Chapter Summaries

Lin Ze suspected the Flame Mercenary Group was hiding a benefit behind its friendly relations with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, while Xiao Yi Xian discovered that Mr. Yao had ordered a Guard to follow her. After evading the Guard, she feared Mr. Yao meant her harm and decided not to return to Wan Yao Zhai for now.

• Lin Ze learned that Mu Li was at the Flame Mercenary Group's base and resolved to investigate why the group was getting along with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.
• Xiao Yi Xian finished treating patients and went to the library, while Mr. Yao watched her and decided to have his Guard capture her.
• Xiao Yi Xian spotted Mr. Yao's Guard following her and arranged to rent the library before slipping out through its back entrance.
• The Guard forced his way into the library, found Xiao Yi Xian missing, and accused the owner of helping her escape before fleeing to report back.
• Xiao Yi Xian concluded that Mr. Yao might have bad intentions toward her and chose to avoid returning until she could determine whether it was a misunderstanding.

Xiao Yi Xian reached Lin Ze's secluded courtyard after fearing he had forgotten their arrangement, then told him about the suspicious events at Wan Yao Zhai. Lin Ze warned that Mr. Yao likely intended her harm, and Xiao Yi Xian decided to leave the pharmacy.

• Xiao Yi Xian wandered through Fire Wolf Town and waited beneath the two Withered Trees, unsure whether Lin Ze would honor his offer to help.
• A cautious subordinate of Lin Ze verified Xiao Yi Xian's identity and led her through the alleys to a secluded Small Courtyard.
• Lin Ze welcomed Xiao Yi Xian and asked what had happened at Wan Yao Zhai.
• Xiao Yi Xian described how Mr. Yao's Guard had pressured her not to seek work at another pharmacy.
• Lin Ze reasoned that Mr. Yao likely had bad intentions toward Xiao Yi Xian, and she decided she would not risk her safety by staying at Wan Yao Zhai.

Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian agreed to travel together and study at Jia Nan Academy. While posing as a servant at the Flame Mercenary Group’s headquarters, Lin Ze uncovered its cooperation with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to seize the Fire Wolf King’s two cubs and suspected the newly recruited servants would be used as cannon fodder.

• Xiao Yi Xian told Lin Ze she wanted to travel beyond Qingshan Town and see medicinal herbs from other regions.
• Lin Ze told Xiao Yi Xian she met Jia Nan Academy’s admission requirement and invited her to travel there with him; they agreed to look out for each other.
• Posing as the servant Wang Wu, Lin Ze learned that Mu She had discovered the Fire Wolf King had two cubs and that the Flame and Wolf Head Mercenary Groups planned to take one each.
• Lin Ze wondered why the Flame Mercenary Group had suddenly recruited many servants just before the expedition and suspected the groups planned to use them as cannon fodder.
• Lin Ze began forming a plan to turn the situation against the two mercenary groups.

Lin Ze prepared to sabotage the Flame Mercenary Group and Wolf Head Mercenary Group’s plan to seize the Fire Wolf King Cub by laying traps along likely routes through the Magical Beast Mountain Range. After learning the Flame Mercenary Group would enter the mountains the next day with its untrained odd-job workers, he refined his preparations and focused on Wang Wu as the group set out.

• Lin Ze suspected the Flame Mercenary Group and Wolf Head Mercenary Group were working together and ordered a Blue Rare Death Soldier and other Death Soldiers to lay traps along likely routes.
• Lin Ze used Wang Wu’s perspective to investigate the Flame Mercenary Group and learned that it planned to take its odd-job workers into the mountains the next day.
• The Flame Mercenary Group’s trainer announced the outing, while Lin Ze recognized that the workers were meant to distract the Wolf Pack and cover the mercenaries’ retreat.
• Lin Ze spent most of the night refining his traps, then shared breakfast with Xiao Yi Xian, who encouraged him to take care of himself.
• The Flame Mercenary Group set out, and Lin Ze focused his attention on Wang Wu.

Lin Ze used the Flame Mercenary Group’s expedition to lure the Fire Wolves away from their lair while his Death Soldier Squad prepared traps across the mountain’s outskirts. As the pack emerged and the mercenaries formed a defensive line, Lin Ze spotted the Wolf Head Mercenary Group moving toward the Fire Wolf Lair to seize a cub.

• The Flame Mercenary Group led inexperienced workers into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, expecting few consequences if the workers died.
• Lin Ze deployed the Death Soldier Squad to set dozens of concealed traps around the mountain’s outskirts.
• A wolf howl panicked the workers, and the Flame Mercenary Group’s mercenaries dropped their friendly act as they approached the Fire Wolf Lair.
• Lin Ze saw the Fire Wolves emerge and realized the Flame Mercenary Group was drawing their attention while the Wolf Head Mercenary Group went after a Fire Wolf King Cub.
• The Flame Mercenary Group formed a defensive line to retreat from the Fire Wolves, and Lin Ze spotted a squad advancing toward the lair.

