Chapter Summaries

Elder Huo successfully refined the ancient Tier 5 Vitality Pill, then explained its effects and taught Lin Ming techniques for refining multiple medicinal materials at once. Lin Ming left Elder Huo to rest and agreed to refine more pills for Zi Yan.

• Elder Huo fused the medicinal materials with Demonic Core Energy and compressed the flames until he formed a Vitality Pill.
• Elder Huo explained that the Vitality Pill restored an elderly person's vitality for five years, and only the first pill a person took would work.
• Lin Ming asked Elder Huo about refining multiple medicinal materials simultaneously, and Elder Huo taught him the necessary techniques.
• Lin Ming left Elder Huo's residence after confirming that Elder Huo had finished refining and was resting.
• Zi Yan told Lin Ming she had waited outside for a day, and Lin Ming agreed to go with her and refine more medicinal pills.

Lin Ming advanced to Seven-Star Dou Master, returned to class, and resumed intensive cultivation and alchemy practice. Nearly half a year later, he reached Nine Star Dou Shi, with the Inner Academy Selection Tournament still ahead.

• Lin Ming helped Zi Yan make about a hundred bottles of medicinal pills, then rested from the exhausting work.
• Several days later, Lin Ming broke through to Seven-Star Dou Master and visited Instructor Zhang Man's class, where he reconnected with his classmates.
• At lunch, Lin Ming briefly recounted the mission involving Steward Song and Cui Jian, while the academy's investigation concluded with Steward Song's death in detention.
• Lin Ming planned to improve his alchemy and cultivation before the Inner Academy Selection Tournament, then spent the next five months refining pills and cultivating.
• Nearly half a year into the semester, Lin Ming broke through to Nine Star Dou Shi.

With the Inner Academy Selection Tournament set to begin the next day, Lin Ming refined the outer shell of the Earth Heart Fire Stone and began absorbing its energy through his Flame Gold Flame Origin Fire Seed. The Origin Fire Seed readily entered the Earth Heart Fire energy, leaving Lin Ming poised to strengthen his flame.

• Lin Ming stabilized his Nine Star Dou Shi cultivation while preparing for the tournament and decided it was time to absorb the Earth Heart Fire Stone.
• Lin Ming used his Flame Gold Flame and Dou Qi to burn away the stone shell, eventually reducing it to a fist-sized mass of cyan liquid energy.
• After taking two Qi Replenishing Pills, Lin Ming drew the Flame Gold Flame Origin Fire Seed out from his Dou Qi Vortex.
• Lin Ming sent the Origin Fire Seed into the Earth Heart Fire energy, where it swam freely and began absorbing the heat and violent factors that could cause it to mutate.

Lin Ming absorbed refined Earth Core Flame energy, filling his dantian and beginning his breakthrough from Dou Shi to Da Dou Shi. The attempt remained underway, but his Dou Qi began to solidify and his Five-Colored Dou Qi Gauze Robe transformed into armor.

• The Flame Gold Flame Origin Fire Seed devoured the Earth Core Flame energy mass, and Lin Ming swallowed it so it could return to his dantian and refine the energy.
• Lin Ming circulated the refined Earth Core Flame energy through his meridians, enduring the heat as his meridians grew tougher and wider and his dantian filled with liquid Dou Qi.
• Lin Ming released his suppression of the Dou Qi Vortex's attributes and started compressing the liquid energy to advance to Da Dou Shi.
• The rapidly spinning Five-Colored Qi Vortex transformed Lin Ming's Five-Colored Dou Qi Gauze Robe into five-colored armor.
• Lin Ming compressed his Dou Qi until a grain-of-rice-sized piece of solid energy appeared, marking the start of solidification as his breakthrough continued.

Lin Ming completed his advancement to Dou Grandmaster by refining the Earth Heart Fire energy and strengthening his new Dou Crystal. He tested his new Dou Qi Armor, concealed his Five Elements Dou Qi, and prepared to compete in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament the next day.

