Chapter Summaries

After waking in the world of Battle Through the Heavens, Qing Mo met Qing Lin and received powerful rewards from his system. He realized his careless words had upset her, then examined his new cultivation and a trial card that could make him one of the Jia Ma Empire’s strongest figures.

• Qing Lin brought porridge to the newly awakened Qing Mo, who recognized her and received system rewards for meeting her.
• Qing Mo thanked Qing Lin and accidentally revealed that he knew her name, causing her to leave in distress.
• Qing Mo realized Qing Lin had mistaken his words for a sign that he had heard the cruel rumors about her and resolved to explain himself.
• Qing Mo examined the Jade Serpent Divine Art, the Pure Origin Art, and his other rewards, discovering that he had become a Fighter and gained extensive cultivation knowledge.
• Qing Mo learned that his Peak Dou Emperor Trial Card could give him power comparable to the Jia Ma Empire’s strongest experts.

Qing Mo discovered Qing Lin being cruelly bullied and slandered by the children and women in their alley. He defended her with violence, and the women threatened him as the confrontation continued.

• Qing Mo broke the dilapidated bed and decided to find Qing Lin a new home.
• Qing Mo heard a commotion outside and found children and women insulting Qing Lin and her mother.
• Qing Lin defended her mother, but the crowd mocked her until a boy threw a stone at her.
• Qing Mo slapped the boy and his mother, who threatened him with her husband’s ties to the Mad Blade Mercenary Corps.
• Qing Mo slapped the other women for insulting Qing Lin, and they warned him not to leave.

Qing Mo confronted Zhang Lin after Zhang Lin’s wife accused him of attacking her child, and Qing Mo revealed his strength by defeating Zhang Lin with a single slap. He accepted Zhang Lin’s savings and let the family go, while the onlookers fled in fear.

• Zhang Lin arrived with his wife and confronted Qing Mo over the alleged attack on his child.
• Qing Mo explained that the child had insulted Qing Lin and thrown stones at people, but Zhang Lin dismissed the complaint and attacked him.
• Qing Mo dodged Zhang Lin’s punch and struck him across the face, sending him crashing to the ground.
• Zhang Lin realized Qing Mo was a Fighter, knelt, and begged him to spare his family.
• Zhang Lin offered Qing Mo his savings, and Qing Mo accepted the pouch and ordered the family to leave.
• Qing Mo frightened away the remaining women who had gathered to watch.

After Qing Mo drove away the people who had bullied Qing Lin, he found her terrified and tried to reassure her that he would not hurt her. Their conversation and his concern over her minor injury helped her relax, though Qing Mo was surprised by his own boldness around her.

• Qing Mo found Qing Lin hiding behind rocks and stopped approaching when she begged him not to come closer.
• Qing Mo reassured Qing Lin that he was grateful she had saved him and would not hurt her, easing her fear enough to make her laugh.
• Qing Mo and Qing Lin introduced themselves, and Qing Mo caught himself before making an overly familiar suggestion.
• Qing Mo checked the redness on Qing Lin's temple and pinched her cheek, making her blush and retreat.
• Qing Mo reflected on his newfound boldness while Qing Lin shyly thanked him and stole glances at him.

Qing Mo took Qing Lin around Stone Desert City and tried to buy her new clothes, but a shopkeeper discovered her Snakefolk scales and called her a monster. After Qing Mo comforted her and told her he liked her even more, Qing Lin was left reassured that he did not hate her.

• Qing Mo took Qing Lin for a walk through Stone Desert City and decided to buy her new clothes.
• Qing Lin protested that clothes at the tailor shop were too expensive, but Qing Mo used money from Zhang Lin to choose three outfits for her to try.
• The middle-aged shopkeeper saw Qing Lin's blue scales and screamed that she was a monster and a Snakefolk half-blood.
• Qing Mo knocked the shopkeeper unconscious, held the trembling Qing Lin, and comforted her.
• Qing Lin asked if Qing Mo hated her, and he stroked her scales and said he liked her even more.

