Lin Fan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Lin Fan awakens in a poor thatched hut after inheriting the body and memories of his seventeen-year-old counterpart in a martial world. The original Lin Fan and his younger sister, Lin Ruoruo, fled after their disgraced noble family was framed, stripped of its property, and imprisoned. The siblings survived by settling in Small Mountain Village. 1

His inherited Fifth-Grade Bone Aptitude is respectable for a commoner but insufficient for high-level martial advancement without extraordinary resources. The original Lin Fan therefore favored scholarly pursuits, but the transmigrated Lin Fan instead chooses the martial path after awakening the silver-consuming Recharge Pay-to-Win System. 2

Although he regards himself as an outsider who has taken over another person's body, Lin Fan accepts responsibility for the original owner's family, grievances, and sister. His central ambitions become protecting Ruoruo, clearing his family's name, and punishing those responsible for its downfall. 7

After his Bright Force Realm breakthrough, local officials uncover an old wanted notice identifying him as a collateral descendant implicated in his aristocratic family's execution. The official account claims that the family failed an imperial assignment, but Lin Fan suspects corrupt officials deliberately obstructed the assignment and framed his lineage. The prefectural envoy Lu Qian later assures him that the old implication will be withdrawn. 65 85

The Imperial Court formally revokes his arrest warrant in an edict recognizing his Bright Force cultivation. This clears his personal implication in the old case, although it does not establish that the conspiracy against his lineage has been investigated or overturned. A later investigation by the Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce reports that Lin Fan and Ruoruo are the only surviving members of the original Lin Family. 89 162

Lin Fan's previous life was on Blue Star, where he was an ordinary person. His modern experiences continue to influence his habits, comparisons, and initial reluctance to kill. 2 16 19 21 34

His family's destruction later becomes a potential weapon for his commercial enemies. As his alchemy strengthens Azure Elixir Hall, Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce stewards propose investigating the old Lin Family massacre to identify powerful enemies whose influence they might borrow against him. 168 169

Appearance

Lin Fan is tall and straight, standing slightly over seven feet, with an upright, scholarly build that conceals extraordinary physical power. His Bone Tempering body remains lean and proportionate rather than visibly muscular. 25 40

• His true face has sword-like brows, a high nose, sharply defined features, and dark eyes described as possessing a heroic presence. 46
• His skin is fair, lustrousrous, firm, and free of excess fat despite the repeated tempering of his muscles, bones, and meridians. 25
• He commonly uses the Disguise Art to appear ordinary and forgettable; the art changes his facial muscles but not his height, voice, or clothing. 12 13
• He temporarily resumed his disguised appearance during his wedding because of the number of guests and officials present. 47
• After reaching the Late Bright Force Realm, he also uses an improvised Breath Concealment Technique to present himself publicly as only an Early Bright Force cultivator. 103
• During his journeys from Commandery City, he wears dark teal fighting clothes and carries a simple oilcloth bundle. 143
• His Steel Force breakthrough completely remakes his physical body, but the Flying Dragon Breath Concealment Technique suppresses the resulting aura and bearing so thoroughly that he still appears to be an ordinary Early Bright Force martial artist. 165
• His Late Steel Force breakthrough again reduces his flesh, bones, meridians, hair, and other tissues to ash before Inner Qi reconstructs his body. 211
• After reaching Mid Heavenheart, an azure gleam briefly flashes through his eyes; his cultivation of Wind Dao Intent is accompanied by a blue-green Dao resonance. 218 219

Personality

Lin Fan is disciplined, practical, and strongly motivated by security. He consistently calculates the silver required for cultivation, avoids wasteful spending, and chooses lower multipliers when excessive growth would leave him unable to control his body. 8 21 22

He is protective of Lin Ruoruo and extends that responsibility to the people of Small Mountain Village. He shares hunting income, compensates villagers for their labor, avoids exhausting their mountain resources, and refuses to needlessly expose them to martial factions. 10 19 22 25

Despite his growing strength, Lin Fan initially remains reluctant to kill. When White Ram Gang members follow his group, he confiscates their silver and releases them rather than provoke an immediate conflict or take lives unnecessarily. 21

His restraint does not extend to those who repeatedly harm innocents. After reviewing the White Ram Gang's documented atrocities, he orders the execution of its murderous members and personally kills Bai Jingtian for his collaboration with the demonic path, abductions, and brutality. 74 81

Lin Fan is increasingly cautious about revealing his potential. Even after gaining wealth, an imperial title, and regional influence, he prioritizes secluded cultivation, controls the public display of his realm, and invests heavily in concealment techniques and manuals rather than pursuing fame. 82 102 103

His growing family reinforces this caution. He conducts major breakthroughs away from inhabited residences, spends heavily on defensive preparations, and postpones Steel Force advancement until he can reliably hide it. His cultivation is intended to preserve a peaceful life for his wife, children, sister, and disciple rather than secure public renown. 107 115 138 163 164

Lin Fan remains compassionate while setting practical limits on his obligations. He saves Chu Lingxi because her plight reminds him of Ruoruo, takes her as his disciple, and buries her guards, but explicitly refuses to promise revenge for her destroyed sect. 143 144

He rejects predatory shortcuts that would endanger his sanity or loved ones. After taking the Demon Monk's blade, he chooses to seal it away rather than cultivate through its victims, and he abandons the bounty rather than disclose his true strength to officials involved in a suspected trap. 151

He treats alchemy and commerce as legitimate, sustainable sources of cultivation funds. Although he benefits from authorized confiscations and defeated enemies' property, he has no desire to rob uninvolved martial factions and recognizes the legal and personal risks of doing so. 109 122

His caution includes a distinction between revealing profitable skills and revealing extraordinary cultivation. He believes others may seek the products of his alchemy, but that exposing his rapid martial advancement would encourage even foreign Innate experts to capture and study him. This consideration reinforces his decision to leave no survivors among the ambushers who discover his real strength. 157

His concern for ordinary people persists as his strength grows. He suppresses the destructive waves caused by his underwater breakthrough before they can reach the coast. Later, witnessing the suffering of the Zhao–Wei war, he wishes to restore peace and allow displaced commoners to return home, but recognizes that Late Heavenheart cultivation is still insufficient to impose a settlement on both kingdoms. 211 222

Abilities & Skills

Recharge Pay-to-Win System

Lin Fan's system converts silver into accelerated cultivation effects. Its pale-blue interface exists only in his consciousness. 1

