Chapter Summaries

Lin Ming settled the auction-house transaction, paying 2.4 million Gold Coins for Spirit Absorption after accounting for his pill sales. He and Zi Yan left the Black Emperor Sect undetected by Elder Qi and decided to return to Lin Ming’s family.

• A maid told Lin Ming that a manager had to handle his large transaction, and he waited for the manager to arrive.
• The manager deducted Lin Ming’s pill-auction proceeds from Spirit Absorption’s price, charged him 2.4 million Gold Coins, and handed over the item.
• Elder Qi concluded that Lin Ming was not an alchemist because his Soul Power appeared weaker, and the manager agreed that Lin Ming had likely acquired the pills by chance.
• After leaving the Black Emperor Sect, Lin Ming told Zi Yan that a powerful Soul Power had probed them, likely belonging to the sect’s Tier 5 Alchemist.
• Lin Ming and Zi Yan decided to leave the Black Corner Region and return to Lin Ming’s family.

Lin Ming and Zi Yan were ambushed by three brothers who wanted to rob them, but the pair quickly defeated them. They killed the attackers, took their Storage Rings, and flew away, leaving other passersby to find the burning remains.

• Three Dou Spirit brothers stopped Lin Ming and Zi Yan outside the city and demanded their valuables.
• Lin Ming asked how they had recognized the pair, and the weakest brother revealed that his cultivation method let him identify people by scent.
• Lin Ming tossed his Storage Ring toward the strongest brother while he and Zi Yan struck down two of the attackers.
• The weakest brother fled, but Lin Ming caught him with the Tower Star Steps, and Zi Yan finished the two injured men.
• Lin Ming took the three Storage Rings and burned the brothers’ bodies before he and Zi Yan flew away.
• Several people arrived at the burning site and sighed with relief that the brothers had attacked two Dou Wangs first.

While traveling back to the clan, Lin Ming and Zi Yan found a Thousand Spirit Fruit, the last ingredient Lin Ming needed to refine Spirit Dou Pills. As they shared dinner, Lin Ming sensed danger and warned Zi Yan to move.

• Lin Ming and Zi Yan flew toward the clan, stopping to rest and prepare food along the way.
• Zi Yan sensed medicinal materials nearby and left to search while Lin Ming cooked.
• Zi Yan returned with a Thousand Spirit Fruit, which Lin Ming recognized as the missing main ingredient for Spirit Dou Pills.
• Lin Ming questioned Zi Yan about whether the fruit had been guarded, but she said she had found it on a nearby mountain peak without danger.
• As Zi Yan and Lin Ming began eating, Lin Ming shouted for her to move and flung the cooked leg meat forward.

Lin Ming and Zi Yan were ambushed by the Variegated Tiger King, which had been guarding the Thousand Spirit Fruit. Zi Yan beat the beast to death, and Lin Ming collected its Magic Core and tiger hide before planning to have the hide made into protection for Ya Fei.

• The Variegated Tiger King ambushed Zi Yan and Lin Ming, but they dodged its pounce.
• Lin Ming realized the Tier 5 beast had returned to find its guarded Thousand Spirit Fruit stolen and had been drawn over by the smell of his roasted meat.
• Angered by the beast's roar and foul breath, Zi Yan charged and pummeled it until it died.
• Lin Ming prepared more roasted meat for Zi Yan, who ate until she was satisfied.
• Lin Ming retrieved the Variegated Tiger King's Magic Core and harvested its hide to have it made into a protective vest for Ya Fei.

Lin Ming and Zi Yan finished gathering medicinal materials, and he refined a large supply of pills as Zi Yan showed signs of an early advance to Dou Emperor. They visited a city to watch a wedding, where Zi Yan watched the ceremony with excitement and left blushing after Lin Ming called her away.

• Lin Ming and Zi Yan left the mountains after gathering medicinal materials for nearly five months.
• Lin Ming refined more than half a year’s supply of medicinal pills for Zi Yan, whose appetite suggested she was nearing advancement.
• Lin Ming agreed to visit a nearby city with Zi Yan after they heard about a wedding taking place the next day.
• An inn waiter told Lin Ming that the city’s residents were celebrating the marriage of Young Master Huang and Eldest Miss Zhang, who had fallen in love while training together.
• Lin Ming and Zi Yan watched the couple’s wedding ceremony, and Zi Yan blushed when Lin Ming called her to leave.

After returning to the Jia Ma Empire, Lin Ming and Zi Yan reached Town Ghost Pass, where Lin Ming revealed his Mittel Family identity and was recognized by Commander Mu Tie. Mu Tie let them enter and considered how Lin Ming’s return might affect the balance among the empire’s great families.

