Chapter Summaries

Xia Wuji killed Liao Yong, Li Gang, and their Raging Ape, then learned that Qin Zhiyin was trapped in the underground palace as the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu’s host. He rushed inside to rescue her and confronted the awakened Gu at the altar.

• Xia Wuji used the Nightmare Marsh formations to overwhelm Liao Yong, Li Gang, and the third-grade supreme Raging Ape, then killed the two men while Pengfei took the beast’s Demonic Core.
• Feng Yi told Xia Wuji that Qin Zhiyin remained alive in the underground palace but had become the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu’s Gu nest.
• Xia Wuji gave Feng Yi a Miasma Dispelling Pill, learned the underground palace entrance’s location, and went there with Pengfei while Feng Yi stayed behind.
• Xia Wuji navigated the underground palace’s deceptive passages and found Qin Zhiyin on an altar as the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu prepared to devour her.
• The awakened Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu turned toward Xia Wuji and attacked him with a shrill, sound-wave-laden laugh.

Xia Wuji rescued Qin Zhiyin from the underground palace with help from a young True Dragon Hall envoy, then returned to obtain the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu’s Gu Dan to preserve her life. He found the envoy trapped by the Gu’s soul threads and on the verge of having his soul consumed.

• A young second-layer Yin Yang Realm envoy from True Dragon Hall arrived and fought the awakened Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu while Xia Wuji rushed to Qin Zhiyin.
• Xia Wuji carried Qin Zhiyin out, gave her three super Miasma Dispelling Pills, and entrusted her to Pengfei before returning to the underground palace.
• The envoy struggled against the enraged Gu, which overwhelmed his defenses and bound him with soul threads.
• Xia Wuji returned to find the soul threads piercing the envoy’s head and draining his soul, and prepared to act.

Xia Wuji used the Soul Burning Contract and reversed the altar array to weaken the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu, then helped Li Yaozu kill it and took its Gu Dan to prolong Qin Zhiyin’s life. Xia Wuji gave Li Yaozu the Gu’s remains for his mission, and the two prepared to leave the collapsing underground palace.

• Xia Wuji triggered the Soul Burning Contract imprints inside the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu, allowing Li Yaozu to break free and wound it with his spear.
• Xia Wuji insisted they fight the awakened Gu, then used sigils to reverse the altar array and disrupt the miasma sustaining it.
• Li Yaozu intercepted the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu as it fled, and Xia Wuji’s flying sword pierced its head and killed it.
• Xia Wuji dug out the Gu Dan for Qin Zhiyin, then let Li Yaozu take the remains to complete his mission.
• Li Yaozu introduced himself and asked about Xia Wuji’s abilities, but Xia Wuji said they could talk after escaping the collapsing underground palace.

Xia Wuji returned from the underground palace with Qin Zhiyin and learned that the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu had been raised by the Gu Fiend Evil Lord, one of the Azure Prefecture Twelve Fiends. After he brought Qin Zhiyin and the Azure Star Academy group out of Nightmare Marsh, he prepared to use his methods to extend her life.

• Xia Wuji stabilized Qin Zhiyin with his pills, and Li Yaozu explained that her condition was beyond the healing abilities of the Azure Prefecture True Dragon Hall.
• Xia Wuji told Li Yaozu how he had altered the formation and used soul-origin energy to defeat the Soul Devouring Heavenly Gu.
• Li Yaozu revealed that the Gu Fiend Evil Lord had raised the Gu, gave Xia Wuji a True Dragon Jade, and left to report back to True Dragon Hall.
• Xia Wuji returned to the Azure Star Academy station with Qin Zhiyin, where Feng Yi and the others gathered around them.
• Xia Wuji warned Feng Yi that Nightmare Marsh would soon disappear and urged an immediate withdrawal, so Feng Yi led the academy group out.
• Xia Wuji had Feng Yi prepare a carriage and got ready to use his methods to extend Qin Zhiyin's life.

Xia Wuji stabilized Qin Zhiyin’s condition and began arranging the resources needed to save her, while Azure Star Academy celebrated its new alliance with the Sun Moon Sect. The chapter ended with Li Lang demanding the rare Life Source Spirit Grass from Xia Wuji on Yue Xuan’s behalf.

