Chapter Summaries

Xuan Kongzi warned Xiao Ling, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Song Qing that the Soul Hall planned to use the Alchemist Convention to seize or release Danta’s sealed Three Thousand Burning Flame. He gave Xiao Ling alchemy materials and urged the group to stay in Danta before the selection began, while Xiao Ling privately resolved to kill Venerable Mu Gu.

• Xuan Kongzi praised Xiao Ling’s alchemy and cultivation, predicted he could win the Alchemist Convention, and prompted Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Song Qing to resolve to prove themselves.
• Xuan Kongzi revealed that the Soul Hall intended to take the Three Thousand Burning Flame and explained why Danta’s rules prevented it from barring their alchemists from competing.
• Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Song Qing, and Xiao Ling agreed to oppose the Soul Hall’s plan, while Xiao Ling privately planned to eliminate Venerable Mu Gu to protect the secret of Fen Jue.
• Xuan Kongzi gave Xiao Ling scrolls containing alchemy insights, Pill Recipes, and Soul Fighting Skills, then advised the four to remain in Danta until the selection began in seven days.
• After the four left the hall, Xuan Kongzi vowed that Danta would not let the Soul Hall have the championship or the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Song Qing caught up with Cao Ying and tried to flatter her by promising to protect her in the Dan Realm.

Xiao Ling helped Cao Ying escape Song Qing’s advances, then revealed the Spirit Nurturing Dust hidden inside the strange copper piece. He gave Cao Ying one of the five grains and kept the other four, leaving her delighted by both the treasure and his gesture.

• Cao Ying clung to Xiao Ling to shake off Song Qing, and Xiao Ling embraced her while Song Qing watched in jealousy.
• Cao Ying led Xiao Ling to a private room and asked him to reveal the Spirit Nurturing Dust stored in the copper piece.
• Xiao Ling used Dou Qi to remove the patina and Dark Gold Flame to refine the copper piece until it vanished, leaving five grains of Spirit Nurturing Dust.
• Cao Ying recognized the rare treasure, and Xiao Ling stored four grains in his Ring before giving the fifth to her.
• Cao Ying gratefully accepted the Spirit Nurturing Dust and took Xiao Ling’s gift as a sign that she mattered to him.

Cao Ying kissed Xiao Ling and their intimacy deepened, though she refused to go further; Xiao Ling later returned to his courtyard to prepare for the Alchemist Convention. There, he examined the Pure Origin Treasure made by Little Diao and the Spirit of the Ancestor Stone and promised to refine Little Diao’s Reincarnation Soul Sculpting Pill.

• Cao Ying stopped Xiao Ling from leaving, kissed him, and admitted that she was not ready to go further.
• Xiao Ling restrained himself from crossing Cao Ying’s final boundary, and she agreed to help him in another way.
• Xiao Ling left Danta and returned to the courtyard where his group was staying in Sacred Pill City.
• Little Diao showed Xiao Ling the Pure Origin Treasure that he and the Spirit of the Ancestor Stone had made.
• Xiao Ling promised Little Diao that he would refine the Reincarnation Soul Sculpting Pill to help restore his body.

Xiao Ling tested the fiery shield the Spirit of the Ancestor Stone had given him and named it Blazing Radiance Protection before leaving the courtyard to his companions. Xun Er arrived to see him, reunited with Zi Yan and Qing Lin, and was introduced to Medusa.

• The Spirit of the Ancestor Stone gave Xiao Ling a fire-powered shield, which he tested and named Blazing Radiance Protection.
• Little Diao complained about Xiao Ling treating him like a pet but tolerated it because Xiao Ling would help restore his physical body.
• Xun Er arrived at the Ye Family courtyard and was escorted to Medusa, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin.
• Qing Lin recognized Xun Er by her features, aura, and wrist necklace, and Zi Yan recognized her soon afterward.
• Xun Er warmly reunited with Zi Yan and Qing Lin before greeting Medusa, who welcomed her politely.

Xiao Ling reunited with Xun Er in Sacred Pill City, and the two spent a quiet day together before preparing for the Alchemist Convention. As the convention began, Xiao Ling set out in his formal Danta robes, confident he would claim the championship.

