Chapter Summaries

Xia Ming stunned the gathering by striking the Titan Pillar hard enough to produce a purple result, then reflected on his brief glimpse of completed Thunder Profundity. Hannibal and the other candidates finished their tests, and the contest for city lordship was about to begin.

• After Xia Ming's purple result left the crowd speechless, he opened his eyes and told Roland and the others he had not failed their expectations.
• Xia Ming said the strike had been a coincidence but had given him valuable insight into Thunder Profundity.
• Hannibal stepped forward and struck the Titan Pillar, earning top-tier blue like Richards.
• Durak warned the candidates to make their attempts or forfeit, and Roland barely passed with the lowest-grade cyan.
• The testing round ended, and the contest for city lordship was about to officially begin.

Durak brought the contenders into the vast underground Rose Arena and announced that its winner would become Emerald City's new City Lord and have their name engraved in its pillars. Xia Ming recognized the Snow Princess as host and reunited with judges Dean Rogge and the Medicine King, leaving him surrounded by influential acquaintances as the contest approached.

• About twenty candidates passed the tests, and Durak led them into the enormous underground Rose Arena.
• Durak announced that the contest's winner would become Emerald City's City Lord and have their name carved into the arena's pillars.
• Xia Ming released Little Kitty, who recognized that they were underground and urged him to win first place.
• Durak introduced the Snow Princess as the host and commentator for the event.
• Durak introduced five judges, including Headmaster Rogge of Azure Flame Academy and the Medicine King, whom Xia Ming recognized.
• Dean Rogge and the Medicine King left the platform to greet Xia Ming and reminisce with him.

Xia Ming reunited with Rogge and Medicine King before the contest for city lord began, and learned that Medicine King was researching a potion that could greatly benefit the Human Alliance. After Snow Princess announced the rules and the participants drew lots, Xia Ming drew Dick while Fiery Hand drew Hannibal.

• Medicine King warmly greeted Xia Ming and asked to discuss his potion-making difficulties with him after the contest.
• Medicine King told Xia Ming in a private magical voice transmission that he was developing a potion that could bring great benefits to the Human Alliance.
• Durak began the contest, and Snow Princess announced that victory could be achieved by any means, with a lottery round followed by open challenges.
• Xia Ming drew Dick, one of the Holy Temple's two entrants, as his opponent.
• Fiery Hand drew Hannibal and bitterly remarked that he would have to rely on Xia Ming.

Xia Ming faced Dick in the Rose Arena’s opening match and defeated him with powerful wind-and-thunder magic. The Sacred Council’s hopes remained with Xia Ming as the other contestants awaited their matches.

• Fiery Hand acknowledged the gap between himself and Hannibal but vowed to fight with all his strength.
• Roland drew Moore as his opponent, and Xia Ming warned him that Moore would target him.
• Snow Princess announced Xia Ming versus Dick as the first match of the Rose Arena.
• Xia Ming trapped Dick with Wind and Thunder Chain and followed with Fury of Wind and Thunder.
• Xia Ming shattered Dick’s Radiance of Holy Light, defeated him, and spared his life by holding back.

Xia Ming defeated Dick with ease, then watched as Moore attacked Roland despite Roland conceding. The chapter left Xia Ming stepping in front of the injured Roland to confront Moore.

• Xia Ming defeated Dick with two spells, leaving the crowd amazed and wary of his strength.
• The Snow Princess announced Moore's match against Roland, and both men entered the arena.
• Roland attacked Moore with the Roar of Wind, but Moore's Corrosive Water overwhelmed him.
• Roland conceded, but Moore continued attacking and struck him in the chest.
• Xia Ming stepped in front of Roland and demanded to know what Moore was trying to do.

Moore attacked Roland after Roland conceded, but Xia Ming intervened and Medicine King treated Roland’s injuries. As the competition continued, Richards demonstrated his strength, and Fiery Hand faced Hannibal, leaving Xia Ming as the Sacred Council’s only hope if Fiery Hand lost.

