Recaps

After collecting the Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk, Lin Ming and Zi Yan returned to the Inner Academy, and Lin Ming prepared to use the milk to improve his cultivation and physique. He entered the wooden bucket to cultivate, aiming to break through to Dou Ling and begin the second layer of the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art.

• Lin Ming left the stalactite Underground World and hurried through the cave after hearing the Snow Demon Sky Ape roar and feeling the ground shake.
• Lin Ming found Zi Yan standing over the exhausted Snow Demon Sky Ape, and she flew away with him after warning the ape not to move.
• Lin Ming gave Zi Yan half of the Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk during their flight back to the Inner Academy.
• Lin Ming mixed diluted and pure Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk in a wooden bucket, then refined six medicinal materials to temper its energy.
• Lin Ming entered the prepared bucket and began cultivating, hoping to advance to Dou Ling and strengthen his body.

Lin Ming cultivated in a bath of Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk, absorbing its immense energy as it tempered his bones and body with unbearable heat. He endured the pain and continued circulating the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art, determined not to return to the powerless life he had known before.

• Lin Ming entered the wooden tub and began cultivating to absorb the Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk.
• The milk's energy flooded Lin Ming faster than he could refine it, surging through his body and forcing him to keep his cultivation going to avoid injury.
• The excess energy washed over Lin Ming's bones, turning them pale jade-green as his cultivation rose from Nine-star Dou Grandmaster.
• Once every bone had been tempered, Lin Ming felt searing pain spread through his bones, flesh, organs, and meridians.
• Lin Ming clenched his teeth and continued cultivating, vowing to endure until the tempering was complete.

Lin Ming endured the Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk’s body tempering and broke through to Dou Ling, then used the resulting energy to open a new circulation route for the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art. The energy seemed insufficient to unlock its second layer, but a sudden surge of suction drew in more energy as Lin Ming continued cultivating.

• Lin Ming endured more than two days of burning pain as the Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk cleansed and transformed his body.
• As his consciousness returned, Lin Ming guided the energy gathering in his body into his saturated Dou Crystal and advanced to Dou Ling.
• The Dou Crystal became a nine-spiked, Iron Thorn Ball-like shape, and its heartbeat synchronized with Lin Ming’s heart to release powerful energy through his meridians.
• The energy opened a new circulation route, but it ran out after traversing only about one-third of the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art’s path, leaving Lin Ming fearing the second layer would remain inaccessible.
• A powerful suction force suddenly arose in Lin Ming’s meridians, and he absorbed the remaining Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk energy to help the new route break through.

Lin Ming used Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk and its diluted form to open the second-layer meridians of the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art, which raised his cultivation to One-Star Dou Spirit. His laughter at the breakthrough left the Medicine Gang members unsure whether he was celebrating or had gone mad.

• Lin Ming urgently absorbed the remaining Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk energy to keep the second-layer meridians opening.
• As the energy in the wooden bucket ran low, Lin Ming drank Diluted Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk directly from a jade bottle to replenish the Energy Orbs.
• The final barrier broke, completing the second-layer circulation route of the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art and pushing one spike on Lin Ming's Dou Crystal inward until it disappeared.
• The new circulation raised Lin Ming to One-Star Dou Spirit and left him with a body as strong as a Tier 4 Magical Beast.
• Lin Ming laughed loudly in his room, and the Medicine Gang members variously celebrated his breakthrough or wondered if he had gone mad.

After breaking through to the Dou Ling realm and unsealing the second layer of the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art, Lin Ming returned to the Medicine Gang and learned that its affairs were stable. His advancement strengthened the gang’s standing, and the chapter ended with Lin Ming celebrating with its members and falling asleep drunk.

• Lin Ming completed the second layer of the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art, greatly increasing his Dou Qi reserves and tempering his body to the level of a Tier 4 Magical Beast.
• Lin Ming asked Wang Sheng about the Medicine Gang’s affairs, and Wang Sheng reported that everything was well and that he had advanced to a 4th Grade Alchemist.
• Wang Sheng sensed Lin Ming’s cultivation aura, and Lin Ming confirmed that he had broken through to the Dou Ling realm.
• The Medicine Gang members celebrated Lin Ming’s advancement, which added another Dou Ling to the gang and improved its standing among the Inner Academy’s factions.
• Lin Ming joined the banquet, drank as the members toasted him, then staggered back to his room and fell asleep.

