Chapter Summaries

Qin Yan and Xue Ye returned safely to the Elf Clan’s gathering grounds after the Hidden Dragon Assembly, where they reunited with Jian Lu and learned that Tianchen and Xue Mian had died. Qin Yan began practicing his spear while more returnees arrived at the camp.

• Qin Yan told Xue Ye that they had returned to the Elf Clan’s Ancestral Land, and the two passed the security checkpoints together.
• Jian Lu welcomed Qin Yan and Xue Ye, then learned from Xue Ye that Tianchen and Xue Mian had died in the ancient mountain.
• Xue Ye recalled Qin Yan defeating the Black Ancient Tree and wondered what had happened to the Black-Robed Man.
• Jian Lu brought Qin Yan and Xue Ye to their gathering grounds, gave them recovery instructions, and left to handle her duties.
• Qin Yan practiced his spear in a quiet part of the camp as more returnees arrived.

After the Hidden Dragon Assembly ended, Qin Yan saw how few Human Clan prodigies had survived. Anya arrived with the Emerald Ancient Book and began healing the wounded, stopping before Xue Ye.

• The Giant Emerald Array faded, ending the assembly and leaving the dead behind in the ancient mountains.
• Qin Yan counted only five returning members of the Human Clan, down from thirty, while roughly half of Anya's Elf Prodigies had also been lost.
• The Emerald Ancient Book appeared above the camp and released life force that eased everyone's exhaustion and injuries.
• Anya appeared above the camp, thanked the survivors, and used her power to lift them to their feet.
• Anya healed the wounded Elf Prodigies, restoring grievous injuries and strength as she moved through the camp.
• Anya reached Qin Yan's vicinity and stopped before Xue Ye, whose right arm was gone.

Anya healed Xue Ye’s severed arm and several other wounded elves, revealing power that the camp took as proof she had reached the Eighth Rank. Later, Jian Lu summoned Qin Yan, Xue Ye, Su Liuli, and two elf prodigies to meet Anya at her temporary residence.

• Anya regrew Xue Ye’s arm with her healing power, and the elves concluded she had become an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster.
• Anya treated the camp’s badly wounded elves and encouraged the survivors to honor the dead and continue along the Martial Dao.
• Anya left the camp, and Jian Lu returned to summon Qin Yan, Xue Ye, Su Liuli, and two elf prodigies.
• Jian Lu led the five prodigies through the Ancestral Land to Anya’s guarded palace.
• Qin Yan and the others entered the palace and found Anya seated deep within.

Princess Anya summoned Qin Yan and other prodigies to learn what they had discovered about the Life Grail at the Jadeite Royal Court. After Xue Ye revealed that an unknown prodigy had taken it, Qin Yan arranged to speak privately with Anya, leaving the whereabouts of the Grail unresolved.

• Anya welcomed Qin Yan, Su Liuli, Xue Ye, and two Elf Clan prodigies and asked whether they had reached the Jadeite Royal Court ruins.
• Qin Yan, Su Liuli, and Xue Ye confirmed they had reached the ruins, while the other two prodigies had not.
• Xue Ye told Anya that the Life Grail had already been taken by an unknown prodigy when he reached the Green Rain Mansion.
• Qin Yan indicated he had information to share, and Anya sent the other prodigies away with Jian Lu.
• Anya asked Qin Yan what news he had brought about the Life Grail.

Qin Yan presented Anya with the Elf Clan’s lost Life Grail, which awakened and transferred the First Elf Empress’s imprint and Life Dao Essence into Anya. Anya absorbed the power, claimed the grail, and praised Qin Yan for fulfilling their agreement.

• Qin Yan summoned the Life Grail before Anya, who recognized it as the Elf Clan’s long-lost supreme holy artifact.
• Anya touched the grail, awakening its light and summoning the phantom of the First Elf Empress.
• The First Elf Empress’s imprint dissolved into emerald particles that entered Anya and infused her with multiple portions of Life Dao Essence.
• Anya’s aura transformed as she absorbed the power, then she took the now-docile Life Grail into her body.
• Anya praised Qin Yan for obtaining the grail, and Qin Yan replied that he had fulfilled their agreement.

Qin Yan bargained with Anya for the resources he needed to cultivate the Five Elements Chaos Genesis, securing more than half his wish list. After he left, Anya recognized the five-element balance in his requested materials and suspected his ambitious cultivation plan.