• Xia Wuji used the Taiyi Golden Needle Technique to draw miasma from Qin Zhiyin and asked Feng Yi to send a secret letter to Pagoda Master Ouyang Zhennan for treatment supplies.
• Xia Wuji burned the young Gu inside Feng Yi with Heavenly Fire, and the group returned safely to Azure Star Academy.
• Zhuge Chuan promised full support for Qin Zhiyin’s treatment and announced that Lin Piaoxue had become a Sun Moon Sect Holy Maiden after her Ice Spirit Body evolved into a Heavenly Yin Spirit Body.
• Zhuge Chuan brought Xia Wuji to the treasure vault, where Xia Wuji selected Spirit Medicines and found a fifth-grade mid-tier Life Source Spirit Grass that could aid Qin Zhiyin’s recovery.
• Li Lang arrived on Yue Xuan’s behalf and demanded that Xia Wuji hand over the Life Source Spirit Grass, calling it wasted in his hands and claiming Yue Xuan’s favor would be a great honor.

Xia Wuji rejected Li Lang’s demand for the Life Source Spirit Grass, then received Azure Star Academy’s support and cultivated in the Pure Origin Secret Realm. After breaking through to the second layer of the Return to One Realm, he learned that Pill Pagoda Master Ouyang Zhennan had arrived.

• Xia Wuji refused to hand over the Life Source Spirit Grass, and Zhuge Chuan threw Li Lang out of the academy’s treasure vault.
• Zhuge Chuan explained the Sun Moon Sect’s branch altars and reassured Xia Wuji that he would protect him; Xia Wuji returned to his residence and spent time with Wen Shanshan.
• Xia Wuji refined third-grade high-quality Spirit One Pills, received unrestricted access to the Supreme Origin Power Spring Eye and cultivation resources from Tian Shu Peak and Tian Quan Peak, and asked Feng Yi to watch over Qin Zhiyin.
• Feng Kuang told Xia Wuji that the Great Feng Dynasty planned to attack the Great Chu Dynasty, and Xia Wuji said they could do as they pleased with the Great Chu Imperial Family but should avoid unnecessary carnage.
• Xia Wuji cultivated in the Supreme Origin Power Spring Eye and broke through to the second layer of the Return to One Realm; Feng Yi then informed him that Ouyang Zhennan had arrived.

Xia Wuji received most of the Spirit Medicines needed to treat Qin Zhiyin and agreed to enter Qing City's Alchemy Competition to obtain a rare Soul Returning Fruit. After stabilizing Qin Zhiyin’s life origin, he traveled to the Alchemy Pagoda and began fusing a fourth-grade Spirit Fire with his Heavenly Fire.

• Ouyang Zhennan gave Xia Wuji seventy percent of the requested Spirit Medicines and explained that a top-ten finish in Qing City's Alchemy Competition could help him obtain a Soul Returning Fruit.
• Xia Wuji agreed to travel to Qing City in ten days and requested a fourth-grade flame seed from Ouyang Zhennan.
• Xia Wuji used the Taiyi Golden Needle Technique and the collected Spirit Medicines to restore Qin Zhiyin's life origin, giving her vitality that could be sustained for half a year.
• Xia Wuji bid farewell to Wen Shanshan and left Pengfei on Shaking Light Peak before going to the Alchemy Pagoda.
• Ouyang Zhennan gave Xia Wuji a fourth-grade mid-tier Spirit Fire, and Xia Wuji began fusing it with his Heavenly Fire using the Sky Burning Art.

Xia Wuji finished refining a spiritual fire and traveled with Ouyang Zhennan’s group to Azure City for the Alchemy Competition. During the journey, he strengthened his Sword Seed, formed Sword Intent, and reforged the Jinghong Sword before the group entered the city on foot.

• Xia Wuji fused a third-grade mid-tier spiritual fire into his Heavenly Fire, raising it to third-grade high-tier, and agreed to leave for Azure City the next day.
• Ouyang Zhennan gave Xia Wuji the Alchemy Competition rules and explained that this year’s contest would use an unknown new format.
• Mu Lan guided Xia Wuji to his cabin aboard the Alchemy Tower’s flying ship, where he began using the Ice Spirit Sword to strengthen his Sword Seed.
• After seven days, Xia Wuji shattered the Ice Spirit Sword and formed Sword Intent, alarming those aboard; Ouyang Zhennan recognized his power and urged Mu Lan to seek his favor.
• Xia Wuji absorbed more spiritual swords, controlled his Sword Intent, and used his Heavenly Fire to upgrade the Jinghong Sword to third-grade high-tier during the journey.
• The flying ship reached Azure City, and Ouyang Zhennan led Xia Wuji, Mu Lan, and other Alchemy Tower members toward the city gates.

