Recaps

The Inner Academy Strong Ranking Tournament continued with several matches before Lin Ming faced Lei Qian, who used the Blood Thunder Burst secret technique to raise his strength. Lin Ming revealed that he was also a Nine Star Dou Spirit, leaving the fighters poised to clash.

• A Wind Attribute fighter defeated an Earth Attribute fighter in an evenly matched battle, and the tournament matches continued.
• The referee called Lin Ming and Lei Qian to compete, and Lei Qian arrived only after being warned he would forfeit.
• Lei Qian boasted that he would keep Lin Ming from earning a top-ten ranking and Heart Flame Body Tempering qualification.
• Lei Qian pressed a blood-colored lightning orb into his forehead, using the Blood Thunder Burst secret technique to rise from Eight Star Dou Spirit to Nine Star Dou Spirit.
• Lin Ming dismissed Lei Qian’s increase in strength and revealed a Dou Qi aura that also reached Nine Star Dou Spirit.

Lin Ming defeated Lei Qian in the competition, overwhelming him with his improved cultivation and physical strength. After advancing to the next round, Lin Ming considered the possibility of being matched against Zi Yan as the remaining first-round fights concluded.

• Lei Qian demanded to know how Lin Ming had reached Nine Star Dou Spirit, then charged at him in a jealous frenzy.
• Lin Ming blocked Lei Qian's attacks and tore apart the Thunder Dragon Head from his Welded Thunder Dragon Spear with his bare hands.
• Lin Ming bound Lei Qian with Flame Rings and struck him with a Mountain Rushing Fist, causing him to spit blood and faint.
• The referee declared Lin Ming the winner, and members of the White Dragon Gang carried Lei Qian away.
• Lin Ming advanced to the next round and worried that he might have to face Zi Yan, though he expected her to concede.
• The first round ended near evening, with twenty-five victors advancing to the next day's second round.

Lin Ming drew Bai Wei as his opponent in the second round of the Strong Ranking, setting up a fight to settle the rivalry between their gangs. The chapter ended as the elder started their match.

• Great Elder Su Qian announced that Zi Yan would automatically advance, and the other contestants drew lots.
• Lin Ming drew his number and waited as the contestants gathered for the first match.
• Lin Ming and Bai Wei drew number one and faced each other in the arena.
• Lin Ming and Bai Wei exchanged threats about settling their gangs’ grudges and raised their weapons.
• The elder announced the start of Lin Ming and Bai Wei’s match.

Lin Ming and Bai Wei fought a fierce second-round match between two top Strong Ranking experts. Lin Ming's close-combat strength and Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire pressured Bai Wei, but Bai Wei used the flames to build power for a counterattack.

• Lin Ming and Bai Wei exchanged blows until Bai Wei's arm trembled, and Bai Wei realized he was losing the close-range clash and rapidly consuming Dou Qi.
• Lin Ming sent Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire snakes at Bai Wei, disrupting his attempt to prepare a technique.
• Bai Wei adapted to the Flame Snakes and struck them to borrow their force, strengthening his Snake Sword as he prepared his Dou Technique.
• Lin Ming recalled the Flame Snakes, but Bai Wei declared that it was too late and unleashed Stacked Snake Fall at him.

Lin Ming used armor formed from Dou Qi and Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire to withstand Bai Wei's Stacked Snake Fall without injury, then struck Bai Wei with Startling Swan Slash. Bai Wei, wounded and drained from blocking the blow, prepared a final strike to end the grudge between their gangs.

• Shao Qing told Snow Swallow Woman that Bai Wei's Stacked Snake Fall was powerful, but Lin Ming might still have hidden techniques.
• Bai Wei's Stacked Snake Fall crashed down on Lin Ming, and the spectators waited anxiously as energy obscured the arena.
• The energy cleared to reveal Lin Ming unharmed inside azure-and-gold armor, which then cracked apart after absorbing the attack.
• Lin Ming rushed at Bai Wei and struck him with Startling Swan Slash while Bai Wei was briefly stunned.
• Bai Wei blocked Lin Ming's saber energy at the cost of much of his Dou Qi, then announced that their gangs' grudge would end with his final strike.

