Chapter Summaries

Zhao Chen arrived in the Northern Azure World to begin the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy’s trial, where students had to reach Northern Azure Hall with a Level-Four Mark. He hunted spirit beasts for their Spiritual Energy and raised his Third-Level Mark to Level Four.

• With Mr. Hao’s help, Zhao Chen reached the Northern Azure World and learned the trial’s requirements and Mark-ranking rules.
• Zhao Chen touched the stone stele, confirmed his deep-red Third-Level Mark, and set out to hunt spirit beasts for a check-in mission.
• Zhao Chen killed a Golden Crocodile and a black bear, collecting their Essence Souls and Spiritual Energy.
• Zhao Chen used the beasts’ corpses as bait to lure four more Intermediate Spirit Beasts, then trapped and killed them with the Blazing Flame Array.
• The Spiritual Energy from the four beasts transformed Zhao Chen’s Third-Level Mark into a Fourth-Level Mark.

Zhao Chen hunted spirit beasts in the Northern Azure World, earning a Heaven Merging Pill Formula through a check-in reward. After killing a Black Horn Rhinoceros, he searched for more specific beasts as his mark neared its next level.

• Zhao Chen killed four Intermediate Flame Leopards and their High-Level leader, brightening his Fourth-Level Mark and completing a system task.
• Zhao Chen checked in and received the Heaven Merging Pill Formula, then learned that refining the pill required rare materials and the essence souls and blood of specific High-Level Spirit Beasts.
• The system tasked Zhao Chen with killing ten High-Level Spirit Beasts, and he chose the Black Horn Rhinoceros as his first target.
• Zhao Chen found and killed a Black Horn Rhinoceros in a swamp, collected its essence soul and horn, and brought his mark close to advancing.
• Zhao Chen identified the Black Heart Tiger, Ironclad Bird, and Green Fur Turtle as further targets, while his presence stirred unease among the spirit beasts of the Northern Azure World.

Zhao Chen attacked the three High-Level Spirit Beasts guarding a hidden heavenly treasure and trapped them in his Ice Sword Spirit Array. He killed the Black Heart Tiger and Green Fur Turtle, while the Ironclad Bird’s fate remained unresolved.

• Zhao Chen noticed a dim light beneath a boulder and inferred that the Ironclad Bird, Black Heart Tiger, and Green Fur Turtle were guarding a heavenly treasure.
• Zhao Chen collapsed the cliff, seized the treasure, and drew the three spirit beasts into attacking him.
• Zhao Chen activated the Ice Sword Spirit Array, trapping all three beasts inside the canyon.
• The Ice Swords pierced the Black Heart Tiger to death and froze the Green Fur Turtle beneath the pool.
• Zhao Chen shattered the frozen pool and struck at the Green Fur Turtle as blood spread through the air.

Zhao Chen killed enough High-Level Spirit Beasts to complete his sign-in mission, then found and refined the materials needed for a Heaven Merging Pill. After swallowing the pill, he advanced to the Middle Stage of the Heaven Merging Realm and set his sights on a Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast.

• Zhao Chen found an Earth Spirit Mushroom and continued hunting High-Level Spirit Beasts until he killed three Azure Giant Birds, completing his sign-in mission.
• Zhao Chen explored the valley, harvested spirit medicines, and found a Divine Soul Yin Yang Mushroom.
• Zhao Chen set up a Bewildering Spirit Array and successfully refined a Third Grade Heaven Merging Pill.
• Zhao Chen swallowed the pill and advanced to the Middle Stage of the Heaven Merging Realm.
• Zhao Chen chose a Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast on the Earth Ranking of the Ten Thousand Beasts Record as his next target.

Zhao Chen obtained the Small Sumeru Teleportation Spirit Array Diagram and tested how it compressed the distance between teleportation arrays. He realized that condensing more Spirit Seals could let him return to the Northern Spiritual Academy and intervene in the looming conflict between the Liu Territory and the Mu Territory.

• Zhao Chen signed in at the Northern Azure World and received the Small Sumeru Teleportation Spirit Array Diagram.
• Zhao Chen connected two Level 1 Teleportation Spirit Arrays with the Small Sumeru array and successfully teleported between them through a stable Little Sumeru Space Channel.
• Zhao Chen sensed the spatial coordinates of the Northern Spiritual Realm but concluded he needed more Spirit Seals to reach the Northern Spiritual Academy.
• Zhao Chen began condensing Spirit Seals, aiming to reach one hundred and fifty so he could return to the Northern Spiritual Academy.
• Zhao Chen considered the Liu Territory's approaching threat to the Mu Territory and the possibility that he could use the array to eliminate it himself.

