Chapter Summaries

Han Bai and other jealous students dismissed Qin Yao’s progress as the result of pills, unaware that he had not used any of them and was still cultivating in seclusion. Meanwhile, Qin Dashan spent the family’s savings and the gold bestowed by the emperor buying jade for Qin Yao, leaving five chests of material and wondering whether it would be enough.

• Han Bai claimed Qin Yao’s rapid cultivation and Scarlet Sun Palm progress came from consuming a large supply of pills, while Qin Yao practiced the Startled Phoenix Nine Transformations Spear without touching his new pills or talismans.
• Qin Yao considered using the System’s Trade-In function to transfer proficiency into higher-grade techniques, but decided to keep training and save the option for later.
• Qin Dashan took Qin Lan to Treasure Harmony Studio and bought all the shop’s jade material, then spent the following days purchasing jade from shops across the inner city.
• The family’s jade-buying spree became a local curiosity after merchants learned the buyers were Qin Yao’s relatives.
• Qin Dashan gathered the jade into five large chests and wondered whether it would be enough for Qin Yao.

Qin Yao emerged from four days of seclusion having reached the Fifth Layer of the Mystic Gathering Realm and mastered the Scarlet Sun Palm, stunning the academy. His rapid progress left the Fourth Prince Yan Yangyi increasingly uneasy as he realized Qin Yao was becoming a serious rival.

• Qin Yao finished training all ten Upper Profound Rank techniques to the Mastery Realm and advanced to the Fifth Layer of the Mystic Gathering Realm.
• Huo Enting, Han Yongshi, and Zhu Qinke tested Qin Yao at Training Ground Number Eight, where he demonstrated the Scarlet Sun Palm's Mastery Realm and forced Huo Enting back.
• Han Bai bet Qin Yao had not advanced beyond the Third Layer, then fainted from shame after Qin Yao proved him wrong and teased him about eating pig shit.
• Huo Enting left to report Qin Yao's breakthrough to the Emperor, while news of Qin Yao's progress spread through the academy.
• Yan Yangyi read a secret report about Qin Yao's breakthrough, burned it, and worried that Qin Yao's rapid rise could threaten him.

Qin Yao absorbed the jade he had acquired to raise his system exchange value and obtain a Storage Ring. After binding and testing the ring, he was summoned to meet Principal Huo, who had arrived with urgent business.

• Qin Dashan told Qin Yao that five chests of jade had been purchased and that the emperor had also sent a chest of jade artifacts.
• Qin Yao absorbed the jade from the five purchased chests, bringing his exchange value to 397/1000.
• Qin Yao absorbed the emperor's finer jade and reached 1002/1000 exchange value, earning a low-grade spiritual artifact called a Storage Ring.
• Qin Yao bound the Storage Ring with his blood and tested storing and retrieving the empty chests.
• Qin Dashan told Qin Yao that Principal Huo had arrived with urgent business, and Qin Yao went to meet him.

Qin Yao asked Yan Qinyu for access to cultivation methods and martial skills above the Profound Rank, claiming his unusual state let him master them rapidly. When Yan Qinyu questioned the cause of his rapid progress, Qin Yao revealed that the Water Moon False Meridian Pill had enabled him to cultivate despite his useless meridians, but would eventually kill him.

• Huo Enting brought Qin Yao to the palace after reporting that he had reached the fifth level of the Mystic Gathering Realm.
• Qin Yao asked Yan Qinyu to let him study higher-grade cultivation methods and martial skills, claiming he could master even Earth Rank or Heaven Rank methods quickly.
• Yan Qinyu asked whether pills alone explained Qin Yao's rapid advancement, and Qin Yao admitted he had a major secret.
• Qin Yao explained that the Water Moon False Meridian Pill had created false meridians and boosted his talent, allowing him to cultivate despite being born with useless meridians.
• Qin Yao revealed that the false meridians would eventually cause his death.

Qin Yao told Yan Qinyu and Huo Enting that the Water Moon False Meridian Pill had rebuilt his meridians but would eventually cause them to collapse, and he claimed he needed eight rare treasures to make them permanent. Yan Qinyu found no one in the palace knew of the materials and ordered imperial physicians and pill masters to examine Qin Yao.

• Qin Yao claimed his false meridians would shatter within half a year, though he secretly had around ten months before they began to fail.
• Qin Yao told Yan Qinyu that the Eight Marrow-Cleansing Treasures could turn his false meridians into true ones, while understating the procedure’s effect on his cultivation.
• Qin Yao listed the eight treasures, but Yan Qinyu and Huo Enting said they had never heard of them.
• Qin Yao explained that a divine man had said the treasures were beyond the mortal world and could be found above the Nine Heavens.
• Yan Qinyu examined Qin Yao’s pulse, found his inner breath erratic, and ordered Eunuch Nur to summon the chief imperial physician and the Four Great Pill Masters.