• Xiao Ling emerged into the courtyard, reunited with Xun Er, and embraced and kissed her while Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Medusa watched.
• Xiao Ling took Xun Er to explore Sacred Pill City, using the Illusory Dream Spirit Shadow to conceal them from the crowds.
• Xiao Ling and Xun Er shared a peaceful outing and reaffirmed their affection for each other.
• On the morning of the Alchemist Convention, Xun Er arranged Xiao Ling's purple robes and he wore his Eighth-grade Alchemist badge.
• Xiao Ling left with Xun Er and the others, declaring he intended to win the convention's championship.

Xiao Ling and his companions arrived at the Alchemist Convention, where Ye Zhong explained its trials and warned them about dangers in the Dan Realm and Soul Hall. The Three Titans of Danta appeared and Xuan Kongzi began announcing the competition’s stages.

• Xiao Ling, Xun Er, Medusa, Zi Yan, Ye Xin Lan, and Ye Zhong traveled to the Alchemist Convention grounds in Sacred Pill City.
• Xiao Ling spotted black-robed figures he suspected belonged to the Soul Hall and kept them under observation.
• Ye Zhong explained the first-round illusion realm, the Dan Realm’s ingredient-gathering trial, and the risks of fighting there.
• Zi Yan asked to sneak into the Dan Realm for rare medicinal ingredients, and Xiao Ling agreed she could try to meet him there.
• Ye Zhong warned Xiao Ling about the Soul Hall’s schemes, and Xiao Ling calmly said he was prepared to deal with them.
• The Three Titans of Danta appeared before the crowd, and Xuan Kongzi welcomed the Alchemists and began outlining the convention’s three stages.

Xiao Ling entered the Alchemist Convention’s first trial, the Soul Illusion Realm, determined to claim the championship and its promised soul-cultivation secret art. As he began exploring the realm, Chu Wanqing, Su Li, and Ning Yuxi arrived in Sacred Pill City, while Xuan Kongzi voiced high expectations for Xiao Ling’s performance.

• Xuan Kongzi announced that the Alchemist Convention champion would receive an ancient Soul Cultivation Secret Art, and Xiao Ling recalled that he already possessed the Taiyi Soul Art.
• Xuan Kongzi opened the first stage, the Soul Illusion Realm, and contestants of fifth grade and above rushed into its warped space.
• Xun Er, Zi Yan, Medusa, and the others encouraged Xiao Ling, who promised to pursue the championship before entering the realm.
• Su Li recognized Xiao Ling among the contestants, while Chu Wanqing concealed her reaction and led Su Li and Ning Yuxi toward Sacred Pill City’s Northern Domain.
• Xuan Kongzi told Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi that Xiao Ling had defeated Cao Ying and Dan Chen together in the Five Great Families Assessment, and predicted that he would surprise them.
• Xiao Ling entered the Soul Illusion Realm, found that its gray gas suppressed Soul Power, and used his strong soul perception to survey his surroundings.

Xiao Ling passed the illusion trial by resisting its lifelike visions and emerged as the first contestant to reach the plaza. As he waited for the next round with Little Diao, Cao Ying arrived and joined him.

• Xiao Ling used his Soul Power to find the correct route and bypassed traps while other contestants kept their distance.
• Xiao Ling dispelled illusions of Xun Er and other familiar figures, then destroyed the hostile phantom of Chu Wanqing.
• Xiao Ling found the Black Hole exit, completed the first round, and met Elder Liao at the plaza.
• Xiao Ling sat down with tea and pastries, and Little Diao emerged from the Bone Flame Ring to eat and banter with him.
• Cao Ying passed through the trial, greeted Elder Liao, and sat beside Xiao Ling, who assured her he would not miss the Alchemist Convention.

As the Alchemist Convention’s second trial approached, Xiao Ling refused Cao Ying’s proposal to join forces, secretly placed a protective tracking mark on her, and identified Venerable Mu Gu as a target because he carried a fragment of the Nihility Devouring Flame. Elder Liao explained the Dan Realm trial’s rules, and the contestants prepared to enter.