• Lin Ming condensed a Dou Crystal and carefully continued refining the Earth Heart Fire energy so it would not damage the fragile crystal.
• Lin Ming refined the final Earth Heart Fire energy, advancing directly to one-star Dou Grandmaster and nearing two-star cultivation.
• Lin Ming tested his five-colored Dou Qi Armor and found it stronger than the armor of newly advanced high-grade Dou Grandmasters.
• Lin Ming changed his qi vortex to Fire-Wood Dual Attribute and found that its armor could match a Three Star Dou Grandmaster's.
• Lin Ming left the Flame Gold Flame's transformation untested and declared that he was ready for the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

The Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy Selection Tournament began, and Lin Ming stunned the crowd by revealing that he had advanced to Da Dou Shi. After winning his first match without striking a blow, he left the arena with his classmates, who struggled to comprehend the gap between his cultivation and theirs.

• Hu Gan and the academy department heads addressed the graduating students before the tournament began in the afternoon.
• Lin Ming was matched against Lu Jun, a graduating student from Black Tier Class Seven, who asked to witness his strength in their final battle.
• Lin Ming revealed his Da Dou Shi cultivation and formed Dou Qi Armor, leaving Lu Jun stunned.
• Lu Jun conceded by stepping off the arena, and the referee declared Lin Ming the winner.
• Han Yue, Zhang Man, and Lin Ming's classmates gathered around him, while Lin Xiuyai privately agonized over how quickly Lin Ming had advanced.

Lin Ming celebrated his victories and shared a farewell gathering with his classmates before securing a place in the Inner Academy. The fifty entrants then assembled for a round-robin tournament that would determine their rankings and rewards, and Lin Ming went to draw his first opponent.

• Lin Ming greeted Instructor Zhang Man and his classmates, then invited them to a celebratory gathering before leaving for the Inner Academy.
• Lin Ming drank with his classmates, reflecting on their parting, and returned to his dormitory.
• Lin Ming won his next selection match when his Four-Star Dou Master opponent immediately surrendered, securing his place among the fifty Inner Academy entrants.
• The academy selected the remaining Inner Academy entrants, and the fifty qualifiers were announced.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan announced a round-robin tournament to determine the entrants' rankings and rewards, and Lin Ming went to draw his opponent.

Lin Ming won his first Ranking Tournament match against Helian and drew a bye in the next round, advancing without a fight. He left the noisy arena to explore Jia Nan Academy, then cultivated while Flame Gold Flame continued transforming and residual Earth Heart Fire energy brought him closer to Two Star Dou Grandmaster.

• Lin Ming drew number ten and defeated Helian, whose daggers and strongest Dou Technique could not break through Lin Ming’s defenses.
• After the first round ended, Lin Ming drew the blank plate among the twenty-five victors and advanced directly to the next round.
• Lin Ming left the tournament grounds and wandered around Jia Nan Academy until nightfall.
• Back in his dormitory, Lin Ming inspected Flame Gold Flame and found that its transformation was still underway.
• Lin Ming cultivated, sensing that the remaining Earth Heart Fire energy could help him reach Two Star Dou Grandmaster before entering the Inner Academy.

Lin Ming fought Xie Lei in the third round of the Ranking Tournament and defeated him with a single saber strike. By winning, Lin Ming secured a place in the top ten and advanced toward the competition for a top-five position.

• Lin Ming arrived at the competition square as thirteen students prepared to determine the top ten and top five.
• The contestants drew Number Plates, and Xie Lei drew the plate that matched Lin Ming's assigned number.
• Xie Lei asked Lin Ming to settle their match in one move, and Lin Ming agreed.
• Xie Lei attacked with Devouring Axe, and Lin Ming countered with Startling Swan Slash using the Star Dragon Saber.
• Xie Lei conceded defeat after the collision, and the referee declared Lin Ming the winner, securing Lin Ming's top-ten place.

Lin Ming advanced to the top ten, then defeated Zuo Rulong in the match to determine the top five. His victory secured his place in the top five and the right to choose an item from the Scripture Pavilion.

• Lin Ming and two other winners advanced to the top ten, and Xie Lei won his challenge match to join them.
• The top ten drew opponents, and Lin Ming was matched against Zuo Rulong.
• Lin Ming and Zuo Rulong exchanged attacks, but neither gained a decisive advantage at first.
• Zuo Rulong shattered Lin Ming's Startling Swan Slash with Dragon Grasping Claw, then faltered when Lin Ming's ear-piercing hum stunned him.
• Lin Ming struck Zuo Rulong with Explosive Thunder Fist and held the Star Dragon Saber to his throat, winning the match and securing a top-five place.

The Inner Academy Selection Tournament concluded after the remaining contestants fought for places in the top five. Lin Ming was ranked first, and he prepared to leave for the Inner Academy after saying goodbye to Instructor Zhang Man.