• One tael of silver initially provided a tenfold cultivation effect for twenty-four hours; after his Bright Force Realm breakthrough, the equivalent tenfold effect costs 100 taels. 1 2 67
• The timer can be paused during sleep, meals, or other non-training periods, though pausing removes the enhancement. 2 3
• The effect accelerates martial cultivation, comprehension, technique practice, and auxiliary arts such as alchemy and beast taming. 10 16 37
• Lin Fan initially used multipliers ranging from tenfold to 20,000-fold. Extreme acceleration causes pain, unstable Inner Qi, impaired bodily control, and difficulty adapting to his increased strength. 21 54 65
• During battle, accelerated cultivation can replenish the Inner Qi he expends and gradually increase his strength, allowing him to outlast opponents with stronger initial foundations. 67 68 71
• The system is exclusive to him and cannot be directly shared, though his abundant Inner Qi later allows him to empower other cultivators personally. 7 64 83
• Following the fall of the White Ram and Black Tiger Gangs, Lin Fan gains access to wealth exceeding 30 million taels. He adopts a sustainable 5,000-fold daily acceleration rather than recklessly exhausting his resources or losing control of his power. 82
• After his Mid Bright Force breakthrough, he raises daily acceleration to 10,000-fold; his later concealment research and Transforming Force breakthrough use 15,000-fold acceleration. 96 102 104 107
• At the Transforming Force Realm, he uses 20,000-fold acceleration for cultivation and rapid study, memorizing the Li Family's relevant manuals in just over half an hour. 114 116
• His Mid Transforming Force physique allows him to sustain 30,000-fold acceleration, costing 300,000 taels for twenty-four hours. The strain remains painful, but he considers it tolerable while dividing his time between cultivation and alchemy. 125 126 127
• After reaching Late Transforming Force, he increases the multiplier to 35,000-fold and also applies it to the study and synthesis of concealment techniques. 151 163
• Entering Steel Force increases the silver cost another tenfold. His balance exceeds 160 million taels, but his existing income cannot sustain daily accelerated cultivation at the new rate; the system does not reveal the costs of later realms. 166
• After collecting Blackstone Valley's gold and silver, his balance exceeds eighteen billion taels. He uses 40,000-fold acceleration to memorize selected books from its Scripture Repository. 181
• He later uses 50,000-fold acceleration while waiting for a Demonic Path expert and during his underwater cultivation toward Late Steel Force. 196 211
• The system can provide fifteen-minute periods of sudden enlightenment, also described as epiphanies. His second epiphany costs ten billion taels and reduces his balance from over twenty billion to over ten billion; successive uses enable rapid comprehension of Wind Dao Intent and breakthroughs within the Heavenheart Realm. 217 218 219 221

Martial Cultivation

Lin Fan initially cultivated the widespread Azure Cloud Method, a stable technique without side effects that supports the Three Body-Tempering Realms. 2

• His physical abilities include immense strength, speed, durability, endurance, heightened senses, and rapid recovery appropriate to his cultivation realm. 24 50 54
• He has trained fist, spear, and lance techniques to perfection through accelerated practice. 49
• At Mid Bone Tempering, he could hear ants gnawing dozens of meters away while actively using his senses. 50
• He learned and memorized the Su Family's Inner Qi Circulation Method in half an hour, then successfully nurtured his first strand of Inner Qi. 53 55
• Upon entering the Bright Force Realm, his Inner Qi merged into Manifest Force True Qi, which can leave his body, reinforce weapons, retrieve objects from a distance, paralyze enemies, and be transferred gently into others. 64 65 69
• He can use Inner Qi to heal serious injuries, strengthen demon-beast steeds, carry heavy objects through the air, and rapidly travel hundreds of li. 71 77 99 100
• He used his inexhaustible system-assisted recovery to defeat the Flower Thief, a Bright Force Realm demonic cultivator whose Manifest Force foundation initially surpassed his own. 68 69 71
• By Chapter 105, he had reached Late Bright Force and possessed 28,000 strands of Inner Qi. The Transforming Force breakthrough requires approximately 30,000 strands. 92 101 105 115
• His Mid Bright Force control allows him to contain breakthrough disturbances with a barrier, manipulate scattered stones, and restore order to a damaged courtyard with precise applications of Inner Qi. 95
• In the Transforming Force Realm, individual strands of Inner Qi respond like extensions of his body. He can shape them into substitutes for objects, including wings, and considers forming a missile-like projectile propelled by additional Inner Qi. He initially keeps these abilities hidden. 107
• He can fly while protecting a passenger, as demonstrated when he carries Chu Lingxi to the Azure Wave Medicine Market. 144
• At Mid Transforming Force, he survives burial beneath a collapsed mountain and breaks through the surrounding rock to escape. 116
• At Late Transforming Force, his Qi automatically intercepts and fragments falling boulders, while his unassisted physical strength can shatter a massive embedded rock with one punch. 149
• He kills the Demon Monk with a single palm strike and later defeats two Early Transforming Force ambushers, demonstrating the overwhelming gap between his concealed strength and the level his enemies expect. 151 156
• His Steel Force breakthrough occurs at three million strands of Inner Qi. Some Qi liquefies into blood, some solidifies into bone, and his former flesh-and-blood body is destroyed and remade. The resulting power causes an underground blast and mountain-range tremors before he regains control. 165
• His Fifth-Grade aptitude remains a limitation despite his increasing realm. He recognizes that naturally gifted Transforming Force and Steel Force experts commonly possess First-Grade aptitude, while Saint Bodies are strongly associated with Innate cultivation. 108
• His Astral Force can dismantle the defensive formations guarding Blackstone Valley's treasury and force open its doors. 181
• At Mid Steel Force, his perception extends across dozens of li and expands by well over another ten li after the breakthrough. Within that range, he can detect small movements, insects, beasts, and rolling stones. 193
• He withstands the pressure nearly eight thousand meters beneath the ocean, constructs a seabed cultivation platform, and maintains a spherical barrier of razor-sharp Inner Qi to prevent sea creatures from disturbing him. 210 211
• His Late Steel Force breakthrough requires more than five million strands of Inner Qi. It destroys and reconstructs his body, kills nearby sea creatures through its released force, and raises enormous waves that he subsequently halts and flattens with Inner Qi. 211
• Heavenheart advancement transforms his flesh, Inner Qi, and mind, increasing his strength, defense, and attacks even though his chosen Wind Dao Intent does not specialize in offensive or defensive enhancement. 219

Wind Dao Intent

Lin Fan enters the Innate Realm by using system-assisted sudden enlightenment to comprehend the Dao of Wind. His first fifteen-minute enlightenment grants initial comprehension, his second deepens it enough for Mid Heavenheart, and his third brings it to complete perfection alongside his Late Heavenheart breakthrough. 217 218 219 221