Lin Ming revealed his Purple Crystal Wings and took to the sky to counter Bai Wei’s ultimate technique with a powerful descending attack. The chapter ended as their attacks collided and dust obscured the arena.

• Lin Ming spread his Purple Crystal Wings, and Great Elder Su Qian explained that they came from a Flying Fighting Skill rather than a breakthrough to Dou King.
• Bai Wei recovered from his surprise, renewed his resolve, and prepared his Wandering Snake Tribulation.
• Lin Ming flew above Bai Wei, then dived toward him with the Mountain Rushing Flood Fist.
• Bai Wei thrust his Snake Sword upward and unleashed the white energy snake of his Wandering Snake Tribulation.
• Lin Ming struck the white snake with both fists, and their attacks collided in a deafening explosion that obscured the arena.

Lin Ming defeated Bai Wei and advanced to the third round, leaving Bai Wei gravely injured. Lin Ming then watched the remaining matches and studied Shao Qing, who entered the arena for his fight as the chapter ended.

• Lin Ming emerged as the sole person standing after his match with Bai Wei, and the referee had Bai Wei carried away before declaring Lin Ming the winner.
• The Medicine Gang cheered Lin Ming, while the White Dragon Gang left the arena after their leader was defeated.
• Lin Ming asked Wang Sheng about his match number and watched the fights, hoping to study Shao Qing and Jin Feng before a possible later round.
• Shao Qing entered the arena to face an opponent ranked in the twenties, who asked him to fight at full strength.
• Shao Qing agreed, opened a sealed jar, and drank as the scent of wine spread through the venue.

The second round of the Strong Ranking Tournament continued as Shao Qing and Wang Sheng won their matches and advanced. Jin Feng also secured a place in the third round, and the tournament moved on with thirteen contestants remaining.

• Shao Qing defeated his opponent quickly after drinking and using his strengthened cultivation and defense.
• Wang Sheng used Flame Snakes made from the Red Fire Flaming Bird’s Beast Flame to wear down his opponent, then knocked him down and advanced.
• The Medicine Gang celebrated as both Shao Qing and Wang Sheng advanced to the third round.
• The remaining contestants worried about drawing Jin Feng, who had yet to compete.
• Jin Feng defeated his opponent, bringing the second round of the Strong Ranking Tournament to an end.

The third round of the Strong Ranking Tournament began with Great Elder Su Qian drawing three elimination matches to determine who would claim the final top-ten spots. Lin Ming needed to secure a place for the benefits of Fallen Heart Flame body tempering, and the matchups left him among the contestants who had already qualified.

• After the second round ended, Lin Ming resolved to make the top ten so the sub-flame tempering would prepare him to refine the complete Fallen Heart Flame later.
• Lin Ming met Zi Yan at the venue, and she said she had wandered through the forest with Big Ape the day before.
• Great Elder Su Qian announced that six contestants would fight in three matches, with the winners completing the top ten.
• Great Elder Su Qian drew Ye Yu against Wang Sheng, and Ye Yu was relieved to face an opponent he believed he could beat.
• Great Elder Su Qian drew Zi Yan against Wu Hao, leaving Wu Hao pale and the other contestants relieved they would not face her.
• Great Elder Su Qian drew Jin Feng against Liu Qi, confirming that the six contestants not selected for matches had secured top-ten places.

Lin Ming watched Ye Yu defeat Wang Sheng, while Zi Yan and Jin Feng advanced after their opponents withdrew. Great Elder Su Qian confirmed the Strong Ranking’s top ten, who would receive Fallen Heart Flame’s Sub-flame for body tempering.

• Lin Ming estimated Wang Sheng had a thirty percent chance against Ye Yu, but Wang Sheng attacked impatiently and was soon suppressed.
• After a fierce exchange, Ye Yu remained standing while Wang Sheng collapsed, and the referee Elder declared Ye Yu the winner.
• Wu Hao refused to fight Zi Yan, claiming he had twisted his ankle, so Zi Yan won by forfeit.
• Liu Qi admitted defeat against Jin Feng, completing the selection of the Strong Ranking’s top ten.
• Great Elder Su Qian announced the top ten, and the crowd cheered as the winners prepared to receive Fallen Heart Flame’s Sub-flame.

