Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Deacon Fang’s Surprise”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan awakens from the karmic illusion almost immediately and passes the temperament trial, but deliberately closes his eyes and pretends to remain trapped.
• He avoids ringing the bronze bell first because the temperament trial has no ranking benefit, and early success would expose his strength and attract unwanted attention.
• Jiang Zhaoyu eventually awakens and rings the bell first, believing Deacon Fang’s earlier reminder was directed specifically at him. Xie Yingtang follows in second place.
• Wang Ling awakens and mocks Li Chuan, mistakenly believing Li Chuan is struggling and has poor mental fortitude.
• Li Chuan waits until more than fifty candidates have passed before ringing his bell, maintaining a deliberately average appearance.
• When the formation ends, 567 of the 800 participants fail the temperament trial, leaving 233 candidates for the second round.
• The second trial is announced: candidates will fight increasingly powerful puppets in groups, with rankings determined by the number defeated and the damage inflicted on the next puppet.
• The chapter details the results of the first four batches:
  • Jiang Zhaoyu defeats 11 puppets.
  • Xie Yingtang defeats 10.
  • Wang Ling defeats 8.
  • Ding Luo defeats 6, while Zhu Xu defeats 5.
  • Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu each defeat 5, though Zhao ranks higher because he heavily damaged the sixth puppet.
  • Li Jingci and Wan Ling defeat 3, while Cheng Xiuge defeats none.
• The fifth batch begins, with Li Chuan finally entering the formation. Deacon Fang watches closely, curious about the true ability of the only candidate who displayed an exceptional state of mind.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Demonstrates exceptional mental strength and sharp strategic judgment. Rather than seek attention, he intentionally conceals his success and adopts a moderate performance, following his low-profile survival strategy.
• Fang Linzhou: Recognizes that Li Chuan passed almost immediately. His curiosity about Li Chuan deepens, especially because Li Chuan’s apparent weakness conflicts with the test results.
• Jiang Zhaoyu: Establishes himself as the strongest apparent candidate by taking first place in both awakening and puppet victories. His confidence borders on arrogance, and he misinterprets Fang Linzhou’s reminder as special recognition.
• Xie Yingtang: Proves herself Jiang Zhaoyu’s closest rival. Though disappointed at placing second and later losing the puppet trial by one puppet, she remains composed and accepting.
• Wang Ling: Becomes increasingly dismissive of Li Chuan, judging him by his fake performance and believing he is much weaker than expected.
• Han Tuo: Gains confidence after ranking ahead of Li Chuan in the first trial and securing fifty-third place in the combat trial. He begins to believe his former setback has strengthened him and that he can surpass Li Chuan.
• Ding Luo and Zhu Xu: Grow contemptuous toward Li Chuan, assuming he will rank too low to enter the Outer Area and therefore cannot threaten them.
• Zhu Zhongye and Li Jingci: Encourage Li Chuan and emphasize that merely passing is sufficient, though their low expectations contrast with Zhao Guangyao’s suspicion that Li Chuan is stronger than he appears.
• Zhao Guangyao: Acts as a supportive ally and provides information about the leading candidates, the ranking system, and the upcoming Outer Mountain Grand Competition.

Significant Themes

• Concealment versus recognition: Li Chuan deliberately rejects fame because public attention could expose his unusual strength and make him vulnerable.
• Appearances can be deceptive: Many characters judge Li Chuan’s ability based on his staged struggle, while Fang Linzhou alone knows he passed early.
• Mental fortitude and martial strength: The trials distinguish between inner resilience and physical combat ability, showing that success in one does not guarantee success in the other.
• Competition and ambition: The possibility of becoming an elder’s direct disciple intensifies the candidates’ desire to rank highly, even when the practical rewards are otherwise similar.
• Cruelty and fairness of selection: Hundreds of hopeful candidates are eliminated after years of preparation, emphasizing the harsh, competitive nature of the martial world.
• Strategic patience: Li Chuan’s decision to remain inconspicuous reflects the value of restraint and long-term planning over immediate glory.

Character Interactions

• Fang Linzhou reminds Li Chuan to ring the bell, but Li Chuan’s deliberate inaction leaves the deacon puzzled.
• Jiang Zhaoyu thanks Fang Linzhou for the reminder, though Fang’s indifferent response suggests Jiang has misunderstood the situation.
• Wang Ling silently mocks Li Chuan after seeing his staged distress, lowering his estimation of him.
• Sect elders interpret the results according to their own rivalries, with Yan Zhiqiu praising Han Tuo and Ge Tianwen encouraging Wang Ling to deal with Li Chuan.
• Zhao Guangyao explains Jiang Zhaoyu and Xie Yingtang’s backgrounds to Li Chuan and later discusses the ranking mechanics with him.
• Cui Qiongyu warns Li Chuan that later puppets attack in pairs, offering useful tactical advice.
• Zhu Zhongye, Li Jingci, and Zhao Guangyao encourage Li Chuan before he enters the final batch, while opponents ridicule him.
• The chapter ends with Li Chuan entering the combat trial under Fang Linzhou’s watchful gaze, setting up the revelation of his concealed strength.

Chapter Summary: “Stunning”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Linzhou begins the second trial, transporting the participants into a fog-filled formation where they must fight increasingly powerful puppets.
• Li Chuan easily destroys the first Early Gang Force puppet with a single punch, revealing that his physical strength far exceeds that of ordinary opponents.
• He defeats the next two puppets using the Moon-Hide blade infused with Xuanming True Gang, without relying on formal blade techniques.
• As the puppets grow stronger, Li Chuan encounters pairs with increasingly powerful defenses and coordinated attacks. He uses the River-Burning Blade Technique to defeat the third and fourth pairs.
• The next pair of dark-gold puppets possesses strength approaching the Mid Gang Force realm. Rather than risk exposing his Chiming True Gang or suffering serious injury for relatively few Contribution Points, Li Chuan deliberately withdraws after damaging them.
• Despite his withdrawal, he is recorded as having defeated five puppets and ranks thirty-sixth overall—far exceeding everyone’s expectations.
• His result becomes the best achieved by the Heavenly Blade Sect in nearly twenty years and the strongest result from Sanyuan Prefecture in the past four selections.
• After the trial, the successful participants are assigned to different districts of the Vajra Sect. Li Chuan, Zhao Guangyao, and Cui Qiongyu enter the outer district.
• Yu Jing chooses to remain as a menial disciple to pursue a chance at advancement, while Cheng Xiuge decides to return to Sanyuan Prefecture, believing he will fare better there.
• Just as Li Chuan is about to leave with Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu, Fang Linzhou privately summons him for a meeting.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Demonstrates overwhelming physical power, excellent control of Xuanming True Gang, and strong combat judgment. He carefully tests his opponents, escalates only when necessary, and withdraws strategically rather than risking injury for minimal rewards. His true potential is revealed when he ranks thirty-sixth, proving that earlier estimates of his abilities were greatly underestimated.
• Wang Ling: Remains dismissive of Li Chuan and repeatedly predicts that four puppets will be his limit. His confidence is shaken when Li Chuan defeats five and outranks Cui Qiongyu, though he ultimately sees Li Chuan’s placement in the outer district as an opportunity to target him.
• Han Tuo: Initially fears that Li Chuan may surpass him, then briefly feels reassured when Li Chuan appears to stop at four puppets. His confidence collapses when Li Chuan’s final ranking is revealed.
• Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu: Correctly recognize that Li Chuan is stronger than his apparent ranking suggests. They congratulate him afterward and show no real resentment despite Cui Qiongyu being pushed down to thirty-ninth place.
• Zhu Zhongye: Is deeply pleased by the Heavenly Blade Sect’s results and recognizes Li Chuan’s ranking as an extraordinary achievement.
• Yu Jing and Cheng Xiuge: Make contrasting choices that reflect different attitudes toward ambition and competition. Yu Jing accepts the risks of staying, while Cheng Xiuge chooses the safer and more familiar path home.
• Fang Linzhou: Takes a special interest in Li Chuan, praising his temperament and summoning him privately, suggesting that Li Chuan has attracted the attention of an important figure.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated ability: Li Chuan’s performance exposes how unreliable outward rankings and assumptions can be.
• Strategic restraint: True strength is shown not only through victory but also through the ability to judge risk, conserve resources, and avoid unnecessary battles.
• Competition and opportunity: The Vajra Sect offers superior resources but also far greater pressure, making advancement dependent on both talent and endurance.
• Success and sacrifice: The chapter emphasizes that entering a powerful sect does not guarantee success; some characters must choose between ambition and security.
• Cruelty of advancement: The differing reactions to the selection results show that achievement brings both pride and disappointment, while alliances and rivalries intensify in a competitive environment.

Character Interactions

• Wang Ling, Ding Luo, and Zhu Xu repeatedly dismiss Li Chuan’s progress, while Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu express greater confidence in him.
• Yan Zhiqiu attempts to calm Han Tuo’s anxiety by insisting that Li Chuan’s early victories prove little.
• Li Chuan’s unexpected fifth victory shocks the surrounding sects, particularly Wang Ling and Han Tuo.
• Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu warmly congratulate Li Chuan after the trial and acknowledge his achievement.
• Zhu Zhongye praises the group’s success before asking Yu Jing and Cheng Xiuge whether they will remain in the Vajra Sect.
• The chapter ends with Fang Linzhou privately calling Li Chuan to meet him, hinting at an important development to come.