• He comprehends wind's movement, flow, spiraling, and passage through the air, treating natural breezes as sources of insight into the Great Dao. 217
• His Dao Intent brings surrounding winds under his will. He can guide air currents, shape the materials they carry, and merge the wind's nimbleness with his Inner Qi. 218 219
• Wind Dao Intent chiefly benefits his mobility rather than providing special increases to attack or defense. He estimates that his attack power is several times lower than that of a same-realm Innate expert who comprehends Metal Dao Intent. 219
• Upon reaching Mid Heavenheart, he believes no Innate expert in the Zhao Kingdom can catch him. 219
• With perfected Wind Dao Intent, he moves at dozens of times the speed of sound and covers more than ten thousand li in a quarter of an hour. To his companions, his movement through the sky appears almost like teleportation. 221
• He can also use wind delicately, brushing the ends of Chu Lingxi's hair with controlled currents. 222

Alchemy

Lin Fan uses the system to compress years of alchemical study and practice into a short period. His knowledge covers medicinal herbs, formulas, fire control, refining methods, and alchemical taboos. 17

• His first practical batch produced eight flawless Superior Strength-Nourishing Pills. 36
• He mastered the Su Family Pill Pavilion's available texts and exclusive prescriptions for the Three Body-Tempering Realms. 37
• He won an alchemy contest against five veteran Su Family alchemists by refining all fifteen required batches as high-grade pills. 43
• He can refine several top-grade combat pills at once, including pills that improve strength, explosive power, endurance, and recovery. 50
• By the Late Bright Force Realm, he can refine most publicly circulated pills intended for the Three Qi-Force Realms, though secret recipes of major pill factions remain unavailable to him. 101
• He considers alchemy especially valuable because pills can improve the cultivation and survival of the Su Family's members, whereas weapon forging gives comparatively limited benefits to high-level martial artists. 93
• During two months of Transforming Force cultivation, he produces several thousand pills, mostly top quality, worth an estimated five to six million taels. 114
• His first major Commandery City sale to Azure Elixir Hall yields 11.2 million taels for 1,200 Body Tempering Pills, 600 Foundation-Stabilizing Pills, 400 Qi-Nourishing Pills, and 730 pills intended for the Transforming Force realm. All are verified as superior-grade. 122
• His refining process includes assessing ingredients by age and properties, precisely timing their addition, using Inner Qi to heat the furnace and guide medicinal liquids, reconciling conflicting properties, and removing impurities from pill embryos. 127
• His pills are unusually pure and low in toxins. Their quality and his enormous output draw customers away from Ten Thousand Treasures Hall and significantly reshape the commandery's pill market. 131
• By Chapter 143, he supplies Azure Elixir Hall twice a month, earning around ten million taels per shipment. 143
• After joining the Azure Elixir Sect, he gains access to its extensive alchemical library and supplies pills that the sect safely transports to Commandery City. During his concealment research, he spends six hours a day refining pills for the sect. 163
• After reaching Steel Force, he spends three months studying the sect's Pill Dao collection to improve production and income. His sharper mind helps him integrate theories of medicinal compatibility and hundreds of fire-control methods, though his martial progress nearly stalls during this period. 166
• This study culminates in dual-furnace alchemy, allowing him to refine top-grade high-grade pills in two furnaces simultaneously. He produces nearly two hundred pills a day and delivers a shipment of three thousand pills to the sect. 167
• The sect master and elders personally witness his dual-furnace refining. Its reputation spreads through Azure Elixir City, although he declines visitors and maintains his quiet household routine. 167
• He recognizes Chu Lingxi's exceptional Pill Dao aptitude and regards her diligence, steadiness, and respect as reasons to nurture her carefully. 160 175

Disguise Art

Lin Fan learned the Disguise Art to conceal his identity while traveling between the village and town. 12

• Alters his facial muscles enough to make his appearance ordinary and difficult to remember. 12
• Does not alter his bones, body shape, height, voice, or clothing. 13
• He removed the disguise before Su Qingwei after growing to trust her, but still reapplies it when public attention makes concealment useful. 46 47

Breath Concealment Technique

After his rapid advance attracted official attention, Lin Fan began gathering and synthesizing Breath Concealment manuals to suppress his aura and prevent stronger experts from discovering his true cultivation. 102

• His initial composite technique can hide his aura from Bone Tempering cultivators and ordinary Bright Force martial artists, though Peak Bright Force experts can still perceive faint fluctuations. 102
• He memorized hundreds of concealment techniques from regional martial forces while publicly maintaining the aura of an Early Bright Force cultivator despite having reached the Late Bright Force Realm. 103
• With 28,000 strands of Inner Qi, he began developing a more advanced composite art called the Hidden Dragon Breath Concealment Technique, intended to conceal future Transforming Force Realm cultivation. 105
• Following his Transforming Force breakthrough, Hidden Dragon successfully disguises his true realm as Early Bright Force. He continues using it after reaching the middle and late stages. 107 117 149
• He creates a simplified Manifest Force Breath Concealment Technique for Su Yuanshan, allowing Early Bright Force cultivation to appear as Late Bone Tempering. He also develops a customized method for Su Qingwei that makes her Early Bright Force cultivation appear no higher than Muscle Refinement. 108 114 115
• Before entering Steel Force, he judges his existing concealment inadequate and delays the breakthrough. He studies the Azure Elixir Sect's collection and secretly pays trusted disciples nearly ten million taels to gather several hundred additional techniques across the Zhao Kingdom. 163
• After nearly three months of further synthesis, he creates the Flying Dragon Breath Concealment Technique from thousands of methods and his existing art. It is designed to disguise even Late Steel Force cultivation as Early Bright Force. 164
• Flying Dragon successfully suppresses his aura, martial pressure, and transformed bearing immediately after his Early Steel Force breakthrough, allowing him to return to the sect without revealing his advancement. 165 166
• His later Innate breakthroughs release disturbances that the Azure Elixir Sect's elders witness, ending the earlier situation in which his major advancements remain entirely unknown to them. 219

Beast Taming Art

Lin Fan rapidly learned the basics of Beast Taming Art through the system and developed a working bond with Mao Mao, a golden treasure-seeking rat. 10

• Can communicate simple commands to Mao Mao. 10
• Uses Mao Mao's senses to locate buried medicinal and spirit herbs. 12 16
• Plans to use Inner Qi after reaching the Bright Force Realm to elevate Mao Mao into a stronger demon beast and household guardian. 34
• His increasing Inner Qi control allows him to restore and strengthen demon-beast steeds, reflecting his expanding ability to support animals as well as human allies. 77
• He also nourishes Mao Mao with mild medicinal pills, strengthening its body and improving its usefulness as a companion. 28 49

