Chapter Summaries

Li Bufan trained and searched the Molten Lava Cave, then realized its true treasures lay beneath the dark-red flow he had mistaken for lava. After an awakening strengthened his saber intent, he plunged below and discovered a hidden underground space rich in fire-aspected Vital Energy.

• Li Bufan spent five days training his Dragon Roaming Steps and Surging Waves Palm while collecting herbs and ores, advancing both skills and stabilizing his True Qi.
• Finding only modest resources on the cavern’s paths, Li Bufan questioned Zhou Hong’s map and realized the unexplored dark-red flow might conceal the cave’s true treasure.
• Li Bufan overcame the assumptions rooted in his previous life, entered an enlightenment state, and advanced his saber intent and Greedy Wolf Saber Technique.
• Li Bufan covered himself with Five Elements True Qi and Proficient saber intent before leaping into the supposed lava.
• Li Bufan endured the heat and discovered a hidden underground space beneath the flow, where dense, pure fire-aspected Vital Energy nurtured higher-grade Spirit Items.

Li Bufan searched the underground region of the Molten Lava Cave, collected fire-attributed spirit herbs and ores, and then realized the cave’s core secret might lie inside the lava layer. After two days of searching through the scorching lava, he found a sealed Stone Room containing a pool of dazzling gold-red liquid.

• Li Bufan gathered spirit herbs and ores, raising his points from just over ten thousand to fifteen thousand, but found no core treasure in the underground region.
• Remembering Zhou Hong’s account of an Illusionary Forest, Li Bufan suspected the Molten Lava Cave held a deeper secret and resumed searching.
• Li Bufan realized he had not explored inside the lava layer, then used Dragon Roaming Steps and Surging Waves Palm to reach a rock wall within it.
• Li Bufan spent about two days searching along the blazing rock wall until he sensed a whirlpool and a strong fire-attributed fluctuation.
• Li Bufan entered a small opening in the rock wall and discovered a sealed Stone Room with a churning pool of gold-red liquid at its center.

Li Bufan endured the Molten Lava Cave’s heat as the crystal absorbed the fire pool’s energy, leaving him near death before pale red liquid began to heal him. While he recovered unconscious, he received the Six Sun Techniques inheritance, beginning with Scorching the Plains.

• Li Bufan threw the ice-blue crystal into the Gold Red pool, and it absorbed the pool’s liquid and the cave’s fire-attributed Vital Energy.
• As the torrent overwhelmed him, Li Bufan drank crushed spirit herbs, but their unruly medicinal force and the heat pushed him toward death.
• Li Bufan touched the crystal at the pool’s bottom, and its suction drained his remaining True Qi, causing his defenses to fail and his body to burn.
• Li Bufan collapsed into the pale red liquid, which refined the medicinal force, revived his body, and allowed the Five Elements Heaven Skill to repair him unconsciously.
• The crystal’s inheritance entered Li Bufan’s mind, revealing six techniques and the cultivation method for Scorching the Plains.

Li Bufan survived the Molten Lava Cave, opened two meridians, and discovered a fire-pattern droplet that purified Vital Energy and accelerated his cultivation. As his secret-realm stay ended, the Assessment Token teleported him away before he could break through his eighth meridian.

• Li Bufan awoke in the dried-up pool and found that two more regular meridians had opened, bringing his total to seven.
• Li Bufan discovered a flame pattern in his palm that summoned a strange liquid droplet, then absorbed it into the pattern.
• Li Bufan checked his Assessment Token, put on spare clothes, and settled down to cultivate in the Molten Lava Cave.
• Li Bufan practiced his techniques and the Five Elements Heaven Skill, making rapid progress toward opening his eighth meridian.
• Li Bufan used the droplet as a membrane over his body and found that it purified incoming Vital Energy and increased his fire affinity.
• The Assessment Token activated when the secret realm’s time limit ended, teleporting Li Bufan away before he could attempt his breakthrough.

After the Starry Sky Secret Realm trial ended, Li Bufan learned that Lin Zhiyan had been taken to the Songhe Gate by a powerful woman, then rested and resumed cultivating. Zhao Zhiqing visited to thank him and warned him that the Zhou Family might seek revenge, leaving Li Bufan to prepare for the rankings announcement in seven days.

• Lu Zheng ended the Starry Sky Secret Realm trial, retrieved the examinees' tokens, and announced that the rankings would be posted in seven days.
• Li Bufan asked the Qingzhou martial artists about Lin Zhiyan, and Wang Tianming told him that a powerful woman had taken her directly to the Songhe Gate for her exceptional talent.
• Li Bufan slept for a day and night, then practiced his martial arts and cultivated toward opening his eighth primary meridian.
• Zhao Zhiqing invited Li Bufan to a meal hosted by her mother to thank him for saving her, but he declined and promised to visit when he returned to Yingtian Prefecture City.
• Zhao Zhiqing warned Li Bufan that the Zhou Family might retaliate because he had driven Zhou Hong out of the secret realm, and Li Bufan resolved to focus on his cultivation before the rankings were announced.