After advancing to Dou Ling, Lin Ming entered the fifth floor of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower to find a suitable cultivation room. He chose a room near the center and planned to pursue a Strong Ranking position after his cultivation session.

• Lin Ming recovered from the previous night's drinking and went to the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower.
• A deacon stopped Lin Ming from entering the fifth floor because he believed Lin Ming had not reached Dou Ling.
• Lin Ming revealed his recent breakthrough and released his Dou Ling aura, convincing the deacon to let him pass.
• Lin Ming entered the fifth floor and sensed its dense energy and potent Fire Poison.
• Lin Ming searched for a room near the tower's center and selected one with cultivation effects close to the best rooms.

Lin Ming chose a Cultivation Room on the fifth floor of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, but Xu Ke of the White Dragon Gang interrupted him and demanded that he leave because his cultivation was too low. Lin Ming challenged Xu Ke’s claim that he had violated academy rules, leaving Xu Ke angry and exposed before the watching students.

• Lin Ming inserted his Fire Crystal Card into the platform and began preparing to cultivate, but someone pounded on the Cultivation Room’s Iron Gate.
• Xu Ke introduced himself as a White Dragon Gang member and invoked the fifth-floor rules to demand that Lin Ming leave.
• Lin Ming recalled the rivalry between the Medicine Gang and White Dragon Gang, which had intensified after Xu Shilin defeated Bai Long and Xu Shilin later graduated.
• Lin Ming angrily told Xu Ke to leave, and Xu Ke called on the watching students, pretending Lin Ming was threatening him.
• Lin Ming pointed out that he had passed the deacon’s inspection, then asked whether Xu Ke considered himself more capable than the academy; Xu Ke flew into a rage.

Lin Ming revealed that he had advanced to Dou Ling and defeated Xu Ke with one punch after Xu Ke challenged him over entering the Fifth Floor of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower. Elder Xiong arrived and asked Lin Ming to explain the confrontation.

• Xu Ke attacked Lin Ming after accusing him of violating the tower’s rules, but Lin Ming dodged his blows and taunted him.
• Lin Ming revealed his Dou Ling cultivation, shocking the people gathered on the Fifth Floor.
• Lin Ming met Xu Ke’s Spirit Wave Palm with Mountain Rushing Fist and knocked him down with a single punch.
• Elder Xiong arrived, rebuked the gathered cultivators, and asked Lin Ming to explain what had happened.

Lin Ming resolved his dispute with Xu Ke, then returned to cultivation in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower while considering the threat posed by the White Dragon Gang. After half a month, his Fire Poison reached saturation, so he left the Cultivation Room to handle Medicine Gang business and refine pills for Zi Yan.

• Xu Ke admitted that he had broken the tower's rules, apologized to Lin Ming, and accepted Elder Xiong's fine of twenty days of Fire Energy.
• Elder Xiong praised Lin Ming's alchemy and recent breakthrough to Dou Ling, then warned that the Fallen Heart Flame's fluctuations were growing stronger.
• Lin Ming returned to his Cultivation Room and worried about the White Dragon Gang's leaders, especially Bai Wei, before resuming cultivation on the Fifth Floor.
• Lin Ming cultivated with the Heart Flame for half a month, rapidly strengthening his Dou Qi through the Second Layer Meridians of the Chaos Spirit Five Elements Technique.
• Lin Ming's Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire reached Fire Poison saturation, so he ended his secluded cultivation and prepared to handle Medicine Gang affairs and refine pills for Zi Yan.

After returning from secluded cultivation, Lin Ming learned that the Medicine Gang was well and accepted the White Dragon Gang’s challenge to fight Lei Qian. The next day, Lin Ming and the Medicine Gang arrived at the Arena as the crowd gathered for the duel.

• Lin Ming returned to the Medicine Gang, confirmed with Wang Sheng that nothing serious had happened, and told him to watch the White Dragon Gang.
• After sleeping, Lin Ming met Zi Yan and agreed to refine medicinal pills for her, but paused when a Medicine Gang member delivered the White Dragon Gang’s challenge letter.
• Lin Ming accepted the challenge to face Lei Qian, a Five Star Dou Spirit ranked thirtieth on the Strong Ranking, despite Wang Sheng’s concern about the gap in their cultivation.
• Lin Ming refined pills for Zi Yan, who ate one of the new flavors and left after he reassured her he could handle Lei Qian.
• Lin Ming led the Medicine Gang to the Arena, where the crowd gathered to watch the duel and Bai Wei arrived with the White Dragon Gang.

