumn Maple’s attacks, showing flames shaped like maple leaves, though his lack of fire-element Dou Qi kept him from matching Jiang Lin’s results.

Yuan Yi demonstrated Autumn Maple, a sixth-tier Mysterious Artifact whose blade could pierce Dou Emperor armor and launch powerful ranged attacks. After showing its destructive force, he left the experts below eager to obtain it.

• Yuan Yi explained that Autumn Maple's power varied by its wielder's Dou Qi, but it remained a sixth-tier Mysterious Artifact and might even injure a Dou Zong.
• Yuan Yi considered how difficult it would be for anyone to carry Autumn Maple out of Black Seal City and recognized the danger of its power.
• Yuan Yi described Autumn Maple's armor-piercing energy edge but refused to demonstrate it because of the risk to spectators.
• Yuan Yi poured Dou Qi into Autumn Maple and fired a flaming blade Qi at a fifth-order Silver Armored Mad Thunder Rhino's head.
• The strike gouged deeply into the rhinoceros head, shocking the spectators with the force of Yuan Yi's casual attack.

At the Black Seal Auction, Yuan Yi demonstrated the Sixth-tier Profound Weapon Autumn Maple and announced that bids would be submitted privately as item exchanges for Master Spirit Artisan to evaluate. The rule drew interest from across the Black Corner Region, while Han Feng and Hu Qian considered the weapon’s power and the risks of bidding blind.

• Yuan Yi demonstrated Autumn Maple’s Flame Moon Sword Qi, and Han Feng, Hu Qian, and the other VIP guests were shocked by the Sixth-tier Profound Weapon’s capabilities.
• Hu Qian reflected on Jia Nan Academy’s weakened artifact-forging inheritance and its lack of skilled masters, Soul Cultivation Methods, and Spiritual Materials.
• Yuan Yi announced that bidders would submit written offers of rare treasures directly to Master Spirit Artisan, with the Black Seal Auction keeping the contents private.
• Guests realized they could use the bidding process to contact the Sixth-tier Profound Weapons Master even if they could not afford Autumn Maple.
• Han Feng recognized that Autumn Maple could pair with his Sea Heart Flame and might let him contend with a low-star Dou Zong, making him eager to bid.
• Hu Qian warned Hu Jia that blind bidding meant they would not know competing offers and might have to exceed their limits from the outset.

Jiang Lin’s sealed bidding system made Black Corner Region’s powerful figures reveal the highest prices they could bear, leaving them wary of Spirit Artisan’s influence. After the secret letters reached Jiang Lin, Lu Protector eyed them with interest.

• Hu Qian explained to Hu Jia how Spirit Artisan’s sealed bids exploited people’s suspicion and selfishness while revealing their secrets.
• Hu Qian submitted his highest offer, and attendants carried the sealed bids to Jiang Lin under the watchful eyes of the auction guests.
• Yuan Yi recognized that Spirit Artisan’s reputation and outsider status had persuaded the Black Corner Region’s people to accept the trade.
• Jiang Lin received more than a hundred Soul-Driving Secret Letters and noticed Lu Protector grinning at them.

Jiang Lin reviewed the Black Corner Region’s secret letters, warned Lu Protector about his corrupted soul, and promised to explore a Soul Cultivation Method that might help him. He secured Han Feng’s agreement to add a Dou Wang Pill to his payment and left potential trading partners wary of exposing themselves to attacks.

• Lu Protector revealed his eagerness to kill for treasure, and Jiang Lin warned him to control his evil thoughts if he wanted to break through.
• Jiang Lin collected and read the secret letters, then told Lu Protector he might develop a Soul Cultivation Method to address his soul problem.
• Jiang Lin announced that only he knew the letters’ contents and promised to trade for useful materials without bullying their owners.
• Jiang Lin privately told Han Feng to add a Dou Wang Pill to his payment, and Han Feng agreed.
• Jiang Lin declined to reveal who won the auction and warned that his potential trading partners should not become targets for others testing their strength.

After the auction, Jiang Lin met Hu Qian and Hu Jia to discuss a business deal, openly revealing his connection to Soul Hall. He left Hu Qian to consider the transaction despite Jia Nan Academy’s grudge against Soul Hall.