Qing Mo comforted Qing Lin after learning how her mother had died, then discovered Xiao Ding hiding with an injured companion in Qing Lin’s former home. The chapter ended with Qing Mo offering to talk and Xiao Ding agreeing to go inside.

• Qing Mo took Qing Lin to an inn, where she gradually recovered her spirits and told him that a young dandy’s attack had fatally injured her mother.
• Qing Mo promised Qing Lin that she would not suffer the same harm again, and the two spent several days together while he cultivated to the Two-Star Dou Practitioner level.
• Qing Mo and Qing Lin returned to her mud house so she could retrieve her mother’s belongings, but Qing Mo sensed someone inside and blasted a hole in the wall with a stone.
• A wary young man came out and identified himself as Xiao Ding; Qing Mo sensed an injured person hidden inside and offered to talk.
• Xiao Ding agreed to go inside with Qing Mo and Qing Lin.

Qing Mo and Qing Lin found Xiao Ding and his badly injured brother, Xiao Li, hiding in Qing Lin’s former home after a conflict with the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group. Xiao Ding asked Qing Mo to buy a Resurrection Pill for Xiao Li, offering a Storage Ring as payment, and Qing Mo agreed.

• Qing Mo examined Xiao Li’s severe injuries, and Xiao Ding explained that he and his brother had clashed with the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group.
• Qing Lin retrieved her mother’s belongings from beneath a damaged bed, and Qing Mo prepared to leave with her.
• Xiao Ding stopped Qing Mo and asked him to buy a second-tier Resurrection Pill because the brothers could not safely leave their hiding place.
• Xiao Ding offered his Storage Ring in exchange for the pill, and Qing Mo agreed to help.

Qing Mo sold Xiao Ding’s Storage Ring to raise money for Xiao Li’s treatment, then searched Stone Desert City for a Resurrection Pill. He found one at the Shimo Grand Medicine Pavilion and bought it for fifty thousand gold coins, leaving with extra healing supplies from the shop owner.

• Qing Mo asked Qing Lin whether the spoiled young master who bullied her was connected to the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, and promised not to act recklessly.
• Qing Mo sold Xiao Ding’s Storage Ring for one hundred thousand gold coins to pay for Xiao Li’s treatment.
• Qing Mo and Qing Lin searched several pharmacies for a Resurrection Pill but found none because second-grade pills were rare in Stone Desert City.
• Qing Mo went to the Shimo Grand Medicine Pavilion, where the owner offered him a Resurrection Pill for fifty thousand gold coins.
• Qing Mo accepted the price, and the owner gave him healing medicine and hemostatic powder along with the pill.

Qing Mo restored Xiao Li with a Resurrection Pill, then met Mad Blade Mercenary Corps leader Li Kuang, who apologized for Zhang Lin’s earlier offense. Li Kuang left without pursuing the fugitive from the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, but Qing Mo realized he had discovered Xiao Ding and Xiao Li’s presence.

• Qing Mo gave Xiao Ding a Resurrection Pill, and Xiao Li’s complexion and breathing improved after taking it.
• Qing Mo and Xiao Ding sensed people outside, and Qing Mo went to meet Li Kuang and Zhang Lin while Xiao Ding prepared to flee with Xiao Li.
• Li Kuang apologized for Zhang Lin’s earlier disturbance and offered Qing Mo Blood-Replenishing Pills, which Qing Mo accepted.
• Li Kuang invited Qing Mo to join the Mad Blade Mercenary Corps, but Qing Mo declined to decide immediately.
• Zhang Lin asked why Li Kuang had abandoned their search for the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group’s fugitive, and Li Kuang warned him not to meddle with stronger people.
• Qing Mo realized Li Kuang had noticed Xiao Ding and Xiao Li inside and had given him the pills for their sake.

After helping Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Qing Mo returned to the inn and received two Low-Tier Earth Dou Techniques from the system. He planned his next steps in Stone Desert City and cultivated through the night, bringing himself close to becoming a Three-Star Dou Practitioner.