Lin Ming faced Lei Qian of the White Dragon Gang in the Arena, while Zi Yan arrived and warned Lei Qian not to threaten him. Lin Ming began the duel and shrugged off Lei Qian’s lightning attack, leaving the fight underway.

• Wang Sheng introduced White Dragon Gang leader Bai Wei and Lei Qian to Lin Ming as both gangs gathered at the Arena.
• Lei Qian challenged Lin Ming, but Zi Yan arrived and intimidated him into backing down from threatening Lin Ming.
• Bai Wei acknowledged Zi Yan’s strength, and Lin Ming asked her not to interfere in the duel between the gangs.
• Lin Ming promised Zi Yan he would punish Lei Qian, then faced him on the martial stage.
• Lei Qian attacked with his spear and lightning, but Lin Ming blocked his strikes and brushed off the lightning as a tickle.

Lin Ming fought Lei Qian in the arena, shrugging off his lightning attacks and overwhelming him with the Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire. Lei Qian unleashed his Welded Thunder Dragon Spear, and its surviving thunder dragon struck Lin Ming as spectators cried out.

• Lei Qian's Spear Radiance Thunderclap failed to hurt Lin Ming, who explained that he was highly resistant to lightning.
• Lin Ming split his Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire into strands and then a net, leaving Lei Qian badly burned.
• Shao Qing and Wang Yan watched as Lei Qian prepared his signature Profound Tier High-grade technique, the Welded Thunder Dragon Spear.
• Lin Ming's Startling Swan Slash clashed with Lei Qian's spear technique, but the thunder dragon destroyed his blade radiance and continued toward him.
• The thunder dragon struck the arena, and the spectators shouted in alarm as they wondered what had happened to Lin Ming.

Lin Ming defeated Lei Qian in the Arena without being harmed, securing a victory for the Medicine Gang and provoking Bai Wei with a challenge. The White Dragon Gang withdrew, and Lin Ming returned to cultivation with a place on the Strong Ranking and his own Cultivation Room.

• Lei Qian's Welded Thunder Dragon Spear engulfed Lin Ming in lightning, but Lin Ming tore through the attack unharmed and rushed in to strike him.
• Lin Ming's punch sent Lei Qian flying and left him unconscious, prompting White Dragon Gang members to carry him away.
• Lin Ming mocked Bai Wei and invited him to fight, but Bai Wei declined and led the White Dragon Gang out of the Arena.
• Lin Ming reassured Zi Yan, and the Medicine Gang left the Arena victorious as onlookers discussed his strength.
• News of Lin Ming's victory spread through the Inner Academy, the White Dragon Gang's harassment of the Medicine Gang quieted, and Lin Ming returned to cultivation and pill refining.
• Lin Ming was ranked thirtieth on the Strong Ranking and received an exclusive Cultivation Room in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower.

After advancing to Dou Ling Two-Star, Lin Ming received a letter from Ya Fei and prepared a gift to protect her when she left for Wutan City. Zi Yan then reported finding what might be Azure Blood Divine Marrow, which excited Lin Ming because it could improve a cultivator’s aptitude.

• Lin Ming emerged from secluded cultivation after advancing to Dou Ling Two-Star and learned that Tang Xi had delivered a letter from his family.
• Lin Ming read Ya Fei’s letter, learned she would go to the Wutan City branch after the year-end, and chose diluted Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk for Yin Lin as a gift.
• Lin Ming considered another coming-of-age gift for Ya Fei, then met Zi Yan for breakfast and asked about her injuries.
• Zi Yan said a huge black bear had scratched her and told Lin Ming she suspected she had found Azure Blood Divine Marrow.
• Lin Ming became excited because Azure Blood Divine Marrow could improve a cultivator’s aptitude.

Lin Ming and Zi Yan went to find the Azure Blood Divine Marrow and discovered that it was guarded by a powerful Iron Blood Violent Bear King. Lin Ming judged they could not defeat it and withdrew, leaving the treasure still in the cave.

• Lin Ming hurried Zi Yan to the place where she had sensed the Azure Blood Divine Marrow.
• Zi Yan lured the Iron Blood Violent Bear King out of its cave, and Lin Ming recognized it as a peak Tier 5 Magical Beast with strength comparable to a Low Tier 6 beast.
• Lin Ming realized the bear’s ancient bloodline had been stimulated and that it might soon advance, making the treasure even harder to obtain.
• Lin Ming called Zi Yan back, and the two flew away without fighting the Iron Blood Violent Bear King.
• The Iron Blood Violent Bear King watched them leave in confusion and roared to vent its frustration.