Yan Qinyu summoned an imperial physician and the Four Great Alchemists to seek a cure for Qin Yao’s failing false meridian, but they could offer no remedy. Their intense curiosity about the Water Moon False Meridian Pill left Qin Yao with an invitation to visit Qian Yongchang’s alchemy lodge.

• He Jishen examined Qin Yao and warned that cracks in his unstable meridian could leave him only half a year to live.
• Qian Yongchang, Zhao Qingfeng, Sun Guangfu, and Zhou Yansheng examined Qin Yao and concluded that his false meridian was irreversibly collapsing.
• Yan Qinyu asked whether alchemy could turn Qin Yao’s false meridian into a true one, but the Four Great Alchemists said they knew of no cure or such elixir.
• The four alchemists crowded Qin Yao with questions about the Water Moon False Meridian Pill until Yan Qinyu ordered them to leave.
• Qian Yongchang gave Qin Yao his lodge’s address and promised him pills if he visited, prompting Qin Yao to consider exploring alchemy with the Grind Emperor System.

Qin Yao secured Yan Qinyu’s permission to cultivate any technique in the Royal Scripture Pavilion and arranged protection for his family before entering seclusion. He left for the pavilion with Huo Enting, who warned him that mastering a Heaven-tier technique could take longer than the ten days before the northern campaign.

• Qin Yao declared that he wanted a Heaven-tier cultivation technique so he could master martial arts and reclaim Great Yan’s lost lands, and Yan Qinyu granted him access to the Royal Scripture Pavilion.
• Qin Yao asked Yan Qinyu to place hidden sentries around his residence to protect Qin Dashan and Qin Lan, and Yan Qinyu agreed and rewarded him with ten thousand taels in gold notes.
• Qin Yao returned home, told Qin Dashan and Qin Lan about his upcoming seclusion and campaign, and shared a feast with them.
• Before dawn, Qin Yao boarded Huo Enting’s sedan for the Royal Scripture Pavilion, and Huo Enting warned him not to choose a Heaven-tier technique without considering the difficulty of mastering it in ten days.

Qin Yao entered the Imperial Scripture Collection to cultivate and found the Heaven Rank Middle Grade Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear. He first raised his Startled Phoenix Nine Transformations Spear to Greater Achievement, advancing to the seventh layer of the Mystic Gathering Realm before preparing to begin the new spear art.

• Qin Yao entered the Imperial Scripture Collection with Huo Enting’s token and heard unseen guardians warn him to follow the rules.
• Qin Yao searched the pavilion’s third floor and found the Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear, a Heaven Rank Middle Grade art.
• Qin Yao read the scroll’s warnings and decided to improve his Startled Phoenix Nine Transformations Spear before practicing the new art.
• Qin Yao trained with a spear and advanced the Startled Phoenix Nine Transformations Spear to Greater Achievement, reaching the seventh layer of the Mystic Gathering Realm.

Qin Yao selected ten martial arts in the Royal Scripture Pavilion and recorded each in the System, while the scripture guardians mistook his practice for careless dabbling. After grinding the Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear and trading in proficiency from two older spear arts, he surged to the eighth level of the Qi Activation Realm, leaving the guardians stunned.

• Qin Yao selected five Heaven Rank techniques and five Earth Rank Upper Grade techniques to record in the System.
• Qin Yao spent five days recording all ten techniques at the Beginner Realm while the four scripture guardians criticized his apparent lack of progress.
• Qin Yao practiced the Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear until it advanced to the Entry Realm, raising his cultivation from the seventh to the ninth level of the Mystic Gathering Realm.
• Qin Yao traded in the Cloud-Soaring Spear Art and Startled Phoenix Nine Transformations Spear, advancing the Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear to the Lesser Achievement Realm.
• Qin Yao's cultivation surged to the eighth level of the Qi Activation Realm, astonishing the four scripture guardians.

Qin Yao rapidly mastered several martial techniques in the Royal Scripture Pavilion, then used five days of cultivation to break into the third layer of the Innate Realm. He entered the imperial court with Huo Enting, leaving the officials—and especially Fourth Prince Yan Yangyi—stunned by his strength.

• Qin Yao set aside his spear and brought four Heaven-tier and five Earth-tier techniques to the entry level in a quarter of an hour, shocking the Scripture Guardians.
• Qin Yao spent five days cultivating the Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear, broke through to the third layer of the Innate Realm, and reached Greater Achievement in the technique.
• The Scripture Guardians escorted Qin Yao from the Royal Scripture Pavilion, where Huo Enting tested his strength and discovered his new realm.
• Huo Enting hurried Qin Yao to the palace, where the officials recognized his Innate Realm cultivation and Yan Yangyi realized Qin Yao had become powerful enough to threaten him.

