Chapter Summaries

Qin Yan failed to control the Beast Fire during alchemy and suffered a backlash, but Xiao Huo treated his mental fatigue and questioned the mismatch between his learning ability and his Mental Strength. Qin Yan learned that Mental Strength was difficult to measure accurately below 100 Hz and continued asking Xiao Huo about its levels.

• Qin Yan's Heart-Clearing Grass burned to ash, and the fire's backlash left him collapsed and mentally exhausted.
• Xiao Huo gave Qin Yan a Mind-Clearing Pill and calmed the out-of-control Beast Fire.
• Xiao Huo questioned how Qin Yan could have mastered two alchemy tomes so quickly yet struggled to control low-grade Beast Fire.
• Qin Yan asked what Mental Strength was used for, and Xiao Huo explained its importance in alchemy, artifact forging, and martial cultivation.
• Xiao Huo said Mental Strength could not be measured accurately before it exceeded 100 Hz, and Qin Yan asked whether it had distinct levels.

Xiao Huo explained how Mental Strength was classified and told Qin Yan that a Nourishing Spirit Pill could safely help a low-rank Martial Artist improve it. Qin Yan spent all his credits to buy one, then discovered the delivered pill was superior grade.

• Xiao Huo described the Mental Strength ranges, from ordinary levels to innate prodigies, and noted that high spiritual talent helped Martial Artists master advanced Body Tempering arts.
• Qin Yan learned his 42 Hz Mental Strength was below the typical range for Magic Capital Martial University freshmen and asked how he could improve it.
• Xiao Huo recommended Nourishing Spirit Pills and told Qin Yan to rest after overexerting his Mental Strength.
• Qin Yan searched the academy website, found each pill cost 10 Credit Points, and spent all his credits to order one.
• Qin Yan received the pill and recognized it as superior grade, with full medicinal efficacy and almost no pill toxins.

After a Superior Nourishing Spirit Pill raised Qin Yan’s Mental Strength, his panel revealed that he could unlock the First-Rank Alchemist profession at 50 Hz. Determined to reach that threshold, he traveled to Pudong District and headed for Hundred Herbs Hall.

• Qin Yan swallowed the Superior Nourishing Spirit Pill and continued his spear training while its effects nourished his mind.
• After training, Qin Yan saw that his Mental Strength had increased by two Hz to 44 Hz, and the panel had replaced his herb and spirit meat knowledge entries with a First-Rank Alchemist path that unlocked at 50 Hz.
• Qin Yan resolved to raise his Mental Strength to 50 Hz and decided to spend some of his savings off campus.
• The next morning, Qin Yan took the exclusive subway to Pudong District and hailed a taxi to Hundred Herbs Hall.
• The taxi driver recognized Qin Yan as a Martial Artist, and Qin Yan confirmed it.

Qin Yan shared a car to Hundred Herbs Hall with Wen Ning, Mi Duoduo, and Xue Song, a fellow student who resented his presence beside Wen Ning. The group arrived at the hall, where Xue Song followed Wen Ning and Mi Duoduo inside while glaring at Qin Yan.

• The driver picked up Wen Ning, Mi Duoduo, and Xue Song, who were also headed to Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Wen Ning was surprised to learn that Qin Yan was a Martial Artist, and Xue Song grew hostile when he saw Qin Yan sitting beside her.
• Xue Song asked Qin Yan which school he attended, and Qin Yan curtly told him it was none of his business.
• Wen Ning apologized for Xue Song's rudeness, but Xue Song and Qin Yan traded insults until Wen Ning warned Xue Song not to follow her on future outings.
• The car stopped outside Hundred Herbs Hall, and Xue Song followed Wen Ning and Mi Duoduo inside after glaring at Qin Yan.

Qin Yan bought six Superior Nourishing Spirit Pills at Hundred Herbs Hall, while Xue Song approached him with an apparent intention to cause trouble. Wen Ning and Mi Duoduo noticed them, leaving Qin Yan waiting for his pills as Xue Song watched provocatively.

• Qin Yan learned that a Superior Nourishing Spirit Pill cost 150,000 yuan and ordered six to improve his Mental Strength.
• Xue Song saw Qin Yan's purchase and left Wen Ning, saying he had personal business to handle.
• Mi Duoduo suggested following Xue Song, but Wen Ning instead bought Blood Qi Pills and Body Tempering Pills for one million Huaxia Coins.
• Wen Ning spotted Xue Song standing beside Qin Yan and realized he had gone to confront him.
• Qin Yan ignored Xue Song, and staff member Lili returned carrying a jade box of pills.