Zhao Chen traveled to the Icy Valley to hunt a Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast for a sign-in opportunity and trapped the Ice Profound Spirit Flood Dragon in his Ice Sword Spirit Array. As he noticed the snow melting beneath the valley, a second Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast emerged from the magma: the Earth Fire Flame Dragon Lizard.

• Zhao Chen confirmed that his Small Sumeru Teleportation Spirit Array could send a High-Level Spirit Beast soul essence to the Northern Spiritual Academy and triggered a task to kill a Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast.
• Zhao Chen flew to the Icy Valley after recalling that the Ice Profound Spirit Flood Dragon lived there.
• Zhao Chen identified the Ice Profound Spirit Flood Dragon and found that it was an early-stage Heaven Merging Realm Spirit Beast.
• Zhao Chen used his one hundred and fifty Spirit Seals to trap the Ice Profound Spirit Flood Dragon in an Ice Sword Spirit Array and suppress its attacks.
• Zhao Chen noticed the snow melting and the ground turning red, then saw the Earth Fire Flame Dragon Lizard erupt from the magma.

Zhao Chen killed the Earth Fire Flame Dragon Lizard after the Ice Profound Spirit Flood Dragon fell to the Ice Sword Spirit Array, then refused Nine Nether Sparrow’s requests to devour the beasts or undergo tribulation. He finally offered to let her out as a little bird, but insisted she turn into a little white bird, leaving her stunned.

• Zhao Chen killed the Earth Fire Flame Dragon Lizard with his Nirvana Golden Fist while the Ice Sword Spirit Array killed the Ice Profound Spirit Flood Dragon.
• Zhao Chen collected both Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast Essences and stored the beasts’ corpses in his Mustard Seed Bracelet.
• Nine Nether Sparrow asked to devour the corpses and undergo tribulation, but Zhao Chen refused, wary of attracting the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy’s attention.
• Nine Nether Sparrow asked to leave the Mustard Seed Bracelet for fresh air, and Zhao Chen said he might allow it if she turned into a little bird.
• Zhao Chen specified that Nine Nether Sparrow had to become a little white bird, leaving her frozen in disbelief.

After killing two Heaven-Rank Spirit Beasts, Zhao Chen raised his mark to Eighth-Level Purple-Gold and signed in to obtain the Heaven Transformation Pill Recipe. He planned to hunt three specific Heaven-Rank Spirit Beasts for the pill’s materials, while Nine Nether remained unaware of what he wanted from her.

• Nine Nether emerged from Zhao Chen’s Mustard Seed Bracelet and brushed off his warning to behave herself in the Northern Azure World.
• Zhao Chen’s mark advanced to Eighth-Level Purple-Gold after he absorbed Spiritual Energy from two Heaven-Rank Spirit Beasts, and a kill triggered a sign-in opportunity.
• Zhao Chen signed in and received the Heaven Transformation Pill Recipe, which required essences from three compatible Heaven-Rank Spirit Beasts.
• Nine Nether realized Zhao Chen had reached the mid-stage of the Heaven Merging Realm and warned that refining the peak fourth-grade pill would be difficult.
• A new sign-in opportunity required Zhao Chen to kill three Heaven-Rank Spirit Beasts, so he chose the Vajra Single-Eyed Ape, Earth Spirit Stone Python, and Jade-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast.
• Zhao Chen eyed Nine Nether as a possible guide to locating the beasts, and she threatened to punch him.

Zhao Chen enlisted the Nine Nether Sparrow to locate Heaven-Rank Spirit Beasts and swiftly killed the Vajra Single-Eyed Ape with one sword. They then traveled to Thousand Island Lake, where Zhao Chen spotted the Jade-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast and moved to confront it.

• Zhao Chen threatened the Nine Nether Sparrow and promised her a chance to evolve, persuading her to help him find spirit beasts and medicines.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow led Zhao Chen to the Vajra Single-Eyed Ape in the Northern Azure World Southeast Inner Area.
• Zhao Chen killed the Vajra Single-Eyed Ape with a single sword and collected its soul, leaving the Nine Nether Sparrow stunned.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow directed Zhao Chen toward the Jade-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast at Thousand Island Lake.
• Zhao Chen spotted a massive golden figure in the lake’s center and rode the Asura Sword toward it.

Zhao Chen killed the Jade-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast and Earth Spirit Stone Python, gathering enough spiritual energy to raise his mark to the ninth grade. He headed toward the center of the Northern Azure World, where he could summon the Northern Azure Hall and travel to the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.