Chapter Summary: “Li Chuan Is a Fine Seedling”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Deacon Fang Linzhou summons Li Chuan and praises his exceptional temperament, noting that Li Chuan deliberately concealed his true composure during the selection.
• Fang explains that elders often value temperament and asks about Li Chuan’s root bone. Li Chuan reveals that he possesses only a Sixth-Grade Root, lower than nearly all other selected disciples.
• Although Li Chuan ranked thirty-sixth and performed well in other areas, Fang admits that most elders are unwilling to invest heavily in someone with an inferior root. Nevertheless, Fang promises to recommend him because he does not want a promising disciple to be overlooked.
• Fang submits the selection rosters to Great Elder Lu Qingyan, deliberately placing Li Chuan’s name prominently. Lu Qingyan immediately rejects the idea of reporting him, arguing that a Sixth-Grade Root will likely never progress beyond the External Gang realm and would only waste resources.
• Fang is forced to accept her decision, though he privately feels sympathy for Li Chuan because he himself was once overlooked and regrets losing the chance to become an elder.
• After moving into a modest Outer Sect residence, Li Chuan receives Fang’s explanation of the Vajra Sect’s main facilities:
  • Secret Repository: martial arts and internal cultivation manuals
  • Hundred Treasures Hall: pills, treasures, and cultivation materials
  • Mission Hall: missions that provide contribution points
• Li Chuan visits the Secret Repository and discovers that the Vajra Sect possesses peerless blade techniques, including manuals capable of helping him develop blade intent. However, their price—one thousand contribution points—is far beyond his current twenty points.
• At the Hundred Treasures Hall, he finds the precious Great Abyss Meta-Magnetic Marrow, also costing one thousand contribution points. This treasure could fuse his Xuanming and Chiming True Gangs into the Innate Great White True Gang.
• Li Chuan then visits the Mission Hall to investigate how contribution points are earned. He learns that even seemingly simple missions, such as gathering Ziming Flowers, involve danger from Rank Two Fierce Beasts.
• He asks about joining the Pill Hall, which offers better treatment, but learns that it rarely recruits disciples and is difficult to enter.

Character Development

• Li Chuan: Demonstrates restraint, practicality, and emotional control. He understands the disadvantages of his Sixth-Grade Root and does not become discouraged when Lu Qingyan rejects him. His confidence comes from knowing that the Primordial Jade Record lets him cultivate unusually quickly and avoid breakthrough bottlenecks, even though he cannot reveal this secret.
• Fang Linzhou: Shows himself to be perceptive, compassionate, and willing to support talented juniors. His determination to recommend Li Chuan is motivated by his own past regret at having been overlooked.
• Lu Qingyan: Appears cold, rigid, and strongly biased against low-root disciples. She values practical cultivation potential over temperament or less measurable qualities and refuses even to give Li Chuan an opportunity before the elders.
• Li Chuan’s attitude toward the Vajra Sect: He recognizes that the sect’s resources and advancement opportunities are vastly superior to those of the Heavenly Blade Sect, even though he must begin in poor living conditions and work for access to them.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus conventional judgment: The sect evaluates disciples primarily through root quality, causing Li Chuan’s hidden potential to be overlooked.
• Temperament and self-control: Li Chuan’s composure is presented as a major strength, especially because it prevents recklessness and protects him from unnecessary attention.
• Opportunity and prejudice: Fang believes Li Chuan deserves a chance, while Lu Qingyan denies him one based solely on his root bone.
• Resources and advancement: The Vajra Sect represents a world filled with powerful manuals and treasures, but access depends on contribution points and personal status.
• Patience and long-term ambition: Li Chuan does not despair over his current poverty. He focuses on learning the sect’s systems and eventually obtaining the techniques and treasures he needs.

Character Interactions

• Li Chuan and Fang Linzhou: Their conversation establishes mutual respect. Fang admires Li Chuan’s judgment and offers practical help, while Li Chuan remains grateful but wary of Fang’s motives.
• Fang Linzhou and Lu Qingyan: Fang attempts to advocate for Li Chuan, but Lu Qingyan dismisses him sharply. Fang obeys because of her authority, despite believing Li Chuan deserves consideration.
• Li Chuan and the Mission Hall disciple: Li Chuan gathers information about missions and contribution points, showing his methodical approach to adapting to the Vajra Sect.
• Li Chuan and the sect’s institutions: His visits to the Repository, Hundred Treasures Hall, and Mission Hall reveal both the enormous opportunities available to him and the difficult road required to claim them.

Chapter Summary: Learning Alchemy, the Alliance’s Surprise

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan learns that the Pill Hall offers excellent benefits but is extremely difficult for ordinary disciples to enter.
• He encounters Zhao Guangyao, who invites him to join a small information-sharing alliance with Cui Qiongyu, Duan Jinglan, and He Wanqing.
• At the gathering, the members discuss the difficulty of earning Contribution Points:
  • Zhao Guangyao has accepted a dangerous fish-catching mission worth fifteen points.
  • Cui Qiongyu’s escort mission takes three days but rewards only ten points.
  • Duan Jinglan has obtained an exceptionally favorable mission to collect a Spirit Orchid for thirty points because elders considered him as a potential personal disciple.
• Duan Jinglan reveals that only four selected disciples—Jiang Zhaoyu, Xie Yingtang, Ding Luo, and himself—were submitted for the elders’ consideration. Li Chuan realizes he was the unnamed candidate rejected by the Grand Elder.
• When asked about his own plans, Li Chuan honestly states that he intends to enter the Pill Hall and learn Alchemy.
• After the meeting, Li Chuan visits the Pill Hall, motivated by the poor ratio between mission rewards and cultivation expenses, as well as his need to save one thousand Contribution Points for the Great Abyss Meta-Magnetic Marrow.
• The Pill Hall initially refuses him entry, but Li Chuan presents the jade token given by Bai Ming. The token is recognized as belonging to Alchemist Kong Lingsu, who agrees to meet him.
• Kong Lingsu welcomes Li Chuan, asks about Bai Ming, and brings him to her private alchemy room. She gives him a manual titled “Basic Alchemy,” marking the beginning of his attempt to learn Alchemy.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Shows strategic thinking and pragmatism. He joins the alliance to obtain information, openly reveals his alchemy plans to preserve trust, and pursues Alchemy as a possible way to earn Contribution Points more efficiently.
• Zhao Guangyao: Acts as a friendly connector and values Li Chuan’s loyalty and character. He organizes the alliance and welcomes Li Chuan despite his lower selection ranking.
• Duan Jinglan: Displays pride, competitiveness, and a strong sense of superiority. He is irritated when Zhao Guangyao praises Li Chuan and subtly establishes himself as the alliance’s leader. He views Li Chuan’s attempt to learn Alchemy skeptically.
• He Wanqing: Judges people largely by strength, background, and usefulness. She initially welcomes Li Chuan but quickly becomes distant after learning his low ranking and modest sect background, aligning herself with Duan Jinglan.
• Cui Qiongyu: Helps ease the awkward atmosphere by serving tea and initiating conversation. She appears more open-minded and courteous toward Li Chuan than the others.
• Kong Lingsu: Is introduced as an accomplished Alchemist with an intelligent, mature demeanor. Her connection to Bai Ming gives Li Chuan access to the otherwise difficult-to-enter Pill Hall.

Significant Themes

• Connections and opportunity: Access to powerful institutions often depends on personal relationships, as shown by Li Chuan’s jade token and Duan Jinglan’s elder recommendation.
• Resource scarcity and advancement: Contribution Points are difficult to earn, while pills and cultivation resources are expensive. This drives Li Chuan to seek a more profitable path.
• Strength versus character: Duan Jinglan and He Wanqing prioritize ranking, sect background, and combat strength, while Zhao Guangyao emphasizes loyalty and moral character.
• Social hierarchy and pride: The gathering exposes subtle competition, status-consciousness, and the desire to occupy a position of influence.
• Hidden potential: Li Chuan is underestimated because of his ranking and background, yet his access to Alchemy may provide an unexpected avenue for growth.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Guangyao warmly recruits Li Chuan and introduces him to the group, praising his loyalty.
• Duan Jinglan reacts jealously to Zhao Guangyao’s praise and later gives Li Chuan condescending “advice” about Alchemy.
• He Wanqing follows Duan Jinglan’s lead, becoming less interested in Li Chuan and reinforcing his low social standing.
• Cui Qiongyu attempts to include Li Chuan in the discussion and directly asks about his plans.
• At the Pill Hall, the gate disciple initially discourages Li Chuan but changes his attitude after seeing Kong Lingsu’s jade token.
• Kong Lingsu’s recognition of Bai Ming’s token provides Li Chuan with the opportunity to begin studying Alchemy.

Chapter Summary: “Pill Formed! Am I Actually an Alchemy Prodigy?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kong Lingsu introduces Li Chuan to alchemy through the Basic Alchemy manual, warning him that alchemy differs greatly from martial arts and requires substantial time, effort, and talent.
• Li Chuan discovers that the Primordial Jade Record can record alchemy skills, allowing him to track his progress through a proficiency system. Encouraged, he decides to learn alchemy.
• Kong Lingsu directs him to practice refining the Body Strengthening Pill and gives him fifty sets of materials instead of the usual twenty because of his connection to Bai Ming.
• The pill recipe requires:
  1. Burning Returning Sun Grass
  2. Adding Blood Qi Fruit
  3. Using Xuanxiao Grass to harmonize the medicinal properties
  4. Forming a red-jade-colored spherical pill
• Li Chuan’s first attempts fail spectacularly, with the furnace exploding repeatedly. However, each failure grants him proficiency, allowing him to learn through repeated experimentation.
• He ignores advice from both a senior disciple and Kong Lingsu to stop and reflect between attempts. Instead, he relies on the Primordial Jade Record’s steady proficiency gains and his own changing instincts.
• After more than a dozen failed batches, Li Chuan reaches Basic Alchemy Initiation. His skill now grants him an initial mastery of Body Strengthening Pills, with a success rate of two pills per three furnaces.
• During his next attempt, Li Chuan realizes the fire is too intense, lowers it, and successfully refines the first two ingredients. He then increases the fire at the crucial final stage and successfully forms a complete Body Strengthening Pill.
• Kong Lingsu arrives just after his breakthrough and is astonished that he succeeded after only slightly more than a dozen attempts.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Demonstrates exceptional persistence, confidence, and adaptability. Although he initially assumes he may be an alchemy genius, repeated explosions prove otherwise. Nevertheless, his unique recording and proficiency system lets him improve rapidly without suffering ordinary bottlenecks. He develops an intuitive understanding of fire control and timing through experimentation.
• Kong Lingsu: Acts as a cautious mentor. She warns Li Chuan about the difficulty of alchemy, gives him extra resources, and repeatedly tries to prevent him from wasting materials. Her skepticism gradually gives way to surprise when he succeeds far faster than expected.
• Senior disciple: Offers practical advice based on conventional alchemy training, emphasizing reflection after each failure. His interaction with Li Chuan highlights how unusual Li Chuan’s learning method is.
• Bai Ming and Duan Jinglan: Though not directly present, they influence the chapter. Bai Ming’s introduction earns Li Chuan Kong Lingsu’s special consideration, while Duan Jinglan’s comments about alchemy’s difficulty are proven accurate.

