Chapter Summaries

Luo Zheng was forced by Little Butterfly and Grand Dream True Person to taunt Cloud Hall’s Elite Hall while evading Zhuo Feiling’s attacks, then was made to return the next morning. He arrived at the gray building to face more than a hundred furious elite disciples, still speaking arrogantly against his will.

• Little Butterfly revealed that she wanted Luo Zheng to challenge Cloud Hall’s elite disciples every day, while Grand Dream True Person controlled him as a puppet.
• Luo Zheng dodged Zhuo Feiling’s spear attacks in midair, then was forced to insult the Elite Hall before leaving the gray building.
• Luo Zheng begged Little Butterfly to stop tormenting him, but she ordered him to return the following morning.
• More than a hundred Elite Hall disciples gathered at the gray building, and Li Buyi arrived but declined to fight Luo Zheng himself.
• Luo Zheng entered the building under Grand Dream True Person’s control and insulted the waiting disciples despite his helpless expression.

Luo Zheng limited the Elite Disciples’ challenges to three per day and chose Shangguan Baimeng as his first opponent. He used the power of two hundred Dragon Scales to defeat Shangguan Baimeng with a single punch, leaving the hall stunned.

• Luo Zheng regained control of his body and proposed that he would choose up to three challengers each day.
• Luo Zheng selected Shangguan Baimeng, a fourth-level Spirit Illumination Realm disciple, as his first opponent.
• Shangguan Baimeng charged Luo Zheng with his Azure Wave Heavenly Essence Fist and warned that he would not hold back.
• Luo Zheng activated two hundred Dragon Scales and struck Shangguan Baimeng with his Heavenly Devil God Fist.
• Luo Zheng barely moved after the exchange, while Shangguan Baimeng flew into the wall and lay motionless as the hall fell silent.

Luo Zheng defeated Shangguan Baimeng with his fists, challenged more Elite Hall disciples, and escaped when they tried to stop him. After strengthening his soul with treasure chests, he asked Azure Dragon to teach him rune creation, and Azure Dragon introduced the art of divine patterns.

• Luo Zheng stunned the Elite Hall disciples by overpowering Shangguan Baimeng with his fists, while Li Buyi wondered how his body could be so strong without Astral Essence.
• Luo Zheng chose Yue Zhu and another relatively weak disciple to fight, defeating both as the Elite Hall disciples urged him to face stronger opponents.
• Luo Zheng escaped the crowd with an unusual movement technique, leaving Li Buyi amazed and the Elite Hall disciples planning to exclude weaker challengers next time.
• Luo Zheng consumed the Soul Essence and Nine-Headed Dragon Blood Essence from his treasure chests to improve his strength, and his soul power increased by thirty percent.
• Luo Zheng asked Azure Dragon whether he was ready to learn rune creation, and Azure Dragon explained that the technique was called divine patterns.

Luo Zheng began preparing to learn divine patterns from Azure Dragon while Grand Dream True Person continued forcing him to challenge Elite Hall disciples. After defeating three more opponents, Luo Zheng went to the Cloud Hall Marketplace to buy materials and a brush, where the shopkeeper mocked his ambition.

• Azure Dragon told Luo Zheng that he could begin learning divine patterns once he obtained the necessary materials and brush.
• Grand Dream True Person controlled Luo Zheng and sent him to the gray building, where the crowd had grown and Elder Fei Han secretly watched.
• Luo Zheng defeated three Elite Hall disciples at the fifth level of the Spirit Illumination Realm, then fled before facing stronger opponents.
• Luo Zheng visited the World Commerce Alliance shop in the Cloud Hall Marketplace to buy materials and a brush.
• The old shopkeeper saw that Luo Zheng was an Innate Living Being and mocked him for wanting to make runes.

Luo Zheng tried to buy materials for drawing divine markings, but an eccentric shop steward refused to sell them after mistaking his request for a prank. With Azure Dragon translating an Ancient Phoenix Clan inscription, Luo Zheng gained leverage and negotiated a thirty-percent discount, leaving the steward waiting for the rest of the translation.

• Luo Zheng asked the shop steward to sell him materials Azure Dragon had listed for practicing divine markings, but the steward accused him of making sport of the shop and refused.
• Azure Dragon explained that the requested materials were for Four-Star Runes and recognized the Ancient Phoenix Clan writing on the jade the steward was studying.
• Luo Zheng recited the first part of the inscription’s translation, startling the steward, then stopped and started to leave.
• The steward hurried after Luo Zheng and welcomed him back to the shop, pleading for the rest of the translation.
• Luo Zheng demanded that the steward sell him all the listed materials at seventy percent of the price, and the steward agreed.

