Chapter Summaries

Xia Ming killed White Ghost, and news of the victory spread through the underground world, shocking witnesses and reaching Augustine and Black Ghost. After examining White Ghost’s spoils, Xia Ming saw the ancient Flame King's Palace emerge in the distance.

• Xia Ming killed White Ghost and left as stunned witnesses began spreading news of his strength.
• Black Ghost learned through a magical mark that White Ghost had died and abandoned his pursuit of Augustine.
• Augustine confirmed that Xia Ming had killed White Ghost and resolved to consume the Divine Heart Fruit and master light and dark elements.
• Xia Ming found a large supply of magic gems in White Ghost’s spatial ring and discussed preparing for the Continental Wind and Cloud Rankings.
• A distant explosion stirred up a sandstorm, revealing the Flame King's Palace, which Xia Ming recognized.

Xia Ming and the little cat entered the newly emerged Flame King's Palace, where powerful intruders competed for its treasures. After discovering an ancient tome hidden beneath the floor of an inner hall, Xia Ming realized it contained the Flame King's profound magic.

• Xia Ming and the little cat headed toward the Flame King's Palace as tens of thousands of powerful people, including the five half-legendary experts, rushed there.
• Xia Ming entered the palace and withstood the elemental storm that swept away weaker intruders.
• Xia Ming and the little cat saw intruders stripping high-grade magic gemstones from the palace walls and chose to search deeper inside.
• Xia Ming encountered Ross and Carl, who were searching for treasures, and kept his distance as he continued exploring.
• The little cat sensed an abnormality in an inner hall, and Xia Ming found a hollow floor concealing an ancient tome of the Flame King's profound magic.

Xia Ming found the Flame King's profound mystery spell, Divine Flame Clone, and learned to create one powerful duplicate. As he searched the palace for more treasures, Black Ghost appeared and threatened Suomo'er, whom he had captured.

• Xia Ming secretly took the Flame King's tome and discovered it recorded the Divine Flame Clone spell.
• Xia Ming memorized the spell and created a flame duplicate with half his strength.
• Xia Ming searched the palace with the little cat, which warned him that Black Ghost was approaching.
• Black Ghost confronted Xia Ming, vowing revenge for White Ghost and revealing that he had captured Suomo'er.

Black Ghost used Suomo'er as a hostage, but Xia Ming rescued her and killed him. As they recovered, a tremor in Flame King's Palace signaled that a supreme treasure might have appeared.

• Black Ghost threatened to kill the wounded Suomo'er unless Xia Ming surrendered his staff, but Xia Ming told him to kill her and used the opening to attack.
• Xia Ming cast Gale Arrow to force Black Ghost to release Suomo'er, then pulled her to safety.
• Black Ghost fled, but Xia Ming struck him with Thundercloud Storm and Azure Flame Starfire, killing him and taking his spatial ring.
• Xia Ming gave Suomo'er healing potions, which restored her health and magic power.
• Flame King's Palace trembled, and the little cat told Xia Ming that a supreme treasure might have appeared inside.

Xia Ming followed Little Cat to the Flame King's Palace's main hall, where he collected magic crystals and searched for the supreme treasure. He found an overlooked ancient painting, though its purpose remained unknown.

• Little Cat sensed a supreme treasure in the palace, and Xia Ming and Suomo'er hurried toward the main hall.
• The crowd fought over chests of high-grade magic crystals, while Xia Ming gathered several hundred without anyone daring to challenge him.
• Xia Ming asked Suomo'er to wait behind as he followed the growing energy fluctuation deeper into the palace.
• Xia Ming saw Carl and Golden Bull battling over a pseudo-sacred artifact and decided it was not the treasure he sought.
• Little Cat identified an inconspicuous white scroll in a corner as the supreme treasure, and Xia Ming drew it over and unrolled it to reveal an ancient painting.

Xia Ming discovered that the seemingly ordinary portrait of the Flame King was mysterious and changed its expression as if alive. After leaving the looted palace with Suomo'er, he examined the painting again and found it had become even more lifelike.