Lin Ze used Mu She’s attempt to divert the Fire Wolf Pack as an opportunity to strike him. The chapter ended with Lin Ze unleashing a powerful Wind Splitting Blade at Mu She as the wolves closed in.

• The Fire Wolf King heard a distressed howl from its lair and led the pack back, allowing the Flame Mercenary Group to escape the encirclement.
• Huo Lie and Mu She emerged from the lair carrying Fire Wolf King Cubs and split up to flee with their teams.
• When Mu She’s cub cried out and drew the wolves toward him, he changed course and led the pursuing pack toward the Flame Mercenary Group.
• Lin Ze fell behind the fleeing group and offered to hold off the wolves in exchange for compensation for his family, prompting Mu She to approach him.
• As Mu She drew near, Lin Ze used Proxy State and unleashed Wind Splitting Blade at him.

Lin Ze ambushed Mu She and sacrificed a Death Soldier to turn the Fire Wolves against him. Mu She died beneath the Fire Wolf King's attack, while Lin Ze awoke far away in Fire Wolf Town, satisfied that his plan had worked.

• Lin Ze used Mu She's blind spot to slash at his neck, but Mu She blocked the attack and pierced Lin Ze's shoulder.
• Mu She's burst of Dou Qi fatally injured the Fire Wolf King Cub, enraging the Fire Wolf King and the surrounding Fire Wolves.
• Lin Ze had the Semi-control Death Soldier seize Mu She's weapon and cling to him, delaying him as the Fire Wolves closed in.
• The Fire Wolf King and its pack overwhelmed Mu She, who glimpsed Wang Wu's body before dying.
• Lin Ze opened his eyes in Fire Wolf Town and realized Mu She was dead.

Lin Ze used Death Soldier traps and the Fire Wolf Pack to pursue the Flame Mercenary Group, then sprang a carefully prepared trap on Huo Lie. Huo Lie fell into the pit with a Death Soldier and shoved the soldier beneath him, while the Fire Wolf King Cub remained in his arms.

• The Fire Wolf Pack chased the fleeing Flame Mercenary Group through the forest as traps set by Lin Ze's Death Soldiers killed or slowed the mercenaries.
• Lin Ze used his Death Soldiers' viewpoints to predict the survivors' movements and prepare a final trap along Huo Lie's route.
• Lin Ze confronted Huo Lie, scattered powder at him, and struck the ground with Boom Fist, causing the earth beneath Huo Lie to collapse.
• Huo Lie recognized Boom Fist and realized the Flame Mercenary Group had been targeted from the start, then lunged at Lin Ze.
• A Death Soldier dragged Huo Lie into the pit, but Huo Lie grabbed the soldier and shoved him beneath himself as they fell.

Huo Lie tried to escape the trap with the Fire Wolf King Cub, but the Fire Wolf King ordered its pack to attack him, leaving him surrounded. Lin Ze reviewed the operation’s heavy Death Soldier losses and its major gains, including the deaths of two mercenary commanders.

• A Death Soldier delayed Huo Lie twice, giving the Fire Wolves time to surround the trap’s exit.
• The Fire Wolf King ordered its pack to attack despite Huo Lie holding its cub, and Huo Lie threw the cub away in a desperate attempt to save himself.
• Lin Ze ended his remote control of the operation and reflected on how his effort had strained his mind and Soul Perception.
• Lin Ze estimated that fewer than one in ten Flame Mercenary Group members involved in the operation would survive the Wolf Pack’s pursuit.
• Lin Ze counted more than a dozen lost Death Soldiers, leaving him with thirty-two, but noted that Mu She’s death would throw the Wolf Head Mercenary Group into turmoil.

After completing his operation against the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and the Flame Mercenary Group, Lin Ze recovered from exhaustion while Xiao Yi Xian cared for him. Once he woke, he told her they would explore a ruin near Qingshan Town together before taking the Jia Nan Academy entrance exam.

• Lin Ze sent the Death Soldiers back to Fire Wolf Town and fell into a deep sleep after overtaxing himself.
• Xiao Yi Xian checked on the sleeping Lin Ze and hung a Calming Sachet beside his bed.
• Lin Ze woke at dusk feeling refreshed and wondered whether recovering from mental exhaustion had strengthened his Soul Perception.
• Xiao Yi Xian served Lin Ze a meal, and they shared a warm conversation in the Small Courtyard.
• Lin Ze told Xiao Yi Xian that they would return to Qingshan Town in a few days to explore a nearby ruin, and invited her to come along.

