Chapter Summaries

Shen Wen refused Cao Tianxiong’s request simply because he did not want to comply, but Cao Tianxiong respected his candor and granted him authority equal to Cao Ying’s in the Cao Family. Shen Wen spent two days studying the family’s alchemy with Cao Tianxiong, who recognized his talent and realized Cao Ying had shared the family’s secret recipes with him.

• Shen Wen told Cao Tianxiong he would not do what he had asked because he simply did not want to.
• Cao Tianxiong laughed, rescinded his earlier demands, and gave Shen Wen access to the Cao Family’s resources and authority equal to Cao Ying’s, while leaving him to handle any opposition himself.
• Cao Tianxiong invited Shen Wen to discuss alchemy, then led him to the family’s Alchemy Room and shared its recipes and notes.
• Shen Wen studied the Cao Family’s methods and discussed the Yi Shi Pill with Cao Tianxiong over the next two days.
• Cao Tianxiong noticed Shen Wen’s annotations on the family’s secret recipes and realized Cao Ying had shared the family’s foundation with him.

On the way back from Cao City, Cao Ying explained that the Cao Family had allied with Shen Wen because it needed his talent as an Eighth-grade Alchemist. Shen Wen resumed studying alchemy and managing affairs, while Dan Chen celebrated becoming a Seventh-Grade Alchemist before learning that Qing Lin's Concubine Ceremony was approaching.

• Cao Ying told Shen Wen that the Cao Family's weak younger generation had driven Cao Tianxiong to invest in Shen Wen as an Eighth-grade Alchemist.
• Shen Wen spent the next half month studying under Xuan Danzi and using the Cao Family's resources and Intelligence Network.
• News of Shen Wen's access to Cao Family resources spread, bringing visitors and petitioners to Shen Manor.
• Dan Chen showed Shen Wen her new Seventh-Grade Alchemist Badge, and he congratulated her on passing.
• Cao Ying announced that Qing Lin's Concubine Ceremony would be held in a few days, making Dan Chen worry that she was falling behind and resolve to negotiate with the Dan Family.

Shen Wen married Qing Lin and received several system rewards, including the Heavenly Demon Body Origin and Great Charm Technique, which he gave to her. Meanwhile, Cao Xiu returned to Cao City as a Seventh-Grade Intermediate Alchemist and questioned the steward about a stele bearing Shen Wen’s name.

• Shen Wen completed the concubinage ceremony with Qing Lin and received system rewards, including the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart and the Complete Solution to Shangqing Formation.
• Shen Wen sensed that Qing Lin’s affection had risen to 32% and received the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Method and Great Dao Treasure Bottle.
• The next morning, Shen Wen gave Qing Lin the Heavenly Demon Body Origin and helped her refine it, then handed her a Jade Slip containing the Great Charm Technique.
• Cao Xiu returned to Cao City after reaching Seventh-Grade Intermediate and asked the steward who Grandmaster Shen was after spotting a stele marking Shen Wen’s exclusive berth.

Cao Xiu returned to Cao City and challenged Shen Wen’s standing in the Cao Family, prompting Cao Ying to suggest settling the dispute through alchemy. When Cai Lin said her child might be born within days, Shen Wen hurried home and agreed to receive Cao Xiu for a pill-refining contest.

• Cao Xiu returned to Cao City and questioned Shen Wen’s authority to use the Cao Family’s resources, stirring opposition among the family elders.
• At a meeting, Cao Xiu claimed he might match Shen Wen with equal training and said he had never conceded to anyone in refining pills of the same grade.
• Cao Ying learned that Cai Lin expected to give birth within days, and Shen Wen rushed home from the Pill Pagoda to check on her.
• Cao Ying told Shen Wen about Cao Xiu’s challenge, and Shen Wen invited Cao Xiu to Shen Manor to refine pills of the same grade.

Shen Wen studied the Great Dao Treasure Bottle and ancient formation knowledge, realizing he could use the latter to investigate the Soul Clan’s hidden preparations. He decided to seek out the Gold Devouring Rat clan in the Tian Mu Mountain Range and turn them into a continent-wide intelligence network.

• Shen Wen tested the Great Dao Treasure Bottle by devouring Fallen Heart Flame and converting it into energy for himself.
• Shen Wen studied the Upper Clarity Formation Details and concluded that much of the continent’s ancient formation and artifact-refining knowledge had been lost.
• Shen Wen realized the formation knowledge could help him locate or alter the Soul Clan’s Blood Sacrifice formations, but he lacked reliable intelligence about their locations.
• Shen Wen identified the Gold Devouring Rat clan as natural scouts because they were widespread, sensitive to energy, and able to travel underground unnoticed.
• Shen Wen decided to go to the Tian Mu Mountain Range to find the Gold Devouring Rat clan.