• Xia Ming unfurled the scroll and found a portrait of the Flame King that the little cat sensed held a powerful, unsettling aura.
• Xia Ming and the little cat noticed the Flame King's gaze and posture subtly change, and Xia Ming put away the painting, suspecting it concealed a great secret.
• Carl defeated Golden Bull and claimed the pseudo-sacred artifact Star-Moon Armor as more powerhouses entered the palace.
• Xia Ming decided to leave with the painting, and Ross praised his restraint while saying he might contend with him at the Continental Wind and Cloud Rankings.
• Xia Ming and Suomo'er withdrew from the Flame King's Palace and returned to the manor.
• That night, Xia Ming examined the portrait and saw that the Flame King's expression had changed again, making her look almost alive.

Xia Ming prepared the Moonwatch Potion for the little cat and used magic crystals to expand his small world with the Life Tree. As he meditated, a voice from the ancient painting revealed that the Flame King had noticed his exceptional magical talent.

• Xia Ming noticed that the Flame King's expression in the ancient painting had subtly changed, but neither he nor the little cat could discover the painting's secret.
• Xia Ming made the Moonwatch Potion from the Moonwatch Leaf, and the little cat drank it before falling asleep as silver light surrounded her.
• Xia Ming placed more than a hundred magic crystals on the Life Tree, which absorbed their power and expanded his small world across several thousand meters.
• Xia Ming planted the exotic flowers and rare herbs from Flame King's Palace in his expanded small world, then sat down to meditate.
• Xia Ming sensed a powerful spiritual force and heard the Flame King's voice come from the ancient painting, praising his magical talent.

Xia Ming discovered that the Flame King inside the ancient painting was the real Flame King, preserved as a spiritual body after the Undead Cataclysm. She offered to teach him her knowledge and Legendary power in exchange for one condition, which she had not yet revealed.

• The Flame King spoke from the painting, asked Xia Ming what year it was, and learned that more than three thousand years had passed since the Undead Cataclysm.
• The Flame King confirmed she was not a Legendary Imprint and explained that she had sealed her spiritual body inside the painting to escape death.
• The Flame King stepped out as a spiritual projection and demonstrated that she still possessed Legendary strength, though she could not sustain it for long.
• The Flame King praised Xia Ming's magical talent and offered to teach him her magic, Legendary power, and understanding of the laws.
• Xia Ming asked what she wanted in return, and the Flame King began to state her condition.

Xia Ming agreed to the Flame King’s condition, which concerned the Undead Cataclysm and her possible resurrection, and learned that Little Kitty was the descendant of someone the Flame King knew. Little Kitty woke after its long sleep at Level 10 and revealed that its transformation ability could now reproduce a magical beast’s strength.

• Xia Ming challenged the Flame King’s demand to accept an unknown condition, and she explained it was tied to the Undead Cataclysm and her resurrection; he agreed after she promised not to ask anything of him until he was strong enough.
• The Flame King noticed the sleeping Little Kitty and called it the descendant of someone, but refused to explain further.
• Little Kitty woke and told Xia Ming it had advanced from Level 8 to Level 10, with its abilities growing stronger too.
• Little Kitty demonstrated its improved transformation by turning into a green wyvern and unleashing a destructive dragon breath with Level 11 power.

Xia Ming discovered that Little Kitty could transform into a wyvern and briefly wield eleventh-level strength, then went to Mage's Eye to seek news of Roland. The chapter ended with Xia Ming preparing to ask Emerald City's intelligence organization about the man who could unlock Saladin's scroll.

• Little Kitty showed Xia Ming its wyvern transformation, dragon breath, and Mist of Mystery, while explaining that the transformation lasted only about ten minutes and consumed energy quickly.
• Xia Ming promised Little Kitty one hundred thousand gold coins and decided to look for Roland in Emerald City so he could deliver Saladin's scroll.
• Suomo'er told Xia Ming she did not know Roland but led him to Mage's Eye, Emerald City's powerful intelligence organization.
• Suomo'er explained that Mage's Eye could provide valuable information for a price, and Xia Ming agreed to ask them about Roland.