Lin Ming and Zi Yan recruited the Snow Demon Sky Ape to help them seize the Azure Blood Divine Marrow guarded by the Iron Blood Violent Bear King. After agreeing to divide the treasure equally, the three set out together.

• Lin Ming told Zi Yan they needed reinforcements to take the Azure Blood Divine Marrow from the powerful Iron Blood Violent Bear King.
• Lin Ming and Zi Yan went to the Snow Demon Sky Ape's valley, where Zi Yan knocked it down after it attacked Lin Ming over the stolen Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk.
• Lin Ming offered the Snow Demon Sky Ape a chance to obtain the Azure Blood Divine Marrow by joining them against the Iron Blood Violent Bear King.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape agreed after revealing that the Iron Blood Violent Bear King had once hunted and badly injured it.
• Lin Ming proposed that the three of them split the Azure Blood Divine Marrow equally, and the Snow Demon Sky Ape accepted and set out with them.

Lin Ming, Zi Yan, and the Snow Demon Sky Ape ambushed the Iron Blood Violent Bear King to demand the Azure Blood Divine Marrow. Zi Yan wounded the bear king, but he refused to surrender the marrow and charged at them.

• Lin Ming called a halt so the group could rest before confronting the Iron Blood Violent Bear King the next day.
• Lin Ming gave the Snow Demon Sky Ape diluted Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk, and the group traveled to the bear king's territory.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape provoked the Iron Blood Violent Bear King while Lin Ming and Zi Yan hid and waited for an opening.
• After the bear king slammed the Snow Demon Sky Ape to the ground, Zi Yan struck him and sent him crashing into a mountain wall, leaving a hole in his abdomen.
• Lin Ming demanded the Azure Blood Divine Marrow, but the Iron Blood Violent Bear King refused and charged at the group.

Lin Ming, Zi Yan, and the Snow Demon Sky Ape fought the Iron Blood Violent Bear King for the Azure Blood Divine Marrow. After Lin Ming used healing medicine and helped the Snow Demon Sky Ape activate his Berserk Bloodline, he attacked the bear from the air with Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire, leaving the battle still underway as the bear weakened.

• The Iron Blood Violent Bear King wounded the Snow Demon Sky Ape while Zi Yan attacked it, and Lin Ming gave the ape Grade 2 Healing Medicine to stop its bleeding.
• Lin Ming urged the Snow Demon Sky Ape to activate Berserk Snow Demon, raising its strength to Mid Tier 5, then joined the fight from the air.
• Lin Ming sent Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire into an opening in the bear's wounds, burning its insides and forcing it to focus its fury on the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
• Lin Ming struck the bear internally a second time, weakening its aura and causing blood to flow from its mouth and nose.
• The Iron Blood Violent Bear King covered its wound with one paw to block Lin Ming's flames, while Zi Yan and the Snow Demon Sky Ape kept attacking and added to its injuries.

Lin Ming, Zi Yan, and the Snow Demon Sky Ape fought the Iron Blood Violent Bear King over the Azure Blood Divine Marrow. Lin Ming’s Blazing Sun Heavenly Saber left the bear near death, and the Snow Demon Sky Ape finished it before Lin Ming collected its Magic Core.

• Lin Ming used flames to attack the Iron Blood Violent Bear King’s wounds while Zi Yan and the Snow Demon Sky Ape kept it occupied.
• As the battle dragged on and the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s Berserk Bloodline neared its limit, Lin Ming gathered the sun’s energy into the Star Dragon Saber.
• The Iron Blood Violent Bear King offered to retreat, but Lin Ming unleashed the Blazing Sun Heavenly Saber because he could not risk letting the bear attack the weakened Snow Demon Sky Ape later.
• Lin Ming’s attack burned away the bear’s fur and destroyed its paws, leaving it near death.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape killed the Iron Blood Violent Bear King, and Lin Ming extracted its Tier 5 Magic Core.

Lin Ming, Zi Yan, and the Snow Demon Sky Ape found the Azure Blood Divine Marrow and divided it among themselves. After the Snow Demon chose to return to his own valley, Lin Ming and Zi Yan flew back toward the academy.