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Forging Grade 33 Hundred-Forged Cold-Iron Spear — A black, cloud-patterned spear gifted by Su Yuanshan; it replaced Lin Fan's Grade 25 spear, weighs more than 100 jin, and remains his principal weapon at the Bright Force Realm. 53 65 100
• Forging Grade 25 spear — His earlier commissioned weapon, purchased for 675 taels after a discount. Its dark shaft and bright spearhead suited his Bone Tempering strength; he collected it after returning the borrowed Grade 17 spear. 18 24
• Borrowed Forging Grade 17 spear — A temporary weapon lent by Su Qingwei while his commissioned spear was being forged; weighed roughly sixty jin and was returned upon collection of the Grade 25 weapon. 19 24
• Golden Guest Token — Grants him privileged Su Family status, free access to the estate and Pill Pavilion, and protection from internal harassment. 32 33
• Top-grade combat pills — Personally refined reserves that enhance strength, endurance, explosive force, and recovery. 50
• Azure Cloud Method — His original body-tempering technique, used from the beginning of his cultivation through the Bone Tempering Realm. 2 46
• Su Family Inner Qi Circulation Method — A secret technique lent by Su Yuanshan, fully memorized by Lin Fan before he returned the original manual. 53 54
• Additional Inner Qi methods — Lin Fan has collected circulation methods from the White Ram Gang, Black Tiger Gang, and White Sand Gang, including the comparatively effective River Inner Qi Art, to study their compatibility and principles. 73 77
• Flower Thief's demonic manual — An oilpaper-wrapped dual-cultivation and harvesting manual dropped during the Flower Thief's escape. Lin Fan retains it as intelligence but recognizes its sinister routes and long-term flaws. 69 79
• Imperial plaque — A court-bestowed plaque accompanying his title as General Pacifying the Lands and his three-million-tael reward for killing the Flower Thief. 90
• Paired jade pendants — A linked pair in which one pendant shatters if its counterpart is broken. Lin Fan gives one to Su Qingwei before leaving for his Transforming Force breakthrough. 107
• Bronze alchemy furnace — Used in his dedicated pill-refining room; he controls its heat and medicinal reactions through precise fire management and Inner Qi. 127
• Mansion-Guarding Blacksteel Formation — A thirty-million-tael residential defense purchased from Artifact Hall. Charged with 1,000 strands of Inner Qi, it can resist multiple attackers below the Innate Realm for an incense stick's time and weaker attackers for longer. Its thunderous alarm can be heard dozens of li away. 138
• Demonic Blade / Demonic Fiend Weapon — Taken after killing the Demon Monk. It consumes victims' vitality and Inner Qi to increase its wielder's cultivation but gradually corrupts the wielder. Lin Fan decides to seal it away rather than use it. 148 151
• Azure Elixir Hall payment banknotes — Universally redeemable notes bearing the seals of Azure Elixir Sect and Imperial Dynasty Bank, used to pay for his large pill shipment. 122
• Dual alchemy furnaces — Operated simultaneously after his advanced study of the Azure Elixir Sect's texts, greatly increasing his high-grade pill output. 167
• Blackstone Valley treasury spoils — Gold and silver converted into a system balance exceeding eighteen billion taels, along with banknotes and several jade ornaments. He leaves behind the land deeds and commerce guild certificates. 181