Lin Ze grew closer to Xiao Yi Xian while she prepared food and offered to make him Body Nourishing Medicine, though her feelings became complicated when he spoke of the Warmth of Home. He later looted the Flame Mercenary Group’s dead and used the Bronze Mirror to obtain a Rare Death Soldier skilled in Alchemy.

• Xiao Yi Xian asked Lin Ze to give her any medicinal herbs he did not need from the ruins, and he agreed to let her prepare Body Nourishing Medicine for him.
• Xiao Yi Xian made Lin Ze a meal tailored to his tastes, and his thanks left her blushing and wondering whether she truly liked him.
• Lin Ze returned to his room and controlled a Death Soldier to search the Fire Wolf Pack’s territory for the Flame Mercenary Group’s valuables.
• Lin Ze found Huo Lie’s Storage Ring on a severed finger and recovered gold cards worth more than five thousand gold coins, Dou Skills, and a Cultivation Method.
• Lin Ze used the Bronze Mirror and obtained a Rare Death Soldier with Proficient Grade Alchemy and the blue Practice Makes Perfect talent.

Lin Ze summoned Zhao Yi, a Death Soldier with Proficient Grade Alchemy, and learned that his talent could reach the level of a Third-Grade Alchemist. He sent Death Soldiers to search for a nearby ruin and left Xiao Yi Xian envious of his loyal subordinates.

• Lin Ze summoned Zhao Yi and learned that his Proficient Grade Alchemy made him equivalent to a Second-Grade Alchemist, with a talent limit of Third Grade.
• Lin Ze concluded Zhao Yi needed cultivation and a Fire Attribute Cultivation Method before he could refine pills, and identified Huo Lie's method as suitable.
• Lin Ze sent Death Soldiers toward Qingshan Town to search near Wan Yao Zhai's Sunken Basin gathering site for the ruin containing the Mad Lion Chant.
• Xiao Yi Xian noticed Lin Ze's Storage Ring and, hearing that a subordinate had found and brought it to him, confessed that she was envious enough to feel jealous.

Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian prepared to leave Qingshan Town and search for ruins, growing closer as he gave her two Dou Skills. They reached the ruins’ entrance with the Death Soldiers having already scouted and secured the route, leaving Xiao Yi Xian impressed by Lin Ze’s capable subordinates.

• Lin Ze offered Xiao Yi Xian several Dou Skills, and she chose a Palm Dou Technique and a Movement Dou Technique.
• Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian planned to avoid Qingshan Town and travel to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to find the ruins.
• Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian cultivated and shared dinner before leaving Fire Wolf Town the next day.
• Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian reached the cliff near Qingshan Town, where the Death Soldiers had secured a rope route to the ruins’ entrance.
• Xiao Yi Xian watched a Death Soldier report to Lin Ze and envied how readily his subordinates handled difficulties.

Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian opened a hidden chamber in the cliffside ruins and found a fortune in gold, rare medicinal herbs, and other treasures. After collecting the herbs and coins, they prepared to open the three locked stone boxes.

• Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian descended to the cave and followed the Death Soldiers to a second Mechanism Door.
• Xiao Yi Xian found the mechanism and opened the stone door after Lin Ze cautioned her to wait until a Death Soldier checked for danger.
• Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian entered a chamber containing gold coins, a herb garden, three locked stone boxes, and a skeleton seated on a chair.
• Lin Ze gave Xiao Yi Xian his Storage Ring so she could collect the medicinal herbs, then had a Death Soldier gather the gold coins.
• Lin Ze noted the ruins' most valuable treasures included the Fragmented Map, Purple Cloud Wings, and Seven Colored Poison Scripture, then prepared to open the stone boxes.

Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian opened the ruin owner's three locked stone boxes and found treasures, including a Poison Scripture and two Xuan Tier High Grade techniques. The chapter ended with Lin Ze delighted to have obtained Mad Lion Chant, while Xiao Yi Xian kept the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture.

• Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian apologized to the ruin's owner and opened the first stone box, finding a Seven-Colored Poison Scripture about the Woeful Poison Body.
• Lin Ze gave the Poison Scripture to Xiao Yi Xian so she could understand the poison-related condition she might awaken, and she accepted it gratefully.
• Lin Ze opened the second box and found the Xuan Tier High Grade Flight Dou Technique Eagle Wings, which could allow its user to fly.
• Lin Ze opened the final box and found the Xuan Tier High Grade Dou Skill Mad Lion Chant, celebrating his first chance to obtain Xuan Tier techniques.

