Chapter Summaries

Li Qingshan accompanied Hua Wu and Hua Yu through a Rogue Cultivator marketplace in Azure Dragon Immortal City, letting them enjoy browsing and buying trinkets. Near the end, he spotted an ancient jade talisman bearing patterns resembling those on the Dragon Clan Reverse Scale.

• Hua Yu and Hua Wu asked Li Qingshan to visit the Rogue Cultivator marketplace, and he agreed so they could relax.
• Hua Yu bought an Illusion Butterfly Flowing Light Hairpin after Li Qingshan approved the purchase.
• The sisters enthusiastically browsed and bought several amusing, mostly useless items while Li Qingshan accompanied them.
• Li Qingshan sensed an ancient jade talisman at a red-clad young woman’s stall and noticed its worn patterns resembled those on his Dragon Clan Reverse Scale.

Li Qingshan bought Zhao Hongxiu’s mysterious Green Scale Jade Talisman for one million top-grade Spirit Stones after sensing its extraordinary seal. Just as he prepared to leave, Liu Hanyan of Star Pavilion demanded the talisman, setting up a confrontation over the completed sale.

• Li Qingshan examined the ancient jade talisman and found that his Primordial Spirit could not probe it and his strength could not damage it.
• Zhao Hongxiu explained that the talisman was an ancestral relic, then asked one million top-grade Spirit Stones for it in accordance with her grandfather’s final command.
• Li Qingshan paid Zhao Hongxiu the full price and took possession of the talisman.
• Liu Hanyan arrived and offered Zhao Hongxiu one million two hundred thousand top-grade Spirit Stones for the talisman.
• Li Qingshan objected that he had already completed the transaction, but Liu Hanyan invoked Star Pavilion’s authority in Azure Dragon Immortal City, prompting Hua Wu and Hua Yu to stand beside him.

Li Qingshan defended Zhao Hongxiu when Liu Hanyan tried to force her to sell him a jade talisman, then suppressed Liu Hanyan with his Spirit Transformation power. Ye Liangchen, the Star Pavilion’s young master, arrived and demanded an explanation, leaving the marketplace tense as the two faced off.

• Li Qingshan insisted that Zhao Hongxiu honor their deal and sell him the jade talisman despite Liu Hanyan invoking the Star Pavilion.
• Liu Hanyan used her Nascent Soul pressure to intimidate Zhao Hongxiu, but Li Qingshan shielded the merchant and confronted her.
• Li Qingshan’s pressure overwhelmed Liu Hanyan and her maids, and he immobilized Liu Hanyan despite her defensive jade pendant.
• Ye Liangchen arrived with four Spirit Transformation followers, and Liu Hanyan accused Li Qingshan of bullying her.
• Ye Liangchen comforted Liu Hanyan, withdrew his junior sister from Li Qingshan’s restraint, and demanded an explanation for his actions.

Li Qingshan refused Ye Liangchen’s increasingly lavish offers and threats to surrender the jade talisman, exposing Star Pavilion’s coercion before the gathered cultivators. When Ye Liangchen threatened him, Li Qingshan revealed an aura approaching the Void Refinement Realm, leaving Ye Liangchen shaken but still determined to obtain the talisman.

• Liu Hanyan told Ye Liangchen that the jade talisman’s patterns resembled Dragon Clan runes and might help him comprehend the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele.
• Ye Liangchen offered Li Qingshan twice the talisman’s price, but Li Qingshan accused Star Pavilion of forcing a sale and described how the transaction had already been completed.
• Ye Liangchen released his late Spirit Transformation pressure and Star-Radiance Soul Suppression intent, but Li Qingshan overwhelmed them and revealed that he was at the peak of Spirit Transformation.
• Ye Liangchen apologized and offered five million top-grade Spirit Stones and a Starlight Token, then raised his offer to ten million when Li Qingshan refused to sell.
• Li Qingshan rejected Ye Liangchen’s threat and unleashed an even more powerful aura that stirred the primal energy of heaven and earth, revealing that he was half a step into the Void Refinement Realm.
• Ye Liangchen was forced back by Li Qingshan’s pressure and secretly resolved to use a hidden trump card to take the jade talisman.

Long Aoxue intervened to stop Ye Liangchen and Li Qingshan from fighting in Azure Dragon Immortal City, then showed unusual interest in Li Qingshan and his dragon aura. Li Qingshan left with Hua Wu and Hua Yu while Long Aoxue ordered an investigation, and Ye Liangchen departed furious.

• Long Aoxue arrived and reminded everyone that fighting was forbidden inside Azure Dragon Immortal City.
• Long Aoxue rebuked Ye Liangchen and questioned Li Qingshan, sensing a strange resonance between his aura and her Heavenly Dragon Sacred Body.
• Li Qingshan identified himself as a Rogue Cultivator from the Eastern Wasteland, and Long Aoxue invited him to seek her out at the Garrison Commander's Residence.
• Li Qingshan put away the jade talisman and left with Hua Wu and Hua Yu as Long Aoxue ordered a guard to investigate him.
• Ye Liangchen left with Liu Hanyan and his attendants, suppressing his anger.

