Recaps

Qin Yan brought Zhao Lei to Mystic City, arranged temporary lodging for him, and revealed his standing as a Special-Class Disciple who had cleared the Heavenly Stairway. After Zhao Lei learned that Qin Yan’s teammates included other exceptional disciples, Qin Yan assigned him a task before returning to his courtyard, where he prepared to use his Mystic Points to grow stronger.

• Qin Yan rented a room for Zhao Lei at Cloud Inn and promised to arrange safer lodging at the Mystic Tavern after advancing to the inner academy.
• Qin Yan told Zhao Lei about his Blue Star origins and revealed that he was a Special-Class Disciple and Heavenly Stairway challenger who had cleared it.
• Qin Yan explained that his four teammates were also Special-Class Disciples, including two more Heavenly Stairway clearers, astonishing Zhao Lei.
• Qin Yan assigned Zhao Lei a task to keep an eye out for something, then left him at the inn.
• Qin Yan returned to his courtyard and went to his room, ready to use his Mystic Points to increase his strength.

Qin Yan used spirit pills and abundant blood qi to advance his Qi Refining and Body Tempering cultivation, bringing his total blood qi to 1,254,000 Cal. As he considered his standing among the East Academy disciples, he recognized that his Mental Strength reaching 200 Hz had transformed his mental world.

• Qin Yan spent 2,000 Mystic Points on Water Element and Wood Element Spirit Pills, using them to grow both Wonder Trees to five zhang and reach the late Sixth Grade of Qi Refining.
• By March 30, Qin Yan's Body Tempering had advanced to the mid Sixth Grade, his total blood qi had reached 1,254,000 Cal, and he had opened thirty-six acupoints.
• Qin Yan reflected that he still needed to open the remaining acupoints before completing all 108.
• Qin Yan recalled sensing that Huang Jiuli had also broken through and noted that the Mystic Sanctuary disciples were likely growing stronger after the beast tide.
• Qin Yan examined his Mental Strength of 200 Hz and felt that crossing the threshold had transformed his mental world.

Qin Yan awakened a Darkness Attribute for his Mental Strength and began using the Darkness Essence sealed within him to cultivate it. He entered a realm of absolute darkness where his mental strength started to improve naturally.

• Qin Yan discovered that his Mental Strength had awakened the Darkness Attribute and wondered if the Darkness Essence in his body had caused it.
• Qin Yan recognized that his powerful attribute made him a Mental Strength Prodigy, but worried that his cultivation was too slow to reach his goal of forming a Supreme Golden Body.
• Qin Yan sent his Mental Strength into the Blood Demon Nest and sensed the Darkness Essence chains sealing his Demon Qi.
• Qin Yan followed the runes on the Darkness Chains into a realm of pure darkness and sensed the Dao of darkness as his mental strength steadily improved.

Qin Yan raised his Mental Strength by five Hz by cultivating with the Darkness Essence and received the Four Heavenly Demon Secrets from Little Black. After reading the book, he learned about its first two secret arts, including Shadow Clone and Myriad Disguise.

• Qin Yan finished cultivating and found that his Mental Strength had increased to 205 Hz.
• Qin Yan resolved to cultivate with the Darkness Essence for an hour each day.
• Little Black gave Qin Yan a black book called the Four Heavenly Demon Secrets.
• Qin Yan read the book and learned that its four secret arts were Shadow Clone, Myriad Disguise, Void Guard, and Dark Enslavement.
• Qin Yan learned that Shadow Clone could grow through darkness and synchronize its Mental Strength, comprehension, and battle experience with him.
• Qin Yan began learning about Myriad Disguise, a secret art for disguise and concealment.

Qin Yan learned about the four secret arts in the Four Heavenly Demon Secrets, though Little Black had only inherited Shadow Clone and Myriad Disguise so far. He began studying Shadow Clone overnight but gained only a basic understanding of it.

• Qin Yan learned that Myriad Disguise could conceal aura and change appearance, while Void Guard offered passive and active defenses and Dark Enslavement could turn a target into a puppet.
• Little Black told Qin Yan that its inherited memories remained locked until it reached the Seventh-Rank Grandmaster realm, when it expected to learn Void Guard and Dark Enslavement.
• Qin Yan reflected on Little Black’s rapid growth and mysterious Netherworld Soul-Devouring Demon Tree origins, then decided to focus on becoming stronger.
• Qin Yan used Darkness Essence to study Shadow Clone through the night, hoping to create a clone that could cultivate for him.
• Qin Yan stopped the next morning with only a basic grasp of Shadow Clone, but resolved to keep studying it.

