Chapter Summaries

Jiang Donghua oversaw the First-grade Alchemist assessment, where the difficult Wind-Walking Pill formula challenged the apprentices. Lin Chen, a talented newcomer brought to Jia Nan Academy by Elder Bing Hong, successfully refined a pill with a pill pattern, impressing the elders.

• Jiang Donghua and Elder Mo Xuan announced an assessment requiring apprentices to refine the Wind-Walking Pill within two hours.
• Jiang Donghua noticed a calm young apprentice, while one apprentice’s cauldron exploded after he burned the Wind Spirit Grass.
• Elder Bing Hong revealed that the young apprentice was Lin Chen, whom she had brought back from a remote town, and warned Jiang Donghua to rewrite the formula if Lin Chen failed.
• Lin Chen carefully controlled the flames and stabilized the medicinal liquid with a precise adjustment.
• Lin Chen completed the Wind-Walking Pill on his first attempt and produced a pill pattern, earning praise from Elder Bing Hong and Jiang Donghua.

The alchemy assessment tested hundreds of apprentices, and Ye Han’s exceptional pill earned him first place ahead of Lin Chen. The top ten were invited to choose a cultivation technique or combat skill from Jia Nan Academy’s Scripture Depository the next day.

• Jiang Donghua noticed Ye Han refining a Wind-Walking Pill with remarkable composure and learned from Elder Bing Hong that the Law Enforcement Department had recommended him for his naturally strong Soul Power.
• Elder Bing Hong, Elder Mo Xuan, and Jiang Donghua inspected the apprentices’ pills, praising Lin Chen’s pill with one pattern before discovering that Ye Han had produced one with two patterns.
• Elder Bing Hong announced that 496 of the 887 apprentices had passed and become First-grade Alchemists.
• Elder Bing Hong named Ye Han first and Lin Chen second, then announced that the top ten could choose a Mysterious-grade Low-tier cultivation technique or Combat Skill from the Scripture Depository.
• Elder Bing Hong ordered the top ten to gather at the Scripture Depository at the hour of the Dragon the next day.

Tie Xing broke through to the Dou Zong realm amid a dangerous surge of Dark Attribute Battle Qi and illusions of enemies he had killed. After the Inner Academy's great elder Ye Tianxing examined him, he confirmed Tie Xing’s inner demons were dispelled and his Battle Qi was stable.

• A powerful aura erupted from Law Enforcement Peak, and Mo Xuan recognized that Tie Xing was advancing beyond Peak Dou Huang toward Dou Zong.
• During his breakthrough, Tie Xing faced illusions of Xue Sha and other slain Dou Huang powerhouses, but he rejected their attempts to shake his resolve.
• Mo Xuan, Bing Hong, and Huang Dashan arrived at Law Enforcement Peak and worried that Tie Xing’s inner demons might overwhelm him, but they stayed outside rather than disrupt his breakthrough.
• Tie Xing completed his breakthrough, and Lei Tian arrived, voicing concern about the strange dark aura and summoning Ye Tianxing with a Soul Jade Token.
• Ye Tianxing examined Tie Xing with Soul Power and confirmed that his inner demons had been dispelled and his Battle Qi was stable.

Ye Tianxing tried to persuade Tie Xing to become great elder of the Inner Academy, but Tie Xing refused because of the burdensome duties and dangerous disputes involved. After Ye Tianxing left, Lei Tian resolved to visit the Heavenly Incineration Qi Tower, while Dong Hua told curious students that someone had broken through to Dou Zong.

• Ye Tianxing offered Tie Xing the Inner Academy great elder position and promised access to its resources.
• Tie Xing refused, pointing out the risks of reinforcing the Heavenly Flame seal and managing powerful Central Plains families.
• Ye Tianxing teased Lei Tian about remaining at Peak Dou Huang, then departed from Law Enforcement Peak.
• Lei Tian concealed his frustration and decided to visit the Heavenly Incineration Qi Tower.
• Dong Hua told Alchemy Department students that the aura they had felt came from someone breaking through to Dou Zong.

Jiang Donghua reunited with Hong Ling and discovered that she had advanced to Nine-Star Battle Spirit while he had reached Dou Ling. They sparred at Jia Nan Academy’s arena, and Hong Ling ended the match after their clash of lightning and fire.

• Hong Ling surprised Jiang Donghua after he left the secret room and showed off her Nine-Star Battle Spirit cultivation, crediting his Fire Spirit Pills for her rapid progress.
• Hong Ling noticed Jiang Donghua had reached Dou Ling and challenged him to a spar at Jia Nan Academy’s arena.
• Hong Ling attacked with lightning techniques while Jiang Donghua dodged and countered with fire skills, using the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering Technique to absorb her lightning.
• Hong Ling unleashed Thunderstorm Charge, and Jiang Donghua met it with the Heavenly Gang Overlord Fist, leaving both fighters panting at opposite edges of the platform.
• Hong Ling called off the spar and left, telling Jiang Donghua she would come play with him again.