Significant Themes

• Persistence versus conventional learning: Li Chuan progresses by constant experimentation rather than pausing for formal reflection, challenging the standard approach to alchemy.
• Talent and opportunity: He is not initially a natural prodigy, but his unique system gives him an extraordinary advantage by converting every failure into measurable progress.
• The value of specialized skills: Alchemy promises far greater rewards than dangerous missions, caravan escorting, or hunting if one can master it.
• Effort leading to breakthrough: The successful pill represents the payoff of repeated failure, observation, and gradual refinement.
• Hidden potential: Li Chuan’s rapid advancement suggests that his true advantage lies not in innate talent alone but in the Primordial Jade Record’s ability to eliminate bottlenecks.

Character Interactions

• Kong Lingsu warns Li Chuan about the risks of pursuing alchemy, then provides him with materials and instructions.
• Li Chuan respectfully accepts her guidance but chooses his own unconventional training method.
• A senior disciple kindly advises him to reflect after each failed furnace, but Li Chuan explains that continuous experimentation is how he learns.
• Kong Lingsu later repeats the same warning, believing Li Chuan is stubborn and wasting resources. He remains confident because he can see his hidden proficiency rising.
• After Li Chuan finally succeeds, Kong Lingsu returns and reacts with astonishment, recognizing that his progress is far beyond what she expected.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan successfully refines his first Body Strengthening Pill after repeatedly exploding more than a dozen cauldrons. He explains that he finally grasped the correct timing through constant trial and error.
• Kong Lingsu, the Pill Hall master, recognizes that Li Chuan’s Basic Alchemy has reached the Initiation stage. She concludes that he is a rare “practice-type” alchemist who improves through repeated attempts rather than prolonged meditation.
• Li Chuan passes the Pill Hall assessment and gains permission to refine pills there long-term. Each successful Body Strengthening Pill earns him two Contribution Points.
• After exhausting his mental energy, Li Chuan sleeps for an entire day. He learns that pill refining requires strict limits and begins resting after every two hours of work.
• Over the next ten days, he refines pills efficiently, earning 80 Contribution Points while also spending some on Gang-Tempering Pills. His total savings rise to 82 Contribution Points, and his Basic Alchemy proficiency reaches 260/500, bringing Minor Mastery within reach.
• Li Chuan pauses his alchemy work to attend an alliance meeting with Zhao Guangyao, Duan Jinglan, He Wanqing, and Cui Qiongyu.
• The group discusses the death of Pei Ziqian, whose Contribution Points were stolen after his murder. They realize that disciple tokens can be looted and that the Vajra Sect’s system may intentionally encourage competition and survival through conflict.
• Li Chuan is warned that Zhu Xu, allied with his enemy Wang Ling, is investigating him and may attack him through Zhu Xu and Ding Luo. Zhu Xu possesses two types of True Gang, two sword Momentums, and a third top-tier sword technique at Major Mastery, making him far stronger than Li Chuan.
• The alliance members compare their recent Contribution Point gains. Duan Jinglan leads with sixty-five, while Li Chuan privately knows that his pill-refining method has already earned him more and can become even more profitable.
• The chapter ends when He Wanqing asks whether Li Chuan passed the Pill Hall assessment, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Demonstrates genuine alchemy talent, though his unusual learning method is mistaken for a rare natural style. He becomes more disciplined after suffering severe mental exhaustion and begins planning strategically around Contribution Points, cultivation resources, and personal safety. He also recognizes the need to hide his wealth and increase his strength.
• Kong Lingsu: Reveals herself to be both a highly accomplished alchemist and a formidable cultivator. She accurately identifies Li Chuan’s talent and gives him official recognition and guidance.
• Zhou Baishi/Zhou Baiyu: Acts as a supportive senior disciple, explaining the dangers of excessive mental strain and offering future instruction.
• Duan Jinglan: Initially dismissive of Li Chuan, but provides important information about True Gang and warns him about Zhu Xu. His assistance comes from the alliance’s principles rather than personal affection.
• He Wanqing and Cui Qiongyu: Continue to view Li Chuan as relatively weak, though they participate in sharing intelligence and discussing his situation.
• Zhao Guangyao: Serves as the organizer of the alliance meeting and contributes warnings about Zhu Xu’s movements.

Significant Themes

• Learning through persistence: Li Chuan’s repeated failures eventually produce insight, suggesting that progress can come through continuous practice rather than conventional reflection.
• The cost of cultivation: Alchemy consumes enormous mental energy, emphasizing that advancement requires balance, rest, and sustainable methods.
• Competition and survival: The Vajra Sect’s Contribution Point system encourages disciples to compete, and possibly even kill one another, creating a harsh survival-based environment.
• Strength and vulnerability: Wealth without corresponding power attracts danger. Li Chuan realizes that concealing his growing resources is necessary until he becomes strong enough to protect himself.
• Hidden potential: Li Chuan’s alchemy success is underestimated by others, allowing him to quietly accumulate resources while his peers continue to regard him as insignificant.
• Mutual aid versus personal bonds: The alliance offers useful information and warnings, but its members are not especially close to Li Chuan; their cooperation is practical rather than emotional.

Character Interactions

• Kong Lingsu validates Li Chuan’s alchemy and grants him continued access to the Pill Hall.
• Zhou Baishi/Zhou Baiyu encourages Li Chuan, explains his mistakes, and advises him to control his working hours.
• Duan Jinglan and He Wanqing treat Li Chuan with polite detachment, reflecting their belief that he is not yet important.
• The alliance discusses Pei Ziqian’s death and the dangers of Contribution Point theft.
• Duan Jinglan warns Li Chuan directly about Zhu Xu’s superior strength, while the others help clarify the difference between ordinary and attribute-based True Gang.
• At the end, the group turns its attention toward Li Chuan’s alchemy results, setting up his opportunity to reveal—or conceal—his surprising progress.

Chapter Summary: River-Burning Blade Technique Perfection!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan reveals that he has passed the Pill Hall’s alchemy assessment. Zhao Guangyao, He Wanqing, and Cui Qiongyu are impressed, while Duan Jinglan remains skeptical, noting that merely passing the assessment does not guarantee the ability to earn many Contribution Points.
• Zhao Guangyao informs Li Chuan that Outer Disciples must complete one mandatory mission each month. He warns Li Chuan to be cautious, since Zhu Xu may use the mission as an opportunity to attack him.
• After separating from the group, Li Chuan visits the Hundred Treasures Hall. He notices that the shop’s inventory has been updated and sees Duan Jinglan purchasing ten Gang-Tempering Pills, suggesting that Duan is wealthy and well supplied.
• Li Chuan discovers an Ordinary Blade-Enlightenment Stone, priced at forty Contribution Points. Since his River-Burning Blade Technique is already at 2,501/4,000 proficiency, he decides the stone could help him reach perfection before his first mission.
• He purchases two bottles of Gang-Tempering Pills and the Blade-Enlightenment Stone, leaving himself with only two Contribution Points. He accepts the expense as a necessary investment in his strength.
• Unknown to Li Chuan, Zhu Xu and Ding Luo observe him leaving the hall. After learning that Li Chuan likely passed the Pill Hall assessment, they decide he must be killed before he can develop his alchemy skills and accumulate resources.
• Back in his cramped residence, Li Chuan hides the pills and tests the Blade-Enlightenment Stone at the martial arts practice ground. He discovers that it doubles his blade-practice proficiency gain from +1 to +2.
• Li Chuan establishes a strict routine: he uses Gang-Tempering Pills during the day to strengthen his True Gang and practices the River-Burning Blade Technique at night.
• After half a month of intensive practice, the technique reaches maximum proficiency and breaks through to the Perfection stage.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Becomes increasingly cautious and resource-conscious while remaining determined to improve quickly. He recognizes the dangers posed by Zhu Xu, Pei Ziqian, Wang Ling, and others, and prioritizes strength over saving Contribution Points. His successful use of the Blade-Enlightenment Stone greatly increases his confidence.
• Zhao Guangyao: Acts as a supportive and informative ally, warning Li Chuan about the mandatory missions and the possibility of Zhu Xu targeting him.
• Cui Qiongyu: Encourages Li Chuan and tries to ease tensions when Duan Jinglan dismisses the importance of passing the Pill Hall assessment.
• Duan Jinglan: Displays wealth and confidence by purchasing ten Gang-Tempering Pills. He remains doubtful that Li Chuan can make significant progress as an alchemist.
• Zhu Xu and Ding Luo: Shift from observation to active planning. They view Li Chuan’s potential in alchemy as a threat and resolve to eliminate him before he becomes stronger.