• Jiang Lin secretly invited Hu Qian to speak after the auction, while Han Feng left Black Seal City with the Mysterious Artifact Autumn Maple.
• Hu Qian brought Hu Jia to Jiang Lin’s room and felt the intimidating presence of Lu Protector, an Eight-star Dou Zong.
• Jiang Lin asked Lu Protector to restrain his aura after it frightened Hu Jia.
• Jiang Lin disclosed that Lu Protector served Soul Hall and identified him as the Western Regions Soul Hall’s protector.
• Jiang Lin told Hu Qian he wanted to conduct business fairly and had revealed his Soul Hall ties because he knew Jia Nan Academy held a grudge against it.

Jiang Lin explained why he wanted to borrow Jia Nan Academy’s Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower to forge an artifact, assuring Hu Qian that Soul Hall was not interested in the academy’s Heavenly Flame. He exposed the academy’s attempt to keep Han Feng from obtaining a Sixth-tier Profound Weapon and ended by asking Hu Qian whether he still wanted him to seek Han Feng’s help.

• Jiang Lin told Hu Qian that he had come to the Western Domain hoping to forge an artifact with a Heavenly Flame and now wanted to borrow the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.
• Jiang Lin assured Hu Qian that Soul Hall cared about souls rather than Heavenly Flames and said he did not want Jia Nan Academy to send him to Han Feng.
• Jiang Lin deduced that Hu Qian had offered the tower’s foundation materials to keep Han Feng from acquiring a Sixth-tier Profound Weapon.
• Jiang Lin explained that Han Feng’s Formless Divine Iron was too rare and valuable for him to pass up, while dealing with Han Feng could involve helping him against Jia Nan Academy.
• Jiang Lin connected Han Feng to Yao Chen and suspected Han Feng wanted Jia Nan Academy’s Heavenly Flame, then asked Hu Qian whether he still wanted him to seek Han Feng’s help.

Jiang Lin negotiated with Hu Qian to seek Jia Nan Academy’s help borrowing Heavenly Flames, offering to work with the academy rather than Han Feng. Hu Qian agreed to bring him to meet Great Elder Su Qian, and Jiang Lin arrived at Jia Nan Academy with the academy responsible for his safety.

• Jiang Lin told Hu Qian that he would seek Heavenly Flames from Han Feng if Jia Nan Academy refused to cooperate, and Hu Qian said he needed the Great Elder’s approval.
• Jiang Lin agreed to meet the Great Elder and assured Hu Qian that Lu Protector would not accompany them.
• Jiang Lin revealed that he was a Six-star Dou Ling, while Lu Protector warned Hu Qian that Jia Nan Academy would face consequences if Jiang Lin were harmed.
• Hu Qian agreed to guarantee Jiang Lin’s safety, and the group left Black Seal City for Jia Nan Academy.
• Lu Protector escorted Jiang Lin’s group to Peace Town before departing alone, and Jiang Lin reached Jia Nan Academy.

Jiang Lin arrived at Jia Nan Academy’s Outer Academy with Hu Qian and Hu Jia, reflecting on his artifact-refining path and the Spirit Clan’s ambitions. He waited for Hu Qian to seek an agreement with Su Qian, while his presence concealed Pei Xuan from detection.

• Hu Qian flew Jiang Lin and Hu Jia over Peace Town toward Jia Nan Academy’s Outer Academy.
• Jiang Lin reflected on how his artifact-refining work could raise cultivation levels and resolved to keep progressing toward the Spirit Clan’s advances.
• Jiang Lin spotted the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower with his Spiritual Sense as Hu Qian brought him to the Outer Academy.
• Hu Qian left Jiang Lin with Hu Jia and went to the Inner Academy to find Su Qian.
• Jiang Lin reassured the nervous Hu Jia in the dean’s office and noted that his body concealed Pei Xuan from even genuine Soul Clan members.

Jiang Lin reassured Hu Jia and explained why his artifact-forging skill far outpaced his cultivation, then reflected on the path from Transcendental Artifact Forgers to eighth-tier forging. The chapter ended with his conclusion that mastering Pill Lightning was essential to forging true Eighth Order Venerable Weapons.

• Jiang Lin considered developing a technique to hide his companions inside his body, imagining Xiao Yan as a Heavenly Flame core, then set the idea aside.
• Jiang Lin told the nervous Hu Jia that he was a young craftsman wearing a mask to avoid being confined by his clan.
• Jiang Lin explained that artifact forgers could advance in skill faster than their cultivation and compared their craft with alchemy.
• Jiang Lin recalled that Seventh-tier Mysterious Artifact Masters sought their own forging path and comprehended Pseudo Artifact Lightning.
• Jiang Lin concluded that an artifact forger had to study Pill Lightning to advance to the eighth tier and forge Eighth Order Venerable Weapons.

