Chapter Summaries

Lin Ming and Tang Xi crossed Black Seal City and continued toward their meeting point, where three bandits followed them into a forest and surrounded them. Lin Ming pretended to be a sheltered young master to mislead the attackers, who demanded their valuables and threatened Tang Xi.

• Tang Xi used her aura to deter the City Guards from searching her, and she and Lin Ming entered Black Seal City.
• Lin Ming and Tang Xi traveled across the city and arranged to meet Chen Yuanlong and the others beyond the opposite gate.
• After leaving the city, Lin Ming noticed three men following them, but he and Tang Xi continued on because the men seemed no threat.
• The three men surrounded Lin Ming and Tang Xi in a forest after deciding no one was protecting them.
• Lin Ming pretended that he and Tang Xi were powerful family geniuses, but the bandits believed his act and demanded their valuables.

Lin Ming and Tang Xi killed three men who tried to rob them, then reunited with Chen Yuanlong and the others and traveled to Jia Nan Academy’s copper Mine. Steward Song welcomed the group with a banquet and arranged their lodging, with the inspection set to begin the next day.

• Lin Ming killed the fat robber, while Tang Xi fought the Da Dou Shi leader and Lin Ming defeated the gaunt man.
• Lin Ming took two Storage Rings for himself and gave Tang Xi the leader’s ring before they continued to the meeting place.
• Lin Ming and Tang Xi reunited with Chen Yuanlong and the other three, then traveled for four days to the Mine.
• Chen Yuanlong asked whether they had met trouble, and Lin Ming briefly said they had dealt with men who followed them from the city gates.
• The group arrived at the Mine near nightfall, accepted Steward Song’s banquet and lodging, and agreed to begin the inspection the next day.

Lin Ming and the others audited the copper mine and found a substantial mismatch between its records and physical stock, but Steward Song persuaded most of them to let the matter go. As the group prepared to finish the mission, Lin Ming grew suspicious because he could not detect Steward Song’s cultivation.

• Lin Ming and the other auditors spent several days comparing account books and mine stock, finding that the physical figures fell short by several thousand gold coins.
• Steward Song blamed the discrepancy on fluctuating prices, lower copper content in one section, and increased expenses, then appealed to the auditors’ sympathy.
• Chen Yuanlong and the others agreed to report the issue without pursuing it further, and Steward Song hosted them at a lavish dinner.
• Lin Ming asked Chen Yuanlong about Steward Song’s cultivation after realizing he could not probe it, unlike Chen Yuanlong’s approximate level.
• Lin Ming reasoned that Steward Song either had a Concealment Treasure or had reached at least Six Stars of the Dou Ling realm.

Lin Ming and the others discovered that Steward Song had secretly advanced to the Dou Ling realm, suggesting the mine was responsible for his abnormal cultivation. After Steward Song reluctantly agreed to let them inspect underground, Chen Yuanlong and two others descended while Lin Ming and Tang Xi waited above.

• Lin Ming told Chen Yuanlong and the others that he could not sense Steward Song's cultivation, despite being able to estimate Chen Yuanlong's.
• Tang Xi investigated Steward Song and concluded that he was a seasoned Dou Ling, not a peak Dou Grandmaster as expected.
• The group suspected the mine had caused Steward Song's rapid advancement and decided to investigate underground.
• Steward Song resisted Lin Ming and Chen Yuanlong's request to enter the mine but eventually assigned Liu Zi to guide them.
• Chen Yuanlong and two others entered the mine while Lin Ming and Tang Xi stayed above, ready to help if trouble arose.

Chen Yuanlong’s inspection team discovered that the mine’s reserves might be five years short of the academy’s plan, so they headed back to report it. Lin Ming and the others stopped in Black Seal City to attend Eight Gates’ Black Seal Auction, which began after they entered the crowded auction hall.

• After the inspection team returned from the mine, Steward Song questioned Liu Zi about their visit and grew worried after they left the next morning.
• On the road back, A Jin told Lin Ming and Chen Yuanlong that his sensing technique indicated the mine held only about twenty-five years of reserves instead of the planned thirty, and Chen Yuanlong decided to report the shortage to the academy.
• Lin Ming and his companions continued their journey, handled several people who tried to provoke them, and reached Black Seal City four days later.
• Lin Ming suggested that the group attend Eight Gates’ Black Seal Auction, and Chen Yuanlong agreed before they entered the city in separate groups.
• Lin Ming, Tang Xi, and the others met at the Black Seal Auction House, joined the queue, and took their seats inside.
• A bell rang through the auction hall, announcing the start of the Black Seal Auction.