Qin Yao received command of thirty thousand troops and led a swift campaign against the Golden Frost Barbarians, winning five battles and capturing their eldest prince. After eating a Frost Sinew Thunder Soul Mushroom, he woke in a hospital, believed his military life had been a dream, and failed to notice a jade-green ring on his finger.

• Yan Qinyu appointed Qin Yao a Second Grade General Who Conquers the North and ordered him to lead thirty thousand troops north.
• Qin Yao selected the Red Dragon Cloud-Swallowing Spear, Mystic Scale Armor, and Flamefire Black Steed from the imperial armory.
• Qin Yao led the army north and routed Golden Frost Barbarians attacking Zhao Family Village.
• Qin Yao won five battles in three days, captured Akule alive, and ordered his troops to advance on the Golden Frost Royal Court.
• After eating a Frost Sinew Thunder Soul Mushroom, Qin Yao awoke in a hospital, recognized the nurse Hu Xueyou, and thought his campaign had been a dream.
• Qin Yao failed to notice a jade-green ring had appeared on his left index finger.

Qin Yao realized his hospital room was an illusion when he sensed Flame Dragon True Qi circulating in his dantian, and the false world dissolved around him. He awoke in the Great Yan Royal Scripture Pavilion with the Storage Ring still on his finger, watched by four worried Scripture Guardians.

• Qin Yao spotted the Storage Ring on his finger and questioned whether his hospital surroundings were real.
• Qin Yao sensed Flame Dragon True Qi in his dantian and forced it through one minor circulation.
• The hospital room warped and vanished, leaving Qin Yao back on the third floor of the Great Yan Royal Scripture Pavilion.
• Qin Yao confirmed the Storage Ring had remained with him and heard four voices celebrating his recovery.
• Qin Yao saw the four Scripture Guardians squatting nearby and recognized them from his earlier visions.

After Qin Yao recovered from the flames that erupted when he mastered the Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear, the Four Great Alchemists and He Jishen explained why he should have died without taking a Three Flame Pill. Qin Yao suspected his opened hidden apertures and Ninefold Body Refinement Art had saved his body, while the cause of his return from the illusionary realm remained unknown.

• Qin Yao woke as Qian Yongchang, Zhao Qingfeng, Sun Guangfu, and Zhou Yansheng crowded around to examine him.
• Yan Qinyu ordered Qin Yao to steady his breathing because lingering flames remained inside his body.
• The Four Great Alchemists explained that reaching the Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear's Greater Achievement Realm without first taking a Three Flame Pill should have burned Qin Yao to death.
• He Jishen reported that Qin Yao's false meridian had developed cracks, but his unusually strong body had endured the impact of the true qi.
• Qin Yao suspected his hidden apertures and Ninefold Body Refinement Art had protected him, and wondered why he had awakened after his mind was supposedly burned.

After the Four Great Alchemists’ improvised treatment saved Qin Yao, he expelled the remaining fiery qi and discovered his true qi had transformed. The chapter ended with Qin Yao confirming that he had awakened the Innate Realm’s Spirit Sense.

• Qian Yongchang, Zhao Qingfeng, Sun Guangfu, and Zhou Yansheng admitted their treatment method had been improvised, alarming He Jishen and irritating Yan Qinyu.
• Yan Qinyu told Qin Yao to rest and calm the scorching flame qi in his body before speaking with him.
• Qin Yao meditated as his inner force expelled the remaining Flame Dragon energy and the burns on his skin faded.
• Qin Yao sensed that his dantian held lighter, purer, and more powerful true qi than before.
• Qin Yao perceived tiny details around him with his eyes closed, then opened his eyes and confirmed he had awakened Spirit Sense.

Qin Yao explored the heightened senses and inner sight he gained upon reaching the third layer of the Innate Realm, but discovered that his new cultivation could not repair the false meridians left by the Water Moon False Meridian Pill. Yan Qinyu began examining Qin Yao’s pulse, while Qin Yao realized he could now overpower the ruler’s probing true qi if he wished.

• Qin Yao found that his spirit sense naturally focused on whatever he wanted to inspect within a range of about fifty paces.
• Zhou Yansheng, Sun Guangfu, Qian Yongchang, and Zhao Qingfeng discussed the rarity of Innate Realm cultivators and the help Qin Yao had received during his breakthrough.
• At Yan Qinyu’s instruction, Qin Yao circulated his energy, then used inner sight to examine his body and meridians.
• Qin Yao saw that his false meridian cracks remained unchanged, and concluded that Innate Realm essence-washing could not replace the sinew-cleansing eight treasures he still needed.
• Yan Qinyu offered to help and examined Qin Yao’s pulse, while Qin Yao realized his own true qi could now destroy the ruler’s probing strand if he chose.