• Moore tried to strike the badly wounded Roland after his concession, but Snow Princess stopped the fight and declared Moore the winner; Xia Ming warned Moore they would face each other later.
• Medicine King treated Roland with potions, and Roland warned Xia Ming that Moore might have a hidden advantage; Xia Ming said he would not back down from his bid to become City Lord.
• Xia Ming and his companions helped Roland leave the arena, while Bluebeard and Fiery Hand criticized Moore and cautioned Xia Ming about the Crystal Tower.
• Richards defeated his opponent with two spells, impressing the crowd and prompting Fiery Hand to doubt his chances against Hannibal.
• Snow Princess announced Hannibal versus Fiery Hand, and Hannibal stepped into the arena as Fiery Hand prepared to fight.

Fiery Hand fought Hannibal in the Rose Arena but was defeated after Hannibal used powerful earth and ice magic to keep him at a distance and overwhelm him. With the Sacred Council’s hopes resting on him, Xia Ming reassured Bluebeard that he knew what to do.

• Fiery Hand charged Hannibal, but Hannibal blocked his attack with Shield of Earth.
• Hannibal used Polar Ice to freeze the arena and slow Fiery Hand, preventing him from closing the distance.
• Fiery Hand poured his battle aura into a final charge, but Hannibal unleashed Ice Berserk and buried him in a blizzard.
• Hannibal rescued the frozen Fiery Hand, and Snow Princess declared Hannibal the winner.
• Bluebeard urged Xia Ming not to feel pressured, and Xia Ming said he knew what to do.

After Fiery Hand lost to Hannibal, Xia Ming prepared for the next day’s challenge matches and chose Moore as his target. With the Flame King’s guidance, he spent the night trying to advance his Wind Profundity, and a faint cracking sound suggested his breakthrough might have begun.

• Xia Ming helped the injured Fiery Hand after Hannibal defeated him, and Fiery Hand urged Xia Ming to do his best in the coming matches.
• Snow Princess announced that the challenge matches would begin the next day, prompting Xia Ming to focus on improving during his single night of rest.
• Xia Ming identified Moore as his intended opponent, then asked the Flame King how he could improve most quickly.
• The Flame King advised Xia Ming to advance his weaker Wind Profundity, and Xia Ming crushed all his wind-element magic gems to aid his cultivation.
• After hours of meditation, Xia Ming remained still until a faint cracking sound came from his body and streams of wind elements burst forth.

Xia Ming broke through in Wind Profundity, bringing all three of his Profundities to Lesser Mastery as he prepared for the battle for the city lord's position. At dawn, Fiery Hand and Bluebeard arrived with news about Moore's hidden scheme, and Bluebeard noticed Xia Ming's newfound strength.

• Xia Ming absorbed wind-element magic gems and successfully advanced Wind Profundity to Lesser Mastery, joining Fire and Thunder Profundities at that level.
• Flame King congratulated Xia Ming and advised him to stabilize his new cultivation, which Xia Ming did before the morning match.
• Xia Ming resolved to make Moore pay for his provocations and his actions toward Roland.
• Fiery Hand and Bluebeard came to Xia Ming's room at dawn and said they had uncovered Moore's scheme.
• Bluebeard examined Xia Ming and noticed that his strength had changed enormously.

Xia Ming learned that Moore planned to use the rare Heavenly Demon Potion, but his own breakthrough in Wind Profundity gave him confidence to face Moore. At Rose Arena’s free-combat stage, Moore challenged him, and their battle began with Moore unleashing a powerful water spell.

• Xia Ming told Fiery Hand and Bluebeard that his Wind Profundity had reached minor mastery, joining his wind, fire, and lightning greater profundities.
• Fiery Hand warned Xia Ming that Moore had obtained the Heavenly Demon Potion, which could temporarily boost his strength but leave him bedridden for months afterward.
• Xia Ming, Little Kitty, and Roland arrived at Rose Arena as Snow Princess announced the free-combat stage of the city-lord contest.
• Moore challenged Xia Ming in front of the crowd, and Xia Ming entered the arena to face him.
• Moore attacked with Water God's Favor, sending a powerful torrent toward Xia Ming as their battle began.

Xia Ming overwhelmed Moore with his Thunderfire Shield and Wings of Wind and Thunder, leaving Moore at a disadvantage in their battle. Moore then drank a Heavenly Demon Potion, while Xia Ming remained confident that he could handle it.