Lin Ming attended the Black Seal Auction and bought a quarter of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map for 120,000 Gold Coins. He left the auction confident that finding more fragments would eventually let him claim the flame and advance his cultivation technique.

• The White-haired Auctioneer opened the Black Seal Auction, and the Crimson Bronze Cauldron sold for 363,000 Gold Coins after fierce bidding.
• The auction offered various items, and Lin Ming made no bids until Eight Gates put a tattered map fragment up for sale.
• Lin Ming recognized the fragment and bid 120,000 Gold Coins, surprising the crowd and prompting the White-haired Auctioneer to finalize the sale.
• Lin Ming concealed his face beneath his robe and considered how he could gather the remaining fragments and claim the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.

Lin Ming bought the rare Purple Crystal Wings Flying Fighting Skill at the Black Seal Auction, then left the city with Tang Xi. At the inn, he examined the scroll and learned it had been crafted from a Purple Crystal Winged Lion that was killed while advancing to Tier 5.

• Lin Ming instructed Chen Yuanlong to bid up to three million Gold Coin for the Purple Crystal Wings, and Chen Yuanlong won them for 2.45 million.
• Lin Ming left the auction and paid 120,000 Gold Coin to collect the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame Fragment Map.
• Chen Yuanlong gave Lin Ming a Storage Ring containing the Purple Crystal Wings scroll and a Black Seal Auction House VIP card.
• Lin Ming and Tang Xi traveled onward and stopped at an inn for the night.
• Lin Ming opened the scroll and read how its maker had killed a Tier 5 Purple Crystal Winged Lion, taken its wings, and crafted the Flying Fighting Skill.

Lin Ming fought and defeated the Purple Crystal Winged Lion’s remnant soul while refining the Purple Crystal Wings, gaining the ability to fly and a boost to his Spiritual Strength. After demonstrating the wings to Tang Xi, he realized the increased strength would help him refine Tier 4 Medicinal Pills and fight more effectively.

• Lin Ming began refining the Purple Crystal Wings, but the Purple Crystal Winged Lion’s remnant soul attacked his mind.
• Lin Ming repeatedly struck the remnant soul with a Spiritual Strength saber, then defeated its final attack and absorbed its horn, strengthening his Spiritual Strength.
• The Purple Crystal Wings emerged from Lin Ming’s back, and their flames opened the last remaining meridians of his Blazing Sun Saber Technique.
• Tang Xi checked on Lin Ming, and he showed her that he could fly using the newly refined wings.
• Lin Ming meditated and estimated that his Spiritual Strength had increased by roughly one-tenth, enough to begin refining Tier 4 Medicinal Pills.

On the way back to the academy, Lin Ming and his companions were ambushed by the wanted Cui Brothers. Lin Ming charged his Blazing Sun Slash and struck Cui Jian, leaving the battle's outcome unresolved.

• Lin Ming, Tang Xi, and Chen Yuanlong reunited and headed back toward the academy's outpost.
• Lin Ming sensed someone spying on the group, and the Cui Brothers emerged from the woods to attack them.
• Tang Xi proposed that Lin Ming fly to the academy for reinforcements, but Lin Ming chose to charge a powerful Dou Technique while the others held off the brothers.
• Lin Ming used his Purple Crystal Wings to gather sunlight and surrounding fire energy into a blazing sun at the tip of his Star Dragon Saber.
• Lin Ming ordered Chen Yuanlong and the others to move aside, then launched his Blazing Sun Slash at Cui Jian, who screamed as the attack engulfed him.

Lin Ming and his companions fought Cui Qiang after Lin Ming killed Cui Jian, and Tang Xi helped keep Cui Qiang from reaching Lin Ming. Cui Qiang tricked the group so he could retrieve Cui Jian's corpse and flee, threatening Jia Nan Academy as he escaped.

• Cui Jian died from his wounds, and Cui Qiang swore to avenge him by killing Lin Ming.
• Cui Qiang threw his saber at Tang Xi and attacked Lin Ming, but Chen Yuanlong and Tang Xi intervened.
• Lin Ming blocked Cui Qiang's strike with Mountain Rushing Flood Fist, and Tang Xi struck Cui Qiang from behind.
• Lin Ming gave Tang Xi a Tier 5 Dragon Power Pill and moved away while she faced Cui Qiang.
• Cui Qiang feigned an attack on A Jin to draw Tang Xi aside, then stored Cui Jian's corpse in his Storage Ring and fled through the forest.

Lin Ming returned to the academy after the group failed to capture Cui Qiang, whose knowledge of the region and Griffon Beast blind spots suggested the ambush had been planned. He reported his suspicions and mission to Elder Huo, who praised Lin Ming’s gains and said his Spiritual Strength was strong enough to refine Tier 4 Medicinal Pills.