Ouyang Zhennan brought Xia Wuji and Mu Lan to Qingcheng for the Alchemy Competition, where Xia Wuji discovered his registration still identified him as a First-grade Alchemist. After learning that placing in the top ten could help him obtain a Soul Returning Fruit, Xia Wuji went with Mu Lan to the True Treasure Pavilion, where he encountered Zhang Yixing and Li Lang.

• Ouyang Zhennan and Zhang Heng reunited at the Qingcheng Pill Pagoda, and Mu Lan introduced Zhang Heng and his grandson Zhang Yixing to Xia Wuji.
• Xia Wuji and Mu Lan registered for the Alchemy Competition, where Xia Wuji's token revealed he was recorded as a First-grade Alchemist and Zhang Yixing showed his Third-grade Mid-tier badge.
• Ouyang Zhennan learned that the Qingcheng Pill Pagoda had a Soul Returning Fruit and that the True Treasure Pavilion stocked other Spirit Medicines Xia Wuji needed.
• Xia Wuji and Mu Lan went to the True Treasure Pavilion, but the asset-verification attendant told them the upper floors were full for the day.
• Zhang Yixing spotted Mu Lan at the pavilion after she had declined his invitation, while Li Lang stared at Xia Wuji.

At a Pill Pagoda gathering, Xia Wuji defended Mu Lan from Yang Ruoxuan and Zhang Yixing’s insults, then severely wounded Li Lang when he attacked. A True Treasure Pavilion official separated the groups and planned to punish Xia Wuji while letting Mu Lan go, leaving Xia and Mu Lan guarded in a dim room.

• Zhang Yixing and Yang Ruoxuan mocked Xia Wuji’s low alchemist rank and pressured Mu Lan to join their gathering without him.
• Xia Wuji insulted Yang Ruoxuan, refused to kneel, and cut off Li Lang’s hand before slashing open his chest.
• Yang Ruoxuan prepared to attack Xia Wuji, but Senior Liu stopped the fight and took the group away.
• Yang Ruoxuan bribed Senior Liu with a pill and asked him to punish Xia Wuji harshly while releasing Mu Lan after a lecture.
• Senior Liu left Xia Wuji and Mu Lan under guard in a cramped room and told Yang Ruoxuan’s group he would cripple Xia Wuji and sever his sword arm.

Xia Wuji used Li Yaozu’s Blood Dragon Jade to make Senior Liu turn against Yang Ruoxuan and the Alchemy Pagoda geniuses, then bought Spirit Medicine at the True Treasure Pavilion. Meanwhile, Li Lang told Yue Xuan that Xia Wuji had arrived in Azure City, and Yue Xuan decided to go after him.

• Senior Liu recognized Li Yaozu’s Blood Dragon Jade and apologized to Xia Wuji, then went to punish Yang Ruoxuan and the Alchemy Pagoda geniuses.
• Senior Liu beat Yang Ruoxuan, Zhang Yixing, and the others, then had them thrown out of the True Treasure Pavilion and barred from returning.
• Senior Liu led Xia Wuji and Mu Lan to the third floor, where Xia Wuji bought the Spirit Medicine he needed and asked him to procure more Mystical Spirit Flowers.
• Senior Liu invited Xia Wuji and Mu Lan to dine while he went to find more Mystical Spirit Flowers and verify the Blood Dragon Jade with Li Yaozu.
• Li Lang reported his clash with Xia Wuji to Yue Xuan, who resolved to confront Xia Wuji over refusing to give him Life Source Spirit Grass.

Xia Wuji returned Li Yaozu’s Blood Dragon Jade to Xu Yan and learned that Li was in secluded cultivation with a chance to become the young hall master of the Qingzhou True Dragon Hall. The chapter ended as Yue Xuan attacked Xia Wuji and Xu Yan, while Wang Wei recognized Xu Yan and tried to stop him.