Li Qingshan activated the ancient jade talisman with a trace of true dragon essence blood and received the first three transformations of the Dragon Clan’s supreme body-tempering method, Nine Transformations of the True Dragon. The talisman cracked and lost its power, while Li Qingshan was left with a path to cultivate a body said to rival a True Immortal.

• Hua Wu and Hua Yu warned Li Qingshan that Ye Liangchen might pursue him and that Long Aoxue seemed interested in him.
• Li Qingshan found that his origin power and primordial spirit could not penetrate the ancient jade talisman.
• Li Qingshan brought out true dragon essence blood, causing the talisman to glow and absorb a thread of it.
• The talisman released a vast torrent of information into Li Qingshan’s sea of consciousness before cracking and going dull.
• Li Qingshan learned the first three transformations of Nine Transformations of the True Dragon and discovered that mastering the third could make his body rival a True Immortal.

After Lady Three-Flower identified Nine Transformations of the True Dragon as a supreme body-tempering inheritance, she urged Li Qingshan to cultivate its first transformation before the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele appeared. Li Qingshan completed the Flood Dragon Transformation after seven days, greatly strengthening his body and leaving him ready to pursue the inheritance’s later stages.

• Lady Three-Flower told Li Qingshan that Nine Transformations of the True Dragon was a powerful Dragon Clan inheritance and suggested that cultivating the Flood Dragon Transformation might help him gain insight from the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele.
• Li Qingshan prepared a protected room, studied the Flood Dragon Transformation method, and swallowed about one-tenth of the True Dragon blood essence.
• Lady Three-Flower steadied Li Qingshan as he endured the blood essence’s pain and Dragon Clan will, while he drew in earth-vein dragon energy and the forces of water, fire, wind, and lightning.
• Over seven days, Li Qingshan tempered his body as dragon-scale patterns formed and he learned to control his new flood dragon power.
• Li Qingshan emerged with the Flood Dragon Transformation at initial mastery, gaining greater strength, speed, defense, recovery, and vitality.

Li Qingshan completed the beginner stage of the Flood Dragon Transformation just before the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele appeared in Azure Dragon Immortal City. As cultivators and prodigies gathered for the event, Long Aoxue and her brother Long Aotian arrived among the first participants.

• Li Qingshan thanked Lady Three-Flower for guiding him as his new true dragon aura became harder to conceal.
• The Azure Dragon Immortal Stele appeared above the city after nine bell tolls, drawing cultivators toward the temporary venue.
• Cultivators discussed the stele's treasures, the chance to enter its inner world, and the rare honor of leaving a name upon it.
• Long Aoxue arrived at the venue and searched the crowd before Long Aotian landed behind her.
• Long Aotian surveyed the arriving prodigies with undisguised arrogance while Long Aoxue remained reserved toward her brother.

As prodigies gathered for the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele, Li Qingshan arrived with Hua Wu and Hua Yu and drew the attention of Ye Liangchen and Long Aoxue. Tu Xingkong befriended Li Qingshan, explained the stele’s trials and the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder, and described the danger posed to past Devil Race intruders.

• Ye Liangchen arrived with Liu Hanyan, spotted Li Qingshan, and concealed his hostility over the jade talisman.
• Long Aoxue sensed that Li Qingshan’s True Dragon aura had grown purer and stronger since their last meeting.
• Tu Xingkong arrived, introduced himself to Li Qingshan, and openly mocked Ye Liangchen over his earlier loss.
• Tu Xingkong explained that the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele held trials and inheritances, and that leaving one’s name on it could cleanse and strengthen a cultivator.
• Tu Xingkong told Li Qingshan that the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder was a key trial for earning the stele’s resonance.
• Tu Xingkong explained that the Human Emperor and the Azure Dragon Garrison Commander had killed Devil Race powers who tried to seize the stele.

Leng Rushuang and Jin Wufeng joined the gathered prodigies as they awaited the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele’s opening. Long Lie opened it, and Li Qingshan entered after sensing the stele’s powerful dragon aura, while Long Lie wondered whether he was the person His Highness had mentioned.

• Leng Rushuang and Jin Wufeng arrived, completing the first gathering of prodigies seeking the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele.
• Li Qingshan sensed a strong attraction and pure true dragon aura emanating from the stele.
• Long Lie appeared, announced the stele’s rules and dangers, and warned the young cultivators that combat inside was not forbidden.
• Long Lie opened the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele, and Ye Liangchen, Long Aoxue, Long Aotian, Leng Rushuang, Jin Wufeng, Tu Xingkong, and other prodigies rushed inside.
• Li Qingshan told Hua Wu and Hua Yu to wait outside, then entered the stele.
• Long Lie watched Li Qingshan enter and wondered whether he was the person His Highness had spoken of.

