Chapter Summaries

Hai Bodong enjoyed his relaxed life at the Mittel Family until he sensed Medusa Queen’s presence. Lin Qingyun chased Medusa Queen away from the Imperial Capital as powerful onlookers rushed after them.

• Hai Bodong reflected that his cultivation had improved since he followed Lin Qingyun’s advice to relax.
• Hai Bodong recognized Medusa Queen, dropped his cup, and wondered why she had appeared.
• Lin Qingyun flew after Medusa Queen as she fled beyond the Imperial Capital, alarming people across the city.
• Powerful spectators hurried after Lin Qingyun and Medusa Queen, hoping to witness the experts.
• Lin Qingyun sensed more powerful auras approaching and continued pursuing Medusa Queen, uncertain why she had acted.

Lin Qingyun followed Medusa Queen into the Tagor Desert, where she tested his strength with a powerful attack. He emerged unharmed, and as nearby experts raced toward them, Medusa Queen prepared to act before her dwindling life force ran out.

• Lin Qingyun and Medusa Queen traveled deep into the Tagor Desert, where he sensed a familiar scorching presence.
• Medusa Queen unleashed Purple Extreme Profound Blast, gathering Heaven and Earth Energy into a devastating attack.
• Lin Qingyun walked out of the purple storm unharmed, revealing dazzling golden scales that made Medusa Queen tremble with bloodline fear.
• Lin Qingyun warned Medusa Queen that more than a dozen powerful presences were approaching and urged her to act quickly.
• Medusa Queen suppressed her fear as her black hair turned half white and her life force continued to drain.

Lin Qingyun helped Medusa Queen begin a complete bodily reconstruction after Xiao Qi returned to her, preserving its own spirit and memories with a strand of True Dragon Blood. As Medusa Queen entered her cocoon, Lin Qingyun drove off approaching Snake-People experts and warned them not to cross his boundary.

• Medusa Queen's strength and life faded, but Lin Qingyun caught her and carried her to an oasis, where her withered body showed signs of mysterious vitality.
• A summons drew Xiao Qi from the Storage Ring, and Lin Qingyun told it to return to Medusa Queen while using a strand of True Dragon Blood to preserve its spirit and memories.
• Xiao Qi entered Medusa Queen's body, triggering seven-colored light and forming a Cocoon of Light as her body began to transform.
• Lin Qingyun sensed several Snake-People experts approaching, including Yue Mei, Yan Ci, and Yin Shi, and sent a massive black spear into the desert before them.
• Yin Shi and the others retreated from the enormous crater, and Lin Qingyun warned that anyone who crossed the boundary would be killed without mercy.

Lin Qingyun waited beside the egg containing Medusa Queen and Xiao Qi after driving away Yin Shi and the others. Three days later, he sensed the power within the egg growing stronger, stored it away, and prepared to leave the Jia Ma Empire.

• Yin Shi and the others decided not to cross the spear's path and turned back from their search for Her Majesty the Queen.
• Lin Qingyun reclaimed the spear after the Snake-People Race experts had left and resumed cultivating beside the egg.
• After three days, Lin Qingyun examined the egg and sensed Medusa Queen's power rising along with Xiao Qi's growing Soul Power.
• Lin Qingyun put the egg into his Storage Ring and set out to finish his last matter before leaving the Jia Ma Empire.

The final round of the Alchemist Tournament began as Lin Qingyun arrived and drew the attention of the contestants and spectators. Fa Ma warned Yan Ci not to provoke Lin Qingyun, and Lin Qingyun prepared to compete after accepting Xiao Yan’s challenge.

• Xiao Yan openly challenged Lin Qingyun to a contest, and Fa Ma encouraged the finalists as they gathered for the final round.
• Yan Ci entered the hall, but Fa Ma used his Dou Emperor aura to intimidate him and warned him never to provoke Lin Qingyun.
• Fa Ma, Jia Xingtian, and Hai Bodong discussed the pressure Lin Qingyun’s talent had placed on the other contestants before Hai Bodong spotted his arrival.
• Lin Qingyun descended into the plaza to loud cheers, landed on the highest platform, and accepted Xiao Yan’s challenge.
• The tournament bell rang, and Fa Ma announced the decisive round as Lin Qingyun resolved to give his best for the people supporting him.

Lin Qingyun began refining a Dou Wang Pill during the assessment, impressing the spectators with his skill and control. As his Black Flame subdued the other flames, Xiao Yan chose to keep competing despite believing he had already lost, while Yan Ci blamed Lin Qingyun for his failed refinement.