• Cao Ying proposed that she and Xiao Ling form a team for the dangerous Dan Realm trial, but Xiao Ling declined and suggested she ally with Dan Chen instead.
• Cao Ying angrily walked away, and Xiao Ling secretly placed a tracking Space Mark in her body so he could locate and assist her if she faced danger.
• Cao Ying and Dan Chen formed an alliance and gathered many contestants, while Xiao Ling noticed Soul Hall members watching him and recognized a trace of Nihility Devouring Flame within Venerable Mu Gu.
• Xiao Ling resolved to kill Venerable Mu Gu in the Dan Realm and take the flame fragment for himself.
• Elder Liao announced that contestants had to collect the listed medicinal ingredients and reach the exit within ten days, warning that crushing their Space Stone would save them but end their participation.

Xiao Ling entered the Dan Realm for the Alchemist Convention’s second examination and reunited with Zi Yan, then traveled with her to search for rare medicinal ingredients. After securing his required ingredients, they reached a wilderness where Zi Yan sensed an exceptionally rare treasure near a group of Alchemists battling a Magical Beast.

• Xiao Ling collected his examination list, map, and Space Stone from Elder Liao and entered the Dan Realm after the other Alchemists had gone ahead.
• Xiao Ling received a list requiring Spirit Rhyme Immortal Grass, Blazing Sun Spirit Fruit, and Thousand Year Purple Crystal Spirit Flower, then reunited with Zi Yan, who had secretly entered the Dan Realm by following his aura.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan headed toward the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range and gathered many rare medicinal ingredients, including all three ingredients required for his examination.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan arrived at a wilderness where more than ten Alchemists were fighting a massive Magical Beast, and Zi Yan said an exceptionally rare treasure lay nearby.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan prepared to approach the battle and drive away the people near the treasure.

Xiao Ling and Zi Yan arrived as Alchemists fought a snake-shaped Magical Beast and claimed the Thousand Year Earth Yellow Essence, then discovered the Earth Core Jade Mother hidden beneath the battlefield. Xiao Ling identified the jade’s power to suppress violent energy, leaving them poised to uncover the rest of the treasure.

• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan flew to the battle and watched a group of Alchemists kill the snake-shaped Magical Beast, only for the Iron Rod Giant to attack them and claim the exposed Thousand Year Earth Yellow Essence.
• Xiao Ling drew the Earth Yellow Essence away before the Iron Rod Giant could touch it, and Zi Yan erased the furious man with her Space Power.
• Xiao Ling ordered the remaining onlookers to leave, then collected the Earth Yellow Essence and realized the buried treasure might conceal something rarer.
• Xiao Ling excavated a deep pit after Zi Yan sensed something valuable beneath the sand, and they found a crystal-clear piece of jade buried at the bottom.
• Xiao Ling identified the jade as Earth Core Jade Mother and explained that it could suppress violent energy during cultivation or alchemy.

Xiao Ling uncovered Earth Core Soul Marrow inside a massive Earth Core Jade Mother and stored it for Old Yao to use in a soul-tempering medicine, promising Zi Yan a share. After dismissing Huang Yi, who had been secretly watching them, Xiao Ling learned that Zi Yan had found a Seven-Colored Raw Stone connected to Medusa's Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline.

• Xiao Ling pulled the Earth Core Jade Mother from the ground, cut it open, and found Earth Core Soul Marrow inside.
• Xiao Ling stored the Soul Marrow and the remaining jade, and promised Zi Yan some of the medicine Old Yao would make to improve her Soul Power.
• Xiao Ling detected Huang Yi spying on them, accepted his Ring of treasures as an apology, and let him leave.
• Zi Yan showed Xiao Ling a thumb-sized, seven-patterned stone whose aura reminded her of Medusa's bloodline.
• Xiao Ling recognized the stone as a Seven-Colored Raw Stone, a rare treasure associated with the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, and said it was of little use to them.

Xiao Ling and Zi Yan traveled to the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range to seek rare herbs from its Eighth-Rank overlord, the Ancient Dragon Bear. After Xiao Ling defeated its Seventh-Rank guards, Xiong Zhan appeared and attacked him, prompting Xiao Ling to summon his Azure Dragon Scales.