Li Qingshan explored the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele’s Ten Thousand Dragon Stele Forest and awakened the long-dormant Desolate Dragon Stele with his true-dragon aura. He received its ancient inheritance, Dragon Battles the Eight Wilds, and the chapter ended as its combat insights flooded into him.

• Li Qingshan chose to explore the Ten Thousand Dragon Stele Forest and Dragon Transformation Pool before attempting the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder.
• Li Qingshan scanned many steles but found their fourth- and fifth-rank secret arts of little use to him.
• Li Qingshan sensed a pure pulse of dragon might and followed it to the Desolate Dragon Stele, where three Spirit Transformation cultivators had failed to approach.
• Li Qingshan released his Flood Dragon Transformation aura, awakening the stele and allowing him to approach while its pressure drove the three cultivators back.
• Li Qingshan touched the Desolate Dragon Stele and received the ancient combat inheritance Dragon Battles the Eight Wilds.

Li Qingshan mastered the Dragon Battles the Eight Wilds inheritance and went to the Dragon Transformation Pool to investigate its dragon-blood aura. After effortlessly enduring the pool’s scorching and freezing waters, he dived into its depths, where a sudden change erupted as he approached a stronger source of dragon blood.

• Li Qingshan learned Dragon Battles the Eight Wilds from the Desolate Dragon Stele and recognized its synergy with the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon.
• Li Qingshan left the Ten Thousand Dragon Stele Forest and headed to the Dragon Transformation Pool.
• Li Qingshan used his Heavenly Dao Primordial Spirit to sense dragon-blood aura in the pool and entered its scorching and freezing waters, absorbing both energies without difficulty.
• Li Qingshan sensed a stronger dragon-blood aura below and dived into the pool despite cultivators warning him of the danger.
• Li Qingshan descended through the crushing pressure and chaotic energies, protected by his Flood Dragon scales, and spotted a richer dragon-blood aura before a sudden change erupted.

Li Qingshan passed two Dragon Clan trials in the Dragon Transformation Pool and discovered a Dragon Blood Pool that could advance his Flood Dragon Transformation. The jade talisman containing his inheritance opened the pool’s powerful barrier, leaving him poised to absorb its dragon blood energy.

• Li Qingshan stopped the ancient Dragon Clan battle spirit by revealing his Flood Dragon Transformation aura and explaining that he sought the chance to transform into a dragon.
• Li Qingshan imitated the battle spirit’s mental fluctuations to open a passage through the Dragon Language Rune Array.
• Li Qingshan found an ancient cavern and discovered a Dragon Blood Pool protected by a powerful restriction.
• The jade talisman resonated with the restriction, opened a gap in its barrier, and crumbled into ash.
• Li Qingshan stepped through the barrier and stood at the pool’s edge as its dense dragon blood energy flowed into his body.

Li Qingshan used the Great Devouring Immortal Art to absorb the Dragon Blood Pool’s energy and master the Flood Dragon Transformation, advancing to the late stage of the Void Refinement Realm. After astonishing the cultivators at the pool, he headed for the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder.

• Li Qingshan activated the Flood Dragon Transformation and Great Devouring Immortal Art to rapidly absorb the Dragon Blood Pool’s energy.
• As he refined the dragon blood, dark golden scales spread across his body and his bones, meridians, organs, and physical strength were transformed.
• Li Qingshan absorbed the pool’s remaining energy, mastered the Flood Dragon Transformation, and broke through to the late stage of the Void Refinement Realm.
• Li Qingshan left the pool, startling the nearby body cultivators with his draconic aura and newly strengthened physique.
• Li Qingshan set off for the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder.

Li Qingshan climbed the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder with effortless, steady steps, overtaking the prodigies who had struggled far ahead of him. He passed Ye Liangchen and reached Long Aoxue, whose reaction to seeing him included a trace of inexplicable familiarity.

• Li Qingshan arrived at the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder while Ye Liangchen, Long Aoxue, and Long Aotian were the only climbers above five thousand steps.
• Li Qingshan began climbing and kept an identical pace as he passed the two-thousandth, three-thousandth, and four-thousandth steps.
• The watching cultivators and struggling prodigies noticed Li Qingshan overtaking them without appearing affected by the dragon might.
• Li Qingshan reached the five-thousandth step and passed Ye Liangchen despite Ye Liangchen activating his Star Pearl to catch up.
• Li Qingshan continued to Long Aoxue, who looked at him with surprise, curiosity, and inexplicable familiarity.