After sparring with Hong Ling, Jiang Donghua visited the Yellow-tier class area to look for his old friends Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting, only to learn they were away on a mission. He returned to the Alchemy Department and entered his secret room to continue his work.

• Hong Ling reflected on Jiang Donghua's growing abilities and considered taking him to Soul Severing Abyss, but decided the place was too dangerous for now.
• Jiang Donghua went to the Yellow-tier class cultivation area to visit Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting, but learned they had left on an academy mission three days earlier.
• Students crowded around Jiang Donghua seeking advice and favors, and he urged them to focus on actual combat at the Trial Tower before leaving.
• The Yellow-tier students discussed their connection to Jiang Donghua and began planning how to curry favor with the Liu siblings when they returned.
• Jiang Donghua returned to the Alchemy Department and entered his personal secret room.

Liu Yuting began breaking through to Dou Zhe while she and Liu Mingyu faced a Wood-swallowing Fox in the forest. Liu Yuting completed her breakthrough and helped Liu Mingyu kill the beast, but he was left badly wounded.

• Liu Yuting told Liu Mingyu that her Dou Qi was surging and she was about to break through, so he ordered her to focus while he guarded her.
• The Wood-swallowing Fox ambushed Liu Mingyu, wounding his shoulder and striking his back as he tried to protect Liu Yuting.
• Liu Mingyu used Earth Collapse to flush out the fox, but it evaded the attack while he continued to lose blood.
• Liu Yuting completed her breakthrough and shot the branch beneath the fox, knocking it down as Liu Mingyu trapped it with Rock Prison.
• Liu Yuting killed the trapped Wood-swallowing Fox with an arrow through its throat, then bandaged Liu Mingyu's wounds as he praised her breakthrough.

Liu Yuting and Liu Mingyu were attacked by a venomous Poison Spider, and Liu Mingyu was badly poisoned during their escape. After bringing him to Jia Nan Academy, Liu Yuting learned that Jiang Donghua had come looking for her.

• Liu Yuting and Liu Mingyu skinned a Wood-swallowing Fox, unaware that a Poison Spider was waiting above them.
• The Poison Spider attacked, poisoning Liu Mingyu with its silk and forcing Liu Yuting to freeze it with an Ice Arrow.
• Liu Yuting distracted the pursuing spider with the fox pelt and escaped with Liu Mingyu to a concealed crevice.
• Liu Yuting gave Liu Mingyu Detoxification Pills, then carried him to Jia Nan Academy when the medicine only briefly eased his symptoms.
• Students offered Liu Mingyu various medicines, and a round-faced girl told Liu Yuting that Senior Brother Jiang had come looking for her.

Liu Yuting brought her poisoned brother Liu Mingyu to Jiang Donghua, who saved him and reassured the siblings that their friendship had not changed. Jiang gave them powerful new weapons and armor and planned to take them somewhere to test their skills in a few days.

• Liu Yuting carried Liu Mingyu to the Alchemy Department as poison spread through his body, and Jiang Donghua hurried to meet them.
• Jiang Donghua suppressed the poison and brought Liu Mingyu into the inner hall, where he activated the medicinal power in Liu Mingyu's body and made him cough up black blood.
• Liu Mingyu worried that he and Liu Yuting could no longer presume on Jiang Donghua's favor because of his status, but Jiang reminded him of their past loyalty and gave him a pill.
• Jiang Donghua presented Liu Yuting and Liu Mingyu with four valuable pieces of equipment, and they accepted the weapons and armor.
• Jiang Donghua told the siblings to familiarize themselves with their new equipment and said he would take them to test their skills in a few days.

Jiang Donghua gave Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting weapons and arranged healing pills for their recovery, while the siblings grew closer to him again. The chapter ended with Liu Yuting flustered after Jiang Donghua overheard Liu Mingyu tease her about marrying him.

• Liu Yuting scolded Liu Mingyu for doubting Jiang Donghua, and Liu Mingyu admitted he had changed and resolved to stop holding himself back.
• Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting admired their new weapons and said they wanted to be ready for the place Jiang Donghua planned to take them.
• Jiang Donghua realized he had no first-grade healing pills and asked the alchemy hall students for one, accepting a bottle from a student.
• Liu Mingyu teased Liu Yuting about possibly becoming Jiang Donghua's relative by marriage, and she blushed while denying she had such thoughts.
• Jiang Donghua returned with healing pills, having overheard their conversation, and gave the bottle to Liu Yuting with instructions for her recovery.