Qin Yan reflected on how his Darkness Attribute would help him cultivate mental strength and the Heavenly Demon Four Secrets, then noticed his panel listed the incomplete secrets as a Supreme Divine Ability. On March 31, he went to the plaza to await the Inner Academy Assessment results, confident his team's contributions would secure a top-ten spot.

• Qin Yan considered how his clone could comprehend Myriad Disguise and cultivate mental strength, while his Darkness Attribute removed obstacles to his progress and enabled him to cultivate the Heavenly Demon Four Secrets.
• Qin Yan saw that his panel listed the Incomplete Heavenly Demon Four Secrets as a Supreme Divine Ability and decided to research how Supreme Divine Abilities compared with Origin Divine Abilities.
• Qin Yan checked his team's contributions, which totaled 21,989 points, and thought a top-ten ranking was secure.
• Qin Yan arrived at the East Academy plaza, where disciples anxiously awaited the Inner Academy Assessment results, and stood alone in a quiet spot.

At the Outer Academy assessment’s finish, Lin Qingyue’s team awaited its ranking after earning 11,801 Contribution Points. Jiang Li asked Lin Qingyue to introduce her to Qin Yan, whom she hoped to recruit for her powerful family.

• Jiang Li and four female disciples discussed their team’s prospects and the advantage held by teams with Heavenly Stairway clearers.
• Jiang Li asked Lin Qingyue whether she knew how many Contribution Points Qin Yan’s team had earned, and Lin Qingyue said they had not been in contact.
• Lin Qingyue reflected on her recent cultivation, which had brought her Qi Refining to the Late Sixth Grade, and on her team’s 11,801 Contribution Points.
• Jiang Li asked Lin Qingyue to introduce her to Qin Yan because she wanted to build a relationship with the talented Heavenly Stairway clearer and recruit him for her family.

Jiang Li asked Lin Qingyue to arrange a meal with Qin Yan so she could get to know him, and Lin Qingyue agreed. At the Holy Land’s ranking ceremony, Qin Yan discovered he had placed first with 6,891 Contribution Points.

• Jiang Li pleaded with Lin Qingyue to introduce her to Qin Yan over a meal, and Lin Qingyue agreed to ask him.
• Yun Nichang addressed the gathered disciples and reminded them that they had to keep advancing on the Martial Path.
• An elder revealed the individual Contribution Ranking, prompting the disciples to react to their results and the Inner Academy cutoff.
• Qin Yan found his name at the top of the ranking with 6,891 Contribution Points and was surprised to have taken first place.

Qin Yan discovered that he had won first place in the Contribution Ranking, surprising the disciples and drawing renewed attention from Long Aotian and Lin Ruoxi. Yun Nichang selected the top six thousand disciples for the Inner Academy, while those left behind became Outer Academy disciples.

• Qin Yan reviewed the rankings and saw that his 6,891 Contribution Points put him in first place, ahead of Long Aotian and the other Heavenly Stairway clearers.
• The disciples in the plaza reacted with shock to Qin Yan's result, while Long Aotian resolved to investigate him and Lin Ruoxi judged him a serious opponent.
• Yun Nichang announced that the top six thousand disciples would become Inner Academy disciples.
• The selected disciples and most of the elders vanished in streaks of light, and a remaining elder told the unselected disciples that they had failed the assessment and would become Outer Academy disciples.

Zhou Xuan explained the Outer Academy’s advancement opportunities and obligations, while Qin Yan and the other successful disciples arrived at the Inner Academy and received their new status. Qin Yan discovered that his reward included permission to enter the Cangwu Small World once per month.

• Zhou Xuan told the Outer Academy disciples that ten of them could advance at each assessment every six months, and explained their monthly mission quota and the consequences for failing to complete it.
• Qin Yan and the other disciples were transported to the Inner Academy, where they saw its vast plaza and seven towering peaks.
• Yun Nichang congratulated the six thousand disciples on advancing and changed their Tokens from gray to silver.
• Qin Yan checked his Token and found that his team contribution reward granted entry to the Cangwu Small World once per month.