• Xia Ming blocked Moore's Water God's Favor with his Thunderfire Shield without being moved or even getting wet.
• Moore attacked with Water Dragon's Roar, but Xia Ming's Wings of Wind and Thunder destroyed the water dragon and gave him the upper hand.
• Richards recognized Xia Ming's mastery of Wind, Thunder, and Fire Profundity, while Hannibal watched with approval.
• Moore, pale and furious, warned Xia Ming before taking the Heavenly Demon Potion from his spatial ring.
• Moore drank the potion, and Xia Ming calmly relied on his skill as a master-level apothecary to deal with it.

Xia Ming defeated Moore by interrupting the Heavenly Demon Potion’s effects and exposing Moore to a severe backlash, then watched Richards and Hannibal win their matches. As Xia Ming left the arena with Little Kitty, she sensed an unusual aura.

• Moore drank the Heavenly Demon Potion and charged Xia Ming, but Xia Ming struck a vulnerable acupoint during the potion’s activation and neutralized its effects.
• Moore suffered the potion’s backlash, and Xia Ming used the Wind Profundity to throw him out of the arena and win the match.
• The crowd celebrated Xia Ming’s victory, while Bluebeard and Fiery Hand recognized him as a serious challenger to Richards and Hannibal.
• Richards challenged Hans, the weakest remaining contestant, and defeated him with three spells.
• Hannibal quickly beat a peak Level Twelve opponent, displaying mastery of earth and water mysteries.
• After the day’s matches ended, Xia Ming left with Little Kitty to look for magic gemstones, and Little Kitty sensed an unusual aura.

Little Kitty sensed a strange power south of Emerald City, leading Xia Ming to a Dragonheart Fruit in Maple Leaf Forest. Just as Little Kitty was about to eat it, a powerful force locked onto them both.

• Little Kitty sensed an unusual aura calling to it from south of Emerald City, and Xia Ming followed its guidance to Maple Leaf Forest.
• Xia Ming and Little Kitty traveled through the forest, where nearby magic beasts fled from Xia Ming's presence.
• Little Kitty led Xia Ming to a golden plant bearing a ripe Dragonheart Fruit, which Xia Ming recognized as a legendary herb useful to dragons.
• Xia Ming told Little Kitty the fruit could benefit its claimed Dragon Cat lineage, and Little Kitty excitedly climbed onto the plant to taste it.
• As Little Kitty prepared to swallow the Dragonheart Fruit, it sensed a powerful force approaching, and Xia Ming felt that force lock onto them both.

Xia Ming frightened off a Red-Eyed Black Dragon that had been guarding the Dragonheart Fruit, and Little Kitty ate the fruit. Its power transformed Little Kitty, bringing it close to Level Twelve and suggesting it had an exceptionally pure dragon bloodline.

• A Red-Eyed Black Dragon confronted Xia Ming and Little Kitty, but fled after Xia Ming revealed his strength and light magic.
• Xia Ming explained that the Red-Eyed Black Dragon had likely guarded the Dragonheart Fruit, while Little Kitty claimed the fruit as its own.
• Little Kitty swallowed the Dragonheart Fruit, and golden energy began spreading through its body.
• The fruit's power strengthened Little Kitty to nearly Level Twelve, while Xia Ming realized it absorbed the energy with almost no rejection.
• Little Kitty noticed it had grown larger and lamented that it had gotten fatter.

Xia Ming learned that Little Kitty's strength and Mist of Mystery had grown after she absorbed the Dragonheart Fruit, giving him a new advantage in the city lord contest. He bought magic gemstones in Emerald City and prepared for the coming battle.

• Xia Ming explained that the Dragonheart Fruit's undigested energy had changed Little Kitty's body, and she revealed she was close to level twelve.
• Little Kitty demonstrated her improved Mist of Mystery, which disoriented Xia Ming for several seconds.
• Xia Ming realized Little Kitty could fight beside him in the city lord contest and urged her to absorb the rest of the Dragonheart Fruit's energy.
• Xia Ming left Maple Leaf Forest with Little Kitty and visited Emerald City's magic shops to buy magic gemstones.
• Emerald City's residents and shopkeepers greeted Xia Ming warmly, and the shop owner sold him gemstones at nearly cost price.

Xia Ming challenged Richards in a crucial city-lord contest battle, with the winner poised to face Hannibal in the final. As the fight began, Richards revealed that he had taught Augustine and was combining light and darkness magic.