• Lin Qingyun brought out his Medicine Cauldron and began refining a Dou Wang Pill with a Jade Spirit Lotus.
• Fa Ma recognized the pill and was shocked by Lin Qingyun's smooth technique and apparent mastery of a difficult Rank 6 recipe.
• Yao Yue watched Lin Qingyun's technique, gained clarity about her own pill refining, then lost control when the flames trembled and exploded her furnace.
• Xiao Yan refused Medicine Elder's offer to help him refine a stronger pill and decided to compete anyway, treating a possible loss as experience.
• The Black Flame made the flames across the square bow toward Lin Qingyun, and Yan Ci's cauldron residue was disturbed, causing his refinement to fail.
• Lin Qingyun remained focused and refined faster, unaware that Yan Ci had begun to resent him.

As the alchemy competition reached its final stages, Xiao Yan and the other leading contestants formed their pills while Lin Qingyun’s cauldron began releasing powerful energy shocks. Lin Qingyun’s Rank 6 Dou Wang Pill neared completion, leaving the platform beneath him at risk of collapsing.

• Fa Ma explained that Rank 6 Pills produced powerful energy explosions when they formed, and Hai Bodong kept his attention on Lin Qingyun.
• Xiao Yan formed a high-quality Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill, breaking his overheated cauldron as the pill fragrance burst into the air.
• Yao Yue and Liu Ling formed Rank 4 Pills, but Liu Ling became unsettled when he learned Xiao Yan had refined a Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill.
• Lin Qingyun’s cauldron began shaking under the force of his pill, and the bluestone platform beneath him started to crack.
• Fa Ma worried that the platform would collapse before Lin Qingyun could react, while the gray-robed youth recognized that Lin Qingyun was refining a pill of at least the high fifth grade.

Lin Qingyun recovered from a strange trance and continued refining two Rank 6 Pills, while Yan Li completed a Fifth-grade Tiger Strength Pill and claimed superiority. As Lin Qingyun’s pill neared completion and unleashed powerful energy waves, Yan Li prepared to expose him as an old impostor, and Medicine Elder warned that an even greater disturbance was coming.

• Lin Qingyun split the ingredients in his cauldron and carefully fused them into the embryonic form of a jade-green pill.
• Hai Bodong bantered with Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian about his coming breakthrough and his confidence that Lin Qingyun would help him advance.
• Yan Li released his Fifth-grade Tiger Strength Pill and boasted that no one could compete with him.
• Lin Qingyun’s cauldron emitted powerful energy ripples that shattered nearby platforms, prompting Fa Ma to summon alchemists to form a protective barrier.
• Yan Li decided to expose Lin Qingyun as an old fraud, while Medicine Elder warned Xiao Yan that a greater burst of energy was approaching.

Lin Qingyun completed a perfect-quality Dou Wang Pill and was poised to win the Alchemist Tournament when Yan Li challenged his identity. Lin Qingyun exposed Yan Li’s disguise and his use of human-skin masks, while Yan Li fled and the imperial forces prepared to pursue him.

• Lin Qingyun refined two powerful Dou Wang Pills, breaking through the tournament’s light barrier with a pillar of white light.
• Fa Ma prepared to announce Lin Qingyun as the champion, but Yan Li interrupted and accused him of concealing his identity.
• Lin Qingyun agreed to Yan Li’s inspection, then revealed that Yan Li himself had been disguised with a human-skin mask and gloves.
• Lin Qingyun explained that the disguise was made from skin taken from a living person, prompting the crowd to turn against Yan Li.
• Yan Li fled on his Dou Qi Wings, while Jia Xingtian said Yao Ye was watching the suspects and Hai Bodong offered to pursue him.

After the tournament, Lin Qingyun collected a Rank 6 Spirit Fusion Pill formula and an honorary vice president token from Fa Ma, which gave him access to the Alchemist Guild’s Scripture Repository. He entered the repository and discovered that the guild’s hidden strength was greater than he had expected.

• Lin Qingyun met Otto, Frank, Xue Mei, and Lin Fei after the tournament before seeking out Fa Ma and the other leaders.
• Fa Ma gave Lin Qingyun the Spirit Fusion Pill formula and an honorary vice president token that let him mobilize the guild’s branches and use the Scripture Repository.
• Lin Qingyun learned that Fa Ma, Hai Bodong, and Jia Xingtian planned to confront Yan Li over his violation of the tournament rules.
• Fa Ma explained that he had created the honorary title to tie Lin Qingyun, a Sixth-grade Alchemist Master, to the guild.
• Lin Qingyun reached the Scripture Repository, where two Three-Star Dou Huang elders admitted him and he sensed several more Dou Huang inside.