Qin Yan tried to buy six Superior Nourishing Spirit Pills at Hundred Herbs Hall, but Xue Song used his uncle Xue Gang’s position to claim them. Long Tao sided with Xue Song and let him take the pills, leaving Qin Yan to suppress his anger and avoid a confrontation.

• Lili brought Qin Yan the pills he had ordered, but Xue Song demanded the same bottle and invoked his uncle, Fourth-Rank Alchemist Xue Gang.
• Qin Yan showed Lili his Hundred Herbs Hall gold card, but Xue Song revealed that he had one too and continued pressuring her.
• Lili refused to break the rules and give Xue Song the pills, prompting him to threaten that his uncle would have her fired.
• Long Tao arrived, accepted Xue Song’s embellished account, scolded Lili, and handed Xue Song the jade box.
• Xue Song taunted Qin Yan with the pills, while Qin Yan suppressed his anger and chose not to challenge him directly.

Steward Fang Da intervened when Qin Yan was being targeted at Hundred Herbs Hall and used his authority to punish those responsible. The chapter ended with Xue Gang receiving an immediate dismissal notice because he had covered for his nephew Xue Song.

• Fang Da arrived and stopped Lili from fetching more pills, then confronted Long Tao and Xue Song for bullying Qin Yan.
• Fang Da called Xue Gang, and Xue Gang rushed in to meet him.
• Fang Da told Xue Gang he was fired, but Xue Gang challenged his authority to dismiss a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.
• Xue Gang checked his communicator and found an Elder Council order terminating his employment for covering up Xue Song’s misconduct.
• Xue Gang was devastated when he realized his nephew had cost him his position and benefits.

Fang Da fired Xue Gang and Long Tao for enabling Xue Song’s misconduct at Hundred Herbs Hall, then revealed that he was Qin Yan’s senior disciple under Xiao Huo. Qin Yan learned that Xiao Huo was also a director of Hundred Herbs Hall, leaving him stunned by his teacher’s influence.

• Fang Da fired Long Tao and condemned him for bullying people based on their status.
• Xue Gang angrily struck Xue Song unconscious, then dragged him out of Hundred Herbs Hall after Fang Da warned him against fighting there.
• Qin Yan thanked Fang Da, who revealed that he was the fifth-ranked disciple of Xiao Huo and Qin Yan’s Fifth Senior Brother.
• Fang Da explained that Xiao Huo was a director and shareholder of Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Qin Yan was stunned by the scale of Xiao Huo’s wealth and influence.

After Fang Da exposed Xue Song’s mistake and praised Lili for standing up for Qin Yan, he promoted her and gave Qin Yan pills and a Diamond VIP Card. Qin Yan reflected on the value of connections while resolving to grow stronger, then encountered Wen Ning and Mi Duoduo at the hall’s entrance.

• Fang Da revealed that Qin Yan was Alchemy Grandmaster Xiao Huo’s direct disciple, and Lili returned Qin Yan’s pills as he thanked her for defending him.
• Fang Da promoted Lili to counter manager of the first-floor hall for her integrity, and she thanked Qin Yan as well as Fang Da.
• Fang Da gave Qin Yan a bottle of Superior Nourishing Spirit Pills as a sect meeting gift, and Qin Yan accepted it after hearing about the tradition.
• Fang Da gave Qin Yan a Diamond VIP Card with discounts and other privileges, then left to handle company matters.
• Qin Yan reflected that influence and backing had protected him, resolved to become stronger, and met Wen Ning and Mi Duoduo at the entrance; Wen Ning looked enviously at his pills.

After seeing Qin Yan’s influence at Hundred Herbs Hall, Wen Ning decided to befriend him for help with her scarce cultivation resources. She apologized, exchanged contact information with him, and asked whether he had finished his business.

• Wen Ning realized that Qin Yan had a powerful connection in Xiao Huo and could become a valuable ally.
• Wen Ning apologized to Qin Yan for Xue Song’s trouble, and Qin Yan accepted her apology.
• Wen Ning asked Qin Yan to exchange contact information and promised to treat him to a meal later.
• Qin Yan and Wen Ning added each other on their Smart Bracelets, and Wen Ning asked if he had finished his business.

Wen Ning confirmed that Qin Yan attended Magic Capital Martial University and considered investigating his background as she sought useful connections. Qin Yan returned to campus, ate, and began taking a Superior Nourishing Spirit Pill while training with his spear.

