Chapter Summaries

Jiang Donghua spent his days provoking the Blackwater Mysterious Snake guarding the Qi Nurturing Fruit until it attacked him with poisonous mist and chased him through the forest. He returned the next day with a safer baiting plan and resumed their uneasy routine, leaving while imagining he might tame the snake after reaching the Battle Master realm.

• Jiang Donghua harassed the Blackwater Mysterious Snake for ten days, frightening away its prey and learning that it usually stopped chasing him after a hundred yards.
• The Blackwater Mysterious Snake suddenly spewed poison mist that corroded Jiang Donghua's battle qi and pursued him at high speed, but he escaped to his cave.
• Jiang Donghua returned to Blackwater Pool the next day with spiced beast meat tied to a branch and used it to lure the snake into another chase.
• Jiang Donghua kept a safer distance as the man and snake settled into a routine of thousand-yard chases, and he considered taming it after reaching the Battle Master realm.
• The Blackwater Mysterious Snake watched Jiang Donghua leave, a complicated, almost human emotion passing through its scarlet eyes.

After the Blackwater Mysterious Snake fled with the Qi Nurturing Fruits, Jiang Donghua waited for another magical beast to hunt and finally spotted a lone Ironclad Boar. The chapter leaves him sneaking toward the five-star beast, ready to attack.

• The Blackwater Mysterious Snake uprooted the three Qi Nurturing Fruits, muddied Blackwater Pool, and escaped through an underground river.
• Jiang Donghua found the empty pool, discovered the snake had taken the fruits, and reached Four-star Dou Master.
• Jiang Donghua searched for magical beasts but found none, then idled until he broke through to Five-star Dou Master.
• Jiang Donghua watched an Ironback Grey Wolf pack drink at the pool but avoided attacking because the wolves would retaliate together.
• Jiang Donghua spotted a lone five-star Ironclad Boar drinking at Blackwater Pool and crept closer to attack.

Jiang Donghua hunted demonic beasts around Blackwater Pool, using life-or-death combat to strengthen himself and improve his techniques. After reaching Seven-Star Battle Master and Great Accomplishment in Cloud-Chasing Steps and Blazing Palm, he decided to seek a new hunting ground as the beasts grew scarce and wary.

• Jiang Donghua killed an Ironclad Boar by wearing it down with Blazing Palm and Cloud-Chasing Steps, then collected its rare earth-elemental demonic core.
• Jiang Donghua hunted demonic beasts around Blackwater Pool, killing three Ironback Grey Wolves and driving other beasts to flee or avoid him.
• Jiang Donghua advanced from Five-star Dou Master to Seven-Star Battle Master after more than a month of fighting and reached the threshold of an Eight-Star Battle Master.
• Jiang Donghua brought Cloud-Chasing Steps and Blazing Palm to Great Accomplishment through months of combat.
• Jiang Donghua noticed that few low-tier demonic beasts remained near Blackwater Pool and decided it was time to find another place.

Jiang Donghua found and consumed an Azure Spirit Body Tempering Grass, then defeated the Earth Quake Bear that had attacked him before. After extracting its magic core, he sensed multiple presences approaching from the forest and prepared to fight.

• Jiang Donghua killed a Black Scale Iron Thread Snake guarding an Azure Spirit Body Tempering Grass and collected the herb.
• Jiang Donghua ate the grass, endured its medicinal effects, and felt his physical strength increase.
• The Earth Quake Bear charged Jiang Donghua, and he evaded its Earthquake Tremor and attacks while wounding it with his short blade and Blazing Palm.
• Jiang Donghua killed the Earth Quake Bear by stabbing its throat and extracted its magic core.
• Jiang Donghua heard multiple presences approaching through the forest and tightened his grip on his longsword.

Jiang Donghua defeated several peak Fighter Demonic Beasts, then followed a familiar roar to a pool where the Blackwater Mysterious Snake and an Eight-Star Dou Shi crocodile were fighting over a faintly glowing treasure. He hid nearby, intending to strike after the beasts weakened each other.