Lin Qingyun absorbed thousands of pill formulas in the Scripture Repository, then defeated its three senior guardians with his aura and learned all ten sixth-grade formulas. He left with enough power to break through to Dou Wang whenever he chose and reunited with Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Xiao Yi Xian.

• Lin Qingyun absorbed nearly ten thousand first-grade pill formulas, strengthening himself until he neared the Dou Wang bottleneck.
• Lin Qingyun reached the sixth floor, where Huang Longshi, Xue Li, and Martial Pill Master challenged him before letting him pass after he overwhelmed them with his aura.
• Lin Qingyun learned the ten sixth-grade pill formulas, suppressing the energy they gave him and bringing himself within reach of a Dou Wang breakthrough.
• Lin Qingyun left the Scripture Repository and appeared before Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Xiao Yi Xian, who welcomed him.

Lin Qingyun took Ya Fei, Yun Yun, and Xiao Yi Xian through the lively Imperial Capital before Gu He appeared at the city gate and challenged him to fulfill their alchemy agreement. Lin Qingyun accepted, and the group flew toward Gu He's residence for the competition.

• Lin Qingyun walked through the Imperial Capital with Ya Fei, Yun Yun, and Xiao Yi Xian, holding each woman's hand in turn.
• Lin Qingyun sensed someone waiting in the darkness at the city gate and called for him to come out.
• Gu He removed his mask, and Yun Yun questioned why he had come.
• Lin Qingyun guessed that Gu He wanted to fulfill their agreement and agreed to test their alchemy skills at Gu He's residence.
• Gu He flew ahead, while Lin Qingyun carried Ya Fei and Yun Yun escorted Xiao Yi Xian as they followed.

Lin Qingyun and Gu He began a timed alchemy contest at Yun Xiu Peak, while Nalan Yanran confronted her regret over her grandfather and her unresolved feelings for Lin Qingyun. As the incense burned down and pill fragrance filled the Bamboo House, the contest’s result remained unknown.

• Lin Qingyun followed Gu He into Yun Xiu Peak’s Spirit Gathering Formation and saw its fields of rare medicinal herbs.
• Gu He admitted he had prepared for fifteen days and regarded Lin Qingyun as a worthy opponent; Fa Ma and other guests arrived to witness their contest.
• Gu He set a two-incense-stick limit for refining the highest-grade pill, and he and Lin Qingyun entered separate Quiet Rooms to begin.
• Yun Yun told Nalan Yanran that her grandfather would be fine, then slapped her and blamed her pride for destroying what she had wanted.
• As the second incense stick burned halfway, the guests quieted and watched the closed Bamboo House as dense pill fragrance seeped out.

Lin Qingyun defeated Gu He in an alchemy contest by refining two flawless Dou Wang Pills from one set of herbs. After Gu He asked him to treat Yun'er well, Yun Shan collected the pill Lin Qingyun had made for him and approved of their relationship, and Lin Qingyun left at sunrise.

• Lin Qingyun and Gu He completed their Dou Wang Pills, and Gu He admitted defeat after learning Lin Qingyun had made two pills from one set of herbs.
• Fa Ma examined Lin Qingyun's pills and confirmed they were perfect and flawless.
• Gu He told Lin Qingyun to treat Yun'er well before leaving.
• Lin Qingyun revealed that Yun Shan had been watching the contest and handed him the pill he had requested.
• Yun Shan accepted Lin Qingyun's relationship with Yun'er, then left with the pill.
• At sunrise, Lin Qingyun decided it was time to leave and departed.

After winning the alchemy contest, Lin Qingyun gave Nalan Yanran a wisp of life-giving flame to save her grandfather and then returned to Wutan City. He arrived with Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Xiao Yi Xian, calling it the place that had raised him.

• Nalan Su joked that Lin Qingyun would take Gu He's title as Pill King, and Gu He accepted the possibility without resentment.
• Nalan Yanran apologized and begged Lin Qingyun to save Nalan Jie, but he initially refused because they had no relationship.
• After Nalan Yanran bowed again, Lin Qingyun changed a wisp of Black Flame into white Chaotic Fire and gave it to her to save her grandfather.
• Nalan Jie awoke with the branding poison gone, but Lin Qingyun had already left the Mittel Family before Nalan Su could find him.
• Lin Qingyun traveled with Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Xiao Yi Xian to Wutan City and said it was the place that had raised him.