Qin Yan studied the Inner Academy’s rules and learned that he would need to become a True Disciple to enter True Disciple Mountain and choose a master. As he prepared to visit Spear Mountain to improve his spear intent, Jiang Li approached him through Lin Qingyue and introduced herself as the disciple ranked eleventh on the personal Contribution Ranking.

• Yun Nichang explained that disciples had to become True Disciples to enter True Disciple Mountain and choose an elder or Peak Master as their master.
• Qin Yan reviewed his Token’s information and learned about the rankings, the Three Trials of True Disciple, and Spear Mountain.
• Qin Yan decided to visit Spear Mountain after settling in so he could improve his spear intent.
• Lin Qingyue stopped Qin Yan and invited him to a meal, then Jiang Li explained that she had asked Lin Qingyue to introduce them.
• Qin Yan recognized Jiang Li as the disciple ranked eleventh on the personal Contribution Ranking, with 4,500 contribution points.

Qin Yan agreed to befriend Jiang Li and joined her, Lin Qingyue, and Shen Wanqian for a meal at Green Bamboo Dining Garden. Shen Wanqian recalled his history with Jiang Li as the group ate together.

• Jiang Li candidly asked Qin Yan to become friends, and he accepted after considering the value of making allies in Mystic Sanctuary.
• Qin Yan, Lin Qingyue, and Jiang Li went to Green Bamboo Dining Garden for a meal and ran into Shen Wanqian.
• Jiang Li explained that she knew Shen Wanqian because his father managed a Myriad Treasures Chamber of Commerce branch near her clan.
• Shen Wanqian recalled that Jiang Li had beaten him repeatedly after he pursued her arrogantly, until their fathers arranged an apology and the two became uneasy friends.

Qin Yan learned that several of his peers had cleared the Lava Secret Realm and received the benefits of the first True Disciple trial, then followed his Token to his new Inner Academy Cave Dwelling. He explored Cave Dwelling No. 110 and resolved to earn even better treatment for himself.

• Qin Yan saw Huang Jiuli, Zhao Wuji, and Long Aotian listed as having cleared the Lava Secret Realm and considered the increased competition and rewards.
• Shen Wanqian ate enthusiastically at Jiang Li's meal, then tried to avoid her as the group left Green Bamboo Dining Garden.
• Jiang Li ordered Shen Wanqian to go with her, leaving him unable to refuse.
• Qin Yan followed his Token to Cave Dwelling No. 110, which opened for him when he approached.
• Qin Yan explored the Cave Dwelling's hall, Cultivation Room, Alchemy Chamber, bedroom, and Spirit Pool, and resolved to attain greater privileges.

Qin Yan changed into his Inner Academy White Mystic Robe and devoted himself to mastering the Shadow Clone secret. By April 10, he had condensed the Soul Severing Blade, preparing for the dangerous step of splitting his consciousness.

• Qin Yan put on his White Mystic Robe and discovered its Formation patterns could weaken attacks slightly.
• Qin Yan trained with the Mo Yuan Spirit Weapon, then studied Shadow Clone with the aid of Darkness Essence.
• Qin Yan spent nearly a thousand Skill Points on Shadow Clone but increased its progress by only one percent, so he focused on comprehending it.
• On April 10, Qin Yan condensed his Mental Strength into the Soul Severing Blade, the key to creating a Shadow Clone.
• Qin Yan steadied himself before attempting the dangerous process of splitting his consciousness.

Qin Yan used the Soul Severing Blade to split his Mental Strength and formed the severed half into a Shadow Clone. After taking a Soul Nourishing Pill to ease the damage, he checked his Mental Strength, which stood at 140 Hz.

• Qin Yan commanded the Soul Severing Blade to sever half of his Mental Strength, enduring intense pain as the two halves remained faintly connected.
• Qin Yan used a chant and Darkness Attribute Mental Strength to condense the severed half into a Shadow Clone that looked like him.
• The Shadow Clone greeted Qin Yan and began adapting to its new body and senses.
• Qin Yan took a fifth-rank Soul Nourishing Pill to heal his damaged mind, and the pain gradually eased.
• Qin Yan checked his panel and saw that his Mental Strength was 140 Hz.

After losing 65 Hz of mental strength to create the Shadow Clone, Qin Yan had the clone cultivate darkness essence and quickly regained much of his strength. He entered the Five Elements Yin-Yang Chaos Tower to challenge its floors, aiming to reach the Sixtieth Floor for Dao Essence and a divine ability.