• Zuo Rulong left the arena bitterly after Lin Ming defeated him without using his Profound Tier High-grade fist technique.
• Cheng Chen, Su Xue, and Xie Lei won their matches, and the contestants chose their challenge targets or gave up their chances.
• Zuo Rulong, Su Xue, and Xie Lei won their challenge matches, finalizing the five contestants.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan announced the rankings: Lin Ming first, Cheng Chen second, Zuo Rulong third, Su Xue fourth, and Xie Lei fifth; none challenged the rankings.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan declared the tournament over, and Lin Ming returned to his residence, bathed, and entered cultivation while planning to visit Instructor Zhang Man.

Lin Ming and the other four tournament finalists followed Vice Dean Hu Gan through a hidden passage to the academy's Library Pavilion. The pavilion's elders recognized Lin Ming's unusual talent and prepared to open the Space Lock so the five could enter.

• Instructor Zhang Man hurried Lin Ming to Vice Dean Hu Gan after learning that the tournament's top five could enter the Library Pavilion that day.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan led Lin Ming and the other four finalists through a concealed passage into a secluded valley where the pavilion stood.
• Hu Gan respectfully asked the two gray-robed elders at the entrance to open the pavilion, and they silently examined the newcomers.
• One elder questioned Lin Ming and sensed his unusually powerful Spiritual Strength, while Hu Gan praised him as a 4th Grade Alchemist who had only just come of age.
• Hu Gan explained that a Space Lock protected the pavilion and that only the elders knew how to open it.

Lin Ming and four others entered the Library Pavilion after Vice Dean Hu Gan explained its Energy Barriers and time limit. Inside, they discovered that items emerged from glowing shields, and the first Energy Light Orb shot toward them, leaving all five poised to compete for it.

• Two gray-robed people opened a Spatial Portal through the Space Lock, and Vice Dean Hu Gan led Lin Ming and the other four inside.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan explained that they had half an hour to choose one item and could take only what they could pass through an Energy Barrier to obtain.
• A gray-robed person opened the Library Pavilion doors, and Lin Ming and the others entered after being jolted out of a daze by the ancient plaque.
• Lin Ming and the others reached a chamber containing Energy Shields, and Lin Ming told Cheng Chen that items would emerge from them.
• An Energy Light Orb emerged from one shield and shot toward the five, who immediately moved to compete for it.

Lin Ming and the others scrambled to collect treasures from the Library Pavilion’s Energy Orbs, but valuable Earth Tier items resisted being removed. Lin Ming found an Earth Tier Mid-grade cultivation method and released it, staying focused on his goal of finding a Soul or Body Refining skill as the search continued.

• Lin Ming seized a scroll containing the Profound Tier Mid-grade movement skill Instantaneous Roaming Steps, then returned it to the wall after deciding it did not interest him.
• The Energy Shields erupted with more orbs, and Zuo Rulong celebrated finding an Earth Tier Dou Technique before its protective energy repelled him and the orb vanished.
• Lin Ming used his Soul Power to sense powerful energy fluctuations and quickly seized a fiery red orb containing the Earth Tier Mid-grade Nine Layered Phoenix Fire Art.
• Lin Ming released the orb without trying to take the scroll, choosing to keep searching for a Soul cultivation method, a Body Refining Fighting Skill, or a Sound Wave Fighting Skill.

Lin Ming risked repeated electric shocks to retrieve a powerful body-refining technique from the Library Pavilion. He left with the Profound Tier High-grade Purple Lightning Radiant Body Technique as the Pavilion’s time limit expired.

• As time ran short, Lin Ming nearly gave up on finding a better body-refining skill and prepared to leave with his two chosen scrolls.
• A purple energy orb appeared, and Lin Ming endured repeated electric shocks as he pulled its scroll free before the Pavilion reclaimed his other selections.
• Lin Ming discovered the scroll contained the Profound Tier High-grade Purple Lightning Radiant Body Technique and left the Pavilion with the others.
• After the group exited, a gray-robed attendant warned them not to reveal anything about the Library Pavilion, and Vice Dean Hu Gan noticed Lin Ming’s scorched appearance.

After leaving the Library Pavilion, Lin Ming learned that he and the other top students would enter the Inner Academy in two days, where the Fire Energy Hunt Competition would put them at risk from stronger old students. He visited Old Huo to say farewell and planned his cultivation and future Strong Ranking Tournament goals.