• Anya offered to reward Qin Yan for helping her obtain the Life Grail, and Qin Yan presented a list of rare five-element resources.
• Anya said she could provide about half the requested resources, while Qin Yan pressed her to honor her promise.
• After negotiating, Anya agreed to provide fifty-five percent of the list and prioritize the hardest-to-find core Spirit Medicines.
• Qin Yan left the palace satisfied that he could gather the resources needed for perfect Beginner mastery of the Five Elements Chaos Genesis.
• Anya studied the list and suspected Qin Yan intended to cultivate the Five Elements Chaos Genesis.

Anya reflected on Qin Yan’s prospects with the Five Elements Chaos Genesis before meditating, while Jian Lu learned that Feng Jin and Fire Lizard had died in Azure Dragon Ancient Mountain. Reports of the assembly’s violence spread through the clans, whose fury threatened the peace of the Elf Clan’s Ancestral Land.

• Anya considered Qin Yan’s potential and her own chances of reaching True King or even Emperor before closing the Silver Leaf Book and meditating.
• Jian Lu questioned returning prodigies and learned that Feng Jin, Fire Lizard, and many others had died during the Hidden Dragon Assembly.
• Xue Ye and the other prodigies described the Black Ancient Tree’s rampage, the Red-Robed Woman’s battle with Dragon Hidden, and Qin Yan’s role in killing the tree.
• Jian Lu sent the prodigies to rest and hurried to report the upheaval to Anya.
• Reports of the deaths reached the clans, prompting furious cries from the Phoenix Descendant Clan and Fire Lizard Clan and putting Elf Clan forces on alert.

Qin Yan told Su Zhiming that his haul from Azure Dragon Ancient Mountain could make him a target, and Liu Ruyan revealed that her own gains were also unusually large. Su Zhiming ordered them to remain under Princess Anya’s protection until the Human Clan delegation could return safely, while Qin Yan realized Liu Ruyan was the mysterious Red-Robed Woman.

• Qin Yan visited Su Zhiming and described obtaining the Life Grail and a huge number of Points from the Black Ancient Tree and Feng Jin’s legacy.
• Qin Yan warned that his likely high ranking could attract retaliation from hostile Alien Race factions, and Su Zhiming agreed the danger was real.
• Liu Ruyan arrived and told Su Zhiming that her haul from Azure Dragon Ancient Mountain had also exceeded expectations.
• Su Zhiming ordered Qin Yan and Liu Ruyan to stay inside Princess Anya’s inner palace compound, promised to request stronger security and reinforcements, and left to speak with Anya.
• Qin Yan recognized Liu Ruyan as the mysterious Red-Robed Woman and wondered whether her second personality had been in control during their earlier encounter.

Qin Yan and Liu Ruyan agreed to spar someday before joining Princess Anya at Myriad Races Square for the Hidden Dragon Assembly's rankings announcement. The Elder began revealing the top one hundred, naming Feng Yan at rank one hundred and Su Da at rank ninety-nine.

• Liu Ruyan praised Qin Yan and proposed that they spar, and Qin Yan accepted.
• The next morning, Qin Yan and Liu Ruyan accompanied Princess Anya and her guards to Myriad Races Square.
• The assembled races gathered beneath the World Tree as an elderly Elf Clan Elder announced that the Hidden Dragon Assembly's points had been verified.
• The Elder revealed Feng Yan of the Phoenix Descendant Clan at rank one hundred.
• The Elder revealed Su Da of the Fox Clan at rank ninety-nine.

The Hidden Dragon Assembly’s top rankings were announced, and Qin Yan discovered that Su Liuli was Xue Liu Li of the Blood Race. Anya explained that Xue Liu Li belonged to a faction allied with the Elf Clan, while the announcement reached third place without revealing the final two contenders.

• The elderly woman announced Long Long of the Dragonman Clan in tenth place and Xue Liu Li of the Blood Race in ninth.
• Qin Yan recognized Su Liuli as Xue Liu Li, and Anya calmed the Human Clan talents before explaining her identity and alliance.
• The rankings continued with Feng Ling in eighth, Ice Armor in seventh, another Feng Ling in sixth, An Ling in fifth, and Rock Heart in fourth.
• The elderly woman turned toward the three brightest orbs and began announcing third place.

The Hidden Dragon Assembly revealed Qin Yan of the Human Clan as its first-place winner, with Liu Ruyan taking third and Dragon Hidden second. As the crowd celebrated, Qin Yan reflected on his teammates’ hidden backgrounds and his own shortcomings, resolving to keep moving forward.

