Chapter Summaries

Lu Heng told Han Yue and the others that he had rescued Skyfire Venerable, a remnant soul, and sealed the Infant Fallen Heart Flame in his dantian. Skyfire Venerable gave Lu Heng the Five Wheel Li Fire Method and its killing formation, and Lu Heng decided to enter seclusion to adapt the fire technique to his Five Elements Dou Qi.

• Lu Heng explained how he found Skyfire Venerable beneath the tower and sealed the Infant Fallen Heart Flame in his dantian.
• Lu Heng told Zi Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Han Yue that their physiques and attributes made absorbing the flame unsuitable.
• Han Yue asked Lu Heng to tell her before going to dangerous places again, and he agreed.
• Skyfire Venerable passed the Five Wheel Li Fire Method and the Five Wheel Li Fire Array to Lu Heng as repayment for saving him.
• Lu Heng asked whether he could adapt the pure-fire method to his Five Elements Dou Qi, and Skyfire Venerable said it was possible and could make the technique stronger.
• Lu Heng put the Cold Soul Jade into his Storage Ring and decided to enter seclusion.

Lu Heng entered seclusion to adapt Skyfire Venerable’s Five Wheel Li Fire Method to his Five Elements Chaos Art. After forty days, he completed a five-element version of all five wheels and accelerated his cultivation as he approached his next bottleneck.

• Lu Heng told Han Yue and Xiao Yi Xian he would cultivate in seclusion, and Han Yue agreed to watch Zi Yan.
• Lu Heng examined his dantian and began adapting the Five Wheel Li Fire Method by combining fire with the other four elements.
• Over fifteen days, Lu Heng refined the five-element versions of the first three wheels and continued deducing the remaining two.
• On the fortieth day, Lu Heng connected all five wheels and successfully circulated the complete five-element method.
• Skyfire Venerable, also called Yao Tianhuo, was astonished that Lu Heng completed in forty days what had taken him twenty-three years.
• Lu Heng continued cultivating as his Chaos Dou Qi refined faster and he drew closer to his next bottleneck.

After seventy-six days in seclusion, Lu Heng broke through to seven-star Dou Emperor and went to the Inner Academy's Back Mountain to test his modified Five Elements techniques. He successfully demonstrated all five wheels, leaving Skyfire Venerable astonished by their control and efficiency.

• Lu Heng broke through to seven-star Dou Emperor and strengthened his soul power and Small Five Elements Spirit Body during his seclusion.
• Lu Heng left the sleeping Zi Yan in Courtyard No. 1 and headed to the Back Mountain to test his techniques.
• Lu Heng used the Wood Spirit Fire-Guiding Wheel and Metal Spirit Flame-Slaying Wheel to form a stable flame wheel and pierce a boulder.
• Lu Heng demonstrated the Earth Spirit Mountain-Suppressing Wheel and Water Spirit Flame-Controlling Wheel, controlling the wheel's size and heat at will.
• Lu Heng completed the Five Elements sequence with the Chaos Origin-Returning Wheel, reclaiming residual energy and using less than twenty percent of his Dou Qi.

Lu Heng mastered the Five Elements Spirit Wheel True Art and tested its accompanying array, greatly increasing his combat strength. He returned to Courtyard No. 1, where Qing Lin sensed that he had grown stronger.

• Lu Heng explained how his revised Five Elements method improved Skyfire Venerable’s Five Wheel Li Fire Method, and Skyfire Venerable praised his work.
• Lu Heng practiced the Five Elements Spirit Wheel Array three times, refining its operation and testing its full power.
• Lu Heng asked Skyfire Venerable whether the array could trap and kill a Dou Zong, and Skyfire Venerable said it could handle a low-star one.
• Lu Heng concluded that his seven-star Dou Emperor strength could match a low-star Dou Zong and returned to Courtyard No. 1 after sunset.
• Han Yue, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin returned from the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, and Qing Lin noticed that Lu Heng had become stronger.

