Chapter Summaries

As the auction began, factions gathered to seek Lu Heng’s rumored pills, while he relaxed in the Heaven-Grade VIP Box with his companions. The first item was introduced, and the bidding was about to begin.

• Liu Qing decided to secure the Yuan-Coagulating Pill for Liu Fei, suspecting Lu Heng’s talent or powerful backing.
• Han Yue and Lin Xiuya discussed the rumored pill and considered building a relationship with Lu Heng.
• Lu Heng, Xueni, Xiao Yu, and Ruo Lin waited in the Heaven-Grade VIP Box as Lu Heng confidently dismissed Ruo Lin’s concerns about the auction.
• Shen Jian opened the auction and introduced Spirit-Nurturing Powder, claiming it increased Dou Qi-stage cultivation speed by fifty percent without side effects.

At Jia Nan Academy’s auction, Lu Heng’s medicinal powders and Yuan-Gathering Pills drew fierce bidding and exposed the Alchemist Department’s interest in studying his methods. The three pills sold for a total of 750,000 gold coins, leaving Xueni eager to share in Lu Heng’s wealth.

• Shen Jian auctioned three bottles of Spirit-Nurturing Powder, which sold for 18,000 gold coins as Xiao Yu realized how valuable Lu Heng’s gift was.
• Shen Jian introduced a peak Second-Grade Yuan-Gathering Pill that could raise a Dou Zhe’s strength by one star, triggering intense bidding.
• Ruo Lin explained that Song Ren and other Alchemist Department members wanted to buy the pills to study and reverse-engineer Lu Heng’s methods.
• Song Ren and Han Xian competed for the first Yuan-Gathering Pill, which Song Ren won for 250,000 gold coins.
• Alchemist Department factions bought all three Yuan-Gathering Pills for a total of 750,000 gold coins, and Xueni pleaded with Lu Heng to give her some of his wealth.

Lu Heng watched the auction’s finale begin as students bid fiercely for a peak third-grade Yuan-Coagulating Pill that could help a Nine-Star Dou Master break through to Da Dou Shi. The bidding climbed to six hundred thousand gold coins, and Lin Xiuya’s unexpected entry provoked Liu Qing’s anger.

• Shen Jian unveiled the peak third-grade Yuan-Coagulating Pill and explained its power to raise a Dou Master’s cultivation or potentially help a Nine-Star Dou Master break through.
• Lei Na opened the bidding at two hundred thousand gold coins, and Bai Cheng raised it to two hundred and fifty thousand.
• Han Yue entered the contest at five hundred thousand, followed by Liu Qing bidding five hundred and fifty thousand for Fei'er.
• Lin Xiuya bid six hundred thousand, forcing Lei Na to withdraw and prompting Liu Qing to challenge his reason for wanting a pill useless to someone at his level.
• Lin Xiuya smiled and said the rare pill was worth buying even if he did not need it.

Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing bid against each other for a Yuan-Coagulating Pill until Han Yue proposed that the three buyers each pay seven hundred thousand gold coins for one. After the auction, Han Yue and Lin Xiuya sought a meeting with Lu Heng, and they arrived at his private room.

• Liu Qing raised his bid to six hundred and fifty thousand gold coins, but Lin Xiuya offered six hundred and eighty thousand to win Lu Heng’s favor.
• Han Yue proposed that she, Liu Qing, and Lin Xiuya each buy one of the three Yuan-Coagulating Pills for seven hundred thousand gold coins, and they all agreed.
• Shen Jian concluded the auction, bringing Lu Heng’s earnings for the night to nearly three million gold coins.
• Qing He told Lu Heng that Han Yue and Lin Xiuya wanted to meet him, and Lu Heng asked them to come to his private room together.
• Lin Xiuya and Han Yue entered Lu Heng’s private room.

Lin Xiuya and Han Yue visited Lu Heng, warned him about the Inner Academy’s dangers, and asked whether he could refine pills for Da Dou Shi-level cultivators. Lu Heng considered their request but had not yet given them an answer.

• Lin Xiuya praised Lu Heng’s talent, and Han Yue recognized him from their earlier meeting at the training ground.
• Xueni teased Xiao Yu about Han Yue being a rival, and Xiao Yu told her to eat her cake.
• Lin Xiuya and Han Yue warned Lu Heng that factions in the Inner Academy might target him for his alchemy and ability to earn Fire Energy.
• Han Yue asked whether Lu Heng could refine a pill like the Yuan-Coagulating Pill for Da Dou Shi cultivators, and Lin Xiuya explained that he was stuck at a bottleneck.
• Lu Heng tapped the table in silence before finally beginning to respond.