• Xu Yan offered Xia Wuji spirit medicine and asked him to return Li Yaozu’s Blood Dragon Jade, which Xia handed over.
• Xu Yan told Xia Wuji and Mu Lan that Li Yaozu’s mission reward had led him into secluded cultivation and might make him the young hall master.
• Wang Wei and Yue Xuan entered the True Treasure Pavilion looking for Xia Wuji, and Wang Wei threatened the pavilion manager for helping him.
• Wang Wei kicked open Xia Wuji’s private-room door, recognized Xu Yan, and turned pale with fear.
• Yue Xuan demanded to know which man was Xia Wuji, then attacked Xia and Xu Yan with his ninth-level Cave Heaven Realm power.

Xia Wuji and Mu Lan left the True Treasure Pavilion after Xu Yan punished Yue Xuan for causing trouble and warned Xia Wuji that Yue Xuan’s powerful father could still pose a threat. Back at the Pill Pagoda, Xia Wuji gave Ouyang Zhennan a Great Restoration Pill formula that could replace the Pagoda’s best-selling pill at lower cost, and Ouyang hurried off to present it to his superiors.

• Xu Yan beat Yue Xuan and forced Wang Wei to return home and face confinement for three months.
• Xu Yan had Yue Xuan arrested after Xia Wuji refused to intercede, then warned Xia Wuji to watch out for Yue Xuan’s father.
• Xia Wuji and Mu Lan returned to the Pill Pagoda, where Mu Lan told Ouyang Zhennan what had happened.
• Xia Wuji gave Ouyang Zhennan the Great Restoration Pill formula and asked him not to reveal his name.
• Ouyang Zhennan realized the pill could replace the Spirit Augmenting Treasure Pill at thirty percent lower cost and left to present the formula to the Pagoda’s higher-ups.

Xia Wuji and Mu Lan stayed out of trouble after Ouyang Zhennan secured promises from the Sixth Elder, and Xia Wuji advanced to the third level of the Return to One Realm. Ouyang Zhennan brought them to the sixth-level Alchemy Pagoda’s Fire Spring, where they faced Zhang Heng and Zhang Yixing before the spring opened.

• Ouyang Zhennan told Xia Wuji and Mu Lan that the First Elder had accepted the Great Restoration Pill formula and made the Sixth Elder promise to restrain Yang Ruoxuan and the others.
• Xia Wuji broke through to the third level of the Return to One Realm, and his Heavenly Fire reacted to energy from the Fire Spring.
• Ouyang Zhennan explained the Fire Spring and spent two thousand Contribution Points on tokens so Xia Wuji and Mu Lan could cultivate beside it.
• Zhang Heng mocked Ouyang Zhennan, exchanged three Fire Spring Tokens, and gave all of them to Zhang Yixing, who offered Mu Lan a token if she admitted fault.
• Ouyang Zhennan led Xia Wuji and Mu Lan away from Zhang Heng and Zhang Yixing, and the three arrived at the Fire Spring as other young alchemists awaited its opening.

Xia Wuji accepted a Flame Duel against a Third-grade Low-tier Alchemist and wagered two Fire Spring Tokens. After defeating him with his Heavenly Fire, Xia Wuji challenged the other young alchemists to face him next.

• A Third-grade Low-tier Alchemist challenged Xia Wuji and Mu Lan to a Flame Duel, wagering Fire Spring Tokens.
• Xia Wuji chose to duel the man alone and raised the wager to two tokens, while Mu Lan handed over hers.
• The alchemist summoned his Third-grade Low-tier spirit flame and mocked Xia Wuji's apparently weak flame.
• Xia Wuji's Heavenly Fire overwhelmed the opponent's flame, leaving the man pale and collapsed.
• Xia Wuji collected himself and asked the gathered alchemists who would challenge him next.

Xia Wuji won a second Flame Duel and collected more Fire Spring Tokens, then challenged Zhang Yixing to raise the stakes to six tokens. Zhang Yixing accepted and borrowed tokens from fellow alchemists, while Xia Wuji watched with a knowing smile.