• Jiang Donghua used Cloud-Chasing Steps and Blazing Palm to injure the Red-Eyed Giant Ape, cripple the Ironback Grey Wolf, and kill the Shadow Demon Leopard.
• A powerful roar from deep in the forest startled the surviving beasts, and Jiang Donghua pursued its source.
• Jiang Donghua recognized the roar’s source as the Blackwater Mysterious Snake that had escaped him earlier.
• Jiang Donghua found the Blackwater Mysterious Snake facing an Eight-Star Dou Shi crocodile beside a pool with a dim-blue glow beneath its surface.
• Jiang Donghua concealed himself in the tree shadows and waited for the beasts to fight over the treasure.

Jiang Donghua waited for the Swallowing Snake Crocodile to kill the Blackwater Mysterious Snake, then ambushed the wounded crocodile to claim the Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit. After the beast escaped into the pool, he drained the water and killed it, leaving him ready to collect the treasure.

• Jiang Donghua recognized the Swallowing Snake Crocodile and concealed himself while it fought the Blackwater Mysterious Snake over the Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit.
• The Swallowing Snake Crocodile killed the Blackwater Mysterious Snake, and Jiang Donghua ambushed it by stabbing its right eye.
• The wounded Swallowing Snake Crocodile fled into the pool, so Jiang Donghua heated the water and cut off the stream feeding it.
• Jiang Donghua drained the pool and attacked the trapped crocodile, striking its wounds with his sword and Blazing Palm.
• Jiang Donghua killed the Swallowing Snake Crocodile and turned to collect the Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit.

Jiang Donghua collected the Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit and Demonic Cores, then hunted his way from Eight-Star to Nine-Star Battle Master. After exhausting the nearby beasts, he headed toward more dangerous territory and encountered Jia Nan Academy students who were searching for the mysterious hunter.

• Jiang Donghua stored the Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit and recovered Demonic Cores from the Blackwater Mysterious Snake and Swallowing Snake Crocodile.
• Jiang Donghua hunted Demonic Beasts for three days, reached Eight-Star Battle Master, and began clearing the forest to advance further.
• Jiang Donghua killed a Tier 2 Green-scaled Giant Lizard and, eighteen days later, reached Nine-Star Battle Master.
• Jia Nan Academy students discussed how Demonic Beasts had nearly vanished from the southern mountain range and speculated about the Fire-attribute expert responsible.
• Jiang Donghua met three Jia Nan Academy students, asked about powerful Demonic Beasts, warned them to be careful, and vanished before they could identify him.

Jiang Donghua emerged from half a year in seclusion as a powerful Dou Master and discovered that his AFK System could rapidly train him in alchemy. After saving three Jia Nan Academy students from a Golden Shadow Demonic Ape, he hurried back to the academy, concerned that the beast had appeared so close to it.

• Jiang Donghua broke through to One-star Dou Master, tested his strengthened Blazing Palm and Cloud-Chasing Steps, and activated idle cultivation for the Bone-Mending Pill.
• Jiang Donghua found that Bone-Mending Pill cultivation speed rose to 3.0 points per hour, then left the cave with his gathered supplies and realized he needed to return to Jia Nan Academy.
• Jiang Donghua heard a fight nearby and found three Jia Nan Academy students facing an adult Golden Shadow Demonic Ape.
• Jiang Donghua rescued the students by killing the Golden Shadow Demonic Ape with Blazing Palm and let them take its magic core.
• Jiang Donghua headed for Jia Nan Academy, wondering why a powerful magical beast had appeared so close to it.

After half a year of secluded cultivation, Jiang Donghua returned to Jia Nan Academy looking like a wild man and turned in two difficult missions, prompting students to suspect he had reached Dou Shi. He then headed to the Alchemy Department, where the guards mocked him until other students recognized him as Instructor Mo Xuan’s disciple and they let him enter.