• Vice Dean Hu Gan led Lin Ming and the other four safely out of the Library Pavilion and advised them to unite after entering the Inner Academy.
• Lin Ming considered the coming Fire Energy Hunt Competition and decided he could evade the old students, though his batch was too weak to counter-rob them.
• Lin Ming left the others and went to the Alchemy Department to visit Old Huo before entering the Inner Academy.
• Steward Yang congratulated Lin Ming on winning first place in the selection tournament and told him Old Huo was upstairs.
• Lin Ming told Old Huo he had obtained a Profound Tier High-grade Dou Technique, then chatted with him.

Lin Ming began cultivating the Purple Lightning Radiant Body Technique, enduring a day of painful electrocution to reach its entry level. Before leaving for the Inner Academy the next day, he obtained a Lightning Resistance Pill formula from Elder Huo to help him safely cultivate the technique further.

• Lin Ming studied the Purple Lightning Radiant Body Technique scroll and learned it required absorbing lightning to temper his body, with a sealed supply of lightning energy for beginning cultivation.
• Lin Ming used the scroll's lightning to open the technique's meridians, reaching the entry level after a day of painful cultivation and scorching his hair and body.
• Steward Yang was bewildered by Lin Ming's singed appearance, and Lin Ming explained his cultivation to Elder Huo.
• Lin Ming asked Elder Huo for help reducing the dangers of future lightning strikes, and Elder Huo gave him a Lightning Resistance Pill formula.
• Lin Ming confirmed he was ready to leave for the Inner Academy the next day and promised not to neglect alchemy, prompting Elder Huo to look forward to his becoming a Tier 5 Alchemist.

Lin Ming’s Flame Gold Flame completed its mutation into the Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire and consumed a vast amount of energy, leaving him exhausted but advancing him to the Two Star Dou Grandmaster realm. Elder Huo came to check on him and asked to see the transformed flame.

• Lin Ming inspected the Flame Gold Flame’s cyan, lotus-petal scales and continued cultivating while waiting for its mutation to finish.
• The Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire awakened during the night and drained energy from Lin Ming, so he cultivated to feed it while Elder Huo protected his courtyard from onlookers.
• After absorbing energy for hours, the Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire settled down and sent pure energy into Lin Ming’s dantian, allowing his Dou Crystal to advance him to the Two Star Dou Grandmaster realm.
• Elder Huo questioned Lin Ming about the energy vortex, then urged him to summon the mutated flame.
• Lin Ming showed the golden-and-cyan flame, and Elder Huo’s dark-red flame flickered as though it feared it.

Lin Ming learned that his Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire had gained traits of a Heavenly Flame, then prepared to leave for the Inner Academy. Vice Dean Hu Gan led the fifty selected students onto Griffon Beasts and began their journey to the academy’s secret location.

• Elder Huo explained that Lin Ming’s Flame Gold Earth Heart Fire had absorbed the Earth Heart Fire Stone’s Flame Berserk Factor and might evolve into a Heavenly Flame after centuries of nurturing.
• Lin Ming thanked Elder Huo, packed his belongings, and went to the departure gathering place.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan encouraged the fifty selected students and explained that the Inner Academy was secret and unlike the outer academy.
• Ten Griffon Beasts arrived, and Hu Gan instructed the students to form groups of five and board them.
• Lin Ming and the other four top-ranked students boarded a Griffon Beast, and Hu Gan and the elders took flight as the beasts began carrying the students away.

Lin Ming and the other students traveled through a dangerous forest to the hidden entrance of the Inner Academy. After passing through a spatial gate, they arrived inside and met the elders and students waiting to receive them.

• Xie Lei asked what the Inner Academy was like, while Lin Ming reflected that its Fire Energy economy made it harsh for students without resources.
• Magical Beasts attacked the Griffon Beast formation, but Vice Dean Hu Gan and the other escorts destroyed them before they could reach the students.
• The Griffon Beasts landed beside a ravine, where Vice Dean Hu Gan revealed a giant silver gate through spatial ripples.
• The students followed Hu Gan through the gate, which vanished after they entered.
• Inside the forest beyond the gate, Vice Dean Hu Gan greeted Elders Liu and Xu, then introduced Lin Ming and the other four to them.