Luo Zheng bought materials and a heavy runic brush to begin learning how to draw divine patterns, with Azure Dragon guiding him. After preparing the ingredients, he started his first pattern and guided his soul power into the brush.

• Luo Zheng translated the rest of the Ancient Phoenix Clan writing for the old man, then agreed to help decipher other scripts in the future.
• The old man sold Luo Zheng the requested materials at a thirty-percent discount and recommended a jade runic brush, but Azure Dragon urged him to choose the heavier Crimson Mysterious Gold brush to temper his soul.
• Luo Zheng paid for the materials with Square Crystal Stones at an unfavorable exchange rate and left the Marketplace.
• Back at his residence, Luo Zheng followed Azure Dragon's instructions to process and mix the ingredients for drawing divine patterns.
• Luo Zheng guided his soul power into the runic brush and drew the first line of his first divine pattern.

Luo Zheng learned to draw divine marks from Azure Dragon and quickly produced a Perfect Stroke while making a Meditation Sigil. He activated the finished rune, experienced its effect, and wondered how much he could sell it for.

• Azure Dragon taught Luo Zheng about the Meditation Rune and mocked his first failed attempts at drawing it.
• Azure Dragon guided Luo Zheng’s brush and demonstrated how to make a radiant, well-formed stroke.
• Luo Zheng studied the ink’s materials and produced a Perfect Stroke on his third attempt, astonishing Azure Dragon.
• With Azure Dragon’s guidance, Luo Zheng completed a twenty-four-line One-Star Meditation Sigil that could perform like a Two-Star sigil.
• Luo Zheng activated the Meditation Sigil with his True Essence, felt his fatigue vanish, and considered asking about its price.

Luo Zheng practiced drawing Meditation Sigils, then continued his daily battles against the Elite Hall before heading to the Marketplace to see if his sigils could be sold. Little Butterfly ordered Cloud Hall’s top Runemaster, Zong Rui, to crush Luo Zheng’s confidence, and Zong Rui arrived at the World Commerce Alliance shop as Shang Lei introduced him to Luo Zheng.

• Luo Zheng drew eight Meditation Sigils before his soul power waned, and Azure Dragon warned him not to risk injuring his soul essence.
• Luo Zheng defeated Mu Ran, the final Elite Hall disciple in that day’s three battles, then went to the Marketplace to sell his practice sigils.
• Little Butterfly disapproved of Luo Zheng studying runes and summoned Zong Rui to discourage him from pursuing the art.
• Zong Rui accepted Little Butterfly’s order and headed to the Marketplace, expecting to dissuade the novice with ease.
• Zong Rui entered the World Commerce Alliance shop, where Shang Lei introduced him to Luo Zheng as Cloud Hall’s most formidable Runemaster.

Luo Zheng brought his Meditation Sigil to Cloud Hall for appraisal, only for Zong Rui and Shang Lei to dismiss it as worthless. When Luo Zheng activated it, its power astonished them, and Zong Rui recognized its strokes as Perfect Stroke.

• Luo Zheng asked Zong Rui and Shang Lei to appraise the Meditation Sigil he had drawn the day before.
• Zong Rui mocked Luo Zheng's work and told him to abandon runic arts, while Shang Lei declined to appraise it.
• Luo Zheng questioned the Azure Dragon, which insisted the sigil was valuable and that the two men did not understand it.
• Luo Zheng activated the Meditation Sigil with true essence, filling the room with blue-gray light and refreshing the three men.
• Zong Rui was stunned by the activated sigil and recognized its strokes as Perfect Stroke.

Luo Zheng revealed that he had drawn the Meditation Rune himself, astonishing Zong Rui and Shang Lei because it displayed Perfect Stroke, a legendary technique unseen in the Central Region for two thousand years. The two competed fiercely to buy it, and Zong Rui's bid reached ten Top Grade True Essence Stones.

• Zong Rui recognized the Meditation Rune's Perfect Stroke and recalled Feng Guanyu, the only known Runemaster in the Central Region's history to master it.
• Zong Rui and Shang Lei asked who had drawn the rune, and Luo Zheng told them he had drawn it himself, though neither believed him.
• Luo Zheng asked Shang Lei to appraise the rune, but Zong Rui insisted that it could only be sold to him.
• Luo Zheng declared that he would sell the rune to whoever offered the highest price and initially asked for twenty thousand Low-Grade True Essence Stones.
• Shang Lei and Zong Rui raised their bids in turn, until Zong Rui offered ten Top Grade True Essence Stones.

Luo Zheng sold Zong Rui one Meditation Sigil for ten Top Grade True Essence Stones, then sold Shang Lei seven more for five stones total. When Zong Rui demanded proof that Luo Zheng had drawn them himself, Luo Zheng agreed to demonstrate in exchange for Zong Rui’s rune pen.