Xia Ming paid Mage’s Eye for information about Roland and learned that the missing former guardian of Emerald City was last seen in Twilight Moon City. Afterward, Xia Ming accompanied Suomo’er to shop for a staff, where Monroe confronted them and threatened Xia Ming as they left.

• Xia Ming asked Mage’s Eye for information on Roland and paid 150,000 gold coins for his records and image.
• Mage’s Eye identified Roland as Emerald City’s previous guardian, a level-twelve legendary powerhouse who had not appeared in the city for half a year and was last spotted in Twilight Moon City.
• Xia Ming decided to seek Roland later and focus first on winning the Continental Wind and Cloud Rankings selection.
• Suomo’er invited Xia Ming to a magic shop to look for a staff, where Monroe offered to pay for her purchase and she rejected him.
• Suomo’er explained that Monroe belonged to the Fran Family and had a bad reputation, then left the shop with Xia Ming.
• Monroe threatened Xia Ming as they departed, and Xia Ming’s gaze turned cold.

Xia Ming used his purple Sacred Council token to stop Gude and the Fran Family from retaliating for Monroe’s punishment. Gude challenged him to a magical duel to save the family’s face, and Xia Ming accepted as the fight began.

• Xia Ming revealed his purple Sacred Council token, making the guards and Gude realize his high standing in the Council.
• Xia Ming argued that Monroe had insulted him first, and Suomo'er told Gude to leave.
• Gude refused to back down publicly and challenged Xia Ming to exchange magical guidance.
• Xia Ming accepted the challenge, and Gude declared he would defeat him within three moves before attacking.

Xia Ming defeated Gude in their duel, proving his strength with the Wings of the Wind God and Azure Flame Starfire. After Gude let him leave, he warned Monroe that the Fran Family could not protect him if he provoked Xia Ming again.

• Gude attacked Xia Ming with the Red Moon Divine Runes and Rending Storm, but Xia Ming dodged using the Wings of the Wind God.
• Xia Ming's Azure Flame Starfire overwhelmed Gude's Heavenly Water Curtain and wounded him.
• Xia Ming defeated Gude with another Azure Flame Starfire, and the Fran Family guards caught Gude before he fell to his death.
• Gude allowed Xia Ming and Suomo'er to leave, and the onlookers watched Xia Ming with awe.
• Monroe urged Gude to seek revenge, but Gude slapped him twice and warned him never to provoke Xia Ming again.

Xia Ming trained with the Flame King, making progress with Divine Flame Clone before turning his attention to the greater potential of his lightning magic. As he practiced, Shasha arrived at the manor with Huo Yue'er and Youlan, who had come hoping to meet him.

• Xia Ming told the Flame King that he had only grasped the basics of Divine Flame Clone, and she demonstrated how to summon nine clones.
• The Flame King warned Xia Ming to learn from others without copying their paths, and he formed two Divine Flame Clones after a day or two of practice.
• The Flame King urged Xia Ming to develop his distinctive lightning magic, explaining that it had immense untapped power and could lead him along a unique path.
• Shasha arrived at the manor with her friends Huo Yue'er and Youlan, who had repeatedly tried to find Xia Ming.
• Huo Yue'er and Youlan discovered Xia Ming was at the manor practicing magic, and they reacted with excitement and surprise.

Shasha, Huo Yue'er, and Youlan visited Xia Ming and witnessed his increasingly powerful lightning magic, deepening their admiration for him. After leaving, Huo Yue'er and Youlan admitted they had felt too intimidated by Xia Ming to speak freely and asked Shasha to let them stay so they could seek his guidance.

• Shasha arrived at Xia Ming's manor with Huo Yue'er and Youlan while he was practicing lightning magic.
• Xia Ming's lightning control advanced during his practice, astonishing the three women with its power and purity.
• Xia Ming welcomed the visitors, and Huo Yue'er asked him questions about magic that he answered with ease.
• Huo Yue'er and Youlan left without making a further move, then told Shasha that Xia Ming's presence had made them too nervous to speak.
• Huo Yue'er and Youlan asked Shasha if they could stay with her for a few days to ask Xia Ming more questions.