Significant Themes

• Strength through investment: Li Chuan treats Contribution Points as tools for advancement rather than possessions to hoard.
• Preparation against hidden enemies: The looming threat of Zhu Xu motivates Li Chuan to improve before his first mandatory mission.
• Information as power: The intelligence alliance gives Li Chuan crucial knowledge about missions and threats that he would otherwise lack.
• Unequal treatment within the sect: The selected Outer Disciples live in poor conditions with thin spiritual energy, while higher-ranking disciples enjoy better facilities and resources.
• Rapid growth through discipline and opportunity: Li Chuan’s steady routine, combined with the Blade-Enlightenment Stone and pills, allows him to make dramatic progress in a short period.
• Hidden potential: Others underestimate Li Chuan because they cannot yet see the effectiveness of his cultivation and alchemy-related opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Li Chuan discusses his Pill Hall success with Zhao Guangyao, He Wanqing, Cui Qiongyu, and Duan Jinglan, revealing differences in their attitudes toward his achievement.
• Zhao Guangyao provides Li Chuan with a warning about the monthly mission and Zhu Xu’s possible attack, strengthening their alliance.
• Duan Jinglan’s purchase of the pills contrasts with Li Chuan’s more cautious and strategic spending.
• Zhu Xu and Ding Luo privately discuss Li Chuan’s potential and agree that he should be killed before his abilities and resources grow.
• Li Chuan’s final breakthrough gives him renewed confidence that he will be capable of defeating Zhu Xu if attacked.

Chapter Summary: “How Dare You Come Looking for Me?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan perfects the River-Burning Blade Technique with the help of a Blade-Comprehension Stone. At Perfection, the technique becomes seamless and powerful, leaving only the Extreme Realm of Momentum as a possible improvement.
• He reflects on his conflict with Zhu Xu, noting that both possess two types of True Gang and two forms of Momentum. However, Li Chuan now has superior blade mastery and an Extreme-Realm Golden Bell Shield, giving him confidence that he can defeat Zhu Xu.
• During two days of cultivation, Li Chuan’s Profound Nether Sunken Abyss Record and Great Sun Radiant Heaven Record advance significantly. He estimates that he can reach Mid Gang Force within half a year, far faster than ordinary cultivators.
• Li Chuan, Zhao Guangyao, and Cui Qiongyu go to the Mission Hall to receive their required assignments. Li Chuan is tasked with collecting ferocious beast essence blood from the Jiang Family within three days.
• Zhao Guangyao warns Li Chuan that Zhu Xu and Ding Luo have already taken their missions, suggesting that Zhu Xu may use the opportunity to ambush him. Instead of avoiding the danger, Li Chuan deliberately leaves the sect and allows Zhu Xu to follow him.
• On a secluded barren mountain, Zhu Xu attacks Li Chuan. He is shocked to discover that Li Chuan possesses not only Xuanming True Gang, but also Chiming True Gang.
• Zhu Xu assumes Li Chuan is connected to the Demon Sect and launches his strongest sword technique, empowered by two Sword Momentums. Li Chuan counters with the perfected River-Burning Blade Technique and effortlessly overwhelms him.
• Li Chuan severs Zhu Xu’s right arm, then kills him by piercing his skull despite Zhu Xu’s pleas for mercy and offer to spy on Wang Ling.
• Li Chuan takes Zhu Xu’s Contribution Points, increasing his own total from two to thirty-two, and carefully disposes of the body and evidence using the Heart-Eating Insect.
• He completes his mission at the Jiang Family, receiving ten bottles of Second-Tier Mid Grade and twenty bottles of Second-Tier Lower Grade ferocious beast essence blood.
• After returning to the Vajra Sect and submitting the essence blood, Li Chuan receives ten additional Contribution Points, bringing his total to forty-two.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan grows increasingly confident and calculating. He no longer merely reacts to threats from Wang Ling’s faction; he actively sets traps for them and chooses to eliminate Zhu Xu first.
• His combat strength is revealed to be far greater than his public ranking suggests. His two True Gangs, two Blade Momentums, perfected blade technique, and defensive cultivation make him capable of defeating Zhu Xu decisively.
• Li Chuan demonstrates pragmatism and emotional control by refusing Zhu Xu’s offer of cooperation. He recognizes that Zhu Xu would likely betray him and chooses certainty over a risky alliance.
• Zhu Xu begins the confrontation arrogant and confident in his superior dual True Gangs and Sword Momentums. After discovering Li Chuan’s hidden power, he becomes frightened and desperate, ultimately begging for his life.
• Zhao Guangyao acts as a cautious and helpful senior brother, warning Li Chuan about the danger posed by Zhu Xu.
• The Jiang Family is established as a powerful aristocratic family specializing in raising ferocious beasts.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Li Chuan’s low ranking conceals his true abilities, allowing him to surprise and defeat an overconfident opponent.
• Initiative over passivity: Rather than hiding from Zhu Xu, Li Chuan deliberately leads him into an isolated location and turns the ambush against him.
• Pragmatism and mistrust: Li Chuan rejects Zhu Xu’s proposal because cooperation with a former enemy carries too much risk. Survival depends on judging people realistically rather than relying on unlikely loyalty.
• Progress through cultivation and resources: Pills, secret techniques, Contribution Points, and ferocious beast essence blood all accelerate Li Chuan’s growth.
• Consequences of factional conflict: Wang Ling’s attempt to eliminate Li Chuan has backfired, resulting in the death of one of his key subordinates and the loss of valuable resources.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu accompany Li Chuan to the Mission Hall, with Zhao providing a serious warning about Zhu Xu.
• Zhu Xu secretly follows Li Chuan, believing he is controlling the situation and preparing a hidden assassination.
• Li Chuan confronts Zhu Xu directly, revealing that he has anticipated the ambush and even chosen the same secluded battlefield.
• After being defeated, Zhu Xu blames Ding Luo and Wang Ling and begs Li Chuan for mercy, offering to become a spy. Li Chuan rejects him and kills him.
• At the Jiang Family, the gatekeepers initially act warily but become respectful after learning that Li Chuan is a Vajra Sect disciple. One guides him through the family’s extensive ferocious-beast grounds and gives him the assigned essence blood.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Mission Hall, the deacon announces that Zhu Xu and Ge Hong have failed to return from their missions. Their names are crossed off the roster, strongly implying that both have died.
• Ding Luo angrily demands an investigation, arguing that Zhu Xu was killed while carrying out a Vajra Sect mission. The deacon dismisses his complaint and punishes him with an additional compulsory mission, demonstrating the sect’s indifference toward the deaths of ordinary disciples.
• Ding Luo becomes suspicious of Li Chuan, especially because of Li Chuan’s previous conflict with Zhu Xu.
• Ding Luo reports Zhu Xu’s likely death to Wang Ling. He explains that Zhu Xu and he had planned to kill Li Chuan because Li Chuan had entered the Pill Hall and might possess valuable alchemy talent.
• Wang Ling concludes that Li Chuan was probably responsible, despite his public ranking and apparent cultivation level. He orders Ding Luo to test Li Chuan’s true strength and eliminate him if he proves to be a hidden threat.
• The alliance of five meets to discuss Zhu Xu and Ge Hong’s deaths. Most members believe the deaths were likely caused by people seeking Contribution Points.
• Li Chuan carefully disguises his reaction, pretending to be saddened and fearful rather than pleased. His performance convinces most of the group that he is innocent and good-natured.
• Duan Jinglan claims the killer must have been at least around the twenty-fifth-ranked disciple and warns the weaker members to be cautious.
• The group discusses the benefits of reaching Mid Gang Force: disciples who enter the Core Area can claim a Peerless Martial Art without spending Contribution Points.
• Li Chuan realizes this solves his concern about obtaining a stronger blade technique. He also learns that Ding Luo may reach Mid Gang Force within three or four months, prompting him to accelerate his own cultivation.
• Duan Jinglan explains the main factors determining strength in Gang Force battles: the number and quality of True Gang strands, martial-art mastery, and supplementary cultivation such as body-tempering techniques.
• The chapter ends with He Wanqing asking Li Chuan about the level of his third blade technique, setting up the possibility that his true strength may be exposed.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Remains calm and highly calculating. He successfully hides his role in Zhu Xu’s death, manipulates the alliance’s perception of him, and continues planning to kill Ding Luo before Ding Luo breaks through. His confidence grows as he recognizes that his cultivation speed may surpass the others.
• Ding Luo: Becomes openly hostile toward Li Chuan and increasingly determined to uncover the truth. His loyalty to Zhu Xu and Wang Ling’s influence push him toward testing or attacking Li Chuan.
• Wang Ling: Treats Zhu Xu’s death as part of a larger blood feud connected to his younger brother, Wang Xiao. He views Li Chuan as a dangerous hidden threat and orders Ding Luo to investigate him.
• Duan Jinglan: Attempts to establish himself as the alliance’s strongest and wisest member. His analysis is mostly correct, but his assumptions about Li Chuan’s weakness reveal that he underestimates him.
• Cui Qiongyu, Zhao Guangyao, and He Wanqing: Continue to regard Li Chuan favorably, impressed by his apparent composure and character. They remain unaware of his actual strength.

Significant Themes

• The cruelty of the martial world: The Vajra Sect’s indifference toward missing and dead disciples shows that status and survival depend entirely on strength.
• Strength hidden behind appearances: Li Chuan’s low ranking and public display of only one strand of True Gang serve as effective camouflage.
• Political suspicion and survival: Zhu Xu’s death creates multiple layers of suspicion, alliances, and potential retaliation.
• The value of advancement: Reaching Mid Gang Force provides access to major resources, showing that cultivation breakthroughs are tied directly to greater opportunities.
• Misjudgment: Nearly everyone underestimates Li Chuan because they rely on his ranking and visible cultivation rather than his actual combat ability.