After days of intensive cultivation, Li Bufan learned that he had earned second First Class in the state competition, behind Lin Zhiyan, and received his rewards. Wang Tianming then led the Qingzhou disciples out of the capital to return to Qingzhou City.

• Li Bufan refined his martial techniques and strengthened his cultivation while waiting for the competition rankings.
• Lu Zheng announced that Lin Zhiyan had taken the top First Class position and Li Bufan had earned second First Class because the final evaluation considered more than points.
• Lu Zheng gave Li Bufan a Storage Bag containing his competition rewards, and the disciples congratulated him.
• Wang Tianming told the disciples to prepare to leave, and he led the Qingzhou group out of the capital toward Qingzhou City.

After placing first in the State Competition, Li Bufan rode through the night toward Yingtian Prefecture and survived a deadly ambush by a black-clad attacker. He reached Green Mountain Ridge at dawn, where more than a dozen Zhou Family fighters surrounded him and prepared for battle.

• Wang Tianming let Li Bufan leave Qingzhou for Yingtian despite urging him to rest at the school.
• A black-clad man signaled his accomplices and attacked Li Bufan on the Official Road, but Li Bufan killed him with one Surging Waves Palm strike.
• The Zhou Family's leader examined the dead attacker, ordered his men to avoid confronting Li Bufan unless they had opened at least eight primary meridians, and followed him.
• Li Bufan rode through the night, then stopped at Green Mountain Ridge to rest his exhausted Thousand Mile Steed.
• More than a dozen Zhou Family fighters with formidable cultivation surrounded Li Bufan, who drew his Azure Scale Saber and prepared to fight.

Li Bufan fought off a large group of Zhou Family fighters despite suffering several wounds, then faced their leaders Zhou Yuan and Zhou Quan. After meeting Zhou Yuan’s Three Suns Palm, Li Bufan used his saber intent to sever Zhou Quan’s weapon and behead him, while Zhou Yuan remained alive.

• Li Bufan killed several black-clad attackers but was wounded by their blades, palm strikes, and a poisoned throwing knife.
• Zhou Yuan and Zhou Quan stepped in as the surviving fighters withdrew and kept Li Bufan surrounded.
• Li Bufan and Zhou Yuan clashed palms, and both were forced back by the impact.
• Zhou Quan attacked Li Bufan with the Crimson Sun Saber Technique, but Li Bufan’s saber intent broke Zhou Quan’s blade.
• Li Bufan pursued Zhou Quan with the Dragon Roaming Steps and killed him with a slash that severed his head.

Li Bufan fought through his dwindling true qi and severe wounds to kill Zhou Yuan and the rest of the ambushers. Afterward, he collapsed unconscious on his horse, which carried him toward Yingtian Prefecture City.

• Li Bufan killed Zhou Quan with the first form of the Greedy Wolf Saber Technique, but the strike nearly exhausted his true qi.
• Zhou Yuan urged his remaining men to attack, and Li Bufan traded wounds for kills until he had slain every subordinate.
• Li Bufan baited Zhou Yuan into striking him, seized his wrist, and used a pale red droplet to pierce and kill him.
• Badly injured, Li Bufan mounted the Thousand Mile Steed and lost consciousness as it galloped toward Yingtian Prefecture City.

Li Bufan returned to Yingtian Prefecture City severely injured after a brutal battle, and Alchemist Sun began treating his life-threatening wounds at Huichun Hall. Alchemist Sun discovered that Li Bufan had broken through to the Qi Condensation Realm and finished stabilizing his injuries, though the chapter left his recovery still underway.

• The city gate guards recognized the unconscious, blood-covered Li Bufan and sent word to the Lin Family and Songhe Martial Arts School before taking him to Huichun Hall.
• Apprentices carried Li Bufan into Huichun Hall, where Alchemist Sun prepared to treat him, and Yang Kai and Lin Gong arrived to stand guard outside.
• Alchemist Sun found that Li Bufan had opened seven primary meridians and reached the Qi Condensation Realm, then used a Rejuvenation Pill to restore his qi and reset his shattered breastbone.
• Alchemist Sun treated Li Bufan's injured liver and spleen with a Viscera Nourishing Pill, removed burned and damaged flesh, and applied Ice Spirit Water to his fire-inflicted wounds.
• Alchemist Sun applied Muscle Growth Pills and bandaged Li Bufan's wounds after hours of treatment.