Lin Ming reconsidered his decision to ignore the Strong Ranking battles and entered the arena, inspired by Wang Sheng to enjoy his final days as a student. He challenged Jin Feng and Shao Qing at the same time, and both accepted.

• Great Elder Su Qian explained that the top ten could challenge opponents of their choice to determine their rankings.
• Lin Ming told Zi Yan he planned to skip the battles, but Wang Sheng urged him to fight for the Medicine Gang and leave behind a reputation.
• Lin Ming realized he had been approaching his student years too seriously, then flew into the arena on his Purple Crystal Wings.
• Lin Ming announced that he would challenge Jin Feng and Shao Qing simultaneously, stunning the crowd and the two challengers.
• Jin Feng and Shao Qing agreed to fight Lin Ming together and entered the arena as their auras surged.

Lin Ming fought Jin Feng and Shao Qing in a three-way arena melee, showing enough strength to contend with both higher-ranked opponents. The battle left Jin Feng and Shao Qing hurt by Lin Ming’s close-range advantage, and Jin Feng prepared a powerful strike.

• Shao Qing told Lin Ming that the three would fight separately, and the referee started the match.
• Lin Ming struck Jin Feng and Shao Qing with Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire, injuring their arms and proving he could fight them.
• Shao Qing drank from a wine jar, took up his Gilded Iron Staff, and attacked Lin Ming and Jin Feng, who blocked with their weapons.
• Lin Ming, Shao Qing, and Jin Feng clashed their techniques, then exchanged close-range blows that left Jin Feng and Shao Qing in pain.
• Jin Feng steadied his trembling arm with Dou Qi and announced that Lin Ming and Shao Qing would each take one strike from him.

Lin Ming, Jin Feng, and Shao Qing prepared their final techniques after Jin Feng’s attack left all three exhausted. Lin Ming unleashed an Earth Tier fire technique, and Jin Feng and Shao Qing joined forces to face it as the judge Elder strengthened the platform’s protection.

• Lin Ming and Shao Qing survived Jin Feng’s famous sword technique, though both were badly exhausted and Lin Ming’s shield shattered.
• Jin Feng announced he would use his final move, while Shao Qing and Lin Ming each declared they had one final technique of their own.
• Lin Ming rose into the air and gathered fire-attribute energy into a blazing sphere at the tip of the Star Dragon Saber.
• The judge Elder recognized Lin Ming’s attack as dangerous and warned Jin Feng and Shao Qing to join forces against it.
• Lin Ming swung the Star Dragon Saber and sent the blazing sphere toward Jin Feng and Shao Qing, as the judge Elder ordered the platform’s protections reinforced.

Lin Ming, Jin Feng, and Shao Qing’s Earth Tier Dou Techniques collided in the sky, where their clashing energies formed an unexpected point of light that began consuming them. The strange phenomenon left the fighters and the Referee Seat elders unable to predict what would happen next.

• Jin Feng unleashed Meteorite Slash while Shao Qing struck with Moon Cover, combining their attacks against Lin Ming’s descending blazing sun.
• The three attacks collided and became entangled in a silent struggle, with Lin Ming’s energy replenished by the sun while the other two energies gradually weakened.
• Jin Ming’s and Shao Qing’s energies counterattacked as the three-colored mass expanded, and a tiny point of light appeared where the energies met.
• The point of light rapidly swallowed much of the energy and caused ripples in the space above, baffling Lin Ming, the other fighters, and the elders on the Referee Seat.

Great Elder Su Qian contained and dispersed the unstable energy unleashed by Lin Ming, Jin Feng, and Shao Qing, then declared Lin Ming the winner of their match. The Strong Ranking Tournament ended at dusk, with the Medicine Gang celebrating Lin Ming’s new second-place rank.

• Great Elder Su Qian used Space Lock to contain the exploding energy and dispersed it before it could injure the spectators.
• Great Elder Su Qian praised Lin Ming, Jin Feng, and Shao Qing, then declared Lin Ming the winner after Jin Feng and Shao Qing accepted their defeat.
• Jin Feng and Shao Qing promised to challenge Lin Ming again after they became Dou Wangs, and Lin Ming agreed.
• The Medicine Gang celebrated Lin Ming’s second-place ranking as the remaining matches and exhibition bouts concluded.
• The bell rang at dusk, officially ending the three-day Strong Ranking Tournament.

