Chapter Summaries

Bai Ge reassured Xin Lan that their night together had been real, then accompanied her to the Five Great Families' assessment in Sacred Pill City. He took the seat of honor while Xin Lan prepared to compete, and the chapter left him watching her as the assessment was about to begin.

• Xin Lan woke to find Bai Ge gone and feared that their night together had only been a dream, but Bai Ge returned with breakfast and confirmed it had happened.
• Bai Ge helped Xin Lan get dressed, and they ate breakfast before heading with Ye Zhong to the assessment venue.
• The crowd and the Five Great Families' elders treated Bai Ge with respect because of his reputation as a Ninth-Rank Alchemist.
• Bai Ge sent Xin Lan to prepare for the assessment, then took the seat of honor offered by Bai Kui.
• Dan Jing and Qiu Hua praised Bai Ge, who called himself an ordinary Dou Zun expert, and Bai Kui redirected them so he could watch Xin Lan.

Cao Ying arrived at the assessment hall with Cao Xiu and Cao Yu, then approached Bai Ge and asked him to accept her as his disciple. Bai Ge challenged her to explain why she wanted to become his disciple and why he should accept her.

• The Cao Family arrived, and Bai Kui warned Bai Ge that Cao Ying would be Xin Lan's greatest opponent in the assessment.
• Dan Jing introduced Cao Xiu and Cao Yu, while Bai Ge noticed that Cao Dan had not come and inferred the Cao Family was avoiding offending him.
• Cao Ying recognized Bai Ge, became curious and impressed by him, and flew over to greet him despite her family's alarm.
• Cao Ying praised her beauty and talents and asked Bai Ge to take her as his disciple.
• Bai Ge said he valued fate over beauty or talent and asked Cao Ying why she wanted to become his disciple and why he should accept her.

Cao Ying explained why she wanted Bai Ge as her master and announced she would join his Bai Di Sect after the Pill Gathering. With the five great families gathered, Sheng Yao outlined the four-part assessment and prepared to begin.

• Cao Ying told Bai Ge she wanted his guidance, offered to join his sect, and claimed she could serve him as well as Ye Xin Lan.
• Xin Lan grew angry at Cao Ying's attempt to become Bai Ge's disciple and resolved to defeat her in the assessment.
• Elder Sheng arrived, greeted Bai Ge respectfully, and took charge of the five great families' assessment.
• Cao Ying selected Cao Xiu to represent the Cao Family, while Dan Xuan chose herself for the Dan Family.
• Sheng Yao explained that the assessment would test soul power, soul control, soul attack power, and alchemy.

Xin Lan overwhelmed the other young alchemists in the first two tests of the Pill Tower assessment, breaking Cao Ying's soul-power record by a wide margin. As the third test approached, Cao Ying asked whether the Cao Family could change contestants.

• Dan Xuan scored 903 on the Soul Testing Stele, while Bai Ying and Qiu Ji scored 789 and 707, respectively.
• Sheng Yao announced Cao Ying's record of 976, and Cao Xiu scored 846 in the first test.
• Xin Lan received Bai Ge's encouragement and scored 1487, astonishing the hall and claiming the highest result.
• Xin Lan also won the second test, which measured how much weight contestants could lift with their Soul Power.
• Before the third test began, Cao Ying asked Sheng Yao whether the Cao Family could change contestants midway.

Cao Ying used the Cao Family’s privilege to replace Cao Xiu in the third-round Soul Power contest and faced Xin Lan as the last two competitors standing. As they clashed, Cao Ying became more determined to pursue Bai Ge and join his Bai Di Sect, leaving the contest unresolved.

• Cao Ying asked to replace a Cao Family participant midway, and Xin Lan welcomed the chance to compete against her.
• Sheng Yao accepted Cao Ying’s replacement of Cao Xiu and marked five circles for the contestants’ Soul Power contest.
• Cao Ying, Dan Xuan, Bai Ying, Qiu Ji, and Xin Lan entered the circles and began clashing with their Soul Power.
• Qiu Ji was eliminated first, followed by Bai Ying and Dan Xuan, leaving Cao Ying and Xin Lan still standing.
• Cao Ying praised Xin Lan’s progress under Bai Ge and resolved to win him over and become his disciple.

Xin Lan defeated Cao Ying in the soul-power contest using Bai Ge’s Heaven and Earth Great Shift Technique, securing first place in the third round of the alchemist-family assessment. The assessment ended with the Ye Family winning the final round as well, while the other families wondered whether Bai Ge would let Ye Zhong benefit despite the Ye Family’s past actions.