Character Interactions

• Ding Luo confronts the Mission Hall deacon, but is silenced and punished.
• Ding Luo reports to Wang Ling, who urges him to test Li Chuan and confirms the growing conflict between them.
• During the alliance meeting, Cui Qiongyu and Li Chuan share a lighthearted exchange over sugarcane, reinforcing the group’s friendly view of him.
• The alliance discusses Zhu Xu’s death, with everyone eventually focusing on Li Chuan as a possible suspect, though his carefully staged reaction defuses their doubts.
• Duan Jinglan explains battle strength to the group and compares himself unfavorably to Ding Luo, while Li Chuan quietly uses the discussion to assess his future opponent.
• He Wanqing’s final question about Li Chuan’s third blade technique threatens to reveal how far beyond their expectations he may actually be.

Chapter Summary: “Alchemy Reaches Minor Mastery!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan reveals that he has perfected his third blade technique, placing him on roughly equal footing with Duan Jinglan in blade mastery.
• Duan Jinglan and He Wanqing downplay Li Chuan’s achievement, emphasizing his lower cultivation realm and limited potential. Li Chuan remains unfazed, confident that his future breakthroughs will make their judgments irrelevant.
• After the alliance gathering ends, Li Chuan visits the Hundred Treasures Hall:
  • He sees the extremely expensive Great Abyss Meta-Magnetic Marrow, which could help him combine his True Gangs into the powerful Innate Great White True Gang.
  • He also discovers a Mid-Grade Blade-Practice Stone, which would greatly accelerate his progress toward the Extreme Realm in the River-Burning Blade Technique.
• Li Chuan continues buying Gang-Tempering Pills and spends the following days balancing Internal Skill cultivation, alchemy, and blade practice.
• He refines Body Strengthening Pills regularly, raising his Basic Alchemy proficiency from 260 to nearly full mastery.
• After one failed furnace and another successful attempt, Basic Alchemy finally advances from Initiation to Minor Mastery.
• Minor Mastery dramatically improves his alchemy:
  • He can now produce two pills per furnace.
  • His success rate rises from two successful furnaces out of three to four out of five.
  • His earning potential more than doubles.
• Li Chuan immediately demonstrates his new understanding by correctly refining two Body Strengthening Pills in a single furnace.
• Zhou Baiyu witnesses the breakthrough and reports it to Kong Lingsu. She confirms Li Chuan’s progress and offers him a gift worth up to two hundred Contribution Points.
• Li Chuan chooses the Mid-Grade Blade-Practice Stone, eliminating the need to choose between improving his blade technique and saving for the Great Abyss Meta-Magnetic Marrow.

Character Developments

Li Chuan

Demonstrates increasing confidence, patience, and strategic planning. He hides his true abilities, avoids unnecessary arguments, and focuses on steadily improving his cultivation, alchemy, and blade techniques. His Primordial Jade Record ensures that his alchemical skill never regresses, allowing him to progress faster than others expect.

Duan Jinglan

Becomes visibly unsettled by Li Chuan’s perfected blade technique. Although he speaks condescendingly and stresses Li Chuan’s inferior ranking, his attitude reveals insecurity and difficulty accepting Li Chuan as an equal in one area.

He Wanqing

Recognizes Duan Jinglan’s discomfort and supports his attempt to maintain superiority. She acknowledges Li Chuan’s potential improvement but still believes his innate limitations will prevent him from reaching the same heights as Duan Jinglan.

Zhao Guangyao

Continues to view Li Chuan as mysterious and develops an instinctive confidence in him, though he remains unsure how far that confidence can be justified.

Zhou Baiyu

Initially advises Li Chuan to practice alchemy more consistently, but becomes surprised and impressed by Li Chuan’s rapid progress. He recognizes that Li Chuan has genuinely reached Minor Mastery.

Kong Lingsu

Learns of Li Chuan’s breakthrough and acknowledges his strong comprehension and alchemical talent. She treats him generously, partly because of Bai Ming’s recommendation and her connection to someone who entrusted Li Chuan to her.

Significant Themes

• Quiet strength versus outward judgment: Li Chuan does not challenge the others’ dismissive remarks because his achievements will eventually speak for themselves.
• Accumulation and disciplined progress: His improvement comes from maintaining a strict routine of cultivation, alchemy, and martial practice.
• Hidden talent and underestimated potential: Others assume Li Chuan is limited by his innate talent, but his comprehension, resources, and mysterious cultivation aid allow him to advance unusually quickly.
• The value of resources: Contribution Points, pills, treasures, and practice stones are essential to advancement, making wealth and earning ability nearly as important as talent.
• Rules born from absurdity: Zhou Baiyu’s story about the alchemist who destroyed a hundred batches of pills explains the Pill Hall’s ingredient policy and adds humor to the chapter.

Important Character Interactions

• Duan Jinglan and He Wanqing subtly belittle Li Chuan while discussing his perfected blade technique; Li Chuan politely accepts their words without revealing his confidence.
• Zhou Baiyu warns Li Chuan about the dangers of neglecting alchemy and explains the Pill Hall’s rules regarding failed batches.
• Li Chuan refines pills alongside Zhou Baiyu, steadily proving that his skill has not deteriorated.
• Zhou Baiyu and Kong Lingsu observe Li Chuan’s breakthrough and verify that he can refine two pills in one furnace.
• Kong Lingsu rewards Li Chuan with the Mid-Grade Blade-Practice Stone, enabling him to accelerate his River-Burning Blade Technique toward the Extreme Realm.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan tests the Mid-Grade Blade-Practice Stone Kong Lingsu gave him and discovers that it increases his River-Burning Blade Technique proficiency by six points per strike, three times the effect of an Ordinary Blade-Practice Stone.
• He estimates that the stone will allow him to reach the Extreme Realm in less than two months. After a night of practice, his proficiency rises to 201/8000.
• Over the following half month, Li Chuan follows a disciplined routine:
  • Takes two Gang-Tempering Pills each morning to cultivate the Chiming True Gang and Xuanming True Gang.
  • Works in the Pill Hall, benefiting from his improved alchemy and earning sixteen Contribution Points daily.
  • Saves twelve Contribution Points per day after expenses, raising his total to 230.
• To prevent others from tracking him, Li Chuan arrives early at the Mission Hall and secretly accepts a task to collect Frostfrost Bamboo for fifteen Contribution Points.
• Ding Luo arrives soon afterward and attempts to bribe the Mission Hall steward for information about Li Chuan’s task, but the steward refuses and instead assigns Ding Luo two missions. Ding Luo realizes Li Chuan has become more cautious.
• Li Chuan completes the Frostfrost Bamboo mission safely, bringing his Contribution Points to 245. He plans to save 1,000 points to purchase the Great Abyss Meta-Magnetic Marrow, temper his True Gang, reach Mid Gang Force, and enter the Core Area.
• After more than ten days of continued night practice, Li Chuan’s River-Burning Blade Technique reaches 7996/8000. His next strike breaks through to the Extreme Realm, allowing him to comprehend the River-Burning Blade Force.
• With the River-Burning Blade Force, Li Chuan possesses three Blade Forces: Heavenly River, Trace-Free, and River-Burning. He now stands at the peak achievable through top-tier Blade Techniques, with only Peerless Blade Techniques and Blade Intent beyond him.
• Li Chuan’s Internal Skills also progress rapidly. Both the Profound Nether Sunken Abyss Record and Great Sun Radiant Heaven Record reach 4692/8000 at the Second Layer, placing him more than halfway toward Mid Gang Force.
• At a gathering organized by Zhao Guangyao, Ding Luo appears to stage an “accidental” attack. While pretending to spar with another disciple, he sends a sword carrying three Sword Momenta toward Li Chuan.
• Li Chuan reacts in time, drawing his Moon-Hide Saber and blocking with three Blade Momenta. Ding Luo is forced backward, and He Wanqing, Duan Jinglan, and Zhao Guangyao witness the confrontation.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Becomes increasingly powerful, disciplined, and strategically cautious. His third Blade Force places him among the strongest Outer Area disciples, while his rapid cultivation and alchemy allow him to outpace disciples who began cultivating much earlier. He also grows more confident in recognizing and countering hidden threats.
• Ding Luo: Becomes openly hostile and increasingly calculating. After failing to discover Li Chuan’s mission destination, he resorts to a staged attack intended to injure Li Chuan before the next monthly mission, preserving an excuse of accidental misconduct.
• Mission Hall Steward: Demonstrates integrity and authority by refusing Ding Luo’s bribe and warning him not to press the matter.
• Zhao Guangyao: Continues acting as a reliable ally by inviting Li Chuan to the information-sharing gathering.
• He Wanqing, Duan Jinglan, and Zhao Guangyao: Arrive at the critical moment and become witnesses to Ding Luo’s suspicious attack.

Significant Themes

• The power of resources and opportunity: The Mid-Grade Blade-Practice Stone and Gang-Tempering Pills dramatically accelerate Li Chuan’s progress, allowing him to erase advantages built by others over many years.
• Caution and concealment: Li Chuan hides his wealth, cultivation speed, and mission destination to avoid attracting enemies, illustrating the danger of revealing too much strength.
• Rapid advancement versus established rivals: Li Chuan’s progress threatens disciples such as Ding Luo, whose earlier advantages are being steadily overtaken.
• Ambition and revenge: Li Chuan’s goal of entering the Core Area and eventually killing Wang Ling drives his cultivation plans.
• Open strength versus covert schemes: Li Chuan advances through disciplined training, while Ding Luo relies on surveillance, manipulation, and an attempted ambush.