After emerging from seclusion as a seven-star Dou Emperor, Lu Heng told Han Yue and the others about his new cultivation method and combat strength, then heard how they had progressed. Han Yue reminded him of his promise to propose in Tianbei City, while Lu Heng planned to prepare her pills and turn his attention to the Black-Corner Region.

• Lu Heng revealed that he had advanced to seven-star Dou Emperor and rebuilt Skyfire Venerable's Five Wheel Li Fire Method into the Five Elements Spirit Wheel True Art.
• Lu Heng said he could fight a low-star Dou Zong directly and trap and kill one with formations, surprising Han Yue, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan.
• Xiao Yi Xian reported reaching Five-Star Dou Ling, Qing Lin said she had also advanced, and Han Yue admitted she remained at Three-Star Dou King.
• Lu Heng promised to prepare harmonizing pills for Han Yue, while Zi Yan asked him to find heavenly treasures for her.
• Han Yue reminded Lu Heng that he had promised to propose marriage in Tianbei City once he was strong enough, and she said she would wait.
• Lu Heng planned to make Han Yue's pills and begin preparing for the Black-Corner Region before deciding to sleep for the night.

Lu Heng asked Skyfire Venerable whether his Small Five Elements Spirit Body could let him devour the Infant Fallen Heart Flame as a second Heavenly Flame without the Burning Mantra. Skyfire Venerable judged it theoretically possible but warned that the two flames could disrupt the balance in Lu Heng’s dantian.

• Lu Heng considered fusing the Infant Fallen Heart Flame directly, since its slow release of energy was not enough to help him grow quickly.
• Lu Heng woke Skyfire Venerable and revealed that he already wielded the Green Lotus Core Flame and wanted the Infant Fallen Heart Flame as a second one.
• Skyfire Venerable was astonished by Lu Heng’s age, cultivation, soul strength, and alchemy skill, then asked whether he had a Heavenly Flame devouring art.
• Lu Heng explained how his Small Five Elements Spirit Body cycled and digested energy, with the Green Lotus Core Flame serving as its Fire Attribute core.
• Skyfire Venerable said Lu Heng’s body could theoretically nurture another Heavenly Flame, but warned that adding it could upset the existing balance and make the two flames affect each other.

Lu Heng asked Skyfire Venerable about the danger of keeping two Heavenly Flames in his dantian and learned how a similar attempt had nearly destroyed the Venerable. Lu Heng proposed building a Double-Layer Fire Domain to isolate the flames while allowing them to adapt gradually, and Skyfire Venerable agreed the plan was feasible.

• Skyfire Venerable warned Lu Heng that the Green Lotus Core Flame and Fallen Heart Flame could disrupt his Five Elements Cycle or clash inside his dantian and destroy his body and soul.
• Skyfire Venerable revealed that he had once tried to devour a second Fallen Heart Flame, causing his Dou Qi Cycle to collapse and leaving most of his body and meridians badly damaged.
• Lu Heng sensed the two flames resonating through their seal and considered either waiting for the infant Heart Flame to mature or restructuring his cultivation art.
• Lu Heng proposed creating separate fire-domain layers for each flame, using Water-type and Earth-type Dou Qi as an isolation barrier while leaving a tiny channel between them.
• Skyfire Venerable approved the plan and advised Lu Heng to build the barrier while his Five Elements Cycle was balanced, with water outside, earth inside, and a narrow passage for gradual contact.

Lu Heng refined his plans to manage the growing resonance between his two flames and demonstrated a powerful new Five Elements technique. Han Yue then led him to a secluded spot, leaving her reason for doing so unrevealed.

• Lu Heng decided to spend half a month refining the Double-Layer Fire Domain before attempting to fuse his flames.
• Lu Heng sensed the growing pull between the Green Lotus Core Flame and Infant Heart Flame and mentally worked through the domain’s structure.
• Han Yue, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin returned from the Qi Refining Tower and described their cultivation on its higher floors.
• Lu Heng showed the group his Metal Spirit Flame-Slaying Wheel, revealed he had advanced to seven-star Dou Emperor, and said his full technique could contend with a low-star Dou Zong.
• Han Yue led Lu Heng to a secluded corner beneath the old locust tree.