• Cao Ying formed a soul phoenix with a Spirit Skill, and Xin Lan countered with the miniature landscape of the Heaven and Earth Great Shift Technique.
• After a prolonged contest, Cao Ying conceded defeat to Xin Lan, who took first place ahead of Cao Ying, Dan Xuan, Bai Ying, and Qiu Ji.
• Cao Ying conceded the fourth round on behalf of the Cao Family, explaining that she had only entered to test herself against Xin Lan.
• Xin Lan won the alchemy assessment, followed by Dan Xuan, Bai Ying, and Qiu Ji; the forfeiting Cao Family placed fifth.
• The alchemist-family elders congratulated Ye Zhong, while elders from the other great families suspected Bai Ge would not let the Ye Family escape the consequences of its past conduct.

During the ten days before the Pill Gathering, Xin Lan improved her alchemy and grew closer to Bai Ge, while Cao Ying repeatedly sought his guidance. On the eve of the gathering, the Pill Tower’s three giants visited Bai Ge, who warned them about the Soul Hall’s presence and revealed his powerful soul; Xuan Yi then asked him to consider taking Cao Ying as a disciple.

• Xin Lan’s soul realm improved during the ten-day wait, and she and Bai Ge grew closer, though Cao Ying’s daily visits to seek alchemy advice frustrated Xin Lan.
• Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Heavenly Thunder Child visited Bai Ge on the final day before the Pill Gathering and discussed Yao Chen and Xuan Yi.
• Bai Ge warned the three giants that Soul Hall members had infiltrated Sacred Pill City and that they were likely targeting the Three Thousand Yan Flame Fire.
• Bai Ge revealed his formidable Soul Power, astonishing the three giants with a realm near the peak of the Heaven Realm Soul.
• Xuan Yi asked Bai Ge to accept Cao Ying as his disciple, and Bai Ge agreed if the Pill Tower would let her leave and she wished to join the Bai Di Sect.

The Pill Gathering’s first stage began as Xin Lan and Cao Ying raced into the Illusion Realm Pass, each determined to outperform the other. Bai Ge watched from the far side with the Pill Tower’s leaders and made a bet with Xuan Yi over which woman would finish first.

• Xin Lan and Cao Ying traded barbs over their places as Bai Ge’s disciples and agreed to compete in the first stage.
• When the bell rang, Xin Lan set off toward the Illusion Realm Pass, and Cao Ying followed close behind.
• Bai Ge, Xuan Kongzi, Heavenly Thunder Child, and Xuan Yi watched from the plaza beyond the illusion realm.
• Bai Ge wagered that Xin Lan would pass first, offering to bring Yao Chen to the Pill Tower if Cao Ying won; Xuan Yi accepted the terms.

Bai Ge watched Xin Lan, Cao Ying, Xiao Yan, and the other alchemists pass the first Pill Gathering trial before the contestants entered the Pill Realm to gather ingredients. The second trial began, and Xin Lan arrived in the Pill Realm, where she excitedly told her master they had arrived.

• Bai Ge secretly helped Xin Lan overcome the first trial’s final illusion, allowing her to pass before Cao Ying.
• Xiao Yan passed the first trial and spotted Bai Ge, who planned to have Xin Lan follow him in the Pill Realm to find valuable ingredients.
• Xuan Kongzi ended the first trial and explained that contestants had to collect ingredients for their assigned pill formulas over ten days.
• Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Heavenly Thunder Child opened a Space Wormhole, and the qualifying alchemists entered the Pill Realm.
• Bai Ge bid farewell to the Pill Tower leaders and teased Xuan Yi about returning with him to the Bai Di Sect.
• Xin Lan appeared above the Pill Realm’s primeval forest and happily told her master they had arrived.

Bai Ge accompanied Xin Lan through the Pill Realm, gathering her required ingredients while secretly following Xiao Yan to find the Earth Heart Soul Marrow. After locating the desolate plain where it lay, Bai Ge discovered that a battle over the marrow was already underway.

• Bai Ge emerged from Xin Lan’s storage ring, reviewed her pill formula and ingredient list, and flew with her through the Pill Realm to collect what she needed.
• Bai Ge detected Xiao Yan and followed him, intercepting precious medicinal ingredients along the way until Xin Lan’s collection was nearly complete.
• Bai Ge found the desolate plain where he expected the Earth Heart Soul Marrow to be and hurried there with Xin Lan.
• Bai Ge sensed that a battle over the Earth Heart Soul Marrow was taking place on the plain.

Cao Ying was besieged by alchemists trying to seize her Earth Heart Jade Mother, but Xin Lan arrived and helped her drive them away. A sinister man in black robes then appeared, intending to capture both women to use against Venerable Bai.

• A bald alchemist rallied more than ten Dou Huang alchemists to attack Cao Ying and take her Earth Heart Jade Mother.
• Xin Lan flew in and helped Cao Ying fight off the attackers, revealing that she had come at Master Bai Ge's request.
• The alchemists fled after Xin Lan and Cao Ying overwhelmed them with their flames.
• A Man in Black Robes appeared and declared that capturing Xin Lan and Cao Ying would give him leverage over Venerable Bai.