Character Interactions

• Li Chuan and the Mission Hall steward interact respectfully, while the steward refuses Ding Luo’s attempt to buy information.
• Ding Luo observes Li Chuan’s behavior and attempts to uncover his mission through the steward, revealing his suspicion and hostility.
• Zhao Guangyao invites Li Chuan to the group gathering, maintaining their alliance.
• At the gathering, Ding Luo’s apparent sparring match becomes a deliberate attack on Li Chuan. Li Chuan blocks the strike with equal Blade Momentum, forcing Ding Luo back in front of several witnesses and setting up a direct conflict between them.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ding Luo launches a probing attack at Li Chuan using all three of his Sword Momentum, disguising it afterward as an accidental loss of control.
• Li Chuan successfully blocks the attack, revealing that he has mastered three Blade Momentum and recently reached the Extreme Realm in blade techniques.
• Ding Luo realizes Li Chuan is far stronger than expected and decides that he must kill him before he grows even more powerful.
• The Alliance gathering ends uneasily after members discuss another Outer Area disciple who was severely injured in a mysterious attack, reinforcing the danger and cruelty within the Vajra Sect.
• Li Chuan calculates that earning enough Contribution Points for the Great Abyss Meta-Magnetic Marrow through pill refinement alone would take too long and slow his cultivation.
• He writes letters asking several Alliance members to lend him Contribution Points. Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu each lend him thirty, while Duan Jinglan and He Wanqing refuse.
• Li Chuan then borrows two hundred Contribution Points from Senior Brother Zhou Baiyu and five hundred from Master Kong Lingsu, raising his total to 1,077.
• He immediately purchases the Great Abyss Meta-Magnetic Marrow from Hundred Treasures Hall.
• After swallowing it, the substance harmonizes his Xuanming True Gang and Chiming True Gang. Within an hour, they fuse into a new, balanced form: the Innate Great White True Gang.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Demonstrates a major increase in combat ability, having mastered three Blade Momentum and reached the Extreme Realm. He becomes more decisive and determined to eliminate Ding Luo before the threat can grow. He also shows resourcefulness by borrowing Contribution Points instead of sacrificing cultivation time.
• Ding Luo: His confidence in Li Chuan’s weakness is shattered. He becomes wary and murderous, recognizing Li Chuan as a potential future threat.
• Cui Qiongyu and Zhao Guangyao: Both show genuine trust and loyalty by lending almost all their available Contribution Points to Li Chuan despite the risks.
• Duan Jinglan: Becomes more aware of Li Chuan’s talent but remains dismissive of his overall strength, believing his own cultivation advantage is still overwhelming.
• He Wanqing: Is impressed by Li Chuan’s mastery of three Blade Momentum but ultimately follows Duan Jinglan’s cautious refusal to lend money.
• Zhou Baiyu: Although he initially scolds Li Chuan, he ultimately lends him two hundred Contribution Points, revealing concern beneath his irritating lectures.
• Kong Lingsu: Feels pleased that Li Chuan finally seeks her out, only to discover he wants money rather than alchemical instruction. Nevertheless, she generously lends him five hundred Contribution Points and continues to support his potential.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated talent: Li Chuan’s quiet progress surprises both allies and enemies.
• The danger of internal rivalry: The greatest immediate threat comes not from monsters or outsiders, but from fellow disciples such as Ding Luo.
• Trust, loyalty, and obligation: The differing responses to Li Chuan’s request reveal the varying degrees of friendship and self-interest within the Alliance.
• Resource management and cultivation: Contribution Points are essential to advancement, forcing Li Chuan to balance earning resources, maintaining cultivation, and responding to threats.
• Transformation through harmony: The Great Abyss Meta-Magnetic Marrow successfully unites opposing forces, symbolizing the balance between the Xuanming and Chiming True Gangs.

Character Interactions

• Ding Luo and Li Chuan exchange polite words after the attack, but both understand that the encounter was hostile and deliberate.
• Cui Qiongyu and Zhao Guangyao humorously mistake Li Chuan’s borrowing letters for romantic messages before discovering they are effectively IOUs.
• Duan Jinglan and He Wanqing discuss whether Li Chuan deserves financial help, exposing Duan’s skepticism and He’s hesitation.
• Zhou Baiyu scolds Li Chuan for becoming complacent, then reluctantly lends him a large sum.
• Kong Lingsu prepares to teach Li Chuan alchemy but is surprised when he instead requests five hundred Contribution Points; despite her shock, she supports him.
• The chapter concludes with Li Chuan successfully forging the Innate Great White True Gang, marking a major advancement in his cultivation and strengthening his ability to confront Ding Luo.

Key plot points

• Li Chuan completes the fusion of Xuanming and Chiming True Gangs into Innate Great White True Gang, discovering that its destructive power far exceeds his previous abilities. He can separate it briefly, but it quickly recombines, so he decides he will eventually need a concealment technique.
• Determined to eliminate Ding Luo after his earlier ambush, Li Chuan tracks him to Heavenly Fox Cave and attacks.
• Ding Luo unleashes both of his True Gangs and his strongest sword technique, but Li Chuan’s new True Gang cuts through his defenses and kills him. Ding Luo begs for mercy and blames Wang Ling, but Li Chuan sees through his likely offer to act as a spy and executes him.
• Li Chuan takes Ding Luo’s 95 Contribution Points, raising his total from 77 to 172, and uses the Heart-Eating Insect to dispose of the evidence.
• Three days later, the Alliance discusses Ding Luo’s disappearance. The members suspect he was murdered, while Li Chuan pretends to be shocked and speculates that a Mid Gang Force fighter must be responsible.
• Duan Jinglan reveals that the first Outer Area disciple to reach Mid Gang Force receives 500 Contribution Points and a Peerless Martial Art. He expects to claim the reward in six months; Li Chuan privately believes he can do so in four.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Chuan has undergone a major increase in strength and now recognizes the danger of revealing his unusual fused True Gang. He acts decisively against Ding Luo and remains composed while handling his pleas.
• Ding Luo shifts from envy and confidence to fear and desperation. His resentment of Li Chuan and alliance with Wang Ling motivate his plans, but his superior numbers and technique prove useless against Li Chuan’s new power.
• Wang Ling, though absent from the cave, is revealed as the one who directed Ding Luo to target Li Chuan and later urged him to finish the job.
• The Alliance members react uneasily to Ding Luo’s disappearance. Li Chuan conceals his role, while Duan Jinglan treats the death as an opportunity to claim the breakthrough reward.

Significant themes

• Power and transformation: The fused True Gang marks a dramatic leap in Li Chuan’s strength, overturning the apparent advantage of having more separate True Gangs.
• Secrecy and suspicion: Li Chuan must hide his rare ability in a competitive, potentially hostile sect environment.
• Ambition and opportunism: Ding Luo targets Li Chuan for advancement and revenge; Duan Jinglan immediately views Ding Luo’s death as a chance to secure a major reward.
• Mercy versus self-preservation: Ding Luo’s desperate pleas cannot overcome Li Chuan’s judgment that sparing him would leave a continuing threat.

Key plot points and events

• At a small Alliance meeting, Duan Jinglan and He Wanqing discuss Duan’s likely chance of being the first in the Outer Area to reach Mid Gang Force and earn the reward. Li Chuan’s faintly mocking expression hints that he may be progressing faster than anyone realizes.
• Zhao Guangyao warns Li Chuan that Wang Ling may blame him for the deaths of Ding Luo and Zhu Xu, and that Wang has recently been associating with Jiang Zhaoyu.
• Li Chuan returns to his hut and calculates that, with enough Gang-Tempering Pills, he can reach Mid Gang Force in three or four months—well ahead of the competition. He also resolves to repay the 760 Contribution Points he borrowed from his companions.
• Wang Ling learns that Ding Luo has disappeared and suspects he is dead. Grieving his two missing junior brothers, he vows to investigate and kill whoever is responsible. Jiang Zhaoyu shares his resentment toward people from Sanyuan Prefecture, whom he believes know something about his younger brother’s death.
• At the Pill Hall, Zhou Baiyu shows Li Chuan a Heavenly Deer Pill, which can be made once Basic Alchemy reaches Major Mastery and sells for 20 Contribution Points. Zhou cautions that becoming a First-Rank Alchemist is difficult and estimates Li will need nearly half a year.
• Li Chuan continues refining Body Strengthening Pills throughout the next month. He saves 360 Contribution Points, and his Basic Alchemy reaches Major Mastery.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Chuan remains outwardly modest and conceals his real strength, using others’ underestimation as protection. He is conscientious about repaying his friends and confident that steady practice will let him surpass conventional limits.
• Duan Jinglan enjoys being praised as the likely first to reach Mid Gang Force, while He Wanqing encourages him. Cui Qiongyu and Zhao Guangyao quietly find their exchange somewhat self-congratulatory.
• Zhao Guangyao looks out for Li Chuan, warning him about Wang Ling and Jiang Zhaoyu; his companions’ loans have also given Li Chuan a strong sense of obligation.
• Wang Ling shifts from grief to determination, vowing revenge despite not knowing who caused the disappearances.
• Jiang Zhaoyu reveals hostility toward Sanyuan Prefecture, linking it to his unresolved suspicions about his younger brother’s death.
• Zhou Baiyu offers sincere, experienced advice to Li Chuan, though he assumes Li’s ambition will be checked by failure. Li listens respectfully but trusts his own unusual ability to improve through practice.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and misjudgment: Li Chuan’s restrained public image masks his rapid progress.
• Diligence and compounding growth: His confidence rests on consistent practice, which turns alchemy into an increasingly reliable path to advancement.
• Debt, trust, and integrity: Li Chuan treats borrowed Contribution Points as a moral obligation, not merely a financial burden.
• Grief and revenge: Wang Ling’s loss and Jiang Zhaoyu’s resentment create a growing threat around Li Chuan.
• Experience versus exceptional potential: Zhou Baiyu’s caution reflects the ordinary difficulty of mastery, while Li Chuan’s steady gains may let him exceed those expectations.