• Jiang Donghua returned to Jia Nan Academy in ragged clothes, and female students who had once pursued him failed to recognize him.
• Jiang Donghua handed Lin Yan the Red Scale Python and Ghost Grass mission slips, then submitted ten stalks of Ghost Grass and collected his reward.
• Students in the Mission Hall discussed whether Jiang Donghua had broken through to Dou Shi after he completed the difficult missions.
• Two guards at the Alchemy Department entrance blocked and mocked Jiang Donghua, not recognizing him.
• Alchemy Department students identified Jiang Donghua as Instructor Mo Xuan’s disciple, and the guards apologized and let him inside.

Jiang Donghua returned to the Alchemy Department after half a year in seclusion and humiliated Liu Qingya, defeating him with a single move. As Jiang continued deeper into the department, the students were left stunned by his apparent rise to Dou Shi, while Liu Qingya swore revenge.

• Jiang Donghua entered the Alchemy Department, ignoring the students' whispers about his shabby appearance and return from seclusion.
• Liu Qingya confronted Jiang Donghua and mocked him, revealing his jealousy over Elder Mo Xuan choosing Jiang as a personal disciple.
• Jiang insulted Liu Qingya, who attacked him with the Wind Breaking Fist, but Jiang stopped the blow with a snap and suppressed his Dou Qi.
• Jiang flicked Liu Qingya into a wall, defeating him in one move and prompting the students to suspect Jiang had reached Dou Shi.
• Liu Qingya rejected help from his lackeys, endured the crowd's ridicule, and vowed to repay Jiang's humiliation a hundredfold.

Jiang Donghua reunited with Elder Mo Xuan, who scolded him for neglecting alchemy despite his rapid cultivation. Elder Mo Xuan offered him the Earth Spirit Cauldron if he could refine a Bone-Mending Pill before the day ended, and Jiang Donghua began refining one in front of the watching students.

• Elder Mo Xuan sensed Jiang Donghua had advanced to Four-star Dou Master and went to find him in the Alchemy Department.
• Elder Mo Xuan cleaned Jiang Donghua’s clothes and hair, then rebuked him for focusing on combat instead of alchemy.
• Elder Mo Xuan challenged Jiang Donghua to refine a Bone-Mending Pill before the end of the day, promising him the Earth Spirit Cauldron if he succeeded and daily medicine testing if he failed.
• Jiang Donghua accepted the challenge, borrowed an ordinary cauldron, and began refining the herbs with a deep azure flame.
• Elder Mo Xuan was surprised by Jiang Donghua’s skillful fire control as the refinement began.

Jiang Donghua refined a high-quality Bone-Mending Pill on his first attempt and won the Earth Spirit Cauldron from Mo Xuan. As news of his cultivation and alchemy talent spread through the Outer Court, Liu Qingya grew furious and plotted to expose him.

• Jiang Donghua refined a patterned Bone-Mending Pill before the stunned students, and Mo Xuan handed him the Earth Spirit Cauldron as promised.
• Mo Xuan questioned Jiang Donghua about his alchemy skills, then challenged him to refine a Second-grade Pill within a month for another treasure.
• Jiang Donghua's return and achievements became widely known across the Outer Court, prompting Lei Tian and the elders to discuss nurturing him and keeping him out of trouble.
• Liu Qingya blamed Mo Xuan for secretly tutoring Jiang Donghua and vowed to expose him before everyone.

Liu Qingya rejected his companions’ warnings and plotted to destroy Jiang Donghua and Elder Mo Xuan’s reputations with fabricated rumors. Jiang Donghua prepared to refine a Second-grade Explosive Qi Pill as rumors spread across Jia Nan Academy, leaving Liu Qingya confident that his scheme would ruin them.