• Xia Ming chose Richards as his opponent, believing he would be easier to defeat than Hannibal.
• Xia Ming and Richards faced each other in Rose Arena as the crowd and their supporters watched tensely.
• Xia Ming challenged Richards, and Richards accepted, beginning their battle before the packed arena.
• Xia Ming cast Thunderfire Shield while Richards used Holy Light Protection and prepared an attack with light and darkness elements.
• Richards told Xia Ming that he had taught Augustine much of his magic and was effectively Augustine's half-teacher.

Xia Ming and Richards clashed with their mastered Profundities, and Xia Ming gained the upper hand by anticipating the backlash of their first collision. He then used Little Kitty’s Mist of Mystery to expose Richards to his trump card, Hand of Wind, Fire and Thunder, as their battle neared its end.

• Richards revealed that he had mastered both the Light and Darkness Profundities, while Xia Ming answered by unleashing his minor mastery Profundities of thunder, wind, and fire.
• Xia Ming and Richards’s five Profundities collided and exploded, leaving Richards slightly injured while Xia Ming avoided the blast with Wings of Wind and Thunder and Thunderfire Shield.
• Xia Ming asked Little Kitty to prepare its Mist of Mystery, then rushed toward Richards with Wings of Wind and Thunder.
• Little Kitty obscured Richards’s vision with the mist, and Xia Ming unveiled Hand of Wind, Fire and Thunder, forming the three Profundities into a massive palm that struck at Richards.
• Richards emerged from the mist and resisted Xia Ming’s attack with all his strength as their battle approached its conclusion.

Xia Ming defeated Richards by combining the profound meanings of wind, fire, and thunder, cementing his reputation as the Holy Temple’s nemesis. Hannibal then won his own match, leaving the crowd focused on a possible clash between the two.

• Xia Ming overwhelmed Richards with the Hand of Wind, Fire and Thunder, and Richards conceded defeat after being blasted from the arena.
• The crowd celebrated Xia Ming’s victory, while Bluebeard and Fiery Hand noted that he had defeated the Holy Temple three times in a row.
• Snow Princess declared Xia Ming the winner, and Richards left the arena in dejection.
• Hannibal entered the next match and defeated his peak level-twelve opponent with powerful magic.
• Little Kitty warned Xia Ming that Hannibal was formidable, and Xia Ming recognized him as his strongest opponent in the competition.

After Xia Ming and Hannibal emerged as the final contenders for Emerald City's City Lord, they prepared for their decisive battle the next day. Xia Ming tried to break through his Level Twelve bottleneck, but his cultivation was interrupted by a disturbance in the camp, which Fiery Hand blamed on dark mages.

• Xia Ming and Hannibal defeated the remaining contestants, leaving only the two of them in the arena.
• Snow Princess announced that Xia Ming and Hannibal would fight in the final match the following day to decide Emerald City's City Lord.
• Xia Ming returned to camp and reflected on Hannibal's strength and his own stalled progress at mid-Level Twelve.
• Xia Ming tried to break through his bottleneck by cultivating with top-grade magic gemstones, but his strength did not change.
• Xia Ming emerged from his tent after hearing a commotion and found Fiery Hand, Blood Shadow, and Bluebeard standing outside the main camp.
• Fiery Hand told Xia Ming that dark mages were responsible for the disturbance.

After a black magician raid revealed that Dark Nest had joined the conflict, Xia Ming turned his attention to the final battle for Emerald City's city lord position. He entered Rose Arena to face Hannibal, with the outcome still unknown.

• Black magicians attacked the camp at night, but the Demon-Pointing Needle alerted the defenders and helped them avoid serious losses.
• Fiery Hand learned that Dark Nest experts had joined the black magicians, and Xia Ming recognized the group as an enemy because Black-Faced Ghost had taken refuge there.
• Xia Ming said he would deal with Dark Nest after the city lord battle and returned to cultivation, but he could not break through the barrier beyond peak level twelve.
• Xia Ming and Hannibal arrived at Rose Arena for the final showdown, which would decide Emerald City's city lord and the name recorded on the arena's commemorative pillar.
• Snow Princess introduced the contenders as the arena fell silent, and the decisive battle began with its outcome still uncertain.