After recovering from the Strong Ranking Tournament, Lin Ming visited the Medicine Gang and discussed its future with Wang Sheng, since Lin Ming would soon leave the Inner Academy. Lin Ming began demonstrating pill refinement to three candidates for the next Gang Leader, with the selection still underway when the chapter ended.

• Students continued discussing Lin Ming, Jin Feng, and Shao Qing's dangerous battle, while the Medicine Gang's reputation rose on the strength of Lin Ming and its pill monopoly.
• Lin Ming woke after recovering his Dou Qi, visited the Medicine Refinement Hall, and checked on the gang's orderly operations.
• Lin Ming told Wang Sheng he would leave the Inner Academy after Heart Flame Body Tempering and asked him to find a successor capable in both alchemy and combat.
• Lin Ming set a challenge for the Medicine Gang's top Third-Grade Alchemists: whoever advanced to 4th Grade would become the next Gang Leader.
• Wang Sheng brought three candidates to watch Lin Ming demonstrate pill refinement, and Lin Ming refined pills in the closed room for several days.
• The doors to Wang Sheng's Alchemy Room opened on the evening of the third day, and Lin Ming emerged looking relieved.

Lin Ming and the other top ten participants gathered at the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower to undergo Heart Flame Body Tempering, which could prepare them to advance to Dou Wang. Lin Ming, Shao Qing, and Jin Feng agreed to compete over who could finish first, then followed Great Elder Su Qian into the tower.

• Lin Ming announced that the Medicine Gang would leave for the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, and its members followed him there.
• Shao Qing, Jin Feng, and Zi Yan arrived at the tower with the other Strong Ranking participants.
• Shao Qing explained that Heart Flame Body Tempering had a roughly fifty percent success rate and proposed a contest to see who could finish first.
• Jin Feng and Lin Ming accepted Shao Qing's challenge.
• Great Elder Su Qian opened the tower and led the ten Strong Ranking contestants inside.

Lin Ming, Zi Yan, and the other candidates followed Great Elder Su Qian through a guarded passage to the vast bottom floor of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower. There, Su Qian summoned two Inner Academy elders near the central Black Hole, leaving the group curious about what would happen next.

• Zi Yan complained that Heart Flame Body Tempering was unpleasant, and Lin Ming promised to make her medicinal pills with new flavors afterward.
• Great Elder Su Qian warned everyone to stay close and not react to any sounds on the lower levels, or they would lose their qualifications.
• Su Qian led the group through an Iron Gate and down a guarded passage beside the blazing Black Hole.
• The group emerged onto the immense, undivided bottom floor and gathered near the central opening as the heat intensified.
• Su Qian summoned two Black Shadow elders near the Black Hole, and the group wondered why he had called them.

Great Elder Su Qian revealed the rare Origin Heart Flames and warned the ten Strong Ranking students that body tempering was agonizing and often failed. They chose to proceed and began meditating as the flames entered their bodies.

• Great Elder Su Qian had two elders open the Space Barrier and retrieve ten glowing orbs from the cave.
• Su Qian revealed the Origin Heart Flames and explained their benefits, painful tempering process, and high failure rate.
• Though some students hesitated, all ten agreed to undergo the body tempering.
• Su Qian had the students meditate, then released the flames from their orbs to enter their bodies.

Lin Ming and nine other Strong Ranking students endured painful Origin Heart Flame body tempering in hopes of strengthening themselves and preparing for advancement to Dou Wang. Several students failed and were rescued by the elders, while Lin Ming continued to endure the flames.

• Great Elder Su Qian left the jade platform to check on Fallen Heart Flame, leaving two elders to watch the students undergoing body tempering.
• The elders discussed how few students could withstand the pain and recalled that only four of the previous top ten had completed the process.
• Lin Ming endured the searing pain, motivated by his desire to become strong enough to pursue Fallen Heart Flame and by the improvements he felt in his body.
• After more than half an hour, one student collapsed and was rescued by an elder, who reassured him that he could still find other ways to advance to Dou Wang.
• A second student and then three more developed signs of failure, forcing the elders to rescue them as Lin Ming continued enduring the flames.