Lu Heng revealed that he knew how to refine the Profound Realm-Breaking Pill and promised Lin Xiuya and Han Yue he would make it in three months. After three months of seclusion, he broke through to Nine-Star Dou Master and used a Yuan-Coagulating Pill to begin advancing to Da Dou Shi.

• Lu Heng explained that the Profound Realm-Breaking Pill could raise a Da Dou Shi by one star and give a Nine-Star Da Dou Shi a thirty percent chance to reach Dou Ling, but he had not refined it before.
• Lin Xiuya and Han Yue offered to gather the rare ingredients, and Lu Heng promised to refine the pill after three months of cultivation.
• Lu Heng secluded himself in his private bamboo courtyard and cultivated for three months.
• Lu Heng reached Nine-Star Dou Master and swallowed a Yuan-Coagulating Pill to begin his breakthrough.
• Lu Heng's Dou Crystal absorbed the pill's power, compressed, and began growing spikes as a new, sharper power emerged within his sea of Qi.

Lu Heng broke through to one-star Da Dou Shi, unlocked the next stage of the Five Elements Cycle, and gained new alchemist knowledge and a powerful innate Dou Skill. He refined five Profound Realm-Breaking Pills to fulfill his promises, while Xueni began lamenting in the women's dormitory.

• Lu Heng broke through to Da Dou Shi and manifested rare three-attribute Dou Qi Armor.
• The Book of Destiny activated the metal element and granted Lu Heng the Pharmacopoeia of Ten Thousand Worlds: Volume II and Golden Light Slash.
• Lu Heng tested Golden Light Slash by cleanly cutting through a thick bamboo stalk.
• Lu Heng began refining Profound Realm-Breaking Pills for Lin Xiuya, Han Yue, and Ruo Lin, successfully producing his first pill.
• Lu Heng refined five Profound Realm-Breaking Pills over the following days.
• Xueni sprawled on her bed in the women's dormitory and cried that she could not go on living.

After three months in seclusion, Lu Heng emerged as a Da Dou Shi with newly awakened Geng Metal Qi and went to repay Lin Xiuya and Han Yue by delivering their pills. He left them examining the medicine as he prepared to pursue materials and test his strength.

• Xueni complained that she could not form a Qi Vortex, while Xiao Yu and Ruo Lin discussed Lu Heng’s long seclusion and his unstable Dou Qi fluctuations.
• Lu Heng finished storing the last Profound Realm-Breaking Pill and left the Secluded Bamboo Forest, intending to repay his debts and test himself against Lin Xiuya and Han Yue.
• Lin Xiuya and Han Yue waited anxiously at Listening Wind Pavilion on the final day of Lu Heng’s three-month deadline.
• Lu Heng arrived, and Han Yue sensed that he had reached Da Dou Shi.
• Lu Heng placed two jade bottles on the table, and Lin Xiuya opened one to reveal its rich medicinal fragrance.

After exchanging Profound Realm-Breaking Pills with Lin Xiuya and Han Yue, Lu Heng challenged them to spar outside the city. He began fighting Han Yue, defending against her wind blades and evading her follow-up before launching an Azure Wood Seal at her.

• Lin Xiuya and Han Yue inspected their pills and thanked Lu Heng for the transaction.
• Lu Heng revealed his aura and challenged Lin Xiuya and Han Yue to spar outside the city.
• At a clearing in a withered forest, Han Yue attacked Lu Heng with her Nine-Turn Wind-Roaming Steps and Ice Soul Wind Blades.
• Lu Heng used Earth Origin Shield to block Han Yue's wind blades and their chilling force.
• Han Yue circled behind Lu Heng, but he activated Azure Wood Body, sensed her approach, and dodged her palm strike.
• Lu Heng counterattacked with Azure Wood Seal, sending it toward Han Yue's chest.

Lu Heng fought Han Yue, a Seven-Star Great Dou Master, and revealed his control of several Dou Qi attributes before winning their spar with a concealed metal strike. They then exchanged their strongest moves, and the chapter left their clash unresolved in an apparent draw.

• Lu Heng used wood, fire, and earth techniques to pressure Han Yue, who countered with an Ice Wind Slash that he blocked at the cost of a bleeding arm.
• Lu Heng surprised Han Yue with a metal-attributed Golden Light Slash and won the spar after deliberately diverting the strike to avoid seriously injuring her.
• Han Yue challenged Lu Heng to one more exchange and unleashed her Frost Wind Annihilation technique.
• Lu Heng met the ice-and-wind vortex with an enlarged, fire- and wood-wrapped Golden Light Slash, and their collision devastated the surrounding area.
• Lu Heng and Han Yue remained standing less than a meter apart after the explosion, leaving Lin Xiuya to wonder if they had drawn.