Key plot points and events

• Li Chuan’s Basic Alchemy reaches Major Mastery, allowing him to refine Heavenly Deer Pills with about a 50% success rate. He asks Senior Brother Zhou Baiyu for ingredients, hoping to earn more Contribution Points.
• Zhou doubts Li’s ability and gives him three batches, expecting failure. Instead, Li successfully refines a Heavenly Deer Pill, proving he has become a First-Rank Alchemist.
• Li reports his breakthrough to Master Kong Lingsu. She praises his rapid progress—he has spent just over five months in the Pill Hall—and explains that reaching the next alchemy rank will be far more difficult.
• Kong gives Li a First-Rank Alchemist’s robe. Wearing its gold-striped cuff changes how others treat him: fellow alchemists notice and respect his status. Lu Jing, a well-regarded First-Rank Alchemist, introduces himself and invites Li to exchange ideas.
• Li continues refining Heavenly Deer Pills, earns Contribution Points quickly, and uses his savings to repay his debts to Zhou, Kong, Zhao Guangyao, and Cui Qiongyu. He gives Zhao and Cui useful gifts in thanks.
• With his debts cleared, Li turns his attention to preparing for a breakthrough to Mid Gang Force.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Chuan moves from apprentice to First-Rank Alchemist and gains confidence, income, and social recognition. He remains considerate: he repays his lenders promptly and chooses gifts for Zhao and Cui rather than money.
• Zhou Baiyu misjudges Li, assuming he is overconfident based on his own past failures. After witnessing Li’s success, he is embarrassed and resolves to let Li finish speaking before giving advice.
• Kong Lingsu recognizes Li’s exceptional talent but tempers her praise by explaining how demanding further advancement will be. She marks his new standing by giving him the First-Rank robe.
• Lu Jing approaches Li as a fellow First-Rank Alchemist, while apprentices’ envy reveals how much prestige and influence that rank carries.

Significant themes

• Skill and status: Alchemical rank affects not only earning potential but also how others recognize and approach a person.
• Talent versus experience: Li’s rapid breakthrough challenges Zhou’s assumption that earlier struggles predict another’s limits.
• Humility and communication: Zhou learns not to judge before listening; Li’s clear announcement was missed because Zhou kept interrupting.
• Gratitude and responsibility: Li prioritizes repaying favors and chooses thoughtful gifts that preserve the warmth of friendship.

Key plot points and events

• Li Chuan estimates it will take three months to reach Mid Gang Force, but wants to advance faster because he sees Wang Ling as a threat.
• At Hundred Treasures Hall, he learns that Premium Gang-Tempering Pills are available for ten Contribution Points each. He buys five and discovers they temper his True Gang three times as efficiently as ordinary pills, reducing his expected breakthrough time to about a month.
• Knowing the Core Area will inspect his True Gang, Li Chuan seeks a way to disguise its unusual black-and-white form. He buys the Illusory Gang Art, which can imitate other kinds of True Gang, and settles on Cold Abyss True Gang as a plausible disguise.
• After ten more days of cultivation, Li Chuan breaks through to Mid Gang Force. His Innate Great White True Gang is smaller but far more powerful, and he believes he could now easily defeat his former self. He plans to enter the Core Area and learn the Peerless Blade Technique.
• At a delayed gathering, Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu explain that Li Chuan’s gift of two Ordinary Sword-Training Stones helped them improve their blade skills and take on a lucrative mission. Their success reveals Li Chuan’s generosity and his status as a First-Rank Alchemist.
• Duan Jinglan, stung by Li Chuan’s achievements, boasts that he will reach Mid Gang Force in three months and challenges Li Chuan’s progress. The chapter ends with him pressing Li Chuan to reveal how far along his True Gang tempering is.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Chuan grows stronger, more strategic, and more confident. He uses his alchemy income to buy better training resources, plans ahead to conceal his inheritance, and begins distancing himself from Outer Area acquaintances he does not consider close.
• Duan Jinglan becomes increasingly resentful as Li Chuan surpasses him in blade-intent comprehension and alchemy. His pride turns the gathering into a public challenge.
• He Wanqing realizes she once could have lent Li Chuan Contribution Points and benefited from his gratitude and generosity. She feels regret when she sees Zhao and Cui using the training stones she declined to help make possible.
• Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu show gratitude toward Li Chuan and explain how his support helped them grow stronger. Zhao objects to Duan’s hostility; Cui bluntly defends the value of the mission she and Zhao completed.
• The exchange exposes contrasting relationships: Li Chuan’s generosity has strengthened his bond with Zhao and Cui, while Duan’s envy and He Wanqing’s regret leave them at a distance.

Significant themes

• Resources and advancement: Money and access to better training tools can dramatically accelerate cultivation, but Li Chuan’s alchemy gives him an advantage most disciples cannot afford.
• Power and perception: Li Chuan’s breakthrough changes his understanding of the gap between cultivation stages and makes him reassess his strength.
• Concealment and self-preservation: His rare inheritance is powerful but dangerous to reveal, forcing him to disguise his True Gang before entering the Core Area.
• Pride, envy, and missed opportunities: Duan’s jealousy and He Wanqing’s regret contrast with Zhao and Cui’s gratitude, showing how choices and attitudes shape relationships.

Key plot points and events

• Duan Jinglan boasts that, despite Li Chuan’s new status as a First-Rank Alchemist, Duan will surpass him in cultivation and reach Mid Gang Force within three months. Fang Linzhou arrives to settle the dispute.
• Fang recognizes that Li Chuan has already reached Mid Gang Force. Li confirms it by revealing his dense Cold Abyss True Gang, decisively disproving Duan’s claims.
• Fang summons the remaining Outer and Edge Area disciples and announces Li as the first to advance to the Core Area. Li receives 500 Contribution Points and the right to choose a Peerless Blade Technique.
• At the Secret Repository, Fang describes several blade techniques and cautions Li against choosing one solely for its power. Li nevertheless selects the exceptionally difficult Return to Dust Blade Technique, confident that the Primordial Jade Record will help him master it.
• Fang arranges for Li to take a copy of the technique and tells him to pack for his move to the Core Area the following day. He then goes to request an audience with Great Elder Lu Qingyan.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Chuan remains calm under Duan’s provocation and demonstrates how far he has advanced. His choice of the most powerful, difficult technique reflects his confidence and ambition.
• Duan Jinglan goes from boastful certainty to humiliation and helplessness when Li proves stronger in the cultivation realm Duan prized most.
• Fang Linzhou moves from surprise to admiration, publicly praising Li and advising him on technique selection. Though Li disregards his warning, Fang respects his choice and supports his promotion.
• He Wanqing is stunned and regrets having backed Duan instead of Li. Zhao Guangyao expresses confidence that Li was always exceptional; Cui Qiongyu and several visiting disciples share pride in Li, mixed with the realization that he has outpaced them.
• Fang and Li’s respectful exchange contrasts with Duan’s increasingly strained challenge and highlights the difference between Li’s composure and Duan’s wounded pride.

Significant themes

• Perseverance despite limitations: Fang holds Li up as an example of someone who did not let a Sixth Grade Root define his prospects.
• Merit and recognition: Li’s achievements overturn others’ assumptions about his potential and earn him advancement and rewards.
• Power versus difficulty: The chapter weighs a technique’s immediate strength against the time and effort required to master it.
• Ambition and self-belief: Li chooses the hardest path because he trusts his unusual means of improving, while the people around him struggle to adjust to how quickly he has surpassed them.

• Li Chuan’s progress is reported to Great Elder Lu Qingyan: Outer Sect steward Fang Linzhou tells her that Li Chuan has reached Mid Gang Force, become a First-Rank Alchemist, and shown unusual speed and character. Lu remains convinced that he is ordinary and will never reach True Origin, dismissing his achievements as insignificant beside the sect’s elite.
• Lu Qingyan contrasts Li Chuan with her disciple, Xiao Nianxue: Nianxue is nearing Gang Force after remarkable advancement and is destined, in Lu’s view, to become one of the sect’s celebrated True Inheritance Disciples. Hearing about Li Chuan makes Nianxue genuinely happy, but Lu warns her that the sect’s geniuses surpass him and that he does not belong on their “stage.” Lu’s words reveal both her confidence in her judgment and her desire to steer Nianxue away from admiration of Li Chuan.
• Li Chuan prepares to enter the Core Area: He packs his few belongings and is seen off by Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu. They thank him for giving them sword-training stones after they lent him Contribution Points, explaining that the stones helped them grow stronger. Their gratitude reflects how vulnerable their earlier loan had been, given the dangers and deaths in the Outer Area.
• Zhao arranges an introduction for Li Chuan: Wanting to repay him and help him navigate the Core Area, Zhao offers to introduce him to Xie Yingtang, who placed second in the selection and is connected to both him and Cui. Li Chuan accepts, moved by their sincerity. Zhao and Cui also reveal that the old Alliance has dissolved since Li’s breakthrough, and that former leaders Duan Jinglan and He Wanqing now avoid them.
• Li Chuan meets Xie Yingtang and Wen Dandan: After Zhao and Cui leave, Xie begins explaining the Core Area. It has twenty-one disciples, and someone has compiled a ranking of their current strength—useful information for Li, who knows little about his new surroundings.
  Character and thematic developments: Li’s rise prompts both dismissal from Lu Qingyan and joy from Nianxue, underscoring the gap between formal judgments of status and personal regard. Meanwhile, Li’s generosity has fostered genuine loyalty: Zhao and Cui repay his kindness with practical support. The chapter contrasts the Vajra Sect’s rigid hierarchy and worship of elite talent with friendship, reciprocity, and the warmth Li finds among ordinary disciples.