• Zhao Chen shattered the Jade-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast's defenses with two punches, killed it, and collected its spirit essence, armor, and blood.
• Zhao Chen and the Nine Nether Sparrow traveled to the Gobi Desert, where he forced the Earth Spirit Stone Python out of its pit.
• The Earth Spirit Stone Python swallowed Zhao Chen's Nirvana Heavenly Flame Golden Lotus and burned to ashes, leaving behind its spirit essence.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow asked about the flame, and Zhao Chen identified it as Nirvana Heavenly Flame without explaining more.
• The spiritual energy from three Heaven-Rank Spirit Beasts raised Zhao Chen's mark from eighth-grade purple-gold to ninth-grade colored, allowing him to summon the Northern Azure Hall and travel to the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.

After signing in for killing three Heaven-Rank Spirit Beasts, Zhao Chen obtained a Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Talisman and secured the Ice Crystal Snow Mountain Lotus needed for the Heaven Transformation Pill. He prepared to refine a fourth-grade Phoenix Blood Spirit Pill first, aiming to strengthen himself and improve his chances of making the Heaven Transformation Pill.

• Zhao Chen signed in and received the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Talisman, which he kept as a trump card.
• Zhao Chen asked the Nine Nether Sparrow to locate an Ice Crystal Snow Mountain Lotus, and she revealed that she had one.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow tried to trade the lotus for Phoenix Blood, but Zhao Chen refused and offered an Earth Fire Flame Dragon Lizard soul fragment instead.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow accepted the soul fragment, and Zhao Chen took the Ice Crystal Snow Mountain Lotus.
• Zhao Chen arranged a spiritual formation and began preparing to refine a higher-grade Phoenix Blood Spirit Pill.

Zhao Chen refined and absorbed a Phoenix Blood Spirit Pill, advancing his cultivation before deciding to leave the Northern Azure World to refine a Heaven Transformation Pill. He summoned the Northern Azure Hall and heard the call for qualified students to enter.

• Zhao Chen refined the Phoenix Blood Spirit Pill with three Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast bloods, and the Nine Nether Sparrow refused to give him another wisp of her blood.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow considered attacking Zhao Chen while he absorbed the pill but held back because of the God Spirit Contract and her lack of strength.
• Zhao Chen broke through to the late stage of the Heaven Merging Realm and raised his Nine Revolutions Nirvana Golden Body to the peak of its first stage.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow warned Zhao Chen that the Northern Azure World could not support a Heaven Transformation Realm breakthrough, so Zhao Chen decided to head for the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.
• Zhao Chen reached the central region, activated his Ninth-Grade Colored Mark, and summoned the Northern Azure Hall.
• An aged voice announced that students with marks of fourth grade or higher could enter the Northern Azure Hall.

Zhao Chen entered the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, received 35,000 spirit value, and accepted an extra trial against An Ran. He effortlessly shattered her strongest attack with one sword, leaving the outcome of the trial unclear.

• The White-Haired Old Man gave Zhao Chen a Spirit Value Token showing 35,000 spirit value and offered him an optional trial for 5,000 more.
• Zhao Chen accepted the trial, and An Ran appeared to test him.
• An Ran attacked Zhao Chen with spirit techniques, but he countered them and shattered her attacks.
• An Ran released her Northern Dark Golden Pattern Eagle Essence Soul and launched Ice Sealing Wings at Zhao Chen.
• Zhao Chen destroyed the icy attack with one sword and told An Ran, "You've been generous!"

Zhao Chen defeated An Ran’s test and entered the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, where he learned about its rankings and met his new mentor, Mu Ling. He agreed to help test the other new students, then left with Mu Ling as An Ran hurried away from her.

• Zhao Chen revealed that he was stronger than the early stage of the Heaven Merging Realm, and An Ran accepted that she had lost the test.
• Old Bai awarded Zhao Chen five thousand Spirit Value, welcomed him to the academy, and opened the gate to its grounds.
• An Ran explained the Divine Soul Rankings and Heaven Rankings to Zhao Chen, including that Shen CangSheng ranked first.
• Zhao Chen agreed to help test the other new students, and Old Bai approved the plan.
• Mu Ling introduced herself as Zhao Chen’s new student mentor, and An Ran fled after Mu Ling winked at her.

Zhao Chen learned about the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy's residences and ways to earn Spirit Value, then chose a First-Class room. The Nine Nether Sparrow tried to persuade him to provide blood for her evolution, but he refused.

• Mu Ling explained the academy's residential areas, Spirit Value costs, and ways to earn Spirit Value, including the Thunder Domain.
• Zhao Chen chose a First-Class residence beside the lake, paying two thousand Spirit Value each month.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow urged Zhao Chen to obtain Northern Nether Dragon Kun Blood Essence so she could evolve, but he pointed out that he already had Phoenix Blood.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow asked Zhao Chen to give her the Phoenix Blood and promised she would protect him as an Ancient Phoenix, but Zhao Chen agreed with her reasoning and refused.