• Liu Qingya accused Jiang Donghua of cheating and vowed to expose him, while his companions abandoned him and secretly warned Jiang Donghua.
• Jiang Donghua accepted the warning and promised the turncoats benefits after dealing with Liu Qingya.
• Jiang Donghua studied Elder Mo Xuan’s Explosive Qi Pill recipe and prepared to refine it, carefully reviewing the process and relying on the AFK System to build proficiency.
• Students spread salacious rumors that Jiang Donghua’s success came from a special relationship with Elder Mo Xuan.
• Liu Qingya paid his lackeys to spread claims that Mo Xuan had traded pills for Jiang Donghua and planned to intensify the rumors the next day.

Jiang Donghua answered rumors that he had advanced through Elder Mo Xuan’s “special care” by accepting Liu Qingya’s challenge to refine Bone-Mending Pills, with expulsion from Jia Nan Academy and the Azure Flame Cauldron at stake. As the contest began under Elder Li Changhai’s supervision, Jiang Donghua used the mysterious Earth Spirit Cauldron to refine an entire batch of ingredients at once, leaving the result unresolved.

• Rumors spread through Jia Nan Academy that Jiang Donghua had become a First-grade Alchemist through an improper relationship with Elder Mo Xuan, while Jiang Donghua remained calm and said the truth would wash the lies away.
• Liu Qingya rallied the students to demand a public challenge, and Jiang Donghua emerged from the Alchemy Department and asked who wanted to face him.
• After Liu Qingya insulted Elder Mo Xuan, Jiang Donghua agreed to compete for the Azure Flame Cauldron, while Liu Qingya demanded that Jiang Donghua leave the academy if he lost.
• Elder Li Changhai agreed to judge the contest, set a one-incense-stick limit for refining Bone-Mending Pills, and brought out a Pill-Judging Ruler to assess the results.
• Liu Qingya began refining with the Azure Flame Cauldron, while Jiang Donghua used the Earth Spirit Cauldron to put all the ingredients in at once.
• As both cauldrons shook near the end of the contest, Elder Li Changhai moved closer to watch the still-unfinished refinement.

Jiang Donghua won the pill-refining match after Liu Qingya ruined his own pill, then claimed Liu Qingya’s Azure Flame Cauldron. Afterward, Jiang Donghua ordered Liu Qingya’s former followers to punish the students who had spread rumors about him, leaving them with three days to prove their loyalty.

• Jiang Donghua refined a Double-Patterned Bone-Mending Pill, while Liu Qingya lost control of his cauldron and destroyed his pill.
• Li Changhai declared Jiang Donghua the winner, and Jiang Donghua took the Azure Flame Cauldron from Liu Qingya, who fainted after spitting blood.
• Jiang Donghua warned the crowd that he would settle accounts with the students who had spread rumors about him.
• Jiang Donghua summoned Liu Qingya’s former followers to his Pill Room and told them to give the rumor-mongers an unforgettable memory.
• Jiang Donghua gave the former followers three days to show results, and they left agreeing to act as his blades.

After defeating Liu Qingya, Jiang Donghua cultivated in seclusion, rapidly expanding his alchemy knowledge and refining pills with astonishing ease. He emerged with Double-Patterned Explosive Qi Pills and asked Elder Mo Xuan for more advanced recipes, leaving his teacher stunned.

• Elder Mo Xuan praised Jiang Donghua for defeating Liu Qingya, and Jiang Donghua announced that he would cultivate in seclusion and prove his alchemy talent further.
• Jiang Donghua's victory and Double-Patterned Bone-Mending Pill spread through Jia Nan Academy, while students who had spread rumors about him suffered injuries and cultivation setbacks.
• Jiang Donghua secluded himself to absorb the Alchemy Department's library knowledge and practice refining pills, while visitors were turned away from the department's gates.
• Jiang Donghua refined eight Double-Patterned Bone-Mending Pills in succession, then produced a patterned Explosive Qi Pill on his first attempt and a Double-Patterned one on his second.
• After more than half a month, Jiang Donghua showed Elder Mo Xuan two Double-Patterned Explosive Qi Pills and asked for more recipes, shocking his teacher.