Bai Ge recognized Old Man Mu Gu’s attempt to capture Xin Lan and Cao Ying, but Zi Yan and Xiong Zhan intervened before he needed to reveal himself. Zi Yan led the women to safety and questioned Xin Lan about why she smelled so strongly like Brother Bai.

• Bai Ge recognized Old Man Mu Gu beneath his disguise and prepared to attack when the man threatened Xin Lan and Cao Ying.
• Zi Yan and Xiong Zhan arrived, and Zi Yan refused to let Old Man Mu Gu take the women because Xin Lan carried Bai Ge’s scent.
• Xiong Zhan transformed into his Ancient Dragon Bear form and fought Old Man Mu Gu while Zi Yan led Xin Lan and Cao Ying away.
• After holding Old Man Mu Gu off, Xiong Zhan retreated to the mountains, and Old Man Mu Gu abandoned the chase.
• Zi Yan asked Xin Lan why she smelled like Brother Bai from head to toe, making Xin Lan blush as Cao Ying smiled teasingly.

Bai Ge reunited with Zi Yan, who led him to Xiong Zhan’s Medicinal Ingredient Plaza to use its vast stores of herbs. In exchange for refining a Nine-Revolutions Blood-Ascending Pill to help Xiong Zhan evolve, Bai Ge asked him to find Spirit Nectar and Heavenly Hemp Jade Stone Essence.

• Bai Ge appeared beside Zi Yan and Xin Lan, and Zi Yan hugged him while complaining about the bitter medicinal paste she had been made to eat.
• Zi Yan told Bai Ge she knew where many medicinal ingredients were and led him, Xin Lan, and Cao Ying to a plaza in the mountains.
• Zi Yan claimed the plaza’s ingredients belonged to her because Xiong Zhan was her subordinate, and Xiong Zhan arrived distressed at the thought of losing his collection.
• Bai Ge offered to refine a Nine-Revolutions Blood-Ascending Pill for Xiong Zhan, explaining it could help him evolve from an Eight-Pattern Dragon Bear into a Nine-Pattern Supreme Dragon Bear.
• Xiong Zhan agreed to find Spirit Nectar and Heavenly Hemp Jade Stone Essence in exchange for Bai Ge refining the pill.

Bai Ge refined a Nine-Revolutions Blood-Ascending Pill for Xiong Zhan, then harmonized some Earth Heart Soul Marrow for Xin Lan and Cao Ying. He left more than half the marrow untreated because he lacked enough Spirit Nectar and Heavenly Hemp Jade Stone Essence.

• Bai Ge asked whether pill lightning would alert the Pill Tower, and Xiong Zhan assured him it would not.
• Bai Ge refined the Nine-Revolutions Blood-Ascending Pill in about half an hour, triggering four-colored pill lightning.
• Xiong Zhan transformed into his Ancient Dragon Bear form, dispersed the pill lightning, and received the pill and the ingredients Bai Ge had requested.
• Xiong Zhan gave Bai Ge the Medicinal Ingredient Plaza’s ingredients, then left to consume the pill and awaken his bloodline.
• Bai Ge told Zi Yan he would first prepare Earth Heart Soul Marrow for Xin Lan and Cao Ying, then spend the remaining time refining pills for her.
• Bai Ge harmonized some Earth Heart Soul Marrow with Spirit Nectar and Heavenly Hemp Jade Stone Essence, but could not process the rest without more of those ingredients.

Xin Lan used the blended Earth Heart Soul Marrow to break through to the Spiritual Realm and advance to eighth-rank alchemist. After celebrating her breakthrough, she and Cao Ying departed for the Pill Realm’s exit to prepare for the third round of the Pill Gathering, while Bai Ge stayed behind with Zi Yan and Xiong Zhan to leave by another route.

• Xin Lan and Cao Ying each received two bottles of blended Earth Heart Soul Marrow and entered seclusion to temper their souls.
• After eight days, Xin Lan absorbed spiritual energy and broke through to the Spiritual Realm, releasing a powerful surge of soul power.
• Xin Lan flew to Bai Ge, who congratulated her on becoming an eighth-rank alchemist, while Zi Yan also celebrated her breakthrough.
• Cao Ying revealed that she had become Bai Ge’s disciple and proposed that she and Xin Lan compete for seniority through their Pill Gathering rankings.
• Bai Ge told Xin Lan and Cao Ying that the second-round deadline was approaching and arranged for them to ride a Mystic Bird Beast to the Pill Realm’s exit.
• Xin Lan and Cao Ying set off on the Mystic Bird Beast, and Bai Ge asked Zi Yan to check whether Xiong Zhan had finished preparing for their departure.