Cao Xiu’s challenge and rumors stirred public opinion at the Pill Pagoda, prompting Shen Wen to confirm he would face Cao Xiu in a public pill-refining contest on the eighth day of next month. As he prepared for the contest, Shen Wen focused on studying the Sky Burning Cauldron through the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Method.

• Cao Xiu spread word that he and Shen Wen would publicly refine pills of the same rank at the Pill Pagoda on the eighth day of next month.
• The Bai Family and Qiu Family fueled rumors that Shen Wen feared Cao Xiu and did not deserve to use the Cao Family’s resources.
• Dan Chen confronted young alchemists who mocked Shen Wen, then told him about the rumors at Shen Manor.
• Shen Wen told Dan Chen to announce that he would compete against Cao Xiu on the agreed date and invited Cao Xiu to bring anyone he wished.
• Shen Wen examined the Sky Burning Cauldron and realized its patterns formed a complex system of rune arrays.

Shen Wen studied the Sky Burning Cauldron’s arrays and decided to gather materials to practice the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Method. He discussed his stalled alchemy progress and plans for the Zun Ji Pill with Cao Ying, then turned his attention to controlling the Gold Devouring Rat clan before spending the night with Xiao Yi Xian.

• Shen Wen examined the Sky Burning Cauldron’s rune arrays and realized that mastering the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Method could let him create powerful artifacts.
• Shen Wen asked Cao Ying to gather metal materials for artifact-refining practice, and she agreed to send the Cao Family’s available stock.
• Cao Ying asked about Shen Wen’s alchemy progress, and he explained that he was building the foundation needed to reach Ninth Rank.
• Shen Wen told Cao Ying that he had a preliminary Zun Ji Pill recipe but needed more time to resolve problems with medicinal power clashing.
• Shen Wen decided to make controlling the Gold Devouring Rat clan a priority so he could gain intelligence and access to metal resources.
• Shen Wen went to Xiao Yi Xian’s room, where the two spent the night together.

Shen Wen arrived at Sacred Pill Square for his alchemy contest with Cao Xiu and rebuffed Cao Xiu’s insinuations about his master and talent. After humiliating Cao Xiu in front of the crowd, Shen Wen left the dispute to be settled by their alchemy skills.

• Cao Xiu arrived at Sacred Pill Square and waited at his Alchemy Platform while the crowd and agents from the Bai Family and Qiu Family anticipated Shen Wen’s contest.
• Shen Wen arrived alone at the agreed time and challenged Cao Xiu’s claim that his Eighth-grade skill came from relying on Old Ancestor Lin.
• Shen Wen pointed out that Cao Xiu had an Eighth-grade grandfather yet remained Rank Seven, then mocked him by saying the square had no grit.
• The crowd laughed as Cao Xiu became furious and struggled to answer Shen Wen.
• Cao Xiu suppressed his anger, dismissed Shen Wen’s words as a silver tongue, and called for their skills to decide the contest.

Tian Lei Zi presided over Shen Wen and Cao Xiu’s pill-refining contest, setting identical conditions for both alchemists. Shen Wen quickly began refining the Profound Sun Pill with remarkable precision, leaving Cao Xiu rattled as he finally started his own attempt.

• Tian Lei Zi arrived and volunteered to oversee Shen Wen and Cao Xiu’s contest.
• Tian Lei Zi provided identical cauldrons and herbs, then gave them two hours to study the Profound Sun Pill recipe before refining.
• Shen Wen began refining almost immediately, adding the herbs in the exact order and controlling their temperatures precisely.
• Cao Xiu watched in disbelief as Shen Wen’s pill neared completion before he had even started refining.
• Cao Xiu began his own attempt, but Shen Wen’s progress had already unsettled him.

Shen Wen refined a Profound Sun Pill whose quality approached the Eighth Rank, and Tian Lei Zi declared him the winner over Cao Xiu. The chapter ended with Cao Xiu stunned by his defeat and Shen Wen dismissing the contest as boring.

• Shen Wen completed the Profound Sun Pill and used a black bottle to absorb the Pill Lightning.
• Shen Wen stopped the pill from escaping and handed it to Tian Lei Zi for judgment.
• Tian Lei Zi judged the pill to be Half-step Eighth Grade and admitted Shen Wen’s alchemy surpassed his own.
• Cao Family supporters argued that Cao Xiu should be allowed to finish, but Tian Lei Zi defended his verdict and declared the outcome settled.
• Cao Xiu stood frozen in defeat as Shen Wen called the contest boring.