Relationships

• Lin Ruoruo — His younger sister and primary responsibility. Lin Fan's pursuit of wealth, strength, affiliation, and safer housing is consistently driven by the need to protect her. She begins attending a girls' school while living at Sunset Glow Courtyard, later accompanies his household to Commandery City and the Azure Elixir Sect, and studies alongside Chu Lingxi under a female tutor. Lin Fan continues encouraging her education and protecting her without rushing her martial cultivation. She eventually reaches the Skin Tempering Realm and asks him for footwork instruction. At sixteen, she accompanies him during his later travels and witnesses his Heavenheart advancement. 1 22 32 80 117 146 163 164 205 210 221 222
• Su Qingwei — Su Family member, benefactor, and Lin Fan's wife. She recruits him, supports his work in the Pill Pavilion, and develops a close domestic relationship with him. With Lin Fan's direct Inner Qi assistance and sword guidance, she advances from the Skin Tempering Realm to the Late Bone Tempering Realm and subsequently reaches the Bright Force Realm. Her pregnancy with their dragon-and-phoenix twins develops into their shared family life after the children's birth. He creates a personalized concealment technique for her and entrusts her with the household during his journeys. She later accompanies him to the secluded mountain, witnesses his Late Heavenheart breakthrough, and remains quietly present when he ends his formal master-disciple relationship with Chu Lingxi. 32 43 46 88 94 103 107 108 115 148 166 221 222
• Lin Luo and Lin Li — Lin Fan and Su Qingwei's dragon-and-phoenix twins, named during Su Qingwei's pregnancy. He shows affection for them before departures and after returning home, and their safety becomes a major reason for his defensive purchases, concealment research, and pursuit of greater strength. They live with his household at the Azure Elixir Sect and grow stronger during his secluded training. As his dual-furnace alchemy restores his regular routine, the children begin learning simple words. 101 103 107 108 115 138 163 166 167
• Su Yuanshan — Su Family head and Lin Fan's father-in-law. He recognizes Lin Fan's talent, rewards his alchemy, provides resources, lends him the Inner Qi method, and gifts him the Hundred-Forged Cold-Iron Spear. Lin Fan later promises to help him enter the Bright Force Realm and fulfills that promise by channeling controlled Inner Qi into him over five days. He also provides a concealment technique and entrusts Su Yuanshan with protecting the Su Family after his departure. 43 44 53 77 108 114 115
• Madam Su — Lin Fan's mother-in-law. She warmly accepts him into the family, praises him as a suitable husband for Su Qingwei, and joins Su Yuanshan in seeing the household off when it leaves for Commandery City. 49 117
• Mao Mao — Golden treasure-seeking rat and companion. Lin Fan originally rescues it from a wildcat and brings it home as a potential treasure seeker and pet for Ruoruo. Mao Mao locates medicinal herbs, obeys basic commands, remains with Ruoruo when Lin Fan travels, and lives with the family at Sunset Glow Courtyard. It remains part of his household after the move to Commandery City and participates in his family's farewell before the Demon Monk mission. It later accompanies the household to the secluded mountain and circles Lin Fan affectionately after his breakthrough. 9 10 13 34 78 125 148 221 222
• Chu Lingxi — Lin Fan's first and later former formal disciple, an orphaned daughter of the Thousand Three Sect's master. He rescues her from Black Wind Sect pursuers, promises shelter and training without promising revenge, and brings her into his household. She studies with Ruoruo, receives occasional martial guidance, accompanies the family to the Azure Elixir Sect, and develops a strong attachment to him. He values her Pill Dao aptitude and eventually recognizes that her admiration has become romantic affection. When she is around fifteen, he considers her age and other concerns reasons not to act immediately. After his Late Heavenheart breakthrough, he formally ends their master-disciple relationship but explicitly assures her that she will remain with his household. She adopts the address “Young Master Lin,” and the scene indicates mutual romantic interest without establishing a marriage. 143 144 146 160 163 164 166 175 221 222
• Uncle Wang — Captain of Small Mountain Village's hunting party and a trusted village ally. Lin Fan later returns to the village and uses a strand of Inner Qi to raise him directly to the Mid Skin Tempering Realm. 4 15 24 83
• Li Daniu (“Big Ox”) — Lin Fan's closest peer in Small Mountain Village. Big Ox provides food, firewood, water, companionship, and initially fails to cultivate under Lin Fan's guidance due to poor aptitude. Lin Fan later empowers him to the Mid Skin Tempering Realm and continues treating him as an old friend despite their widening difference in status. 3 7 83
• Bai Jingtian and the White Ram Gang — The White Ram Gang evolves from an early threat to an open enemy that collaborates with the Flower Thief and assaults the Su Family. Lin Fan kills Bai Jingtian, while the Su Family dismantles the gang and seizes its businesses, prisoners, manuals, and wealth. 53 71 74
• Fang Lu — Former White Ram Gang steward and the Steward Fang who first targeted Lin Fan's village group. Lin Fan later identifies him in the gang's prison records as a prolific murderer, abductor, and torturer, and orders his execution. 20 81
• Flower Thief — A Bright Force Realm demonic cultivator who abducted women through a partnership with the White Ram Gang. Lin Fan outlasts him in battle, forces him to flee, and survives his eventual self-destruction; the Flower Thief dies in the explosion. 53 68 69 71
• Zhou Hu and Zhou Ling — Former Black Tiger Gang leader and his daughter. Lin Fan heals Zhou Hu, rescues Zhou Ling from the White Ram Gang's hidden chamber, and offers both refuge in the Su Family; Zhou Hu subsequently pledges loyalty as a guest elder. 72
• Lu Qian — A Mid Bright Force Realm prefectural official who verifies that Lin Fan's Inner Qi is orthodox and confirms the Flower Thief's death. Although he publicly treats Lin Fan with respect and offers assistance in the prefectural city, he privately suspects Lin Fan concealed the real reason for his victory. 84 85
• Azure Elixir Hall — His principal pill-trading partner in Commandery City. Its manager verifies his superior-grade production, pays fairly, and offers favorable terms for continued business. Lin Fan's regular supply greatly improves the hall's reputation and market position. 122 131 143 164
• Azure Elixir Sect — His later affiliation and a source of protection, alchemical knowledge, and concealment manuals. Lin Fan supplies pills while the sect shelters his household and transports his goods. Its master and core elders value him highly and express concern during his journeys, but initially remain unaware of his Steel Force breakthrough. They later witness his dual-furnace alchemy, and elders observe the disturbances of his successive Innate breakthroughs. 163 164 165 166 167 219
• Manager Zhou and the Ten Thousand Prosperity Medicine Depot — A dependable early source of high-grade spiritual ingredients in Commandery City. Manager Zhou personally escorts a valuable delivery and arranges continued shipments every half-month. 126
• Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce — A commercial rival that tries to recruit Lin Fan, monopolizes medicinal ingredients to force his submission, and is implicated in attacks against him. Lin Fan refuses to cooperate under coercion, kills its ambushers, and later watches its attempt to compete with his pill production end in financial collapse. Its stewards subsequently consider exploiting the enemies behind the old Lin Family massacre. 131 136 151 154 156 163 164 168 169
• Granny Qian — A malicious intermediary whose distorted report makes Lin Fan's refusal of recruitment appear deliberately insulting to the Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce. She seeks to prevent him from joining the organization and obtaining a position from which he could retaliate against her for an earlier attempted swindle. 132 135
• Demon Monk — A demonic weapon wielder whom Lin Fan is assigned to hunt. After questioning him about his blade and discovering evidence that the mission is a trap, Lin Fan kills him with one palm, takes the weapon, and conceals the successful hunt from the authorities. 148 151
• Black Wind Sect — The force responsible for destroying Chu Lingxi's sect and pursuing her. Lin Fan intimidates its pursuers into withdrawing and declares her under his protection, but does not undertake a revenge campaign. 143 144
• Prince Gao — A political enemy who plans to send a Steel Force expert to assassinate Lin Fan. The discovery of a massive border gold mine causes him to suspend the plan and redirect his forces toward securing mining profits; Lin Fan remains unaware of this reprieve. 190
• Unnamed merfolk woman — A Late Bright Force cultivator who approaches Lin Fan after his underwater breakthrough to ask about the disturbance. He conceals his responsibility and questions her about her people, confirming that the merfolk described in his reading really exist. 212

Story Role / Major Arcs

Small Mountain Village

After awakening the system, Lin Fan trains in isolation until reaching the Skin Tempering Realm, then joins the village hunting party to earn cultivation funds. His strength lets the villagers hunt larger prey, while his generosity improves their income and food supply. 3 4 8

He discovers Mao Mao, learns Beast Taming Art, gathers large quantities of medicinal herbs, and develops the Disguise Art in preparation for entering town safely. 9 10 12 13

Town Trade and the White Ram Gang

Lin Fan's herb and prey sales introduce him to Su Qingwei and the Su Family Shop. His growing wealth finances increasingly powerful cultivation boosts and the purchase of martial weapons. 14 15 18

When White Ram Gang members shadow the hunting party, Lin Fan isolates and defeats them without endangering the villagers. Rather than kill them, he takes their silver and warns the gang away, inadvertently beginning Steward Fang's campaign against him. 20 21 23

Joining the Su Family

After selling a Wild Boar Ferocious Beast for 3,000 taels, Lin Fan accepts Su Qingwei's recruitment as a Su Family guest elder. He moves Lin Ruoruo and Mao Mao from their thatched hut into the Su Family Estate, ending their life in Small Mountain Village. 30 32 33 34

His Golden Guest Token forces the White Ram Gang to cancel an ambush that had involved several Bone Tempering Realm allies. 33

Pill Pavilion and Marriage

Lin Fan proves his alchemical ability by producing flawless pills, mastering the Pill Pavilion's texts, and defeating five veteran alchemists in public competition. Su Yuanshan doubles his monthly remuneration to 2,000 taels. 36 37 41 43

Su Yuanshan proposes a marriage between Lin Fan and Su Qingwei. Lin Fan accepts, eventually revealing his true appearance to her and becoming more firmly integrated into the Su Family. 44 46 48

Flower Thief Crisis

The emergence of the Flower Thief and the disappearance of local women lead Lin Fan to prepare top-grade combat pills, monitor the Su Estate, and push himself toward the Late Bone Tempering Realm. 49 50 53