Chapter Summary: “Peerless Blade Technique!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan asks about his standing in the Core Area after demonstrating the Cold Abyss True Gang and three channels of Blade Momentum. He learns that he is ranked twenty-first, placing him at the bottom.
• Xie Yingtang explains that most Core Area disciples have been at Mid Gang Force for at least six months, while Li Chuan has only recently broken through.
• She informs him about the Outer Mountain Grand Competition, scheduled for one year later. Only the top five will qualify for the inner sect, and the first-place reward is believed to be especially valuable—possibly the reason Jiang Zhaoyu joined the selection process.
• After Li Chuan leaves, Wen Dandan criticizes his ambition and doubts that he can reach the top five. Her hostility is partly motivated by her own fifth-place ranking, which Li Chuan would need to surpass.
• Wang Ling attempts to provoke Jiang Zhaoyu by suggesting that Li Chuan may have been responsible for Jiang Zhaowu’s death in Sanyuan Prefecture. Jiang recognizes the manipulation but still declares that Sanyuan Prefecture must pay for his brother’s death, marking Li Chuan as a future target.
• Li Chuan studies the Core Area rankings and realizes that two strands of True Gang are ordinary there, while the top seven possess three strands. Jiang Zhaoyu and Xie Yingtang rank first and second, respectively, both having three True Gangs and perfected peerless sword techniques.
• Determined to catch up within a year, Li Chuan sends a letter to the Heavenly Blade Sect asking Zhao Ciyuan about the Chaos Evolving Heaven Technique Symbols Chapter and the deeper requirements of the Four Symbols.
• He spends most of his contribution points purchasing a Fine Blade-Practice Stone and premium gang-tempering pills.
• Li Chuan begins practicing the Return to Dust Blade Technique, discovering that even its initiation stage is stronger than the extreme realm of his former River-Burning Blade Technique. The practice stone rapidly increases his proficiency.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan: Becomes more focused and ambitious after learning his low ranking. Rather than becoming discouraged, he creates a concrete plan: improve his cultivation, master a peerless blade technique, and resolve the threat posed by Wang Ling. His confidence grows when he realizes that his Innate Great White True Gang gives him an advantage over ordinary cultivators.
• Xie Yingtang: Acts as a reasonable and supportive guide to Li Chuan, defending him from Wen Dandan’s criticism. She remains aware of Wen Dandan’s feelings but does not reciprocate them.
• Wen Dandan: Reveals strong prejudice against Li Chuan, viewing him as overambitious and unworthy of challenging her fifth-place position. Her possessiveness toward Xie Yingtang becomes clear.
• Wang Ling: Continues plotting against Li Chuan and intends to personally avenge Wang Xiao, while also trying to manipulate Jiang Zhaoyu into attacking him.
• Jiang Zhaoyu: Shows himself to be perceptive and difficult to manipulate. Although he rejects Wang Ling’s baseless accusation, he already harbors resentment toward Sanyuan Prefecture and plans to make Li Chuan suffer because of Jiang Zhaowu’s death.

Significant Themes

• Ambition versus established strength: Li Chuan is ranked last, but his unusual foundation and rapid growth suggest that current rankings may not reflect his future potential.
• The importance of resources: Advancement depends not only on talent but also on access to pills, training tools, techniques, and contribution points.
• Hidden motives and political maneuvering: Conversations about rankings and rewards conceal rivalries, jealousy, romantic attachment, and attempts to manipulate powerful figures.
• Foundations over appearances: Li Chuan’s Innate Great White True Gang gives him a superior base, while the peerless blade technique demonstrates how a stronger martial foundation can create a vast gap in combat power.
• Rising conflict: Li Chuan’s entry into the Core Area places him in direct competition with Wen Dandan and on a collision course with Wang Ling and Jiang Zhaoyu.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Chuan and Xie Yingtang: She explains the rankings and competition to him, encouraging him despite his low placement.
• Li Chuan and Wen Dandan: Their brief exchange establishes her dismissive attitude and skepticism toward his chances.
• Wen Dandan and Xie Yingtang: Wen’s jealousy and possessiveness become obvious, while Xie gently rebukes her and acknowledges that she understands Wen’s feelings.
• Wang Ling and Jiang Zhaoyu: Wang tries to manipulate Jiang by blaming Li Chuan for Jiang Zhaowu’s death, but Jiang sees through the tactic. Nevertheless, Jiang’s existing resentment means the attempt still benefits Wang Ling.
• Li Chuan and the Heavenly Blade Sect: Li takes steps to contact Zhao Ciyuan and obtain information crucial to his long-term cultivation.
• Li Chuan and the Return to Dust Blade Technique: His first training session reveals the technique’s overwhelming superiority and confirms that the Fine Blade-Practice Stone can dramatically accelerate his progress.

Chapter Summary: Chaos Evolving Heaven Art: Four Symbols Chapter

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Chuan continues practicing the peerless Return to Dust Blade Technique, estimating that he can reach Minor Mastery in just over a month.
• He recognizes that the technique’s immense power comes with a severe physical burden. His body can currently manage only about eight strikes per day, even with his Golden Bell Shield at the Extreme Realm.
• Li Chuan resolves to master the technique and reach Blade Intent before the Outer Mountain Grand Competition, believing that this will allow him to challenge opponents such as Jiang Zhaoyu.
• He decides to keep his blade technique private rather than practice in the public martial arts arena, since revealing his trump card could expose his weaknesses and strategies.
• His daily routine becomes highly structured:
  • Practicing the Return to Dust Blade Technique.
  • Spending three hours in the Pill Hall refining Heavenly Deer Pills.
  • Using Premium Gang-Tempering Pills to cultivate his internal skill at night.
• On the twenty-fifth day, an External Affairs Hall disciple delivers a reply from the First Peak. The delivery requires token verification, and the parcel burns itself after being opened to prevent tampering or reuse.
• The letter, written by Old Man, reveals that the Chaos Evolving Heaven Technique’s Four Symbols Chapter exists within the inner sect. Unlike the previous chapters, it requires rare heavenly materials rather than earth treasures.
• Li Chuan is relieved that the Four Symbols Chapter exists, even though obtaining the necessary materials may cost tens of thousands of contribution points. He believes maintaining the Chaos Evolving Heaven Technique is far better than abandoning it for another cultivation path.
• Li Chuan purchases more Premium Gang-Tempering Pills at the Hundred Treasures Hall and then examines the Core Area’s mission board.
• He chooses a relatively safe mission to deliver a letter to the Jiang Family, whose reward is a bottle of second-tier mid-grade Five-Color Python essential blood.
• Before he can accept it, Wang Ling snatches the mission slip and pretends to offer it to Li Chuan for an inflated price. Li Chuan refuses and calmly leaves.
• Wang Ling interprets Li Chuan’s composure as evidence of ruthlessness and secretly resolves to kill him.
• Back in his room, Li Chuan completes the final stages of his blade training. After several more strikes, the Return to Dust Blade Technique breaks through from Initiation to Minor Mastery.

Character Developments

• Li Chuan demonstrates increasing discipline, strategic thinking, and confidence. He carefully balances blade training, alchemy, internal cultivation, and resource accumulation rather than focusing exclusively on one area.
• He becomes more aware of the danger of revealing his abilities and adopts a cautious, pragmatic approach to managing information.
• His confidence grows as he realizes that, at equal realms, his Return to Dust Blade Technique may possess unmatched lethality within the Core Area.
• Li Chuan also becomes increasingly suspicious of Old Man, recognizing that Old Man’s knowledge of the inner sect and the Four Symbols Chapter suggests a strength and background far beyond what Li Chuan previously assumed.
• Wang Ling reveals himself to be calculating and vindictive. His seemingly friendly interaction with Li Chuan is actually an attempt to provoke and test him. He grows more determined to eliminate Li Chuan after concluding that Li Chuan is a dangerous person.
• Old Man remains mysterious. His accurate knowledge of sect secrets raises questions about his true cultivation level and connections.

Significant Themes

• Power versus physical limitations: The Return to Dust Blade Technique is exceptionally powerful, but its strain on the body limits how quickly Li Chuan can master it.
• Strategic cultivation: Strength depends not only on realm but also on balancing internal skill, combat techniques, body tempering, alchemy, and resources.
• Concealment and information control: Li Chuan views his techniques as trump cards and understands that revealing them can give enemies a decisive advantage.
• Long-term planning: Rather than rushing to obtain the Four Symbols Chapter, Li Chuan focuses on strengthening his current foundation and increasing his future earning power.
• Risk and reward: Li Chuan consistently evaluates whether rewards justify danger, favoring safe missions and reliable progress unless greater risks offer proportionate benefits.
• Hidden identities and mysteries: Old Man’s knowledge and possible strength hint at deeper secrets surrounding Li Chuan’s cultivation path and the wider world.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Chuan and the External Affairs Hall disciple: Their brief exchange highlights the sect’s strict, accountable delivery system and the high level of organization within the Core Area.
• Li Chuan and Old Man: Although Old Man is absent, his letter significantly influences Li Chuan. The revelation about the Four Symbols Chapter reassures Li Chuan while also making him question Old Man’s true capabilities.
• Li Chuan and Wen Dandan: Li Chuan notices her purchasing two bottles of Premium Gang-Tempering Pills and infers that she, like him, likely has strong access to contribution points.
• Li Chuan and Wang Ling: Their confrontation over the Jiang Family mission is outwardly polite but internally hostile. Wang Ling attempts to exploit and provoke Li Chuan, while Li Chuan refuses to be drawn into the conflict, deepening Wang Ling’s hatred.
• Li Chuan and his own cultivation: The chapter emphasizes his deliberate self-management as he steadily advances toward Minor Mastery of the Return to Dust Blade Technique.