• Lin Ming followed Zi Yan and the Snow Demon Sky Ape through the cave to a jade pool where the Azure Blood Divine Marrow lay.
• Zi Yan retrieved the Azure Blood Divine Marrow from the pool and tossed it to Lin Ming.
• Lin Ming split the marrow into three portions and gave shares to Zi Yan and the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
• Lin Ming explained that the marrow could improve bloodlines and aptitude only up to certain limits, and that it would offer him little benefit.
• The Snow Demon chose to return to his original valley, and Lin Ming and Zi Yan set off for the academy.

Lin Ming prepared a letter and precious gifts for Ya Fei, then asked Tang Xi to deliver them to his clan in the Jia Ma Empire. Tang Xi accepted the task and promised to hand the Storage Ring to Ya Fei personally.

• Lin Ming refined Zi Yan's medicinal materials into pills and gave them to her.
• Lin Ming carved part of the Azure Blood Divine Marrow into a pendant for Ya Fei, then packed it with a letter and Diluted Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk.
• Lin Ming decided to entrust the gifts to someone strong and trustworthy and went to Tang Xi for help.
• Lin Ming asked Tang Xi to deliver the Storage Ring to Ya Fei in the Jia Ma Empire and gave her five hundred Fire Energy Points for the journey.
• Tang Xi accepted the Storage Ring and promised to deliver it to Ya Fei as long as she remained alive.

Nearly two years after joining forces with Zi Yan and the Snow Demon Sky Ape, Lin Ming advanced from Eight Star Dou Spirit to Nine Star Dou Spirit after a long night of cultivation. The chapter also showed Ya Fei receiving Lin Ming’s letter and gifts, and left Lin Ming preparing to pursue the Dou Wang realm.

• Ya Fei received Lin Ming’s letter, wore the pendant he had sent, and fed Yin Lin five drops of Earth Heart Body Tempering Milk.
• Lin Ming sparred with the Snow Demon Sky Ape, who praised his strength and served as his regular training partner.
• Lin Ming sensed his final Dou Crystal spike beginning to retract and started breaking through to Nine Star Dou Spirit.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape guarded Lin Ming while he cultivated through the night.
• At dawn, Lin Ming opened his eyes after advancing and said that the Dou Wang realm was next.

Lin Ming returned to Jia Nan Academy on the verge of reaching Dou Wang, then led the Medicine Gang to the Strong Ranking Tournament. The tournament began as the factions gathered at the Inner Academy’s Central Plaza.

• Lin Ming returned to the Inner Academy and learned that the Medicine Gang members had come out of secluded cultivation ahead of the tournament.
• In Wutan City, Xiao Yan despaired after another healer failed to find the cause of his declining cultivation.
• Lin Ming encouraged the Medicine Gang’s participants to fight with all their strength and promised the gang would treat any injuries they suffered.
• Lin Ming led the Medicine Gang to the Central Plaza, where he traded barbs with Bai Wei of the dwindling White Dragon Gang.
• An ancient bell rang, officially beginning the Strong Ranking Tournament.

The Strong Ranking tournament began as its contestants gathered in the arena, with Lin Ming making a dramatic entrance on his Star Dragon Saber and Zi Yan approaching him. Great Elder Su Qian announced the rules, and the matches were about to start.

• Great Elder Su Qian summoned the Strong Ranking contestants into the arena, where Chong Shan and the other top-ranked fighters descended.
• Lin Ming flew down on his Star Dragon Saber, impressing the crowd and prompting Su Qian to note his exceptional Soul Power.
• Lin Xiuyai learned that the little-looking Zi Yan held first place on the Strong Ranking and was feared as the Brute Force King.
• Zi Yan entered the arena eating Medicinal Pills, spotted Lin Ming, and walked toward him.
• Great Elder Su Qian announced the tournament and urged the contestants to avoid lethal attacks, though some contenders were unwilling to hold back.

The Strong Ranking Tournament began with contestants drawing lots to determine their opponents. Zi Yan won her opening match with one punch, while Lin Ming was paired against Lei Qian for the first round.

• Great Elder Su Qian explained the lottery rules and began the tournament’s opponent draw.
• Lin Ming drew number eight, pairing him with Lei Qian, who vowed to make Lin Ming pay despite expecting to lose.
• Zi Yan drew the final stick, number one, leaving her opponent in despair.
• Great Elder Su Qian ordered the number-one match to begin, and Zi Yan knocked her Seven-Star Dou Spirit opponent unconscious with one punch.
• The newcomers watched Zi Yan’s effortless victory and resolved not to provoke her.