• Qing Mo told Xiao Ding that the Mad Blade Mercenary Corps commander might know where he was hiding, then gave him Blood-Replenishing Pills for Xiao Li.
• Xiao Ding thanked Qing Mo, and Qing Mo took Qing Lin back to the inn.
• Qing Mo received Falling Leaf Flying Daggers and Gale-Chasing Step from the system for encountering Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
• Qing Mo considered finding Hai Bodong, improving Qing Lin's health, and renting a house before eventually leaving Stone Desert City.
• Qing Mo cultivated with the Pure Origin Art overnight and awoke close to becoming a Three-Star Dou Practitioner.

Qing Mo settled into a rented home in Stone Desert City with Qing Lin and taught her the basics of Dou Qi cultivation. Over the next half year, Qing Lin’s talent and hard work made her progress rapidly, and she grew more confident as they trained together.

• Qing Mo rented a courtyard in Stone Desert City and told Qing Lin it would be their home.
• Qing Mo explained Dou Qi cultivation to Qing Lin and began guiding her in sensing and absorbing energy.
• Qing Mo gathered snake-type herbs and prepared medicinal baths to support Qing Lin’s cultivation.
• Qing Mo trained Qing Lin while also improving his own cultivation and Dou techniques.
• Qing Mo limited Qing Lin’s cultivation to eight hours a day, and they spent their free time exploring the market and relaxing together.
• After half a year, Qing Lin had become more cheerful and confident while continuing to cultivate with Qing Mo.

Qing Lin secretly attempted to break through to Fighter but failed and fell back to the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi. Qing Mo comforted her, explained that he had been preparing materials to help her succeed, and took her out for a walk.

• Qing Lin absorbed the surrounding Dou Qi and tried to form a stable vortex to reach Fighter while Qing Mo watched anxiously.
• Qing Lin's breakthrough failed, and she spat blood as the energy vortex dissipated.
• Qing Mo checked Qing Lin, gave her a Recovery Pill, and reassured her that he did not blame her for failing or attempting the breakthrough in secret.
• Qing Mo told Qing Lin he had been searching for a suitable wood-attribute Magic Core to improve her chances of breaking through.
• Qing Mo told Qing Lin to stop cultivating for the day and took her out for a walk.

Qing Mo took Qing Lin to the Stone Desert City market, cheered her up, and bought her a jade snake pendant. Their outing turned hostile when Luo Yi, leader of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, leered at Qing Lin and blocked their way, triggering her fury.

• Qing Mo bought Qing Lin candied hawthorn and a clay figurine, easing her sadness as they went to the market.
• Qing Mo bargained for a jade snake pendant and put it around Qing Lin's neck, making her happy and shy.
• Luo Yi and his lackeys passed Qing Mo and Qing Lin, and Luo Yi stopped to leer at Qing Lin and insult Qing Mo.
• Qing Mo's expression turned cold, while Qing Lin trembled and stared at Luo Yi with intense fury.

Qing Mo protected Qing Lin when Luo Yi tried to buy her, then slapped Luo Yi after he taunted him. Xue Lan drove Luo Yi away and invited Qing Mo to join the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, leaving him considering the offer.

• Qing Lin recognized Luo Yi as the man who had killed her mother, and Qing Mo shielded her when Luo Yi tried to buy her.
• Qing Mo slapped Luo Yi after he dared him to strike, and Luo Yi ordered his lackeys to attack.
• Xue Lan intervened, forcing Luo Yi and his lackeys to leave after she threatened him.
• Qing Mo thanked Xue Lan and explained that he had struck Luo Yi for insulting his family.
• Xue Lan warned Qing Mo that Luo Yi's Battle Master father might retaliate and invited him to join the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
• Qing Mo considered joining so he could gain experience and search for wood-element magic cores more easily.

Qing Mo agreed to join Xue Lan’s squad in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and went with her and Qing Lin to its headquarters. There, he reunited with Xiao Ding, who welcomed him inside.