• Qin Yan agreed to share a taxi with Wen Ning and Mi Duoduo after they left Hundred Herbs Hall.
• Wen Ning questioned Qin Yan about his subway route and confirmed he was a student at Magic Capital Martial University.
• Wen Ning reflected on why she had chosen Demon City Jiaotong University and decided to investigate Qin Yan's background.
• Qin Yan rode the exclusive subway to campus, ate at the cafeteria, and returned to his manor.
• Qin Yan took a Nourishing Spirit Pill and practiced spear training until night, sensing that the pill's effects resonated with his blood qi.

Qin Yan’s Mental Strength reached 48 Hz after a week of daily training and Superior Nourishing Spirit Pills, but its progress slowed and he felt the strain of taking the pills too frequently. As he considered risking one more pill to approach the 50 Hz Alchemist threshold, Wen Ning contacted him and asked about his training.

• Qin Yan checked his Mental Strength after a pill and found it had risen to 45 Hz.
• Over the next seven days, Qin Yan trained daily and took one Superior Nourishing Spirit Pill each day, eventually raising his Mental Strength to 48 Hz.
• Qin Yan recalled Xiao Huo’s warning that taking pills too often could cause serious mental damage, but decided the risk was worthwhile if it helped him unlock the Alchemist profession.
• Qin Yan received a call from Wen Ning, whose research had revealed that he had reached Third-Stage Spear Technique.
• Wen Ning saw Qin Yan’s post-training hologram and asked whether he had just finished training.

Wen Ning investigated Qin Yan’s background and tried to build a connection with him, while Qin Yan accepted her explanation but remained wary of her motives. After their call, Wen Ning reflected on her ambitions and resolved not to let her lack of family resources hold her back.

• Wen Ning considered Qin Yan’s status as Xiao Huo’s disciple and the tenth-ranked freshman at Magic Capital Martial University, seeing him as a potential source of affordable medicinal pills.
• Qin Yan chatted with Wen Ning over a projection, then grew cautious when she admitted she had investigated his identity.
• Wen Ning praised Qin Yan’s accomplishments, and he accepted her apology without revealing his suspicions.
• After ending the call, Qin Yan washed up and went to bed while Wen Ning blushed at how eagerly she had praised him.
• Wen Ning recalled placing third in her Monthly Exam and sensing that students from Martial Families looked down on her prospects, then vowed to overcome her lack of resources.

After six days of taking a Superior Nourishing Spirit Pill daily, Qin Yan’s mind and body had deteriorated, but he still tried to endure class. Lu Youyou warned him to stop taking the pills, and Qin Yan agreed to rest; as he left the classroom, his classmates noticed his weakness and began considering their chances against him.

• Wen Ning received a call from Supervisor Zhao and reluctantly answered it.
• Qin Yan spent six days taking a Superior Nourishing Spirit Pill each day, leaving him pale, dizzy, and mentally sluggish.
• Lu Youyou confronted Qin Yan in class about his excessive pill use and warned that his mental state was close to collapse.
• Qin Yan promised Lu Youyou he would stop taking the pills for a while, while an accidental touch left her flustered.
• Lu Youyou left with Xiao Wangshu after class, and Qin Yan staggered out while his classmates watched his weakened state with interest.

On the eve of the Monthly Exam, Qin Yan struggled with severe mental exhaustion after taking Nourishing Spirit Pills, while Jin Gang prepared to reclaim his place in the top ten. After swallowing one final pill and falling asleep, Qin Yan woke to discover his Mental Strength had finally reached 50 Hz.

• Jin Gang, recovered and at six Skin Temperings, vowed to defeat Qin Yan in the Monthly Exam and protect his family's support.
• Qin Yan returned to his villa unable to eat, saw his Mental Strength remained at 49 Hz, and decided to take one final Nourishing Spirit Pill.
• Qin Yan swallowed the pill, chose to rest instead of cultivating, and fell into a deep sleep.
• Qin Yan woke at night and reflected that Wen Ning's voice seemed to soothe his mental discomfort, though he dismissed the idea that she was a Divine Seed.
• Qin Yan checked his Attribute Panel and saw that his Mental Strength had risen to 50 Hz.

Qin Yan skipped the Monthly Exam to recover, leaving tenth place vacant for Jin Gang to reclaim. Sun Kong defeated several challengers and then challenged Lu Youyou, beginning a fierce arena match that remained unresolved.