Lu Heng recovered from his clash with Han Yue and challenged Lin Xiuya to gauge the gap between their strength. Lin Xiuya overwhelmed him with swift wind techniques, but Lu Heng endured the assault, broke free, and created distance.

• Lin Xiuya praised Lu Heng for taking Han Yue's strongest attack head-on, and Han Yue admitted that her purer Metal Attribute Dou Qi might have won the clash.
• Lin Xiuya teased Han Yue and Lu Heng about fighting like longtime Dao companions; Lu Heng modestly denied being worthy of her, leaving Han Yue frustrated.
• Lin Xiuya offered to spar with Lu Heng, who asked to test himself against a Nine-Star Da Dou Shi and used a Qi Recovery Pill to regain his strength.
• After Lu Heng recovered, Lin Xiuya attacked at extreme speed, binding him with Coiling Snake Hand and bombarding him with Azure Glare Wind Kill.
• Lu Heng blocked the wind blades with Earth Origin Shield, healed his wounds with Azure Wood energy, and burned through the wind cords with Li Fire Dou Qi.
• Lu Heng struck toward Lin Xiuya's sword wrist with Blazing Sun Finger, forced him to dodge, and leaped back five zhang to widen the distance.

Lu Heng sparred with Lin Xiuya, enduring his powerful sword techniques before landing a dangerous counterattack with Golden Light Slash. Though Lu Heng lost, the fight earned Lin Xiuya’s respect and left Han Yue wondering what he might accomplish in the Inner Academy.

• Lin Xiuya unleashed Azure Annihilation Sword Qi, and Lu Heng withstood it using three overlapping Earth Origin Shields before being driven back and coughing blood.
• Lin Xiuya pressed his attack for ten minutes, while Lu Heng dodged, countered, and endured his blows until he found an opening.
• Lu Heng trapped Lin Xiuya’s sword with his vine-like Azure Wood Dou Qi and struck with Golden Light Slash, cutting his robe and forcing him back.
• Lin Xiuya sent Lu Heng flying with a palm strike, then acknowledged him as the winner of their spar and praised his strength.
• Lu Heng accepted his loss and asked Lin Xiuya to cover his medical expenses, while Han Yue watched the two men become friends and considered Lu Heng’s potential in the Inner Academy.

After sparring, Lu Heng, Lin Xiuya, and Han Yue shared a meal at Drunken Immortal Pavilion, where they discussed the coming Inner Academy Selection Tournament and possible threats. Lin Xiuya left early to use his Profound Realm-Breaking Pill and attempt a breakthrough to Dou Ling.

• Han Yue interrupted Lu Heng and Lin Xiuya after their lengthy spar, and Lin Xiuya invited them to dinner at Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
• At dinner, Lin Xiuya thanked Lu Heng for refining pills and praised their battle, while Lu Heng considered building ties with Lin Xiuya and Han Yue.
• Lin Xiuya and Han Yue warned Lu Heng that senior students in the Enforcement Team and the Alchemist Department, including Wang Xiao, might target him at the Selection Tournament.
• Lu Heng said he might skip the tournament because he was still a new student, and Han Yue became tipsy after several cups of Drunken Immortal Brew.
• Lin Xiuya left the meal to enter seclusion and use his Profound Realm-Breaking Pill to try to reach Dou Ling.

Lu Heng escorted the tipsy Han Yue back to the women's dormitory after sharing a friendly evening with her. Just as he turned to leave, Xueni and Xiao Yu confronted him for abandoning them while they waited for him to split the money.

• Lin Xiuya left Lu Heng to escort Han Yue back after paying the bill.
• Lu Heng supported Han Yue through Jia Nan City as onlookers whispered about their relationship.
• Han Yue thanked Lu Heng for the Profound Realm-Breaking Pill and agreed that they were friends.
• At the women's dormitory, Han Yue warned Lu Heng not to hit people in the face and promised not to go easy on him in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.
• Xueni and Xiao Yu emerged from behind a tree, accused Lu Heng of flirting with Han Yue, and dragged him toward a pavilion.

Lu Heng reunited with Xueni and Xiao Yu after three months in seclusion, reassured them that his dealings with Han Yue and Lin Xiuya were strictly professional, and learned about their cultivation progress and Ruo Lin’s breakthrough. After Lu Heng left, Xiao Yu admitted she felt too far behind him to confess her feelings or stand beside him.