After leaving the Pill Pagoda, Shen Wen instructed Cao Ying to strengthen their influence within the Cao Family and prepared to visit the Gold Devouring Rat clan. He reached the Tian Mu Mountain Range, where he detected that its Energy Tide would erupt in a year and decided to investigate its mysterious source.

• Shen Wen left the Pill Pagoda after humiliating Cao Xiu, while the Bai Family and Qiu Family withdrew after their scheme failed.
• Cao Ying told Shen Wen that Cao Xiu had left the Alchemy Platform after standing there for a quarter of an hour, and Shen Wen asked her to warn or win over elders who had supported Cao Xiu.
• Shen Wen told Cao Ying to use the Cao Family elders' ambitions for their descendants to build support within the family.
• Shen Wen checked Cai Lin's condition and told her he would be away for several days to half a month; Cai Lin agreed to wait for him.
• Shen Wen arrived at the Tian Mu Mountain Range, sensed that its Energy Tide would erupt in a year, and chose to investigate the phenomenon while seeking the Gold Devouring Rat clan.

Shen Wen found the Gold Devouring Rat clan’s underground territory in the Tian Mu Mountain Range and demanded that the clan work for him. After Patriarch Jin Shi resisted, Shen Wen used the Great Pudu Technique to subdue him and the gathered rats, leaving them obedient to Shen Wen.

• Shen Wen traveled deep into the Tian Mu Mountain Range and found the Gold Devouring Rat clan’s underground maze beneath a valley.
• A Golden Giant Rat attacked Shen Wen, but he pinned it down with a casual wave, prompting countless rats to emerge from the ground.
• Patriarch Jin Shi appeared and challenged Shen Wen for trespassing and injuring his people.
• Shen Wen told Jin Shi that the Gold Devouring Rat clan would work for him, then used the Great Pudu Technique to overwhelm the valley.
• Jin Shi and the gathered rats submitted to Shen Wen, who ordered them to rise.

Shen Wen ordered Jin Shi and the Gold Devouring Rat clan to search for rare metals and monitor the Soul Clan’s hidden formations. Jin Shi revealed that the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool drew its power from a concealed fissure beneath the volcano, and Shen Wen prepared to investigate it.

• Shen Wen instructed Jin Shi to locate rare metals and report unusual energy fluctuations while observing the Soul Clan from a distance.
• Jin Shi told Shen Wen that the Soul Clan regularly appeared in remote places and secretly set up concealed formations.
• Jin Shi revealed that special energy from a deep fissure beneath the volcano fed the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool and helped Dou Huang Peak cultivators advance to Dou Zong.
• Jin Shi said his clansmen had been torn apart by Spatial Turbulence before they could descend far into the fissure, and Shen Wen asked him to mark its location.
• Shen Wen made the Gold Devouring Rat clan his intelligence network, arranged for their gathered metals to be collected, and used the Fallen Heart Flame to remove Jin Shi’s Fire Toxin.

Shen Wen discovered a hidden spatial rift beneath the Tian Mu Mountain Range and entered a passage connected to the Ancient Void Dragons. His Azure Dragon Body and Space Ancestral Talisman gained the ancient force’s acceptance, and he emerged into a vast space beyond the passage.

• Shen Wen descended through the volcano and sensed unusual Space Power resonating with his Space Ancestral Talisman and Heavenly Dragon Qi.
• Shen Wen found a vast underground space centered on a spatial rift emitting power associated with an Ancient Void Dragon at the Dou Sheng level.
• Shen Wen decided to enter the rift, reasoning that his connection to Zi Yan made it natural to investigate.
• An ancient force examined Shen Wen in the passage, then accepted him when his Azure Dragon Body and Space Ancestral Talisman resonated with it.
• Shen Wen reached the end of the passage and stepped into the space beyond.

Shen Wen discovered a thriving hidden world and followed the auras of an Ancient Void Dragon and an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix to a secluded valley. There, he found their entwined corpses and a Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit growing in their merged blood; the fruit’s fate remained undecided.

• Shen Wen sensed powerful Ancient Void Dragon and Ancient Heavenly Phoenix auras deep within the hidden world and suspected the latter belonged to an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix.
• Shen Wen passed through a concealed spatial barrier and found the corpses of the two ancient beings entwined in a valley.
• Shen Wen saw that both beings had died from fatal chest wounds inflicted by one another.
• Shen Wen discovered a Blood Lake formed from their essence blood and a gold-and-purple fruit growing at its center.
• Shen Wen recognized the fruit as a Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit capable of granting both ancient bloodlines to a Demonic Beast.