• Xiao Ling took the Seven-Colored Raw Stone from Zi Yan and planned to give it to Medusa for examination.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan reached the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range, where they spotted Cao Ying and sensed the Ancient Dragon Bear’s lair full of rare herbs.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan went to the mountain’s stone hall, where two Seventh-Rank Magical Beasts attacked them.
• Xiao Ling used physical strength to injure and throw the two guards into the hall’s entrance without killing them.
• Xiong Zhan emerged from distorted space, threatened Xiao Ling, and punched at his face.
• Xiao Ling activated Azure Dragon Scales to meet Xiong Zhan’s attack.

Xiao Ling and Xiong Zhan fought a devastating physical battle in the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range, with Xiao Ling activating the Azure Dragon Transformation. Their clash shook the mountains and drew the attention of the Alchemist Convention examinees, who realized the battle involved Dou Venerate-level power.

• Xiao Ling overpowered Xiong Zhan in their first exchange, sending the Ancient Dragon Bear retreating and awakening his fighting spirit.
• Xiong Zhan challenged Xiao Ling to a full battle, and Xiao Ling activated the Azure Dragon Transformation Art.
• Xiao Ling struck with Azure Dragon Sky-Tearing Hand as Xiong Zhan transformed and answered with a mountain-backed fist, sending him crashing into a crater.
• Xiong Zhan climbed from the crater and charged again, while he and Xiao Ling continued battling and shattered floating islands and space around them.
• The Alchemist Convention examinees sensed the battle from afar, and an examinee asked Song Qing whether the disturbance came from the mountain range’s Magical Beast Overlord.
• Song Qing judged that only a Dou Venerate-level expert fighting at full strength could cause such a disturbance.

The examinees abandoned Song Qing’s plan to challenge the suspected Eighth Rank Magical Beast, while Cao Ying worried that Xiao Ling was fighting in the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range. Xiao Ling ended his clash with Xiong Zhan peacefully, and Zi Yan revealed her Ancient Void Dragon bloodline, leaving Xiong Zhan awed and deferential.

• The examinees suspected an Eighth Rank Magical Beast guarded the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range and mocked Song Qing for urging them to venture deeper; Song Qing apologized outwardly while vowing revenge inwardly.
• Cao Ying sensed Xiao Ling’s aura among the distant battle fluctuations and worried about his safety.
• Venerable Mu Gu and the Star Picking Old Ghost decided to head toward the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range to find and eliminate Xiao Ling under orders from above.
• Xiao Ling defeated Xiong Zhan in their physical clash, proved he was an Eighth-grade Alchemist, and proposed that they settle their dispute peacefully.
• Xiao Ling introduced Zi Yan to Xiong Zhan, and Zi Yan’s dragon pressure made him recognize the force of her bloodline.
• Zi Yan declared that she belonged to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan and was an Eighth Rank Ancient Void Dragon.

After learning Zi Yan was an Ancient Void Dragon, Xiong Zhan respectfully brought her and Xiao Ling to his hall to inspect his medicinal collection. Xiao Ling traded Eighth-grade Pills for rare ingredients and planned to search the Dan Realm for the materials needed to prepare Earth Core Soul Marrow.

• Xiong Zhan recognized Zi Yan’s Ancient Void Dragon bloodline, apologized, and agreed to show her and Xiao Ling his medicinal ingredients.
• Xiao Ling offered to exchange pills for the ingredients, and Xiong Zhan led them into the hall’s plaza, where he had gathered a vast collection.
• Zi Yan eagerly sampled medicinal ingredients while Xiao Ling browsed the collection and stored away unfamiliar varieties.
• Xiao Ling paid Xiong Zhan with several Eighth-grade Pills, delighting the Ancient Dragon Bear and strengthening his desire to stay close to Xiao Ling.
• Xiao Ling decided to look for Pill Spirit Paste and Heavenly Hemp Jade Stone Essence so Yao Chen could prepare his Earth Core Soul Marrow after the Alchemist Convention.