• Lin Ming and Zi Yan arrived at Town Ghost Pass after traveling back to the Jia Ma Empire.
• A city guard stopped Lin Ming at the gate, and Lin Ming presented his Mittel Family identity token.
• Commander Mu Tie arrived and questioned Lin Ming after learning he was a Mittel Family member.
• Mu Tie recognized Lin Ming as the family genius who had left the empire years earlier, and Lin Ming confirmed he had returned from training.
• Mu Tie welcomed Lin Ming and let him pass through the gates with Zi Yan, then resolved to inform the Mu Family and send its younger members to train at the front lines.

Lin Ming returned to the Jia Ma Empire with Zi Yan and arrived at the Mittel Family’s annual meeting. His return delighted the clan, and the gathering resumed with the two of them seated beside Mittel Tengshan.

• Lin Ming and Zi Yan passed through the city gates and hurried toward the Mittel Family grounds.
• The Mittel Family began its annual meeting with ancestral rites before preparing to test the younger generation.
• A family member announced Lin Ming’s return, but the Ninth Elder reprimanded him before he could explain.
• Lin Ming entered with Zi Yan, greeted Mittel Tengshan and the elders, and introduced his friend.
• Mittel Tengshan welcomed Lin Ming, arranged seats for him and Zi Yan, and continued the meeting as the guests focused on Lin Ming.

After the clan assembly, Lin Ming revealed Zi Yan’s strength, his own cultivation, and his alchemy achievements to the Mittel Family’s elders. He then warned them that Yun Shan’s attempt to reach Dou Zong could bring disaster to the Jia Ma Empire.

• Lin Ming sent Zi Yan to rest in his courtyard and stayed behind with Mittel Tengshan, Grandpa Liu, and Master Toso.
• Lin Ming told the elders that Zi Yan had reached Dou Wang Peak, leaving them astonished.
• Lin Ming revealed that he had reached Dou Ling Peak and had become a Tier 5 Alchemist.
• Mittel Tengshan said he would appoint Lin Ming Young Clan Leader, but Lin Ming asked the elders to set that matter aside.
• Lin Ming warned the three elders to keep his next revelation secret, then told them Yun Shan was attempting to break through to Dou Zong.
• Lin Ming explained that Yun Shan’s breakthrough was not normal and could bring disaster to the Jia Ma Empire.

Lin Ming warned Mittel Tengshan and the others that the Soul Hall could threaten the Mittel Family, so they agreed to keep his abilities quiet. He arranged a concealed, reinforced place for Zi Yan’s imminent breakthrough to Dou Emperor, then hinted that he could refine the Fifth Grade Spirit Dou Pill.

• Lin Ming told Mittel Tengshan, Grandpa Liu, and Master Toso that the Soul Hall had helped Yun Shan reach Dou Zong and demanded that he collect powerful souls, so they should not publicize Lin Ming’s abilities.
• Mittel Tengshan agreed to keep Lin Ming’s return and affairs within normal bounds rather than hide him away.
• Lin Ming asked the Mittel Family to conceal the phenomena of Zi Yan’s coming breakthrough to Dou Emperor, and Mittel Tengshan agreed to prepare a suitable place.
• Lin Ming warned that Zi Yan’s breakthrough could stir Dou Qi across dozens of li, so Mittel Tengshan promised to reinforce the site’s defenses.
• Lin Ming reminded Master Toso about the Fifth Grade Spirit Dou Pill and confirmed that he could refine it.

During the Xiao Family clan assembly, Xiao Yan was mocked for remaining at Dou Force Stage Three, while Nalan Yanran decided to annul their engagement. When she announced her decision at the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan rejected her first and vowed to confront the Misty Cloud Sect in three years.

• At the Xiao Family clan assembly, the Magic Stone Stele showed Xiao Yan was still at Dou Force Stage Three, prompting the crowd to mock him.
• At an inn, Steward Ge told Nalan Yanran that Lin Ming had returned to the Mittel Family and that the Misty Cloud Sect could not determine his cultivation.
• Nalan Yanran decided to annul her engagement to Xiao Yan, and Steward Ge agreed to accompany her to the Xiao Family.
• At the Xiao Family main hall, Nalan Yanran announced the annulment, and Xiao Yan declared that he was casting her out of the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Yan vowed to go to the Misty Cloud Sect in three years and wash away the humiliation.