• Xue Lan hurried Dan Zai away from his stall so she could take Qing Mo to register with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
• As Qing Mo and Qing Lin waited at the main gate, Qing Mo reassured her that she was family and was not to blame for the trouble.
• Xue Lan and Dan Zai arrived, and the group headed to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group headquarters in Stone Desert City.
• Xue Lan led Qing Mo and Qing Lin through the compound and into a hall where two people were meeting.
• Xiao Ding recognized Qing Mo and greeted him warmly.

Qing Mo reunited with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, who welcomed him into the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and promised him protection from the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group. At a gathering in the square, Xiao Ding announced that Qing Mo would become the group's Third Commander.

• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li greeted Qing Mo as their benefactor, surprising Xue Lan.
• Xue Lan explained Qing Mo's encounter with Luo Yi, and Xiao Ding and Xiao Li offered Qing Mo the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's protection.
• Xue Lan confirmed that Qing Mo wanted to join the group, and Xiao Ding summoned its members to the square.
• Xiao Ding introduced Qing Mo to the gathered mercenaries and announced that he was their new Third Commander.

Qing Mo challenged the Desert Iron Mercenary Group to prove his right to become its Third Commander and defeated Diao Zhen with ease. The crowd accepted his position, and Xiao Ding formally ordered the group to respect him as they did the other commanders.

• Xiao Ding announced Qing Mo as the Third Commander, prompting the mercenaries to protest his appointment.
• Qing Mo offered to relinquish the position if anyone could defeat him, and Diao Zhen stepped forward to challenge him.
• Qing Mo evaded Diao Zhen’s attacks with the Gale-Chasing Step until Diao Zhen prepared his Mountain-Splitting Slash.
• Qing Mo deflected Diao Zhen’s broadsword with a gold coin and cut his neck, forcing Diao Zhen to concede.
• No one else challenged Qing Mo, so Xiao Ding confirmed him as Third Commander and ordered the group to respect him.

After Qing Mo impressed Qing Lin at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, they returned home and shared hot pot. That night, Datou and Heizi approached their home to kidnap Qing Lin, believing her status as a human-Snake-Person hybrid would protect them from punishment.

• Qing Lin praised Qing Mo's strength as they left the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and Qing Mo took her home to make hot pot.
• Qing Mo and Qing Lin enjoyed dinner together before going to their separate rooms for the night.
• Datou and Heizi arrived outside Qing Mo's home with sacks and ropes, intending to kidnap Qing Lin for a chance to join the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group.
• Datou told Heizi that Qing Lin was a human-Snake-Person hybrid and claimed the garrison would not protect her.
• Heizi hesitated, but Datou persuaded him to join the plan, and the two prepared to break in.

Qing Mo caught Datou and Heizi breaking into his courtyard and learned that Luo Yi had sent them to track him. He forced them to swallow poison pills and left their lives dependent on returning to him for the antidote.

• Qing Mo revealed himself after a throwing knife stopped Datou and frightened him and Heizi into surrendering.
• Datou admitted that Luo Yi had ordered them to find Qing Mo's home and report his whereabouts.
• Datou told Qing Mo about the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group's commanders, captains, and squad leaders.
• Qing Mo refused to release Datou and Heizi unless they agreed to help him, and Datou offered to pass false information to Luo Yi.
• Datou and Heizi swallowed Qing Mo's poison pills and agreed to return every half month for the antidote.

Qing Mo and Qing Lin traveled through the Tagore Desert seeking a Second-Order Wood-Attribute Snake Magic Beast to help Qing Lin advance. As they neared a supply point, a Rock-Armored Sandworm ambushed them, and Qing Mo prepared to fight it with a costly Silent Flying Dagger.

• Qing Mo and Qing Lin crossed the scorching desert, with Qing Lin using her map to guide them toward a supply point about a hundred sand li away.
• Qing Mo explained that he had brought Qing Lin out to gain experience and seek a Second-Order Wood-Attribute Snake Magic Beast for her advancement.
• Qing Mo sensed movement underground and used Gale-Chasing Step to carry Qing Lin away from their path.
• A Rock-Armored Sandworm burst from the sand and attacked them.
• Qing Mo drew a Silent Flying Dagger and hoped the sandworm carried a Magic Core to offset the weapon's cost.