Lu Heng spent half a month acclimating the sealed Infant Fallen Heart Flame to the Green Lotus Core Flame inside his dantian, then began formally bringing them together. The chapter ends as the Infant Fallen Heart Flame surges through the widened passage and strikes the First Layer Fire Domain’s water barrier.

• Lu Heng told Han Yue about the dangers of fusing the two Heavenly Flames and promised to stop if he noticed anything abnormal.
• For half a month, Lu Heng built a Double-Layer Fire Domain in his dantian, gradually exposing the Green Lotus Core Flame and Infant Fallen Heart Flame to each other through a narrow passage.
• By the twelfth day, the flames barely reacted to each other, and Lu Heng decided to attempt the fusion the next morning.
• Lu Heng activated a Five Elements Spirit Wheel Array in the Secret Chamber and widened the passage between the flames.
• The Infant Fallen Heart Flame surged through the passage and made substantial contact with the First Layer Fire Domain’s water barrier.

Lu Heng safely fused the Infant Heart Flame’s origin with the Green Lotus Core Flame, strengthening his cultivation until he was one layer from becoming an eight-star Dou Emperor. After twelve hours in the Secret Chamber, he emerged at dawn to find Han Yue had kept watch all night.

• Lu Heng gradually released and absorbed the Infant Heart Flame’s origin through the Five Elements Cycle, keeping the Green Lotus Core Flame stable as the flame shrank.
• Lu Heng endured a dangerous collision between the two flame origins, then fused them into a new nested flame with an azure exterior and a white core.
• Lu Heng’s Dou Qi vortex accelerated and pressed against the seven-star Dou Emperor barrier, leaving him one thin layer from reaching eight stars.
• Skyfire Venerable praised Lu Heng’s Small Five Elements Spirit Body and explained how the two Heavenly Flames would strengthen his techniques.
• Lu Heng emerged the next morning and found Han Yue asleep outside the Secret Chamber after keeping watch; they embraced and spoke about the danger of the fusion.
• Zi Yan teased Lu Heng and Han Yue from the back kitchen, and Han Yue went to make breakfast.

Lu Heng recovered from fusing the Green Lotus Core Flame and Heart Fire, tested the improved Five Elements cycle, and began adjusting his combat techniques and array. The next morning, he entered the middle levels of the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower to explore a discovery about the fused flames.

• Lu Heng stayed home to recover his soul power and ran the new cultivation cycle until he confirmed it had no obstructions or hidden injuries.
• Zi Yan admitted she had eaten three of the Fifth-Grade Magic Cores, and Lu Heng promised to find her more.
• Xiao Yi Xian checked Lu Heng’s pulse and reassured herself that his meridians were steadier than the day before.
• Lu Heng practiced the Five Elements Spirit Wheel True Art and recognized that the fused fires boosted his fire-element output, requiring him to recalibrate his fire array.
• Han Yue warned Lu Heng not to go straight to the tower’s lowest level, so he entered the middle levels the next morning to investigate something he had noticed about the fused fires.

Lu Heng’s synchronized Green Lotus Core Flame and Heart Flame Origin accelerated his cultivation and improved his Five Elements Spirit Wheel True Art as the Inner Academy welcomed its new freshmen. He continued training toward Eight-Star Dou Emperor, while Skyfire Venerable complained enviously about his advantages.