• Chen Yuanlong and Tang Xi pursued Cui Qiang while Lin Ming alerted academy personnel, who joined the chase.
• Cui Qiang escaped after evading several ambushes, and the pursuers returned to the outpost at night.
• Tang Xi returned Lin Ming’s Dragon Power Pill, and the group flew back toward the academy the next morning.
• Lin Ming practiced flying with the Purple Crystal Wings and discovered they absorbed sunlight to reduce his Dou Qi consumption.
• Lin Ming returned to the academy, greeted Steward Yang, and reported his safe return and suspicions to Elder Huo.
• Elder Huo listened to Lin Ming’s account and said his improved Spiritual Strength allowed him to refine Tier 4 Medicinal Pills.

Lin Ming learned that his improved Spiritual Strength should let him refine a Tier 4 pill, and Elder Huo gave him a Fire Cleansing Pill formula to study. After reviewing the gains from his recent trip, Lin Ming spent the next few days preparing to refine the pill.

• Lin Ming asked Elder Huo for a recommended Tier 4 pill, and Elder Huo gave him the Fire Cleansing Pill formula, which could clear Fire Poison.
• Lin Ming told Elder Huo he would study the formula before attempting refinement, and Elder Huo promised to investigate Lin Ming’s suspicions about academy betrayal.
• Lin Ming returned to his courtyard and reviewed his gains, including a Pure Lotus Demonic Flame Fragment Map piece, Purple Crystal Wings, and progress in cultivation.
• Lin Ming studied the Fire Cleansing Pill’s ingredients and refining methods, using Elder Huo’s annotations to prepare for a first successful attempt.

Lin Ming returned to class for the start of the semester, then went to the Alchemy Department to attempt refining a Fire Cleansing Pill. He had finished processing its ingredients and was extracting the energy from the final Magic Core when Steward Yang arrived with news that drew Elder Huo away.

• Lin Ming attended the first two days of classes, answered his classmates' cultivation questions, and joined their banquet.
• On the third day, Lin Ming told Elder Huo he was ready to refine the Fire Cleansing Pill, and Elder Huo supplied materials for three batches.
• Lin Ming prepared the cauldron and refined the pill ingredients while Elder Huo watched and praised his skill.
• Steward Yang entered the Pill Refinement Room and whispered to Elder Huo, who left Steward Yang to guard Lin Ming.
• Lin Ming extracted the energy from the final Water Attribute Magic Core without noticing Elder Huo had left.

Lin Ming completed the Fire Cleansing Pill after narrowly stabilizing the volatile Demonic Core Energy, marking his rise to a 4th Grade Alchemist. Steward Yang congratulated him and reflected on the guidance Lin Ming had received, before taking him to find Elder Huo.

• Steward Yang told Lin Ming that Elder Huo had left to handle something and that he would watch over the refinement.
• After recovering his Dou Qi, Lin Ming fused the medicinal essences and used his Spiritual Strength to control the Demonic Core Energy during the dangerous final stage.
• Lin Ming successfully formed the pill, nurtured it, and collected the round blue-green Fire Cleansing Pill.
• Steward Yang congratulated Lin Ming and praised his rapid progress to becoming the youngest 4th Grade Alchemist.
• Lin Ming considered how Master Toso and Elder Huo had helped him, then recognized he would eventually need to go to Middle Continent to advance further.
• Steward Yang took Lin Ming to tell Elder Huo about the successful refinement, while Lin Ming wondered what had made Elder Huo leave.

Lin Ming revealed that he had successfully refined a Fire Cleansing Pill on his first attempt, becoming the youngest 4th Grade Alchemist and delighting Elder Huo. Zi Yan snatched the pill and demanded compensation for the medicinal materials Elder Huo had taken, leaving him trying to persuade her to return it.

• Lin Ming and Steward Yang entered Elder Huo’s room and found Zi Yan demanding medicinal materials from him.
• Elder Huo assumed Lin Ming had encountered trouble refining a Tier 4 Medicinal Pill, but Steward Yang announced Lin Ming had succeeded.
• Lin Ming showed Elder Huo the Fire Cleansing Pill, and Elder Huo examined it and celebrated Lin Ming’s achievement.
• Zi Yan snatched the pill and demanded more pills in exchange for forgiving Elder Huo for taking her medicinal materials.
• Elder Huo threatened to have Zi Yan locked up, then softened when she complained about losing her Ice Spirit Fruit and asked her to return Lin Ming’s pill.