Lin Ze led Xiao Yi Xian and their armed group toward Wutan City, where Jia Nan Academy would hold its entrance examinations. On the way, Lin Ze practiced the Mad Lion Chant and reassured Xiao Yi Xian about her chances of keeping up with him.

• Lin Ze buried the senior, sealed the ruins, and retrieved the Fragmented Map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame before leaving with Xiao Yi Xian.
• Lin Ze declined Xiao Yi Xian’s suggestion to train in a basin near the Magical Beast Mountain Range, explaining that they already had enough strength for the entrance examinations and should avoid unnecessary risks.
• Lin Ze practiced the Mad Lion Chant and destroyed a thick tree with the Xuan Tier High Grade Dou Skill.
• Xiao Yi Xian praised Lin Ze’s talent, and Lin Ze concealed how much practice the Death Soldiers in his Proxy State had done for him.
• Lin Ze told Xiao Yi Xian that Wutan City was the nearest Jia Nan Academy examination site, and their caravan continued toward it.

After reaching Wutan City, Lin Ze opened a Magical Beast BBQ Restaurant to buy meat and gather Flesh Essence, then used his full reserve to unlock Precision Deployment. Xiao Yi Xian continued to keep her Woeful Poison Body secret as Lin Ze prepared for Jia Nan Academy's entrance exams.

• Lin Ze and the Death Soldiers reached Wutan City, where he arranged for them to gather information and had Ma Fugui find a restaurant to buy.
• Lin Ze rented a courtyard with Xiao Yi Xian while Ma Fugui secured a shop, permits, and connections for the Magical Beast BBQ Restaurant.
• The restaurant opened near the Marketplace, and mercenaries selling their leftover Magical Beast meat quickly raised Lin Ze's Flesh Essence reserves.
• Xiao Yi Xian hesitated over whether to tell Lin Ze about her Woeful Poison Body while Lin Ze watched his Flesh Essence reach 1,015 units.
• Lin Ze consumed the Flesh Essence and unlocked Precision Deployment, which let him choose where reflected Death Soldiers appeared when summoned.

Lin Ze used Precision Deployment to manage Death Soldier deployments beyond Jia Ma Empire, learned that the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had fallen into civil war, and broke through in cultivation as his forces grew. The chapter ended with Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian preparing for Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment.

• Lin Ze used Precision Deployment to send Death Soldiers to Qingshan Town and continue deploying them across Jia Ma Empire while traveling toward Jia Nan Academy.
• Lin Ze learned that Mu Li had been killed by two Wolf Head Mercenary Group higher-ups, setting off the group’s infighting.
• Lin Ze spent his days cultivating and practicing Mad Lion Chant while his Death Soldier force grew to nearly one hundred and eighty.
• Lin Ze broke through after buying cultivation pills, and his Death Soldiers’ shared resonance gave him a 2% Cultivation Speed Bonus.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Lin Ze that Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment team had arrived, and Lin Ze suggested they wait to avoid the crowds.

Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian waited until the final day of Jia Nan Academy's enrollment to avoid the crowds, then entered the assessment square. A senior student ordered them to stand in the sun with the other newcomers, but Lin Ze refused and challenged him.

• Lin Ze protected Xiao Yi Xian from a man trying to touch her in the enrollment crowd, then arranged for Zhao Qi to have Death Soldiers follow the man.
• Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian waited until the seventh day of enrollment, when the crowd had thinned, and joined the line for the assessment.
• Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian passed the simple age and crystal-ball entrance check and entered the square, where Lin Ze noticed a tall woman whose appearance made him suspect she was Xiao Yu.
• A buzz-cut senior student ordered Lin Ze and Xiao Yi Xian to stand with the newcomers in the sun, but Xiao Yi Xian questioned him.
• Lin Ze stopped Xiao Yi Xian from reaching for her pouch and refused the order, challenging the Three Star Dou Practitioner to prove he could humble them.

Lin Ze defeated Gao Xiang after the senior student challenged him during the newcomers’ tempering, stunning the Canaan Academy students. Instructor Ruo Lin arrived, treated Gao Xiang’s injured hand, and sent everyone into the tent.

• Gao Xiang challenged Lin Ze and announced he would teach the newcomer a lesson.
• Gao Xiang attacked with a Yellow Tier High-Grade Dou Technique, and Lin Ze countered with a Xuan Tier Dou Technique.
• Lin Ze overwhelmed Gao Xiang and sent him crashing into a tent, while Xiao Yi Xian relaxed her grip on her Medicinal Powder.
• Instructor Ruo Lin arrived and heard the students explain what had happened.
• Ruo Lin told everyone to enter the tent, noted that Lin Ze had hit Gao Xiang hard, and treated Gao Xiang’s mangled fist.