• The old woman announced Liu Ruyan of the Human Clan in third place and Dragon Hidden of the Dragonman Clan in second.
• The old woman revealed Qin Yan of the Human Clan as the assembly’s first-place winner, drawing a roar from the crowd.
• Su Zhiming smiled at Qin Yan’s victory while Anya considered Liu Ruyan’s and Xue Liu Li’s unexpected results.
• Xue Liu Li whispered to Anya that she had placed ninth after pursuing the Life Grail and receiving the Blood Absolute Inheritance.
• Qin Yan wondered about the secrets of Xue Liu Li, Liu Ruyan, and Li Mu, then recognized how much he still had to learn and resolved to continue his journey.

The Elf Clan secured first place in the racial rankings, helped by Qin Yan and other allies, while Qin Yan waited in the palace for instructions from Dean Su Zhiming. Princess Anya summoned him to recognize his contributions, and an Elf Officer arrived to discuss his reward for helping the clan.

• The elderly Elf Clan woman announced the final racial rankings, with the Elf Clan in first, the Dragonman Clan in second, and the Storm Winged, Mountain Giant, and Icefield Bear Clans in third through fifth.
• Qin Yan returned to the palace quarters with Princess Anya and kept to himself while waiting for word from Dean Su Zhiming.
• After three days without a message from Dean Su Zhiming, an elf attendant summoned Qin Yan to meet Princess Anya.
• Princess Anya praised Qin Yan for taking first in the individual rankings and helping the Elf Clan win the racial rankings.
• An Elf Officer assessed Qin Yan's modesty and said the Elf Clan would reward him, mentioning that she had reviewed his cultivation resource list.

Envoy An Miao Shi Mingxin rewarded Qin Yan for his service with all the resources he lacked, access to the Starlight Refining Pool, and a promise of her aid in a future crisis. Qin Yan left with a way to strengthen his weak mental strength and a powerful safeguard for his plans to pursue the Supreme Golden Body.

• Mingxin offered Qin Yan every remaining resource on his list, and Anya explained that Mingxin was one of the Elf Clan's Nine Temple Envoys.
• Mingxin recognized that Qin Yan's mental strength had not reached its first transformation and offered him entry to the Starlight Refining Pool.
• Qin Yan realized the pool could help him balance his physical, Qi Refining, and mental foundations as he pursued the Supreme Golden Body.
• Mingxin promised that the Elf Clan, she personally, and Anya's Line would owe Qin Yan a favor she could fulfill by intervening once in a dire crisis.
• Mingxin gave Qin Yan a crystal ball containing an imprint of her Wang Bing, which he could crush to summon her aid.

Anya and Mingxin discussed Qin Yan’s developing Blood Dao Physique and confirmed that Wen Ning possessed the Mortal World Inquiry Dao Body. After receiving his rewards, Qin Yan worried that Mingxin might have sensed the Demon Qi concealing his secrets, but concluded she had shown no hostility.

• Qin Yan accepted a crystal ball containing mental power as a last-resort safeguard and left the hall.
• Mingxin told Anya that Qin Yan’s blood and qi suggested an awakening Blood Dao Physique despite his weak mental power.
• Anya revealed that Wen Ning’s background was clean and that she possessed the Mortal World Inquiry Dao Body.
• Mingxin planned to take Wen Ning as her disciple and escort Anya’s human delegation back to Hua Country.
• Qin Yan returned to his side hall and wondered whether Mingxin had detected the Demon Qi Veil and the secrets it concealed.

Qin Yan weighed using his Skill Points to advance the Undying Blood Demon Scripture but decided to wait rather than risk revealing his Demon Qi in the Elf Clan's Ancestral Land. The next morning, he arrived at the Starlight Refining Pool and met Xue Liu Li, who introduced herself properly.

• Qin Yan trained with his spear, then checked his Panel and saw that he had accumulated 540 Skill Points.
• Qin Yan decided not to use Skill Points to break through the Undying Blood Demon Scripture because the energy fluctuations could expose him to hostile observers.
• An elf guard escorted Qin Yan through guarded checkpoints to the Starlight Refining Pool on Princess Anya's orders.
• Qin Yan found Liu Ruyan, Xue Liu Li, and several Elf Clan talents waiting beside the pool.
• Xue Liu Li approached Qin Yan and introduced herself as a member of the Crimson Moon Empire from the Blood Realm.