Xia Ming trained for the approaching Continental Wind and Cloud Rankings while learning about its challenge format, valuable prizes, and powerful competitors. After resolving to win the Mystery Stone, he continued cultivating and broke through to level eleven peak.

• Huo Yue'er and Youlan moved out of Xia Ming's manor and returned to their respective homes after watching him train from afar.
• Suomo'er visited Xia Ming, and he noticed that she was showing signs of an impending breakthrough to level eleven.
• Suomo'er told Xia Ming that the rankings would use a challenge system and that first place would receive a Mystery Stone and a damaged sacred artifact.
• Suomo'er said all five half-step Legendary experts would compete, including former champion Saint Magus Xiya, and that the mysterious Gaia had risen to ninth place in the Void Tower.
• Xia Ming resolved to win the Mystery Stone and resumed training, then felt a surge of magic power as he broke through.

Xia Ming broke through to peak level eleven and learned from Flame King how his lightning magic could lead him down a unique path like Orlando’s Star Magic. As the Storm Rankings began in Emerald City, Xia Ming went with Suomo'er, Anthony, and Master Qi Lin, ready to settle his conflict with Augustine.

• Xia Ming unexpectedly broke through to peak level eleven and tested his increased magical power.
• Flame King explained that Orlando had forged a unique path with Star Magic and said Xia Ming’s lightning magic held comparable potential.
• Xia Ming continued consolidating his strength and practicing lightning magic, though he had yet to grasp its deeper mysteries.
• The Storm Rankings drew crowds and awakened the magic towers throughout Emerald City.
• Xia Ming joined Suomo'er, Anthony, and Master Qi Lin on their way to the event, where he planned to face Augustine.

The Storm Rankings began in Emerald City, where Xia Ming learned that entrants had to pass trials before issuing challenges. As Gaia, a mysterious new Void Rankings contender, stepped forward for the first trial, Xia Ming sensed that he could become a formidable challenger.

• Ice Rose announced that Storm Rankings participants had to pass two trials before they could issue challenges.
• Ice Rose revealed the Demon Character Stele, which tested entrants with the spiritual pressure of the ancient Elf King Featherfall.
• Ye Motian endured the stele's pressure for one minute and passed the first trial.
• Gaia, the newly risen genius who had taken ninth place on the Void Rankings, stepped forward to try the stele.
• Suomo'er warned Xia Ming that Gaia might be his strongest challenger, and Xia Ming sensed something bizarre about him.

Gaia, Carl, Ross, and Augustine tested their willpower against the Elf King's stone stele, and Gaia and Augustine both endured for two and a half minutes. With the crowd watching, Xia Ming stepped forward to take the test, confident in his mental power.

• Gaia endured the stone stele's pressure for two and a half minutes, impressing the crowd and drawing Xia Ming's wary attention.
• Carl lasted two minutes and three seconds, then reacted angrily when people compared his result unfavorably with Gaia's.
• Ross lasted close to two minutes, while Augustine held on for two and a half minutes, matching Gaia's result.
• Xia Ming stepped forward to test himself, believing his mental power could withstand the Elf King's spiritual will.

Xia Ming endured the Elf King's stone stele for three minutes and seventeen seconds, setting the highest willpower record and astonishing the Storm Rankings crowd. After Xiya and the others took their tests, Ice Rose began announcing the prize for the tournament winner, leaving Xia Ming eager for the main event.

• Xia Ming used his formidable spiritual power to withstand the Elf King's pressure and lasted three minutes and seventeen seconds before withdrawing.
• Ice Rose announced Xia Ming's record, while Augustine admired him and Suomo'er decided not to risk being compared with him.
• Saint Magus Xiya took the test and lasted about two and a half minutes, tying Augustine and Gaia.
• Suomo'er and the other competitors took their turns, with Suomo'er lasting one minute and forty seconds.
• Ice Rose announced that she would reveal the prize for the Storm Rankings winner, and Xia Ming focused on the coming main event.