• Xia Wuji defeated another Third-grade Low-rank Alchemist in a Flame Duel and won two Fire Spring Tokens.
• Xia Wuji gave Mu Lan three Fire Spring Tokens to repay the one she had lent him.
• Zhang Yixing challenged Xia Wuji, offering to wager his three Fire Spring Tokens against Xia Wuji’s.
• Xia Wuji demanded a six-token wager and called Zhang Yixing a pauper when he could not provide enough.
• Zhang Yixing borrowed three Fire Spring Tokens from fellow alchemists and accepted the wager, while Xia Wuji smiled as though his bait had been taken.

Xia Wuji defeated Zhang Yixing in a Flame Duel, cutting through his Combat Spirit Fire and frightening him into wetting himself. After claiming the six Fire Spring Tokens, Xia Wuji faced a new challenge from Yang Ruoxuan.

• Zhang Yixing borrowed three Fire Spring Tokens from others and raised the Flame Duel stakes against Xia Wuji.
• Yang Ruoxuan arrived, ordered Zhang Yixing to give Xia Wuji a painful lesson, and watched the duel begin.
• Xia Wuji unleashed Blazing Fire Sword Intent, sliced through Zhang Yixing's flaming lion, and stopped his Flame Sword Qi at Zhang Yixing's brow.
• Zhang Yixing was frightened into wetting himself, and the onlookers realized he had lost his own and borrowed Fire Spring Tokens.
• Zhang Yixing handed Xia Wuji six Fire Spring Tokens, then Yang Ruoxuan challenged Xia Wuji to have more fun.

Xia Wuji accepted Yang Ruoxuan’s twelve-token Flame Duel challenge against Liao Hui and defeated her, winning all twelve Fire Spring Tokens. He collected the tokens and left the onlookers with a mocking thanks.

• Yang Ruoxuan barred himself from directly joining the dispute and arranged for Liao Hui to duel Xia Wuji, supplying the tokens needed to match Xia Wuji’s wager.
• Liao Hui unleashed her Sky Blue Spirit Fire and Mingxin Fire Technique, but Xia Wuji’s Flame Sword Qi cut through her attacks.
• Xia Wuji’s massive Flame Sword Qi struck the ground before Liao Hui and blasted her backward, leaving her badly injured.
• Xia Wuji collected the twelve Fire Spring Tokens from Liao Hui and thanked the crowd for the scraps.

Xia Wuji won a fortune in Fire Spring Tokens by defeating his rivals, then used them to cultivate at the Fire Spring with Mu Lan. After enduring nearly twelve hours, he strengthened his Heavenly Fire from third-grade superior to third-grade supreme.

• Xia Wuji kept twenty-one Fire Spring Tokens after defeating the other alchemists, while Yang Ruoxuan and Zhang Yixing left in disgrace and Zhang Heng took Zhang Yixing to exchange for more tokens.
• The Fire Spring opened for three days, and Xia Wuji paid twelve tokens to cultivate at once despite the middle-aged man's warning that unused time would not be refunded.
• Xia Wuji helped Mu Lan absorb flame energy containing rare inheritance insights, then began strengthening his own Heavenly Fire with the Sky Burning Art.
• Xia Wuji remained at the Fire Spring for seven hours, breaking the previous record, and continued cultivating through the night as spectators gathered to watch.
• After nearly twelve hours, Xia Wuji's Heavenly Fire origin completed its transformation and advanced to the third-grade supreme level.

Xia Wuji strengthened his Heavenly Fire at the Qingcheng Pill Pagoda’s Fire Spring while Mu Lan received the former Pagoda Master’s legacy and gained the Pagoda’s support. After declining an offer to join the Pill Pagoda, Xia Wuji prepared for the Alchemy Competition, which began as young alchemists gathered in Qingcheng.

• Xia Wuji cultivated beside the Fire Spring for twelve shichen, raising his Heavenly Fire to the third-grade supreme-quality level.
• Mu Lan told Ouyang Zhennan that Xia Wuji had helped her obtain the Sun Radiance Fire Refining Art and other parts of the previous Pagoda Master’s legacy.
• Ouyang Zhennan took Mu Lan to meet the First Elder, and the Qingcheng Pill Pagoda arranged for her to study alchemy and receive priority nurturing.
• Xia Wuji used eleven more Fire Spring Tokens, strengthening his Heavenly Fire to quasi-fourth-grade, and declined Ye Yun’s invitation to join the Pill Pagoda.
• Xia Wuji prepared for the Alchemy Competition, where genius alchemists from across Qingzhou gathered to compete.