Lin Ming and Zi Yan waited for her breakthrough preparations to be completed while stories about Nalan Yanran’s broken engagement spread across the Jia Ma Empire. Mittel Tengshan led them underground to the secluded cultivation grounds, where Lin Ming was shocked by a formation-like site.

• Zi Yan blamed Nalan Yanran for using her influence to break the engagement, and Lin Ming explained that strength shaped how people were treated.
• Lin Ming took Zi Yan out to enjoy Imperial City delicacies while Mittel Tengshan, Grandpa Liu, and Master Toso reinforced her secluded cultivation grounds.
• A month later, Mittel Tengshan told Lin Ming that Zi Yan’s cultivation grounds were ready and led them to a hidden entrance beneath a room.
• Mittel Tengshan guided Lin Ming and Zi Yan through the family’s underground hub and onto a zipline leading to the secluded cultivation grounds.
• Lin Ming stepped off the zipline and was shocked by a site resembling a Five Elements Eight Trigrams Formation.

Lin Ming arranged a concealed underground formation for Zi Yan to advance in and watched over her as she entered a purple cocoon. Once her transformation settled into a slow phase expected to last one or two years, Lin Ming left her in the family's care and set off to seek opportunities.

• Mittel Tengshan explained that the family had hidden the underground Energy Node with three layers of formations, including two newly built layers to conceal Zi Yan's advancement.
• Lin Ming gave Zi Yan a Jade Pendant containing his soul aura, and she entered the formation to cultivate.
• Purple light enveloped Zi Yan and formed a cocoon that absorbed the formation's abundant energy while Lin Ming guarded her.
• After five days, Lin Ming saw that Zi Yan's transformation had stabilized and realized it would take one or two years.
• Lin Ming set up a barrier around the formation, instructed the stationed people to watch over Zi Yan, and left to seek opportunities.

Lin Ming met Master Toso and prepared to refine the Spirit Dou Pill in the Alchemy Room, inviting his former teacher to observe. He began heating the Crimson Flow Gold Cauldron and refining the ingredients, while Master Toso watched and learned about Lin Ming’s mutated flame.

• Lin Ming told Master Toso that Zi Yan had entered a stable state and that he was ready to refine the Spirit Dou Pill.
• Master Toso eagerly agreed to assist and was surprised when Lin Ming invited him to observe the refinement.
• Lin Ming and Master Toso went to the Alchemy Room, where Master Toso activated its restrictions.
• Lin Ming set out the Crimson Flow Gold Cauldron and the Spirit Dou Pill’s ingredients, then explained how the Earth Heart Fire Stone had mutated his Flame Gold Flame.
• Lin Ming heated the cauldron with the Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire and began refining the medicinal materials.

Lin Ming refined five Spirit Dou Pills over ten days while teaching Master Toso alchemy. Exhausted, Lin Ming gave Master Toso three pills and hurried to his courtyard to sleep.

• Lin Ming refined a Spirit Dou Pill and explained his methods to Master Toso, who watched in shock and gained new insight.
• Lin Ming successfully formed the Spirit Dou Pill’s prototype, then nourished it until it was complete.
• Alchemists in the Medicine Refinement Hall assumed the pill fragrance came from Master Toso’s work and waited for him to emerge.
• Mite’er Tengshan and Grandpa Liu worried that Lin Ming and Master Toso had remained in the Alchemy Room for ten days.
• Lin Ming completed five Spirit Dou Pills, gave three Jade Bottles to Master Toso, and went to his courtyard to sleep.

Lin Ming received the ice-attributed treasures he needed from Grandpa Liu and decided to seek the Green Lotus Core Flame in the Tagor Desert. He arrived at a desert city, intending to find the Ice Emperor for maps to the flames’ locations.

• Lin Ming visited Grandpa Liu, who gave him a storage ring filled with ice-attributed treasures, including Ice Spirit Cold Spring and an Ice Crystal Jade Platform.
• Lin Ming confirmed the collected treasures were enough and later decided to travel to the Tagor Desert to refine the Green Lotus Core Flame.
• Lin Ming visited Zi Yan, confirmed all was well, then left the Imperial City for the desert.
• Lin Ming flew across the Tagor Desert toward the city where Flying Magical Beasts from Black Rock City made their final stop, hoping to find the Ice Emperor and obtain his maps.
• Lin Ming reached the desert city, landed, and walked toward it.

Lin Ming arrived in Mo City and found the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame Fragment Map in Hai Bodong’s shop. He used the map as a chance to begin a planned meeting with the Ice Emperor, who reacted sharply when Lin Ming offered to buy the fragment.