Xiao Ling searched the herb plaza, found Heavenly Hemp Jade Stone Essence, and asked Xiong Zhan to help locate Pill Spirit Paste. Xiong Zhan led Xiao Ling and Zi Yan to the Blackwater Tiger Flood Dragon’s lair, where he asked his subordinate to give up the paste, leaving the flood dragon visibly unhappy.

• Zi Yan agreed to take Xiong Zhan out of the Dan Realm, and he became eager to serve her.
• Xiao Ling found and collected Heavenly Hemp Jade Stone Essence but failed to find any Pill Spirit Paste in the herb plaza.
• Xiong Zhan recalled that his Blackwater Tiger Flood Dragon subordinate had Pill Spirit Paste and offered to take Xiao Ling there.
• Xiao Ling promised to exchange for the paste rather than take it by force, then followed Xiong Zhan with Zi Yan.
• Xiong Zhan summoned the Blackwater Tiger Flood Dragon at its pool and asked it for the Pill Spirit Paste.
• The Blackwater Tiger Flood Dragon saw that Xiong Zhan wanted its emerald-green liquid and grew sorrowful.

Xiao Ling traded a Shaping Pill and a Sovereign Pill for the Blackwater Tiger Flood Dragon’s Pill Spirit Paste, then collected the treasure and shared a taste with Zi Yan. The chapter left him sensing a distant battle and suspecting that the Soul Hall had targeted Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the other Alchemist Convention contenders.

• Xiong Zhan asked Xiao Ling to negotiate with the Blackwater Tiger Flood Dragon for its Pill Spirit Paste.
• Xiao Ling offered a High-grade Seventh-Rank Shaping Pill and Sovereign Pill, and the Blackwater Tiger Flood Dragon eagerly accepted the trade.
• Xiao Ling handed over both pills, collected the Pill Spirit Paste, and set some aside for Zi Yan to taste.
• Zi Yan drank the cup of Pill Spirit Paste, kissed Xiao Ling, and returned to his arms.
• Xiao Ling sensed a battle near the edge of the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range and realized that the Soul Hall might be targeting Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the other contenders.

Xiao Ling sensed Cao Ying and the others in danger and set out with Xiong Zhan to help them, while Venerable Mu Gu and Soul Hall slaughtered alchemists trapped in a barrier. As Venerable Mu Gu threatened Danta’s young talents, Cao Ying prepared to fight, unaware that Xiao Ling’s mark would keep her from being killed.

• Xiao Ling told Xiong Zhan he had sensed his enemies, and Xiong Zhan agreed to help him confront them.
• Xiao Ling carried Zi Yan toward Cao Ying’s location while Xiong Zhan followed through the sky.
• Soul Hall trapped nearly a hundred alchemists inside a barrier and killed many who tried to escape or resist.
• Song Qing pleaded with the Soul Hall Guardians to spare him, but Venerable Mu Gu arrived and ordered the Guardians to attack the other alchemists.
• Venerable Mu Gu revealed his hatred of Danta and threatened Cao Ying and Dan Chen, seeking Cao Ying’s soul and Dan Chen’s special constitution.
• Cao Ying resolved to fight Venerable Mu Gu’s forces, unaware that Xiao Ling’s mark would prevent them from killing her.

Venerable Mu Gu’s attack overwhelmed Cao Ying and the other contestants, forcing Cao Ying to prepare a deadly secret art. A mysterious rune stopped her, and Xiao Ling arrived in time to shield her and tend to her injuries, leaving him to face the Soul Hall Venerates.

• Venerable Mu Gu’s dark-blue claw tore through the contestants’ defenses and killed Song Qing as it raced toward Cao Ying.
• Cao Ying prepared to strike her heart with a secret art, but a golden rune on her hand froze her and released healing white light that left her weakened.
• Xiao Ling appeared and blocked the claw with a massive flaming shield, stunning Venerable Mu Gu, Star Picking Old Ghost, and the surviving contestants.
• Xiao Ling apologized to Cao Ying, healed her, and reassured her that the Soul Hall Venerates could not easily defeat him.
• Xiao Ling entrusted Cao Ying to Dan Chen, who agreed to care for her and took out medicinal pills.