• Lu Heng discovered that Fallen Heart Flame Essence Qi was drawn into his dantian without extra soul power, greatly increasing his cultivation efficiency.
• Zi Yan’s Peak Dou Wang cultivation began to loosen, and Lu Heng told her to stop eating so she could adapt before breaking through to Dou Emperor.
• Su Qian informed Lu Heng that the Outer Academy examinations had ended and told him to keep an eye on developments; Lu Heng learned Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er had entered the Inner Academy.
• Lu Heng heard students discussing Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er but kept to his cultivation routine, while Zi Yan asked to watch the newcomers’ activities.
• Lu Heng completed the synchronization of his two flames and calibrated all five wheels of his cultivation art, increasing their efficiency and reducing Dou Qi consumption.
• Skyfire Venerable voiced his envy of Lu Heng’s cultivation speed and the passive effect of his Dual Fire Homologous Attraction.

Lu Heng learned that Han Yue planned to return to Tianbei City to reunite with her younger sister, Han Xue, and accepted her decision to travel alone. As Han Yue prepared to leave the next morning, she said goodbye to the courtyard and reminded Lu Heng to watch over Zi Yan and Qing Lin.

• Han Yue gave Lu Heng Han Xue’s letter, and he learned that Han Yue wanted to visit her sister in Tianbei City for up to half a year.
• Lu Heng told Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan that Han Yue was going home, and Xiao Yi Xian expressed concern about her family’s affairs.
• Han Yue finished packing and told Lu Heng she would leave early the next morning, refusing his offer to escort her.
• Zi Yan gave Han Yue a glowing crystal, and Qing Lin gave her a sachet of calming herbs.
• Han Yue asked Lu Heng to limit Zi Yan’s Magic Cores and nurture Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils with the tower’s Heart Fire, and Lu Heng promised to care for them.

Han Yue prepared to leave Jia Nan Academy while Lu Heng anticipated threats from the Soul Hall and Han Feng. Protector Wu and Protector Xuan plotted to lure Han Feng and Black-Corner Region forces into attacking the academy so they could seize Yao Chen’s remnant soul, while Han Feng remained unaware of their scheme.

• Han Yue told Lu Heng not to let Zi Yan eat the Sixth-Rank Magic Core and said she would leave through the Back Mountain at dawn.
• Lu Heng spoke with Xiao Yi Xian about Han Yue’s departure and warned that they had work to do the next day.
• Protector Wu told Protector Xuan that Yao Chen’s remnant soul and the Fallen Heart Flame were at Jia Nan Academy, then offered a Soul Hall reward for capturing Yao Chen.
• Protector Xuan proposed recruiting Mo Tianxing and using Han Feng to provoke trouble at Jia Nan Academy, letting the factions weaken one another before the Soul Hall intervened.
• Protector Xuan arranged to meet Protector Wu in Black Emperor City in three days, while Han Feng sat at a pavilion eight hundred li south of Jia Nan City.

After Han Yue left for Tianbei City, Lu Heng devoted himself to cultivation while his companions also advanced. A year later, Lu Heng stood at the peak of Nine-Star Dou Emperor and planned to find Han Yue after breaking through to Dou Zong.

• Qing Lin told Lu Heng that Han Yue had left before dawn, and he kept her note asking him to take care of himself and limit Zi Yan’s Magic Cores.
• Lu Heng focused on cultivation, while Lin Xiuya told him the Outer Academy had begun training harder after Yan Hao’s injury.
• Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan steadily improved as Lu Heng worried over Han Yue’s silence; Skyfire Venerable reassured him about her strength.
• In Black Emperor City, Mo Tianxing refused to join Han Feng’s planned action against Jia Nan Academy after Han Feng learned Yao Chen was alive.
• Over the next year, Lu Heng reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor, Xiao Yi Xian advanced to Seven-Star Dou Ling, and Qing Lin entered the Dou Wang realm.
• Lu Heng recalled that Han Yue had sent a brief letter half a month earlier and resolved to find her after he reached Dou Zong.

Lu Heng worried about Han Yue in Tianbei City while nearing a breakthrough to Dou Zong, then learned that Han Feng was gathering forces to target the Inner Academy. Just as he decided to wait until after his breakthrough before visiting Tianbei City, Qing Lin announced that someone had arrived from there to see him.