After surviving his severe injuries from the State Competition, Li Bufan woke at Huichun Hall and used his True Qi to accelerate his recovery. He recognized that his weak physical body had nearly cost him his life and resolved to find a Body Tempering Technique once he had healed.

• Alchemist Sun told Lin Gong and Yang Kai that Li Bufan was out of danger and had broken through to the Qi Condensation Realm, then kept him at Huichun Hall to recover.
• Two days later, Li Bufan woke in severe pain, and Alchemist Sun gave him a Rejuvenation Pill and instructed him to guide its medicine with his True Qi.
• Li Bufan refined the pill's medicinal power through the night, restoring his True Qi and healing more than half of his injuries.
• After getting dressed and walking around, Li Bufan realized his insufficient physical strength had made his battle at Green Mountain Ridge nearly fatal.
• Li Bufan resolved to seek a Body Tempering Technique after healing, then swallowed an Injury Recovery Pill and resumed treating his wounds.

After recovering at Huichun Hall, Li Bufan returned to Songhe Martial Arts School and reunited with Lin Gong and Yang Kai. He told them that he and Lin Zhiyan had both won First Class in the state competition, then celebrated with them at Tianxiang Tower.

• Li Bufan recovered from most of his injuries, thanked Alchemist Sun, and left Huichun Hall.
• Li Bufan slipped into Songhe Martial Arts School and watched Lin Gong and Yang Kai guide the disciples before greeting them.
• Lin Gong and Yang Kai welcomed Li Bufan back and prepared to tell the Lin Family he was safe.
• Li Bufan told Lin Gong and Yang Kai that Lin Zhiyan had earned First Class as a Songhe Gate Core Disciple and that he had won the other First Class place.
• Lin Gong, Yang Kai, and Li Bufan went to Tianxiang Tower, where they toasted his recovery and competition victory.

Li Bufan reunited with the Lin family at Tianxiang Tower, reported his rapid cultivation progress, and asked for help finding a Body Tempering Technique. After the others left, Yun Niang remained alone with him to discuss something privately.

• Lin Zhennan arrived at Tianxiang Tower and caught Lin Gong talking about inviting Singing Girls, then ordered him to train until he reached the Qi Condensation Realm.
• Lin Zhennan and Lin Zhentian asked Li Bufan about his recovery and learned that he had opened the seventh regular meridian.
• Li Bufan told the Lin elders that his physique needed a systematic Body Tempering Technique, and Lin Zhennan promised to search for a suitable manual.
• Lin Zhennan took Lin Gong and Yang Kai away, leaving Yun Niang alone with Li Bufan to discuss her private matter.

Li Bufan confronted Yun Niang over Tianxiang Tower’s failure to help during the ambush, then ended their relationship as he left without getting an explanation. He resolved to grow stronger, returned to Lin Manor, and was welcomed by the Lin Family.

• Li Bufan accused Yun Niang of withholding help during the plot against Lie Jiaoyang, and Yun Niang refused to deny her involvement or explain herself.
• Li Bufan told Yun Niang he would settle his debt by helping with Red Sleeve Fragrance, then part ways with Tianxiang Tower.
• He Wanxing arrived after Li Bufan had left, and Yun Niang decided to take her away for stricter training before Red Sleeve Fragrance.
• Walking back alone, Li Bufan wrestled with his feelings for Lin Zhiyan and concluded that he needed strength above all else.
• Li Bufan went to Lin Manor, where Lin Zhennan and the family welcomed him home and invited him to join their celebratory banquet.

After Li Bufan celebrated the Lin Family’s State Competition victories, Elder Chen summoned him, tested his perfected Hibernating Dragon Sleeping Pill Skill, and healed his injuries. Elder Chen then revealed the Pill Combat Tournament and explained its demanding entry requirements, leaving Li Bufan newly intrigued by alchemy.

• Li Bufan celebrated the Lin Family’s top two State Competition rankings at a banquet before returning to the Songhe Martial Arts School.
• Elder Chen summoned Li Bufan to the Library Pavilion and asked about his progress in the Hibernating Dragon Sleeping Pill Skill.
• Li Bufan revealed that he had cultivated the technique to the Perfection Realm, and Elder Chen’s test knocked him unconscious.
• Elder Chen gave Li Bufan medicine that healed his remaining injuries, then explained that his perfected skill allowed certain matters to be brought forward.
• Elder Chen told Li Bufan about the Eastern Domain’s Pill Combat Tournament, which required participants to be under twenty and at least Second-Ranked Alchemists.