Lin Qingyun returned to Wutan City with Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Xiao Yi Xian, drawing attention as he entered the Xiao family estate. He reunited with the Fourth Elder, whom he called Dad, and brought the three women inside as the Fourth Elder welcomed them and prepared to cook.

• Lin Qingyun and the three women entered Wutan City, where residents recognized him and admired his companions.
• At the Xiao family gate, Lin Qingyun greeted Xiao Qian and Xiao Bing before heading inside.
• Xiao Bing announced Lin Qingyun's return to the Xiao family hall, prompting the Fourth Elder and Xiao Zhan to leave to see him.
• Lin Qingyun waited outside the Fourth Elder's house until the Fourth Elder opened the door and greeted him warmly.
• The Fourth Elder welcomed Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Xiao Yi Xian as Lin Qingyun's daughters-in-law, then invited them inside while he cooked.

Lin Qingyun told Hai Bodong he would spend a few days with his loved ones before entering secluded cultivation, and asked him to guard the Xiao Family for a month. After reading Yao Yue’s letter and reuniting with Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Xiao Yi Xian, Lin Qingyun shared a promise with them before his departure.

• Lin Qingyun told Hai Bodong he planned to spend a few days with his loved ones, then enter secluded cultivation, and offered to cancel their favors if Hai Bodong guarded the Xiao Family for a month.
• Hai Bodong promised to protect the Xiao Family and gave Lin Qingyun a letter from Yao Yue, who wrote that she would claim his heart or his body and hoped to defeat him.
• Hai Bodong teased Lin Qingyun about Yao Yue’s letter, then quickly left when Yun Yun appeared behind them.
• Lin Qingyun learned that his father had happily gotten drunk, and Yun Yun admitted she was gradually getting used to calling him Father.
• Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian joined Yun Yun beside Lin Qingyun, and the four exchanged promises not to fail one another.

Lin Qingyun shared a quiet farewell with Ya Fei, then left the Jia Ma Empire for the Black-Corner Region in search of something he needed. Hall of Souls agents pursued him, while one agent reflected on having submitted to an unknown figure who opposed the Hall.

• Ya Fei joined Lin Qingyun at dawn, and they watched the sunrise together before he vanished, leaving her alone.
• Lin Qingyun crossed the border toward the Black-Corner Region, worried that his father might face trouble from the Hall of Souls.
• Lin Qingyun consulted his map, spread his crystal wings, and flew east toward his destination beyond the dark region.
• Hall of Souls agents spotted the trail and sent Mu Yuan after Lin Qingyun, while Protector Yin ordered them to prioritize capturing Yao Chen.
• A black-fog figure returned with a Jade Slip and recalled that Protector Wu had submitted to an unknown man who vowed the Hall of Souls would become history.

Lin Qingyun reached the Black-Corner Region and entered a rough settlement on the Blackplain, where he learned that Black Mark City would soon hold an auction featuring a mysterious item. After renting a tent for the night, he sensed greedy eyes watching him from the darkness.

• Lin Qingyun arrived at the Blackplain after five days of flying and continued toward the Black-Corner Region on foot.
• Lin Qingyun stopped at a tent settlement, burned an archer’s arrow, and paid to enter after saying he wanted to rest and ask for information.
• Lin Qingyun passed five Dou Shi who tried to rob him, and they collapsed dead without anyone seeing him attack.
• Lin Qingyun bought a map and learned that an auction in Black Mark City would soon feature a mysterious item.
• Lin Qingyun rented a tent, while people watched him hungrily from the darkness.

Lin Qingyun traveled toward Black Mark City with Kalate’s caravan when a Black Storm swept across the Blackplain. In the storm, Lin Qingyun confronted Soul Hall’s Luo Kun, who had been hunting a Soul Body.

• Lin Qingyun told Kalate he would protect the caravan in exchange for passage to Black Mark City, and studied a map showing Jia Nan Academy and Black Emperor Sect.
• After Lin Qingyun mused about challenging the Black Ranking, his system unlocked a Side Quest requiring him to win one hundred battles without Dou Qi or Soul Power within half a year.
• A Black Storm struck the caravan, and Lin Qingyun flew toward a strange red light in the storm.
• Lin Qingyun saw Luo Kun capture a Soul Body with a black chain, then seized the chain and burned it with Chaotic Flame.
• Luo Kun revealed himself as an Earth Tier Protector of Soul Hall and attacked Lin Qingyun, declaring that anyone opposing Soul Hall would be killed.