Li Qingshan climbed the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder with astonishing ease, surpassing the other prodigies and reaching eight thousand steps. Long Lie and the spectators wondered whether he could reach the Immortal Stele’s summit, a height no one had attained in ten thousand years.

• Long Aoxue asked Li Qingshan about his dragon aura, and he insisted that his heart, soul, and path made him human.
• Long Aoxue admired Li Qingshan’s talent and chased after him, while Long Aotian welcomed him as a worthy rival.
• Li Qingshan told Long Aotian that strength was the only real trick to climbing, then continued upward as Long Aotian renewed his efforts.
• Li Qingshan passed eight thousand steps in about an hour, astonishing the climbers and spectators watching from outside the Immortal Stele.
• Long Lie considered Li Qingshan’s strength and wondered whether he could reach the 9,999th step, the highest point anyone had sought in ten thousand years.

Ye Liangchen, Long Aoxue, and Long Aotian each reached their limits on the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder and received powerful rewards. Long Aotian recovered his Solar Sacred Body and reached eight thousand steps, while Li Qingshan remained far above and out of sight.

• Ye Liangchen failed to climb beyond six thousand steps, was thrown from the ladder, and received the Star Sword.
• Long Aoxue stopped at seven thousand steps, contemplated the dragon's might, and obtained a Nine Dragons Creation Pill.
• Long Aotian revealed that he had reached the Early Void Refinement Realm and recovered his Solar Sacred Body as he climbed past seven thousand five hundred steps.
• Long Aotian reached eight thousand steps and received the True Dragon Heaven-Breaking Spear, then was swept back down when he tried to climb higher.
• Long Aotian accepted congratulations from Long Aoxue and the Azure Dragon Domain cultivators, but said they still had far to go compared with Li Qingshan.

Li Qingshan reached the summit of the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder and received the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele’s unprecedented baptism, which raised his cultivation to the peak of the Void Refinement Realm and perfected his Flood Dragon Transformation. As a phantom elder appeared from the azure stele, Li Qingshan sensed that the old man’s aura shared the origin of the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon inheritance within him.

• Li Qingshan reached the ladder’s 9,999th step, stunning the crowd inside the stele and the cultivators watching outside.
• Ye Liangchen was crushed by Li Qingshan’s achievement, while Long Aoxue watched him with a quickening heartbeat and Long Aotian recognized him as a worthy opponent.
• Long Lie ordered his men to invite Li Qingshan to the Garrison Manor after he left the stele.
• Li Qingshan stepped onto the summit platform, where 9,999 phantom true dragons transformed into immortal light and poured into him.
• The baptism raised Li Qingshan’s cultivation from the middle to the peak of the Void Refinement Realm, perfected his Flood Dragon Transformation, and began preparing his body for the Flying Dragon Transformation.
• An elderly horned phantom appeared from the azure stone stele, and Li Qingshan recognized that its aura shared the origin of his Nine Transformations of the True Dragon inheritance.

Li Qingshan received the dragon clan’s inheritance after reaching the summit of the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder, and Lady Three-Flower secured him a Heavenly-rank Dragon Pearl and the fourth transformation of the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon. He left the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele with a new inheritance and growing curiosity about Lady Three-Flower’s origins.

• The Jade Dragon King identified himself and awarded Li Qingshan a Yellow-rank Dragon Pearl for reaching the summit and earning the immortal stele’s highest recognition.
• Lady Three-Flower appeared and persuaded the Jade Dragon King to replace the token with a Heavenly-rank Dragon Pearl.
• At Lady Three-Flower’s request, the Jade Dragon King taught Li Qingshan the fourth transformation, the True Dragon Transformation, though he could not provide the complete inheritance.
• The Jade Dragon King departed, and Lady Three-Flower dismissed Li Qingshan’s questions about her identity before falling asleep on his shoulder.
• Li Qingshan put away the Heavenly-rank Dragon Pearl, bowed to the Azure Dragon Immortal Stele, and descended the Heavenly Stairway.

The Azure Dragon Immortal Stele revealed its eleven names, with Li Qingshan ranked first after reaching the summit of the True Dragon Heavenly Ladder. Li Qingshan emerged to a crowd’s acclaim, and the chapter ended as jealous Ye Liangchen approached him with hostile intent.

• The stele revealed its rankings, placing Long Aotian eleventh, Long Lie tenth, and the current Human Emperor Xuan Yuan Pan third, while Yuan Yao fell to second.
• The crowd celebrated Li Qingshan’s first-place ranking, and Long Aoxue wondered what kind of person he was while Ye Liangchen seethed at being left off the stele.
• Li Qingshan emerged from the stele, and onlookers marveled that he appeared to be a young late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator.
• Li Qingshan greeted Long Lie, Hua Wu, and Hua Yu, then accepted congratulations from Long Aotian and Long Aoxue.
• Ye Liangchen pushed through the crowd and confronted Li Qingshan as the plaza fell silent.