• Zong Rui bought Luo Zheng’s first Meditation Sigil for ten Top Grade True Essence Stones, while Shang Lei gave up bidding.
• Luo Zheng revealed seven more working Meditation Sigils and sold them to Shang Lei for five Top Grade True Essence Stones.
• Zong Rui protested the steep price difference, but Luo Zheng reminded him that he had chosen to buy the first sigil and asked Shang Lei for more materials.
• Zong Rui reconsidered Luo Zheng’s claim that he had drawn the sigils and urgently asked him to prove it with a rune pen.
• Luo Zheng agreed to draw a stroke if Zong Rui gave him the pen, leaving Zong Rui troubled by its unusual origins.

Luo Zheng demonstrated Perfect Stroke to Zong Rui and won his prized rune brush, convincing Zong Rui that the Hall Master was right to invest in him. Zong Rui hurried to the Ice Palace to report what happened to Little Butterfly, interrupting her cultivation.

• Zong Rui wagered his favorite rune brush that Luo Zheng could not produce a Perfect Stroke, and Luo Zheng accepted using his own Meditation Rune ink.
• Luo Zheng drew a flawless, energy-filled stroke, astonishing Zong Rui, Shang Lei, and the shop assistants, then claimed the brush as his prize.
• Zong Rui reconsidered his doubts about Little Butterfly's decision to cultivate Luo Zheng and recognized his exceptional value to the Cloud Hall.
• Luo Zheng thanked Zong Rui and Shang Lei, stored the brush in his Sumeru Ring, and left the shop.
• Zong Rui flew to Little Butterfly's Ice Palace and sent word that he urgently needed an audience; Little Butterfly paused her cultivation and summoned him inside.

Zong Rui told Little Butterfly that Luo Zheng had displayed extraordinary talent in runic arts, including mastering Perfect Strokes as a beginner. After seeing Luo Zheng’s glowing Meditation Sigil, Little Butterfly reconsidered her plan to discourage him from studying runes and decided to watch his progress.

• Zong Rui rushed to Little Butterfly and said he had come to report on Luo Zheng.
• Zong Rui declared that Luo Zheng was a runic prodigy who might surpass Feng Guanyu, and explained that Luo Zheng had already mastered Perfect Strokes.
• Little Butterfly grew angry at Zong Rui’s claims and attacked him with icicles until he showed her Luo Zheng’s Meditation Sigil.
• Little Butterfly examined the glowing sigil and accepted that it was Luo Zheng’s work.
• Zong Rui suggested Luo Zheng might help strengthen the Cloud Palace’s Sect Protecting Grand Array, and Little Butterfly dismissed him to consider the matter.
• Little Butterfly decided to see how far Luo Zheng could go and resumed cultivating.

Luo Zheng left Cloud Hall to gather materials for the Soul Breathing Divine Mark, hoping to accelerate his cultivation. In Cloud Sea City, Mo Lezhang personally welcomed him at the World Commerce Alliance branch, surprising the guards who had tried to turn him away.

• Luo Zheng decided to leave Cloud Hall after Elite Hall disciples stopped serving as reliable sparring partners and set out to gather materials for the Soul Breathing Divine Mark.
• Luo Zheng tested his Wind Feather Divine Mark by leaping from Cloud Hall and gliding safely to the ground.
• Luo Zheng traveled to Cloud Sea City and found the World Commerce Alliance branch using directions from Shang Lei.
• Two Spirit Illumination Realm guards tried to drive Luo Zheng away until he showed them an invitation card bearing Shang Lei's name.
• Mo Lezhang came out to welcome Luo Zheng, who followed him inside without recognizing the branch leader.

Luo Zheng sold divine runes to the World Commerce Alliance and sought information about rare materials, then traveled west in search of Purple Lightning Bamboo. In Zhumu Town, he sensed that the restaurant staff were watching him with ill intentions, but he waited to see what they would do.

• Mo Lezhang welcomed Luo Zheng, gave him a Nameplate granting discounts, and agreed to buy his divine runes.
• Luo Zheng asked for several rare materials, and Mo Lezhang said they were unavailable but shared a map showing where Purple Lightning Bamboo had been reported.
• Luo Zheng traveled west on foot after his Flying Carriage crashed and he could not find Divine Lightning Steeds.
• Luo Zheng entered a restaurant in Zhumu Town and noticed the staff watching him suspiciously.
• The braided waiter offered Luo Zheng the menu, and the waiters exchanged knowing glances after he ordered the restaurant's specialties.

Luo Zheng was captured by a restaurant that poisoned travelers and bound them to use as bait for vicious beasts on Extreme Yin Mountain. After he freed himself and the other captives, three Divine Pill Realm experts arrived, and one of them killed the courtyard’s Spirit Illumination Realm warrior with a single strike.