• Lu Heng examined a faint scratch on Han Yue's letter, but Skyfire Venerable found no hidden message and urged him to trust her.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Lu Heng that Yan Hao wanted another spar, while Lu Heng continued training at the Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor realm.
• Su Qian warned Lu Heng that Han Feng was gathering Black List factions and targeting the Heart Fire beneath the tower.
• Lu Heng discussed the threat and Han Yue's increasingly infrequent letters with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, then resolved to wait until he broke through to Dou Zong before visiting Tianbei City.
• During cultivation, Lu Heng sensed a distant, familiar yet unfamiliar ripple, and Qing Lin rushed in to say someone from Tianbei City had come to see him.

Lu Heng learned that Han Yue had delayed her return because Han Xue clung to her, then returned to seclusion to push toward Dou Zong. Meanwhile, Han Feng recruited Black List forces to attack Jia Nan Academy and seize the Fallen Heart Flame.

• A Han Clan messenger told Lu Heng that Han Yue was safe in Tianbei City but had stayed because Han Xue did not want her to leave.
• Lu Heng read Han Yue’s letter, sent provisions and a reply with the messenger, and promised Zi Yan he would take her hunting during a break in cultivation.
• Lu Heng resumed cultivating in the Secret Chamber, circulating the Five Elements Chaos Art as his nine-star barrier trembled.
• Han Feng told Elder Gold, Elder Silver, and other Black List leaders that the Fallen Heart Flame lay beneath Jia Nan Academy’s Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.
• Han Feng secured the factions’ cooperation by promising pills and ordered them to prepare a surprise attack on Jia Nan Academy.

As Han Feng’s forces advanced toward Jia Nan Academy, Su Qian urged Lu Heng to ignore the looming conflict and focus on breaking through to Dou Zong. After twelve more days of seclusion, Lu Heng broke through the Nine-Star barrier, and Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin sensed his power change.

• Su Qian told Lu Heng that Han Feng was approaching Maple City with a dozen or so Dou Emperors and urged him to keep training while the academy handled the threat.
• Lu Heng returned to seclusion and used the Five Elements Chaos Art to push against the barrier in his dantian.
• Over the following days, the academy watched Han Feng’s forces draw nearer as Lu Heng continued cultivating and occasionally absorbed energy from the Heavenly Flames.
• After twelve more days, Lu Heng broke through the Nine-Star barrier, and the Chaos Dou Qi Vortex in his dantian grew stronger.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin felt the pressure rising around Courtyard No. 1, and Qing Lin recognized Lu Heng’s breakthrough.

Lu Heng broke through to become a One-Star Dou Zong after nearly twenty days in seclusion. He reunited with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, then joined them and Zi Yan for a meal.

• Lu Heng shattered the Nine-Star barrier in his dantian and stabilized his new Five Elements Chaos Dou Qi Vortex, becoming a Dou Zong.
• Lu Heng emerged from seclusion and told Qing Lin that he had broken through.
• Qing Lin called Xiao Yi Xian, who confirmed Lu Heng had reached the One-Star Dou Zong level and embraced him with relief.
• Lu Heng comforted Qing Lin, who had waited for him during his seclusion.
• Xiao Yi Xian prepared a meal, and Lu Heng, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan ate together.

After breaking through to one-star Dou Zong, Lu Heng learned that Han Feng's forces were marching on Jia Nan Academy. Su Qian revealed their strength and that Han Feng had lured them with the promise of the Fallen Heart Flame beneath the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.

• Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin told Lu Heng that the academy had tightened security and recalled disciples from missions.
• Lu Heng visited Su Qian in the Back Mountain and revealed that he had reached one-star Dou Zong.
• Su Qian introduced Qian Mu, an academy guardian, and said Han Feng's forces had broken camp three days earlier.
• Su Qian described Han Feng's allies and their force of thirteen to fifteen Dou Emperors and over forty Dou Wangs.
• Su Qian said Han Feng had gathered the forces by promising them the Fallen Heart Flame beneath the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.