• Xueni and Xiao Yu confronted Lu Heng about leaving them without a message and going out with Han Yue.
• Lu Heng explained that he had refined pills for Han Yue and Lin Xiuya, then asked whether Xueni and Xiao Yu had advanced to Dou Zhe.
• Xueni and Xiao Yu said they had reached the peak of ninth-stage Dou Qi but had not broken through, while Xueni reported that Ruo Lin had reached Two-Star Da Dou Shi.
• Lu Heng said he had fought Lin Xiuya and Han Yue, then left the pavilion to rest.
• Xiao Yu told Xueni she liked Lu Heng but believed their cultivation gap made her unqualified to stand beside him.

Xueni encouraged Xiao Yu to be more direct about her feelings for Lu Heng, and Xiao Yu's gloom eased. At Jia Nan Academy, Ruo Lin recognized Lu Heng's growing strength, and he gave her a Peak Fourth-Grade Profound Realm-Breaking Pill, which she tried to return.

• Xueni told Xiao Yu she would stay by Lu Heng as long as he did not send her away and warned Xiao Yu not to hesitate.
• Xiao Yu watched Xueni leave for the dormitory and laughed, her gloom considerably lifted.
• Lu Heng attended Ruo Lin's lesson at Jia Nan Academy while students whispered about his reputation and strength.
• After class, Lu Heng praised Ruo Lin's teaching and presented her with the Peak Fourth-Grade Profound Realm-Breaking Pill he had promised.
• Ruo Lin recognized the pill's value and tried to return it, telling Lu Heng to keep it for his own needs.

Lu Heng insisted that Ruo Lin keep the Peak Fourth-Grade Pill, teasing her as she grew flustered before they went to eat together. During their lavish meal, Ruo Lin asked about his plans, and Lu Heng brought up the upcoming Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

• Lu Heng grabbed Ruo Lin's hand and pressed the jade bottle containing the pill into her palm, insisting she accept it.
• Ruo Lin blushed at Lu Heng's teasing, took the pill, and invited him to eat with her.
• Ruo Lin treated Lu Heng to an expensive meal on the Outer Academy cafeteria's third floor.
• Ruo Lin asked Lu Heng what he planned to do after his return from seclusion and his growing connections with Lin Xiuya and Han Yue.
• Lu Heng asked about the Outer Academy's upcoming ranking tournament, and Ruo Lin explained that it was the annual Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

Ruo Lin explained the Selection Tournament and warned Lu Heng that older students, especially Wang Xiao, might target him. Lu Heng decided to compete despite the academy's plan for him to wait until next year, and Ruo Lin promised him a reward if he placed in the top five.

• Ruo Lin explained that the Selection Tournament used elimination rounds and offered fifty places in the Inner Academy.
• Ruo Lin warned Lu Heng that Wang Xiao and other students might target him because of his reputation.
• Lu Heng said he would enter the tournament to challenge stronger opponents and gain combat experience.
• Ruo Lin agreed to register Lu Heng as Yellow-Tier Class Five's sole participant and warned him not to get eliminated in the preliminary round.
• Lu Heng asked Ruo Lin for a reward if he placed highly, and Ruo Lin promised to agree to anything he wanted if he made the top five.

Lu Heng visited Jia Nan Auction House to acquire rare Tier 4 materials for his plans to reach the outer academy’s top five. He offered a stockpile of pills to pay for the materials, leaving Wen Zhu to assess the valuable exchange.

• Lu Heng left Ruo Lin after hinting that she should keep her promise if he reached the top five, and she reacted to the costly meal bill.
• Lu Heng went to Jia Nan Auction House and told Qing He he had come to spend money on urgent materials.
• Wen Zhu escorted Lu Heng to a VIP room and examined his request for top-quality Tier 4 magic cores and herbs in four attributes.
• Wen Zhu estimated that the materials would cost several million gold coins, and Lu Heng produced dozens of bottles of pills to cover the bill.
• Lu Heng asked whether his Spirit-Nurturing Powder, Yuan-Gathering Pill, and Yuan-Coagulating Pill would pay for the materials, and Wen Zhu realized the pills were worth substantially more.

Lu Heng sold pills through Jia Nan Auction House and ordered high-quality materials, while Wang Xiao decided to confront him over Wang Yan’s loss. Wang Yan rejected his brother’s plan and left to warn Lu Heng.

• Lu Heng sold his pills to Wen Zhu, ordered the best materials delivered to his residence in three days, and left the remaining proceeds on his card.
• Wen Zhu and Qing He marveled at the value of Lu Heng’s pills and discussed his wealth and popularity.
• Wang Xiao erupted in anger over Wang Yan’s loss to Lu Heng and vowed to disgrace Lu Heng if he entered the Selection Tournament.
• Wang Yan tried to stop his brother, then decided to warn Lu Heng and challenge him himself through alchemy.