After Yan Qinyu confirmed that Qin Yao’s false meridians remained unimproved, Old Ka suggested that a blessing of spirit fortune had protected Qin Yao’s soul from the Flame Dragon True Qi. Yan Qinyu took Qin Yao to Flame Heaven Hall to grant him an official post and military command, while Qin Yao suspected his Storage Ring was the source of that protection.

• Yan Qinyu confirmed that Qin Yao’s false meridians had not improved, leaving his half-year lifespan curse in place.
• Old Ka proposed that Qin Yao’s soul had endured the Flame Dragon True Qi because of the protection of spirit fortune.
• Yan Qinyu declared Qin Yao blessed by spirit fortune and invited him to court to receive an official post and military command.
• Qin Yao suspected his Storage Ring had protected his soul and reflected on how his status had changed since his previous visit to the palace.
• At the entrance to Flame Heaven Hall, Yan Qinyu told Qin Yao to follow three steps behind him and ignore officials unless addressed.

Qin Yao returned to the court after surviving a dangerous cultivation breakthrough, and Yan Qinyu announced that he had reached the third layer of the Innate Realm. The king appointed him a second-rank Northern Expedition General with command of thirty thousand troops, leaving Qin Yao calm amid the officials’ astonishment.

• Yan Qinyu entered the hall with Qin Yao, and Du Huaixia asked whether Qin Yao had recovered from his cultivation mishap.
• Qin Yao said he was out of danger, and Ke Leiyong declared that Qin Yao’s martial cultivation seemed far above his own.
• Yan Qinyu confirmed Qin Yao had reached the third layer of the Innate Realm and explained how he survived the Azure Dragon Blazing Flame Spear’s backlash.
• Yan Qinyu issued an imperial decree appointing Qin Yao Northern Expedition General, ranked second rank, and granting him command of thirty thousand troops.
• Qin Yao remained calm as the officials reacted with admiration and envy.

After Qin Yao left Flame Heaven Hall, Huo Enting praised his rapid rise while lamenting his incurable false meridian ailment, and Qin Yao spoke calmly about accepting fate. Eunuch Nur took Qin Yao to the royal armory, where he received the Red Dragon Cloud-Swallowing Spear and was shown the Mystic Scale Armor.

• Huo Enting told Qin Yao to address him as Elder Huo and praised his rank and cultivation, then expressed pity over Qin Yao's false meridian ailment.
• Qin Yao reflected that people should make the best of the process even when fate's outcome could not be changed, impressing Huo Enting.
• Eunuch Nur arrived with the emperor's order to escort Qin Yao to the royal armory to choose equipment.
• Qin Yao examined and lifted the Upper Profound Artifact Red Dragon Cloud-Swallowing Spear, which had waited in the armory for a worthy owner.
• Eunuch Nur showed Qin Yao the Upper Profound Artifact Mystic Scale Armor, explaining that the emperor had worn it in his early campaigns and bestowed it upon Qin Yao.

Qin Yao received the Red Dragon Cloud-Swallowing Spear, Mystic Scale Armor, and Flamefire Black Steed from the emperor, recognizing them from his supposed illusion as signs that it had rehearsed real events. He returned home to Qin Lan and Qin Dashan, who welcomed him and heard that his martial cultivation had greatly improved.

• Qin Yao tried on the Mystic Scale Armor, tested it with the Red Dragon Cloud-Swallowing Spear, and found it moved freely with him.
• Eunuch Nur showed Qin Yao the Flamefire Black Steed, which Qin Yao recognized from his illusion and took as evidence that parts of it had predicted real events.
• Qin Yao rode through the capital as onlookers recognized him and speculated that the emperor had bestowed the famous horse upon him.
• Qin Yao reached home, where Qin Lan greeted him excitedly and admired the Flamefire Black Steed.
• Qin Dashan welcomed Qin Yao, noticed his scorched robe, and was reassured when Qin Yao said he was fine and his martial cultivation had improved.

Qin Yao told his family that he had reached the third level of the Innate Realm and would lead thirty thousand troops on a northern campaign. Before departing at dawn, he reassured his family, encouraged Qin Dashan to keep cultivating, and showed Qin Lan his powerful new spear.

• Qin Yao revealed his appointment as Northern Expedition General and said he would set out against the Golden Frost Barbarians the next morning.
• Qin Yao told Qin Lan that the court was investigating the officials who had wronged him and that he would seek justice after returning if the joint trial failed.
• Qin Dashan said he had reached the third level of the Blood Aperture Realm, and Qin Yao urged him to keep taking pills and cultivating.
• Qin Lan asked to see Qin Yao's new equipment, so he lifted the Red Dragon Cloud-Swallowing Spear and demonstrated its flaming power.
• Qin Lan delighted in the spear's display, while Qin Dashan warned Qin Yao not to set the house on fire.