• Lin Ming entered Mo City after forcing a rude guard to his knees with his aura and warning him to watch his mouth.
• Lin Ming paid an inn waiter for information about an eccentric elderly map seller, then went to the shop called Gu Tu.
• Lin Ming recognized the map seller as the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong, and searched the shelves for the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame Fragment Map.
• Lin Ming found the fragment map and asked Hai Bodong to sell it along with a detailed desert map.
• Hai Bodong’s hand trembled when he saw the fragment, and he asked Lin Ming whether he truly wanted to buy it.

Lin Ming tried to buy the Fragment Map from the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong, while hiding that it led to the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. When Hai Bodong threatened him for its secret, Lin Ming revealed his Dou Ling Peak cultivation and fought back with the Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire, leaving their battle underway.

• Lin Ming recognized that the Ice Emperor resembled an elder from home, then asked to buy the Fragment Map after Hai Bodong refused to sell it.
• Lin Ming told Hai Bodong that he knew the Fragment Map led to a Heavenly Flame but refused to reveal which one, and offered to pay any price.
• Hai Bodong threatened Lin Ming to force him to disclose the map's purpose, but Lin Ming stored the map and revealed his Dou Ling Peak aura.
• Hai Bodong unleashed his Ice Attribute Dou Qi and sent Ice Spikes at Lin Ming, who melted them with the Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire.
• Lin Ming formed his flames into Flame Serpents and sent them at Hai Bodong, who began casting Condensing Ice Mirror.

Lin Ming revealed his family connection to Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor, and learned how Hai Bodong had been cursed and weakened after pursuing the fragmentary map. Hai Bodong asked Lin Ming to keep his whereabouts secret, while the map’s link to Heavenly Flames left him bitter over the years he had lost.

• Lin Ming recognized Hai Bodong’s Condensing Ice Mirror and claimed descent from the Mittel Family, identifying himself as Lin Long’s son and Lin Hao’s grandson.
• Hai Bodong recognized Lin Ming as the boy he had named and became enraged to learn that Lin Ming’s parents had been killed by bandits.
• Hai Bodong warned Lin Ming not to tell the family he was alive because enemies might attack if they learned his strength had fallen to the Dou Spirit level.
• Lin Ming asked what had weakened Hai Bodong, and Hai Bodong explained that the fragmentary map had led to Queen Medusa’s Snake Seal Curse.
• Lin Ming revealed that four map fragments led to a Heavenly Flame, and Hai Bodong bitterly lamented being cursed for something he could not use.

Lin Ming received Elder Hai’s second map fragment and explained that the Snake People could use Heavenly Flames to evolve. After discussing Lin Ming’s alchemy and flame, Elder Hai warned him to conceal his Tier 5 Alchemist identity and offered guidance in the Tagor Desert, where Lin Ming was searching for a Heavenly Flame.

• Elder Hai gave Lin Ming the second piece of a map fragment and explained that the two pieces had originally been one.
• Lin Ming told Elder Hai that Snake People could use a Heavenly Flame to evolve into humans and reach the Dou Ancestor Realm.
• Lin Ming recounted his experiences at Jia Nan Academy, and Elder Hai learned that he had refined a Tier 5 Spirit Dou Pill.
• Lin Ming showed Elder Hai his Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire and explained that it had mutated from a flame obtained from a Grade 6 Golden Flame Python.
• Elder Hai warned Lin Ming not to reveal his Tier 5 Alchemist identity before reaching the Dou Emperor level.
• Lin Ming said he had come to the Tagor Desert to search for a rumored Heavenly Flame, and Elder Hai offered to guide him.

Lin Ming received Elder Hai’s map of likely Heavenly Flame locations and learned that finding a Heavenly Flame could help remove Elder Hai’s seal. He headed for Stone Desert City, where he planned to search for the Green Lotus Core Flame and seek out Qing Lin.

• Elder Hai gave Lin Ming a map marking three likely Heavenly Flame locations and warned him to avoid the western site near Queen Medusa’s territory.
• Elder Hai explained that he needed a Heavenly Flame to refine a Tier 6 Medicinal Pill that could break his cultivation seal, and Lin Ming promised to help while prioritizing his safety.
• Elder Hai revealed that he still needed Sand Mandara, which grew in the Snake People Race’s core territory, and Lin Ming promised to look for it.
• Lin Ming left to search the eastern location, knowing from the original work that the Green Lotus Core Flame was near Stone Desert City.
• Lin Ming traveled east and arrived near Stone Desert City at dusk, intending to search for the flame and Qing Lin.