Qin Yan learned that Xue Liu Li had been the Black-Robed Man who recovered the Bloodthirsty Spirit Whip in Linhai City, and accepted her Bloodsound Bell after she explained the Blood Realm’s connection to Blue Star. He also learned that the Scarlet Empire’s Bloodshadow Royal Court was leading the Blood Race’s war against Hua Country.

• Xue Liu Li offered Qin Yan a Bloodsound Bell so they could communicate if he visited the Blood Realm, and he initially refused it.
• Xue Liu Li revealed that she had been the Black-Robed Man who took the Bloodthirsty Spirit Whip from Zhang Bei in Linhai City.
• Xue Liu Li explained that she had entered Blue Star through a spatial rift in Jianghai Province and had gone to Linhai City after sensing the whip.
• Xue Liu Li warned that Qin Yan might soon be sent to the border battlefield, and Qin Yan accepted the Bloodsound Bell.
• Xue Liu Li explained that the Blood Race was divided among seven empires and that the Scarlet Empire’s Bloodshadow Royal Court was fighting Hua Country, while her Crimson Moon Empire favored a more moderate approach.

Qin Yan began cultivating in the Starlight Refining Pool, enduring increasingly severe pain as its energy refined and strengthened his spiritual essence. The session was still underway when another elf prodigy lost control and screamed in agony.

• An Elf Officer opened the Starlight Refining Pool and warned the prodigies to cultivate from the protective lotus platforms without entering the water.
• The officer created Starlight Guardian Lotuses that filtered the pool’s energy, then vanished and left the young cultivators to begin.
• Qin Yan chose an unoccupied lotus, sat down, and let its starlight energy flow into his mind.
• Qin Yan’s thoughts grew clearer and his spiritual power began to strengthen, but continued refinement brought him escalating pain that he resolved to endure.
• An elf prodigy screamed and clutched his head as the spiritual field around his lotus platform fell into chaos.

Qin Yan endured the Starlight Refining Pool until his Mental Strength broke through 100 Hz and gained the ability to perceive his surroundings beyond his body. After the three-hour refinement, he woke in the Elf Clan’s side hall and found his Mental Strength had risen from 81 Hz to 120 Hz.

• The Elf Officer carried unconscious Prodigies away from the lotus platform as they reached their limits, while Qin Yan continued enduring the refinement.
• Qin Yan’s Mental Strength broke through 100 Hz, awakening outward mental perception that reached about five meters.
• Qin Yan resumed meditating and cultivating until the Elf Officer announced the refinement had ended, whereupon Qin Yan passed out from exhaustion.
• Qin Yan woke in the Elf Clan’s side hall, checked that he was safe, and inspected his System Panel.
• Qin Yan saw that his Mental Strength had risen to 120 Hz, an increase of 39 Hz from before the pool.

Qin Yan continued training while waiting to return to Blue Star, and his mental strength reached 120 hertz. On July 20, he and the other surviving young talents began the journey home under escort, but Qin Yan stayed alert as they crossed Dawnlight Grove toward the Space Passage.

• Qin Yan reflected that he would need to surpass 200 hertz to become a true Mental Strength Cultivator, then resumed spear training.
• Dean Su Zhiming told Qin Yan, Liu Ruyan, Li Mu, and Zhao Feng that they would leave for Blue Star that day.
• Su Zhiming arranged for the group to travel part of the way with Princess Anya and her entourage, then led them through Teleportation Formations to Dawnlight Grove.
• Starlight Dew and her Elf Warriors joined the group to escort them from the grove's Teleportation Formation to the Space Passage.
• Qin Yan used his 120-hertz mental strength to scan the surroundings, wary of danger on the final stretch to the Space Passage.

Qin Yan and the others entered a silent, deserted stretch of Dawnlight Grove, where an attacker launched a devastating ambush. Su Zhiming met the first strike, but a second attack targeted the group, leaving Starlight Dew to defend them.

• Qin Yan prepared to crush Envoy An’s Crystal Ball if an overwhelming threat appeared, while his companions readied their weapons.
• Su Zhiming and Starlight Dew discovered that the grove’s hidden sentries and patrol teams had vanished without a trace.
• A massive gray-green claw descended from the sky, and Su Zhiming countered it with a golden fist that clashed with it in the air.
• Qin Yan judged the attacker to be at least an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster as the collision’s shockwaves tore through the forest.
• A black sword light shot from the woods toward Qin Yan and the others, and Starlight Dew summoned the phantom of a colossal emerald tree to protect them.