Lin Ming, Zi Yan, and three others completed three days of Origin Heart Flame body tempering and emerged with stronger bodies and Dou Qi. Lin Ming agreed to face Shao Qing and Jin Feng in a rematch at the next Strong Ranking Tournament, which he anticipated would coincide with Han Feng’s invasion of the Inner Academy.

• One Elder escorted the five students who had failed body tempering from the tower while the other watched over the five who remained.
• After three days, Lin Ming and the others’ auras surged as the tempering neared its end, and Great Elder Su Qian returned from searching the magma for Fallen Heart Flame.
• Zi Yan awakened first, then Lin Ming woke and discovered that his body had grown close to the strength of a half-step Tier 5 Magical Beast and his Dou Qi had advanced further as a Nine Star Dou Spirit.
• Shao Qing, Jin Feng, and the final student awakened, completing the body tempering for the top ten of the Strong Ranking, and Great Elder Su Qian led them out of the tower.
• Shao Qing and Jin Feng challenged Lin Ming to a future rematch, and Lin Ming set their contest for the next Strong Ranking Tournament; both agreed.

As Jia Nan Academy’s students prepared to leave, Lin Ming shared his plans with Wang Sheng and reaffirmed their five-year reunion. Zi Yan told Great Elder Su Qian she was leaving with Lin Ming, and he reluctantly approved, comforted by her promise to return.

• Lin Ming and Wang Sheng discussed their plans after graduating, including Lin Ming’s return to the academy for the Strong Ranking Tournament in five years.
• Lin Ming and the others raised their cups and promised to drink together again when they reunited.
• Zi Yan visited Great Elder Su Qian and told him she was leaving the academy.
• Great Elder Su Qian recalled how he had found Zi Yan, brought her to the academy, and come to regard her as family.
• Great Elder Su Qian agreed that Zi Yan could travel with Lin Ming, and Zi Yan promised to return in a few years.

Lin Ming and Zi Yan left the Inner Academy to visit the Alchemy Department and bid farewell to Elder Huo before traveling for several years. Elder Huo approved of Lin Ming’s plans but said he still needed to pass an assessment to graduate under him.

• Lin Ming told Zi Yan they would visit the Outer Academy and Elder Huo before leaving Jia Nan Academy.
• Lin Ming and Zi Yan arrived at the Alchemy Department, where Steward Yang welcomed Lin Ming and escorted them to Elder Huo.
• Lin Ming explained that he planned to travel and return to his clan because the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower no longer helped his cultivation much.
• Elder Huo agreed that Lin Ming should broaden his horizons but said he had to undergo an assessment to graduate under him.

Elder Huo gave Lin Ming the Crystal Vein Pill formula and its ingredients as a test, knowing the pill could help him subdue the Green Lotus Core Flame. Lin Ming began refining it under Elder Huo’s watch, showing precise control as the process continued.

• Elder Huo gave Lin Ming the Crystal Vein Pill formula as the test he needed to pass before graduating.
• Lin Ming recalled that the pill could improve his chances of subduing the Green Lotus Core Flame and resolved to repay Elder Huo someday.
• Lin Ming studied the formula until the next day, then followed Elder Huo to the Pill Refinement Room.
• Lin Ming selected the ingredients, brought out his Crimson Flow Gold Cauldron, and began refining the pill.
• Elder Huo watched Lin Ming handle the medicinal materials with nearly flawless timing and felt proud of his progress.

Lin Ming said farewell to Elder Huo after completing a pill, then left Jia Nan Academy with Zi Yan. Four years after his departure, the elders of the Mittel Family wondered when he would return and argued over secretly reading his letters to Ya Fei.

• Lin Ming presented the completed pill to Elder Huo, who urged him to leave and pursue his future.
• Lin Ming knelt and kowtowed three times to Elder Huo, then departed with Zi Yan.
• Elder Huo watched Lin Ming and Zi Yan disappear over the horizon and expected Lin Ming to surpass him when they met again.
• At the Mittel Family, Mite'er Tengshan, Elder Liu, and Master Toso discussed Lin Ming's four-year absence and quarreled over who had read his letters to Ya Fei.
• Master Toso recalled Lin Ming's powerful Soul Fluctuation and the rare gifts he had sent Ya Fei, and the elders agreed that he seemed to be doing well.