Elder Chen entrusted Li Bufan with the Constant Stillness One Scripture and the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art, setting him on a path toward spirit sense cultivation and a stronger physique. Li Bufan accepted Elder Chen’s request to win the Eastern Domain Pill Combat Tournament and obtain the Rising Sun Soul Grass, then left with both new techniques.

• Li Bufan accepted Elder Chen’s trust and agreed to pursue the Pill Combat Tournament three years later.
• Elder Chen passed the Constant Stillness One Scripture to Li Bufan, who meditated until he gained its beginner level.
• Elder Chen asked Li Bufan to obtain the Rising Sun Soul Grass if he won the tournament, and Li Bufan promised to do so.
• Elder Chen gave Li Bufan the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art and warned him about its painful cultivation, costly medicinal baths, and risks.
• Li Bufan thanked Elder Chen and returned to his courtyard carrying the two new cultivation arts.

Li Bufan returned home after recovering from his injuries, reunited with Doctor Liu and Li Ping'an, and resumed cultivating the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art. Zhao Zhiqing came to invite him to her home so her mother could thank him, and he left with her that evening.

• Li Bufan tried using true qi to temper his skin with the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art, but found it painful and ineffective without medicinal baths.
• Li Bufan returned home, where Doctor Liu welcomed him and Li Ping'an proudly showed him her progress in the Skin Tempering Realm.
• Li Bufan spent two days at home guiding Li Ping'an, helping Doctor Liu, and cultivating his arts and martial skills.
• Zhao Zhiqing visited Li Bufan and reminded him that he had promised to visit her family after returning to the Prefectural City.
• Li Bufan informed Doctor Liu and Li Ping'an, then left with Zhao Zhiqing, who pulled him along toward her home.

Zhao Zhiqing brought Li Bufan to her family’s private residence, where Zhao Pojun, Madam Xia, and Pavilion Master Xia thanked him for saving Zhao Zhiqing and welcomed him at dinner. Pavilion Master Xia then began explaining that the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and the Xia Family had interests and secrets beyond what Qian Fu knew, leaving Li Bufan waiting to hear what assistance Xia wanted.

• Zhao Zhiqing brought Li Bufan to her family’s quiet residence and introduced him to Zhao Zhichen, Zhao Pojun, Madam Xia, and Pavilion Master Xia.
• Li Bufan recognized Pavilion Master Xia as the Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s leader and thanked him for the Pavilion’s help with the Lin Family’s affairs.
• Madam Xia served a meal infused with spiritual essence, and Li Bufan praised its flavor and nourishing effects.
• Zhao Pojun thanked Li Bufan for saving Zhao Zhiqing in the State Competition’s secret realm and explained that Xia Jianlin wanted to meet him about a request.
• Xia Jianlin said the Xia Family’s wealth and influence far exceeded what Qian Fu knew, then prepared to disclose the matter for which he wanted Li Bufan’s help.

Xia Jianlin invited Li Bufan to join Zhao Zhiqing in exploring the Xia Family’s secret realm, promising him its gains and a generous reward. Li Bufan accepted and agreed to stay in the courtyard under guard for three days before their departure.

• Xia Jianlin revealed that the Xia Family controlled a secret realm that killed anyone over twenty years old who entered.
• Xia Jianlin offered Li Bufan the extra entry slot awarded to Yingtian Prefecture and promised him the secret realm’s gains except for designated resources, along with a reward.
• Zhao Zhiqing revealed that she would accompany Li Bufan and promised to follow his judgment on major matters.
• Li Bufan accepted the invitation to enter the secret realm with Zhao Zhiqing three days later.
• Xia Jianlin asked Li Bufan to remain in the separate courtyard and avoid outside contact until departure, and Li Bufan agreed after asking him to notify his master and Ping'an.

Li Bufan settled into the Zhao residence and used a Qi Condensation Pill to improve his cultivation ahead of the Spirit Marsh Secret Realm expedition. Zhao Zhiqing visited him late at night to explain the secret realm’s history and layout, beginning with its five regions.

• Zhao Pojun told Zhao Zhiqing and Zhao Zhichen to escort Li Bufan to a quiet guest room, and Zhao Zhiqing invited him to call her by her given name.
• Li Bufan meditated with the Qi Condensation Pill and advanced his cultivation with the help of his fate and the Five Elements Heaven Skill.
• Zhao Zhiqing came to Li Bufan’s room late at night and entered despite his concerns about propriety.
• Zhao Zhiqing explained that the Spirit Marsh Secret Realm had helped the Xia Family rise to power after Xia Lingze discovered it a hundred years earlier.
• Zhao Zhiqing began describing the secret realm’s five connected regions and their different characteristics and yields.