Zhao Chen refined a Heaven Transformation Pill and gained the Taiji Profound Array Diagram through a sign-in at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. He learned how the array worked and discovered that Nine Nether Sparrow wanted him to obtain the academy’s Northern Nether Dragon Kun Blood Essence.

• Zhao Chen refined a Heaven Transformation Pill, planned to use his Spirit Value Token, and received a sign-in opportunity.
• Zhao Chen signed in at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy and obtained the Taiji Profound Array Diagram.
• Zhao Chen tested the diagram’s basic formation and learned that it drained the Spiritual Power of anyone trapped inside.
• Zhao Chen told Nine Nether Sparrow that Northern Nether Dragon Kun Blood Essence cost seven million spirit value, and she eagerly urged him to get it.
• Zhao Chen questioned why Nine Nether Sparrow was more excited about the Dragon Kun Blood Essence than the Phoenix Blood he already possessed.

Zhao Chen refused to give Nine Nether Sparrow the Phoenix Blood for now, while she pretended to submit and secretly hoped to break the God Spirit Contract. After receiving a mission to enter the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy’s Heaven Rankings top ten, Zhao Chen prepared to make his rise known.

• Nine Nether Sparrow pleaded for Phoenix Blood, but Zhao Chen refused because he did not trust her and said the time and place were unsuitable for her tribulation.
• Nine Nether Sparrow called Zhao Chen “Master” to curry favor, while secretly planning to escape the God Spirit Contract and anticipating that she might eventually receive Phoenix Blood.
• A sign-in mission appeared, requiring Zhao Chen to break into the top ten of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy’s Heaven Rankings for a sign-in opportunity.
• Zhao Chen considered the strength required for the rankings and the trouble that fame might bring, then declared that entering the top ten would be easy.
• Zhao Chen poured Blood-Red Spiritual Power into his Nine-Colored Spirit Value Token and announced that he would return as a king.

Zhao Chen challenged the Heaven Rankings and claimed tenth place on his first day at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, earning Spirit Value and a sign-in reward. After receiving the White Tiger Divine Thunder Skill, he decided to go to the Thunder Domain to improve it.

• Zhao Chen charged into tenth place on the Heaven Rankings, astonishing students across the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.
• Zhao Chen checked his Spirit Value Token and found that his ranking challenge had earned him two hundred thousand Spirit Value points.
• Zhao Chen received a sign-in chance for reaching the top ten and obtained the divine-grade White Tiger Divine Thunder Skill.
• Zhao Chen tested the skill by forming a blood-red lightning White Tiger and judged its power formidable enough to kill a Heaven Merging Realm Late Stage powerhouse.
• Zhao Chen told Nine Nether Sparrow they would visit the Thunder Domain to cultivate the skill further.

Zhao Chen entered the Thunder Domain and charged through its layers to the seventh, where he cultivated the White Tiger Divine Thunder Skill in a Thunder River. He successfully condensed the White Tiger Divine Thunder Body while Nine Nether Sparrow collected heavenly thunder pearls.

• Zhao Chen and Nine Nether Sparrow arrived at the Thunder Domain, where Zhao Chen saw Shen CangSheng ranked first and Li Xuantong second on its challenge stele.
• Zhao Chen passed through the first six layers and shocked the students by entering the seventh layer without slowing down.
• Zhao Chen settled on a Thunder Guiding Platform and told Nine Nether Sparrow to collect heavenly thunder pearls while he cultivated.
• Zhao Chen absorbed the thunderous rain, then charged into a Thunder River whose power surpassed the Heaven Transformation Realm.
• Zhao Chen continuously cultivated the White Tiger Divine Thunder Skill and successfully condensed the White Tiger Divine Thunder Body.

Zhao Chen absorbed the Thunder River’s power, advanced to the late-stage Heaven Transformation Realm, and entered the eighth level of the Thunder Domain. His achievement placed him third on the Thunder Domain Stele, stunning the students watching.

• Zhao Chen used the Heaven Transformation Pill and the Thunder River’s energy to break through to the late-stage Heaven Transformation Realm.
• The Nine Nether Sparrow revealed that she had condensed one million heavenly thunder pearls, and Zhao Chen calculated that selling some could help pay for her Northern Abyss Dragon-Kun Blood Essence.
• A check-in mission tasked Zhao Chen with reaching the top three of the Thunder Domain Stele, so he headed for the eighth level.
• Zhao Chen passed through the Thunder River barrier into the eighth level, astonishing the students nearby.
• The Thunder Domain Stele ranked Zhao Chen third after he reached the eighth level, surpassing He Yao, Su Xuan, and other Heaven Rankings experts.