Recaps

Lin Qin developed his magic and swordsmanship through relentless training, mercenary work, and a growing partnership with Aileen. After reaching Level 5 and gaining recognition at the institute, he advanced through the tournament and defeated Cain in the quarterfinals.

• Lin Qin trained at Ernst Institute in Earth magic and swordsmanship, broke through to Level 4 Warrior, and briefly sensed the earth’s Pulsation.
• Lin Qin reached Level 5 Warrior, excelled in both magic and warrior assessments, and drew wider attention at the institute.
• Lin Qin registered as a mercenary, escorted Old John’s caravan, and helped defeat Wind Wolves and bandits on the road to Black Stone City.
• Lin Qin took further jobs in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, gained combat experience, and rose to Bronze mercenary rank.
• Lin Qin helped Aileen with her magic studies, then teamed up with her to clear a Burrowing Badger quest and agreed to explore the world with her someday.
• Lin Qin and Aileen grew closer during a trip to Crescent Moon Lake, where Lin Qin called her an important companion he hoped would stay by his side.
• Lin Qin advanced through the institute tournament, defeating a fifth-level warrior and a Light Element mage before overcoming Cain in the quarterfinals.

Lin Qin broke through to the Saint Realm, traveled through the O’Brien Empire, and fought threats connected to the Dark Church. After reuniting with Aileen, he joined her in investigating a soul-gathering ritual in Silent Valley, where their attack remained underway.

• Lin Qin advanced in the Ernst Institute tournament, lost to Linley, graduated, and accepted a mission to investigate Mist Canyon.
• In Mist Canyon, Lin Qin absorbed the Earth Element Heart, entered the Saint Realm, and set out for the O’Brien Empire.
• Lin Qin hunted the Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle, defeated two Saint Realm challengers, and sparred with Hederson in Red Flame City.
• Lin Qin destroyed a Black Storm demon and a Dark Church Soul Gathering Array, then reported the threat to Emperor Joanne and declined his offer to become Saint Protector.
• Lin Qin reunited with Linley, later found Aileen after Fenlai City was destroyed, and agreed to travel with her.
• Lin Qin and Aileen uncovered Dark Church contamination and learned that the church was gathering weakened souls for a large ritual.
• At Silent Valley, Lin Qin and Aileen attacked the ritual, damaged its Bone Pillars, and collapsed the Soul Vortex, but an ancient darkness wounded Lin Qin.
• Lin Qin and Aileen continued fighting the High Priest and other Dark Saint Realm figures as the Shadow Assassin returned to the battle.

After destroying the Dark Church’s altar, Lin Qin recovered, trained with Aileen, and advanced his Earth Element powers before traveling north to cultivate in the Arctic Ice Plains. He returned south at the peak of the Saint Realm, rescued Linley and the Barker brothers from Steller, and learned of a dangerous method to awaken their bloodline.

• Aileen destroyed the Bone Pillars while Lin Qin held off the High Priest, Kasa, and the Shadow Assassin, and Lin Qin’s final attack destroyed the altar and ended the Soul Vortex.
• Aileen helped Lin Qin recover in a secluded valley, where they trained together, discovered Cold Jade Marrow, and Lin Qin reached the pinnacle of the Saint Realm by mastering Earth Pulsation.
• Lin Qin and Aileen parted ways, with Aileen returning to Azure Wave City and Lin Qin traveling north to cultivate in the Arctic Ice Plains.
• Lin Qin fought powerful ice beasts and spent years refining Vibration Shield, Shockwave, and Earth Vein Rupture before reaching the peak of the Saint Realm.
• Lin Qin found Linley defending Cesler, Bebe, Haeru, and five chained men from Steller and the Temple Knights, defeated Steller, and carried the injured group to safety.
• Cesar identified the five rescued men as descendants of the Armand clan and promised them the Undying Secret Manual, while warning Heidens to leave them alone.
• Heidens canceled the Radiant Church’s pursuit of the Barker brothers but ordered Steller to use the Shadow Guard to track Linley and Lin Qin.
• Linley told Lin Qin that Hogg had found a dangerous dragon-blood ritual for awakening their bloodline, and that Blue Heart Grass was practically indispensable to making it safer.

Lin Qin awakened his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline, dismantled Theocracy outposts, and built Dragon Rock Territory into a powerful domain. As the territory grew and banned the churches, the Radiant Church prepared a direct assault while the Dark Church plotted to exploit the conflict.

• Lin Qin followed a map to Mist Valley, obtained Blue Heart Grass, and awakened his Baruch Clan bloodline with Pallas's Golden Holy Dragon blood.
• Lin Qin and Pallas attacked Theocracy outposts across the Chaos Territory, then Lin Qin captured Malcolm and used his memories to identify the Church's operations.
• Lin Qin defeated Black Wind City's ruler and claimed the city, then organized its forces and took control of the Crimson Flame Alliance's territory.
• Lin Qin's commanders expanded Dragon Rock Territory to eight cities and nearly one million people while he focused on cultivation.
• Lin Qin banned the Radiant Church and Dark Church across his territory, suppressed resistance, and uncovered assassination attempts and sabotage.
• Lin Qin introduced schools, merit points, trade protections, and stronger defenses as his territory's population, army, and commerce grew.
• Heidens prepared the Radiant Church's Six-Winged Angel Battle Formation for an assault, while Morsfield readied the Dark Church's Shadow Angel formation and ordered agents to wait for both sides to weaken each other.