Bai Ge returned to Sacred Pill City with Zi Yan and Xiong Zhan, then brought Zi Yan to watch the Pill Gathering’s third round. The second round ended with Xin Lan having reached the Spirit Realm, and the remaining alchemists began a three-day pill-refining assessment.

• Bai Ge brought Zi Yan and Xiong Zhan to Sacred Pill City, where Zi Yan made Xiong Zhan carry her purchases during a day of shopping.
• Zi Yan persuaded Bai Ge to take her to the Pill Gathering, while Xiong Zhan stayed behind relieved to have time alone.
• Bai Ge greeted Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Heavenly Thunder Child at the northern plaza and introduced Zi Yan as his sworn little sister.
• The alchemists who passed the Pill Realm trial emerged through a Space Wormhole, and Xuan Kongzi noticed that Bai Ge's disciple Xin Lan had reached the Spirit Realm.
• Xuan Kongzi began the third round, requiring the alchemists to refine low-grade sixth-rank pills within three days, with no more than five hundred advancing.

The third Pill Gathering trial tested the alchemists’ ability to refine a Sixth-Rank Low-Grade Pill within three days, while Xin Lan and Cao Ying displayed their powerful flames. Xin Lan and Cao Ying both placed in the top twenty and advanced to the final trial.

• Xuan Kongzi recognized the Black Demon Cauldron before Xin Lan, and Bai Ge explained that Yao Chen had given it to her.
• Xin Lan released the seven-colored Myriad Beast Phoenix Devouring Fire, which made Cao Ying’s Blood Demon Flame Fire tremble; Cao Ying hoped to cultivate the art behind it someday.
• The alchemists began refining one of three selected pills, with only the top five hundred contestants advancing.
• Old alchemists completed pills first, followed by Xin Lan, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and other competitors, whose results the Pill Tower elders recorded.
• After three days, the trial ended, Xin Lan and Cao Ying placed within the top twenty, and the five hundred successful alchemists received Pass Tokens for the final trial.

Xin Lan entered the Pill Gathering's final round intending to refine the Bone-Regenerating Blood-Melting Pill, while Bai Ge discussed the Soul Hall and the pill's origins with Xuan Kongzi. Xuan Kongzi announced a Spirit Skill as the champion's reward, and the final round began.

• Bai Ge encouraged Xin Lan to win the final round with her own abilities, though he doubted her chances against more experienced alchemists with stronger flames.
• Bai Ge told Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Heavenly Thunder Child that Xin Lan planned to refine the eighth-grade high-tier Bone-Regenerating Blood-Melting Pill.
• Xuan Kongzi explained that Yao Chen had developed the pill after the Pill Tower discussed the Soul Hall's harvesting of alchemists' souls.
• Xuan Kongzi announced that the champion would receive a Spirit Skill in addition to the top ten's opportunity to subdue the Three Thousand Yan Flame Fire.
• The alchemists set out their medicine cauldrons and lit their flames as the final round began.

The Pill Gathering’s final round continued as alchemists refined increasingly high-grade pills, and Dan Xuan became the first to produce a high-grade Seventh-rank Pill. With fewer than fifty alchemists still refining, Dan Xuan worried that Dan Chen, Cao Ying, and Ye Xin Lan might all be attempting Eighth-grade Pills.

• After several days, early finishers realized they had been eliminated because they had refined lower-grade pills.
• On the fifth day, a white-robed elder refined a peak sixth-grade pill, and Bai Ge predicted that a competitor would trigger Five-Colored Pill Lightning.
• On the seventh day and afterward, several alchemists refined low- and middle-grade Seventh-grade Pills and summoned Pill Lightning.
• As the ninth day approached, Dan Xuan refined a high-grade Seventh-rank Pill and received its Pill Lightning.
• Dan Xuan noticed that Dan Chen, Cao Ying, and Ye Xin Lan were still refining and wondered whether they were attempting Eighth-grade Pills.

The Pill Gathering’s fourth round reached its climax as alchemists completed increasingly powerful pills and faced Pill Lightning. Dan Chen, Cao Ying, and Old Monster Qing Hua refined Eighth-grade Pills, while Xin Lan and Old Man Mu Gu were still competing when the chapter ended.

• Song Qing refined a peak seventh-grade pill and withstood the Pill Lightning, prompting the other alchemists to finish their pills.
• Dan Chen became the first to refine an Eighth-grade Pill and successfully endured Two-Colored Pill Lightning.
• Cao Ying also refined an Eighth-grade Pill, and her stronger Two-Colored Pill Lightning showed that her pill was higher quality than Dan Chen’s.
• Cao Ying watched Xin Lan, Old Man Mu Gu, and Old Monster Qing Hua continue refining, hoping Xin Lan would win the Pill Gathering.
• Old Monster Qing Hua refined a pill that triggered silver, green, and red Pill Lightning, stunning the alchemists gathered on the square.