After receiving the Su Family's Inner Qi method and a superior spear, Lin Fan reaches the Late Bone Tempering Realm and forms his first thread of Inner Qi. His race toward the Bright Force Realm begins as the Flower Thief achieves that realm first. 53 54 55

The White Ram Gang secretly abducts women for the Flower Thief and prepares a joint assault on the Su Family. Lin Fan responds by driving his cultivation past the Bright Force threshold, gaining the power required to defend the estate. 53 61 64

Battle Against the Flower Thief

During the White Ram Gang's night attack, Lin Fan duels the Flower Thief atop the Su Family's walls while Su Yuanshan holds off multiple Bone Tempering Realm attackers below. Though initially outmatched in raw Manifest Force, Lin Fan uses a 10,000-fold cultivation effect to replenish his Inner Qi faster than the Flower Thief can deplete it. 67 68

Lin Fan injures the Flower Thief, paralyzes three Bone Tempering Realm enemies with Inner Qi, and pursues the fleeing demonic cultivator after securing his dropped manual. The Flower Thief eventually self-detonates rather than accept defeat, but Lin Fan survives and rapidly recovers through system-assisted cultivation. 69 71

Destruction of the White Ram Gang

While Lin Fan pursues the Flower Thief, the Su Family captures the White Ram Gang's invading members and takes control of its businesses and strongholds. After Lin Fan's return, he and Su Yuanshan inspect the gang's vaults, seize its manuals and wealth, and rescue Zhou Ling from its hidden prison. 71 72 73

Lin Fan executes Bai Jingtian for his crimes and demonic-path collaboration. He instead subdues the leaders of the Raging Tide Gang and White Sand Gang by implanting Inner Qi restraints in them, then rewards their submission by raising both from the Early to the Mid Bone Tempering Realm. 73 74

The Su Family absorbs the defeated factions' networks while Lin Fan receives seventy percent of the associated profits for three years. The seized wealth eventually raises his accessible fortune beyond 30 million taels, giving him the resources for prolonged accelerated cultivation. 73 82

He later redirects his remaining share of the profits and proceeds from unsold treasures toward the Su Family's purchase of cultivation manuals, particularly texts on alchemy and Breath Concealment. 102

Imperial Recognition and Regional Authority

The prefectural government sends Lu Qian to investigate the Flower Thief's death and test Lin Fan's Inner Qi. Lin Fan cooperates openly, proving that his cultivation is orthodox and receiving formal recognition as the Flower Thief's killer. 84

The Imperial Court awards him three million taels, an imperial plaque, and the title of General Pacifying the Lands. Nearby martial families, gangs, sects, and wandering martial artists subsequently visit the Su Family to seek his favor and protection. 90

Although he accepts necessary social obligations, Lin Fan maintains that minor factional disputes should follow local rules and offers intervention only when civilians are endangered. He otherwise returns to secluded cultivation. 90

The court also formally revokes the warrant arising from his family's old case, removing his personal wanted status. 89

Protecting Small Mountain Village

Despite his elevated position, Lin Fan remains grateful to Small Mountain Village for sheltering him and Ruoruo when they had nothing. He instructs the Su Family to monitor the village discreetly and provide covert assistance during shortages, illness, or harassment without drawing attention to it. 83

He personally returns to the village, empowers Big Ox and Uncle Wang to the Mid Skin Tempering Realm with his Inner Qi, and warns both men not to risk hunting Ferocious Beasts. 83

Late Bright Force Cultivation

Lin Fan adopts a controlled 5,000-fold cultivation routine, estimating that the Transforming Force Realm requires more than 30,000 Inner Qi strands and remains attainable within several years. He divides his time between martial cultivation, alchemy, martial knowledge, and protecting the Su Family from potential court, demonic-path, and political threats. 82 92

He later advances through the Mid and Late Bright Force Realms, reaching 25,000 strands of Inner Qi. To avoid attracting powerful experts, he gathers hundreds of Breath Concealment manuals from regional factions and begins synthesizing the Hidden Dragon Breath Concealment Technique. 92 95 101 102 103 105

The Mid Bright Force breakthrough follows six months of cultivation and accumulation of 15,000 strands. Afterward, he increases daily acceleration to 10,000-fold, then divides his later 15,000-fold training between martial progress and concealment research. 95 96 104

During Su Qingwei's pregnancy, he confirms that she is carrying a boy and a girl. Together they choose the names Lin Luo and Lin Li for their twins. 101

Official Mission in Black Mang Mountain

As General Pacifying the Lands, Lin Fan accepts an official mission to eliminate a Late Bone Tempering Wild Boar Ferocious Beast that killed or wounded nearly an entire team of Bone Tempering martial artists. He investigates the terrain and tracks the creature rather than relying solely on brute force. 99

After finding the boar in a cave, Lin Fan kills it instantly by throwing his heavy longspear through its skull. He carries the valuable corpse back to the Su Family for Su Yuanshan to distribute and process into cultivation and weapon-refining resources. 100

Transforming Force Breakthrough and Family Preparations

After developing Hidden Dragon, Lin Fan leaves his household to attempt his next major breakthrough in an isolated mountain cave. He gives Su Qingwei a linked jade pendant and bids farewell to her and their children before departing. Using 15,000-fold acceleration, he reaches Transforming Force, damages much of the cave, and spends more than a day consolidating his new cultivation. He returns with his true realm hidden as Early Bright Force. 107 108

His new realm brings a lifespan of 160 years and greatly improved Inner Qi control, but also exposes the growing demands on his finances. He prepares to move to the prefectural city to support cultivation through pill trading, while devising concealment techniques for Su Qingwei and Su Yuanshan so that the family can remain protected without attracting unnecessary attention. 107 108 109

Suppression of the Black Mountain Li Family

Under an official commandery dispatch, Lin Fan leads officials and government forces against the Li Family in Black Mountain Town. He exposes its role in the destruction of thirteen Western Border martial factions over a year and four months and orders its estate surrounded. When its leaders resist or attempt to flee, he swiftly kills them while continuing to display only Early Bright Force strength. The surviving family members are arrested, with principal offenders sentenced to death and others assigned penal service or exile. 113

The seized treasury is valued at least eighty million taels. Lin Fan receives an authorized ten-percent reward exceeding eight million taels and studies the family's alchemy and concealment manuals before returning home. His system balance rises to 26.21 million taels, supporting further training and pill production. 113 114

Su Yuanshan's Advancement and Departure for Commandery City

Once Su Yuanshan masters the concealment technique prepared for him, Lin Fan spends five days carefully transferring Inner Qi into his father-in-law. Su Yuanshan reaches Early Bright Force, and Lin Fan contains the disturbance so that the advancement remains secret. He leaves the decision to reveal the realm to Su Yuanshan after his departure. 114 115