Jiang Lin reflected on the paths of artifact forging and learned why Hu Lei had entrusted him with the Azure Profound Universe Cauldron. As three distinguished guests approached, Jiang Lin told Hu Jia to prepare tea and welcomed them with a confident air.

• Jiang Lin considered how Hu Lei’s Thunder Fire Artifact Forging method could make him a future Transcendental Artifact Forger.
• Jiang Lin recalled that the Azure Profound Universe Cauldron embodied the Soul Craftsman’s Heavenly Lightning Forging Method and had been passed to him as protection.
• Jiang Lin reviewed how the Soul Craftsman and the Spirit Clansman Jiu were the continent’s only Ninth Order Holy Artifact Masters.
• Jiang Lin reflected on Pill Lightning and the scarcity of true Heaven-tier Dou Artifacts before returning his attention to his guests.
• Jiang Lin told Hu Jia to prepare tea as three old men approached, and one laughed that Master Spirit Artisan was interesting.

Jiang Lin asked to use Jia Nan Academy’s Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower for artifact forging, and Su Qian agreed after explaining its origins and conditions. The elders required Jiang Lin to contribute to the academy because using the tower would consume more of the Fallen Heart Flame.

• Su Qian introduced himself and Elder Huo to Jiang Lin, who asked them to sit and had Hu Jia prepare tea.
• Su Qian asked whether Jiang Lin wanted to use the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower for its Fallen Heart Flame, and Jiang Lin confirmed that he did.
• Su Qian explained that the tower was an imitation Spiritual Artifact originally forged for artifact forging before becoming a cultivation treasure.
• Su Qian agreed to let Jiang Lin use the tower but said he would need to make contributions to the academy because artifact forging would consume more of the Fallen Heart Flame.

Jiang Lin negotiated with Su Qian over access to Jia Nan Academy’s Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower and agreed to help rebuild the academy’s artifact-forging legacy. He left the academy poised to use its students and resources to support his experiments.

• Jiang Lin mistakenly thought Su Qian wanted him to take the Disciple Assessment and rob students of their Fire Energy.
• Su Qian offered Jiang Lin free access to the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower in exchange for training artifact forgers.
• Jiang Lin realized Jia Nan Academy wanted improved Spirit Forging techniques and agreed to leave a safe method behind.
• Jiang Lin offered to establish an Artifact Forging Department, planning to use Jia Nan Academy’s students as labor and source Spiritual Materials.
• Su Qian and the others gladly accepted Jiang Lin’s offer despite the academy’s past opposition to the Soul Hall.

Jiang Lin settled into his new residence at Jia Nan Academy and discussed plans for the Artifact Forging Department. Su Qian saw Jiang Lin’s arrival as a chance to transform the academy’s forging capabilities, while Jiang Lin offered to teach Hu Jia vessel nurturing.

• Jiang Lin asked Su Qian to keep his new residence and appointment low-key and said he would help with the Artifact Forging Department.
• After leaving Jiang Lin, Su Qian and the elders discussed his unusually pure aura and suspected he had ties to Vessel Venerable’s faction.
• Su Qian explained that restarting the Artifact Forging Department could let Jia Nan Academy learn advanced techniques without adopting the Soul Hall’s bloody practices.
• Jiang Lin teased Hu Jia about her wood-attributed Dou Qi and asked whether she wanted to learn artifact forging.
• When Hu Jia pointed out that she lacked fire, Jiang Lin suggested that she try vessel nurturing instead.

Jiang Lin realized his artifact-forging path could make anything into an artifact and began recruiting Hu Jia to test his new Life Artifact method. Hu Jia accepted him as a master, and they headed to the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.

• Jiang Lin understood that his path allowed any attribute or material to be forged into an artifact and identified the Fire Spirit Colored Lotus as the first Life Artifact.
• Jiang Lin offered Hu Jia the chance to develop a powerful personal Dou Artifact, and Hu Jia agreed after hearing it could help him defeat enemies and impress someone he admired.
• Hu Jia bowed to Jiang Lin and asked to become his disciple, which Jiang Lin accepted.
• Jiang Lin asked Hu Jia about Jia Nan Academy's upcoming Outer Court Grand Competition as they traveled toward the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.