Jiang Donghua took Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting into Black Abyss Valley to train them against dangerous Demonic Beasts. After revealing a pack of Blood Mane Wolves, he made Liu Mingyu face them while Liu Yuting struck the first wolf.

• Jiang Donghua told the recovered Liu siblings that he would take them to Black Abyss Valley, and they agreed to go despite the danger.
• The three entered the valley, where powerful Demonic Beasts and eroding black miasma made the terrain perilous.
• Liu Mingyu grew alarmed at a distant roar, but Jiang Donghua challenged him to face the threats instead of retreating.
• Jiang Donghua swept away the mist and revealed three peak Tier 2 Blood Mane Wolves, then asked Liu Mingyu to fight them.
• The wolves encircled the group, and Liu Yuting froze one across the nose with her Mysterious Ice Spirit Blade while teasing her brother and asking Jiang Donghua to rescue him if needed.

In Black Abyss Valley, Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting struggled against three peak Tier 2 Blood Mane Wolves until Jiang Donghua killed them instantly without moving. The siblings were left stunned by his immense strength and wondered who he really was.

• Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting fought the three Blood Mane Wolves but were gradually wounded and forced onto the defensive.
• Liu Yuting froze the ground to slow the wolves while Liu Mingyu struck with Mountain Collapse, but the attack failed to stop them.
• As the wolves closed in on the exhausted siblings, Jiang Donghua unleashed an unseen force that crushed all three in midair.
• Liu Yuting asked whether Jiang Donghua had acted, and he calmly confirmed it.
• Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting realized Jiang Donghua might be a Da Dou Shi and wondered about his true identity.

After Liu Mingyu broke through to the Five-star Dou Master realm, Jiang Donghua discovered that Liu Yuting possessed the rare Cold Marrow Spirit Body. Liu Yuting chose to cultivate its ice power despite the risks, and Jiang Donghua reassured her that the backlash would not become a concern until around the Dou Ling realm.

• Jiang Donghua told Liu Mingyu to guide his remaining Battle Qi into his dantian while Liu Yuting stood guard and listened to his advice about fighting decisively.
• Liu Mingyu broke through to the Five-star Dou Master realm, advancing two stars at once.
• Jiang Donghua examined Liu Yuting and identified her ice-attribute Battle Qi as a sign of the Cold Marrow Spirit Body awakened from birth.
• Jiang Donghua warned that uncontrolled ice power could freeze Liu Yuting's meridians or destroy her life force, and offered her the choice between an ice cultivation technique and suppressing the cold.
• Liu Yuting chose to develop her ice attribute, and Jiang Donghua said the backlash would not become a concern until around the Dou Ling realm.

Jiang Donghua told Liu Yuting that her constitution could let her reach the Dou Huang realm, and she chose to pursue the demanding path. As the three continued through Black Abyss Valley, Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting defeated a Black Scale Violent Bear under Jiang Donghua’s watch.

• Jiang Donghua explained that Liu Yuting could reach at least the Dou Huang realm if her constitution fully awakened, and she chose to develop her talent.
• Jiang Donghua led Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting deeper into Black Abyss Valley, where a Black Scale Violent Bear charged at them.
• Jiang Donghua refused to interfere, so Liu Mingyu drew the bear’s attacks while Liu Yuting slowed it with her Ice Attribute Battle Qi.
• Liu Mingyu cracked the bear’s scales with Rockfall Fist, and Liu Yuting struck the opening with Mysterious Ice Slash.
• Liu Mingyu finished the frozen bear with a heavy blow, and Jiang Donghua criticized their thirty-seven-move victory while acknowledging it as a pass.

Jiang Donghua protected Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting as they ventured deeper into Black Abyss Valley, effortlessly defeating powerful Demonic Beasts with his azure Beast Fire. He revealed that the flame came from a Sixth-order Mysterious Flame Cold Flood Dragon, then explained he had brought the siblings both to train and to help him with a dangerous task ahead.

• A Thunderwing Demonic Eagle attacked Liu Mingyu, Liu Yuting, and Jiang Donghua, and Jiang Donghua killed it instantly with azure flame.
• As the group continued through Black Abyss Valley, Jiang Donghua quickly defeated stronger Demonic Beasts while the siblings gathered their materials.
• Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting asked about Jiang Donghua's flame, and he identified it as Cold Flame Flood Dragon Fire from a Sixth-order Mysterious Flame Cold Flood Dragon.
• Jiang Donghua said he had brought the siblings to gain experience and to help him, warned that the way ahead was dangerous, and offered them the collected materials.
• Liu Mingyu accepted Jiang Donghua's offer and began choosing materials from the pile.

Jiang Donghua gave Liu Yuting a Mysterious-grade ice cultivation technique and sent the siblings out of Black Abyss Valley, where Outer Court students learned of his presence and began speculating about his plans. As rumors spread and Shi Zhen challenged his combat ability, Jiang continued deeper into the valley to test his fire-control Secret Method.