Jiang Donghua proved he had become a Second-grade Alchemist by refining a dual-pattern Explosive Qi Pill in front of Elder Mo Xuan and the Alchemy Department. As the academy marveled at his progress, Liu Qingya remained broken by their duel, while Jiang Donghua looked ahead without pity.

• Elder Mo Xuan demanded that Jiang Donghua demonstrate his Second-grade alchemy, then hurried him to the Alchemy Hall and supplied the ingredients.
• Jiang Donghua refined a dual-pattern Second-grade Explosive Qi Pill in front of the Alchemy Department, stunning the gathered disciples.
• Elder Mo Xuan praised Jiang Donghua as his personal disciple, and Jiang Donghua teased the others by saying he might reach third grade by their next meeting.
• News of Jiang Donghua's achievement spread through Jia Nan Academy, where students discussed his growing mastery and expressed awe rather than jealousy.
• The disciples reported that Liu Qingya had shut himself away, muttering about the Azure Flame Cauldron and appearing mentally shattered after losing the duel.
• Jiang Donghua stood above the academy and reflected on Liu Qingya's fate without pity, recognizing the harshness of the cultivation world.

Jiang Donghua accepted Mo Xuan’s challenge to restore the incomplete Mystic Spirit Pill recipe in exchange for a Mysterious-grade Combat Skill. He went to the Pill Room and slept while his AFK System worked, completing the restoration in twenty hours.

• Mo Xuan questioned how Jiang Donghua had mastered Second-grade pill refining and tested his claim by giving him an incomplete Mystic Spirit Pill recipe.
• Jiang Donghua agreed to restore the recipe within ten days, and Mo Xuan promised him a Mysterious-grade Combat Skill if he succeeded.
• Jiang Donghua entered the Pill Room and set the AFK System to repair the recipe while he slept.
• The AFK System completed the Mystic Spirit Pill recipe, and Jiang Donghua’s idle gains increased.

Jiang Donghua used the AFK System to complete the Mystic Spirit Pill recipe during ten days of seclusion, then proved his work by refining the Third-grade pill before Elder Mo Xuan and the Alchemy Department students. Mo Xuan was stunned by Jiang Donghua’s skill and demanded to know who he really was.

• Jiang Donghua waited in the Pill Room while the AFK System deduced the Mystic Spirit Pill recipe and he cultivated and daydreamed.
• Alchemy Department students gathered outside the Pill Room and speculated about whether Jiang Donghua had completed the recipe.
• Jiang Donghua presented the completed recipe to Elder Mo Xuan, who questioned how he had deduced it so quickly.
• Jiang Donghua offered to prove the recipe by refining a batch, and Mo Xuan agreed to watch.
• Jiang Donghua refined a Mystic Spirit Pill before the gathered students, suppressing the furnace’s surging energy and producing a finished pill.
• Elder Mo Xuan confronted Jiang Donghua and demanded to know who he really was.

Jiang Donghua’s extraordinary alchemy and cultivation drew suspicion from Elder Mo Xuan and Elder Bing Hong, who connected him to a missing Blood Demon Sect disciple. Bing Hong planned to test Jiang Donghua in three days, while he began devising a way to handle Mo Xuan’s suspicions.

• Jiang Donghua celebrated his Third-grade alchemy achievement, and Mo Xuan promised him a Mysterious-grade Combat Skill.
• The Alchemy Department students struggled to believe Jiang Donghua’s rapid progress, and his feat became a taboo topic at Jia Nan Academy.
• Mo Xuan grew suspicious of Jiang Donghua’s sudden rise and went to question Bing Hong.
• Bing Hong revealed that she was investigating Jiang Donghua because his arrival coincided with Blood Fiend Son’s disappearance from the Blood Demon Sect.
• Bing Hong proposed testing Jiang Donghua under the pretext of giving him alchemy guidance in three days, threatening to destroy him if he proved to be a sect traitor.