Shen Wen discovered the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit and the Blood Lake formed from the essence blood of two ancient Dou Shengs. After taking the fruit for Zi Yan, he absorbed the lake’s energy and reached the middle stage of Eight-star Dou Zong, then stopped to protect his foundation.

• Shen Wen recognized the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit and realized the ancient Dou Shengs’ remains had created the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.
• Shen Wen uprooted the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit and stored it for Zi Yan.
• Shen Wen used the Devouring Ancestral Symbol and Great Dao Treasure Bottle to drain the Blood Lake.
• Shen Wen refined the essence blood, completed his Azure Dragon Body transformation, and gained the Azure Dragon Mark.
• Shen Wen advanced to the middle stage of Eight-star Dou Zong, then halted his absorption to keep his foundation stable.

Shen Wen preserved the independent space beneath the volcano and ordered Jin Shi to guard its entrance. Meanwhile, Jiu Feng learned that the Ancient Void Dragons were nearing reunification and sent Elder Huang Xuan to request Zong Ji Pills from Shen Wen.

• Shen Wen left some essence blood in the independent space so it would remain stable, planning to claim and maintain it after reaching Dou Zun.
• Shen Wen returned to the Tian Mu Mountain Range and ordered Jin Shi to discreetly guard the fissure beneath the volcano.
• Jiu Feng learned that North Dragon Island was close to victory and that the Ancient Void Dragons might soon reunify.
• Jiu Feng heard that Shen Wen could refine Zong Ji Pills that raised Dou Zong cultivation by one star.
• Jiu Feng assigned Elder Huang Xuan to request a batch of pills from Shen Wen and instructed him to be courteous.

Shen Wen returned to Shen Manor and gave Zi Yan the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, but she decided to wait until she reached the Dou Zong realm before refining it. He then settled into studying the Upper Clarity Formation Details and the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Method.

• Shen Wen returned to Pill City, handled matters at the Pill Pagoda, visited Xuan Danzi, and then went back to Shen Manor.
• Shen Wen learned that Zi Yan was training in the backyard and watched her practice until she noticed him.
• Shen Wen showed Zi Yan the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit and explained that he had found it beneath the Tian Mu Mountain Range.
• Zi Yan recognized the fruit from her inherited memories but said she was too weak to refine it safely before reaching the Dou Zong realm, so Shen Wen agreed to keep it for her.
• Cao Ying stabilized the Cao Family after the Cao Xiu incident while Shen Wen spent his time studying two ancient inheritances.
• Shen Wen spent half a month reading through the Upper Clarity Formation Details once and found the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Method even more difficult.

Shen Wen opened his Fourth Origin and reached Heavenly Realm Grand Perfection, drawing the attention of the Pill Tower’s strongest experts and sensing the Three Thousand Burning Flame. He then rushed to the delivery room as Cai Lin went into labor, and the chapter ended with a sudden boom from behind the door.

• Shen Wen studied artifact refining with the Sky Burning Cauldron and arranged for the Gold Devouring Rat clan’s metals to be received in Sacred Pill City.
• Shen Wen used the incoming Faith Power and the Great Origin Technique to open his Fourth Origin, then advanced to Heavenly Realm Grand Perfection.
• Tian Lei Zi, Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Xuan Danzi sensed Shen Wen’s breakthrough and discussed his extraordinary power and prospects.
• Shen Wen sensed the Three Thousand Burning Flame and heard Xuan Danzi suggest that he subdue it before it broke free and endangered Sacred Pill City.
• Shen Wen hurried to the delivery room, where Qing Lin and Zi Yan stood guard while Cai Lin gave birth.
• A sudden boom came from inside the delivery room as Shen Wen waited outside.

Shen Yi Nian was born amid a nine-colored pillar of light that drew the attention of Pill City, and the Dou Saints recognized that she had been born a Dou Zong. Old Monster Lin and Xuan Danzi helped conceal the truth by planning to blame the spectacle on Cai Lin breaking through into a Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python.

• A nine-colored pillar of light erupted from Shen Manor, alarming Pill City and drawing Old Monster Lin and Xuan Danzi to investigate.
• Shen Wen tried to suppress the disturbance, while Old Monster Lin and Xuan Danzi deterred onlookers from approaching.
• Cao Ying emerged with the newborn and told Shen Wen that mother and daughter were safe; Shen Wen hurried to check on Cai Lin before returning to meet Shen Yi Nian.
• Shen Wen held Shen Yi Nian and repeated her name as the baby gazed at him with purple eyes.
• Xuan Danzi identified the newborn as a Dou Zong, and Old Monster Lin and Xuan Danzi decided to attribute the spectacle to Cai Lin's breakthrough instead.