• Qin Yan sent the Shadow Incarnation into the Blood Demon Nest to comprehend the Darkness Essence Chains and rebuild his mental strength.
• The Shadow Clone’s cultivation raised Qin Yan’s mental strength from 140 Hz to 180 Hz overnight.
• Qin Yan entered the Five Elements Yin-Yang Chaos Tower at the Fifty-First Floor to pursue the rewards for clearing the Sixtieth Floor.
• Qin Yan destroyed the Fifty-First Floor guardian with a punch fueled by his Base Blood Qi.
• Qin Yan defeated the guardians on the Fifty-Second and Fifty-Third Floors with his spear.

Qin Yan defeated the Sixtieth Floor's Blue Figure and earned rewards from the Rainbow Artifact Spirit. He gained Spear Dao Essence, Five Elements Essence, and a divine ability, while learning that some of the Five Elements Essence was sealed until he grew stronger.

• Qin Yan broke through nine floors in succession and reached the Sixtieth Floor in less than half an hour.
• Qin Yan shattered the Blue Figure's flood dragon with his spear, then pierced the figure through its shield and destroyed it.
• The Rainbow Artifact Spirit congratulated Qin Yan for clearing the Sixtieth Floor and gave him three rewards.
• Qin Yan received Nine Ten-Thousandths of Spear Dao Essence, two thousandths of Five Elements Essence, and a divine ability.
• Qin Yan noticed that half of his Five Elements Essence was bound by tiny chains, and the Rainbow Artifact Spirit explained that the seals would diminish as he grew stronger.

Qin Yan learned that the tower had no Spear Dao Essence left and heard that cultivating the Five Elements Chaos Genesis to its second layer would bring a surprise. After leaving the tower, he studied the Myriad Phenomena Return to Origin Furnace, a divine ability that could let multiple Supreme-level intents coexist, but set it aside because he had not yet condensed Supreme Spear Intent.

• Qin Yan asked the Rainbow Artifact Spirit to trade some Five Elements Essence for Spear Dao Essence, but the Artifact Spirit said the tower had none left.
• The Rainbow Artifact Spirit hinted that the Five Elements Chaos Genesis would reveal a surprise at its second layer, but refused to explain further.
• Qin Yan left the tower without challenging the Sixty-First Floor because its guardian was close to Grandmaster level.
• Qin Yan studied the Myriad Phenomena Return to Origin Furnace and learned that it could refine the exclusionary imprints of up to five Supreme-level intents.
• Qin Yan found the divine ability too difficult to comprehend and decided to postpone studying it until he condensed Supreme Spear Intent.

Qin Yan cultivated the First Rank Annihilation Spear Intent in Spear Mountain and reached Beginner level after two days. He then set his sights on the Venus Sharp Gold Spear Intent, a prerequisite for the Chaos Origin Sect’s Lunar Yin and Solar Yang Supreme Spear Intents.

• Qin Yan went to Spear Mountain and used twenty-five Mystic Points to enter the cave dwelling containing the Spear Intent of Annihilation.
• Qin Yan practiced with the Mo Yuan Spirit Weapon, using his Spear Dao Essence to rapidly comprehend the annihilating spear intent.
• Qin Yan reached 41% comprehension in just over half a day and extended his stay to continue cultivating.
• Qin Yan formed a thread of Annihilation Spear Intent and reached Beginner level at 1% after two days.
• Qin Yan left the cave dwelling and headed toward the Venus Sharp Gold Spear Intent, another First Rank Spear Intent and a prerequisite for Lunar Yin and Solar Yang.

Qin Yan learned the requirements for comprehending the Supreme Spear Intents Lunar Yin and Solar Yang, then cultivated several First Grade Spear Intents at Spear Mountain. He left with five First Grade Spear Intents at 1% progress and Mental Strength at 361 Hz.

• Qin Yan learned he needed to perfect all five Five Elements Spear Intents and the First Layer of Five Elements Chaos Genesis to comprehend Lunar Yin and Solar Yang simultaneously.
• Qin Yan spent two days cultivating Venus Sharp Gold Spear Intent and reached Beginner.
• Qin Yan cultivated Wood Life, Southern Bright Flame, and Dark Water Spear Intents in succession over the following days.
• Qin Yan checked his panel after leaving Spear Mountain and saw that five First Grade Spear Intents had reached 1% progress and his Mental Strength had risen to 361 Hz.