• Jiang Donghua gave Liu Yuting the Frost Heart Art, promised to help the siblings in the Outer Court, and vanished into Black Abyss Valley.
• Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting found a beast bone scorched by residual Fire-attribute Battle Qi, then encountered Senior Brother Zhao's team, who let them go after learning they were connected to Jiang Donghua.
• Senior Brother Zhao reported Jiang Donghua's presence and the siblings' Mysterious-grade technique to a group in a pavilion, prompting speculation that Jiang was seeking the Treasure Pavilion's prize.
• News of Jiang Donghua's appearance and possible tournament plans spread through the Outer Court, and Shi Zhen vowed to defeat him if they met in the arena.
• Jiang Donghua reflected on Liu Yuting's Cold Marrow Spirit Body and his senior sister Hong Ling before heading deeper into Black Abyss Valley to test his fire-control Secret Method.

Jiang Donghua tested his newly mastered fire-control Secret Method against a Shadow Demonic Mink in Black Abyss Valley. After the mink escaped his Fire Prison, he tracked it with his Soul Force and confronted it again, where it prepared a desperate final stand.

• Jiang Donghua pursued a Dou Ling Peak Shadow Demonic Mink to test the Cold Flame Flood Dragon Fire.
• The Shadow Demonic Mink attacked with its shadow techniques, while Jiang Donghua countered with Raging Flood Dragon Flame and Fire Prison.
• The mink escaped the Fire Prison by turning into black mist, leaving Jiang Donghua surprised.
• Jiang Donghua used his Fourth-grade Alchemist Soul Force to locate the fleeing mink and cut off its escape.
• The Shadow Demonic Mink reformed and prepared to fight desperately as Jiang Donghua gathered his flames.

Jiang Donghua escaped a Dou Wang-level Earth Dragon in Black Abyss Valley after testing his new Flood Dragon Piercing Demon Spear and Lightning Shadow Step. He returned safely to Jia Nan Academy as other students believed he might have died, planning to spend the months before the Outer Court Grand Competition in the Alchemy Room.

• The Shadow Demonic Mink escaped when an Earth Dragon emerged and attacked Jiang Donghua.
• Jiang Donghua tested his Flood Dragon Piercing Demon Spear against the Earth Dragon's breath, then fled with Lightning Shadow Step.
• Jiang Donghua reached safety and decided to be more careful about using beast flames in Black Abyss Valley.
• Outer Court experts searching for Jiang Donghua fled when the Earth Dragon's aura shook the valley and later speculated that he had died.
• Jiang Donghua returned to the Outer Court and planned to idle in the Alchemy Room until the Outer Court Grand Competition.

Jiang Donghua was interrupted in cultivation by Xiao Han, who revealed that the Earth Core Fire Jade Marrow had helped him reach the Dou Wang realm and gave Jiang a powerful jade slip before preparing to leave for the Central Plains. After Xiao Han departed, Hong Ling arrived with a warning that she had serious business involving a dangerous place.

• Outer Court students dismissed Jiang Donghua as a coward after he secluded himself in the Alchemy Department's Cultivation Room.
• Xiao Han visited Jiang Donghua and revealed that the Earth Core Fire Jade Marrow had helped him break through to the Dou Wang realm and mutate his Ice Attribute Battle Qi.
• Xiao Han told Jiang Donghua he planned to leave Jia Nan Academy and gave him a jade slip containing his family ancestor's powerful soul imprint as protection.
• Students in the Alchemy Department reacted with shock to Xiao Han's visit, while a sinister young man and his companion remained confident that the Outer Court Grand Competition would test Jiang Donghua on his own.
• Jiang Donghua sensed that the jade slip held at least Dou Zong-level Soul Force and carefully stored it away.
• Hong Ling rushed into Jiang Donghua's arms and said she had serious business to discuss, though the place they were going was dangerous.

Jiang Donghua and Hong Ling traveled into the Black Mist Mountain Range to investigate a mysterious red light, but Jiang Donghua followed a bloody medicinal scent to a Blood Spirit Demonic Flower. They discovered the flower beside several skeletons, and its blood-feeding nature left their find unexplained and potentially dangerous.

• Hong Ling told Jiang Donghua about a red light in the Black Mist Mountain Range and invited him to investigate with her.
• Jiang Donghua and Hong Ling set out that night and entered the fog-shrouded mountain range.
• Jiang Donghua detected a strange medicinal and bloody scent that Hong Ling could not smell.
• After spotting a flash of red light in the fog, Jiang Donghua led Hong Ling away from it and toward the stronger scent.
• Jiang Donghua and Hong Ling found a Blood Spirit Demonic Flower growing near several skeletons, and Jiang Donghua said it fed on blood essence.