After six months of further training, Lin Fan approaches 1.5 million strands and leaves for another secluded breakthrough. He reaches Mid Transforming Force, survives the resulting collapse of the mountain, and escapes through the stone with Inner Qi. 115 116

Lin Fan then takes his household to Commandery City in a convoy of more than twenty carriages. Although his actual strength could transport everyone and their cargo much faster, he maintains the travel arrangements appropriate to his publicly displayed Early Bright Force cultivation. 117

Establishing an Alchemical Business

In Commandery City, Lin Fan sells a large stock of superior-grade pills to Azure Elixir Hall for 11.2 million taels. Its fair payment and offer of favorable future terms establish a productive business relationship. He then purchases more medicinal ingredients to continue refining. 122

He arranges regular high-grade herb deliveries from the Ten Thousand Prosperity Medicine Depot and increases his cultivation acceleration to 30,000-fold. His routine balances painful martial training, precise pill refining, and the establishment of a comfortable household. 125 126 127 131

His pills' purity, low toxicity, and volume draw customers away from Ten Thousand Treasures Hall. By Chapter 143, he supplies Azure Elixir Hall twice monthly, earns around ten million taels per shipment, and has accumulated savings exceeding seventy million taels. 131 143

Conflict with the Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce

The Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce attempts to recruit Lin Fan after his production severely reduces its high-grade pill revenue. When recruitment fails, it tries to cut off his access to medicinal ingredients and force him into cooperation. Lin Fan instead obtains information from Azure Elixir Hall and travels hundreds of li to outside medicine markets. 131 136 137 140 154

Granny Qian worsens the conflict by falsely presenting his refusal as contempt and hostility toward the commerce. Her report convinces the Chief Steward to abandon further recruitment efforts and treat Lin Fan as an enemy, while protecting her own position against possible retaliation for an earlier attempted swindle. 135

Concerned for the household he leaves behind, he purchases the thirty-million-tael Mansion-Guarding Blacksteel Formation. Its strength and far-reaching alarm are intended to protect Su Qingwei, Ruoruo, and the twins while he is away. 138

The conflict later escalates into an ambush by two Early Transforming Force experts. Lin Fan kills the attackers and finds a Ten Thousand Treasures token among their possessions, confirming the commerce's involvement. He also obtains nearly ten million taels in banknotes and high-grade pills from one attacker. 156

Taking Chu Lingxi as a Disciple

On a journey to the Azure Wave Medicine Market, Lin Fan encounters Black Wind Sect fighters pursuing a young girl whose sect and family have been destroyed. Remembering Ruoruo, he intervenes, disarms the pursuers, and questions them about the conflict and their sect's strength. 143

He intimidates them into withdrawing and takes the orphaned Chu Lingxi as his first disciple. He promises safety and martial instruction but explicitly declines to seek revenge for her. After burying her fallen guards, he carries her to the medicine market and later brings her into his household. She studies with Ruoruo under a female tutor and receives occasional cultivation guidance from him. 144 146

Demon Monk Mission and Late Transforming Force

The Commandery Government assigns Lin Fan to kill the Demon Monk and recover his Demonic Fiend Weapon intact for thirty million taels. The report understates the monk's strength, and the assignment is connected to a scheme intended to eliminate Lin Fan. Before searching for the monk, Lin Fan cultivates in a remote valley and reaches 2.5 million strands of Inner Qi. 148

He breaks through to Late Transforming Force, devastates the valley with his released power, and tests his newly strengthened physique. After concealing his realm with Hidden Dragon, he proceeds toward the monk's reported location. 149

During their encounter, the Demon Monk explains that his blade increases cultivation by consuming others but corrupts its wielder, requiring Buddhist purification to preserve sanity. Lin Fan confirms that the assignment is a trap, suspects the commerce's involvement, and kills the monk with one palm. He keeps the blade sealed, refuses to report the kill or claim the bounty, and spends additional days cultivating elsewhere to make his absence believable. His new strength permits 35,000-fold acceleration. 151

Joining the Azure Elixir Sect

Lin Fan joins the Azure Elixir Sect and gains access to its vast Scripture Repository. The sect shelters his household and safely transports his pills to Azure Elixir Hall, while he supplies valuable alchemical production. Its protection deters further direct harassment by the Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce. 163

After more than five months, he has over 2.9 million strands of Inner Qi and is close to Steel Force. Rather than expose his extraordinary progress, he delays advancement, spends six hours daily refining pills, and devotes the remaining time to concealment research. He memorizes the sect's available methods and secretly funds trusted disciples to gather hundreds more across the kingdom. 163

The commerce turns to indirect competition by recruiting expensive alchemists. Their pills prove less reliable than Lin Fan's, while Azure Elixir Hall's reputation also draws away lower-tier customers. Unsold stock, salaries, and falling sales cause the commerce's financial collapse and the closure of several branches. Lin Fan regards the result as the consequence of its earlier coercion rather than an unavoidable conflict. 163 164

Flying Dragon Technique and Steel Force Breakthrough

After nearly three months of research, Lin Fan synthesizes the Flying Dragon Breath Concealment Technique, capable of masking Steel Force cultivation as Early Bright Force. With this obstacle resolved, he prepares to reach a realm unattained within the Azure Elixir Sect's thousand-year history. He bids farewell to his family and the sect leadership, declines offers of protection and supplies, and travels alone to a cavern more than 2,000 li away. 164

In a sealed underground chamber, he cultivates for more than three days until he reaches three million strands of Inner Qi. The Steel Force breakthrough destroys and remakes his body, transforming Qi into blood and bone. Uncontrolled power produces a massive subterranean blast and tremors mistaken for an earthquake by nearby residents. 165

After controlling his new strength, Lin Fan conceals it with Flying Dragon and returns to the sect as an apparently ordinary Early Bright Force martial artist. The sect leadership welcomes his safe return without learning of the breakthrough, and his household reunites with him warmly. 165 166

Increased Costs and Alchemical Improvement

Lin Fan discovers that Steel Force has increased the system's cultivation cost tenfold. Although his balance exceeds 160 million taels, his current income is insufficient to sustain daily acceleration. He therefore shifts from rapid martial advancement to improving the craft that finances it. 166

Over the following three months, he studies the Azure Elixir Sect's extensive Pill Dao collection, integrating medicinal theories, spiritual-herb properties, and fire-control methods. His Steel Force mind makes his comprehension clearer and sharper, but his martial cultivation nearly stalls while he concentrates on alchemical improvement. 166

This work allows him to refine top-grade high-grade pills in two furnaces at once. His daily output rises to nearly two hundred pills, and he delivers three thousand pills to the sect. After the sect master and elders personally witness the method, news spreads through Azure Elixir City. Lin Fan turns away visitors and returns to refining, cultivating, and caring for his family as his children learn simple words. 167