Lin Ming resolved Zi Yan and Elder Huo’s dispute over the Ice Spirit Fruit by making tasty medicinal pills for Zi Yan, then received the promised Earth Heart Fire Stone after becoming a 4th Grade Alchemist. The chapter ended with Lin Ming holding the stone and Zi Yan agreeing to let Elder Huo keep the fruit.

• Lin Ming offered to refine medicinal materials into flavored pills for Zi Yan instead of making them into full medicinal pills.
• Lin Ming demonstrated his method, and Zi Yan happily ate the sweet-and-sour pills and gave up the Ice Spirit Fruit.
• Zi Yan asked Lin Ming to make flavored pills for her every week, and Lin Ming agreed.
• Elder Huo congratulated Lin Ming on becoming a 4th Grade Alchemist and praised his achievement at sixteen.
• Elder Huo kept the Ice Spirit Fruit and gave Lin Ming the Earth Heart Fire Stone he had promised.

Lin Ming reflected on refining the Fire Cleansing Pill, saved the Earth Heart Fire Stone for later, and prepared medicinal pills from Zi Yan’s ingredients. He improved his Fire Cleansing Pill technique and ended the day with a more perfect pill.

• Lin Ming reviewed Elder Huo’s advice, decided to save the Earth Heart Fire Stone until he reached Peak Dou Master, and planned to refine his remaining Fire Cleansing Pill ingredients.
• Zi Yan brought Lin Ming breakfast and medicinal materials, and Lin Ming took three Spirit Dou Pill ingredients before preparing the rest as sweet-and-sour pills for her.
• Zi Yan happily accepted the pills and told Lin Ming he could take more ingredients in the future if he continued making pills for her.
• Lin Ming went to the Alchemy Room and refined the remaining two sets of Fire Cleansing Pill ingredients.
• Lin Ming produced a more perfect Fire Cleansing Pill and returned to his courtyard satisfied with his improved skill.

Lin Ming’s Spiritual Strength and Soul Origin improved after he emptied his mind beneath the stars, and his cultivation speed increased. Steward Yang later told him how Steward Song discovered the cave and learned of the Copper Source Essence, which had not yet finished forming when the cave’s discoverer died.

• Lin Ming relaxed beneath the stars, purifying his Soul Origin and increasing the Spirituality of his Spiritual Strength.
• Lin Ming cultivated through the night, formed another drop of liquid energy, and estimated he could reach Seven-Star Dou Master within half a month.
• Steward Yang told Lin Ming that a Dou King had investigated the Mine, exposed Steward Song’s secret, and obtained his confession.
• Steward Song’s account revealed that he had followed a Red-tailed Fox into a hidden cave, defeated its nest, and found a skeleton, necklace, and Animal Skin record.
• The Animal Skin explained that the cave’s former occupant had found a Copper Source Essence vein and opened a tunnel to it, but died before the Copper Source Essence finished forming.

Steward Yang explained how Steward Song secretly mined Copper Source Essence, strengthened himself, and arranged with the Cui Brothers to kill Lin Ming and his companions. Lin Ming asked how much Copper Source Essence Steward Song had extracted, leaving its current amount unanswered.

• Steward Song discovered that Copper Source Essence was a precious refining material and decided to keep it instead of reporting it to the academy.
• Steward Song sent two Mine workers down to investigate, then mined small amounts of Copper Source Essence and traded them for cultivation resources, reaching Four Star Dou Spirit.
• Steward Song confessed that he had colluded with the Cui Brothers, who helped sell the Copper Source Essence and agreed to intercept Lin Ming's group when the secret risked exposure.
• Steward Song gave the Cui Brothers information about the academy's defenses and the Griffon Beast's blind spots, enabling Cui Clan's Eldest to escape pursuit.
• Lin Ming asked Steward Yang how much Copper Source Essence Steward Song had mined.

Lin Ming learned that Steward Song had been crippled and the academy was pursuing Cui Qiang, then visited Elder Huo and was invited to observe him refine a Tier 5 Medicinal Pill. As Elder Huo began the refinement, Lin Ming closely studied his advanced techniques, including extracting two medicinal materials at once.

• Steward Yang told Lin Ming that Song Yougui had secretly mined and sold some Copper Source Essence, while more than half of it remained for the academy to recover.
• Steward Yang explained that Song Yougui's cultivation had been crippled and that the academy would intensify its hunt for Cui Qiang.
• Lin Ming visited Elder Huo, who promised to let him observe the refinement of a Tier 5 Medicinal Pill.
• Three days later, Lin Ming joined Elder Huo in an Alchemy Room as he prepared the cauldron and materials for the refinement.
• Elder Huo used a powerful Deep Red Flame to extract medicinal materials, then extracted two materials simultaneously while Lin Ming watched closely.