• Luo Zheng noticed the restaurant waiters’ killing intent but ate the poisoned meal, then let them bind him with cords that restricted true essence.
• The waiters carried Luo Zheng to a courtyard where more than twenty Central Region warriors were imprisoned, and he learned they were being used as bait for beasts while scouting for Purple Lightning Bamboo on Extreme Yin Mountain.
• Luo Zheng broke his restraints with Dragon Scale Power and used Broken Flying Knife to free the other captives.
• The freed warriors joined forces and brought down the restaurant, drawing the attention of three Divine Pill Realm experts.
• One Divine Pill Realm expert crushed the Spirit Illumination Realm warrior into a cloud of blood mist, leaving Luo Zheng and the other captives frozen in fear.

Luo Zheng was captured with more than a thousand warriors and forced to Extreme Yin Mountain by a purple-clad Young Master seeking the Rising Dragon Platform. As the Young Master fed the prisoners to the Yinglong guarding it, Azure Dragon promised Luo Zheng a chance to break through to the Spirit Illumination Realm but left him facing imminent death.

• Three Divine Pill Realm experts bound Luo Zheng and more than a thousand other warriors and marched them toward Extreme Yin Mountain.
• A late-stage Divine Pill Realm Young Master arrived, counted the captured heads, and led the procession toward the mountain with a Dragon Shaped Jade Pendant.
• Azure Dragon told Luo Zheng that the expedition might lead to a great opportunity and could help him break through to the Spirit Illumination Realm.
• The Young Master found a radiant tower called the Rising Dragon Platform, guarded by a colossal Yinglong, and ordered the prisoners thrown to it.
• The Divine Pill Realm experts hurled prisoners into the ravine, where the Yinglong swallowed them, and Luo Zheng demanded that Azure Dragon tell him what to do.

Luo Zheng entered the Rising Dragon Platform after Azure Dragon’s roar frightened the Yinglong and Azure Dragon opened the gate. On the second level, he faced Polar Beasts in a seemingly real world, and the chapter ended as strange yellow motes gathered in his Dantian.

• Azure Dragon’s roar drove the Yinglong back, and Luo Zheng rushed to the Rising Dragon Platform’s gate.
• Azure Dragon opened the gate with its soul, allowing Luo Zheng to enter while the Young Master and Divine Pill Realm experts watched in disbelief.
• Luo Zheng climbed to the second level, where the dragon reliefs led him into a world covered in ice.
• Polar Beasts burst through the ice, and Luo Zheng fought and killed them with the Blood Drink Sword.
• Baleful Intent and yellow motes flowed from the dead Polar Beasts into Luo Zheng, and the accumulating motes made his Dantian feel swollen.

Luo Zheng broke through to the Innate Fifth Stage after absorbing the Rising Dragon Platform’s Light of Creation, then entered its third level to fight golden pythons. Outside, Poison Blood Lady arrived and claimed the platform, but Black Crow’s flock soon appeared.

• Luo Zheng absorbed the Light of Creation and broke through to the Innate Fifth Stage.
• Azure Dragon explained that the platform’s accumulated Light of Creation had been mostly depleted and that its trials matched each climber’s strength.
• Luo Zheng entered the third level and attacked the golden pythons, seeking more Light of Creation and Baleful Intent.
• Poison Blood Lady arrived at the platform and showed the Ghost King Xue Family experts her own Dragon Shaped Jade Pendant, claiming the platform for Bloodwood Cliff.
• A vast flock of Black Crows appeared, and Poison Blood Lady recognized that Black Crow had come to join the contest.

Ning Yu Die, Black Crow, Poison Blood Lady, and other sect leaders gathered at the Rising Dragon Platform and prepared to negotiate over it. Meanwhile, Luo Zheng climbed to its summit, where Azure Dragon activated a Divine Pattern for him.

• Black Crow and Poison Blood Lady argued over who had the right to claim the Rising Dragon Platform as the Yinglong grew tense at the arrival of powerful experts.
• Ning Yu Die arrived with a flood dragon puppet after advancing to the Divine Pill Realm, then the Void Spirit Seven Sons and people from Profound Yin Hall came to claim a say in the platform’s fate.
• Ning Yu Die proposed that the sect leaders sit down and discuss how to divide or claim the Rising Dragon Platform.
• Luo Zheng absorbed Light of Creation and Baleful Intent as he climbed, reaching the ninth level of the Innate Realm and then Innate Great Perfection.
• Luo Zheng summoned Demon Night to defeat the iron cavalry army on the Fifth Layer, then reached the empty Sixth Layer and asked Azure Dragon what the summit was for.
• Azure Dragon told Luo Zheng to approach a circular Divine Pattern, infused it with a wisp of his soul, and caused a beam of light to descend on Luo Zheng.