• Qin Yan submitted a leave application for the Monthly Exam and went back to sleep to recover.
• At the exam, instructor Lin Jian announced Qin Yan's absence, and Jin Gang won the fight for tenth place after a brutal free-for-all.
• Sun Kong used his Great Accomplishment Body Tempering Martial Art to defeat Zhao Qingyun and turn his attention to Lu Youyou.
• Sun Kong challenged Lu Youyou, and the two began trading heavy blows with his staff and her hammer.

Lu Youyou defeated Sun Kong and defended her arena, while Instructor Lin Jian announced doubled Credit Point rewards and the formation of a Key Class for the Academy Exchange Tournament. Qin Yan recovered from his exhaustion and, after practicing with his spear, read the school’s notices about the Monthly Exam and upcoming changes.

• Lu Youyou used the Sixth Form of Chaotic Wind to shatter Sun Kong’s Thousand Jun Strike and send him crashing out of the arena.
• Lu Youyou admitted she had tempered her skin eight times and had held back because fighting Sun Kong was fun, then the referee confirmed her successful defense.
• After no one else challenged Lu Youyou, Instructor Lin Jian announced that top-ten Credit Point rewards would double and a Key Class would be formed from the next Monthly Exam’s top thirty students.
• Qin Yan woke late, ate, and continued resting as he recovered from the previous day’s strain.
• Qin Yan practiced basic Spear Technique forms for four hours, replied to Lu Youyou’s concerned messages, and read the school notices about the Monthly Exam, doubled Credit Points, the Key Class, and the Academy Exchange Tournament.

After recovering from the mental strain of using Nourishing Spirit Pills, Qin Yan invested Skill Points in [First-Rank Alchemist] and gained extensive pill knowledge. He discovered that many formulas he had learned, including one that might repair his damaged Mental Strength, were absent from the school's records.

• Qin Yan rested and trained at low intensity for three days, refusing to take another Nourishing Spirit Pill as his mental fog and pain gradually eased.
• Qin Yan spent Skill Points on [First-Rank Alchemist], reaching 1% and acquiring knowledge and instincts for more than a dozen first-rank pills.
• Qin Yan searched the school's Pill Exchange and found that it stocked several familiar pills but did not list the Water Healing Pill.
• Qin Yan raised [First-Rank Alchemist] to 10% and learned dozens more formulas, including the Spirit Nourishing Pill, which could repair and slightly increase Mental Strength.
• Qin Yan searched the school's Resource Repository and found that nearly one-third of the formulas he had learned were missing, leading him to suspect they were unknown or lost to the school and the outside world.

Qin Yan bought ingredients and rented an alchemy chamber to refine a Spirit Nourishing Pill, using the knowledge granted by his panel to overcome his damaged Mental Strength. He successfully formed the pill and found that its fragrance eased his mental pain.

• Qin Yan regretted that his newly acquired alchemy knowledge did not include formulas for the Blood Qi Pill or Body Tempering Pill.
• Qin Yan bought a set of Spirit Nourishing Pill ingredients at Hundred Herbs Hall for 140,000 Huaxia Coins and rented an alchemy chamber.
• Qin Yan prepared the furnace and successfully refined the Calming Flower into medicinal liquid.
• Qin Yan refined several supplementary ingredients at once despite the strain on his damaged Mental Strength.
• Qin Yan fused the medicinal liquids and formed the Spirit Nourishing Pill, whose fragrance eased his mental discomfort.

Qin Yan successfully refined ten top-grade Spirit Nourishing Pills, then invested all 48 of his Skill Points in the First-Rank Alchemist profession and unlocked formulas for the First-Rank Blood Qi Pill and Body Tempering Pill. He bought the ingredients to make both pills and, after resting in his rented Pill Chamber, recovered enough to prepare for the next stage of cultivation.

• Qin Yan refined ten top-grade Spirit Nourishing Pills and swallowed one to begin repairing his injured mind.
• Qin Yan invested 20 Skill Points in the First-Rank Alchemist profession and learned the formula for the First-Rank Blood Qi Pill.
• Qin Yan spent his remaining 28 Skill Points, raising his alchemist progress to 34% and unlocking the Body Tempering Pill formula.
• Qin Yan bought ingredients for the Body Tempering Pill and First-Rank Blood Qi Pill at Hundred Herbs Hall using his Diamond VIP Card.
• Qin Yan renewed his Pill Chamber rental and rested for two hours, recovering some of his Mental Strength and clearing his mind.