Protecting the Su Family and Acquiring Blackstone Valley's Wealth

When enemy martial artists invade Azure Elixir City, Lin Fan recognizes the danger to the Su Family, which has relocated from Green Mountain Town. Many of its members are ordinary mortals or low-realm martial artists, leaving them unable to withstand the attackers. He immediately races from the mountain toward their estate while avoiding public attention. 179

Later, at Blackstone Valley, he breaks the treasury's formations with Astral Force and converts its gold and silver into system funds, raising his balance above eighteen billion taels. He also takes banknotes and jade ornaments but leaves property deeds and commerce guild certificates. In the Scripture Repository, he sets aside demonic cultivation manuals, memorizes several selected books under 40,000-fold acceleration, and leaves the silent valley without attachment. 181

Renewed Threats and Mid Steel Force

Two unidentified Late Transforming Force experts create a renewed sense of urgency for Lin Fan. He resolves to strengthen himself before unknown enemies can return, while preserving moments of relaxation with Su Qingwei, Ruoruo, Chu Lingxi, and Mao Mao. 189

Meanwhile, the discovery of an enormous gold deposit near the Zhao–Wei border diverts Prince Gao from a planned assassination. Rather than send a Steel Force expert against Lin Fan, the prince redirects his resources into the political struggle over the mine. Lin Fan remains unaware and spends more than two months refining pills and cultivating peacefully at the sect. 190

In a stone chamber thousands of meters underground, Lin Fan eventually accumulates four million Astral Force Dao traces and breaks through to Mid Steel Force. His combat strength rises sharply, and his already extensive perception expands by well over another ten li. 193

Waiting for the Blood Bead Collector

At the Split-One Gang hideout, Lin Fan prepares to intercept a mysterious Demonic Path expert collecting Blood Beads. Because the appointed meeting remains eight days away, he first returns to the Azure Elixir Sect to reassure his family, then goes back to the hideout and cultivates under 50,000-fold acceleration while keeping watch. 196

During the wait, he frees two unconscious martial artists brought to the compound and sends them away safely. On the appointed evening, he hangs a black-cloth lantern above the gate and senses a powerful expert approaching, but the newcomer stops a dozen or so miles from the compound. 196

Ocean Seclusion and Late Steel Force

Lin Fan decides to attempt his next breakthrough far out at sea, away from inhabited territory. He instructs Su Qingwei, Ruoruo, and Chu Lingxi to remain safely in the courtyard, leaves despite the sect elders' warnings, and shakes off an elder secretly following him by accelerating beyond pursuit. At the coast, he assesses the ocean's pressure and distant sea beasts before entering the water. 210

He travels far offshore and descends nearly eight thousand meters to the seabed. After building a platform and surrounding himself with a protective Inner Qi barrier, he cultivates under 50,000-fold acceleration for more than ten two-hour periods. His Inner Qi exceeds five million strands, and repeated assaults shatter the barrier to Late Steel Force. His body turns to ash and is rebuilt, while the released force kills nearby creatures and raises towering waves. Realizing the danger to the coast, he halts and flattens the waves with Inner Qi. 211

After surfacing, he encounters a Late Bright Force merfolk woman investigating the disturbance. He claims to have only just arrived and questions her about her identity, confirming that merfolk are real rather than merely figures from miscellaneous accounts. He subsequently returns to the Azure Elixir Sect. 212 213

Innate Breakthroughs and Perfected Wind Dao Intent

With the aid of sudden enlightenment, Lin Fan comprehends the movement and principles of wind. His initial fifteen-minute enlightenment grants him Wind Dao Intent and enables his entry into the Innate Realm as an Early Heavenheart cultivator. Before examining his new power in detail, he checks that Su Qingwei and the others have not been injured by its release. 217 218

He immediately spends ten billion taels on a second fifteen-minute epiphany. His understanding of wind deepens, surrounding currents answer his will, and his Wind Dao Intent merges with his Inner Qi. The resulting breakthrough carries him into Mid Heavenheart, astonishing the sect elders who witness two successive Innate advancements in roughly half an hour. He believes his speed now places him beyond the pursuit of the Zhao Kingdom's Innate experts. 218 219

After bringing Su Qingwei, Ruoruo, Chu Lingxi, and Mao Mao to a secluded mountain, Lin Fan begins his third sudden enlightenment. His Wind Dao Intent reaches complete perfection, and he advances to Late Heavenheart. The breakthrough unleashes winds that destroy forests across the mountain range. Testing his new mobility, he travels at dozens of times the speed of sound and covers more than ten thousand li in a quarter of an hour before returning to his companions. 221

Ending the Formal Master-Disciple Relationship and Preparing for Wei

After his Late Heavenheart breakthrough, Lin Fan tells Chu Lingxi that their formal master-disciple relationship must end. Her initial fear that he is expelling her gives way to relief when he explains that she will remain with him, Su Qingwei, and Ruoruo. He instructs her to call him Lin Fan or “Young Master Lin” instead of Master. Her tentative use of the new address pleases him, while Su Qingwei watches quietly and Ruoruo turns away after observing their exchange. 222

The decision follows his earlier recognition of Chu Lingxi's romantic feelings and his reconsideration of the conventions inherited from his previous life. At that earlier point, when she was around fifteen, he had judged the timing unsuitable. Ending their formal relationship later relieves his sense of guilt about their changing attachment, but does not establish that they have married. 175 222

Lin Fan then prepares the household to depart for the Wei Kingdom's heartland. Reflecting on the border war, he wishes to end the suffering and restore peace to both kingdoms, but recognizes the limits of his present cultivation. The Zhao Kingdom possesses five Innate experts and a Mid Heavenly Human ancestor, while the Wei Kingdom also has substantial and incompletely understood foundations. 222

Notable Quotes

“Only by becoming strong himself could he better protect his younger sister. Only then could he uncover the injustice done to his lineage and make the true culprits pay with their lives.” 7

“Cultivation would remain his foundation.” 48

“Your strength is a trump card for preserving your life, not a title to flaunt. We only want a peaceful life. We have no desire for those empty martial-world reputations.” 92

“As far as I am concerned, enough money is enough. What I truly need now is not silver, but cultivation manuals.” 102

“You're being too formal, Father-in-law. It was hardly anything.” 115

“So it really was the Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce.” 156

“Chu Lingxi, don't call me Master anymore. Today, I am ending our formal relationship as master and disciple.” 222

“Lingxi, don't be afraid. I'm not sending you away. I'm only ending our formal relationship as master and disciple. You can still stay with me and live together with Qingwei and Ruo Ruo.” 222

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