Qin Yan’s Mental Strength rose to 361 Hz thanks to his Shadow Incarnation, strengthening his overall combat abilities. He met Jiang Li after emerging from ten days of spear training, as the Mystic Sanctuary’s prodigies investigated how he had earned the top Contribution Points ranking.

• Qin Yan confirmed his Mental Strength had increased by 181 Hz in ten days and credited the Shadow Incarnation’s cultivation of Darkness Force and Darkness Essence.
• Qin Yan left his cave dwelling on April 22 and traveled across the Inner Academy to meet Jiang Li.
• Jiang Li greeted Qin Yan and noted that he had spent ten days at Spear Mountain comprehending First Rank Spear Intent.
• Prodigies throughout the Mystic Sanctuary investigated Qin Yan’s 6,891 Contribution Points and learned that his Blood Puppets and Blood Chains had helped him earn most of them during Qingyun City’s Beast Tide.
• Qin Yan told Jiang Li that he had seized the chance to comprehend First Rank Spear Intent, prompting her to recognize how different their access to cultivation resources was.

Qin Yan and Jiang Li entered the Lava Secret Realm to challenge its trials before the month ended and earn doubled rewards. Qin Yan arrived in the Molten Core Volcano and faced nearly a hundred charging Molten Core Giants.

• Jiang Li praised Qin Yan for reaching first place in the Inner Academy Assessment despite having only Third Grade Spear Intent.
• Jiang Li and Qin Yan agreed to race to clear the Lava Secret Realm, with the loser paying for a meal.
• Jiang Li entered the secret realm, and Qin Yan followed her inside.
• Qin Yan arrived in the Molten Core Volcano, an above-average difficulty region whose boss was a Half-Step Grandmaster.
• Nearly a hundred Molten Core Giants sensed Qin Yan and charged at him, while he remained calm.

Qin Yan froze the Molten Core Giants throughout the volcano and then shattered the ice sculptures, provoking the Molten Core Giant King. The Half-Step Grandmaster King became truly enraged and prepared to fight him.

• Qin Yan used his Dark Nether True Water Spear Intent to freeze and defeat more than a hundred Molten Core Giants.
• Qin Yan sensed the core Boss and watched the ten-meter-tall Molten Core Giant King emerge from the volcano.
• The Molten Core Giant King demanded that Qin Yan release its clansmen, and Qin Yan agreed.
• Qin Yan shattered the frozen giants into ice fragments, killing them instead of freeing them.
• The Molten Core Giant King roared in fury as flames surged around its body.

Qin Yan rejected the Molten Core Giant King’s offer to let him leave and charged at it to clear the Molten Core Volcano. The king invoked Molten Core Golden Body and grew to fifteen meters tall, but Qin Yan remained undaunted as their battle began.

• The Molten Core Giant King offered to spare Qin Yan if he left, revealing its reluctance to fight after using its clansmen to test his strength.
• Qin Yan recognized that the king had sacrificed its clansmen as pawns and decided to kill it regardless of its offer.
• Qin Yan charged the Molten Core Giant King with the Mo Yuan Spirit Weapon, forcing it to fight.
• The Molten Core Giant King invoked Molten Core Golden Body and gathered flames around itself, growing to fifteen meters tall.
• Qin Yan showed no fear of the king’s Half-Step Grandmaster power as it faced him in its enhanced form.

Qin Yan unleashed his full strength and fought the Molten Core Giant King in a fierce battle. He managed to pierce its defenses with Tri-Element Fusion True Qi, but the fight continued as the chapter ended.

• Qin Yan stacked his Dark Water Spear Intent, Blood Burst, and Mo Yuan Spirit Weapon enhancements to raise his Blood Qi to 9,154,200 Cal.
• The Molten Core Giant King recognized Qin Yan as a dangerous human prodigy and resolved to kill him.
• Qin Yan and the Molten Core Giant King clashed, then traded hundreds of blows in the air.
• Qin Yan used Tri-Element Fusion True Qi to break through the Molten Core Giant King's defenses and inflict shallow wounds.
• The Molten Core Giant King struggled to land hits as Qin Yan's spear technique blocked its powerful attacks.